Good morning.
Today is Monday,
March 15th,
2021.
O Lord,
Let my soul rise up to meet you as the day rises to meet the sun.
Glory to God,
The three in one,
Creator,
Redeemer,
And sustainer,
As it was in the beginning,
Is now,
And will be forever.
Amen.
Come,
Let us bow down in worship.
Let us kneel before the Lord,
Our Maker.
Remind yourself that you are in God's presence.
Notice how God may be speaking to you today.
Let yourself dwell on any word or phrase that catches your attention or moves your heart.
And let your heart simply respond to God in prayer.
Please repeat these words.
Jesus,
You are the light of the world.
Open our eyes that we might see.
Our scripture is John 9,
Verses 8 through 17.
Neighbors and those who had been accustomed to seeing the blind beggar began to ask,
Isn't this the one who used to sit and beg?
Some said yes,
Others said no.
The one who had been healed simply looked like the beggar.
But the individual in question said,
No,
It was me.
The people then asked,
Then how were your eyes opened?
The answer came.
The one they called Jesus made mud and smeared it on my eyes and told me to go to Siloam and wash.
When I went and washed,
I was able to see.
Where is Jesus?
They asked.
The person replied,
I have no idea.
They took the one who had been born blind to the Pharisees.
It had been on a Sabbath that Jesus had made the mud paste and opened this one's eyes.
The Pharisee asked how the individual could see.
They were told.
Jesus put mud on my eyes.
I washed it off and now I can see.
This prompted some Pharisees to say,
This Jesus cannot be from God because he doesn't keep the Sabbath.
Others argued,
But how could a sinner perform signs like these?
They were sharply divided.
Then they addressed the person again.
Since it was your eyes he opened,
What do you have to say about this Jesus?
He is a prophet,
Came the reply.
Please repeat these words.
Jesus,
You are the light of the world.
Open our eyes that we might see.
On Mondays,
We pray for the world.
We are told in scripture that God created the world and God loves the world and everyone in it.
So I invite you in a silent moment to let your imagination move to the world.
How do you conceive of the world?
Picture the world in your mind and hold the world before God.
Don't worry about diagnosing the complicated needs of the world or telling God what to do.
Simply hold the world before God.
Bless all who call on you,
Almighty God,
From the rising of the sun to its setting by your goodness and riches,
By your love inspire us,
By your spirit guide us,
By your power protect us in your mercy receive us now and always.
We pray in the name of Jesus who taught us to pray.
Our Father in heaven,
Eternal God,
Earth maker,
Pain bearer,
Life giver,
Source of all that is and all that shall be.
Not only father but mother of us all.
May the hallowing of your name echo through the universe.
May the way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world.
May your heavenly will be done by all created beings.
May your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on Earth.
With the bread we need for today,
Feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another,
Forgive us.
In times of temptation and test,
Strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure,
Spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil,
Free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
Now and forever.
Amen.
Jesus,
You are the light of the world.
Open our eyes that we may see.
Lead us to live according to your teaching and become your disciples,
That we may know the truth and be made free.
Amen.
And now my friends,
May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ go with you wherever he may send you today.
May he guide you through the wilderness,
Protect you through the storm.
May he bring you home rejoicing at the wonders he has shown you.
May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
Go in peace.
