June 10, 2020 | Positive Directions

/in /by

Leader: Keep me safe, O God: you are my hope. 

Psalm 145:13b-14

Reader 1: The Lord is faithful in all his words and holy in all his works. 

Reader 2: The Lord lifts up all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. 

Reading – Matthew 5:17-19

Reader 3: Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.” 

Reflection:

Leader: On several occasions during his ministry, Jesus clashed with the religious leaders over the Law of Moses. They accused him of not keeping the law; he criticized them for making the law a burden on the lives of devout Jews. In this reading he makes it clear that he is not abolishing the law but intending to give a new way to understand it. The law was meant to help people to know God, not to make their devotion a hardship. This insight helps us to view the commandments as positive directions for right living; they free us to be faithful disciples.

Intentional Prayer

Leader: Filled with hope, O God, we pray.

All: Loving Lord, hear our prayer.

Reader 1: For those who govern, may they enact laws that serve and protect all people, we pray:

All: Loving God, hear our prayer.

Reader 2: For CommonSpirit Health to serve well the most vulnerable in our mission for the common good, we pray to the Lord:

All: Loving God, hear our prayer.

Reader 3: For those who are victims of crime, may they find healing and forgiveness in their heart, we pray:

All: Loving God, hear our prayer.

Reader 4: For undocumented residents and the people who are homeless in our communities, that they not lose hope, we pray:

All: Loving God, hear our prayer.

All: Personal Petitions: 

The Lord’s Prayer

Reader 3: Our Father … 

Closing Prayer

Reader 4: God, you have made a covenant with your people, a covenant of love and fidelity. Grant us the strength to follow your commandments faithfully that we might come at last to enter the Kingdom you have prepared for us.

Amen. 

Leader: Keep me safe, O God: you are my hope..

Peace be with you all and have a wonderful week!