New Beginning

Matthew 18:21-35 How often should I forgive?

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Matthew 18:21-35

21 Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. 23 “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 24 When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; 25 and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. 26 So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, “Pay what you owe.’ 29 Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. 31 When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. 32 Then his lord summoned him and said to him, “You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. 35 So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

  • Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you
  • Spend five to fifteen minutes in silence paying attention to the breath.
  • Consider the debts that need to be repaid you.
  • What forgiveness is rising in your heart?
  • Where do you feel the tension or stuckness?
  • Where do you feel freedom or lightness?
  • How might God be present in the forgiveness?
  • Invite God into this place.
  • Ask for strength where you need strength.  Ask for forgiveness where you need forgiveness.  Do you pass judgment on yourself.  Be gentle with yourself, and be embraced by the love of God.
  • Be intentional about all the forgiveness that rises in your heart.
  • Give thanks to God for this time in prayer to embrace forgiveness, and to recognize any new freedom you have experienced.
  • Share as you feel led in the reply box below.
Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, September 11,  the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
Exodus 14:19-31
Psalm 114
Exodus 15:1b-11, 20-21
Romans 14:1-12
Matthew 18:21-35
If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author.
Permission to use in not-for-profit settings Lil Smith, M.Div., DASD.

Matthew 18:15-20 Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven

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Matthew 18:15-20

15 “If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. 16 But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”

  • Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
  • Spend five to fifteen minutes in silence paying attention to the breath.
  • Remember a time someone sinned against you?
  • How did you feel?  Was reconciliation possible?
  • Where did you notice bondage?  Was there any freedom?
  • Remember a time you sinned against God.
  • How did you feel?  How did/might reconciliation take place?
  • Where did you notice bondage?  Where did you notice freedom?
  • Whether sinner or sinned against, consider reconciliation.  Where in your body do you feel freedom?
  • Give thanks to God for this time in prayer to embracing the reconciliation, and to any new freedom you have experienced.
  • Share as you feel led in the reply box below.
Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, September 4,  the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
Exodus 12:1-14
Psalm 149
Romans 13:8-14
Matthew 18:15-20
If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author.
Permission to use in not-for-profit settings Lil Smith, M.Div., DASD.

Matthew 16: 21-28 Take up your cross and follow me

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Matthew 16:21-28

21 From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” 24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? 27 “For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. 28 Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

  • Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
  • Spend five to fifteen minutes in silence paying attention to the breath.
  • Remember a time when you have been a stumbling block.
  • Where do you feel this stumbling block in your body?
  • Send your energy to soften this place in your body.
  • Invite God’s forgiveness and healing in this place.
  • Take time to forgive yourself, accepting the forgiveness and love of God.
  • Invite yourself to soften this place in your body gently to it might become more open and free.
  • In this experience what cross do you bear?
  • What do you lose?  What do you gain?
  • Give thanks to God for this time in prayer, embracing the stumbling block(s), and inviting new opening(s).
  • Share as you feel led in the reply box below.
Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, August 28, 2011,  the Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
Exodus 3:1-15
Psalm 105: 1-6, 23-26, 45c
Romans 12:1-9-21
Matthew 16:21-28
If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author.
Permission to use in not-for-profit settings Lil Smith, M.Div., DASD.

The Universal Prayer

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The Universal Prayer

(attributed to Pope Clement XI)

Lord, I believe in you: increase my faith.
I trust in you: strengthen my trust.
I love you: let me love you more and more.
I am sorry for my sins: deepen my sorrow.

I worship you as my first beginning,
I long for you as my last end,
I praise you as my constant helper,
And call on you as my loving protector.

Guide me by your wisdom,
Correct me with your justice,
Comfort me with your mercy,
Protect me with your power.

I offer you, Lord, my thoughts: to be fixed on you;
My words: to have you for their theme;
My actions: to reflect my love for you;
My sufferings: to be endured for your greater glory.

I want to do what you ask of me:
In the way you ask,
For as long as you ask,
Because you ask it.

Lord, enlighten my understanding,
Strengthen my will,
Purify my heart,
and make me holy.

Help me to repent of my past sins
And to resist temptation in the future.
Help me to rise above my human weaknesses
And to grow stronger as a Christian.

Let me love you, my Lord and my God,
And see myself as I really am:
A pilgrim in this world,
A Christian called to respect and love
All whose lives I touch,
Those under my authority,
My friends and my enemies.

Help me to conquer anger with gentleness,
Greed by generosity,
Apathy by fervor.
Help me to forget myself
And reach out toward others.

Make me prudent in planning,
Courageous in taking risks.
Make me patient in suffering, unassuming in prosperity.

Keep me, Lord, attentive at prayer,
Temperate in food and drink,
Diligent in my work,
Firm in my good intentions.

Let my conscience be clear,
My conduct without fault,
My speech blameless,
My life well-ordered.
Put me on guard against my human weaknesses.
Let me cherish your love for me,
Keep your law,
And come at last to your salvation.

Teach me to realize that this world is passing,
That my true future is the happiness of heaven,
That life on earth is short,
And the life to come eternal.

Help me to prepare for death
With a proper fear of judgment,
But a greater trust in your goodness.
Lead me safely through death
To the endless joy of heaven.

Grant this through Christ our Lord.  AMEN.

  • Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
  • Spend five to fifteen minutes in silence paying attention to the breath.
  • Pray this prayer for you.
  • What stands out as the greatest prayer for you today?
  • Pray this prayer for your neighbor. (Using he/she and him/her)
  • What stands out as the greatest prayer for your neighbor today?
  • Pray this prayer for the Church. (Using us and our)
  • What stands out as the greatest prayer for the Church today?
  • What message does God have for you?
  • Give thanks to God for this time in prayer and the new messages you have received.
  • Share as you feel led in the reply box below.
Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, August 21, 2011,  the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
Exodus 1:8 – 2:10
Psalm 124
Romans 12:1-8
Matthew 16:13-20
If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author.
Permission to use in not-for-profit settings Lil Smith, M.Div., DASD.

Matthew 16:18-19 – Keys to open any door

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Matthew 16:18-19 (The Message)

18 And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out. 19 ”And that’s not all. You will have complete and free access to God’s kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven.”

  • Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
  • Spend five to fifteen minutes in silence paying attention to the breath.
  • Do a quick scan of your body.
  • Where do you notice freedom?  Give thanks for these places of freedom.  What has been freed in you?
  • Where do you notice tension?  Give thanks for these places of tension.  What is bound in you?
  • Where do you notice an opening, a place for accepting something new?  (If you need to let go of something to make this space, allow yourself time to let go of something you are carrying.)
  • Imagine you have found a key in this new opening.  Look around for a door that wishes to be opened.  Notice what energy is attracting you to this door.  Notice the details of the door: old/new, painted/raw, plain/detailed, etc.
  • What invitation do you feel?
  • Engage that place of opening as you open the door and enter the space.
  • How does the light shine on you?
  • What do you notice in this new place of opening?
  • What newness do you discover here?
  • What message do you hear from God?
  • What call to action do you hear?
  • You may choose to remain here or to leave the new space to re-enter another day.  The choice is yours.  You have the key.
  • Give thanks to God for this time in prayer and the new openings.
  • Share as you feel led in the reply box below.
Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, August 21, 2011,  the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
Exodus 1:8 – 2:10
Psalm 124
Romans 12:1-8
Matthew 16:13-20
If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author.
Permission to use in not-for-profit settings Lil Smith, M.Div., DASD.

Make me an instrument of your peace

/ Lil Smith / Leave a comment
Lord make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred,
Let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is error, truth;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, Joy.

O Divine Master grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
To be understood,as to understand;
To be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

-prayer by an anonymous Norman, c. 1915
called “The Peace Prayer of St. Francis”
(found on a St. Francis Holy Card during World War I)
  • Light a candle remembering Christ’s presence with you.
  • Sit in a comfortable place with your palms up ready in a posture to receive.  Let your feet become rooted in the ground.
  • Spend 5 to 15 minutes in silent meditation using your deep breathing to guide you.
  • Open yourself to be an instrument of peace.
  • Notice how you have been an instrument of peace.
  • How is God calling you to be an instrument of peace today?
  • Give thanks to God for what has been sown and received.
  • Share as you feel led in the reply box below.
Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, July 10 2011,  Year A
Genesis 25:19-34
Psalm 119:105-112
Romans 8:1-11
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author.
Permission to use in not-for-profit settings Lil Smith, M.Div., DASD.