PRAYER SERVICE ON NEW YEAR -15
INTRODUCTION
At
the threshold of this new year our heart brim with joy and Gratitude for the wonders the Lord has done
in our lives and the wonders He has stored for us for the days ahead. The
sunrise is a symbol of fidelity and
freshness for god makes the sun shine on the good and evil alike. No matter how
dark the night of my own infidelity has been, the sunrise reminds me that the
day has dawned and God remains faithful and that His faithfulness-, which does
not depend on my goodness just as His goodness, does not depend on my
faithfulness- will always dispel this darkness. The sunrise is also for us the
symbol of freshness as the whole of creation awakens to the miracle of a new
year: the birds chant their Lauds, buds wrapped in coyness make hold to burst
open , flowers bloom, has begin in buzz, while the trees at day break come back
to life hearing and sighing in the wind as they bask in the sunset morn
(Bhajan)
It is
said that the usefulness of bowl lies in its being hollow and empty for only on
empty bowl can be filled and having been filled can in turn be emptied to fill
others. To pray is to be empty before God ( as a symbol of our emptiness, the
head of the community place an empty vessel on the Alter) For emptiness offers
God no resistance for it gives him all the space he needs to operate and to do
with us as He wills.
Today
we have another reason to rejoice as we celebrate the feast of the Divine
Motherhood of Mary. Her Motherhood and name of Jesus point to the same mystery
of our faith, the Incarnation Mary shared her life with God, the source and
goal of all lives. The lord of all was dependant on a woman for his life and
sustenance. Motherhood is merely giving of life but sharing of ones flesh and
blood with another. Above all her motherhood implies the acceptance of the
child in love and service. It is to make oneself available to another in
freedom and love. This is what Mary has done and taught us through her
Motherhood. So let us now present ourselves bebore our Blessed Mother to obtain
her blessings and her assistance( Hymn- T-55)
“ Stand at the crossroads and
look, Ask for the ancient paths; which was the good way? Take it and you will
find rest for yourselves.”
Our
life is a journey and we are always on the road. Each time when January greets
us, we have an opportunity to pause, to see where we have been, to notice how
far we have come and to ponder how that journey has been for us. Each New Year
is also a time to clear our vision, to take stock of our resources and to
refresh our dreams as we set out once more on the journey that is ours.
Recall
the January of your life, see how differently you have entered each New Year
and we know that no two journeys are ever the same. The new Year is always
unique. You may feel stuck in a rut, facing a dead end , or caught up in very
ordinary pattern of life. Yet if we
pause to look deeper, to examine our life more closely we will see that many
people and events called us to growth.
Let
us recall at the beginning of the new Year get out our road maps of life. Let
us look at the places of our heart where we have traveled during the past year.
As we look back over the journey, we will be able to identify the places that
blessed us, affirmed us, enlivened us and enriched us. (Pause..)
Yes
there were situations when we were challenged, tested or discouraged or may be
even situations tried to destroy us. Now let us take stock of our present
situations.
What
is my inner resource? Do I need to refuel, to restore my energies? Am I
prepared to continue on the road? Have my spiritual suit eases worn thin with
all the all the clutter we’ve stuffed into them along the way? What kind of
nourishment will I provide as I travel ( for myself?) Do I settle only with
Jung food for my mind and heart? Do I need to change my style of travel or take
a new route? Can I risk, taking the back routes , the unfamiliar ones, where
much hidden or……… beauty is often found? Am I aware of the people who are in my
roads? Do I stop to meet them? Listen to them and learn from them (Hymn)
Places
in the scriptures are symbolic of our own life journeys. The road as an image
of the spiritual journeys is very evident in the Bible
1. Gen 12:1-9 The road of faith that Sarah
and Abraham traveled, trusting that even in their old age God still had some
marvelous surprise in shore for them.
2. Gen 37-45 The road to forgiveness that
led Jacob’s sons to their brothers
3. Exodus 13:17-22 The road through the
wilderness as the Exodus people wandered their way to the Promised Land, God’s
presence never failing them.
4. Esther4-5 The road of justice
courageously undertaken by Esther who risked her life and saved her people from
destruction.
5. Mt. 2:1-12 The star marked the road of the wise ones, a
road that could be traveled only in darkness.
6. LK. 10:38-42 The road to Bethany
7. LK. 22:39-46 The road to Gethsemane
with its torment and agony, where the desire to turn back preseed painfully
upon the heart.
8. Lk. 24:1-12 The road to empty tomb where
the surprise of God filled the morning with light.
9. Lk. 24:13-35 The road to Emmaus, traveled
by two sad and discouraged disciples who were transformed by a glaze of love,
retraced by feet hurrying to tell the
good news.
These
paths are sometime our paths. We too have known our times of challenges and
sorrow, we need Abraham and Sarah’s faith when we hear the challenge to let
goof what has given security. We are on Joseph’s road when we struggle to
forgive our siblings or others for hurts of the past. When we make tough
choices and fight for the dignity and rights of others and ourselves we are
walking Esther’s road. The personal sadness and discouragement we feel from our
disappointment in life may be similar to that of the two on the road to Emmaus.
We have also known the roads of joy. We can have our own Bethany
As I
reflect on my own road of life I often identify with the risks that the Exodus
people had to take in order to move forward in life. It was the first day of
the New Year I was on my way to visit one of the favorite families whose
company I always wished to have. The way was rough and tough as I was left with
barricades on the way. I thought of turning around and going back home, but the
family I was going to visit could not be located. I looked forward to a
gathering of laughter and fun. So I decided to keep going, to take the risk of
the country road with all its hills and endless curves.
Whenever
we walk into a New Year we are invited to enter into the unknown. We do not
know what events surprise us along the way. We can only see life for today. But
we can risk the road because we have the tremendous assurance that God goes
with us, as we journey- “Be confident for go where you will your God is with
you.” (Jos1: 9) as we enter the New Year, we trust God with our lives. We trust
that there will be enough strength and beauty amidst all pain to sustain us and
to urge us forward. We trust that on this road we will come to greater
wholeness and transformation…. (Hymn..)
RESPONSE: GOD SURPRISES US
AGAIN
- When
we miss the beauty and the joy of earth goodness…
- When
we grow too accustomed to life’s busyness…
- When
the goodness of others gets lost in rush…
- When
our frailty outruns our strength….
- When
the hope in our hearts fades away…
- When
the call to serve other loses its flavor…
- When
we search for the way home to you…
- When
loneliness pursues us…
- When
it seems the darkness will never give way to the light..
- When
the ache of the world wears our compassion thin…
- When
the troubles of others seem more than we can carry…
- When
even you seem far away from us…
RESPONSE: Walk
Closely With Us, God
- AS
we strive to live our lives well…
- As we enjoy the treasures we’ve found in
the field of faith
- As
we continue to surrender ourselves to you…
- As
we journey into the unknown territory of a New Year
- As
we hurt in the process of loving our enemies…
- As
we learn to accept our weakness and our strengths
- As
we accept your constant love for us
- As
we try to love in the heart of the scriptures.
- As
we give ourselves to the poor and the powerless
- AS
we stay faithful to our relationship with you
CLOSING PRAYER
God of
this New Year, we are walking into mystery. We face the future, not knowing
what the days and months will bring to
us or how we will respond. Be love in us as we journey. May we welcome all who
come our way . Deepen our faith to see all of life through your eyes. Fill us
with hope and an abiding trust that you dwell in us amidst all our joys and
sorrows. Thank you for the gift of all our joys and sorrows. Thank you for the
gift of being able to rise each day with the assurance of your walking through
the day with us. God of this New Year,
we praise you. AMEN
(
final Hymn)
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