Friday, June 16, 2023

House of Prayer


As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, ‘If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. Indeed, the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up ramparts around you and surround you, and hem you in on every side. They will crush you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave within you one stone upon another; because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.’ Then he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling things there; and he said, ‘It is written, “My house shall be a house of prayer”; but you have made it a den of robbers.’ Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill him; but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were spellbound by what they heard. Luke 19:41-48

I often wonder how we all would behave if we considered every inch of our earth, every creature, every being as part of a house of prayer. We have become people who commodify everything, from "real estate" to relationships. We put a price on everything and are willing to sell to the highest bidder. Yet what if we considered every day a visitation from God? I do believe we are standing on Holy ground. How do we walk and live here?

Gracious Creator, you provide for us
you shelter us from violent storms
you daily bless us and you feed us
in all you are abundantly generous.

We take what you have freely given
charging a price for your generosity
we count wealth above all else
and pity those who share their little.

Help us Lord to recognize you here
may your visitation not go unseen
may we praise you in the night and day
and live faithfully on your blessed holy ground. Amen,




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