Pathways Press.com

Today’s reflection is from a sermon given by Leo the Great (AD 390 – 461), a Roman aristocrat, Christian theologian, and Pope from AD 440-461.  

Let works of mercy, therefore, be our delight, and let us be filled with those kinds of food that feed us for eternity. Let us rejoice in the replenishment of the poor, whom our bounty has satisfied. Let us delight in the clothing of those whose nakedness we have covered with needful raiment. Let our humaneness be felt by the sick in their illnesses, by the weakly in their infirmities, by the exiles in their hardships, by the orphans in their destitution, and by solitary widows in their sadness: in the helping of whom there is no one that cannot carry out some amount of benevolence. For no one’s income is small whose heart is big, and the measure of one’s mercy and goodness does not depend on the size of one’s means. Wealth of good will is never rightly lacking, even in a slender purse. Doubtless the expenditure of the rich is greater and that of the poor smaller, but there is no difference in the fruit of their works where the purpose of the workers is the same.

Read Full Post »

Today’s reflection is from the Carmina Gadelica, which is six volumes of prayers, hymns, blessings, songs, proverbs and literary folkloric poems from the Gaelic speaking regions of Scotland.  Compilation of the works began by Alexander Carmichel between 1860 and 1909.

God to enfold me,
God to surround me,
God in my speaking,
God in my thinking.

God in my sleeping,
God in my waking,
God in my watching,
God in my hoping.

God in my life,
God in my lips,
God in my soul,
God in my heart.

God in my sufficing,
God in my slumber,
God in mine ever-living soul,
God in mine eternity.

Read Full Post »

Today’s prayer was written by American Christian evangelist Billy Graham (born in 1918) for a meeting in New York in 1957.

Our Father and our God, we pray that … we all might be conscious that Thine eye is upon us. If God can see the sparrow fall, if He has the hairs of our head numbered, we know that He watches us, that He loves us, that He cares for us, and we’re told in Thy Word that He cares for us so much that He sent His only begotten Son to the cross to die that we might find forgiveness of our sins. We pray … that Thy Holy Spirit will draw all men unto the Savior, for we ask it in His Name. Amen.

Read Full Post »

Today’s prayer was written by Richard of Chichester (1197-1253), the Bishop of Chichester in England. The prayer was adapted for the song “Day by Day” in the musical Godspell (1971).

Thanks be to you, my Lord Jesus Christ,

for all the benefits which you have given me,

for all the pains and insults which you have borne for me.

O most merciful Redeemer, Friend and Brother,

may I know you more clearly,

love you more dearly,

and follow you more nearly,

day by day.

Read Full Post »

Today’s prayer, an excerpt from the Breastplate Prayer, was written by St. Patrick (AD 385-461), a Christian missionary and bishop who served in Ireland. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity;
By invocation of the same.
The Three in One, and One in Three,
Of Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

Read Full Post »

Today’s prayer was written by Erasmus (1466-1536), a Dutch Renaissance classical scholar, humanist, priest, social critic, teacher and theologian.

Lord Jesus Christ,

you have said that you are the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Do not allow us to stray from you, who are the Way,

not to distrust you, who are the Truth,

nor to rest in anything other than you, who are the Life.

Read Full Post »

Today’s prayer is from Brendan the Voyager (AD 484-577), an Irish monk. Reputedly he set sail in a small coracle of wood and oxhide from Ireland and ended up in Newfoundland. An amazing achievement in his time.

Help me to journey beyond the familiar

and into the unknown.

Give me the faith to leave old ways

and break fresh ground with You.

Christ of the mysteries, I trust You

to be stronger than each storm within me.

I will trust in the darkness and know

that my times, even now, are in Your hand.

Tune my spirit to the music of heaven,

and somehow, make my obedience count for You.

Read Full Post »

Today’s prayer is from Jacob Astley, first Baron Astley of Reading (1579-1652), who was a Royalist commander in the English Civil War. His battle prayer was written just before the Battle of Edgehill in 1642.

O Lord,

you know how busy I must be this day.

If I forget you,

do not forget me.

Read Full Post »

The Syro-Malabar Church traces its origin to Thomas the Apostle, who, according to tradition, came to the Malabar coast of southern India (Kerala state today), landed at Cranganore about 52 A.D., and founded seven Christian communities. The early Christians of southern India became known as St. Thomas Christians, and this name persists today. This prayer is from the 5^th century liturgy of the church.

Grant, O Lord Jesus,

that the ears which have heard the voice of your songs may be closed to the voice of dispute;

that the eyes which have seen your great love may also behold your blessed hope;

that the tongues which have sung your praise may speak the truth in love;

that the feet which have walked in your courts may walk in the region of light;

and that the bodies which have received your living body may be restored in newness of life.

Glory to you for your inexpressible gift.   Amen.

Read Full Post »