Day 840: Monday, July 4, 2022

My being proclaims the wonders of light as it slowly penetrates the ebbing darkness

Magnificat to the God of Dawn by Joyce Rupp

My being proclaims the wonders of light as it slowly penetrates the ebbing darkness

And my spirit bows to the beauty of the One who gives life to all that has existence

Oh, vibrant green stems of life sing out your praise to the Heart who draws you forth

Bird songs rejoicing in the breath of dawn, warble your joy in view of the morning star Dew drops radiant upon the wetness of grass give glory to the Wise Creator who sustains you

Flower gardens, rushing streams, silent deserts, sing, sing, for the Dancer who rejoices in your midst

Peoples of the planet, creatures of the universe, play before the Enlivener who delights in you

And my soul, my soul, rise up and greet this day with gratitude, in a stance of humble remembering

For all I am, and all I am called to be, is held in the hands of a Creator who daily loves me into life.

And to this we say “Amen”

Prayer

God waited in the silence for Mary’s consent, and God waits for us, too, and our courage to walk a path of infinite weight and lightness. Let us pray together in gratitude for the annunciations in our own lives. Our response will be “Spirit, empower us!” ALL: Spirit empower us!

For the many ways God calls us to serve and minister to one another, including as priests, we pray in gratitude... ALL: Spirit, empower us!

We give thanks for the Spirit rising all over the world in the women and men who have taken to the streets to call the Church to a new future of equality and justice. May many more prophets be raised up among us, we pray in gratitude... ALL: Spirit, empower us!

For the softening of hearts hardened by clericalism and the opening of eyes to see the truth of women’s vocations, we pray in hope... ALL: Spirit, empower us!

For the wisdom to trust that “what has always been this way” can still change into something new, we pray in hope... ALL: Spirit, empower us!

Final Prayer: Continue by Maya Angelou All will respond with the word “Continue”

My wish for you is that you continue

Continue

To be who and how you are; to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness

Continue

To allow humor to lighten the burden of your tender heart

Continue

In a society dark with cruelty – to let the people hear the grandeur of God in the peals of your laughter. Continue

To let your eloquence elevate the people to heights they had only imagined. Continue

To remind the people that each is as good as the other and that no one is beneath nor above you.

Continue

To remember your own young years and look with favor upon the lost and the least and the lonely. Continue

To put the mantle of your protection around the bodies of the young and defenseless. Continue

To take the hand of the despised and diseased and walk proudly with them in the high street. Some might see you and be encouraged to do likewise. Continue

To plant a public kiss of concern on the cheek of the sick and the aged and infirm and count that as a natural action to be expected. Continue

To let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer and let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good. Continue

To ignore no vision which comes to enlarge your range and increase your spirit. Continue

To dare to love deeply and risk everything for the good thing. Continue

To float happily in the sea of infinite substance which set aside riches for you before you had a name. Continue

And by doing so you and your work will be able to continue eternally.