Memorial Day

Monday, May 27, 2013 -- Week of Proper 3, Year One
Bertha and Ethelbert, Queen and King of Kent, 616

[Go to http://www.missionstclare.com/english/ for an online version of the Daily Office including today's scripture readings.]

Today's Readings for the Daily Office
     (Book of Common Prayer, p. 968)
Psalms   25 (morning)    //    9, 15 (evening)
Deuteronomy 4:9-14
2 Corinthians 1:1-11
Luke 14:25-35

It is Memorial Day.  We open our first reading with Moses teaching the people in the wilderness.  In the name of God he is creating a community which will become a nation.  He gives them laws that embody the virtues of justice.  They will have to fight to claim their homeland and to defend it.  They will face many challenges to their commitment to justice.

Moses warns them, "But take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor let them slip from your minds all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children's children."

On our national holidays we are reminded of the values and principles that our founders taught us, and we are called to remember and to pass them along.  We renew our commitment to liberty and justice for all. 

We give thanks for those who have risked their lives and lost their lives defending those principles.  I think with special gratitude about those who obeyed their oaths to risk their lives when their political leaders sent them into harm's way for ambiguous or questionable ends.  We thank them for their honor and courage. 

I also think about those who return from battle scarred and injured in body, mind and spirit.  We owe them more than our gratitude; we owe them every resource and support for hope and reconciliation.  Many thanks to those who serve our veterans, and for their families.

A Prayer for Memorial Day
O Judge of the nations, we remember before you with grateful hearts the men and women of our country who in the day of decision ventured much for the liberties we now enjoy.  Grant that we may not rest until all the people of this land share the benefits of true freedom and gladly accept its disciplines.  This we ask in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.  (Book of Common Prayer, p. 839)

Lowell
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Audio podcast:  Listen to an audio podcast of the most recent Morning Reflections from today and the past week.  Go to: http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id244.html

About Morning Reflections

"Morning Reflections" is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.

Evening Prayer begins on p. 117

An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at http://www.missionstclare.com/english/index.html

Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this location

-- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html

The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church

is to explore and celebrate

God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

See our Web site at www.stpaulsfay.org

Our Rule of Life: 

We aspire to...

    worship weekly

    pray daily

    learn constantly

    serve joyfully 

    live generously.

Lowell Grisham, Rector

St. Paul's Episcopal Church

Fayetteville, Arkansas