1 Timothy 2:1-7
Thanksgiving - Year B
Proper 20 (25) - Year C
Remembering that prayer is more than private words and is connected to decisions to act in regard to those titular “rulers” in your environ—from family through nation to even enemies. If their “leadership” doesn’t lead to quiet and peaceable living (an unfortunate expectation is that it doesn’t), there needs to be an intervention to see if they can finally become shrewd in their dealings with citizens and foreigners.
When the wholeness of individuals and whole societies is at risk, it needs to be brought to the attention of the “leader(s)”. The historical record indicates that it is very difficult for “leader(s)” to have their attention drawn toward dignity for the disenfranchised if they are getting their own and then some.
This is where applied prayer comes in to kick a bit of butt. For this we are sometimes appointed as herald of a revolution. You’ve heard of interventions? That’s what intercessory prayer is about. After negative supplications and positive thanksgiving have been tried, there is intercessory intervention (except it is not at a distance, but up close and personal).
Blessings on your engagement with G*D and Dignity through your supplications, prayers, Intercessions, and thanksgivings.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2013/09/1-timothy-21-7.html
We pray that President Bush will be elected so we can live these next four years in security. There is no higher calling than that of quiet times. If it takes the breaking of a few bad eggs in a far off place or among people we don't ever associate with anyway, so be it. If the President has to strike first instead of turning the other cheek or calling out for help to you and other nations, its OK with us. Just don't require us to think that what we think will make a difference in anyone's lives.
We pray that if Senator Kerry is elected that we can live these next four years in security. Whatever it takes to keep things quiet is in accord with a static, never-changing, all-powerful and all-knowing God we appreciate. We appreciate that there is such a small difference of style of implementation of these security matters between these two leaders.
No matter who has to be sacrificed, by whomever is in power, this is a message we approve of.
Since we only want quiet and both will get there, we trust your angels to push the right bits and bytes around in those tamperable machines so the election will fully comply with your demands. Then, knowing we are on your side, we can lie back with nary a worry.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2004/september2004.html
Hey, God, you desire everyone to be saved. Well, who are we, chopped liver? The leaders of this people have been doing a pretty darn good job at keeping everyone in their place. Remember that Saulee Paulee is praying for us to keep everything peaceable. If that isn't best met by keeping everyone placeable, we don't know what is.
You've never seen security and scariness so well done before. It's time we got our due. They used to have to tell big lies, now size doesn't matter. A little lie, deliberately kept on message is as good as a big one. We just have to show good photo-ops and say whatever we want. The folks have prayed for just such an outcome for a long time now, and they are reaping the rewards - they just don't get the connection is all.
So keep those prayers blind to the consequences of their prayers for quiet lives. You do that and there will be more than enough power to go around. Your press hasn't been too great lately, but we think you can see where this is headed and you're going to be right at the top again, like in the Holy Roman Empire.
Keep those folks focusing on Jesus' ransom so they don't get any bright ideas that life is for abundant living.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2004/september2004.html
First of all - inclusion rather than exclusion. Pray for everyone.
Prayer is not just a form, it is also content. Pray that we might lead a peaceable, G*D-ly life. A life with quiet dignity.
Universalists arise! G*D desires everyone to be healed, made whole, saved.
Know you are, in turn, having peace prayed for you.
- - -
inclusion exclusion
hinge upon a doorway
that starts closedan open door can
include more
than the already gathereda shut door definitely
excludes more
than it definesthe easy way is exclusion
as a door doesn't need to move
to keep in in and out outmuch more energy is needed
to include folks in
doors need to be openedsometimes it take a gentle push
sometimes a crowbar
little or great - energynarrow or wide
there are doors all around
pick at least one to push
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_09_01_archive.html
Pray for everyone. Paul goes on to specifically include praying for people in high places, people who otherwise might not get prayed for. This might be considered to be a prayer for an enemy, someone whose dishonest wealth has led to a dishonest spirituality and a keeping of the one who is praying poorer and poorer.
The emphasis upon "people in high places" is an appropriate reminder that the prayer behind the prayer is revolutionary. It is hard to live a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity with all division and inequality of resources that is required to keep people in high places. The lifestyle they have grown accustomed to and want more of requires some to be physically, psychologically, or socially enslaved, hardly a quiet and peaceable life.
G*D does desire everyone to be saved and to come to the "knowledge of truth" which is that we are called to pray without a prayer behind the prayer of overt argument or passive-aggressive anger at the divisions between us.
While traditionally read as leaders are more sons of God than anyone else and so support them with prayer and praise just like you would a God, we can still hear echoes of a more radical call from G*D and Jesus to break down the dishonesty, the hypocrisy of wealth, and all that supports it.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2010/09/1-timothy-21-8.html