I Stand Ready

With the passing of Pentecost, the Church’s celebration of the Easter Season ends. The Divine Office, my daily prayers and readings, switches from one book to the next --- or it should. But as I entered the chapel this morning I looked down at the prayer book in my hand and, slapping my forehead, said aloud: “Ahhh!” (And the few early worshipers there looked up at me who had disrupted their silence, frowned, and undoubtedly thought: “Ahhh!”)

So this morning, lacking the proper prayers for the day, I randomly read some of the prayers I had underlined in my Easter Season prayer book. They were worth recalling:

This Word of God was made flesh and dwelt among us. He had no power himself to die for us: he had to take from us our mortal flesh. He effected a wonderful exchange with us, through mutual sharing: we gave Him the power to die; He will give us the power to live.
(From a sermon by Saint Augustine, bishop)

The reason why Christ died …was that he might lead you to God. Christ suffered in the flesh; therefore arm yourselves with his same mentality. You are not to spend what remains of your earthly life on human desires but on the will of God.
Above all, let your love for one another be constant, for love covers a multitude of sins. Put your gifts at the service of one another, each in the measure he has received. The one who speaks is to deliver God’s message. The one who serves is to do it with the strength provided by God. Thus, in all of you God is to be glorified through Jesus Christ.
(From the first letter of the apostle Peter)

Today I’ll again go downtown to visit my friend, Pat. The doctors have again begun some treatments which tax her strength mightily, but she still hangs on and prays, as do I. She is embarrassed by her weaknesses and the fuss of others as they tend to her daily needs --- she cannot see (I read to her); she cannot walk (others carry her), but she prays with and for all of us.

As I think about Pat and my mom, I sometimes reflect on their sufferings. It’s kind of like they are struggling to get a stuck door open, but they know what’s on the other side, and so they will push and pull hard. But what of my struggles? Lord, where are my struggles going? Any happy destination I can imagine seems so dim in the mist, so far off. With Pat and mom, I sometimes feel I am with them on their death-watch, but what of mine? Am I also waiting, is this my task in life, or are there further tasks to be done? I want You to know, I stand ready, Lord.

I stand ready to ride the fastest steed, and win the race. I stand ready to devise the great battle plan, and lead the army. I stand ready to think of new business plans, to create new enjoyable jobs, to lighten the burdens of my fellow-workers. I stand ready to convey Your words to millions of people, and guide them to the path to Your kingdom. I stand ready to battle Satan himself, for you Lord.

And all this is to come from the man who can’t remember to bring the right prayer book to church??

No. I suspect (but I may be wrong!) that, although desirable, those are not His plans for me. Not at all. I look at You, there on the altar in front of me, Lord. And listen.

More reasonably, I stand ready to take the keys, and park the car of the rich man. I stand ready to clean the toilets in the dying man’s home. I stand ready to help the child who needs constant attention, but no one has time, or the elderly person who needs constant love, but has no one to care. I stand ready to be beside the poor, and the dying. I stand ready to be ridiculed for Your sake.

I stand ready to smile, when I feel like crying.

Lord, I stand proudly ready to serve You in ways which will make headlines around the world, and loudly proclaim of Your glory and Your love. Lord, I stand humbly ready to serve You in ways which only You will know about.

Lord, I stand ready.