HEALING PARTNERSHIP

Ecclesiasticus 38.1-14

38  Honour physicians for their services,

  for the Lord created them;

2   for their gift of healing comes from the Most High,

  and they are rewarded by the king.

3   The skill of physicians makes them distinguished,

  and in the presence of the great they are admired.

4   The Lord created medicines out of the earth,

  and the sensible will not despise them.

5   Was not water made sweet with a tree

  in order that its power might be known?

6   And he gave skill to human beings

  that he might be glorified in his marvellous works.

7   By them the physician heals and takes away pain;

8

  the pharmacist makes a mixture from them. God’s works will never be finished;

  and from him health spreads over all the earth.

9   My child, when you are ill, do not delay,

  but pray to the Lord, and he will heal you.

10   Give up your faults and direct your hands rightly,

  and cleanse your heart from all sin.

11   Offer a sweet-smelling sacrifice, and a memorial portion of choice flour,

  and pour oil on your offering, as much as you can afford.

12   Then give the physician his place, for the Lord created him;

  do not let him leave you, for you need him.

13   There may come a time when recovery lies in the hands of physicians,

14

  for they too pray to the Lord that he will grant them success in diagnosis

  and in healing, for the sake of preserving life.

HEALING PARTNERSHIP

Lord, You are always working to heal

Your beloved children:

All healing gifts

Are Yours.

They flow from Your

Abundant kindness.

By Your gracious gift,

Doctors, pharmacists,

All who relieve pain

And sickness

Work with You

In a miraculous

Healing Partnership.

AMEN

DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

Ecclesiasticus 37.7-24

7   All counsellors praise the counsel they give,

  but some give counsel in their own interest.

8   Be wary of a counsellor,

  and learn first what is his interest,

  for he will take thought for himself. He may cast the lot against you

9

  and tell you, ‘Your way is good’,

  and then stand aside to see what happens to you.

10   Do not consult one who regards you with suspicion;

  hide your intentions from those who are jealous of you.

11   Do not consult with a woman about her rival

  or with a coward about war, with a merchant about business

  or with a buyer about selling, with a miser about generosity

  or with the merciless about kindness, with an idler about any work

  or with a seasonal labourer about completing his work, with a lazy servant about a big task-

  pay no attention to any advice they give.

12   But associate with a godly person

  whom you know to be a keeper of the commandments, who is like-minded with yourself,

  and who will grieve with you if you fail.

13   And heed the counsel of your own heart,

  for no one is more faithful to you than it is.

14   For our own mind sometimes keeps us better informed

  than seven sentinels sitting high on a watch-tower.

15   But above all pray to the Most High

  that he may direct your way in truth.

16   Discussion is the beginning of every work,

  and counsel precedes every undertaking.

17   The mind is the root of all conduct;

18

  it sprouts four branches, good and evil, life and death;

  and it is the tongue that continually rules them.

19   Some people may be clever enough to teach many,

  and yet be useless to themselves.

20   A skilful speaker may be hated;

  he will be destitute of all food,

21   for the Lord has withheld the gift of charm,

  since he is lacking in all wisdom.

22   If a person is wise to his own advantage,

  the fruits of his good sense will be praiseworthy.

23   A wise person instructs his own people,

  and the fruits of his good sense will endure.

24   A wise person will have praise heaped upon him,

  and all who see him will call him happy.

DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

It is very difficult

To discard my own interest

When making a choice in life.

I find it so hard

To be disinterested;

Unattached

To my own needs.

May my one desire,

My prime interest be:

To give you glory Lord,

And further Your kingdom.

May my declaration of interests

Be a declaration of my

Love for You.

AMEN

PIERCING PRAYER

Ecclesiasticus 35

35  One who keeps the law makes many offerings;

2

  one who heeds the commandments makes an offering of well-being.

3   One who returns a kindness offers choice flour,

4

  and one who gives alms sacrifices a thank-offering.

5   To keep from wickedness is pleasing to the Lord,

  and to forsake unrighteousness is an atonement.

6   Do not appear before the Lord empty-handed,

7

  for all that you offer is in fulfilment of the commandment.

8   The offering of the righteous enriches the altar,

  and its pleasing odour rises before the Most High.

9   The sacrifice of the righteous is acceptable,

  and it will never be forgotten.

10   Be generous when you worship the Lord,

  and do not stint the first fruits of your hands.

11   With every gift show a cheerful face,

  and dedicate your tithe with gladness.

12   Give to the Most High as he has given to you,

  and as generously as you can afford.

13   For the Lord is the one who repays,

  and he will repay you sevenfold.

14   Do not offer him a bribe, for he will not accept it;

15

  and do not rely on a dishonest sacrifice; for the Lord is the judge,

  and with him there is no partiality.

16   He will not show partiality to the poor;

  but he will listen to the prayer of one who is wronged.

17   He will not ignore the supplication of the orphan,

  or the widow when she pours out her complaint.

18   Do not the tears of the widow run down her cheek

19

  as she cries out against the one who causes them to fall?

20   One whose service is pleasing to the Lord will be accepted,

  and his prayer will reach to the clouds.

21   The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds,

  and it will not rest until it reaches its goal; it will not desist until the Most High responds

22

  and does justice to the righteous, and executes judgement. Indeed, the Lord will not delay,

  and like a warrior will not be patient until he crushes the loins of the unmerciful

23

  and repays vengeance on the nations; until he destroys the multitude of the insolent,

  and breaks the sceptres of the unrighteous;

24   until he repays mortals according to their deeds,

  and the works of all according to their thoughts;

25   until he judges the case of his people

  and makes them rejoice in his mercy.

26   His mercy is as welcome in time of distress

  as clouds of rain in time of drought.

PIERCING PRAYER

You teach Lord

That the prayer of pride

Does not pierce

Your  cloud:

The prayer of humility

‘Will not rest

Until it meets its goal.

Piercing prayer

Comes from the heart

Of one whose life

Is being conformed

To your loving mercy

And righteous justice.

Help me to be a person

Of true, piercing prayer.

AMEN

FRUITFUL FEAR

Ecclesiasticus 34.9-end

 9   An educated person knows many things,

    and one with much experience knows what he is talking about.

 10   An inexperienced person knows few things,

 11 

    but he that has travelled acquires much cleverness.

 12   I have seen many things in my travels,

    and I understand more than I can express.

 13   I have often been in danger of death,

    but have escaped because of these experiences. 

 14   The spirit of those who fear the Lord will live,

 15 

    for their hope is in him who saves them.

 16   Those who fear the Lord will not be timid,

    or play the coward, for he is their hope.

 17   Happy is the soul that fears the Lord!

 18 

    To whom does he look? And who is his support?

 19   The eyes of the Lord are on those who love him,

    a mighty shield and strong support, a shelter from scorching wind and a shade from noonday sun,

    a guard against stumbling and a help against falling.

 20   He lifts up the soul and makes the eyes sparkle;

    he gives health and life and blessing. 

 21   If one sacrifices ill-gotten goods, the offering is blemished;

 22 

    the gifts of the lawless are not acceptable.

 23   The Most High is not pleased with the offerings of the ungodly,

    nor for a multitude of sacrifices does he forgive sins.

 24   Like one who kills a son before his father’s eyes

    is the person who offers a sacrifice from the property of the poor.

 25   The bread of the needy is the life of the poor;

    whoever deprives them of it is a murderer.

 26   To take away a neighbour’s living is to commit murder;

 27 

    to deprive an employee of wages is to shed blood. 

 28   When one builds and another tears down,

    what do they gain but hard work?

 29   When one prays and another curses,

    to whose voice will the Lord listen?

 30   If one washes after touching a corpse, and touches it again,

    what has been gained by washing?

 31   So if someone fasts for his sins,

    and goes again and does the same things, who will listen to his prayer?

    And what has he gained by humbling himself? 

FRUITFUL FEAR

Lord,

To be in awe of

Your power,

To feel small

In Your presence,

To be chastened

By Your holiness,

To be challenged by

Your Truth;

All this is

Holy Fear.

My Holy Fear

Of You

Is a mighty shield,

My strong support,

My help from falling.

AMEN

PERPETUAL TEST

Ecclesiasticus 31.1-11

31  Wakefulness over wealth wastes away one’s flesh,

    and anxiety about it drives away sleep.

 2   Wakeful anxiety prevents slumber,

    and a severe illness carries off sleep.

 3   The rich person toils to amass a fortune,

    and when he rests he fills himself with his dainties.

 4   The poor person toils to make a meagre living,

    and if ever he rests he becomes needy. 

 5   One who loves gold will not be justified;

    one who pursues money will be led astray by it.

 6   Many have come to ruin because of gold,

    and their destruction has met them face to face.

 7   It is a stumbling-block to those who are avid for it,

    and every fool will be taken captive by it.

 8   Blessed is the rich person who is found blameless,

    and who does not go after gold.

 9   Who is he, that we may praise him?

    For he has done wonders among his people.

 10   Who has been tested by it and been found perfect?

    Let it be for him a ground for boasting. Who has had the power to transgress and did not transgress,

    and to do evil and did not do it?

 11   His prosperity will be established,

    and the assembly will proclaim his acts of charity. 

PERPETUAL TEST

Lord,

Your own teaching;

The constant message of

The Word,

Proclaim the same

Warning.

‘Money is a 

Perpetual trial.’

In money

Choices are found,

Opportunities given,

Power exercised.

Give me grace

Yo be a 

Faithful steward

Of all the money

I have.

AMEN

THE WAY OF THE LAMB

St. Luke 10.1-7

THE Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. Go your ways; behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes, and salute no man by the way. And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire.

THE WAY OF THE LAMB

Lord, Your way

Is the Way

Of humble 

Vulnerability:

Absolute dependence

On the Father.

It is the way

Of an ever -deepening

Awareness of, and

Service in

The harvest of pain

And sorrow.

In my small way

Help me to walk

In the way of

The Lamb.

AMEN

AS PRECIOUS AS GOLD

Ecclesiasticus 28.14-end

14   Slander has shaken many,
   and scattered them from nation to nation; it has destroyed strong cities,
   and overturned the houses of the great.
15   Slander has driven virtuous women from their homes,
   and deprived them of the fruit of their toil.
16   Those who pay heed to slander will not find rest,
   nor will they settle down in peace.
17   The blow of a whip raises a welt,
   but a blow of the tongue crushes the bones.
18   Many have fallen by the edge of the sword,
   but not as many as have fallen because of the tongue.
19   Happy is one who is protected from it,
   who has not been exposed to its anger, who has not borne its yoke,
   and has not been bound with its fetters.
20   For its yoke is a yoke of iron,
   and its fetters are fetters of bronze;
21   its death is an evil death,
   and Hades is preferable to it.
22   It has no power over the godly;
   they will not be burned in its flame.
23   Those who forsake the Lord will fall into its power;
   it will burn among them and will not be put out. It will be sent out against them like a lion;
   like a leopard it will mangle them.

24a  As you fence in your property with thorns,25b 
   so make a door and a bolt for your mouth.

24b  As you lock up your silver and gold,25a 
   so make balances and scales for your words.
26   Take care not to err with your tongue,
   and fall victim to one lying in wait. 

AS PRECIOUS AS GOLD

Lord,

My speech the it is pure

Is more precious than gold;

My tongue can be the creator

Of the most beautiful jewels.

Consecrate, guard, direct 

My speech:

May all my words

Be precious to You.

AMEN

TRUTH’S ECHO

Ecclesiasticus 27.30-28.9

 30   Anger and wrath, these also are abominations,

    yet a sinner holds on to them.

28  The vengeful will face the Lord’s vengeance,

    for he keeps a strict account of their sins.

 2   Forgive your neighbour the wrong he has done,

    and then your sins will be pardoned when you pray.

 3   Does anyone harbour anger against another,

    and expect healing from the Lord?

 4   If someone has no mercy towards another like himself,

    can he then seek pardon for his own sins?

 5   If a mere mortal harbours wrath,

    who will make an atoning sacrifice for his sins?

 6   Remember the end of your life, and set enmity aside;

    remember corruption and death, and be true to the commandments.

 7   Remember the commandments, and do not be angry with your neighbour;

    remember the covenant of the Most High, and overlook faults. 

 8   Refrain from strife, and your sins will be fewer;

    for the hot-tempered kindle strife,

 9   and the sinner disrupts friendships

    and sows discord among those who are at peace.

TRUTH’S ECHO

Lord,

There is a foundational truth;

‘Love creates love.’

There is its echo;

‘Forgiveness creates forgiveness.’

At the source of all things

Love and forgiveness

Live together.

This is the thread of gold

Throughout The Word:

This the hope

That will renew creation.

AMEN

INCALCULABLE

Ecclesiasticus 24.23-end

 23   All this is the book of the covenant of the Most High God,

    the law that Moses commanded us

    as an inheritance for the congregations of Jacob.

 25   It overflows, like the Pishon, with wisdom,

    and like the Tigris at the time of the first fruits.

 26   It runs over, like the Euphrates, with understanding,

    and like the Jordan at harvest time.

 27   It pours forth instruction like the Nile,

    like the Gihon at the time of vintage.

 28   The first man did not know wisdom fully,

    nor will the last one fathom her.

 29   For her thoughts are more abundant than the sea,

    and her counsel deeper than the great abyss. 

 30   As for me, I was like a canal from a river,

    like a water channel into a garden.

 31   I said, ‘I will water my garden

    and drench my flower-beds.’ And lo, my canal became a river,

    and my river a sea.

 32   I will again make instruction shine forth like the dawn,

    and I will make it clear from far away.

 33   I will again pour out teaching like prophecy,

    and leave it to all future generations.

 34   Observe that I have not laboured for myself alone,

    but for all who seek wisdom. 

INCALCULABLE

Lord,

Your Truth:

The reality of

Your Life,

Your Love,

Your being,

Are Incalculable.

Like all humanity

I can only channel

So little

Of so much

In my life.

Leaving untouched

So much

Majesty and mystery.

Opening myself

To wondering and worshipping.

AMEN

ETERNAL HUNGER

Ecclesiasticus 24.1-22

The  Praise of  Wisdom 

  24  Wisdom praises herself,

    and tells of her glory in the midst of her people.

 2   In the assembly of the Most High she opens her mouth,

    and in the presence of his hosts she tells of her glory:

 3   ‘I came forth from the mouth of the Most High,

    and covered the earth like a mist.

 4   I dwelt in the highest heavens,

    and my throne was in a pillar of cloud.

 5   Alone I compassed the vault of heaven

    and traversed the depths of the abyss.

 6   Over waves of the sea, over all the earth,

    and over every people and nation I have held sway.

 7   Among all these I sought a resting-place;

    in whose territory should I abide? 

 8   ‘Then the Creator of all things gave me a command,

    and my Creator chose the place for my tent. He said, “Make your dwelling in Jacob,

    and in Israel receive your inheritance.”

 9   Before the ages, in the beginning, he created me,

    and for all the ages I shall not cease to be.

 10   In the holy tent I ministered before him,

    and so I was established in Zion.

 11   Thus in the beloved city he gave me a resting-place,

    and in Jerusalem was my domain.

 12   I took root in an honoured people,

    in the portion of the Lord, his heritage. 

 13   ‘I grew tall like a cedar in Lebanon,

    and like a cypress on the heights of Hermon.

 14   I grew tall like a palm tree in En-gedi,

    and like rose-bushes in Jericho; like a fair olive tree in the field,

    and like a plane tree beside water I grew tall.

 15   Like cassia and camel’s thorn I gave forth perfume,

    and like choice myrrh I spread my fragrance, like galbanum, onycha, and stacte,

    and like the odour of incense in the tent.

 16   Like a terebinth I spread out my branches,

    and my branches are glorious and graceful.

 17   Like the vine I bud forth delights,

    and my blossoms become glorious and abundant fruit. 

 19   ‘Come to me, you who desire me,

    and eat your fill of my fruits.

 20   For the memory of me is sweeter than honey,

    and the possession of me sweeter than the honeycomb.

 21   Those who eat of me will hunger for more,

    and those who drink of me will thirst for more.

 22   Whoever obeys me will not be put to shame,

    and those who work with me will not sin.’ 

ETERNAL HUNGER

Lord,

I know keenly

That eternal hunger:

It is never satisfied

The desperate need

For understanding,

For truth,

For the daily discernment

Of the right way.

That hunger is

Satisfied in You:

Give me today

My daily bread.

AMEN