A Daily Prayer During this COVID-19 Crisis

May 8, 2021 A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis During these difficult days, members of the clergy class of 2021 are sharing a daily prayer based on the Revised Common Lectionary for the week. You are welcome to use these in worship or in your own devotions. Today’s prayer John 15:9-17 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit- fruit that will last- and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other. God as you have loved me, I hear your command: “Love each other.” You greet me in glowing flames of love each morning. As I drive to work in those early hours, I hear of different flames. Flames in streets, in government, in hospitals. Flames between nations, among leaders, within hearts. I hear your command: “Love each other.” And I wonder where you are, In the ashes of the flames. Where are you Spirit? Why do we not lay down our lives, Or pick up a mask — for our friends? Why do we call each other servant, foreign, other? Where are you Spirit? and why do we not hear your cry: “Love each other.” We, your chosen, your children, your friends Why do I? … choose to be consumed by the flames – to scatter the ashes? Rather than hear your command: “Love each other.” Jesus I pray, hear this prayer. As your Father raised you from the grave, Raise us from the ashes of the flames which surround us. Lord I have seen flickers of love In unexpected spaces. Tiny, brief, sparks of light. Jesus we ask: gather those sparks – into One Glowing Light Fill our empty humanity With Your Light. In Your name, we ask of our Father, Raise us from the ashes Of the flames which surround us. Amen. Karen Skalla, candidate for ordination/membership as a full deacon