SUNDAY, August 30 13 Pentecost

The great preacher Harry Emerson Fosdick once observed, "The world has tried in two ways to get rid of Jesus: first by crucifying him, and second, by worshiping him." Prayer without action always becomes self-centered, just as good works without prayer always become self-serving. The life of a disciple requires a balance and an interaction between the two.

The intercessory prayers said on Sundays are not meant to be reminders to God about what needs divine attention. God knows quite well what is amiss in our lives and in our world. They are announcements to the community of faith as to what needs our care, our labor, and our love.

Each of us who in baptism pledged to follow the risen Lord has a mission. There is something God wants every person to do every day. Meditate on the Good News and pray without ceasing, to be sure, but then go out into God's world and be living prayers, touching lives and serving God.

PRAY for The Church of the Province of South East Asia and the Diocese of Singapore

Ps 45:1-2, 7-10 and Song of Solomon 2:8-13 –OR– Ps 15 and Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9; Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com.