Archive for the ‘April 6’ Category

Above: The Temptations of Jesus
Image in the Public Domain
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For St. Gregory the Great Episcopal Church, Athens, Georgia
Lent 2019
Texts: Mark 1:12-13; Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13
Reading the Bible for spiritual formation is an ancient Benedictine practice. My primary purpose in writing this short piece is to ask, how do the accounts (mainly the Lukan and Matthean ones) of the temptations of Jesus challenge us, both as individuals and a parish, to follow Jesus better than we do.
The Temptation to Turn Stones into Bread
Bread was especially precious in ancient Palestine, with relatively little arable land.
We are blessed to be able to purchase our bread inexpensively at stores. Bread is abundant in our context, so we probably take it for granted more often than not. We can, however, think of some tangible needs related to scarcity.
One challenge is not to permit tangible needs to overtake intangible necessities. We all depend entirely on God and dwell within a web of mutual responsibility and dependence. According to the late Henri Nouwen, this temptation is the temptation to be relevant. Relevance is not necessarily bad; in fact, it is frequently positive. However, maintaining the proper balance of tangible and intangible needs is essential. Furthermore, Christ’s refusal to cave into the temptation to use his power to make bread—to cease to depend on God—ought to remind us never to imagine that we do not depend entirely on God.
Questions
- Do we permit tangible needs to distract us from intangible necessities? If so, how?
- Do we manifest the vain idea that we do not depend entirely on God? If so, how?
The Temptation to Jump from the Pinnacle of the Temple
Many scholars of the New Testament have proposed what the pinnacle of the Temple was.
That matter aside, this temptation is, according to Nouwen, the temptation to be spectacular. It is also the temptation to attempt to manipulate God by trying to force God to intervene in a miraculous way. That effort, like turning stones into bread, would indicate a lack of faith.
We humans frequently like the spectacular, do we not? We tell ourselves and others that, if only God would do something spectacular, we will believe. We are like those who, in the Gospels, only wanted Jesus to do something for them, and not to learn from him.
Questions
- Does our attraction to the spectacular distract us from the still, small voice of God? If so, how?
- Does our attraction to the spectacular reveal our lack of faith? If so, how?
- Does our attraction to the spectacular unmask our selfishness? If so, how?
The Temptation to Worship Satan in Exchange for Earthly Authority
Many Palestinian Jews at the time of Christ thought of Satan as the power behind the Roman Empire and of the Roman pantheon as a collection of demons. Jesus affirmed God the Father as the only source of his identity.
This temptation is about idolatry, power, and morally untenable compromises.
Many well-intentioned people—ministers, politicians, and appointed office holders, for example—have, in the name of doing good, become corrupt and sacrificed their suitability to do good. They have sacrificed their moral integrity on the altar of amoral realism.
Some compromises are necessary, of course. As Reinhold Niebuhr reminded us, we cannot help but commit some evil while trying to do good, for human depravity has corrupted social systems and institutions.
Questions
- Have we established our identity apart from God? If so, how?
- How have we, with good intentions, committed or condoned evil?
- Have we made morally untenable compromises? If so, how?
The Good News
The good news is both collective and individual.
I discover the principle, then: that when I want to do right, only wrong is within my reach. In my inmost self I delight in the law of God, but I perceive in my outward actions a different law, fighting against the law that my mind approves, and making me a prisoner under the law of sin which controls my conduct. Wretched creature that I am, who is there to rescue me from this state of death? Who but God? Thanks be to him through Jesus Christ our Lord! To sum up then: left to myself I serve God’s law with my mind, but with my unspiritual nature I serve the law of sin.
–Romans 7:21-25, The Revised English Bible (1989)
Jesus has modeled the way to resist temptation—to trust God and to understand scripture.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
MARCH 10, 2019 COMMON ERA
THE FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT, YEAR C
THE FEAST OF MARIE-JOSEPH LAGRANGE, ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST AND BIBLICAL SCHOLAR
THE FEAST OF SAINT AGRIPINNUS OF AUTUN, ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP; SAINT GERMANUS OF PARIS, ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP; AND SAINT DROCTOVEUS OF AUTUN, ROMAN CATHOLIC ABBOT
THE FEAST OF SAINT JOHN OGLIVIE, ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST AND MARTYR
THE FEAST OF SAINT MACARIUS OF JERUSALEM, ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP
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Adapted from this post:
https://blogatheologica.wordpress.com/2019/03/10/thoughts-and-questions-about-the-temptations-of-jesus/
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Above: St. John the Evangelist, St. Mary of Nazareth, and St. Mary Magdalene with the Dead Christ, by an Anonymous Painter
Image in the Public Domain
The Victory of God
APRIL 6, 2022
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The Collect:
Creator God, you prepare a new way in the wilderness,
and your grace waters our desert.
Open our hearts to be transformed by the new thing you are doing,
that our lives may proclaim the extravagance of your love
given to all through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
–Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), page 29
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The Assigned Readings:
Habakkuk 3:2-15
Psalm 20
Luke 18:31-34
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Now I know that the LORD has given deliverance to his king;
from his heavenly sanctuary he responds to him,
sending his mighty power which always saves.
Some draw attention to their chariots, some to their horses,
but for our part we draw attention to the LORD, our God.
They crumble and fall,
but we will rise and continue on our way.
The LORD had delivered the king;
he answers us when we call.
–Psalm 20:7-10, Harry Mowvley, The Psalms Introduced and Newly Translated for Today’s Readers (1989)
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The book of the prophet Habakkuk wrestles with the difficult question of suffering and the seeming triumph of evil in the context of the existence and character of God. The conclusion of that text of the evil will not evade the consequences of their wicked actions and that God will triumph in the end. That summary applies well to the pericope from Luke 18, a prediction of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection.
I am old enough to remember the latter phase and the end of the Cold War. I am not naive. The Cold War was a dangerous time during which the human race almost faced the ravages of atomic warfare on many occasions, most of them not in the realm of common knowledge. Although the leaders of the two blocs were not suicidal, human frailties came close on many occasions to rendering much of the planet uninhabitable. Yet the Cold War world was stable compared to the current reality, which comes with many suicidal terrorists.
The hope to which I cling is that the wicked of the world will face justice in this life or in the next and that God will triumph in the end. Whether God is on my side is not a question I should ask. No, I should ask if I am on God’s side. The standard for defining God’s side is Jesus of Nazareth, who violated social norms out of comparison, confronted corrupt religious leaders in cahoots with the occupying Roman forces, and rose from the dead. One of the three oldest definitions of the atonement in Christian theology is Christus Victor–the Conquest of Satan. This is, in fact, the Classic Theory of the Atonement. The Resurrection of Jesus, the Classic Theory tells us, reversed the death of Jesus, thereby demonstrating the superior power of God. Evil continues to exist and act, but its inferior power is obvious. As St. Paul the Apostle dictated in an epistle while partially quoting Hosea 13:14 at the beginning of the quote:
“O Death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and sin gains its power from the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
–1 Corinthians 15:55-57, The Revised English Bible (1989)
The Classic Theory of the Atonement has inspired Christianity-based movements for social justice. It has been apparent in the writings of great men such as Archbishop of Canterbury William Temple (1881-1944) and the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. (1939-1968), who sought to defeat institutionalized evil in their societies.
The victory of God will occur in time, if not according to any of a host of human schedules. God is never late, but we mere mortals are frequently impatient. That lack of patience is often understandable, but that fact does nothing to change the reality that God is never late.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
DECEMBER 4, 2015 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF THOMAS COTTERILL, ENGLISH PRIEST, HYMN WRITER, AND LITURGIST
THE FEAST OF SAINT JOHN CALABRIA, FOUNDER OF THE CONGREGATION OF THE POOR SERVANTS AND THE POOR WOMEN SERVANTS OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE
THE FEAST OF JOSEPH MOHR, AUSTRIAN ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST AND HYMN WRITER
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https://blogatheologica.wordpress.com/2015/12/04/the-victory-of-god/
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Above: Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
Image in the Public Domain
Yahweh, Unconquered
APRIL 5 and 6, 2024
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The Collect:
Almighty God, with joy we celebrate the day of our Lord’s resurrection.
By the grace of Christ among us,
enable us to show the power of the resurrection in all that we say or do,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
–Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), page 32
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The Assigned Readings:
Daniel 2:1-23 (Friday)
Daniel 2:24-49 (Saturday)
Psalm 133 (Both Days)
Acts 4:23-31 (Friday)
John 12:44-50 (Saturday)
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Oh, how good and pleasant it is
when brethren live together in unity!
It is like fine oil upon the head
that runs down upon the beard,
Upon the beard of Aaron,
and runs down upon the collar of his robe.
It is like the dew of Hermon
that falls upon the hills of Zion.
For there the LORD has ordained the blessing:
life for evermore.
–Psalm 133, The Book of Common Prayer (1979)
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I have read the Book of Daniel closely in both the Jewish and Protestant twelve-chapter version and the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox fourteen-chapter version. In neither version does the internal chronology make sense. That is fine, for we are not reading history. No, we are reading theology.
How can one life faithfully at home or abroad within a violent empire and under the rule of foreigners? That issue is one question which unites the pericopes for these two days. In the ancient world of the Old Testament a common assumption was that the fall of a kingdom or empire indicated the defeat of its gods also. Thus warfare was cosmic and political. Yet Daniel 2 argues that nobody has conquered Yahweh. Kingdoms and empires come and go, but God remains unvanquished. Ultimately the Kingdom of God, present in part already, will become fully evident. In the meantime, God is present to strengthen the faithful as necessary. We even have the example of Jesus, God incarnate, who identifies with us.
No, we are not reading history in the Book of Daniel. We are reading excellent theology instead.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
DECEMBER 17, 2014 COMMON ERA
THE EIGHTEENTH DAY OF ADVENT, YEAR B
THE FEAST OF MARIA STEWART, EDUCATOR
THE FEAST OF EGLANTYNE JEBB, FOUNDER OF SAVE THE CHILDREN
THE FEAST OF FRANK MASON NORTH, U.S. METHODIST MINISTER
THE FEAST OF SAINT OLYMPIAS, ORTHODOX DEACONESS
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https://blogatheologica.wordpress.com/2014/12/17/yahweh-unconquered/
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Above: The Original Text
Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor
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Loving God, who loves us, mourns with us, and rejoices with us,
the death of dreams and aspirations is among the most traumatic losses to endure.
It cuts to the emotional core of a person, causing great anguish, grief, and anger.
Regardless if the dream was indeed the one a person should have followed
(assuming that it was not morally wrong, of course),
the pain and disappointment are legitimate, I suppose.
I have known these emotions in this context more than once.
I wish them upon nobody, not even those who inflicted them upon me.
May we, by grace, function as your ministers of comfort
to those experiencing such a death or the aftermath of one
and who are near us or whom you send our way.
And may we, by grace, help others achieve their potential
and refrain from inflicting such pain upon others.
In the name of Jesus, who identified with us, suffered, died, and rose again. Amen.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
APRIL 19, 2014 COMMON ERA
HOLY SATURDAY, YEAR A
Posted April 19, 2014 by neatnik2009 in April 1, April 10, April 11, April 12, April 13, April 14, April 15, April 16, April 17, April 18, April 19, April 2, April 20, April 21, April 22, April 23, April 24, April 25, April 26, April 27, April 28, April 29, April 3, April 30, April 4, April 5, April 6, April 7, April 8, April 9, Ascension, Ash Wednesday, Easter Sunday, February 10, February 11, February 12, February 13, February 14, February 15, February 16, February 17, February 18, February 19, February 20, February 21, February 22, February 23, February 24, February 25, February 26, February 27, February 28, February 29, February 4, February 5, February 6, February 7, February 8, February 9, Friday in Easter Week, Good Friday, Holy Monday, Holy Saturday-Easter Vigil, Holy Tuesday, Holy Wednesday, June 1, June 10, June 11, June 12, June 13, June 2, June 3, June 4, June 5, June 6, June 7, June 8, June 9, March 1, March 10, March 11, March 12, March 13, March 14, March 15, March 16, March 17, March 18, March 19, March 2, March 20, March 21, March 22, March 23, March 24, March 25: Annunciation, March 26, March 27, March 28, March 29, March 3, March 30, March 31, March 4, March 5, March 6, March 7, March 8, March 9, Maundy Thursday, May 1, May 10, May 11, May 12, May 13, May 14, May 15, May 16, May 17, May 18, May 19, May 2, May 20, May 21, May 22, May 23, May 24, May 25, May 26, May 27, May 28, May 29, May 3, May 30, May 31: Visitation, May 4, May 5, May 6, May 7, May 8, May 9, Monday in Easter Week, Palm Sunday, Pentecost, Saturday in Easter Week, Thursday in Easter Week, Tuesday in Easter Week, Wednesday in Easter Week
Tagged with Anger, Grief

Above: Easter Vigil, St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, Dunwoody, Georgia, April 8, 2012
Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta
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The congregational response to “We pray to God” is “Lord, hear our prayer.”
As we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus of Nazareth, we bring our thanksgivings and concerns to the throne of grace.
We pray for
- Justin, the Archbishop of Canterbury;
- Katharine, our Presiding Bishop;
- Robert and Keith, our Bishops;
- Beth, our Rector;
and all lay and clergy members of the the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
We pray to God.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for economic justice, environmental stewardship, good government, and a better society. We pray especially for
- those who struggle with financial, career, job, and/or vocational issues;
- those who suffer because of tyrants and violence; and
- those who suffer because of the apathy or prejudices of their neighbors.
We pray to God.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for shalom among people everywhere.
We pray to God.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We give thanks for everything which causes God to rejoice, especially
- the beauty of the natural world;
- the beauty which people have created;
- [the birth of G, son/daughter of H and I;]
- loving relationships;
- X, Y, and Z, who celebrate their birthdays this week; and
- A and B, C and D, and E and F, who celebrate their anniversaries this week.
We pray to God.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for all military personnel, especially (insert list here).
We pray to God.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for others for whom we care, especially (insert list here).
We pray to God.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for those who have died, that they will have eternal rest.
We pray to God.
Lord, hear our prayer.
[The celebrant concludes with a Collect.]
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
MARCH 3, 2013 COMMON ERA
THE THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT, YEAR C
THE FEAST OF SAINT KATHARINE DREXEL, FOUNDER OF THE SISTERS OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
THE FEAST OF SAINT CUNEGOND OF LUXEMBOURG, HOLY ROMAN EMPRESS THEN NUN
THE FEAST OF SAINT GERVINUS, ROMAN CATHOLIC ABBOT AND SCHOLAR
THE FEAST OF JOHN AND CHARLES WESLEY, ANGLICAN PRIESTS

Above: Lent Wordle
I found the image in various places online, including here: http://standrewauh.org/a-study-for-lent/
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The congregational response to “We pray to you, O God” is “Hear our prayer.”
We pray for the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, that it may show the face of Christ to the world and draw people to you,
We pray to you, O God.
We pray for
- Katharine, our Presiding Bishop;
- Robert and Keith, our Bishops; and
- Beth, our Rector;
- and all clergy and lay members,
- that they may serve you faithfully,
We pray to you, O God.
We pray for
- Barack, our President;
- Nathan, our Governor;
- Nancy, our Mayor; and
- all others who hold positions of authority and influence,
that justice may prevail,
We pray to you O God.
That we may, by grace, do your will each day,
We pray to you, O God.
That all who suffer may find succor,
We pray to you, O God.
We pray for (_____) and all who have died, that they may enjoy and glorify you forever,
We pray to you, O God.
We pray for our own needs and those of others.
Congregationally specific petitions follow.
The Celebrant adds a concluding Collect.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
FEBRUARY 2, 2013 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION OF JESUS IN THE TEMPLE

Above: Logo of the Moravian Church
Image Source = JJackman
Exodus and Hebrews, Part XIV: Following Jesus
APRIL 6, 2024
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Blessed Lord, who caused all holy scriptures to be written for our learning:
Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them,
that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life,
which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
–The Book of Common Prayer (1979), page 236
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The Assigned Readings:
Exodus 19:1-25
Psalm 92 (Morning)
Psalms 23 and 114 (Evening)
Hebrews 13:1-21
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A Related Post:
Prayer:
http://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/02/27/prayer-for-saturday-of-easter-week/
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I have heard press reports of the Vatican cracking down on liberal dissenters for years. This is the sort of news that makes me glad to be an Episcopalian, for we have distributed authority. And, as a self-respecting liberal, I identify with the denominational establishment more often than not. Many Roman Catholic dissidents would occupy the Episcopal Church’s mainstream if they were to leave the Roman Church for the Anglican Communion.
I thought about that as I read Hebrews 13:17, which, in The New Jerusalem Bible, begins
Obey your leaders and give way to them….
Context matters. The dominant theme in Hebrews 13 is looking out for each other, including strangers. So a good religious leader is one who looks out for the flock. When I turn to historical context I note that the audience consisted of persecuted Christians and Christians who might face persecution. So sticking together was vital for the church. Nevertheless, as one who grew up feeling out of place in the denomination in which he grew up (The United Methodist Church) and feeling alienated from the adjacent and dominant Southern Baptist subculture in rural southern Georgia, I reserve the right to identify with dissenters when I agree with them. I also reserve the right to identify with the establishment when I agree with it. I know that all of the following statements are accurate:
- I can be wrong.
- I can be correct.
- Bishops can be wrong.
- Bishops can be correct.
- Both sides can be wrong, just about different matters.
- Both sides can be correct, just about different matters.
The ultimate Christian leader is Jesus of Nazareth; may we follow him always.
Moses was the leader in the Book of Exodus. He was, unfortunately, not immune from mysogyny, hence his instruction
…do not go near a woman
–Exodus 19:15b, TANAKH: The Holy Scriptures
in relation to maintaining the ritual purity of men. (The Law of Moses does cast female biology in a negative light, does it not?) But it was generally good advice to do as Moses said; God spoke to him. And Moses was trying to do the best he could for the people. Leading a group of mostly quarrelsome nomads in the desert was not an easy task or vocation.
Issues of human authority and submission to it occur elsewhere in the Bible. Paul wrote that we should obey our leaders, but Hebrew Prophets, speaking for God, opposed kings in their day. I have no doubt that one reason the Romans crucified Jesus was that his rhetoric regarding the Kingdom of God called the imperium into question; the Kingdom of God looked like the opposite of the imperial order. And our Lord and Savior clashed with his religious leaders. So prooftexting one or two passages regarding this issue distorts the biblical witness on it.
I am a Christian who grew up a Protestant. (Now I identify as an Anglo-Lutheran-Catholic within The Episcopal Church.) Much of that Protestant rebelliousness remains within me, although I have mixed it with Roman Catholicism. So I stand with the Moravians, whose motto is
OUR LAMB HAS CONQUERED; LET US FOLLOW HIM.
May we follow him wherever he leads us.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
JUNE 3, 2012 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF SAINT MORAND OF CLUNY, ROMAN CATHOLIC MONK AND MISSIONARY
THE FEAST OF SAINTS LIPHARDUS OF ORLEANS AND URBICIUS OF MEUNG, ROMAN CATHOLIC ABBOTS
THE FEAST OF THE MARTYRS OF UGANDA
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http://blogatheologica.wordpress.com/2013/03/01/exodus-and-hebrews-part-xiv-following-jesus/
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Above: An Old Family Bible
Image Source = David Ball
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God of glory,
as we prepare to study the Bible,
may we approach the texts with our minds open,
our intellects engaged,
and our spirits receptive to your leading,
so that we will understand them correctly
and derive from them the appropriate lessons.
Then may we act on those lessons.
For the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Amen.
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KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
OCTOBER 7, 2011 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF HENRY MELCHIOR MUHLENBERG, SHEPHERD OF LUTHERANISM IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES
THE FEAST OF FRED KAAN, HYMNWRITER
THE FEAST OF JOHN WOOLMAN, ABOLITIONIST
Posted October 7, 2011 by neatnik2009 in April 1, April 10, April 11, April 12, April 13, April 14, April 15, April 16, April 17, April 18, April 19, April 2, April 20, April 21, April 22, April 23, April 24, April 25, April 26, April 27, April 28, April 29, April 3, April 30, April 4, April 5, April 6, April 7, April 8, April 9, Ascension, Ash Wednesday, Easter Sunday, February 10, February 11, February 12, February 13, February 14, February 15, February 16, February 17, February 18, February 19, February 20, February 21, February 22, February 23, February 24, February 25, February 26, February 27, February 28, February 29, February 4, February 5, February 6, February 7, February 8, February 9, Friday in Easter Week, Good Friday, Holy Monday, Holy Saturday-Easter Vigil, Holy Tuesday, Holy Wednesday, June 1, June 10, June 11, June 12, June 13, June 2, June 3, June 4, June 5, June 6, June 7, June 8, June 9, March 1, March 10, March 11, March 12, March 13, March 14, March 15, March 16, March 17, March 18, March 19, March 2, March 20, March 21, March 22, March 23, March 24, March 25: Annunciation, March 26, March 27, March 28, March 29, March 3, March 30, March 31, March 4, March 5, March 6, March 7, March 8, March 9, Maundy Thursday, May 1, May 10, May 11, May 12, May 13, May 14, May 15, May 16, May 17, May 18, May 19, May 2, May 20, May 21, May 22, May 23, May 24, May 25, May 26, May 27, May 28, May 29, May 3, May 30, May 31: Visitation, May 4, May 5, May 6, May 7, May 8, May 9, Monday in Easter Week, Palm Sunday, Pentecost, Saturday in Easter Week, Thursday in Easter Week, Tuesday in Easter Week, Wednesday in Easter Week
Tagged with Kenneth Randolph Taylor, Poetry and Prayers

Above: A Scene from the March for Troy Davis, September 16, 2011
Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta
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God of justice,
may we have proper priorities.
Taking our cues from the prophets and Jesus,
may we eschew idolatry,
love you fully,
love our neighbors as we love ourselves,
care for widows and orphans,
plead their cases,
feed the hungry,
clothe the naked,
visit the sick and the imprisoned,
resist and condemn judicial corruption and other official injustice,
and value the most vulnerable members of society.
May we love the unloved,
comfort the comfortless,
give hope to the hopeless,
include the improperly excluded,
and recognize your image in each other.
May we succeed by grace and for your glory and our common good.
Amen.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
SEPTEMBER 22, 2011 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF SAINT THOMAS OF VILLANOVA, ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF VALENCIA
THE FEAST OF PHILANDER CHASE, PRESIDING BISHOP OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Posted September 22, 2011 by neatnik2009 in April 1, April 10, April 11, April 12, April 13, April 14, April 15, April 16, April 17, April 18, April 19, April 2, April 20, April 21, April 22, April 23, April 24, April 25, April 26, April 27, April 28, April 29, April 3, April 30, April 4, April 5, April 6, April 7, April 8, April 9, Ascension, Ash Wednesday, Easter Sunday, February 10, February 11, February 12, February 13, February 14, February 15, February 16, February 17, February 18, February 19, February 20, February 21, February 22, February 23, February 24, February 25, February 26, February 27, February 28, February 29, February 4, February 5, February 6, February 7, February 8, February 9, Friday in Easter Week, Good Friday, Holy Monday, Holy Saturday-Easter Vigil, Holy Tuesday, Holy Wednesday, June 1, June 10, June 11, June 12, June 13, June 2, June 3, June 4, June 5, June 6, June 7, June 8, June 9, March 1, March 10, March 11, March 12, March 13, March 14, March 15, March 16, March 17, March 18, March 19, March 2, March 20, March 21, March 22, March 23, March 24, March 25: Annunciation, March 26, March 27, March 28, March 29, March 3, March 30, March 31, March 4, March 5, March 6, March 7, March 8, March 9, Maundy Thursday, May 1, May 10, May 11, May 12, May 13, May 14, May 15, May 16, May 17, May 18, May 19, May 2, May 20, May 21, May 22, May 23, May 24, May 25, May 26, May 27, May 28, May 29, May 3, May 30, May 31: Visitation, May 4, May 5, May 6, May 7, May 8, May 9, Monday in Easter Week, Palm Sunday, Pentecost, Saturday in Easter Week, Thursday in Easter Week, Tuesday in Easter Week, Wednesday in Easter Week
Tagged with Kenneth Randolph Taylor, Poetry and Prayers

Above: The Arch at The University of Georgia, Across from Downtown Athens, Georgia
(I live a few miles from this site. UGA is the professional home of several people who have harmed me.)
Image Source = Josh Hallett
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Dear Jesus,
who forgave even those who consented to your crucifixion,
help us to pray for those who have harmed us.
May those who have harmed us, whether
knowingly or unknowingly,
willfully or accidentally,
maliciously or not,
cease to do harm.
And may they know your love, forgiveness, and joy,
so that they may prosper and succeed in the good they do and will commit.
Whether or not we can or do reconcile with them,
may anger, distrust, and misunderstanding
fade away and disappear.
And, together or separately,
may we and those who have harmed us
move into the future productively and positively,
for the common good.
Amen.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
SEPTEMBER 19, 2011 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF SAINT THEODORE OF TARSUS, ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY
THE FEAST OF FIORELLO LA GUARDIA, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
THE FEAST OF THOMAS JOHNSON, JOHN DAVY, AND THEIR COMPANIONS, MARTYRS
THE FEAST OF WILLIAM CHALMERS SMITH, PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER AND HYMN WRITER
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ADDENDUM:
I have progressed spiritually since September 19, 2011. But I do think it was a positive sign that, on that date, I could pray as I did.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
MAY 17, 2013 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF SAINT PASCHAL BAYLON, FRANCISCAN
THE FEAST OF WILLIAM CROSWELL DOANE, EPISCOPAL BISHOP OF ALBANY, NEW YORK
THE FEAST OF WILLIAM HOBART HARE, EPISCOPAL BISHOP OF SOUTH DAKOTA
THE FEAST OF WIREMU TE TAURI, ANGLICAN MISSIONARY
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[Update: Those negative emotions washed out of my system years ago. I would not have been human had I not had such emotions, but I would have been foolish not to drop that burden years ago.–2017]
https://neatnik2009.wordpress.com/2018/03/20/uga-and-me/
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Posted September 19, 2011 by neatnik2009 in April 1, April 10, April 11, April 12, April 13, April 14, April 15, April 16, April 17, April 18, April 19, April 2, April 20, April 21, April 22, April 23, April 24, April 25, April 26, April 27, April 28, April 29, April 3, April 30, April 4, April 5, April 6, April 7, April 8, April 9, Ascension, Ash Wednesday, Easter Sunday, February 10, February 11, February 12, February 13, February 14, February 15, February 16, February 17, February 18, February 19, February 20, February 21, February 22, February 23, February 24, February 25, February 26, February 27, February 28, February 29, February 4, February 5, February 6, February 7, February 8, February 9, Friday in Easter Week, Good Friday, Holy Monday, Holy Saturday-Easter Vigil, Holy Tuesday, Holy Wednesday, June 1, June 10, June 11, June 12, June 13, June 2, June 3, June 4, June 5, June 6, June 7, June 8, June 9, March 1, March 10, March 11, March 12, March 13, March 14, March 15, March 16, March 17, March 18, March 19, March 2, March 20, March 21, March 22, March 23, March 24, March 25: Annunciation, March 26, March 27, March 28, March 29, March 3, March 30, March 31, March 4, March 5, March 6, March 7, March 8, March 9, Maundy Thursday, May 1, May 10, May 11, May 12, May 13, May 14, May 15, May 16, May 17, May 18, May 19, May 2, May 20, May 21, May 22, May 23, May 24, May 25, May 26, May 27, May 28, May 29, May 3, May 30, May 31: Visitation, May 4, May 5, May 6, May 7, May 8, May 9, Monday in Easter Week, Palm Sunday, Pentecost, Saturday in Easter Week, Thursday in Easter Week, Tuesday in Easter Week, Wednesday in Easter Week
Tagged with Kenneth Randolph Taylor, Poetry and Prayers
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