Daily Primer — August 19, Boone - North Carolina

A brother committed a fault and a council was convened to which Abba Moses was invited, but he refused to go to it.  Then the priest sent someone up to say to him, “Come, for everyone is waiting for you.”  So he got up, taking with him a leaking jug filled with water.  When the brothers came out to meet him they asked him, “What is this, Father?”  The old man said to them,  “My sins run out behind me, and so I do not see them,  and today I am coming to judge the error of another.”  When they heard what Moses had said they criticized the brother no more, but forgave him.

Florilegium is the Medieval Latin word for bouquet, or more literally flowers (flos, flor-) which are gathered (legere). The word florilegium was used to refer to a compilation of writings, often religious or philosophical. These florilegium are literary flowers—beautiful words/prayers/thoughts I have gathered.  During my sabbatical they will give me something to ponder each day. — PHL.

We gather in praise of you, Lord, at the break of day.  As the sun rises bringing light to our world, we are mindful of the risen Son, whose rising brings the light which is life to all.  May we reflect the light of the world as we make our way through today’s pilgrimage.  As we prepare to launch into our day’s duties, we stop to offer this day as a gift of obedience to the Lord who invites us to “Come and follow me.”  

† Come into our homes and bring your peace.

† Come into our hearts and bring your joy.

† Come into our work, blessing the work of our hands.

† Come into our world, offering us an alternative to
the ways which are destroying us.

We know that you have promised to provide what is needed.  But, truth be told, we often lack sufficient trust that you will provide our daily bread and so we gather in a frenzy all we can reach.  Our greed is simply the natural consequence of our anxiety.  We know your warnings about trying to gather too much, but we feel a compulsion to gather more and more.  We suspect that your creation is a zero-sum game — that you have no more gifts to give — and so we justify both our greed and our parsimonious attitude toward those in need.
Save us Lord from this failure to trust you which fuels the greed which is killing us.  Bring to full fruitfulness in us the virtues of hope and generosity.  In your mercy, save us from the temptation to serve two masters.  Feed our confidence in your capacity to provide everything needed for an abundant life.  Win us to the vision of your ever-generative and fruitful creation which bestows its largess without resentment.  May our generosity mirror your generosity.  † In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

You, Lord, are the One who summons us to leave behind what we know and follow you, who are the way, the truth, and the life.  Perhaps there is no greater sense of leaving the known for the unknown than when contemplating death.  May we consider the possibility that our bed will be our coffin and enter into it, trusting that as we surrender consciousness to sleep we are practicing a skill we will one day need at the hour of our passing.
In this dark hour as we enter into the time for rest, we consecrate this night, trusting that in it we will be met by the love of Christ, which shines even in the darkness, for you are dark-light and day-star, the Christ leading us ever deeper into the thicket of God’s love.  We prepare for sleep with muted ambition and folded wings, entrusting our cares to your faithful keeping. Enlighten our darkness, Lord, we pray; and in your mercy defend us from all perils and terrors of this night; that we may sleep in peace and rise with joy, †  by the love of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.