Category: benedictions

As you sit at the feet of Christ
may you listen,
leaning forward,
anticipating his words
for those with ears to hear.

May you open your eyes and your heart
to gentle words,
plain words,
spoken to you –
a shepherd calling his sheep,
a father calling his child,
a lover, calling his beloved –

you.

As you depart,
may you await with eager anticipation
the coming of Christ.

In a season of peace, joy, and love,
may you not only celebrate the values of Christ
but reflect them to the world around you.

And may you strive to share
the Good News of Jesus Christ
in your speech and actions,
messengers of God’s gracious abundance
in a world of need.

As you seek God,
may you be drawn
into the glorious presence of Christ.

May he embrace you,
guide you,
protect you,
empower you.

And with his power and grace,
may you move
in a desperate world,
sharing the blessings of Christ
with hurting souls;
blessing from blessing,
peace from peace,
hope from hope,
love from love;
God’s messengers in time of need.

May you shout to the Lord a song of Praise
entering into his glorious presence
with an open heart and joyful spirit.

May you know the goodness of God,
enveloped in his unfailing love and continuing faithfulness,
wrapped in his embrace.

May you acknowledge the wonders and works
of the Creator,
certain that he made us,
that we are his people,
sheep of the Good Shepherd.

And as you entered his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise
may you depart,
continuing your praise,
offering your daily life before the throne of Christ
as your pure and perfect worship.

In joy, may you give thanks for the blessings of God.
In sorrow, may you give thanks for the comfort of God.
In confusion, may you give thanks for the wisdom of God.
In all things, may you give thanks for the purpose of God –
salvation from a world of envy and hate,
transformation into a life of peace and joy,
adoption into a Kingdom that has no end.

Though you live in a difficult world,
may you remain true to the principles of Christ.

May you embrace the struggles of daily life,
choosing to enter into a place of tension,
instead of simply fleeing to a place of safety.

May you learn from the mistakes and faults of others,
thus honoring their successes as well as their failures.

And through it all, may you live a life so full of Christ’s spirit
that your very identity becomes intertwined
with the holy and perfect King of Heaven.

In times of suffering,
may you reach out in faith to the Lord.

May you remain loyal to God,
trusting his power and promise to deliver you from evil,
even when you cannot see his path or plan.

And though you live in the darkest night,
may you endeavor to spread light to others,
opening your eyes, heart, and hands
to those in need,
offering hope and grace in place of despair and distress,
knowing the limitless abundance of an infinite God,
giver of all good gifts.

May you bow before the throne of God
presenting your requests to him,
listening to his voice.

May you place your problems
worries
and cares
in the hands of Christ,
trusting his power over your feeble strength.

And both in times of joy and sadness,
may you rest securely
in the arms of a holy Father
who loves you as a precious child.

May you be silent before the Lord
bowing before his throne as he sits
in his holy temple.

May you trust in His plan and authority,
quietly watching the works of his hand.

And even though the fig trees have no blossoms
and there are no grapes on the vine;
even though the olive crop fails
and the fields lie empty and barren;
even though the flocks die in the fields
and the cattle barns are empty;

May you rejoice in the Lord
May you be joyful in God your Savior.

May you know the Lord
accepting his sovreign will in all things.

When storms come and rain pours
may you see through the eyes of the Almighty,
knowing his wisdom exceeds your perspective.

And may you wait patiently for God
whose justice we cannot understand,
whose mercy we cannot fathom,
to grant you a place in the blessings of his heavenly kingdom
at the end of time.