Super Congress

This Guardian article discusses the issue of the influence of lobbyists on the committee.
Members of the Super Congress: Sens. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Reps. Dave Camp, R-Mich., Fred Upton, R-Mich., Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Max Baucus, D-Mont., and Reps. James Clyburn, D-S.C., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Xavier Becerra, D-Calif.

Preamble to the US Constitution:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

O Heavenly Father,
May Jon, Pat, Rob, Dave, Fred, Jeb, John, Patty, Max, James, Chris, and Xavier commit their work to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to the United States and our Posterity. We humbly ask that these legislators promote the common good, rather than their re-election. Amen.

Israel’s borders

The readings in today’s Eucharist took place around Israel’s modern day boundaries. The dew of Mt Hermon is at the Syrian border. The Syro-Phoenician woman begged for her daughter near the Lebanese border. Joseph exhorted his family to cross the border into Egypt to preserve their lives.

O Father,
Did not Isaac and Ishmael stand together at the cave of Machpelah to bury Abraham? How good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!
May the nations of Israel, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, and Gaza dwell together in peace.
We cry out for the children of these nations. We are only Gentiles, and sinful ones at that. But You are a God whose tender mercies flow like the dew of Mt Hermon. Have mercy, Lord, and preserve life at these borders in the upcoming season of geopolitical turmoil. Amen.

Isaiah 56: 1-8

Thus says the LORD: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, for my salvation is about to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. (Isaiah 56:1)
      LORD, help us cleave to your justice and righteousness in our nation and in your church. Reveal yourself and your righteousness to your people.

Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who lays hold on it; who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.” (Isaiah 56:2)
      Jesus, help us daily walk in your righteous ways. Transform our understanding of the Sabbath and its purpose. Keep our hands from doing any evil.

Do not let the son of the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD speak, saying, “The LORD has utterly separated me from his people”; nor let the eunuch say, “Here I am, a dry tree.” (Isaiah 56:3)
      Holy Spirit, help us welcome everyone you send to us.

For thus says the LORD: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, and choose what pleases me, and hold fast my covenant, (Isaiah 56:4)
      Holy Spirit, give us hope that you can make every dry and withered parish bloom again with your new life.

Even to them I will give in my house and within my walls a place and a name better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off. (Isaiah 56:5)
      Holy Father, just as you made Hannah fruitful when she cried out to you, we in our generation cry out to you: make our lives and our parishes and your church fruitful. Let the gospel go forth in them and us with your power. Thank you.

“Also the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants — everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and holds fast my covenant – (Isaiah 56:6)
      Jesus, please show us how to incorporate new people who come to you into your body, the Church.

Even them I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” (Isaiah 56:7)
      Lord GOD, make each parish in this diocese into a house of prayer where all are welcomed. Thank you.

The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, “Yet I will gather to him others besides those who are gathered to him.” (Isaiah 56: 8 )
      Lord Jesus, in your mercy and love, gather in all the outcasts into your church and into your church family. I once was an outcast and you embraced me; help me embrace all you send my way. Thank you.

A word received: Pray for hearing ears.

Sunday: 118 * 145; 2 Samuel 17:1-23 Gal. 3:6-14 John 5:30-47
HC: 67; Isaiah 56:1(2-5)6-7; Romans 11:13-15,29-32; Matthew 15:21-28
Monday: 106:1-18 * 106:19-48; 2 Samuel 17:24-18:8 Acts 22:30-23:11 Mark 11:12-26

Albany Intercessor