Praying with Creation:
the Season of Easter
The Resurrection of Our
Lord through the Seventh Sunday of Easter
Year B
by Dennis Ormseth
The Resurrection of our Lord: Easter Day
Acts
10:34-43 or Is. 25:6-9; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; 1 Cor. 15:1-11 or Acts 10:34-43;
John 20:-18 or Mark 16:1-8
Creator of the universe,
great is your mercy. At the heart of your new creation you have transplanted
the very tree on which your Son hung in death. Sharing its fruit, we taste
eternal life here on earth. With Mary and all your creatures, welcome us anew
into the garden of your creation, and for their sake and ours, teach us again
how to till and keep it.
Second Sunday of Easter
Acts
4:32-35; Psalm 133; 1 John 1:1-2:2; John 20:19-31
Source of all that is
and ever will be, you sustain the lives of your creatures with whatever they
need. You give us from the earth its waters, oils, airs, and soils. Help us to
see that we hold these good things, and even life itself, in common with all
living beings. By the power of Jesus’ resurrection, overcome within us the
deadly and destructive desire to hoard these gifts for ourselves alone.
Third Sunday of Easter
Acts
3:12-19; Psalm 4; 1 John 3:1-7; Luke 24:36b-48
The light of your face
shines on us, O Lord, and upon your whole creation. You uphold the value of
every being you make. By the power of love manifest in Jesus’ resurrection, you
mend each break and heal every wound. May the grace of his incarnate presence
in our Lord’s Supper draw us into a right and respectful use of all your gifts.
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Acts
4:5-12; Psalm 23; 1 John 3:16-24; John 10:11-18
Wondrous power of love,
you author all creation and sustain all life, but hide yourself in the
immensity and the minutia of the universe. By your Spirit, help us to trust in
your creative and healing presence, and to discern those habits and actions
that contribute unfailingly to the true well being of all creatures.
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Acts
8:26-40; Psalm 22:24-30; 1 John 4:7-21; John 15:1-8
O Vine that reaches from
earth into the heavens, your love flows from deep roots to feed the wondrous
and varied fruit of creation. Even in the deserts of human carelessness, you
regenerate the lives of your creatures. Let none of your good branches,
humankind or other kind, be cut off to wither and die, but graft them anew onto
your great tree of salvation.
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Acts
10:44-48; Psalm 98; 1 John 5:1-6; John 15:9-17
All the earth sings your
praise, O God. The seas throb with secret pleasure in hidden depths; the hills
wake to the trill of birds and the valleys fall asleep to the whisper of grass;
clouds dance across the circle of the sky from one end of the earth to the
other. All rejoice in your presence. Grant in Christ that your human children
might also dwell so fully in your love and join their glad, unceasing song.
The Ascension of our Lord
Acts
1:1-11; Psalm 24 or 93; Ephesians 1:15-23; Luke 24:44-53
Praise to you Lord Jesus
Christ, for you hold all the earth within your loving care. In you all
creatures hope for peace and justice to be established in every reach of the
great web of life. By your mercy, make it happen here in this place, too, and
soon.
Seventh Sunday of Easter
Acts
1:15-17, 21-26; Psalm 47 or 93; 1 John 5:9-13; John 17:6-19
Source and goal of all
that is, who gives place and purpose to each one of all your creatures, your
great work of the universe moves on now to completion. We rejoice with the
great company of your creatures to share in this cosmic journey. By your
spirit, grow in us your love for all things, and guide us on the way to the
fulfillment of all that you have promised.
