Liturgy 119: The Doctrine of Algorithm

A Prayer to Counteract our Deformation of Being Right, Entertained, and Enraged

Slowing Down | Sugar Land TX

Lectio Divina

Rejoice always, pray continually,
give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is God’s will for you
in Christ Jesus
1 Thessalonians 5

You must not ever stop being whimsical.
And you must not, ever, give anyone else
the responsibility for your life.
Mary Oliver

You mustn’t wish for another life.
You mustn’t want to be somebody else.
What you must do is this:
Rejoice evermore.
Pray without ceasing.
In everything give thanks.
I am not all the way capable of so much,
but those are the right instructions.
Wendell Berry

---

Prayer

God of Life

I think
these apps
conspire
to keep me
in a state of
shock
and offense.

My attention
enhances corporate wealth,
and diminishes my soul.

I am entertained.
I am enraged.

I am entertained.
I am enraged.

I am entertained.
I am enraged.

All
throughout,
every
single
day.

Politicians I dislike?
They are vilified.

My own limited insights?
They are fossilized.

What is happening to my soul?

It’s as though I am shrinking
into an adolescent self,
unable to hold tension,
unable to synthesize,
unable to comprehend beyond
two dimensional planes.

I am right.
They are wrong.
This is the doctrine of algorithm.

Selah

You
O Christ

Before you rose from the dead
You rose before the sunrise
to be alone
to be centered
to be one with Father and Spirit
to then live in the dance of union

Selah

O God
who searches hearts

Expose every screen
that causes my soul
to wither.

May I be transformed.

May I not conform
to the patterns of
a Zuckerbergian world.

May I see what you see
May I love whom you love
May I pray without ceasing

May I resist
looking for hope
without first
knowing its source.

Selah

O Crucified God

Let not my imagination of kingdom
be flattened to geopolitics or fiat currencies.

May I be in and yet not of
such worlds.

Teach me to follow Jesus.

The one who spoke truth
without rage, and trusted
the Father in death
and taxes.

May I give to you
all that belongs to you.

Amen

---

Invitation to Discipleship

Dear Friend

Good Morning.
The Lord be with you.

This week
put down your phone
more than you might think to do.

Give to God
your attention
undivided, five minutes at a time
each morning and afternoon.

Let your nervous system
feel the good news:
God is still up to something good.
God dwells within our broken lives.

Go in peace.
Go in union with God.
Rejoice. Pray. Give Thanks.

In the Name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Amen