May every creature abound in well-being and peace.
May every living being, weak or strong, the long and the small,
The short and the medium-sized, the mean and the great
May every living being, seen or unseen, those dwelling far off,
Those near by, those already born, those waiting to be born
May all attain inward peace
Let no one deceive another
Let no one despise another in any situation
Let no one, from antipathy or hatred, wish evil to anyone at all.
Just as a mother, with her own life, protects her only child from hurt
So within yourself foster a limitless concern for every living creature.
Display a heart of boundless love for all the world
In all its height and depth and broad extent
Love unrestrained, without hate or enmity.
Then as you stand or walk, sit or lie, until overcome by drowsiness
Devote your mind entirely to this, it is known as living here life divine.
God, Source of all life,
who did hide your seeds in all that lives,
be present here
as we greet these tiny seeds
with their gifts of life.
Seeds of Life, so small,
and yet, in the mystery of death and burial,
you will produce life tenfold and more.
We sprinkle you with water,
sacred sign of life,
asking that you may be
embraced by our mother the earth,
fed by rain
and kissed gently by the sun.
In caring for you
we shall experience
the most ancient profession of the human family,
the primal vocation
of being workers in the garden.
Soon you will be our pride and joy.
Soon you will be our food
as we give up your life
that we may live.
Seeds,
pregnant with life,
teach us the Easter Secret of Life,
as we ask God to bless you.
Amen.
Loving Creator God,
We acknowledge you as the only source of growth and abundance.
You provide us with food for body and spirit.
With your help we plant our crops and by your power they produce our harvest.
In your kindness and love, make our work fruitful.
Bless our fields and the crops we plant; let them yield a rich harvest.
Grant favorable weather to make these fields productive.
Guide the work of our hands, for in you we live and move and have our being.
Help us bring you glory by using well and sharing the good things we receive from you.
We ask this through Jesus, the Christ. Amen
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