Prayers and Readings for the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia
During the last day or so the thought had come to me that above all the president is a public servant, and that our prayer for Hillary Clinton, as well as other leaders and aspiring leaders, ought to be that they embrace the role of servants and dedicate themselves with all their hearts.
Then I opened my inbox this morning and found today's reading from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops:
[url]http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/072516.cfm[/url]
The mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons
and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.
He said to her,
“What do you wish?”
She answered him,
“Command that these two sons of mine sit,
one at your right and the other at your left, in your Kingdom.”
Jesus said in reply,
“You do not know what you are asking.
Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?”
They said to him, “We can.”
He replied,
“My chalice you will indeed drink,
but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give
but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”
When the ten heard this,
they became indignant at the two brothers.
But Jesus summoned them and said,
“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,
and the great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.
Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served
but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Have a look at the first reading and the psalm too, as both provide the right perspective for this week.
I should add that last night at Mass during the prayer of the faithful there was a prayer for those at the DNC, as there had been for the RNC the previous week. This morning I pray for the safety of all in the city -- delegates, demonstrators, law enforcement officers, food truck operators -- and for a dedication to working for the highest good.
Do you have any readings or prayers you would like to post?
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Today happens to be the Orthodox feast of the repose of St. Anna, mother of the Virgin Mary. Here are a couple of hymns in her memory. 
Thought they might be suitable for the occasion.
Borrowed from the Daily Readings app published by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
Apolytikion in Fourth Mode
O Godly-minded Anna, thou didst give birth unto God's pure Mother who conceived Him Who is our Life. Wherefore, thou hast now passed with joy to thy heavenly rest, wherein is the abode of them that rejoice in glory; and thou askest forgiveness of sins for them that honour thee with love, O ever-blessed one.
Kontakion in Second Mode
We celebrate now the mem'ry of Christ's ancestors, while asking their help with faith, that we may all be saved from all manner of tribulation as we fervently cry aloud: Be thou with us, O Lord our God, Whose pleasure it was to glorify them both.