🍂 Mercy: Kyrie Eleison

Ordinary Time, 80s Music, and October Reading Plan!

My husband Jonny was homeschooled. I have to laugh because, around others, he acts like he remembers bits and pieces of nostalgic pop culture references from the 1980s to the early aughts. Spoiler alert: He does not. He is, however, very well-versed in some end-times theories.

We watched a show this week, and the end credits played Kyrie Eleison by Mr. Mister (1985).

Kyrie eleison down the road that I must travel
Kyrie eleison through the darkness of the night
Kyrie eleison where I'm going, will you follow?
Kyrie eleison on a highway in the night

When I was young, I thought of growing old
Of what my life would mean to me
Would I have followed down my chosen road
Or only wished what I could be?

My dad has the nickname DJ Scotty because, from an early age, he’d turn down the radio in the Chevy Nova or whatever 90s vehicle he was driving and say, “Name that tune!”

Would it be AC/DC? U2? The Police? Tom Petty? I had to be at the top of my game.(He trained me up in the way I should go, is what I’m saying.)

Anyway, I was aghast that Jonny didn’t recognize Kyrie Eleison. I mean…it’s at least Christian-adjacent. (He can, however, sing some pretty obscure Baptist hymns.)

Because I’m me, I texted my dad immediately:

Me: Jonny doesn’t know Mr. Mister’s Kyrie Eleison! LOL!

Dad: Noooo! Also, Mom thought it was “Carry a laser” not “Kyrie Eleison”… Like “Carry a laser down the road that I must travel….”

Me: WHO DID WE MARRY

Anyway, this set me on a deep dive of Kyrie Eleison.

Those of you who are Catholic, Episcopalian, or other highly-liturgical traditions are likely familiar with this part of this phrase in morning liturgies.

In Greek, it means “Lord, have mercy.”

What do we mean when we say this in our prayers and in our songs?

Here’s what

Nadia Bolz-Weber

says:

Some may say it’s asking God to not punish us for our sin—to not rain down fury and violent retribution on us, and maybe there’s a place for that, but…

Maybe “Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy” is just shorthand for Please do not punish us by our sins… maybe asking for God’s mercy is like saying: We beg you God that our sin is not the final word. We beg you for your mercy to be with us, because ours is not enough. We pray for your wisdom to be with us, your lovingkindness to be with us because we just don’t have enough of our own. And we keep messing everything up.

It seems that especially in situations where we are overwhelmingly aware of our shortcomings and smallness that we beg this of God.

Mercy in the Mundane

Many of us know we need God’s mercy when something goes completely wrong. But it’s in the seemingly ordinary times when we’re just going on autopilot that we forget our need for mercy.

In the liturgical calendar, we’re in Ordinary Time. We’re not in the thick of Advent or observing Lent. We’re just kind of, ya know, here.

Maybe you don’t struggle with this, but I veer off the path I’m traveling alongside Jesus when I begin to believe I’m doing quite splendidly on my own. I don’t need mercy; it’s just a good accessory to wear when I’ve done something really bad.

But the truth is that God's deep, vast mercy redeems, reshapes, and restores the seemingly smallest moments of our days.

God, have mercy on my short temper with the kids.

God, have mercy on my inability not to fight with that stranger on the Internet.

God, have mercy on my propensity to judgment instead of compassion.

God, have mercy on my spending habits.

If we approach all of our fantastic, dirty, messy, holy lives prayer, then we can borrow the words of the psalmist in the comings and goings of our days:

“Mark the milestones of your mercy and love, God.” (Psalm 25:6a, The MSG)

Breath Prayer for an Ordinary Day

Prayer doesn’t have to be complicated. Breathe in; breathe out. God hears you, sees you, and knows you—and your kids. This breath prayer is from Psalm 4:1.

INHALE: Have mercy on me

EXHALE: Hear my prayer.

My book To Light Their Way contains a whole section of breath prayers. You can find this exact one (and many more) in the book!

Reading Plan for October

This October, slow down with this curated reading plan designed to help your family connect with God and one another through reflections, scripture, breath prayers, and family liturgies.

Reading Plan For October

354KB ∙ PDF file

Download

Download

Drawing from Every Season Sacred and To Light Their Way, each week offers meaningful themes that align with the rhythms of fall and Ordinary Time.

May these readings help anchor your family in God’s mercy and grace as you navigate the busyness of life. Use this PDF to cultivate moments of faith, prayer, and conversation at home, no matter how ordinary your days may seem.

Words to Borrow

When

Tiffany Bluhm

invited me to participate in writing a devotional that blends a deep journalistic dive into the life of a woman from history with a heartfelt, nuanced faith for women today, I think my excited "YES!" could be heard all the way from my little home office here in Iowa.

The Women We've Been Waiting For weaves together Scripture, liturgies, and the stories of women to remind us that caring for ourselves is not separate from the work of justice—it’s the foundation for renewing our souls and addressing the social challenges we are most passionate about.

I’m giving away a book to paid subscribers of Year of Breath! Just leave a comment on this post. This contemplative 40-day journey invites us to embrace a more expansive view of self-care, including faith, rest, joy, lament, collaboration, and empowerment.

(ICYMI: Year of Breath is the FULL part of this Liturgies for Parents newsletter, which includes weekly intentional breath prayers, guided reflection prompts, playlists, Scripture, phone wallpapers, and benediction. I hope it’s a blessing for you and your paid support helps me keep writing!)