Foot Notes

February 12, 2012 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Mark 1: 40-45

2012-02-08T06:00:00.001-06:00

Read the story in this passage three times.
On the first read visualize the encounter; identify the significant actions and words. In your mind paint a picture of the scene.

On the second read be the leper. Feel what he must have felt as an outcast of society. Imagine his anxiety and courage as he approached Jesus. Let his rejoicing over his cure be yours. Skip. Run. Tell everyone you meet.

On the third time you read imagine you are Jesus. It's okay; he was human as we are. Think how he must have felt as he saw the tainted man come toward him. Let your compassion rise as you hear the leper's plea. How does it feel to be able to heal. In your mind dialogue the conflict between preaching your message and crowds response to your reputation as a healer.

Mark 1: 40-45

40 A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, "If you choose, you can make me clean." 41 Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, "I do choose. Be made clean!" 42 Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43 After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, 44 saying to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." 45 But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.

Reflect on your insights. Pray thanks to Jesus.

February 5, 2012 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Mark 1: 29-39

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"Preacher or Healer"
Read Mark 1: 29-39

29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. 31 He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. 32 That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered around the door. 34 And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. 35 In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and his companions hunted for him. 37 When they found him, they said to him, "Everyone is searching for you." 38 He answered, "Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do." 39 And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

Mark implies that the crowds came to Jesus because he healed the sick and exorcised their demons. Jesus, Maark says, wanted to move on--to the next town--to proclaim his message. And what was that message--"the good news"? "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news." (Mark 1:15).

What draws you to Jesus?

Who is he?

Preacher--

Healer--

Exorcist--

Prayer--

Where do you see Jesus today?

January 29, 2012 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time Mark 1: 21-28

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"Jesus of Nazareth...the Holy One of God."
Read Mark 1: 21-28:

21 They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23 Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24 and he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, "What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." 28 At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

In this passage what do you learn about Jesus? From whom do you learn it? Surprised??!!

Imagine a religious gather in your neighborhood today. All different kinds of people are there--some are your friends, some unknown, some very unlike you. A new gal comes in and is invited to the front to read and speak.

Listen--What do you hear her say?

Some how she seems believable, unique!

Suddenly a voice from the back cries out--"I know you. You're the One who is to come."

"Quiet," she says, and the voice is gone.

Reflect on your imagining. Would you believe?

January 22, 2012 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Mark 1: 14-20

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Read slowly and meditatively:
14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."
Which word in these verses grabs you?
Let it happen, the grabbing.
Chew on the word. Roll it around in your mind.
What is its flavor? Texture?
How does it go down? Smooth? Rough?
Digest the word. sit with it for awhile.
What is its significance for you?
What meanings does it have for you?
In what circumstances have you used this word?
Rest with your word and its power for you.
Give God thanks for the word and put it back in the passage.

Read the whole passage:
14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news." 16 As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.
How will you respond to Jesus' proclamation?
How will you answer his call?

January 15, 2012 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time John 1: 43 - 51

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"Come and see." Jesus' invitation.

Did you do any visiting during the holidays? Remember the first moments when you received the invitation? How did you react? What thoughts did you have?
If you went how did you approach the door?
What struck you first as you heard the host call out "Come in"?
Live again for awhile in those moments of invitation and initial greeting.

Now imagine Jesus inviting you to "Come and see" him.
See the scene: How did you receive the invitation? How do you feel about going?
How do you knock on the door and wait for it to open?
How are you greeted?
What do you notice first?
What do you see?
Begin preparing for a new year with Jesus.

Read the passage: John 1: 43-51 from the Message
43-44 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. When he got there, he ran across Philip and said, "Come, follow me." (Philip's hometown was Bethsaida, the same as Andrew and Peter.)
45-46 Philip went and found Nathanael and told him, "We've found the One Moses wrote of in the Law, the One preached by the prophets. It's Jesus, Joseph's son, the one from Nazareth!" Nathanael said, "Nazareth? You've got to be kidding."
But Philip said, "Come, see for yourself."
47When Jesus saw him coming he said, "There's a real Israelite, not a false bone in his body."
48Nathanael said, "Where did you get that idea? You don't know me."
Jesus answered, "One day, long before Philip called you here, I saw you under the fig tree."
49Nathanael exclaimed, "Rabbi! You are the Son of God, the King of Israel!"

50-51Jesus said, "You've become a believer simply because I say I saw you one day sitting under the fig tree? You haven't seen anything yet! Before this is over you're going to see heaven open and God's angels descending to the Son of Man and ascending again."

January 8, 2012 Baptism of the Lord Mark 1: 4 - 11

2012-01-04T06:00:00.006-06:00

Baptism

Iona Baptismal Font

Have you been baptized?

Have you witnessed a baptism?

Remember what you can about those experiences--

Journal those impressions.

Read of Jesus' baptism in Mark's account:

4-6John the Baptizer appeared in the wild, preaching a baptism of life-change that leads to forgiveness of sins. People thronged to him from Judea and Jerusalem and, as they confessed their sins, were baptized by him in the Jordan River into a changed life. John wore a camel-hair habit, tied at the waist with a leather belt. He ate locusts and wild field honey.

7-8As he preached he said, "The real action comes next: The star in this drama, to whom I'm a mere stagehand, will change your life. I'm baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. His baptism—a holy baptism by the Holy Spirit—will change you from the inside out."

9-11At this time, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. The moment he came out of the water, he saw the sky split open and God's Spirit, looking like a dove, come down on him. Along with the Spirit, a voice: "You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life."

Why do you think Jesus went to the river Jordon and joined in John's baptism for repentance of sin?
How do you react to John--his work, his appearance, his proclamation?
Would you have joined the throng?
What do you imagine Jesus felt, experienced, as he came out of the water?

Ponder your life in the Spirit. Offer yourself to God in prayer. Listen for God's words to you.

January 1, 2012 1st Sunday of Christmastide Luke 2: 22 - 40

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Simeon and Anna--Wisdom of Years and Revelation of Spirit

What are your rituals of this season?

Recount some of your ways.
Visit with those older than you to gain perspective on what you do.
Thing about past observances--Remember significant times.
Imagine what might be the Spirit's revelation in your rituals.

Read the stories of Simeon and Anna:
22-24Then when the days stipulated by Moses for purification were complete, they took him up to Jerusalem to offer him to God as commanded in God's Law: "Every male who opens the womb shall be a holy offering to God," and also to sacrifice the "pair of doves or two young pigeons" prescribed in God's Law.

25-32In Jerusalem at the time, there was a man, Simeon by name, a good man, a man who lived in the prayerful expectancy of help for Israel. And the Holy Spirit was on him. The Holy Spirit had shown him that he would see the Messiah of God before he died. Led by the Spirit, he entered the Temple. As the parents of the child Jesus brought him in to carry out the rituals of the Law, Simeon took him into his arms and blessed God: "God, you can now release your servant; release me in peace as you promised. With my own eyes I've seen your salvation; it's now out in the open for everyone to see: A God-revealing light to the non-Jewish nations, and of glory for your people Israel."

33-35Jesus' father and mother were speechless with surprise at these words. Simeon went on to bless them, and said to Mary his mother, "This child marks both the failure and the recovery of many in Israel, A figure misunderstood and contradicted— the pain of a sword-thrust through you— But the rejection will force honesty, as God reveals who they really are."

36-38Anna the prophetess was also there, a daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was by now a very old woman. She had been married seven years and a widow for eighty-four. She never left the Temple area, worshiping night and day with her fastings and prayers. At the very time Simeon was praying, she showed up, broke into an anthem of praise to God, and talked about the child to all who were waiting expectantly for the freeing of Jerusalem.

39-40When they finished everything required by God in the Law, they returned to Galilee and their own town, Nazareth. There the child grew strong in body and wise in spirit. And the grace of God was on him.

What revelations do Simeon's and Anna's stories bring to you?
What do you hear God revealing to our world?
How will you respond today?

December 25, 2011 Nativity of Jesus Christ John 1: 1 - 14

2011-12-21T06:00:00.001-06:00

Christmas Day

14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.

Take some time today to sit quietly and ponder what it means that God became one with humanity--

Write out your questions about this event--
Why? How? Where? When? ....

How is the enfleshed Word a part of you now?
How does he live among us?

Where is God's glory shining now?

Let that glory encircle you and those around you--
Find Christ alive!

Light a candle, turn on a light, smile warmly.
Welcome the babe of Bethlehem, the preaching and teaching Jesus, the triumphant returning Christ of glory!

Merry Christmas to one and all. Peace on earth, good will to men. Amen.

December 18, 2011 4th Sunday of Advent Luke 1:26 - 38

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The Annunciation
"Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you."
"Do not be afraid, mary, for you have found favor with God."

When has an angle come to visit you? Recently? Bearer of good news? Believable?

Read Luke's account of the angel's message to Mary very slowly. Hear carefully her responses.
Imagine what she must have been feeling.
the confusion? the disbelief? the terror? the awakening? the slow acceptance?

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." 34 Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" 35 The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God."

Now hear her say:

38 Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word."

Feel with her. Could you say yes as she did?
Then the angel departed from her.

How do you adjust after a spiritual high?

Imagine all the complications ahead for Mary--accusations of immorality, fear of childbirth, was the angel real?

What is your prayer?

December 11, 2011 3rd Sunday of Advent John 1: 6 - 8; 19 - 28

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A Witness to the Light

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. John 1: 6 - 8

Jesus has many names--Messiah, Christ, Son of Man, Son of God, Lamb of God, Son of David, are but a few. The writer of the gospel of John begins by calling him the Word made flesh, the true light that comes to the world. In the darkness of winter light is most appreciated--It seems to say that the long barren time is ending; the warmth of the bright sun will return; hope for renewal and growth is kindled. We need a witness to testify to the coming of this light.

Where is the "voice crying in the wilderness" for you this Advent? Can we find the one who cries out? Will we hear his words? What for you points to the "true light that enlightens everyone"?

I invite you to:

Sit in the dark.

"See" the light.

Rejoice in its coming.

Pray "Come, Lord Jesus, come."

December 4, 2011 2nd Sunday in Advent Mark 1: 1 - 8

2011-11-30T06:00:00.001-06:00

Angels of Hope, Dublin Castle, Dec. 2009
Tears of Repentance: Raindrops of Hope

"I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." Mark 1: 8

He is coming. His advance man is preparing the crowd.
Repent, Confess, Go into the waters.
A crazy man, a messenger, a weirdo, calls you--join the crowd at the river; everyone is there!

Will you go?
Will you confess your sins?
          BTW what are they, your sins, that is?
Will you be baptized by him, the wild one?
          BTW who this Advent is your harbinger of the coming of "Jesus Christ, the Son of God?"
Will you be at the river when he, the great one, comes?
          BTW how are you present to Jesus this Advent?

Here's the whole passage. Read imagining you are there!
The good news of Jesus Christ—the Message!—begins here, following to the letter the scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
Watch closely: I'm sending my preacher ahead of you;
He'll make the road smooth for you.
Thunder in the desert!
Prepare for God's arrival!
Make the road smooth and straight!
4-6John the Baptizer appeared in the wild, preaching a baptism of life-change that leads to forgiveness of sins. People thronged to him from Judea and Jerusalem and, as they confessed their sins, were baptized by him in the Jordan River into a changed life. John wore a camel-hair habit, tied at the waist with a leather belt. He ate locusts and wild field honey.
7-8As he preached he said, "The real action comes next: The star in this drama, to whom I'm a mere stagehand, will change your life. I'm baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. His baptism—a holy baptism by the Holy Spirit—will change you from the inside out."

November 27, 2011 1st Sunday of Advent Mark 13: 24-37

2011-11-23T06:00:00.001-06:00

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away...

But about that day or hour no one knows,...only the Father."

Advent begins this Sunday. While the world prepares for Christmas, we prepare for the Day of the Lord, the coming of the Son of Man, the return of the Messiah in glory. And the advice is "Keep awake". It's hard for me to imagine any two anticipations that are more different--Christmas as we celebrate in our gifting and decorating and partying and the end times as described in the gospels.

Read the words Mark uses:

24-25"Following those hard times,

Sun will fade out,

moon cloud over,

Stars fall out of the sky,

cosmic powers tremble.

26-27"And then they'll see the Son of Man enter in grand style, his Arrival filling the sky—no one will miss it! He'll dispatch the angels; they will pull in the chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole. The Message

In the light of these words:

How will you prepare this Advent?
What do you truly seek?
How will you "Keep awake"?
What is your prayer?

"Come Lord Jesus, come!"

November 20, 2011 Christ the King Matthew 25: 31-46

2011-11-16T06:00:00.000-06:00

"When the Son of Man come in his glory..."

We pray "Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven." What are we asking? Matthew pictures those who reside in that kingdom as those who care for the basic human needs of those they meet. Those Jesus says are him. Simple--the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, the prisoner are Jesus. The glorious radiant Jesus is also the dirty poor beggar.

Is Jesus not asking us to serve both, to minister to the purely human fleshy needs as well as adore the divine king?

How are you both? --glorious and beggarly

How are we as a nation serving the beggar king?

Where is Jesus amongst us?
These are serious questions, and the answers serious too--in fact eternal.
Read penitently.

31-33"When he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with him, the Son of Man will take his place on his glorious throne. Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left.

34-36"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why:

I was hungry and you fed me,

I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,

I was homeless and you gave me a room,

I was shivering and you gave me clothes,

I was sick and you stopped to visit,

I was in prison and you came to me.'

37-40"Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.'

41-43"Then he will turn to the 'goats,' the ones on his left, and say, 'Get out, worthless goats! You're good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because—

I was hungry and you gave me no meal,

I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,

I was homeless and you gave me no bed,

I was shivering and you gave me no clothes,

Sick and in prison, and you never visited.'

44"Then those 'goats' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn't help?'

45"He will answer them, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.'

46"Then those 'goats' will be herded to their eternal doom, but the 'sheep' to their eternal reward."

November 13, 2011 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Matthew 25: 14 - 30

2011-11-09T10:30:00.000-06:00

Parable of the Talents

I have lived much of my life in terror of this story; it always seemed so unforgiving--how could I ever do enough! And how I longed to hear the words, "well done, good and faithful servant", but feared I never would. Fear is a powerful protector for living creatures--our extended antenna keep us from bing eaten. Fear can prompt us to work hard, use all our skills, and shelter our families. Fear also can stop us dead--lead us to hide under the covers, deny what is, and waste our lives.

But is this parable about fear or work or responsibility? Does it ask us to measure ourselves by what we produce? Or is it about recognizing whose we are? Is it about the abundance God gives as revealed in the redeeming ministry of Jesus? I hope it is the latter for that is what frees me from fear and enables me to trade with my talents!

What do you think? What does it say to you when you ponder deeply?

Read thoughtfully:

14 "For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. 17 In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. 18 But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, "Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.' 21 His master said to him, "Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' 22 And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, "Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.' 23 His master said to him, "Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' 24 Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, "Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' 26 But his master replied, "You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. 29 For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 30 As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

November 6, 2011 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Matthew 25:1 - 13

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"Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour." Matt. 25: 13

Why do you do what you do?

When I read this passage I think Jesus' message to us today is more about motivation than action---

In the preceding passages we see he had silenced the leading authorities not necessarily by challenging what they said but by pointing out what they were trying to do--trick him, establish their superiority, gain recognition, hide from the truth--their motivations.

Those who do good to be seen, or refrain from evil because they're afraid of being caught are so vulnerable.

---They're sorely tempted when no one is looking--

---They're unprepared when the Messiah suddenly shows--

As you read the passage see if you can change and generalize in into today's time and your own awareness.

1 "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, "Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' 7 Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish said to the wise, "Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' 9 But the wise replied, "No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.' 10 And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. 11 Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, "Lord, lord, open to us.' 12 But he replied, "Truly I tell you, I do not know you.' 13 Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

As we move toward the time of fervent prayer "Come, Lord Jesus, come." perhaps we can benefit by looking deeply within and honestly asking:

How aware are you?

for Kingdom living is conscious living!

October 30, 2011 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time Matthew 23: 1 - 12

2011-10-26T06:00:00.007-05:00

"...for they do not practice what they teach."

"The greatest among you will be your servant."

The virtue of humility has long been touted as the Christian virtue. Certainly Jesus extols it--Be the servant of all as was he. Our culture on the other hand teaches us to look out first for Number 1. "Don't be a patsy."

How can we be true followers?

How can we practice what we preach?

How can we be effective agents of the kingdom of God?

Jesus asks us to remember who we follow, whose we are. That surety replaces all the accolades and rewards society might offer.

Read again Matthew's words:

1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; 3 therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. 6 They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, 7 and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. 9 And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father—the one in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.

October 23, 2011 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time Matthew 22: 34 - 46

2011-10-19T06:00:00.002-05:00

End of Questions

The Pharisees engaged each other in rabbinic debate--questions to challenge, questions to probe authority, questions to establish position, and questions to illumine Scripture showing God's way. Jesus was one of them and if Matthew is correct he often bested the best at debate.

Does Jesus then want us not to ask questions? I think not. I think his critique is directed more to the motive behind the questioning. Those whose primary goal is self assertion are caught in his web. They not only lose face and the arguments but their egoism closes them to the love of God and they are unable to love in return.

Read the words:
34 When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35 and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" 37 He said to him, " "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." 41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: 42 "What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?" They said to him, "The son of David." 43 He said to them, "How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying, 44 "The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet" '? 45 If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?" 46 No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions. Matthew 22: 34 - 46

How will you engage in dispute?

October 16, 2011 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Jesus said, " 'Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites?' " Matthew 22:18

Most students hate tests--Why? What about you? How do you feel? Is a test a time to shine or a threat of exposure? Do you, did you, see the teacher as trying to catch you failure or help you to grow?

Most adults at some time administer tests--How do you ask questions? What is your hope? Do you use tests as an aid to those you question or are they ways to assert your superiority?

When have you tried to set someone up by the questions you ask?
Remember that time--
Let Jesus answer you--
Let your heart respond--

Read the whole account of Jesus' encounter with his Pharisee questioners in Matthew 22: 15 - 22.
Paying Taxes
15-17 That's when the Pharisees plotted a way to trap him into saying something damaging. They sent their disciples, with a few of Herod's followers mixed in, to ask, "Teacher, we know you have integrity, teach the way of God accurately, are indifferent to popular opinion, and don't pander to your students. So tell us honestly: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"
18-19 Jesus knew they were up to no good. He said, "Why are you playing these games with me? Why are you trying to trap me? Do you have a coin? Let me see it." They handed him a silver piece.
20 "This engraving—who does it look like? And whose name is on it?"
21 They said, "Caesar."
"Then give Caesar what is his, and give God what is his."
22 The Pharisees were speechless. They went off shaking their heads.

October 9, 2011 28th Sunday in Ordinary Times

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“For many are called but few are chosen”
Matthew 22: 1 – 14
Read of the king’s wedding banquet for his son:
1 Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: 2 "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. 4 Again he sent other slaves, saying, "Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.' 5 But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. 7 The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his slaves, "The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.' 10 Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11 "But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, 12 and he said to him, "Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?' And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, "Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 14 For many are called, but few are chosen."

This is perhaps another disturbing parable from Matthew’s Jesus.
What do you hear first?
What offends you?
What delights you?
What confuses you?

Ponder some more—
How and when do you see yourself as one of the initial invitees? Respond to the invitation.
When are you one of those invited while you’re on the street corner?
Are you at times the one who comes without the proper dress? Why did you come this way?

Offer the King your confessions and gratitude. Pray for a God of mercy.

October 2, 2011 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Another parable Matthew 21: 33 – 46

33-34"Here's another story. Listen closely. There was once a man, a wealthy farmer, who planted a vineyard. He fenced it, dug a winepress, put up a watchtower, then turned it over to the farmhands and went off on a trip. When it was time to harvest the grapes, he sent his servants back to collect his profits. 35-37"The farmhands grabbed the first servant and beat him up. The next one they murdered. They threw stones at the third but he got away. The owner tried again, sending more servants. They got the same treatment. The owner was at the end of his rope. He decided to send his son. 'Surely,' he thought, 'they will respect my son.' 38-39"But when the farmhands saw the son arrive, they rubbed their hands in greed. 'This is the heir! Let's kill him and have it all for ourselves.' They grabbed him, threw him out, and killed him. 40"Now, when the owner of the vineyard arrives home from his trip, what do you think he will do to the farmhands?" 41"He'll kill them—a rotten bunch, and good riddance," they answered. "Then he'll assign the vineyard to farmhands who will hand over the profits when it's time."

42-44Jesus said, "Right—and you can read it for yourselves in your Bibles: The stone the masons threw out is now the cornerstone. This is God's work; we rub our eyes, we can hardly believe it! "This is the way it is with you. God's kingdom will be taken back from you and handed over to a people who will live out a kingdom life. Whoever stumbles on this Stone gets shattered; whoever the Stone falls on gets smashed." 45-46When the religious leaders heard this story, they knew it was aimed at them. They wanted to arrest Jesus and put him in jail, but, intimidated by public opinion, they held back. Most people held him to be a prophet of God.

Toward the end we read these words: “Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produce the fruits of the kingdom. 21: 43

When we read this parable we think we recognize that the story is about God and God’s son, Jesus. We are believers. We would not treat God’s vineyard in such a cavalier self-serving manner. We know we are tenants and not owners. But do we? Are we producing the fruits of the kingdom of God? Could Jesus tell this parable to us, the new Israel, the covenant people? Might we recognize ourselves as the target as did the Pharisee? Do we want to arrest Jesus for he stands in the way of our life? Just a thought—

September 25, 2011 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Matthew 21: 23 – 32

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As your read the passage, list the questions.

23 When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" 24 Jesus said to them, "I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?" And they argued with one another, "If we say, "From heaven,' he will say to us, "Why then did you not believe him?' 26 But if we say, "Of human origin,' we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet." 27 So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 28 "What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, "Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' 29 He answered, "I will not'; but later he changed his mind and went. 30 The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, "I go, sir'; but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.

Hear Jesus’ questions addressed to you or hear yourself asking questions of Jesus.
As you ask—What do you learn of who Jesus is? What do you learn of who you are?

John came to you showing you the right road. You turned up your noses at him, but the crooks and whores believed him. Even when you saw their changed lives, you didn't care enough to change and believe him. Matthew 21: 32 The Message

John came calling society to repent, to return to a right relationship with God, to be baptized into newness of life. He preached away from the city. He behaved as a strange prophet. The outsiders, the ‘bad’ people, the societal misfits, those who everyone wanted to change, believed. The rest Jesus says “even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.”

What is Jesus telling you, us, must change, now?

Matthew 20: 1 - 16. September 18, 2011

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1-2 "God's kingdom is like an estate manager who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. They agreed on a wage of a dollar a day, and went to work. 3-5"Later, about nine o'clock, the manager saw some other men hanging around the town square unemployed. He told them to go to work in his vineyard and he would pay them a fair wage. They went.
5-6"He did the same thing at noon, and again at three o'clock. At five o'clock he went back and found still others standing around. He said, 'Why are you standing around all day doing nothing?'

7"They said, 'Because no one hired us.' "He told them to go to work in his vineyard.

8"When the day's work was over, the owner of the vineyard instructed his foreman, 'Call the workers in and pay them their wages. Start with the last hired and go on to the first.'

9-12"Those hired at five o'clock came up and were each given a dollar. When those who were hired first saw that, they assumed they would get far more. But they got the same, each of them one dollar. Taking the dollar, they groused angrily to the manager, 'These last workers put in only one easy hour, and you just made them equal to us, who slaved all day under a scorching sun.'

13-15"He replied to the one speaking for the rest, 'Friend, I haven't been unfair. We agreed on the wage of a dollar, didn't we? So take it and go. I decided to give to the one who came last the same as you. Can't I do what I want with my own money? Are you going to get stingy because I am generous?' The Message

Imagine this story told today—

Notice the first line “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.” Identify for today the hirer, the vineyard, the marketplace, the first hired, the second, the last—.
Engage in the dialogue of hiring—
Now hear the dialogue of paying—

Where are you in the story? What are you feeling?
What does justice look like in the kingdom of heaven?

Matthew writes in chapter 19 and 20
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first. (19: 30)
So the last will be first, and the first will be last." (20: 16)

Ponder these words in your mind, in your heart, in your soul. Respond in your whole being.

Matthew 18: 21 - 35. September 11, 2011

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21At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, "Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?"

22Jesus replied, "Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.

23-25"The kingdom of God is like a king who decided to square accounts with his servants. As he got under way, one servant was brought before him who had run up a debt of a hundred thousand dollars. He couldn't pay up, so the king ordered the man, along with his wife, children, and goods, to be auctioned off at the slave market.

26-27"The poor wretch threw himself at the king's feet and begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.' Touched by his plea, the king let him off, erasing the debt.

28"The servant was no sooner out of the room when he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him ten dollars. He seized him by the throat and demanded, 'Pay up. Now!'

29-31"The poor wretch threw himself down and begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.' But he wouldn't do it. He had him arrested and put in jail until the debt was paid. When the other servants saw this going on, they were outraged and brought a detailed report to the king.

32-35"The king summoned the man and said, 'You evil servant! I forgave your entire debt when you begged me for mercy. Shouldn't you be compelled to be merciful to your fellow servant who asked for mercy?' The king was furious and put the screws to the man until he paid back his entire debt. And that's exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn't forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy."

Debt is a big topic these days—personal debt, corporate debt, national debt. What are we to do about it? It is/was wrong for (fill in the blank—Greece, the poor, the banks, the US government …) to run up so much debt. They must suffer, they must pay! Woe are we if somehow the deficit is not dealt with soon. Many of the comments in this passage reflect it seems Jesus’ connection of debt and sin; we do that regularly when we pray the Lord’s Prayer. So what does this story Jesus told say to us today? (Note the picture is from road in Peloponnesia, Greece.)
Imagine for a moment you are the debtor, for we all are. The money’s been spent, the good times had, the emergencies borrowed for and past— what are we to do now? How can we repay?
Be in this place for awhile. Feel the fear, the hopelessness, and the guilt. Search for the solutions. Meet your creditor.

The Jews have the year of the Jubilee (Lev. 25: 39 – 43) to free the debtor.
What should be the Christian response to debt, to sin?

Matthew 18: 15 - 20. September 4, 2011

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"Here's the door, Here's the steeple, Open the door, And here's all the people."

We all remember that childhood rhyme along with the hand motions. Perhaps think about the church, our church, as you read today’s passage in Matthew.

Read the passage Matthew 18: 15 - 20 in full.

The first and last verse struck me, Matthew 18: 15 and 18:20.
15 "If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. NRSV

Have you been sinned against by one you call your brother or sister in Christ?
Remember that experience—
Feel again that time if it seems right—
Recall what you did and what was the result—

15 "If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him—work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you've made a friend.” The Message
Have you sinned against one you call your brother or sister in Christ?
Remember the experience—
Feel again your emotions at the time—
Recall what you did and what resulted—

20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them." NRSV
Have you experienced a time when you felt Christ’s presence as you were with brothers and sisters in Christ?
Remember that time—
Feel again as you did there—
Recall what was done and what resulted—

Spend some time connecting these three experiences.
How do these experiences and this passage define church?

Blessings Caroline

June 19, 2011 Trinity Sunday Matt. 28: 16-20

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Three folds of the cloth, yet only one napkin is there,

Three joints in the finger, but still only one finger fair,

Three leaves of the shamrock, yet no more than one shamrock to wear,

Frost, snow-flakes and ice, all in water their origin share,

Three Persons in God; to one God alone we make our prayer.”
Ancient Celtic Prayer quoted in Esther deWaal Celtic Way of Prayer

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

To whom do you “normally” address your prayers?

Reflect on what that means, what that suggests about how you envision God.

Perhaps try addressing God in prayer differently.

Reflect on the power of names.

Remember Jesus said “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

June 12, 2011 Pentecost John 20: 19 – 23

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“Into my heart, into my heart,

Come into my heart Lord Jesus.

Come in today,

Come in to stay,

Come into my heart, Lord Jesus.”

Sing that song, hum it, sink into your heart.

19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." NRSV

As you read imagine you are in the closed room—with the others—

Feel the fear—the loss—the possibilities in the women’s report Jesus is risen—

Suddenly Jesus appears---take time to absorb his presence.

Hear Jesus say “Peace be with you”. Open yourself to see him truly.

Now hear him send you out—sent as he was sent by God. How will you go?

Feel, know, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Sit for awhile. Then burst forth. Wear red today.

June 5, 2011; 7th Sunday of Eastertide; John 17:1-11

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This is an invitation to meditate this week on Sunday's lectionary passage from the gospel of John.

Turn to God

Open our eyes

See the glory--

Amen.

1 After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you,

11 And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. NRSV

Notice the flow of glory, of being as you read.
Feel the movement in and out of your body, now your heart, finally your mind.
How is God and Jesus in God protecting you today?
Sit in the warm embrace of the God of love. Give thanks.
Go about your day so encircled.

The compassing of God be on thee,
The compassing of the God of life.
The compassing of Christ be on thee,
The compassing of the Christ of love.
The compassing of Spirit be on thee,
The compassing of the Spirit of Grace.
The compassing of the Three be on thee,
The compassing of the Three preserve thee,
The compassing of the Three preserve thee.
Amen.
Ancient Celtic Protection Prayer--Caim Pictured above

December 30: The Feast of the Holy Family

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Read Luke 2: 41 – 52
Sing “Away in a Manger”

For many of us Christmas is so much about children that we forget that we celebrate the birth of the savior. But maybe now we are beginning to hope the season will end soon; the children have become an annoyance. The new toys have lost their luster, the house is too full of noise, and maybe we would like our children seen but not heard.

Luke not only tells us Mary pondered the birth of her God child but that her son grew in size and in wisdom and in favor of God and humans. He was nurtured and loved it seems. The feast of the Holy Family reminds us Jesus was a child with parents, a part of a family. And we too are a part of a family. What sort of family are we creating? Are we growing as Jesus did; are we encouraging that growth?

What’s more, all children, not just our own, need that love and nurture. Children the world over are vulnerable and we know many are abused, neglected, and needy. In a world of plenty how criminal it seems that children go to bed hungry. How insane it seems that we teach them to hate. What indeed makes us use these precious ones for our own pleasure despite the violence it does to them? They are our hope for the future as one of the angels in Dublin Castle suggests. The words around the outside of the heart of hope read “cherish all the children of the nation equally”. Not only the nation but the world I would add. How important that is! How will we do that? What is our part? What could we do today?

As I look at the symbols painted on the cast the loving hands of course draw my eye. Certainly we must hold our children gently, not too tightly that they cannot fly, but not too loosely that they are abused. The gate on the bottom however suggests even more to me; we must open the way; we must allow all to find their way—to grow as Jesus did.

For children from 2 to 92: Reach Out to Your Neighbors
Neglected, Abused, and Needy Children

Probably all of us received something new this Christmas season—a new dress, a new tie, a new toy. Even the adults among us may have been given something new to play with. What happens to all the “old” toys sitting in the closet? What happens to those toys we no longer use or want? What happens to those of us who have so much that the “new” toys really are simply more clutter?

Take some time today to go through all the old and new toys you have. Choose some to give to those who have less. Find a place where other children can enjoy your extras. Maybe even give away something you really like and wanted.

Imagine the joy other children will have with your gifts. What would you like to tell them?

Pray for children, yours and the world’s.

December 29: Remembering Mary, the Mother

2010-12-30T08:09:00.002-06:00

Read Luke: 1: 46 – 55
Sing “Gentle Mary Laid Her Child”

The rest between holidays! Whew! The Spanish like many of us celebrate at Christmas and New Year’s. Christmas is a time for family, food, and dancing. Presenting is to come on Epiphany. And in-between the world-wide celebration of the turning of the year occurs providing a recipe for over-indulgence if we aren’t careful.

The worshipful dancing in Spain that greets the arrival of the babe of Bethlehem reflects a tender feeling they have for his mother. The Virgin has guided the Spanish celebrations since the eight of December, the feast of the Immaculate Conception. The ‘dance of the six’, now ten, moves the crowds I read. On the eve of the holy birth tiny lights are lit and a special dance to guitars and castanets is done. Most homes have a manger scene around which the Christmas celebrations center. The cow is especially honored for legend has it that she breathed on the infant Jesus to keep him warm.

Mary as we read in Luke’s gospel pondered all she had seen and heard. So today is perhaps a good day for us to ponder the celebration of the birth—what does it mean for us today? Perhaps today is the day to remove ourselves from the fray of celebrating and sit in silence before the manger scene. Maybe today take the time to absorb the enormity of this birth.

Walk in the garden, sit in the cathedral, lie on the beach—welcome the sun, return to the quiet, be in your mother’s arms.

Pray for gentleness, yours and the world’s.

For children from 2 to 92: Use your creative, playful side
Tell the Story from the Picture: Divine Imagining

Find a place where you can relax. Choose a picture connected with Christmas. Perhaps use the picture of the window in Montserrat Monastery in Spain. Invite God to be with you as you engage the picture. Take a few minutes to quiet yourself and be present to the moment.

Look at the picture. What do you notice first? Write it down or tell someone.

Look at the picture again, this time let your eyes move all around it. What story does it tell? Write it down or tell someone?

Look again. Let your eyes draw you into the imagery. What grabs your attention most? How does the picture make you feel? What does the picture remind you of? Write about what you are sensing or tell another.

Look one more time at the picture. Sit for a few minutes letting your mind and body absorb the scene. What do you think the picture means for you? What is the picture suggesting you do? If you want write what you are thinking or tell someone else.

Say a prayer and then put the picture away.

December 28: Feast of the Holy Innocents

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Read Matt. 2: 13 – 18
Sing “In the Bleak Midwinter”

The story of Herod’s slaughter of babies of Bethlehem casts a dark pale over the celebrations of Christmastide. Emmanuel has come, but all are not pleased.

Today is perhaps a good day to reflect—not only do I remember the joy, the peace, the beauty of the season, but also the excess, the abuse, the pain that often is a part of our celebrations.

The goddess has been forced into oblivion so men can rule. The old ways have been condemned, their truth denied, so earthly kings can reign. The earth’s natural ways have been thwarted so humanity can live in pleasure. Christ’s coming, the Prince of Peace, is heralded with swords and banners of war.
Forgive us Lord, Jesus.
Amazing it is that you live.

The Celts thought this an inauspicious day to begin something new. But it is the birthday of my mother. And because she was born, I am. She certainly has brought blessings despite the struggles of her childhood. Good comes despite the efforts of evil. The sun rises each day, anew. Horror, terror, are not the last words. We weep rightly, but God brings comfort and laughter.

Wrap up in a blanket today against the cold as if you are in the loving arms of the Father God. Wrap up in a blanket against the cold as if you are at the nourishing breast of the Mother God. Wrap up in a blanket against the cold and listen to the angelic songs the Spirit brings.

For children from 2 to 92: Cook, Eat, and Enjoy Together
Irish Trifle
Ingredients
50g mascarpone
3 tbsp icing sugar, plus extra for garnish
4 tbsp cream liqueur
Pinch of ground cinnamon
1 orange, zest only
200ml double cream
Approx 100g panettone (or cake of your choice, recipe at end of booklet)
1 tbsp brandy
Small piece of dark chocolate to grate
• Sift the icing sugar into the mascarpone and whisk together with the cream liqueur, cinnamon and orange zest.
• In a separate bowl, beat the double cream until three-quarters whipped. Fold the cream into the mascarpone mixture.
• Cut the panettone into small cubes, place in a large bowl and sprinkle over the brandy. Toss to coat evenly.
• Place a spoonful of the cream mixture into the bottom of 4 serving glasses/bowls. Layer half the panettone on top, followed by another layer of cream. Scatter over with the remaining panettone. Warm a dessert spoon in some hot water and use it to shape four quenelles of the cream to place on top of each dessert.
• Finally, dust over a little icing sugar and finish with some grated chocolate.

Pray for an end to destructive competitiveness, yours and world’s.

Dec.27: Feast of John the Evangelist and big shopping day in Dublin

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Read John 1: 1 – 5
Sing “ Silent Night, Holy Night”

Crowds hunting after-Christmas bargains greet this day not only in Dublin but throughout the world. Shopping at Christmastide has the added gift of decoration for the season—lights, trees, in the streets, on top of buildings, down department store aisles. They, if you let them, can force you to stop and look and perhaps be blessed.

The Celts have a holiday tradition of putting a light in the window to guide the wayward home, or to guide a stranger to safety, or to guide the Holy Family to rest—choose whichever version you wish or hold them all. How welcoming, especially on a cold and gray day as are many in Ireland this time of the year!

The gift of the Word made flesh, John the Evangelist says, is this light. Light shining in darkness, whether as a small window candle or a brilliant street decoration, is the true message of Christmastide.

Pray for Christ’s light to shine through you.

For children from 2 to 92: Use your creative, playful side
Your Christmastide Scrapbook

Collect the ‘stuff’ of this Christmas—your left over catalogues, wrapping paper, and greeting cards—your pictures too.

Organize your ‘stuff’: maybe by date used or received, maybe by type (religious, Santa Claus, party), or maybe by color or style (mostly red, green, traditional, wacky). Have fun sorting and remembering, talking and reflecting.

Put your ‘stuff’ in a scrapbook making it the way that reflects you and your family.
Look at what you’ve made. What do you like best about this picture of Christmastide? What surprises you about your celebration? What is most you, your family?
Where is God in what you’ve made, in what you’ve done, in what you’ve explored?
Put your scrapbook where you can find it early next year.

Note: Don’t throw everything away for you may want to use some of the same material for making your Christmastide symbol later in the season.

December 26: St. Stephen's Day and Boxing Day

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Read Acts 7: 54-8:1
Sing "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"

The day after Christmas is Boxing Day in the British Isles and St. Stephen’s Day on the saints’ calendar. Presents and martyrdom are a strange mix. How can we put these two ideas together? I am reminded that Stephen’s final words as he was being stoned to death were words of forgiveness. He, like Jesus, “cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he died.” (Acts 7:60) This last act of a dying man was certainly a gift, the gift of all gifts, forgiveness and new life. No longer are we held to the past, condemned, but now we can begin anew. The world received that gift again yesterday, Christmas Day, the day of Jesus’ birth. Our response in gifting others seems reasonable for what else can we do in response to such a great gift.

The idea of Boxing Day apparently began as a time to give back to those who served one throughout the year: the one who cut the grass, cleaned the house, or mended the fence. Just think of all those who provide services for you throughout the year; today we offer them something in return. We also give to those who are without. Much of the joy of Christmastide comes from taking the time to serve the less fortunate. One person’s effort encourages another and another and for a moment joy and peace abound. Giving of ourselves and our bounty, being vulnerable and available to others, and truly enjoying and reveling in the beauty of creation takes us a giant step toward the world God reveals in Jesus.

The cold and limited light of this day in the northern hemisphere reminds us that we are not there yet, but that should not discourage our effort. Stephen knew that evil still was, Jesus was not yet fully known, however in dying he asserted anew that God had already come and had already revealed the true nature of our world. God will not be thwarted. Peace will be. Redemption is real.

My favorite angel in the courtyard of Dublin castle was the one decorated by the association providing care for abused children. The angel’s bright pastel color represents for me the new life each of these children are and will find. The burlap sack drug behind and covered with words like ‘I hate you’ tells of the past being shed. What a wonderful gift to give—shedding the past words of hatefulness, of violence against the innocent, of misuse of power. What a wonderful gift—rebirth marked by dying of painful memories, by acceptance into arms of the loving, by seeing in the
light.

Stephen died proclaiming the redemption that had come into the world. Boxing Day leads us to share with those we often take for granted. Gifting replaces taking. Joy replaces apathy. Light comes in the darkness.

For children from 2 to 92: Reach Out to Your Neighbors
Boxing Day

Let’s recover the original meaning of Boxing Day by serving or gifting those who serve. Think about those that serve you regularly during the year—the clerks at the grocery, those who clean the house, ones who cook your meals, the mail person, the garbage collector, your teacher. Think also of those in your family who also serve. Make a list and think what you can do for each to tell them how much you appreciate them. Remember gifts don’t always have to be bought. A hug, a thank you, a kind word, a note or card can be the expression best given.

CHRISTMAS DAY

2010-12-26T18:15:00.006-06:00

Read Luke 2:8-20
Sing "Joy to the World,
the Lord is come!"

Today is the first day of Christmastide.

Today is the first day
Of Christmastide
Eleven more to come.

A babe, a child
A bar mitzvah-ed boy,
A brother, carpenter, son,
All before a preacher,
Messiah, crucified one.

So don't rush,
Don't over anticipate,
Participate in the now.

The sun glances off the snow;
The battle enjoined,
Heat, light, again, cold, dark
But beauteous both.
The Savior born.

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

2010-12-23T21:57:00.002-06:00

Some Beginning Thoughts

Christmas Day begins the season of Christmastide, a season we sometimes forget lasts at least twelve days. (One Roman Catholic tradition continues the season for forty days ending on Candlemas, Feb. 2.) Some of us find such relief in finally arriving at the 25th that we think it, the season, is thankfully now all over. However Christmastide actually has just begun. The previous weeks, Advent, were those of anticipation and preparation. Now the birth has happened, the Savior has come, the rejoicing can begin. How can we mark this time? What does it truly mean that Jesus is born, the Word is made flesh? Twelve days we have to ponder before we end the season with the celebration of Epiphany, the revelation of Christ to the world.

This season in lands around the world and in days of yore was often combined with the celebrations of the pagan world. In the secular Western world we start the new year in the middle of it; New Year’s Day is the eighth day of Christmastide. As Christians we hope for a world as God intends, a world of peace and prosperity for all. How do we make these hopes realities? How can we rightly observe this season for we now know something amazing has happened in the birth of Jesus, something amazing has begun with the coming of the Savior, and something amazing awaits us as we ring in this year of our Lord?
I saw in December 2009 in the courtyard of Dublin castle huge painted angels. Each figure had been decorated by a celebrity or organization to promote a particular hope for the future. I wish to let some of these expressions of hope guide our celebration of Christmastide. I also want to use the calendar of church feasts and saints’ days and the traditions of other countries to prompt our musings. Finally I wish to encourage us to respond with activities of personal reflection, outreach to others, and joyful feasting.

Warmest Blessings for the Whole Season

Look for the daily devotionals for Christmastide to come.

Blessings, Caroline

Spiritual Growth—December 2010

2010-12-19T17:37:00.003-06:00

Christmastide

By the time you read this we will be well into the season of Advent so I want to talk about the next season Christmastide. The church year begins in most places with the season of Advent. For four Sundays and the weeks they include we anticipate the coming again of Jesus, the Christ, the Savior of the World. On Christmas Day we celebrate that event! But one day is not enough for this momentous happening; one day does not give us time to begin to comprehend what God has done. So in the church calendar Christmas Day is the first of the season of Christmastide. For twelve more days in our tradition (forty in the Roman Catholic tradition) we will ponder the meaning of Christ’s coming. Our season will end with the second celebration of the birth, Epiphany. This time Jesus is revealed to the nations; he is announced as King of Creation. The two gospel stories of the birth bracket this season. Luke tells us of the birth and visit of the humble and outcast. Matthew records the arrival to worship of wise men from the East. On Christmas Day we commemorate an infant birth in Bethlehem. At Epiphany we present gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Following the church liturgical year affords us reminders of the breadth of the message of God incarnate. As we anticipate in Advent, celebrate in Christmastide, repent in Lent, rejoice in Eastertide, and live in Ordinary Time we experience again and again and deeper and deeper the life of love in which we live and to which we are called. Observing the church seasons is a discipline worth the effort.

On Christmas Eve on the blog I will begin to offer a guide for the 12 days of Christmas. Each day you are offered a Scripture to read, a reflection to ponder, a picture to gaze on, and something to do individually or with your family. Collectively this will offer us I hope a time of musing, a new way to hear, and a chance to involve our whole being. The work centers around four European countries, reflecting on their holiday traditions, and takes guidance from the various saint days that grace the calendar. The activities are designed to involve every age and move us in direction of creating, giving, and feasting; a project, an outreach suggestion and a recipe from the country is included for each of the four sections. Read, listen, do.

While you may not do all that is suggested I do hope you will set aside some time each day to celebrate this season, to delve deeply into the meaning of the Incarnation, to let God guide you in responding wholly to the “good news of great joy” that came and comes to us now. Jesus is born today, Jesus is born today!

Blessings, Caroline

Spiritual Growth—November 2010

2010-12-19T17:34:00.001-06:00

Remembering—the Examen

I write on All Saints Day, November 1, a day to remember those who have gone before. My thoughts have been filled with my aunt and my father, both special people in my life. I do believe in the ‘communion of saints’ as we say in the Apostle’s Creed. It seems to me this is a good time to begin a season of remembering, examining. The year is ending whether you measure it by the liturgical or secular calendar. I am much more aware of the day’s ending since daylight is shorter now. Approaching end times are calls to the ancient discipline of ‘the Examen’, a regular (you choose the time frame) review of your living in the light only God can shine. Because we know a gracious God we are free to be honest in this work; our confessions we can be sure are heard by a forgiving Lord. We can repent knowing that our good intentions will be upheld by a loving master. We can even take pleasure in our ‘good deeds’ for in so doing we give thanks for God’s goodness to us.

Finding a way to practice this discipline is often difficult for we need a framework that balances the need to confess with the need to give thanks. Identifying prompts to bring to awareness both our times of distancing from God and following God is integral in encouraging growth. I recently read a quotation from Evelyn Underhill’s Essential Writings (quoted in Joyce Rupp’s Open the Door, p. 151) that offered I think an interesting framework for undertaking this examination. I offer it to you as a possibility. At the end of the day, the year, the life “Was everything that was done, done for love’s sake? Were all the doors opened, that the warmth of Charity might fill the whole house; the windows cleaned, that they might more and more radiate from within its mysterious divine light?” Stop, look, listen for what is done in love, opened to love, and radiates love. And if you are unsure what is love listen to St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 13. Give the Examen in this form a try—tonight.

Blessings, Caroline

SPIRITUAL GROWTH--October 2010

2010-10-06T20:05:00.002-05:00

Worship

When and how do you use the word “worship”?
Is regular worship a discipline you practice?

The Book of Order, the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has three parts. The second is the “Directory for Worship”. Apparently our church, leaders past and present, believe that worship is one of most significant aspects of the Christian life. Being Christian means worshiping God. Mid-way through the directory I found these words: “God hallows daily life, and daily life provides opportunity for holy living. As Christians honor and serve God in daily life, they worship God. For Christians, work and worship cannot be separated.” (W-5.6003)

Read those words again and maybe again.

What do you hear? Does that expand or contract your understanding of worship? How in your life do you connect worship on the Lord’s Day with work on Monday? How in your life do you worship on Tuesday as you car pool the kids? What does it mean to worship?

The Directory of Worship describes the elements of worship AND the places of worship. Howard Rice, past professor of ministry and chaplain of San Francisco Seminary, summarizes this way: “[The elements of secret or private worship are] reading scripture, prayer, silent waiting upon God, meditation upon the Word, self-offering, and commitments to service. Each of these parts of secret worship is balanced by public worship and kept honest when shared with others, but they must be done alone if they are to have meaning.” (Reformed Spirituality, p. 54) Corporate and private come together; worship and work are a continuum; offering prayer, reading scripture, promising service are all required in worship. Certainly we cannot afford to ignore this discipline!

Perhaps now is the time for you to grow your discipline of worship. Attending regularly the Lord’s Day service is a place to begin. Preparing for worship by personal prayer and reading Scripture (We’re told the passages to be preached and read the next week at the bottom of the bulletin.) may be the next step. Establishing a special time of meditating and offering of self to God daily will certainly enhance corporate worship. And as we wait on God, God may surprise us in the supermarket line, on the computer screen, at the lunch table with colleagues and friends. And we are just beginning.

Blessings
Caroline

SPIRITUAL GROWTH—September 2010

2010-08-30T11:53:00.000-05:00

Confession and Repentance

“Ugh!” you say, “Caroline, what a depressing subject. The school year is beginning; cooler weather is coming; the holidays are just around the corner; why talk about confession and repentance?” But actually what could be a better time to talk about confession than the beginning of a new year, at a time when change seems just around the corner. Remember Jesus began his ministry responding to John the Baptist’s call to repent and announcing that the Kingdom of God is at hand. Stay with me for a moment and think a bit about confession and repentance.

Confession can be one of the most freeing activities in which we as humans can engage. Seeing the past as it truly is, admitting our misguided and selfish ways, honestly connecting with those we have hurt are all liberating works. No longer need we pretend; no longer need we spend energy rationalizing that which is wrong; no longer need we avoid the unpleasant past. Imagine for a moment how you might feel knowing that you have faced truthfully who you are and what you have done and that God loves you still.

Confession opens the door to new life. Turning, repenting, from past ways and toward the new is hallmark of healthy living. Admitting out loud that which we know is unpleasing to God and that which needs to change can not only free us from the past but chart the way forward. The door behind closes as the new one streaming with light opens. We can hear the Word from a friend, or read it in a book, or hear it in the words of a song. We are called forward toward greater Kingdom living.

Make no mistake—confession and repentance are not easy. They require honesty. Often they lead to conversations we think we would rather not have. As we all know new behaviors don’t come as easily as what we have always done. But Jesus leads the way; God beckons us forward; the way of forgiveness and new life is our mission.

So I invite you now at the beginning of fall to take some time to look at your living. Ask God to walk with you as you question what you do, how you respond, who you are. Be ready to hear both that which is of God and that which is not. Confess, be forgiven, and turn to the new. I join you in this work.

Blessings,
Caroline

SPIRITUAL GROWTH--August 2010

2010-08-08T14:47:00.001-05:00

Reading Scripture

One of the most often suggested spiritual disciplines is the recommendation that one read the Bible daily. But how? Yes we do know how to read, but do we? If we think of Scripture as the living word of God, the how we are to hear that living word seeks explanation. Part of the answer I believe lies in how we read holy text. Of course we all have learned various ways to read depending on the nature of the material: a novel we rapidly consume to hear the story, a piece of good literature we linger over to appreciate the choice of words, a scientific text we carefully analyze to determine validity, a history book we immerse ourselves in the picture to imagine actually being there, a news account we scan to be properly informed. Time spent, attention to detail, over-all imagery, and personal investment all vary as we move through the different types of writings we read.

Reading the Bible can fit into many of those various ways to read and I suspect we have all read it with numerous different attitudes, even though we may not have thought about how we read at the time. I invite you to consider how you read and perhaps to try some new ways. By changing the level at which we approach the Word we can find new meaning and direction. God can speak. I offer some questions to consider as you read, questions that I hope will move you into various levels of understanding and deeper levels of hearing.

First, ask, “What does the text mean?” If it were a textbook what notes would you take? If it were a novel what would be the plot of the story? If it were a history book what questions would you ask to verify the account? As a philosophical or theological tract, what is the position advocated? But a living word has meaning below meaning. So next begin to ask, “What does the text reveal”? The Bible was written by a variety of humans and they are a part of the words; what can we know about the author’s life with God from what we’ve read? What does the text reveal on a deeper level about the content discussed? Finally and I think most significantly as you read what does the text reveal about you, the reader? Where do you identify with the passage? What descriptions seem to be you and what seem to be not you? Third “What does the text say?” A living word also has something to say to us today, something to say to our community, something to say to our world. What message do you hear and how will you respond?

Some perhaps more esoteric questions outside the basic format for sacred reading discussed above might open doors for you. These have jarred some locked doors for me. How is the text a picture of the author’s spiritual journey and how is his journey mine? How is the text a statement to the community to whom the writings are directed of its reason for being? And how is it such a statement to our communities? And finally who is the God who is speaking and how is it the God you know?

Blessed reading
Caroline

SPIRITUAL GROWTH--JULY

2010-07-14T13:10:00.002-05:00

Sacred Time

One of the constants in the way of discipleship is personal devotional time. “Religious people say their prayers, read their Bible, have their quiet time.” But if you are like me there are times I don’t want to be religious that way; there are times when I’m too busy to be religious that way; there are times when circumstances seem to make devotional time impossible. And our world is different! Yet there pulls at me the reminder that any relationship that is to develop, grow, and deepen, requires together time. God really is no different on this score. Yes, God is there always; yes, God is a part of all of daily living, yes, I am about doing God’s work constantly but …

Being intentional about personal devotional time requires the best of our willing and creating I think. Our personal uniqueness is a part of who God created so ‘one size fits’ all won’t work. Each of us must find our own way. Some need regularity, some variety; some need lengthy input, others just a word; some want traditional ways, others the new. Even if you already have a devotional time it may be worthwhile to spend some time considering this discipline. Certainly if you don’t regularly have this spiritual practice, it is worth considering. Numerous helps are available—our church supplies the booklet These Days for daily reading, devotional books abound (the Spiritual Journey group is using Joyce Rupp’s Open the Door). For those whose life centers on modern technology various websites will daily guide your meditations. Two sites I’d like to mention that I have found helpful: Richard Rohr, a Franciscan priest daily sends a short and thoughtful reading each day from his webpage www.cacradicalgrace.org. If you sign up it will come to your inbox regularly—the pictures are great. And the church www.pcusa.org will send you the daily lectionary readings if you sign up in the devotions and readings section. Both these will prompt your time with God if you let them and are available wherever you have web access.

Summer (those lazy days? ) may be a good time to begin, to renew, to recreate your personal time with God. Invite Jesus to talk with you as you would a friend. Stand in awe of the magnificence of creation with the Creator. Seek to hear the whisper of the Spirit giving guidance and meaning to your day. Deepen your relationship with God.

Blessings
Caroline

SPIRITUAL GROWTH JUNE 2010

2010-06-01T11:57:00.002-05:00

What is prayer?

Last month I talked of the spiritual discipline of spiritual direction. One of the common questions a direction may ask is “How’s your prayer life?” Not meant as a an attempt to produce guilt for we all often feel remiss in praying, but the question is asked to begin a reflection on our life with God. The question I heard in return to one of those requests is what I’d like us to think about this month for I believe it is one of the best ways to grow our spiritual journey. “What is prayer?” I was asked.

Indeed many of us, in fact most of us at some time in our life, have a very limited idea of prayer. The picture that comes immediately to mind is head bowed, hands clasped, and words said to God. “Dear Lord, help me be a better person, heal my aunt Jane, bring peace to our world.” But is that the only way to pray? Most of those who write in the field of spiritual formation advocate a much broader definition. If we start with the idea of prayer as “communion with God” it becomes clear that many activities can be called prayer. We may just gaze in awe at the sight of the sun setting over the Gulf—that’s prayer for it’s God we worship in this setting. We may quietly read Scripture and hear a word of advice or insight. Is that not communicating with God who we believe is involved in the affairs of humanity, that’s us, as Scripture describes? Maybe we throw up our hands and yell “Save me”. Is that not a request of God? In fact the words I mutter as I’m cut off on LBJ are in fact unfortunately a prayer, the curse kind. Just sitting silently emptying our minds of all except our intention to be with God is one of the most profound ways to pray. Just as you communicate with your spouse or friend in many, many, different ways so your communion with God, prayer, takes a multitude of forms.

With such a broad definition of prayer now think about your prayer life.

How would you respond to your director’s question asking about your prayer life?

How do you pray?
How might you expand your prayer life?
How is God responding to your praying?

Blessings, Caroline

SPIRITUAL GROWTH MAY 2010 SPIRITUAL DIRECTION

2010-05-10T12:36:00.004-05:00

Connections and Spiritual Direction

Many of us find various groups in which we feel comfortable sharing our faith and walk with God. We find strength in hearing of others’ journeys and rejoice to see God at work in our lives. Most of us also spend time alone in prayer and study of Scripture. We seek to find a more intimate relationship with the divine.

Do you sense a desire for more? If that is the case you may want to consider the ancient discipline of spiritual direction.

Until several years ago I had never heard of this. It was in reading a series of novels written by Susan Howatch, rather steamy and based on clerics and their sons or daughters, that I encountered the term. Not long after that I found myself desperately in need of spiritual guidance. I had lost my way along with any contact with a religious community. In my conversations with my former pastor I came to understand the nature and value of this discipline.

The name is rather deceptive I think and certainly can create a false impression of what it is. Do you remember a person in your childhood church that many seemed to seek out when they had a question? Over the years have there been people you sought with questions of where God was in your life? These were informal spiritual directors.

A spiritual director doesn’t tell you what to do. The director doesn’t preach, counsel, or solve problems. And the direction session certainly is not limited to discussions of ‘spiritual matters’. All of life is a part of our walk with God and thus anything is a topic for spiritual direction. What spiritual direction does do is help us discern where God is involved in our lives. The conversation is a sacred time for sharing our journeys and for listening for God’s word. For me it is a wonderful time to ponder and reflect on the affairs of my daily living seeking a greater understanding of who I am and who God is.

The discipline part is the regularity with which you meet with your director. The usual pattern is once a month. Differing from counseling or study the assumption is that you will continue to come, to bring whatever seems to be the nature of your journey at the moment. Like life sometimes there are significant issues and other times the waters seem smooth. The regularity of reflection helps me continue to grow. More and more I am aware of my evolving life with God. Sometimes the director offers questions or new possibilities for prayer. Sometimes a particular Scripture jumps out. Always the director listens both to you and to God.

Do you feel a call for a time of intimate conversation with God as the focus?
Do you seek a regular time of reflection and pondering?
Perhaps spiritual direction is the discipline you seek.

Blessings, Caroline

EASTER WEEK: "LIBERATED TO REDEEM THE WORLD

2010-04-11T21:02:00.002-05:00

In the introduction to the week these words: “Nothing in Jesus is alien to us.” followed by these words from Merton: “Christ is the Lord of a history that moves.”

Christ, Jesus, is a part of humanity in part as he bore, bears, responsibility for humanity’s sinfulness as do we all whether or not we commit the particular act or not. Just as humanity’s relationship with God changed eternally with Adam’s and Eve’s disobedience so humanity’s relationship with God is restored by Jesus’ choice to allow crucifixion, choice in the sense of purposely rejecting the normal human response of fight or flight in face of the authorities condemnation and not in the sense of supernatural omniscience. We like Jesus can choose to repent of humanity’s sins, atone for the evil done by the communities we inhabit. In fact as followers of Jesus we are called to do just that. I was profoundly affected by a Roman Catholic priest who apologized and sought forgiveness from a group of women for the abuses of the priesthood. While I am sure he had not personally committed those sins I am equally sure he accepted the responsibility of his priestly community for the evil done, repented, and sought reconciliation whatever the cost.

Merton wrote: “It is by the Cross that we enter the dynamism of creative transformation, the dynamism of resurrection and renewal, the dynamism of love.”

The experience was freeing beyond belief for me. Past hurts completely faded. And I suspect it was also liberating for him. Rather than deny, justify, rationalize, and run from the evil we do, like Christ, if we are crucified we are freed to rise again to new life. We all are free to take on another’s sin, to confess, to make restitution, to atone. Thereby forgiveness and reconciliation can happen; Christ leads the way.

Might we try?

Merton said: “True encounter with Christ liberates something in us, a power that we did not know we had, a hope, a capacity for life, resilience, an ability to bounce back when we thought we were completely defeated, a capacity to grow and change, a power of creative transformation.”

How will you, how will we, respond to the resurrected crucified One?

Blessings, Caroline

SPIRITUAL GROWTH--APRIL

2010-04-03T13:47:00.003-05:00

God and Love—the Message of Easter

How do you hear the Easter message? How do you hear God’s word of love? Scripture abounds in statements about love; many so familiar we barely hear them: “God so loved the world that he gave…”; “Greater love hath no man than he lay down his life…”; to Peter, “Do you love me? Yes Lord, you know that I do….”; “A new commandment I give you, that you love one another…”; the answer to the questions of the greatest commandment, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all…”; “God is love”. But what do these words mean to you and to us? Our answers define much of our journey, so take some time this month and reflect.

St. Bernard, the abbot of Clairveaux in the 12th century, wrote a letter to Aimeric, On Loving God. Aimeric had asked why and how God ought to be loved. “I answer: The cause of loving God is God himself. The way to love him is without measure.” Love, he says, evolves in these degrees: First as a bodily creature, by nature, humans love themselves for their own sake. Second as that love reveals that we are not creator we come to love God for our own good. Third as God meets our frequent needs humanity comes to love God for God’s sake, a more pure and freely given love. Last in brief moments of union we glimpse the final degree of love when we love ourselves for the sake of God, the way in which Bernard imagines the resurrected body loves.

We are not St. Bernard, but we are on the same journey; we are a part of a community defined by love.

In light of the Easter story how do you

love God?
love your neighbor?
love yourself?

In light of your answers what do you do

for and with God today?
for and with your neighbors today?
for and with yourself today?
and what do you hope for tomorrow?

Blessings, Caroline

HOLY WEEK: RETURNING TO THE SOURCE OF OUR UNITY IN CHRIST

2010-03-29T09:32:00.003-05:00

Merton’s words and the echoing words quoted from Colossians seem to leave little room for anything but imagining. This week, these readings, all push us beyond the ability of rational thought, beyond the mundane affairs of living and yet most especially push us into that realm. Mathematicians would say the two planes intersect this week; three realms meet in a point. And all is changed forever. And it lasts but a moment. And the now is eternal.

Merton first, Colossians second, me third. Hopefully you too will enter—

from Conjectures of A Guility Bystander
“There is nothing further to look for except to turn to Him completely, where he is already present. Be quiet and see that he is God.” (p. 23)
“That we might pass clean out of all that is transitory and inconclusive, return to the Immense, the Primordial, the Source, the Unknown, to Him who loves and knows, to the Silent, to the Merciful, to the Holy, to Him Who is All… this is the whole meaning and heart of all existence,…The ‘return’ is the end beyond all ends and the beginning of beginnings…Our destiny is to go beyond everything, to leave everything, to press forward to the End and find in the End our beginning.” (p. 171-172)

from Colossians
“And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he [Christ] has now reconciled—…He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible…” (1 : 15 – 23)

my imagining—
The image comes: a point; a growing; a turning outward and inward; exploding, spiraling into fancy, fancy ruffling; as the fractal evolves, a pattern, complex and beautiful, emerges, but it is a pattern that is free and delicate; a slight touch and it reverses directions curling around, tumbling and looping; another breath and off it goes stretching and longing.
But it can be broken, blotched, become a blob. It happens—the beauty is torn, the lace fragmented, the ice broken. Now the crystals are ugly; the pattern ruined.

Can it ever return? Can it be restored?
No! It is gone forever!
Oh, the pain, the grotesqueness of lost form, the imbalance of upset vases, the shattered glass, the murky shore. One cannot return; one cannot go back—but all is not lost. The break can be woven in, the irregularity can become the basis for a more glorious design. The new contains the old wrapped wholly, sparklingly transformed.
Look—

What do you see?
What do you imagine?

Blessings, Caroline

Fifth Week of Lent: “In the Service of Peace Through Humility and Prayer”

2010-03-24T22:37:00.003-05:00

Three words stand out: humility, surrender, peace. Common words, hard words, deep words, words that are difficult to define and even more difficult to connect, I find. Will you help?

The writer of the introduction asserts: “For us to live unkindly with one another is to live unnaturally.” If we agree this is true we have much work to do it seems to me.

Some questions:
How does my own living measure in particular against the statement? Am I unkind? How? When? Where? With whom?
How does our collective living measure in particular against the statement? Are we a kindly living people?

My Lent is a failure. Is that good? I’ve cried feeling overwhelmed by the pain of imagined rejection. I’ve sought help and talked and talked about how to return to ‘normal’ life—life we had before. But there is no answer. My heart literally hurts. Those I love most I cannot help. Fear, anxiety reign. And my personal world seems mirrored in the greater world. There are no solutions. Give up, shut down, hide. Yet surrender, doing nothing brings such guilt! I don’t want to live this way. Where is the peace?

Merton writes: “Yet there is peace. Where is it to be found?”
And I add: What are we to do?

He continues: “[Peace is] in the hearts of men and women who are wise because they are humble—humble enough to be at peace in the midst of anguish, to accept conflict and insecurity and overcome it with love, because they realize who they are, and therefore possess the freedom that is their true heritage. These are the children of God. We all know them…They are everywhere.”

How to see? How to be such? Amen.

While sitting in silence tonight at evening prayers I was overwhelmed by these thoughts. I had read the story in Luke of Jesus’ last week of earthly life—his betrayal, his trial, his crucifixion. I remembered the words: They spit on him, they mocked him, they threw epithets at him, they cried crucify him.

And then I listened to today’s news. They spit on him, they hurled derogatory names at some, they mocked others, they threatened the lives of those who voted in a way they didn’t agree with. Those ‘they’s’ are we. Forgive us O Lord. We have sinned and done what is evil in your sight. Peter, Paul, and Mary sang in my youth:

When will we understand? When will we quit? When can we see that religious views and political ideologies are not reasons for violent exercise of power? When will we stop mocking those who are different? When will we Christians stop crucifying? How many must die?

Merton finishes: “Peace exists where men who have the power to be enemies are, instead, friends by reason of the sacrifices they have made in order to meet one another on a higher level, where the differences between them are no longer a source of conflict.”

God in Christ offers us such a world. Will we, you and me and all creation, say yes?

Blessings
Caroline

WEEK 4: "CHOOSING WITH CHRIST TO LOVE THE WORLD"

2010-03-18T09:55:00.002-05:00

These words of Merton were quoted in this week's chapter:
“If the Lord of all took flesh and sanctified nature, restoring it to the Father by His resurrection, we too have our work to do in extending the power of the resurrection to the whole world of our time by our prayer, our thought, our work, and our whole life.”

“The Cross…reminds us of the contradictions within ourselves, and within our society, only in order to resolve them all in unity in love of the Savior.”

“False unity is the work of force. It is violently imposed on divided entities which stubbornly refuse to be one. True unity is the work of love. It is the free union of beings that spontaneously seek to be one in the truth, preserving by self-transcendence. True unity admits the presence of obstacles, and of divisions, in order to over both by humility and sacrifice.” (p. 37)

True unity—what a wondrous idea.
What does it look like in my life, in my family, in my nation, our world? Can I even envision such?
Perhaps what it is not is where to begin. It is not homogeneous—we don’t all act as automans. Even within, the paradoxes must stay, woven together, adding brilliance and interest. Bland this unity is not! It is not just compromise; I give a little, you do too and what results is a hodgepodge with little real identity. That’s not real unity though necessary at times within the realm of human only existing. It is not one winner and all the rest losers following along. Dominance and love seem incompatible.

Can we see at all then what true unity is? The work of love Merton describes?
Maybe if we look at the skies—the clouds, the blue, the movement—all together make the heavens glorious. Even on a stormy day the entirety is needed to be one. Perhaps even both together, the clear sunny day and the rain soaked lightening struck sky, describe the free transcendent truth Merton announces. Maybe if we shrink down to view a small patch of grass we will know the reality of true unity. Each single blade, unique, yet together they form a soft lush lawn. Our bodies, as St. Paul says, are made of multiple parts each necessary for the whole. Without a healthy heart or foot the whole surely suffers; we walk limp or breathless.

So like a jigsaw puzzle the unity, the completed picture cannot be seen unless every piece takes its correct place. Forcing one piece into another’s hole only slows the process of solving and distorts the final image.
So what are the obstacles and division we must overcome by “humility and sacrifice” and what are the separatenesses we must preserve in self-transcendence?

Blessings
Caroline

"IN ALL THINGS, ALWAYS SEEKING GOD" Lent Week 3

2010-03-09T08:31:00.005-06:00

From the writer of the introduction: “We are each Web sites for the Church and we are posting the Word of god to the world every day.” (p. 30)

Email, Facebook, Twitter, Blogs— Influence today is spread via the Web. Those who know tell us that elections are now won, protests organized, nefarious schemes hatched, all by Web users. Without it things would be different. True or false, the Web certainly is a good metaphor for the Way, for the community of those who profess Christ, for the coming of God’s Kingdom. The name World Wide Web implies another metaphor and that’s where I start, for the WWW bares some resemblance to nature’s own spider web.

Spider webs are fascinating I think. We had for some time one woven across the two sets of bushes on either side of our front walk. Each morning I broke it unseeingly as I went to get the paper. Each day and night the spider apparently respun it. Persistence perhaps is a characteristic of those who build webs. My daughter took an amazing picture of a web occupying the corner of a rusty gate. A slight dew illuminated the fine strands which wove a masterful maze. Beauty in connectivity perhaps another feature we see in the spider’s work. The spider however spins his masterpiece not to be an object of amazement but to catch his prey. Food is his goal. Being where he is he waits to entrap the unsuspecting. Not clearly seen he has the advantage over passers-by and draws them in.

Perhaps there are ideas here to ponder. The Web is much like its namesake. It breaks and is rebuilt. Its breadth and complexity are beyond comprehension for most of us. It can be a trap or a source of sustenance. But our quote points us outward, reminds us of who we already are—places people come to Christ, spokespersons for Christ in the world. So…

What does our web site look like?
What do we post?

Merton says “We must in all things seek God…We seek God by surrendering ourselves…to the law of love which is implanted in every nature, and revelation of spiritual love in personal freedom.” Words perhaps to guide our musing about our site and prompting real creation of such.

Blessings, Caroline

Second Week of Lent: “A Season for Compunction and Tears”

2010-03-01T13:14:00.001-06:00

The writer of the introduction reminded us that “…we are walled-up human beings, selfish and lacking generosity.” He raised these questions which seem a good place to begin our meditations this week:
What limits our love for God and neighbor?
What isolates us from the natural world of our interdependence with all beings?

Merton adds, “My ruin is my fortune.”, a hopeful reminder as we enter a season of confession.
I wrote:
God leads—forcing doesn’t work. The message of Lent so far: “I should feel this way; I should give this up; I should do this”, all these lead nowhere. Dangerous as it sounds I choose to ignore the demands, continue as I am, and wait for God’s word. As Merton says, until God “tells you that you are poor…of a sickness” you cannot truly know it. “When God tells you…it is because He means, at the same time, to provide a remedy. It is the Devil who tells us that we are ill and taunts us for it, reminds us of our helplessness b y making us even more helpless.” So what am I to do this Lent. LISTEN is the answer I hear.

Listen for the raindrops,
the birds’ songs, the
child’s cry.
Listen for the earth’s groans,
the fire’s warmth, the
snow’s silence.
Listen for the Word
spoken, unspoken,
felt as a dagger and
a hug.
Listen for the empty space
around, between,
breathing holiness and
love.
LISTEN, listen, listen.

Blessings
Caroline

MEDITATIONS ON LENT AND HOLY WEEK BRIDGES TO CONTEMPLATIVE LIVING

2010-02-22T10:09:00.004-06:00

The first step of Lent is to consider our disciplines—their purpose, their effect, our response. At least that seems to be the import of the selections quoted from both Merton and Oliver Clement. Both seem to see the process as starting with awakening, increased awareness. Clearing away the ‘silt’, discarding the irrelevant comes next. Then the response—risk and freedom according to our teachers.
So let’s take some time to consider, to reflect knowing, that “You [God will] save me from distress” (Ps. 31(30)).

I wrote:
If I choose my disciplines from the perspective of their purpose I choose differently than if I let should and convention dictate the way. But this is dangerous for I may never choose, or I may choose what I want and forget the need; I may choose wrongly and lose the gift. Being aware of self, of where I am, of God, of God’s pulling is the beginning. Perhaps the whole of Lent will be about the choosing for a disciplined life is not just a Lenten thing. Abandoning old ways can be freeing but also killing. It is risky. Trying the new is often painful for I am inept and fail. I long for comfort of the known. The new way may be wrong I fear. Charting along uncharted waters is fraught with peril.

So what is my choice? What is yours?

What stance do I take? What stance will you take?

How can we let God ‘save me from distress’?

Blessings

Caroline

MEDITATIONS ON LENT AND HOLY WEEK BRIDGES TO CONTEMPLATIVE LIVING

2010-02-17T16:59:00.004-06:00

The opening line from the writer of the introduction: “No sin is private, hurting no one but ourselves.” For me a troubling reminder and a startling but good way to begin the season of Lent. Merton continues, “We are involved in each other’s lives, not by choice but by necessity, for that is the way we are made.” What other response is there than that of the Psalmist, “O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow.”

And the words come, slowly, painfully, hopefully truthfully—
Sin again

...............and again

.................................and again...

I hurt you

...............you hurt me

.................................I meant to

but I didn't

................didn't know how much

................didn't think how it would

................didn't stop...

And you

................do you wish

................a world that revolves

................around you

................celebrating only you

................your goodness, your standing?

I do,

I wish I didn't...for

"....everybody is affected

.................................by the evil

..............................................that is in the heart of one..."

Awareness I hope is the beginning of conversion, repentance, turning around. The journey begins today. I pray God and you forgive.

Today begin the season of self reflection asking:
What sin infects your heart today? Where does it fly? Who are its victims?
Know that it is God that prompts this journey and that same God walks with you now.

Blessings
Caroline

SPIRITUAL GROWTH--FEBRUARY 2010

2010-02-08T16:22:00.003-06:00

Lent Preparation

The new year has just begun it seems and now Lent is upon us. Preparing for the glorious event of resurrection is now our work. But wait—I’ve only begun to delve the depths of incarnation. Jesus you have just begun to call and I still struggle to answer.

How are you with me, Jesus? How do you reveal God for me? Can I call God, Father, Mother, or should I call to the Great One, the Other? And who am I to you, Christ? Who is the ‘I’ that you know?

But we need not cry wait, for Lent is the time for these questions, for delving the depths of the incarnation, for knowing the revealed God and the now revealed human being. Lent is indeed the time to plunge deeply into the deep recesses of our souls to find the dark that hides from the light. Lent is the time to seek diligently for the One who is both within and without, creator and redeemer. Lent is the time to learn the enormity of the love of our God, for this One knowing the vastness of our rejection still comes and comes.

Now is the time to decide how you will observe this time of searching and yearning.

Will you let go of that which consumes you and keeps you from God? Will you engage that which opens doors to a more intimate relationship with your maker?

Will you pray more, study more, give more? Will you eat less, waste less, talk less?

What will you do? How will you be?
God waits for us. Will you come?

Blessings
Caroline

Spiritual Growth—January 2010

2010-01-30T12:45:00.002-06:00

And so the wheel turns—another ball drop, another decade, another winter. It’s the time we make our New Year’s resolutions. And most of us by next month I suspect will have returned to our old habits. I certainly know I will. Habits die hard. I was recently reading a Renovare publication which began with the line, “We are all creatures of habit….We live by rhythms.” (“Explorations Rhythms of Life, Series 1, Part 1 by Christopher S. Webb). How right that is! So instead of fighting our current rhythms with multitudes of promises for a new us perhaps we could better serve ourselves and our Lord by accepting who we are and gently turning in ways God calls.

Reflecting on who we are can be a perfect beginning for our spiritual journey this year. What do we do habitually—each day, each week, each month, each year? From brushing our teeth daily to celebrating Christmas Eve at midnight with candles we repeat ourselves over and over. Knowing who we are can be the occasion for rejoicing as we see those activities that bring Christ’s vision of the world a little closer. We can give thanks for God’s graces; we can give glory to God for God’s blessings. Knowing who we are can also be an occasion for confession. We can ask God to forgive our waywardness; we can ask God to help our repentance, our turning in a different direction. Even if we’re not ready to change we can ask God to hear our awareness as a cry to bring us to place of repentance.

To begin the year I invite you just to reflect on your living.

What are your habitual rhythms?
Ask God to be your guide both in identifying and responding.

Blessings on the New Year
Caroline

CHRISTMAS DAY

2009-11-20T11:13:00.005-06:00

Friday, December 25, 2009

Engage in a time of Worship:

Gather around your Advent wreath.
Light all the candles.
Gaze into the light the candles give.
Listen to merriment of this day.

Say:
We bear witness with the faithful of every time and place
to the coming again of our Lord,
the light of the world, the savior of humankind, the prince of peace.

We have waited …
with the prophets of Israel who announced God’s promise and our hope,
with John the Baptist who called us to repent and to prepare,
with daughters of Zion who joyously proclaimed that God is in our midst,
with those of old who told us the good news of God’s salvation.

With choirs of angels, and with all the heavenly host, we sing:
"Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth, peace and goodwill to all."

Read Luke 2: 1-20

Walk with the travelers, Mary and Joseph. Are you a traveler too? Where are you going? Where do you come from?

Watch your flocks in the black of night on a lonely hill side. Is your life full of routine? What happens as you live through the dark times?

See the angel brilliance. Hear their song. Feel the shepherds fear. Have you seen an angel recently? Do you hear the songs of God’s glory? Listen to the message the angels brought the shepherds. In your heart hear the words of joy, of peace, of salvation.

Now go with the shepherds to Bethlehem. See Joseph…Mary…and the baby. Look into their eyes. Listen to their breathing. How will you respond to this gift? What indeed have you been given?

Walk through the village at night. Return to your hillside, your sheep. Ponder this day, this child, this God.

Christ is here today! Merry Christmas! Amen.

Begin Christmastide.

The blessing of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
be on us all, now and always. Amen.

Allow the candles to burn brightly today.

TWENTY-SIXTH DAY OF ADVENT

2009-11-20T11:09:00.002-06:00

Thursday, December 24, 2009
Christmas Eve

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb….And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” Luke 1: 42b, 45

Read Luke 1: 39-45
Today is the eve of the day for which we have been waiting. Our time of preparation is almost over. The promise will be fulfilled. The light will break through the darkness. Peace will descend on the earth.

Take time to reflect on your Advent journey. What will tomorrow bring?

God, Creator of all that is, create us anew.
Jesus, Savior of all the world, come again.
Holy Spirit, Breath of all the living, bring peace at last.

Amen.

TWENTY-FIFTH DAY OF ADVENT

2009-11-20T11:05:00.003-06:00

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Lowly Peace

The day of peace is near. Mary’s son brings the good news that God is working out the salvation of the world. But how? The prophets spoke of the savior who would come from a little clan and Mary sings of her lowly state. God’s son is born among the poor, visited by the least, hated by the authorities.

The peace we await is a peace brought by justice. The salvation to come is from the lowly. Sacrifice brings redemption. Despite all our efforts we still struggle to comprehend these ideas, this Savior. How can God, whose very being implies power and glory, wisdom and might, work out our salvation through the voices and efforts of the least in society? How can the way of God’s redemption be that of sacrifice and vulnerability? Our world is just not that way.

And if this is the way God comes to our world, then what does this God expect, demand of us? God’s kingdom challenges the power that oppresses; God’s peace exists only with justice for all. God’s way rewards the obedient. God’s coming this way surely turns the world we know upside down. Or so it seems when we listen—to the prophets of old and now, to John and the cries from exiled, to Mary and all the followers of Christ in every time and place. The message of Advent is…?

Observe carefully our world.
See that which is unseen—
the tiny, the unpopular, the silent, the lonely— Look below the surface.
Express your love.
Record your thoughts, draw your images, pray your insights.

Dialogue your reflections with your family, friends, God. (Use your imagination if family and friends are not present.)

Come Lord Jesus, come. Amen.

TWENTY-FOURTH DAY OF ADVENT

2009-11-20T11:01:00.004-06:00

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

…it is by God’s will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Hebrews 10: 10

Read Hebrews 10: 5-10
We have been made holy not by anything we have done (in fact there is nothing we can do to make ourselves holy) but by the sacrifice of God’s son. The old way of sacrifice brought only temporary restoration of our relationship with God; Christ brings an everlasting peace.

This week I intend … [complete with your particular intention to be an instrument of Christ’s peace].

Lord Jesus, we quickly approach the celebration of your birth. When we think of infants, ours and others, we cringe at thought of sacrifice, yours or theirs. We are grateful that you have revealed to us a God who will go to such great lengths to be reconciled to us. Forgive us for holding grudges, seeing those unlike us as enemies to be conquered. Let us be instruments of the peace you bring. Amen.

TWENTY-THIRD DAY OF ADVENT

2009-11-20T10:57:00.007-06:00

Monday, December 21, 2009

My soul magnifies the Lord…
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty. Luke 1: 47, 52-53

Read Luke 1: 46-55
This week we hear God’s promised one is coming real soon. The child is conceived; the word is spoken; God’s anointed shall stand among us. But to see we must look among the lowly, for God comes to bring good tidings to those oppressed. Power is shifting.

Today let us sing (literally or imaginatively) as Mary does.

Magnificat anima mea Dominum, et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salvatore meo, quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae.[1]
(music above)

Quietly make Mary’s song yours. At the end of the day remember that God chooses you too.

Jesus, we marvel at the words of your mother. We are blessed by your mercy. We are blessed by you presence. We seek the world where peace comes because all are held in justice. Afflict our haughtiness and heal our poverty, for we pray in your name. Amen.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnificat

TWENTY-SECOND DAY OF ADVENT

2009-11-20T10:49:00.008-06:00

Fourth week of Advent—Peace and Sacrifice
Sunday, December 20, 2009

Engage in a time of Worship:

Gather around your Advent wreath.
Light the first, second, third, and fourth candles.
Gaze into the light the candles give.
Listen to the peace of your house.

Say:
We bear witness with the faithful of every time and place
to the coming again of our Lord, the light of the world,
the savior of humankind, the prince of peace.

We wait
with the prophets of Israel who announced God’s promise and our hope,
with John the Baptist who called us to repent and to prepare,
with the daughters of Zion who joyously proclaimed that God is in our midst.

With those of old
we tell the good news of the child of Bethlehem,
who comes again and again
to bring peace and to rule in justice.

Read Micah 5: 2-5a
Know in your whole being that the time for the coming of the promised One is near. Imagine the peace this One brings.

Hymn: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”, verse 4
(sing or read)
O come, Desire of nations, bind
All peoples in one heart and mind;
Bid envy, strife, and discord cease;
Fill the whole world with heaven’s peace.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

Almighty God we pray:
How amazing you are; how different your ways from the ways we have created for the world. The least you choose; your ruler comes when it is time. How wonderful is your promise; peace is your way. Send the One soon. Amen.

The blessing of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
be on us all now and forever.

Blow out the candles.

TWENTY-FIRST DAY OF ADVENT

2009-11-20T10:45:00.004-06:00

Saturday, December 19, 2009

We have reached the end of the third week of Advent, the week of joy. We hear that the promised redemption is near, a cause for rejoicing. However our joy is tempered by the lack of joy of many around us. The baptism with which we enter this glorious kingdom demands we share with those without. The kingdom of God is a kingdom of justice and peace.

Ponder your own joy or lack of…
Record your thoughts, draw your images, pray your insights.

Respond to this week of Advent, the week of glory and joy, with what speaks to your inner and outer life.

Suggestions:
Many find the holidays painful rather than joyful. Be with these people in their hurt. Let your joy be a salve to them. Remember them in your prayers.

Choose a symbol of your faith and use it as the shape for a collage. Add pictures and words from newspapers and magazines to express your joy and sadness in this season.

Come Lord Jesus, come. Amen.

TWENTIETH DAY OF ADVENT

2009-11-20T10:43:00.003-06:00

Friday, December 18, 2009

“Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.”
Luke 3:11

Read Luke 3: 7-14.
John’s words leave us little room for comfort. The glorious coming of the promised One will demand we change. Recognition of sin is not enough. Worthiness comes only with just living. What can we do? How can we be joyous? John speaks so bluntly!

Today I share… Today I correct…

Holy God, we seek to be messengers of your justice and peace. Guide our steps. Remake our hearts. Fill our minds with your holiness. For only you can save. Have mercy. Come Lord, come. Amen.

NINETEENTH DAY OF ADVENT

2009-11-20T10:40:00.002-06:00

Thursday, December 17, 2009

I [John] baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; ….He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Luke 3:16

Read Luke 3: 15-18
How easy it is to stop short of the true prize. We think we have found the treasure, the perfect gift, the one and only. But God is coming with power and fire. The Holy Spirit will be upon us.

Imagine again Christ’s coming—
Feel the baptism of fire.
Give free reign to the Holy Spirit.

Jesus, it is easier to think of you as a baby rather than the Christ of glory. Fire burns, and while we enjoy its warmth, we tremble at its winnowing. So we can pray, “Come Lord Jesus, come” only with the assurance of your mercy. Amen.

EIGHTEENTH DAY OF ADVENT

2009-11-20T10:36:00.004-06:00

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Holiday Joy and Winter Cold

December brings an avalanche of parties and festivities. Special music fills the air; decorations color inside and out; fires burn brightly. The smells of holiday foods and drink greet our arrival and we share the laughter and excitement of the family and friends. Such joy! Such warmth!

December also brings the cold of winter. The tree branches are bare and brown. The skies often turn gray. Daylight lasts but a short while. Tis’ the season of colds and flu, sleet and snow. Such pain! Such bitterness!

Advent, the anticipation of the coming return of the Christ, carries a similar confluence of joy and pain. The arrival of the babe of Bethlehem is cause for great joy most assuredly. ‘God with us’ gloriously fills our world. But this joy casts a shadow at times over other joys. Our joy cannot be complete until all find joy in the salvation God has wrought. The struggle continues, pain intervenes, darkness is. All of heaven and earth, as the song shouts, must receive their king.

How can we find joy that lasts?

Dialogue with your family, friends, God. (Use your imagination if family and friends are not present.) Pray your dialogue with God.

Come Lord Jesus, come. Amen.

SEVENTEENTH DAY OF ADVENT

2009-11-20T10:33:00.005-06:00

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
Philippians 4:4

Read Philippians 4: 4-7
Worry especially in the holiday season for some of us is deadly. Our joy is deflated by comparisons, by disappointments, by over activity. We forget… We worship lesser gods… We find no peace. Today let the bells of joy ring loudly.

This week I rejoice, for I … [complete with your recognition of those ways in which you rejoice in the Lord and find God’s peace.]

Holy Spirit, renew our spirits; remind us of your presence; take away all that keeps us from knowing you; take away all that blocks your kingdom; energize our prayer. Amen.

SIXTEENTH DAY OF ADVENT

2009-11-20T10:22:00.004-06:00

Monday, December 14, 2009

Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid…
Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion,
for great in our midst is the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 12: 2a, 6

Read Isaiah 12: 2-6

This week we rejoice; we rejoice in the promised coming of our Lord; we rejoice in the changes we are making. The glory of the Lord shines forth; we must just look.

Shout aloud! Sing for joy! Be not afraid! Today we sing:
God is our strong sal - va - tion

(music above)
or
“Joy to the world! the Lord is come: Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven, and heaven and nature sing.”
(#40, vs.1)

Sing all day long of the works of your God. At eventide fall asleep in the arms of the One who comes.

God of glory, God of might, be among us. Come to us; come to our world. Let our songs of praise fill the rooms, fill the byways, fill the air. Let your ways be our ways. Amen.

FIFTEENTH DAY OF ADVENT

2009-11-20T10:16:00.006-06:00

Third week of Advent—Joy and Glory
Sunday, December 13, 2009

Engage in a time of Worship:

Gather around your Advent wreath.
Light the first, second, and third (pink one) candles.
Gaze into the light the candles give.
Listen to the joy of your home.

Say:
We bear witness with the faithful of every time and place to the coming again of our Lord,
the light of the world, the savior of humankind,
the prince of peace.
We wait—
with the prophets of Israel who announced God’s promise
and our hope,
with John the Baptist who called us to repent and to prepare.

With the daughters of Zion,
we rejoice and exult in God our Savior,
for God is in our midst, we need not fear,
for God is doing great things, and holy is God's name.

Read Zephaniah 3: 14-20
Feel the joy these words hold. How gracious is our God! For what do you give thanks?

Hymn: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”, verse 3
(sing or read)

O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

Jesus we offer our prayers:
We give thanks for the blessings we have received. We live in a land of great abundance; we enjoy the fruits of our and others’ labors; we freely walk the earth. Forgive us for assuming all we have is our due, for forgetting the pain of those oppressed and hungry, for being absorbed in what we want and do not yet have. Teach us to joyously greet each day. Remind us of your gifts and promise. Amen.

The blessing of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
be on us all, now and always.

Blow out the candles.

FOURTEENTH DAY OF ADVENT

2009-11-20T10:12:00.004-06:00

Saturday, December 12, 2009

As we end the second week of Advent we are well into the season. Christmas activities are in full swing. Yet this is the week we think of John’s call to prepare for the coming of the Lord by the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The bright lights of the holiday streets don’t match the cries from the wilderness.

Ponder the table you are planning for the coming day of the Lord.
Describe it in words or pictures. Pray your insights.

Respond to this week of Advent, the week of preparation and repentance, with activities that resonate with your soul and your concern for the world.

Suggestions:
Express your concerns for the environment in your wrapping of presents and decorating for the season. Make tree decorations that are messages of God’s justice.

Shop for the homeless, the hungry. Visit the lonely; make friends with those shunned.

Come Lord Jesus, come.

THIRTEENTH DAY OF ADVENT

2009-11-20T10:09:00.005-06:00

Friday, December 11, 2009

The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,…and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ Luke 3: 4b, 6

Read Luke 3: 4-6.
Preparation for the birth of God’s anointed involves knowing what is and who we are. Who around us is crying to be heard? What within us needs hearing? Let us go to the wildernesses of our lives. God’s salvation is at hand.

Stop—Listen—
Hear the voices crying in the wildernesses of today.

Lord Jesus, we hear you crying in the moans of the poor, the abused, the hurting. We hear you crying for justice, for goodness. We hear your voice proclaiming you are coming. So we cry for mercy. Forgive our laziness, our selfishness, our apathy. Amen.

TWELTH DAY OF ADVENT

2009-11-20T10:05:00.003-06:00

Thursday, December 10, 2009

…the word of God came to John…He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,… Luke 3: 2b-3

Read Luke 3:1-3
Remember, Advent is a penitential season. When we hear that we may feel cheated. Preparing for Christmas is exciting; why talk about sin and forgiveness? But God through John the Baptist called for this way of preparation for the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. So we too are called this season to repent, to turn from or toward, to see with a new mind-set.

Stop—Reflect—
Of what are we individually and collectively called to repent?

Lord we need your forgiveness. We repent in sackcloth and ashes. Despite our outward gaiety we do know we fail to see the world as you envision and thus fail to be instruments of your justice. Enable us to see anew, to change our
hearts, to walk in the paths of righteousness. Amen.

ELEVENTH DAY OF ADVENT

2009-11-20T10:00:00.004-06:00

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Preparation—Seeing Dimly
Repentance—Seeing Differently

Waiting taxes us. Often we focus so on the hope to come that the now loses its worth; so anxious are we to get there that we waste the opportunities of the going. We veil what is in the hope we can see what will be. But we are called to prepare. To prepare for the new we must see the now differently, we must repent.

The call to repent clearly defined the ministry of John. Away from the cities, the regular business of living, the excitement of power and wealth, John calls us. His crying is in the wilderness; we must go there if we are to see the coming salvation. We must go to the dark places within our souls and within our world.

Look within—see what you like and what you don’t. Repent, rejoice, forgive, give thanks. Look around—see the world as God intends and as it is. Repent, rejoice, forgive, give thanks.

Now we are ready to wait. For below the darkness of sin is the darkness of faith. Thomas Merton wrote in his 1966 Christmas letter: “Faith must be … rooted in the unknown and in the abyss of darkness that is the ground of our being. No use teasing the darkness to try to make answers grow out of it. But if we learn how to have a deep inner patience, things solve themselves, or God solves them if you prefer, but do not expect to see how. Just learn to wait, and do what you can and help other people.”[1]

How does your repentance affect your waiting?

Dialogue with your family, friends, God. (Use your imagination if family and friends are not present.) Pray your dialogue with God.

Come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen.

[1] Thomas Merton. The Road to Joy, Robert E. Daggy, editor (New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1989): p. 94.

TENTH DAY OF ADVENT

2009-11-20T09:58:00.003-06:00

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1: 6

Read Philippians 1: 3 –11.
Our preparation continues. We would be ready for the day of the Lord. We seek the knowledge and insight that will be truthful guides to bring us to a right relationship with God and with God’s world.

This week I intend so that I may be blameless on the day of Christ to…[complete with your particular intention to prepare for the coming of Jesus].

Jesus, you came of old, and we celebrate your coming each year, yet we are unsure of what we are to repent. And even when we hear your call to change, we hesitate, liking better the ways that have always been. Let us this Advent bend our hearts and minds toward you. Let us spend our resources in preparing for your kingdom. Amen.

NINTH DAY OF ADVENT

2009-11-20T09:55:00.003-06:00

Monday, December 7, 2009

By the tender mercy of our God,
the dawn from on high will break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness…
to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1: 78-79

Read Luke 1: 68-79
This week we not only hope in the coming return of Jesus, but we work to prepare for that day. God’s salvation, a light to the darkness comes, but we must change the way we see to know that light.

And so today our song cries out:
We sing of God’s guiding light, of God’s coming salvation
“On those who sit in darkness The sun begins to rise, The dawning of forgiveness Upon the sinner’s eyes. God guides the feet of pilgrims Along the paths of peace. O bless our God and Savior With songs that never cease!” (“Song of Zechariah, Benedictus, #602)

Let the words Zechariah sang be music to your ears. As your day passes, form words of preparation with the song.

Lord, like Zechariah, we know we are blessed. You are redeeming your world; you are sending your way of salvation. Your promises are true. Forgive our blindness, open our eyes, and let us see. Amen.

EIGHTH DAY OF ADVENT

2009-11-20T09:44:00.013-06:00

Second week of Advent— Preparation and Repentance
Sunday, December 6, 2009

Engage in a time of Worship:

Gather around your Advent wreath.
Light the first and second candles.
Gaze into the light the candles give.
Listen to the emotions of your place.

Say:
We bear witness with the faithful of every time and place
to the coming again of our Lord,
the light of the world, the savior of humankind,
the prince of peace.

We wait
with the prophets of Israel who announced God’s promise
and our hope.

With God’s messengers, calling from the wilderness, we cry: "Prepare for the coming of the Lord! Repent, for the Lord’s kingdom is just.”

Read Malachi 3: 1- 4
Hear truly these words of prophesy. How are you preparing for Christmas Day?

Hymn: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” vs. 2
(read or sing)

O come, thou Wisdom from on high,
And order all things, far and nigh;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And cause us in her ways to go.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

Christ we pray:
We await your coming Lord, but we hear your warning. Prepare for the day of righteousness we would, but how? Show us the way; open our eyes to the changes we need to make. Give us the courage to look deeply, honestly, at ourselves and our society. Enable our repentance. Help us prepare to live in your kingdom. Amen.

The blessing of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
be on us all, now and always.

Blow out the candles.

SEVENTH DAY OF ADVENT

2009-11-20T09:41:00.003-06:00

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Today ends the first week of Advent, the week of hope and promise. I invite you to reflect on the week past. Remember your times of work and play, worship and prayer. Look again at your Advent wreath—only one candle lit and yet the light begins to shine. The darkness of the world is lightened by the hope and promise of God’s day. The Son of Man is coming. But your calendar still hides its message. Our work is just begun.

Ponder the world as it is…and your role as a messenger of justice, an instrument of hope.
Record your thoughts, draw your images, pray your insights.

Respond to this week of Advent, the week of hope and promise, with what resonates with your soul and your concern for the world.

Suggestions:
Take a walk and collect signs of God’s presence, God’s work in the world, or see the signs in your home or work place. Make a record of your sightings.

Be an instrument of satisfying another’s hope. Maybe choose an angel from an angel tree, “buy” a Voi card, or make a donation to Network. Perhaps search for that special gift for someone.

Come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen.

SIXTH DAY OF ADVENT

2009-11-20T09:23:00.002-06:00

Friday, December 4, 2009

…when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near….Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Luke 21: 31, 33

Read Luke 21: 29-36
The world around us is full of indications of what will be. The clouds suggest rain; the scowl on your face warns of anger; over tilled land probably will not produce a harvest. Perhaps we do know that the violation of children today will create destructive adults or over-indulgence now will cause disease tomorrow. Will we see God’s signs?

Look today for signs the kingdom of God is near…

Living Lord Jesus, we seek to know that your kingdom is coming. We look for the signs. We hope for a righteous and just world. Help us not only to see, but also to find ways to bring about your glory. Amen.

FIFTH DAY OF ADVENT

2009-11-20T09:19:00.002-06:00

Thursday, December 3, 2009

There will be signs…Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. Luke 21: 25a, 27

Read Luke 21: 25-28
This picture of the future perhaps doesn’t seem so hopeful. We may shy away from such passages yet the gospel writers felt they were important ingredients in the story of the Son of Man. The awaited day, is it a time to be feared or a time of redemption?
This day imagine Christ’s coming…

Reigning Jesus, it is hard for us to contemplate the shaking of the powers of heaven. It frightens us to think of distress and confusion among nations. And yet our world is in need of redemption. We do await your coming in glory. Guide us, empower us, and make us agents of your reign. Amen.

FOURTH DAY OF ADVENT

2009-11-20T09:15:00.004-06:00

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Our Hope and Promise:
Future Living or
Future Assurance and Present Living?

What does it mean to hope? Are you a hope person? Do you see your hopes as just wishful dreaming, or are they things which you are relatively sure will be? Are real hopes to you those seeming impossibilities that somehow you are sure will happen? Indeed what does it mean to hope?

The Old Testament prophets at times preached that despite the terrible conditions in which the Israelites lived and in spite of the justifiable punishment they saw God inflict, the people could rightly hope that God would save, God would restore his people, God would come.

The writers of the New Testament, likewise in the face of dire conditions and obvious reasons for doubt, believed that Jesus would return in glory. The day of the Lord, the day of righteousness and justice is coming. The Son of Man will return and usher in the Kingdom of God. Their lives were lives based on hope! They held the hope with assurance without assurances. The future for them had already begun. Jesus resurrected was the first fruit, the first of many to come.

Do we live in that hope? Is it real?

Imagine for a moment that indeed the future is assured; that that for we hope will be. This so, we no longer need worry about what is to come, we need no longer plan diligently for the future. We are freed to concentrate on the now. We can live in the
moment. We can work for and as if the world is as God intends, a world where God’s righteousness and justice reign.

What a wonderful gift such a hope is! We can freely engage in living that reflects the world Jesus saw. We can behave as if Jesus has returned in his glory. Our labors for peace, justice, and righteousness are a part of what is and is to be. Our hope assures us. Thanks be to God.

How will you now live given your hope in God and God’s promise?

Dialogue with your family, friends, God. (Use your imagination if family and friends are not present.) Pray your dialogue with God.

Come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen.

THIRD DAY OF ADVENT

2009-11-19T23:12:00.003-06:00

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all…
1 Thessalonians 3: 12

Read 1 Thessalonians 3: 9-13
Because our hope is sure we can freely show our love for those we meet, both friend and foe, worthy and unworthy. Because we would be presented blameless when Christ comes, we engage the world in acts of love and justice.
This week I intend in response to the love that I know to… [complete with your particular intention to express your love of God’s people and your hope for God’s justice].

Lord Jesus, we give you thanks for the communities in which we live. We do love them; help us to show that love in ways that reflect our gratitude and hope. Increase the size of our hearts so that none are left in the cold. Amen.

SECOND DAY OF ADVENT

2009-11-19T23:06:00.007-06:00

Monday, November 30, 2009

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in you I trust;
do not let me be put to shame Psalm 25: 1

Read Psalm 25: 1-10
This week we renew the hope of the promised day
of righteousness and justice the prophets proclaimed. Our candle’s light seems so slight but our trust is in the word of our Lord.

Sing today (actually or by reading) of our trust in God.

Refrain above.

or
“My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand” (# 39 vs. 1)

Keep these words and tunes with you and let them frame your day. At day’s end, reflect on how the song influenced your living.

Lord God, you who spoke to the prophets proclaiming a time of justice and mercy; renew our hope. Give us the courage to stand firm in the conviction that the day of salvation is coming.
Enable us to hold to the promise of your return, to see the signs of your work, to entrust our whole lives to you. Amen.

ADVENT DAY ONE

2009-11-19T22:20:00.008-06:00

First Week of Advent—Hope and Promise
Sunday, November 29, 2009

Engage in a time of Worship:

Gather around your Advent wreath.
Light the first candle.
Gaze into the light the candle gives.
Listen to the silence of the house.

Say:
We bear witness with the faithful of every time and place
to the coming again of our Lord,
the light of the world, the savior of humankind,
the prince of peace.

With Jeremiah and the prophets of Israel,
we await the promised salvation of the Lord,
and look for the coming of the one
who will bring justice and righteousness to the earth.

Read Jeremiah 33: 14-1
Let these words of hope and promise sink into your whole being. What is your hope? What is promised?

Hymn: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”, verse 1
(sing or read)
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

Lord we pray:
Lift our hearts, show us the ways of your coming. Bring your righteousness to our world. Let justice and freedom reign. Forgive our refusal to be your instruments of peace and justice. Save us from ourselves. Amen.

The blessing of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
be on us all, now and always. Amen.

Blow out the candles.

PRAYER FOR THE SEASON OF ADVENT

2009-11-19T22:18:00.003-06:00

God said, “Let there be light.” and there was light.
Let this be a time in which the darkness of winter,
the darkness of despair, the darkness of sin,
THE darkness
hears God’s word and is enlightened.
Come Lord Jesus, Light of the World, come.

May God bring to each of us the blessings of Advent…
May we use our time of waiting to become…
more faithful followers,
more expectant believers,
more joyful disciples,
more peaceful peoples.
Amen.

BRIGHT STAR-MAKER GOD
Bright star-maker God,
travel with us
through Advent

shine into
our dark corners

lead us into
ways of justice

warm us
with joy and wonder

bring us
to new birth.

Ruth Burgess[1]
[1] Ruth Burgess, Candles& Conifers: Resources for All Saints’ to Advent.
Glasgow: Wild Goose Publications. www.ionabooks.com

PLANNING FOR ADVENT PART 2

2009-11-19T22:11:00.010-06:00

HOW TO

In the week before Advent begins make your plans. You may want to make an Advent wreath or find the one you normally use and put it in a place of worship. Bless the wreath as you bring it out, asking God to guide your celebration of the season. Find a place to hang the calendar; plan how you will observe this time. Involve your family and your church. Pray.

To create an Advent wreath find a circular frame. Add decorations, pinecones or greenery, symbolic for some of the everlasting gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus. Add four candles spaced evenly around the circle. Three of the candles are traditionally purple and one is pink. Some add a fifth white candle in the center to represent Christ’s arrival and to be lit on Christmas Day. Buy or make an Advent calendar. To make a simple calendar collect pictures or symbols of the coming season and arrange to paste them on a calendar square each day. You might also collect small treats to mark each day.

The booklet provides suggestions for each day based on one of the lectionary passages for the week. You can find a copy of these Scriptures by going to the Presbyterian Church (USA) website, http://www.pcusa.org/. A short liturgy for use in the weekly lighting of the Advent wreath candles is offered on Sunday. Monday’s scripture can be sung; you might listen again to the singing of the Psalm or canticle from Sunday’s worship by going to the St. B. website, http://www.saintb.org/. On Tuesday we turn to the epistle and form some intentions for the week. Wednesday is a time for reflection and dialogue with family or friends either in person or in your imagination. Join your church family for evening prayers at the church house when you can. Thursday and Friday we listen and respond to the word as heard in the gospel. Our week ends with time for digging deeper, journaling or drawing responses, and engaging in the activities of Advent.

Blessings, Caroline

2009-11-16T16:03:00.004-06:00

ADVENT PLANNING

2009-11-16T15:57:00.010-06:00

ADVENT

Advent begins the church year. Starting four Sundays prior to Christmas Day, the Christian community anticipates the coming again of Jesus Christ. We are asked to prepare ourselves for this momentous event. Advent’s color is purple signifying it is a penitential season. Think how you would want to be when Jesus comes in glory. Think how your life would look to the Lord of All. Imagine how Jesus Christ would see our community, the Church universal. While we in our culture are preparing for the celebration of Christmas, buying gifts, baking treats, visiting and partying with friends, we are called as Christians to make our hearts right with God. How can we do both?

Two practices of Advent—the Advent wreath and the Advent calendar—are ways of measuring the days and weeks as we approach Christ’s coming. Both offer us a way to prepare using Scripture and tradition. Both offer times of worship and festivity. Both ask us to stop for a moment the frenzy of preparing and celebrating the holidays and know the one who is coming.

The Advent wreath with its four candles marks the four weeks of the season. One additional candle is ritually lit each Sunday as a part of a worship liturgy. Each week has a theme to guide our meditations. As we move closer to Christmas Day the wreath provides increasing light, symbolic of the light that is coming into the world. The darkness fades as we move through the season.

An Advent calendar is a daily reminder; each day carries a special message. A picture or treat greets us each morning as we count toward Christmas Day. Using the calendar is a way to remember whom it is we expect to come and to watch the progress toward the arrival of Jesus. The excitement of completing the picture, opening all the windows, or finding all the treasures, reflects the excitement we all sense as the day nears when we celebrate the coming of Emmanuel, God with us.

Blessings, Caroline

Planning for Advent

2009-11-12T21:48:00.003-06:00

Advent 2009

It’s November; Christmas is just around the corner. How often at this point do we moan? “Why don’t they remember what Christmas is all about?” “It’s just TOO commercialized.” “We’ve lost the spirit of Jesus’ birth.” “I’m so tired I can’t enjoy anything.” “What can I do? How can I really celebrate Christ’s birth? Society conspires against me.” Every year we utter our complaints, but do we change?

We can ‘just say no’ and some do. But that seems so negative, sometimes Scrooge-like. We do enjoy the decorations, the wrapping paper, the tree, the good times with family and friends. Maybe we even truly relish giving and receiving that special gift. So how do we continue to do what brings joy and still honor the season?

Let me suggest we add, not subtract. Add times and activities that encourage us to do the work of Advent, to prepare our hearts and minds, as the saying goes, for the coming of the Lord. Make those activities a priority now! Our church family has ways; why not plan to be a part of them.

Decide to come to worship the four Sundays of Advent. And plan to come to mid-week evening prayers, Wednesday, 6:30, in the chapel during the season.
Daily use the Advent booklet (It will appear here daily) provided or some other devotional book for the season. It should add thought and fun.
Determine to do something for another each week. Take an angel from the angel tree in the narthex. ‘Buy’ and send a Voi card or another gift to service organization. Spend an afternoon with someone who cannot get out. Or…

Advent is the start of the church year. What a wonderful way to start anew your work to deepen your relationship with your Lord and to aid the communion of saints who faithfully strive to be heralds of God’s kingdom.

Blessings on the season
Caroline

BODY, MIND, and SPIRIT

2009-10-07T11:29:00.002-05:00

Our spiritual journey we have found is in response to the God who seeks us. We engage in both inner and outer activities, we adopt disciplines to open ourselves to the work of God’s Spirit within us transforming us into God’s blessed and directing us in the way of God’s peace and justice in our world. We will return to specific disciplines as we walk our way through these discussions on spiritual growth.

Before we do that however I’d like to think a bit more about who we are. We think of ourselves often as body, mind, and spirit. Thus our growth as disciples involves each of these. We can think of activities that address the mind—study, analysis, and organization. We can sense the movement of the spirit within us leading us to care for those in want. We harness the power of the body to build cathedrals or to sway with the spirit evidenced in song. But we know we are one: our minds direct our bodies, our bodies bring feeling to our spirits, our spirits awaken new ideas, our thoughts lead to activities of body, our bodies inform us of unknown emotions, our hearts know in spiritual ways. We could continue circling, but the oneness of who we are becomes clear.

Division helps keep us aware—Are we avoiding parts of who we are? Do we need to find ways of hearing the mind more clearly, listening to the body more closely, knowing the will of the spirit?

Division hinders also—Do we forget that God created us enfleshed? Do we think we can separate ourselves and live only a spiritual life?

Reflect for a moment on your own living. How do you sense you mind, body, and spirit? How do they interact? How are they collectively leading you toward your Creator?

Blessings, Caroline

INNER AND OUTER LIFE CONTINUED

2009-09-02T09:52:00.004-05:00

What do we mean when we speak of the inner life, the outer life, as ingredients in our faith journeys? Again we may have many conceptions and certainly biases which may be a good thing.

For me the inner life involves those activities I engage in that are reflective and nurturing to my intimate relationship with God. Prayer is the chief practice. The time I spend away, alone, in an effort to be in communion with all of creation, with God defines my inner life. From those times I gather strength, insight, and hope. Rest for my soul as well as for my body provides perspective and confidence. During these times doubts are faced openly; fears are named; anger expressed; sins are confessed. Honesty and humility are both desired and operative.

The outer life involves that which I do with and for others. Variety is the norm. From intercessory prayer to worship to work for peace and justice in the world, the outer life is what you see. The spiritual life is much the life of service; the spiritual life is much the life of witness; the spiritual life is much the life of stewardship. How we live in the world—our work, our play, our relationships, our concerns—reflect who we are.

One flows from the other and thus they are of one piece it seems to me. My inner life informs my outer doing; my doing provides fruits for further pondering. Others influence how I see and hear God’s call. Inner reflection brings new discernment. Community gives support and challenge. Others agree and we work together or others see differently and I return to contemplation.

How do you define the inner life, the outer life?

Share your thoughts if you will.
Blessings, Caroline

INNER AND OUTER LIFE

2009-07-07T10:30:00.002-05:00

We all have an inner life and an outer life. We are alike in that way. But we are unlike in the relative importance we put on each; we are unlike in our awareness of each; we are probably unalike in how we define each. So our conversation may at times go astray and at times hit the mark; but conversation is possible. So let’s try.

For me God is the Lord of both the inner and outer life. I also believe that body, mind, heart, soul are a part of both. In reality there is no separation between spiritual living and physical living. Sometimes we divide them to enable analysis, but the two are one. The same is probably true of inner and outer living. The division is more a matter of analysis and conversation than reality. What goes on inside influences what happens around me. What I think and feel influences what I will and do. Yet I do think it helps to think in this duality for it pushes a balance in living.

Balance is one of those concepts that seems attractive to all. Do everything in moderation is a cliché we were taught as children and young adults. Living for a while convinces us that indeed in practice this is a hard maxim to keep. Besides we look at those who commit themselves to one thing (like athletes, musicians, artists, scientists) and think about nothing else, and we see their successes. Maybe balance is not so great! But balance in nurturing our inner life with God and our outer life with God's creation is useful, for if we spend too much time looking inward we can become self centered and fail to bring God’s love to the world, and if we spend too much time concentrating on others, the world, we can fail to nourish sufficiently our roots and become brittle and die.

How does your faith journey involve the inner and outer life?
Where is the balance?

Blessings, Caroline

EXPERIENCING THE TRIUNE GOD--MINE

2009-06-12T09:34:00.006-05:00

A Trinitarian God has been with me for a long time. I was raised a Presbyterian, a part of the Reformed tradition, with an emphasis of the Three in One God. Like most of you, I struggled to get my head around the idea, the doctrine. What did it mean? How could it be? Why complicate the deity so? Reasoning only took me so far. When I tried to explain it as a part of my faith reflection for Session meeting the answer was in experience. Three different experiences of God, three different break-throughs, three different characters, yet all were one.

God, the Father, came at the end of an imaginative trek up a difficult mountain. A wise man lived in a cave on the top of the hill. I could ask one question. As I struggled with the climb, I struggled with the question. So much I wanted to know. What is the nature of the universe? What is the meaning of life? What is life? When I arrived my question just popped out, way beyond rational control. “Do you love me?” I asked. The eyes I had seen when I entered twinkled, and now I could see a small mouth slightly curved in a smile. “Yes”, he said.

God, the Son, joined me in a dream. I was quite young in my dream state; so young in fact that I needed someone to hold my hand, someone I couldn’t see since he was so tall. Holding tightly he brought me to a great hall filled with all kinds of nobles dressed in their elegant gowns and medieval suits. The king was coming, coming to sit on his throne raised at one end of the hall. Suddenly a hush covered the room. I was pushed forward, into the open center, before the throne. I was terrified! Why had the one who held my hand pushed me so? I knelt, bowed, hiding my face. A hand reached out and gently lifted my chin. The king looked at me lovingly. The Son had brought me there.

God, the Spirit, came in words on the porch at the end of a silent retreat on Lake Dallas. My experience at Montserrat this time had been troubling. I felt excluded for I did hold the same views on procreation as the presenter did. No room for even silent disagreement seemed possible. I decided to leave early, something I had never done before. To make sure I wasn’t just running I sat on the porch in the darkness of dawn. The light was just beginning to appear. In my head I heard, “Go home, I have work for you to do.” A request indeed awaited me when I got home—a request for service that changed the direction of my life with God and God’s people.

What are your experiences? How have they given meaning to the Trinity?

Blessings

Caroline

PRAYING TO TRIUNE GOD

2009-06-12T09:31:00.004-05:00

June 10, 2009

Thoughts: Two

Today, today…it is raining. My dog wants to go out, but not in the rain. He wants me to stop the rain. I open the door; he looks and retreats. He licks my feet. He sits, asks. I can’t make it stop raining. Is that the way I address God? Make it stop raining, please. He needs to go out or so he thinks. Outside is where he does his business. But rain is unpleasant so he waits, sits. He is so patient, lying, waiting; there will be time when outside is inviting and necessities can happen. A dog’s life, oh so good?

What person of God do I address now? Who responds to the creature, my dog, Scout? Is it a creator, fatherly, lover, God? Is it a companion, friendly, redeemer, God? Or is the One who spirits the storm, blows the trees, and drenches the earth? All I guess you would say. And yes, God is all, but is that just a cop out, a labeling of everything, which then becomes nothing?

God, it is raining. Father, I need to go out. Mother, I’m worried about destruction. Lord Jesus calm the storm. My friend let me share your umbrella. Spirit blow winds of grace. Breathe on me breath of God.

Blessings
Caroline

PRAYING TO TRIUNE GOD

2009-06-08T15:27:00.005-05:00

Thoughts: One

To Whom It May Concern: My computer generates that greeting automatically. To whom do you address your prayers? Is there a particular person of the Trinity that you pray to regularly? Does the content of your prayer differ when you pray to the Father, to the Son, to the Spirit? Do you instead always address God?: God, the merciful one, God the all powerful one, God, the loving one, God, the…. Is how you think of God at the moment reflected in the way you call on God?

I usually address my prayers to God. Sometimes I add a modifier that resonates with my thoughts at the moment. The universal, all-inclusive one seems to fit my picture, but I wonder if I limit God by being so general, generic. Am I missing the loving Father who would wrap his arms around me and tell me he cared? Am I failing to find the intimate talk I could have with One who walked the earth as I do? Do I miss the fantastic energy that an alive and vibrant Spirit brings to the course of daily living? Being in communion with the Ones that are in communion as God, Triune, is an enticing thought—

Which person of the Trinity seems most comfortable? Which least? Why?

PRAYING TO TRIUNE GOD

2009-06-08T14:37:00.011-05:00

The ways in which the Trinity is imagined fascinate me. The icon painters of the Eastern tradition draw on the three who visited Abraham and told him Sarah would bear a son in her old age. Look at those figures in the icon above and let them draw you in.

Compare that to the sterile and clean symbolism of the triangle and circle and square.

The Celts loved threes so they took easily to the notion of a Trinitarian God. They even found the world full of representations as this prayer from their tradition suggests. Do you sense a creation that reflects the nature of the Triune God?

Three folds of cloth,
yet only one napkin is there;
Three joints in the finger,
but still only one finger fair;
Three leaves of the shamrock,
yet no more than one shamrock to wear.
Frost, snow-flakes, and ice,
all in winter their origin share,
Three persons in God;
to one God alone we make our prayer.

Is our prayer different when we envision and experience God in these forms?

I’m not ready to move yet to concentrating on just one of the persons of the Trinity. Maybe you are. Either way let’s spend the week in prayer to the Triune God.

Blessings,
Caroline

THE TRINITY

2009-06-01T10:41:00.006-05:00

June 7 is Trinity Sunday in the 2009 church calendar and that got me to thinking--about the the Trinity. It’s a doctrine I have a really hard time getting my head around, yet it always seems integral in the Reformed brand of Christianity that I espouse. So when I am reminded, as I have been lately, I suspect it is a part of the spiritual journey I am on that bears noticing. That being the case I’d like to invite you to stop our general discussion of the spiritual journey started just a couple of months ago and spend some time with me and others and this idea. I do believe it is a part of the journey no matter how we understand or whether we accept the doctrine.
How shall we begin? God, three persons yet one God—how can that be? And I think equally important how do we experience God so described? The traditional names are Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; you may choose to name them differently avoiding archaic or sexist language; you may name them more frequently by the role--creator, redeemer, and sustainer. How they are unique, separate, and yet one, tugs mightily for me at the reasoning portion of my brain—various metaphors try to explain: an equilateral triangle in a circle, a holy family united in being, the way in which I am mother, daughter, teacher, the three-leaved shamrock. All work and all fall short.
I turn then to experience not in place of thinking but in tandem with it. How do we experience God the Father, God the Son, God the Spirit, God three in one? Can we experience each as separate and unique? Can we know them as one? What is the nature of those experiences?

I invite you over the month to ponder this God. I’d like to ask you to devote a week to thinking of each person of the Trinity separately. Pray to God in that person; seek to know God as Father, then as Son, and finally as Spirit. See that person of the Trinity at work in the world. I will keep a record (journal) of my thoughts and experiences; maybe you will too. The last week turn to God as three in one—GOD.

You're invited to share your thoughts here and enter into discussion. In fact the doctrine of the Trinity does suggest that God is in community so also are we who are created in the image of that God.

Blessings,

Caroline

GOD SEEKS

2009-05-06T17:22:00.001-05:00

We are all different; we are all alike. Does that sound true?

When we begin our trek through life we start alike—children of parents, needing of nurture and care, dependent and connected. All of us are disappointed; no ones’ needs are completely and constantly met. We become fearful we will be without; we see ourselves as separate and unable to impact our surroundings; we seek that which brings us pleasure and avoids pain. We are self-centered and selfish, but we need others to sustain our life.

When we begin our trek through life we start differently—children of differing humans, born in divergent households, treated with various degrees of good and ill. Some of us are treated so poorly we have trouble trusting at all. Others of us have a multitude of experiences that life is good. Some of us are taught to look out for number one; others of us learn that the most important activity of living is what is done for another. Our exposures to the life of faith, to one known as God, to a religious community vary immensely. Theology, style, purpose, and the importance of the spiritual life have so many iterations that the combinations produce an infinite set of spiritual heritages; we are all different.

God however seeks each of us. God seeks us as we are. God wishes to bring us to union with God and with all creation. What an amazing possibility! How will you answer? How does God seek you?

What are the significant ingredients in your idea of a faith journey?

FOOTNOTES

2009-05-06T17:07:00.009-05:00

My name is Page; I am a Page child. In my family there was a Daddy Page, a Mommy Page and another sister Page. Since big Pages sometimes have on the bottom a small word of explanation or reference, those in my father’s student group dubbed my sister and me “footnotes”. College students write papers, papers that must be appropriately referenced and authenticated, but the rest of us can just say what we think. But the name has stuck with me and the need to give credit also. However when I divided the word into the two words another meaning emerged. That is what this blog by is all about; notes on the footsteps we take along the pathway of living. I call that walk our spiritual journey.

Many of us want spiritual to mean only that ephemeral part of existence far removed from the nitty-gritty of life, the concrete world of matter. But when we read Scripture, when we honestly pray, when we seek the Divine, very quickly we find that all of life is spiritual. The divisions of body and soul, material and spiritual, doing and being, earth and heaven, seem less and less significant, less and less real. Our souls that seek the Divine are a part of our bodies with which we are united with God’s creation. The veil between worldly and otherworldly ripples in the breeze. Humans seek the Divine as the Creator seeks to be one with creation. The steps we take mark the sand and the waves. Let’s compare our notes on what we see, what we feel, what we sense, who we are, and who is the One we meet.

What is your definition of the spiritual journey?

EASTER SUNDAY

2009-04-08T13:05:00.008-05:00

Luke 24: 13-27

Three days after the crucifixion two followers were walking toward a village. Confused perhaps is the best word to describe them. They had hoped Jesus was Israel’s savior. But he had been executed by word of chief priests and power of the Roman authorities. Hope died. Amazingly however word had come that his tomb was empty and some women had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. Hope again?

Can we identify in any way with these two? When have you experienced such a roller coaster of emotions? When have you had your hoped raised, then dashed, and then raised again? How does that affect your ability to trust, to believe?

Another joined them as they walked and asked what they were talking about. They replied, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” His answer “What things?” led them to recount their woes and their wondering. He then began to explain again how scripture taught that Jesus was the Messiah. Only however when he broke bread with them did they recognize him as the one they had followed.

Today listen to the conversations; listen deeply; listen broadly; listen expectantly. Jesus is alive and talking it seems.

Lord Jesus, be alive again in our beings, among us. We offer ourselves in thanksgiving for your perfect work in bringing all to oneness with God and each other. Amen.
Blessings, Caroline

i ask; will you answer, jesus?

2009-04-08T12:49:00.018-05:00

Today you are among the dead, Jesus. Yet, I still have questions to ask. Will you answer? Will I hear? So much has been discussed over the last weeks—questions of God’s kingdom, questions of your Messiahship, questions of God’s purposes. Questions also have centered on who we are, what it means to follow you, when you will return. Sometimes you answered clearly, other times obliquely; some queries you refused to answer. The stories told haven’t always agreed or presented a consistent picture of who you are, but all eventually name you as God’s anointed, the one we are to follow.

So as you sleep with the dead today Jesus, will you answer? These are our questions:

What will you ask Jesus today?

The broken, the cast-away, and the beautiful, how do I put them together in the kingdom?

Sinful humanity and the fervent desire for goodness, both are a part of me; how do I deal with that and why am I that way?

Why, Jesus, do you trust us to follow? Why do you expect us to trust you?

Why in God’s name is so much pain necessary?

And what sorts of questions will Jesus answer?

Questions of humanity and not deity it seems to me.

Questions asked honestly and purposely.

Questions of the sort that the responses can be used for living faithfully, but not questions of the sort that simply give power, he answers, it seems, perhaps.

So I will always be in doubt about some things. But I can ask. Jesus will answer. I can trust the answering will be what is good, what is true, and what is at one with all creation and God.

Jesus, let your light shine from the depths to the heights, through all of creation, including me. Amen.
Blessings, Caroline

WHO ARE YOU, JESUS?

2009-04-08T12:46:00.008-05:00

Mark 14: 53-62 (religious authorities); John 18: 33-40, 19: 8-16 (Pilate); Luke 23: 6-12 (Herod); Luke 23: 39-43 (criminal on cross)

On Good Friday the issue of ‘who Jesus is’ was a life and death matter. Unable to find consistent testimony against him, the high priest asked him point blank, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” Mark finally has Jesus answer; “I am”, he said. The other synoptic writers are not so sure; Jesus said, they record, “You have said so.” These words were sufficient to condemn him to death for blasphemy.

But only Rome could actually execute someone, so Jesus was sent to Pilate. Pilate also asked, “Are you the King of the Jews?” an invitation to convict himself of sedition. Jesus, according to John’s gospel, made clear that his kingship while real was not of this world. Pilate doesn’t understand and asked again. Jesus finally answered, “You say that I am.” Herod too interrogated him but Jesus did not answer. Crucifixion did not stop the questioning. Luke tells us that one of thieves put to death with him asked, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” Rebuked by the other thief, Jesus responded only to the repentant one. Wasting words on answering loaded questions even when the issue was life or death was not what Jesus did. His answers seem to be that which allowed him to fulfill what he understood to be his destiny.

When we come to Jesus, to a dying Jesus, what sort of questioner are we? When we see Jesus charged with a capital crime, what sort of answerer is he?

Jesus, as you were accused you still wanted someone to hear who you were, what you were about. You still knew those who asked. Even in pain your thoughts were about others and your calling. Help us to hear. Amen.

Blessings, Caroline

VIOLENT RESISTANCE NECESSARY?

2009-04-08T11:57:00.003-05:00

Luke 22: 47-53

A crowd gathered in the dark of the garden. The religious authorities had sent their guard. Judas of the Twelve, the betrayer, led them to the place. He kissed Jesus and the temple police came forward to arrest him, swords and clubs at ready. The revolution is about to begin or is it? Jesus’ companions asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” Is that not the way to win? Isn’t violence necessary to change significantly the way things are done? Shouldn’t we defend the innocent, the righteous, the good, with every force available? We have swords, too! History tells us that’s the only way to stop evil. One of Jesus’ followers struck the first blow cutting off the ear of the slave of the high priest. But Jesus said, “No more of this!” and healed the slave’s ear.

Can you follow this Jesus? Can you not use the power you possess? Do you agree that violent resistance is not necessary? How do you understand Jesus?

We now live some two thousand years later. Our “swords” are much more powerful. But we still must arrest those who disturb the “peace” of our society. We still attack those who we consider dangerous. We still make mistakes in justice. We still misjudge and condemn those who are innocent and advocates of a better way.

What does Jesus say to us today when we draw our swords? Or would you not ask this question of him?

Lord Jesus, what does it mean to follow you? We would defend you. We would please you. We call you Lord. Amen.

Blessings, Caroline

WASHING AND BETRAYAL

2009-04-07T17:19:00.003-05:00

John 13: 1-30

When one confronts a crisis that has the potential of death, we humans often enter a different realm. We have heard of foxhole conversions and deathbed confessions. Being with one who is dying can be one of the most intimate and awesome experiences humans have. When we know one we love may die soon, reality seems to shift. After the loss of a spouse, a parent, or a child we often sense a different world.

Some times one who is facing dying says those things that he or she has always wanted to say but somehow couldn’t. Parents may have one last word of advice. Lovers express the depth of their love. Soldiers want their buddies to know who they really are. Jesus as John remembered him wanted his disciples to know him. Jesus wanted them to understand what he was all about. Jesus wanted them to remember after he was gone. So he washed their feet and told them one of them would betray him.

Remember or imagine such times of impending death.

Jesus made his point symbolically. He did that which only a slave would do—washed the feet of those dining with him. Peter probably asked what each of them felt, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus now knew that what he saw ahead they couldn’t comprehend yet. His impending death was not real to them. His mission was still veiled. Peter and Jesus’ dialogue expressed the disciples’ confusion. Jesus continued to explain; the mission will soon be theirs. The betrayer was prepared, but all they could ask was who is it.

Ponder on the reality of denial and betrayal. How does it happen? What brings us to that point? How do we react once it has happened? Seek more than quick answers. Invite Jesus to be present.

Lord Jesus, I am deeply sorry. How unaware I am; how often I betray. Only you can forgive. Only you can resurrect me. Please. Amen.

Blessings, Caroline