This morning Jonas and I read in the Gospel Jesus’ words: “If you are bringing your gift to the altar, and there you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift in front of the altar; go at once and make peace with your brother, and then come back and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23–24). . . . As I think about Jesus’ words, I know that I must let go of all divisive emotions and thoughts so that I can truly experience peace with all of God’s people. This means an unrestrained willingness to forgive and let go of old fears, bitterness, resentment, anger, and lust, and thus find reconciliation.
In this way I can be a real peacemaker. My inner peace can be a source of peace for all I meet. I can then offer gifts on the altar of God as a testimony to this peace with my brothers and sisters.
“When I am able to spend several days by the water, something always shifts in me. I am able to hear the Holy One more clearly through the rhythms of waves and tides and the vast mystery of the ocean.”
— Christine Valters Paintner, PhD, Water, Wind, Earth, & Fire: The Practice of Praying with the Elements
What part of nature are you most drawn to? Where do you encounter the Holy One?
“Peace is not the product of terror or fear. Peace is not the silence of cemeteries. Peace is not the silent result of violent repression. Peace is the generous, tranquil contribution of all to the good of all. Peace is dynamism. Peace is generosity. It is a right and it is a duty.”–St. Oscar Romero
Verse of the day
Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
– Romans 14:19
Voice of the day
But in times of crisis, the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another as if we were one single tribe.
– King T’Challa, Black Panther (2018)
Prayer of the day
Lord of bridge building, you have broken the dividing wall of hostility; remind us of our shared ancestry as beings made in your image.
Verse of the day
Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.
– Philippians 4:5
Voice of the day
The only thing I do know is that we have to be kind. … Especially when we don’t know what’s going on.
– Waymond Wang, Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
Prayer of the day
Lord of gentleness, in a world of uncertainty and chaos, may your people be a radical balm of kindness.
An excellent article!!
In the last week before an important election, it is tempting to write a grand summary of the issues at stake, to make a final attempt to influence the outcome—to “give it, give it all, give it now,” as Annie Dillard once advised writers. But only 5 to 15 percent of Americans decide how to vote in the last week before an election, so not many of you are still weighing your options. Instead, I thought it would be helpful to give some tips to everyone on getting through Election Day and beyond without adding to the toxic atmosphere out there.
— Read on www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2022/11/02/election-day-coping-strategies-244056
Verse of the day
When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
– Proverbs 29:2
Voice of the day
When we vote, we take back our power to choose, to speak up, and to stand with those who support us and each other.
– Attributed to Loung Ung
Prayer of the day
Lord, on this Election Day, hear the cries of your people; may those elected use their power to act justly.
From our lips to God’s ear… Sixty-one years later his words still ring true. Only the fight is within this nation.
I must pray more and more for courage, as I certainly have neither the courage nor the strength to follow the path that is certainly my duty now. With the fears and rages that possess so many confused people, if I say things that seem to threaten their interests or conflict with obsessions, then I will surely get it. It is shocking that so many are convinced that the Communists are about to invade or destroy America: “Christians” who think the only remedy is to destroy them first. Who thinks seriously of disarming? For whom is it more than a pious wish, beyond the bounds of practicality?
I need patience to listen, to learn, to try to understand, and courage to take all the consequences and be really faithful. This alone is a full-time job. I dread it, but it must be done, and I don’t quite know how. To save my soul by trying to be one of those who spoke and worked for peace, not for madness and destruction. — November 12, 1961 (Turning Toward the World: The Pivotal Years (Journals, IV: 1960–1963) & the November 7th entry in A Year with Thomas Merton: Daily Meditations from His Journals)
To find love, I must enter into that sanctuary where it is hidden, which is the mystery of God. — Thomas Merton in New Seeds of Contemplation
Food for thought as I consider God’s love in the midst of life and life’s mysteries.
Whether it was herons, pelicans, monarch butterflies, cormorants, or local cats (don’t tell Stella!) we thoroughly enjoyed a brief break from work and life to get away for two nights. We spent at least 45 minutes with this beauty last night. Denise was about 10 feet away from the heron and they were definitely connected in spirit.
Denise and I felt such a connection with these beautiful creatures. We also felt a wonderful peace as we spent time being still in God’s presence in this beautiful place.
Thomas Merton wrote the following about the kinship he felt with the creatures that he spent time with while at his hermitage.
In the afternoon, lots of pretty little myrtle warblers were playing and diving for insects in the low pine branches over my head, so close I could almost touch them. I was awed at their loveliness, their quick flight, their hissings and chirpings, the yellow spot on the back revealed in flight, etc. Sense of total kinship with them as if they and I were of the same nature, and as if that nature were nothing but love. And what else but love keeps us all together in being? — November 4, 1964 as found in A Year With Thomas Merton: Daily Meditations from His Journals – Nov 5th entry)
…as if they were of the same nature, and as if that nature was nothing but love. If only that sort of kinship was felt by all of humankind. Imago Dei, created in the image of God.
Pastor Michael Moore's Blog 