“Where you see wrong or inequality or injustice, speak out, because this is your country. This is your democracy. Make it. Protect it. Pass it on.”—Thurgood Marshall
Based upon some conversations I have been a part of this week, these words from Thomas Merton from his book No Man Is an Island spoke to my heart. The God of peace is never glorified in violence.
In these times of local AND worldwide challenges, I believe my brother Thomas would agree with another prophet, John Lennon: All we are saying is give peace a chance. May we indeed work to give peace chance ♥️
Dear reader, this is my fervent prayer for you and for me. In the words of St Francis of Assisi:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
The quote that I chose for this past Sunday’s bulletin came from Thomas Merton’s book Seasons of Celebration. In prejudice and hate, Advent offers LOVE – the perfect love of God in surrender, a way to love one another, a yearning to love His church.
This has been a challenging week for me on multiple levels and Merton’s invitation to love continues to speak to my heart and guide me through this season of Advent. Perhaps this is a word you need to hear as well, dear reader. It is offered to you with love.
Verse of the day
Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
– Proverbs 14:31 (NIV)
Voice of the day
It is the obligation of every person born in a safer room to open the door when someone in danger knocks.
– Dina Nayeri
Prayer of the day May we fling open every door and every heart.
Verse of the day
May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
– 2 Thessalonians 3:5
Voice of the day
Love is not a weak, spineless emotion; it is a powerful, moral force on the side of justice.
– Bernice A. King
Prayer of the day May I wholeheartedly abide by the forces of morality and justice.
“In the 21st century, we must have bold nonviolent movements that make all we did in the 20th century look anemic. If we don’t create these sustained creative campaigns humanity may not be able to sustain itself.”—Rev. James Lawson
“No matter how big a nation is, it is no stronger than its weakest people, and as long as you keep a person down some part of you has to be down there to hold him down, so it means you cannot soar as you might otherwise.”—Marian Anderson
“We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.”—Elie Wiesel
“Collective fear stimulates herd instinct, and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd.”—Bertrand Russell
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
It has been a busy day of work with my sweetheart
Trips to the recycle center and thrift store as she sorts through her dad’s estate
Sorting through memories and sharing stories
This has been a long process for my sweetheart (nine weeks and counting)
It has been good to spend the time helping and supporting her
It has also been a day of prayer and reflection
As Thomas Merton said in his book, No Man Is An Island—In Silence, God ceases to be an object and becomes an experience.
May this experience continue to be a blessing dear Lord
Now as my eyelids grow heavy
I lift this humble prayer to you
Dona Nobis Pacem
Grant Us Peace
A wee prayer from the heart of your Padre…
