Very powerful and timely words from Ronnie!
This country suffers from a deadly sickness, an ailment far deeper than the obvious symptoms. The political wrangling, the looming threats of another faraway war, the intense societal divisions, the never-ending racism, violence, and hatefulness: These are all surface eruptions of the internal disease. We are dying from a lack of love….
— Read more on ronniemcbrayer.org/2020/02/10/the-cure-for-our-souls-and-the-world/
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
It has been another full Lord’s day
It has also been a time of introspection
A time of reflection, reading, and prayer
A time spent with dear friends
Time spent with my sweetheart
A time spent enjoying songwriters and musical sharing
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…
Today was a full day for us beginning with Worship and a Congregational meeting. After some time at home, we headed down the mountain to spend some time with our dear friends Nadine and Erin. The music and conversation were wonderful. As stories were shared by the various songwriters about life and the world, there was much to think about.
What began this morning with my sermon about the sort of fast the Lord calls us to, became another opportunity to reflect. This morning I said this is the fast God wants… a fast from division… a fast from fear… a fast from hatred… then we shall be, in the words of Isaiah, Repairers of the breach.
How can we become repairers of the breach in a world that is so divided? How do we become, in the words of Saint Francis of Assisi, Instruments of God’s Peace. Songs were sung this afternoon supporting Immigrants and our neighbors on the Southern border. These songs gave me pause for thought and reflection.
I have been reading from Merton again today. In the section of Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander that I read today, Merton talked quite a bit about non-violence and the need for humankind to strive to operate without hatred, without hostility, and without resentment. (p. 81) I believe that another part of that is to operate without fear of the other who may (or may not be) different from us.
We must find a way to use all of our gifts for the common good of all humanity. This quote from Merton popped up on my Facebook memories today. I posted it two years ago. Help us to use our science for peace and plenty, not for war and destruction. — Thomas Merton (A Book of Hours, p. 84)
Even though Merton was discussing the nuclear arms race, I believe it applies today both in the continued worship of the war machine and in how we treat others. Instead of building border walls, which truthfully don’t work in the first place, how about building bridges of understanding and mutual cooperation. In that way we might just live together as God’s beloved children without hatred, hostility, resentment, or fear. That is my hope, that is my prayer, that is my heart’s desire.
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
It was a wonderful morning with our houseguests
It was a day to relax and savor
Time with my sweetheart
Time exploring my guitar
Time reading and simply Being Still
An evening putting final touches on tomorrow’s message
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…
Often times when we think of fasting, we think of dramatic efforts to forego food during a time of prayer. Ghandi was known to fast for days or even weeks. Some traditions call for a period of fasting during Lent. When we visited The Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemane this past October I thought a lot about the fast of silence. I have experienced times of silence in the past, but thinking about the silence of the monks and especially Thomas Merton, I was reminded that out of such fasts can come incredible insights. We need more silence in this world, that’s for sure!
The juxtaposition of the Isaiah reading and one of the more difficult of Jesus’s teachings is intriguing and challenging. In Isaiah we hear the Prophet challenging the people of Israel. God isn’t happy with the “offerings” of the people or the religious leadership. The fasts mean nothing to God without a change of heart. All that God is asking is for the people to treat each other with the same love with which God loves all of God’s children. Yet once the heart is changed, the tone changes dramatically.
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am… If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in. (Isaiah 58:8-12)
Life moves from darkness into light. Hopelessness turns into hope. Instead of being lone individuals, we become a part of the beloved community. What is the fast God required? How can we, from the perspective of Jesus, be the salt and the light? The answer is closer than we may realize.
All of the actions required by the prophet… the summary of the law and the prophets according to Jesus… fulfilled by Jesus… these are all encapsulated in the divine law of love… To love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength… To love your neighbor as yourself. It is at once that easy and that challenging.
This is the fast God wants… a fast from division… a fast from fear… a fast from hatred… then we shall be, in the words of Isaiah, Repairers of the breach.
Merton has some words for us to consider. Although the context was different when he wrote them, the vision is universal. Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone – we find it with another.
May we be that love… May that love transform us… then the light of Christ will shine through us. Then the salt of our faith will not lose its flavor. That is my hope and that is my prayer, dear reader.
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
A day of snow and solitude
A time to be with my sweetheart
A day of reflection and rest
Time to simply Be Still
A sacred and much needed gift
For all of these things I give you thanks, 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…
Today has been a day of reflection. It has also been a day of much needed rest. Today I thought a lot about Denise and my life together and our calling. The foundation of that thinking was a sense of profound gratitude for the gift God has given us. For Denise today was a day of meal preparation for our houseguests. One of her many gifts is the gift of hospitality. For me it was a day filled with silence and contemplation. It was also the day I received an incredible gift from my beloved who had help from my son.
I have always wanted to learn how to play the guitar. She thought it would be an opportunity for me to relax and do something new which would be restorative.
Life is often hectic for us and it was nice to have this time together. It was also nice to be able to enjoy the things that feed our souls. I read some Merton today from a variety of sources. In Thoughts in Solitude, Merton said the following: The spiritual life is first of all a life. It is not merely something to be known and studied, it is to be lived. … If we want to be spiritual, then, let us first of all live our lives.
Today we were living out our our spiritual life individually and as a couple. Hospitality… Creativity… Silence… Love… Reflection… Merton was right, the spiritual life not something to be known and studied, it is to be lived. Thank you, Thomas Merton, for this gift and observation!
Wise words from Jake!
Jesus had a way of making you stop and think. Think about who you are, what you stand for, and what you ought to be doing with your life. Frequently, he did this by saying odd and confusing things that force you to step back and reflect instead of giving you clear marching orders…
— Read further on jakeowensby.com/2020/02/07/being-true-to-yourself/
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
It was a day of reflection
It was a day of study
It was a day of preparation
It was a day of ministry
We are especially thankful for family
For three dear young women who are family
For family, friendship, and fellowship we thank you
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…
