Lord,
In the midst of this ruthless world
we live in:
Help us bond with the disconsolate Naomi.
Hear our prayers for the homeward bound Orpah.
Bless today’s gleaning
so it is enough for our daily bread.
And may we never forget
our eternal kinsman-redeemer.
Amen.
8.11.2012
Like Father, Like Son (Family Tradition)
Exodus 16/John 6:1-15; 22-42
Just like His Dad did
in the wilderness,
Out of love and compassion
The Son fed the people.
And just like His Dad did
in the wilderness.
The food came out of nothing
and from nowhere.
In the wilderness,
The Father’s manna was only good
for the day.
And all that was left of the Son’s meal
were baskets of bones and crumbs.
And just like His Dad
The Son learned as well
Miracles don’t generate faith
They get requests for encores.
“More food!”
The Chosen complained.
“More miracles!”
The Gentiles pleaded.
So the holy kitchens shut their doors.
The Select wandered around
Searching for the Land of Milk and Honey.
And the World wonders about
the Bread which satisfies every hunger.
Just like His Dad did
in the wilderness,
Out of love and compassion
The Son fed the people.
And just like His Dad did
in the wilderness.
The food came out of nothing
and from nowhere.
In the wilderness,
The Father’s manna was only good
for the day.
And all that was left of the Son’s meal
were baskets of bones and crumbs.
And just like His Dad
The Son learned as well
Miracles don’t generate faith
They get requests for encores.
“More food!”
The Chosen complained.
“More miracles!”
The Gentiles pleaded.
So the holy kitchens shut their doors.
The Select wandered around
Searching for the Land of Milk and Honey.
And the World wonders about
the Bread which satisfies every hunger.
Ruth 3:5
All that thou sayest unto me I will do.
Ruth 3:5
The story's strange.
For once, God wasn't talking,
Busy with some sacrifice or slaughter
Somewhere else. No plague, cloud, gushing water,
Dream, omen, whirlwind. Just two women, walking
The dusty road from Moab to Judea,
One, the younger, having told the other
(Not her own, but her dead husband's mother)
That she would never leave her. But they flee a
Famine for what, at first, seems something worse:
To come as widows to a crowded city,
To men’s appraising stares, and women’s pity.
Ruth, the pagan, heard Naomi curse,
Cringed and scanned the sky. No fire or stone
Came crashing downward. They were on their own.
Catherine Tufariello’s No Angel
Ruth 3:5
The story's strange.
For once, God wasn't talking,
Busy with some sacrifice or slaughter
Somewhere else. No plague, cloud, gushing water,
Dream, omen, whirlwind. Just two women, walking
The dusty road from Moab to Judea,
One, the younger, having told the other
(Not her own, but her dead husband's mother)
That she would never leave her. But they flee a
Famine for what, at first, seems something worse:
To come as widows to a crowded city,
To men’s appraising stares, and women’s pity.
Ruth, the pagan, heard Naomi curse,
Cringed and scanned the sky. No fire or stone
Came crashing downward. They were on their own.
Catherine Tufariello’s No Angel
Boaz Asleep
Boaz, overcome with weariness, by torchlight
made his pallet on the threshing floor
where all day he had worked, and now he slept
among the bushels of threshed wheat.
The old man owned wheatfields and barley,
and though he was rich, he was still fair-minded.
No filth soured the sweetness of his well.
No hot iron of torture whitened in his forge.
His beard was silver as a brook in April.
He bound sheaves without the strain of hate
or envy. He saw gleaners pass, and said,
Let handfuls of the fat ears fall to them.
The man's mind, clear of untoward feeling,
clothed itself in candor. He wore clean robes.
His heaped granaries spilled over always
toward the poor, no less than public fountains.
Boaz did well by his workers and by kinsmen.
He was generous, and moderate. Women held him
worthier than younger men, for youth is handsome,
but to him in his old age came greatness.
An old man, nearing his first source, may find
the timelessness beyond times of trouble.
And though fire burned in young men's eyes,
to Ruth the eyes of Boaz shone clear light.
**Victor Hugo (translator unknown)
made his pallet on the threshing floor
where all day he had worked, and now he slept
among the bushels of threshed wheat.
The old man owned wheatfields and barley,
and though he was rich, he was still fair-minded.
No filth soured the sweetness of his well.
No hot iron of torture whitened in his forge.
His beard was silver as a brook in April.
He bound sheaves without the strain of hate
or envy. He saw gleaners pass, and said,
Let handfuls of the fat ears fall to them.
The man's mind, clear of untoward feeling,
clothed itself in candor. He wore clean robes.
His heaped granaries spilled over always
toward the poor, no less than public fountains.
Boaz did well by his workers and by kinsmen.
He was generous, and moderate. Women held him
worthier than younger men, for youth is handsome,
but to him in his old age came greatness.
An old man, nearing his first source, may find
the timelessness beyond times of trouble.
And though fire burned in young men's eyes,
to Ruth the eyes of Boaz shone clear light.
**Victor Hugo (translator unknown)
What a Wonderful World
(Genesis 1)
The noise of the animals is a low roar.
The waves continually kissing the shore.
The breezes making the trees dance.
The humans are inventing romance.
There’s no such thing as zombies.
Creation is a just a big ole party.
The light of the stars are set on low.
The night creatures come late to the show.
The birds are singing with Eve.
God looks at all He achieved.
That’s the first Saturday night story.
Creation is a just a big ole party.
The noise of the animals is a low roar.
The waves continually kissing the shore.
The breezes making the trees dance.
The humans are inventing romance.
There’s no such thing as zombies.
Creation is a just a big ole party.
The light of the stars are set on low.
The night creatures come late to the show.
The birds are singing with Eve.
God looks at all He achieved.
That’s the first Saturday night story.
Creation is a just a big ole party.
Asher Yatzar / Blessing for the Body
(Blessing upon going to the bathroom.)
Blessed are You, Adonai, source of all being,
who formed the human body with wisdom
and created within us various openings and closings.
It is known before Your throne of glory
that if one of these were to be open where it should be closed,
or closed where it should be opened,
we would not be able to stand before You and offer praise.
Blessed are You, Adonai,
healer of all flesh and worker of miracles!
Found at: Velveteen Rabbi
Blessed are You, Adonai, source of all being,
who formed the human body with wisdom
and created within us various openings and closings.
It is known before Your throne of glory
that if one of these were to be open where it should be closed,
or closed where it should be opened,
we would not be able to stand before You and offer praise.
Blessed are You, Adonai,
healer of all flesh and worker of miracles!
Found at: Velveteen Rabbi
Percy Speaks While I am Doing Taxes
First of all, I do not want to be doing this.
Second of all, Percy does not want me
to be doing this.
Hanging over my desk like a besieged person
with a dull pencil and innumerable lists of numbers.
Outside the water is blue, the sky is clear,
the tide rising.
Percy, I say, this has to be done. This is essential.
I'll be finished eventually.
Keep me in your thoughts, he replies.
Just because I can't count to ten doesn't mean
I don't remember yesterday, or anticipate today.
I give you one more hour, then we step out
into the beautiful, money-deaf gift of the world
and run.
**Mary Oliver
Second of all, Percy does not want me
to be doing this.
Hanging over my desk like a besieged person
with a dull pencil and innumerable lists of numbers.
Outside the water is blue, the sky is clear,
the tide rising.
Percy, I say, this has to be done. This is essential.
I'll be finished eventually.
Keep me in your thoughts, he replies.
Just because I can't count to ten doesn't mean
I don't remember yesterday, or anticipate today.
I give you one more hour, then we step out
into the beautiful, money-deaf gift of the world
and run.
**Mary Oliver
Kindling
By Susan Osborn
If I am deaf and cannot hear
And if I am blind and cannot see
If I am mute and cannot speak
If all of my senses are numb and dull
Will I be saved?
Is the soul impoverished in any way?
Or does the utter silence ring
with the Truth?
Does Love care
what the words are
that lead us home?
If I am deaf and cannot hear
And if I am blind and cannot see
If I am mute and cannot speak
If all of my senses are numb and dull
Will I be saved?
Is the soul impoverished in any way?
Or does the utter silence ring
with the Truth?
Does Love care
what the words are
that lead us home?
God retreats
In the beginning
it was sudden --
the world
that wasn't
yet
all at once
emerging
out of formless void --
space
of the infinite
broken
into pieces -- God
retreating
to make way
for perfect human
imperfection...
**Rachel Tzvia Back
I've looked at love from both sides now (I really don't know love at all)
Love your neighbor
Love your enemies 1
If you love those who love you, 2
Any run-of-the-mill sinner can do that. 3
Anyone who loves their son or daughter
more than Me
is not worthy of Me. 4
Whoever has been forgiven little
loves little. 5
Anyone who loves Me
will obey my teaching.
My Father will love them,
and we will come to them
and make our home with them.6
References:
1- Matthew 5:43-44
2- Matthew 5:46
3- Matthew 5:47 (Message)
4- Matthew 10:37
5- Luke 7:47b
6- John 14:23
Love your enemies 1
If you love those who love you, 2
Any run-of-the-mill sinner can do that. 3
Anyone who loves their son or daughter
more than Me
is not worthy of Me. 4
Whoever has been forgiven little
loves little. 5
Anyone who loves Me
will obey my teaching.
My Father will love them,
and we will come to them
and make our home with them.6
References:
1- Matthew 5:43-44
2- Matthew 5:46
3- Matthew 5:47 (Message)
4- Matthew 10:37
5- Luke 7:47b
6- John 14:23
Sportscenter (At the Hunger Games)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
Coming up on Sportscenter …..
Porn defeated love
Misery destroyed joy
War handed peace another loss
Rush to judgment shut down patience
Selfishness beat kindness
Evil had its way with goodness
Indifference upset faithfulness
Gentleness was manhandled by violence
And Decadence laughed self-control off the field.
Later, our panel will discuss the question:
“When will these fruit of the Spirit teams
mature into winners?”
It’s all coming up next.
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
Coming up on Sportscenter …..
Porn defeated love
Misery destroyed joy
War handed peace another loss
Rush to judgment shut down patience
Selfishness beat kindness
Evil had its way with goodness
Indifference upset faithfulness
Gentleness was manhandled by violence
And Decadence laughed self-control off the field.
Later, our panel will discuss the question:
“When will these fruit of the Spirit teams
mature into winners?”
It’s all coming up next.
Blown by the Spirit… We Know Not Where
***Walter Brueggemann Prayers for a Privileged People
We hear the story of the wind at Pentecost,
Holy wind that dismantles what was,
Holy wind that evokes what is to be,
Holy wind that overrides barriers and causes communication,
Holy wind that signals your rule even among us.
We are dazzled, but then – reverting to type -
We wonder how to harness the wind,
how to manage the wind by our technology,
how to turn the wind to our usefulness,
how to make ourselves managers of the wind
Partly we do not believe such an odd tale
because we are not religious freaks;
Partly we resist such a story,
because it surges beyond our categories;
Partly we had imagined you to be more ordered
and reliable than that.
So we listen, depart, and return to our ordered existence:
we depart with only a little curiosity
But not yielding;
we return to how it was before,
unconvinced but wistful, slightly praying for wind,
craving for newness,
wishing to have it all available to us.
We pray toward the wind and wait, unconvinced but wistful.
We hear the story of the wind at Pentecost,
Holy wind that dismantles what was,
Holy wind that evokes what is to be,
Holy wind that overrides barriers and causes communication,
Holy wind that signals your rule even among us.
We are dazzled, but then – reverting to type -
We wonder how to harness the wind,
how to manage the wind by our technology,
how to turn the wind to our usefulness,
how to make ourselves managers of the wind
Partly we do not believe such an odd tale
because we are not religious freaks;
Partly we resist such a story,
because it surges beyond our categories;
Partly we had imagined you to be more ordered
and reliable than that.
So we listen, depart, and return to our ordered existence:
we depart with only a little curiosity
But not yielding;
we return to how it was before,
unconvinced but wistful, slightly praying for wind,
craving for newness,
wishing to have it all available to us.
We pray toward the wind and wait, unconvinced but wistful.
An Anxious World
An anxious world seeks moments of happiness
instead of a life of joy.
An anxious world desires an understandable calm
instead of a peace that surpasses understanding.
An anxious world can’t wait for the next big thing
instead of patiently enduring the situation at hand
An anxious world wants to destroy those who disagree
instead of being kind to the ungrateful and wicked. (Luke 6:35)
An anxious world anticipates integrity to be corrupted
instead of goodness as our unblemished standard.
An anxious world searches everywhere for answers
instead of being true to the ones taught by the Master.
An anxious world believes might makes right
instead of a gentleness that brings righteousness.
An anxious world is chained in excess
instead of being free in disciplines
of prayer, charity and worship.
O anxious world!
Abandon what the world is selling.
Embrace what the Lord has given -
The Holy Spirit.
instead of a life of joy.
An anxious world desires an understandable calm
instead of a peace that surpasses understanding.
An anxious world can’t wait for the next big thing
instead of patiently enduring the situation at hand
An anxious world wants to destroy those who disagree
instead of being kind to the ungrateful and wicked. (Luke 6:35)
An anxious world anticipates integrity to be corrupted
instead of goodness as our unblemished standard.
An anxious world searches everywhere for answers
instead of being true to the ones taught by the Master.
An anxious world believes might makes right
instead of a gentleness that brings righteousness.
An anxious world is chained in excess
instead of being free in disciplines
of prayer, charity and worship.
O anxious world!
Abandon what the world is selling.
Embrace what the Lord has given -
The Holy Spirit.
Prodigal
And after it rains
There's a rainbow
And all of the colors are black
It's not that the colors aren't there
It's just imagination they lack
Everything's the same
Back in my little town
**Paul Simon
Luke 4:16-30
Oh Jesus!
You can have a baptism.
like no other.
Deal with devil
on your terms.
Heal the
troubled, bleeding and hurting.
But back home
You’re…
The carpenter’s kid.
The undiscipled Rabbi.
None of the other kids
are like You.
You became like the prodigal.
Left your town behind
and
began to reveal who God is.
Then came home
to
a people who
wanted to have a feast and celebrate.
Bring us the Lamb and kill it.
For His own good.
(and ours as well)
There's a rainbow
And all of the colors are black
It's not that the colors aren't there
It's just imagination they lack
Everything's the same
Back in my little town
**Paul Simon
Luke 4:16-30
Oh Jesus!
You can have a baptism.
like no other.
Deal with devil
on your terms.
Heal the
troubled, bleeding and hurting.
But back home
You’re…
The carpenter’s kid.
The undiscipled Rabbi.
None of the other kids
are like You.
You became like the prodigal.
Left your town behind
and
began to reveal who God is.
Then came home
to
a people who
wanted to have a feast and celebrate.
Bring us the Lamb and kill it.
For His own good.
(and ours as well)
Hell
By Billy Collins
I have a feeling that it is much worse
than shopping for a mattress at a mall,
of greater duration without question,
and there is no random pitch forking here,
no licking flames to fear,
only this cavernous store with its maze of bedding.
Yet wandering past the jovial kings,
the more sensible queens,
and the cheerless singles
no scarlet sheet will ever cover,
I am thinking of a passage from the Inferno
which I could fully bring to mind
and recite in English or even Italian
if the salesman who has been following us—
a crumpled pack of Newports
visible in the pocket of his short sleeve shirt—
would stop insisting for a moment
that we test this one, then this softer one,
which we do by lying down side by side,
arms rigid, figures on a tomb,
powerless to imagine what it would be like
to sleep or love this way
under the punishing rows of fluorescent lights,
which Dante might have included
had he been able to lie on his back between us here today.
I have a feeling that it is much worse
than shopping for a mattress at a mall,
of greater duration without question,
and there is no random pitch forking here,
no licking flames to fear,
only this cavernous store with its maze of bedding.
Yet wandering past the jovial kings,
the more sensible queens,
and the cheerless singles
no scarlet sheet will ever cover,
I am thinking of a passage from the Inferno
which I could fully bring to mind
and recite in English or even Italian
if the salesman who has been following us—
a crumpled pack of Newports
visible in the pocket of his short sleeve shirt—
would stop insisting for a moment
that we test this one, then this softer one,
which we do by lying down side by side,
arms rigid, figures on a tomb,
powerless to imagine what it would be like
to sleep or love this way
under the punishing rows of fluorescent lights,
which Dante might have included
had he been able to lie on his back between us here today.
“If I confide my secrets to you in a bar…”
Omar Khayyam
Rubaiyat (262)
If I confide my secrets
to you in a bar,
it is far better than to pray
without you in
a house of worship.
You are the alpha and omega;
without you everything is nothing.
If you wish, you can
sentence us to hell,
and if you wish, you can
decide to cherish us.
Translated by Juan Cole
Rubaiyat (262)
If I confide my secrets
to you in a bar,
it is far better than to pray
without you in
a house of worship.
You are the alpha and omega;
without you everything is nothing.
If you wish, you can
sentence us to hell,
and if you wish, you can
decide to cherish us.
Translated by Juan Cole
Remove the chains
Set him free
from his madness.
Hear his plea.
Speak the word.
Remove the chains
and
set him free.
Set her free
from her disease.
Feel her faith,
Locate the touch.
Remove the chains
and
set her free.
I am so used to my chains.
Comfortable but binding.
I have no need to change.
There’s no reason to cry out in distress.
or care about anybody else’s shackles.
I don’t have to lunge
for the hem of His garment
here in the land of the free.
I Hear the Rolling Thunder
Mark 4:35-41
If it’s true that the gods do not sleep,
If it’s true that the gods do not sleep,
perhaps it was Jesus’ most fully human condition.
Remembering Eve, Abraham and Israel
Dreaming of angels, Abba and peace
A blessed rest after doing His Father’s will.
But in the midst of Nirvana
He was hijacked to
the world He created.
Drenched in water and the screams of
“Don’t you care if we drown?”
Maybe
He thought
He was having His first nightmare.
So He played the hero.
He spoke to the cosmic snooze button.
Calmed the wind.
Stopped the waves.
And then
mumbled to the crew
before going back to sleep:
“Why so little faith,
when you’re traveling with the King?”
Spirit Twins ** Henri Nouwen
Spirit Twins ** Henri Nouwen
Two babies are in uterus confined to the wall of their mother’s womb, and they are having a conversation. For the sake of clarity we’ll call these twins Soul and Spirit.
Spirit says to Soul, “I know you are going to find this difficult to accept, but I truly believe there is life after birth.”
Soul responds, “Don’t be ridiculous. Look around you. This is all there is. Why must you always be thinking about something beyond this reality? Accept your lot in life. Make yourself comfortable and forget about all this life-after-birth nonsense.”
Spirit quiets down for a while, but her inner voice won’t allow her to remain silent any longer. “Soul, now don’t get mad, but I have something else to say. I also believe that there is a Mother.”
“A Mother!” Soul guffaws. “How can you be so absurd? You’ve never seen a Mother. Why can’t you accept that this is all there is? The idea of a Mother is crazy. You are here alone with me. This is your reality. Now grab hold of that cord. Go into your corner and stop being so silly. Trust me, there is no Mother.”
Spirit reluctantly stops her conversation with Soul, but her restlessness soon gets the better of her. “Soul,” she implores, “please listen without rejecting my idea. Somehow I think that those constant pressures we both feel, those movements that make us so uncomfortable at times, that continual repositioning and all of that closing in that seems to be taking place as we keep growing, is getting us ready for a place of glowing light, and we will experience it very soon.”
“Now I know you are absolutely insane,” replies Soul. “All you’ve ever known is darkness. You’ve never seen the light. How can you even contemplate such an idea? Those movements and pressures you feel are your reality. You are a distinct separate being. This is your journey and you’re on your own. Darkness and pressures and a closed-in feeling are what life is all about. You’ll have to fight it as long as you live. Now grab your cord and please stay still.
Spirit relaxes for a while, but finally she can contain herself no longer. “Soul, I have only one more thing to say, and then I’ll never bother you again.”
“Go ahead,” Soul responds impatiently.
“I believe all of these pressures and all of this discomfort is not only going to bring us to a new celestial light, but when we experience it, we are going to meet Mother face-to-face and know an ecstasy that is beyond anything we have ever experienced up until now.”
“You really are crazy, Spirit. Now I’m truly convinced of it.”
Two babies are in uterus confined to the wall of their mother’s womb, and they are having a conversation. For the sake of clarity we’ll call these twins Soul and Spirit.
Spirit says to Soul, “I know you are going to find this difficult to accept, but I truly believe there is life after birth.”
Soul responds, “Don’t be ridiculous. Look around you. This is all there is. Why must you always be thinking about something beyond this reality? Accept your lot in life. Make yourself comfortable and forget about all this life-after-birth nonsense.”
Spirit quiets down for a while, but her inner voice won’t allow her to remain silent any longer. “Soul, now don’t get mad, but I have something else to say. I also believe that there is a Mother.”
“A Mother!” Soul guffaws. “How can you be so absurd? You’ve never seen a Mother. Why can’t you accept that this is all there is? The idea of a Mother is crazy. You are here alone with me. This is your reality. Now grab hold of that cord. Go into your corner and stop being so silly. Trust me, there is no Mother.”
Spirit reluctantly stops her conversation with Soul, but her restlessness soon gets the better of her. “Soul,” she implores, “please listen without rejecting my idea. Somehow I think that those constant pressures we both feel, those movements that make us so uncomfortable at times, that continual repositioning and all of that closing in that seems to be taking place as we keep growing, is getting us ready for a place of glowing light, and we will experience it very soon.”
“Now I know you are absolutely insane,” replies Soul. “All you’ve ever known is darkness. You’ve never seen the light. How can you even contemplate such an idea? Those movements and pressures you feel are your reality. You are a distinct separate being. This is your journey and you’re on your own. Darkness and pressures and a closed-in feeling are what life is all about. You’ll have to fight it as long as you live. Now grab your cord and please stay still.
Spirit relaxes for a while, but finally she can contain herself no longer. “Soul, I have only one more thing to say, and then I’ll never bother you again.”
“Go ahead,” Soul responds impatiently.
“I believe all of these pressures and all of this discomfort is not only going to bring us to a new celestial light, but when we experience it, we are going to meet Mother face-to-face and know an ecstasy that is beyond anything we have ever experienced up until now.”
“You really are crazy, Spirit. Now I’m truly convinced of it.”
Our trust in the high-heaped table
Rabbi, we Gadarenes
Are not ascetics; we are fond of wealth and possessions.
Love, as You call it, we obviate by means
Of the planned release of aggressions.
We have deep faith in prosperity.
Soon, it is hoped, we will reach our full potential.
In the light of our gross product, the practice of charity
Is palpably non-essential.
It is true that we go insane;
That for no good reason we are possessed by devils;
That we suffer, despite the amenities which obtain
At all but the lowest levels.
We shall not, however, resign
Our trust in the high-heaped table and the full trough.
If You cannot cure us without destroying our swine,
We had rather You shoved off.
Are not ascetics; we are fond of wealth and possessions.
Love, as You call it, we obviate by means
Of the planned release of aggressions.
We have deep faith in prosperity.
Soon, it is hoped, we will reach our full potential.
In the light of our gross product, the practice of charity
Is palpably non-essential.
It is true that we go insane;
That for no good reason we are possessed by devils;
That we suffer, despite the amenities which obtain
At all but the lowest levels.
We shall not, however, resign
Our trust in the high-heaped table and the full trough.
If You cannot cure us without destroying our swine,
We had rather You shoved off.
Richard Wilbur
Perhaps I am stronger than I think.
Perhaps I am stronger than I think.
Perhaps I am even afraid of my strength,
Perhaps I am even afraid of my strength,
and turn it against myself, thus making myself weak.
Making myself secure. Making myself guilty.
Perhaps I am most afraid of the strength of God in me.
Perhaps I would rather be guilty and weak in myself,
than strong in Him whom I cannot understand.
Making myself secure. Making myself guilty.
Perhaps I am most afraid of the strength of God in me.
Perhaps I would rather be guilty and weak in myself,
than strong in Him whom I cannot understand.
- Thomas Merton
3.11.2012
Miracle
When the man asked
to be cured of his faulty speech, Jesus
touched his tongue, pressing his calloused forefinger
against its fleshy center. The man felt
words well within him, words
of the law and prophets; he felt
creatures swirling in his mouth, and when he opened
his lips, they soared like doves, their soft feathers
brushing his neighbors' ears, every word
perfectly clear and yet still
sounding like miracle, miracle, miracle.
to be cured of his faulty speech, Jesus
touched his tongue, pressing his calloused forefinger
against its fleshy center. The man felt
words well within him, words
of the law and prophets; he felt
creatures swirling in his mouth, and when he opened
his lips, they soared like doves, their soft feathers
brushing his neighbors' ears, every word
perfectly clear and yet still
sounding like miracle, miracle, miracle.
**Lynn Domina
Show Me The Place
The greatest among you must be a servant.
But those who exalt themselves will be humbled,
and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Matthew 23:11-12
Show me the place, where you want your slave to go
Show me the place, I’ve forgotten I don’t know
Show me the place where my head is bending low
Show me the place, where you want your slave to go
Show me the place, I’ve forgotten I don’t know
Show me the place where my head is bending low
Show me the place, where you want your slave to go
Show me the place, help me roll away the stone
Show me the place, I can’t move this thing alone
Show me the place where the Word became a man
Show me the place where the suffering began
Show me the place, I can’t move this thing alone
Show me the place where the Word became a man
Show me the place where the suffering began
***Leonard Cohen
The Fragile and the Suffering
Matthew 19:30
Widow
Prodigal
The fragile
Legion
Lost
Beggar
The suffering
Meek
Poor
You are losers no more.
Come share your Master’s joy..
For
Many of the first will be last
and
Many of the last shall be first
..
In the Name of Love
Jesus was asked a question,
“Should we pay taxes to the oppression?”
Jesus always being broke
Asked for a coin from the folk.
Then He asked “Whose face is on this bling?”
All replied, “ You know- the king!”
Then Jesus finished by being wise:
“Give the kings their due
The earthly and well as the One in Paradise.“
“Should we pay taxes to the oppression?”
Jesus always being broke
Asked for a coin from the folk.
Then He asked “Whose face is on this bling?”
All replied, “ You know- the king!”
Then Jesus finished by being wise:
“Give the kings their due
The earthly and well as the One in Paradise.“
Kings can’t stand scarcity.
They worship the god of more.
More power.
More economically.
More security.
All at someone else’s expense.
Except one King
who understands more through less.
The greatest must be a servant.
Life is more than food and clothes.
A King that sacrificed His life for His people.
All in the name of Love.
Can’t buy me love
No one can serve two masters.
Either he will hate the one and love the other, or
he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
You cannot serve both God and Money.
God made trees
Man invented paper
God made chemicals
Man invented ink
God gives freely
Man invented money.
Man went and made Money
a god.
And
God wanted to smote Man
for placing His Name on it.
Top Chef
“You are the salt of the earth.
But if the salt loses its saltiness,
how can it be made salty again?
It is no longer good for anything,
except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
(Matthew 5:13)
He pours the salt
into a stew of
anger
brokenness
crimes
drugs
evil
fear
greed
hate
indifference
jealousy
kooks
lust
materialism
nastiness
obscenity
pain
religion
stupidity
terrorism
un-anything
violence and
waste.
He stirs it
over a high open flame
tastes
and says:
“It could use a little more salt.”
The Lent Show (Ash Wednesday 2012)
Forget the palms of the parade.
Forget the blood sweated when He prayed.
Forget the cross of Good Friday.
Forget the stone rolled away.
It’s time for the first episode of the Lent Show.
Where today the only thing you know
is:
“You were dust
and dust you shall return.”
The Wonders of His Love
Praise and worship
The One
who gives freely everything good
to His Creation.
And by both doing so,
Man exalting God
and
God loving man
makes everyday Christmas.
Fish in a barrel
But to the wicked , God says:
"What right have you to recite my statutes,
or take my covenant on your lips?
For you hate discipline,
and you cast my words behind you.
(Psalm 50:16-17)
...you cows of Bashan
who are on Mount Samaria,
who oppress the poor, who crush the needy,
who say to their husbands, "Bring something to drink!"
2The Lord GOD has sworn by his holiness:
The time is surely coming upon you,
when they shall take you away with hooks, even the last of you with fishhooks.
(Amos 4:1-2)
[I]n the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts and saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? (2 Peter 3:3b-4a)
Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32For 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."
(Matthew 21:31b-32)
Those who speak My Word
without acting on it.
When will they change their mind?
Those who live
as if I AM not here.
When will they change their mind?
Those who think
I only came at Christmas.
When will they change their mind?
Because those who do not change their minds
will be caught by My hook.
Not to be placed in My aquarium,
but thrown in a pile with their fellow Pisces.
.
You think you know Me well (But you don't know Me)
1Now when the king was settled in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2the king said to the prophet Nathan, "See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent." 3Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that you have in mind; for the LORD is with you."
4But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan:
5Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the LORD: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? 6I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. 7Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"
(2 Samuel 7:1-7)
39In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?
(Luke 1:39-43)
What an interesting juxtaposition of readings.
God not wanting a Temple to hold Him in.
Instead, God resides in the flesh of a young girl.
God not wanting to dwell in a house of cedar and gold.
Instead, God reveals Himself in a barn.
God not wanting to be in the midst of mindless sacrifices.
Instead, God is born in the midst of living animals.
God refuses to be in a house built by those in power.
Instead, God is worshipped by lowly shepherds
A God who will never say “Long live the king!”
Instead a God who wants all to have abundant life.
Amen.
Mary
Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
2 Let Israel be glad in its Maker;
let the children of Zion rejoice in their King
Sing to the Lord a new song,
his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
2 Let Israel be glad in its Maker;
let the children of Zion rejoice in their King
(Psalm 149:1-2)
1Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
6A multitude of camels shall cover you,
the young camels of Midian and Ephah;
all those from Sheba shall come.
They shall bring gold and frankincense,
and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD.
(Isaiah 60:1,6)
…she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
(Matthew 1:25b)
“What was achieved in the body of Mary will happen in the soul of everyone
who receives the Word.” ***St Gregory of Nyssa (4th century)
Mary
O blessed one among women,
You who said “Yes” to God,
only to endure the gossip
of your pregnancy.
To give birth
in a stable.
To have your heart drop
when He was left behind in Jerusalem.
And
to have your heart broken
when He was raised on the cross.
Thank you for your blessing
becoming our eternal Christmas present.
Time only counts in prison
“Life in a prison cell may well be compared to Advent; one waits, hopes, and does this, that, or the other -- things that are really of no consequence -
the door is shut, and can be opened only from the outside.”
-- Dietrich Bonhoeffer
(Meditation on above quotation)
We put up the tree
and the lights.
Write the cards
Buy the gifts.
Invite friends over.
Light the Advent candle.
What else is left do
but to wait for Jesus
to set us free?
(or are we serving a life sentence?)
Not Enough Love In The World
37For nothing will be impossible with God.
(Luke 1:37)
Omniscient.
Omnipotent.
Omnipresent.
If I had those three qualities,
nothing would be impossible.
Except for humbling myself
and hang from a cross
for your sins.
Changes (Just gonna have to be a different man)
18Zechariah said to the angel, "How will I know that this is so?
For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years."
19The angel replied, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God,
have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak,
until the day these things occur." (Luke 1:18-20)
The angel said to the priest:
“Watch in silence
these events that you
can not comprehend.
Go home to your beloved.
Lie with her
and let God’s story
start to unfold.”
Today‘s meditation:
Can we keep our unbelief as revealed
in thought, word and deed
silent?
Looking for Answers (from above not below)
For my days pass away like smoke,
(Psalm 102:3)
My days are like an evening shadow;
(Psalm 102:11)
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord
more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning.
and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord
more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning.
(Psalms 130:5-6)
You show me the path of life.
In your presence there is fullness of joy;
in your right hand are pleasures forevermore
In your presence there is fullness of joy;
in your right hand are pleasures forevermore
(Psalm 16:11)
On those days
when life seems dark
and without promise
I wait for You
to give me an answer.
And then when I sense
Your Presence,
There is no great insight,
No enlightenment.
Instead You show me
Your path of life
with a command:
“Follow Me.”
The waiting is the hardest part
the LORD will not forsake his people;
he will not abandon his heritage
(Psalm 94:14)
As we wait
for the second Christmas,
Let us not be anxious
in any matter.
For our faith
is placed in
the Provider
of all good things
who will not leave
the ones He loves.
3.10.2012
Miracle (David Wilcox)
A bright star in the winter sky
Led to Bethlehem that night
But only three traveled there to see
And the rest just wished they might
Led to Bethlehem that night
But only three traveled there to see
And the rest just wished they might
Few will chose to follow
Out of all the star invites
Most will hide safe inside
With the lantern turned up bright
Waiting for a miracle
The journey was a long one
So the story's told
These three guys
Walking side by side
With their incense and gold
People all along the highway
They just shook their heads
They looked hard at that distant star
And went back to bed
'Cause they were
Waiting for a miracle
The star was dim and distant
To those who stayed at home
But every heart that follows
Behold a light was shone
Hark! The herald angels sing
The song is bright and clear
It's so quiet on this road tonight
As the travelers' star appears
But right outside my window
Quiet as can be
All that time making up my mind
The angels wait for me
Waiting for a miracle
There Will Be a Day
Return to us, God Almighty!
Look down from heaven and see!
(Psalm 80:14)
Look down from heaven and see!
(Psalm 80:14)
If you do not wake up,
I will come like a thief,
and you will not know
at what hour I will come to you.
(Rev. 3:3b)
On the second Christmas,
When He returns.
Not as a baby
But as the King.
No star directing those to see Him
But He who is the Light in the darkness
Not escaping to Egypt
But reclaiming those who kept the faith.
No gifts from the wise men
But reviewing what the faithful and unfaithful
did with theirs.
On the second Christmas,
When He returns.
The Last Adam
There’s only one God
whose strength can not be measured
and
whose wisdom is far beyond comprehension.
Who came down from His home
Not to exhibit His mighty power
or show off His knowledge.
But to live a life
like one of His creations - Adam
As a baby
As a child
As a man
As a Teacher
As a Healer
As the Christ.
3.04.2012
I’ll be watching you
18 Truly the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,
(Psalm 33:38)
9 The LORD watches over the strangers;
he upholds the orphan and the widow,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
he upholds the orphan and the widow,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
(Psalm 146:9)
Maybe the reason
God’s presence is so unnerving
is that
He can see us
while we can only sense He’s there.
As we meditate on the Magi witnessing
God in the flesh,
let us remember the God of all the universes
is watching you.
Shine
As daylight becomes
shorter and shorter in duration
each day of the Advent season
(until Christmas), 1
doesn’t mean we should lose our light
during this time of year.
Note 1- Poetically, not meteorologically
Morning Prayer of the Depressed
Turn, O LORD! How long?
Have compassion on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad as many days as you have afflicted us,
and as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be manifest to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us.
Have compassion on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad as many days as you have afflicted us,
and as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be manifest to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us.
(Psalm 90:13-17)
Advent is the season of the coming of the Light,
let us remember those who live with darkness.
O God!
When is this gonna end?
When will Your love change the pain
caused by my darkness?
Today, bring the newness that You want for me.
Break open this stone heart.
May each moment of the day be remembered
and kept in the new center You created.
For without You
There is no Amen.
Interesting interpretation of the Wedding Feast Parable
1Once 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. 3He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. 4Again 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.' 5But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, 6while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. 7The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8Then he said to his slaves, 'The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.' 10Those 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, 12and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?' And he was speechless. 13Then 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.' 14For many are called, but few are chosen." (Matthew 22:1-14)
From today's lectionary readings
2"The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. 4Again 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.' 5But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, 6while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. 7The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8Then he said to his slaves, 'The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.' 10Those 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, 12and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?' And he was speechless. 13Then 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.' 14For many are called, but few are chosen." (Matthew 22:1-14)
From today's lectionary readings
When we read about a king in the parables,
we think God.
But what if the king in this parable is evil?
So evil that the invited one per centers (those who usually back the empire)
send their excuses regrets.
A king so evil he kills them for not RSVP-ing.
So in order to keep up appearances he invites the townspeople to the party.
And what if Jesus (not one for appearances)
is the One who defies the evil king by not wearing a wedding robe?
In a foretelling of Good Friday,
He is speechless in his defense
and the king orders Him out to the darkness
to His death.
The question is: Are the few that are chosen
the ones opposed to the power of the world/empire?
As we meditate on Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus headed toward Egypt
and away from the evil king,
it is an interesting interpretation to think about.
You think you've seen the sun, (but you ain't seen it shine)
Make me to know your ways, O LORD;
teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
Psalm 25:4-5
O Lord,
You are the Creator of all things.
But of all the objects You designed,
the ones You treasure
weren’t in place on Genesis week.
Your ways.
Your path.
Your truth.
Salvation.
Those take time, patience, understanding.
Therefore, I will wait for You
all day
a week
a year
the rest of my days.
Prepare
I also withheld the rain from you
….yet you did not return to me
I laid waste your gardens and your vineyards;
….yet you did not return to me
I killed your young men with the sword
…yet you did not return to me,
Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel;
because I will do this to you,
prepare to meet your God, O Israel!
(Amos 4:7-9;12)
Prepare to meet your God!
Can we hear the choirs as the shepherds?
Can we see the light of the stars as the astrologers?
Can we wait as Simeon and Anna in the Temple?
May this be the theme of your Christmas -
Prepare to meet your God!
And no one dared disturb the sound of silence
A king is not saved by his great army; (Psalm 33:16)
[So,] do not put your trust in princes, (Psalm 146:3)
They do not know how to do right, says the LORD,
those who store up violence and robbery in their strongholds.
(Amos 3:10)
The children crying out in the temple,
"Hosanna to the Son of David,"
the scribes became angry and said to him,
"Do you hear what these are saying?"
Jesus said to them, "Yes; have you never read,
'Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies
you have prepared praise for yourself'?" (Matthew 21:15b-16)
God tells the world:
Force can not save.
Politics can not redeem.
Nor corruption or evil.
But the world tries to hush,
(and wants to crush)
the little children singing, “Hosanna!”
to the One
that is to overcome.
11.12.2011
What a Wonderful World
(Genesis 1)
The noise of the animals is a low roar.
The waves continually kissing the shore.
The breezes making the trees dance.
The humans are inventing romance.
There’s no such thing as zombies.
Creation is a just a big ole party.
The light of the stars are set on low.
The night creatures come late to the show.
The birds are singing with Eve.
God looks at all He achieved.
That’s the first Saturday night story.
Creation is a just a big ole party.
10.29.2011
10.10.2011
Do as I do
Meditation on Matthew 25:35-36
For I was hungry
and you fed Me
as I provided manna in the desert.
For I was thirsty
and you gave Me something to drink
as I showed the abandoned Hagar a well in the desert.
I was naked
and you gave Me clothes
as I did with Adam and Eve.
I was sick
and you looked after Me
as I took care of a faithful Job.
I was in prison
and you came to see Me
as I heard the cries of My exodus people.
The King said
Follow My example
and do the same.
Notes:
Verse 1- Exodus 16
Verse 2- Genesis 21:19
Verse 3- Genesis 3:21
Verse 4- Job 2:6
Verse 5- Exodus 2:23-24
10.02.2011
You can't walk away from the price you pay
(Matthew 14:45-46)
The Kingdom of God is like a pearl
That you would pay everything you had in the world.
Would you show off your treasure every day?
Or keep it safe knowing the price you paid?
Or would you wait for the time
When you could buy it on sale?
9.23.2011
“He will quiet you with His love”
(Zephaniah 3:17c)
I walked into this empty church I had no place else to go
When the sweetest voice I ever heard, whispered to my soul
I don't need to be forgiven for loving you so much
It's written in the scriptures
It's written there in blood
I even heard the angels declare it from above
There ain't no cure,
There ain't no cure,
There ain't no cure for love.
When the sweetest voice I ever heard, whispered to my soul
I don't need to be forgiven for loving you so much
It's written in the scriptures
It's written there in blood
I even heard the angels declare it from above
There ain't no cure,
There ain't no cure,
There ain't no cure for love.
**Leonard Cohen
Slow down.
Shut it off.
Be still.
He will quiet you with His love.
Listen.
Learn.
Be open.
He will quiet you with His love.
Forgive others.
As well as yourself.
Be a blessing.
He will quiet you with His love.
All the Marthas.
Look at the Marys.
Come.
He will quiet you with His love.
9.17.2011
Dealing the Authentic
Buy the truth and do not sell it.
(Proverbs 23:12a)
Where can you find truth?
Real truth
not that packaged crap - Trooth.®
I heard there was one guy
who said He was the truth.
The competition came down on Him hard,
but I heard He’s still dealing
the authentic.
He brags that it’s
so good it will set you free.
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