Today is the second full day of my five day silent retreat at the Monastery of the Society of St. John the Evangelist (SSJE) in Cambridge, MA. I've come here for several three day retreats but never  for a five-nighter, helpful in getting  into the rhythm of the daily office, which forms each day. 
Morning Prayer: 7:00
Eucharist: 12:15 (lunch follows)
Evening Prayer: 6:15 (dinner follows)
Compline: 8:30


       The only 'rule' we guests are asked to follow is to be silent, which means don't talk. But I'm here to deepen my faith, so why wouldn't a participate? If I just wanted a change of pace and the chance to enjoy an interesting city, well, The Charles Hotel is just up the street. 

You gather us together in Faith, O God, as a loving mother and a gentle father. Help us to remember that your dwelling place is built upon love and peace, and that to bring about your reign on earth we must follow your way of peace. We pray for all governments and legislatures that they may be mindful of the rights of all people of this world to live in peace and dignity. Grant this in the name of Jesus. Amen
The New Companion to the Breviary

The Rule of St. Benedict 
      In Chapter 13: The Celebration of Lauds on Ordinary Days, Benedict suggests the following psalms to be 'celebrated' as follows: 
Monday: Psalms 5 and 36
Tuesday: Psalms 43 and 57
Wednesday: Psalms 64-65
Thursday: Psalms 88 and 90
Friday: Psalms 76 and 92
Saturday: Psalm 43


     Benedict's instructions are more complicated and nuanced, but this little schedule suits me fine as a way to start my day after I've settled in the Angel Room with a cup of coffee. I keep the list in the back of my Bible.

 Every morning I write a scripture in a weekly calendar; at the end of the year I pass the calendar on to a friend. Often the same scripture  appears year and after year; they are the  'oldies but goodies.' Others come are new ones that have caught in interest. 
     I don’t just open the Bible, point to a verse, and write whatever it might be. Most come from my early mornings readings: The Bible and The Divine Hours: A Manual for Prayer, by Phyllis Tickle. There are three volumes, “Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime,” “Prayers for Springtime,” and “Prayers for Summertime.” The Bible readings include Psalms, Epistles, Gospel, and Hebrew Bible. I start at beginning, read through, and then back at the beginning. This morning I read: Psalm 35; Ephesians 3; Matthew 20; and finished up Exodus. I don’t always read an entire chapter at one sitting, nor do I read every chapter or book of the Hebrew Bible. 

Today I am the Covenant Leader at my church. I share with you what I have written for this Epiphany Sunday. 

The wise men came from another country. They saw peace shining from baby Jesus, from his mother Mary and from his father Joseph. The wise men saw there was another way. They wisely returned to their own country another way. 
     That other way is still shining for us. It shines when we pray, when we consider the poor, the homeless, the depressed, the ill, the dying. It shines when we give thanks for our own shelter, our own joy, our own health, and a peaceful death.
     Lead us to be wise in our thoughts, words and deeds during this 2025 Epiphany time. When we pray, lead us to remember that you love every human on the planet, that you want each of us to be wise so that your will will be on earth as it is in heaven.