Prayer Diary

Intercessory prayer

2/16/2021

“In the matter of intercession, when we pray for another, the Spirit of God works in the unconscious domain of that one’s being about which we know nothing, about which the one we pray for knows nothing; and after a while the conscious life of the one prayed for begins to show signs of softening and unrest, of enquiry and desire to know something,” so writes Oswald Chamber (1874-1917) in Still Higher for His Highest.
   This kind of commitment to faith is not written or proclaimed by theologians or ministers these days—at least I haven’t come across it—at least not with this precise clarity about intercessory prayer. It takes a huge leap of faith to believe this, and it is only by faith that we pray in such depth. This is no throwaway. When we tell someone we will pray for them, we are not saying so with the same attitude we might tell them to have a good day.
   No, believing this puts our prayer in some ineffable place. It is not just that we believe people will be comforted knowing they are in our thoughts and prayers, or that we gain a good feeling by being helpful and loving—although this can be true. Rather, we believe that the spirit works in mysterious and inexplicable ways because we know it is true; and that makes all the difference.
   For clarification. Chamber implies that we ‘know nothing’ when we pray for others. I believe that is true, whether we know the person or whether we hear a name through a prayer chain. What we do know is that God is love, and that God loves everyone.

Saying The Lord's Prayer anew

2/6/2021

Recently I have been saying The Lord’s Prayer in seven separate sections, giving a pause between each one. I even count on my fingers as I go to be sure of the breaks. Amazing change of rote memory to deep prayer. I won’t way more, other than to suggest you give it a try.

(1) Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;

(2) thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.

(3) Give us this day our daily bread.

(4) And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
(5) And lead us not into temptation;

(6) but deliver us from evil.

(7) For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

Faith is a mystery

1/23/2021

I want to keep this prayer diary going, but it is a challenge because so much of my faith (anyone’s faith) is impossible to put into words. Yes, in the beginning was the word, but I have a sense that that word was a thought, a feeling, something more in tune with the Holy Spirit than with any kind of theology written down.
And yet, I know, at least from my own experience, that hearing someone else try to describe their faith keeps us going to fulfill this deep longing to believe something beyond what our minds can come up with.
And so, I persevere by sharing whatever comes through my spirit as my fingers touch the computer keys. Stream of consciousness. Faith is a mystery so I might as well stay in it.
(I’m going to reread what I’ve just written, and if it makes any kind of sense, I’ll push the send button.)

Letting my little light shine

1/17/2021

If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered.
Psalm 130:3-4

Hmm, is the psalmist telling me that if I don’t forgive, my iniquities could stand? There are many ways to interpret this complex verse, but today, that’s how I’m going to interpret it. I have to forgive. Not forget, but forgive.
What does that look like for me right now as I see all those videos of violence at the U.S, Capitol? It means to pray for everyone involved, the perpetrators and the victims. Pray that their hearts will open to lead them to love, compassion, and courage to do the right thing.
Sometimes it is hard to lift everyone up to the light. I mean, do they deserve it? Will they benefit in ways I consider appropriate? But if I don’t, then my little light will go out. We’re all in this together. I’d better starting singing, “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine,” and let everyone join the chorus.

Epiphanies are ongoing

1/7/2021

Epiphany
Google search: Epiphany is a Christian holiday primarily commemorating the Magi's visit to the baby Jesus and the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. Eastern traditions, which usually call the holiday Theophany, focus on Jesus' baptism, seen as the manifestation of Christ as both fully human and fully divine.

Cambridge Dictionary: a moment when you suddenly feel that you understand, or suddenly become conscious of, something that is very important to you.

Yesterday, January 6, Christians celebrated Epiphany. I was reminded of the many epiphanies that have come along on my faith journey—those times when I suddenly become conscious of something that is very important to my faith. Some of these epiphanies faded away soon after they appeared. Others kept returning, indicating that they were not personal whims or wishes, but messages from God. One continues to be persistent calls from God. God’s call for me to pray for people has been a longstanding one.
Now another keeps coming. “Live your life for Jesus.” I’m not sure I have the wording quite right, but I’m working on it. Or, shall I say that God is working on it. Let me say that the idea keeps me hopeful and purposeful. A more encompassing reason for helping out, for being of service.

Thomas Merton Prayer

1/4/2021

MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

- Thomas Merton

The annunciation is still going on

12/17/2020

Filippino Lippi

Paintings of the Annunciation are my favorites. In Florence, there is one at every turn.
    What’s going on here with Mary? In some painting she seems to be saying---wait a minute, not me; not now, not yet. In others she seems to acquiesce, sometimes reluctantly, other times with joy. Whatever we might be feeling about God’s call, we can find a companion in Mary.
    We might not like the what God is calling us to do or be, but too bad; God will persist; God will win.
    If we don’t want to believe God is calling us, we might as well let that go, too. God is calling us whether we know it or not, whether we like it or not. As Christians, that what we’ve signed up for.
   But fear not, all will be well. It won’t be easy or without suffering, but we will be redeemed. Like Mary, we will might as well say, “Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38).

Celebrating in Florence the Feast of the Immaculate Conception

12/7/2020

From my apartment window

Tomorrow is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, which celebrates Mary’s conception. It’s an orthodox holiday, certainly not one observed in my United Church of Christ calendar. That being said, I love the holiday because for three years running, 2016-18 I watched it celebrated in Florence. Everyone was out in the street for the 5 PM lighting of the Christmas tree in front of the Duomo, Santa Marie dei Fiori. One year I watched from the apartment I rented right on the on the piazza.
(The Immaculate Conception is a dogma of the Catholic Church which states that the Virgin Mary was free of original sin from the moment of her conception. Wikapedia).

Oliver Herford

12/2/2020

Betsy Thompson

I heard a bird sing
   In the dark of December
A magical thing
   And sweet to remember.
“We are nearer to Spring
   Than we were in September,”
I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December

by Oliver Herford

Thanksgiving from Sr. Vassa

11/26/2020

“Then as he entered a certain village, there met him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ So when he saw them, he said to them, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, ‘Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?’ And he said to him, ‘Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.’” (Lk 17: 12-19)

This Thanksgiving, when we all have learned how it feels to be “lepers,” who must “stand afar off” from one another, the above-quoted passage about a healed “leper” giving thanks to the Lord speaks to me in a new way. Because I’m alive and well amidst a global pandemic, I feel like a healed leper with a choice: I can either be grateful and give thanks to the Lord, or I can do the opposite.

This 2020 I choose to be grateful for myself and anyone reading this: 1. For being alive; 2. For the medical professionals who care for the sick and dying amongst us at this time; 3. For the scientists who have been working on producing vaccines, to bring us out of this pandemic; and 4. For those amongst the civil and church authorities who are making oft-unpopular decisions to keep us safe. Coffee with Sister Vassa