Blog Archives

Romans 12: a reading for everyone

4/29/2011

I was in awe of the scripture reading at the royal wedding this morning. With conviction and compassion Kate' brother read from the well-known Romans passage from the New Revised Standard Version (NRVS). Besides speaking to the bride and groom, I felt he was speaking to me and to everyone around the world attending the event. What a universal message.

Romans 12: 1,2,9-18.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Smiles

4/25/2011

Every day I pray for peace for my mom, but you know what? I don’t think she really needs that prayer. She is peaceful--always has been. Today she was full of smiles because two granddaughters and one great-granddaughter visited her. In fact she commented that it is good to smile and be grateful.
You can see why I love to visit my mom. She lifts my spirits and makes me smile. No question, I’m going to keep praying for her. If nothing else, she deserves it. And besides, it gives me peace.

Sunrise service

4/23/2011

Piero della Francesco

Unless it pours, a few of us will gather at 6:30 tomorrow in our yard for an Easter Sunrise Service. The sun rises at 5:52 (This year Easter is one day short of being the latest date possible), although even on a clear day we can’t see the sunrise. But that’s not the point. We early birds gather to rejoice in Jesus’ resurrection and all the possibilities that that might mean for us, our family and friends and the world.

Words from the cross~

4/22/2011

I am grateful for the variety of sayings that Jesus offered from the cross. I don't value one over the other, but will pray on each one as my need arises, or perhaps I should say, as God calls me. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas addresses each of these in a wonderful little book entitled Christ's Passion, Our Passions, which I have mentioned in "Books".

One    “Father, forgive them for they know not
   what they do.” Luke 23.32-38
Two    “Today you will be with me in Paradise.”
    Luke 23.19-43
Three   “Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your
    mother.” John 19.23-27
Four    “My God, my God, why have you forsaken
    me?” Matthew 27.45-49
Five     “I thirst.” John 19.28-2
Six      “It is finished.” John 19.30
Seven “Father, into your hands I commend my
    spirit.” Luke 23. 46-49

Feet washing

4/21/2011

       Today is Maundy Thursday, when we commemorate the Last Supper and Jesus’ washing of the disciples feet. My church is having a Tenebrae service (service of darkness), which will include a potluck supper and communion, and end with selected readings from Matthew’s gospel, followed by the extinguishing of candles, until just one candle, the Christ candle, remains lit. We will then all disperse in silence to our homes.
      I am disappointed that feet washing * will not be part of this service. Believe me, it is extremely humbling to have one’s feet washed by another. In reflecting on Peter’s resistance to Jesus’ offer to wash his feet, I’m reminded of how I resist offers of unconditional love. When someone offers me a kindness, I always want to pay them back; but worse than that, I want my payback to be just a little better, just a little more noble than what I received. Humility is a challenge, but God forgives us again and again, even seven times seventy.

      * The story of Jesus washing his disciples feet is only in John’s Gospel 13. 1-20. The Last Supper is in Matthew, Mark and Luke, but not in John.

Dublin, Ireland

4/18/2011

Spiritual paths~

4/17/2011

As the tour to sacred spaces ends, I’m working with the idea the women on this pilgrimage fall into three spiritual paths or categories. One is not better than the other, but represents an individual calling. Everyone fits into the first; they are all caring and compassionate, yearn to relieve suffering in the world and care deeply about our planet. The second group includes those who also seem to be on a more intentional spiritual journey which encompasses all that that do. The third group has taken on the particular call to be a prayer person, called to intercessory prayer. I identified four of us, but there may be more.

St. Brigit's well

4/16/2011

I'm grateful for all the holy energy present today.

Prayer in the land~

4/15/2011

In Ireland, prayer is in the land. I felt this as I walked The Hill of Uisneach where St. Patrick slept and where the “pagan” fires at the Bealtaine festival were lit. I sensed the energy of centuries of people, all with that human longing, trying to connect with the ineffable. Prayer was easy yesterday, both there and at one of St. Brigit’s wells where we stopped.

In loving memory~

4/14/2011

           I’m continually amazed at how cemeteries keep me alive in very particular ways. In loving memory….. I read on to discover a father buried with his son who died at age three. All those years of sadness, loss, grief but hopefully also years of renewal, resolution, hope. The death of that young child is part of the prayer of the father’s life.
      I wonder if we all have one of those life-long prayers that become part of the foundation of who we are. The prayer might come from some experience that made an enormous difference. Certainly a death can do it; maybe an incident, or the general way that someone treated us. Often the pivotal issue seems to be a negative one, but does it have to be.

    I’ll think on this today as I head out for The Hill of Uisneach. I have to get the bus now.