Meditation: My Shepherd Is The Lord
Antiphon: Love rejoices in the truth
I believe in God the Creator,
Who gives us breath and life,
Maker of all that is.
I believe in Jesus the Christ;
Wholly God and Wholly Man,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
And was born to a maid named Mary,
Who was tormented by Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, died, and was entombed.
Who ministered to the dead,
And whom the gates of hell and death cannot restrain.
Three days after his death, he arose,
And ascended into heaven,
He sits on the right hand of God the Creator.
He shall come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
The Church, the Body of Christ,
The communion of saints,
The forgiveness of sins,
The resurrection of the body,
And the life everlasting.
Proposed Antiphon: Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God
Cruel wintry winds
Howl, hiss and blow
Across the ice
Over the snow
Bare trees poke up
No life is seen
The ice gives all
A glassy sheen
Nothing moves
Lest blown about
High up above
Cold stars are out
Your face is numb
Your fingers chill
Breath a brief cloud
And all is still
Below the snow
Below the ice
In buried peace
Lie seeds and mice
Fish dream fish dreams
Deep in the ponds
While cruel winds whip
The cattail fronds
Chipmunks sleep tight
And dream of sun
Of nuts and grain
Of chipmunk fun
Down in the mud
The frogs all sleep
Turtles mark time
In burrows deep
Warmth will return
The ice will go
And life will rise
And water flow
Snow drops will leap
Out of their grave
Then crocuses;
These plants are brave
The buds will swell
And burst and bloom
The earth will shed
This wintry gloom
But bravest, first
Sign of the mild
The Christmas birth;
The holy Child
Reminding us
This wintry strife
Lies briefly over
Our vibrant life
From out of dark
Comes life and light
Showing us God's
Power and might.
Original Post
Antiphon: Laugh with the joy of the spirit; Who stands with the humble and meek.
Dearest God, our hearts and souls are yours
And have been since time began
Before the earth brought forth mountains
And before the seas were formed
From everlasting to everlasting
You are God
At your will we return to dust and are forgotten
For a thousand years in your sight
Is like yesterday when it is past
Less than a watch in the night
Our days, our lives, even our times are swept away
They are like a dream,
Like grass that withers and dies
Grass that you renew in the morning, in the spring
With the rising of your Son.
LE
After Isaiah 43:1-7
The One who created you speaks,
The One who formed you opens his mouth with good tidings:
Do not fear your God,
Your sins do not crush you in my judgement;
For I have redeemed you,
I have called you by name, and you are mine;
You may feel overwhelmed,
Your problems may seem insurmountable;
But though the waters press down upon you, you shall not be drowned,
Though the fire burn all around you, you shall not be burned;
For I am your God,
The Holy One, your Savior;
I overturn kingdoms and empires for your sake,
I make the darkness light to comfort and deliver you;
Because you are precious in my sight,
I love you, and you stand in honor among my servants;
Do not fear, for I am with you,
I will rescue your children from distant lands,
And the prisons of men shall not hold them from you;
I will ransom every one who is called by my name,
Whom I created in glory,
Whom I formed and made.
May Love, Peace and Grace Reign About You
-LE
This is a re-run of After 2 Timothy 2 (with some formatting changes), which text is speaking to me today.
Remember Jesus in your sufferings,
and if you are chained,
remember that the word of God cannot be chained.
Endure for the sake of the world,
that the world may also obtain salvation,
for if we die with Jesus,
we will rise with Christ,
and if we endure we will also reign with him.
Jesus cannot save us while we deny him,
but he remains faithful to us,
seeking us and consoling us when we despair.
Even in our denial,
in our guilt and sin,
Jesus must remain faithful to us,
because he cannot deny himself,
and there is great hope in that.
Jesus is our redeemer,
and seeks our redemption,
so seek to return to and keep true to Jesus,
even as he keeps true to you.
Peace,
LE
Some minor blog changes - you will notice the 'Zeitgeist' of tags is now alphabetical - much more useful. Some blogs that ceased to inspire me have been removed, and I have re-resurrected my rotating 'taglines' at the top.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 5:43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
John 7:29 But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
John 8:16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
John 8:23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am [he], and [that] I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
John 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
John 9:39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
John 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly.
John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my [sheep], and am known of mine.
John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
John 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will [my] Father honour.
John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
John 13:13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for [so] I am.
John 13:19 Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am [he].
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
John 14:11 Believe me that I [am] in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
John 16:32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
John 18:5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am [he]. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
Exd 3:6 Moreover he said, I [am] the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
Exodus 3:13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, [when] I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What [is] his name? what shall I say unto them?
Exodus 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
Jesus Is.
Peace,
LE
I am the vine and you are the branches.
If you abide in me, and keep my commandments, my Father who lives in heaven will come and make his dwelling place in your heart, and I with him, and you will bear much fruit.
And my commandment is that you should love another as I have loved you. You are my friends if you keep this commandment. Go and bear fruit, my friends. If you keep my commandments, the fruit you bear will not be like that which rots or withers, or fades away, but which will last, and will grow – that will bear seeds that will grow in turn and lead to more fruit.
So bear much fruit, and do not despair if you are persecuted, because before you were persecuted, so was I, and when you are persecuted you lay up treasure in heaven. Show mercy and do justice, and love one another. The commandment is not hard. -And if you do you shall live in me, and I in you. And you shall have everlasting life and great reward in heaven.
All My Love,
Your Brother.
That Sunday they met in secret, locking the doors because they were afraid of further persecution. And as they were talking, Jesus appeared among them, and said “Peace be with you!” Some were full of joy, some were frightened, and many had trouble believing. But Jesus showed them his hands, and the wounds in them, and his side, where the spear had pierced him, and they believed and rejoiced.
And Jesus said “Peace be with you; As the Father has sent me, so I send you!” And he breathed on them, saying “Receive the Holy Spirit!”
But Tom was not there in the locked room where Jesus had appeared, and when he heard the story he said “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and touch them, and touch the wound in his side, I will not believe.”
So a week later, they were again in the house with the doors securely shut, and Tom was with them. And Jesus again appeared among them and said; “Peace be with you.”
Turning, he said to Tom: “See and touch me, touch my hands - and my side where I was pierced - do not doubt, but believe.”
And Tom grasped his hands and fell to his knees, gasping: “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him: “Have you believed because you have seen? Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet still have come to believe.”
Peace
LE
A brief flash of consolation
Is worth months and months of pain
When God bends down to be near us
As He does now and again
Or, is it that in peaceful moments
When our minds slow down
We can notice Divine presence
And we know that God bends down
If we make it to that country
Where we walk in endless light
Then we'll know true consolation
And see Love in all its might
Work to be worthy of that city
Where the very plainest can
Dine at table with Life's master
And help work the Divine plan
That great city has so much joy
It would make the nations cry
We can glimpse it where we're standing
We do not have to die
There every beggar is annointed
(Kings wear no crowns at all)
There the humblest and the smallest
Feel as if they're ten feet tall
There all the troubles that we teethed on
And all the locust stole
Are restored, repaid and healed
We will be made more than whole
There the ending and beginning
Are knit joyfully to one
Errors, missteps, pain and shortfalls
Are completed and are done
Pray to see that holy city
Work to make it here
It is worth our minor troubles
To see our God bends near
Peace,
LE
Do you have anything for me today, Lord?
Something in your sack?
Some miracle for me Lord?
Something to bring my cheer back?
I don’t want to dig all my life, Lord,
Don’t want to dig and hew
Don’t want to labor for the taskmaster, Lord,
Isn’t there anything you can do?
I owe my life to the government, Lord
And the banks stole it all away
I never agreed to sell my freedom, Lord
I never gave it away
Find me where I am working, Lord
Kuz they won’t let me stop
Find me where I am slaving, Lord
Working on the job
I’ll be digging for your glory, Lord
I’ll be digging for Love
I’ll be telling my story, Lord
And dreaming of heaven above
May all your dreams be peaceful and happy,
Even if your life is less cooperative.
Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and [with] fire:
Mark 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Mark 1:8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
Luke 3:16 John answered, saying unto [them] all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
John 1:26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;
John 1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
Peace,
LE
I like baptism
I like the gathering of the community
I like the approach, the welcoming of the candidates
I like the blessing of the water
I like the vows taken by and for the candidates
I like the ritual of washing
I like the symbolism of immersion
I like the unity of the body of Christ in the church.
But baptism is a peculiar thing
We do it once
We do it for others
And not for ourselves
Baptism is the Rubicon of Christianity
Once done, we have crossed over
We belong
We are sealed as belonging to Christ
Baptism is a sacrament to many Christians
An outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace.
The sign is the wetting, the bathing, the annointing, ...and the grace?
The grace is the forgiveness of sins available to the repentant Christian through Jesus Christ.
And perhaps this is the forgotten beauty of baptism: not its celebration of becoming a member of the body, not the spiritual vows made to actively seek to turn from evil, -these are outward signs- but the initial recognition that we are all in need of perfection, that we all have stumbled, that we all need forgiveness, and that in particular the candidate is recognizing his or her errors, and is formally repenting and seeking forgiveness.
And perhaps this is what Jesus brought to baptism that it did not have before: the authority to say:
"Rise and walk, for your sins are forgiven you."
Rise and walk, and if you stumble, pick yourself up, and walk again.
May you, dear reader, also Rise and Walk
Peace,
LE
So:
If we don't have sin from Adam,
Or Cain, or from the Jews;
If we are not corrupted
Then why is Christ good news?
Why did God come to us
Why did he have to die?
Does tossing out original sin
Make Christian faith a lie?
Christ was not big on judging
He did not tally sin
He did not judge between us
Did not say; "You aren't in!"
He was named; 'God is with us';
And he said; "The kingdom's near";
He said to love each other
As our God holds us each dear
He said to treat each other
As we'd like, if we were they
He named us sisters, brothers;
These are the things he'd say
So why did Jesus come to us?
To show that God is near;
To show God's great love for us;
To make God's message clear.
And why the cross and calvary?
Why did Christ have to die?
To show how much God loved us
To draw to God each eye.
So let's learn to love each other;
Let us be calm and kind
Let's leave old wrongs and grudges
In the dust behind
Let's live through Christ's commandment;
To love each other well,
So that when some person meets us;
That we're Christian, they can tell.
Cruel wintry winds
Howl, hiss and blow
Across the ice
Over the snow
Bare trees poke up
No life is seen
The ice gives all
A glassy sheen
Nothing moves
Lest blown about
High up above
Cold stars are out
Your face is numb
Your fingers chill
Breath a brief cloud
And all is still
Below the snow
Below the ice
In buried peace
Lie seeds and mice
Fish dream fish dreams
Deep in the ponds
While cruel winds whip
The cattail fronds
Chipmunks sleep tight
And dream of sun
Of nuts and grain
Of chipmunk fun
Down in the mud
The frogs all sleep
Turtles mark time
In burrows deep
Warmth will return
The ice will go
And life will rise
And water flow
Snow drops will leap
Out of their grave
Then crocuses;
These plants are brave
The buds will swell
And burst and bloom
The earth will shed
This wintry gloom
But bravest, first
Sign of the mild
The Christmas birth;
The holy Child
Reminding us
This wintry strife
Lies briefly over
Our vibrant life
From out of dark
Comes life and light
Showing us God's
Power and might.
Perhaps on a similar note: The Winter of Contentment
Tonight, the television showed me a person going into a church.
The person was shown moving up an aisle, with chairs stretching wide on either side. The church was huge. The next shot showed someone praying, eyes closed, from the level of the prayer's face.
You could see the first person approaching from behind, but barely could pick out the back wall, which ascended out of view.
Finally, the shot looking forward. The two people are small figures, dwarfed, like the seats and everyone there, by the immense wall with it's giant, resplendent, red-robed Jesus.
Which is wrong.
Way I hear it, Jesus wasn't that tall, and didn't go in for robes, or making people feel small.
His idea of worship was a few people gathering and talking about God, some prayer, a blessing and a spot to eat and drink, oh, and a psalm to end the meal.
The whole point of Jesus, it seems to me, is his approachability.
God came to be with us, as one of us. Not as a giant, red-robed, inscrutiable vision, but as a friend and counselor, who would have a bite with you, tell you a story, and be with you no matter how mean your estate.
I don't mean to De-God Jesus. By no means. My point is Jesus is the God who loves us so much that he takes on our very matter and life, and lives as us.
So take heart: no matter how small and fallible you are, Jesus is coming to meet you. And you'll be able to look him in the eyes.
Peace
LE
I originally titled this post 'Jesus the small' but then I got thinking of Dorothy's line from 'The Wizard of Oz'...
There are many who feel rejected and judged by the faith - judged unworthy - found to be reprobate - irredeemable and vile, doomed to torment, cast out of community, shunned.
It is for them I copy out the following words of comfort. May meditating on them bring you joy in this Advent season:
From John 12:
And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
From John 3:
God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, to the end that all that believe in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
From 1 Timothy 1:
This is a true saying, and worthy of all men to be received, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
From 1 John 2:
If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins.
From Romans 8:
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? [...] I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
From 1 John 1:
And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
May you find joy in your path this Advent season, wherever your wanderings take you.
-LE
Are you saved... ...when were you saved?
People used to ask a lot.
We do speak of salvation sometimes now,
But more often not.
Is saving what happens in this life?
Or does it happen when we die?
Can it happen a long time later,
When in the grave we lie?
Can we be saved in both,
Can we be saved again?
Do we know what saving is?
Can you please explain?
Is saving like pickling,
Or like a photo that we take?
Or is saving like a change
Like love or when hearts break?
And did Jesus save us long ago,
Or does he save today?
And when we say our God came down to save us,
What do we mean? What way?
And if the saved can fall, can they fall from grace in death?
Can you still fall from grace when you can't draw a breath?
Are these important questions,
or do we all just need
to hear God's word and do it?
That would be good indeed!
We are created good;
As all God creates is;
And God asks us to work;
In his fields out of love;
Love bears fruit and saves us;
Making us fit dwellings;
For our holy Father;
And his blessed Jesus.
Who calls out to each soul;
To offer them his yoke:
"Take it upon yourselves!"
"This burden is quite light!"
Sharing his life with us;
For all of us he died.
Though many start away;
He calls them "Come inside!"
Some from the faith will fall;
And others faith attain.
Yet Jesus came for all;
And calls each one by name.
(Not a definitive work on theology, just a finger, pointing...)
