Loaded messages…

All the scripture readings for today come chock full of revealing insights. The first scripture reading is from Rom 4:1-8 and the Gospel from Lk 12:1-7. I zeroed in on the gospel first – Jesus tells us in a no nonsense manner that every single thing we do he knows. It is a very sobering thought. The gospel can be interpreted as the challenge Christians have in spreading the gospel. But to me, personally it speaks to my sins. It not only brings to mind the visible things I do that are not palatable to the Lord but the invisible ones; the deepest thoughts; the innermost desires that He finds repulsive. But on the heels of that warning he offers hope – I hear words that speak to so many of us “Do not be afraid”. It brings to mind 2 Corinthians-12, where Jesus said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness” and Paul made this profound remark, “Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” It tells me that He understands when we are trying hard to keep the faith, when we stumble, even when we fail because He loves us. At this point, the words from the first scripture reading for today come to mind:
Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not record.

What a lovely reflection for today.

Psalm 103

Lovely psalm and of course the reason I read it today is because verse 12 inspired a song by Casting Crowns called East to West which I heard on the radio this morning.

As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

- Psalm 103:12

wet and cold…

finally feels like Fall *sigh* could’ve done without the damp but still like the crisp air. I know I eventually hate the cold but for now I will enjoy the season. I love Fall – the air gets cleaner, the foliage turns magnificent, and all around nature just explodes in bright color. Just like a candle that turns really bright before dying; nature holds a brilliant show and then sleeps for a while.

All around the leaves are changing colors. There are pumpkins and squash and apples everywhere. Even the corn fields that are being mowed down have the rust, dull gold hue that I find so attractive. There are leaves laying on the ground – they make me want to jump in it, roll around and just be a big kid. Haven’t taken any pictures yet but found a few yesterday on Getty Images.

    

Create in me

Today’s reflection was from Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.” It brought into focus that it is a truth not universally acknowledged (sorry Jane Austen), that we are sinners. When we do own up to the fact that each day is a struggle for the most of us to stay on the straight and narrow and that it is ok to struggle because according to Romans 5:8 “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” The song that runs through my mind today is the one by Shaun Groves, “Welcome Home”. I have given my recurring faults to Him and said, “Come in, do what you will. This clutter inside is probably making you sake Your head in despair, but please, help me clean it up, rearrange the furniture, paint the walls, fill it with your beautiful knick knacks and visit – no, STAY!”

 

Lyrics – Welcome Home by Shaun Groves

Take, me, make me
All You want me to be
That’s all I’m asking, all I’m asking

Welcome to this heart of mine
I’ve buried under prideful vines
Grown to hide the mess I’ve made
Inside of me
Come decorate, Lord
Open up the creaking door
And walk upon the dusty floor
Scrape away the guilty stains
Until no sin or shame remain
Spread Your love upon the walls
And occupy the empty halls
Until the man I am has faded
No more doors are barricaded

Come inside this heart of mine
It’s not my own. Make it home
Come and take this heart and make it
All Your own. Welcome home

Take a seat, pull up a chair
Forgive me for the disrepair
And the souvenirs from floor to ceiling
Gathered on my search for meaning
Every closet’s filled with clutter
Messes yet to be discovered
I’m overwhelmed, I understand
I can’t make this place all that You can

It’s Friday…

aah.. such an uplifting song by Tree63 – it instantly rejuvenates me and relights my hope torch. Also, because it’s such a young, upbeat melody it never fails to make me want to get my air mike out and belt out the song! Anyway, yeah:

It’s Friday but Sunday is coming

Yeah, it’s Friday, here we go!

SUNDAY! HALLELUJAH!

Jesus, the Samaritan…

This prayer moved me to tears. It is from the writings by St. Gregory the Great (604). It is prayer based on one of my favorite parables, “The Good Samaritan” and it places Jesus in the role of the Samaritan in such a beautiful way. It is a lyrical cry for mercy to Him. Each day as I battle with my spiritual demons, I need to stand before the Lord and this is the song I need to sing.

Lord Jesus, I pray that you may be moved to pity and come to me. I have come down from Jerusalem to Jericho, descended from the heights to the depths, from health to sickness. I have fallen into the hands of the angels of darkness who have not only stripped me of my garment of spiritual grace but have also wounded me and left me half-dead. Bind up the wounds of my sins by making me believe that they can be healed, for if I despair of healing they will become worse. Apply the oil of forgiveness to the them and pour in the wine of compunction. If you place me on your beast, you will be raising the poor from the dust, the needy from the rubbish heap. For it is you who have carried our sins, who have paid back what you did not take. If you lead m to the inn of your Church you will nourish me with your Body and Blood. If you take care of me I shall not transgress your commandments nor fall prey to the rage of the wild beasts. I need your protection as long as I bear this corruptible flesh. So listen to me, Samaritan, listen to me who am stripped and wounded, weeping and groaning, as I call upon you and cry out with David” “Have mercy on me God, in your great kindness.”

Theory of Prayer

It’s been such a long time and now my mind is churning with words like rushing water; I have to let them out or they will drown out all other sounds. Yesterday my prayer booklet had an excerpt from a poem by Father Thomas Merton. The entry for him in Wikipedia has me intrigued so I will be looking to find some more of his writings soon. In the meanwhile the following poem is the one I mentioned earlier. It touched my soul and I have read it so many times since yesterday – it speaks to me and makes me want to speak to Him.

From the Theory of Prayer
For the things that we utter and betray us,
Writing the names of our sins on flesh and blood
In lights as hard as diamonds.
And the things we think have sold us to the enemy
Writing the names of our sins on raw marrow
In lights as sharp as glass.
And our desires,
Uncovering their faces one by one
Are seen to be our murderers!
How did you break your jails, you black assassins?
How did you find us out, you numbered men?

Logic has ruined us,
Theorems have flung their folly at us,
Economy has left us full of swords
And all our blood is gone:
Oh, how like a death; now, is our prayer become!
We lie and wait upon the unknown Savior
Waking and waking in the guarded tomb….

But the armed ocean of peace,
The full-armed ocean is suddenly within us.
Where, where, peace, did you get in?
And the armed ocean of quiet,
The full-armed ocean, stands within us:
Where, from what wells, hid in the middle of our essence,
Your silences, did you come pouring in?

But all our thoughts lie still, and in this shipwreck
We’ll learn the theory of prayer:
“How many hate their own safe death, Their cell, their submarine!”
“How many hate Your Cross, Your Key, the only one
To beat that invincible door
That will surprise us, Peace with Your invasion
And let us dwell in those soundless fathoms where You dwell.”