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Monday 19 March 2018

"Promised... Eternal LIfe."

I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy. I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.


1 John 2:18-25
18 Children, it is the last hour! As you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. From this we know that it is the last hour. 19They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But by going out they made it plain that none of them belongs to us. 20But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and all of you have knowledge. 21I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and you know that no lie comes from the truth. 22Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. 23No one who denies the Son has the Father; everyone who confesses the Son has the Father also. 24Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25And this is what he has promised us, eternal life.


1) "...it is the last hour;" "...many antichrists have come;" "...it is the last hour;" "...for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us;" "...all of you have knowledge;" "...abide;" "...eternal life;" "...and this is what he has promised us, eternal life;"


2) Ugh. So, when all else fails, demonize those who differ in opinion from you, and totalize: if they were part of us they would not have left us. I cannot affirm the arguments here. It denies the grief of breaking with those we have loved. It denies the possibility that there can be two less that perfect understandings of the truth. It denies diversity of opinion and experience. It denies Jesus' teaching, "those who are not against us are with us." The fledgling church experience no end of conflict as it worked out future dogma. But wouldn't Christ have us hold one another compassionately. Christ was far more concerned about feeding the hungry, healing the sick, comforting the grieving and liberating the oppressed than with "the last hour." It pains me what became of his message. Here "Eternal life" has already started to be coopted into an end-times, "other worldly" booby-prize, rather than a lived political reality of treating one another with compassion and empathy. Were we to truly to abide in 'the Father and the Son" and "the Father and the Son" were to abide in us we would not longer feel the need to talk about "antichrists". To "the Father and the Son" what is the "antichrist"?!? Nothing. Eternal life extends in all directions here and now, into our past, outward - connecting us to every part of creation, the heavens and the earth - and into the future, the end (purpose) of all creation. What we heard from the beginning was that "it was good," and that we are beloved as part of that good creation, each of us made in the image and likeness of the creator.


3) What is the invitation in all this? To abide in "the Father and the Son;" to abide in Christ and to let Christ abide in us.


"Holy One, abide in us."


Breathprayer: "Promised... eternal life."



Thursday 15 March 2018

"The Word of God... Abides in You."


I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, empathy, and compassion. I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.

1 John 2:12-17
12 I am writing to you, little children,
   because your sins are forgiven on account of his name.
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
   because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young people,
   because you have conquered the evil one.
14 I write to you, children,
   because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
   because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young people,
   because you are strong
   and the word of God abides in you,
     and you have overcome the evil one.
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; 16for all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live for ever.

1) "...your sins are forgiven;" "...from the beginning;" "... the world and its desire are passing away;" "...do the will of God;" "...live for ever;" "...the word of God abides in you;"

2) I'm not sure what to do with this passage. If feels a little "works righteousness" with "because you have conquered the evil one." And I'm not sure how literally it takes "the things in the world." Certainly, all things in our world are passing away. But this passage seems to abandon being in the world; does it deny the incarnation? It seems very Greek in its dualism. I appreciate the call to doing the will of God. "The word of God abides in you," but the implication is that the word of God abides in you because "you have conquered the evil one," because "you know him who is from the beginning," because you "do not love the world or the things of the world;" and that would be a very strong works righteousness. Or is it because God abides in you... you are then able to do these other things. The language, translated here, isn't clear. The passage does begin with "because your sins are forgiven on account of his name" not because of anything you have done. When are we aware that the word of God is abiding in us? I did some beautiful visits yesterday. I meditate. I play with watercolour. We celebrate lives well lived. We feed, clothe, and shelter so many people here at Trinity, all the time.

3) What is the invitation in all this? To let God's word abide in us. It abides in us whether we bid it or not, but we do choose whether we live as though God's word abides in us. "Do the will of God."

"Holy One, abide in us. Guide us to do your will."

Breathprayer: "The word of God... abides in you."


Wednesday 14 March 2018

"The True Light... Already Shining."

I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy. I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.


1 John 2:7-11
7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8Yet I am writing you a new commandment that is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9Whoever says, ‘I am in the light’, while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness. 10Whoever loves a brother or sister lives in the light, and in such a person there is no cause for stumbling. 11But whoever hates another believer is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness.


1) "...beloved;" "...old commandment;" "..from the beginning;" "...the word that you have heard;" "...true in him and in you;" "...the darkness is passing away;" "...the true light is already shining;" "...no cause for stumbling;" "...whoever loves a brother;" "...the darkness has brought on blindness;"


2) I have to wonder if loving a brother or sister entails affection? I'm pretty sure that even here in 1 John, as in Paul's letters, loving one another is more about how we treat each other than about feeling warm fuzzies for one another. It is hard enough to treat one another with dignity and respect some days without the added expectation that we will also feel warm and fuzzy about each other. And then there are those whom it is so easy to love. Thank God for them! I don't think I'm one of them. I'm quite likeable, I'm charming, funny, and intelligent. But I'm too honest and blunt for most people. and once I think I know the truth of something, I'm dogmatic. "...the true light is already shining;" do we believe that? where do we have access to the true light that is already shining? Those people who are easy to love, maybe. Certainly in those people it is hard to love when we still manage to love them!


3) What is the invitation in all this? To be more open to empathy for those hard to love folk.


"Holy One, keep us mindful of the graciousness you show us by loving us even when we are less loveable."


Breathprayer: "the true light... already shining."



Tuesday 13 March 2018

"Know Him... Abide in Him."


I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy. I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.

1 John 2:1-6
2My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
3 Now by this we may be sure that we know him, if we obey his commandments. 4Whoever says, ‘I have come to know him’, but does not obey his commandments, is a liar, and in such a person the truth does not exist; 5but whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has reached perfection. By this we may be sure that we are in him: 6whoever says, ‘I abide in him’, ought to walk just as he walked.

1) "...we have an advocate;" "...for the sins of the whole world;" "...Whoever says, 'I have come to know him', but does not obey his commandments, is a liar;" "...the love of God has reached perfection;" "...whoever says, 'I abide in him', ought to walk just as he walked;"

2) I should think there are few of us who could walk "just as he walked." Another call to humility. I'm not really happy with the image of "the father" in this passage, as if God is wrathful and wanting to do violence to us and Jesus is the only thing preventing that. Not my theology. I do want those of us to who claim the narrative of Jesus to behave more as he behaved. Its a constant struggle. Daily are the trials, but so are the blessings. Yesterday had many blessings, and so too, already, has today. "I have come to know him." What exactly does it mean to "come to know him?" I witness Christ.  I believe Christ communes with me and I with him. I believe we have journeyed together, intimately, throughout my life. But would I claim, "I have come to know him?" There are people in my life I might make that claim about, though few. I even surprise myself on no few occasions. What exactly does it mean to say, "I have come to know him?" I'm sure there are plenty of folk out there who make great claims about their knowledge of Christ. I am just terribly, terribly grateful for the ways in which I experience Christ manifest in my life and the life of my community, and I endeavor to live, motivated by that experience. We don't spend enough energy observing the claim that Jesus is atoning "for the sins of the WHOLE world."

3) What is the invitation in all this? To live as one who has "known" Christ.

"Holy One, keep us in the truth, help make us honest."

Breathprayer: "Know him... abide in him."


Monday 12 March 2018

"God Is Light... Faithful and Just."

I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully.  I ask to show patience, tolerance, empathy, and compassion. I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.


1 John 1:5-10
5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; 7but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.


1) "God is light;" "...in him there is no darkness at all;" "...he himself is in the light;" "...we deceive ourselves;" "...the truth is not in us;" "...he who is faithful and just;"


2) Immediately I have to wonder, what constitutes "darkness" such that there is "no darkness at all" in God? the following line seems to illustrate a little more on what constitutes "darkness." The things that we do that deny God. Is he "light" or is he "in the light"? Walking with God/Jesus is to confess our sins. Walking in the light, means admitting to the shadow that is in us. God is light, faithful, just, and true. Can we trust God's light, faithfulness, justice, and truth enough to confess our shadow/sin/darkness faithfully. I was just listening to a clip on Facebook about raising teenagers. The speaker talked about getting ready to ride a roller coaster. You sit in the car and someone comes a long to put down a metal bar across your lap. Immediately you push and pull on the bar. It is not your desire for the bar to give way. You want the bar to do its job and you are testing it. The speaker compared this to parenting teenagers. Parents put down the bar, and the teenagers push and pull on the bar, not hoping it will let go, but that it will remain in place. Teenagers need to know that they have something in their life that will hold as they go through the ups, downs, bends and turns. Parents need to learn to not take that struggling personally, but to remain steady and in place. Its a useful image. The problem is that no person is going to get 100% on that test. We are human beings, not metal bars locked in by mechanics. Being an adult, or a parent doesn't get us a "get out of sinning free card." Parents fail the test. Teenagers can be stronger than the bar. We end up with teenagers who grow up with out unconditional love who continue to test every relationship to see if it will be the one that is able to love "unconditionally." Our need for God is for an absolutely unconditional lover, who forgives and reconciles even when the bar gives way.


3) What is the invitation in all this? I have a number of adult "teenagers" in my community who throw everything they've got at me to see if I will be the "one" to "love" them unconditionally. I can feely admit I regularly fail the test. And, of course, there are certain people with whom I am more likely to fail the test than others. How does God want unconditional love to be expressed through me?


"Holy One, Guide us all in taking responsibility for our actions and expressing your unconditional love."


Breathprayer: "God is light... faithful and just."



Saturday 10 March 2018

"Eternal LIfe... Joy."

I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy. I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more  closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.


1 John 1:1-4
1We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us— 3we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.


1) "...what was... we have heard... seen... looked at and touched;" "...concerning the word of life;" "...we have seen... testify... declare;" "...eternal life;" "...revealed to us;" "...declare to you what we have seen and heard;" "...We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete;" "...so that our joy may be complete;" "...concerning the word of life;" "...the eternal life that was with the Father;" "...so that you may also have fellowship with us;" "...our fellowship is with the Father and... JC;" "...so that our joy may be complete;"


2) Quite emphatic that the author has witnessed "the eternal life that was with the Father" first hand. And the author writes, so their "joy may be complete" by sharing fellowship between the Father, Jesus Christ and the readers of the text, consequently sharing "the eternal life that was with the Father." How much of what we do here brings us great joy?  eternal joy? the joy of eternal life? How does God continue to reveal the eternal life to us? And let me be clear, I don't mean life after death, I mean the life that extends in connectedness in every direction: connected to the earth, the sky, the beginning and the end, to each created being... When have we experienced that kind of connection? And old friend messaged me last night on Facebook.  An old girlfriend actually, from when I was maybe 12 or 13. We knew each other throughout our teens. She'd been teaching her grade one art class and came upon a children's animal magazine that had my name and old address on it. The magazine had to be over 35 years old! I'm sure we disposed of those old magazines at least a decade ago, but mom just moved a little over three years ago, so maybe they got sent to a recycle then? No idea. The funny thing was, I'd also just been thinking about my old Owl Magazines and the Mighty Mights that were featured in them. It was good to chat for a while with an old friend. Finding the magazine was the push she needed to reach out and contact me. It was a delicious moment in time, a sweet conversation of reminiscing and recalling old affections. I'm so very grateful for all the old affections, the companions on this life long journey.


3) What is the invitation in all this? To express gratitude for connections, intimate and affectionate.


"Holy One, thank you for the tiny glimpses into eternal life that is with you."


Beathprayer: "Eternal life... joy."

Wednesday 7 March 2018

"The Cross of Christ... a New Creation."


I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy. I ask for the grace to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.

Galatians 6:11-18
11 See what large letters I make when I am writing in my own hand! 12It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that try to compel you to be circumcised—only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh. 14May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! 16As for those who will follow this rule—peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
17 From now on, let no one make trouble for me; for I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body.
18 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

1) "...may I never boast of anything except the cross;" "...the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world;" "...a new creation is everything;" "...I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body;" "...May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters;" "...a new creation is everything;" "...new creation is everything."

2) I simply love the playfulness of the first line! See!!! This really is a letter of extremes, from very severe admonishment to incredible affection and familiarity. It is a mistake to read this letter as if it were written for us, or for a "public" audience. It is uniquely intimate, almost a journal entry. I cringe at the thought of people reading my personal letters or journal entries as if they were meant for the public.  Rest assured... I censor myself as I write my blog even if I do very little editing!!! In these last lines of the letter, Paul returns to his point..."A new creation is everything." Following the law is nothing if you aren't following the whole law, and following the whole law simply isn't possible without grace. Further, it is a mistake to compromise the gospel in order to avoid being "persecuted for the cross of Christ." What compromises of the gospel do we make in order to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ? How do we keep a new creation in our sights, so as to reduce the temptation to compromise the gospel? What does it mean to say "the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world"? Paul and the world cannot be separated? Paul and the world are suffering because of each other? Paul and the world will participate in each other's redemption? Paul does have scars as a result of his ministry: "for I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body." What are the marks of Jesus branded on our bodies? How do people look at us and know we are followers of Christ?

3) What is the invitation in all this? To bear the cross more readily. (And maybe I should think more about burning some journals?)

"Holy One, may we live for a new creation, may your new creation be our all in all!"

Breathprayer: "The Cross of Christ... a New Creation."

Tuesday 6 March 2018

"Sow the Spirit... Reap Eternal Life."

I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy.  I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.


Galatians 6:7-10
7 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. 8If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 9So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. 10So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.


1) "...God is not mocked;" "...you reap whatever you sow;" "...sow the Spirit;" "...reap eternal life;" "...let us not grow wearing in doing what is right;" "...we will reap at harvest time;" "...let us work for the good of all;"


2) It is easy to be deceived. Especially when tired, overwhelmed, anxious, and angry. But as Richard Rohr says, the true self is never offended... God is not mocked. It can be hard to believe that we reap what we sow. Bad things happen to good people and bad people seem to get all the power and authority. How do we stop giving authority to bad people? I know that there are not "bad people" but it sometimes seems far too much to separate actions from personhood. Some people seem bent on making life as miserable as possible for the rest of the world. I know that I am humbly grateful for the crazy madness that makes up the package of ills in my own life. Because with that package of ills comes so much blessing, and I am profoundly grateful for the blessings, they far outweigh the ills. The trap is letting myself be deceived into backsliding into negative behaviour because sowing what is right seems to bear no fruit. God is not mocked. Even if I never see the fruit, I'm still called to sow what is right. God is not mocked. Eternal life is the life of profound connection to people, to the world, to companions, to the Holy and the Sacred. I reap abundantly of the fount of eternal life. Thanks be to God! Today I had breakfast with a dear friend; I dreamed up plans for creative expression in my home; I started making some of those plans come to fruition because I have the resources to do so; I enjoyed the (rare) sunshine on the drive to work; I get to connect deeply with people I care about throughout my workweek... the list of fruit of eternal life I reap at the harvest goes on and on.  Thanks be to God!


3) What is the invitation in all this? To sow what is right. And to be grateful that I have the privilege of sowing what is right. And to enjoy and give thanks for the eternal life I do reap.


"Thank you, Holy One, for all the ways I am privileged to reap of the fount of eternal life.  May I sow, so as to continue to reap, and that others may also reap."


Breathprayer: " Sow the spirit... reap eternal life."



Monday 5 March 2018

"...Share in all Good Things."

I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy. I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.


Galatians 6:1-6
6My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. 2Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ. 3For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. 4All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbour’s work, will become a cause for pride. 5For all must carry their own loads.
6 Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher.


1) "...restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness;" "...take care that you yourselves are not tempted;" "...bear one another's burdens;" "...deceive themselves;" "...all must test their own work;" "...all must carry their own loads;" "...share in all good things;"


2) He doesn't say what to do if attempts to "restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness" are thwarted. I've been taking an art class one evening a week. Last fall I loved the class. It gave me a couple hours a week to work with minimal supervision on a totally new to me skill. This season, I am enjoying the class less. The content is more challenging, and I'm not taking to it as easily. But also the classes themselves are less... peaceful. It is a different group of students. This season there is a woman in our class who talks incessantly, mostly complaining. I've changed seating so I'm not sitting next to her. But her voice still dominates the space for the full hour and a half that we are gathered. Even when we are receiving instruction, she fills the air with complaints about what the instructor is asking us to do and how he is asking us to do it. I'm feeling resentful. And I'm resentful about being resentful. I'm enjoying the classes much less between the natural challenge, and the environmental change. I just want her to stop talking and filling the air with her negativity. As I sit through the class trying to concentrate, I feel my own body generating negativity. Where's the off switch? My own as well as hers? How am I deceiving myself? I am definitely being tested in my own work.


3) What is the invitation in all this? To take care that I myself am not tempted. I feel sorrow for her, that she needs to express herself so negatively with strangers. Maybe the invitation is to pray for greater mindfulness of Christ's presence during art classes.


"God give us strength."


Breathprayer: "...share in all good things."



Thursday 1 March 2018

"Live by the Spirit... Belong to Christ."


I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully.  I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy. I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.

Galatians 5:22-26
22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.

1) "...live by the spirit;" "...guided by the spirit;" "...fruit of the spirit;" "...love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control;" "...those who belong to Christ;" "...live by the Spirit;" "...belong to Christ;"

2) Do we behave as though we belong to Christ? I can give a definite maybe. We do not behave as though we belong to Christ when we become conceited, compete against one another, or envy one another. And there was the "bad list" yesterday of behaviours that do not belong to the Spirit or Christ. I ask daily to manifest the fruit of the spirit listed in this passage. Here in my blog as well as at home in my morning pages. Does asking/praying to bear these fruit manifest them? Once again, I can give a definite maybe. My giving is at an all time high financially. I feel my anger flares less often, especially I observe this in traffic and walking. How's my food? diet? exercise? Do I experience the peace I want? Am I in the bow resting with Jesus, or am I getting tossed about on the storm with the disciples? Honestly, I think I'm experiencing more equilibrium now than I have experienced, though I am still quite able to be knocked about... especially by certain individuals... its always the same individuals... Two thoughts come at the same time... "I should pray more for peace" and "Wait, I use the word 'peace' every day for my 20 minutes of centering prayer!" Maybe I need to focus on receptivity... especially around equanimity and peace.

3) What is the invitation in all this? To be more receptive of equanimity and peace.

"Holy One, I ask to be more receptive of the peace and equanimity you offer in your great abundance. Help me to let go of the self-importance and righteousness that justify my excitation when I feel 'offended' and needing to defend what is 'right'.  In all things for which I pray, help me to be present to the ways in which I belong to Christ and the Holy Spirit."

Breathprayer: "Live by the spirit... belong to Christ."


Wednesday 28 February 2018

"Live by the Spirit... Inherit the Kingdom."


I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully.  I ask for patience, tolerance, empathy, and compassion.  I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.

Galatians 5:16-21
16 Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. 19Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, 21envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1) "...Live by the spirit;" "...led by the spirit;" "...

2) These are regrettable words. Paul is making a distinction between two ways of being.  Unfortunately, his use of "spirit" and "flesh" to distinguish the two ways, will get taken literally, to the detriment of the world. Taken literally, this passage erodes an embodied theology... the incarnation itself, the center of Paul's gospel! Suffice it to be that Paul discourages the behaviours of "fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these." It is a "list," probably a stock list inherited by Paul. It is extensive, thought not meant to be exhaustive. Paul wants us to remember that our "belief" and "faith" are followed by a change in behaviour.  To participate in the kingdom of God is to abstain from these behaviours. When we engage in these behaviours, we pound nails in the hands and feet of the very Christ we claim to follow. It seems to me that none of us are free from the accusation of pounding nails into the hands and feet of Christ. I can't imagine many people being free of all of these behaviours... "and things like these." Humility, humility, humility. None of us is all that.

3) What is the invitation in all this? To abstain from behaviours that are a barrier to the Kingdom of God? But that is probably simply not possible.  Maybe it is better to seek behaviours that nurture and engage the Kingdom of God, and to cease behaviour that is contrary to the Kingdom of God when we realize we are doing them, and seek amends immediately.

"Holy One, guide us to your kingdom."

Breathprayer: "Live by the spirit... inherit the kingdom."


Tuesday 27 February 2018

"Called to Freedom... Love One Another."

I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, empathy, and compassion. I ask to abstain from anxiety, anger, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.


Galatians 5:13-15
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. 14For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ 15If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.


1) "...called to freedom;" "...opportunity for self-indulgence;" "...through love become slaves to one another;" "...You shall love your neighbour as yourself;" "...through love become slaves to one another;" "...called to freedom;" "...


2) "Freedom" cannot be "absolute." Freedom is found in mutual relationship, love. We are freed to love one another AS ourselves. Not "like," but "as." It isn't a metaphor... to love others the way we love ourselves, but to love others as an extension of ourselves. When my neighbour bleeds, I bleed. We are one body in Christ. When a member of the body is injured, the whole body is weakened and experiences the pain. How "free" can one be if one keeps slamming their foot with a hammer? Devouring another is to consume ourselves. This is certainly not how our world works. Watching 45 proclaim that the solution to mass shootings in the US is to produce, buy, sell more guns, is definitely part of the devour/consume paradigm, not the love your neighbour as yourself/become slaves to one another paradigm. I dislike the "slave" imagery, but I'm open to service, and serving one another. How are we called to serve one another? How are we called to exercise our freedom in service to one another? Do I experience my freedom when serving? yes.  That was a quick response.  I definitely experience freedom when I choose to serve, either by making a generous financial gift, or by giving my time and skills. I have a felt sense of freedom when I choose to serve. On the other hand, when someone tells me I should do "this" or "that" I do not feel the freedom of serving... then I'm enslaved. It is freedom only if I have the choice to freely server or not serve.


3) What is the invitation in all this? To explore how I freely serve.


"Holy One, Thank you for the opportunity to serve, and for the companions who serve with me."


Breathprayer: "Called to freedom... love one another."



Monday 26 February 2018

"Obey... the One Who Calls You."

I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy. I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Christ more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.


Galatians 5:7-12
7 You were running well; who prevented you from obeying the truth? 8Such persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough. 10I am confident about you in the Lord that you will not think otherwise. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty. 11But my friends, why am I still being persecuted if I am still preaching circumcision? In that case the offence of the cross has been removed. 12I wish those who unsettle you would castrate themselves!


1) "You were running well;" "...the one who calls you;" "...a little yeast leavens the who batch of dough;" "...I am confident;" "...I am confident about you in the Lord;" "... I wish those who unsettle you would castrate themselves!"


2) This makes me smile this morning.  There are those who unsettle me.  Why do I let them? It does make a small part of my heart smile to think of Paul wishing those who unsettle me would castrate themselves. Perhaps a bit extreme. Better I would just stop letting them unsettle me. "A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough." But which is the leaven and which is the dough?!? Is it a little confidence that leavens the loaf to good, or a little unsettlement that leavens the loaf to bad? I'm afraid it works both ways. It depends on which leaven we nourish. God help me nourish the yeast that comes from the one who calls us. I cannot imagine that the one who is unsettling me spends much genuine energy discerning where their yeast comes from.  Only that one thing feels good to them and another is uncomfortable. And if it is uncomfortable it has to be annihilated. But the one who calls me, calls me to discomfort the comfortable and comfort the afflicted. The problem is that in one way or another, we are all comfortable; we are all afflicted.


3) What is the invitation in all this? To hand it all over to the one who calls us.


"Holy One, receive that which unsettles, send us the yeast that leavens the whole batch of dough for good."


Breathprayer: "Obey... the one who calls you."

Thursday 15 February 2018

"Faith... Working through Love."

I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully.  I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy.  I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.


Galatians 5:1-6
51For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
2 Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3Once again I testify to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obliged to obey the entire law. 4You who want to be justified by the law have cut yourselves off from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love.


1) "...Christ has set us free;:" "...Stand firm;" "...do not submit again to a yoke of slavery;" "...fallen away from Grace;" "...the only thing that counts is faith working through love;" "...faith working through love;" "...the only thing that counts is faith working through love"


2) How easily am I pulled back into an old pattern of behaviour, one that I have given up? I am free without that pattern, but under stress, adversity, conflict, it is so easy to return to that pattern. "Stand firm." I even have friends who prefer the old pattern.  It is as inconvenient to them as to me, learning a new set of practices. And the world gives lots of encouragement to return to the way things were, rather than embracing a new way of being. "The only thing that counts is faith working through love." I'm right.  I want to prove I'm right.  I want the person who has wronged me to admit that they've wronged me and that I'm right.  But "the only thing that counts is faith working through love." I'm so hyper sensitive to enabling addictive/alienating/dysfunctional behaviour. What constitutes "standing firm"? What constitutes rigidly returning to old practices? And what constitutes receiving freedom? What response constitutes "faith working through love"? You can't hurt me that way any more? But I can't make you change. It's all in Christ's hands. "Christ has set us free."


3) What is the invitation in all this? To make "the only thing that counts is faith working through love" my mantra for the day, week, month... season...


"Christ set us free."


Breathprayer: "Faith... Working through Love."