2nd Trinity November
Rev. 3, 1-6, (Sardis) or
Rev. 3, 14-22 (Laodicea)
Rev. 3, 1-6, (Sardis)
And to the angel who penetrates the congregation of
Sardis write:
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| Escorial Beatus |
Thus speaks he who has power over the seven
creating spirits of God and over the seven stars: I know the consequences of
your deeds, for one says of you that you live, and yet are dead. Awaken, and
strengthen what remains in you, that is otherwise about to die, for I have not
found that your works possess reality before my God.
Remember how you were once receptive for all the
workings of the spirit, and for all words which came from the spirit. Care for
them in your soul in inner loyalty. Change your heart and mind.
If however you do not awaken, I will come over you
suddenly like a thief, and you will not know at which hour I will come over
you.
But you have some names in Sardis whose souls have
not been darkened by illusion and addiction to the senses. They will walk with
me in white garments, for they are worthy of them.
He who overcomes, he shall be clothed with white
garments, and I will not wipe out his name from the Book of Life. I will speak
out his name and acknowledge him before my Father and his Angels. He who has
ears to hear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches.
2nd November
Trinity
Nov. 4, 2012
Rev 3; 1-6
Once a group of idealistic young people decided to start
working on a small biodynamic farm. Their enthusiasm and desire to change the
world led them into deep conversations long into the night. Naturally this led
them to sleep in late. When a guest pointed out to them that the goats had long
been crying out to be milked, they answered that their deeply spiritual
conversations were more important.
Much too often, our thoughts and ideals fail to translate
themselves into actual effective deeds and habits. We are perhaps under the
illusion that thinking good thoughts is sufficient. Perhaps we lack the will to
translate them into actions. We fail to bring our habits and actions into
congruence with our ideals. And thus we fail to bring our ideals into the
earthly.
In today’s letter to the community, the angel brings us the
message from Christ: I have not found that your works possess reality…. Care
for the workings of the Spirit…. Walk with Me…. Overcome your illusions.
As a community we may ask ourselves: what are the ideals of
a Christ community? Do we only think we are such? What does a Christ community
do? Perhaps these words from Theresa of Avila give us a hint of an answer:
Christ has no body now but yours
No hands, no feet on earth but
yours
Yours are the eyes through which He
pours out
compassion on this world
Christ has no body now on earth but
yours.[1]
