Sunday, November 8, 2020

2nd Trinity IV, Awaken, Remember

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November Trinity

Rev. 3:1-6
 
And to the angel who penetrates the
Tiffany, Angel of Sardis

congregation of Sardis write:
 
Thus speaks he who has power over the seven creating spirits of God and 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.
 
Whoever overcomes, they shall be clothed with white garments, and I will not wipe out their name from the Book of Life. I will speak out their name and acknowledge them before my Father and his Angels. Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

2nd November Trinity
November 8, 2020
Revelation 3: 1-6, Sardis
 
Inner loyalty is difficult to maintain. For it is our human nature to be distracted by all the claims made upon our souls. There is so much in the world that cries out so loudly for our attention. And the spirit only whispers.
 
We need to quiet ourselves from time to time in order to listen; to listen to the voice of the spirit; to listen to its echo in our own hearts. We need to quiet ourselves in order to remember; to remember how we were once open; to generate that openness again.
 
Each of us at one time heard the li
ving voice whispering from the world of the spirit. We recognized: something important speaks here, something alive. That word found a resonance and awakened our hearts’ love. And so we made a promise, a commitment both to the spirit and to ourselves, that we would continue to try to be open and awake to that voice whenever it speaks.
 
It is so hard to stay awake in the spirit in-between times. The world is so loud. It drowns out his voice, and in spirit, we go to sleep.
 
But once again, as the year itself dies away, we are privileged to hear His voice speaking clearly—
    
Bamberg Apocalypse 
    Awaken.
    Remember.
    Care for the words and workings of the spirit in your soul in inner loyalty.
 
His is the voice that awakens us, the voice that reminds us to remember the love we first felt, the voice that encourages us to care for the inner realities in loyalty.
 
And we respond—Yes Lord; may our prayers be for your ear. May you be in us. May the fire of your loyal love ignite in our hearts.