2nd Trinity IV 2022, Awaken, Remember

November Trinity IV

Rev. 3:1-6 (Sardis)  

"And to the angel who penetrates the 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. 

Tiffany, Angel of Sardis

"Remember how you were once receptive for all the words and workings of 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." 

2^nd November Trinity

November 6, 2022

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. 

Memling

We need to quiet ourselves from time to time, to listen; to listen to the voice of the spirit; to listen to its echo in our hearts. We need to quiet ourselves to remember, to remember how we were once open, to generate that openness again. 

All of us have been led to this community because once upon a time, we heard the living voice whispering from the world of the spirit. We recognized: Something important speaks here, something alive. That word found a resonance in 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 a year, as the year itself dies away, especially those of us present here are privileged to hear His voice speaking clearly once again—

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 you be in us. May the fire of your loyal love ignite in our hearts. May our prayers be for your listening ear.

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