First June Trinity 2015, Expectation

June Trinity

John 17: 6-11

Father, I have revealed your name and your being to all human beings whom you have led through destiny to me. They were yours; they lived out of the powers that worked in folk and family, and now you have given them to me, and into my working that lives in the Self, and they have kept your word in their inmost being. Thus they have recognized how all the spiritual power that you have given me truly proceeds from you; for all the creative spiritual power that you have given me, I have brought to them.

They have taken it up into themselves and have recognized that in truth I come from you, and they have gained insight, and trust that I have been sent by you. I pray to you for them as individual human beings; they who are to live out of the power of the self, as individuals, I pray to you for them; not for mankind in general, but for the human beings which you have given me. For they belong to you, just as everything which is mine is yours, and what is yours is mine, and the light of my being can shine in them [I am revealed in them]. I no longer live in the outer world, but they live in this world.

My whole being is devoted to you. And I am coming to you.  Holy Father, you who give healing to the world, keep in your name and in your being all whom you have given to me, so that they may be one even as we also are one. 

Antonio de Pareda

June Trinity

John 17: 6-11

May 31, 2015

This reading is taken from Jesus’ conversation with his Father the night before He died. It is a summation of the inter-relatedness, the interweaving of the Father and the Son and us. Through this interweaving we can become those human beings filled with the healing Spirit, those out of whom the light of Christ shines. This particular reading is also read sacramentally two other times in a person’s life: it is read at the children’s Confirmation, when their individual souls and destines are born out of the family milieu. It is also read again just before death, at the Last Anointing. Jesus’ words thus can form the bookends of an individual human biography, if they so choose.

This reading also underscores once again the motifs of Pentecost: that each person’s individuality is to be preserved; that we are to live out of the power of our selfhood. And that our selfhood and our destiny, voluntarily connected to Christ, will lead us to the Father  and His unifying Spirit. As the poet John O’Donohue says:

May you recognize in your life the presence,

Power and light of your soul.

May you realize that you are never alone,

That your soul in its brightness and belonging

Connects you intimately with the rhythm of the universe.

May you have respect for your individuality and difference.

May you realize that the shape of your soul is unique,

That you have a special destiny here,

That behind the façade of your life

There is something beautiful and eternal happening.

May you learn to see your self

With the same delight,

Pride and expectation

With which God sees you in every moment.[1]

Visit our Website!

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[1] John O'Donohue, “A Blessing for Solitude” in To Bless the Space Between Us, p. 112

10 August/September Trinity 2014, Young One, Arise!

10^th Trinity August September

Luke 7, 11-17

And it came to pass that on the next day Jesus went into a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. And as he drew near to the gate of the city, they became aware that a dead man was being carried out—the only born son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd of people from the city accompanied her.

And seeing her the Lord felt her suffering, and said to her, “Weep no more.”

And approaching, he touched the coffin, and pallbearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise!”

The dead man sat up, and began to speak. And Jesus gave him to his mother. Astonishment and awe seized all who were standing there, and they began to praise God and to glorify what was here revealed, saying,

“A prophet powerful in spirit has been raised among us, and God has come down to us, his people.”

Word about him spread out into all of Judea and all of the neighboring regions

10^th August/September Trinity

Franz Dvorak

September 28, 2014

Luke 7: 11 – 17

Every night we go to sleep. We meet with our guardian angel, our higher self and guide. We are cleansed of our fatigue and together we and our angel look at the events of the previous day. We plan for the coming day, what we need to do, how we will need to act. The next day, we rise to our tasks and inspirations.

When we die, we meet with Christ. We are cleansed of our weariness and ills. With him we look at our previous lifetime. We plan for what we need to do and be, how we shall conduct our next life. After a rest, we will hear his voice, “Young one, I say to you, arise!” And we will be given to our mother.

Our fear of dying is sometimes a fear of not having lived the life that we intended before we were born. For we have all come with a unique mission. We would do well to pay attention to those glimmerings of inspiration, those subtle intentions, the angelic promptings that we bring back with us from sleep. For they are our day by day guide for living the life we truly intended. 

The poet’s words express the hopes of our angel:

May the beauty of your life become more visible to you, that you may glimpse your wild divinity.

…May the light of dawn anoint your eyes that you may behold what a miracle a day is.

May the liturgy of twilight shelter all your fears and darkness within the circle of ease.

 …May you find enough stillness and silence to savor the kiss of God on your soul and delight in the eternity that shaped you, that holds you and calls you.[1]

www.thechristiancommunity.org

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[1] John O’Donohue, “A Blessing for Beauty”, from Beauty – The Invisible Embrace 

7th August Trinity 2014, Quiet Immensity

7^th August Trinity

Jan Luyken

Luke 10: 1-20

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him, before his face, to every town and place where he himself was about to go. He told them, “An ample harvest, and few workers! Ask the harvest master, therefore, to send out workers to help with the harvesting. Go: I hereby send you out like lambs in the midst of wolves. Do not take a wallet or knapsack or sandals; and do not pause to greet anyone on the way.

“When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If a son of peace is there, your peace will alight on him; if not, it will turn round and come back to you. Stay in that place, eating and drinking with them, because the worker is worth his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

“When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you, and heal the sick and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is close upon you.’ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we are shaking off (to your face). Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is approaching ’ I am telling you, Sodom will be better off than that town on that day.

“The worse for you, Chorazin! The worse for you Bethsaida! Because if the deeds of the spirit that occurred in you had had occurred in Tyre and Sidon, they would long since be sitting in sackcloth and ashes as a sign of their change of heart and mind. But Tyre and Sidon will be better off on the day of decision than you. And you, Capernaum [kuh-puhr’-nay-uhm], won’t you be exalted to the skies? You will go down to the depths.

He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me. “

The seventy-two returned with joy and said “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Here, I have now given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and on all the power of the enemy and none of it shall ever hurt you. But do not be glad that the spirits submit to you; be glad that your true being is taken up into the world of the heavens (that your names are recorded in the heavens).

7^th August /Sept Trinity

Sept  7, 2014

Luke 10:1-20

Numbers are for quantities. They describe a collective of two or three (or 72) units. A name, however, describes quality. A person’s name becomes shorthand for the unique quality of their being. Even though there may be many Johns or Sallys, any particular John or Sally is like no other.

The gospel reading begins with a collective. Seventy-two are sent out in 36 pairs. When they return they are somewhat intoxicated with their own spiritual effectiveness. Christ does not deny their effectiveness. But he encourages them to rejoice that the quality of their unique being, their name,

will be preserved in the heavenly worlds,

Christ came so that our true being would not fall prey to ruin. He rejoices in our individuality, our uniqueness. We are to clothe our uniqueness in an attitude of peace. Quality shall be uppermost, the quality of peaceful, non-violent dignity. And so we may hear the voice of our angel in the poet’s wish:

May you awaken to the mystery of being here and enter the quiet immensity of your own presence.

May you have joy and peace in the temple of your senses.

May you receive great encouragement when new frontiers beckon.

May you respond to the call of your gift and find the courage to follow its path.

….May you experience each day as a sacred gift woven around the heart of wonder.[1]

www.thechristiancommunity.org

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[1]  John O'Donohue , in Anam Cara

5th August Trinity 2014, Rush of Light

5th Trinity August

Brian Jekel

Luke 18, 35-43

It happened as he approached Jericho: a certain blind man was sitting by the road begging. Hearing the crowd going by, he wanted to know what was happening, and they told him Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. He cried out in a loud voice: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Those leading the way threatened him and wanted him to be quiet. But he cried all the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Jesus stopped and had him led to him. And Jesus said to him, “What do you want that I should do for you?”

He said to him, “Lord, that I may look up and see again.”

And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight. Through your faith and your trust, the power for healing has been awakened in you.” ( your faith has healed you.)

In that moment his eyes were opened. He followed Him and thus revealed the working of the divine within the human being--and all who saw it praised God.

5^th August Trinity

August 24, 2014

Luke 18: 35-43

Light itself is invisible. Light only reveals itself in its working with darkness. Permeating darkness, light creates color. Color is a manifestation of the creative work, the deeds of light.

The blind man in today’s reading wants to look up and see again. He as the one who calls himself the Light of the World to be merciful to him, to interact with his darkness, so that together they may create. We can imagine that already the man’s courage to ask, to refuse to be shushed, has an inner color we could picture as a strong red. He has the clear green hope of healing. Christ verifies that a deep level of trust lives in him, which we can see as a deep blue. Indeed, the Light of the World is already working in him. Christ’s proximity already works to create the inner colors that light up in the soul’s darkness.

Though we may be blind to him, Christ is always near. We hear his words whenever we hear the gospels, whenever we listen to the inspirations of conscience. The light of his presence works with us to create the inner colors of the soul – the blue of trust, the red of courage, the green of hope. For the light shines in the darkness, and although we may not grasp it, we can receive it, bear it, gestate it, so that the soul gives birth to the Light’s colors. We can invite God to enter us, to work in us.

In the words of John O’Donohue:

… when we come to search for God,

Let us first be robed in night,

Put on the mind of morning

To feel the rush of light

Spread slowly inside

The color and stillness

Of a found word.[1]

www.thechristiancommunity.org

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[1] John O’Donohue, “For Light”, in To Bless the Space Between Us.

4th August Trinity 2009, Gathered Wisely

4th Trinity August

Luke 9: 1-17

He called the twelve together and gave to them potent authority and formative power, so that they could work against all demonic mischief, and heal all sickness.  And he sent them out to heal and to proclaim the Kingdom of God, appearing now on earth, the kingdom of human beings filled with God’s spirit.

And he said to them, “Take nothing with you on the way: no staff for support, no bag for collecting, neither bread nor money, no change of clothes. If you enter a house, remain there until you go further. And where they do not accept you, leave their city and shake the dust from your feet as a sign that they have refused community with you.”

They left and walked through the villages of the country, announcing the joyful message of the new working of the kingdom of the angels and healing everywhere.

Meanwhile Herod the Tetrarch heard of all that was happening and he was very perplexed, for some said, “John is risen from the dead,” and others said that Elijah had appeared, and yet others, “One of the Prophets of old has risen again.” And Herod said, “John I have had beheaded; who now is this, about whom I hear all these things?” And he wished to see him himself.

And the apostles returned and reported to Jesus everything that they had accomplished. So he gathered them to himself and retreated with them to a city called Bethsaida for special instruction. But the people became aware of it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them of the Kingdom of God of the future, of the human kingdom on earth filled with the divine spirit, and he healed all who had need of it.

But the day began to decline. The twelve came up to him and said, “Send the crowd away so that they can reach the villages and farms in the vicinity and find food and lodging, for here we are in a deserted place.” He however said to them, “From now on it falls to you; you give them to eat.”

They answered, “We have nothing but five loaves and two fish. Or shall we go and buy food for all of them?“ There were about five thousand people.

Then he said to the disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of fifty”. And they did so, and all reclined.

Then he took the five loaves and the two fish and, raising his soul to the spirit, gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. And they ate, and all were satisfied. And they took up the pieces that remained: twelve baskets full. 

4^th August Trinity

August 16, 2009

Luke 9:1-17

Events on earth can be described with certain facts and a particular narrative. But behind what can be seen and heard stand beings who give vitality and direction to these events.

Today’s reading describes two events: sending the twelve disciples to work together in the world, proclaiming the good news and healing. They are acting as Christ’s messengers. The second event involves a mysterious feeding of a great number of people.

But behind the earthly narrative stand mighty beings working in concert. One is John the Baptist, Elijah, whose name is interposed between the two events like a rumor. The other is of course Christ, who backgrounds Himself so that the disciples can step forward and work as mediators of His spirit. John works like a guardian angel for the circle of the disciples, helping gather and direct the flow of the Christ-stream into their working.

And so it is even today: John with his great prophetic spirit works in tandem with Christ, behind the scenes, supporting those who are students of Christ. They both work invisibly, like angels, behind the narrative of world events. They support those who work, like the disciples, to proclaim the ever-resounding good news, those who work to heal the world’s ills, those who seek to nourish bodies, souls and spirits. To become aware of their working is to increase our collaboration with them. So in the words of John O’Donohue:

A journey can become a sacred thing:

Make sure, before you go,

To take the time

To bless your going forth,

To free your heart of ballast

So that the compass of your soul

Might direct you toward

The territories of spirit

Where you will discover

More of your hidden life,

And the urgencies

That deserve to claim you.

May you travel in an awakened way,

Gathered wisely into your inner ground;

That you may not waste the invitations

Which wait along the way to transform you.[1]

www.thechristiancommunity.org

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[1] John O’Donohue, “For the Traveler”, in To Bless the Space Between Us, p. 53

4th August Trinity 2010, Angel of Healing

4th Trinity August

Luke 9: 1-17

He called the twelve together and gave to them potent authority and formative power, so that they could work against all demonic mischief, and heal all sickness.  And he sent them out to heal and to proclaim the Kingdom of God, appearing now on earth, the kingdom of human beings filled with God’s spirit.

And he said to them, “Take nothing with you on the way: no staff for support, no bag for collecting, neither bread nor money, no change of clothes. If you enter a house, remain there until you go further. And where they do not accept you, leave their city and shake the dust from your feet as a sign that they have refused community with you.”

They left and walked through the villages of the country, announcing the joyful message of the new working of the kingdom of the angels and healing everywhere.

Meanwhile Herod the Tetrarch heard of all that was happening and he was very perplexed, for some said, “John is risen from the dead,” and others said that Elijah had appeared, and yet others, “One of the Prophets of old has risen again.” And Herod said, “John I have had beheaded; who now is this, about whom I hear all these things?” And he wished to see him himself.

And the apostles returned and reported to Jesus everything that they had accomplished. So he gathered them to himself and retreated with them to a city called Bethsaida for special instruction. But the people became aware of it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them of the Kingdom of God of the future, of the human kingdom on earth filled with the divine spirit, and he healed all who had need of it.

But the day began to decline. The twelve came up to him and said, “Send the crowd away so that they can reach the villages and farms in the vicinity and find food and lodging, for here we are in a deserted place.” He however said to them, “From now on it falls to you; you give them to eat.”

They answered, “We have nothing but five loaves and two fish. Or shall we go and buy food for all of them?“ There were about five thousand people.

Then he said to the disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of fifty”. And they did so, and all reclined.

Then he took the five loaves and the two fish and, raising his soul to the spirit, gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. And they ate, and all were satisfied. And they took up the pieces that remained: twelve baskets full. 

4^th August Trinity

August 15, 2010

Luke 9: 1 -17

We have all experienced how a simple meal becomes a feast in the company of friends. In such a setting, our souls are nourished, as well as our bodies. If it was also the occasion of the announcement of a joyous coming event, our spirits would rise as well.

Archangel Raphael, Healer.
Margarete Woloschina

In the Gospel reading, both Christ and those He sends out are announcing a joyous coming event: it is the establishment of a new realm, one populated by human beings filled with divine spirit. Human hearts will be reconnected to the realm of the angels, from whence they have come. And, like the angel who stirred the waters at Bethesda, human hearts, out of their angelic connection, will be healed of what ails them. And they will heal other hearts.

This good news from the realm of the angels nourishes the spirits of those who hear it. It raises their hearts in hope and anticipation. They gather together around Christ and his disciples for further food for their souls. And then, as day declines, Christ asks His disciples to provide a meal.

At first the disciples are helpless; but Christ adds such vital, living force to their meager supply that people are satisfied with very little. For He first satisfies their spiritual hunger.

In the Act of Consecration of Man, the communion service, we re-enact something of this event. We hear the good news from the realm of the angels. We elevate our souls and spirits to receive the vital living force of Christ. And our hearts overflow with solemn joy.

So in the words of John O’Donohue,

May the Angel of Awakening stir your heart

To come alive to the eternal within you,

To all the invitations that quietly surround you.

May the Angel of Healing turn your wounds

Into sources of refreshment.[1]

www.thechristiancommunity.org

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[1] John O'Donohue, “A Blessing of Angels” in To Bless the Space Between Us

4th August Trinity 2014, Written in Heaven

4th Trinity August

Luke 9: 1-17

He called the twelve together and gave to them potent authority and formative power, so that they could work against all demonic mischief, and heal all sickness.  And he sent them out to heal and to proclaim the Kingdom of God, appearing now on earth, the kingdom of human beings filled with God’s spirit.

And he said to them, “Take nothing with you on the way: no staff for support, no bag for collecting, neither bread nor money, no change of clothes. If you enter a house, remain there until you go further. And where they do not accept you, leave their city and shake the dust from your feet as a sign that they have refused community with you.”

They left and walked through the villages of the country, announcing the joyful message of the new working of the kingdom of the angels and healing everywhere.

Meanwhile Herod the Tetrarch heard of all that was happening and he was very perplexed, for some said, “John is risen from the dead,” and others said that Elijah had appeared, and yet others, “One of the Prophets of old has risen again.” And Herod said, “John I have had beheaded; who now is this, about whom I hear all these things?” And he wished to see him himself.

And the apostles returned and reported to Jesus everything that they had accomplished. So he gathered them to himself and retreated with them to a city called Bethsaida for special instruction. But the people became aware of it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them of the Kingdom of God of the future, of the human kingdom on earth filled with the divine spirit, and he healed all who had need of it.

But the day began to decline. The twelve came up to him and said, “Send the crowd away so that they can reach the villages and farms in the vicinity and find food and lodging, for here we are in a deserted place.” He however said to them, “From now on it falls to you; you give them to eat.”

They answered, “We have nothing but five loaves and two fish. Or shall we go and buy food for all of them?“ There were about five thousand people.

Then he said to the disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of fifty”. And they did so, and all reclined.

Then he took the five loaves and the two fish and, raising his soul to the spirit, gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. And they ate, and all were satisfied. And they took up the pieces that remained: twelve baskets full.

4^th August Trinity

August 17, 2014

Luke 9: 1-17

Science has clearly demonstrated a link between the quality of our thinking and our general health. Negative thoughts, constant worrying and anxieties elevate the stress levels in our blood. They break down our immune system and erode our wellbeing. Such negative, destructive thought patterns are the working of demonic, hindering forces in us.

The gospel reading says that Christ gives his followers, his students ‘potent authority and formative power ‘ over these demonic , ill-making mischief makers. This protection against the demonic is Christ himself working in us, along with his angelic hosts. For we all carry him within us. The potent authority he gives us is our ability to notice and recognize those negative thoughts, those demonic workings within us, when they arise. Just noticing them, naming them, weakens their hold, diminishes their strength. Christ’s formative power in us is our ability to say no to negative thoughts and worries, and to replace them with thoughts that are true, good and beautiful.

All that the demonic forces can do is to try to destroy.  When we do the work of recognizing our habitual false, evil, and ugly thoughts, when we work to replace them with thoughts inspired by Christ’s angels, we can hope for the grace of Christ’s blessing strength. We will partake of his nourishing of our souls and spirits. For the good, the true and the beautiful have creative power. They generate, they create more of themselves, deeper goodness, broader truth, higher beauty. And so, as John O’Donohue says:

May the beauty of your life become more visible to you, that you may glimpse your wild divinity.

May the wonders of the earth call you forth from all your small, secret prisons and set your feet free in the pastures of possibilities.

….

May you allow no dark hand to quench the candle of hope in your heart.

…

May the outside voices of fear and despair find no echo in you.

…

May the shelter and nourishment of all the good you have done, the love you have shown, the suffering you have carried, awaken around you to bless your life a thousand times.

And may you know that despite confusion, anxiety and emptiness, your name is written in Heaven.[1]

www.thechristiancommunity.org

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[1] John O’Donohue, “A Blessing for Beauty”, in Beauty – The Invisible Embrace