7th Trinity 2022, Mantle of Peace

Burnand

 7^th Trinity III

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 among 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 person of peace is there, your peace will alight on them; 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 before your eyes. 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 happened in you 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, won't you be exalted to the skies? You will go down to the depths. 

"Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me, but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me." 

Tissot

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 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 [or, that your names are recorded in the heavens]."

 

7^th August Trinity

September 4, 2022

Luke 10:1-20 

“When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If a person of peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay in that place….”

 These words of Christ give us insight into the true nature of peace.               

Equanimity

First of all, peace needs to be invoked. At the threshold of any new situation, we
need to stop for a moment and inwardly call up peace from within ourselves. We do so in finding the calm center of our being in which Christ can be found. Then we can send the peace we find there out before us into the situation. 

Then if that situation contains those who are also capable of calling up peace from within, if they too are sons and daughters of peace, our peace alights on them like a mantle that strengthens their peace. Peace multiplies, for they, in their turn, send peace back to the giver. 

If not, then the peace we send out will turn and come back to us. Peace sent out does not dissipate just because there is no one out there to receive it. In such a situation, there is always at least one person of peace – the one who sent it out. Such a precious commodity is never poured out in vain. If not received by another, it can always return to the giver as a strengthening of their own forces of peace. It only dissipates if not caught again. 

Stephen B. Whatley

Returned peace strengthens the giver so they can fulfill Christ’s next words – “Stay in that place….” We are not to run away, discouraged or dismayed by a lack of like-mindedness. We are to calmly remain for a while. A calm person of peace has the power to keep underfoot the snakes of deceit as a quiet champion of the truth. We have the power to neutralize the destructive power of the scorpion. With peace invoked from within our own hearts, Christ assures us that the destructive powers shall not hurt us. Our peace shines with His peace into the realms of the heavens. The names of those of peace, names that are both given and earned, shine in the heavens. 

For Christ says, “This peace with the world can envelop you and radiate from you because it is I, the Prince of Peace, who give it to you.”  His power of truth and self-disciplined love guide us toward humankind’s future. May we walk with him wrapped in the mantle of his ever-flowing peace. 

www.thechristiancommunity.org

https://cynthiahindes.blogspot.com

 

4th Trinity III 2021, Star Bread

4th Trinity III

Luke 9:1-17 

He called the twelve together and gave them potent authority and formative power to 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. 

Tissot

And he said to them, "Take nothing with you on the way: no staff for support, no bag for collecting, neither bread nor money, nor 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 has 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 needed 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." However, he 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, 2021

Luke 9:1-17 

When we go to sleep at night, our souls and spirits rise out of the body. We rise in sleep to the world of the stars. We commune with the angels. They feed us 'star bread' and 'star wine.' They nourish our souls and spirits so that we return to earth strengthened and refreshed. 

Even on earth during the day, when we are very hungry, we can feel how, with a good meal, body and soul come together again, realigning themselves. This happens not because of the food's material content but because of the life force it offers us. 

Woloschina

In today's reading, the crowds stay with Christ to hear the good news, the message from the realm of the angels. And as the day dims into night, the first stars appear, and Christ feeds them from the heavenly realm of the stars. For Christ's thanks and blessing bring down to earth the life force that streams in from the stars. With the food, the people take in 'star bread,' offered to them by the angels, distributed by Christ's disciples on earth. 

In the Act of Consecration of Man, with Christ's help, we too raise ordinary bread to receive the life of the universe. Though but little in material terms, we are fed in abundance. Our hearts, our souls, our spirits drink deep at the wellspring of life, and our spirits are satisfied.

 

 

4th Trinity III 2020, Territories of the Spirit

4th Trinity III

Luke 9:1-17 

He called the twelve together and gave them potent authority and formative

Tissot, Christ Sending

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 has 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 needed it. 

Woloschina

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  Trinity III

August 16, 2020

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 there 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

Sombart, Feeding 5,000

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,

Iris Sullivan

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.*

 

www.thechrisitancommunity.org

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

3rd August Trinity 2019, Enough for All

August Trinity 

Luke 9: 1-17

Duccio DiBuoninsegnaca

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 has 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 [beth-say’uh-duh] 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.

Boy with Fish, Woloschina

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.

3^rd August Trinity

August 11, 2019

Luke 9: 1-17

Jan Luyken

Here in the gospel, the spirit, the life of God begins to live and breathe within the human community. First, an in-breath - “He called the twelve together and gave them potent authority and formative power.” He breathes into their community His powers of life, the power to order and to heal.

And then He breathes the twelve themselves out into the world, to bring his powers of life to others. He warns them first not to crowd out His spirit with satisfying a desire for stuff, for sticks, bags, bread, money. And so, free and unencumbered, they go forth, breathing out his healing and joyful spirit into the world.

Then they return for another round of inbreathing, of inspiration. And Christ gathers them together again, to deepen the working of his spirit into their community. Now they are not only able to order and to heal. Now they are to join themselves together with his power to nourish, to feed and sustain. “From now on,” He says, “it falls to you to give them to eat.”

For a moment, they are confused - food is surely something tangible, countable. And what they have isn’t enough.

But He shows them that true nourishment, true sustenance, comes from both a higher and yet a deeper level, from a level where living forces multiply themselves before they divide, from a place of love.

Woloschina

Christ demonstrates the laws of how this mysterious process works. He breathes out his own spirit up to the Father of all Life in a great outpouring of gratitude. In so doing, He makes his own spirit of love into the great Tree of Life itself. His gratitude ripens fruit on this tree, ever fruitful, ever-bearing. The community, united in thanks with Christ, is allowed to harvest and eat of the fruits of the Tree of Life itself.

The fruits of this tree nourish by bestowing living forces in abundance. Together the community gave thanks. And together they ate. Together they were satisfied. For with Christ, they had breathed themselves into the realm of multiplication. The realm where there is more than enough. Enough for all time, for everywhere.