Reflections

Famous Prayers - Cranmer

2011-01-22T22:23:00.000Z

Lord God,
you have taught us
that anything we do without love is worth nothing,
for whoever lives without love
is counted dead before you;
send your Holy Spirit,
and pour into our hearts
that most excellent gift of love,
the true bond of peace and of all virtues;

grant this for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ
who is alive with with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God now and for ever.
Amen.

From the New Zealand Prayer Book

This collect was written by Thomas Cranmer and is based on that beautiful Biblical passage on love - 1 Corinthians 13. Cranmer was Archbishop of Canterbury during the reign of Henry VIII and was finally executed during the reign of Henry's daughter Mary.

The Last O Antiphon - 23rd December

2010-12-23T19:45:00.005Z

O Emmanuel

O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster,
exspectatio Gentium, et Salvator earum:
veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster.

Stained glass window by Edward Burne-Jones, c 1859 for Christ Church Oxford, (from Stained Glass, Masterpieces of the Modern Era by Xavier Barral I Altet, Thames and Hudson, 2007

O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver,
the hope of the nations and their Saviour:
Come and save us, O Lord our God.

O come, O come, and be our God-with-us
O long-sought With-ness for a world without,
O secret seed, O hidden spring of light.
Come to us Wisdom, come unspoken Name,
Come Root, and Key, and King, and holy Flame.
O quickened little wick so tightly curled,
Be folded with us into time and place,
Unfold for us the mystery of grace
And make a womb of all this wounded world.
O heart of heaven beating in the earth,
O tiny hope within our hopelessness
Come to be born, to bear us to our birth,
To touch a dying world with new-made hands
And make these rags of time our swaddling bands.

O Antiphons - 22nd December

2010-12-23T19:32:00.004Z

O Rex Gentium

O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum,
lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum:
veni, et salva hominem,
quem de limo formasti.
O King of the nations, and their desire,
the cornerstone making both one:

Christ in majesty, 13-14th-century mosaic, baptistery, Florence

Come and save the human race,
which you fashioned from clay
O King of our desire whom we despise,
King of the nations never on the throne,
Unfound foundation, cast-off cornerstone,
Rejected joiner, making many one,
You have no form or beauty for our eyes,
A King who comes to give away his crown,
A King within our rags of flesh and bone.
We pierce the flesh that pierces our disguise,
For we ourselves are found in you alone.
Come to us now and find in us your throne,
O King within the child within the clay,
O hidden King who shapes us in the play
Of all creation. Shape us for the day
Your coming Kingdom comes into its own.

O Antiphons - 21st December

2010-12-21T10:41:00.000Z

O Oriens

O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae,
et sol justitiae: veni, et illumina sedentes
in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

The minute dial added in 1759 to a 15th-Century astronomical clock in Exeter Cathedral

O Morning Star,
splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness:
Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

O Oriens
E vidi lume in forme de riviera Paradiso XXX.61
First light and then first lines along the east
To touch and brush a sheen of light on water
As though behind the sky itself they traced
The shift and shimmer of another river
Flowing unbidden from its hidden source;
The Day-Spring, the eternal Prima Vera.
Blake saw it too. Dante and Beatrice
Are bathing in it now, away upstream. . .
o every trace of light begins a grace
In me, a beckoning. The smallest gleam
Is somehow a beginning and a calling:
“Sleeper awake, the darkness was a dream
For you will see the Dayspring at your waking,
Beyond your long last line the dawn is breaking.”

O Antiphons - 20th December

2010-12-20T20:33:00.004Z

O Clavis

O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel;
qui aperis, et nemo claudit;
claudis, et nemo aperit:
veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris,
sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

Detail from an earthenware Passover plate, Spain, c.1480 ISRAEL MUSEUM/NAHUM SLAPAK

O Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel;
you open and no one can shut;
you shut and no one can open:
Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house,
those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death

Even in the darkness where I sit
And huddle in the midst of misery
I can remember freedom, but forget
That every lock must answer to a key,
That each dark clasp, sharp and intricate,
Must find a counter-clasp to meet its guard,
Particular, exact and intimate,
The clutch and catch that meshes with its ward.
I cry out for the key I threw away
That turned and over turned with certain touch
And with the lovely lifting of a latch
Opened my darkness to the light of day.
O come again, come quickly, set me free
Cut to the quick to fit, the master key.

O Antiphons - 19th December

2010-12-19T10:31:00.001Z

O Radix

O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum,
super quem continebunt reges os suum,
quem Gentes deprecabuntur:
veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare.

Detail from the Tree of Jesse in the Lambeth Bible, c.1140-50

O Root of Jesse, standing
as a sign among the peoples;
before you kings will shut their mouths,
to you the nations will make their prayer:
Come and deliver us, and delay no longer

All of us sprung from one deep-hidden seed,
Rose from a root invisible to all.
We knew the virtues once of every weed,
But, severed from the roots of ritual,
We surf the surface of a wide-screen world
And find no virtue in the virtual.
We shrivel on the edges of a wood
Whose heart we once inhabited in love,
Now we have need of you, forgotten Root,
The stock and stem of every living thing
Whom once we worshiped in the sacred grove,
For now is winter, now is withering
Unless we let you root us deep within,
Under the ground of being, graft us in.

O Antiphons - 18th December

2010-12-18T22:22:00.005Z

O Adonai

O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel, qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti,
et ei in Sina legem dedisti:
veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.

Detail of a Levite City in Galilee mapped by the English cartographer Thomas Fuller, from A Pisgah Sight of Palestine, 1650 ISRAEL MUSEUM, IIAN STZULMAN

O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel,
who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush
and gave him the law on Sinai:
Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm
Unsayable, you chose to speak one tongue,
Unseeable, you gave yourself away,
The Adonai, the Tetragramaton
Grew by a wayside in the light of day.
O you who dared to be a tribal God,
To own a language, people and a place,
Who chose to be exploited and betrayed,
If so you might be met with face to face,
Come to us here, who would not find you there,
Who chose to know the skin and not the pith,
Who heard no more than thunder in the air,
Who marked the mere events and not the myth.
Touch the bare branches of our unbelief
And blaze again like fire in every leaf.

O Antiphons - 17th December

2010-12-17T21:15:00.009Z

The 'O Antiphons' (an antiphon is a spoken response in a church service) have been used in liturgical Christian traditions since as far back as the sixth century. They are spoken before reading the Magnificat at Evening Prayer during the last seven days of Advent.

Here is a list of them - you can see that they comprise different ways of addressing Jesus.

O Sapientia – O Wisdom – 17th December
O Adonai – O Lord – 18th December (Adonai is actually plural - O Lords)
O Radix Jesse – O Root of Jesse – 19th December
O Clavis David – O Key of David – 20th December
O Oriens – O Sunrise – 21st December
O Rex Gentium – O Sovereign of the nations – 22nd December
O Emmanuel – O Emmanuel - 23rd December (where Emmanuel means 'God with us')

During these seven days I will be posting a poetic reflection each day courtesy of Malcolm Guite.

Here is his contribution for 17th December.

O Sapientia
O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem, fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia:
veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.

O Sapientia: image from Cochem Castle, Germany MATTHIAS BUEHLER

O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,
reaching from one end to the other mightily,
and sweetly ordering all things:
Come and teach us the way of prudence.
I cannot think unless I have been thought,
Nor can I speak unless I have been spoken.
I cannot teach except as I am taught,
Or break the bread except as I am broken.
O Mind behind the mind through which I seek,
O Light within the light by which I see,
O Word beneath the words with which I speak,
O founding, unfound Wisdom, finding me,
O sounding Song whose depth is sounding me,
O Memory of time, reminding me,
My Ground of Being, always grounding me,
My Maker’s Bounding Line, defining me,
Come, hidden Wisdom, come with all you bring,
Come to me now, disguised as everything.

Thank you, Malcolm, for allowing me to use your work.

The Sunday Classic - Teresa of Avila - Looking at God

2010-11-27T21:14:00.011Z

Teresa of Avila lived in sixteenth century Spain and, after a devout upbringing, entered a Carmelite monastery at the age of twenty. After twenty years in the community, she had a profound spiritual experience, her faith was re-vitalised and her prayer life entered new mystical depths. For most of her life she had suffered from poor health but, despite this, in 1562 aged forty seven, she founded a small Carmelite community of her own at Avila whose emphasis was on interior contemplative prayer. Teresa went on to found several more convents and with the help of the friar, John of the Cross, introduced her ways of contemplative prayer to the male Carmelite communities.

Teresa met with considerable opposition from within the Catholic Church during her life but always remained faithful to her call to found contemplative communities. Eventually in 1582 the discalced friars and nuns were allowed to found their own separate province.

Over the next few Sundays, I will post excerpts of her teaching on prayer, taken from The Way of Prayer edited by Kieran Kananaugh.

I'm not asking you now that you think about him or that you draw out a lot of concepts or make long and subtle reflections with your intellect. I'm not asking you to do anything more than look at him. For who can keep you from turning the eyes of your soul toward this Lord, even if you do so just for a moment if you can't do more? You can look at very ugly things; won't you be able to look at the most beautiful thing imaginable? Well now, daughters, your Spouse never takes his eyes off you. He has suffered your committing a thousand ugly offenses and abominations against him, and this suffering wasn't enough for him to cease looking at you. Is it too much to ask you to turn your eyes from these exterior things in order to look at him sometimes? Behold, he is not waiting for anything else, as he says to the bride, than that we look at him. In the measure you desire him, you will find him. He so esteems our turning to look at him that no diligence will be lacking on his part.

The Way of Perfection Part 2
Teresa of Avila

For a meditation on Looking at God click here.

Famous Prayers - Elvis Presley!

2010-11-21T22:35:00.000Z

Elvis Presley was deeply affected by the gospel songs he had learned and sung in church as a boy. His faith led him to ask for God’s help throughout his career. Before performances, he was known to find a quiet spot off stage and say this simple prayer:

Send me some light - I need it.

Don't we all!

Silence - the Doorway to the Soul

2010-10-31T17:57:00.005Z

I have just read an interesting article on the BBC News website about the disconnect between us as human beings and the natural world. It’s an interesting read and you can find it here:

Biodiversity - a kind of washing powder?

It brought to mind another disconnect that I was considering earlier in the week – the disconnect between humankind and the spiritual world – or to phrase it differently our disconnect with our own souls. If you doubt this disconnect, then go out into a busy town centre on a Saturday night – or preferably, watch one of the police television programmes where you can be a fly on the wall. Safer that way!

So, is there any way of addressing this disconnect? Well, one of the exciting programmes on British television at the moment is The Big Silence, which is the story behind a group of ordinary people being introduced to silence and, in particular, to an eight day silent retreat. The retreat is based at the delightful North Wales Retreat Centre of St Beuno’s. I know it’s delightful because I have spent time there myself – and will no doubt do so again – seeking the stillness and ‘God-centredness’ of this special place.

You can catch the episodes you may have missed on the BBC iplayer and the final episode occurs on November 5th 2010.

Silence is tha main way in which we can do something about our disconnect with our own souls and I love the description of silence as the ‘doorway to our soul’ and the soul as the ‘doorway to God’.

One way you might give silence a try is to do the following short exercise.

Put aside five minutes and turn off your phones, computers, and other things that might disturb you.

Find a comfortable place to sit, stand or lie, depending on your inclination (but remember the purpose of this is not actually to sleep!)

Spend a minute making yourself comfortable, closing your eyes and concentrating on your in-breaths and out-breaths.

Relax your body.

Now remember this fact – God is in every part of our world, so God is there with you, whether you can sense that or not.

And now for a few minutes imagine this God who is with you actually looking at you – simply looking at you.

And you simply look at God, who is looking at you.

… Looking at God, looking at you…

Finish by speaking to God what is there in your heart.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Weavings - Finding Sabbath

2010-10-20T21:57:00.006+01:00

One of the blogs I enjoy reading is from the Weavings journal - a quarterly periodical from The Upper Room. It has some beautiful images and reflections to make you ponder. Here is one that I have particularly enjoyed and benefited from.

Do enjoy it too!

Famous Prayers - Celtic Prayer on Joy

2010-09-14T23:09:00.016+01:00

I have recently attended my church's parish weekend in North Wales, which was on the theme of Celtic Christianity, so when I read this, it made me smile as I remembered the fun and laughter we had on the weekend.

Not everyone on the weekend was in the best health or in a 'good place' but, even in such times and circumstances, if we open our hearts to God, we can experience the joy of the Holy Spirit moving within us. This isn't the fleeting, frothy emotion that we sometimes call 'happiness' but a deep sense of God's abiding presence in all we are, all we see and all we do.

Enjoy the prayer!

A Celtic Prayer on Joy

As the hand is made for holding and the eye for seeing,
You have fashioned me for joy.
Share with me the vision that finds that joy everywhere.
In the wild violet’s beauty;
In the lark’s melody;
In the face of a steadfast man;
In a child’s smile;
In a mother’s love;
In the purity of Jesus.

A Maclean, Hebridean Altars, Moray Press, Edinburgh, 1937
Modified

Silent, surrendered, calm and still - Margaret Rizza

2010-08-27T19:27:00.007+01:00

I have posted the link to this Margaret Rizza song before - but really I don't think I have overdone it! It is a beautiful song and a good follow up to my previous post about discerning the way forward and seeking to follow God's promptings.

These are the words of the song:

Silent, surrendered, calm and still,
open to the word of God.
Heart humbled to his will,
offered is the servant of God.

Text: Pamela Hayes

It is featured on Rizza's CD Fountain of Life

I would like to suggest that you find a comfortable place to sit, open your heart, open your hands and arms, and offer the time ahead to God - to be used by God's Spirit to commune with yours. Then click on the link below and close your eyes, allowing the sung words to become your words.

After the song has finished, remain in silence for a while...
If you find your mind wandering, then perhaps use your breathing to steady yourself and keep yourself present to God. On your in-breath say the word, 'Silent', and on the out-breath, 'Surrendered' - while allowing yourself to deeply surrender to God. This is one way to remain 'soaked in prayer' as I mentioned in the earlier post.

And may God's blessing be with you.

Discerning the Way Forward

2010-08-15T18:35:00.012+01:00

Do you have any Christian acquaintances who, when telling you something about themselves, have started with the words, 'The Lord told me...'? I don't know about you, but there is something in my heart that sinks a little when I hear those words. And I have to admit that, in my younger days, I have used exactly that phrase on occasion. Ah, the impetuousness of youth!!

With a few more years (well, decades) under my belt, I have a more moderated and informed view of discerning God's will. And the first thing I would say is that, more often than not, it is not easy! In discussing this, I want to introduce the concepts of 'consolation' and 'desolation'. These are terms used particularly in Ignatian spirituality and within that context have a specific definition which it is useful to understand.

In Ignatian spirituality 'consolation' can be thought of as a sense of being at peace with God and with oneself. Have you heard someone speaking - perhaps in a meeting or on television - and you see that this person is at peace with themself and with their life at that moment? Things may not even be going particularly well for them, but you recognise instinctively an inner serenity and yes, even joy, despite what might be happening. This is what Ignatius of Loyola would call a state of 'consolation'.

Equally, you may know someone - or may be yourself - in a situation where you (or they) feel restless, unsure, even perhaps (but not necessarily) despondent. You know that at some deep level, things aren't 'quite right.' At these moments it is likely that your spiritual life is taking a bit of nose-dive, or you are disinterested in the things of the Spirit. This, Ignatius would refer to as a state of 'desolation'.

It is important if you use these terms in a spiritual sense - and particularly relating to discernment - that you realise that the everyday meaning of these words can be somewhat different to the Ignatian definition.

Now, having defined some terms, how do we interpret these two states and how do we use them in a process of discernment. Well, let me talk a little here about my current situation to try to shed some light on this.

The year 2010 has been an eventful one for me. Some of those events have involved loss - of people, work and mobility - and most of the events have involved change and transition. I have a sense of being on the threshold of a new phase of life. In that situation, I have started to re-evaluate some things and consider where I would like to be in five or ten years time - and knowing that it will be very different from where I am today. In this situation, I need to be able to discern what is right for me, hopefully to discern what God may me moving me towards, and to make decisions which relate to my future.

So how do I go about doing this?

Well, I have acquired a set of principles through the years which I use as my base. Let me share them with you.

If its not blindingly obvious, don't rush!

Talk, talk talk - particularly with those whose opinions I respect

Stay soaked in the scriptures and in prayer (consider a retreat)

Try not to demand 'bolts of lightning' from God

You notice that on the last point, I say 'try not to...' I am a realist, and I know that I, just as much as other people, have a tendency to say to God, 'Please give me a sign!'

Now having followed my basic principles, I have to then come to a decision/decisions on the way forward. And it is then that the concepts of consolation and desolation come into their own. What course gives me a sense of peace, of right-ness? Which decision enhances my relationship with God and deepens my prayer life?

Even then, it is sometimes hard to answer these questions, so then what I tend to do is ask myself, 'Now, if I made this decision, how would I feel one year down the line? And how would I feel if it turned out badly?'

There will be some Christians out there who, if they read this, will be saying - too much about feelings in all this. All I would reply is that God made me in God's image - with feeling, intuition and imagination. These are God-given attributes, and provided we use them embedded in scripture, reason and the opinion of others in the church, then I believe that we are on safe territory.

Any thoughts to share?

With blessings.

A Fair Trade Poem

2010-07-30T23:21:00.008+01:00

We hear much these days of the global recession, job losses, cuts and welfare reform. In the midst of our own problems and worries, we can lose sight of those even worse off than ourselves. It's good when we find ourselves doing this to remember Jesus' story of the widow's mite. If you need a reminder, here it is.

Mark 12:41-44

He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.’

In the current climate, our charitable giving may be one of the first casualties of our new frugal ways, but there is one way that we can continue to support those people poorer than ourselves - even when we are counting the pennies.

Buy Fair Trade!

Yes, it is more expensive, but because the extra cost is spread over days, weeks and months, it is less noticeable and less painful.

Here is a poem to challenge you by Andrew Rudd. I have mentioned him before on this blog. Andrew is a Cheshire poet who, during 2006, was the fourth Cheshire Poet Laureate. 'This is a Fair Trade Poem' can be found in his book One Cloud Away from the Sky.

This is a Fair Trade Poem

This poem is made from
one hundred per cent recycled
words. It has not been tested
on animals. It has no additives
no artificial colouring.

Juanita’s poem is a sweet banana
fragrant, glowing. But the price
has fallen. ‘Dear teacher’ she says,
‘My children can no longer come
to school.’ This poem is made
from recycled words, but who
is listening?

Maria’s poem is a handful
of glinting coffee beans. She lets them
slide through her fingers. The price
has fallen. No clothes, no shoes
no medicine for the children.
This poem is made from recycled
words, but who is listening?

The supermarket poem is all noise
and colour. A price goes up
so we cross the aisle and choose
another brand, another packet.

Our lives are linked to their lives.
Their lives are linked to our lives.
This poem is made from recycled words.
Listen.

Many blessings as you enjoy your Fair Trade bananas and coffee!

Quotable Quote - Oscar Romero - the Church

2010-06-10T00:38:00.005+01:00

Here are some words of Archbishop Oscar Romero about the nature of the church. Very challenging! I would have loved to have met him.

From The Violence of Love

A church that doesn’t provoke any crises, a gospel that doesn’t unsettle, a word of God that doesn’t get under anyone’s skin, a word of God that doesn’t touch the real sin of the society in which it is being proclaimed - what gospel is that? Very nice, pious considerations that don’t bother anyone, that’s the way many would like preaching to be. Those preachers who avoid every thorny matter so as not to be harassed, so as not to have conflicts and difficulties, do not light up the world they live in.

Oscar Romero

Archbishop Romero was outspoken about violations of human rights and social injustice in El Salvador and he became an advocate of liberation theology - which emphasises social justice and political activism. He was martyred in March 1980 whist taking a communion service in a hospital chapel.

A prayer of Archbishop Romero's can be found here.

Famous Prayers - Act of Hope - Augustine

2010-05-21T21:36:00.000+01:00

Act of Hope

St Augustine of Hippo

For Your mercies' sake, O Lord my God,
tell me what You are to me.
Say to my soul: "I am your salvation."
So speak that I may hear, O Lord;
my heart is listening;
open it that it may hear You,
and say to my soul: "I am your salvation."
After hearing this word,
may I come in haste to take hold of you.
Hide not Your face from me.
Let me see Your face even if I die,
lest I die with longing to see it.
The house of my soul is too small to receive You;
let it be enlarged by You.
It is all in ruins;
do You repair it.
There are thing in it,
I confess and I know,
that must offend Your sight.
But who shall cleanse it?
Or to what others besides You shall I cry out?
From my secret sins cleanse me, O Lord,
and from those of others spare your servant.

Amen.

See also Late Have I Loved You by St Augustine

Psalm 23 Revisited - David Kossoff

2010-05-12T23:56:00.008+01:00

Firstly, my apologies for the recent lack of posts - a family bereavement has taken me out of circulation for a while.

Next, let's get down to business!
Tonight I attended a Bible Study about Psalms. It was a fascinating evening, and one of the highlights was to read a paraphrase of Psalm 23 written by David Kossoff. I'm sure I would be breaching some copyright if I were to add the whole psalm here. So here is a taster - the first few verses... followed by the last. Enjoy it!

The Old Twenty-Third
by David Kossoff

Lord, you are my shepherd,
And I'm very pleased, for I'm a bit of a sheep.
You taught me how to stop rushing about,
How to lie down and doze in a green field.
To stand by still water, by a calm lake.
And it's so restful. I'm grateful.
I think you show me the right paths, your ways.
I ought to use them more, in your name.
Otherwise it's sort of wasting your time.

...

Your goodness and mercy will follow me.
Every day of my life. I'm sure of it.
And on the last day, when I go from my house,
I'll go to yours. And live there. For ever.

From Psalm 23 An Anthology by KH Strange & RGE Sandbach: The Saint Andrew Press, Edinburgh.

One of the phrases that David Kossoff repeated throughout the psalm was 'I'm grateful.'

And are we? Grateful?

When was the last time you counted your blessings? From simply being alive, to having possessions - such as the computer or phone on which you are reading this! It's very easy to get hung up on the things we don't have, the talents that we would have liked to possess, the attention that seems to have passed us by.

But, if you are reading this, you are very blessed. For a start, you can read. Or you have someone to read to you.

It is an excellent exercise to lie in bed at night and think of five blessings that have been yours during the last day. Try it tonight!

I have written before about Psalm 23 - you can read it here.

In Praise of Wisdom!

2010-04-21T00:25:00.000+01:00

The apocryphal books of the Bible are frequently overlooked, particularly by those of us who come from non-Roman or non-Orthodox backgrounds. The canonicity of these books is disputed, but even Luther included them in his translation of the Bible - albeit in a separate section which he placed between the Old and New Testaments. It is interesting to note that Luther also appeared to have doubts about the canonicity of Revelation!

Yet there is some amazing stuff in what has become known as 'the Apocrypha'. This passage on wisdom is worth spending some time with.

Wisdom 7:25-30

Wisdom is a breath of the power of God,
and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty;
therefore nothing defiled gains entrance into her.
For she is a reflection of eternal light,
a spotless mirror of the working of God,
and an image of his goodness.
Although she is but one, she can do all things,
and while remaining in herself, she renews all things;
in every generation she passes into holy souls
and makes them friends of God, and prophets;
for God loves nothing so much as the person who lives with wisdom.
She is more beautiful than the sun,
and excels every constellation of the stars.
Compared with the light she is found to be superior,
for it is succeeded by the night,
but against wisdom evil does not prevail.

Very poetic! In particular, I find this phrase fascinating:

Although she is but one, she can do all things,
and while remaining in herself, she renews all things;

...particularly the second line. I have a mental picture of Wisdom as a dark-haired woman/spirit which, whilst being intrinsically the personification of the Wisdom of God, can pass dancing into our beings and merge with us there.

Do you find that too fanciful?

Famous Prayers - Ignatius of Loyola

2010-04-10T00:01:00.000+01:00

Ignatius of Loyola is the founding father of the Jesuit order in the Roman Catholic Church. As a young man, he was, in his own words, "a man given over to the vanities of the world, and took a special delight in the exercise of arms, with a great and vain desire of winning glory."

After serious injury, sustained during a battle, he was forced to convalesce for months. During this time he daydreamed of romance and glory - but strangely was left somewhat restless by these daydreams. He then began to imagine he was like one of the early saints of the church - and discovered that these types of daydreams didn't leave him restless - but calmer and more peaceful.

That was the start of his explorations into Christian spirituality - and into himself. If you want to read more about his life, it's told very readably at www.jesuit.org.uk.

Jesuit spirituality continues to have a profound effect on many Christians - lay and religious, Catholic and non-Catholic, old and young.

Here is one of Ignatius' prayers.

Prayer for the Disturbed

O Christ Jesus,
when all is darkness
and we feel our weakness and helplessness,
give us the sense of Your presence,
Your love, and Your strength.
Help us to have perfect trust
in Your protecting love
and strengthening power,
so that nothing may frighten or worry us,
for, living close to You,
we shall see Your hand,
Your purpose, Your will through all things.

St. Ignatius of Loyola

The words, '...when all is darkness and we feel our weakness and helplessness...', echo in my heart at the moment, as an immediate family member faces imminent death. When in a position of loss and helplessness, God can be our protector and strength - even when our own strength seems to be giving up. We have only to turn our face to God, open our heart and surrender our will - or, as Ignatius says, 'live close to You'.

I pray that you too will be blessed by this prayer. Grace and peace to you all.

You can read other prayers by Ignatius here:

Prayer for Generosity
Prayer of Surrender

The Sunday Classic - The Imitation of Christ - Book 3 Chapter 15

2010-04-04T01:00:00.001+01:00

Here is this week's thought from one of our spiritual fathers or mothers...and the last from The Imitation of Christ. If you have any favourite classics from which you would like to see passages in future, then please let me know in the comments.

This Christian classic was most probably written by the Medieval monk Thomas à Kempis in the fifteenth century. It is a devotional book encouraging a holy and prayerful lifestyle. This translation comes from The Cyber Library.

The Imitation of Christ
Book Three - Internal Consolation

From Chapter 15
How One Should Feel and Speak on Every Desirable Thing

THE VOICE OF CHRIST

My child, this is the way you must speak on every occasion: "Lord, if it be pleasing to You, so be it. If it be to Your honor, Lord, be it done in Your name. Lord, if You see that it is expedient and profitable for me, then grant that I may use it to Your honor. But if You know that it will be harmful to me, and of no good benefit to the welfare of my soul, then take this desire away from me."

Not every desire is from the Holy Spirit, even though it may seem right and good. It is difficult to be certain whether it is a good spirit or a bad one that prompts one to this or that, and even to know whether you are being moved by your own spirit. Many who seemed at first to be led by a good spirit have been deceived in the end.

Whatever the mind sees as good, ask and desire in fear of God and humility of heart. Above all, commit the whole matter to Me with true resignation, and say: "Lord, You know what is better for me; let this be done or that be done as You please. Grant what You will, as much as You will, when You will. Do with me as You know best, as will most please You, and will be for Your greater honor. Place me where You will and deal with me freely in all things. I am in Your hand; turn me about whichever way You will. Behold, I am Your servant, ready to obey in all things. Not for myself do I desire to live, but for You -- would that I could do this worthily and perfectly!"

This particular passage reminds me of Ignatius' famous prayer and of the Methodist Covenant Prayer, both of which I have written about here. Both are beautiful and very challenging prayers. Members of the Methodist Church pray the Covenant Prayer at their Covenant Service each New Year. If you have never attended a Methodist Covenant Service you are missing something very special.

This is the fifth in a Sunday series from The Imitation of Christ.
Here are the others:
The Imitation of Christ - Book 1 Chapter 1
The Imitation of Christ - Book 1 Chapter 4
The Imitation of Christ - Book 1 Chapter 6
The Imitation of Christ - Book 2 Chapter 8

Holy Week Lectio - Isaiah 25

2010-03-30T22:41:00.000+01:00

Lectio Divina, or 'holy reading', is a way of prayerfully meditating on a written passage - usually from the Bible - and allowing it to soak into your heart and soul. To find out how to do Lectio Divina, then try this link.

If you already know, or if you have just returned from the link above, then I invite you to use the prayer method of lectio divina on the passage below from Isaiah. We usually associate Isaiah's prophecies with the Christmas story, because of the well-known verses that are read at that time. Well, here is one of Isaiah's prophesies that we can relate to the events of Holy Week.

May you be blessed as you read and meditate.

On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples,
The web that is woven over all nations;
he will destroy death forever.
The Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces,
and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth,
for the Lord has spoken.

From Isaiah 25

The Sunday Classic - The Imitation of Christ - Book 2 Chapter 8

2010-03-28T02:00:00.004+01:00

Here is this week's thought from one of our spiritual fathers or mothers...and I am continuing for two more weeks with The Imitation of Christ. If you have any favourite classics from which you would like to see passages in future, then please let me know in the comments.

This Christian classic was most probably written by the Medieval monk Thomas à Kempis in the fifteenth century. It is a devotional book encouraging a holy and prayerful lifestyle. This translation comes from The Cyber Library.

The Imitation of Christ
Book Two - The Interior Life

Chapter 8 - The intimate friendship of Jesus

When Jesus is near, all is well and nothing seems difficult. When He is absent, all is hard. When Jesus does not speak within, all other comfort is empty, but if He says only a word, it brings great consolation.

Did not Mary Magdalen rise at once from her weeping when Martha said to her: "The Master is come, and calleth for thee"?[John 11:28] Happy is the hour when Jesus calls one from tears to joy of spirit.

How dry and hard you are without Jesus! How foolish and vain if you desire anything but Him! Is it not a greater loss than losing the whole world? For what, without Jesus, can the world give you? Life without Him is a relentless hell, but living with Him is a sweet paradise. If Jesus be with you, no enemy can harm you.

He who finds Jesus finds a rare treasure, indeed, a good above every good, whereas he who loses Him loses more than the whole world. The man who lives without Jesus is the poorest of the poor, whereas no one is so rich as the man who lives in His grace.

It is a great art to know how to converse with Jesus, and great wisdom to know how to keep Him. Be humble and peaceful, and Jesus will be with you. Be devout and calm, and He will remain with you. You may quickly drive Him away and lose His grace, if you turn back to the outside world. And, if you drive Him away and lose Him, to whom will you go and whom will you then seek as a friend? You cannot live well without a friend, and if Jesus be not your friend above all else, you will be very sad and desolate. Thus, you are acting foolishly if you trust or rejoice in any other. Choose the opposition of the whole world rather than offend Jesus. Of all those who are dear to you, let Him be your special love. Let all things be loved for the sake of Jesus, but Jesus for His own sake.

Jesus Christ must be loved alone with a special love for He alone, of all friends, is good and faithful. For Him and in Him you must love friends and foes alike, and pray to Him that all may know and love Him.

Never desire special praise or love, for that belongs to God alone Who has no equal. Never wish that anyone's affection be centered in you, nor let yourself be taken up with the love of anyone, but let Jesus be in you and in every good man. Be pure and free within, unentangled with any creature.

You must bring to God a clean and open heart if you wish to attend and see how sweet the Lord is. Truly you will never attain this happiness unless His grace prepares you and draws you on so that you may forsake all things to be united with Him alone.

When the grace of God comes to a man he can do all things, but when it leaves him he becomes poor and weak, abandoned, as it were, to affliction. Yet, in this condition he should not become dejected or despair. On the contrary, he should calmly await the will of God and bear whatever befalls him in praise of Jesus Christ, for after winter comes summer, after night, the day, and after the storm, a great calm.

This is the fourth in a Sunday series. Here are the others:
The Imitation of Christ - Book 1 Chapter 1
The Imitation of Christ - Book 1 Chapter 4
The Imitation of Christ - Book 1 Chapter 6

Famous Prayers - Soren Kierkegaard

2010-03-24T01:00:00.002Z

Danish philosopher/theologian Soren Kierkegaard always emphasised the need for commitment in Christians. He was a thorn in the side of the institutional church with his criticism of the church's way of producing stereotyped church-goers, rather than vibrant, faithful, committed believers.

This is one of his prayers which I have taken from this webpage.

You Have Loved Us First

Father in Heaven! You have loved us first, help us never to forget that You are love so that this sure conviction might triumph in our hearts over the seduction of the world, over the inquietude of the soul, over the anxiety for the future, over the fright of the past, over the distress of the moment.
But grant also that this conviction might discipline our soul so that our heart might remain faithful and sincere in the love which we bear to all those whom You have commanded us to love as we love ourselves.

Amen.

The Sunday Classic - The Imitation of Christ - Book 1 Chapter 6

2010-03-21T01:00:00.007Z

Here is this week's thought from one of our spiritual fathers or mothers...

This Christian classic was most probably written by the Medieval monk Thomas à Kempis in the fifteenth century. It is a devotional book encouraging a holy and prayerful lifestyle. This translation comes from The Cyber Library.

The Imitation of Christ
Book One - Thoughts Helpful in the Life of the Soul

Chapter 6 - Unbridled Affections

When a man desires a thing too much, he at once becomes ill at ease. A proud and avaricious man never rests, whereas he who is poor and humble of heart lives in a world of peace. An unmortified man is quickly tempted and overcome in small, trifling evils; his spirit is weak, in a measure carnal and inclined to sensual things; he can hardly abstain from earthly desires. Hence it makes him sad to forego them; he is quick to anger if reproved. Yet if he satisfies his desires, remorse of conscience overwhelms him because he followed his passions and they did not lead to the peace he sought.

True peace of heart, then, is found in resisting passions, not in satisfying them. There is no peace in the carnal man, in the man given to vain attractions, but there is peace in the fervent and spiritual man.

This is the third in a Sunday series. Here are the others:
The Imitation of Christ - Book 1 Chapter 1
The Imitation of Christ - Book 1 Chapter 4

Lenten Lectio 3 - Wrestling with oneself

2010-03-18T23:15:00.004Z

In one of my church's Lenten Bible studies we were looking at some of the moments of conflict in Jesus' life, as depicted in the latter part of Mark's gospel. After the key turning point in the middle of the gospel - when the transfiguration (Mark 9.2-8) followed swiftly on from Peter's confession of Christ (Mark 8.27-30) - Jesus sets his face to Jerusalem and comes into increasing conflict with the authorities.

However, it is not only the authorities that Jesus came into conflict with. His own disciples caused him headaches with their ongoing lack of understanding, and in the passage below we see Jesus in conflict with himself and with his destiny. This has echoes of the passage from Genesis where Jacob wrestles with God/an angel/himself.

There are different ways in which you might approach this passage. Two ways which are appropriate are:

Ignatian imaginative contemplation
Lectio Divina

Ignatian imaginative contemplation is particularly suited to passages from the gospels - in it you use your imagination to picture yourself in the scene. For a more detailed description of this prayer method please click here.

Lectio Divina, or 'holy reading', is a way of prayerfully meditating on a passage and allowing it to soak into your heart and soul. To find out how to do Lectio Divina, then try this link.

Now here is the passage. Decide first on how you will approach it and try to stay with your decision. If you wish to try both these tried-and-tested methods of prayer, then it is probably better to do them on different days or separated by a few hours.

May the Holy Spirit move within you as you pray.

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’ He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. And he said to them, ‘I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.’ And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. He said, ‘Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.’ He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, ‘Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to say to him. He came a third time and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.’

Lenten Lectio 1
Lenten Lectio 2

The Sunday Classic - The Imitation of Christ - Book 1 Chapter 4

2010-03-14T01:00:00.003Z

The Imitation of Christ
Book One - Thoughts Helpful in the Life of the Soul

Chapter 4 - Prudence in Action

Do not yield to every impulse and suggestion but consider things carefully and patiently in the light of God's will. For very often, sad to say, we are so weak that we believe and speak evil of others rather than good. Perfect men, however, do not readily believe every talebearer, because they know that human frailty is prone to evil and is likely to appear in speech.

Not to act rashly or to cling obstinately to one's opinion, not to believe everything people say or to spread abroad the gossip one has heard, is great wisdom.

Take counsel with a wise and conscientious man. Seek the advice of your betters in preference to following your own inclinations.

A good life makes a man wise according to God and gives him experience in many things, for the more humble he is and the more subject to God, the wiser and the more at peace he will be in all things.

This is the second in a Sunday series. Here is the first:
The Imitation of Christ - Book 1 Chapter 1

Quotable Quote - Fall in love, stay in love and it will decide everything

2010-03-12T23:55:00.003Z

I have just read this quote again recently, but now can't remember where! So to the person who brought it back to my attention - I give you thanks.

Pedro Arrupe was a Jesuit priest who died in 1991 and for many years was the Superior General of the Jesuit order - the Society of Jesus. He allied the Jesuits firmly with the fight against injustice, particularly in South America, and consequently was associated with the growth of liberation theology. Because of this he came in for criticism from the Vatican, although he was highly regarded by others, even being described as 'a second Ignatius'.

Reading this once more has made me realise that I have been neglecting to write about Ignatian spirituality in recent months, even though it is the style of spirituality that I relate most closely to. So - coming up - more on Ignatian prayer and lifestyle!

In the meantime, here is Pedro Arrupe's beautiful quote often called 'Fall in Love' or 'Falling in Love'. Sink yourself in this - is it true about your relationship with God?

Fall in Love

Nothing is more practical than finding God, that is, than falling in love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the mornings, what you will do with your evenings, how you spend your weekends, what you read, who you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything.

Pedro Arrupe, S.J.

My apologies for the lack of posts recently - I have had some pressing family issues to deal with. Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible!

The Sunday Classic - The Imitation of Christ - Book 1 Chapter 1

2010-03-06T22:54:00.004Z

Each Sunday I hope to publish an extract from one of the Christian Classics. The Imitation of Christ is one of my favourites and so it will be my starting point for the next few weeks - I hope it might become a favourite of yours, too!

This Christian classic was most probably written by the Medieval monk Thomas à Kempis in the fifteenth century. Originally written in Latin, it was first translated into French and German, before being translated into English in 1502. It is a devotional book, written for a monastic audience and encouraging a holy and prayerful lifestyle. Some parts feel strange to our twenty-first century ears, but it has remained a favourite of Christians of all traditions through the centuries.

I hope that you will enjoy meditating on this spiritual gem. This translation comes from The Cyber Library but I have taken the liberty of inserting the Biblical references into the text to make it a smoother read.

The Imitation of Christ
Book One - Thoughts Helpful in the Life of the Soul

From Chapter 1 - Imitating Christ and Despising All Vanities on Earth

He who follows Me, walks not in darkness," says the Lord.[John 8:12] By these words of Christ we are advised to imitate His life and habits, if we wish to be truly enlightened and free from all blindness of heart. Let our chief effort, therefore, be to study the life of Jesus Christ.

The teaching of Christ is more excellent than all the advice of the saints, and he who has His spirit will find in it a hidden manna. Now, there are many who hear the Gospel often but care little for it because they have not the spirit of Christ. Yet whoever wishes to understand fully the words of Christ must try to pattern his whole life on that of Christ.

What good does it do to speak learnedly about the Trinity if, lacking humility, you displease the Trinity? Indeed it is not learning that makes a man holy and just, but a virtuous life makes him pleasing to God.
...

This is the greatest wisdom - to seek the kingdom of heaven through contempt of the world. It is vanity, therefore, to seek and trust in riches that perish. It is vanity also to court honor and to be puffed up with pride. It is vanity to follow the lusts of the body and to desire things for which severe punishment later must come. It is vanity to wish for long life and to care little about a well-spent life. It is vanity to be concerned with the present only and not to make provision for things to come. It is vanity to love what passes quickly and not to look ahead where eternal joy abides.

Wise words never date, do they?

Which part spoke most clearly to your heart?

Lenten Lectio 2 - True Fasting

2010-03-04T10:00:00.003Z

Here is another helpful passage to reflect upon during Lent - and again I would like to suggest that you use the method of Lectio Divina. If you don't know what Lectio Divina is and would like a simple set of instructions, then try this. Otherwise, please read on...

Some people give up something for Lent. A smaller number actually fast (taking water only) for a significant period - for instance, one day each week. Fasting, when done sensibly and for the correct reasons, is a spiritual discipline that has been used for centuries. But, when done for the wrong reasons, it has little going for it. Here is Isaiah - telling the Israelites of approximately 700 BC what, in God's eyes, is the type of fasting that God would prefer to see - in comparison with their existing rituals.

Isaiah 58: 6-8

Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of injustice,
to undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover them,
and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up quickly

If you would like to 'stand up and be counted' during Lent there are many ways you can do this.
(My apologies that the following links are only UK links - perhaps you might add your local ones in the comments)

Try asking the manager of your local supermarket if he/she can stock more Fairtrade goods (perhaps check out what they do supply first!)
Write a letter or send an email expressing your views about world trade justice - particularly in relation to tax avoidance by multi-national companies
Write to your local MP and other party candidates asking for details of their views on development goals
Set up a regular payment to your favourite development charity
Follow the Christian Aid weekly reflections through Lent to provide thoughts to take into your personal prayer times

But whatever you do or don't do, I wish you all a blessed and inspiring Lent.

Click here for Lenten Lectio 1

'Wrestling with God' continued... with Gerard Manley Hopkins

2010-03-01T22:58:00.002Z

My previous post spoke of Jacob's experience at the Ford of Jabbok when he wrestled with a man/angel/God. One of the poems of Gerard Manley Hopkins refers to this episode from Genesis.

'Carrion Comfort' is an expression of Hopkins' determination not to succumb to despair. He battled against a gloomy and depressive nature through much of his adult life but died with the words 'I am so happy' on his lips. For me this poem seems to express an honest ambivalence about his calling to the monastic life and his personal struggle with suffering.

It speaks to me at a very deep level, because I too have a depressive nature and sometimes have ambivalent feelings about my own calling. I would be interested to hear other people's impressions of the poem and particularly whether you can relate to it and, if so, in what way.

Carrion Comfort

Not, I’ll not, carrion comfort, Despair, not feast on thee;
Not untwist – slack they may be – these last strands of man
In me or, most weary, cry I can no more. I can;
Can something, hope, wish day come, not choose not to be.
But ah, but O thou terrible, why wouldst thou rude on me
Thy wring-world right foot rock? lay a lionlimb against me? scan
With darksome devouring eyes my bruised bones? and fan,
O in turns of tempest, me heaped there; me frantic to avoid thee and flee?

Why? That my chaff might fly; my grain lie, sheer and clear.
Nay in all that toil, that coil, since (seems) I kissed the rod,
Hand rather, my heart lo! Lapped strength, stole joy, would laugh, cheer.
Cheer whom though? the hero whose heaven-handling flung me, foot trod
Me? or me that fought him? O which one? is it each one? That night, that year
Of now done darkness I wretch lay wrestling with (my God!) my God.

Gerard Manley Hopkins

Lenten Lectio 1 - Wrestling in the Desert

2010-02-23T21:27:00.006Z

I was talking to a friend recently about Lectio Divina and mentioned how I like to use the image of having a piece of chocolate in my mouth and letting it melt slowly - savouring each moment. His response? 'I think I'll imagine it with single malt whisky!' Now, there's a thought!

If you don't know what Lectio Divina is and would like a simple set of instructions (including the chololate bit), then try this. If you're a seasoned expert(!) then please read on...

The story of Jacob wrestling with a man/angel/God at the Ford of Jabbok has, in the past, moved me very deeply. It is a inspiring reading for the Lenten season and so I am suggesting that you read it using this method of Lectio Divina. Lectio is a way of praying the scriptures rather than studying the scriptures, so take a little time first to find a quiet, comfortable spot and to still your body and mind as much as possibke.

Remember - read the passage slowly a couple of times, then dwell on the part that speaks to you the most.

Jacob, having years before shamelessly swindled his brother Esau, is about to meet him again for the first time since the debacle. He is nervous and unsure of what sort of welcome he will receive. So he plans a little party of people to go ahead and 'soften' his brother's heart with gifts. After they leave, he settles down to sleep....

From Genesis 32

He instructed the foremost, ‘When Esau my brother meets you, and asks you, “To whom do you belong? Where are you going? And whose are these ahead of you?” then you shall say, “They belong to your servant Jacob; they are a present sent to my lord Esau; and moreover he is behind us.” ’ He likewise instructed the second and the third and all who followed the droves, ‘You shall say the same thing to Esau when you meet him, and you shall say, “Moreover your servant Jacob is behind us.” ’ For he thought, ‘I may appease him with the present that goes ahead of me, and afterwards I shall see his face; perhaps he will accept me.’ So the present passed on ahead of him; and he himself spent that night in the camp.

The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had.

Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, ‘Let me go, for the day is breaking.’ But Jacob said, ‘I will not let you go, unless you bless me.’ So he said to him, ‘What is your name?’ And he said, ‘Jacob.’

Then the man said, ‘You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed.’ Then Jacob asked him, ‘Please tell me your name.’ But he said, ‘Why is it that you ask my name?’ And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, ‘For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.’ The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the thigh muscle that is on the hip socket, because he struck Jacob on the hip socket at the thigh muscle.

What was going on for Jacob during that night, that dream, that vision. Guilt? Struggle for acceptance? For self-acceptance?

Perhaps the Anchor Bible Dictionary summarises it well in suggesting that the ‘unnamed man symbolizes every person with whom Jacob struggled — Esau, Isaac, Laban — and yet, the man at the beginning of the story is certainly God at the end…. The story, therefore, in an overt polyvalence, blends Jacob’s conflict with people and with God into one event.’

Every person with whom he struggled should also, of course, include himself.

May God's blessing be upon and within you this Lent.

Guest Blog: Artisans by Andrew Rudd

2010-02-19T22:25:00.005Z

Andrew Rudd is a Cheshire poet who, during 2006, was the fourth Cheshire Poet Laureate. He has previously written a guest blog for Reflections about the show Fourpenny Circus that he and three other poets produced in 2009. He has kindly accepted my invitiation to write another guest blog, so without more ado - here is Andrew.........

Artisans

We were visiting Taizé some years ago. In most of my life I am surrounded by English speakers, but at any given time there can be thirty different languages at Taizé, as visitors come from all over the world. Sometimes in the worship, there might only be one sentence of English. I was amazed, as usual, by my lack of knowledge of other languages.

But it does make you pay attention! We were singing the Beatitudes in French when I noticed the words for ‘Blessed are the peace-makers’ – in French this is ‘Bienheureux les artisans de paix…’

It suddenly struck me that peace is an art form, it is not just something that happens accidentally at the end of violence or when there is a cease fire. It is something that has to be made or created in our life together. Maybe this is the most important kind of creativity, where we make shalom, where we build community. And maybe one of the best things about art – sculpture, painting, music, poetry – is when it helps us to understand each other better, when it opens our awareness, when it makes peace.

This thought resulted in the poem ‘Artisans’ which is to be broadcast on the 21st of February on Radio 4’s ‘Something Understood.’ If you don’t know this wonderful programme, I would recommend it. It is a collage of words and music which explore a ‘spiritual’ theme in a very fresh way. The only snag is the timing – it is broadcast very early on Sunday morning (6.05 am) and then repeated at the end of the same day (11.30pm). Fortunately, you can catch it during the following week on Listen Again.

Artisans

‘Bienheureux les artisans de paix…’

Blessed the singers of peace,
lamenting the unfinished business, sorrow
and dream: whose song changes nothing
but opens everything to change.

Blessed the potters of peace,
hands in the clay, shaping, smoothing,
reaching for hidden form, braving
the furnace for beauty.

Blessed the embroiderers of peace:
at their needle’s touch, an ordinary surface
shines in a sacrament of colour, angles
softened into treasures of texture.

Blessed the sculptors of peace
who look at the intractable
slab, and see marvels within it,
and reach for the chisel.

Blessed the poets of peace
who bear all voices into their emptiness,
settling stresses into speech
which at the last is music.

For Morning Prayer - especially on 27th February!

2010-02-14T00:14:00.003Z

Do you spend some moments in the first hours of each waking day being present with God? Perhaps you read morning prayer (matins as it was once called)? Perhaps you have a 'quiet time'? Perhaps you sit and look at the garden and wonder?

Whatever you may do, perhaps (another perhaps!) you might on one day take this poem by George Herbert into your time of prayer and lose yourself in it. Herbert was a Welshman living in the early 17th century who, after the death of his sponsor King James I, became an Anglican clergyman. He was a faithful and much-loved parish priest and wrote beautiful religious poetry which was published after his death. If you haven't read any of his poetry, he is worth investigating.

George Herbert is remembered in the Anglican church on 27th February - so perhaps you might take this poem into your prayer on that particular day!

I suggest you read it out loud.

Mattens

I cannot ope mine eyes,
But thou art ready there to catch
My morning-soul and sacrifice:
Then we must needs for that day make a match.

My God, what is a heart?
Silver, or gold, or precious stone,
Or starre, or rainbow, or a part
Of all these things, or all of them in one?

My God, what is a heart?
That thou shouldst it so eye, and wooe,
Powring upon it all thy art,
As if that thou hadst nothing els to do?

Indeed mans whole estate
Amounts (and richly) to serve thee:
He did not heav’n and earth create,
Yet studies them, not him by whom they be.

Teach me thy love to know;
That this new light, which now I see,
May both the work and workman show:
Then by a sunne-beam I will climbe to thee.

George Herbert: The Temple (1633)

Portrait of George Herbert
by Robert White in 1674

From Wikipedia

Quotable Quotes - Oscar Romero and the poor

2010-02-06T21:21:00.004Z

This morning I attended a local planning meeting for the Christian Aid Week in May 2010. It was good to meet and talk with others, particularly those I had not met before - amongst other things, we shared ideas and dreams. But, for me, the most moving part of the morning was seeing footage and stills from Kenya, where the water shortage, due to ongoing drought, is taking a huge toll in human suffering.

So, as I have been reflecting on this, I thought I would like to share with you some of the words of Archbishop Oscar Romero about our response as Christians to the poor and those in need.

Archbishop Romero was outspoken about violations of human rights and social injustice in El Salvador and he became an advocate of liberation theology - which emphasises social justice and political activism. He was martyred in March 1980 whist taking a communion service in a hospital chapel.

He cuts to the heart of the problem of rich Christians in an age of hunger. His teaching is always based on the gospel message of Jesus - often quoting directly Jesus' words in a challenging way to those of us in developed countries. Sometimes we like to spiritualise away the plain message that Jesus taught. I hope that these words of Romero's will speak to your heart.

It is inconceivable that someone is called 'Christian' and does not make a preferential option for the poor as Christ did. It is a scandal when today's Christians criticize the church because it is concerned with the poor.

Homily Sept 9th 1979

This is the church that I want. A church that does not rely on the privileges and the worth of earthly things. A church ever more detached from earthly things, so that she can judge them more freely from her perspective of the gospel, from her poverty.

Homily Aug 28th 1977

I wonder what your feelings are on reading these words? Do you agree or disagree? I would love to hear your thoughts.

A prayer of Archbishop Romero's can be found here.

With blessings.

A Sunday Prayer - courtesy of Paul?

2010-01-31T17:42:00.009Z

Some scholars dispute the authorship of the letter to the Ephesians - based largely on style of writing and emphasis. Both of these are not typical of Paul and have led some academics to believe in the pseudonymous authorship of this letter - also of Colossians, 2 Thessalonians and the Pastoral letters (Timothy and Titus).

Perhaps that surprises you, but it was a relatively common ancient practice to attribute written material to a certain 'school' of thought by saying that it was by x,y or z. The intention was not necessarily to deceive but to give credit to the person attributed. If these epistles were not written by Paul, then it was probably known as such by the early church - although we have no written evidence of this.

But whatever your view on the authorship of Ephesians, it remains a beloved part of the canon of our scriptures. In chapter 3 there is a beautiful prayer that the author addressed to God. Very famous words, but I am about to bastardise them! It was written in the second person plural to the Christians in the church at Ephesus, but if you change the you's to I's it reads as a very personal prayer.

Why not take a few quiet moments to commune with God and speak these words?

Ephesians 3:14-21 - modified

I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name.
I pray that I may be strengthened in my inner being with power through the Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith, as I am being rooted and grounded in love.
I pray that I may know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that I may be filled with the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to accomplish abundantly far more than I can imagine, to him be glory forever and ever.
Amen.

Thanks be to God for the word.

And may you be rooted and grounded in the deep soil of God's love, as Christ dwells in you - within your trunk, your leaves, your fruit - throughout your being.

God's blessing be upon you.

Famous Prayers - Anselm of Canterbury

2010-01-27T21:09:00.006Z

In the eleventh century Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, wrote this prayer. It is a beautiful call to prayer which you can use in your own time of quiet meditation.

After reading the prayer, I suggest that you take the last two lines (or part of them) and use those words reflectively. Perhaps repeating them in time with your breathing - to allow yourself to move into a closer awareness of God - the God who surrounds and sustains you even when you are not conscious of the divine presence.

Come now, little one,
turn aside for a while
from your daily employment,
escape for a moment
from the tumult of your thoughts.
Put aside your weighty cares,
let your burdensome distractions wait,
free yourself awhile for God
and rest awhile in him.
Enter the inner chamber of your soul,
shut out everything except God
and that which can help you in seeking him.
And when you have shut the door, seek God.

Now, my whole heart, say to God,
'I seek your face, Lord,
it is your face I seek.'

Sometimes I imagine my inner life as a house - a house in which I dwell and in which God enters and lives alongside me. The doors, the windows, the view, are all significant to me. Anselm's words 'enter the inner chamber of your soul', put me in mind of this prayer picture I sometimes use. Perhaps some of you also pray like this occasionally?

If you are interested, I have written more about Anselm here.

The words are modified from the prayer in the Lion book, A Prayer Treasury.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2010 - Day 8

2010-01-25T06:00:00.001Z

Last Day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2010 - Monday

These resources can be found at the Churches Together website.

YOU
1. What hinders your own hospitality?
2. Is the place where you live hospitable to
strangers?
3. What difference does the church make?
4. Whose hospitality has touched you deeply?

THE WORD
Gen 18:1-8; Psalm 146; Romans 14:17-19;
Luke 24:41-48 – Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures

FOCUS: Have you anything here to eat?
(Luke 24:41)

REFLECTION
Fasting is fine,
focusing minds;
feasting is great,
sharing the meat.
Fasting is personal,
quite self-referral;
feasting is communal
where spirits meet.
Loving in giving,
donating approval,
needs of the body
attended with grace.
Each one important,
the first and the least,
all must be welcome
and all have a place.

THE WORLD
God of the open hand,
in whom all find a welcome:
help us to
feed the hungry,
give refreshment to the thirsty,
provide covering for the naked,
care for the sick,
extend a hand of friendship to the
isolated,
as fellow pilgrims of Love’s embrace.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2010 - Day 7

2010-01-24T23:11:00.001Z

Day 7 of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2010 - Sunday

These resources can be found at the Churches Together website.

YOU
1. How do you cope with your own fears and doubts?
2. How might you be a cause of fear and anxiety
for others?
3. How may Christian communities encourage
one another in faith and hope?

THE WORD
Job 19:23-27; Psalm 63;Acts 3:1-10;
Luke 24: 36-40 - The disciples were startled and terrified

FOCUS: Why are you frightened, and why do
doubts arise in your hearts?
(Luke 24:36-40)

REFLECTION
We shrink life to fit,
and hope is drained
and trust is strained,
and doubt dominates.
It is not that we don’t see,
it is precisely that we do:
that death does not lay to rest
the troublesome truth of faith.
And in the chaos Christ’s rising brings,
terror is not ghostly discomfort,
but worldly disquiet,
that now it all changes:
hope is healing
but a heartache too,
and trust costs lives.

THE WORLD
God our comfort and guide,
when our doubts are deepest
and our fears are darkest,
you are there,
though our clouded perception may miss your
presence.
Make us each secure and supportive,
atune to the sensitivities of others,
that we may be encouraged in faith and hope
on our journey to you.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2010 - Day 6

2010-01-23T06:00:00.003Z

Day 6 of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2010 - Saturday

These resources can be found at the Churches Together website.

YOU
1. What are the passages of Scripture that mean
most to you?
2. Who or what in your life makes your heart
burn with a passion for the gospel and a desire
to give witness to Christ?
3. Which Biblical passages have helped you to
understand more fully the witness of other
Christians?

THE WORD
Isaiah 55:10; Psalm 119:17-40; 2 Timothy 3:14-17;
Luke 24.28-35 – Jesus opens the Scriptures for two travellers

FOCUS
Were not our hearts burning within us
while he was talking to us on the road,
while he was opening the scriptures to us?
(Luke 24:28-35)

REFLECTION
The Word was made flesh and words about the
Word made print: mere shapes on a page, potent
symbols and signs of God’s purpose.
And, balanced by bread broken before them,
travellers, burned by digestion of the words,
saw and understood.
Words and bread, minds and hearts:
twin pillars of persuasion, of staggering truth,
turning stumbling travellers into delighted
disciples, tripping back to share their joy.

THE WORLD
God, we praise and thank you for your saving
Word reaching out to us through the Sacred
Scriptures.
We thank you, too, for the brothers and sisters with
whom we share your Word and discover together
the abundance of your love.
We pray for the light of your Holy Spirit, so that
your Word may lead and direct us into the unity
you will for the sake of the world.
God, we pray for troubled travellers:
disappointed by disunity, devastated by loss,
submerged in sorrow, fearful of the future,
needing hope.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2010 - Day 5

2010-01-22T06:00:00.001Z

Day 5 of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2010 - Friday

These resources can be found at the Churches Together website.

YOU
1. How does the suffering of people you know
affect you?
2. How has your own experience of suffering
affected your faith?
3. How do reports of the suffering, oppression
and poverty of people you don’t know affect
your life?
4. How does Jesus bring hope for those who
suffer?

THE WORD
Isaiah 50.5-9; Psalm 124; Romans 8.35-39;
Luke 24:25-27 How foolish you are, and slow of heart to believe

FOCUS: Was it not necessary that the Messiah
should suffer?
(Luke 24: 26)

REFLECTION
Words known from childhood,
Moses and prophets,
marks of identity,
source of security,
now burst with new meaning.
Was it not necessary?
Unavoidable?
Suffering and glory
inseparable;
life lost for life gained
and all our pain
redeemed in his rising.

THE WORLD
God, we praise you for the faithfulness of Jesus,
embracing us through the suffering of the cross
and drawing us deep into your amazing love.
We thank you that we have a Suffering Saviour
who has known betrayal, persecution and injustice;
who has endured torture of body and mind.
We thank you for all whose suffering has reflected
your grace and dignity.
We pray, O God, for all who suffer: those who feel
forsaken, those who bravely struggle on and those
who simply want it to end.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2010 - Day 4

2010-01-21T06:00:00.004Z

Day 4 of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2010 - Thursday

These resources can be found at the Churches Together website.

YOU
1. Who has inspired your faith?
2. What is it in your faith that inspires you each
day?
3. How has your history shaped you?
4. How can you pass on the good things of your
tradition?

THE WORD
Deuteronomy 6.3-9; Psalm 34; Acts 4,32-35;
Luke 24: 19-27 – He opened the
Scriptures to them.

FOCUS: What things?

REFLECTION
The past is not entirely past
but flows unseen; a hidden stream,
life-giving source in barren seasons
yet sometimes, sadly, trapped in stagnant pools.
When broken dreams disorientate disciples,
leaving them orphaned from meaning and hope,
there comes, afresh, traditions transforming truth
to reassemble God’s life-giving pattern.
Moses and the prophets heard long ago
the promise of one who was yet to come,
in whose life and death and resurrection
earth and heaven were reconciled as one.

THE WORLD
Grant us, O Living and Redeeming Lord,
the eyes to see into and beyond our traditions.
Give us the gift of discernment
so we can pass to each other those things
which build up your Body, which is your Church.
Give me eyes to see,
and ears to hear your voice of love.
Lead me so to act each day
that I may display the Unity which is in your
Church and World.
God, we pray for overwhelmed souls
broken by shattering events,
dismayed by fading dreams,
grieving and grasping in equal measure.
May salvation’s story in Jesus Christ be their
strength and song.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2010 - Day 3

2010-01-20T22:49:00.003Z

Day 3 of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2010 - Wednesday

These resources can be found at the Churches Together website.

YOU
1. When and in what ways are you aware of
God’s presence?
2. Are you aware of today’s global celebrations
and tragedies, and how do you respond to
these in your daily life?
3. Is there something more that you or
your church could do to respond to these
situations?

THE WORD
1 Samuel 3:1-10; Psalm 23; Acts 8:26-40;
Luke 24:13-19a –Jesus, the unrecognised companion on the road

FOCUS: Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem
who does not know the things that have
taken place there in these days?
(Luke 24: 18)

REFLECTION
Walking the rough road
back from Jerusalem,
the air heavy with our disappointment,
with sadness, loss, regret.
(“Where is the one who should redeem Israel?”)
We were aware of the stranger
matching his footsteps to our own.
How could we guess
that this unrecognised companion
would yet reveal himself
in such a simple action
as the sharing of a loaf of bread?

THE WORLD
Lord Jesus,
you encounter us
and walk alongside us in everyday life.
We pray for the grace to be aware of your loving
presence
and of all that you offer us,
so that we may give greater witness
to our faith and trust in you.
God we walk the same road as those from whom
the incidents of history have divided us.
Draw us ever closer,
so that together we may reflect the unity
for which your son prayed.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2010 - Day 2

2010-01-19T06:00:00.000Z

Day 2 of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2010

These resources can be found at the Churches Together website.

YOU
1. Have you ever been drawn into the stories of others?
2. Has there been an occasion when you were able to share a story of faith?
3. Where can we find the “Gospel Gossiped” using modern communications?

THE WORD
Jeremiah 1:4-8;
Psalm 98;
Acts 14:21-23;
Luke 24:13-17a - The Road to Emmaus

FOCUS: What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?
(Luke 24: 17)

REFLECTION
Your story encompasses mine:
all my messy-worded-meanings,
mis-spellings,
crossings out and alterations.
Somehow your story crafts mine,
erasing what I thought was indelible,
weaving your golden threads
through my many-worded-meanings,
making my life a miracle
of your mercy and your grace.

THE WORLD
Author of life and perfect conversation,
we travel life’s journey,
sharing our stories,
so often not knowing you walk with us.
Thank you, for you are always there,
listening to our questions
and giving your answers,
Ask us your questions
and guide us into your Truth.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2010 - Day 1

2010-01-18T11:50:00.000Z

Day 1 of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2010

These resources can be found at the Churches Together website.

YOU
1. How do you and your church celebrate life?
2. How might others learn through you that Christ is alive?
3. In what ways do you feel you are growing more Christ-like, and in what ways do you feel you are not?

THE WORD
Genesis 1:1. 26-31,
Psalm 104:1-24,
1 Corinthians 15:12-20,
Luke 24:1-5 – The resurrection is revealed to the women first.

FOCUS: Why do you look for the living among
the dead?
(Luke 24: 5)

REFLECTION
A time to mourn,
and not to celebrate;
to anoint lovingly
the tortured corpse
of a beloved master.
Who are the shining strangers?
Resurrection dawns
at the pit of deepest despair;
at the end of a restless night,
fear of what was to come,
oil and spices,
women in tears,
blurred vision and leaden-like limbs.
Morning dawns,
light breaks through,
awesome truth,
the world is changed,
a penny drops.

THE WORLD
O God, who created us out of your love
and who longs for love to flourish,
we pray for those whose spirits are grieved,
whose hope has died,
enduring the gloom of half light
and longing for morning to come.

Lectio Divina - The Holy Spirit - John 14

2010-01-12T18:00:00.002Z

Methinks it's time for some more lectio!

If you are new to Lectio Divina - which is another name for 'holy reading', then you can get a more detailed explanation in this article.

Remember that lectio is not a bible study but a way of 'praying the scriptures'. Read the passage a few times s-l-o-w-l-y, then allow the part of the passage (a word, phrase or sentence) that speaks to you the most to move through your being. If it were chocolate, you would be allowing it to melt slowly in your mouth with your eyes closed, the sensation spreading through you!

This is a beautiful passage - words that Jesus spoke to his disciples before his imminent death. And words that he speaks to us, if we have listening hearts.

Enjoy!

John 14:23-27

Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

Afterwards, have a conversation with God about your time of prayer. If you keep a journal, you might want to follow that with a journal entry.

May God's blessing be on you.

Silent, surrendered - Margaret Rizza

2010-01-07T18:00:00.000Z

This is a beautiful song that can be used privately to begin a time of personal worship and/or meditation. It's also just as useful if you are leading a quiet day or retreat - helping to pull attention away from our surroundings and the everyday cares and worries buzzing around in our heads and open us to the inner movement of the Holy Spirit.

It is written by Margaret Rizza, and is featured on her CD Fountain of Life.

You will find the words of the song below the video clip.

Silent, surrendered
Silent, surrendered, calm and still,
open to the word of God.
Heart humbled to his will,
offered is the servant of God.

Text: Pamela Hayes

Pictures of Christ

2010-01-06T10:00:00.000Z

Images of Jesus can evoke all sorts of feelings - from annoyance at trying to capture something that is unknowable, through dislike and pleasure, to a spirit of worship and praise. Whatever your reaction, it is sometimes instructive to look at the images that others have made in order to gain an insight into their thinking and understanding.

An earlier post looks at some African pictures of Jesus. If you missed it you can find the pictures here: African Pictures of Christ

The excellent rejesus website has an interesting collection of different faces of Jesus - if you are interested, they are here: Faces of Jesus

Below are one or two examples:

If you like to use modern images in worship then you might be interested in this site:
Imagebank

Let's have an Epiphany!

2010-01-04T12:45:00.007Z

Wikipedia gives the following top two definitions of 'Epiphany':

Epiphany (holiday), a Christian holiday on January 6 celebrating the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus
Epiphany (feeling), the sudden realization or comprehension of the essence or meaning of something

The word comes from the Greek for "to manifest" or "to show". At Epiphany, we in the Western Churches acknowledge our understanding - our 'seeing' - of Jesus as 'God made man' - the manifestation of the deity in the form of a human being.

In particular, we focus this understanding on the visit of the Magi (wise men) to Jesus at Bethlehem. The Magi, in the story told in Matthew's gospel, represent the whole of humanity - as opposed to just the Jewish world. They came, saw and acknowledged the Christ-child, paying him homage and giving gifts, demonstrating that this child was given for the benefit of the whole world.

So what will we 'see' at this time? The wonder of 'God made man'? The intersection of God's mercy with human frailty at a moment in time?

Here are some words by TS Eliot from The Rock for you to reflect on...

Waste and void. Waste and void. And darkness on the face
of the deep.

Then came at a predetermined moment,
a moment in time and of time,
A moment not out of time, but in time, in what we call history:
transecting, bisecting the world of time,
a moment in time, but not like a moment of time,
A moment in time but time was made through that moment:
for without the meaning there is no time,
and that moment in time gave the meaning.
Then it seemed as if men must proceed from light to light, in the light of the Word,
Through the Passion and Sacrifice saved in spite of their negative being.

TS Eliot 1934

Spiritual Songs - Christ be our light

2009-12-26T22:39:00.001Z

This YouTube video is in two parts. The first part shows Mother Teresa talking about her work and that of her sisters. The second part is a recording of the beautiful song Christ be our light by Bernadette Farrell. If you wish to follow the lyrics, they are below the video clip.

Christ be our light
by Bernadette Farrell

1. Longing for light, we wait in darkness.
Longing for truth, we turn to you.
Make us your own, your holy people,
light for the world to see.

Refrain
Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today.

2. Longing for peace, our world is troubled.
Longing for hope, many despair.
Your word alone has pow’r to save us.
Make us your living voice.

3. Longing for food, many are hungry.
Longing for water, many still thirst.
Make us your bread, broken for others,
shared until all are fed.

4. Longing for shelter, many are homeless.
Longing for warmth, many are cold.
Make us your building, sheltering others,
walls made of living stone.

5. Many the gifts, many the people,
many the hearts that yearn to belong.
Let us be servants to one another,
making your kingdom come.

So, Loving God, we pray:

Make us your holy people,
Make us your living voice,
Make us your bread,
Make us your building,
Let us be servants
making your kingdom come.

Amen.

Another of Bernadette Farrell's songs can be heard here.

One week to go! O yikes! O antiphons!

2009-12-18T12:36:00.015Z

... but it is still Advent and sometimes that fact gets lost in the preparatory rush for the 'big day'.

Here is a suggestion for some final Advent reflections for you.

The 'O Antiphons' (an antiphon is a spoken response in a church service) have traditionally been used - in the Church of England - as antiphons to the Magnificat at Evening Prayer during the period from 17th December to 23rd December. Their precise provenance is not known but they were being used as far back as the sixth century.

Here is a list of them - you can see that they comprise different ways of addressing Jesus.

O Sapientia – O Wisdom – 17th December
O Adonai – O Lord – 18th December (Adonai is actually plural - O Lords)
O Radix Jesse – O Root of Jesse – 19th December
O Clavis David – O Key of David – 20th December
O Oriens – O Sunrise – 21st December
O Rex Gentium – O Sovereign of the nations – 22nd December
O Emmanuel – O Emmanuel - 23rd December (where Emmanuel means 'God with us')

One way that you might consider using them at this time is as a 'prayer-word' during silent meditation. Simply choose one of the O Antiphons - either Latin or English - then close your eyes and repeat slowly your chosen prayer-word. If your mind gets distracted, don't worry, just come back to saying your prayer-word. You will probably find that the rhythm of saying your prayer-word with your breathing seems the most natural way to do this.

The aim in this type of meditiation is to simply rest in God's presence, to be more aware and to be open to the transforming power of God's Spirit. Aim for ten minutes initially, but the duration of this meditative form can be lengthened if and when you become more accustomed to it.

A more detailed description of praying in this way is described here.

The Benedictine monk, John Main, was a great advocate of this style of meditating.

Quotable Quote - Thomas Merton

2009-12-13T00:56:00.004Z

It is useless to try to make peace with ourselves by being pleased with everything we have done. In order to settle down in the quiet of our own being we must learn to be detached from the results of our own activity. We must withdraw ourselves, to some extent, from effects that are beyond our control and be content with the good will and the work that are the quiet expression of our inner life. We must be content to live without watching ourselves live, to work without expecting an immediate reward, to love without an instantaneous satisfaction, and to exist without any special recognition.

Thomas Merton in No Man is an Island

More Thomas Merton quotes

An Advent Lectio - from Isaiah Chapter 9

2009-12-07T22:32:00.004Z

For those who like praying using the method of Lectio Divina, then this is a lovely passage to meditate with.

The area round about Galilee is described here as the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphthali - two of the original twelve tribes of the Israelites. These words are used again by Matthew in his gospel.

Remember, Lectio is not a form of Bible study - it is a way of 'praying the scriptures' - of letting the Holy Spirit bring the words alive for you now. If you want to know how to pray with a passage using Lectio Divina then here is a description.

In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.
You have multiplied the nation,
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.
For the yoke of their burden,
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.

Isaiah 9.1-4

The Advent Wreath

2009-12-07T22:12:00.006Z

Have you ever wondered where the tradition of an Advent wreath comes from? We hang wreaths on our doors; and each week the church lights a candle in its Advent wreath. But have you thought of lighting candles in an Advent wreath of your own at home - rather than hanging a wreath on your door? Or perhaps doing both?

Described here is a form of words for lighting your own Advent candles at home and some information on its origins.

It's not too late to start! Why not make your own wreath?

Happy New Church Year

2009-11-29T15:10:00.008Z

Happy New Church Year to all. Today (29th November 2009) is Advent Sunday - the first day in the Church's year - and the first day in the Advent Season when we prepare for Christmas. Advent comes from a Latin word adventus, which means 'coming' or 'arrival'.

During Advent we think of two particular times of waiting for an arrival. We remember the people of God waiting for their Messiah (annointed one) to appear. As Christians, we believe that this waiting was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ into our world - the appearance of God into our human day-to-day messiness. The two jargon words that Christians use for this appearance of God in the form of Jesus are 'manifestation' and 'incarnation'.

Many Christians follow a prayer scheme during Advent. The one I shall use this year is shown here. However, if you're a bit slow off the mark, or missed the bookshop there are some excellent on-line resources to help.

You might like to try looking at Ignatian Spirituality's Advent resources
. In particular, I liked the look of the weekly on-line retreat at Making the Parts Whole.

The other waiting for an arrival that we remember in Advent is the Second Coming or Parousia, as it is technically named! The Bible teaches that one day Christ will come again in glory - we have no idea when - but Christians throughout the ages have yearned for this coming.

But I always feel a little anxious that, at this time, we do not forget Christ's other way of being manifest in the world - and that is through us. We are all made in the image of God and therefore bear many marks of God's identity. We can squash these down or build them up in our lives - we have choices.

Take a few minutes to dwell on the words of Paul of Tarsus - if we take these seriously, they are truly life-changing.

1 Corinthians 3.16:

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

Colossians 1.27:

To them God chose to make known how great... are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Christ in me, Christ in you - wow! We can be temples where God dwells within and like John the Baptist we can say, 'He must become more and I must become less'.

Enjoy Advent. (personally, I love all the lights!)

Preparing to prepare - just before Advent

2009-11-27T23:45:00.005Z

There is still time to slip out to your local bookshop and buy a book to guide you through Advent. The one I am using this year is:

But you could browse around and see what appeals to you.

As a starter - just before Advent - why not take a moment to wonder at the miracle of incarnation. Our God became an embryo inside Mary, which grew, was born as a baby boy in pain and struggle, was brought up in relative poverty and lived here amongst us human beings.

Is that amazing, or is that amazing?!

You might like to spend some time meditating on the following words taken from the New Living Translation of John Chapter 1.

In the beginning the Word already existed.
He was with God, and he was God.
He was in the beginning with God.

The Word became human and lived here on earth among us.
He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.

When you have taken this passage in, then take a little while to give thanks for the ongoing miracle of incarnation - Christ in you.

For we are living temples of God.

Praise him!

The Story of the Bible

2009-11-21T23:24:00.006Z

Have you ever felt that you didn't really 'get' the Bible. What is it all about? What is the overall story? How does it all hang together?

If you have a spare hour and would like to listen to a well-presented overview then try this link:

The whole Bible in one hour

And in the meantime, here is a passage from Proverbs Chapter 8 that is mentioned in this talk. It is a beautiful passage about Wisdom - and it talks in terms of Wisdom being personified as a woman. Take your time with this passage. Read and re-read it and then let it swirl through your being.

Wisdom’s Part in Creation

The Lord created me at the beginning of his work,
the first of his acts of long ago.
Ages ago I was set up,
at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
When there were no depths I was brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
Before the mountains had been shaped,
before the hills, I was brought forth—
when he had not yet made earth and fields,
or the world’s first bits of soil.
When he established the heavens, I was there,
when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
when he made firm the skies above,
when he established the fountains of the deep,
when he assigned to the sea its limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
then I was beside him, like a master worker;
and I was daily his delight,
rejoicing before him always,
rejoicing in his inhabited world
and delighting in the human race.

Isn't that last line beautiful?
Delighting in the human race.

God delights in us. God delights in you. God delights in me.

Yes - delights.

The History of Christianity

2009-11-14T21:44:00.003Z

The BBC's series of programmes on the history of Christianity is being repeated on BBC4 and can you can still start at the beginning using BBC iPlayer.

Here is Episode 1 of The History of Christianity

Famous Prayers - Hildegard of Bingen

2009-11-07T21:43:00.008Z

This is a prayer taken from the writings of Hildegard of Bingen. It shows her holistic view of the world and our place in it. There is no 'dualism' here that separates body from spirit - we are a whole - our body worships God as well as our mind and our spirit.

A definite antidote to St Augustine!

A Prayer of Awareness

God is the foundation for everything
This God undertakes, God gives.
Such that nothing that is necessary for life is lacking.
Now humankind needs a body that at all times honors and praises God.
This body is supported in every way through the earth.
Thus the earth glorifies the power of God.

Hildegard of Bingen

From: Interfaith Declarations and Worship Observance Resources; The North American Conference on Religion and Ecology.
This prayer was used for Earth Day, 1990

Spotlight on ... Hildegard of Bingen

2009-11-07T19:39:00.022Z

Hildegard of Bingen was an amazing woman! In a male-dominated medieval world, she made her voice heard and stood resolutely for those things she believed in - yet still managed to keep the support of those in authority who she needed on her side. Overcoming many odds, resisting any temptation to self-pity or bitterness, she worked determinedly to grow, develop and lead a fulfilling life within her very restrictive setting.

Hildegard was born in 1098 and grew up the tenth child of a wealthy family. Sometimes, the wealthy families of that time would ‘tithe’ their tenth child to the church, and that is exactly what happened to Hildegard! There is some uncertainty about the age at which she was, in her own words, ‘offered for a spiritual way of life’. What can be stated is that, either at age eight or fourteen, she was given over to a life of monastic seclusion with the wealthy and clever Jutta, her senior by only six years, within the walls of the Benedictine monastery at Disibodenberg in what is now Germany.

The two remained in seclusion but were joined through the years by other daughters of wealthy nobility, until 1136, when the strongly ascetic Jutta died in Hildegard’s 39th year. Hildegard was immediately chosen by the sisters to be the head of their community – a fact which seems to imply that she had already shown leadership and organisational skills whilst Jutta was alive.

It is from this time that Hildegard's life began to blossom as she developed her writing and musical composition skills. Later, she became a noted and public figure - giving the medieval equivalent of speaking tours - and writing letters, sometimes quite critically, to leading political and religious figures alike. Around 1147, she moved her community to their own site at Rupertsberg, near Bingen.

Hildegard never appears to have held the same extreme ascetic views as Jutta. Her interest in human physiology (including sexuality), which are shown in her medical writings, appear to stem from a balanced and harmonious view of the world, human life and the body. In fact her view of humankind as part of a whole, integrated cosmology echoes much in 21st century thought.

”For man has the heavens and earth and other created things within him. He is one, and all things are hidden within him”

Hildegard in 'Causae and Curae'

Hildegard had a series of vibrant visions - documented mainly in her book 'Scivias'. She clearly viewed herself as having a prophetic ministry – shown in her use of phrases such as ‘I heard a voice from Heaven, saying to me…’. This ministry was accepted by those in authority in the church. In 1147 Pope Eugene III sanctioned her work on 'Scivias' after reading some of the completed parts, and her known letters show her growing confidence in challenging some of the leading figures in both secular and religious life at that time.

Hildegard’s ‘rediscovery’ in recent times has allowed us to learn how this remarkable woman lived a full and unusual life even in medieval days. Removed from her family at a young age, placed in a restrictive and narrow environment, given the close example of an obsessional woman, Hildegard still managed, despite all this, to become what we would consider a ‘self-actualised’ and fulfilled person.

She managed to come to terms sufficiently with her environment to grow and develop effectively, and yet resisted it in those areas where such resistance would prove effective. In doing so, she must have been a powerful role model for the sisters who shared her community life and can be an equally powerful role model for 21st century women.

Well done, Hildegard!

Famous Prayers - An Old Irish Blessing

2009-11-03T21:41:00.000Z

Here is a lovely old Celtic blessing which I found on this site. It is both very simple and very profound.

I think the first line is particularly deep - there is something of God in all things calm and serene. We can reach out and 'touch' that calm when we come across it - and we can reach and touch God in the peace and quietness of silence.

If you are one of those people who are frightened or wary of silence, take this simple prayer with you into just five minutes of silence. Read it silently and dwell on the part that speaks to you most. And I pray that you will be enfolded in the presence of God and the serenity of God's spirit.

Old Irish Blessing

You are the peace of all things calm
You are the place to hide from harm
You are the light that shines in dark
You are the heart's eternal spark
You are the door that's open wide
You are the guest who waits inside
You are the stranger at the door
You are the calling of the poor
You are my Lord and with me still
You are my love, keep me from ill
You are the light, the truth, the way
You are my Saviour this very day.

Lectio with Lazarus and Jesus

2009-10-30T23:22:00.007Z

Time for another Lectio, I think! For those who haven't used this method of Bible reading called Lectio Divina, here is a description.

Remember that this is not Bible study - it is a slow, meditative mulling-over of the scripture passage. Particularly with the sentence, phrase or word that 'jumps out at you' the most. To describe it very unflatteringly, think of a cow chewing the cud - she chews slowly and continuously - to get every bit of goodness from the grass!

John 11.32–44

When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, ‘See how he loved him!’ But some of them said, ‘Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?’
Jesus Raises Lazarus to Life

Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’ Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, ‘Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead for four days.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?’ So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upwards and said, ‘Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.’ When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, and let him go.’

And may God bless you in your prayer.

Imaginative contemplation - Blind Bartimaeus

2009-10-20T20:22:00.008+01:00

The Bible story of Bartimaeus is touching and encouraging - he definitely wasn't going to give up! You might like to try using the passage to do an Ignatian imaginative contemplation. If you don't know how to do that, then you will find an introduction here.

Familiarise yourself with the story below as told in Mark's gospel, then stop reading, close your eyes, and imagine the scene unfolding before you. You might be aware of the dust on your feet, of the noises of the crowd, the jostling. Let your imagination go - be there!

When you have finished, come back to the text below the reading.

The story of Bartimaeus
Mark 10:46-52

They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

From the NRSV

After the time of imaginative contemplation, reflect for a little while:

I wonder how the scene unfolded for you?

Were you yourself in the scene or did you identify yourself with someone already in the story?

Did you speak to Jesus?

How did Jesus respond to you?

How did you feel?

Let the story from your imagination just 'be' inside your heart and head.

When you feel ready, speak to God directly about your time of prayer. Just as though God (perhaps in the person of Jesus) were sitting beside you. Speak from your heart.

Then finish by thanking God and returning to a sense of everyday life.

It often helps to write down your thoughts either at this time or a little later - perhaps in a prayer journal that you can keep and look back on. Sometimes, just the writing can be a time of spiritual integration - when things fall into place - or maybe it's just to keep a record for the future.

The blessing of the living God, creator, redeemer and life-giver be with you always.
Amen

Try another one

Gerard Manley Hopkins - Pied Beauty

2009-10-18T21:22:00.002+01:00

It is Autumn now in England and the trees are looking like beautiful patchwork quilts - or Joseph's 'coat of many colours' (to quote the musical rather than the Bible)! Dappled colours, misty mornings, pale sunlight, glorious sunsets - it is a very lovely time of year despite it being the precursor to poorer weather and darker days.

And here is something else lovely that echoes the wonder of this season. I can just imagine Gerard Manley Hopkins sitting in the grounds of St Beuno's in North Wales writing this (he was probably safely in his room - but, hey, I can imagine)!

Pied Beauty

Glory be to God for dappled things --
   For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;
     For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches' wings;
   Landscape plotted and pieced -- fold, fallow, and plough;
     And áll trádes, their gear and tackle and trim.

All things counter, original, spare, strange;
   Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)
      With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim;
He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change:
           Praise him.

Poem - Africa's Plea

2009-10-14T22:46:00.007+01:00

At our Wednesday Cafe Church that we hold in Costa Coffee in Frodsham one of our retired clergy rounded up the evening by reading a short poem called Africa's Plea. A murmur of appreciation went around afterwards and I thought I would like to share it with you.

Although written by an African - Roland Tombekai Dempster - it could have been written by any person who feels the injustice of not being accepted for who they are. Here it is:

Africa's Plea

I am not you -
but you will not
give me a chance
will not let me be me

'If I were you' -
but you know
I am not you,
yet you will not
let me be me.

You meddle, interfere
in my affairs
as if they were yours
and you were me.

You are unfair, unwise,
foolish to think
that I can be you,
talk, act
and think like you.

God made me me.
He made you you.
For God's sake
Let me be me.

Perhaps when we look at someone who is different in some way - colour, creed, gender, orientation, nationality, we would do well to remember these words:

God made me me.
He made you you.
For God's sake
Let me be me.

Famous Prayers - Author of Peace and Lover of Concord

2009-10-10T21:07:00.004+01:00

This well-known prayer is in various prayer books - usually in Morning Prayer. Personally, I think its a great prayer at bed-time!

O God, the author of peace and lover of concord,
to know you is eternal life,
to serve you is perfect freedom:
defend us your servants from all assaults of our enemies,
that we may trust in your defence
and not fear the power of any adversaries;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Celtic Spirituality - Circling Prayers

2009-10-06T21:06:00.006+01:00

Early Christians in the British Isles who favoured a 'Celtic' form of spirituality often spoke and prayed about God's protective 'circling' presence. The 'Caim' (a Gaelic word for encompassing, usually pronounced kyme) was the name given to these circling prayers.

Circling prayers have become one of the distinctive modern expressions of Celtic spirituality. Here is a typical modern version of a caim:

Circle us Lord,
Keep love within, keep hatred out.
Keep joy within, keep fear out.
Keep peace within, keep worry out.
Keep light within, keep darkness out.
May you stand in the circle with us, today and always.

Taken from St Cuthbert's website

Perhaps the most famous of the ancient circling prayers was written by St Patrick:

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all who love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

From St Patrick's Breastplate

These types of prayers are relatively easy to learn by heart and you can pray for others using them by substituting 'you' or a name in place of 'me' and 'us'.
For instance, if you are sitting quietly with someone who is ill, you can say one of these prayers in your heart for the sick person.

May God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit circle you with his peace. Amen.

Celtic Spirituality - Who were the Celts?

2009-09-30T21:47:00.015+01:00

The Celts started as a Central European Iron Age people, moving outwards to cover most of Europe, including the British Isles, by the third century BC. They were pushed westward by other cultures, particularly the Romans, and today Celtic culture is only found in Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall and Brittany.

Christianity was known to have come to the Celtic people by the second century AD and grew as an important form of Christianity in the British Isles till the sixth century - particularly after the Romans withdrew from Britain around 400 AD. Although it was never a unified body in the way the Roman church had become on continental Europe, it had a distinctive style - focussing on grace, creation and mysticism.

In 597 AD Augustine led a Roman mission to Britain. The Roman form of Christianity was by this time much more hierarchical, male and uniform with a strong form of governance. There were various disagreements between the Celtic and Roman 'camps' until the Synod of Whitby in 664 when Roman Christianity won the day over a number of issues - in particular the calculation of the date of Easter. After this time Celtic Christianity began to slowly wane in the British Isles and the Roman practices came much more to the fore, with Benedictine monasteries gradually replacing the older Celtic communities.

In the following centuries, the Celtic Christians became more localised and restricted. They were further pushed aside at the time of the Reformation, when suspicions were raised about past pagan influences on the Celtic forms of worship.

However, in the twentieth century interest was again sparked and new research into Celtic forms of spirituality began to grow. Some of what is now publicised as 'Celtic' is rather romanticised, but a new understanding has grown of the richness and vitality of Celtic spirituality and the legacy that it can pass on to us.

Well, enough of history! Here is a lovely blessing with a Celtic flavour from the Iona Community:

May the blessing of light be on you,
light without and light within.
May the blessed sunlight shine upon you and warm your heart
till it glows like a great fire
and strangers may warm themselves
as well as friends.

And may the light
shine from your eyes,
like a candle set in the window of a home,
bidding the wanderer to come in
out of the storm.

From 'An Iona Prayer Book' by Peter Millar

Famous prayers - prayers of Jesus

2009-09-23T19:00:00.000+01:00

Despite all our efforts, we often struggle in prayer. Not surprisingly, because we are frequently a mix of good motives and not-so-good desires. Well, I am anyway, and I cannot believe I am unique!

The followers of Jesus had the same problem. When asked by his disciples how to pray, he responded with what we now call the Lord's Prayer. This is the core of the Lord's Prayer, taken from the Bible:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.

It is good to say this prayer each day - perhaps at the beginning or end of the time you have set aside to be with God. Personally, I love the traditional version of this prayer and use that, but whichever translation you use, it is a wonderful reminder, in a nutshell, of all we should be praying.

We can also learn much by the gospels stories of how Jesus prayed when alone with his father. Here is one which echoes that early request in the Lord's prayer:

Matthew 26:39
He said, 'My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.'

How often do we simply pray for the things we believe we 'need'. Surely, it is for God to know our needs and for us simply to try to live in his ways? Isn't that how Jesus lived his life, right up to the final end? Do you agree?

Perhaps we sometimes expect prayer to be something we can just drop into, but it seems that even Jesus made significant efforts to establish his times of prayer.

Mark 1:35
And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed

How much more should we follow his example?
when did you last set half an hour aside to be in the presence of your God and to converse (and listen) to God?

If you haven't for a while, you might like to try being still with God and then recalling each of the phrases of the Lord's Prayer and mulling them over with God - taking as long as you like on each.

Just as you did it to one of the least of these...

2009-09-16T21:18:00.007+01:00

Ignatian spirituality talks about the importance of repetition when praying a Bible passage. Sometimes we get something completely different from the same bit of scripture when we approach it a second or third time.

Here is a passage from chapter 25 of Matthew's gospel:

“Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”

You might like to approach this in three different ways on three different days!

First day

Use the method of lectio divina with the passage above. If you don't know how to do that try this summary.
Try not to analyse, but to mull over the passage, taking it into your heart. Take your time and repeat to yourself the part of the passage that speaks to you most directly.

Second day

Use the method of Ignatian imaginative contemplation: but for this you will need to read a little before and after the passage in order to get your bearings. The time is two days before the Passover when Jesus will be betrayed and killed. He has already spoken to his disciples about his coming death, but they have not fully grasped his words. These words were spoken on the Mount of Olives towards the end of a session when he taught his disciples - largely in parables. Use the following condensed passage:

When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Beware that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, “I am the Messiah!” and they will lead many astray....

‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory....

Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”

Now allow yourself to imagine the scene unfolding and be in the story!
Afterwards, try making a few notes to remind yourself later.

Third day

Use your head! Yes, we have imaginations and we have bodies and emotions - but we also have an intellect and common sense.
On the third day, read the first, short passage above and this time ask yourself some searching questions:

Who is my neighbour?
What does God expect of me in my response to suffering and global inequalities?
What do I currently do to care for the hungry, the sick, the stranger, the grieving?

Suffering God, you let nothing stand in your way of redeeming us, even though the cost was so immense. May I, in some part, be a reflection of you in the world. Amen.

Famous Prayers - Oscar Romero

2009-09-12T19:00:00.002+01:00

It is nearly thirty years since Oscar Romero, the Archbishop of San Salvador, was martyred whist taking a communion service in a hospital chapel.

He had spoken out repeatedly about violations of human rights and social injustice in El Salvador and been deeply moved by the murder of other Catholic workers and clergy. As a result of his experiences he moved from a conservative Catholic position to an advocate of liberation theology - which emphasises social justice and political activism.

Although these words of his are often called a prayer, they are more of a reflection. Romero does not address God but he addresses us.

The Prayer of Oscar Romero

It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view.

The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,
It is even beyond our vision.

We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction
Of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work.
Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of saying
that the kingdom always lies beyond us.
No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith.
No confession brings perfection.
No pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No program accomplishes the church’s mission.
No set of goals and objectives includes everything.

This is what we are about,
we plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted,
knowing that they hold future promise.

We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities.

We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation
In realizing that. This enables us to do something,
And to do it very well. It may be incomplete,
But it is a beginning, a step along the way,
An opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest.

We may never see the end results, but that is the difference
Between the master builder and the worker.

We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own.
Amen.

A Little Light Relief - courtesy of Dave Walker

2009-09-09T23:22:00.003+01:00

This cartoon is from Dave Walker's Cartoon Church site:

CartoonChurch.com

You can find more of Dave Walker' cartoons at:

WeBlogCartoons.com

Community - The Wonder of Taize

2009-09-05T22:34:00.003+01:00

I have written about Ignatian spirituality (that of the Jesuits) and of Benedictine spirituality - both of which are associated with monastic communities with a long tradition behind them. But the Christian expression of community can be demonstrated in other ways too. This is the first of a number of posts (not necessarily consecutive!) about Christian community in the twenty-first century.

I am starting with a modern monastic community which, whilst only being born in the 1940s, has much in common with the traditional religious communities. That is the community at Taize.

This is how the community describes itself on their website:

Today, the Taizé Community is made up of over a hundred brothers, Catholics and from various Protestant backgrounds, coming from around thirty nations. By its very existence, the community is a “parable of community” that wants its life to be a sign of reconciliation between divided Christians and between separated peoples.

The brothers of the community live solely by their work. They do not accept donations. In the same way, they do not accept personal inheritances for themselves; the community gives them to the very poor.

Taize has proved to be a magnet for Christian young people from all over the world. If you want to see evidence of that then watch part or all of this nine minute video.

Over 100,000 people visit Taize each year - not all of them young, by the way! Taize is known particularly for its style of chanted music which often involves a repeated, meditative singing of a particular phrase. You may have seen or attended a 'Taize' service in a local church, which follows the style of the community's worship.

You can purchase CDs and DVDs from the Taize website and YouTube has a number of short videos - of varying standard!

You might like to try to meditate with this one - either using the images of Christ in the video, or if you prefer, with your eyes closed or focussed on a candle.

Now give thanks to God in your own words.

I have not been to Taize myself - but I would love to hear comments from those who have.

Quotable Quote - The Wonder of Grace

2009-09-03T23:29:00.007+01:00

Recently, I was given a small booklet by a friend of mine called, Grace in your Pocket, published by The Methodist Church. It contains a number of quotes about grace - mainly from eminent Methodists from the past and present.

Here is one from a present-day Methodist:

A heron swooping low over the water,
A pas de deux exquisitely performed,
The high jump executed to perfection -

What grace, we say.

It fills us with wonder.
We marvel at the gift
of beauty in motion.

And your grace, O God -
love freely given.

It fills us with wonder.
We marvel at the gift
of beauty in action.

David Walton,
Vice President of the Methodist Conference 2008/2009

Grace in your Pocket can be downloaded from The Methodist Church website

Gerard Manley Hopkins - God's Grandeur

2009-08-25T20:31:00.010+01:00

Gerard Manley Hopkins was a Jesuit priest and poet who lived during the latter half of the nineteenth century and became, after his death, one of the leading poets of the Victorian era. His style was innovative and unusual for that time, experimenting with rhythm, word structure and imagery.

I was introduced to his poetry at school and instantly fell in love with it - particularly with what seemed to me a freedom and playfulness with words. In later life, going on retreats to St Beuno's, I learnt more of his varied and fascinating life, of his depressions (which struck a chord with me) and his struggles to hold in tension his poetry and his Jesuit life.

This is one of my favourites of his poems:

God's Grandeur
by Gerard Manley Hopkins

The world is charged with the grandeur of God.
It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;
It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil
Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?
Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;
And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;
And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell: the soil
Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

And for all this, nature is never spent;
There lives the dearest freshness deep down things;
And though the last lights off the black West went
Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs —
Because the Holy Ghost over the bent
World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.

To get the full effect, read the poem out loud (even if you are on your own!). It can become a prayer of poignant praise.

Famous Prayers - God be in my head

2009-08-23T14:48:00.003+01:00

Timeless!

God be in my head, and in my understanding;
God be in mine eyes, and in my looking;
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking;
God be in my heart, and in my thinking;
God be at mine end, and at my departing.

Sarum Primer, 1558

Ignatian Spirituality - the first principle

2009-08-16T23:51:00.012+01:00

Image via Wikipedia

I have written before about some different aspects of Ignatian Spirituality.

Here is a quick resume:

Ignatian spirituality is the spirituality of the Jesuits - it was Ignatius of Loyola and nine of his companions who founded the Jesuit order (The Society of Jesus) in 1540. Today, many people - not all in the Roman Catholic church and not all belonging to the Society of Jesus (well, you can't if you're a woman!) - use Ignatian spirituality to enhance their own walk with God.

I have written about two different aspects of Ignatian prayer:
The Examen
Using our imagination in prayer

I'd like to explore more about Ignatian spirituality with you.

When Ignatius was developing his way of Christian living and Christian prayer, he devised a series of spiritual prayer exercises designed to draw those who use them more closely to God and to increase understanding of how to serve God and follow God's guiding. As part of this, he established what he called the First Principle and Foundation of the Spiritual Exercises.

This is how it was described to me by my spiritual director at that time - with a few modifications(!):

We are created to praise, reverence and serve God.
All other things on the face of the earth are created to help us to fulfil this purpose.
It follows that we are to use all other things in as much as they help us fulfil our purpose and we ought to refrain from using these things insofar as they are a hindrance.

Therefore, with respect to all things in which we have some influence or control, it is necessary to become indifferent (not the 21st century definition of indifferent but meaning - free, detached). Consequently, for our part, we should not prefer health to sickness, riches to poverty, a long life to a short one, status to rejection; and so for all other things.

Our constant desire and our consequent choices should always be harmonious with the goal for which we are created.

Easier said than done, of course, but a good principle for leading a life which is God-centred and Spirit-motivated.

My own preference would be to have the word 'love' in the first line. For me, wanting to reverence and serve God spring from my love for God.

Any thoughts on the First Princple?

A bit of interest - to pass the time!

2009-08-13T00:47:00.001+01:00

This is fun. A heavy metal monk!

Lectio - Seek and you will find

2009-08-10T00:24:00.006+01:00

Here is a beautiful passage from Luke's gospel to be used for 'praying the scriptures' using the method known as Lectio Divina.

If you don't know about this way of praying then here is some information to get you started: How to do Lectio Divina

Now try it with this passage from Luke's gospel containing the words of Jesus.

Luke 11:9-13

So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

Thanks be to God.

Finding a rhythm of life

2009-08-04T21:00:00.002+01:00

We all have rhythms to our lives. Our rhythm of waking and sleeping, perhaps a rhythm of work time and non-work time, family rhythms, physiological diurnal rhythms, female monthly rhythms.

If you have a spiritual director/soul friend you might hear them talk of your own rhythm of life - your rhythm of prayer and relatedness to God - the ebb and flow of your spiritual life.

As with all rhythms, individuals and communities differ in speed, depth and content of their rhythms and this is no less true with our spiritual rhythm than any other. However, despite our differences, we can often learn useful tips from people who have trodden similar paths in the past. Christians through all ages and of differing types of spirituality have testified to the helpfulness of specific daily times of prayer. From those who have engaged in the monastic lifestyle from the early days of the church to the more recent evangelical's 'quiet time' - a regular daily prayer pattern has been a fulfilling and humbling experience for many.

Of course, it takes self-discipline and commitment to carry on with a regular prayer pattern through the ups and downs of life. That's why its often good to have someone to talk to about it or even to meet up with and pray together sometimes.

It's also useful to have some external input to help structure your prayer times, if you want to maintain them over a long period of time. Perhaps you are one of those who use some form of Bible notes? Being an Anglican, I love to sink myself in beautiful liturgy, but have often found books of daily prayer can be incredibly dull!
One I do love is Prayer rhythms for busy people by Ray Simpson. I love Ray Simpson's turns of phrase and his warmth - and its short enough for a busy person like me!

Here is a prayer from Wednesday Morning Prayer:

Let us arise today in the Spirit's power:

In the place of fear,
God's strength to uphold me;

In the place of emptiness,
God's wisdom to guide me;

In the place of confusion,
God's eye for my seeing;

In the place of discord,
God's ear for my hearing;

In the place of froth,
God's word for my speaking;
to save me from false agendas
that harm my body or soul.

I wonder what your rhythm of life is like? Is it as haphazard as mine?! Have you thought about changing or refining it? Does it include time that you put aside just to meet with God?

Also see: Prayers to Start the Day

Quotable Quote - Desmond Tutu

2009-08-01T00:04:00.002+01:00

Image via Wikipedia

Desmond Tutu is a Nobel Peace Prize (1984) winner and honorary doctor of several leading universities in Britain, the USA and Germany.

Do your little bit of good where you are;
its those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.

Desmond Tutu

Famous prayers - the prayer for purity

2009-07-29T18:16:00.000+01:00

One of my favourite prayers in the Communion liturgy is the prayer for purity(called the prayer of preparation) that we say at the beginning. It never fails to pull my attention from the busy-ness of my life into a place of wanting (not always succeeding) to concentrate on God and to open myself to worship.

Here it is from Common Worship:

Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open, all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

To me it seems to fall into three blocks, after the opening acknowledgment of the mightiness of God:

to whom all hearts are open, all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;

I often feel that I would love to have a thirty second pause after each block to meditate on the words.

Perhaps you might like to try that now - but maybe, as you will be using it individually and not for corporate worship, you could extend the time to two or three minutes.

The thought of God cleansing my heart takes my breath away.
Does anybody else love this prayer?

Spiritual Songs - Lord have mercy - the Jesus prayer

2009-07-26T17:48:00.000+01:00

I rather like this Indonesian song produced by the Jesuits.

Tuhan kasihanilah kami - Lord, have mercy
Kristus kasihanilah kami - Christ have mercy
Tuhan kasihanilah kami - Lord, have mercy

Deepening Prayer 2 - the Jesus Prayer

2009-07-24T23:12:00.006+01:00

The Jesus prayer comes directly from the Bible. In various encounters with Jesus people used the phrase, 'Have mercy on me'. What an amazing thing to say to somebody - because it implies that the speaker truly believes that the hearer has the capacity and the will to look on them with compassion and acceptance - yes, and even forgiveness.

Below is a story that Jesus told about two men:

From Luke 18

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 'Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.” But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.’

In the story the tax collector says, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner."
Words that we all need to say.

The Jesus Prayer, also called the Prayer of the Heart, is a very short, simple prayer. The classical form of the Jesus prayer is:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Shorter alternatives include:

Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.

Lord Jesus, have mercy.

There are different ways that we can use the Jesus Prayer:

In time that we set aside for God - our personal prayer time

To help us through arduous or repetitive tasks

When we are upset or under stress

In our personal prayer time it can be used as a form of steadying, repetitive prayer to still our hearts and bring us to a place of greater communion with God.

Here is a useful description of how it might be used that way from www.prayerguide.org.uk

As you pray the prayer, simply recite it over and over again, and you will discover three levels of prayer, first described by the 19th C. Russian spiritual teacher, Theophan. The prayer begins as words, then as we recite it further, we move onto pray the prayer as our own, owning the thoughts and expression of the prayer. Finally, our hearts take over the prayer, where the prayer is no longer a series of words and concepts, but gives way to a touching of our Spirit with God's Spirit.

If you use this prayer (and some may find this sort of prayer simply not for them) then if you are alone you might try saying the prayer out loud rather than silently. It can be a way of helping with distracting thoughts.

Jesus taught us to ask in his name:

"Hitherto you have asked nothing in My Name; ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full." John 16:23

When we use the Jesus Prayer we are asking directly in his name, acknowledging in the first part the Lordship and divinity of Christ and in the second our own need and impotence.

May God bless you as you pray.

Did you know...that there has been communion on the moon?

2009-07-20T12:58:00.005+01:00

Today, 20th July 2009, is the 40th anniversary of the first communion on the moon.

Bosco Peters writes about it in his blog - Liturgy.

On the right is a picture of a replica of Buzz Aldrin's chalice, the original of which is still held by Webster Presbyterian Church in the United States.

Reading to help deepen prayer

2009-07-18T23:18:00.007+01:00

Perhaps the title of this post seems a bit of a paradox. After all, the only real way to deepen prayer is to engage in it - to commit time and effort - to give God the first place in our lives. Reading about prayer is not the same as praying - but, having said that, there is some useful reading we can do to help us on our way and to point us in new directions when our prayer life has become a little, how shall we say, stale!

If you found Deepening Prayer - 1 helpful, then I would like to recommend a little book that I have found useful and continue to find useful whenever I dip into it. It is called Coming to God in the Stillness and is by a Dutch missionary called Jim Borst.

It is a book in two parts - the first part describing a method of contemplative prayer, and the second part answering such questions as:

What is contemplation?
What does contemplation achieve?
How do I deal with distractions?

Jim describes contemplative prayer as a prayer of the heart when the lips and the mind come to rest.

If you want to venture into this form of prayer then this is a very useful book to have on your shelf. If not, don't worry, God has made such an infinite rich variety of life in the world - if we all looked the same it would be very boring and if we all prayed the same I'm sure God would find it equally boring!!

Blessings upon you as you grow in prayer.

Quotable Quotes - Mother Teresa

2009-07-12T15:37:00.010+01:00

THE SIMPLE PATH

The fruit of silence is prayer.

The fruit of prayer is faith.

The fruit of faith is love.

The fruit of love is service.

The fruit of service is peace.

Mother Teresa

Deepening Prayer 1 - Stillness

2009-07-08T22:55:00.008+01:00

The next few posts will be a short series about deepening our prayer lives. I guess that is something we would all like to do - at whatever point in our journey we are. And there is something about it that seems to be, relatively consistently, difficult - you have only to read the writings of the early Fathers of the Church to see that. This prayer of Anselm shows that.

So where shall we start? Well, a useful place to begin would be in a place of stillness. Stillness! Now that's something that is in rare supply in our busy world. So how do we go about finding some of it?

Firstly, we have to want it. If we don't, then we won't be motivated to seek it out. I rather like this quote of D H Lawrence:

One's action ought to come out of an achieved stillness: not to be mere rushing on.

We could change that to be:

One's prayer ought to come out of an achieved stillness: not to be mere prattling on!

Now an achieved stillness implies some effort - and to make an effort, you have to be motivated. So perhaps it would be helpful to look into our hearts and ask ourselves - honestly - 'Is deepening my prayer life really a priority to me? Am I prepared to put some effort into drawing closer to God?' If the answer to these questions is 'Yes', then we have our reason to work at achieving stillness - because stillness is such an excellent way into prayer.

Next, let's look at what would be useful practical prerequisites. We need to find a place where we can be still and we need to put aside some time when we can be still. Not always easy - but if the motivation is there, then we'll find them somehow.

Having found our place and some time, where to next? If you're like me your mind will usually be busy with a hundred and one things and the list of to-do jobs will be lying in wait to mug you at the first opportunity. What I need at this moment is attentiveness. That might seem contradictory, but it's really not.

My first attentiveness needs to be to my body. To let go of the tensions that are embracing it. We all keep our tension in different ways within our body - mine is in my neck and shoulders. So I pay attention to my neck and shoulders and focus on relaxing the muscles there. Then, I find that focussing on relaxing the muscles of my face has a very 'releasing' feeling. I let the tension and stress flow away.

My second attentiveness needs to be to my mind - to all those buzzing thoughts. In Psalm 46 we are exhorted to 'Be still, and know that I am God!' So, why not use the words to help? As I let the tensions slowly release, I am attentive to my breathing and allow it to steady to a natural rhythm. Then on the in-breath say, 'Be' and on the out-breath, 'still'. Or you might prefer 'Be still' / 'Know God' or 'Know me'. Being attentive to my breathing allows my mind to become more quiet and slowly, instead of saying 'Be still', I find that I am becoming still.

Now, my third attentiveness is to God. As my body and mind still, then my focus can move away from myself and towards the source of my being. When you are in love, you can sit and be still with the loved one for long periods of time - looking deeply into their eyes, simply enjoying their presence, smiling at them. That is what this third attentiveness is about. Being in loving, still presence with God. Letting your love flow out towards your maker. Perhaps wrapped in spiritual smiles - or perhaps more serious. Simply loving and being loved.

If you use this method of prayer, then after the third attentiveness (which may initially seem a very short time but with practice will lengthen), simply talk to God - about how wonderful God is, about the ups and downs of your day, about the ups and downs of praying.

And if you sometimes fall asleep, don't worry about it! You're in good company!

Famous prayers - Soren Kierkegaard

2009-07-01T23:46:00.001+01:00

This short prayer by the philosopher/theologian Soren Kierkegaard is a corker!

Prayer of Soren Kierkegaard

Lord, give us weak eyes for things, which are of no account, and clear eyes for all your truth.

So how do I do Lectio Divina?

2009-06-28T23:55:00.000+01:00

This post is a distillation of what has been described in earlier posts about Lectio Divina and is created to be used as a look-up.

Lectio Divina (divine, or holy, reading) is a way of acknowledging that our book of scripture - the Bible - is alive and active and of allowing it to be used by God to speak directly to our hearts - in order to deepen our relationship with God and to grow us spiritually.

A passage of the Bible is read slowly and reflectively to allow the words to soak into our hearts and minds. It is not a way of Bible study - trying to unravel the meaning of the Hebrew or Greek words - but is a way of opening ourselves to God using a meditative approach. Here is a reminder of how you might do Lectio Divina:

Read the chosen passage once, slowly. Then read it again - slowly. And perhaps, even a third time. S...l...o...w...l...y!

It may be that part of the passage - a word or a phrase - seems to be more significant to you than another. Choose the word or phrase that speaks to you the most. Now repeat this word/phrase - s-l-o-w-l-y - several times. Try not to analyse it, just allow yourself to savour it for several minutes - to ruminate on it - allowing the sense of it to fill you and feed you.

After ten or fifteen minutes (longer if you like!) talk to God about your prayer time and your response.

Rest in God's presence and then commit the rest of the day to God.

I also enjoy a second way of describing lectio - involving chocolate! Wikipedia describes how the method of Lectio Divina has traditionally been considered to have four parts: Lectio, Meditatio, Oratio and Contemplatio. All of these together making a "Feast on the Word".

This is how I see it in, er - well, chocolatey terms:

Lectio Reading the passage: taking a lovely bite of the chocolate - nice and slowly...m.m.m.m....

Meditatio Mulling over part of the passage: letting that wonderful chocolate melt deliciously and slowly in your mouth!

Oratio Opening to God in a conversation: telling God how fabulous his chocolate is - then moving on to an intimate chat.

Contemplatio Loving, wordless focus on God: just resting with God with that lovely 'satisfied' post-chocolate feeling!

If you want to read more you might like to try these:

Wikipedia contains a useful article on Lectio Divina.

If you like to understand how and why things have developed then there is a useful definition of Lectio Divina at the Carmelite website.

Or if you would like some music while you explore:

Learning about Lectio with music

Time for some more Lectio! - with Psalm 119

2009-06-27T19:56:00.013+01:00

Image of Gutenberg Bible via Wikipedia

In an earlier post - So what, exactly, is Meditation? - I talked about a way of differentiating two types of Christian meditation:
apophatic meditation which uses no content - it involves emptying ourselves of images, ideas and sensations; and kataphatic meditation which uses images - symbols, ideas and experience.

We then looked at the method of meditation called Lectio Divina, which can straddle both types. In a local quiet morning recently, I used the method of Lectio Divina with part of Psalm 119 and I would like to share that with you.

Lectio Divina (divine, or holy, reading) is a way of acknowledging that our book of scripture - the Bible - is alive and active and of allowing it to be used by God to speak directly to our hearts - in order to deepen our relationship with God and to grow us spiritually. A passage of the Bible is read slowly and reflectively to allow the words to soak into our hearts and minds. It is not a way of Bible study - trying to unravel the meaning of the Hebrew or Greek words - but is a way of opening ourselves to God using a meditative approach.

Here is a reminder of how you might do Lectio Divina:

Read the chosen passage once, slowly. Then read it again - slowly. And perhaps, even a third time. S...l...o...w...l...y!

It may be that part of the passage - a word or a phrase - seems to be more significant to you than another. Choose the word or phrase that speaks to you the most. Now repeat this word/phrase - s-l-o-w-l-y - several times. Try not to analyse it, just allow yourself to savour it for several minutes - to ruminate on it - allowing the sense of it to fill you and feed you. Then talk to God about your prayer time and your response.

Here is the passage.
It is Psalm 119: 33-40

Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes,
and I will observe it to the end.
Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
and observe it with my whole heart.
Lead me in the path of your commandments,
for I delight in it.
Turn my heart to your decrees,
and not to selfish gain.
Turn my eyes from looking at vanities;
give me life in your ways.
Confirm to your servant your promise,
which is for those who fear you.
Turn away the disgrace that I dread,
for your ordinances are good.
See, I have longed for your precepts;
in your righteousness give me life.

Now speak with God in the quiet of your heart.

If you like to understand how and why things have developed then there is a useful definition of Lectio Divina at the Carmelite website

If you would like a description of how to do Lectio by using the analogy of eating chocolate then try this earlier post!

Famous prayers - a prayer of Anselm

2009-06-18T23:02:00.015+01:00

Before sharing a rather lovely prayer of Anselm's, here is a short history lesson followed by an equally short theology lesson about atonement! Skip them both if you're not in the mood!

Image via Wikipedia

Anselm of Canterbury was an Italian Benedictine monk who became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1093 during the reign of William II. He came into conflict with William and later with Henry I of England as he sought to introduce reform. By the end of his life he had managed to free the see of Canterbury from submission to the King and established the primacy of Canterbury in the British Isles.

He was a scholarly and philosophical man, working on 'proofs' for the existence of God. He also wrote much on theories of atonement - favouring that concentrating on the need for the justice of God to be satisfied. He thus paved the way for the Reformers - particularly John Calvin - to clearly define the doctrine of 'penal substitution'. Theories of atonement before Anselm had largely concentrated on the battle between good and evil - between God and Satan. In the 13th century, Peter Abelard would emphasise atonement as the prime example and expression of God's love. The BBC have an excellent summary of theories of atonement here.

And now for Anselm's prayer. It's rather wonderful to realise that one of the 'fathers' of the church asked just the sort of questions that we still ask, such as, 'why do I not seek you?'

O Lord my God,
teach my heart where and how to seek you,
where and how to find you.
Lord, if you are not here but absent,
where shall I seek you?
But you are everywhere, so you must be here,
why then do I not seek you?...

Lord, I am not trying to make my way to your height,
for my understanding is in no way equal to that,
but I do desire to understand a little of your truth
which my heart already believes and loves.
I do not seek to understand so that I may believe,
but I believe so that I may understand;
and what is more,
I believe that unless I do believe I shall not understand.

Anselm of Canterbury

The lines, Lord, I am not trying to make my way to your height,
for my understanding is in no way equal to that.. remind me of Psalm 131.
If these lines speak to you, then you may like to read/re-read an earlier post which includes a meditation on Psalm 131.

The Green Season - Ordinary Time

2009-06-12T23:11:00.014+01:00

Ah, back once more in the 'green season' - or 'ordinary time' to others. Some reading this may have no idea what I'm talking about so here's a quick deffo.

Our natural year starts in January and has four seasons, but the church year starts on Advent Sunday at the beginning of December and has a number of seasons starting with Advent then progressing to Christmas, Epiphany, a little pre-Lent interlude, then Lent itself, Easter, Ascension and Pentecost - which starts on the old 'Whit Sunday' and ends one week later on Trinity Sunday. Through these seasons we remember and celebrate different aspects of the life-story of Jesus.

Trinity Sunday marks the start of 'ordinary time' - or as I like to call it the 'green season'. It lasts till Advent (or till the Kingdom Season in November if your church does that) and encompasses most of June - October/November each year. The church colours are green, so the altar cloth, the vicar's stole (the scarf thing round his/her neck) etc. are all green.

Some Christians are sad when the green season comes because most of the significant fasts and feasts have ended for a few months. But, for myself, I love the green season. I like the sense of ordinariness about it - I do tend to feel a bit 'festivalled out' by the time the leaves on the trees match the season with their rich green (that's here in the UK - sorry to those who live elsewhere!).

For me, there is a sense of stability and gentleness about this season. Benedictine monks and nuns take a vow of 'stability'. They promise to be steadily faithful and committed to their community - Benedictines are not usually wandering monks! The steadiness and continuity of the green season reminds me of this stability of life and draws me towards a willingness to be faithful and committed to my own community and congregation.

There is also a peace and gentleness in our worship during this season - the dramas of Christmas and Easter are not in direct focus - and there is time to think about some ordinary things that get pushed out in the constantly changing pattern through the rest of the church year.

I wonder, does anyone else feel this way? Are there any other green season fans out there?

Quotable Quotes - The Dark Night of the Soul

2009-06-07T00:32:00.010+01:00

Sometimes we struggle with doubts, darkness, and a resounding silence when we try to pray. Take comfort - it has happened to all the saints through all the ages. St John of the Cross - a monk and poet in the Sixteenth Century - wrote in one of his poetical works about 'the Dark Night of the Soul'.

Times of struggle and doubt seem to be an integral part of our journey towards God and appear to come to all of us at some point as we continue to grow in our spiritual lives. After all, if we didn't have times of doubt then our faith wouldn't actually be faith - it would be certainty - and probably a very unattractive and arrogant certainty at that.

Here are some quotes from other Christians to help if and when you are in that place:

I would rather walk with God in the dark than go alone in the light.
Mary Gardiner Brainard

I believe in the sun even if it isn't shining. I believe in love even when I am alone. I believe in God even when He is silent.
Unknown

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1

Doubt isn't the opposite of faith; it is an element of faith.
Paul Tillich

Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.
Voltaire

May God bless you in light and in darkness.

Psalms for today

2009-06-02T17:11:00.007+01:00

I was talking to a friend yesterday who mentioned that she had recently gained a great deal from reading Psalm 40 in a modern translation. The conversation reminded my of a book I occasionally dip into for a new and up-to-date look at the psalms. It is Psalms Now by Leslie F. Brandt.

Psalms Now is not a translation but a paraphrase. Brandt has reworded the psalms for clarification - in this case, to put them in language that can be applied in our modern world. You may not like this way of reading the Bible, but for many it brings the scriptures to life. Other modern Biblical paraphrases are The Living Bible and The Message.

As a taster, here is part of Psalm 40 from Psalms Now:

I searched long and shouted loud for God.
It finally paid off. He responded.
He reached into my pathetic emptiness
and planted objective and purpose.
Now I feel like singing;
there is genuine meaning in my life.
And I can tell others about the
prominent place God holds in my heart....

....Our God is not looking for genius;
He does not require great talent.
He is not charmed by our panic-ridden activity.
He simply asks for our faith and our obedience.
It is when He turned me from self-seeking
to follow His will for my life
that I discovered serenity and security....

....I still feel overwhelmed at times
by my faults and fallibilities.
I am disturbed and distressed
when others fail to understand or accept me.
I need to rely on the grace of God....

....As for me, foolish and sinful though I am
I know that God will never cease to love me.

Saints occupy all walks of life...

2009-05-28T20:11:00.004+01:00

Simple and so true!

Saints occupy all walks of life

http://asbojesus.wordpress.com/

Famous prayers - from St Patrick's Breastplate

2009-05-26T20:58:00.000+01:00

This is a beautiful prayer to learn by heart. Then in those moments of struggle or pain, you can bring this back from your memory and speak the words as you meditate inwardly on Jesus.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all who love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

From St Patrick's Breastplate

Guest Blog - Andrew Rudd and Fourpenny Circus

2009-05-24T23:04:00.007+01:00

Local(Cheshire, UK) poet Andrew Rudd has agreed to do the first of my 'Guest blogs'. Here he is:

Fourpenny Circus - the background

In 2006 I was Cheshire Poet Laureate number 4, followed by Jo Bell in 2007. Sometime that year, the idea came up – it was probably Jo who suggested it – of getting together and doing a show. We were all keen, in different ways, on the idea of sharing our enjoyment of poetry with new audiences – people who were turned off by events which consisted of middle-aged men in cardigans reading obscure things out of books. Why not have a show where poetry was something lively and entertaining?

That was the start of Bunch of Fives. We worked with Kevin Dyer – playwright and director of Action Transport Theatre Company. We put in a bid to the Arts Council and got some funding. We had a kind of boxing theme that grew out of the title, and we learned stuff off by heart – a new and terrifying experience for all of us. The show ended up with five ‘rounds’ on different subjects, performed in village halls, universities, Styal Prison among other venues. As soon as that show ended, Harry Owen (number 1) ran away to South Africa. So we decided to have another go, this time with four…

Which led, after a million ideas, to a circus theme and Fourpenny Circus. This show has raised the bar for all of us. More venues, costumes, a bit more ‘theatre’ and more interplay and development. Jo is the Ringmaster, John Lindley an escapologist. Joy Winkler takes to the tightrope, and I tame the lions. This ‘circus’ is seedy and past its best. It’s a place of memories and bizarre poetic ‘tricks’ – a variety show of dreams.

Visit www.fourpennycircus.co.uk for full details. Running through June and July, then extra dates in October and November – including Keele and Chester. See you there!

Kath: Andrew is the one on the left.
Read one of his poem's here

The Lord's Prayer from New Zealand

2009-05-22T11:00:00.001+01:00

When you are next in a good bookshop take yourself off to the section on Christianity and look for the prayer books. Amongst the others you might find - The New Zealand Prayer Book.

In the late 1980s it was completed as the Anglican prayer book for the province of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. Holding closely to the Book of Common Prayer, it still managed to include Maori texts in an integrated way that has been confirmed by its continued popularity throughout the world-wide Anglican communion.

Just to give you a taster here is:

A version of The Lord’s Prayer
from The New Zealand Prayer Book

Eternal Spirit,
Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is heaven:

The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom
sustain our hope and come on earth.

With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and testing, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.

For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
now and for ever. Amen.

Rather lovely, isn't it? You might want to print it off and use it in your prayer times occasionally.