Isaiah 29:17-24

Today, mid-winter, I need the fresh joy that Isaiah refers to. Interestingly, the great prophets noted, some 500 years before the birth of Christ, that it is the meek who shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord, and the neediest people [who] shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.{v.19]. I wonder where the doldrums and darkness that lap at my heart and mind these winter days come from. Is it simply ‘the weather outside’  - or is it from the weather of my soul? As much as I am impressed by my own words and actions – then I am pride-full and not meek.  When I judge others or complain more than I nurture, then I am pride-full and humility has no place in my life.  When I seek to control my own circumstances and comfort levels, or to engineer my relationships with others – then I am not recognizing my own neediness and find it difficult to be open to Christ present in each man, woman and child along my path. No wonder my soul is clogged and dreary these days! Only by the forgiveness and grace of God am I able to recognize and be healed from the many manifestations of pride in my life, and to walk ahead in the humility of my own littleness (meekness) and neediness.  Is it pride or humility that is the driving force of my life’s journey?  Holy Spirit of God, help me real-ize (make real) humility in my life.      
                                                       
And those who err in spirit will come to understanding, and those who grumble will accept instruction. (Isaiah 29:24)
 
Dear Lord and Father of humankind,
Forgive our foolish ways,
Restore in us a rightful mind,
In purer love your service find,
In deeper reverence, praise.
J.G.Whittler                                                                                                                                      
 
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Soli ad gloriam Dei
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Isaiah 2:1-5 & Matthew 8:5-11


We, all of us, are invited to the banquet table of the Lord at the ‘end of this age’, at the end of our lives here on earth.  But will I actually finish my life’s journey bathed in the light of the Lord, or will I be stumbling in the darkness of deceit and despair? When I unleash the seven deadly sins in my life – pride, envy, jealousy, avarice, lust greed, or malice- I am playing with the fires of hell that can spread inky darkness in my heart, mind, soul and strength.  Will I blindly wander along life’s path doing my own thing, or will I beg Jesus to heal me of the consequences of my sins and trust in God’s mercy? Holy Spirit, help me walk in the Light of the Lord.
                                                       
Happy are those who ... delight in the law of the Lord and meditate on it day and night.    (Psalm 1:2)
 
Blessed in the one who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it...
St. John the Divine, Revelation 1:3                                                                                             
 
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Soli ad gloriam Dei
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Luke 21:5-11

As human beings, we are designed to manifest by character, by word, and by deed the Glory of God, by living into the creativity, mercy and truth of God.  As much as they reflect the glory of God , humanity’s structures and systems are beautiful adn life-giving. But as much as they exist for the glory of human nature alone – whether it be cultural, socio-economic, political, psycho-social or scientific – the contracts and constructs of human kind quickly become vainly beautiful or powerfully terrifying. Witness the wars, plagues, famines, and even the global warming of planet earth that have so quickly brought global economies, policies, projects and governments to their knees this year! As we move into Advent 2020 when we will celebrate the first coming of Christ Jesus and wisely consider the second coming of the Lord at the end of this age of civilization, let us not forget the hope of healing and holiness that we have been called to, this side of heaven and in eternity, as followers of Jesus. Will I subscribe to temporal beauty and terrifying power or to life-giving mercy and truth? What will I follow during my life-time on earth – the glory of humankind or the glory of God?  Holy Spirit of God, help me not be mesmerized by the beauty, nor terrified by the power, of human designs.    
                                                       
The Lord will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with his truth. (Psalm 96:5?)
 
The glory of God is humankind fully alive.
Iranaeus of Lyons                                                                                                                           
 
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Revelation 1:1-4

St. John the Divine, the Beloved Disciple of Jesus, prefaced his book of Revelation, with directions to the reader to ‘read aloud the words of prophesy’.  When I read anything aloud, it finds its way into my own being through not only one, but all five of my integrated senses. In seeing the words and speaking them, both the right and the left sides of the brain are lit up. More than that, my ears receive the words and another two areas of my brain become engaged  - the auditory processing receptors and the meaning/ synthesizing parts that integrate ideas into my thinking. My sense of taste and smell are even at work when I speak ‘words of prophecy’ because the subtle scent of each page, each book, or scroll, magazine, or computer is unique. As my mouth utters words, my breath goes in and out its receives and transmits messages of taste and odour. Even my sense of touch has a part to play as I feel the paper or the warm leather in my hand, or tap the keys to bring up the words on a screen. As I read aloud the words of prayers and scripture passages, or sing the words of prophecy embedded in so many hymns and songs, the Holy Spirit ministers to my soul in a global and integrated manner. Are you in need of inspiration? Read aloud scripture, sing spiritual hymns and songs, say prayers with full voice. It will change everything! Will I keep scriptures silent or voice them into being in my day to day reality? Holy Spirit give me voice to read your Word aloud.        
                                                       
Happy are those who ... delight in the law of the Lord and meditate on it day and night.    (Psalm 1:2)
 
Blessed in the one who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it...
St. John the Divine, Revelation 1:3
 
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Philippians 4:6-9

The evil that surrounds us in this world is fascinating. I can quickly become mesmerized with any problem I face, engrossed in any gossip I hear, or consumed with the complexities of passions like jealousy or vengeance. But the Holy Spirit of Jesus calls us to fill our thinking with different things. Whatever things are true, just, honorable, pure pleasing, commendable, excellent and worthy of praise, St. Paul advises, are the things to let our minds be-hold and explore. When I look for the grace of God rather than the foibles of humanity in every event, every circumstance, every relationship in which I find myself, I can always find at least one life-giving thing that is worthy of praise. As I reflect on that which is true, just, pure and excellent, then my mind is fixed on that which is honorable, commendable and excellent as well. When praiseworthy things fill my mind then I am able to journey past things that are not praiseworthy, and find the peace that Christ Jesus holds out to me at every time and in every place. What will I think about today? Holy Spirit, help me think about things that are praiseworthy.    
                                                       
He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.   (Psalm 23:2)
 
Truth sees God, and wisdom contemplates God, and from these two comes a third, a holy and wonderful delight in God, who is love.
Julian of Norwich
 
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Soli ad gloriam Dei