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'Nuff Said...

Prayer; For Whom And Why?

During a Facebook exchange today with a brother Christian, who has veered far to the Conservative Right, he vowed to pray for me because I identified myself as a progressive.  The implication was very clear.  I think differently from him, which obviously (to him) is wrong and sinful.

The addition of my name as a link in his Rosary prayer chain is necessary because my salvation is in jeopardy.  

Now, I will never reject an offer of prayer in my behalf.  In fact, I am grateful for all such offers despite the nature of it and of the person offering it.  To reject them would be ungrateful and ungracious.  And un-Christian.  

But...

Jesus was not betrayed and murdered because he held fast to the all of the old ways and practices.  He did not cling to the Law at the expense of the lives of those in need of his Love and Healing.  

Jesus was different, thus dangerous to the status quo.  He dared to teach a new way, a way which preached complete love.

Unstinting Love.

Undeserved Love.

Undying Love.

Dare to love, even if it takes you from your comfort zone and challenges you to think differently about the world and people around you.
  
And feel free to pray for everyone, regardless of how different their world view, ideology, cultural heritage, belief system, sexual orientation may be.  

That's the Love that He wants us to share...

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Reminder: Let’s pray together!  Please click on the Share a Prayer? tab and send me your prayer intention. 

Have a wonderful day!

Love     אנגלית     الإنجليزية

Grace     גרייס     نعمة

Hope     מקווה     أمل

Am I the Lost Son?

During this Lenten season, I have been reading Henri Nouwen's The Return of the Prodigal Son.  Fr. Nouwen's unsparing spiritual introspection, and his willingness to share that journey with other, is touching and inspiring.

My next few entries on this blog will entail recollections of those times during my Faith Journey when I felt like the younger son.  Hopefully I will have the same courage as Fr. Nouwen to share the results of this self study, warts and all...


The Parable of the Lost Son [Luke 15:11-32 New International Version (NIV)]

11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.

James Jacques Joseph Tissot (1836-1902)
The Prodigal Son in Modern Life: The Return.
Oil on Canvas (c. 1882) Musee de Nantes, France.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

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Reminder: Let’s pray together!  Please click on the Share a Prayer? tab and send me your prayer intention. 

Have a wonderful day!

Love     אנגלית     الإنجليزية

Peace     שלום     سلام

Grace     גרייס     نعمة

Hope     מקווה     أمل

Mercy     רחמים     رحمة

Spirit     רוח     روح

Life     חיים     حياة

Resurrection     תחיית המתים     قيامة

Mercy Me...

They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. ~ Jude 1:18-23 (NIV)

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Reminder: Let’s pray together!  Please click on the Share a Prayer? tab and send me your prayer intention. 

Have a wonderful day!

Mercy     רחמים     رحمة

A Prayer in Haiku Form

Read Job 11:13-18 

Through the dark and low
times I seek YOU ever more.
Help me find YOUR peace.

(original poem © Patrick Norberto 2015)

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Reminder: if you have a prayer need, please click on the Share a Prayer? tab and send it my way.  I will respond.

Have a wonderful day!

Hope     מקווה     أمل

Keep On Keepin' On ...

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. - Romans 12:12

No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see possibilities.  Always see them, for they are always there. ~ Norman Vincent Peale

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Reminder: if you have a prayer need, please click on the Share a Prayer? tab and send it my way.  I will respond.

Have a wonderful day!

Hope     מקווה     أمل

I Made You...

Matthew 24:40

I used to work for Covenant House, the largest provider of shelter and support services for homeless and runaway youth in the country.  I often heard our president, Sr. Mary Rose McGeady, share the quote below.  Consider it not an indictment, but an exhortation.

A call to action.

An encouraging to share.

A challenge to make a difference.  If even for just one person, one child made in God's image.

It stirs me still, especially during those times when I feel overwhelmed by the inequalities, the inconsistencies and the inadequacies of this world.

"On the street I saw a small girl
cold and shivering wearing a thin dress,
with little hope of a
decent meal.
I became angry and said to God,
"Why did you permit this?
Why don't you do something
about it?"
For a while God said nothing.
That night he replied
suddenly:
"I certainly did something
about it.
I made you."
- author unknown

PS.  I am trying to discover who wrote this quote. Once I have learned the author's identity I will update this quote.

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Reminder: if you have a prayer need, please click on the Share a Prayer? tab and send it my way.  I will respond.

Have a wonderful day!

Love     אנגלית     الإنجليزية

Let Jesus Lighten Your Load By Rick Warren ~ January 7, 2015

Not so long ago, I shared a meditation from one of my spiritual "guides", the late Henry Nouwen.  Today, I re-post from another of my faith heroes, Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life and founder/senior pastor of Saddleback Church.  I read The Purpose Driven Life just as I was about to turn 50.

It transformed me.  

I am fairly certain that you would not be reading this blog (by the way, thanks for that) had I never picked up Rick's book.  It took a few years and tons of prayer, but eventually I added this blog to my Faith Journey.  The meditation I share below offered tremendous comfort to me this week just ended.  I am still out of work, my unemployment benefits have dried up and money is scarce.  But, Rick's message reminded me that there is One to whom I can come, any time, for solace and succor.  One who shares my pain, my fears, my despair.  

Even my anger and frustration.

I pray Rick's words comfort you, as well.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” 

~ Matthew 11:28-30 (RSV)

I don’t know what burden you’re carrying. I don’t know what’s weighing you down. But I do know the answer.

Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30 RSV).

For many years I never understood that verse, because I didn’t know what a yoke was. When Jesus says, “Take my yoke upon you,” it sounded to me like he was going to give me something else to deal with. I’ve got a heavy enough burden, Lord. I don’t need to take your problems on me.

A yoke is actually a board that has two arches in it that you put over two cattle so they can pull a cart.

The value of a yoke is that it halves the load. Without a yoke, one cow’s got to pull that entire load by itself. But if you yoke up the cow with another cow, then the two cows pull the load together, and the load is half as heavy. 

When Jesus says to take his yoke upon you, he’s not saying he’s going to give you his problems. Jesus doesn’t have any problems! He’s saying he’s going to share your problem. He’s going to share your load. He’s going to take your stress on himself and bear it with you.

Wow!

He says three verbs in this verse: come, learn, and take. Jesus says, “Come to me. Team up with me. Then, learn how I do it. Take on a lighter load. This is going to reduce your stress. This is going to make it easier for you to navigate.”

When you’re yoked with Christ, you move together with him. You move in the same direction and at the same speed. And, you move in the right direction and at the right speed.

Talk It Over

• Why is it sometimes difficult to accept help from someone who wants to share your burdens and make it easier on you?
• Do you have people in your life who are willing to do that for you? How are you offering yourself to others to help reduce their stress?
• God already knows all about your stress. How will you show him that you are ready to take on his yoke?

PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>

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Reminder: if you have a prayer need, please click on the Share a Prayer? tab and send it my way.  I will respond.

Have a wonderful day!

Love     אנגלית     الإنجليزية

Faith Further Defined...

Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.  ~ Martin Luther

If someone asked me the question, "What is faith?", I would point them to this quote by the man who turned the Catholic Church on its ear.

And changed everything.

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Reminder: if you have a prayer need, please click on the Share a Prayer? tab and send it my way.  I will respond.

Have a wonderful day!

Love     אנגלית     الإنجليزية

Je Suis Charlie

#JeSuisCharlie

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Reminder: if you have a prayer need, please click on the Share a Prayer? tab and send it my way.  I will respond.

Have a wonderful day!

Love     אנגלית     الإنجليزية

Peace     שלום     سلام

Quotes From One of My Heroes

The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have. ~ Vince Lombardi

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Reminder: if you have a prayer need, please click on the Share a Prayer? tab and send it my way.  I will respond.

Have a wonderful day!

Peace     שלום     سلام

January Thaw

Even during the darkest, loneliest times hope shines through in the simplest of things.

Like a "baby" pine cone nurtured by an early winter rain.  Waiting to grow into its role as a source of new life.

Let our faith be such as this: quietly, constantly, consistently sustained by Hope, by Faith, by Love and perseverance.

Happy New Year!

May 2015 be abundant with blessings for you and your loved ones.

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Reminder: if you have a prayer need, please click on the Share a Prayer? tab and send it my way.  I will respond.

Have a wonderful day!

Peace     שלום     سلام

   

On the Cusp of a New Year...

May your New Year
be filled with Peace and 

even more blessings 

than the year soon to end.

See you on the other side of the calendar page.

Happy 2015!

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Reminder: if you have a prayer need, please click on the Share a Prayer? tab and send it my way.  I will respond.

Have a wonderful year!

Peace     שלום     سلام

"Let There Be Peace On Earth"

This has long been one of my favorite songs about being an agent of peace.  Even without the melody playing, simply reading these lyrics creates a powerful feeling of tranquility and the assurance that everything can and will be alright.  We are empowered and emboldened to stand up and spread the Gospel of Peace in a hurting, fearful world.

Let there be peace on earth

And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our father
Brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now.
With every step I take
Let this be my solemn vow.
To take each moment
And live each moment
With peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth,
And let it begin with me.

 ©JillJackson Miller and Sy Miller 1955

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Reminder: if you have a prayer need, please click on the Share a Prayer? tab and send it my way.  I will respond.

Have a wonderful day!

Peace     שלום     سلام

A Prayer For Peace

Reading or watching the news of late is not for the meek or timid.  In fact, one might be tempted to bar the door and stay inside, in the relative safety of home.  However, God is calling us to do just the opposite; we must step out of our comfort zones and make a stand for peace.

Right now, there are myriad false prophets exhorting people to violence and vengeance.  We are being told who is responsible, whom we should blame for the current unrest and troubles in our society.

Placing blame and urging retribution are not what Christians are called to do.  Our loving and just Creator is very specific is what is expected of us, if we are to live our lives according to the life of Jesus. 

Paul, in his letter to the young community of believers in the capital city of the Roman Empire, encouraged them to “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”  (Romans 12:10)

One of my Faith heroes is Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, AKA Saint Francis of Assisi.  His prayer, which has been uttered and sung countless times in churches around the world, is a pretty good “how-to manual” for how to be an agent for peace in the world…

Prayer of Saint Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace;

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is discord, harmony;

Where there is error, truth;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek

To be consoled as to console;

To be understood as to understand;

To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

As the celebration of the birth of our Christ draws near, please join me in praying for peace in the world.  The kind of Peace that is all-encompassing, that blankets us in the protective Love of God.

And pray for the courage to stand up and be counted as an agent for Peace. 

You will be in my prayers.

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Reminder: if you have a prayer need, please click on the Share a Prayer? tab and send it my way.  I will respond.

Have a wonderful day!

Peace     שלום     سلام

Paix Sur la Terre, la Deuxième Partie...

miers
taika
мир
fiadanana
സമാധാനം
Paċi
te rangimarie
शांती
Амар амгалан
शान्ति
صلح
pokój
paz
ਪੀਸ
khotso

mier
katentreman
amani
сулҳ
அமைதி
శాంతి
ความสงบสุข
barış
світ
امن
tinchlik
hòa bình
heddwch
פרידן
alafia

[With thanks to GoogleTranslate]

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Reminder: if you have a prayer need, please click on the Share a Prayer? tab and send it my way.  I will respond.

Have a wonderful day!

Peace     שלום     سلام

Peace On Earth, Part One...

Peace
سلام
שלום
paz
paix
vrede
խաղաղություն
sülh
Bakea
свет
শান্তি
mir
мир
pau
Kalinaw
和平
Fred
paco
rahu
kapayapaan
rauha
მშვიდობა
Frieden
ειρήνη
શાંતિ
lapè
zaman lafiya

शांति
kaj siab lug
béke
friður
perdamaian
Síocháin
pace
ピース
ಶಾಂತಿ

бейбітшілік
평화
ສັນຕິພາບ
Pax

[With thanks to Google Translate]

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Reminder: if you have a prayer need, please click on the Share a Prayer? tab and send it my way.  I will respond.

Have a wonderful day!

Peace     שלום     سلام

A Minor Christmas Digression ... Or Not

For the third year in a row, I will be reading Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol during the week leading up to Christmas Eve.  It is a story that has been made and re-made, ad nauseum, into big-screen movies and television specials.  For me, all of this cinematic re-telling had diluted the tale.  I wanted to re-visit it, without characterizations of Ebenezer Scrooge, and the rest of the characters, by actors from Alistair Sim to George C. Scott to Marlo Thomas to Patrick Stewart; not to mention the several stage versions I have seen.

Two years ago I grabbed my Kindle and re-read it, decades after my last reading of it.  I rediscovered a tale of tragedy, despair, loss, inexplicable rage and all the other emotions and themes of Dickensian London in the mid-19th Century.

I also found a story of devastating simplicity and purity.  Ultimately, for me, A Christmas Carol is about one man's long, painful road back to salvation and love.  The ending leaves me awash in a wave of spiritually cathartic tears at the end of each reading.

The New Testament tales of Jesus provide us with the kernel of the absolute Truth about God's Love for, and His desire to redeem, us.

Dickens, whether intentionally or not, demonstrates to us, more than 170 years later, what it takes to live a modern life keeping always the essence of Christmas in our hearts.  I believe that one need not be a Christian to live this kind of life.  

Perhaps, just perhaps, it is a lesson that all men and women of good will, and any Faith, can exemplify. 

I have invited the folks in my Cyber sphere (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.) to read along with me from December 18th through Christmas Eve. We then would have a book club-like conversation about the story beginning on Boxing Day, December 26th.  I will create a page where those conversations can take place.   

In the meantime, happy reading!

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Reminder: if you have a prayer need, please click on the Share a Prayer? tab and send it my way.  I will respond.

Have a wonderful day!

Peace     שלום     سلام

What is Real Faith? (The Magnificat)

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. ~ Luke 1:38

The Annunciation, by Daniel Bonnell

How's that for an expression of faith?  This girl, barely in her teens, in response to the mind-boggling news from the angel Gabriel, that she is going to give birth to the son of God, says, “Sure.  I’ll do it.”  

That simple?  That easily?  Probably not, but she acquiesced to the power of God, allowing herself to be used as a tool to bring healing and salvation to a broken world.

WOW!

Then, while pregnant herself, she undertakes a rather perilous trip to her older cousin Elizabeth, to help see her through the final months of her pregnancy.  In response to Elizabeth’s awestruck, evidently shouted, declaration, “Blessed are you among women!”, Mary sings praise to God:

And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord

    and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has been mindful

    of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

    for the Mighty One has done great things for me—

    holy is his name.

His mercy extends to those who fear him,

    from generation to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones

    but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things

    but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

    remembering to be merciful

to Abraham and his descendants forever,

    just as he promised our ancestors.”  - Luke 1: 46-55

I pray that you and I have the faith and courage of this young girl when we are called to action by our God and Creator.

Finally, please enjoy this musical version of young Mary’s Song.  (Apologies for the ad at the beginning; YouTube has to get their coin.) 

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Reminder: if you have a prayer need, please click on the Share a Prayer? tab and send it my way.  I will respond.

Have a wonderful day!