The First Sunday of Lent

Photo by Chalky Live

Jesus,

Who spent forty days in the desert,

Praise to you God in action.

Out of the wilderness
You brought your new covenant.

One we must honor and fulfill.

Lacking food for the body,
You were tested and triumphed.

Give us a portion of your courage this day.

In Jerusalem, 
You were tortured and killed.

Forgive us when our actions recall your anguish.

Help us forgive those we love who torture our souls.

Give us some small portion of the inner strength
You took into the desert,

So that we can resist the lure of wickedness and evil.

You create our existence

And bind us with love

Now and through eternity.
Amen.

Pentecost 2011

Photo by Lawrence CP

On this day,
Peter speaks
To those who have seen
The Holy Spirit descend.
He quotes Joel:
"God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people."
"Even on my servants,
Both men and women,
I will pour out My Spirit..."
The day is Pentecost.
Fifty days from Easter.
Ten days from Jesus' ascent into Heaven.
God as Comforter comes
As Christ promised.
This was the Feast of the First Fruits.
Was this the first harvest for Christ?
Too many churches
Turn from Pentecost
In dread of the Holy Spirit.
What they fear
Does not exist.
The Holy Spirit
Completes the Trinity.
The Holy Spirit
Is the Love
That binds Creator and Word.
The Holy Spirit
Is God's love
Washing over "all people."
Share that love.

A Special Easter Basket

Photo by drewfer

Easter baskets hold brightly colored eggs,
Childhood treasures discovered in the grass.
Adults need  Easter baskets
To hold the treasures we have found:
Friends of all ages and faith,

Children we grew up with,

Friends of school and college,

Neighbors and co-workers,

Friends of friends that became ours,

Even some found in an electronic world,
True wealth to be nurtured

And loved;
Family slipped into our basket by God,
Similar blueprints, but still so different,
Not who we would choose as friends,

Perhaps,

But still the same bloodline from the past:

Heroes and villains,

Brave or not,

These our common ancestors,

Cherish the line

And how it changes.
Cherish the love;
One final golden egg for our basket,
Greatest of all,
Christ,

The Son of Man,

His love
Bestowed unwarranted,
Treasure above all treasure.

Our basket is not full,
Each year we can add more,

But cherish its contents today.

God, 

Family,

Friends,

Love.

The Gladness of the Moment Palm Sunday 2011

Photo by Etwood

"This is the day the Lord hath made.

Let us be glad and rejoice in it."

I quote these words as I rise each morning.

But can I follow this biblical command?

Sometimes I find it difficult to be glad,

Sometimes I find it impossible to rejoice.

Was it difficult for Jesus

When He stood on the hill over Jerusalem

And contemplated the tragedies to come?

He longed to gather those who dwelt in Jerusalem

Into his arms.

Did God weep that day for Jerusalem

Or for all humanity?

Where was gladness?

Saved for the day Jesus entered that great city,

And palm fronds fell at His feet,

And Hosannas echoed

From dried brick walls.

Just as the Psalm commanded:

"With boughs in hand, join the festal procession."

Jesus shared joy that day

As he would share suffering later

When  he hung on the cross.

On Palm Sunday,

I will feel the gladness of the moment.

Even if I know as He did

The sorrow of tomorrow.

Advent 2010

"And the angel said unto them,

Fear not; for behold,

I bring you good tidings of great joy,

Which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day

In the city of David

A Savior,

Who is Christ the Lord"

Luke's gospel echoes through the ages.

In this season,
Do we hear the physician's words?

I fear not.

Carols fill the halls and malls of commerce

Until we no longer comprehend their meaning.

Today,

I will listen with my heart to Luke,

And know Christ excludes no one from his love

For he came "to all people."
No exclusivity,
No unique faith,
Just the manifestation of God
In a baby. 

Great Joy!

The message of Advent.

Photo by aharden