Stations of the Manger 10

Stations of the Manger 10. Shepherds Visited by an Angel

Christmas Evening

Nativity Scene: Some shepherds and sheep are added to the scene.

Scripture: (Luke 2:8-20)
And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were very afraid. And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people: for there is born to you this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this is the sign unto you: You shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth among all people. And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord has made known unto us.

And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger. And when they saw it, they made known concerning the
20saying that was spoken to them about this child. And all who heard it wondered at the things that were spoken unto them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them.

Reflection: The message of the gift of Christ comes to those who are willing to listen, like the shepherds on the hill. This whole passage could be summed up with a phrase from Psalm 46: “Be still and know that I am God.” How often the first words to us from heaven are not to be afraid – do not fear! We read this in scripture many, many times. We know, then, like the shepherds, that God is there, and all will be well.

Prayer: Dear Father, we ask You to make perfect all good things that are begun. We ask You to make perfect Christ’s life in us, that we may come to know, love and serve him in a way You would bless. In Your Name we pray. Amen.

Hymn(s): First Noel; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing; It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

Response: The Christmas season begins today and extends up to Epiphany. Keep the spirit alive throughout the year by continuing to find the image of Christ inside of each person you meet, including the one you see every morning in the mirror. Look past the ego into their heart. Forgive what their false ego self does and says, for their true self could never say or do those things.


Blessings to all,

Brother

Stations of the Manger 9

Stations of the Manger 9. The Birth of Christ

Christmas Morning

Nativity Scene: The baby Jesus is added to the scene.

Scripture: (Luke 2:6-7)
And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she would give birth.
And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger…

Reflection: How awesome it is that our Creator would come to us in the form of a human to redeem us, to teach us, to awaken us, and to show us how to love. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) He lived the life of a human to show us that he understands our situation. He understands what we face and what we struggle with. His incarnation was an act of love. His gift to us was fulfilled on the cross and through his teaching, but it began for us on this first Christmas Day.

Prayer: Lord our God, You sent Your Son, the Light of the World, into the darkness that covers the earth and the hearts of its people. May the brightness of his rising shine in
18the church, so that the nations may awaken and walk toward the light, Jesus, the Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Hymn(s): Away in a Manger; Silent Night; Christ is Born

Response: This is a day of praise and thanksgiving! It is important to worship God together as a community and individually in your own heart. Use this day of worship and praise as a springboard to a new beginning for your life. Allow the Holy Spirit to enter you, help you to shed all that is not of God, and let a new heart be born in you on this Christmas Day.

Perhaps this is a day when you can either begin or renew your commitment to spend more time each morning and evening with your Lord. Build stability in your life by meeting with Him several times each day in prayer. Listen to what He might be telling you in the scriptures that you read, and in the circumstances He places before you each day. Listen to your heart and watch carefully what is happening around you.

Let Him shape your life little by little, so that you can come to know, love and serve Him in your own unique way – the way that He created you to be. Letting your true self come from your heart will bring you the everlasting fruits of the Holy Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, gentleness, and self-control. (Gal. 5:22)

Blessings to all,

Br. Daniel-Joseph

Stations of the Manger 8

Stations of the Manger 8. Encounter at the Inn

Christmas Eve

Nativity Scene: Mary and Joseph are added to the scene.

Scripture: (Luke 2:7)

…there was no room for them in the inn.

Reflection: The closest many of us ever come to being homeless or having the smallest inkling of what it would be like to be homeless is not being able to find a room for the evening when on a vacation road trip. For many people, not finding a place to stay happens every day.

The world has sufficient bounty for everyone to have a clean place to sleep and take care of, a place to call their own that is adequate for their needs, a place where they can be with family and enjoy meals together. And yet, our world’s economic system results in some of us living in huge mansions while others live in local shelters or cardboard boxes on the street.

Prayer: Lord, we ask You to bless this place we live in and all who enter. Be our shelter when we are at home, be our companion when we are away, and be our welcome guest wherever we
16may rest for the evening. And at the last, receive us into the dwelling place You have prepared for us in our Father’s house, where we will live forever and ever. Amen.

Hymn(s): O Holy Night

Response: Let us remember those who can call no place their home. Pray for more economic equity among all nations and peoples; pray that those more fortunate find it in their hearts to live more simply that they may share of their bounty and blessings. Consider donating time or money to local emergency shelters or organizations that help people have homes.


Christmas Blessings,

Br. Daniel-Joseph

Stations of the Manger 7

Stations of the Manger 7. Travel to Bethlehem
Fourth Sunday in Advent

Nativity Scene: A donkey can be added to the scene.

Scripture: (Luke 2:1-5)

Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to enroll themselves, every one to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; to enroll himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child.

Reflection: Bethlehem means “House of bread” or “Place of food.” Let us remember that the bread of life that we need so much was provided for us in Our Lord and Savior, Jesus. Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem to give the world the spiritual food we crave.

Prayer: Blessed are You, Father, who gave us our daily bread in Your Son, Jesus Christ. Blessed is He who continually feeds us with the word of life. Blessed is the Holy Spirit, who brings us together at Christ’s table of love. Blessed be God now and forever. Amen.

Hymn: O Little Town of Bethlehem

Response: Let us pray for those who travel during this season. May their travels be safe and that they find their loved ones well upon arriving. Let us also remember God’s animals and how they serve our needs, providing food, clothing and company as they did for Mary and Joseph. Let us treat all creatures with care and respect. Consider a donation to your local animal shelter to support their work.

Blessings to all,
Br. Daniel-Joseph

Stations of the Manger 6

Stations of the Manger 6. The Visitation

Wednesday after the 3rd Sunday

Nativity Scene: Add a lone woman to the scene, representing Elizabeth.

Scripture: (Luke 1:39-55)
And Mary arose in these days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah; and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elizabeth. And it came to pass, when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit; and she lifted up her voice with a loud cry, and said, “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your salutation came into mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a fulfillment of the things that have been spoken to her from the Lord.” And Mary said, “My soul does magnify the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
12For he has looked upon the low estate of his handmaid: For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty has done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is unto generations and generations on those who love him. He has showed strength with his arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart. He has put down princes from their thrones, and has exalted those of low degree. The hungry he has filled with good things; and the rich he has sent away empty. He has given help to Israel his servant, that he might remember mercy (as he spoke unto our fathers) toward Abraham and his seed forever.”

Reflection: The bonds of family are so important. The coming of Jesus into the world emphasizes a much larger family; all who choose to become children of God are brothers and sisters. Let us love each other!

Prayer: Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy! Hail, our life, our sweetness, and our hope! To you do we turn, lost children of Eve; to you do we send up our sighs, mourning and hopes in this valley of life. Turn, then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us, and show us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

Hymn(s): Mary, Did You Know?; What Child is This?

Response: Visit some friends or relatives you may not have seen for a while. Visit someone in a hospital or who is homebound. Bring them a blessing, a smile, a kiss, a compliment, a flower.

Stations of the Manger 5

Stations of the Manger 5. The Angel Visits Joseph

Third Sunday in Advent

Nativity Scene: Another angel can be added to the scene.

Scripture: (Matt. 1:18-25)
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to divorce her privately. But when he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, you son of David, fear not to take unto you Mary your wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she shall bring forth a son; and you shall call his name Jesus; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins. Now all this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel; which is, being interpreted, God is with us. And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took unto him his wife; and knew her not till she had brought forth a son: and he called his name Jesus.

Reflection: On the prompting of an angel, Joseph accepted Mary even though she would have been rejected by society for her “condition.” How often do we impose society’s standards on who is “acceptable” and who is not? Let us all try to look beyond someone’s “condition” and see Christ’s goodness in his or her heart. Let us begin healing our ills by accepting the diversity and variety we find in the people around us.

Prayer: Angel of God, my guardian dear,
To whom God’s love commits me here.
Ever this day be at my side,
To light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.

Hymn(s): Breath of Heaven

Response: Examine your heart and see what unfair prejudices, attachments or biases still cling there. See them for what they really are and for how much hurt they can cause you and others. When you bring them into the Light, they will begin to shrink away. Know that every person, regardless of how they appear on the outside or however they behave, is actually a child of God.

Blessings,

Brother D-J

Stations of the Manger 4

Stations of the Manger 4. The Annunciation

Wednesday after the 2nd Sunday in Advent

Nativity Scene: The angel Gabriel can be added to the scene.

Scripture: (Luke 1:26-38)

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
8to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her, and said, Hail, you that are highly favored, the Lord is with you. But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this might be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for you have found favor with God. And behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. And Mary said unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow you: wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God.

And behold, Elisabeth your kinswoman, she also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that was called barren. For no word from God shall be void of power. And Mary said, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to your word. And the angel departed from her.

Reflection: Mary received the most wonderful gift in the world, only so that she could share it with the world. She received the gift humbly and gracefully. She then passed it on to us in the most loving manner.

Prayer: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us children now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Hymn(s): Ave Maria

Response: Consider giving of your time or treasures to help others enjoy a fulfilling Christmas time, too. Donate clothing, food or money to organizations that can identify those truly in need. As things come your way as gifts, whether from God or from others, receive them gratefully.

Blessings,
Br. Daniel-Joseph

Stations of the Manger 3

Stations of the Manger 3. The Lineage of Christ

Second Sunday in Advent.

Nativity Scene: A few people representing the lineage of Christ can be added to the scene.

Scripture: (Matt. 1:1-17)
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judah and his brethren; and Judah begat Perez and Zerah of Tamar; and Perez begat Hezron; and Hezron begat Ram; and Ram begat Amminadab; and Amminadab begat Nahshon; and Nahshon begat Salmon; and Salmon begat Boaz of Rahab; and Boaz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; and Jesse begat David the king. And David begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Uriah;
6and Solomon begat Rehoboam; and Rehoboam begat Abijah; and Abijah begat Asa; and Asa begat Jehoshaphat; and Jehoshaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Uzziah; and Uzziah begat Jotham; and Jotham begat Ahaz; and Ahaz begat Hezekiah; and Hezekiah begat Manasseh; and Manasseh begat Amon; and Amon begat Josiah; and Josiah begat Jechoniah and his brethren, at the time of the carrying away to Babylon. And after the carrying away to Babylon, Jechoniah begat Shealtiel; and Shealtiel begat Zerubbabel; and Zerubbabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; and Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; and Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. So all the generations from Abraham unto David are fourteen generations; and from David unto the carrying away to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Babylon unto the Christ fourteen generations.

Reflection: Remember our ancestors and those who have passed from this life. They have given us much for us so that we have what we have today. Pray that their souls rest in peace and continue in the service of God.

Prayer: May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. In your Name we pray, Amen.

Hymn(s): Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring

Response: Look at family photo albums and remember the blessings of those who came before us. Thank the Lord for those who have helped us get closer to Jesus.

Stations of the Manger 2

Stations of the Manger 2. Prophecy of the Coming of the Lord

Wednesday after the 1st Sunday in Advent

Nativity Scene: A lone prophet figure can be added to the scene.

Scripture: (Isaiah 7:14)
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, a young maiden shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel.

(Luke 1:68-79. Canticle of Zechariah)
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come and has redeemed his people. He has raised up for us a mighty savior, born of the house of his servant David. Through his holy prophets of old he promised salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our lives. And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.

Reflection: God’s plan for you and the world spans enormous amounts of time. If we listen closely, as the prophets of old did, we can sense God’s presence and that He will fulfill His promises.

“Salvation from our enemies” can also mean full relief from those spiritual things that plague our souls: pride, temptations, envy, discontent, greed, and others.

Prayer: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Hymn(s): O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Response: Send out Christmas cards this week to friends and relatives you don’t see that much. Include messages that contain the specific theme of the coming of Christ. The time of Advent is a time of preparation. Let us prepare!

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG

Stations of the Manger #1

Between now and Epiphany, I would like to share with you each of the 12 "Stations of the Manger" from a little booklet that I wrote several years back. Here's the first:

Station 1. In the Beginning

First Sunday in Advent

Nativity Scene: Empty, no buildings, people or animals

Scripture: John 1:1-5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that has been made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not.

Reflection: In the beginning the world was perfect, and all things ran well. Complete love and harmony existed. But to have love, free will must also exist, and with free will comes choice. Some spiritual beings chose their own way; and some humans chose their own way. As a result, some of God’s creation became separated from Him. It is God’s plan to eventually return His creation to the state of perfect grace once again.


Prayer: Father of Jesus Christ, open our hearts to your Word and to the power of the Holy Spirit. Give us the love to discover Your will and strength to carry it out always; for you are light, forever and ever. Amen.

Hymn(s): O Come, All Ye Faithful

Response: Reflect on your own life. Renew your commitment through your baptismal vows to follow God’s path. Know that past sins will be carried by God so that you don’t have to. Know that if you fall again, He will be there to pick you up and send you on your way. Know that God is love and He wants you reconnected with Him in His grace.

Blessings to you this Advent season!

Brother Daniel-Joseph

Fix It!

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers and Friends of the Community,

In today’s lectionary readings, Zephaniah reported 2,600 years ago that there were people during his time who felt that the Lord played little, if any, role in the daily events of society: “Neither good nor evil can the Lord do.” (Zeph. 1:12) It is somewhat surprising that even today we sometimes have to wonder how much power the Lord really has when we look at the troubles we face: a shattered global financial system, declining stock markets, military uprisings, business failures, famine, disease, climate change and on and on.

Perhaps the problem is not that the Lord is without power, but it is because we are keeping him so busy trying to hold everything together. After all, who is creating all these messes? Rocks? Remember that we were given dominion over the earth (Gen. 1:28) With this ‘dominion’ comes responsibility. This is the responsibility to run things according to God’s rules, not ours. As in Zephaniah’s day, whenever we turn from God either as individuals or as a nation, we begin to implode. Scripture is replete with examples of this. The result is always the same – trouble. Then we wonder why ‘God has no power.’

The ‘financial consultant’ on the Saturday Night Live program was asked a while back what should be done about the current financial crisis. His response: “FIX IT!”

Ah, yes, but how? How to fix any of the world’s ills? No one person can fix everything, but together, as the unified body of Christ, with him and through him, we can. Consider the advice found in today’s parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30). As the body of Christ, we have all been given different gifts, different talents in varying amounts. All of them are equally important, but only if they are used. Each gift, regardless of what it is, plays some role to further God’s creation. Whether you build roads, sew stitches, fly planes, collect trash, grow peas, heal people, teach people, pray, draw or sing – each piece is needed to make the whole. Each piece is sacred. Each piece is vital.

The power and love of God flows through all of us to each other. Use your gifts, whatever they are, for good every day, every moment, and soon we won’t have to wonder anymore if God has any power in the affairs of people.

Bless you for who you are and what you do. Please keep doing it and encouraging others as well.

Your semi-talented Brother,

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG

Beware the Serpent

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers and Friends of the Community!

All are well here in East Central Wisconsin. The weather has given us an extended fall season with continued beautiful fall colors. As one person reminded me this week, “Every day we get of this nice weather in the fall is one less day of the slippery white stuff in the winter.”

This week’s lectionary readings spoke to me of hypocrisy. [Micah 3:5-12; Psalm 43; Matthew 23:1-12; and I Thess. 2:9-20] Micah had to deal with this 2,800 years ago, Christ had to deal with this 2,000 years ago, and we have it in abundance in today’s world, too. Throughout recorded time we have had people claiming allegiance to God and yet compromising His love and message to suit personal or group interests. Micah predicted that this spiritual corruption was not sustainable and would lead to the downfall of the Hebrew nation. It did. Jesus exposed the Pharisees as hypocrites by saying that although they taught the law of Moses they themselves did not follow it. Even today we learn about high profile politicians or business leaders who claim allegiance to God and yet fall to corruption of varied sorts. And on a personal level, many of us have experienced friends or acquaintances who occasionally succumb to secular forces. We may even experience it in ourselves on occasion.

To live in this world committed to God can be a daunting task. The serpent of Eden comes to visit us in many forms. Consider the forces designed to lead us astray:

· Peer pressure
· Misinformation being propagated by special interests (especially during campaign seasons)
· Monetary pressures (being too heavily linked into financial obligations that we may have to compromise our values)
· Marketing and advertising pressures (We aren’t good enough unless we have whiter teeth or designer jeans)
· Our own instincts and urges that can add fuel to the fire
· What others have you faced?

The mercy and compassion of God understands that our lives are not easy. Just as we were given light so that we can use the gift of our eyes, so too were we given moral choices in life so that we could exercise our free will. But we were not put into the arena alone. We can avoid being carried off to Babylon, or facing personal implosion, if we keep the tools and support that are available to us.

Christ avoided temptation during his ordeal in Matthew 4 by rejecting power, greed and magic. He reminds us that we live by every word that comes from God. We do this through prayer, worship and meditation. We do this by watching the world around us moment-by-moment and listening to the heart whisper. Jesus also reminds us not to tempt or test God. This leads us to acceptance of our life situation. It does not mean we do not attempt to make things better, but it does mean that we can face each situation with a clear mind and heart if we first accept what we have and work from there. And Jesus reminds us to serve God and worship Him alone. Be aware of the false gods of greed, power, wealth, fear and worry. They rob you of the present moment – the place where life happens.

I ask you to reflect on Matthew 4 this week, and let me know your discoveries and thoughts.

Know that you are all loved by Our Lord!

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG

Bigger Fish to Fry

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers, and Friends of the Community!

A windy fall day is upon us which will undoubtedly remove many of the colored leaves that still cling to branches. Well, I suppose I should start thinking about getting the snow shovels ready…

The core of God’s message to us in today’s lectionary readings rests in Jesus’ response to the question he was asked that was designed to trap him: “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” (Matthew 22:17)

An affirmative answer would have put him in trouble with the Jewish leaders (more than he was already). A negative answer would have put him in trouble with the Romans. What could he do to solve this dilemma? He took the issue to a higher level; to a truer perspective. And he did this by simply responding, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and give to God what is God’s.

Often, the answer to a problem we face can not be found in the details before us. It may appear that our choices are limited and none of them are good – pay the taxes to Caesar or not; choose this or that; go left or right. When faced with this situation, take the lead from Our Teacher. Bring God into the mix. This will instantly change the focus and creates new values in our options. Yes, pay the tax that is due Caesar, but also remember who has more power than Caesar.

There are much bigger things in life than what we owe “Caesar.” We have “bigger fish to fry” as they say here in the Great Lakes area. We have hearts to win over for Christ, including our own. To do this takes committing our lives to Christ, and not committing them to some present-day Caesar (any of our present-day gods of power, riches, magic, etc.).

To what are we committing to? A little later in Matthew 22 we are reminded of the Great Commandment: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind; and to love your neighbor as yourself.

And how can we do this? To maintain connection with God through prayer – prayers of thanksgiving, intercession, petition, and listening. To be present to the world around us; to be present to each moment of the day as it passes in front of us. And to serve others as the situation calls to us, moment by moment, in our own unique way, the way God created each person individually. No gesture is too small.

Do all this, and the Caesars will vanish.

Please reflect on Matthew 22 this week and let me know what you see.

God’s peace and love to all!

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG

The Blessings of Psalm 23

Psalm 23 was part of the lectionary readings for today. It is a very popular and much beloved psalm. When I read and pray it, here is what it means to me:

If we choose the Lord as Our Shepherd (instead of some other false god like greed, power, money, envy, or pride), then the things we really need as a spiritual child of God will be ours in abundance. It is only when we attach ourselves to worldly things that we begin to feel scarcity and depravation. Choosing the Lord is to abandon the false self, and free the imprisoned heart. This will allow our true selves, our souls, to shine through.

The peace that comes to us with this choice will feel like we are relaxing in a beautiful green pasture, near some quiet water, where our souls can be replenished and re-energized. We will then be guided through the day’s activities by the will of God, and our lives will take on a new purpose – a new direction with new meaning. So, even though we are indeed mortal and must face physical death at some point, we come to have little fear, especially of anything evil, because not only is God with us, so are His rod and staff – Christ and the Holy Spirit.

The true enemies that we have – attachments, judgments, biases, fears, prejudices – can all sit and watch while God lavishes His love and compassion on us. They can not stop Him because nothing can – our cup overflows indeed. His goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our life (which, by the way, extends WAY past living in this physical form). We dwell in the House of the Lord when we choose Him – and elect to shed our worldly, false self.

Jesus adds in Matthew, “Many are called, but few choose Him.” How odd!

Please reflect further on Psalm 23 this week. Let me know if something about it touches you.

Blessings to all!

And Here's a Plug For...

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers and Friends of the Community!

Sometimes, as in recent weeks, I can get a bit lost in all the news of financial turmoil, tainted food, political and corporate corruption, and war. I get side-tracked and begin to feel that my spiritual energy plug somehow got kicked out of the wall socket, or it feels as though I am being pulled in one direction too many.

Eight years ago I got a copy of Thomas Merton’s “The Silent Life.” I return to this book every so often, and read not only his words, but also the notes I made in the margins about my thoughts at the time. In a way, it is like revisiting an old journal to see what issues and challenges I was wrestling with at the time.

Apparently I have felt somewhat “diffused” in the past, too, because certain sections of the book relating to ‘being lost’ were heavily underlined. Once again I was reminded that when we lose our spiritual connection to God we can begin to feel a little ‘diffused’ and ‘exhausted,’ even to the point of misery. “A person,” writes Merton, “cannot go on happily for long unless s/he is in contact with the springs of spiritual life which are hidden in the depths of his/her own soul.” Without this connection, Merton adds, the person becomes a kind of automaton, living without joy, being bounced around like a billiard ball by all the stuff that happens throughout the day.

How can we get the plug back into the spiritual wall socket? How can we reconnect with the inner voice of God that speaks to us in a heart whisper? For me, returning to the well-springs of life periodically throughout the day helps me keep life in perspective and prevents me from being left to the mercy of modern society. The best way for me to so this is by building my day around a framework of the Daily Offices, meditation, and periods of solitude and silence. Doing this may necessitate somewhat reduced contact with the ‘outside world,’ but there is a balance to be sought. What little things do I do during the course of a day that I can forego, so that I can spend the needed amount of time being with God and getting ‘recharged’ by Him? A little less TV? A little less radio? One less club or group meeting? Trimming back on a lot of the little things often gives me the time I need to get back on track. These times of ‘aloneness with God’ become precious and enjoyable!

Please remember your daily prayer times! Not only will they change you, they will also change the world.

Know that you are loved by God, and are only a plug away!

Brother Daniel-Joseph

Kenosis

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers and Friends,

Some cooler weather fronts are moving into the area today, and it may be the last 70 degree day we see for a while.
Summer is pouring itself out to make room for autumn weather.

Speaking of pouring oneself out (a forced segue?), the readings for Proper 21 tomorrow include a passage from Philippians (2:1-13).

“Let the same mind be in you that was in Jesus Christ,
Who, though he was in the form of God,
Did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited,
But emptied himself,
Taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
He humbled himself
And became obedient to the point of death –
Even death on a cross.” (Verses 5-8)

We may not always agree that St. Paul “got things right,” but in this case his description of Christ’s emptying himself out is a classic example of kenosis. Kenosis is a Greek word referring to the idea of a person ridding themselves of anything that is not of God – of emptying themselves out so that the love of God can flow through them into the world. As it does so, it is shaped and colored by the individual skills, talents and interests that were given to us. So, for each person, the result may be different, but it is still part of the overall, ever-loving flow of God.

This is what we attempt to do in our formation efforts – identify the dysfunctional parts of the ego in us, toss them out through awareness and observation, and make room for the wonders of how God will use us in His plans. Be patient and be humble; experience the awesomeness of life, and watch moment by moment what your role is. Sometimes it is merely to sit and wait, sometimes it is to pray, and sometimes it is to take action. Whatever it is, do it to the glory of God.

You are all in my daily thoughts and prayers,

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG
Guardian

Good News, Bad News...Who Knows?

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers and Friends of the Community!

I pray that this note finds you all well and at peace.

Just a thought for you on today’s lectionary readings, particularly on Genesis 50:20, “Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good…”

It is a natural thing for us to quickly label an event in our lives as being either “good” or “bad”. Especially when we’re in the thick of things, it seems to be a way to handle the difficulty, to make it more palatable so as to create the sense that we are more in control than we really are. Joseph was aware that his brothers did him wrong when they sold him into slavery, and may have held a grudge against them for the longest time. But when he was able to see the event in the larger picture of life, over time, he realized that God was able to make good of it.

Some of you may have heard the story of the old farmer of years ago whose horse ran away from him. The neighbors gathered around and said, “Oh, bad news!”
“Bad news, good news…who knows?” he replied.

A week later the horse returned with several other wild horses. Now the old farmer had more horses than he had had before. The neighbors gathered around and said, “Oh, good news!”
“Bad news, good news…who knows?” he replied.

The next day the farmer’s son was training one of the new horses when he fell off and broke his arm. The neighbors gathered around and said, “Oh, bad news!”
“Bad news, good news…who knows?” he replied.

The following week the local army came through to conscript young men into service. When they saw the old farmer’s son had a broken arm, they passed him by and left.

“Bad news, good news…who knows?” he replied.

Judging what is good or bad, what we see in others and ourselves, might best be left to God alone. We’re not very good at it.


Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG
Guardian

Spiritual Formation in a Nutshell

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers and Friends of the Community!

I pray that this note finds you well and at peace.

The signs of autumn are beginning to show up in slightly colored leaves and cooler evenings.
The cycles of life that Our Lord designed continue to hold true.

The New Testament reading for this past Sunday (Romans 13:8-14) summed up, for me, what spiritual formation is all about: Wake up and Love!

Paul indicates that to properly “love your neighbor as yourself” (verse 9) we need to be “awake.” We can not love others or ourselves very well if we are asleep (verse 11). But what is this “slumber” he speaks of? This is often thought of as the call to get out of bed and get busy with your life. The “night is over; the day is almost here” (verse 12).

Let’s look at this a bit closer. There is a contemporary story about a group of people touring a large manufacturing firm. “How many people actually work here?” a visitor with the group asked. The tour guide responded, “Oh, about half.” This cute little story suggests that many people appear to be awake as they go through their daily activities, but are actually “asleep.” It is as if their brains are turned on, and they are moving around, but they are being managed by some foreign invader.

In fact, this may be exactly what is happening! Jesus tells us throughout the Gospels to become aware of this foreign invader that has taken control of our minds and hearts, and expel him forthright from our midst. Wake up!

This foreign invader is a dysfunctional ego that has become a tumor on our soul. It has grown from all the cultural and societal programming over the years, and manifests itself as prejudice, greed, fear, worry, judgment, hatred, arrogance and a myriad of other things that block our true self from showing itself.

When Paul says, “Wake up!” he is telling us to separate ourselves from this ugly thing and see it for what it really is – separation from God – a spiritual disconnection. Become the observer of this thing to see it for what it really is, and it will begin to slither away in the Light of Truth. Watch how it behaves and reacts to people and situations each and every moment. The time is NOW, Paul says, in the present moment, for this to happen. And as this happens, slowly over time, the natural love that was built into your hearts by your Creator will begin to flow out into your world so that you truly learn how to love your neighbor as yourself in your own unique way. And that is spiritual formation in a nutshell.

Blessings and peace to you all,

Your sleepy-eyed brother,

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG

Words Come Hard

Dear Community,

This past week was a rough one.
Using the word ‘terrible’ might also be justified.

The face I saw on my mother when she lost a son
I saw again this week on a friend.
It pierced my heart deeply.

Words come hard for me in times of personal tragedy.
I feel them forming in my heart
Beginning to grow and looking for a way out
Wanting to fly to the bereaved making their unbearable pain vanish as though I had the touch of Christ.

To see the griever smile again!

Only some of the words find their way to my lips
And they come out grossly inadequate.
So I stutter and mumble.

Some of the words flow through to my arms
To shape a hug of partial understanding laced with lots of care;
Other words emerge from my eyes in the form of teardrops
But they don’t match the ones from his eyes.

To see the griever smile again!

He probably couldn’t see me there in the crowd of supporters and grievers
But I was there, hoping he knew I would take all the pain from him if I could.

But, I don’t have that power,
So when he cries, I will cry too.
And when he mourns, I will mourn, too.
For in sharing the grief, maybe we can diminsh the pain just a bit.

“Vulnerable we are, like an infant. We need each other’s care or we will suffer.” - St. Catherine of Siena

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG
Guardian

You Owe Me

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers and Friends of the Community,

I pray you are all well and peaceful.

Watching bits and pieces of the Olympics this past week, I am reminded of all the score-keeping that is necessary to make it all work. In some cases a hundredth of a second separates a winner from a loser. The winner expects a gold medal in return.

Fortunately, in the spiritual world (the real world), scores like this are not kept, and everyone can win. Love is the key characteristic in God’s world. It is given freely, without expectation of something in return.

Sufi master Hafiz writes in one of his poems:

“Even after all this time
The sun never says to the earth,
‘You owe me.’
Look what happens with a love like that;
It lights up the whole sky.”

Even after all this time, the SON never says to us, ‘You owe me.’ He just continues to love because that is his nature. Jesus asks us to love others as he has loved us – freely, without the encumberance of a dysfunctional ego. Throw away your score cards (held tightly by your ego) and shine from the heart in the way that he has made you, without expectation in return from others.

Please share your reflections as you are moved to do so.

Your partly-cloudy-but-slowly-clearing-up brother,

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG
Guardian

Just Another Jesus Image?

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers, and Friends of the Community!

I pray that this note finds you all well and wrapped in the arms of Christ!

Speaking of Christ, a South Bend, Indiana, couple recently reported that they saw an image of Jesus on the fur of their cat.

Seeing the image of Jesus is not a new phenomenon. Here is a small sampling of sightings over recent years:

12-21-01 Jesus image appears on a car windshield. (England)

10-27-05 Couple says fish bone bears Jesus image. (Chicago)

11-7-06 Jesus image appears in the fur of a dog’s bottom. (England)

1-3-07 Residents see Jesus image in tree. (Florida)

8-14-07 Jesus image appears on kitchen cabinets. (Connecticut)

2-11-08 Jesus image found in a tree log. (Pennsylvania)

3-21-08 Man finds Jesus image in a cheesy snack (calls it “Chessus”). (Georgia)

4-17-08 Girl finds sweet Jesus image in a piece of candy. (Florida)

4-30-08 Pregnant woman sees Jesus image in ultrasound. (Ohio)

6-27-08 Jesus image seen in granite slab in Dallas. (Texas)

He has also been seen on a shower wall, on a turtle, and in a split potato.

70,000 hits when I Google “Jesus Image” and I couldn’t find one report of a person seeing the image of Jesus in another person. Once, just once, it would be uplifting to see a story that went something like this: “AP – A man in the small town of Belleville recently reported seeing the image of Jesus in another person. When asked about the incident, he said, “You know, I decided to look past the other fellow’s ego and into his heart, and there it was – the likeness of our Lord and Savior. I realized that this person was truly a good, loving person!”

Maybe this will happen one day. It seems that the incidents of seeing the image of Jesus in all sorts of things are getting more frequent. Perhaps this is just practice for the real thing.

Well, I have to go brush my cats now. Maybe, just maybe…

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG
Guardian

On Simplicity

Simplicity can be, well, somewhat complex.

We read in the Gospel of Matthew that following his baptism, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert “to be tempted by the devil.” Following a lengthy period of fasting he became hungry. At that point he was tempted to turn some stones into bread so that he could eat and become satisfied. Jesus refused (even though it was well within his power), responding that, “Man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:1-4)

Like the Hebrews who were led into the desert during the Exodus from Egypt, Jesus’ desert experience was used to test him “in order to know what was in your heart.” It was a type of forging, a refining of character to prepare him for his ministry. Jesus’ experience in the desert mirrored that of the ancient Hebrews (Deut. 8:2-3).

Certainly, the life of Jesus has much to teach anyone who is willing to receive its wealth. But what might this episode in the desert teach us about simplicity? It seems we need to have a working definition of ‘simplicity.’ What does it mean to live a simple life? Does it mean living a life on progressively fewer and fewer things, to the point that it is indistinguishable from poverty? Is a vow of poverty an extreme form of simplicity?

Although related, poverty and simplicity are not the same thing. The wisdom of Proverbs provides us with a good starting point for this discussion: “Two things I ask of You, O Lord: do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown You and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.” (Proverbs 30:7-9)

What we glean from this is an upper limit guideline and a lower limit guideline when it comes to meeting our everyday needs. The road we take between them is one of appropriateness to our true needs. Too little or too much are both dangers to our body and soul. So, it seems that these limits form a solid standard upon which to build a life of simplicity.

This is further reinforced by the words Our Lord taught us in the Lord’s Prayer, “Give us this day our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11) The ‘bread’ Christ speaks of here is not only what is needed for physical nourishment, but also that which is needed in our spiritual, emotional and community life.

Gregory of Nyssa comments on this petition in his writing on the Lord’s Prayer, Sermon 4: “Man is commanded to ask this [Give us this day our daily bread…] because what is empty must be filled. A man, therefore, who gives but nature its due and does not let his vain thoughts stray after things outside his needs is not far below the angelic state.” We lose simplicity when the responses to our natural and spiritual desires “far outstrip the necessities of life.” (Gregory of Nyssa, Beatitudes) It is when we are tempted to turn stones into bread, fulfilling a natural desire in an unnatural way, that we lose simplicity.

Therefore what can we say about simplicity? It is responding to meet our true and natural desires and needs (not what our dysfunctional ego wants) with only what is necessary – nothing more, and nothing less. Response to a need could be evaluated in this manner:

· Is this a true need, or is it an ego want?
· If it is a need, am I addressing it in a proper manner, sufficiently but not to excess?

Of all the ways I could meet this need,
· Am I meeting this need in the most simple, uncomplicated way?
· Which choice will have the least impact on the environment (which includes my own body)?

· Which choice adds more beauty to the world?

“We do not ignore the hunger,” Gregory of Nyssa would say, “since this is needed to preserve life.” But we do need to “sift out and cast away the superfluous things that have become mixed up with this need…” (Beatitudes) It would seem that anything outside of these guidelines is an attempt to turn stones into bread.

Your Brother in Christ,

Daniel-Joseph

AM or FEEL?

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers and friends of the Community!

I pray you are well and at peace!

Several times this past week the subject of Study came up. This is, of course, one of our cornerstone values as a Community, but I wanted to re-emphasize that this does not always mean we have our face in a book, or are attending a class, or are listening to a tape. The value of Study often has to do with the study of ourselves: particularly as we walk through a day’s journey and encounter other people and life situations. Why did we react to that person the way we did? Or why did we react to that situation the way we did? Examining these reactions can be a huge key in the process of “awakening” to our true selves and releasing the natural joy and goodness built into our hearts.

Let’s look at two sets of statements:

I am angry! vs. I feel anger.
I am worried about… vs. I feel concern about…
She hurt me when she said… vs. I felt pain when she said…
I am sad. vs. I feel sadness.
I am agitated. vs. I’m feeling agitation.

The statements on the left indicate that the speaker has fully identified with the feelings that he or she is experiencing. This person has been taken over by their dysfunctional ego. They have identified with their feelings and are totally controlled by them. Decisions made by people in the left column will usually be damaging to self or others. People in this state of mind “can’t think straight.” High emotions and high energy can disrupt logic.

The statements on the right begin to show some separation from this ego. The true self can step back from the feelings, distancing itself from the feelings, and look them over as if holding up a object to the light. The observer is separated from the observed. Upon separating oneself from his or her feelings, the probability of making good decisions greatly increases. What you will also notice is that the feeling begins to diminish greatly as soon as you distance yourself from it. (This is because you are now letting your true, calmer self out from your heart, which has the power to examine this separate feeling that is attempting to control your behavior.)

Separating ourselves from the things we feel is the beginning of awakening. So, this is the first step: Awareness of what we are feeling, and putting it in a place where we can study it. The second step is Acceptance. Do not resist what you are feeling because this does nothing more than expend huge amounts of energy. Resistance creates emotion which again clouds your decision-making ability. Accept what you are feeling, whatever it is, and then you can begin to deal with it.

And now, thirdly, you can ask yourself, “Why am I feeling this?” Or, better yet, you might ask, “Why is my ego feeling this?” because that is usually the root of the problem. The ego begins to throw a tantrum in the form of anger, despair, worry, regret, guilt, etc., when it is threatened or not being fed.

Once you realize what the source of the feeling is, you can react properly to it. True joy, peace, gentleness, and the other gifts of the Holy Spirit are feelings from the heart and are natural. This other stuff is from the head, the home base of the dysfunctional ego.

This, for me, is the cornerstone of Study. I ask you to reflect on your reactions to the situations and people in your day’s journey. What is coming from the head, and what is coming from the heart?

I am yours in Christ,

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG

A Moooo-ving Message

Greetings, Sister, Brothers, and Friends of the Community!

I pray that this note finds you all well and wrapped in the arms of Christ!

Last night Andy Rooney ended the 60 Minutes show with a brief discussion on milk. Milk producers have been wondering why milk consumption has been dropping over the years, he said, and suggested that they simply read the labels on so-called “milk.” Especially what used to be “Half and Half.” What was once half milk and half cream is now “stuff he has never heard of.” Read the label – it gets rather lengthy. Whole milk itself, he said, should be called “whole water,” because there is little left of what milk really should be.

Mary and I drink raw milk. Each week we stop at a local farm, fill up our gallon jug, take it home, and put it in our refrigerator. By the next morning there is a thick layer of cream (REAL CREAM) at the top which is skimmed off, and we make ice cream and butter from it. And what is especially nice is that the cows we get it from actually eat GRASS!

All this is the way things were meant to be. But it is not the way things are any more. Milk is just one of hundreds of examples of our food being tampered with. Yes, some processing of food is helpful – we can and freeze food for later use, but we don’t go much beyond that. When humans begin to interfere with the natural rhythms and cycles of our food supply we are asking for trouble. It would seem that the greater interference we have had with our food supply over the last few decades, the greater our society has been experiencing medical issues – increased obesity, increased diabetes, increased autism, increased cancers, increased you-name-it. There seems to be a correlation between the degree to which our foods are manipulated and our medical ills. Although correlation doesn’t prove causation, do ya think nature is trying to tell us something? (You are what you eat?)

This past week Michael DeBakey, MD, a famous heart surgeon, died at the age of 99. Having worked almost all of his life repairing human hearts, he has been quoted to say, “An analysis of cholesterol values…in 1,700 patients with atherosclerotic diseases revealed no definite correlation between serum cholesterol levels and the nature and extent of atherosclerotic disease.” Maybe we are slowly re-discovering that saturated fats are not the culprit in our many ills.

One of our underlying values in this Community is simplicity. Perhaps this applies to what we eat as well. If this concerns you, please start looking at labels on your food before you buy them. (I was once told that it was safer to eat the box the cereal came in than it was to eat the cereal!) You may be feeding chemical companies, but you are not feeding yourself. (Follow the money!) Just as we need to have a proper spiritual diet, managing what goes into our mouths may prove to be very beneficial!

If you’re interested in further research and another way of looking at things, please explore www.westonaprice.org.

You’ll be utterly amazed!

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG
Guardian

P.S. The possession, use, distribution, or sale of raw milk is illegal in many states. In Wisconsin, it can be sold incidentally off the farm, but not through stores, or transported across state lines. I haven’t checked into the legality of eating other natural foods that are good for me, so I may be risking incarceration. If you don’t hear from me for a while, I should be out soon…

Hallowed Be Thy Name (in us)

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers, and Friends of the Community!

I pray that this note finds you well and wrapped in the arms of Christ!

Christ taught us to pray using the format of the Lord’s Prayer. Within this short prayer are all the elements we need to keep our eyes on Him, and to learn what He is asking of us as we go through the day.

The phrase, “Hallowed be Thy Name,” drew my attention this morning, and it prompted me send out a little reminder of one way to look at this. On the surface, it seems to be a strange little petition – are we asking God to make His own Name hallowed? Seems to me that it already is, and that He doesn’t need our help in doing so. The question may be, then, “Is the Name of God hallowed in my life?” Perhaps what I am really asking God each time I offer the Lord’s Prayer is to have His Name hallowed and glorified through my life. Matthew 5:16: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

What are some ways that we can glorify God’s Name in us? By being who He made us to be. (Not what we may have been programmed to be by others.) Serve Him humbly in your prayers of thanksgiving and healing grace for others; serve Him in your studies; serve Him humbly in your service to others through the talents and skills that He has given you – and do this moment by moment. (No need to worry about the past or the future – we have no power there. Just stick to the moment at hand.)

Any thoughts on this? What has been your experience? Please share as you are moved to do so.

May the guiding hand of Our Lord and Savior be with you always,

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG
Guardian

If Looks Could Kill...

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers, and Friends of the community!

If any one out there is a little short of mosquitoes, I’d be happy to box a few million of them up and ship them out to you. Let me know!
(But I must learn to be patient, since I know that the first frost in September will usually bring an end to them. And that’s only about 3 months away…)

This past week I once again encountered a verse that has given me some trouble in the past. I think maybe I was led to it this time because I was ready for some additional learning. In Exodus 33 Moses was in the process of leading the Hebrews to the promised land, and he asked the Lord to show him God’s glory (v.18). God grants him this, but adds in verse 20, “But you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live.” The Lord reiterates this in verse 23 when He adds, “…and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen.”

Now, why would a God who I have come to know as loving and compassionate, who is merciful and forgiving, strike me dead if I happened to see His face? At least, this is the question I had on my mind until yesterday when I slowed up a bit and carefully re-read this verse (with a little help from Gregory of Nyssa).

Keep in mind the context of this message: Moses was leading a large number of people on a journey from Egypt to Israel, and he was relying a great deal on the guidance of God. God knew what He was doing, but Moses was not completely sure. Moses had a sense of where he was going, but was quite uncertain how to get there, or how to manage all these people along the way. When we need to follow someone, isn’t it true that “you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen”?

If we are looking at the face of someone, we are not following them. We may be walking backward, telling them where to go, or getting in their way. If we truly are committed to following someone, we will not usually see their face. What God was telling Moses is that if you are looking at my face, then you are not following me, and you will lose your way. You will not be living the life I have intended for you, so in that sense, you are not alive in the way you should be. When God is leading you, don’t get in his face. That means you think you know better than Him, and you can’t really live that way. You may be physically alive, but you are spiritually dead.

Jesus, too, said, “Follow me.” Matthew 4:19, 8:22, 9:9, 16:24, 19:21 Mark 2:14, 8:34, 10:21 Luke 5:27, 9:23, 18:22 John 10:27, 12:26 (“Whoever serves me, must follow me.”)

When He is leading you, take the humble position of following, and stay out of His way.

We follow Him through our prayers, study and service to others, moment by moment.

Blessings to all!

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG
Guardian

Are we really a 'dispersed' community?

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers and Friends of the Community!

The Community of the Gospel is described as a ‘dispersed’ community. I’ve been thinking about this over the last few days, and would like to make a few comments about it.
Webster’s dictionary defines ‘dispersed’ as: 1. To break up: scatter, 2. To vanish or cause to vanish: dispel, 3. To disseminate, as in knowledge.

The first two definitions can have some negative connotations, especially when we are talking about a group of people. The third definition, however, offers some interesting possibilities.

Let us collect some facts and lay them on the table:

· The Leader of the Community of the Gospel is Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
· Jesus is with us each and every moment of the day. We can meet him in prayer, study and service to others. He is in us through the Holy Spirit, and he is in others we meet.

Well, if each of us is in regular contact with our leader, then Webster’s definitions #1 and #2 don’t apply. We are not dispersed. We are united each and every moment of each and every day. Every time you offer a Daily Office or enter a lectio session, or serve another person, you are in very close contact with our Community. [It helps to use the plural ‘we’ and ‘our’ during our prayer sessions, instead of ‘I’ and ‘me’.] When we offer our Daily Offices and our service to others, we do it together, as one body in Christ. And, as children of God, our spiritual selves are always connected to each other. Physical objects can be separated by time and distance. Spiritual entities, like the real you and me, can not be separated – we are always united, always connected. This is the ‘glue’ that holds us together as a community.

So, spiritually (and that is what matters the most) we are in constant connection. We are spiritually cloistered. We are not broken up or scattered.

Physically, we make connections as a Community through:
· Telephone conversations
· E-mails
· Convocations
· Letters and cards
· Regional and local gatherings as we grow in number and more of us live closer to other members (this is happening already!)

Our Community stretches from coast to coast! We are not broken up or scattered; we are not invisible or dispelled. But we do carry and disseminate the message of Christ’s love and compassion to others we interact with, wherever we are. We use our individual and unique talents to serve others from New York to California. I would say that we are definitely dispersed, but mostly in the sense of Webster’s #3 definition, not #1 or #2.

Please reflect on this during the coming week, and share what you will of your thoughts.

Daniel-Joseph

The Basics

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers and Friends of the Community!

The lectionary series for this past Sunday provided us with a good review of the BASICS. Here are the readings (in roughly historical order):

Exodus 19:2-8
Psalm 100
Matthew 9:35-10:8
Romans 5:1-8

And here are the Basics:

1. GOD IS LOVE AND HE LOVES US

Ps. 100:3 – We are His people, the sheep of His pasture
Ps. 100:5 – God is good and His steadfast love endures forever
Romans 5:5 God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

2. GOD INVITES US TO BE WITH HIM

Exodus 19:3 God called Moses from the mountain
Exodus 19:4 God bore His people on eagles’ wings and brought them to Himself
Psalm 100:2 Worship the Lord, come into His presence with singing
Psalm 100:4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving; enter His courts with praise
Matthew 10:5 Jesus sent his disciples to the lost sheep

3. GOD OPENS THE WAY FOR US TO BE WITH HIM

Romans 5:2 We have gained access to grace through Christ.
Romans 5:8 Christ died for us.

The rest, with the prompting of the Holy Spirit, is up to us. The kingdom of heaven has come near! (Matt. 10:7) Ponder His invitation this week. Go to meet Him in your heart through your prayers, study and service to others! Thank you for what you do and who you are!

Blessings,

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG
Guardian

Earth Stuff vs. Heart Stuff

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers, and Friends!

I pray this note finds you all well and at peace.

There were two strong themes that wove their way through the lectionary series for today (June 8th - Hosea 5:15-6:6 Psalm 50:7-15 Romans 4:13-18 and Matthew 9:9-13). Both themes are great reminders for us about the nature of Our Father. One theme is that He is ever-present. Hosea tells us that His appearance is as sure as the dawn; Psalms exclaims that He is near enough to respond to our call for help; and Matthew demonstrates His strong desire to be with those in need as manifested in the actions of Christ as he mingled with “tax collectors and sinners.”. He is near, and He is for you.

The other theme stresses what He is looking for from us. It certainly isn’t material or animal sacrifices, since, as He says in Psalms, “I already own everything physical – what can you give me of that?”

What He is looking for from us is what He can’t force on us – acts of love, acts of mercy, acts of thanksgiving, acts of faith. “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice; the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” (Gee, and I was all ready for Him after my last Bar-B-Que attempt on Saturday.)

We can respond to His desires through our prayer, study and service. This is what He is looking for, and this is why what we do is so important.
We can’t give Him things of the earth as they are already His, but we can give Him the things of our heart.
Moment by moment, keep alert for ways to offer Him your love, your thanksgiving, your faith, and your mercy.

Bless you for the work that you do!

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG

Of Boxes and Bins

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers and Friends of the Community!

I pray that this note finds you all well.

We had a threat of frost here for this morning, so last evening we had to cover our new tomato plants which are quite sensitive to lower temperatures. No, it isn’t always this cold here in Wisconsin so late in May…sometimes it actually gets up into the 40s.

Trinity Sunday is a favorite of mine. It causes me to think about the way we think about things. As I reflected on the Trinity I remembered how we can not fully understand it if we are using our “box” mind to think about it. We must use our “bin” mind instead. So what’s the difference? We have been blessed with two ways to think about things. One way is very basic, and can keep us alive. This is our “box” mind. With this mind, we tend to put things into separate boxes, neatly labeled and categorized so that we can tell things apart. For example, “That stove burner is HOT – don’t touch it!” I was often told as a youth. Of course, I had to touch it once to see for myself. OK, so I put that into the HOT category, and do not touch it again. Another example: “That metal flag pole is COLD in January – do not put your wet tongue on it!” Yes, I had to do that once, too. Now that goes into the “DON’T DO THAT AGAIN box.”

The box-mind works very well until we use it for things that we shouldn’t use it for. We run into trouble when we use the box-mind and begin to label things as “good” or “bad,” “white” or “black,” and so forth. Using the box-mind for things it shouldn’t be used for creates separation, division, and disunity. It was not meant to be used for everything, and this is one of the key lessons of the Garden of Eden. We over-step our bounds when we try to step into God’s shoes and begin labeling things that should only be labeled by Him. Stay away from the tree of knowledge of good and evil! Box-minds are of the head and not of the heart.

We can not fully comprehend the Trinity with the box-mind. But we can get a better understanding of it if we use the bin-mind. “Bins” are places that we put a lot of different stuff into. A bin is usually bigger than a box, and doesn’t mind at all that it holds stuff that doesn’t appear to be related. With the bin-mind, we begin to see the loving connections in everything that God made. We begin to see the possibilities of how things can work together, how they can co-exist, and yet still be individually unique in nature. We can see how a person could be one thing, and yet still be another. We allow for differences, and begin to appreciate the variety in things. Bin-minds are far more creative and tend to resolve issues more quickly and effectively. Bin-minds unite, and create connections. Bin-minds are of the heart, not the head.

The Trinity makes perfect sense using the bin-mind. Three things can be one; one thing can be three. They can be of one substance and yet different. They can be spirit and flesh. They can be you and I.

This coming week, observe your how your box-mind and your bin-mind behave. Double-check your thinking to make sure it is using the right mind in the right situation.
Read through the parable of the wheat and the weeds (tares) found in Matthew 13:24-30. Are you: A) a wheat? B) a weed? C) both?
More on this next week.

In the meantime, continue to offer your prayers, study and service to the glory of God!

Your Boxhead Brother,

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG

Are you a mystic?

Greetings!

Today we commemorate the life of Julian of Norwich, an anchoress whose earthly life spanned from about 1342 to 1423. Probably getting her name Julian because her cell adjoined the parish church of St. Julian at Conisford in Norwich, Julian received a series of visions following an illness at about the age of 30. She was “a person of great literary skill and profound learning, with a good knowledge of the Latin Bible and the great mystical writers of the Western spiritual tradition.” This quote is from the book, Christian Mystics by Ursula King, head of the department of theology and religious studies at the University of Bristol in England.

Ursula King explains that a mystic is a “a person who is deeply aware of the powerful presence of the divine Spirit: someone who seeks, above all, the knowledge and love of God, and who experiences to an extraordinary degree the profoundly personal encounter with the energy of divine life. Mystics often perceive the presence of God throughout the world of nature and in all that is alive, leading to a transfiguration of the ordinary all around them. However, the touch of God is most strongly felt deep within their own hearts.”

Wow! What if the whole world was full of mystics? Are you a mystic?

Blessings to you on this mystical day!

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG

Rain and Effort

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers, and Friends of the Community!

It has been raining here since yesterday morning, and almost all the snow that we have been moving from place to place by hand and machine over the last several months has disappeared! I can see brown frozen grass again! It made me think about this past winter (it was a LONG one!) and all the energy and calories we burned moving this white stuff around, but not really being able to do anything about getting rid of it. We had to wait for some other intervention to do that for us.

So, is there a lesson in this for me? (Since I have so much to learn, there is a lesson in almost everything for me!) EFFORT is an interesting thing. It is necessary, and yet we sometimes put too much value on what it can do. Drawing a bit from DeMello here, effort can change your behavior, but it can not change you. It can put food into your mouth, but it can not produce the appetite. It can put you in bed when you are tired, but it can not produce sleep. It can be used to pay someone a compliment, but it can not produce genuine admiration for that person. Effort can perform acts of service, but it is powerless to produce love or holiness. Effort can plant seeds and water the garden, but it can not make things grow.

Effort is important, because it is our part of helping God with His creation; it is our part of setting the stage for our spiritual transformation. But let us not think that this is the whole of it. Without the power of the Holy Spirit, real growth and change does not happen. It is a gift. Do not think that by your effort alone you will change the world or even yourself. It is important to do what you have to do each and every moment, but also to stay connected to God in Christ so that he can work through you to do what He does.

Do you ask yourself, “What do I want out of life?” or do you ask, “What does life want out of me?” One is effort-based. The other is almost effortless. You choose!

Know that God loves you all!

Your huffing and puffing Brother,

Daniel-Joseph

Cloak of Many Colors

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers and Friends of the Community!

Many blessings to you this Palm Sunday and for this Holy Week to come!

Each of the four Gospels records Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem amid expressions of honor by the people of the city. Matthew, Mark and Luke mention that people spread their cloaks on the road as Jesus approached. (John mentions the palm branches.)

As clothing, cloaks certainly serve to protect people from cold and other elements. But they can also serve to demonstrate social status and wealth, or even cover shame and guilt. In other words, they can attempt to create an image of something we are really not, perhaps much like clothes are used today. What I received from meditating on these Gospel reports is that, for me, the removal of the cloaks and laying them at Christ’s feet represented the willingness of the people to remove an outer covering of themselves, a false self, revealing to Christ who they really were. In Christ’s presence they knew that they were safe and that there was no point in covering up. Christ accepts us for who we truly are.

Cloaks come in many colors: attachments, envy, pride, shame, guilt, prejudices, bias, conceit. I have my own cloaks to lay at his feet this Palm Sunday. I ask you to lay yours there, too. Let us continue to honor the presence of Jesus during this Holy Week and beyond by spreading our “cloaks” at his feet. He will step over them and continue with us on our journey to the heart.

Your cloak-full brother,

Daniel-Joseph

Fear and Punishment

Greetings, Sister, Brothers, and Friends of the Community!

Here’s a little verse to reflect on this coming week. I’d be interested in knowing your thoughts about it:

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.” I John 4:18

For me, although this appears on the surface as a possible measurement for our state of love, I was drawn to the phrase “for fear has to do with punishment.”

Our society certainly has an element of fear woven throughout, and it is used quite prominently in political campaigns and to shape public opinion. And although fear is a highly effective motivator, and can alert us to some real dangers, it loses much of its power when we consider it in the same light that John did – “fear has to do with punishment.”

Generally when we are “afraid” we are holding the fear in the present moment as we imagine some forthcoming consequence, predicament or malady in the future. John knew that if we diminish the power of the punishment, that is, we no longer consider it detrimental to our interests, then the present moment fear withers away in direct proportion to the impact of the punishment.

So, how can we do this? Well, first we need to consider if the “punishment” is real, or man-made. How often did our worry in the past actually bring the “fruits” it promised? Rarely.
And what exactly is being threatened? Is it our true self (which is destructible only by God himself) or is it our own egos, which can be dented by the awkward glance of a child?

It is important to distinguish between the things that really matter and those that don’t (which is most of the stuff we can think up). With God in control of our ultimate destiny, decide what really matters to you now.

Blessings to all!

Brother Daniel-Joseph, CTG

Statio

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers, and Friends of the Community!

Multi-tasking: the ability to do more than one thing at a time (at least in theory).

In a world of Blackberries, cell phones, iPods, beepers, Palm Pilots and you-name-it, we can easily lose our sense of connectedness to God. This can be a world where we are continually asked to do more with less, and to do it faster and cheaper. When this happens, the mortar of our lives that once held us together begins to crumble, and can result in stress and despair.

When we get sufficiently tired of this sort of thing, we begin to look for escape or remedy. Here’s one possible answer for you – statio.

Statio: the ability to do nothing at all.

This is an oft-forgotten little tool that recently came to my attention again after being awakened from a period of dormancy in some dusty back corner of my brain.
(Yes, I must have corners in my brain because in my youth I was often referred to as a block-head.)

Joan Chittister calls statio “the practice of stopping one thing before we start another.”
Statio is a time when we stop what we are doing, even if only for a brief moment or two, and reconnect with God. It's like taking a sip of cool water on a hot day – it's refreshing to the soul.

Chittister adds, “The practice of statio is meant to center us and make us conscious of what we’re about to do and make us present to the God who is present to us. Statio is the desire to do consciously what I might otherwise do mechanically. Statio is the virtue of the Presence.” (Wisdom Distilled from the Daily, Harper, 1991)

Statio can come in many forms, but the idea is to just take a moment or two and reconnect with God. Short prayers, quick walks outside, a brief meditation on a picture; anything that might get you back in tune with your creator and what your purpose in life is. Watch for those openings in your hustle-bustle day where you can put the brakes on, pause for a moment, and remember who and what you really are! Do this as many times as you can during the day.

Know that God loves you and blesses you for being you!

Well, time for a little statio…

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CG

Venite!

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers, and Friends of the Community!

The snow here has melted a little bit. It is still quite high, though, so we can still only receive air mail…

The psalm assigned for our lesson this past Sunday in Lent was Psalm 95. Many of us know the first part of this psalm as our Venite, the invitation psalm for Morning Prayer. Come!
We are asked to come to God’s presence with a song of Thanksgiving, and to be in a state of joy!

Why do this? It is explained in verses 3-5: For He is a great God, and a King above all gods. Everything that exists belongs to Him.
He is our God and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.

All that is, and all that happens in this world belongs to Him. In the long run, He is in control and will eventually make things right according to His plan.
When you encounter a tough situation in this earthly life, as we all do, one of two things will happen. Either you will escape it, or you will not.

Ultimately, however, you will end up all right. And often what we thought of as NOT getting through it OK, actually WAS getting through it OK.
It’s often a matter of perspective and time, and love. It is joy to know that “All will be well.”

Oh, that today you would listen to His voice! (v.7)

Bless you all for who you are and what you do!

Have a great week,

Br. Daniel-Joseph

JOY, HAPPINESS AND PEACE

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers, and Friends...

I pray that this note finds you all well and at peace.

I came across some interesting characteristics of joy, happiness and pleasure that I thought I would share with you, and have you think about them this coming week. Perhaps you have some additional thoughts about these that you would like to share as well...

One way to look at these three feelings is to associate each of them with the three aspects of who you are - a mind, a body, and a spirit. Using this set of relationships, one could match up happiness with the mind, pleasure with the body, and joy with the spirit.

It is interesting to note that both happiness and pleasure have latent opposites, but when we are talking about our spirit essence, there isn't any. With happiness comes the potential for sadness, and with pleasure comes the potential for pain. But joy (often mistaken for happiness) is really of the spirit, and there is no opposite. Joy is a state of our permanent being, and not just an emotion.

We can pursue happiness, and we can pursue pleasure, but joy is already with us, within us, and all we have to do is let it out. Happiness and pleasure are fleeting, transient. Joy is a permanent part of us that is fueled by the Spirit of God. It is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

When we catch ourselves wrapped in the issues of the past, or are anxious about the things in the future, we often look for ways to give ourselves pleasure or happiness so that we can "escape." But when we focus on being in the present moment, connected to God and not to the things of the past or the future, the inherent joy of our own souls begins to shine through.

Observe yourself this coming week as you wrestle with your schedules and your issues and problems. See how often your mind drifts to the past needlessly, or speculates about the future aimlessly. Then bring yourself back into the present moment and the joys that can only be found there.

Know that you are loved by Your Father who is at your side. Continue in your prayers, study, service, and practice of the present moment.

Your time-traveling brother,

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG
Guardian

2-10-08 * SURVIVAL KITS

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers, and Friends of the community!

Certainly a wild week of weather has passed by us. Devastating tornadoes in the mid and southern states; and here in Wisconsin we had about 2,000 drivers trapped in their vehicles near Madison this week when a storm hit there. Apparently two semi-trailer trucks got stuck going up a hill on the expressway, and that ended up blocking traffic for 19 miles. More snow came in, and many of the people were trapped for up to 15 hours. The Governor called out the National Guard to assist.

There is a standard survival package that should be kept in our northern cars during winter for times such as this. Some of the items include:

· A snow shovel – if you can get out of your car to use it
· A gallon of drinking water – if it’s not frozen
· A red flag to tie onto your car antenna – a Wisconsin Badger pennant will do.
· A can of Sterno or a coffee can, candle and matches – this will serve as a make-shift heater (keep your window open a crack)
· Your cell phone – so you can talk with friends while you’re waiting to be rescued
· Magazines or crossword puzzle books to keep your mind off of frost-bitten toes
· Snow shoes – in case you must attempt to walk somewhere, but it is not recommended
· A First Aid kit – but most wounds freeze quickly anyway
· An extra blanket and pillow – in case you finish the magazines or crosswords puzzle books
· A flash light
· And, of course, chocolate and/or beef jerky – to trade with other stranded motorists for blankets or matches

OK, you ask, where am I going with this? Well, it made me think about when we are on our spiritual journey and get stuck. Many times I will be sailing along, and sooner or later I seem to have gotten off track and stuck in a spiritual snow drift. My joy seems to have slipped away, the rhythm of my day is shot, and things are beginning to look a little bleak outside.
Time to grab the spiritual survival kit. Here’s a few items I would suggest to have handy:

· Your prayer book – get right back to a conversation with God through your prayers
· Your cell phone – call a friend and talk about what’s happening
· Your Rule of Life – this is your daily road map; take a look at where you are and where you’re going
· Count your blessings – keep things in perspective; moods and problems come and go; This, too, shall pass.
· Know that you are loved so very dearly by your Lord and Savior!
· Journal – write a little about what’s happening – putting things to words helps to bring a clearer understanding of what’s happening
· Write a letter to someone and thank them for something; bless them for being who they are
· Nature – get out a get under the moon! An oldie oldie song that reminds us to take a walk
· Go to Mass – the place where all our worlds become one in Him
· Chocolate – well, this may not be for you, but it is a personal favorite of mine (in moderation)

What would you add to either list in your case? I’d be curious to know.

Well, the weather is improving – as I write this the temperature has climbed to -10 degrees and the wind chill has improved to -30 degrees. Gosh, I can almost see a crocus popping up!

Love you all,

Br. Daniel-Joseph