Greetings, Sisters, Brothers, and Friends,
Today’s lectionary readings in I Samuel 3 told the story of young Samuel, a novice in the service of the Temple, who was awakened several times from his peaceful sleep by the gentle voice of God calling his name. He was given a message to be delivered to Eli, a priest in the Temple. The message was not good news for Eli, but the context with which the message was received by Samuel is good news for us.
Consider these things as you read the story:
1) God is persistent in His attempt to reach us. He doesn’t quit very easily. As long as there is a chance that we will listen, He will speak.
2) The Almighty God who created the entire cosmos is also intimately attached to us, calling us by name to attract our attention and establish a relationship. Samuel! Samuel!
3) God speaks to us in the Temple. In the Hebrew scriptures this was, of course, the one and only Temple in Jersualem. As our understanding of God evolves, however, we are taught in the New Testament that WE are actually the temple of God. “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (I Corin. 3:16) It is actually within us, within our soul, that God speaks. It is through the soul that He placed in us with the breath of life that He speaks to us. The kingdom of God is within you. To hear Him, we need to be still and know that He is God (Ps. 46:10)
As our chaplain, Fr. Patrick, suggested this morning at mass, look for an opportunity this coming week to remind someone else that they are the temple of God. Really!
Know that you are loved,
“All that is necesssary is to look into one’s own heart; for what God asks of us is not found at a great distance.” - St. Jerome.
Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Stations of the Manger 12
Stations of the Manger 12. The Flight to Egypt
January 7th
Nativity Scene: An empty manger is all that can be seen; no people or animals remain.
Scripture: (Matt: 2:13-15)
Now when they (the wise men) were departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.” And he arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt; and was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt did I call my son.”
Reflection: Sometimes, in order to serve God, we must “flee” for a while, so that we can rest and prepare for our next round of service to Him. Sometimes it is just not right to stay in a situation as it was with Joseph and his family. If we can’t change a situation, or it is such that it can’t be accepted, we must leave it. Not doing any of these three (changing the situation, accepting the situation, or leaving the situation) will probably bring us suffering. It may be better to pull back or go somewhere else to preserve or refresh oneself before reentering the secular fray. Jesus often went off alone to refresh himself, to reconnect with God – to “recharge” before he interacted with others again. If we listen carefully, the Holy Spirit will tell us when we need to withdraw for a while. When
24the time is right, she will call you back once again. God’s timing is always better than ours.
Prayer: God, Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as the pathway to peace. Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it. Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with Him forever in the next.
Amen.
Hymn(s): God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Response: When you’re feeling a bit disconnected and “ungrounded,” it may be time to take a personal retreat for a day or two. Consider making a weekend retreat at your favorite retreat center or monastery. Or, set aside some “alone time” in your own home. Daily prayer time with God is rejuvenating. Anchor each day with morning and evening prayers and meditation.
Blessings to all,
Daniel-Joseph
January 7th
Nativity Scene: An empty manger is all that can be seen; no people or animals remain.
Scripture: (Matt: 2:13-15)
Now when they (the wise men) were departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.” And he arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt; and was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt did I call my son.”
Reflection: Sometimes, in order to serve God, we must “flee” for a while, so that we can rest and prepare for our next round of service to Him. Sometimes it is just not right to stay in a situation as it was with Joseph and his family. If we can’t change a situation, or it is such that it can’t be accepted, we must leave it. Not doing any of these three (changing the situation, accepting the situation, or leaving the situation) will probably bring us suffering. It may be better to pull back or go somewhere else to preserve or refresh oneself before reentering the secular fray. Jesus often went off alone to refresh himself, to reconnect with God – to “recharge” before he interacted with others again. If we listen carefully, the Holy Spirit will tell us when we need to withdraw for a while. When
24the time is right, she will call you back once again. God’s timing is always better than ours.
Prayer: God, Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as the pathway to peace. Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it. Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with Him forever in the next.
Amen.
Hymn(s): God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Response: When you’re feeling a bit disconnected and “ungrounded,” it may be time to take a personal retreat for a day or two. Consider making a weekend retreat at your favorite retreat center or monastery. Or, set aside some “alone time” in your own home. Daily prayer time with God is rejuvenating. Anchor each day with morning and evening prayers and meditation.
Blessings to all,
Daniel-Joseph
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Stations of the Manger 11
Stations of the Manger 11. Epiphany
January 6th
Nativity Scene: The Wise Men and camels are added to the scene.
Scripture: (Matt. 2:1-12)
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born. And they said unto him, “In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written through the prophet. And you Bethlehem, land of Judah, are in no wise least among the princes of Judah: For out of you shall come forth a governor, Who shall be shepherd of my people Israel.”
Then Herod privately called the wise men, and learned of them exactly what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search out exactly concerning the young child; and when you have found him, bring me word, that I also may come and worship him.” And they, having heard the king, went their way; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and
22stood over where the young child was. And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary his mother; and they fell down and worshipped him; and opening their treasures they offered unto him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
Reflection: Even in the peacefulness of the Lord’s birth, those with out-of-control egos, hunger for power and full of fear, lurk to destroy. We must be watchful of those who seek to harm; but we must not stop our life of service to God. You serve Him by being who He made you – using your own unique set of talents and interests and abilities. God’s love will be proclaimed throughout the world as evidenced at the Epiphany.
Prayer: (Vidi Aquam)
I saw water proceeding out of the Temple; From the Right Side it flowed, Alleluia; And all those to whom that water came shall be saved, and shall say, alleluia, alleluia.
Hymn(s): We Three Kings
Response: The gifts of gold, frankincense (incense), or myrrh (incense or oils) that you present to Christ are the valuable gifts that God has given you: your unique, true self that resides in your heart. Stay with him on a spiritual level through your prayer, worship and meditation, and serve him on a physical level using those special interests, talents and abilities that only you have. Thank you for being who you are!
Blessings to all,
Daniel-Joseph
January 6th
Nativity Scene: The Wise Men and camels are added to the scene.
Scripture: (Matt. 2:1-12)
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born. And they said unto him, “In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written through the prophet. And you Bethlehem, land of Judah, are in no wise least among the princes of Judah: For out of you shall come forth a governor, Who shall be shepherd of my people Israel.”
Then Herod privately called the wise men, and learned of them exactly what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search out exactly concerning the young child; and when you have found him, bring me word, that I also may come and worship him.” And they, having heard the king, went their way; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and
22stood over where the young child was. And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary his mother; and they fell down and worshipped him; and opening their treasures they offered unto him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
Reflection: Even in the peacefulness of the Lord’s birth, those with out-of-control egos, hunger for power and full of fear, lurk to destroy. We must be watchful of those who seek to harm; but we must not stop our life of service to God. You serve Him by being who He made you – using your own unique set of talents and interests and abilities. God’s love will be proclaimed throughout the world as evidenced at the Epiphany.
Prayer: (Vidi Aquam)
I saw water proceeding out of the Temple; From the Right Side it flowed, Alleluia; And all those to whom that water came shall be saved, and shall say, alleluia, alleluia.
Hymn(s): We Three Kings
Response: The gifts of gold, frankincense (incense), or myrrh (incense or oils) that you present to Christ are the valuable gifts that God has given you: your unique, true self that resides in your heart. Stay with him on a spiritual level through your prayer, worship and meditation, and serve him on a physical level using those special interests, talents and abilities that only you have. Thank you for being who you are!
Blessings to all,
Daniel-Joseph
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