Advent Reflections

Recently our Presiding Bishop wrote in the Episcopal News Monthly, "We stand at the beginning of Advent and the season of expectation. It's not meant to be as penitential a season as Lent, but it is meant to help us slow down and pay attention." It's a good time to reflect on the season of Advent. What does Advent mean to you? In what ways is Advent similar to Lent? In what ways is it different from Lent? How do you make Advent a special time for you (like we try to do for Lent)?

"If I tell the truth, why then do you not believe me?"

"If I tell the truth, why then do you not believe me?" John 8:46

The Gospel of John is adamant about Jesus being the "truth." Among the numerous proclamations of this is one of the most famous lines found in verse 14:6, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life..."

On the occasion when Jesus asked, "If I tell the truth, why then do you not believe me?", he was in the temple teaching a group of people. Part of his lesson (verses 31 and 32) was that for those who believed in him, they shall know the truth, and the truth shall make them free.

Free? Free from what? All these verses on truth point to the same thing; the very things that encapsulate our souls preventing us from believing in him, are the very same things that we can be free of if we do believe in him. Perhaps this is another spiritual conundrum whose single key unlocks multiple doors.

The soul each of us has been given includes the image of God. It's like a shining light bulb inside of us that is supposed to represent God's unique reflection through us. But over time it gets coated with layers of dust and dirt as we travel through life. This dust and dirt comes in the form of illusions, false desires, prejudices, guilt, biases, arrogance, fear, shame, and hatred, to name a few; things we pick up from societal programming, peer pressure, false teachings. The coating over our light bulbs grows into a dysfunctional ego, taking on a life of its own, gradually dimming our true light, and is made up of the very things that keep us from believing the truth. A dysfunctional ego does not want to know the truth, because the truth would destroy it.

Saul's light bulb was cleaned off by Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" Jesus asked. Saul saw the true light, which allowed his own true light to shine forth once again. He was brought to an awareness of the truth, and as a result freed himself from the hatred and illusions he held.

When Jesus asks us, "Why then do you not believe me?", he is asking us to specifically name the things covering our own light bulbs. When we become truly aware of these things, we begin to see how silly and wrong they are, and they begin to fall off like the scales from Saul's eyes. Untruths, when held up to the true Light, fade away.

What impact does this Gospel reflective question have on your life? What things can you name that are covering your soul? Take some time with this and write down your responses in your journal. Share your thoughts with trusted advisors and counselors.

May God be with you on your journey!

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG

"Do you want to be healed?"

Gospel Reflection Question #3 "Do you want to be healed?" John 5:6

A man who had been ill for 38 years lay by the pool known as Bethesda. Jesus knew that the man had been there a long time, and asked him, "Do you want to be healed?" Once the man professed his desire to be healed Jesus told him to "stand up, take your mat and walk."

A discussion of "healing" can be laden with confusion and disappointment, since we see almost every day one person who is healed, and another who is not. There is a danger that lurks there creating the assumption that some people are closer to God and therefore get healed while others who are not in God's favor are bypassed. Those that aren't brought to health may be viewed as deserving of their troubles.

For the purposes of this reflective exercise, let's consider the possibility that there is a difference between "healing" and "curing." While being "cured" of an injury or disease may be a physical restoration of some sort, let's consider "healing" to be a spiritual restoration (which may or may not lead to a physical cure). Being healed is to be made whole in a spiritual sense. We come to terms with our affliction, accept it and keep it in life's perspective while we continue to seek a cure.

The physical part of ourselves is form, and all form is impermanent. It will not last. No one can be physically cured forever. The spiritual part of us, however, is essence, and essence is permanent. We can be spiritually healed forever.

To be spiritually healed, to be fully united with God, we have to want it. Jesus is looking for that willingness to follow him, to learn from him and to risk your life with him. He is the only true healer. Our Aspirant in France, Katherine, recently sent me this bit of wisdom which she collected on her spiritual journey:

”If looking back makes you suffer too much,
And if looking forwards makes you too afraid,
Look to your side and I will always be there with you."

So, before healing can take place, there has to be a willingness to heal. A person who does not want to be healed can negate even the best medicine, the most skilled hands of a surgeon, or the expert guidance of a therapist. If we wish to firmly identify with our past pains or future worries, the chances for healing are remote.

Therefore Jesus asks, "Do you want to be healed?" He's asking if there is a willingness to take that all important step of openness, acceptance, release and non-judgment. Are you ready to leave the past and the future where they belong, and look to him who walks beside you in the Present?

Do you want to be healed? What healing do you need right now? Take some time with this and write down your responses in your journal. Share your thoughts with trusted advisors and counselors.

As an additional reading for this reflective exercise, you may want to consider Psalm 51.

May God be with you on your journey!

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG

"What is your name?"

Luke (8:30) reports that when Jesus encountered a man in the country of Gerasenes who was possessed by multiple demons, he asked the man, "What is your name?" The man responded, "Legion," for he had many demons.

Jesus was already aware of, and knew, who the demons were inside the man. But Jesus' objective was to get the man to see the demons, too. The man had to see them as Jesus saw them - foreign objects covering the soul that had no place in the person. These "demons", like all demons, could only survive in the unconscious darkness of the possessed person's mind.

Once the person became fully aware of them by seeing them in the true Light, they would begin to fade. In the case of the man from Gerasenes, the demons sought shelter elsewhere knowing that they could not survive in this Light of Truth.

Jesus' piercing question, "What is your name?", began to bring definition to the situation. The question was designed to help the man see the true nature of these afflictions in new Light; to see them for what they really were: illusions; something foreign to us and to God that can no longer hide behind the veil of a dysfunctional ego.

Demons can take on various disguises. Sometimes they appear as biases or attachments, sometimes as prejudices. Some are time-travelers: they cling to us as guilt or shame of the past, and others come to us from the future bringing with them worry or fear. Several fed on power or on materialism or on false pride. They come in all sizes and shapes! But they all need you to feel separated from God, from the source of the True Light, because they draw their energy from this separation. If a person is not connected to the One Source of love, that person is powerless against possession.

When we fully recognize and begin to define our demons in the Light of Truth, they begin to fade under the power of God's love and compassion. Often, depending on the strength of our "demons" we may need to enlist the assistance of professional therapists and counselors as well as other members of our spiritual formation team to bring the issues to full Light. The man from Gerasenes needed Jesus' help to identify and expel his demons; so, too, must we often seek this same help from others who are professionally trained.

This reflective exercise begins with you and Jesus. During your contemplative time, imagine that he's alone with you, and asks you, "What is your name?" He's asking you to define your demons. What do they look like? What do they do? What false things are they telling you? Define them; shape them; expose them for what they really are. Take some time with this and write down your responses in your journal. Share your thoughts with trusted advisors and counselors.

May God be with you on your journey!

Prayer as Spiritual Breathing

Prayer is some of the most important work we do. So is breathing. Breathing helps keep our physical bodies alive. Prayer helps keep our spiritual souls alive. Both types of breathing involve a rhythm of inhaling and exhaling. If you're reading this I assume you are actively engaged in physical breathing and are somewhat familiar with it, so I'd like to focus on the idea of inhaling and exhaling in a spiritual sense through prayer.

When you look at our structured prayer time, such as the Daily Office, you'll see how part of it is inhalation, and part of it is exhalation. Inhalation, of course, comes first. We have to have something in our lungs before we can breathe it out. Physical inhalation takes in air - spiritual inhalation takes in the Presence of God.

The first half of our prayer time is receiving God's Presence through the Psalms, Lessons, Hymns, Canticles and Homily. It can also be done by experiencing the Presence of God in nature - taking a walk, rowing a boat, flying a kite, playing a game with a child. The inhalation of God's love and compassion is practiced in prayer, but can be experienced throughout the day. Inhalation is the contemplative side of our spiritual breathing. When we inhale, we take in the love and compassion of God for His creation. It is the stuff of which we are all made.

Our souls are fueled by this spiritual air, and once our lungs are filled with it, we must exhale. We were not meant to keep the air in our lungs; we were meant to circulate it. So, what is spiritual "exhalation"? We find this in the second half of the Daily Office under the title of 'The Prayers'. The cornerstone is the Lord's Prayer, recognizing our unity with God in purpose and essence. We also find daily Collects, prayers of Thanksgiving, and our intercessions and petitions for others.

Spiritual exhalation becomes the active side of our spiritual breathing. Being transformed by the fresh air taken in, we now put it to use. We have been given the power to change some things through prayer, so we need to use this opportunity through our intercessions and petitions. Of course, we are changed personally by prayer as well, and this prepares us better to respond during the course of the day to people and situations we encounter. We learn to use present moment resources to respond to present moment situations, and we do so keeping in mind the love and compassion taught to us by Christ and reinforced constantly by the Holy Spirit.

Breathe in - breathe out. This is our prayer life. This is why we pray. This rhythm of nature is a pattern of wisdom in both physical and spiritual realms. Make sure that both are a part of your life.

"What is it that you seek?"

This question, asked by Jesus of two of John the Baptist's disciples (John 1:38), was meant to be a question that found its way into the heart. Although the two disciples did not answer the question directly, they expressed their yearning by referring to Christ as "Teacher," and asked where he was staying.

Within each person God placed a yearning to be reunited with Him. This comes with the soul that He breathed into each one of us as we were being knitted together in our mother's womb. St. Augustine mentioned this 1,600 years ago when he wrote, God has made us for Himself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Him." Even St. Gregory of Nazianzen wrote, "In my earthly nature I am attached to life here below, while I also have in me a portion of the godhead; therefore my heart is tormented by the desire for the world to come."

Some people do not recognize what this yearning is, or how to respond to it. Without proper guidance they become distracted by the things of this world and attempt to fill this void with material acquisitions, addictions, false power, or other illusions. This is the broad road that leads to nowhere.

Other people recognize the yearning for what it is; the call of God's love, compassion and companionship. They seek to respond to this call of love in a spiritually-based way instead of one based on man's ways. As God says to us in Isaiah 55, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways."

So, we seek to shape our life around what we believe will bring us closer to God and be pleasing to Him. We turn to the time-honored traditions of our monastic brothers and sisters, and build a life based on His love.

We come to know that living these monastic principles gradually dissolves the false self that encapsulates our soul. The further we go, and the more we travel, the more we empty ourselves out so that we can let God work His will through us. This is the model that Saint Paul described in Philippians when he said, "Let the same mind be in you that was Christ Jesus, Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited. But he emptied himself, taking on the form of a servant, being born in human likeness, and he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death - even death on a cross." (Phili. 2:5-8)

At some point in our journey we begin to see Christ in others, we begin to appreciate nature as being sacred, we begin to see things we use every day as gifts from God, and we begin to understand that our actions are sacraments of God's steadfast love in the world. We truly become the hands, feet, eyes and lips of God - but most importantly we become His heart.

When we pass from this life to the next, we continue to carry with us our love and compassion that Jesus taught us and the Holy Spirit sustains within us. We gain a new and greater intimacy with Our Father, and join the eternal feast with His other servants, continuing to grow in His love and service.

To help guide us there, we can occasionally take some contemplative time and ask ourselves, "What is it that I seek?" This makes for an excellent reflective question and meditative exercise. Take some time with it and write down your response in your journal. Perhaps do it once a month to make sure that your spiritual compass continues to point toward His heart.

May God be with you on your journey!

Thoughts on the Transfiguration

The Transfiguration story is one of my favorite. It was nearing the end of Jesus' ministry, when he took three of his disciples, Peter, John and James, up to the mountain to pray. His journey up the mountain and the prayers he said remind us that there is a physical, concrete part of ministry. But his transfiguration may have been designed to remind us with great emphasis that there is also a powerful spiritual force at work as well.

These are two aspects of the Church (the physical and the spiritual) work together, each one contributing to the final goal of bringing every person back into a relationship with Our Father. There is the earthly part, the institution of the Church brought to us by Christ and embodied in him, that gradually developed into the beautiful and mystical rites, celebrations, canons, trappings and ornaments that guide us in worship and praise. This part, while greatly filled with the energy and Spirit of God, is more physical and concrete to us initially. We often see these things before we understand them. It is more of an outside-in type movement. Sometimes we never understand that these things are supposed to work closely with the other part, or we lose sight of this fact along the way.

The other part is sometimes referred to as the pneumanistic part, or the part that is driven by the Holy Spirit, the Breath, as she extends inspiration, hope and yearnings of the heart that gradually move people to Christ. This part usually happens from the inside out -- we often feel it long before we see its results as changed behavior or an outward act of service.

The two parts start from different places, but both head in the same direction, and are greatly intertwined. Together these two parts are supposed to work as a team, totally integrated with each other and quite inseparable.

The physical part of the church, the Rites, vestments, canons, hierarchy and constitutions, sometimes tend to be more attractive because we more easily identify with them since we also have a physical nature as they do. We sometimes lose ourselves in this physical nature which seeks identity in the physical world. Sometimes this gets strong enough that we use the physical aspects to protect what we think is the Church. What Christ designed to be inclusive, we begin to set boundaries that gradually build the walls of an exclusive club. We may insist that someone must be a member of the club before he or she can become a member. We forget that Christ came to serve the unchurched through the grace of the Holy Spirit, and didn't only come to serve the 'Righteous.' We refuse to use the tools we have to go into the streets to find and help the broken because that might be conforming to the world's standards. God forbid!

When Peter experienced the Transfiguration, he wanted to build three altars (physical aspects of the Church). Instead, Jesus took them down from the mountain and back into the crowds below to teach and heal (spiritual).

The transfiguration is a reminder for me to seek that powerful balance between the physical and the spiritual arms of the Church. These two were designed to work together to build the Church he meant to build -- a family that included every one of his children.

On The Last Judgment

Over the last year I have been writing a rather large computer program for a good friend. We're reaching the point where we are actually able to test it to see if it will do what we hoped it would. And, by golly, most of it works! But the key word here is 'most'. As we discover the 'bugs', we work to find them and correct the code - the process of 'debugging'.

While writing this code, I would often take breaks (so my head would not explode) by going out to my garden. At this time of year my walk to the world of vegetables and flowers would be mainly to pull weeds. It struck be yesterday that I may have stumbled on another pattern of life, a sign of the Creator surprising me in the most common places.

I realized that as I was pulling weeds, I did not harm the good parts of the garden. When I found a weed in one of my flower beds, I did not destroy the whole flower bed - I simply worked to pull the weed. I have an unending love for the vegetables and flowers, but not the weeds. While the weed grew in the same soil, and soaked up the same sunshine, and drank the same water, it was not part of the true garden that I wanted to preserve. At some point, the weed would have to be separated from the garden.

In thinking about my computer program, I realized that when I found a 'bug' in the code, I did not delete the entire program and start over, but I worked intensely to ferret out the errant line and remove it or change it. In effect, there was a 'weed' in my program garden.

Even the physician, when she or he encounters some malady within a patient, will work to remove the problem, not remove the whole patient. Certainly one way to end the problem is to destroy the entire person, but that would defeat the healing process, and not make much sense.

Perhaps within us, a part of the image of God, we inherently understand that there is bad with the good, and it is part of life's journey to sort out the two without harming the good. Perhaps this is the very nature of God, and when we believe in an inescapable hell, we are mistaken about what is ultimately going to happen to us; we are mistaken about the limitations of God's love and His intent to eventually bring everyone back home to Him.

Pulling weeds and cleaning up computer code is not always easy. But my love for a good end result is strong, so I do not give up on it. But it is painful to find bad code and get rid of it; it can be painful to uproot a nettle from the garden, and it can be painful to restore one's health, even at the hands of a physician.

I, for one, understand that at some point God will 'clean me up'. He will never give up on me. But the clean-up won't be easy, and it won't be without pain - pain from the realization of not always having followed His love and guidance. I have gradually grown to try to please Him out of love, not out of fear.

May God bless you on your road back to Him.

"The ultimate sin is to despair of God's mercy." - Oliviér Clément

On Service to Others

As monastics, we build our day around the three principal activities of prayer, study and service. They are not always equally balanced, nor should they be. Some days we find ourselves more in a role of prayer, other days are filled with mostly study, and many days seem to be engulfed in service.

As Jesus brought his earthly ministry to a close, he charged his followers with a new commandment - "to love one another as I have loved you." (John 13:34) By establishing the standard for love that is based on Jesus' actions toward us, one has to be drawn into a study of the gospels to see just what he did and how he lived so that we are able to follow his model.

Generally speaking, it is clear that he spent time in prayer, that he studied the scriptures as well as human behavior and society, and that he "emptied himself, taking the form of a servant." (Philippians 2:7) He lived a life that was a clear blend of preparation, renewal, and encounter.

Jesus shaped the foundations of Christianity to go beyond just avoiding sin. Living is to be more than just not doing anything wrong. Living is primarily meant to do good, to be of service to other people and all of creation. It is a life that responds to "love your neighbor as yourself." It is a life that places us at risk, and yet it is a life that offers the most benefit and satisfaction.

We serve God in different ways and at different times. Each person has been given a special set of skills, talents and interests, and is placed in unique situations every day to use them. We do not have to save a nation or cure a disease to be great in God's eyes; we only have to use the talents he has given us in moment by moment encounters with other people and creatures of his creation. This could mean offering a friendly gesture or kind word to another person; provide a helping hand or simple blessing; or doing one of thousands of things if we are alert enough to see the need in the present moment.

God gives us projects or causes or movements or jobs to get us started in the right direction. Or, maybe we have to run an errand for someone else. These are the "service theatres" within which we live and move. But they are not always the ends in themselves. They may simply be the means by which much of the true service work happens, where we play a role in each scene on that stage.

When we embark on a project or errand or other of the day's activities, we begin to encounter other people in our moment by moment journey. These moments only come one at a time, and will often bring to us something that God needs to be done in that moment. If we are sufficiently aware of each present moment, we may see the opportunity as well as the resources needed to respond to it. Often it will involve other people; sometimes it will be ourselves that need attention (perhaps it is time to get some rest or nourishment). Sometimes God may simply be asking us to enjoy something of beauty. Over time, we come to learn the difference between need and want, and what is really the right thing to do for ourselves and others.

This is service at its finest - responding to the situation we find ourselves in during each moment. To prepare for this best, we need to do what Jesus did: balance our life in prayer, study and service, so that we are ready to perceive and respond to God's call.

The Gift of Receiving

The Gift of Receiving - The Anointing at Bethany

The story of the anointing at Bethany (John 12:1-8) is one of those stories that offers different teachings and insights when viewed from various perspectives.

While this story is rich with lessons, the one that caught my interest was the one about of Mary. She took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard (spikenard), anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. "The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume," not to mention the radiating joy and love she felt for Jesus as she did this. Mary's love for Jesus was uncontainable.

From a "head" perspective, the extravagance disturbed the logic of economics. How could this person spent so much money for this gesture when the money could have been put to better use? Judas argues that the perfume could have been sold and the money given to help the poor! Wasn't this the very thing that Jesus taught?

There sat Mary, expressing her love in a way that didn't consider economics - it is what came to her as a way to demonstrate how much Jesus meant to her. She thought she was doing good, perhaps excited that Jesus would be pleased, but her heart joy was soon pierced by this sudden attack by Judas.

Jesus, sensing this awkward position Mary was now in, came to her defense. "Leave her alone," he interceded, and then defended her actions.

Perhaps this was a lesson in graceful receiving. Can we learn to accept the gifts of others, looking at the intent of the gift and not whether it is "over-valued" or "undervalued"? It is sometimes hard to express the feelings of the heart toward another person, so we try to do it through actions or gifts that fall short of the true feeling. We use material things and physical actions to convey spiritual intent. Quite difficult to do! I, for one, am clumsy at this, but I am also blessed with people around me who know I am clumsy at it. So, they can translate my attempt into its true heart-felt message.

Jesus understood Mary's message of love. Perhaps we can, too, see the same when we are giving and receiving.

Home Prayer - Place and Space

POWER

The fact that prayer can change the world is beyond dispute. But how does it do this? One of the most important ways is that it changes the one who is praying, and when we change from our prayers, the world changes. We are in the world, and the world is in us. It is through prayer that we reconnect with God, "regrounding" if you will.

PLACE

Jesus was diligent about getting his time for prayer, usually going off to a secluded spot when he needed to reconnect. His guidance for personal prayer included what was recorded in Matthew 6:5-6: "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners, that they may be seen by others. They have their reward; but when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

Since our Community members are dispersed, they are encouraged to find a special spot in their home (or someplace nice outside when the weather permits) for their personal prayer sessions. It is to be a special place, reserved just for prayer, meditation and contemplation, and used for nothing else. It can be as simple as a chair in the corner of the room, perhaps with a reading lamp. Choose a quiet spot, if possible, such as in a bedroom or study. A small end table can be useful to hold books and journal when not in use.

If the space is available, a slightly larger table can serve as a home altar. Here other items to set the tone for prayer can be added: Bible, candles, incense holder, and crucifix, as desired. Some home prayer spaces have kneelers as well. Add other items that help enter the Presence of God. Perhaps some icons, small bell, or angel statues. Things that attract the attention of your eyes, hears, smell and sense of touch will help bring you into the present moment. The present moment is where God resides for us; it is where He becomes accessible. Some people add soft music as a background. I often use some Gregorian chant music to create a solemn and yet joyful experience.

PREPARATION

The basics of preparing for personal prayer time follow the same thoughts as expressed in a recent article, "Early Morning Prayer." When you enter this personal prayer space, you do so both physically and mentally. It is easier to achieve physically, of course, because you simply go there. It can be a bit more challenging mentally, however, because we often carry with us the concerns of the past and the worries and busyness of the day ahead.

Therefore, when we enter our sacred prayer space, allow some time for the mind to settle down. The thoughts of the day that demand our attention will eventually find their way out. Don't push at them or prevent them from passing through, just gently show them the way out of the room. Your worries and concerns can be dealt with later, so remind them that this is not their time.

Begin to replace these thoughts with the senses and images of the things in your prayer space. These are reminders that you are a child of God, and are deeply loved by Him. You soon arrive in His Presence, and as with any dear friend, this calls for your full attention and respect.

You may want to tap a little bell signifying the start of the session, or light a candle (be sure to extinguish it after the session!). Some people, like me, will wrap themselves in a prayer stole or shawl upon entering the prayer space. I have several designs and styles, depending on the season and occasion. Wearing one reminds me of being wrapped in the loving arms of God. It also reminds me of the shield against those things in my life that are not of God. For now, during this special time, He and I are one, and we are going to have a conversation together.

PRACTICE

Once our minds have settled down we can begin our prayer routine. This can range from a structured prayer book with assigned readings for each day, to simply sitting and enjoying His presence. Some people go for a walk in the woods, sitting in a boat, or taking a swim (probably without a prayer shawl). Some people explore the symbols, features and colors of a religious icon. Others read Biblical stories and imagine themselves a part of it; they live the sights and sounds of the time, gleaning some new understanding or just relishing the presence of God. Include prayers for others, and for yourself, as the need arises.

Journaling your prayer experience can be helpful, too. Sometimes answering a set of questions about the day just past help to make us stronger for the next day. Some questions you may consider include:

• How was God present in the events of this day?
• What are your key feelings of this day?
• What did you feel God was guiding you to do today?
• How did you respond to God's call today?
• The particular event or situation of this day that I want most to be healed is...

As you review your journal from time to time you may learn what works best for you and what doesn't. Discuss the results with your spiritual director, counselor or trusted friends. End your prayer session with a short prayer of thanks, asking God to remain Present with you as you reenter the world.

PEOPLE

Like Jesus returning to the people after each of his prayer times, we, too, must reengage the world as it presents itself to us. Hopefully, we are a little bit better equipped to do so just having spent some time with Our Father. The ultimate goal of personal prayer time, or course, is that you carry this sense of His Presence with you all the time. Each moment of the day becomes a prayer session of words, thoughts and actions. We begin to see the image of God in other people, we see things as being gifts of God, we see nature as sacred, and we see each of our movements as sacraments to His love.

Go in peace, to love and serve each other, one moment at a time!

The Third Temptation of Christ - Blind Patriotism

The third temptation that Christ faced in the desert as he began to shape his ministry was that of placing worldly power and might ahead of allegiance to God. Jesus was led to a very high mountain and was shown the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. The Tempter promised Jesus that these could all be his if Jesus dropped his allegiance to God and turned instead to worship the prince of this world. (Matthew 4:8-10 and Luke 4:5-8)

The people at the time were ready for a military messiah, one who could rally the people together to oust foreign intervention and reestablish a separate and sovereign people. It would have been easier to rise to power on a platform of revolution in response to this need than on a platform forming a world-wide community based on the love of God.

Is there really such a difference between the two systems? God inspired Isaiah to write on this, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9)

There is nothing wrong with having geographical divisions of space such as countries, states, provinces, cities, towns and streets. It makes finding things a lot easier, helps the postal service deliver things, and provides game shows with challenging questions. But when these divisions grow into collective egos called nations that become dysfunctional, we create fertile ground for racism, greed, economic imbalance, preferential treatment, and exploitation - things that are not of God, but of man. People begin to coagulate around fear-based causes and principles that separate one people from another; creating short-sighted vision that eventually turns into provincial blindness.

Man's tendency is to divide. He does so out of fear. He forms separate groups for safety, identity and pride. If my group is more powerful than your group, he reasons, then we are safer, we are better, and you are not. God's tendency, however, is to unite. He does so out of love. If we realize that we are all members of the same family, all brothers and sisters, then fear is destroyed, and we can build systems to make sure everyone has enough food, clothing, shelter, medical care, healthy relationships, and other truly human aspects of life. We can help each other become who God made us to be, serving Him in this world in our own unique way based on the special gifts he has given to each one of us.

It is a classic choice we all face today - should we live according to God's rules, or our own? Jesus' response to this temptation was to reiterate, "Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him." Perhaps one day we will all become one family, a place where, as St. Paul writes, "If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together." (1 Corinthians 12:26)

The Second Temptation of Christ - Physical Safety

The second temptation of Christ in the desert was perhaps the most insidious of the three. We read in Matthew 4:5-7 (and Luke 4:9-12) that Jesus was placed in a physically dangerous position (the pinnacle of the temple) by his tempter, who quoted scripture trying to convince Jesus that he would not be hurt if he jumped off, "For it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you, and on their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'"

Quoting scripture to promote falsehoods is done far too often even today. But this is not the deepest concern here. Inherent in the tempter's promise is that if you follow God's will and do His word in your life, He will keep you from harm's way. Psalm 91 is often used as an example of this, and there are many more.

The tempter knew that if he could get people to believe this, they would be set up for a fall that would be very difficult to recover from. People living good lives get hurt somewhere along the way, and then they get angry with God. They question what they have done to deserve this pain and suffering. They turn from God, severing the one connection that would help them get through. The connection with our Creator is replaced with anger, frustration and a sense of betrayal.

The truth is, good people and bad people both get hurt in life. Some worse than others. And most of the pain and suffering in the world is caused by people in the first place. We cause many famines; we cause homelessness; we cause many of the diseases we are trying to cure. We cause accidents through impatience, carelessness, or cutting corners for extra profit. Of course, nature unleashes some of her own fury in earthquakes, tornadoes, and tsunamis, etc. Let's face it - we live in a dangerous place. We make it worse when we try to live above nature rather than with it.

But within the world also comes beautiful things - mountains, trees, flowers, and people who bring love and compassion. There are medicines to cure illnesses; roads to share goods and services; materials to build homes to protect us from the weather and keep us warm; rich soil to grow food; communication networks to share stories and information; and much, much more. We could reclaim Eden if we became a family once again.

We may not be able to prevent physical harm coming to us. Eventually something gets all of us. One thing we CAN count on, though, is that no harm will come to your spiritual self, that is, your true self, regardless of what happens to your physical self. St. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 , "Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal."

The other thing we can count on, too, is the fact that God WILL be there during our times of trouble to help out, if we let Him. When trouble enters our lives, it is time to turn toward Our Father and not away from Him. We can find Him in friends, counselors, therapists, scripture, pastors, doctors and out in nature. We can find Him deep within ourselves, right there in your heart.

Statio - The Pause that Refreshes

The busyness and concerns of our day can have a dampening effect on our connection with reality and the connections with God that we established in our early morning prayer session. We started our day feeling right with ourselves, but the world of mankind that we interact with throughout the day may begin to wear against this. We may end up feeling a bit lost or frustrated, thinking about "getting out of this place," or daydreaming of being in a different situation.

To regain our "grounding," our effectiveness and creativity, along with a true understanding of the relationship of things in our field of awareness, we sometimes will need to pause during the day for a quick "reorientation." These pause-to-refresh moments are sometimes referred to as "statio". The spiritual discipline of statio is simply the discipline of taking a moment or two from the activities of the day to reconnect with reality, with God and the world around us.

Statio can come in many forms, but the idea is to employ similar methods used in early morning prayer. If you can find a moment alone, either at your desk, walking along a hallway, or sitting in your car, allow the current thoughts and worries of the day to flow through your mind until they begin to dissipate. Do not try to force them out or block them from coming. Gradually they will settle down. Remind them that you can deal with them later.

Next, get a feel for the day so far. Ask yourself something like, "How is this day (or moment) going for me right now? How am I feeling about it?" Be sure to ask the question from two perspectives: first, from your ego perspective, and second from your true self. Be honest with yourself. Often you will find that the answers between the two perspectives will be different. The things that are important to the ego are usually very different from the things that are important to your true self.

It is this difference that you are now defining that is probably the cause of your troubles this day. It is also very important to remember that this difference is purely ego-based.

This realization will often change your perspective as you re-engage the day and once again begin interacting with others. (And realize that you are often interacting with their egos, not their true selves.) Your behavior, and therefore the outcome of the day, will be much different following statio. This will help you be more present in each forthcoming moment, bringing a calmness to you and to others.
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 virtue of Presence.

How often do we do statio? Initially, it may have to be done frequently, depending on where we are in our spiritual journey and what the circumstances of the day happen to be. Over time, the need for statio will be less, because we will remain in the Presence more often and for longer periods.

How can I remember to do statio? Mostly this is a matter of monitoring our current state of mind and feelings during the day. Become an observer of yourself. If you are not at peace in the present moment, it may be time to try a little statio.

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!

Early Morning Prayer

It has been the practice and tradition of monastics and spiritual seekers around the world for thousands of years to greet each new day with early morning prayer. Often before the sun breaks the eastern horizon the seeker rises from bed and performs a special prayer rite in a special place. (Beating the sun out of bed is, of course, a bit easier to do in winter months.)

While each prayer offering during the course of the day is important in its own way, early morning prayer has special significance. It has long been known that each person has spiritual connections with every other person and with the earth itself. As such, there is a collective influence on the day ahead.

The purpose of early morning prayer is to bring the seeker into the presence of the oncoming day with an open heart and an open mind. If we can arrive at this point we can influence the coming day greatly. There is a incredible amount of power flowing through the present moment. As a seeker, our only purpose is to be truly in the present moment where the power resides – not burdened with reliving the events of yesterday, or worried about what’s supposed to happen today or tomorrow. These are things not in reality and will interfere with the possibilities of the present.

But we are human, and it is not always easy to clear our minds and recapture the present moment. Thus, the prayer routine allows for this. Each morning liturgy should be designed to allow the memories and worries in our heads to flow as they will through our minds for a while. Resisting them usually doesn’t work. Let them flow and allow them to dissipate on their own. Reminding ourselves that these things can be dealt with later often helps. So, part of the morning service is some quiet time, some meditative time, to allow the mind to settle. Some people will even use physical exercise to “clear the head.”

Then return to silence and begin to get a feel for the coming day. Really, our only purpose is just to be present. We needn’t try to change anything, as the ideal situation will be for us to be a conduit through which God can do His work this day. We will become His hands, His eyes, His voice and His heart regardless of where the day takes us.

Our awareness of the day and our place in it creates a great deal of influence. Today we will function as one part of a vast system of things happening. We are an important piece of what will transpire this day, even though we may not think so. Even a smile to someone else will be critical to make this day turn out the way it should. Our presence can settle this day, just as sitting next to a friend who is ill, or a child who is taking a nap. Our presence in the moment adds an assurance to the day that calms it down.

Activities of early morning prayer can vary, depending on our temperament and interests. Morning prayer can include singing, reading, praying, writing poetry, or just watching the sunrise. If it works the way it should, we end up feeling renewed, that this day will be unique. We should be feeling peaceful, and part of the overall scope of nature. We should feel welcoming to new things and the creativity that exists in the day ahead. We should feel part of God’s family, an important piece in the entire scope of His creation, no less or more important than the other people we meet today – just brothers and sisters of His family.