Together For Good

Psalm for a Broken Nation

2011-11-22T05:03:00.003-06:00

A present day psalm for reflection:

Our nation is broken, O Lord,
Our nation is adrift;
Our core has been split,
And there is no one to mend it.

Enter our hearts, O Spirit!
Well up from within us;
Help us to know Your Truth,
Help us to see Your Way.

We have tried, and have gone astray,
We know not the Way;
Step in now, O Lord, step in,
Grab the reins and guide us.

Your children hunger
In the land of the rich;
It rains on their heads
For they have no roof.

Care is offered for money,
It used to be for love;
the wisdom of the elders
Has been set aside.

The air and the soil have no value to them;
Neither does the water nor the food;
Why do they work for that which lasts but a moment?
And why is the Right Path not seen?

Enter our hearts, O Spirit!
Well up from within us;
Before the fist holds a gun,
And the mouth speaks a curse.

Your children are lost,
And need a Shepherd.
Step in now, O Lord, step in;
Enter our hearts and awaken us!

Eternal Fire and the Royal Crown

2011-09-20T05:18:00.001-05:00

I was reading the Letter of Jude the other night as a Compline meditation, and I came across the phrase, "eternal fire" used in a threatening way. It wasn't the first time I encountered this phrase, as it appears in similar forms in other epistles, but it was the first time I stopped to think a little more about it, and tried to discern why every time I read it I felt that there was something wrong with the way I was seeing it.

The image that comes to mind with this phrase is a fire that burns us forever - adding to that ever-present threat of eternal punishment against misbehavior (non-conforming?) in this life. This interpretation is not consistent with the loving, compassionate, merciful God that I've come to know through experience.

So, either God is not the loving, compassionate, merciful God that I think He is, or we are looking at the phrase "eternal fire" incorrectly.

Let's consider the sentence, "The king wears a royal crown."

The king, and the crown, are two separate things. The crown itself is mostly metal, cloth and jewels. By itself, there is nothing really royal about it.

What makes the crown royal? Certainly not the crown itself, but rather the status of the king. Since it's the king's crown, the crown gets its royalty from the king, not from itself. So the word royal in this case better describes the source of the royalty, rather than something that comes from the crown itself like, "shiny" or "beautiful." The adjective royal describes a transient property rather than one that emerges from the thing described.

This same treatment of the adjective royal can be applied to the adjective eternal in the phrase "eternal fire." The word eternal is not so much a characteristic of the fire as it is the source of the fire. Since God is the only true eternal being, eternal fire in this sense means "God's fire" just like royal crown really means king's crown."

Now, if God is indeed loving, merciful, and compassionate, then somehow this fire must also have these same characteristics. The fire is not a fire that punishes throughout all eternity, but one that cleanses. It will remove (burn off) all the pieces of the false self that surrounds our soul, our true selves; things like false pride, prejudice, illusions, hatreds, fears, anxieties, guilt and shame - any spiritual ill that prevents us from being who we truly were made to be.

God wants to reclaim us for Himself - not destroy or torture us. "Fire" is a metaphor used to describe whatever actions He may take to prepare us for this homecoming, done in a spirit of love, compassion and mercy.

"I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled!" (Luke 12:49)

A Key to the Kingdom

2011-08-08T07:02:00.000-05:00

In I Kings 19 we read that Elijah took refuge in a cave on Mt. Horeb, his life being sought by Queen Jezebel after he destroyed the prophets of Baal. In the cave, Elijah lamented that the people of Israel forsook their covenant with God. He felt alone and depressed.

God called to Elijah, telling him to come out of the cave and "stand on the mountain before the Lord." God wanted to make a connection with Elijah, but knew that Elijah had to be in the right place mentally, before that would happen. God will continually call to us, too, regardless of where we are or what condition we're in, but he won't be able to communicate with us until we are in the right state of mind, listening to the right thing.

Verses 11 and 12 of I Kings 19 speak of the things that we might usually believe contain the messages of God: powerful winds (current cultural norms and the tide of public opinion?), earthquakes (calamities in nature?), and fire (passions and desires of the mind such as power, greed or popularity?).

But an old adage warns, "Prominence does not guarantee validity." Just because something is in our face regardless of which way we turn, doesn't make it right. The voice of God does not speak through the majority of people, natural disasters or the collective ego of any group. The voice of God is heard through the heart - the still, small voice that Elijah heard once he was able to put all those other distractions aside. Once he let them pass, he could hear the still, small voice - the gentle breeze.

God may gain our attention with some event or happening, but we can't make a true connection with him until we look inward to our own heart. Paul reminds us of this in Romans 10: 8 as he quotes from Deuteronomy, "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart." Jesus mentions the same thing as he described the coming of the kingdom of God in Luke 17:20-21, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will it be where they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."

How can we "leave our cave," put the noisy distractions aside, and come to a place where we can listen to the ear of our heart? Certainly, the distractions of this world are many, and they are strong. But stronger still is our own ability to practice present moment mindfulness - shedding any images of the past that trouble us, and fears and worries of the future that grab our attention - enabling us to see what is before us clearly, and to hear what is coming from our heart. This is one key to the kingdom.

We gain present moment mindfulness through practice - lots of it. We live each moment with "piercing eyes" and "piercing ears," really seeing and listening to what is going on around us, seeing and hearing deeply. We take time to be in the present moment, savoring each sight, sound and touch we are experiencing. We ask ourselves questions: "What am I really seeing right now?", "What am I really hearing right now?", "What am I really feeling right now?"

We learn to discern between distractions and truth. And after a while, we begin to see life as it really is. We come to realize that God's love is permanent and that physical things and situations are impermanent, and that all things are really connected in some manner. We come to realize that if we had been born and lived the life of the other person we are talking with, we might be exactly as that other person is right now.

Present moment mindfulness brings with it a greater understanding of life, and that nurtures deeper compassion and love for others and for this world. It helps us to shed the dysfunctional egos that envelop our souls. It is then that we are actually hearing the still, small voice of God coming from the kingdom in our heart.

On Being a "Born Again" Christian

2011-08-03T04:37:00.001-05:00

The presence of the kingdom of God is clearly all around us - we can see signs of the Creator in His animals and His plants, and in the stars and the clouds moving through the sky. If we really look, we can see His work everywhere. Scripture tells us that the kingdom of God is within us, too. (Luke 17:21)

The kingdom of God may be all around me, even inside me, but I don't always feel it or live like it is there.

Nicodemus, a Pharisee, came to Jesus with this same concern. He said to Jesus, "We know you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these things that you do unless God is with him." Embedded in his statement is the question he wanted to ask: "How can I get God to be with me - how can I be in the kingdom of God?"

Jesus answered him by saying, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Nicodemus, taking this literally (and thereby missing the lesson) responded to Jesus, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'" (John 3:1-7)

The kingdom of God is certainly within each of us, and we can find it there when we look deeply into ourselves, putting aside the busyness of daily life, and quieting the noisy ego that is placing continuous, unreasonable demands on our time and psyche.

But to realize the fullness of this kingdom, to ignite it, to experience the richness of it, I suggest to you that we need other people to bring it to life. The kingdom doesn't work well alone. Yes, it works easier when we are with people of like mind; friends, partners, groups, networks, communities, churches, neighborhoods - for Jesus points out that "wherever two or three are gathered in my name, I am there also." (Matthew 18:20) It erupts in love when people meet and are able to connect at a heart-to-heart level. Maybe you've felt this at times in the past when you're with the right people, and where there is nothing in the way of deep understanding and knowing of each other.

But the kingdom can also be brought to life when we're facing a person we may be having difficulty with, someone who is frustrating us, or with whom we are in conflict. We can activate the kingdom of God even in these situations. How? By being born again.

For me, being born again is the act of deeply looking into the heart, history and hopes of the person I'm with. It's being able to put myself aside for awhile, and live the life of the other person to the point that it almost feels as though I was born that other person. I visualize myself as having been born in his or her life, growing up as they did, in the conditions that she or he had. If I've listened deeply to them, and I've looked deeply into their heart, I'll understand better where they're coming from, I'll gain a sense of why they're thinking the way they do, and I'll understand better what they're facing in life. I may realize that I would have ended up exactly as they have if I'd been born when and where they had been born.

With this deep understanding I gain about the other person, compassion begins to grow in me. I learn to accept who they are. With understanding, compassion and acceptance comes love. Who I thought was an enemy becomes a brother or sister. I see that I am indeed connected with them, and am like them in many ways. We are told to love our enemies, because as soon as we do, they are no longer our enemies. We enter the kingdom of God when we reach this level of understanding.

Being born again means taking the time to deeply listen and deeply see the other person as though we were that person. This takes patience, and time. It means asking questions instead of telling. It means observing rather than showing. It takes humility and a good sense of self. Being born again takes practice. I need the practice. Today I will begin to try to practice this better.

How many times must we be born again? Well, that depends on how many times we interact with another person. Could be quite a lot! We aren't born-again Christians because we claim to be born-again Christians. We're born again Christians because we are born again, and again, and again... (Think of all the birthdays we can celebrate!)

By being born again we can see the kingdom of God, not only in ourselves, but in the other person as well.

"Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12:32 )

"Seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you." (Luke 12:31)

Parable of the Mustard Seed

2011-07-24T13:39:00.000-05:00

In just a few months I'll be moving further into retirement. (Hurray!) My darling spouse has asked me to do more of the cooking since I'll have extra time on my hands, and that's OK because I actually enjoy cooking.

To improve my culinary skills, I watched a couple of cooking shows on TV yesterday. Oddly enough, both shows talked about using mustard as an emulsifier to bind water and oil together. Without the mustard, oil and water naturally separate, not wanting to be together at all.

Then, listening to the readings in church this morning, I once again heard the parable of the mustard seed:

"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field. The mustard seed is one of the smallest of seeds, but when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches." Matthew 13:31-32

It occurred to me that the mustard seed could represent our own mindfulness, our consciousness, our awareness of the present moment. If we can properly nurture this to grow in our own field ("our life"), we'll bring with it a greater knowledge and action of the loving Holy Spirit within us, in all that we do, think or say. By doing this, we can bring peace; we can dialogue about our differences instead of debating them. We can learn to see that the different ways people think are opportunities for ourselves to grow and learn. We can drop our prejudices and illusions. We can begin to blend the oil and water of life into a common understanding through the Presence of God in our lives. We can learn to unite instead of divide.

This may be one of the smallest of ideas, one of the littlest things we can do each and every moment: to deeply listen to the other person, to deeply see what is really going on, to deeply think about what we're about to say or do before we do it. But it's also the very thing that can grow large, and be inviting to others (represented by the birds of the air).

Just like any other skill, we need to practice our mindfulness to make it as effective as possible. Let's start right now! Pass the mustard, please...

The Holy Spirit and Mindfulness

2011-07-21T06:24:00.000-05:00

Romans 8:26-39 contains a wealth of discussion material, all of it reinforcing the fact that God is rich in love, mercy and compassion. Sometimes this message gets overshadowed by the tasks and issues we're dealing with in day-to-day life, but it is a true and good message nonetheless.

"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit makes intercession for us with groanings which we don't always understand. Now He (God), who can search our hearts, knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit makes intercessions for us according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

The Holy Spirit is the active, loving movement of God in our lives. This Presence is known by different names and phrases such as Holy Spirit, the Breath of Life, Advocate, Ruach, Chi, and others. People throughout time and all over the world have described this active Presence in their lives. The Holy Spirit lives within us, and serves as our Guide when we tap into its Presence.

But because of our human ability to mentally live in either the past, present or future, we don't always make the connection with the Spirit and enjoy all the relationship s/he has to offer. The Holy Spirit is Presence, and this means we must be in the Present Moment to make the connection. If we decide to live in the past or the future, we live there alone. And how do we attain this Presence in the present? Well, the answer to this question is the same as the answer to the question, "How do we get to Carnegie Hall?" The answer: "Practice, practice, practice."

"To be called according to His purpose" means to fully leave in the Present Moment - not dwelling in the past or being overly concerned with the future. Life happens now. The Spirit is in the Now. So the key is to practice present moment awareness, sometimes referred to as "mindfulness." When mindfulness is in you, so is the Holy Spirit. It is then that you can fully understand what you are to do in each moment, regardless of the task at hand.

Being mindful is to know what is going on around you as well as within you at any moment. We must learn to live life slowly, experiencing each and every moment - the sounds, the colors, the faces, the conversation, the feelings, the thoughts. As monastics, we begin spiritual formation slowly, so we learn how to live. And once we get better at it, we learn to go even slower. And eventually when we become masters, we practice life as slowly as possible. If we trip, or drop something, or feel frustrated, or miss something, or feel that life is moving too fast, then life is moving too fast. Slow it down. Return to the present.

Senses: What are you seeing? Hearing? Touching? Tasting?
Thoughts: What are you thinking right now? Why?
Actions: What are you doing right now? Why?
Feelings: What are you feeling right now? Why? Is it you or your ego?

The Holy Spirit will always guide you according to the love of God. God is love - what else can He do? If we truly live each and every moment in the presence of the Presence, it will eventually work out for His good. Practicing mindfulness may be one of the more important spiritual disciplines we ever do.

Depth of Focus: Friend or Foe?

2011-05-06T07:56:00.000-05:00

The ability to distinguish and discern between things is a critical skill, one which we learn early in life to provide us with a level of safety in this physical world. This rational judgment, while increasing our chances for survival, can also diminish our understanding of life by unknowingly becoming the basis for our moral judgment.

We quickly learn through our own experience (or the experience of others) not to touch a hot burner on the stove. Hot isn’t good for us, but room temperature is fine. We learn that sharp things can cut us, but dull things usually don’t. We learn that some people will be helpful to us, and others may hurt us. We learn that some objects are hard and could cause us damage, and that others are soft and should be fine. We learn that some plants are OK to touch, but others (like poison ivy) are not.

But not all things can be, or should be, placed into a “good” versus “bad” system. There is a danger when our well-trained, rational judgment mind encounters new things or situations, and we quickly try to make sense of them in some way. Our “depth of focus” at this point is working very much like a pre-digital camera, with the ability to see things only within a certain focal range. Things outside of this depth of focus are unclear and uncertain, so in our natural inclination to make sense of them we decide whether they’re good or bad.

Maybe the way we classify things comes from society, or its been shaped by parents, friends or other people we admire. To conform to our adopted standards, we might start to use rational judgments to make moral judgments about being wealthy versus being poor; being powerful versus being helpless; being white versus being black; being male versus being female; being young versus being old; being heterosexual versus being homosexual; being tall versus being short; being smart versus being challenged. When we misapply our rational judgment, we begin to create illusions in our minds, and these illusions feed prejudices, and these prejudices grow into fear, which degenerates into hatred.

Consider an artist’s canvas propped up on an easel. On this white background the artist places two dots next to each other, one red and one green. From a normal vantage point we can see that there are two dots of different shades. We have used our rational judgment to distinguish the difference between them. The red color may indicate danger to us, such as the red in a traffic light, or because it’s the color of blood. But red is also the color of roses and romantic hearts. The green color may initially represent something good, like the green in a traffic light; green means it’s time to move ahead. Green is the color of life, as most plants are green. But green is also the color of infection and rot.

However we interpret these colors, our discernment and judgment are hard at work. What started out as an important ability to discern between things is now robbing us of truth, and that diminishes life’s richness. It’s a tough cycle to break, but if we don’t try, we become imprisoned by our own mind.

Our challenge is to change (or expand) our depth of focus to begin to see in new ways. Doing so will destroy illusions we have and help us to expand our understanding. Without compromising our ability to distinguish and discern, we simply add another dimension to our perception. When we begin to look at the red and green dots on the artist’s canvas in a broader depth of field, we begin to see not only their differences, but also how they are really very much alike. Without destroying their uniqueness, we can also begin to appreciate their similarities, and this leads to new opportunities in relationships and interaction.

Stepping back from the artist’s canvas, the red and green dots begin to merge into something new. Maybe we begin to see them as a new color or a new shape. We’re expanding our depth of focus, allowing ourselves to see things in new ways. By pulling back a little we become willing to consider the possibility that what appeared to be differences is no longer true.

The same type of thing happens if we adjust our depth of focus the other way. Instead of moving further away from the artist’s canvas, we move closer – much closer. Suppose we were so close to the two dots on the canvas that we had to use a powerful microscope. The closer we go to the dots, even approaching the molecular level, we begin to lose the distinct colors each dot has, and we begin to see some similarities. We find that each color is made of molecules and atoms, each with combinations of spinning electrons around a nucleus of protons and neutrons. The atoms in each dot actually behave in similar ways, and it becomes difficult to distinguish between the two dots as we could before. We discover common design and similar laws governing their actions. Once again, it shows us a paradox. With our expanded depth of focus, we can say with equal validity that on the one hand the two dots are indeed different, but on the other hand they are the same. Both are true!

So, what can we take away from this to use on our spiritual journey? First, be aware of when we might be using the ability to discern and distinguish beyond its intended use as rational judgment, when it starts to be used for moral or ethical judgment. If we find that we harbor any fears, hatred, or disagreements about things, trace these back to their origins, back through possible prejudices or illusions that we may have, all the way back to a limited depth of focus. Then, step back from this, or examine it more closely, expanding our depth of focus either way, looking for acceptance that what we originally thought was a conflict is actually a paradox. Ask yourself, "Are the differences I'm seeing really true? Really?" Differences begin to reveal connections, new insights bring new understanding, and new opportunities may appear.

The Whip of Cords

2011-01-17T06:46:00.000-06:00

Jesus' use of a "whip of cords" to clear out the Temple courtyard brings an important spiritual message for all of us, one that is based on his love and determination for our welfare.

The author of John's Gospel describes the incident of Jesus clearing the Temple as being fueled both by love ("Zeal for your house consumes me," in John 2:17) and by determination ("He drove out the animals," and "overturned the money changers' tables" in John 2:15). John's Gospel placed this incident early in Jesus' ministry to stress some of the important changes that he would bring: no more corruption or cheating, no more sacrificing of animals, and no more irreverence in the Temple.

For me, Jesus' action brings a powerful symbolic message. We can begin to understand this message when we consider the new philosophy that Jesus brings. St. Paul described it well in his letters to the church at Corinth when he wrote, "Do you not know that you are God's temple, and that God's spirit dwells in you?" (I Corinthians 3:16) And later, "What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, 'I will live in them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall b my people.'" (2 Corinthians 6:16)

Jesus also comments on this in John 14:17, "This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you."

Jesus considers each of us to be a temple of God, a place where he will reside, a place that he loves. And like the Temple in Jerusalem, Jesus will enter into our lives, into our temple if we let him, and will use his "whip of cords" to drive out all that is not of God. (Notice that he did not use the whip of cords on the Temple itself - only on the things that shouldn't have been there.)

And what does this whip of cords represent? God uses all of his creation to work together, and will often work through other people to accomplish his mission. Jesus made a whip of cords appropriate to the situation at hand. He will do the same for us. Each cord of the whip represents a member of a team of people that support our spiritual journey - people we need around us to help us grow and become who God made us to be. This group of people (our "cords") is unique to our situation. The team may consist of physicians, counselors, pastors, friends, therapists, spiritual directors, teachers, parents, nutritionists, coaches - anyone who may contribute to our well-being - anyone who can help us drive out anything that is not of God in a loving, but determined, way.

The process takes time, and requires honesty and commitment. Find these people if you don't have them. Together, as a team, your temple will gradually be renewed and you will gradually come to know, love and serve God in your own unique way.

Advent Reflections

2010-12-02T07:23:00.001-06:00

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?"

2010-10-12T09:15:00.001-05:00

"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?"

2010-09-12T05:36:00.000-05:00

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?"

2010-09-05T06:16:00.001-05:00

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

2010-08-30T07:31:00.002-05:00

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?"

2010-08-29T05:54:00.001-05:00

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

2010-08-06T06:38:00.002-05:00

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

2010-06-17T15:31:00.000-05:00

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

2010-05-02T20:03:00.000-05:00

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

2010-03-23T04:58:00.000-05:00

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

2010-03-10T05:58:00.001-06:00

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

2010-02-26T06:51:00.000-06:00

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

2010-02-25T06:26:00.000-06:00

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

2010-02-23T05:25:00.002-06:00

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

2010-01-07T07:25:00.001-06:00

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.

New Year's Resolutions

2009-12-29T06:56:00.001-06:00

Greetings!

This is the time of year that many of us think about the year just past and the commitment to specific resolutions to do better at this or that in the coming year. I have a few ideas for you to consider with regards to your spiritual journey for the year ahead. These have been paraphrased from some of my latest readings:

1) Do not know where you are going. Other than knowing our ultimate goal is to be the person God meant us to be, remember that spiritual growth is spontaneous, and is largely a matter of what comes to us each and every moment. It’s not something we can plan for, but we must simply stay in a state of awareness to see what is presented to us. This means using ego awareness, present moment awareness, and practicing the presence of God. Spiritual growth doesn’t happen according to our plan, it happens according to God’s.

2) Do not struggle to get there. Does it help for a two-year old to struggle to become three? Does it help for a tree to struggle to grow leaves? Spiritual growth unfolds in a natural manner. It cannot be forced. Take life as it comes. Sufficient unto this day are the challenges thereof.

3) Spiritual formation is not a self-improvement project. Self-improvement projects are generally related to specific goals – to be better organized, to lose weight, etc. While spiritual awareness may certainly help these goals a great deal, it is best to get specific help to address specific issues. This may need to be a part of your spiritual journey.

4) Do not set a time table for spiritual progress. While some people are motivated by specific time tables and deadlines, that doesn’t work in spiritual development. Yes, discipline is involved, and we need to keep doing our footwork (prayers, study and service), but again, we are on God’s time table, not ours.

5) Do not wait for a miracle. Watching and waiting for a miracle to happen to you implies that you are separate from God – you are here and He is over there, and you are waiting for Him to do something for you. Remember that He is in you, and you in Him. You already ARE a miracle. Life is a miracle. 2010 is a miracle.

Know that you are loved by Our Father,

Blessings!

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG

The Magnificat is Magnificent

2009-12-19T07:16:00.002-06:00

The readings for this fourth Sunday in Advent include the Magnificat, so named for the Latin translation of the first word of Mary’s canticle. We use this prayer in our daily Vespers/Evensong, and it is something to be savored, word by word, like each bite of a fine meal.

A large part of this canticle reflects what is to come with the ministry of Jesus, which, of course, reflects the standards and plans of Our Father. We see signs of spiritual awakening coming as Mary mentions the scattering of the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. This reflects some of the “inside-out” change coming for those who encounter the Christ. Dissolving of the false self to let the true self emerge. We also see a reversal in power – those on earthly thrones no longer have the grasp over us as does The One who sits on the highest throne, even though the earthly kings may still “rule.” We have a more important King to follow now.

The lowly are lifted up, not so much according to the standards of man’s world, but very much so in the eyes of The One that matters. We learn that we are all equally important to God Our Father; no one is higher than another. We are all members of the same family, even though we have different skills, abilities, preferences and appearances.

The hungry, both spiritually and physically, are filled with good things. And the rich, even though they may have an abundance of material things, are truly empty inside and quite poor if they live without God – they are sent away empty.

Above all, He wishes us to remember His love and mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors. A promise of love, compassion and mercy that will last forever.

The coming of Christ brings a new world order; a new way of thinking; a new way of living; a new way of being. What greater gift this Christmas?

Blessings to all,

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG

Of Roots and Fruits

2009-12-14T07:09:00.001-06:00

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers and Friends of the Community!

God’s joy for us is hard to capture in words. But He does so love the world that He came to us in the flesh to teach, heal, redeem and offer salvation. In fact, it is my belief that Luke 3:6 reflects this love very well: “And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” There is much support for the idea that He will one day bring home ALL His children – whoever they are.

This seems to fly in the face of teachings that at some point people will be divided into “saved” and “condemned.” Even the readings for this past Sunday (Luke 3:7-18) seem to suggest this, especially as we read starting in verse 17, “His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

So, which is it? Will all of His children be somehow brought back into His grace in some way, or will some be saved (wheat) and others eternally damned (chaff)?

The loving, compassionate, merciful God I have come to know personally is also more clever than we are. If He was able to design and build this entire universe, then He should also be able to figure out a way to bring us all home.

Let’s look closer at verse 17 again. It is important to note that wheat and chaff come from the SAME plant. They are not two separate plants, one good and one bad. They are two parts of the same plant; part good and part not-so-good. Isn’t that like each of us? I know that part of me is good (the true, soul-part that God gave me through His breath of life), and part of me is not-so-good (the dysfunctional ego part).

Perhaps the true message we should consider is that at some point God will put us through a threshing experience to remove the chaff from our souls. Perhaps He wants to recover the part that He made, bring it back home to His arms. The wheat part of us will return to Him, having been made better by our earthly experience, and the chaff part will be removed and destroyed. This process may not be totally pain-free as the realizations of the love opportunities we may have missed in our earthly life come to light. Perhaps it will be a mixture of sorrow and joy. Perhaps for some it will take quite a bit of time.

Perhaps what we do now to reduce the hold our chaff has on our souls may lighten the threshing experience later. That is why we need to learn more about God’s love and joy for all His children, and that we are, in fact, all His children and He is Our Father.

Please reflect on this and let me know your thoughts,

Your Chaffy Brother,

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG
Guardian

The Widow of Zarephath

2009-11-07T06:59:00.001-06:00

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers and Friends of the Community!

Tomorrow’s reading in I Kings 17 (v.8-16) was, to me, more a story about the widow than it was Elijah. This woman had almost nothing but was asked to feed Elijah, a prophet of God. We read in verse 9 that God had already commanded her to get ready for the impending visit by Elijah, and be prepared to feed him. I can almost hear her thinking, “What? What am I supposed to feed him? My sandals?”

When Elijah arrived and asked for water, the widow didn’t respond, but went to get water. Again, her thinking may have been, “Well, OK. This I can handle, if it’s just water.” But as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Oh, by the way, bring me some bread to eat, too.” Well, this pushed her over the top. “What? You want bread? I’ll tell you what I have – a handful of nothing and a little oil to mix it with. We’re going to eat that and then starve to death. That’s what I got for you.”

But the power of God would overcome. When the time came to do His command, the resources were there. The widow had been reaching into the imagined future of scarcity and bringing it into the present moment, thwarting the possibilities. God was not expecting anything beyond the basics, beyond what is needed for life. He was not looking for the widow to produce a fancy car, or exceptional performance or notable achievements. He was asking her to share the basics that He would provide.

This was a story of helping the widow to grow. It was a time of refinement for her, of shaping by God. And what’s also interesting about this story is that it took place in a little village named Zarephath. The Hebrew root for this word is Zareph, which means to smelt, refine, or test. Zarephath was a smelting place, a place of refinement.

I am guilty of worrying too much about the future and losing focus on the present moment. Yes, we have to plan for the future, but let’s not forget the God-factor. If He’s asking us to do something, He’ll also provide the resources to do it at the time when it has to be done.

Please reflect on this in the coming week and let me know what comes to your heart.

Your time-traveling brother,

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG

Blind Bartimaeus

2009-10-24T07:14:00.002-05:00

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers and Friends of the Community,

Sunday’s gospel reading in Mark (10:46-52), the Healing of Bartimaeus, is a further demonstration of Jesus’ character and love for others. What struck me more than the actual healing of Bartimaeus was the fact that Jesus stopped to pay attention to this man in the first place. Jesus was nearing the end of his earthly ministry and there were large crowds around him. Things were reaching a fevered pitch as Jesus moved toward Jerusalem. A lone, blind beggar began to call out to Jesus for mercy. The crowds kept moving and sternly told the beggar to keep still. Busyness of our life and our causes has an inertia that revolts against our attention to the present moment and the needs each one presents to us.

The lone figure took a leap of hope against the moving crowd. The crowd said “Keep still,” but Christ said, “Come. You count.” The art of stopping for a lone individual in need of help is a high art. “Come. You count.”

Profit or people? What really counts? Perhaps there is a lesson for today’s social issues and our brothers and sisters around the world. Famine, economic parity, health care reform…

Your often too busy Brother,

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG

Thoughts on the Jesus Prayer

2009-10-16T08:07:00.001-05:00

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers and Friends of the Community,

I pray that this note finds you all well!

The Jesus Prayer has been used for centuries to help unite people with their creator. It is very old, and may go back to the early centuries of Christianity: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

Although today it is perhaps used more in the Eastern Church than the Western, it’s gaining in popularity here, too, as people look for ways to reconnect with God.

I have to admit I don’t use it much, and until this morning I really wasn’t sure why.

My meditations on this day included some writings of Nicholas Herman, otherwise known as Brother Lawrence of the 17th century. He, too, was very interested in reconnecting with God, and focused on practicing the Presence of God. One of the suggestions in his Spiritual Maxims included a series of short prayers that could be offered up to God frequently during the course of a day, similar to the Jesus Prayer. Some suggestions he had to offer:

“Lord, make my heart just like Yours.”

“O God of Love, I love You with all my heart.”

“My God, I am wholly yours.”

As I read these prayers, it struck me that the intent was the same, but the approach was quite different. Br. Lawrence’s approach works better for me as it focuses on the good side of me and not the bad. Yes, there are parts of me that are sinful, but there are also parts of me that are holy – the image of God in me, for example. So, which part is stronger? Does the sinful part totally taint the entire being, or does the holy part overcome the sinful? Thinking of myself as a sinner may be helpful to a point, but it can go too far. How about thinking of myself as a child of God that screws up once in a while? The goal is the same – union with God; but the positive approach works better for me. How about you?

This week try writing your own Jesus Prayer. See what you come up with.

“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, may all our hearts become one.”

Your Part Holy-Part Sinful Brother,

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG

HEAR YE, HERE YE

2009-08-17T06:35:00.001-05:00

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

I pray that this note finds you all well!

Occasionally we hear of people who claim that they have heard the voice of God; that God has actually spoken directly to them! Other people reflect on this claim and reluctantly reveal that they have never heard God’s voice – but they wish they would.

There is some implication in this comparison that those who have heard God’s voice are somehow closer to Him and more spiritual than those who have not heard His voice. Inevitably I am asked (and you may be wondering at this point, too) whether or not I have ever heard God’s voice. Perhaps there is a test embedded in the question, assessing just how far my spiritual quest has brought me.

“Well,” I begin my response, “I most certainly have. As a matter of fact, I hear Him all the time.” The inquirer cautiously moves back a step, uncertain as to what they are now dealing with. So, I need to explain a bit more:

Do I hear God’s voice? You bet I do. He sounds like every person asking for help, or saying thanks, or offering a compliment. He is the sound of every child playing, every person laughing, every bird singing; He sounds like a busy street or a symphony orchestra; I hear Him in the hammering of a house being built, or in an ambulance siren; He’s the sound of a clock ticking or a phone ringing; His voice is the sound of the storm wind or a gentle breeze. When you see a flower He is saying, “See the beauty in the world? Please enjoy it.” God’s voice is the sound of life, moment by moment.

The messages God is sending to us can only be heard in the present moment. So, if you’re waiting to hear a message from God, He’s waiting for you to hear the one’s He’s been sending you.

Listen for the voice of God this coming week; what is He saying to you?

Your brother,

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG

Can We Play By These Rules?

2009-08-08T21:11:00.002-05:00

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers and Friends of the Community!

I pray this note finds you all well! After a dry and cool July, we are now getting a lot of rain. Some of it has even found its way into the cellar!

Recent troubles in our extended family can leave one scratching his head and wondering, “How are we going to straighten all this out?” People talking past each other, accusations, old baggage, finger-pointing – you’ve probably all been there.

Looking over the lectionary readings for this Sunday’s service, I realized that the passages in Ephesians 4 give us a partial answer at least. This list of St. Paul’s for starting a new life could be used as guidelines for resolving disputes. Let’s take a look at these:

· Put away falsehood; speak the truth
· Remember that we are all spiritual brothers and sisters
· It is OK to be angry - emotions compel us to act, and this is not a sin
· BUT! Once we begin to act, ditch the anger. Emotions cloud judgment and decision-making. Don’t let the sun set on your anger.
· Let no evil talk come out of your mouths; instead, uplift each other.
· Put away all bitterness and wrath and malice; instead, be kind to each other, and forgiving

Bottom line, we are to be imitators of God, as His beloved children should be. Following these rules may be only one of the components needed to resolve issues. Outside help is often needed.
NOT following these rules is a guarantee of failure.

And, oh yeah, here’s the most important part – waiting to see if the other person is going to follow these rules before you do is certain failure. It is critical to have the courage of Christ to take the lead on this, whether or not the other person(s) will do it!

Let us praise God from whom all blessings flow,

Your-caught-in-the-middle-brother,

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG

Another Lesson from the Garden

2009-07-19T06:52:00.002-05:00

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers and friends of the Community!

I pray that this note finds you all well!

It has been said that one is nearest to God in a Garden. I guess this goes all the way back to Eden perhaps?

I happened to notice my shadow one afternoon as I roamed through the garden looking for the next vegetable side dish. There, in my straw farmer’s hat, I saw my shadow get twisted out of shape as it wrapped around the edge of a raised bed and get stretched along a walk, yielding to the shape of every weed and pebble.

It reminded me (I’m not sure why) of the impact I sometimes have on other people. My true image, when totally fueled by the Light of The Son, travels from me to its ultimate destination, carrying with it the fullest intent of love in its travels through time and space. Shaped by the Light, it leaves me in a specific form and manner, perfectly reflecting who I am.

But shadows (the impressions we leave on other people and things) are shaped by what they land on, not from where they come. Perhaps this is why we are sometimes misunderstood by others. It is not what we project to them, but the manner and shape that it is received. If the surface of the recipient is rough, what I have tried to do for them may also be viewed roughly. If their surface is slanted, perhaps I will also be seen as slanted.

We can only do our best in this world by being what we were meant to be. We can’t always worry about where our shadow falls, or what it will look like when it gets there. Just continue working God’s love and let the Holy Spirit smoothen out the surface. Just keep going, and do what you were made to do. That is your purpose for Him.

By the way, we had the broccoli!

Br. Daniel-Joseph

Compassion

2009-07-12T05:22:00.001-05:00

Dear Sisters, Brothers and Friends of the Community!

Back in the time of the Desert Fathers, Theodore came to Abbot Pambo and begged, “Give me a word to live by, Abba.” After careful thought, the Abbot responded, “Compassion. If you have compassion you can speak freely to God.”

As you walk through this coming week with God, check on your compassion. Compassion is being inside of the other to fully understand their situation and how it compares to what is supposed to be. Compassion is one part of what God shared with us as part of his image. Let this flow through to others, to creatures and to yourself. That’s what God does.

I keep you in my prayers daily,

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG

July 4th - Independence Day?

2009-07-04T06:26:00.001-05:00

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

July 4th has been set aside as a day to celebrate the birth of America, to celebrate independence not only for us, but to express a hope that one day all peoples of the world will have freedom.

I can’t help wonder, though, if by wishing for this we get a bit off track.

Wanting to be independent, to be free, rather than being interdependent, was the mistake made back in the Garden of Eden. When we become truly independent, we disconnect ourselves from God, from others, and from nature, not realizing how very much interconnected we all really are. What one person does really affects another, what one person does really affects nature. It’s unmistakable when we look at the record of mankind throughout history.

Becoming truly independent actually brings us into a state of slavery. We become more easily susceptible to the influences of culture and societal norms that may or may not be good for us. We become ensnared in the desires, attachments and prejudices of our runaway egos, causing these scales to build up over our eyes very much like what happened to Saul. The prominence of false values become the norm to which all aspire.

True freedom rests in living a life with God, interconnected with each other. It comes when we shed the shackle of these scales, like Saul did in Acts 9:17-18, and allowing the truth of the Holy Spirit to flow through us. True freedom comes when we finally shed our false self and begin to live the life that God meant us to live, serving Him in our own unique way – a way that no one else could ever possibly do. As Psalm 137:4 asks, “How can we sing the Lord’s song (being who we really are) in a strange land?” (A land where although we think we’re independent we are actually under the influence of a misguided system.)

As Richard Rohr states, “It’s quite clear that in the final analysis it’s the grace of God that liberates us. It’s the experience of divine and unconditional love that really sets us free. No political system can offer us this inner liberty.”

Let us worship the Father in spirit and truth, for it is the truth that shall set you free.

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG

What Good Work Should I Do?

2009-06-06T20:12:00.001-05:00

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers and Friends of the Community!

A rainy Saturday here, with temperatures in the low 50s. Certainly not tomato-growing weather!

From the Sayings of the [Desert] Fathers (Verba Seniorum), we find yet another affirmation of our quest as seekers to serve God in our own unique way, in the way that He made each one of us. In Book 1, Of the Perfecting of the Fathers, it is recorded that the great abbot Nistero was asked by a friend, “What good work should I do?” The abbot responded, “The Scripture says that Abraham was hospitable, and God was with him. And Elias loved quiet, and God was with him. And David was humble, and God was with him. What therefore you find that your soul desires in following God, that do, and keep your heart.”

Note that the abbot did not say what your ego desires; but what your soul desires. Your soul is the real you, the part connected with God. The examples of great works mentioned above are those that please God: hospitality, solitude, and humility, because they came from the person’s soul. There are numerous other examples. What does your soul desire? Music? Reflection? Art? Helping? Building? Numbers? Appreciation of nature?

To become who you were made to be is to glorify God.

Have a blessed Trinity Sunday!

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG

A New Song

2009-05-17T05:44:00.001-05:00

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

I pray you are all well!

The first verse in Psalm 98 brought to mind what we, as a Community, and all of us, as Children of God, try to focus on: “O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things.”

And what is this “new song”?

Our daily movements and words are the spiritual notes we play on each measure (each moment) of God’s symphony of life. We are His instruments, each playing a part in his orchestra. Every thing we do and say sends out the sounds of love or the sounds of discord. Are we in tune with Him? Who is actually singing – our true self or our ego?

As we shed the false self from our souls (like Paul did on the road to Damascus), the Gifts of the Holy Spirit begin to flow through us out into the world like a finely tuned instrument. And, oh, what a sound this makes! Peace, joy, harmony, gentleness, understanding, compassion, generosity, self-control, patience… music to His ears. This is the new song!

Observe what “notes” you are playing as you go through the day. Did you hit a sour note? Reflect on it, so that the next time you play it, it will be more in tune.

Let me know how your week goes!

Your occasionally out-of-tune brother,

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG

Waking Gatha

2009-04-26T06:10:00.001-05:00

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers and Friends,

I pray that this note finds you all weel and full of God’s joy!

Every day brings us hundreds of opportunities to live mindfulness lives; to return us gently to the present moment of awareness where all of life happens. Are you living in the past? Are you liivng in the future? Then, perhaps, you are missing out on the treasures and miracles happening before your very eyes.

There are many ways to awaken our attention to the present moment, to snap us back to reality, to pull the plug on mental movies that keep playing in our heads. One such technique is to use little “gathas.” Gathas are short verses which we recite during our daily activities to remind us of where we are. For example, this gatha can be used when you wake up:

Waking up this morning, I smile.
Twenty-four brand new hours are before me.
I vow to live fully in each moment
And to look at all beings with eyes of compassion.

A great way to start the day is with a smile. As Thich Nhat Hanh writes in “Present Moment, Wonderful Moment,” your smile affirms your awareness and determination to live in peace and joy. The source of a true smile is an awakened mind.

Gathas, which can also be short verses from the Gospels or other scripture, are used for any of our daily activities; brushing our hair, washing the dishes, using the phone, sitting on a chair, getting the mail, opening a door, etc. All the little actions in our life become sacraments of movement revealing the miracles of life.

This week think about the sacredness of movement and being. Write a gatha or two for yourself, and share them if you feel moved to do so. Collect them! Trade them with your friends!

Know that you are loved by Our Lord!

Your gatha-seeking brother,

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG

Angels, or just Thunder?

2009-03-29T06:35:00.001-05:00

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers and Friends of the Community,

In today’s lectionary reading in John we learn of yet another voice speaking from heaven. This time it is to affirm that Jesus was indeed glorifying God’s name. In chapter 12, verse 28, Jesus raises a prayer to heaven: “Father, glorify your Name.” The voice responded from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”

What was interesting to me about this exchange is the perception of it by the people. Verse 29 reads, “The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.”

Why do people have such different interpretations of what they all experience together? Why do some people brush off the obviousness of God as just thunder, while others see it for the truth? Perhaps the answer comes to us a little later in this chapter when we read what the prophet Isaiah observed: “Who believes our message? To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? Some could not believe because of the hardness of their hearts – and this blinds their eyes and stuffs their ears.” They hear angelic voices only as blunt claps of thunder.

The messages of God’s love are everywhere – if we just have eyes to see and ears to hear. They are in the big things (the earth, the air, the stars) and they are in the little things (a bite of food, a flower, a smile and helping hand from a friend, the whisper of a “thank you”)

The hardness of our heart is another way of describing the dysfunctional ego that encapsulates our soul, clogging our ears and blinding our eyes. As we learn to pry these scales from our soul, as St. Paul did on his journey to Damascus, we begin to more clearly hear the loving angelic voices from heaven, and see the good works of love in our lives, moment by moment. Yes, life is tough, and there is pain, but it is made worse by those who only hear thunder. As more of us hear the angels’ voices, all things will improve.

As you journey through this coming week, watch for two things: First, observe what scales may be covering your heart, and see them for what they are – no good. Second, see more clearly the things that happen in your life, moment by moment, that are little miracles; continuous acts from a loving God trying to get your attention, “Hey you! I love you!”

(And I will try to see the additional snow we got this morning as a blessing. It is a blessing. It IS a blessing. Yes, it is. Well…I’ll keep working on it.)

Blessings to all,

Your brother,

Daniel-Joseph

A New World Economy

2009-03-16T06:37:00.001-05:00

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

I pray that this note finds you all well,

Sunday’s lectionary reading included a review of the Ten Commandments. (Exodus 20:1-17). These statues from God were intended to begin to put into words the love and compassion that would ultimately be fulfilled in the life of Christ. They have produced volumes of commentary over the years, and one could easily spend a lifetime of discussion on them. My thought today, however, is shorter than that, and focuses on verse 17: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female servant, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Anyone looking for a reason why we are in the middle of a global financial meltdown? This may be the root cause.

I found this reflection written by William Law, an Anglican priest, in the early 1700s:

“If you should see a man that had a large pond of water, yet living in continual thirst, not allowing himself to even drink half a cup for fear of lessening this pond, if you should see him wasting his time and strength in fetching more water to his hand, watching early and late to catch the drops of rain, gaping after every cloud and running greedily into every mire and mud in hopes of finding water and always studying how to make every ditch empty itself into his pond; if you should see him grow gray and old in this anxious labors and at last end a careful, thirsty life by falling into his own pond, would you not say that such a one was not only the author of all his own disquiets, but was foolish enough to be reckoned among idiots and madmen? But yet foolish and absurd as this character is, it does not represent half the follies and absurd disquiets of the covetous person.”

The commandments not to covet are designed to protect us as much as they are to protect our neighbor. Covetousness is a product of a dysfunctional ego. It is based on fear. It goes against the economic equity principles of Christ: If you have two coats, give one to him who has none. This may be a good principle for a new world economy.

Walk with God this coming week!

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG

Love's Pursuit

2009-03-08T20:12:00.002-05:00

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers and Friends of the Community!

What’s a good activity when you are getting 6-9” more of snow? Reading.
While exploring a book on Simone Weil, I came across this poem by George Herbert. It is about the relentless pursuit of God’s love and compassion of a person judging themselves unworthy of this Love. I thought it was worth sharing and spending some time reflecting on it:

Love bade me welcome, yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of envy and sin.
But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning,
“Do you lack anything?”

“A guest,” I answered, “worthy to be here.”
Love said, “You shall be he.”
“I the unkind, ungrateful? Ah my dear,
I cannot look on thee.”
Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,
“Who made the eyes but I?’

“Truth, Lord, but I have marred them: let my shame
Go where it does deserve.”
“And know you not,” says Love, “Who bore the blame?”“My dear, then I will serve.”
“You must sit down,” says Love, “and taste my meat.”
So I did sit and eat.

Nothing, says St. Paul, can separate us from the love of God. Remember this!

Blessings to you all,

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG

Naaman's Ego

2009-02-16T06:12:00.002-06:00

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers, and Friends,

Sunday’s reading in 2 Kings 5 was a good example of how our ego can get in the way of God’s healing powers.

Naaman was commander of the army of Aram, a great man and in high favor with his master. Even though he was a mighty warrior, he suffered from some form of skin disease.

Convinced by a little Hebrew girl to go see Elisha, Naaman gathered his horses and chariots, and silver and gold and garments, and went to see him. He was obviously expecting to have to pay a lot, and was expecting to be treated to an important ceremony for his healing: “I thought that for me Elisha would surely come out, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and would wave his hand over the spot, and cure the leprosy!”

But what did Elisha the prophet do instead? He sent a servant to Naaman with a message, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be clean.” It was almost as if Elisha called out of the kitchen window to Naaman in passing, “Oh, it’s you. Well, just go down to the river and wash up, and you’ll be OK.”

Not being treated like he thought he should, Naaman got angry (or rather his ego got angry), and he left “in a rage.” His ego got in the way of his cure.

Sometimes God’s cures will come in the simple things in life, but we don’t see them because we think we deserve more or we expect more. We are blinded by our ego that wants to be “puffed up.”

Please slow down this week and watch for the little things that God does for us to make our lives whole and healthy. It doesn’t take much. He speaks in a whisper, a breeze in the trees, a smile from a friend, the color of a bird or flower, a bite of good food that nourishes our body, a beautiful Bible verse that nourishes our soul.

Your too-fast Brother,

Daniel-Joseph

The Temple Within

2009-01-18T14:27:00.001-06:00

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

Stations of the Manger 12

2009-01-07T05:43:00.001-06:00

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

Stations of the Manger 11

2009-01-06T05:39:00.001-06:00

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

Stations of the Manger 10

2008-12-30T06:34:00.001-06:00

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

2008-12-25T05:41:00.001-06:00

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

2008-12-24T06:03:00.002-06:00

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

2008-12-21T06:04:00.002-06:00

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

2008-12-17T06:03:00.002-06:00

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

2008-12-14T05:37:00.001-06:00

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

2008-12-10T05:41:00.003-06:00

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

2008-12-07T06:19:00.004-06:00

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

2008-12-07T06:19:00.003-06:00

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

2008-11-30T05:48:00.001-06:00

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!

2008-11-16T17:21:00.002-06:00

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

2008-11-02T04:16:00.002-06:00

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

2008-10-19T14:50:00.003-05:00

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

2008-10-12T15:02:00.001-05:00

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

I pray that you are all well! This is probably our last day of above 70 degree weather this season, and the colors here are absolutely beautiful. It is a great backdrop for this Sabbath Day.

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!

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG

And Here's a Plug For...

2008-10-05T18:58:00.001-05:00

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

2008-09-27T14:21:00.001-05:00

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?

2008-09-14T07:58:00.001-05:00

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

2008-09-08T05:46:00.002-05:00

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

2008-08-31T06:18:00.000-05:00

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

2008-08-17T05:38:00.001-05:00

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?

2008-08-02T21:21:00.002-05:00

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

2008-07-28T06:00:00.003-05:00

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?

2008-07-24T06:09:00.001-05:00

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

2008-07-14T06:36:00.001-05:00

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)

2008-07-08T06:54:00.002-05:00

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...

2008-06-29T16:43:00.001-05:00

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?

2008-06-22T06:38:00.002-05:00

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

2008-06-16T05:47:00.000-05:00

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

2008-06-09T19:54:00.000-05:00

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 Wheat and Weeds

2008-05-29T08:03:00.000-05:00

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers and Friends of the Community!

I pray that this message finds you all well and enjoying this Memorial Day weekend.

Last week I asked you to reflect on the parable of the wheat and weeds (Matthew 13:24-30). At a surface level, this parable can be viewed as largely apocalyptic in nature, as explained in verses 36-43. But let us put on our “bin-heads” for a while and take a closer look at it.

Knowing that none of us walking the earth today is perfect, we are forced to admit that within each of us there is a little wheat (good stuff) and a little weed (not-so-good stuff). If, as it says in verse 30, the wheat will be gathered into the “barn” and the weeds will be bundled and burned, then either 1) we will all be burned because we all have some weed in us, or 2) somehow the wheat in us and the weed in us will be separated and handled appropriately. It seems to me that the love and compassion of Our Lord will find a way to separate the two so as not to destroy both.

Verse 24 speaks of Our Lord sharing the gifts of the Holy Spirit: peace, joy, gentleness, love, compassion, etc. This is the wheat. It is only when we “fall asleep” (verse 25) that the weeds can enter our lives. To “fall asleep” is to allow our souls to be drawn into the ways of this world, and to take our sight off of Christ. Very much like what happened to Peter when he was walking on the water of faith and moved his attention from Christ. He started to sink. The causes of our sin are often the temptations created by this world in the present, the worries of the future, or the guilt and shame of the past – allowing our run-away egos to take control of our lives, moving us further and further from “the mind of Christ.”

Peter was not a total weed. But, like us, he got weedy several times during his spiritual journey. His intent, however, was to continue his journey to the heart of Christ. It was this intention, this faith, that left the door open for him to rid himself of the weeds at some point and become pure wheat. To me, verse 41 supports this conclusion: “The Son of Man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, all causes of sin…and throw them into the furnace of fire.” Those who have no intention of pursuing the heart of Christ AND those things that cause sin will be removed from the kingdom. The weeds that disrupt our lives will eventually face the Round-up spray bottle of Heaven.

In the meantime, let us keep our hearts on minds on Christ Jesus through our prayers, study and service!

Your squirrelly brother,

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG

Of Boxes and Bins

2008-05-19T06:09:00.001-05:00

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?

2008-05-08T05:31:00.000-05:00

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

2008-04-01T05:36:00.000-05:00

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

2008-03-16T15:52:00.001-05:00

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

2008-03-10T09:50:00.001-05:00

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

2008-03-02T15:30:00.000-06:00

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 (at least in theology).

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 is like taking a sip of cool water on a hot day – it is 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 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 to take a little java and statio…

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG

Venite!

2008-02-27T09:55:00.000-06:00

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

2008-02-26T12:26:00.000-06:00

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

2008-02-25T14:33:00.000-06:00

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