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
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
A New World Economy
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
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
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Love's Pursuit
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
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
Monday, February 16, 2009
Naaman's Ego
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
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
Sunday, January 18, 2009
The Temple Within
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
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
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Stations of the Manger 12
Stations of the Manger 12. The Flight to Egypt
January 7th
Nativity Scene: An empty manger is all that can be seen; no people or animals remain.
Scripture: (Matt: 2:13-15)
Now when they (the wise men) were departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.” And he arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt; and was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt did I call my son.”
Reflection: Sometimes, in order to serve God, we must “flee” for a while, so that we can rest and prepare for our next round of service to Him. Sometimes it is just not right to stay in a situation as it was with Joseph and his family. If we can’t change a situation, or it is such that it can’t be accepted, we must leave it. Not doing any of these three (changing the situation, accepting the situation, or leaving the situation) will probably bring us suffering. It may be better to pull back or go somewhere else to preserve or refresh oneself before reentering the secular fray. Jesus often went off alone to refresh himself, to reconnect with God – to “recharge” before he interacted with others again. If we listen carefully, the Holy Spirit will tell us when we need to withdraw for a while. When
24the time is right, she will call you back once again. God’s timing is always better than ours.
Prayer: God, Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as the pathway to peace. Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it. Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with Him forever in the next.
Amen.
Hymn(s): God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Response: When you’re feeling a bit disconnected and “ungrounded,” it may be time to take a personal retreat for a day or two. Consider making a weekend retreat at your favorite retreat center or monastery. Or, set aside some “alone time” in your own home. Daily prayer time with God is rejuvenating. Anchor each day with morning and evening prayers and meditation.
Blessings to all,
Daniel-Joseph
January 7th
Nativity Scene: An empty manger is all that can be seen; no people or animals remain.
Scripture: (Matt: 2:13-15)
Now when they (the wise men) were departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.” And he arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt; and was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt did I call my son.”
Reflection: Sometimes, in order to serve God, we must “flee” for a while, so that we can rest and prepare for our next round of service to Him. Sometimes it is just not right to stay in a situation as it was with Joseph and his family. If we can’t change a situation, or it is such that it can’t be accepted, we must leave it. Not doing any of these three (changing the situation, accepting the situation, or leaving the situation) will probably bring us suffering. It may be better to pull back or go somewhere else to preserve or refresh oneself before reentering the secular fray. Jesus often went off alone to refresh himself, to reconnect with God – to “recharge” before he interacted with others again. If we listen carefully, the Holy Spirit will tell us when we need to withdraw for a while. When
24the time is right, she will call you back once again. God’s timing is always better than ours.
Prayer: God, Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as the pathway to peace. Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it. Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with Him forever in the next.
Amen.
Hymn(s): God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Response: When you’re feeling a bit disconnected and “ungrounded,” it may be time to take a personal retreat for a day or two. Consider making a weekend retreat at your favorite retreat center or monastery. Or, set aside some “alone time” in your own home. Daily prayer time with God is rejuvenating. Anchor each day with morning and evening prayers and meditation.
Blessings to all,
Daniel-Joseph
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Stations of the Manger 11
Stations of the Manger 11. Epiphany
January 6th
Nativity Scene: The Wise Men and camels are added to the scene.
Scripture: (Matt. 2:1-12)
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born. And they said unto him, “In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written through the prophet. And you Bethlehem, land of Judah, are in no wise least among the princes of Judah: For out of you shall come forth a governor, Who shall be shepherd of my people Israel.”
Then Herod privately called the wise men, and learned of them exactly what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search out exactly concerning the young child; and when you have found him, bring me word, that I also may come and worship him.” And they, having heard the king, went their way; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and
22stood over where the young child was. And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary his mother; and they fell down and worshipped him; and opening their treasures they offered unto him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
Reflection: Even in the peacefulness of the Lord’s birth, those with out-of-control egos, hunger for power and full of fear, lurk to destroy. We must be watchful of those who seek to harm; but we must not stop our life of service to God. You serve Him by being who He made you – using your own unique set of talents and interests and abilities. God’s love will be proclaimed throughout the world as evidenced at the Epiphany.
Prayer: (Vidi Aquam)
I saw water proceeding out of the Temple; From the Right Side it flowed, Alleluia; And all those to whom that water came shall be saved, and shall say, alleluia, alleluia.
Hymn(s): We Three Kings
Response: The gifts of gold, frankincense (incense), or myrrh (incense or oils) that you present to Christ are the valuable gifts that God has given you: your unique, true self that resides in your heart. Stay with him on a spiritual level through your prayer, worship and meditation, and serve him on a physical level using those special interests, talents and abilities that only you have. Thank you for being who you are!
Blessings to all,
Daniel-Joseph
January 6th
Nativity Scene: The Wise Men and camels are added to the scene.
Scripture: (Matt. 2:1-12)
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born. And they said unto him, “In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written through the prophet. And you Bethlehem, land of Judah, are in no wise least among the princes of Judah: For out of you shall come forth a governor, Who shall be shepherd of my people Israel.”
Then Herod privately called the wise men, and learned of them exactly what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search out exactly concerning the young child; and when you have found him, bring me word, that I also may come and worship him.” And they, having heard the king, went their way; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and
22stood over where the young child was. And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary his mother; and they fell down and worshipped him; and opening their treasures they offered unto him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
Reflection: Even in the peacefulness of the Lord’s birth, those with out-of-control egos, hunger for power and full of fear, lurk to destroy. We must be watchful of those who seek to harm; but we must not stop our life of service to God. You serve Him by being who He made you – using your own unique set of talents and interests and abilities. God’s love will be proclaimed throughout the world as evidenced at the Epiphany.
Prayer: (Vidi Aquam)
I saw water proceeding out of the Temple; From the Right Side it flowed, Alleluia; And all those to whom that water came shall be saved, and shall say, alleluia, alleluia.
Hymn(s): We Three Kings
Response: The gifts of gold, frankincense (incense), or myrrh (incense or oils) that you present to Christ are the valuable gifts that God has given you: your unique, true self that resides in your heart. Stay with him on a spiritual level through your prayer, worship and meditation, and serve him on a physical level using those special interests, talents and abilities that only you have. Thank you for being who you are!
Blessings to all,
Daniel-Joseph
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