Gratitude places you in the energy field of plentitude. Glow with gratitude and see how awe and joy will make their home in you. Michael Bernard Beckwith
Br. David Steindl-Rast shares this compelling invitation: “Imagine a society in which mutual trust has the leverage that our present social order accords to fear. Imagine a society in which mutual caring has the leverage that our present social order accords to egotism. If we reach the critical mass of grateful people, a surprising reorientation can take place.”
Brother David has amazing insights and goals that boggle my mind. I want to live in the world he imagines. Mutual trust, mutual caring and a critical mass of grateful people! Yes! Let’s do that instead of all the other nonsense politicians and reporters spend time upon.
At our Maundy Thursday service I heard this for the first time. I WAS SO IMPRESSED, I had to worship with it on repeat. Regardless of what you think about the photos that accompany the music, just listen and be blessed. (The photos all seem to represent post crucifixion.)
“Stay with me, remain here with me. Watch and pray.”
Such simple statements. The disciples in the garden found it impossible to do. The Lord prayed and pleaded with the Father. They kept falling asleep. Can we stay awake?
This was perhaps the most meaningful end of Lent I have ever had. I think this music made a huge contribution to that experience.
Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be grieved and agitated. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” 39 And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me, yet not what I want but what you want.” 40 Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? 41 Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again he went away for the second time and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Now the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Get up, let us be going. Look, my betrayer is at hand.” Matthew 26:36-46 NRSVUE
In the book I used during Lent entitled Lent with The Desert Fathers, a prayer written by St. John Chrysostom was quoted. One portion reads:
“Let no one lament persistent failings, for forgiveness has risen form the grave.” “
Isn’t that amazing? Even the disciples who kept falling asleep thought he Lord asked them to watch and pray, even they were forgiven. So are we.
This is from a meditation sent by Practicing the Way during Holy Week.
“It’s still shocking: Jesus passed through death and, as you read these words, inhabits a body that ate Galilean fish and bears puncture marks from the cross, and yet is utterly different — a “walking, talking piece of new creation,” in the words of BibleProject’s Tim Mackie.
Have you contemplated this idea? Jesus, right now and right there with you, too! Our wonderful Jesus, passed from death into life and per the promise of the Father into us to live and dwell and direct our steps.
Oh such glory to God!
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 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.
18 “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.21 They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me, and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.” John 14:16-21 NRSVUE
The same, “yet utterly different.”
It is said He walked on earth fifty days before the ascension. As He lives and moves within us I propose that He is still walking the earth. Ponder that. Pray with that idea. Thank the Almighty for this amazing work.
Oh. Brings me to stillness and quiet within. Let all the earth keep silence before Him. Let all the earth declare His mighty works of glory.
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you. Romans 8:11 NRSVUE
Surrender to the Holy Spirit. Let Christ live and move through you. Wait before the Lord in every endeavor. Trust God to work through you as you walk in obedience to the Almighty. Be amazed at the Indwelling Christ. And give thanks.
This was noted on the website by Monasteries of the Heart which features Joan Chittister and the work of the Benedictine Sisters in her community.
April 4: “If you must look back, do so forgivingly. If you will look forward, do so prayerfully. But the wisest course would be to be present in the present gratefully,” wrote Maya Angelou, who was born on this date in 1928. Angelou was a prolific author, poet, and journalist, as well as a Civil Rights activist.
Such wisdom from Maya. I have enjoyed reading some of her work. Such a life and what amazing telling of that life. The above is an challenging quote!
Look back forgivingly. Look forward prayerfully. Wisest course is to be present in the present GRATEFULLY.
Maybe it is because I am aging. Perhaps from walking closely with my neighbors who are dying? The gratitude in my heart seems to grow daily. Even when I am caught up in my own physical pain, I am able to be more grateful than in the past. I often recite my prayer below.
I have determined that this day, each time I am drawn up short by pain, I will praise You for I love You better than life - even better than quality of life.
I hope you can turn this time of year into a season full of forgiveness, prayer and gratitude. I believe we could all benefit from that effort!
How difficult is it for you to keep silent? How long can you go without speaking? How about your brain chatter? We all have a constant stream of self-talk, an inner voice that seems to never shut up. Even when we want to scream, (though it is ineffective to shout), “Shut the *&^*%&^%( Up!”
https://happyeasier.com/quiet-your-inner-voice-take-control-of-your-mental-chatter/ Mel Mac writes about our inner voice. She concludes her article with the following. “Remember, the goal is not to eliminate the inner voice completely but to reduce its influence and regain control over your thoughts and actions. By doing so, you can live a more peaceful, productive, and fulfilling life.” She emphasizes that a good start is with 60 seconds of meditation. Learning to stay focused is essential to gaining control over our run away mind.
That took me to the image from Harry Chapin’s song 30,000 pounds of Bananas and run away truck.
“He passed the sign he should have seen saying ‘shift to low gear or a $30 dollar fine my friend.’ ” Just listen to the first 3 minutes and you will get the message! Is my mind lost in thought about something I long for (like the truck driver) or can I pay attention to what is going on right now?
Here. Now. Before I create the odor of smashed bananas? Can you imagine the fruit flies in the aftermath?
When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but the prudent are restrained in speech. Proverbs 10:19 NRSVUE
That inner voice, with ceaseless chatter. Can I still myself and focus? Am I willing to try throughout the day, not just during my morning quiet time of prayer and meditation?
I made a typo in the last paragraph and wrote mediation. Then I corrected it. Then I thought perhaps it was not an error at all. Quieting the monkey mind is like mediation between my overactive brain and the Spirit of God. Mediation: intervention between conflicting parties to promote reconciliation, settlement, or compromise. We cannot mute that brain chatter. Literally impossible, but we can soften it, reconcile the thoughts to Christ, compromise to be more like Jesus.
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30 NRSVUE
Jesus spoke that commandment in Mark. He was repeating the Father’s will to us recorded in Deuteronomy 6:5. Paul shows us how in his works of the New Testament.
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 NRSVUE
Are you willing to do the work for this sort of discipleship? God will help you. I am certain of that. When I let my mind run rampant is when I am likely to get into the most trouble.
Mediation between our nature and the call of Christ. Meditation, focus our minds upon God. Center our hearts in Him who loves us and died and was raised to life for us. Walk throughout the day with this mind.
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Philippians 1:1-2 NRSVUE
May you have a deeper participation in the understanding of the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf that we might share in His glory.
https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/resources/biblical-meditation/ has a terrific article well worth your time to read. Here is part of it: Meditating on the Scriptures is vital practice for maturing in the Christian life. As one anonymous writer said, “The Bible is not meant merely to inform but to transform.” Throughout history, godly leaders have commended the transforming effects of meditation. Consider this beautiful description by Thomas Brooks, a seventeenth-century church leader:
Remember that it is not hasty reading but serious meditation on holy and heavenly truths, that makes them prove sweet and profitable to the soul. It is not the mere touching of the flower by the bee that gathers honey, but her abiding for a time on the flower that draws out the sweet. It is not he that reads most but he that meditates most that will prove to be the choicest, sweetest, wisest and strongest Christian.
I used to tell some fellow Bible students that I was not impressed if they could recite all the books of the Bible, even if they could recite those books in backwards order. To me the best accomplishment was if one could LIVE a single verse. I cannot attempt to come close to living a verse if I am unaware of the heart of God towards me. I get closer by trying to understand Hesed, loving kindness, mercy, grace and compassion. All of that for each of us. Knowing I can not do anything to make God love me more. Knowing God will never choose to love me less, motivates me to want to become more like Jesus. I have gained this knowledge from reading the Word of God, sitting with those concepts over decades, trusting to believe this even about myself.
Have you tried meditation? The practice has gotten a bad name from Christians who are motivated by fear. Understand that this is sometime that God has called us to throughout the Bible. Do your own study on the concept. Practice it a few times. Then try it a few more times. Be still and listen for the voice of the Lord to your heart and soul. I think you might find this a way to stir your soul into a deeper walk.
For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1: 6-7 NRSVUE
The love and care God has extended to me has changed me as a person.
35 You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. 36 You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip. Psalm 18:35-36 ESV
What has your meditation on the Word of God done for you? Have you learned more about the character of God? Have you allowed the Spirit of God to make changes in you? What might the future hold if you made it your practice to meditate upon the Word and upon the character of the Trinity? Are you willing to give it a try?
Read and then spend sixty seconds of quiet in the Presence of the Living God. Then two minutes. Then five. Move along to ten as you are able. It truly is a practice. Not something we accomplish and then stop.
Have you tried this wisdom for yourself? Take your troubles. Set them down. Surround them with silence. Let things unfold without your words. If need be, muzzle that situation or yourself. Are you willing to put a shroud of silence over the situation? You remember in the movies how the house that was to be left for a time had all the furniture covered with sheets? Cover your troubles with silence and leave them in the hands of God. “Overcome by silence.”
What of our current world and silence? I do not mean we should not speak out against injustice. I mean do we approach God with endless words and ideas and solutions? Are we willing to let God be in charge and have us be the servants, wielding no power or influence. A willing servant of the mercy of God?
There are times I know I just talk too much.
The desert fathers and mothers warn us about too much talk and not enough action. Is that us?
A word from an anonymous Mother of Father of the desert: An Abba said, “There is no need for a lot of words. Human beings have plenty to say for themselves in these days, but it is deeds which are needed. This is what God wants, not mere words which bear no fruits.” (2-4th centuries A.D. sound like 2026)
Holding our tongue, stopping our words, is one major form of humbling ourselves.
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:10NIV
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time.1 Peter 5:6 NRSVUE
But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him! Habakkuk 2:20 NRSVUE
As I walk through the final few days of this Lenten season I am more aware than ever of my need to humble myself before the Lord. My need to keep silence. My heart longs to go to the Convent or some place where I would not need to speak for more than a few minutes.
One of my favorite artists, Brandon Lake, wrote in his song Gratitude,
“All my words fall short I got nothing new How could I express All my gratitude?
I could sing these songs As I often do But every song must end And You never do.”
Even that is using words. The wise old man who went to church everyday and just sat looking at the Christ was right. “I looks at Him and He looks at me.” That is what I need right now, and always.
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