Two Prayers In Response to the Newtown Shooting

For Quiet Strength

Even when we fail, when words fail, when tears fail, You will not fail us. We turn to one another, we turn inward and in humility we turn to You. Assist us with your grace to change our world, our nation, our communities, our lives and our minds to the ways of peace and love. And when we fall short, lift us with Divine arms and hold us close until we can try once again.  Amen.

From Grief to Action

Heaven has opened wide its gates for those who have passed from this way of life to the next. Let us light a candle in the darkness for those who grieve and tend to their needs in the days, weeks and months to come. Give us the insight to help those who suffer from/in mental illness. Fortify our will to look at national and state legislation with a view to take the assault out of weapons. Hear us, Holy Wisdom that your peace may rest upon us.  Amen

Friday Focus: What Should We Do?

John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages." As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 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, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. Luke 3:7-18

In our gospel readings we have become very familiar with the Pharisees and scribes trying to trip Jesus with trick questions. So this week it is refreshing to hear some honest questions from honest questioners. John is the fulfillment of the prophesies of Isaiah, calling on the people to Prepare ye the way of the Lord. His listeners are moved. They are inspired. But they are also confused. How exactly are they expected to prepare the way of the Lord? What should they do to make straight his path? They need some specific guidance on how to make the rhetoric real. They face a familiar problem. How do we translate scriptural teachings into meaningful, everyday behavior? Their reaction is: What next? What should we do? John's answers are straight to the point and precisely fit the lives of each of his listeners. To the soldier, he says: don't abuse your power. To the tax collector, he says: no cheating. To everyone he says: share what you have with those who have not. These are the basics, the character-building blocking and tackling of a moral life. This is not yet the messianic message of love. As John is quick to add, he is not the Messiah. The Christ is coming. John's job is to announce that coming and to tell us to prepare for it. This Advent, it is a job he is still working at. We take inspiration from John's eloquent and always applicable call to repent and prepare. To translate scripture into 21st Century action, John is telling us: live an examined life; get a grip on your purpose; compare it to your practice; correct your ways; comply with those of the Lord. You can spell it all out in just one sentence. It's as simple and as complicated as giving each day to God. David prayed: Keep me from paying attention to that which is worthless. (Psalm 119:37) What a perfect petition to guard against the craziness that has come to surround Christmas. What a reminder to give these precious Advent days to God. Few of us are so spiritually mature that our daily communion with God flows organically and continuously. We need the discipline to set aside specific early morning time to get in touch with God, before our thoughts start to wander. Daily devotional scripture is always the best way to kick-start our prayer life. Then thank God, tell him your plans and ask him: What should we do? Start the morning as close to him as you possibly can. Then stay with him through the day listening for his answer. He always does.

The One Room Home/The Home of Many Rooms

In Advent we prepare a place for the Christ to come and abide within and in the world anew.

At his birth his shelter was minimal, to say the least.  One 'room' - whether it was a stable or a hollow in the rock - to house Emmanuel, God With Us.

At the end of his mortal ministry, Jesus said he was going ahead to prepare rooms for us.  "In my Father's home there are many rooms.  If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I'm on my way to get your room ready, I'll come back and get you so you can live where I live."  John 14: 2,3

I want to live where Jesus lives - and for the time being, I want Jesus to live where I live, in my very being.  Welcome, Jesus ... welcome home, until that day when your home is mine as well.

[Photo is by Harry L. Talpin, friend of The Geranium Farm, who lives (for now) in Chelmsford, MA]

Impressive ECVA exhibit on Mary

Episcopal Church Visual Arts is currently presenting an exhibition entitled:  Mary, Mother of Our Tribe.  All the pieces are made by contemporary artists. 

Use this link and follow the prompts to get the comments of the curator of the project along with information on each contributing artist: http://ecva.org/exhibition/MotherOfOurTribe/Thumbnails-MMOT.htm