Holy, Holy, Holy ... God in Three Persons, Blessed Trinity!

Here we are one week after Pentecost, the "day" the Spirit fell upon the people of the early Christian community to give them "power from on high."   This week we celebrate and glorify God in three persons, blessed Trinity as the hymn goes.   Have you ever heard or sung Holy, Holy, Holy?  This hymn was written by Reginald Heber (1783-1826) who was a Bishop in the Church of England.  He wrote it specifically for Trinity Sunday in 1826.  (See Sharefaith for Story & Full Lyrics)  Although I generally prefer more contemporary versions of traditional hymns, I don’t care for any of the updated versions I have heard of this one.  As you prepare your heart to reflect on this week’s reading, take this link to listen to a beautiful traditional arrangement of Holy, Holy Holy produced by Maratha! on Youtube.

Read verse 1 as a gentle prayer before your reflection…
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in Three Persons, bless'd Trinity!

Perhaps Bishop Heber was meditating on the first few verses of Isaiah 6 as he was inspired to write Holy, Holy, Holy, a song that has truly stood the test of time.  

And perhaps the great bible artist Gustave Doré (1832-1883) spent considerable time meditating on this small portion of Isaiah as inspiration for his painting "Isaiah."  Perhaps you might spend a few moments "gazing" upon this rendition of the great prophet Isaiah ...

Public Domain.  Courtesy Creationism. org

When you are ready to move into your prayer with Isaiah's witness to God's holiness, I invite you to engage in Lectio Divina on just the first 5 verses and “listen with the ears of your heart” as St. Benedict puts it.

Lectio:  Read Isaiah 6:1-5 aloud slowly savoring each of the words … Allow yourself to be immersed in the rich images of this mystical experience of the prophet Isaiah.

In the year that King Uzziah died, I had a vision of the LORD. He was on his throne high above, and his robe filled the temple.  Flaming creatures with six wings each were flying over him. They covered their faces with two of their wings and their bodies with two more. They used the other two wings for flying, as they shouted,

“Holy, holy, holy, LORD All-Powerful!

The earth is filled with your glory.”

As they shouted, the doorposts of the temple shook, and the temple was filled with smoke.   Then I cried out, “I’m doomed! Everything I say is sinful, and so are the words of everyone around me. Yet I have seen the King, the LORD All-Powerful.”

Meditatio:  Linger and meditate over the words in this passage for as long as you are drawn to them.  Identify the word, phrase, sentence, or idea that most catches your attention on this reading.  Ponder this powerful experience as you consider what the word/words mean to you.

Lectio:  Read Isaiah 6:1-5 aloud a 2nd time.
Meditatio:  Ask yourself:  Where does this passage touch my life, my community, or my world today?   Pause and meditate on the connections you are seeing.

Lectio:  Read Isaiah 6:1-5 aloud a 3rd and final time.
Meditatio:  As you continue to meditate, allow the silence emerging from within you to settle your heart … can you discern God’s voice in the midst of your meditation?  What are you hearing?  Is there an invitation you are hearing with ears of your heart … an invitation to change, to act/re-act, to speak out, to be, or just to rest … allow the voice of God to emerge.

Oratio:  Lectio Divina (sacred reading) leads us to prayer.  What begins as God addressing us – through our reading and responses – leads us eventually to a place where we are drawn into the presence of God and we respond from the depths of our heart and soul in prayer and praise.

Contemplatio:  When the words begin to fade away, allow once again the silence to fill your entire being.  Rest in this state of contemplation ... meaning without words/thoughts for as long as you feel comfortable in the silence … allow all of your thoughts to float away and simply “BE” in the presence of God.

Amen …

Pentecost: Living Flame of Love!

The word Pentecost comes from the Greek word pentekoste {pen-tay-kos-tay'} which literally means “the fiftieth day.”  In Jewish tradition, Pentecost is the second of the three great Jewish feasts.  Pentecost was celebrated at Jerusalem every year in the seventh week after the Passover in gratitude for the harvest.   Pentecost was the perfect day for the Holy Spirit to make an appearance to the fledgling Christians.  The words of God through the prophet Joel (2:28) … “I will pour out my Spirit on all people” and the promises of Jesus Christ (Luke 24:49) … “I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven” are fulfilled on the “day” of Pentecost in Jerusalem after Jesus left the disciples “on their own.” And now they are alone no longer.  And we are no longer alone either.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit we are continually in the presence of God for the Spirit of the Living God who lives within us.  To the Corinthians (1 Cor 6:19) Paul writes, "don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you? 

In Paul’s letter to the Romans he speaks often of the Holy Spirit.  Paul is a very dense writer.  By that I mean he packs a lot of meaning into sentences which often run on for quite awhile.  Paul requires the reader to be thoughtful in order to understand both what he says and the layers of meaning within.  For those of us who simply do not believe that we pray well, Paul gives us hope.

I invite you to spend a few moments to prepare your heart to worship God as you pray with Scripture.   Breathe deeply and envision God’s Spirit filling you with love with each breath you take!  Settle into a place of confidence within yourself with a simple breath prayer.  Use this one or create your own (six to eight syllables)

          Breathe in (who do you worship?) Spirit of God (pause)

               Breath out (what do you need?) pray through me now (pause)

and when you are ready to move deeper into the text ...

Pray: Spirit of God, O Living Flame of Love ... fill me with your presence and pray in me, pray with me, pray through me.  I do not know how to pray, it is true, but I trust that you love me and are always with me.  For your presence and for your love , I am forever grateful.   

Amen … Amen … Amen

Step 1: Lectio … reading
Read  Romans 8:22-27 to yourself twice in a slow and reverent manner.
Listen for a word or phrase that catches your attention.
Silently focus on that word or phrase.
Repeat it several times and allow it to sift through your heart and mind.

Romans 8:22-27
We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.  For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen?  But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.  Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.  And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Step 2: Meditatio … receiving
Continue to focus on your word or phrase.
Pay attention to the thoughts and feelings it evokes.
What images emerge in your imagination?
What memories come to your mind?
Ask God to continue to speak to you through this word
Listen for God’s reply as you move through your day

Step 3: Oratio … responding
Consider any desires that have been awakened by your prayer
Perhaps you have found an area of your life that needs attention
Do not rush ... wait and listen as God forms your prayers and desires

Step 4: Contempatio … resting
Allow yourself to rest in the silence.
Allow your mind to settle into the silence.
When you feel the time to move on ...

Pray this poem by John of the Cross (1542-1591).  It is called The Living Flame of Love and the words flow from union of the soul into and with the intimate depths of the Spirit of God.

  


O living flame of love


              that tenderly wounds my soul
              in its deepest center! Since
              now you are not oppressive,
              now consummate! if it be your will:
              tear through the veil of this sweet encounter!

O sweet cautery,

              O delightful wound!
              O gentle hand!   O delicate touch
              that tastes of eternal life 
              and pays every debt!

              In killing you changed death to life. 

O lamps of fire!
              in whose splendors
              the deep caverns of feeling,
              once obscure and blind,
              now give forth, so rarely, so exquisitely,
              both warmth and light to their Beloved.


How gently and lovingly
              you wake in my heart,
              where in secret you dwell alone;
              and in your sweet breathing,
              filled with good and glory,
              how tenderly you swell my heart with love. 

Amen … Amen … Amen

Ascension of Christ: Blessings Abound!

Jesus ascended!  Now he “sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty” so the Apostle's Creed goes, right?    I wonder, “where is this (implied) throne of God?”   I think I always thought the ascension of Christ was rather bizarre … because of course I know what lies in the sky.  It’s not pie and it’s not God.     Cause beyond the sky is vast galaxies … stars and planets and black holes and asteroids and … so much fascinating stuff!  Some of us modern people tend to dismiss mystical experience because we “know” better.  Others of us modern people tend to pretend there is no mystery (or science) to invite us deeper.  And what about us modern people who sense there is more to the mystery than meets the eye?

As I sat with this mystical account of the ascension of Jesus I remembered several years ago when I attended the Great Passion Play in Eureka Springs, Arkansas with my husband and 2 young children.   It truly was a fantastic production and when I heard my little girl gasp in awe as Jesus “ascended” and light burst forth and flooded the night sky, I smiled in my inward being.  Yes, I could see the wires and pulley, but she couldn’t.  She was transported into the Mystery of God in that moment.   And somehow so was I, through her eyes … so were we all as we entered into her world of wonder.  

Have you ever entered a world of wonder or had an experience that you were afraid to share with others because you couldn’t explain it?   And those others might think you were a just little crazy.  It’s funny because when I tell others about some of the mystical experiences I have had, I find most people have similar stories to share.   Again and again, I enter into the wonder and mystery of God as I listen to the stories told by others.  In the reading today we hear one of those kinds of stories from the writer of the gospel of Luke.   And how did they respond to the ascension of Christ … the Jesus they knew and loved who blessed them one more time right before he “ascended.”  They worshipped!  What else can we do when we are enveloped in the mystery of God?  WE worship!

I invite you to spend a few moments to prepare your heart to worship God as you pray with Scripture.   Breathe deeply and envision God’s Spirit filling you with love with each breath you take!  Settle into a place of openness within yourself with a simple breath prayer.  Use this one or create your own (six to eight syllables)

          Breathe in (who do you worship?) God of Mystery (pause)

               Breath out (what do you need?) fill me with wonder (pause)

and when you are ready to move deeper into the text ... Pray:

God of Mystery, as I read your holy word,  open my mind and let me feel the blessings of Jesus in my life.  Reveal the wonder of your presence in this world as I worship you.   Reveal the wonder of your kingdom and your reign in this world.  Amen.    

Read Luke 24:44-53 slowly, allowing the passage to unfold in your mind.   Visualize the scene in your imagination and let the Spirit whisper in your heart.

Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you--that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled."  Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.  You are witnesses of these things.  And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."  Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them.  While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven.  And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

Read the passage again slowly and Reflect on just a word or phrase that draws your attention.   Sit with your word or phrase and listen to the whispers of God’s promise in the text ... Listen!  Turn your word or phrase over and over in your mind and let God speak into your heart.   Where is God inviting you to be “clothed with power from on high?”   Or is there another invitation you find in the text?

Read the passage again slowly and Respond to God.   Once again turn your attention to your word or phrase, knowing that it may be a different word on this reading.    As you contemplate the invitation you are hearing from God, how are you being called to respond, in word … prayer … action … or in some other way?

Read the passage again and Rest.  Allow the God of Mystery to fill you with unknowing.  Let all the words fade away ... when you are ready to move out of your meditation, is there a simple phrase that you might carry with you throughout your day …

To end your time of reflection, Pray this prayer or one of your own:

God of Mystery, I give you thanks for Jesus.  I am grateful for the blessings I receive through his journey of living, dying, rising … ascending.  Amen.

Cindy’s Journal Reflection …  

carried into heaven … when I worship God I am carried into heaven … a place that is beyond all that I am and all that I have … the mystery of God … the unknowing … I can only rest in awe as I think of God … and yet I am called to be “clothed from on high” and I am called to reach out into the world with hope … for all God has done for me, I am called to give my all for others.  And when I give my all for others, I am carried into heaven.  And I am filled with light and love!  Amen.

Psalm 98: Sing a New Song!

Hang on dear people ... I'm about to share a Psalm from a beautiful book called Rejoice, Beloved Woman!   "If a woman wrote the psalms, this is what they would sound like."  (excerpt from back cover)


Let's ... Sing a New Song!


Much has been written about gender-inclusive language.  Many translations and versions now include women in translating passages which were clearly intended to be addressed to all people in the original Greek language.  Perhaps this has invited people to open their minds a little ... fear not!


With a fresh reading of Psalm 98, perhaps you will be invited to open your mind a lot.  I invite you to open your mind and your heart to the God who refuses to be put in a box, whether it is a box in the form of an ark in the Ancient Near East or in the form of the narrow-mindedness of human beings, whether they be man or woman!


People often find it amusing that in "serious" bible study classes people laugh at the Israelite people who thought God resided IN that Ark of the Covenant but ... don't we keep God, the great I AM locked in an ark of our own making when we refuse to welcome the tapestry of images of God that are woven together in our bible and other spiritual writings, in the songs of faith, in the beauty of creation, and in the hearts of some of the most faithful people in the world.


While living in Canada, I was a member of a church that was committed to being inclusive by using gender-neutral language for God.  This is good.  My eyes and my heart were opened to God in exciting new ways.  However, I didn't actually weep all the way to my soul and my toes until God was referred to as "her" during our reading of the Affirmation of Faith in the midst of the worshiping community at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, California.  Something within my deepest truest self made a healing shift that Sunday night as my public image of God grew and I truly felt connected to God my Mother IN community!  Truth be told, my own dear Mother God had been coming to me in my prayers for some time but I had been too afraid to embrace Her ...


How are you feeling with all of this ... excited, fearful, elated, angry?  Where are you feeling your reaction in your body?  Is your "inside self" responding with "yes, yes, yes!" or "no, no, no!"   


Take a few moments and sit in the stillness of God's Presence with all of your feelings and just breath until you feel the peace of God envelope you.   Wherever you are, it is truly ok!  Remember ...


Wherever you are, God is!   Let's ... Sing a New Song!


Read Psalm 98 slowly and consider these images of God as you read.

Sing a new song to Shaddai, for She has done marvelous things.  

Her gentle hands and strong arms have shown her saving power.  

She has shown mercy and revealed her love to the loyal children.  

The ends of the earth know her ways.  

Make happy sounds to praise her.  

All the cosmos worships her with the song of its being.   

The melody of life rises to her hearing.  

The entire body of creation sways in worship of Shaddai. 

The seas rumble and the fish dance for her.  

Hills cover themselves in the softness of blossoms to praise her.  

Reeds sing their thin song and 

elephants trumpet the fullness of their being for her to hear.  

The waters of the seashore clap in praise of her works.  

Joy comes to all beings living in her.

Perhaps you can consider this prayer psalm for a few moments longer ... where is all of this taking me?   Where am I being drawn to God in the text?  Where do I seem to be resisting an invitation?   Where has my attention been captured by the words?


Read the Psalm again.  Is there a word or a phrase that shimmers up ... or perhaps shouts out to you?  Take that word or phrase and Reflect upon it.  What questions arise from this word or phrase to affirm you or to challenge you?   Is there a gift for you?   What are you receiving from your pondering the text?


Read the Psalm again.  Perhaps you will stay with your word or phrase and perhaps another word or phrase is calling you ... How do you Respond to what you are hearing from God?  Is there a prayer or refrain of gratitude that arises within you to offer to the world?  


Read the Psalm one last time and Rest.  Stay with your feelings, whatever they may be, for as long as you can.  Let the silence wrap you in comfort and peace ... until you are ready to move on


As you move on ... what "new song" are you singing?   


If this post/subject has stirred something within you, check out this Patheos.com article Giving Up a Too-Small God: How to let go of the God of whom you are certain and open yourself to the One who is beyond your imagining by Christine Valters Paintner


Shalom dear people!