Cast all your Cares on God!

The Petrine letters may have been written by Peter, but more likely were written "pseudonymously" by a person or group of Christ-followers who admired Peter and knew Christ through his ministry.  This letter is written to dispersed resident aliens, refering to Jewish exiles living outside of Palestine, "the promised land." However Raymond Brown, in An Introduction to the New Testament states, "it is reasonably clear from the contents of the letter that the recipients are Gentile Christians who are now the "chosen" people." (p. 708)   As we read through the letter, we begin to realize that the recipients, whoever they may be, are suffering and the letter is written as a comfort and an encouragement to the people and to us.

I invite you to spend a few moments nurturing your relationship with the God who cares for us, comforts us and encourages us in our sufferings.  As you read and pray and listen and celebrate God’s Presence through the Word, breathe and settle into a place of openness within yourself with a simple breath prayer.  Use this one or create your own (six to eight syllables is good for beginning breath prayer but I’ve used more as I've breathing more deeply, you really have to learn to move with your own breathing patterns:)

Breathing in ... Comforting God
Breathing out ... I cast all my cares upon you

and when you are ready to move deeper into the text ... Pray: Caring and Comforting God, open my heart to your Holy Word as I read and pray.  Amen. 

Read 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 from the Inclusive Bible.   Immerse yourself in the images as you engage in Lectio Divina, which means sacred reading.  Allow yourself to be drawn deeply into God’s Presence as you read and pray and listen.

Don’t be surprised, my dear friends, that a trial by fire is occurring in your midst. it is a test for you, but it shouldn’t catch you off guard.  Rejoice, instead, insofar as you share the savior’s sufferings, so that when the glory of Christ is revealed, you will rejoice exceedingly. Happy are you when you are insulted for the sake of Christ, for then God’s spirit in her glory has come to rest on you. Therefore, humble yourselves before God’s mighty power, that you may be exalted by God on the appointed day. Cast all your cares on God, who cares for you. Be sober. Be watchful. For your adversary the Devil roams about like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. Stand up to the Devil as one strong in faith, fortified with the knowledge that your sisters and brothers throughout the world share the same afflictions. But the God of all grace, who called you to eternal glory through Jesus Christ, will fulfill, restore, strengthen and establish you after you have suffered a little while. To God be glory and dominion forever and ever! Amen.

Mother of the Redeemer Monastery, Opelousas, LA

Read the passage again and Reflect ...
How does your word or phrase from this passage illuminate your life or the life of your community right now?  How is God inviting you to change or grow or pray or act?

Read the passage again and Respond ...
What do you say to God about your light, your life and how you feel you are being called?   How do you pray when you consider what God is saying to you?

Rest ...
Come to a place of silence within yourself and just "be" with God.  Try for 10 minutes or beyond.

When you are ready to move on,  Pray:  O God, I cast all my cares upon you.  I let go of all of anxieties and fears.  I surrender my life to you.  Lead me, guide me, love me.   Amen.

If music is a pathway to God for you, take this link to youtube, watch the video and listen to "I Cast My Cares Upon You."