Blessed Are You!

Scripture                     Luke 1:26-45
Focus Verse                Luke 1:42, 45
“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb … blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

Before she did anything else or told anyone else, Mary went on a journey (some sources say it took her around 9 days) to see her relative Elizabeth, whom the Angel had told her was pregnant in her “old” age.  Mary needed to see the truth of the miracle of Elizabeth’s pregnancy.  It isn’t unusual to say yes, then wonder what we’ve gotten ourselves into.

The greeting Mary receives does not disappoint, blessed 3 times she was! The word blessing means “having received something of value from someone as a sign of the respect or grace they feel toward you.”  Once again, we see how God must have loved and trusted Mary to have called her to such a bittersweet task … the joy of motherhood but the angst of suffering!  Well, that is the journey of every parent!

Reflection: Who showers you with blessings during difficult times in your life?  Who affirms God’s hand in your life?  How does that strengthen you for your continuing journey?

If music is a pathway for you, here is a lovely little arrangement called, "Blessed are you among Women" by StillSong. 

Prayer: Breathing “The Jesus Prayer”         
Breathing in … Lord Jesus Christ
Breathing out … Have mercy
*pray by breathing this prayer repetitively until the prayer prays you. You’ll know the prayer is praying you when the words come to you at random times in random places.  You will simply feel the words on your lips, in sync with your breathing.  And you have begun the process of praying unceasingly through the power of the Holy Spirit! For more information about praying The Jesus Prayer, an ancient prayer form from the days of early Christian History, practiced by the Desert Mothers and Fathers, take this LINK ...

The Message

Scripture                     Luke 1:26-45, Hebrews 13:2
Focus Verse                Luke 1:30-31
The angel Gabriel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.”

Whenever an Angel appears with a message from God, people generally respond with both fear and awe.  And then the Angel speaks.  The fear and the awe deepen.  I’m not sure that changes much when the Angel says, “Do not be afraid.”

Mary, who was probably a mature 13 years old, was “perplexed” by the Angel’s initial greeting which included, twice, letting her know that she had found “favor” with God.  Many sources translate favor as “full of grace.”  Perplexed seems an understatement to the suggestion that one, as a virgin, might give birth to the “literal” son of God.

Reflection:  What does it mean to you for someone to be “full of grace”?  How might Mary have felt after finding out exactly what God wanted from her especially with the talk of suffering to come.  Have you ever had an experience of God that mystified you and yet filled you with fear, too?  How did you move beyond your fear to embrace the grace offered to you?

If music is a spiritual pathway for you, pause for a moment and take this link for a YouTube video to listen to "Fear Not Mary" from the ARISE! Choral/Orchestral Production, Composer: Bryan L Pullman.

Prayer: Breathing “The Jesus Prayer”        
Breathing in … Lord Jesus Christ
Breathing out … Have mercy
*pray by breathing this prayer repetitively until the prayer prays you. You’ll know the prayer is praying you when the words come to you at random times in random places.  You will simply feel the words on your lips, in sync with your breathing.  And you have begun the process of praying unceasingly through the power of the Holy Spirit! For more information about praying The Jesus Prayer, an ancient prayer form from the days of early Christian History, practiced by the Desert Mothers and Fathers, take this LINK ... http://www.m-sfm.org/the-jesus-prayer.html

Genesis Roots: Joseph Forgives his Brothers and Invites the Whole Family to Live Near Him in Egypt!

We finish up my summer lectionary series called "Genesis Roots."  The word genesis means origin, beginning, or birth.  Root, in the context in which I'm writing, means essential core or source of life. In a way, the roots of the story of monotheistic faith rest in the stories we find in Genesis. 

 

This is the last week of Genesis Roots.  We close with an amazing story of forgiveness that mirrors God's mercy and grace.  Last week we read about how Jacob’s favored son, Joseph, was sold into slavery by his brothers.  His brothers then took Joseph’s bloody coat back to Jacob as evidence of his “death.”  Jacob grieved desperately.  Joseph walks with God and his strongest connection is through dreams. Through his dreams Joseph makes connections in Egypt and over the years he rises to power in Egypt.  During a time of famine in their land, Jacob sends his sons to Egypt to seek food.  We drop in on the reunion between Joseph and his brothers where we hear Joseph's sense of "providence" soften his heart ... all in God's plan.  

I invite you to spend a few moments preparing your heart to worship God as you engage with the text via Lectio Divina.  This week's reading is a little long for traditional lectio divina (10 verses is best) so we'll change it up a little as the passage unfolds.  But first, settle into a place of loving wonder within yourself with a simple  breath prayer.  Use this one or create your own.

Breathing in (who do you worship) ... God of Grace and Mercy

Breathing out (what do you desire)... Give me a Forgiving Heart

God of Joseph, as I read and pray with the holy text, illuminate my soul with kindness.  Give me a word to transform my life and fill me with joy.  In Christ, Amen.  

Step 1: Lectio … Reading

Read Genesis 45:1-15 slowly, 
and allow this tender story of forgiveness to unfold. 

Take it in and let your emotions guide you through. 

How do you feel about what you are reading?

Read the passage a 2^nd time, 
when you come upon a word or phrase 
that catches your attention, 
stop and focus on it. 

Sit with your word or phrase 
and let it marinate in your mind. 

Genesis 45:1-15 (NET)
Click here to read Original Lectio Version: The Voice Bible

Joseph was no longer able to control himself before all his attendants, so he cried out, “Make everyone go out from my presence!” No one remained with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. He wept loudly; the Egyptians heard it and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.
 

Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” His brothers could not answer him because they were dumbfounded before him. Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me,” so they came near. Then he said, “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.  Now, do not be upset and do not be angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me ahead of you to preserve life! For these past two years there has been famine in the land and for five more years there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.  God sent me ahead of you to preserve you on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.  So now, it is not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me an adviser to Pharaoh, lord over all his household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.  Now go up to my father quickly and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: “God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not delay!  You will live in the land of Goshen, and you will be near me—you, your children, your grandchildren, your flocks, your herds, and everything you have.  I will provide you with food there because there will be five more years of famine. Otherwise you would become poor—you, your household, and everyone who belongs to you.”’  You and my brother Benjamin can certainly see with your own eyes that I really am the one who speaks to you.  So tell my father about all my honor in Egypt and about everything you have seen. But bring my father down here quickly!”

 Then he threw himself on the neck of his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck.  He kissed all his brothers and wept over them. After this his brothers talked with him.

Step 2: Meditatio … Receiving

Continue to focus on your word or phrase or image.

Pay attention to the thoughts and feelings it has evoked.

What memories come to your mind?

Ask God to continue to speak to you.

Listen and watch for God’s Grace 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

Perhaps a name has emerged, someone you need to forgive

Do not rush ... wait and listen as God forms your prayers and desires

Step 4: Contempatio … Resting

Allow your word, phrase or image to fall away ...

Allow yourself to rest in the silence ...    

  

If images are a pathway to God for you, you may want to pray while "gazing" upon this image."  Where does your gazing take you?

Joseph Forgives His Brothers, an illustration from a Bible card published by the Providence Lithograph Company, 1907, image in public domain via wikimedia commons

What better song for a story of deep forgiveness such that Joseph had for his brothers than Amazing Grace. And what better way to end our study on "Genesis Roots."  

In this passage, Joseph mirrors for me the way of Christ … so if music is a pathway to God for you, take this link to a performance of Amazing Grace by Celtic Woman. Enjoy!

Amen and Amen!

Trinity Sunday: Grace, Love, and Communion!

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, blessed Trinity!

This is a song written for Trinity Sunday by Reginald Heber in 1826.  It has become a well beloved hymn since that time. For a little more info/reflection, take this link to 2012's "Holy, Holy, Holy."

The word “trinity” is not used in the bible but there are instances in which we can discern the biblical writers belief of three “persons” in the economy of God.   The doctrine, which means teaching, of the Trinity was formalized at the Council of Nicea in 325 CE.  Traditional Theology as expressed in the little known 6th century Athanasian Creed says it this way, “we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity … the whole three Persons are coeternal together, and coequal: so that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshiped.”   Today I say, “God, One in Three, Three in One.”  I became interested in pursuing my own thoughts about the Trinity after reading an adaptation of Three Hermits (Leo Tolstoy, 1886) by Anthony deMello in Song of the Bird.  Take this link to 2010's "Mystery" and scroll down to  "pondering" if you'd like to read this delightful little story.

  

The doctrine of the Trinity is not an easy one to understand nor to articulate because it is mysterious, unexplainable and beyond our comprehension … How can God be Three in One and One in Three?  Do we worship one God or three Gods?   Intellectually speaking, believing the Trinity means we believe that God is one in essence (Greek ousia), but distinct in person (Greek hypostasis).   Yet “person” does not mean person as we think of a human person.  The Greek word hypostasis simply means “individual reality.” 

Process theologian, Lewis S. Ford (“Contingent Trinitarianism” in Trinity in Process: A Relational Theology of God) says, “Although the trinity has been traditionally understood as “three persons (ie, three subjectivities) in one substance (ie, one impersonal substratum), the original formulation need not be so understood.”   His essay highlights one of the hallmarks of Process Theology, that of contingency, and the question becomes:  Is it possible for a God with no contingent aspects to know a contingent world?  

Today's reading comes from 2 Corinthians,  a "letter" Paul has written them.  When we read the entire letter, we can hear Paul's emotions simmering with the threat of an afternoon thunderstorm looming on the horizon.  He seems hurt, angry and disappointed in this church, which seems to be divided into various cliques by “quarreling, jealously, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.” (2 Cor 12:20)  With this in mind, we read Paul's closing remarks and listen to his final admonishments, letting them steep us in hope for the divisions we find in our own communal context. 

One of the reasons that I love the little story of the Three Hermits is it's invitation to see beyond what I know and enter into the unknowing of God for then will the Light shine and I may walk on water! 

When you are ready to pray with our scripture, I invite you to spend a few moments to prepare your heart for engagement with the text via Lectio Divina.   Breathe deeply and envision our Trinitarian God, One in Three, Three in One filling you with light 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) and this week I've chosen what I'll call a double breath prayer.  As I have been praying with it, it simply emerged this way and it feels more complete.

Breathing in (who do you worship?)   ... One in Three
Breathing out (what do you need?)     ... fill me with light

Breathing in (who do you worship?)   ... Three in One
Breathing out (what do you need?)     ... help me shine bright

When you are ready to move into the text, pray:  Holy God, One in Three, Three in One, often we find ourselves in conflict with our brothers and sisters over deeply held convictions.  Sometimes those convictions become larger than the love we have for you and the unity you call us to with your very Being.  Open my heart and my mind and my soul as I read your words, that I might find, through the light of your love, a way to be loving and kind to those I disagree with.  Amen.

Read 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 (NET) and immerse yourself in the words 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.  If you are in conflict with a person or a group of persons, you might listen for God's words through that lens.

Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice, set things right, be encouraged, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

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 how this passage is calling you?   How do you pray when you consider what God is saying to you?

Breathe deeply and 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, One in Three, Three in One, I want to live in the unity of Grace, Love, and Communion with my brothers and sisters in Christ, with all the people of the whole world, and with all of creation.  In your mercy, help me.  Amen.

Icon: Holy Forefathers, Russion, Novgorod (in my possession)

If Images are a pathway to God for you, you might want to Pray with this Icon by engaging in Visio Divina, what can also be called the prayer of gazing, with this image.  I recently acquired this one after experiencing a sense of the Holy Trinity through it.  As I sat gazing upon it, I saw three persons, each with 2 persons within.  And I thought, each "person" of God carries the other two, they are never without each other ... for me, this is how they are relationally one.  Realize that images only go so far, they are not reality but they certainly can point to reality or at least to a perception of reality.  As a matter of fact, I prefer feminine images of God, especially for the Holy Spirit.  But I can still appreciate this icon and it can still speak to me.  This is what visio divina, which means "sacred seeing" is about, finding meaning through art or image that speaks to a deeper truth that you sense within yourself.  And yes, it is subjective.  I don't expect anyone else to "see" or "feel" what I see and feel.  I hope that one would see and feel what is helpful for them in their own life and journey to God, who is always pursuing a deeper relationship with each of us in our way, time and context.  Enjoy!

If music is a pathway to God for you, take this link to youtube, watch the beautiful natures photos in the video and listen to Holy, Holy, Holy to end your time of praying with scripture.