February - Praying with the Earth: THURSDAYS

PRAYING FOR THE EARTH: A Prayerbook for Peace

John Philip Newell –

Thursday Prayers

Blessed are the forgiving for they are free.   Matt 5.7

2.8.17       Thursday Morning Prayer of Awareness

We wake to the forgiveness of a new day.

We wake to the freedom to begin again.

We wake to the mercy of the sun’s redeeming light.

Always new

Always gift

Always blessing.

We wake to the forgiveness of this new day.  –JPN

Forgiveness

Brings freedom.

A renewal of relationship

A blessing of love.

God-grace. 

         The Beatitude for this week is more commonly known as the “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy.”  I guess I have never equated forgiveness with mercy, but it makes sense.  Each day we begin anew with new opportunities to extend mercy, to grant forgiveness to those who have wronged us, to right those we have wronged.  The gift of mercy is a blessing of grace.  God-grace. 

Forgiving God…Help me extend mercy and forgiveness this and every day.  Amen.  

2.9.17       Thursday Morning Prayer for the Life of the World

May our enemy become our friend, O God,

That we may remember our shared birth in you. –JPN excerpt

One God.

Common birth.

Brothers. 

Why must siblings

quarrel so?

         At a meeting yesterday one of my church friends said that this weeks lectionary was on loving our enemies.  How appropriate for today’s text.  Yet, it seems like our biggest ‘enemies’ now-days are those of our Abrahamic siblings – our brothers in God.  We disagree with the current actions of the Israeli Jews while supporting the Jews living in our country.  We seem to have, as a nation, lumped all Muslims into one ‘enemy’ category.  We are one.  We have a common birth as sons and daughters of God.  We can disagree, we can practice different rituals and rites, but in the end, we are family. 

         How do we make our enemies our friends?  By personalizing them, by putting names to faces, by getting to know each other and finding we have more similarities than differences. 

Common God…help me move today toward reconciliation with my ‘brothers’. Amen. 

2.10.17     Thursday Morning Prayer of Blessing

The blessings of fire and water

To fill us with heaven

To free us with mercy

To stir us with flames of compassion. –JPN Excerpt

Fire.  Water.

Spirit.  Baptism.

Ignite the flames.

Strike the rock to

Pour forth a  stream

Of forgiveness. 

         The images of fire and water and spiritual – the Holy Spirit and Baptism.  But they are also images of action and movement, a stirring of emotions and intent.  I love the image of flames of compassion – to start a fire of kindness that will grow.  Not ALL wildfires are bad!  A wildfire of mercy and compassion, an outpouring of love and forgiveness – such a blessing!  The freedom of forgiveness is powerful. How can I be a part? 

God of fire, God of water….Ignite the flame of mercy within me.  Free me.  Amen.

2.11.17     Thursday Scriptures

God is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.  Psalm 103.8

Forgive not seven times but seventy times seven times. Matthew 18.22

Return evil with good and your enemy will become your friend. –Quran – Revelations Well Expounded 41.34

Seventy times seven.

Moments of mercy. 

Acts of Forgiveness.

Over and over because

God does it also. 

         The Bible is rich with ‘sevens’ but this Matthew passage multiplies it even further.  Forgive not just seven times, but 70 x 7!  That’s 490 moments of mercy.  It is Jesus’ way of saying….infinity!  Just keep forgiving!  As many times as it takes, because in the long run, it is for our own good.  It frees us for a complete and full relationship with God. 

Forgiving God… May we forgive often and fully.  Amen.  

2.12.17     Thursday Evening Prayer of Awareness

Not because we have made peace this day.

Not because we have treated the other as our self.

Not because we have walked the earth with reverence today

But because there is mercy

Because there is grace

Because your Spirit has not been taken from us

We come

Still thirsting for peace

Still longing to love

Still hungering for wholeness. –JPN

I have to explain that today's picture is based on the beautiful sunrises
and full moonrises we have witnessed the past couple days!

Sunrise.  Moonrise.

Daybreak. Eventide.

Longing persists for

Mercy, grace, justice.

We thirst for God

Within. 

         Nothing we have done on our own has earned the right to bask in the glory of God’s love and grace.  To feel the wholeness of God, to live in and within that love, grants us the compassion, the mercy, the desire to extend such love and grace to others.  Until we can fully accept the love, it is so hard to completely share it. 

God of grace and unfathomable love….quench my thirst that I might fill the cup of others.  Amen.

2.13.17     Thursday Evening Prayer for the Life of the World

The ageless mountains are full of your glory

The vast seas swell with your might

The shining skies expand beyond our imagining

So we pause to praise

We wait in wonder

We listen to learn

Of the mountain glory within us

Of the sea force in our veins

Of love’s shining infinity.

Grant us the grace, O God,

To serve this inner universe of soul among us. –JPN

All Creation sings

In praise and adoration.

God’s glory and grace

Can be within us.

Seek and we shall find.

         I am currently re-reading The Shack in anticipation of the movie release sometime in March.  Somehow this morning’s prose from Newell reflects some of the incredible descriptions in the book of God’s all-encompassing love and life WITH God WITHIN us.  This ‘inner universe of soul’ with and among us can change everything in terms of our relationships with one another – relationships that have no hierarchy or power-plays.  Such relationships are based totally on mutual love and mutual submission to the needs and desires of one another.  Revolutionary. 

God of Unending Love….Help us ‘listen to learn of the mountain glory within’ ourselves and each other.  Amen.  

2.14.17     Thursday Evening Prayer of Blessing

Light for new vision

Strength to make sacrifice

Peace for our world

On the pathways of earth’s journey this night

Let there be peace. –JPN excerpt

         Our world is in turmoil.  Peace is going to take sacrifice.  Peace is going to take an effort on the part of each one of us, starting with peace in our own hearts, families, and communities. We can’t bemoan the lack of peace in world affairs when we stir up hostilities within our own homes and communities.  The old 60’s folk song really hit the mark: “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.”  Can I make some tangible effort each day, whether it is to reconcile with a broken relationship, a note of ‘I’m sorry’, a letter to a congressman, or a donation to reduce domestic violence? SOME tangible action to make peace!  It might involve a sacrifice of embarrassment, money, or time.  But if everyone did their part, peace could happen. 

Peace is carefully crafted

One ‘piece’ at a time

When everyone sacrifices

To seek reconciliation

And forgiveness. 

The gray symbol at the left is the Chinese character for Peace.  

Reconciling God…Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.  Amen.  

All quotations are from PRAYING with the EARTH: A Prayerbook for Peace by John Philip Newell.  William B Eerdman’s Publishing Company, 2011.  

GOSPEL OF LUKE - Chapter 7 Forgiveness

Gospel of Luke – Chapter 7  FORGIVENESS

Luke 7:6-7 (MSG) Worthy

 “Master, you don’t have to go to all this trouble.  I’m not that good a person, you know.  I’d be embarrassed for you to come to my house, even embarrassed to come to you in person.  Just give the order and my servant will get well.” 

 

Luke 7:12-15 (MSG)  Widow’s Son

 “As they approached the village gate, they met a funeral procession – a woman’s only son was being carried out for burial.  And the mother was a widow.  When Jesus saw her, his heart broke.  He said to her, ‘Don’t cry.’ Then he went over and touched the coffin.  The pallbearers stopped.  He said, ‘Young man, I tell you: Get up.’ The dead son sat up and began talking.  Jesus presented him to his mother.”

Luke 7:16 (MSG)  Holy Mystery

 “They all realized they were in a place of holy mystery, that God was at work among them.”

Luke 7:22-23 (MSG) Are You the One?   

“Go back and tell John what you have just seen and heard: The blind see, the lame walk, Lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, The wretched of the earth have God’s salvation hospitality extended to them.  Is this what you were expecting?  Then count yourselves fortunate!”

         John’s disciples had to know…is this the Messiah? I am trying to put myself in their shoes….the excitement, the anticipation, the joy!  Miracles were happening!  If this is the man of prophesy, he has come!

         We see what we want to see.  If we aren’t expecting the salvation of God, we won’t recognize it when it comes.  Do we need the proof as John’s disciples seemed to want?  Can’t we look around us and see the proof of God at work on a day to day basis? 

         Jesus IS the one!  Expect it!  Accept it! 

7:31-35 (MSG)  Fast or Feast 

  “How can I account for the people of this generation?  They’re like spoiled children complaining to their parents…. John the Baptizer came fasting and you called him crazy.  The Son of Man came feasting and you called him a lush.  Opinion polls don’t count for much, do they?  The proof of the pudding is in the eating.”

         You can’t please everyone all the time!  Fasting or feasting – the people weren’t happy.  They didn’t know what to think.  Perhaps John fasted in preparation.  Jesus’ mission while here on earth was a celebration of God in our midst.  So much of his storytelling takes place around meals, around shared experiences.  But what are the results?  That’s the proof!  John gathered recruits, he baptized, he prepared people for the feast!  He got results!  Jesus went among the people, he ate with them, he broke bread with them.  Jesus made relationships count over a meal.  Jesus got results!  Fast or feast – the approach doesn’t matter as long as relationship with God ultimately happens.

 

Luke 7:38 (MSG)  Pursue the Forgiver

“Letting down her hair, she dried his feet, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfume.”

Luke 7:41-43 (MSG)  Forgiven Most

“Two men were in debt to a banker.  One owed five hundred silver pieces, the other fifty.  Neither of them could pay up, and so the banker canceled both debts.  Which of the two would be more grateful?’  Simon answered, ‘I suppose the one who was forgiven the most.’ “

Luke 7:44-47 (CEB) Forgiveness Demands a Response

“She wet my feet with tears and wiped them with her hair….She hasn’t stopped kissing my feet….She has poured perfumed oil on my feet….She has shown great love.”

Luke 7:50 (GNT) Accept Forgiveness

“Your sins are forgiven.  Go in peace.”

Explanation....most of the Chapter 7 scribbles were previously drawn, so I have just included the scripture passage.  Commentary was published with the original blog posting.  

Don't Deny the Forgiver

Wednesday, June 13
Mark 3:28-30 (The Message)
" 'Listen to this carefully.  I'm warning you.  There's nothing done or said that can't be forgiven.  But if you persist in your slanders against God's Holy Spirit, you are repudiating the very One who forgives, sawing off the branch on which you're sitting, severing by your own perversity all connection with the One who forgives.'  He gave this warning because they were accusing him of being in league with Evil."
    The first verse of this passage seems overlooked in many commentaries.  They move on to verse 29 quickly.  But verse 28 should and can stand alone!  "There's NOTHING done or said that can't be forgiven!"  Nothing!  Wow!  What a liberating statement.  God's love is so vast, his capacity for forgiveness so great, that nothing we have done in our past or may do in the future can separate us.  Nothing.....except....
     ...to deny the source of that forgiveness.  That in itself is the unforgivable.  To blaspheme God, the Holy Spirit, is to bite the hand that feeds you, to saw off the branch on which you sit.  To be freed and redeemed in God's love and forgiveness, we must honor and glorify God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit.  It's unforgivable to treat the Forgiver in any other way.  To live in a relationship with God that nurtures redemption and confession is to live without fear but in freedom.
     Let's watch what we bite and what we cut away....and live in the freedom that results.