This Lenten Prayer was located by Father Don Dunavant of San Angelo and is submitted by David Warkinton. May you be blessed by praying along with this prayer.
Fast from judging others; Feast on the Christ dwelling within them.
Fast from emphasis on differences; Feast on the unity of all life.
Fast from apparent darkness; Feast on the reality of light.
Fast from words that pollute; Feast on phrases that purify.
Fast from discontent; Feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger; Feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism; Feast on optimism.
Fast from worry; Feast on trust.
Fast from complaining; Feast on appreciation.
Fast from negatives; Feast on affirmatives.
Fast from unrelenting pressures; Feast on unceasing prayer.
Fast from hostility; Feast on nonviolence.
Fast from bitterness; Feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern; Feast on compassion for others.
Fast from personal anxiety; Feast on eternal truth.
Fast from discouragement; Feast on hope.
Fast from facts that depress; Feast on truths that uplift.
Fast from lethargy; Feast on enthusiasm.
Fast from suspicion; Feast on truth.
Fast from the thoughts that weaken; Feast on promises that inspire.
Fast from idle gossip; Feast on purposeful silence.
Gentle God, during this time season of fasting and feasting, gift us with Your Presence, so we can be gift a gift to others carrying out your work.
Amen.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Presence, Water and Good Sams
This Sunday's sermonette, for the 3rd Sunday in Lent, is offered by The Rev. Br. Thomas Bonaventure Devlin, of Las Vegas. Father Devlin is a professed member of the Mercy of God community and is also the director of the San Damiano Ministries for the American Orthodox Catholic Church.
Today our Church gives us much to ponder. It would be so easy to just see the Samaritan woman at the well and go on with that, but for me, that is not the point.
In Exodus, Moses was in the middle of a desert, leading the Israelites to a place of milk and honey. If only they had milk or honey. They did not even have water. The people were grumbling (again) so Moses consulted the Most High, who told him “I will be standing there in front of you on the rock in Horeb, strike the rock and water will flow from it for the people to drink.” Our God was there, present with Moses as he took this leap of faith.
That is the point…God was there. They named this place both Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord in our midst or not?”
Paul writing to the Romans, reminds them and us, “we have peace with God through Jesus, through whom we have gained access by faith to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God.” We are protected by our God, and we stand alongside the Most High, united in Faith, Hope and Love.
Finally in John’s Gospel, we have the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. Jesus was sitting at the well, awaiting his disciples who went food shopping, so to speak. The woman from Samaria came with her bowl and Jesus told her, “Give me a drink!” The woman was flabbergasted because Jews and Samarians do not drink from the same dishes.
Jesus tells her of the water that quenches thirst forever, and she realizes he was the Christ because he knew her soul. She did not have a husband, had 5 of them, and currently was shacking up with another man.
How could Jesus know…
His presence, he was just hanging out, and this incredible faith moving situation occurred. The Most High was hanging out in Meribah, and the great act of faith occurred. Jesus is at our side. Many times we don’t have to go looking for “good things” to do. Every day, in every situation is an opportunity for us to be witnesses to God’s presence among us.
As Saint Francis lay dying he told his friars, “Brothers (and Sisters), let us begin again for up to now we have done nothing!.”
Lent is like that, it is a time for new beginnings. May our God bless us all!
Today our Church gives us much to ponder. It would be so easy to just see the Samaritan woman at the well and go on with that, but for me, that is not the point.
In Exodus, Moses was in the middle of a desert, leading the Israelites to a place of milk and honey. If only they had milk or honey. They did not even have water. The people were grumbling (again) so Moses consulted the Most High, who told him “I will be standing there in front of you on the rock in Horeb, strike the rock and water will flow from it for the people to drink.” Our God was there, present with Moses as he took this leap of faith.
That is the point…God was there. They named this place both Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord in our midst or not?”
Paul writing to the Romans, reminds them and us, “we have peace with God through Jesus, through whom we have gained access by faith to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God.” We are protected by our God, and we stand alongside the Most High, united in Faith, Hope and Love.
Finally in John’s Gospel, we have the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. Jesus was sitting at the well, awaiting his disciples who went food shopping, so to speak. The woman from Samaria came with her bowl and Jesus told her, “Give me a drink!” The woman was flabbergasted because Jews and Samarians do not drink from the same dishes.
Jesus tells her of the water that quenches thirst forever, and she realizes he was the Christ because he knew her soul. She did not have a husband, had 5 of them, and currently was shacking up with another man.
How could Jesus know…
His presence, he was just hanging out, and this incredible faith moving situation occurred. The Most High was hanging out in Meribah, and the great act of faith occurred. Jesus is at our side. Many times we don’t have to go looking for “good things” to do. Every day, in every situation is an opportunity for us to be witnesses to God’s presence among us.
As Saint Francis lay dying he told his friars, “Brothers (and Sisters), let us begin again for up to now we have done nothing!.”
Lent is like that, it is a time for new beginnings. May our God bless us all!
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