Sunday-Ps,. 72 is a great prayer for the king, so we should have little trouble transferring it to political leaders. Notice how peace, prosperity, and security are linked. Look carefully at what makes a good king in this prayer.May we pray for all of our political leaders.
Monday-Gratitude is a practice that can begin with the smallest acknowledgement and be expanded out to every facet of our existence. A simple way to nurture this awareness in our lives is to end each day with a gratitude list. You might write 5-10 things for which you feel grateful each day, lifting up both the large and small moments of grace, rather than dwelling on where life came up short for us. Consider saving these grateful noticings together somewhere, and after a season of time reading back over the things that made your heart expand and notice what patterns you find there.
Tuesday-There is not a flower that opens, not a seed that falls into the ground, and not an ear of wheat that nods on the end of its stalk in the wind that does not preach and proclaim the greatness and the mercy of God to the whole world. There is not an act of kindness or generosity, not an act of sacrifice done, or a word of peace and gentleness spoken . . . that does not sing hymns to God." ~ Thomas Merton
Wednesday- Kierkegaard-Jesus Christ remains our exact contemporary still meeting us directly. From a theological perspective, we know that the Spirit of God makes the words of the text come alive in our hearing, so that through the power of the Spirit the Word of God, Christ himself, speaks directly to us, claiming us, calling us to follow. In some ways, the original disciples actually experienced a disadvantage of historical proximity from which we do not suffer.
Thursday-All the blessings we enjoy are committed to our trust that they should be dispensed for the benefit of our neighbors." John Calvin (1509-1564)
Friday-
" the innocent sleep, Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleave of care, The death of each day's life, sore labor's bath, Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course,
|
William Shakespeare
|
Saturday-"Advent invites us into the holy practice of waiting and attending the birth that is coming. Christmas calls us to celebrate that birth with wonder and awe. Our culture tells us the season should be filled with shopping and rushing. The wisdom of ancient monastic practices tells us that this is a time for pausing, savoring, and soaking in joy and gratitude. There are rich treasures within the stillness when we slow down long enough to let them be revealed.
No comments:
Post a Comment