Dear Thomas:  I love your enthusiastic sharing.  This line really landed as truth in me: “God always shows up when needed, at least that is my experience. But I never receive any indication that is going to happen, it just does.”

Thanks for your practice and for showing up here to share in community. – Pamela

Adeline, thank you for continuing to share about your practice of the Welcoming Prayer. When you shared in the prayer group about practicing it before you get out of bed every morning, that really stuck with me and I began that practice the next day … and have continued every since. You are an inspiration to me in so many ways. – Pamela

This is a Visio Divina reflection from Tom Agness.  He has trouble posting, so he shared it with me to share with all of you:

Blood and Wine

The picture of Reconciliation, using the Visio Divina practice, brings many images, thoughts, signs and symbols to my mind.

The red color at the bottom of the picture depicts the bloody sacrifice of God, unspoken, but present in the consecration at Mass. “This is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant, given for you, so that all sin is forgiven.”

The blue, or indigo color just above it signifies Advent, Incarnation and Epiphany and the theological gift of divine light, which is present in the picture as white.

Above that is the color purple, signifying Lent, the Passion, Death & Resurrection of the Christ, Easter, along with the feasts of the Ascension and Pentecost.

Above that is again, the color red, symbolizing the New Wine, or the Joy in the New Life offered and given to all. And the theological gift of  Divine or Eternal Life present, as depicted in the Eucharistic celebration of the Mass, a forerunner to the Heavenly Banquet.

Off to one side is the color green, the green of Ordinary Time, where Divine Love grows like flowers in a garden.

The picture looks like it’s stained glass, apropos to a worship space. I spent many hours in spaces like those, gazing at stained glass windows that told stories, or were pictures of various saints. I also see a cross in there, when I let go of the analytical side of my brain and just let the picture speak to me.

Where, how does Reconciliation come into play? Because the whole Eucharistic celebration, in fact, the whole of life, is the re-enactment of God’s simple, single act of self-giving that I witness, and take part in simply by being alive, and being awake.

Some of the Eastern religions and philosophies are what I call, ‘meta-historical’. The smile of the Buddha seems to imply he is enjoying a little inside joke – that while Western Christianity needed  to have God, or the Son of God actually come to earth, die and be resurrected,  what I call the historical principle, for us to get it, – the Eastern religions seemed to already intuitively know God’s unconditional love for us.

Nevertheless, we both wind up in the same place. Enlightenment, Unity consciousness, heaven, nirvana. Different words but the same meaning.

Where it all comes together for me is this description of Eucharist:

Eucharist is

invitation

offering

receiving

sharing

the

Divine

Light

Life

and

Love

of God

now

and

forever.

I believe.

And I am reconciled, not by anything I have done, but by what, as Thomas Keating has said; “God signing on the dotted line.” to show how much God loves us.

It was, is, and will always be God reconciling us to God self.

Thank God!

Linda, your phrase, “my reactions edify no one” brought a smile and chuckle.  Thank you for this wise and humorous insight. – Pamela

Thank you for this bringing up the importance of this book, Frank.  I would say it is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand Christianity on a deeper level. – Pamela

Kathleen: This gentleman wrote in with his post/reply to you instead of posting it directly.  I share if here on his behalf:

In response to Ms. Kathleen Kelly, may I humbly suggest that divine providence can put you in a situation in which you may choose to act for one in need? The opportunity to act is an invitation to do something other than observe and leave the action to God, who you might consider is not within you. But Jesus says that the realm or power of heaven is within you, and whatever you do for the least of God’s creatures, you do to Christ, in Christ’s need. One could even do some deed as little as a cup of cold water, which Sir Philip Sidney, dying on the battlefield, was offered, but he refused it, saying, “Thy need is greater than mine.” St. James in his Letter says something similar. Don’t just pray for one in need; if you can, act to help. Aquinas wrote that to love is to wish another good and see it done. As a Franciscan associate, I wish Ms. Kelly and all readers, “Peace and all good.” – George Marsh

 

Tom, thank you for posting and sharing your enthusiastic and personal response to this week’s reflection. The writing team appreciates knowing how these reflections land in people’s hearts and spiritual journeys. – Pamela

Dear Adeline: thanks to your sharing here and last week in the live prayer group, I’m now waking up each day and practicing the Welcoming Prayer before I get out of bed.  I’m grateful for your inspired witness to the depths of practice and Presence.

Tim, Stephanie, Linda, Kathleen – thank you all for your sharings and your beautiful beings. Love never fails us, no matter what, no matter how we feel.

We are wide awake, together.

Adeline, I am always so moved by your depth, and the liminal depths you are willing to dive deeper into in service to healing, transformation, and the lifting up of the world.  Thank God for you and the work you do on behalf of all of us. Deep bow – Pamela

Bless you all for your deep and profound witnesses. I often feel like I won some spiritual lottery being with people like you.

After being on grandparent duty for the last 12 days — “losing myself for the sake of love” — with very irregular windows for Centering Prayer, I am in awe of the inner stillness that accompanied me, even when I was so tired I could hardly function. Perhaps the wave aspect of being took over. I pray this is so.  “Go with the Flow” is taking on a whole new meaning for me — an effortless wave of consent. – Pamela

Kathleen, this message meets me at the perfect time.  I just spent the last two days visiting with friends — more social interaction that I usually have in a month. Each sessions was a few hours.  I came home today with a headache, only to read your experience. Now I am in the silence of my own home, in the net of my silent community, and I can rest. So be it. – Pamela

This question also spoke to me, Linda. Some “matters” came to mind that need me to step back, as Sue described in this morning’s prayer circle.  Stepping back is to be receptive, vulnerable, waiting patiently. – Pamela

Thank you Linda, Jaime and Adeline for your deep and inspiring witness. – Pamela

Thank you, dear Sue.  You are such a witness to this effortless being and synthesis of traditions. – Pamela

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