Meditation
This scripture sounds so simple, does it not? Just forgive one another. After all, when we pray the Lord's prayer, we pray, "Forgive us..." Jesus on the cross said, "Forgive them..."

​In Matthew 18:22 we read of Jesus telling the disciples to forgive, "seventy times seven". In other words, simply forgive. Do not count the number of times you are called to forgive. 

I was surprised to read of her anger. I wondered why she carried this frustration for so long without speaking to me about it.

​So, I asked her if she could forgive the community. She replied yes, and I pray her burden has been lightened. Part of forgiveness is trusting, even when we do not know how the story unfolds. The ending must be left in God's hands.

Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. 
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth, as it is heaven. 
Give us this day Our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. 
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 
For thine is the kingdom, and the power,  and the glory forever.
Amen

Meditation
There are many wonderful prayers in the Bible. Even if you look no further than the Psalms, there you can find a prayer for every human emotion possible, and yes, I often do turn to them. However, this prayer I turn to even more. I find it compelling. I also find it easy to remember, which is a plus.

This week I have been in a panic. I am in the transition of moving from being the associate pastor of the San Lorenzo Church to the pastor. Although I know the congregation well, there are new tasks to take on. While I believe I am truly called to this position, there are times when I worry. 

​It is then that I can remember this simple, but profound prayer, "Help my unbelief." In all honesty, I feel comforted.

Anyway, the most recent edition (you can get it online as well as on paper) contains a short review of a new collection of some of Henri Nouwen's writings entitled, A Spirituality of Living.  Nouwen(1932-1996)  was a Dutch Catholic priest, professor, writer and theologian.  As I ponder the journey from dust  to dust, I am grateful for this passage from this collection of Nouwen's work: 
"Real freedom to live in this world comes from hearing clearly the truth about who we are, which is that we are beloved. That's what prayer is about ... It is the essential attitude that creates in us the freedom to love other people, not because they are going to love us back but because we are so loved. And out of the abundance of that love, we want to give."​

 Nouwen then goes on to say that knowing we are beloved, we can then begin to see the belovedness of other people. He contends that this is where healing begins, and I believe he is right. In God, no one is not loved. No one. Our task is to reach out to one another, forgive one another, and offer encouragement. This, my friends, is how we can begin to change the world.  Yes, our bodies will eventually return to the earth. Our love , however, will continue if we remember to begin sharing it now.  
 
Blessings on your Lenten journey. 

Scripture
"Let my whole being bless the Lord! 
Lord, my God how fantastic you are! 
You are clothed in glory and grandeur! 
You wear light like a robe; 
you open the skies like a curtain, 
You build your lofty house on the waters; 
you make the clouds your chariot, 
going around on the wings of the wind." 
Psalm 104:1-3 (Common English Bible)​

I remember reading part of this Psalm in a community a few years ago. One woman asked me, "How can we be a blessing to God? Isn't it God who does the blessing?"

​Certainly God blesses us. Yet, I believe we bless God with our gratitude. With our delight with the earth and with one another. If we do not pay attention to the blessings of life around us, we miss so much. We have a role in tending to God's kingdom. That role is to love. To pay attention. To express our gratitude. 

Little else speaks to me so fully of God's abundant love. Yesterday was warm and sunny, so it was easy to imagine a field of wheat opening up to the sun's radiance and reaching upward until such time when the farmer senses it is time for harvest.

​I know farming is not easy, but yesterday I simply enjoyed my time with the people and the sunny day. For a while I could forget the work I still needed to do. 

"For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies, 
for the love which from our birth over and around us lies, 
Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.
 
For the beauty of each hour of the day and of the night, 
hill and vale, and tree and flower, sun and moon, and stars of light, 
Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise."
Folliot Pierpoint, 1864.  Chalice Hymnal

Meditation
I have always been impressed by this merchant. He is on a mission. He knows what he is looking for and he is not interested in squandering his resources on pearls of lesser quality.

​He seems to be patient. Yet, when he finds one of great value, he does not hesitate. Even if he needs to sell all he has to purchase that one pearl, he seems willing to do so without reservation. I admire such focus and dedication.

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I recently came across this quote by Father John Main, the founder of the World Community of Christian Meditation.
I think it speaks of the pearl of great price that is indeed found in our dedication to God and to one another:
 "I suppose it is the completeness of the commitment that frightens us. But commit yourself but once and you will know from your own experience the love that casts out all fear. It takes many people years to come to that moment of commitment. Yet whether it takes years, months, weeks, or days is of no importance. All that is of importance is that each of us, as best we can in these earthen vessels, is as open as we can be to the essential truth of union." Father John Main, Silence and Stillness in Every Season

Prayer
Holy One, we thank you for guiding us in and through these difficult times. We thank you for inspiring dedication in those you call to serve. We thank you for the love that has been generated, and for the friendships that have bloomed, and for the union you have called us to. May we never take this time for granted. May we always be willing to commit and recommit ourselves to you and to one another. May we never be afraid to serve you with all our hearts, all our minds, all our strength. 
In gratitude we pray,  Amen

Diana Butler Bass writes, "Indeed, Jesus instructed his friends to pray to 'Abba' (as we can assume he himself prayed), a term most often rendered as 'Father' in English, but one that contains shades of meaning denoting intimacy and familiarity, including that of fraternal relations like 'brother' or 'companion,' and is related to the Hebrew word for friend (ahab), used to describe Abraham." 

I find this thought provoking and inspiring.

How many of us think of God as a friend?

I encourage all of us to give this question some thought and prayer as we move through these times. If we can practice believing a friend is guiding us, our practice can be transformed into a deep faith. 

Friendship is mutual, a hand extended and another reaching back. . . . Friendship is an eternal circle, the ceaseless reaching toward one another that strengthens us and gives us joy."* If our faith is not giving us joy, then we probably should look at that. If we truly believe that "God is love (1 John 4:8)," then surely we should live our lives courageously and very much in love. Such ripples can indeed change the world.

Lately, I have been talking about a meditation retreat I plan to attend in October. As nice as it is to have something to look forward to, we know all too well that plans can be thwarted. Yet, I am willing to risk that disappointment in favor of being able to have some hope of moving about more freely in the future.

I think that people of faith are always called to try to better the welfare of those around us, regardless of where we might find ourselves. Yes, we are called to hope. To dream. Yet, above all, we are called to prayer, and in prayer, we may hear God calling us to do something quite different than what we were imagining. So we learn to hold lightly as we tend to our community, our families, and our dreams. Because above all, whether it is January, July, or October, God has plans for us and these plans can be discerned. Let us trust that indeed, God is with us and guiding us. The way will be made known.

Meditation   
I seldom quote the King James Bible, but as I was perusing various translations of this passage, I was captivated with the idea of being a lively stone. Most modern translations read "living stones" and that is beautiful as well.

​Yet there is a subtle difference between being lively and living. For me, lively seems to imply that we are actually engaged with this notion of being alive.

 We are a people who are journeying together. We may not be of the same faith, but nonetheless, God is building us all into a spiritual house or temple. Together, we can create a sanctuary where people can find love and acceptance, and yes, healing. We often come to God with very explicit ideas about how we want to be healed. Yet, let us remember that God is not a short-order cook. I believe God wants to heal us into being fully who we are today. Let us be open to how God is working in our lives. We are still being created! 

My husband has finally found a doctor that he can trust. Not only does that trust help my husband heal, but that trust helps bring peace to our household, and that is healing for me. If I am feeling more at peace, then the people I come into contact with can benefit from that sense of peace as well. The ripples continue on. This is how we become lively stones in the vastness of God. Let us in our hearts, our families, and our communities build a living, holy temple where God, and everyone else, can abide. Jesus, alive with Spirit, did not withhold his love and healing. Christ is in our world because Jesus loved and trusted God. Let us strive to do the same.  

Meditation  
I often recall this verse when I am feeling lost or befuddled.  The words are wonderfully reassuring.  We are not ever left behind. The Holy One is always with us, always guiding us. Therefore, we truly do not have anything to fear.

​Our souls are eternal; they belong completely to God. I know I say and write these words a lot. However, please know that I write them, not out of habit, but out of my deep belief. 

 So, let us take a good breath in and rest in God, confident in our knowing this wave will pass.  In our very breath, we can find the peace that St. Paul described as the peace "that surpasses all understanding." We may not be able to describe it, but we can certainly abide in it.  Often, words are simply not needed. ​

From Rev Sue Ann Yarbrough

​Scripture: Matthew 2:10-12 
" When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road."

Epiphany celebrates the arrival of the Magi. It celebrates that, thanks to dreams and a star to follow, the Magi could ignore the fearful tyrant Herod, thwarting his plans to destroy the infant Jesus.  The Magi simply chose to continue to follow the star and find the child. They did not return to Herod, but went home another way. ​

Blessings to you all in this time, and always.   

Prayer  
Holy One, we thank you that you continue to guide us in our journey. Help us to trust your guidance. Help us to be like the Magi who were seeking the sacredness of Christ who is continually being born into this world.

Give us the confidence of both the Magi and of Jesus, to trust our paths. Help us to remember the words in Luke 2:9, that Jesus' birth is good news for all people. 

​We pray that we of all faiths, and those who profess to have no faith, remember that we are called to break away from tyranny, and go in the direction of love, dignity, and respect for all people.  

In such love we pray, 
Amen

Scripture 
Romans 12:1-2
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship, not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." 

However, we certainly do not need to wait until something serious happens before we begin to think of ourselves as a living sacrifice. I believe that in this letter to the Romans, Paul is encouraging all of us to really take part in our lives by dedicating ourselves completely to God.

​Hopefully, we will not just be content just to simply conform to the life around us, but rather to be an enlivened participant here and now.

Prayer
Holy One, to you we lift our minds, our hearts, our bodies. We are grateful that we can trust that You will use us to bring goodness to our world. We thank you for showing us that what we call sacrifice is really a gift, and what we offer is acceptable to you.

• Help us to be accepting, not complacent.
• Help us to love one another.

We know that when we offer love, we make room in our hearts for even more love, and this moreness is meant to be shared. 

Scripture:  Psalm 127:1-2  
Unless God builds the house,
its builders work in vain.
Unless God guards the city,
the guard keeps watch in vain.

In vain do you get up early
and put off going to bed,
working hard to earn a living;
for God provides for God's beloved,
even when they sleep.

I had skipped over spending time with God, and tried to go straight to the tasks at hand, even though I know that seldom works well for me.

​With my thoughts realigned towards wonder and  gratitude, Jack and I went on to have a lovely walk, and he is now napping. All seems right in his world.

Prayer
Each Day 
When we rise from sleep let us rise for the joy of the true Work that we will be about this day and considerately cheer one another on. 
Life will always provide matters for concern.
Each day, however, carries the potential to bring the experience of heaven; have the courage to expect good from it. 
Be gentle with this life, and use the light of life to live fully in your time.
Always We Begin Again by John McQuiston II

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23, 25 
"By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

​There is no law against such things. If we live by the Spirit, let's follow the Spirit. Let's not become arrogant, make each other angry, or be jealous of each other."

However, in our scripture today, Paul says nothing about shopping only for what appeals to us. Paul does not say fruits of the Spirit, but rather fruit.

​What this tells me is that when it comes to the Spirit, there is no picking and choosing what sweetness we think might best serve our nutritional needs of the day. Paul writes, "If we live by the Spirit, let's follow the Spirit." We must be willing to accept the full, rich gift that Spirit offers, and go where and how Spirit leads. 

Wherever our journey leads, we can be sustained by the Spirit if we accept that gift. If we say we trust God, we must trust the gift that Spirit offers. When we can do that, we can receive and offer peace wherever we find ourselves to be. 
 
"Imagine these together, working for the healing of the world."
All Will be Well, by Julian of Norwich, compiled by John Irvan and Richard Chilson (Disclosure: Amazon link to book gives a proportion of the sales price to SpiritCare if purchased here).

Prayer
Holy One, you do not ask us to know the way, but rather to simply surrender to your guidance. May we have the courage to release all worries and concerns to you, so we can simply hear how you are calling our hearts to love. You are a God of healing. As you are healing us into the bodies we have today, we, too, can offer healing to others by our willingness to love.
 ​

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:19 - 21
"We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

​ Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."

The image of the morning star that rises in our hearts reminds me of those mornings when I wake before the sun comes over the horizon. Sometimes, I am fortunate enough to see a bright morning star or planet close to the horizon just before dawn. It is always a sign of hope for me as darkness begins to give way to the day. Those moments do speak like a prophet to me. I feel inspired to give thanks for God and God's beautiful creation. Such light helps me begin the day with gratitude. 

May we all trust that the Holy Spirit is moving in our lives, bringing hope, inspiration, and light. Trust helps us hear Jesus' voice reminding us to not hide our light but to let it shine so all can see it. We do this, not to show off, but to give encouragement to those who cannot believe in the hope that a morning star can bring.

We of faith are called to be light in this world. Remember, your love is a gift of the Spirit. ​

 If anyone would like to read more of the novenas mentioned below, you can go to my blog at www.hearthpsalms.blogspot.com. I will be adding a prayer a day until the 9 days are complete. Feel free to visit the blog as often as you would like. There is quite a bit there. 

​If I can be of assistance in any way, please let me know. I am slowly adding more services, and Zoom does seem to work quite well. God is showing us the way. Blessed be. 

Meditation
This text is the beginning of Matthew's telling of the feeding of the five thousand, a story I always find inspirational. It is often easy to dismiss a situation and say, "Well, I have nothing to offer."

​Yet, in this story we hear Jesus telling us that we can always "feed" someone. It may be with food, but it may also be a simple offering of encouragement and friendship.​

I believe it is my responsibility as a follower of Christ to hold that knowledge and to remember it when I am speaking to others. It does not matter if the person is of another faith, or if they believe they are of no faith. I don't have to talk about it, but I do have to live it.

​My respect for the other person is one way I can feed that person, and as long as I stay aware, I can feed others. This is true for all of us. ​

Scripture: Matthew 13:44-45
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it."

Meditation
A friend of mine recently posted on her FaceBook page that she had just walked by a shop and had seen a beautiful blue-green purse in the window.

​She went in, and found that the purse was big enough to hold her things, but not too big. It just seemed so perfect, so she bought it. She seems quite delighted with her purchase.​

He is also telling us that the kingdom is right here within us, and if we focus on discovering the kingdom within, we will find it.

It is not hidden, but sometimes it gets buried by our day to day concerns. Again, Jesus is saying pay attention.

​Make room for the Christ within, and spend time with the sacred indwelling of God. You, too, are a pearl of great price for you are a beloved child of God. Know that, and let all other descriptions and rubble go.

Scripture
Psalm 145:1-4, Common English Bible 
 
I will lift you up high, my God, the true king.
 I will bless your name forever and always.
I will bless you every day.
 I will praise your name forever and always.
The Lord is great and so worthy of praise!
 God’s greatness can’t be grasped.
One generation will praise your works to the next one,
 proclaiming your mighty acts.

No human can understand God, but David, the beloved one, is right. We do continue to praise God generation after generation. I am grateful. 

​How do we praise God? We can do so through gratitude, daily devotions, even our work. We do so with our intentions, and we can do so by being attentive to the blessings in our daily lives. That includes being attentive to one another because no matter how far we might go astray, there is no one who is not loved by God.

A portion of the sale of this book goes to SpiritCare.

Prayer
This Psalm has me humming "All Creatures of our God and King". The words were written by St. Francis in 1225. According to the notes in the Chalice Hymnal, it was written when he was ill and "unattended in his hut at San Damiano."

​The notes go on to say that it is considered the first great religious poem in the Italian language. It really is a beautiful hymn, so I will leave you with the first and last verses. May we always praise God. 
I look forward to seeing you all soon.

All creatures of our God and King,
 lift up your voice and with us sing;  Alleluia! Alleluia!
 O burning sun with golden beam,
 O silver moon with softer gleam, 
O praise God, O praise God,  Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
 
And all forgiven tender hearts, 
forgiving others take your part, sing praises, Alleluia!
You who long pain and sorrow bear, 
praise God, who knows your every care. 
O praise God, O praise God.  Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Scripture: Psalm 105:1-4 
Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
 make known among the nations what he has done.
 Sing to him, sing praise to him;
 tell of all his wonderful acts.
​
Glory in his holy name;
 let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Look to the Lord and his strength;
 seek God's face always.

This is the time of year when well over 100 goats are brought in to keep the vegetation down. If I stand at my bathroom window and look over my neighbor's roof, I can watch them graze on this part of the ridge. I find them fascinating to watch. The baby goats are full of energy and like most kids everywhere, they love to run, jump, play pranks, and eat. The older female goats keep a watchful eye on them. The males watch over the herd, and the herding dogs keep a wary eye on anything that is not a goat. 

I am reminded God's creation is ongoing, and continues to diversify. That includes humanity. The color of our skin, hair, and eyes vary. Some of us are quite young, others much older. However, like goats always look like goats, humans look like humans. We may move, laugh, sing and cry differently, but we do so in a human way. May we remember that no matter our age, the color of our skin and eyes, God's Spirit is in each one of us. May we always treat one another with the dignity that God's Spirit deserves. We are part of God's good creation.

"God is everything that is good, 
everything that comforts, 
everything that gives us pleasure. 
The Spirit is our clothing, for in love, 
the Divine One wraps us up, holds us tight, 
and encloses us with tenderness. 
And since the Spirit lives everywhere, 
in the entire universe, 
how could we ever be abandoned?"
Hazelnuts from Julian of Norwich,
Meditations on Divine Love  Ellyn Sanna

Julian of Norwich was born in late 1342 and died sometime around 1412. She is being referenced quite a bit these days, as she, too, lived through a pandemic, and probably more than one, as the plague swept through England three times during her lifetime. Yet, she clung to her faith, and would eventually become an anchorite in St. Julian's Church in Norwich, England. 

​Any contact with the outside world would happen only when she sat at her window. People would stop there to seek a spiritual conversation with her. 

The image of a hazelnut was important to Julian. She wrote of holding one in her hand, and getting a sense of all creation. "The Spirit showed me a tiny thing the size of a hazelnut," and she wondered what it was. The answer that came to her was "This is everything that has been made. This is all of Creation... and God loves it." Her visions and thoughts of God were important to her, and she wrote them down. Her book was the first to be written by a woman in the English language. It is amazing that her works survived. 

Scripture: John 15:16-17
"You didn't choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you could go and produce fruit and so that your fruit could last. As a result, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give to you.

​I give you these commandments so that you can love one another."

Fruit that can help nourish others on their journey. Imagine walking down a long road with no end in sight and you were hungry. Maybe you even felt lost. Suddenly you come upon a tree full of beautiful ripe apples. Surely you would rejoice and eat. Why do we have these experiences? Maybe it really is about learning to pay attention. Of learning to trust. Of learning to love. Of remembering that the fruit of our lives is not only for ourselves, but for others. We are on this road together.

Today I came across a beautiful passage in the book, The Selfless Self by Father Lawrence Freeman. In it he tells the story of a man who was stunned to learn that he had a cancer that would require multiple surgeries. After one procedure, he felt so weak he really thought that he might die. However, in that moment, he felt the overwhelming love of Christ in his heart. He felt the prayers and meditations of the Christian community he regularly meditated with, and he felt healing. He did live through the experience, but even if he had not, he would have been healed. All of us will be eventually healed into death. We simply do not live in these bodies forever. Neither life nor death has the last word. The last word will always be God. God is the Alpha and the Omega, and as 1 John 4:16 teaches us, "God is love." May we always willingly let God's love have the last word. There will be the sustaining fruit we need.

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-4
"The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 'Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.' So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do."

May people say of our love:
 
"They are are like trees 
planted by streams of water, 
which yield their fruit in its season, 
and their leaves do not wither. 
In all that they do they prosper." 
Psalm 1:3​

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2a
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith."

As I began writing this, I thought of the Olympics, and a memory surfaced about an African runner who came in last because he had taken a terrible fall. Nonetheless, he was determined to finish the race.

​A fairly quick internet search revealed the story of John Stephen Akwari who came in last in the marathon of the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. It took him over three hours to limp to the finish line, long after the accolades for the winners were concluded. 

To walk (or run) a path of faith takes humility. The world loves winners, at least until the next winner comes along. Yet, we who are in the third part of our lives sense our winning moments are coming to a close. Yet, God is beckoning us to not seek trophies, but to become love. Jesus is still encouraging us to not hold on to this life at all costs. Our egos yearn for victory. However, when our egos calm down, there we will find God who has been with us all along, encouraging us to reach out to one another.

Scripture: Psalm 37:3-4 
Trust in the Lord and do good 
that you may dwell in the land 
and live secure. 

Find your delight in the Lord 
who will give you your heart's desire. 
 

​There is much freedom to be found in this love and trust. God offers us serenity in every moment. Serenity gives us the confidence, as the Psalmist says, to "dwell in the land and live secure." In other words, we are invited to take root right where we are. This is one of the great gifts of Christian meditation. We learn to simply sit in the silence of God's presence. We then learn that presence is always in our very own hearts.

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:8-9
See, I will bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the ends of the earth.
Among them will be the blind and the lame, expectant mothers and women in labor; a great throng will return.
They will come with weeping; they will pray as I bring them back.
I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble, because I am Israel’s father, and Ephraim is my firstborn son.

I also appreciate the assurance that the way back may be smoother than we fear. Here we have the promise of a path that will not trip us up. There will be quiet streams where we can rest. We hear the comfort of Psalm 23. 

​Jeremiah reminds me that God is a beckoning God who is always calling us to move closer. We can trust God's embrace. We can trust our lives. I pray that we will love the people that God has given us to love. Love is what will help us change the world. However, first we must heed the call to trust and follow. 

In God's endless love, your soul is kept whole.
In this endless love you are led, kept safe; 
you will never be lost, 
for your safety is inherent in the moment and method of your creation. 
Your soul is alive, 
​filled with life that shall endure without end, thanks to Divine sweetness and grace. 
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