Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Today’s reading

1 John 2:1-2

“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the world” (1 John 2:1-2).

Prayer

For the sins of the world? Is anything big enough to cover this? Is there a heart sufficient to hold them all?

“My heart,” I hear you say. “I hold it all in my immensity, enveloping the sorrowful rebellion of billions in a cloud of belovedness. All that happens … happens in me. I hold it all. I cover it all. I love it all. I heal it all. Bring it all, all that you are, all that has been. It is all in me anyway.”

Blessed Jesus, in your flesh you reveal the truth of every age and life, the dark and holy mystery human eyes cannot penetrate. In your body, we see: the Blessed One unites every corruption of creation with infinite love and constant compassion, holding, bearing and engulfing all that contradicts the loving intention of the divine heart.

Holy Mystery, you take all that is into the inestimable vastness of your heart. It is your desire that nothing should suffer separateness from your boundless joy. For this is your joy, to unite our failed humanity with your love, absorbing bitter human pain and sin into the healing dance of love that is your triune life.

The expansive wonder of your heart holds all that is--and me. May this truth be my vision. Amen.

--Pastor David L. Miller

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Tuesday, February 20, 2007



Today’s reading

1 John 2:1-2

“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:1-2).

Prayer

Enduring Love, you abide here, with and in us, constantly inviting us to fellowship in your eternal kindness. But our sin isolates our hearts in a cocoon of loneliness that consumes our souls. We turn from you to live by our own devices and strengths, failing to know your nearness.

Little wonder that often we feel so alone. We turn from the mystery of Love Abiding to our own way, fleeing the depth of our hearts, where you invite us to rest in you who long to cherish, to welcome, to fill our emptiness with the fullness of a heart that knows only to love.

Sin tears at our togetherness. It breaks holy fellowship in which we share all, life and fear, mercy and pain, gentleness and joy, confusion and questions.

Still, you abide, constantly inviting us to fellowship with you and your beloved community that we might share all that we are—especially our broken and confused hearts—and know ourselves as you know us, wandering but wanted, torn but treasured, and always yours.

Your love abides, Lord Jesus, constantly calling us home. We offer our sins to you knowing that in your love they become the road to intimacy with you, whom we most need. Amen.


--Pastor David L. Miller

Monday, February 19, 2007

Monday, February 19, 2007

Today’s reading

1 John 1:8-10

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (1 John 1:8-10).

Prayer

Our lives are constantly barrier or bridge, dearest Holy Mystery. Even our sins are a barrier or bridge. When we hide them our hearts freeze, trapped behind walls of fear and deception. When we confess them the walls about our heart fall flat and become the bridge we walk into intimacy with you who are always near, waiting for us to come home where you may share the mercy that is your life.

You are our home, and your word indwelling our souls speaks the truth of our heart--and of yours. Listening to you, we at once know both you and our own voice, authentic and real, speaking the truth: that we are sinners, failed and fallen, that we are mortal, anxious and fearful, and that we are yours, wanted and welcomed, constantly, by your faithful, unfailing presence.

Help us to listen and love the truth you speak to and in us, even when that truth seems unkind or cutting, even when you tell us what we don’t want to hear. More than anything else, we need your truth, your word--you-- to abide in us that our hearts may rest and find life in you.

We need to know you ever near, within the mystery of our own hearts. So let us hear and receive the truth your word speaks that we may enjoy your presence in us, loving us and welcoming us home. Amen.

--Pastor David L. Miller