Today’s text
1 John 2:18-20
“Children, it is the last hour! As you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. From this we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But by going out they made it plain that none of them belongs to us. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and all of you have knowledge” (1 John 2:18-20).
Prayer
Jesus, you have been the source of many divisions. It troubles me, always has. You come that we might abide in you and know the Loving Mystery you bear in our mutual abiding. Yet, you who are all life and joy, who are eternal wonder and everlasting peace, are more often a point of bitter discord even among those who believe into you. Or so it seems.
If only, … if only we truly knew you and the wonder you bear, would we then live beyond bitterness, pride and fear in which we tear at each other? Would we find ways to love and honor each other and your holy body, refusing to rend the garment of loving unity in which you seek to dress us and all things? We rip apart the concord you would create among us.
It has been so since the beginning. Bathed in your love, there remain deep wounds in our souls that do not yet know the healing wonder of being loved beyond all reason. We long for this freedom.
Heal us holy Jesus. Only you can. We need to know you; every part of us needs to know and abide in your love. Then, knowledge of you shall fill us, and we will learn the ways of peace. Amen.
--Pr. David L. Miller
http://prayingthemystery.blogspot.com/
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Friday, March 16, 2007
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Today’s text
1 John 2:15-17
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; for all that is in the world--the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches--comes not from the Father but from the world. And the world and its desires are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever” (1 John 2:15-17).
Prayer
How can I not love your world, Holy One? You have made it so rich, alive and different from the boring moon. The gull floats above, silver, white and dark shadow all at once; drifting in sweet morning air that gently embraces the Earth with the promise of day. We begin again. Earth rises afresh, if not entirely pure of yesterday’s dirt, yet somehow washed clean enough for us to imagine today may bring our souls’ deep longing.
How can I not love this? I see you in all of it. The gull glides motionless, flicking but a feather to catch shifting columns of lifting air. She hangs not against morning blues and grays—but in you, soaring in the atmosphere of your eternity.
It is all in you—the sky, the day, the morning glow, the gull, the joy I find in all of it. All of it is in you. The cosmos itself is your body, expressing your creative joy and wonder, your power and delight. This blessed moment and all that happens occurs in you, for apart from you nothing is.
You have made us for love, allowing us to share your delight. Help us to know all things in you, no longer seeing through the eyes of pride or fear and selfishness. For then we seek only ourselves in the things you have made. Instead, let us seek and see you and your love, delighting in all that is for the sake of your creative joy and loving purpose. Amen.
--Pr. David L. Miller
1 John 2:15-17
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; for all that is in the world--the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches--comes not from the Father but from the world. And the world and its desires are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever” (1 John 2:15-17).
Prayer
How can I not love your world, Holy One? You have made it so rich, alive and different from the boring moon. The gull floats above, silver, white and dark shadow all at once; drifting in sweet morning air that gently embraces the Earth with the promise of day. We begin again. Earth rises afresh, if not entirely pure of yesterday’s dirt, yet somehow washed clean enough for us to imagine today may bring our souls’ deep longing.
How can I not love this? I see you in all of it. The gull glides motionless, flicking but a feather to catch shifting columns of lifting air. She hangs not against morning blues and grays—but in you, soaring in the atmosphere of your eternity.
It is all in you—the sky, the day, the morning glow, the gull, the joy I find in all of it. All of it is in you. The cosmos itself is your body, expressing your creative joy and wonder, your power and delight. This blessed moment and all that happens occurs in you, for apart from you nothing is.
You have made us for love, allowing us to share your delight. Help us to know all things in you, no longer seeing through the eyes of pride or fear and selfishness. For then we seek only ourselves in the things you have made. Instead, let us seek and see you and your love, delighting in all that is for the sake of your creative joy and loving purpose. Amen.
--Pr. David L. Miller
Monday, March 12, 2007
Monday, March 12, 2007
Today’s text
1 John 2:15-17
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; for all that is in the world--the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches--comes not from the Father but from the world. And the world and its desires are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever” (1 John 2:15-17).
Prayer
To what shall I belong? Shall I belong to today or tomorrow, to a passing moment or eternity? The choice is ever before me, Everlasting Love, as are you.
I have known saints whose gaze is fixed on a vision I did not then see--and now only in glimpses. Not swayed by the convenience or correctness of the moment, their words and actions flowed from a depth of center untouched by popular concerns or the need to please. I sensed stability and steadiness in them. They were not blown about by ever-shifting winds of opinion.
Their words resonated not with the mood of the day but with the stillness of eternity, for they knew what is real and true and lasting: Your loving purpose, your all-enduring and ever-abiding love.
I long for a calm heart and quiet fortitude that I might live beyond my anxious and driven ways. Perhaps such quiet is not your gift to me, but stability of vision is your desire for all your children, me included.
Grant, Everlasting Love, that my heart may be fixed on your tomorrow, on the love that lasts. Turn my eyes from passing desires that distract and dissuade me from loving what you love that I may live with heart firmly fixed on your eternal purpose. By your great love, create in me a calm heart and a quiet mind that all I do may echo the holy stillness of your divine heart. Amen.
--Pr. David L. Miller
1 John 2:15-17
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; for all that is in the world--the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches--comes not from the Father but from the world. And the world and its desires are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever” (1 John 2:15-17).
Prayer
To what shall I belong? Shall I belong to today or tomorrow, to a passing moment or eternity? The choice is ever before me, Everlasting Love, as are you.
I have known saints whose gaze is fixed on a vision I did not then see--and now only in glimpses. Not swayed by the convenience or correctness of the moment, their words and actions flowed from a depth of center untouched by popular concerns or the need to please. I sensed stability and steadiness in them. They were not blown about by ever-shifting winds of opinion.
Their words resonated not with the mood of the day but with the stillness of eternity, for they knew what is real and true and lasting: Your loving purpose, your all-enduring and ever-abiding love.
I long for a calm heart and quiet fortitude that I might live beyond my anxious and driven ways. Perhaps such quiet is not your gift to me, but stability of vision is your desire for all your children, me included.
Grant, Everlasting Love, that my heart may be fixed on your tomorrow, on the love that lasts. Turn my eyes from passing desires that distract and dissuade me from loving what you love that I may live with heart firmly fixed on your eternal purpose. By your great love, create in me a calm heart and a quiet mind that all I do may echo the holy stillness of your divine heart. Amen.
--Pr. David L. Miller
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