Today’s text
Matthew 13:47-51
'Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like a dragnet that is cast in the sea and brings in a haul of all kinds of fish. When it is full, the fishermen bring it ashore; then, sitting down, they collected the good ones in baskets and throw away those that are no use. This is how it will be at the end of time: the angels will appear and separate the wicked from the upright, to throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. 'Have you understood all these?' They said, 'Yes.'
Prayer
There is no doubt, Jesus; I am more comfortable with the net than the fire. I like your seeking but fear your judgment.
Your seeking consoles me, and it makes sense of this restless soul, ever hungry for a connection it cannot make. Yes, your seeking I know. It is a fever in my blood, a deep yearning in my bones. And it is you, your Spirit seeking and drawing me home.
You cast your net wide to capture the very soul of the universe you have made, a universe alive with your soul, your breath. As am I.
But at the fullness of time not all enter the joy of your nearness, not all enjoy the connection of their heart with your own, not all finally come home to you the source of their soul. And this is sadness.
Sometimes I think it is a sadness you will not bear, that at the end you will have all that is and all will know the joy for which you intended them. Everything will come to the fullness of your life, and you will not allow any to be lost. That’s what I want. But you seem to say I am wrong.
Still, I pray for the salvation of all that is. I pray for the total joy of your universe and every soul in it.
I pray not only for others, but for myself. For all too well, I know: parts of me are not good or upright. Wickedness remains in this soul. So I pray, have your way Jesus. Save us all and all of us.
In all things, may your mercy prevail.
Pr. David L. Miller
http://prayingthemystery.blogspot.com/
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Friday, July 25, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Today’s text
Matthew 13:44-46
'The kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which someone has found; he hides it again, goes off in his joy, sells everything he owns and buys the field. 'Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls; when he finds one of great value he goes and sells everything he owns and buys it.
Prayer
We all give our substance for something, Jesus. We surrender what is of lesser value to possess life, or at least what our heart imagines will give us life. But if we don’t have you, our desires have taken us on a road to nowhere.
You are the treasure in the field. You are the pearl of great price. You are the life of all that lives. You are the satisfaction of our heart’s desire.
To belong to you, to your rule, is dwell in the embrace of the Love from whom all things burst into being. It is to know satisfaction for the soul’s restless craving for more.
I can never know you enough. I remain ever dissatisfied--and will, until every part of me is saturated with the knowledge of you.
Lead me. Take my feet to the places where I meet and know you as well as this soul can. I grow weary of the longing for more, more love, more life, more hope, more freedom, more of you. Take me there and give me the unfettered freedom to throw my life into your embrace.
My heart craves a treasure not made with hands. And there is still so much I have yet to give you before I can truly live. How the heart aches to be given away for that which is true treasure.
Pr. David L. Miller
Matthew 13:44-46
'The kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which someone has found; he hides it again, goes off in his joy, sells everything he owns and buys the field. 'Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls; when he finds one of great value he goes and sells everything he owns and buys it.
Prayer
We all give our substance for something, Jesus. We surrender what is of lesser value to possess life, or at least what our heart imagines will give us life. But if we don’t have you, our desires have taken us on a road to nowhere.
You are the treasure in the field. You are the pearl of great price. You are the life of all that lives. You are the satisfaction of our heart’s desire.
To belong to you, to your rule, is dwell in the embrace of the Love from whom all things burst into being. It is to know satisfaction for the soul’s restless craving for more.
I can never know you enough. I remain ever dissatisfied--and will, until every part of me is saturated with the knowledge of you.
Lead me. Take my feet to the places where I meet and know you as well as this soul can. I grow weary of the longing for more, more love, more life, more hope, more freedom, more of you. Take me there and give me the unfettered freedom to throw my life into your embrace.
My heart craves a treasure not made with hands. And there is still so much I have yet to give you before I can truly live. How the heart aches to be given away for that which is true treasure.
Pr. David L. Miller
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
July 22, 2008
Today’s text
Matthew 13:31-33
He put another parable before them, 'The kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the biggest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air can come and shelter in its branches. He told them another parable, 'The kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour till it was leavened all through.
Prayer
You do not care much for appearances, do you Jesus? The large, the impressive, the great, the unusual--these categories hold little attraction for you.
You are captured by the small, the insignificant, the weak, the unimpressive and unpromising. For you the small is great; the weak are strong; the insignificant holds the secret of the universe.
And what is more insignificant than an iterant preacher who is arrested, taken from his rag tag followers, and executed by the authorities under the absurd charge of sedition? Certainly, you were small, insignificant in the world of the powerful and important, and weak, having no force but your words.
You sowed those words, and they could not be killed, not then or now. They took root and grew into a harvest of faith, of hope and love in the life of the world and the soil of our souls.
Nothing can kill this seed and the verdant growth of eternal life they produce even now in our lives. I don’t know Jesus: is our faith the tree that grows from your seed, giving rest to our sols and the lives of all who find shelter in your love growing with us?
Or is the tree that grows your kingdom, your rule, in which we and all life is invited to find shelter. Perhaps both ideas work.
I know only that the seed that was sown grows, and it provides shelter for this soul, a soul in which others, too, have found rest and shelter. And that thought makes me smile, for I know that your seed has had its way also in me.
May it always be so … that your joy and mine may be complete.
Pr. David L. Miller
Matthew 13:31-33
He put another parable before them, 'The kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the biggest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air can come and shelter in its branches. He told them another parable, 'The kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour till it was leavened all through.
Prayer
You do not care much for appearances, do you Jesus? The large, the impressive, the great, the unusual--these categories hold little attraction for you.
You are captured by the small, the insignificant, the weak, the unimpressive and unpromising. For you the small is great; the weak are strong; the insignificant holds the secret of the universe.
And what is more insignificant than an iterant preacher who is arrested, taken from his rag tag followers, and executed by the authorities under the absurd charge of sedition? Certainly, you were small, insignificant in the world of the powerful and important, and weak, having no force but your words.
You sowed those words, and they could not be killed, not then or now. They took root and grew into a harvest of faith, of hope and love in the life of the world and the soil of our souls.
Nothing can kill this seed and the verdant growth of eternal life they produce even now in our lives. I don’t know Jesus: is our faith the tree that grows from your seed, giving rest to our sols and the lives of all who find shelter in your love growing with us?
Or is the tree that grows your kingdom, your rule, in which we and all life is invited to find shelter. Perhaps both ideas work.
I know only that the seed that was sown grows, and it provides shelter for this soul, a soul in which others, too, have found rest and shelter. And that thought makes me smile, for I know that your seed has had its way also in me.
May it always be so … that your joy and mine may be complete.
Pr. David L. Miller
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