Today’s text
Matthew 11:25-30
At that time Jesus exclaimed, 'I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to little children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 'Come to me, all you who labor and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.'
Prayer
I feel your joy, Jesus. Your praise of God is spontaneous. It springs fresh from the ecstasy of undiluted gratitude. An irrepressible urge to exclaim ‘thank you’ enraptures you.
Thank you for my life. Thank you for the joyous thing you allow me to do. Thank you that simple hearts may know what no eye has seen. Thank you for the rapture of knowing a love without boundary. Thank you for wrapping your world in belovedness. Thank you for giving me eyes to see it and lips to speak it.
Are these your words, Jesus, or mine?
They are both, of course. Even now you allow me to know your joy. For like you, I witness the wisdom of that Love who holds us both fast. Like you, I bask, and I share it, however imperfectly.
And I witness the divine wisdom of God etched on every face unburdened and released by an incomparable mercy that conquered my heart long ago.
So blessed are you, Lord of heaven and earth, for this heart and all hearts who know you.
Pr. David L. Miller
http://prayingthemystery.blogspot.com/
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Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Today’s text
Matthew 11:16-19
'What comparison can I find for this generation? It is like children shouting to each other as they sit in the market place: We played the pipes for you, and you wouldn't dance; we sang dirges, and you wouldn't be mourners. 'For John came, neither eating nor drinking, and they say, "He is possessed." The Son of man came, eating and drinking, and they say, "Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners." Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.'
Prayer
And just what is wisdom, Jesus? You turn much of our wisdom on its ear.
You forgive the unforgivable. You drink and celebrate in a world of need. You turn from everyday pursuits to surrender to a shadowy reality we can barely see or believe is real. And you ask us to repent and believe a new age even now edges out the old.
You heal and give, bless … and argue, fighting especially with those who make hard distinctions between beloved and benighted.
For, your new age lights up the night. It is a kingdom of constant compassion that invites all to turn from the lies they believe to the truth of a Love who constantly draws near. This is reality. This is truth. Do you not know? Have you not heard? Can you not see it? It appears in places you least expect.
And wisdom? It is that Love who shines on the good and evil alike. It is receiving that seeking Love of whom you are the face, my Jesus. It is surrendering to the mystery of what that Love will make of us.
I have no idea what that is though I know it is well beyond my control. But I look at you, and I know. It is a depth of grace I have yet to know. So in peace, I go.
Pr. David L. Miller
Matthew 11:16-19
'What comparison can I find for this generation? It is like children shouting to each other as they sit in the market place: We played the pipes for you, and you wouldn't dance; we sang dirges, and you wouldn't be mourners. 'For John came, neither eating nor drinking, and they say, "He is possessed." The Son of man came, eating and drinking, and they say, "Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners." Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.'
Prayer
And just what is wisdom, Jesus? You turn much of our wisdom on its ear.
You forgive the unforgivable. You drink and celebrate in a world of need. You turn from everyday pursuits to surrender to a shadowy reality we can barely see or believe is real. And you ask us to repent and believe a new age even now edges out the old.
You heal and give, bless … and argue, fighting especially with those who make hard distinctions between beloved and benighted.
For, your new age lights up the night. It is a kingdom of constant compassion that invites all to turn from the lies they believe to the truth of a Love who constantly draws near. This is reality. This is truth. Do you not know? Have you not heard? Can you not see it? It appears in places you least expect.
And wisdom? It is that Love who shines on the good and evil alike. It is receiving that seeking Love of whom you are the face, my Jesus. It is surrendering to the mystery of what that Love will make of us.
I have no idea what that is though I know it is well beyond my control. But I look at you, and I know. It is a depth of grace I have yet to know. So in peace, I go.
Pr. David L. Miller
Monday, June 30, 2008
Monday, June 30, 2008
Today’s text
Matthew 11:16-19
'What comparison can I find for this generation? It is like children shouting to each other as they sit in the market place: We played the pipes for you, and you wouldn't dance; we sang dirges, and you wouldn't be mourners. 'For John came, neither eating nor drinking, and they say, "He is possessed." The Son of man came, eating and drinking, and they say, "Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners." Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.'
Prayer
You are as you say, Jesus, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. And me. One word turns the corners of my mouth into a smile: friend. It is as if I have won the cosmic jackpot, and I had nothing to do with it. It came solely as gift and utterly out of the blue.
You are transparent to the face of the Eternal Wonder, the loving joy of Eternity’s heart, the wisdom of God, Immanuel, with us. And you name me as friend, with a host of others, of course.
It does not matter that that you are repeating the charge your opponents threw at you. They got it right. They named you: friend of the tax collector and sinner; friend of the mortal and fearful; friend of the confused and wounded; friend of the burdened and heavy ladened; friend every heart who hungers for home. My friend.
Some smile at this, thinking it naive to imagine one could be friend to the Almighty and All-Merciful Wonder. But it is not me but you, Jesus, who use the word, acknowledging that this is just what you are.
So walk with me this day and through this life, my Friend. Teach me the wisdom only those who love can know.
Pr. David L. Miller
Matthew 11:16-19
'What comparison can I find for this generation? It is like children shouting to each other as they sit in the market place: We played the pipes for you, and you wouldn't dance; we sang dirges, and you wouldn't be mourners. 'For John came, neither eating nor drinking, and they say, "He is possessed." The Son of man came, eating and drinking, and they say, "Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners." Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.'
Prayer
You are as you say, Jesus, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. And me. One word turns the corners of my mouth into a smile: friend. It is as if I have won the cosmic jackpot, and I had nothing to do with it. It came solely as gift and utterly out of the blue.
You are transparent to the face of the Eternal Wonder, the loving joy of Eternity’s heart, the wisdom of God, Immanuel, with us. And you name me as friend, with a host of others, of course.
It does not matter that that you are repeating the charge your opponents threw at you. They got it right. They named you: friend of the tax collector and sinner; friend of the mortal and fearful; friend of the confused and wounded; friend of the burdened and heavy ladened; friend every heart who hungers for home. My friend.
Some smile at this, thinking it naive to imagine one could be friend to the Almighty and All-Merciful Wonder. But it is not me but you, Jesus, who use the word, acknowledging that this is just what you are.
So walk with me this day and through this life, my Friend. Teach me the wisdom only those who love can know.
Pr. David L. Miller
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