submitted by Sue
Probably we all have favourite verses from the Bible that speak to us.
Sometimes we hear a sermon and judge it as good or bad.
Are we subjective? objective? Or selective?
We don’t need to be fed just what we agree with, just what we know or just what comforts us.
We also need to be fed, nurtured, challenged to help us to grow, develop & move forward.
These words from Helen’s recent service were familiar in their.commands, yet brought a fresh perspective as we focussed upon what it might mean to wear our faith like a garment:
Colossians 3 v 9-13
Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free,
but Christ is all, and is in all.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves
with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Bear with each other and forgive one another,
if any of you has a grievance against someone.
Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
And over all these virtues put on love.
*** *** ***
To focus our thoughts, the Saturday Prayer Group consisdered these words
along with some words, attributed to Jesus from Matthew chapter 5 verse 3.
These are very familiar words from the Sermon on the Mount;
They are so familiar that perhaps we need to find a fresh perspective.
Turning to the internet, I found a meditation by Sister Macrina Wiederkehr.
She was a Benedictine nun, who lived in Arkansas and died a little over 1 year ago.
What follows is based upon Sister Macrina’s take on a familiar Beatitude:
Blest are the Poor in Spirit: The Reign of God is theirs
I turned to the empty ones.............
“What does it mean to be poor in spirit?”
I asked,
“Is there anything good about being that poor?
The poor in spirit replied.........
“Can God fill anyone who is full?
How sad if you should suddenly
discover that you are full of illusions
Instead of filled with truth.
Being poor in spirit means ..........
......... having nothing to call your own
except your poverty.
It is a joyful awareness of your emptiness
It is the soil of opportunity For God has space to work In
emptiness that is owned. .
Being poor in spirit means....
Being poor in spirit means knowing that you are so small and dependent, needy and powerless that you live with open hands and an open heart, waiting to be blessed. For only then can you be blessed if you know that you need blessing.
Being poor in spirit means....
........ that you have time, you are
not oppressed by deadlines.
There is always time for waiting
for the one who is poor.
Being poor in this way frees you
from the prison
of having to have everything planned and structured as though there were no tomorrow.
And finally being poor in spirit means....
........... being able to say
without embarrassment,
humbly, and yet with passion:
“I need you.”