Pentecost: In the Ordinary Renewing of the Earth

It’s a Thursday afternoon,

a gentle breeze whispers through the day,

it carries with it the sounds of

hammers building a house,

cheers of a rugby game,

a school bell ringing,

calling birds guiding in the sky,

wind chimes tolling,

Lord, you send forth Your Spirit

renewing the face of the earth.

It’s a Thursday afternoon

around me life is bursting

it carries with it sights of

a grandmother walking her grandchild,

flowers bursting with color,

coworkers stopping for a coffee,

an elderly man walking with his canes,

pausing in a nearby church,

Lord, you send forth Your Spirit

renewing the face of the earth.

It’s a Thursday afternoon,

the daily movements of life continue

it carries with it the beauty of

a friend calling to say hi,

documents coming together,

prayer being whispered,

enjoying fresh fruit,

a walk in the unfolding greens of spring,

Lord, you send forth Your Spirit

renewing the face of the earth.

It’s a Thursday afternoon,

a Monday morning, a Saturday evening,

it carries with it the unknown of Pentecost

God breathing on us,

God breathing through us,

the fire of the Spirit propelling us forward,

the fire of the Spirit enkindling in us life,

gifts given for each day,

Lord, you send forth Your Spirit

renewing the face of the earth.

Come Holy Spirit, today, tomorrow, 

again and again in the ordinary, 

again and again in the extraordinary,

in the known and unknown,

for the unknown and known,

for the world, for the earth, for all humanity,

for every tribe, every people, every place

Come Holy Spirit.

Lord, you send forth Your Spirit

renewing the face of the earth.

Brother Wind Blowing

Depending on where you are and what day this is, spring (or winter’s last attempt) wind may be blowing in all directions. It is blowing where I am today and it a strong wind. 

Growing up on the Canadian Prairies I have experienced a fair share of windy days. I am thinking about the odd pace and the force of wind. Walking in wind is a different type of gazing. I could not help but think: do I ever appreciate Brother Wind? This reflective poem is what stirred from my time of gazing of Brother Wind. If one can ever gaze at wind. 

Is it a preparation for Pentecost?

Brother Wind why do you blow so much?

Is it to remind me of the movement of the Spirit?

Is it to whip me into solidarity with creation?

Is it to blow me around so I must bump into others?

Brother Wind why do you blow so much?

Is it to remind me the Spirit of God is renewing the earth?

Is it to whip me into the action of care for creation?

Is it to blow me toward those I want to reject?

Brother Wind why do you blow so much?

Is it to remind me you whisper truths of creation?

Is it to whip up into my ears the cry of the poor?

Is it to blow me in the direction of deep truth?

Brother Wind why do you blow so much?

Is it so I must look differently at the world around me?

Is it so I must cover my mouth so I can listen more?

Is it so I must shelter and be and take note?

Brother Wind why do you blow so much?

Is it so I may be reminded of the freedom of all?

Is it so I may let go of empty words and actions?

Is it so I may trust in the power of God and not my own?

Brother Wind blow where you will I can’t control you.

Brother Wind blow where you will I feel your invitation.

Brother Wind blow where you will but please give me space.

____

“Brother Wind” – is inspired by St. Francis and his Canticle of the Creatures

“Renewing the earth” – Psalm 104.30

“Care for creation,” “truths of creation,” “cry of the poor” – are reflective of Laudato Si’

Photo: Khamkéo 

Easter: Love Has Come

Love came in the announcement from the angel.

Love came in the stable birth.

Love came in the preaching of good news and repentance.

Love came in the healings and miracles.

Love came in a meal shared and gift of service shown.

Love came in the depth of self-giving.

Love came on the cross, every ounce poured out.

Love came in the darkness of the tomb.

Love came on a Sunday morning

with resurrected new life conquering death.

 

Love met weeping Mary Magdalen restoring her hope.

Love met disheartened Peter restoring his hope.

Love met the saddened Emmaus Disciples restoring their hope.

Love met doubting Thomas restoring his hope.

Love meets us restoring our hope,

calling us to new life,

awakening our true faith,

and enlivening our expanding love.

 

Alleluia is our song of love

for Love has come

conquering death forever

and bringing us life eternal!

 

Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

 

 

Photo Credit:

Emmaus Disciples - Friary in Malta

Holy Week the Story of Love

 

Love has a way

of showing up

in unexpected ways

and in unexpected places.

Love has been crucified

because of those

who feared Love.

Love is stronger than

darkness and death

trampling it with 

faith and hope.

Notice Love this week.

What will the ultimate story of Love reveal to you?

Will you let Love transform you?

Lord Jesus,

you are Love,

guide our steps this week

as we walk with you

from death to new life.

Amen.

Photo Credit: Grant Whitty

Lenten Journey: What If?

What if during this Lent we actually

Fasted, gave Alms and Prayed?

What if we actually 

Fasted not just from food 

but from all the other vices our body likes to hold?

What if we actually 

gave Alms not because it is something to do 

but because it connects us to a real person 

and their story?

What if we actually

Prayed not because we need to 

but with intention and in new ways throughout the season?

Would it make a difference?

Would the world change?

Would our hearts be transformed?

Maybe not in ways we want, but in ways we fail to see.

Maybe not in ways we want, but in ways we don’t want to see.

Maybe not in ways we want, but in ways we need to see.

This Lent,

When we get going along and hit a roadblock

we will through with the detours.

When we get so far along and want to quit

we will look to others for strength and encouragement.

When we get deep into it and feel empty

we will allow ourselves to feel this and pay attention.

What is meeting us?

Who is calling us?

Where is our heart?

Lent is not an easy season,

it’s not supposed to be,

but can we be brave enough to enter the journey

and stay on it the whole season?

This may mean detours, roadblocks, new paths,

different terrain, unexpected pauses or regular routines

but it will be worth the journey.

 

It will make Easter different in unexpected ways.

What if we enter the journey?

What if we are being called?

What If?

Photo Credit: Steven Brown

In Winter Ordinary Time

This Winter Ordinary Time between Epiphany (or the end of Christmas) and Ash Wednesday, I believe is a time of invitation. An invitation to be, to ponder, and to evaluate. 

The invitation to be is an opportunity to incorporate time of rest, time of not needing to produce. It is a time of simply being present to the day and what comes. Noticing winter in its glory and fullness. Noting how we are in this time and being present to the opportunity to dare I say, slow down, like the earth’s current state. In the ordinary time of winter to be is to breathe, is to pause, is to ponder.

The invitation to ponder is powerful in these winter weeks. To watch the night transition to day is a moment of ponder. It is one of the invitations to ponder life, to take note of where one is and how one is in this season. It is a time to ponder where and how one is connecting with God and what God is inviting one to see and hear. The ordinary time of winter is invitation to ponder life and how we are, and what are our desires are for the next seasons and to evaluate the journey.

The invitation to evaluate is not about resolutions or goal setting. It is rather about reflecting and noticing one’s gifts. To evaluate is to count the blessings on the journey and what one is looking forward to in the weeks ahead. In evaluating we may notice areas in ourselves which need healing or recall a listening ear or see the changes we have made. We may notice how God is seeking our heart and walking with us as we evaluate how best we can reflect the goodness of God in our life. To evaluate is to celebrate, is to trust, is to give thanks. It is to acknowledge God at work in our life.

May these weeks of Winter Ordinary Time be filled with invitations. May we offer these invitations to others. May we trust God, the great inviter and host, is present. These winter weeks are not the hustle and bustle of holiday time, and they are not the penance of Lent, they are invitation. Let us be attentive!

God,

You who are present in all the seasons of our life,

during this season of Winter Ordinary Time

may we listen to your invitations

to be, to ponder and to evaluate.

In doing so, may we notice 

where you are at work in life,

where you are present and

what you are calling out of us 

and calling us to be. 

May these Winter Ordinary Time days,

be a time of rich awareness,

as we journey with you

paying heed to your personal 

and life-giving invitations.

Amen.

Photo Credit:  Yaron Cohen

A Prayer on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

 

“Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.” Matthew 3.13

In the baptism of Jesus, we come to see the gift of being called in love. Called in love to be who God created us to be and to live our lives with conviction.

God,

you who are the source of all life 

in your Son Jesus 

we come to know life,

we come to know love, 

we come to know you.

In our baptism

We put on your Son,

we embrace his life,

we embrace how he loved,

we embrace how you love us.

By the pouring out

of your Spirit and of water

we rise up in splendour,

we become heralds of good news,

we reflect you into the world.

Guide our steps

in the seasons of this year as

we desire to be life-giving,

we desire to grow well,

we desire to be one with you.

Bles us, we pray,

for we trust in your grace and mercy

today, tomorrow and always.

Amen. 

Photo Credit: Dilip Poddar