A faith embodied

"The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw his glory" -John 1:14

How is the Word made flesh in our lives? 

Teresa of Avila once said that"Christ has no body now on earth but yours; no hands but yours; no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which the compassion of Christ must look out on the world. Yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good. Yours are the hands with which He is to bless His people."

The Word is God, the source of life that brings light to humanity, the light which the darkness has never overcome.

Where can you see the light which Jesus, the Word incarnate, brings in to the world this Christmas?

Sometimes it takes a bit of work to spot the mystery of God in our midst. He can be where we least expect him. The Lamb of God over whom the shepherds watched was an unlikely messiah. Three noble men travelled from afar based on the ancient methods of celestial navigation to honour a newborn king in a stable. Are we looking in the right places? Are we open to finding the Lord and Master on whom we model our lives wherever we are lead irrespective of our own preconceptions?

Can we learn to roll with what we find- no room at the inn, an infant of uncertain origin, an angel or an inkling inviting us to participate in a bizarre or frightening adventure? Can we keep moving toward the light of God in spite of our lack of understanding? Can we welcome God?

"Aren’t there annunciations
of one sort or another
in most lives?

         Some unwillingly
undertake great destinies,
enact them in sullen pride,
uncomprehending.

More often
those moments
      when roads of light and storm
      open from darkness in a man or woman,
are turned away from

in dread, in a wave of weakness, in despair
and with relief.
Ordinary lives continue.
                                 God does not smite them.
But the gates close, the pathway vanishes."

-Denise Levertov

I am

""I am Pure Consciousness,  the underlying essence of all elements and beings. Nothing whatsoever exists separate from My Divinity. There is no power in the cosmos that does not emanate from Me and belong to Me. The entire universe is suspended from Me as if I were the string in a necklace of jewels. The gems may differ vastly, but the force holding them all together, the central thread, is Me, Divinity.

I am the innate nature of everything. In pure water I am the sweet taste. In the sun and moon I am the radiance. In the very center of human beings I live as virility and courage. I am the sacred Word... and I am the sound of it heard throughout the universe.

"I am the slight, delicate scent, the sweet fragrance of the earth. I am the brilliance in both fire and sun. I am the light of Divinity in all beings. I am the subtle spirit in spiritual practices that gives them their existence - I am the love in the devotee, for example, or the austerity in the ascetic, or the sweet sense of charity in the giver.

"I am the primordial seed of all entities, the power of discrimination in those who are intelligent, the splendor within all resplendent beings and things.

"Of the strong, I am their might and vigor. As I am beyond all attachments, I am the power in unselfish desire. I am the subtle force in good actions that puts them in harmony with the welfare of humanity. I am the innate urge to help others." 

-The Bhagavad Gita: A walkthrough for Westerners by Jack Hawley at p.69

"I am the Good Shepherd" as featured in the book The Christ Jouney which features several of the great "I am" sayings of Jesus accompanied by a commentary by Sr. Wendy Beckett. See https://www.piano-nobile.com/publications/42/ for details.

“God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you.’"Exodus 3:14 “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger.” John 6:35  “I am the light of the world; he who fallows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12  “I am the gate; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:9  “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for His sheep.” John 10:11 I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies.” John 11:25      “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” John 14:6  “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.” John 15:1   “Truly, Truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am” John 8:58 Who am I? They often tell meI stepped from my cell’s confinementCalmly, cheerfully, firmly,Like a Squire from his country house. Who am I? They often tell meI used to speak to my wardersFreely and friendly and clearly,As thought it were mine to command. Who am I? They also tell meI bore the days of misfortuneEquably, smilingly, proudly,like one accustomed to win. Am I then really that which other men tell of?Or am I only what I myself know of myself?Restless and longing and sick, like a bird in a cage,Struggling for breath, as though hands were compressing my throat,Yearning for colors, for flowers, for the voices of birds,Thirsting for words of kindness, for neighborliness,Tossing in expectations of great events,Powerlessly trembling for friends at an infinite distance,Weary and empty at praying, at thinking, at making,Faint, and ready to say farewell to it all. Who am I? This or the Other?Am I one person today and tomorrow another?Am I both at once? A hypocrite before others,And before myself a contemptible woebegone weakling?Or is something within me still like a beaten armyFleeing in disorder from victory already achieved? Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine. Whoever I am, Thou knowest, O God, I am thine! -Dietrich Bonhoeffer who died in a concentration camp in April 1945 See http://www.dbonhoeffer.org/ for more.

“God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you.’"Exodus 3:14

“I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger.” John 6:35

 “I am the light of the world; he who fallows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12

 “I am the gate; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:9

 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for His sheep.” John 10:11
I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies.” John 11:25
    
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” John 14:6

 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.” John 15:1  

“Truly, Truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am” John 8:58

Who am I? They often tell meI stepped from my cell’s confinementCalmly, cheerfully, firmly,Like a Squire from his country house.
Who am I? They often tell meI used to speak to my wardersFreely and friendly and clearly,As thought it were mine to command.
Who am I? They also tell meI bore the days of misfortuneEquably, smilingly, proudly,like one accustomed to win.
Am I then really that which other men tell of?Or am I only what I myself know of myself?Restless and longing and sick, like a bird in a cage,Struggling for breath, as though hands were compressing my throat,Yearning for colors, for flowers, for the voices of birds,Thirsting for words of kindness, for neighborliness,Tossing in expectations of great events,Powerlessly trembling for friends at an infinite distance,Weary and empty at praying, at thinking, at making,Faint, and ready to say farewell to it all.
Who am I? This or the Other?Am I one person today and tomorrow another?Am I both at once? A hypocrite before others,And before myself a contemptible woebegone weakling?Or is something within me still like a beaten armyFleeing in disorder from victory already achieved?
Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine.

Whoever I am, Thou knowest, O God, I am thine!

-Dietrich Bonhoeffer who died in a concentration camp in April 1945 See http://www.dbonhoeffer.org/ for more.

Lost Blessing

It doesn’t always

mean to go astray.
But somehow
this blessing knew
it would find you here—

here in this place
where even you
don’t know where
you are.

This blessing
regrets to say
it left its compass
at home.
It is without map,
chart, GPS.
It has hardly
any native sense
of direction.

This blessing
appears to be
nearly useless,
in fact.

But—
and I know
this might not be
encouraging—
it purely loves
getting lost.

This blessing
has learned to breathe
when it has left
every landmark behind,
when it has seen
its last signpost,
when dark has
begun to fall
while it is
still far from home.

This blessing
knows the prayers to say
when it has misplaced
its way,
the chants
that will help it
find the path
where it seems
no path could ever be.

This blessing
is good at finding
fellow travelers.

It loves the company
of the lost,
the wandering,
the confused,
the ones who have been
walking in circles
for days;

loves helping them
find water, shelter,
shade;

loves keeping vigil
so they can
safely rest.

The point of this blessing
is that it has
no real point.

It just wants you to know
you are not alone,
have never been,
will never be—

that it will go with you,
will wander with you
as long as you want,
as long as it takes,
gladly being lost with you
until your way
appears.

—Jan Richardson

The Dream (Charles Peguy)

I myself will dream a dream within you
Good dreams come from me, you know

My dreams seem impossible,
not too practical.
not for the cautious man or woman
a little risky sometimes,
a trifle brash perhaps...

Some of my friends prefer
to rest more comfortably,
in sounder sleep,
with visionless eyes-

But, from those who share my dreams
I ask a little patience, 
a little humour;
some small courage,
and a listening heart –
I will do the rest

Then they will risk
and wonder at their daring.
Run, and marvel at their speed...

Build- and stand in awe at the beauty of their building.

You will meet me often as you work,
in your companions who share the risk,
in your friends who believe in you enough
to lend their own dreams,
their own hands,
their own hearts
to your building...

In the people who will stand in your doorway.
stay awhile,
and walk away knowing they, too, 
can find a dream.

There will be sun-filled days,
And sometimes it will rain,
a little variety!
Both come from me.

So, come now-
Be content.
It is my dream you dream,
my house you build,
my caring you witness,
my love you share-
and this is the heart of the matter.

Tough Love

Love wants to reach out and manhandle us,

Break all our teacup talk of God.

If you had the courage and

Could give the Beloved His choice, some nights,

He would just drag you around the room

By your hair,

Ripping from your grip all those toys in the world

That bring you no joy.

Love sometimes gets tired of speaking sweetly

And wants to rip to shreds

All your erroneous notions of truth

That make you fight within yourself, dear one,

And with others,

Causing the world to weep

On too many fine days.

God wants to manhandle us,

Lock us inside of a tiny room with Himself

And practice His dropkick.

The Beloved sometimes wants

To do us a great favor:

Hold us upside down

And shake all the nonsense out.

But when we hear

He is in such a "playful drunken mood"

Most everyone I know

Quickly packs their bags and hightails it

Out of town.

- Tired of Speaking Sweetly by Hafiz 

"Prayer is not just spending time with God. It is partly that - but if it ends there, it is fruitless. No, prayer is dynamic. Authentic prayer changes us- unmasks us, strips us, indicates where growth is needed. Authentic prayer never leads us to complacency, but needles us, makes us uneasy at times. It leads us to true self-knowledge, to true humility."

~  St. Theresa of Avila

Called to Become

From Edwina Gateley, There Was No Path So I Trod One (1996, 2013)

You are called to become
A perfect creation.
No one is called to become
Who you are called to be.
It does not matter
How short or tall
Or thick-set or slow
You may be.
It does not matter
Whether you sparkle with life
Or are as silent as a still pool.
Whether you sing your song aloud
Or weep alone in darkness.
It does not matter
Whether you feel loved and admired
Or unloved and alone
For you are called to become
A perfect creation.
No one's shadow
Should cloud your becoming.
No one's light
Should dispel your spark.
For the Lord delights in you.
Jealously looks upon you
And encourages with gentle joy
Every movement of the Spirit
Within you.
Unique and loved you stand.
Beautiful or stunted in your growth
But never without hope and life.
For you are called to become
A perfect creation.
This becoming may be
Gentle or harsh.
Subtle or violent.
But it never ceases.
Never pauses or hesitates.
Only is—
Creative force—
Calling you
Calling you to become
A perfect creation. 

Petition

I see glimpses of the flickering fire of your love
and catch a glimmer of the sparkling treasure from which you made me-

I wish to submit my often proud, judgmental, jealous self to you that
you might draw out your precious child and labourer for your kindom.

Only by your grace can I seek and hear the truth
without fighting for a falsehood-

Only by your grace can I shirk the fetters of
pride and fear which bind me.

I ask you to be gentle enough with me that
I still have the strength and wherewithal to reach
for your outstretched hand-

I bring you this stubborn shell in the hope
that you might accept me as I am and
transform me into a
faithful
and joyful
companion