Thursday, March 20th 2014
“If God is your co-pilot, swap seats!” (cartoon)
“Purity does not come in separation from but in deeper penetration into the Universe … Bathe yourself in the ocean of matter; plunge into it where it is deepest and most violent; struggle in its currents and drink its water. For it cradled you long ago in your preconscious existence: and it is the ocean that will raise you up to God.”
Teilhard de Chardin “Hymn of the Universe”
Jesus said to her (the Samaritan woman at the well), “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.”
John 4: 13 – 14
So many stories in the news this week seem to center on the in-crowd and those marginalized in so many societies and situations. This reflects the gospel story of Jesus’ remarkable extended conversation at the public well with the Samaritan woman whose sexual behavioral choices has cast her out to the margins of her society. Jesus chose not to conform to the accepted patterns of behavior by not only speaking with her in public, but engaging in deep and frank conversation with her, expressing God’s love for each person regardless of their nationality, gender or history and pointing the way to a truly fulfilled and purposeful life.
Come Lord, come light, come love.
Come down,
Come in,
Come among us.
Lord, we so often want to play it safe, to be approved of by others, not to rock the boat too much – fearful of ostracism and the consequences of being excluded and marginalized. Help us to discern what we should do according to what is right in Your eyes, and so worship you in spirit and in truth in our actions and daily choices of living… But give us grace and humility as well as integrity and strength of purpose, and fill us with your light and love…
Come Presence, come peace, come power.
Come down,
Come in,
Come among us.
We pray for all those from many countries still waiting for news of their missing relatives and friends on the missing Malaysian Airlines flight… for those involved in the search … for compassionate treatment of those stuck in the quicksand of not-knowing the fate of their loved ones . . .
Those facing uncertainty through the planned mega-dams on the Brahmaputra both in Tibet and India which could cause untold consequences for millions…
The flooding of the Mid-West of the USA with very cheap heroin smuggled in from Mexico . . .We pray for protection of the thousands of young teenagers trying it and becoming hooked. . .
The carnage in Syria, the Central African Republic, Afghanistan, Iraq, the unrest in Ukraine, Crimea, Brazil, Taipei, and so many other countries. . .
Come Grace, come glory, come goodness.
Come down,
Come in,
Come among us.
We pray for all those fighting corruption wherever it is found:
Charges placed against President Zuma of South Africa, some senior politicians in China, a few policemen in the UK, allegations of bribery and corruption in so many sporting fields and organizations.
We give thanks for so many quietly working often without publicity to try and bring reconciliation, justice and peace rather than war, bitterness and brokenness. . .
We give thanks for those courageously blowing the whistle on what so many try to keep hidden…
We give thanks for millions in the UK involved in so many events this week for Sport Relief to help people improve their own lives in the UK and throughout the world. We especially give thanks for the children and young people who give of their time, energy and creativity to try and help others in so many ways in all our communities.
Come Creator, come Redeemer, come Strengthener.
Come down,
Come in,
Come among us.
Help us, Lord, to get down and dirty in the often messy confusion of our lives and those of our neighbors both in our own communities and far away… Remind us daily to have You as our Pilot and not co-pilot! That we may do everything we can to make sure everyone has clean water to drink and to know they are loved by You. Use us as Your hands, your touch, your channel of love, healing and peace. . .
Come Father, come Son, come Spirit.
Come down,
Come in,
Come among us.
David Adam “Border Lands”
AMEN
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