Easter 2

Sun

7 Apr

Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!!

Today is the Second Sunday of Easter. The theme for this week is Humility.

Today’s audio file is a reading from John Chapter 20 by Carole Hughes.

Take a few moments to exercise your imagination in response to the reading. Find a quiet place with no distractions. Close your eyes and imagine you are walking in a pleasant place. Jesus meets you, greets you by name and talks with you. You can say whatever you want to him. Listen for his responses. After a few moments, say goodbye and continue on your way.

What was it like to hear Jesus call you by name? What did you want to say to him? How did he respond?

You may want to record the insights your imagination has offered you in your journal or talk them over with a friend.

Don’t forget to continue with your daily gratitude practice.
Instructions are here.

 

Mon

8 Apr

Culture teaches us to value independence and self-sufficiency. Faith teaches us reliance on God and interdependence with others.

Joan Chittister writes, “It is our need for one another that teaches us our need for God. It is our down-deep incompleteness that cries out all the days of our lives to be completed – by those around us, by God. We must pray for the humility it takes to find our wholeness in our littleness.”

Today, notice your “littleness” and your “incompleteness”. Each time you need another person give thanks to God for the gifts they offer. Each time you think you are being independent or self-sufficient, pause and remind yourself of your need of God.

 

Tue

9 Apr

Steven Charleston, a Native American elder, author, and retired Episcopal bishop of Alaska writes,

“Humility is the first step in our own spiritual narrative.
Not once, but over and over, as our life shifts through age and place.
It is not feigned innocence or submission.
It is what my ancestors believed was the gyroscope of the holy,
the sense of inner balance that holds a tension between pride and resignation,
between limitation and possibility.”

Reflect on the tensions and balance Bishop Steven articulates.

 

Wed

10 Apr

A famous prayer by Thomas Ken is:

God,
make the door of this house wide enough to receive all who need human love and fellowship;
narrow enough to shut out all envy, pride and strife.
Make its threshold smooth enough to be no stumbling block to children, nor to straying feet,
but rugged and strong enough to turn back the tempter’s power.
God make the doorway of this house the gateway to thine eternal kingdom.

Click here to listen to the song I have called you by your name, you are mine. This was recorded at the 2014 Local Shared Ministry Conference. Click here to read the words of the song and reflect on the ways in which you, and your faith community are responding to God’s call.

 

Thu

11 Apr

Rabbi Sharon Brous describes a Rabbinic tradition which we invite you to do . Carry two pieces of paper around in your pockets or handbag today.

The first one reads:
“I am but dust and ashes”
That is to say: It’s not all about me. I can’t control this, I can’t do this on my own.

The second piece of paper reads:
“For my sake the world was created”
Which means, it’s true I can’t do everything but I can do some things. I can forgive, I can love, I can show up, I can protest, I can be part of this conversation.

Reflect on these two messages in your journal.

 

Fri

12 Apr

The Reverend Martin Smith, keynote speaker at the 2017 Diocesan Ministry Conference invited us to consider a different way of understanding what it means to be made ‘in the image of God.’ Often we think of ourselves in terms of being smaller and imperfect versions of a bigger, perfect God. Martin suggested that we are made in God’s image in the way that a lock is made in the image of a key. What a provocative thought.

Every time you get out your keys today, reflect on the thought that God is the key that is unlocking you. And whenever you encounter someone who puzzles or frustrates you, remind yourself that they too are made in God’s image.

Martin has written extensively about Christian spirituality. Here is a list of his books.

 

Sat

13 Apr

How is your gratitude practice going? Click here to learn about The Examen. Click here to be led through The Examen.

Concluding Prayer:

God of opportunity and change,
praise to you for giving us life at this critical time.
As our horizons extend, keep us loyal to our past;
as our dangers increase, help us to prepare the future;
keep us trusting and hopeful,
ready to recognise your kingdom as it comes.
Amen.