Image via WikipediaThe commemoration of St. Augustine will be celebrated in many churches this coming Sunday. How much to you know about this man from the early church?St. Augustine is considered by many scholars to be the most important figure in the ancient Western church. St. Augustine was a very busy 5th century Catholic bishop of a prosperous town in North Africa, called Hippo, in what is today Algeria. He was born in North Africa. His mother was a Christian, but his father remained a pagan until late in life. After a rather unremarkable childhood, Augustine drifted through several philosophical systems before converting to Christianity at the age of thirty-one. During this time, Augustine fathered a child by a mistress. This period of exploration, including its youthful excesses are recorded in Augustine's most widely read work, the Confessions.Returning to his homeland soon after his conversion, he was ordained in 391, taking the position as bishop of Hippo in 396, a position, … [Read more...]
Spiritual Breathing
Image via Wikipedia Take deep breath. Pause a minute and breath in deeply. Feel your chest rise and expand with each inhale and relax as you exhale. Taking deep breaths is healthy for us in so many ways – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:7 The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life. Job 33:4 In the Bible breath is a powerful symbol of the presence of God. The air we breath every moment of our life is invisible, but life giving. The breathes we take, most of time without our control or even our awareness keeps us alive. The air surrounding us is a massive ocean—invisible, yet completely necessary for our life, for we are quickly dead without it. Makes me wonder if one reason God created the air—and how his living creation breaths - was to show us how great and immediate and … [Read more...]
Spiritual Questions – Lectio Divina
When Jesus arrived in the villages of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?"They replied, "Some think he is John the Baptizer, some say Elijah, some Jeremiah or one of the other prophets."He pressed them, "And how about you? Who do you say I am?"Simon Peter said, "You're the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God."Matthew 16:13-16 (The Message)Image via Wikipedia"What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?""And how about you? Who do you say I am?"Questions.Lord, I think You love questions.You have sprinkled Your Bible with them.You love to ask them to us, making us feel uneasy enough to stretch out of our comfort zones, yet secure enough to try to discuss them with You.God - the Master Teacher, the One who already knows the answer – still asks us questions.You invite us to pull up a chair and to say, “Let’s talk about this? What do you think?”I am thankful You are God who asks questions.I am also thankful You are … [Read more...]
How Close is God? Karl Rahner Quote of the Week
Can it really be possible We are so tightly bondedthat our breath is one breath?Can it be You are intertwinedIn every thought of mine That steps into consciousness?Can it be that Your great loveForever mingles with my own?If so, I gladly lose myselfIn the closeness of Your presence.Karl Rahner … [Read more...]
Are You Ready?
Image by UW Digital Collections via FlickrI have been watching the live video streams this week from the ELCA Churchwide Assembly taking place in Orlando Florida. While listening to debates over policy makes my eyes glass over, the committee reports brim over with inspirational passion. Story after story is shared of making difference in lives of people suffering from malaria in Africa to tornadoes in Missouri. Powerful stuff.Each day a communion worship service takes place. I have stopped all my activities and worshipped in my office, virtually transported to Florida. Bishop Mark Hanson’s sermon the first day still lingers with me. He read from Luke’s gospel the story of Mary being told she will carry God’s child. Hanson asked the question:Like Mary, are we ready to be moved by the power of the Holy Spirit?Am I ready? Am I ready for God to interrupt my routine and expectations?Am I prepared to let go of my feeble attempts to control my future and really trust in His care?Am I … [Read more...]
A Spiritual Discipline – Teach Me to Listen, Lord
Image via WikipediaThe day I spotted the tiger swallowtail butterfly dancing on my flowers continues to linger in my soul.My immediate reaction was “to do.” I grabbed my camera and joined him in the garden, snapping away to capture that moment.Yet to take the closest photographs, I had to stop and stand very, very still. At one point I even thought my new friend might land on my arm, thinking I was part of the garden. I lean so near to him, for a moment I almost heard the flutter of his wings.Experts say butterflies cannot hear, but they can feel vibrations.We can hear, but do we listen?Listening – what a spiritual discipline we all need to develop. I know at least I do.Teach me to listen, Lord.Listening, whether to God, to others, or to our true selves, mean stopping and standing so still you can “hear” the vibrations.“For listening is the act of entering the skin of the other and wearing it for a time as if it were our own. Listening is the gateway to understanding. “ David Spangler … [Read more...]
A Growing Faith – Lectio Divina
Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. Romans 4:20His faith grew strongerLord I always think some of Your spiritual giants – Abraham, Moses, David – were born with a deep faith. Lord, sometimes when I read their stories I think they had it easier because of they knew instinctively how to trust in You.You just gave them more and that is why I struggle with less.Yet in today’s reading, Abraham first believed in Your promise, then his faith grew.I spend too much time longing for the end results and missed the main ingredient.Like making bread without leaven, in my faith I forget Your promise.Lord, I accept Your promises as true.May Your sacred assurances ferment within my soul nurturing my faith.And the last words of this verse: “and in this he brought glory to God.”Remind me once again, Lord, it isn’t about me. Your gift of faith isn’t for me to feel better, to think I am now holy, or to be some grand … [Read more...]
Praying – Mother Teresa – Quote of the Week
Image by Peta-de-Aztlan via FlickrDan Rather, CBS television interviewer, asked Mother Teresa of Calcutta: "When you pray, what do you say to God?" Teresa: "I don't say anything, I listen." Rather: "Well okay … when God speaks to you, then, what does he say?" Teresa: "He doesn't say anything. He listens. ... And if you don't understand that, I can't explain it to you.” … [Read more...]