Pilgrimage to Easter: Day 37

Meditation for Thursday 17 March
... from the readings of the day:

Yahweh brought his people out with joy, God's chosen ones with shouts of triumph.

Psalm 105:43

Psalm 105 
God keeps promises through all of history 

Yahweh brought his people out with joy, 
God's chosen ones with shouts of triumph.

Our Lord plants us here, waits the ages for the 
sapling to grow, then grafts to us the root of 
covenant, a seal of holiness, and waits again ...

Yahweh brought his people out with joy, 
God's chosen ones with shouts of triumph.

The Lord watches the small tree flourish, providing 
water, manure, carefully pruning wayward branches,
tenderly loving us, forgiving us, cherishing us.

Yahweh brought his people out with joy, 
God's chosen ones with shouts of triumph.

Serve the Lord at all times remembering the good 
things God has given, the miracles won, the many,
many times our God has forgiven us when we asked.

Yahweh brought his people out with joy, 
God's chosen ones with shouts of triumph.

The Lord knows us and watches the ages as we grow 
to our God. Our God holds us, our world, our whole 
universe in being, but still waits patiently, for us.

Yahweh brought his people out with joy, 
God's chosen ones with shouts of triumph.

Our Father loves the work of his hands, remembering 
his promises, waiting a thousand generations as we 
thrive and grow, patiently waiting for us to bloom.

Yahweh brought his people out with joy, 
God's chosen ones with shouts of triumph.

Suggestions for meditation
Always begin by offering your time to God and asking for the grace to grow closer: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time as I reach out to you, and ask that you guide me now, and each day, closer to you".

The exact words of the prayer are not important but you do need a firm intention to open yourself to God's input.

Read the mediation over slowly a couple of times.

Listen for the personal message for you. There will always be one word or phrase that will reach into your heart. Think of it as the personal meaning God has for you alone!

If you would prefer a more authoritative reading to focus your meditation, try this from one of today's readings, Psalm 105:4-9

R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

He remembers forever his covenant
which he made binding for a thousand generations –
Which he entered into with Abraham
and by his oath to Isaac.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

Focus on a significant word or phrase in this passage or the meditation for a few moments.

Is there a word or phrase that jumps out to speak to you?

Why? Try to put yourself into those words. Maybe imagine Jesus speaking, and reply.

Then spend 5, or 10, or 15 minutes with your word from Jesus, or the word PROMISE or COVENANT.

You need a clear intention to empty your mind of random thoughts (you won't be entirely successful but you need the intention).

You might want to begin the meditation using the breathing exercise I suggest in We have two minds.

After a minute or two focused on your breathing, move your focus to the word/s you have chosen.

Each time your attention moves away from the word/s, push the distraction gently aside and return to the word ("without the intervention of analytical thought" as The Cloud of Unknowing puts it).

You may need a countdown clock.

At the end thank God, and return to your day.

Pilgrimage to Easter - Day 30

Meditation for Thursday 10 March
... from the readings of the day:

How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?
John 5:44

In love God gave his Son: in love we give ourselves. 

We search for reasons to believe what we want

to believe, ignoring witnesses and seeking comfort

and safety in the fortress of our logic.

In love God gave his Son: in love we give ourselves. 

We have been told and shown our mission but

still listen to easy certainty and comfort, 

squandering fortunes on idols we can control.

In love God gave his Son: in love we give ourselves. 

We flee from God's love, searching for security 

and peace in jobs we know will end, wealth we know

will be lost or stolen or spent, our own aging allure.

In love God gave his Son: in love we give ourselves. 

Suggestions for meditation

Always begin by offering your time to God and asking for the grace to grow closer: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time as I reach out to you, and ask that you guide me now, and each day, closer to you".

The exact words of the prayer are not important but you do need a firm intention to open yourself to God's input.

Read the mediation over slowly a couple of times.

Listen for the personal message for you. There will always be one word or phrase that will reach into your heart. Think of it as the personal meaning God has for you alone!

If you would prefer a more authoritative reading to focus your meditation, try this from one of today's readings, Exodus 32:7-10

The LORD said to Moses,
“Go down at once to your people
whom you brought out of the land of Egypt,
for they have become depraved.
They have soon turned aside from the way I pointed out to them,
making for themselves a molten calf and worshipping it,
sacrificing to it and crying out,
‘This is your God, O Israel,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt!’
The LORD said to Moses,
“I see how stiff-necked this people is.
Let me alone, then,
that my wrath may blaze up against them to consume them.

Focus on a significant word or phrase in this passage or the meditation for a few moments.

Is there a word of phrase that jumps out to speak to you?

Why? Try to put yourself into those words. Maybe imagine Jesus speaking, and reply.

Then spend 5, or 10, or 15 minutes with your word from Jesus, or the phrase GIVE or GOD.

You need a clear intention to empty your mind of random thoughts (you won't be entirely successful but you need the intention).

You might want to begin the meditation using the breathing exercise I suggest in We have two minds.

After a minute or two focused on your breathing, move your focus to the word/s you have chosen.

Each time your attention moves away from the word/s, push the distraction gently aside and return to the word ("without the intervention of analytical thought" as The Cloud of Unknowing puts it).

You may need a countdown clock.

At the end thank God, and return to your day.

Meditation: Cosmic Glory (Psalm 8)

O Lord, our Lord,

    the wonder of you shines in everything we see!

The glory of all creation sings your praises;

    it is sung in the joy of children and babies.

The beauty of your creation rebuffs the half-hearted;

    your loveliness catches the breath of each who doubts you.

When I look at the sky, which you have made, 

   at the moon and the stars, which you set in their places—

what are human beings, that you care for us;

    mere mortals, that you bother with us?

Yet you made us only a little less than the angels;

    you bless us with glory and honour.

You appointed us caretakers over everything you made;

    guardians of your creation:

    the fertile plains and bare mountains, the air and waters, 

    sheep and cattle, birds and insects, and the creatures in the seas.

O Lord, our Lord,

    your greatness is seen in all the world you made for us!

Suggestions for meditation
Always begin by offering your time to God: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time when I am reaching out to you" and then a few moments reminding yourself of some of the blessings God has given you - the clear signs of God's love for you.

Read the mediation over slowly a couple of times.

Listen for Jesus' personal message for you.

If you would prefer a Bible reading I suggest Psalm 8, 3-9

When I look at the sky, which you have made,

    at the moon and the stars, which you set in their places—
    what are human beings, that you think of them;
    mere mortals, that you care for them?

Yet you made them inferior only to yourself;
    you crowned them with glory and honour.
You appointed them rulers over everything you made;
    you placed them over all creation:

    sheep and cattle, and the wild animals too;
    the birds and the fish
    and the creatures in the seas.

O Lord, our Lord,

    your greatness is seen in all the world!

1. Read this passage or the meditation slowly a couple of times.
2. What word of phrase jumps out to speak to you?
3. Why? Try to put yourself into those words. Maybe imagine Jesus speaking, and reply.
4. Then spend 5, or 10, or 20 minutes with those words, or the word GLORY. 
5. You might want to begin the meditation using the breathing exercise I suggest in We have two minds. After a minute or two focused on your breathing, move your focus to the word/s you have chosen. 

Each time your attention moves away from the word/s, push the distraction gently aside and return to the word ("without the intervention of analytical thought" as The Cloud of Unknowing puts it).

You may need a countdown clock. 

At the end thank God, and return to your day.

Meditation: Citizen of Creation

Reality is incredibly larger, infinitely more exciting, than the flesh and blood vehicle we travel in here. If you read science fiction, the more you read it the more you realize that you and the universe are part of the same thing. 

Science knows still practically nothing about the real nature of matter, energy, dimension, or time; and even less about those remarkable things called life and thought. But whatever the meaning and purpose of this universe, you are a legitimate part of it. 

And since you are part of the all that is, part of its purpose, there is more to you than just this brief speck of existence. You are just a visitor here in this time and this place, a traveller through it.

Gene Roddenberry (creator of Star Trek)

Each of us believes we are

solitary, unique, maybe special, but limited. 

And maybe we are - but my tutored faith in

my loneliness, aloneness, arises from

a logical examination of observable evidence, 

rather than sensitivity to my intuition!

Our sense of our limitations

derives from logic, not fact;

from insecurity, not certainty.

Logic is limited by reliance on observable facts, 

our apparent singularity, our timidity 
and lack of confidence to believe the size of the truth.

Every single atom of our being

comes from the first explosion

of our universe, light and matter created

from chaos and progressively growing in order and purpose.

We think ourselves members of families, towns, even of countries - but I, in fact, am a citizen of creation.

We see ourselves as ordinary, finite and limited;

but, in fact, every atom of my being is extra-

ordinary, eternal, and overflowing with the potential 

of our Creator. We see systems falling apart;

but we must also learn to see surges 

of growth and realisation in our shared awareness.

We are each unlimited and full

of potential unimagined.

We are taught we are flawed and broken;

but our Creator's hand does not make

weak or blemished or cracked.

I am spirit, and a star-born child of Creation.

Suggestions for meditation
Always begin by offering your time to God: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time when I am reaching out to you" and then a few moments reminding yourself of some of the blessings God has given you - the clear signs of God's love for you.

Read the mediation over slowly a couple of times.

Listen for Jesus' personal message for you.

If you would prefer a Bible reading I suggest Psalm 8, 3-9

When I look at the sky, which you have made,

    at the moon and the stars, which you set in their places—
    what are human beings, that you think of them;
    mere mortals, that you care for them?

Yet you made them inferior only to yourself;
    you crowned them with glory and honour.
You appointed them rulers over everything you made;
    you placed them over all creation:

    sheep and cattle, and the wild animals too;
    the birds and the fish
    and the creatures in the seas.

O Lord, our Lord,
    your greatness is seen in all the world!

1. Read this passage or the meditation slowly a couple of times.
2. What word of phrase jumps out to speak to you?
3. Why? Try to put yourself into those words. Maybe imagine Jesus speaking, and reply.
4. Then spend 5, or 10, or 20 minutes with those words, or the word GLORY. You might want to begin the meditation using the breathing exercise I suggest in We have two minds. After a minute or two focused on your breathing, move your focus to the word/s you have chosen. 

Each time your attention moves away from the word/s, push the distraction gently aside and return to the word ("without the intervention of analytical thought" as The Cloud of Unknowing puts it).

You may need a countdown clock. 

At the end thank God, and return to your day.