Day 8: The Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul (Western Church)

Focus today is on the word "conversion." Conversion is not a onetime event, it is something that Christians and individuals of other faith traditions strive for continuously and daily. Father Almighty, aid our ears and  heart to love You  more and more, day by day. Come into our lives with Your Brightness and Spirit.. We ask this through Jesus Christ, Our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.

The hymn above was found in John Cassian's book of prayer. He founded the Monastery of St. Victor in France ca. 415 A.D. Cassian's work profoundly affected the mindset and heart of Saint Benedict, founder of the Benedictine Religious Order.

Day 6 of a Prolonged Period of Prayer for Christian Unity: Changed Through God's Steadfast Love

The title of today's theme emphasizes a critical, critical theological, faith-based point: God's Look of  Love is always in front of us. Below is a series of questions that arise from ecumenical periods of prayer and reflection:

1) Are there any hidden hostilities that effect our relationship to each other as Christian communities? If so, what are they?  

2) How can we learn to welcome our neighbor as Christ welcomes us?  

3) Respecting the right of each to believe as he or she wishes, how can Christian love be shown in a diverse world? 

Please do not hesitate to leave your on ideas to these questions.

 Closing: 

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, by Your Resurrection You have triumphed over death, and have become the Lord of life. Out of love for us You have chosen us to be Your friends. May the Holy Spirit unite us to You and to one other in the bonds of friendship, that we may faithfully serve You in this world as witnesses to Your steadfast love; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

Day Four of Prolonged Period of Prayer for Christian Unity: Changed by Jesus' Victory over Evil

The English word "change." Wow, does it have many different meanings and uses. It is a noun and a verb, and can mean anything from monetary amounts to shifts in interior feelings and world outlooks. Here, we would like to address shifts in interior feelings, and how transfigured interior states effect an individual's world outlook. What is Joy? How does it feel to be joyful? Have we ever smiled with our heart? These are concepts that arise as we reflect on the event of Our Lord conquering death and darkness.

He did defeat darkness, once and for all.  Church leaders have selected wonderful texts for us to think about today: In Exodus, for example, we hear how fear and loneliness can come into our hearts, if we do not prayerfully examine life's events and occurrences, seeking truth, goodness, and excellence in all of our words and actions. But I would like to bring up Psalm 36:10: "In Your Light we see Light itself."  God is not a brightness that fades; His mercy, His warm smile greets us always, like a Father checking on his child in his or her bedroom during the night. ( thank you Father Joe, for that analogy). Again, God has already won the battle for our souls, and it is now time (high time, according to the Rule of Saint Benedict, lol)  to respond to His Victory heartily and in truth. 

Here is a prayer as we await the full dawn of the ever-lasting Sunday morning: 

Lord Jesus Christ, we thank You for Your victory over evil and division. We praise You for Your sacrifice and Your resurrection that conquer death. Help us in our everyday struggle against all adversity. May the Holy Spirit give us strength and wisdom so that, following You, we may overcome evil with good, and division with reconciliation. Amen.

Day Three of an Eight day Prayer for Christian Unity

Our texts today can be contemplated cohesively: they all point toward the cross, and beg us to ask questions: what does the cross of Christ mean, do I share in it, and how I am I to respond to the Life, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus?

I think no doubt a wonderful response to Christ's Saving actions are exhibited by John the Evangelist. He said love your neighbor, respond with kindness and gentleness to your neighbor ( and he lived an earthly life of 93 years; that is a heck of a long time).  :)

Our walk beside Jesus to Calvary is clarified by a worldview that acknowledges the imperfection of this life and holds fast to the Joy, Peace, and Treasure in the next.

Father Eternal, 
Send down Your Spirit
to enliven hearts everywhere. 
May suffering heads stay held 
high, in discipleship of Your
Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Texts for reflection are Is. 53:3-11, Ps. 22:12-24, 1 Pt 2:21-25, Lk. 25-27