God is Love

The Withered Fig Tree and Temple Cleansing...together...brought together

2010-05-30T17:22:00.000-07:00

In the previous post i offered today,
God experienced two very human moments:

   Cursing the one thing we expect to meet our physical needs.
Here, hunger.

   Letting our emotions manifest physically.
Here, violently.

Jesus experienced a very God moment:

   Mark closes the two events
with Jesus offering a forgiveness lesson.

  Ah man...

Like in the Canaanite Woman's story, Jesus' humanity is very real.

   How do I respond to the opened and empty refrigerator?
   How often is my motivation for change brought through frustration?
   How many times have I profiled another
   because they entered the doors of a church that isn't one of mine?

   Can Mark close any of my experiences
with ME living God's forgiveness?

Peace.

The Withered Fig Tree and Temple Cleansing...together?!?

2010-05-30T08:01:00.000-07:00

Let’s do this together, huh?

I recognize I am trying to lead us down a path.

I use italics, bold lettering, the space bar, the return key to identify

“How (I) read it thinking with (my) heart.”

I pray I will acknowledge and accept when you use

Italics

Bold lettering

The space bar

The return key to identify

“How (you) read it thinking with (your) heart.”

Hey, remember those Prayer Questions?

“How do you read it?"

~ Luke 10: 26

"What are you thinking in your heart?"

~ Luke 5: 22

Let’s keep them close as we move forward together...

Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple area.

He looked around at everything and,

since it was already late,

went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

Cool. Jesus is observant. He’s making a plan…

...I suppose. Am I projecting here? Am I anticipating here? What do you think?

The next day as they were leaving Bethany

he was hungry.

Seeing from a distance a fig tree in leaf,

he went over to see if he could find anything on it.

When he reached it he found nothing but leaves;

it was not the time for figs.

I love how the Gospel writer justified for us why the fig tree didn’t have any fruit right now!

HA! Why is that do you suppose? Is the Gospel writer taking us somewhere or just reporting?

And he said to it in reply,

“May no one ever eat of your fruit again!”

And his disciples heard it.

Ah man…

Jesus cursed the fig tree

even though

it wasn’t the fig tree’s fault ‘it was not the time for figs!’

Was Jesus’ frustrations with everything he saw in the Temple getting the best of him? I only guess Jesus was frustrated because the Fig Tree account and the Temple ‘cleansing’ account are kept together in the Church’s Scripture breakdown...

What did Jesus see in the Temple? What will Jesus see in MY temple?

Or, Was Jesus reacting to hunger?

How human is that?!?

How many times have I accessed others’ ‘temple’?

Side note: I refer to how I pray as my ‘temple’...

How many times do I succumb to ‘hunger…’ however that is defined...and CURSE

whatever doesn’t meet MY needs?

whatever interferes with how I pray?

Why did the Gospel writer deem it important to state ‘His disciples heard it’?

They came to Jerusalem,

and on entering the temple area

he began to drive out those selling and buying there.

He overturned the tables of the money changers

and the seats of those who were selling doves.

He did not permit anyone to carry anything through the temple area.

I hear the Camel through the eye of a needle lesson all over again...

I hear Jesus saying to me,

“Don’t bring an agenda to prayer! Leave the baggage outside...even HUNGER!

JUST TALK

JUST LISTEN

JUST BE WITH ME

LET ME JUST BE WITH YOU

If You cure me, God, I will then…

If You make me successful, God, I will then…

If You make another love me, God, I will then...

Then he taught them saying,

“Is it not written:

My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples?

But you have made it a den of thieves.”

The chief priests and the scribes came to hear of it

and were seeking a way to put him to death,

yet they feared him because the whole crowd was astonished at his teaching.

When evening came, they went out of the city.

Back to the Fig Tree! The Temple Cleansing is sandwiched between the Fig Tree...

Early in the morning, as they were walking along,

they saw the fig tree withered to its roots.

Peter remembered and said to him,

“Rabbi, look!

The fig tree that you cursed has withered.”

Jesus said to them in reply,

“Have faith in God.

Amen, I say to you,

whoever says to this mountain,

‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’

and does not doubt in his heart

but believes that what he says will happen,

it shall be done for him.

Therefore I tell you,

all that you ask for in prayer,

believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours.

When you stand to pray,

forgive anyone

against whom you have a grievance,

so that your heavenly Father may in turn

forgive you

your transgressions.”

Mark 11: 11-26

Whew…

I am leaving the rest alone...it is the Bold lettered Words that bring it home for me…

How do you pray with this Mark account…

When do you use Italics

Bold lettering

The space bar

The return key to identify

“How (you) read it thinking with (your) heart.”

Peace.

Teach me to pray ~ "Jesus appears before God on our behalf" Hebrews 9: 24

2010-05-15T08:39:00.000-07:00

Christ did not enter into a sanctuary

made by hands,

a copy of the true one,

but heaven itself,

that he might now appear before God

on our behalf.

Hebrews 9: 24

Oh wow...Praise God, huh?

‘made by hands’

Our hands?

‘a copy of the true one’

How do I view ‘the true one’?

How do I hope ‘the true one’ is...might be...should be?

How do I work my hands to build a copy of God’s ‘true one’?

Why do I work to build a copy of God’s ‘true one’?

‘on our behalf’

THAT’S it!

‘on our behalf’

Oh wow...Praise God, huh?

‘on

our

behalf’

Read that again.

Please pray with me.

I raise Prayer Questions.

I find it is very easy

for these Prayer Questions

to enter my mind

to enter my heart:

You really didn’t see me until now, God?

You really were not with me until now, God?

You really didn’t hear me until now, God?

You really didn’t understand me until now, God?

I anticipate Prayer Questions God raises:

You really didn’t see Me until now, My child?

You really were not with Me until now, My child?

You really didn’t hear Me until now, My child?

You really didn’t understand Me until now, My child?

Ah man…

I’m going somewhere some may challenge…

That’s alright.

I’ve been challenged by others before.

I hope I challenge my own thoughts and feelings

with as much vigor…

or simplicity…

as another challenges me.

With that said…

Pray with me.

What is it like to interact with another in unconditional love?

Is unconditional love forgiveness?

My prayer explores these questions.

I am kinda lost here.

Do I quote myself here or invite you to read earlier posts?

Garden of Eden

Triumph of the Cross

Transfiguration
Canaanite Woman

Curing the Bethsaida Man

See, I feel with my whole being that God 'learned' as much about us while Emmanuel...

See, I hope with my whole being that I learned with my whole being about God while Emmanuel...

I think I’ll leave this here. I look forward to hearing from you.

Peace.

Word Incarnate ~ Teach me to follow you

2010-04-24T09:18:00.000-07:00

Something different today...
I promised myself I will only share my scripture views.

Whoa...

today, is different

See, I adopted a puppy six weeks ago from a rescue group.

Naturally, I believe he adopted me.

The story is common....

...as every other rescued pet owner will undoubted share!

hehehe

Two days ago he had knee surgery....

his second in his 4month old life.

Bless his heart...

We are on strict orders,

"KEEP HIM STILL IN HIS KENNEL FOR TWO WEEKS."

This is proving to be harder on me than on him...

His full leg will be in a cast for 6 weeks,

a bandage for an additional 6 weeks.

We will have 6 weeks of physical therapy.

He eats bees he catches in the backyard despite several stings. Kills me! I can't figure out why he doesn't learn to leave 'em alone...I cannot tell you how many times he comes in the house with swollen lips. I am so grateful he's not allergic to them. What's become cute, though, is I feel he believes he is a bee. He loves flowers. He buries his face in them and licks...licks...licks. Especially cactus flowers. go figure...

Alright...what does this have to do with scripture? What does any of this have to do with the title of this post, "Word Incarnate ~ Teach me to follow you"? I will tell you I relate differently with God because of my relationship with my dog...

I think about how hard God tries to communicate with me. Like my dog does with me.

I think about how I try so hard to dump human attributes on God. Like I do with my dog.

I wonder why it is so easy to accept others' belief that God can ever be jealous, angry, vengeful...

I wonder why it is so hard to allow the Word Incarnate to experience loneliness, sadness, confusion...

I wonder why it is so hard to allow Emmanuel the human struggle...the reality of seeking affirmation, the actuality that, "Wow, I am different."

Sometimes, I love praying while feeling God became Flesh...
God as Word Incarnate...
Emmanuel...
so God will know first hand what I pray about...
how I pray...
what it is like to be human...
why it is so hard to simply love...
to grasp why we hold that God could ever be jealous, angry, vengeful.

Pray with me...pray for me...

Let's expand on this together later .

Peace

Miracles ~ teach me to pray: Matthew 14 talks about Jesus Walking on the Water

2010-04-17T10:27:00.000-07:00

Ah Man! I’m gonna make this short…

uh…

y e a h.

Again…

How many times did Jesus confront individuals and crowds of people because they
...we...
need signs and miracles to trust his Word?
I don’t have that answer simply because the answer requires too much work.

For Jesus to say it ONCE is enough for me to ask the Prayer Question,
“Do I need a sign or miracle to hear God’s Word...
to trust the Word Incarnate...
to live with the desire to love God...
to believe Jesus is God?”

That ONCE is Mark 8: 11 & 12.
I break everytime I hear,
“(Jesus) sighed from the depth of his spirit.”

Thomas Jefferson wrote a bible. He deleted all signs and miracles from his text so he would concentrate only on Jesus’ message. Find a copy. What do you think? What do you feel about Jefferson’s efforts?

Yet, I love the miracles!

If it IS NOT about the miracle…

Find, read and pray with Matthew 14: 22-27.

Immediately

Jesus made the disciples get into the boat

and go on ahead of him to the other side,

while he dismissed the crowd.

After he had dismissed them,

he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.

When evening came,

he was there alone,

but the boat was already

a considerable distance from land,

buffeted by the waves

because the wind was against it.

During the fourth watch of the night

Jesus went out to them,

walking on the lake.

When the disciples saw him walking on the lake,

they were terrified.

"It's a ghost," they said,

and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them:

"Take courage!

It is I.

Don't be afraid."

Matthew 14: 22-27

Jesus was alone.

Jesus missed his friends.
Jesus wanted to be with his friends.

I can see Jesus seeing his friends
in the boat so far away
buffeted by waves.

I can see Jesus wanting to be with them so badly he just starts running toward them
I believe Jesus didn’t even notice he was walking on the water until his friends told him.

Jesus wanted to be with them...
   with me...
   with you...
   with us...
so badly nothing got in the way; not even the shoreline!

No obstacles to being with them...
   with me...
   with you...
   with us!

Emmanuel!

Pray with me...

Miracles ~ teach me to pray: Mark 8 talks about The Man in Bethsaida

2010-04-17T09:58:00.000-07:00

How many times did Jesus confront individuals and crowds of people because they...we...need signs and miracle to trust his Word? I don’t have that answer simply because the answer requires too much work. For Jesus to say it ONCE is enough for me to ask the Prayer Question, “Do I need a sign or miracle to hear God’s Word...to trust the Word Incarnate...to live with the desire to love God...to believe Jesus is God?”

That ONCE is Mark 8: 11 & 12. I break everytime I hear, “(Jesus) sighed from the depth of his spirit.”

Yet, I love the miracles!

If it IS NOT about the miracle...

Find, read and pray with Mark 8: 22 -26

When they arrived at Bethsaida,

they brought to him a blind man

and begged him to touch him.

He took the blind man

by the hand and led him

outside the village.

Putting spittle on his eyes

he laid his hands on him

and asked,

"Do you see anything?"

Looking up he replied,

"I see people looking like trees and walking."

Then he laid hands on his eyes

a second time

and he saw clearly;

his sight was restored

and he could see everything distinctly.

Then he sent him home

and said,

"Do not even go into the village."

Where are you in your heart reading this again?

How high does the

‘infant in (my) womb leap for joy upon hearing (this)?’

Luke 1: 39.

He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village.

Wow! Jesus calls me to spend time with him...

just the two of us...

away from everyone,

“This is between you and me.”

Putting spittle on his eyes

he laid his hands on him

I use this line so many times when praying about Trinitarian Apologetics.

Jeremiah 18

Lamentations 4

Isaiah 64

Romans 9

What? God is the potter and I am the clay…

A potter repairs a crack, if you will, in the vessel

with spittle...

with mud (John’s Gospel, Luke’s Gospel)...

with slip.

Jesus is God for me here!

"Do you see anything?"

I cry. What a beautiful Prayer Question! Even healing me, God makes no assumptions...God asks me how things are working out...God wants me to be involved.

Looking up he replied,

"I see people looking like trees and walking."

This cracks me up! “well, it’s not exactly what I was expecting.”

I hear I can tell God what its really like for me…

Talk about freedom, huh?

Jesus didn’t walk away. Jesus didn’t blame, “Well, your faith isn’t strong enough.”

God doesn’t walk away. God doesn’t blame.

Then he laid hands on his eyes

a second time

I cry. I can see Jesus scrambling.

I cry. I can hear Jesus saying, “Wait! Let me try something else!”

I cry. I can feel Jesus’ exasperation.

Pray with me, huh?

The Road to Emmaus ~ Teach me to pray

2010-04-07T07:04:00.000-07:00

Christ is risen! Emmanuel...

Again, what is the Good News through

"(all) of the things that have taken place (in Jerusalem) in these days?”

Luke 24: 18

Jesus asks us,

“What sort of things?”

Luke 24: 19

Remember what Jesus asked
the scripture scholar in
Luke 10?

Bring that Prayer Question
to our hearts
while responding to

Jesus' question
"What sort of things?".

Remember what Jesus asked
the scribes and pharisees in
Luke 5?

Bring that Prayer Question
to our hearts
while responding to

Jesus' question
"What sort of things?.

It is interesting to me
how quickly I tend to respond
with the timeline in those
"sort of things."

Jesus ate dinner with his friends.

Jesus talked to Judas
about what Judas was about to do.

Jesus talked to Peter
about what Peter was about to do.

Jesus prayed in the Garden
while his friends slept
despite
asking them to stay with him.

whoa...there's a prayer question for ya!
"Will no one stay awake with me?"

Jesus before Pilate.

Jesus before Herod.

Jesus before Pilate, again.

Jesus is scourged.

Crowned.

wow...how readily i can type this outline!

What happens, then,
when I bring the "sort of things" home...

to my heart

with the Prayer Questions in Luke 10 and 5?

What does that outline look like? How does that feel...

How readily can I type that outline? How does that feel...

Praise God and Amen...

Emmanuel...despite everything we do to God...

Praise God and Amen!

Peace

Lent: Exodus

2010-02-20T04:17:00.000-08:00

With God is Love,

I just can’t grasp

the last plague to hit Pharaoh’s Egypt

at face value as a lesson

about God.

With the Good News in my heart,

I just can’t grasp

the last plague to hit Pharaoh’s Egypt

at face value as a lesson

about God.

They shall take some of its blood

and apply it to the two doorposts and the lintel

of every house in which they partake

of the lamb.

Exodus 12: 7

Perhaps

if I hear the Good News as

“I am chosen”

this Exodus Story will mean more to me

at face value.

For on this same night

I will go through Egypt,

striking down every first--born of the land,

both man and beast

Exodus 12: 12

Wow...This is why I love God…

I suggest God doesn’t distinguish between people.

I suggest God Loves every one.

...ouch…

With God is Love as the Good News I hear,

~ With God Manifested and walking with me ~

How many times do I hear Jesus say,

“offer the other cheek…”

“offer your cloak…”

“walk two miles…”

“love one another…”

With God is Love

as the Good News I hear,

this Exodus Story today is more about me…

...how I judge…

...how I justify my judgement…

...how I choose...

...how I justify my choices…

...how I blame…

...how I justify the blame I place...

...how far i will go to

...offer the other cheek...

...offer my cloak...

...walk two miles...

...love another.

WE choose by painting

the Blood of the Lamb

"to the two doorposts and the lintel of every house"

~ and perhaps continue to choose ~

who is God’s most loved and,

subsequently,

more deserving to live.

We had to identify

~ perhaps continue to identify ~

for God who is better than

…After all, God is Love.

Warning: TANGENT

OK…

I invite another to join me for the most spectacular part of my day…

Mass.

I say,

“Come pray with me in my tradition although you traditionally celebrate differently than me. Hear God’s Word with me throughout God’s history with me:

The Word before The Word was made Flesh,

David’s cry of joy, sorrow, fear, anger,

The apostles’ attempts to live like Jesus,

The Word Manifest.

BUT...

stay seated while I join

others like me

at the alter to receive Jesus…

My strength.

My courage.

My hope.

My joy.

My love.

The Eucharist.

What could happen...

what would happen...

for my invited guest if I were to

“apply the

Blood of THIS Lamb

to the two doorposts and the lintel”

of my invited guest’s house?

I wonder if I were one of the decision makers in Moses’ company if I would have the strength...the courage...the hope...the joy...the love...to suggest to my fellow Oppressed, “Maybe the oppressors would ‘see the light’ ~ if you will ~ of our God if we apply the lamb’s blood to their doorposts and their lintel.”

In my heart, I hold an image of Jesus hanging from the tree as the “New Fruit” of Knowledge.

I thank God that we are invited to ingest…digest…“New” Knowledge through the Eucharist daily ~ invited being the operative word! I pray that I use my “New” Knowledge to better worship God, to better love God, to better be with God…I hope that I never use my “New” Knowledge to blame another, to protest another, to discriminate against another. The fear of committing the same pattern of sin today as the First Couple in the Garden is unbearable.

In my heart, I hold an image of God Manifested hanging from the tree as the “New Fruit” of Knowledge.

The Word Made Flesh is mocked, humiliated, nailed to a tree...killed...by us.

Yet, three days later Our Triune God waits for us in the same spot were we buried him away.

Yet, three days later Our Triune God calls out our names when we still don't recognize Our Triune God.

Exodus 12 ~ Pray with me ~ today

2010-02-13T08:31:00.000-08:00

Imagine if Moses and the oppressed
painted the blood of the lamb
"to the two doorposts and the lintel of every house"
of the oppressors.

No one would've died....

Let's sit with this a minute.
Let's feel our hearts beat.
Let's notice our breathing.

Let's talk in a few days, huh?

Exodus 12 ~ Pray with me ~ still...

2010-02-06T06:30:00.000-08:00

In earlier Prayer Posts I asked

you to bring another to the table.

Please bring another today, too.

Let’s pray together.

Explore together.

Hear Jesus’ Gospel Prayer Questions together...

“How do you read it?"

~ Luke 10: 26

"What are you thinking in your heart?"

~ Luke 5: 22

Sit next to each other…and with me.

Be aware

our shoulders are touching

our folded knees are touching

Invite God to sit with the two of you...and with me.

Be aware

our shoulders are touching

our folded knees are touching

Be still our souls with this a while…

The three of you...with me... read the Lord’s Prayer

from the Aramaic together…

hear the others’ hearts sing this prayer

hear your heart sing this prayer

"Oh Thou,

from whom

the breath of life comes,

who fills all realms

of sound,

light

and vibration.

May

Your light be experienced

in my utmost holiest.

Your

Heavenly Domain

approaches.

Let Your will come true -

In the universe

(all that vibrates)

just as on earth

(that is material and dense).

Give us wisdom

(understanding,

assistance)

for our daily need,

detach

the fetters of faults

that bind us,

like we let go

the guilt of others.

Let us not be lost

in superficial things

(materialism,

common temptations),

but let us be freed

from that what keeps us off

from our true purpose.

From You

comes the all-working will,

the lively strength to act,

the song that beautifies all

and renews itself from age to age.

Sealed in trust,

faith

and truth.

(I confirm

with my entire being)

~ The Prayer To Our Father

(from the original Aramaic)

Be still our souls with this a while…

Read Exodus 12: 7 from your Bible.

Again, sit a minute with just that line…

Read Exodus 12: 12 from your Bible.

Again, sit a minute with just that line...

while our eyes are closed

while aware of our hearts’ beat

while our breathing is smooth and deep

Hear, again, Jesus ask,

"How do you read it?"

~ Luke 10: 26

"What are you thinking in your heart?"

~ Luke 5: 22

What questions are surfacing for you?

Ask your prayer partner,
"What questions are surfacing for you?"

Ask me, "What questions are surfacing for you?"

Ask God,

"What do I do with these questions?"

while imagining

what could have happened if

the First Two People

had asked the question,

"What do I do

with all these new questions

I have now, God?"

rather than Hiding in the Trees?

Ask God,

"What do I do with these question?"

while visualizing Mary Magdalene

at the tomb asking

'the gardener',

"Where is my Master?"

rather than Hiding in the Trees.

Peace.

Exodus 12 ~ Pray with me

2010-01-23T18:43:00.000-08:00

With my mantra

God is Love,

I just can’t grasp the last plague in particular to hit Pharaoh’s Egypt.

The bloodshed suggested to come from God is too much for me.

I ask my heart,

“Do I accept this as a historic event or myth?”

Actually, either way...it is too much for me.

It just doesn’t shout from the mountain tops, “God is Love.”

Let’s pick this apart.

I am only bringing God’s conversation with

Moses.

I am NOT bringing Moses’ conversation with

Pharaoh or Pharaoh’s servant.

This is important.

I hold Moses word choice

just may have been influenced

by his passion while desperately pleading his case.

Alirght. Alrightalright...

(The Israelites) shall take some of (the lamb’s) blood

and apply it to the two doorposts and the lintel of every house

in which they partake of the lamb.

Exodus 12: 7

Alright. Alrightalright...

Pray with me.

Sit back.

Take a deep breath.

Forget the rest of the story for a minute.

Forget everything you've heard about this story right now.

Be with God.

My prayer question here...

"Why did the Israelites have to mark their doors?"

What are you thinking?

How are you feeling right now?

Let's move forward another day, huh?

Advent Examen ~ Elizabeth and Mary

2009-12-20T09:54:00.000-08:00

Praise God, huh?

All who pray with me know how much the interaction between

Mary and Elizabeth

changed my life.

I pray always that I will feel

my spirit ‘leap within my womb’

as I greet another person.

I pray always that others will feel

their spirit ‘leap within their womb’

as they greet me.

I pray always that my interactions with others

will exemplify God is Love.

I pray always that my behavior

will exemplify Emmanuel.

I pray always that I will recognize

Emmanuel in others.

I hear this as the first reality of the New Law:

Love One Another...

I hear the Old Testament

~ Elizabeth ~

welcoming the New Testament

~ Mary ~

right here…

I hear the New Testament

~ Mary ~

bringing the Old Testament

~ Elizabeth ~

through the transition…

The barren Elizabeth

is the prophet here for me…

The barren Elizabeth

is the first of the ‘old law’

to bring forth the proclaimer of Great Things to Come...

Praise God, huh?

When am I Mary with Emmanuel

gestating within me?

When am I Elizabeth in Advent...

waiting to feel Emmanuel gestating within me?

Peace...

Advent Examen ~ Jars of Clay, Worlds Apart

2009-12-19T08:27:00.000-08:00

Hear the Jars of Clay “Worlds Apart” lyrics.
Hear the prayer questions to our Triune God.
Hear the prayer questions to ourselves.

Ask someone to read the lyrics to you

while your eyes are closed

while you’re aware of your heart beat

while you’re breathing is smooth and deep

Ask the person you invited to read this to you to sit next to you

be aware that

your shoulders are touching

your bended knees are touching

Invite God to sit on the other side of you

be aware that

your shoulders are touching

your bended knees are touching

Worlds Apart

I am the only one to blame for this.

Somehow it all adds up the same.

Soaring on the wings of selfish pride,

I flew too high

and like Icarus I collide with a world

I try so hard to leave behind.

To rid myself of all but love. 

To give and die.

 To turn away and not become

 another nail to pierce the skin.

To pierce the skin

of one who loves more deeply than the oceans.

To pierce the skin

of one who loves more abundant than the tear of a world.

To pierce the skin

of one who

embraces every heartache.

Can I be the one to sacrifice?

Or...Am I the one to grip the spear

and watch the blood and water flow?

To love you ~ take my world apart.

To need you ~ I am on my knees.

To love you ~ take my world apart.

To need you ~ broken on my knees.

All said and done

I stand alone Among the remains of a life I should not own.

It takes all I am to believe In the mercy that covers me.

Did you really have to die for me?

All I am for all you are because

what I need and what I believe are worlds apart.

I look beyond the empty cross 

forgetting what my life has cost 

and wipe away the crimson stains 

and dull the nails that still remain.

More and more I need you now.

I owe you more each passing hour.

The battle between grace and pride 

I gave up not so long ago.

Steal my heart.

Take the pain. 

Wash the feet.

Cleanse my pride. 

Take the selfish.

Take the weak. 

Take all the things I cannot hide. 

Take the beauty.

Take my tears. 

Take this sin-soaked heart and make it yours.

Take my world apart.

Take it now.

Serve the ones that I despise.

Speak the words I can't deny.

Watch the world

I used to love

turn to dust and fall away.

I pray,

and I pray,

and I pray 

take my world apart.

Jars of Clay from the album Jars of Clay, 1995 

Be still your soul with this a while…

The three of you read this together…

hear the others’ voices sing this prayer
hear your voice sing this prayer

"Oh Thou,
from whom the breath of life comes,

who fills all realms of sound,
light
and vibration.

May Your light be experienced in my utmost holiest.

Your Heavenly Domain approaches.

Let Your will come true -
In the universe
(all that vibrates)
just as on earth
(that is material and dense).

Give us wisdom
(understanding, assistance)
for our daily need,

detach the fetters of faults that bind us,
like we let go the guilt of others.

Let us not be lost in superficial things
(materialism, common temptations),

but let us be freed
from that what keeps us off
from our true purpose.

From You comes the all-working will,
the lively strength to act,
the song that beautifies all
and renews itself from age to age.

Sealed in trust,
faith
and truth.
(I confirm with my entire being)

~ The Prayer To Our Father
(in the original Aramaic)

Jars of Clay lyrics "Boys" and Our Lady of Guadalupe

2009-12-13T10:13:00.001-08:00

There are many reasons why I love Mother Church.

Her relationship with Our Lady is one of them.

The Solemnity of The Immaculate Conception and

The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Hear these lyrics from Jars of Clay. Although it is called “Boys” and appears to be a father’s words to his son, I hear it as though it were Our Lady of Guadalupe to Juan Diego...and us...

Lesson one - do not hide

Lesson two - there are right ways to fight

And if you have questions

We can talk through the night

So you know who you are

And you know what you want

I've been where you're going

And it's not that far

it's too far to walk

But you don't have to run

you'll get there in time

Lesson three - you're not alone

Not since I saw you start breathing on your own

You can leave, you can run, this

will still be your home

So you know who you are

And you know what you want

I've been where you're going

And it's not that far

it's too far to walk

But you don't have to run

you'll get there in time

Get there in time

In time, to wonder where the days have gone

In time, to be old enough to

wish that you were young

When good things are unraveling,

bad things come undone

You weather love and lose your innocence

There will be liars and

thieves who take from you

Not to undermine the consequence

But you are not what you do

And when you need it most

I have a hundred reasons why I love you

If you weather love and lose your innocence

Just remember - lesson one

~ Jars of Clay

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception ~ Original Sin from my heart Part Two

2009-12-13T10:13:00.000-08:00

It be great if you'd travel with me through

the first part of this prayer post.

You'll find it just before this prayer post.

I don't know how to move the posts around...

Alright...alrightalright.

Bear with me…

The last prayer post lead us through a prayer, I hope.

Let’s process. Ah man, I wish you and I were face to face right now. I’d love to see your face while you talk with me...pray with me...while we hug each other…

Whoa...just dawned on me...you might not want to be face to face with me!

WARNING ~ tangent

I started with ‘bare with me’ but googled the question, “is it bare with me or bear with me.” answer: Bear with me is requesting patience and Bare with me is asking to get naked. I thought, “Well, I am asking the other person to ‘strip’ The Word with me…"

Then I thought, “Just donned on me” would be kinda cool. Like “Now, let’s get dressed, again”…”get real,” kinda notion…

Alright...alrightalright.

The last prayer post lead us through a prayer, I hope,

incorporating two of my “Top Ten” prayer questions Jesus presents in the Gospels:

“How do you read it?"

~ Luke 10: 26

"What are you thinking in your heart?"

~ Luke 5: 22

I actually typed "How I read" the passage I asked you to read and for someone to read to you. I opted NOT to include, “You have eaten, then, from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!" ~ Genesis 3: 11.

I am so sorry...Honestly, I don’t want to be dishonest. I wanted us to loose our selves from the tradition of Original Sin being Disobedience and look at something else especially on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.

Alright...alrightalright.

This is "What I am thinking in my heart."

God is Love.

God is all forgiving.

So, God looked for Adam and Eve...calling out to them,

“Where are you?”

God is all knowing.

Yet, God looked for Adam and Eve...calling out to them,

“Where are you?”

Adam and Eve were hiding from God…

I pray I will run to God for help when I sin.

Could hiding from God in our nakedness,

in the times we just don’t know what to do,

in our vulnerability,

in our sinfulness

be Original Sin?

God asked another question,

“Who told you that you were naked?”

Adam blamed Eve…

I pray I will always accept responsibility for my own sin.

I pray I will always be accountable in my own sin.

God asked another question,

“Why did you do such a thing?”

Eve blamed the serpent…

I pray I will always accept responsibility for my own sin.

I pray I will always be accountable in my own sin.

Could blaming another for our nakedness,

for the times we just don’t know what to do,

for the times we find ourselves vulnerable,

for the times we see our sinfulness

be Original Sin?

Paul tells us through his letter to the Ephesians

on this Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception,

as he

chose us

in him,

before the foundation of the world,

to be holy and

without blemish

before him.

God chose us to be holy and without blemish before him.

I pray I just won’t hide from God...regardless.

I pray I will accept God’s invitation to be holy before God...regardless.

How many times do we hear our Triune God tell us

“Peace.”

“Don’t be afraid.”

“I am always with you.”

“Come to me.”

Isaiah tells us what Emmanuel is all about…

I am the LORD, your God,
who grasp your right hand;
It is I who say to you, “Fear not,
I will help you.”

~ Isaiah 41: 13

The afflicted and the needy seek water in vain,
their tongues are parched with thirst.
I, the LORD, will answer them;
I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
I will open up rivers on the bare heights,
and fountains in the broad valleys;
I will turn the desert into a marshland,
and the dry ground into springs of water.
I will plant in the desert the cedar,
acacia, myrtle, and olive;
I will set in the wasteland the cypress,
together with the plane tree and the pine.

~ Isaiah 31: 17-19

Mary knew this when the Gabriel came to her.

The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,

“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”

But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,

“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,

“How can this be…?”

~ Luke 1: 26-34

Mary didn’t hide among the trees

although she was greatly troubled by what was said.

Mary didn’t cower behind the trees

although she was greatly troubled by what was said.

Instead, Mary thought about it.

Instead, Mary brought her own prayer question,

“How can this be?”

Instead, Mary accepted,

“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”

~ Luke 1: 38

This is the fullness of the Immaculate Conception for me.

Mary stands before our Triune God always.

Mary accepts the kingdom of God within her always.

Mary nourishes a complete relationship with our Triune God always.

Something in Mary impressed Joseph so much he didn’t abandon her

...he didn’t blame her.

When Mary was betrothed to Joseph,

but before they lived together,

she was found with child through the holy Spirit.

Joseph her husband,

since he was a righteous man,

yet unwilling to expose her to shame,

decided to divorce her quietly.

~ Matthew 1: 18-19

This is the fullness of the Immaculate Conception for me.

Another recognizes that Mary stands before our Triune God always.

that Mary accepts the kingdom of God within her always.

that Mary nourishes a complete relationship with our Triune God always.

Peace.

this might make more sense if you read the first part first...

Praying with the Lord's Prayer ~ The Genesis Story on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception Part One

2009-12-13T07:00:00.000-08:00

Ah man…

There is so much for me in this Genesis story.

We heard it on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Let’s read it again.

When they heard the sound of the LORD God
moving about in the garden at the breezy time of the day,
the man and his wife
hid themselves from the LORD God
among the trees of the garden.

The LORD God then called to the man and asked him,

“Where are you?”

He answered,

“I heard you in the garden;
but I was afraid, because I was naked,
so I hid myself.”

Then he asked,

“Who told you that you were naked?

The man replied,

“The woman whom you put here with me
she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it.”

The LORD God then asked the woman,

“Why did you do such a thing?”

The woman answered,

“The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it.”

~ Genesis 3: 8-13

Now, I believe so whole heartedly

our Triune God is all knowing.

I believe so whole heartedly

our Triune God is all forgiving.

I believe so whole heartedly

our Triune God is Love.

With that said, ask someone to read this passage to you

while your eyes are closed

while you’re aware of your heart beat

while you’re breathing is smooth and deep

Hear, again, Jesus asking, "How do you read it?"
~ Luke 10: 26
"What are you thinking in your heart?"
~ Luke 5: 22

Ask the person you invited to read this to you to sit next to you

Be aware that

your shoulders are touching

your bended knees are touching

Invite God to sit on the other side of you

Be aware that

your shoulders are touching

your bended knees are touching

“Where are you?”

“I heard you in the garden;
but I was afraid, because I was naked,
so I hid myself.”

“Who told you that you were naked?

“The woman whom you put here with me
she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it.”

“Why did you do such a thing?”

“The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it.”

~ Genesis 3: 9-13

Be still your soul with this a while…

The three of you read this together…

hear the others’ voices sing this prayer

hear your voice sing this prayer

"Oh Thou,

from whom the breath of life comes,

who fills all realms of sound,

light

and vibration.

May Your light be experienced in my utmost holiest.

Your Heavenly Domain approaches.

Let Your will come true -

In the universe

(all that vibrates)
just as on earth

(that is material and dense).

Give us wisdom

(understanding, assistance)

for our daily need,

detach the fetters of faults that bind us,
like we let go the guilt of others.

Let us not be lost in superficial things

(materialism, common temptations),

but let us be freed

from that what keeps us off

from our true purpose.

From You comes the all-working will,

the lively strength to act,
the song that beautifies all

and renews itself from age to age.

Sealed in trust,

faith

and truth.
(I confirm with my entire being)

~ The Prayer To Our Father
(in the original Aramaic)

Advent Examen ~ Luke 5 and Isaiah 11

2009-12-07T09:19:00.000-08:00

Ah man...Listen to this question!

“What are you thinking in your hearts?

Remember, I don't believe any questions from our Triune God is rhetorical.

I could very easily read that beautiful question in the same way a boss might ask an employee, "What were you thinking?!?"

With that prayer question sincerely asked, then, how do i answer in my prayer response...

Which is easier, to say,

‘Your sins are forgiven,’

or to say,

‘Rise and walk’?

~ Luke 5: 22-23

There are times I am so hurt. So hurt either by others…

...or myself.

And, you know what...sometimes it IS easier to say,

“Rise and walk”

than to say,

“I forgive you.”

Sometimes,

I would rather someone

“Rise and walk”

than feel forgiven.

think of those times when forgiveness doesn't come easily

Sometimes,

I would rather I

“Rise and walk”

than feel forgiven.

think of those times when forgiveness doesn't come easily

Isn’t that amazing? I wonder if this is what is meant,

"Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead."

~ Matthew 8: 22

I am using Matthew here to suggest ‘dead in the heart.’

If I need the Law...today's scriptural law...
to believe I am closer to God,
then follow the Pharisee...today's Pharisee.

I wonder
if I would be more accountable if I started saying,
“Love the sinner and ‘avoid the sin’.”

I wonder
if keeping to
“Love the sinner and hate the sin”
it is easier to continue to blame and shame.

I wonder
if "Follow me, and let the dead bury the dead"
is about the customs...the rituals...the culture.

I wonder
if I could actually live with Jesus' yoke...Jesus' Law

Love God. Love One Another.

even if it meant picking wheat

today

on the Sabbath

today

even if it meant deciding which is easier to say

today

"Rise and Walk" or "I forgive you"

even if it meant accepting Joshua ben Sira's invitation

to "trust Wisdom within us"

today

in our hearts

even if it meant accepting Jesus' invitation
to "follow me, my yoke is easy and my burden light"
today
in our hearts

even if it meant hearing Jesus address us like He did Saul
today

As I neared Damascus on my journey,

suddenly a light from heaven flashed around me.

I fell to the ground and

heard a voice say to me,

"Why do you persecute Me and other's in My name?"

Alright...alrightalright.

I am not quite sure where all that came from!

Oh yeah...now I know…

Sometimes, in my Examen, I identify with

The wolf

The leopard

The young lion

The bear

The lion

The cobra

The adder

~ Isaiah 11: 6-9

Because sometimes, in my relationship with another I am

The wolf

The leopard

The young lion

The bear

The lion

The cobra

The adder

~ Isaiah 11: 6-9

Here’s the opening to my Examen prayer

“God, be my guest, lie down with me, browse with me, guide me, be my neighbor, rest with me, eat with me, play by my den...my heart...lay your hand on my lair...my heart.”

~ Isaiah 11: 6-9

Oh boy…

Let’s rest. Feel our hearts beat...and sigh.

Examen ~ Advent ~ A little Child to guide us.

2009-12-05T21:45:00.000-08:00

Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
The calf and the young lion shall browse together,
with a little child to guide them.
The cow and the bear shall be neighbors,
together their young shall rest;
the lion shall eat hay like the ox.
The baby shall play by the cobra’s den,
and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair.

~ Isaiah 11: 6-9

The beginning of a new Church Calendar Year. There are many reasons I love Mother Church. Advent is one.

Preparation.

Asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come,
Jesus said in reply,
“The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed,
and no one will announce,
‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’

For behold, the Kingdom of God is within you.”

Luke 17: 20-21

Remember Saul’s conversion? It came out of nowhere! He is doing what he knows is best for the people, ‘STOP THIS Jesus is the Messiah NONSENSE! Stick to the Book of Law! Our traditions, our customs are tried and true. Our traditions, our customs are most pleasing to God.’

WARNING ~ tangent

Know what? Paul doesn’t talk about that day. Although he acknowledges something happened in his first letter to the Corinthians (chapter 15: 3) He doesn’t share his experience with us directly. I imagine he did with someone since the story shows up in the Acts of the Apostles ~ chapter 9.

Makes me question why I blog my relationship with God...Remember that prayer, Tower of Babel?

Alright...alrightalright.

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart;

and you will find rest for your selves.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

~ Matthew 11: 30

Emmanuel. Learn from Jesus and I will find rest.

Thus says the LORD:

How long will you be deprived of wisdom's food,

how long will you endure such bitter thirst?

I open my mouth and speak of her:

gain, at no cost, wisdom for yourselves.

Submit your neck to her yoke,

that your mind may accept her teaching.

For she is close to those who seek her,

and the one who is in earnest finds her.

See for yourselves!

I have labored only a little,

but have found much.

~ Sirach 51: 24-27

Why do I complicate it?

“MyYOKE is easy”...what exactly is the yoke?

Joshua ben Sira says it isn’t that complicated: submit to Wisdom working through me.

“SEE FOR YOURSELF (EXCLAMATION POINT)”

Jesus says it isn’t that complicated: “take My yoke and learn from me.”

Once again, what exactly is the yoke? Get Ready. Be Prepared.

THE YOKE IS THE LAW.

And, what is Jesus’ law?

“LOVE GOD. LOVE ONE ANOTHER.”

Remember when Jesus asked the Pharisee versed in the Law that beautiful prayer question just before defining His ‘yoke’?

“TELL ME, HOW DO YOU READ IT?”

Saul lived under a complicated yoke. The Law dominated his life, his life with God. He Loved God so much but, apparently, could only find God in the Law. With that said, listen to Paul's letters differently. I hear Paul complicating Jesus' easier yoke sometimes. Other times, he seems to be clearer...especially as he matured. What do you think?

I pray I will hear "Love God. Love one another" always. Even when picking wheat on the Sabbath is necessary. Even when I am faced with the dilemma, "is it easier to say, 'I forgive you' or 'get up and walk.'

It was my soteriology that created such a stir last week. Actually, sharing my salvation theology thoughts and feelings created the stir last week. Maybe I need to follow Paul’s example and casually, humbly allude to my relationship with God rather than shout it from the rooftops, if you will. The truth is...I want so desperately to find another who thinks and feels about our Triune God as I do…

With that said, I am going to stick my neck out there again! This is important to better understand my Examen prayer.

Examen is my Preparation…

Alright...alrightalright.

Tomorrow? I am exhausted. Let’s rest. Feel our hearts beat...and...sigh...

Examen

2009-11-29T05:58:00.000-08:00

Ah man…

I had quite a rough week. It would appear last week’s prayer post about John’s Gospel leading my soteriology thought hit a nerve. I received a few pointed comments I am not publishing right now. I am still struggling with that decision. I was confronted pretty hard face to face by someone in another public forum where I openly shared how John’s Gospel leads my soteriology. I am still struggling with that interaction...my attitude and my behavior.

I choose a public forum to pray.

I choose a public forum to talk about my relationship with our Triune God.

Is this like ‘kiss and tell?’

Am I building a Tower, if you will, like I questioned on October 6th?

If I don’t publish the pointed comments is this blog actually proselytizing?

Others’ responses to questions I pose are as legitimate and heartfelt as the questions themselves.

My prayer ~ conversation ~ is all about the questions and listening to the answers or pondering

questions presented to me as answers; moving me deeper into my heart...opening my soul...helping me to become vulnerable to dependence on God alone.

Am I too selfish to open myself to others’ prayers?

Am I too frightened to truthfully open myself to my OWN prayer…

I pray I will pray free of any agenda always.

I pray Jesus will never have to say to me, “If I question, you will not respond.”

~ Luke 22: 68

I pray I will invite others to pray with me free of an agenda always.

I pray I will hear another's prayer always.

I pray I will live God is Love always.

I pray I will feel God's Love through another person always.

I pray (my soul) will leap in (my) womb, filling with the Holy Spirit when I am greeted by another always.

~ Luke 1: 41

I pray (others' souls) will leap in (their) wombs, and be filled with the Holy Spirit when I greet them always.

~ Luke 1: 41

Ah man…

This is the First Sunday of Advent. Perhaps it is only fitting that I enter this Advent Season...this First Sunday of the Church Year...challenged by my own prayer…

Am I truly feeling 'the kingdom of God is at hand...within me?'

~ Luke 17: 21

Peace.

John's Gospel in my heart, in my prayer ~ John 18:37

2009-11-21T11:58:00.000-08:00

John’s Gospel challenges me. I struggled for years trying to grasp John’s gospel as Gospel, if you will. John’s Gospel is filled with editorial comments: Jesus knew...Jesus was testing them...I was Jesus’ beloved.

WARNING ~ tangent!

Hehehe. Looks like this son of Zebedee never really let go of “When you’re king, can I sit at your right?” Those Zebedee boys…

Alright...alrightalright.

I feel John’s Gospel is more like a document testifying to his relationship with Jesus rather than relaying events. John’s Gospel, then, is more like his blog, if you will.

The Synoptic Gospels do have editorial comments, too, I’ll give you that. I do believe their comments are added through the Midrash tradition, though.

I like Midrash. Every time a homily is presented, a preacher exclaims, two people share God Talk...we are midrash-ing...hehehe.

I understand the most famous of the Midrash additions in the New Testament is ‘all are invited; but few are chosen’ something along that line, anyway.

I join a group of men from my church every week for God Talk. We share how The Word affects us personally. Imagine...MEN engaged in God Talk...openly...vulnerably...without fear of being wrong!

Whoa...as usual, I am all over the place here, huh?

Alright…alrightalright.

Scholars separate John from the other three evangelists, the Synoptic Gospels. I don’t pretend to know what all of that means. It is enough for me to just hear it said…

Alright...alrightalright.

I am getting way over my head, here...digging myself into a hole too deep…

Alright...alrightalright.

I started this prayer post with the intention of writing three lines…

Even as I share my thoughts about John’s Gospel...my challenges and struggles...my whole theology is based on John’s Truth and God’s Will in Emmanuel ~ God is with us...

Here we go…

I share in my profile that I hold John’s Truth ~ God is Love ~ as my own.

John shares with us how Pilate and Jesus’ conversation progressed during Jesus’ trial. Here Jesus outlines so clearly...so succinctly...Why God manifested as Human...What The Word made Flesh ~ Emmanuel ~ mission was,

“For this I was born

and for this I came into the world,
to testify to the truth.”

~ John 18: 37

Whoa…

In a much earlier prayer post ~ The Triumph of the Cross ~ In my heart ~ I suggested Jesus’ trial and crucifixion were natural consequences of his behavior.

Am I in trouble yet?

I hold that The Cross was ~ still is in too many ways ~ a natural consequence of Jesus’ words and actions. Jesus bucked the religious system. He challenged everyone: the righteous and societal sinners alike ~ you and me. I believe Human Jesus understood this; that it didn’t take Divine Jesus to ‘prophesy’ the catastrophe...

It is our propensity to judge one another.

We judge God’s Word relentlessly to support our personal agenda..our tradition...our culture...

Man alive, we judge Jesus through Jesus’ own words and actions.

We judge The Word manifest in Flesh.

And we kill him…

See, when I hear John report Jesus’ words...one more time…

“For this I was born

and for this I came into the world,
to testify to the truth.”

~ John 18: 37

I am struck to the heart. I cry. I praise God.

I am on this page! God is Love. I cannot grasp the tradition that God’s Will is for Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sins. I cannot grasp that God wants ANYONE to be killed. I believe...feel our Triune God knew that as Word Made Flesh God would be crucified. Our Triune God is all knowing...omniscient. Knowing and Willing are two different things: apples and oranges, if you will.

I am on this page! God is Love. I can clearly hear God saying, “Maintain Integrity to God is Love. Stay the course with the message Emmanuel.”

The ultimate God is Love for me

God is walking through the Garden looking for the First Two People even after knowing what they did…calling out to us,

“Where are you?”

Jesus waits for us at the tomb even after what we did to him...calling out to us by name,

“Mary.”

I wonder sometimes if Original Sin ~ if in fact there is such a thing or is it tradition ~ is a lack of integrity, a lack of responsibility, a lack of accountability...After all, the First two people kept making excuses and blaming another for their behavior.

JESUS MAINTAINED INTEGRITY.

JESUS MAINTAINED A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY.

JESUS ASSUMED ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE WORD.

And we killed him.

I can hear God saying to Jesus, “Maintain Integrity to God is Love. Stay the course with the message Emmanuel. I am with you through it all. BE God is Love ‘even unto death; death on a cross’. Let them kill us if they want to. Let them kill us if they need to. Wait for them at the end. Wait for them at the new beginning. Show them Emmanuel Always.”

Ah man…

I cry.

Feel our hearts beat and sigh...

Jesus before Pilate ~ Teach me to pray

2009-11-21T05:51:00.000-08:00

Ah man…

Listen to this…

Hear the questions...note the type of questions...do they foster conversation or are they closed ~ yes or no answers...questions asked with an agenda...questions asked with only ONE acceptable answer expected by the interrogator...

Pilate said to Jesus,
"Are you the King of the Jews?"

Jesus answered,

"Do you say this on your own
or have others told you about me?"

Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I?
Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me.
What have you done?"

Jesus answered,

"My kingdom does not belong to this world.
If my kingdom did belong to this world,
my attendants would be fighting
to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.
But as it is, my kingdom is not here."

So Pilate said to him, "Then you are a king?"

Jesus answered,

"You say I am a king.
For this I was born

and for this I came into the world,
to testify to the truth.
Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

~ John 18: 33-37

All right now. Check this out! Again, the questions…yeah, one question is actually a demand...

The interrogators brought an agenda.

I struggle to find ‘prayer’ here. Jesus, sadly to me says, “If I question, you will not respond.”

They said,

"If you are the Messiah, tell us,"

but he replied to them,

"If I tell you, you will not believe.

If I question, you will not respond.”

~ Luke 22: 67 - 68

Ah man…

I cry.

I pray I will pray free of any agenda always.

I pray Jesus will never have to say to me, “If I question, you will not respond.”

I pray I will invite others to pray with me free of an agenda always.

I pray I will hear another's prayer always.

I pray I will live God is Love always.

I pray I will feel God's Love through another person always.

I pray (my soul) will leap in (my) womb, and be filled with the Holy Spirit when I am greeted by another always.

I pray (others' souls) will leap in (their) wombs, and be filled with the Holy Spirit when I greet them always.