Blessed are those who know their need

for theirs is the grace of heaven.

Blessed are those who weep

for their tears will be wiped away.

Blessed are the humble

for they are close to the sacred earth.

Blessed are those who hunger

for earth’s o neness for they will be satisfied.

Blessed are the forgiving

for they are free

Blessed are the clear in heart

for they see the Living Presence.

Blessed are the peacemakers

for they are born of God.

(The Casa del Sol Blessings of Jesus - based on Matthew 5:3-9)

Posted by Sharon Copeman

Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don't know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is! 
Anne Frank 

Posted by Sally McShane

A Hopi Elder Speaks

A Hopi Elder Speaks "You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour, now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour.  And there are things to be considered . . . Where are you living? What are you doing?  What are your relationships? Are you in right relation? Where is your water? Know your garden. It is time to speak your Truth. Create your community. Be good to each other. And do not look outside yourself for the leader." Then he clasped his hands together, smiled, and said, "This could be a good time!"     "There is a river flowing now very fast.  It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid.  They will try to hold on to the shore.   They will feel they are torn apart and will suffer greatly.      "Know the river has its destination.  The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above water.   And I say, see who is in there with you and celebrate.  At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally, Least of all ourselves.  For the moment that we do,  our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.      "The time for the lone wolf is over.  Gather yourselves!  Banish the word struggle from you attitude and your vocabulary.  All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.      "We are the ones we've been waiting for." -- attributed to an unnamed Hopi elder Hopi Nation Oraibi, Arizona Posted by Treena Duncan

Jesus' Packing Instructions

In this season of graduation and packing, of summer trips and luggage, this reflection from Martin Copenhaver seems most timely.

Excerpt from Matthew 10:5-15

"Do not take gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff, for the laborer deserves his food."

Reflection by Martin B. Copenhaver

People have different philosophies of packing.

Some like to travel light.  They take a bare minimum of items with them.  They count the number of days they will be away and bring just that number of pairs of socks—no more, no less.

Others have an "in case" attitude toward packing.  They might pack a rain coat, a down parka, and a bathing suit just "in case" the weather changes.

Clearly, Jesus is in the former category.  In fact, he is the ultimate light packer.  When sending his disciples on their first journey without him, he gave very explicit packing instructions:  Don't take any money, or a change of clothes.  In fact, leave your suitcase home.  Don't take anything but the shirt on your back.

Talk about traveling light!  What is Jesus up to here?

Perhaps Jesus gives this advice so his disciples will learn trust.  It is Jesus' way of encouraging them to engage with the people they meet.  After all, when you don't have enough to go on, you have to turn to those around you.

But there is another possible explanation.  The items Jesus tells his disciples to leave behind are just the kinds of things that worshipers were told to leave outside the temple before they entered.  People were to divest themselves of these things before stepping on holy ground.

So when Jesus tells his disciples to travel light, he is encouraging them to approach the whole world as if it is holy ground, a place where you can expect to encounter God.

What would it mean for you to enter your day in this way?

Prayer

God, give me the "eyes of the heart enlightened" so I might be prepared to see the holy in the everyday.

Posted by Dan Chambers

Here is another reflection from Anthony de Mello

 For some background, check the posting in this Blog for Nov 25, 2011 One Minute Wisdom

Before reading it take a moment and list, 

either on paper or in your mind, 

all the Biblical references to “rivers”.

 In Genesis we start with the rivers in Eden, we end in Revelation with the River of Life and between .... .

“Recognition”  p100

As the Master grew old and infirm 

the disciples begged him not to die. 

Said the Master, “If I did not go how would you ever see?”

“What is it we fail to see when you are with us?” they asked.

But the Master would not say.

When the moment of his death was near 

they said, “What is it we will see when you are gone?”

With a twinkle in his eye the Master said,

 “All I did was sit on the riverbank 

handing out river water. 

After I’m gone I trust you will notice the river.”

For your personal reflection I’d suggest holding your list of rivers prayerfully.

Might you see any of them in today's events? 

What might you do today to drink from the River of Life we find in Christ?

Today I quit being a Christian

For those who care, and I understand if you don't: Today I quit being a Christian. I'm out. I remain committed to Christ as always but not to being "Christian" or to being part of Christianity. It's simply impossible for me to "belong" to this quarrelsome, hostile, disputatious, and deservedly infamous group. For ten years, I've tried. I've failed. I'm an outsider. My conscience will allow nothing else. … In the name of Christ, I refuse to be anti-gay. I refuse to be anti-feminist. I refuse to be anti-artificial birth control. I refuse to be anti-Democrat. I refuse to be anti-secular humanism. I refuse to be anti-science. I refuse to be anti-life. In the name of Christ, I quit Christianity and being Christian. Amen.         Author of Christ the Lord,  Anne Rice

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

...taken from a gem of a book given to me after 

the BC Conference meeting last weekend

 ~ Praying with the Earth - A Prayerbook for Peace 

by  J Philip Newell...  

In lives where love has been born this day 

thanks be to you, O God.

In families where forgiveness has been strong

thanks be to you.

In nations where wrongs have been addressed 

where tenderness has been cherished

and where visions for earth’s oneness have been served

thanks be to you.

May those who are weary find rest this night.

May those who carry great burdens for their people 

find strength.

May the midwives of new beginnings in our world find hope.

And may the least among us find greatness

strength in our souls

worth in our words

love in our living.

.

Blessings,

Sharon Copeman