On this 4th Sunday of Lent, Laetare Sunday, the readings invite us to consider the depth of God’s steadfastness and love. Focusing on the second reading, take some time to reflect on the qualities of God (rich in mercy, great love, etc.).
Brothers and sisters: God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ — by grace you have been saved —, raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast. For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them. – Ephesians 2:4-10
How do you experience these qualities in your life? In your relationship with God and others, where do you give? and where do you withhold? Take some time to ponder being God’s handiwork.
“You often say, “I would give, but only to the deserving.” The trees in your orchard say not so, nor the flocks in your pasture. They give that they may live, for to withhold is to perish.” – Kahlil Gibran
Listen to the flowers As they huddle together. From one petal to another, Be attentive they say, Perhaps in various states of array, All rising from one stem, but in their own way. Looking around, what do they see? What’s happening? What’s that, you say? Cacophony must not dissuade. Take heart and persevere, Regardless of whatever, either, or any way. From one petal to another, Life goes on, and Eternity prevails In taking great care And consideration of each other. Listen to the flowers, From one petal to another, They are one, though many, As they “humble” together.
“Your neighbor is your other self dwelling behind a wall. In understanding, all walls shall fall down. Who knows but that your neighbor is your better self wearing another body? See that you love him as you would yourself. He too is a manifestation of the Most High, whom you do not know.” – Kahlil Gibran
It’s said that the owl’s wisdom lies in its waiting, watching, and listening. In its patient, persistent process, its senses are fine-tuned, making it easier to recognize and distinguish between and among things. The owl’s very own nature leads and nurtures the animal, teaching it to tap more deeply into what it genuinely needs to survive and thrive.
This in-born nature that helps the owl to be at its best, also resides within all living things. And when tuned into, exercised, and held onto, it helps all living things to operate at their best, most authentic self. For human beings especially, the task at hand is to sort through and root out all that interferes with this natural, God-given ability.
In the Book of Wisdom, King Solomon shares:
“I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me” – Wisdom 7:7.
While this is a great example of “ask and you shall receive,” it is also an example of the gift of humility. Oftentimes, it is humility that opens the door to wisdom. King Solomon humbled himself, he “prayed” and “pleaded” for wisdom, a gift that no amount of money in the world could buy. Throughout the Bible, and throughout history, there is no wisdom, without humility. For it is a gift that can only be received at the time and place where an open, willing, and humble heart meets the humility of God—unconditional love.
So how does one move toward this place? For starters, perhaps by praying for the grace to become more aware. Kahlil Gibran wrote, “Wisdom stands at the turn in the road and calls upon us publicly, but we consider it false and despise its adherents.”
Thinking about current day events, where do you see wisdom? In what places do you meet unconditional love… truth and peace together?
Looking back to history, Psalm 90 begins:
“A prayer of Moses, the man of God. Lord, you have been our refuge through all generations. Before the mountains were born, the earth and the world brought forth, from eternity to eternity you are God” (verses 1-2).
Wisdom draws Moses’ heart to give voice to God’s faithfulness, and seek God’s help, “Teach us to count our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart,” (verse 12), mercy, “Make us glad as many days as you humbled us, for as many years as we have seen trouble,” (verse 15), and grace, “May the favor of the Lord our God be ours. Prosper the work of our hands! Prosper the work of our hands!” (verse 17).
When you reflect on the work of your hands, what aspects of God (loving, patient, gentle, kind, honest, peaceful, faithful, life-giving, etc.) resonate in them? When you look at the world around you and the things in which you choose to participate, which ones bring you closer to the image of God, Love, in which you were created? In what ways do you feel inspired by the humility and generative nature of God, for whom all things are possible?
If You don’t build it, we labor in vain, Without Your Spirit, we stand with no strength. I know my life is passing away, but the works of Your hands are what will remain. Let the favor of the Lord rest upon us…
O Lord, establish the work of our hands! O Lord, establish the work of our hands!
Teach us to number the length of our days, Pour out Your power, we’ll pour out Your praise. Teach us to run, to finish the race, for only what’s done in love will remain. Let the favor of the Lord rest upon us…
O Lord, establish the work of our hands! O Lord, establish the work of our hands!
Al – le – lu – ia, al – le – luia, al – le – luia Al – le – lu – ia, al – le – luia, al – le – luia
The magi saw the star at its rising. They followed it and when they arrived at the place where it stopped, they honored the newborn King. They payed homage and offered not only their gifts, but also their hearts. Then, having seen and been received by “the child with Mary his mother” (Mt 2:11), the newborn King to whom they were led, they went home another way. Surely it would have been easier for them to go home the way they had come to Bethlehem, but a dream warning them not to return to Herod told them different. They received it, much the same way that they received the star at its rising; with a deep desire to go where it led. They, like the shepherds, knew which authority was worth following and it led them to Life.
Kahlil Gibran wrote, “Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself” (The Prophet). Similarly each journey one might embark upon or each endeavor one may seek to carry out brings with it “Life’s longing for itself.” No journey or endeavor is mine alone. No, rather each is part of a much bigger picture. However, if they become mine alone then “Life’s longing for itself,” and the joy that accompanies it, will fade away.
If the magi had stopped their journey when they reached King Herod and found no newborn king at the place where they had expected to find him, if they had not continued following the star, or if they had ignored the dream and returned home from Bethlehem the easier way…the same route, life would have been unchanged.
God is with us, it is up to us if we want to be with God. When we do, there is Life.
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
in the days of King Herod,
behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
“Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising and
have come to do him homage.”
When King Herod heard this,
he was greatly troubled,
and all Jerusalem with him.
Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,
He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea,
for thus it has been written through the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod called the magi secretly
and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said,
“Go and search diligently for the child.
When you have found him, bring me word,
that I too may go and do him homage.”
After their audience with the king they set out.
And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them,
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star,
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
they departed for their country by another way.
– Matthew 2:1-12
When you love you should not say, “God is in my heart,” but rather,
“I am in the heart of God.” And think not you can direct the course of love,
for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
– Kahlil Gibran
A young seal slowly traverses the sand toward the shore. A sight I have never seen before in the location where I stand. As it journeys, it pauses along the way, sometimes a longer, more drawn out pause, as if it were giving up. The three to four hundred feet to the shore seem more like miles as I observe. The seal is not alone though. With each stop, a steady, patient companion encourages the seal on, and soon a couple more join in support.
As I witness this journey from sand to shore, it makes me think of what happens when one catches a fish. As it is reeled in and out of the water, you can see it floundering. Then as it is removed from the hook or net, it continues to flounder back and forth, with even more vigor. However, once it is released back into water, it finds its bearings and once again, it swims.
We all have moments in life where we flounder as well as moments where we see others floundering. In some of those times, we may be close by or intimately involved and in other times, we may be watching from a distance. In either case, we can pray in a way that is up close and personal. Whether we realize it or not, our hopes and prayers are often the beginning steps toward God’s wondrous love flowing through us.
When we begin with and persevere with prayer, the path frequently becomes clear, showing us when and where it is time to act and when and where it is time to stand by, silently supporting and encouraging or allowing others to support and encourage us…waiting with hope and confidence…always trusting that we will reach the sea.
What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this
That caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul!
When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down Beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul, for my soul,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.
What wondrous love,
What wondrous love is this.
To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb,
Who is the great I AM,
While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,
While millions join the theme, I will sing.
“Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.” – Goethe
November…leaves falling, crisp cold air, fireplaces rolling…a time of harvest…a time of thanksgiving…a time of remembrance. As I adjust to shorter days and longer nights, I reflect on all that is and remember all that has passed. It is interesting how time can change things.
What once seemed so far away is closer with each hour…with each day…with each year. What once seemed insurmountable is now but a memory…a valued piece of history along the journey. As I look back, there is sadness…there is joy…but mostly there is gratitude.
From the old…
For I know well the plans I have in mind for you says the Lord,
plans for your welfare and not for woe,
so as to give you a future of hope. When you call me, and come and pray to me, I will listen to you. When you look for me, you will find me.
Yes, when you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me… – Jeremiah 29:11-14
What remains is truly priceless—memories…love…and so many blessings, far more rich than and more loudly…more deeply than the hurts and the disappointments.
To the new…
But as it is written: “What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him.” – 1 Corinthians 2:9
Constancy, an unwavering presence, love and hope for the future. A heart capable of seeing new adventures…exciting perhaps daunting or unexpected at times, but also opportunities and potential blessings through whatever may lie ahead. A faith that has a history of overcoming…of surviving…of a Love that conquers all. While there may be plenty that is bigger or more powerful than me, there is nothing that is bigger or more powerful than my God.
It is all good. In God, we trust. All will be okay…the fight has already been won. God…Time…it is all thanksgiving.
On Time from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran:
And an astronomer said, “Master, what of Time?”
And he answered:
You would measure time the measureless and the immeasurable.
You would adjust your conduct and even direct the course of your spirit according to hours and seasons.
Of time you would make a stream upon whose bank you would sit and watch its flowing.
Yet the timeless in you is aware of life’s timelessness,
And knows that yesterday is but today’s memory and tomorrow is today’s dream.
And that that which sings and contemplates in you is still dwelling within the bounds of that first moment which scattered the stars into space.
Who among you does not feel that his power to love is boundless?
And yet who does not feel that very love, though boundless, encompassed within the centre of his being, and moving not from love thought to love thought, nor from love deeds to other love deeds?
And is not time even as love is, undivided and placeless?
But if in your thought you must measure time into seasons, let each season encircle all the other seasons,
And let today embrace the past with remembrance and the future with longing.
HopeThatFloats 
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