Benediction for 3/06/11

From the Reverend Jonathan Hagger...

If you buy a single nowadays, especially if it is a dance track, the chances are that it will have on it not only the original recording but also various remixes. I expect for the record companies and the artists this makes good commercial sense because, as different people like different styles, it increases the number of copies of the record that they will sell.

Perhaps in our postmodern world the emergent, Christian church could use this music industry phenomenon to understand and relate to the other religions of the world. In stead of viewing other faiths as completely different products maybe we should accept them, and ourselves even, as remixed versions of the original track. A mashed up God for a smashed up world. If we only understood that we are all dancing to the same tune, albeit different versions of the same tune, perhaps our race would be in a better position to repair the damage we have caused.

Benediction for 3/05/11

From an article on NCR by Fr. John Dear, SJ...

I can imagine Jesus lamenting today:

America, America, you who bomb children, execute people, and prepare nuclear warfare, how many times I yearned to gather your children together…but you were unwilling. If this day you only knew the things that make for peace!

Benediction for 2/5/11

Heaven and earth are threads from one loom.
Shaker proverb

Benediction for 1/28/11

From Father Richard Rohr:

Every person has to come to the God experience on their own.  Conversion is a foundational change in life position and perspective and, finally, one’s very identity.  After the transformation God is not out there any more.  You don’t look at God as a separate identity; you look out from God who lives in you and through you and with you.  That is a major shift, probably the most major shift possible for humans.

(To which I say, OK, but how long am I supposed to wait for that? What am I missing/doing wrong? This is touched on later in the same quote, included below)

It is happening inside of you and all God needs is your “yes” and your participation. It is likely the hardest yes you will ever utter, because your years of habit will all shout “not possible,” “not me,” and “not worthy.”

Benediction for 9/21/10

From a lecture by the late Henri Nouwen:

You and I are taken, blessed, broken to be given to the world.  You're not there for yourself.  I'm not there for myself.  I'm there for you.  You're there for me.  We're there for each other.  But we are there for the generations to come.  Your little life doesn't end on the day you die.  Your little life is a gift for your family, your friends, but far beyond that for the people who you never even will see or know about.  Jesus doesn't ask you to be successful, but he says "Be fruitful."  And how can you will be fruitful without dying?  If the grain doesn't die it doesn't bring any fruit.

You can view this part of that lecture as well: