“As it turns out, “music of the spheres” comes from the phrase Musica universalis, and is a philosophical concept that regards proportions in the movements of celestial bodies – the sun, moon and planets – as a form of music.”
“Like all Christians, I am called to be an emissary of the Good News. There is another way to live, and it manifests in care for other people and for the planet. Christ teaches us this way. All that we have belongs to God; we are merely stewards. “
“Together, we pushed through and encouraged each other to remember our reasons for coming. On a day hike from base camp, we reached a higher pass, which created space for a draft to come through and give reprieve from the bugs. We sat in awe of the alpine backdrop and exchanged roundtable questions. ‘Do you like yourself?’ someone posed to the group. The chatter stopped.”
“Instead, though I find Paul’s language misses the mark of what our Christian vocation is truly about, I turn to the Gospels and find hope in Jesus’ message. This Sunday’s message makes it clear that the life lived while following Jesus is not one of militaristic force and power, but rather one that is freely given, and freely accepted.”
“Jesus, however, reveals a different standard for defining reality. Jesus comes into the world as part of God’s proclamation “God loves, therefore we are.” God freely sends God’s Son into the world as the Incarnate Word through love.”
God is love that lifts the hairs on the back of the neck. God is the love that catches its breath with hope and anxiety and empathy. God is love, compassion that lies alongside the darkness, waiting for the world to turn. God is love, mercy that knows the shape of a broken heart and how to hold it just so, patiently and for as long as it takes for the scars to form.
“Bless these pencils to write words of hope and love
bless these erasers as they remind us what it is to forgive and be forgiven
bless these papers and notebooks to be filled with stories, dreams, and unlimited potential…”
“In today’s second lesson from the Hebrew Bible, Wisdom is a woman. She has prepared a banquet in her home, and she invites all who are simple to turn in there. Eat, drink, and be wise, she invites.”
“If I were to take Jesus to the grocery store, what would he say about such abundance, and what particularly would he say to me about the spoiled food I threw out of my refrigerator? What would Jesus say to me about that which I waste, every day?”
“But…you know…
Here’s the part I can’t get out of my head.
‘Your faith has made you well.’ Your faith.
And, in all honesty,
I was one of the people thinking, ‘Shut up, dude.'”