communal prayer

i have to say that i am really enjoying
the morning prayer service
that we have begun at our church
on wednesdays during lent

only 4-5 people typically show up
but it feels like commmunity nonetheless
we sit facing each other in the choir stalls
and alternate verses of the psalms

for an introvert like me
this coming together
to begin the day with prayer
provides a stronger sense of connection
than the "fellowship lunches"
we have in the church basement

i find that in my solitary morning prayer
during the rest of the week
i hear in my mind the voice of the woman
who sits beside me wednesday mornings
and then on the alternate verses
i hear the voices of those who normally sit facing me

it makes my solitary prayer
not so solitary

unity in ashes

millions upon millions of catholics
(and some other christians too)
will identify themselves with smudges
of ashes on the forehead this day

they will accept their marking along
with everyone else who believes in this

this is a worldwide community act
and it also by implication indicates
the commonality of all human experience
it is not a mark of distinction so much as
a visible statement of belonging to the human race
and a recognition of the centrality of our story

now christ is marked with ashes from last years'
palms of palm sunday
and we begin once again the humbling reality
of our pilgrimage in time

these black dirty smudges are our banner of hope
we have little else to go on
making true our gesture of faith
that this meaning we allow to mark our foreheads
is enough to carry all our hearts' hopes
to their ultimate destination
god knows

it's a good thing the eucharist follows
the ashes
else we'd be the most foolish of people
perhaps we already are

ashes to ashes
we all fall down

the jerusalem community rule of life

every day ask God to pour love
for your brothers into your heart
and to put love for you into theirs
God can deny nothing to a community
that prays this way because
it is his will that we love one another
as he has loved us

where there is no love
put love
and you will harvest love
susceptibility is charity's worst enemy
humility its best ally

you should be intelligent and holy enough
to be the first to give way in a quarrel
and never let squabbles over trifles
harm your deep union with your brothers
you may be in the right
but your duty is not to let
the sun go down on your anger

resolve each day anew
to pray for your brothers
pray that you may love
and love while you pray
and the grace of his love
will find a way in

look on this call to brotherly love
as the entry into an immense mystery
since it is your gateway into God himself
where love is there is God
you, with your brethren,
give God a body
express his presence
and signify his action
let your whole community
become in this way
a theophany of his love
to express love in authentic action
you must live sharing
share your time, table, roof, salaries and belongings
possess nothing so that one day
like christ you may be
enriched by all you have given away
likewise you should be able to say
to each community member
all that is mine is yours

 

what it takes...penultimately

http://earthlingwonders.blogspot.com/

for a poignant reference to
what is required of us in christian community
please click on the above blog site

a gentle command from the jerusalem community of faith

i tried to steal it and download it directly
but i guess i can't do that
while i'm out here trudging in the world

there must be a way
i just have not figured it out yet

getting water and making sure a house is warm in the winter
seem to me to be
fundamental daily community tasks

but facing your brothers and sisters with
generous mercy is more taxing in the long run

hey sally
is there a way for you to post
that piece on my blog here
is there something i need to do
so that can happen
i want you to feel free to publish
over here
anything you find pertinant

que sera sera