Saturday, 3 May 2025

One Again


O Eternal One, Light Beyond All Lamps,
The Breath Behind All Prayers

You have spoken across the sands of time 
to Abraham beneath the stars,
to Moses through the fire,
to Mary on angel's wing,
to Muhammad in the hush of a cave. 
 
From the sea of creation flowed the Torah, Gospel, and Qur'an.
Though each stream carved its own bed through time,
all are filled with longing for You, the One from which we all came.
 
Draw us now, O Holy Mystery,
not into sameness but into shared reverence.
Let the Jew embrace the Muslim,
the Christian bless the Sufi,
the doubter walk beside the faithful.
 
Tear down the walls we have built in fear.
Scatter our pride like chaff in the wind.
Teach us that we might see and say:
"I see the Light in you, though you walk a different road."
 
Like the moon’s reflection in many cups,
we each hold only part of Your glory.
Let Your Spirit within us—even now 
crying, longing for the creator—help us understand, remember, 
and imagine that life of perfect unity at the moment of creation.
 
Bring us home, O Lord of Light,
to the shore where no name is needed,
and no lamp is required—
for You will be the sea, the sky, the dawn.
And we, will be One again with you.
 
Amen 


 


Thursday, 1 May 2025

A Prayer for Transformation

Inspired by Sister Joan's story of the Hasidim and the disciple...

        A Prayer for Transformation

        O Holy One,
        You who breathed the world into being and whispered wisdom onto the scrolls of old,
        I have walked the paths of your Word,
        I have traced the letters, studied the laws, read the stories with my eyes and lips—
        But now, with trembling heart, I ask:
        Let these sacred words walk through me.

        Let them not remain bound in parchment or memory,
        but arise, living and active, in my bones and breath.
        Let them enter where no scholar’s hand can reach—
        into my intentions, my silences, my shadowed places.

        Unfold within me the compassion of Abraham,
        the courage of Moses,
        the holy yearning of the psalmist.
        Let justice roll through me like a river,
        and justice and mercy dwell within my soul.

        Break open my pride,
        humble me,
        dissolve my illusion of mastery,
        and write your truth upon the tablets of my heart.

        I do not ask for knowledge without love,
        nor wisdom without transformation.
        I long to be read by your Word,
        to be written anew by your Spirit,
        to become, not just a student of your word—
        but its living echo in your world.

        Amen.


Thursday, 24 April 2025

The Prolog to the Rule

Dear Friend,

 I was reminded this morning of His Grace to be found in a close reading and reflection on the Prolog to the Rule of Benedict and most particularly, in the words of Sr. Joan Chittister's commentary.  And so I include it here, should you not yet possess it, the Prolog from Sr. Joan's commentary.  I invite you to read it in its entirety, meditatively, and reflectively.  It is rich with His word and truth of practicing His way.

Secondly, if you do not already have a copy of Sr. Joan's Commentary on the Rule of Benedict, I encourage you to seek one out and add it to your library.  It is organized so that you might easily ready it through, 3-times a year.  You will find that it indeed offers insight for the ages.

Saturday, 15 March 2025

To acquire wisdom

Have you every thought about taking care of yourself as an opportunity to acquire wisdom?  What an interesting idea!

Quoting the rabbi, Sr. Joan reminds us today that every day we have gives us another chance to become the real person we are meant to be.

Chapter 36 is devoted to care of the sick.  By now, we have learned that Sr. Joan's commentary on the Rule of Benedict is itself so very rich in wisdom.  Sr. Joan stressing that...

...every bit of kindness, every tender touch we lay upon another in life can heal what might otherwise have died, certainly in them, perhaps even in ourselves.

Most importantly, Sr. Joan asks us just how much of own precious time 
do we spend on those with little time left? 
 

Friday, 14 March 2025

Between the two you will forget to sin

Sr. Joan reminds us that humble work is as sacred and sanctifying as prayer.  Today I am blessed to live in a world surrounded by people devoted to taking care of me.  They open my eyes every day to the sacred.

We are all called to work and pray.  The Sayings of the Jewish Fathers reminds us that 

It is wise to work as well as to study the Torah:
between the two you will forget to sin.

Many of us are beginning to be called to read the scriptures of our faith every day and to serve others.  The Jewish Fathers remind us that if we do both, we are beginning to walk and live the way.  Amen

Thursday, 13 March 2025

I am building a cathedral

Today we are reminded of the transcendent purpose of work.  We are called to focus on what we do, remembering always, why we serve and love.

As I have done, so you must do...

We all live in community--our homes, at work, among our wider circle of friends and family.  If we do not wish to live alone together we must recognize that we are all called to serve--to serve one another where ever we are--whom ever we are with.

Love and service are the fulcrum of community!

They bind us to Him and to each other!

Sunday, 9 March 2025

Echos

Above all, let the cellarer be humble.

Benedict reminds us that we are to be humble all times.  We have a responsibility to serve others without any pride or delay--to burden others to satisfy our own need to be important.

We can give freedom and joy with every gift we give.

Saturday, 8 March 2025

Sacred Vessels

Benedict's instructions for qualifying a cellarer describe a person of genuine merit, to the extent that the celler becomes a model for the community.  Someone who knows the difference between needs and desires--guiding us away from excess and indolence.

In the house of Benedict, the principles of the life live in ways no words can convey, in the people who carry them out.  The call to be what we say we believe...

Sister Joan reminds us that people in authority must also keep watch over their own souls--guarding themselves against arrogance, disinterest, unkindness, aloofness.  We are not, for the sake of efficiency, to overlook the sick, the young, the guests, and the poor.  Reminding us that we will be held accountable.

A Benedictine soul takes care of things, treating all the tools of life as sacred vessels of the altar.