Celtic Odyssey

Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace. ( Luke 1.78-79 ) As I am writing this, we are counting down the days and waiting with bated breath, our hearts filled with hope and anticipation, for the arrival of God in our midst. While we are waiting for this, my mind quickly jumps to how God arrived so long ago - a babe in a manger - and a question comes rushing to the fore: What does this tell us about God? What does this tell about our images of God? What does this helpless child lying in swaddling clothes tell us about our understanding of God’s nature and character? And to go just a bit further, how do these questions (and their responses) shape us who are followers of this God whom chose to be seen as a helpless babe in a manger? It is with these questions in mind that I reflect on my latest reading, The Imitation of Christ by T...

Loving God, you have poured out upon us the new light of your incarnate Wisdom: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine fourth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Loving God, you have given your only-begotten Child to take our nature, and to be born this day of a virgin: Grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through our Savior Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Purify our conscience, Loving God, by your daily visitation, that your Child Jesus Christ, at the coming in glory, may find in us a home prepared for Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

Stir up your power, O God, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Savior, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever.  Amen.

This is the Wordle for my blog. I like the font ( Gentium - it’s my favorite) and I really like the fact that God is the largest word with Jesus, Nature, and One, pretty much tying for second. ~~~ In the Grace of the Three in One, Jack+, LC

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

‘All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.’ So goes one of the most famous quotes of all time. It was given by Julian (or Juliana) of Norwich. She lived in England during the mid to late fourteenth century and died in the early fifteenth century (roughly a hundred years before Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses ). When she was thirty, she suffered a terrible illness for which she was bed-ridden. What is interesting about that is that she prayed for this, These Revelations were shewed to a simple creature unlettered, the year of our Lord 1373, the Thirteenth day of May. Which creature had afore desired three gifts of God. The First was mind of His Passion; the Second was bodily sickness in youth, at thirty years of age; the Third was to have of God’s gift three wounds. Apparently, God answered her prayer - so let’s be careful for what we pray! But what is fascinating  to me is that she was even allowed to publish her book, Revelations of Divine ...