Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Turns out the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity started last Friday and is scheduled through...this coming Friday. Guess that's why it's called a "week of prayer," although the WCC* does suggest using the theme to pray for Christian unity throughout 2013.

Great idea.

The theme, "What does God require of us?" is anchored in one of my all-time favorite passages from Hebrew scripture -- Micah 6:6-8. I've had it posted on my desk for years and am always stirred by the words: "To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."

Happy to pray this verse with more intentionality this week and during 2013 while adding this kicker: "without being a dogmatic jerk."

* Find resources jointly prepared by the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity and the Commission on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches by clicking here. 

Philomena Ewing's Prayer for World Communications Day

Philomena Ewing, who blogs at Blue Eyed Ennis, is a Cornwall, UK-based poet who I met via -- you guessed it -- social media. I count her among those Catholics who are willing to speak truth to power. How she manages to do so and still get invited to things like last year's bloggers summit at the Vatican is nothing short of miraculous.

Last week, Phil posted her own prayer for the Vatican's 46th World Communications Day (May 20, 2012). I spent about a half hour trying to decide which excerpt to post, before realizing that I want my blog's visitors to read the whole thing right here and now.

For those of us who are weary and exhausted by words, 
who find it hard to find the right words to say without rancour,
for all that we wish we could say, 
for all that we need to say to bring healing and unity, 
please Lord, let us recognise you know it all anyway, 
but nevertheless send us all the fresh inspiration
and breath of your Holy Spirit to be renewed.

Help us to be healed by your words and when we are angry and hurt
help us to find words that can express that anger cleanly and honestly
without inflicting more damage on others and ourselves.

Never let us shy away from our conscience and integrity
but keep us humble and open to try and dialogue
with those who are different in their views, however hard that is. 
Help us admit our failures and ask for forgiveness.

Help us to move slowly beyond words of resentment
towards a place of healing and peace.

Help us remove ourselves from the petty power plays of words
that are often prejudiced and aimed to undermine others 
and keep us from uttering words that deliberately hurt and alienate others. 

Help us to find ways of using words to encourage a diverse community
of many opinions but where bullying and abuse is confronted and never tolerated.

Help us to find words of respect, compassion, inclusion,
reconciliation, encouragement and hope
in the darkest times when it is so easy to 
barricade ourselves behind walls of despondency.

Where there are impasses in communication
help us to try and keep the lines of communication
and dialogue open to You and ask for your help
when we realise we cannot do it alone.

Where we find the broken-hearted 
scarred by unjust words of bigotry and abuse
help us give them a safe place to speak 
and to know they are listened to in Your love

For the rest in our church that have been silenced or censored,
for those who are under the threat of being silenced,
for those whose words are monitored,
for those who are afraid to speak out,
for those who are ignored, 
who are not invited to the table,
those who have no voice,
for those prophetic voices that cause discomfort to the hierarchy,
for all those who are reviled and/or ridiculed when they do try and speak,
I pray that the Lord will listen and hold  them close in Love in the silence of His heart.

I pray that He will keep their spirits and hopes intact 
at a difficult and discouraging time
and move those who ought to listen to open their hearts too.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (January 18-25, 2012)

My prayer during this week of prayer for Christian unity:


May we who claim to be Christian, stop arguing about man-made doctrines and start living God-inspired lives, for a change.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2011

Guess what? We're supposed to be praying for Christian Unity from January 18th through January 25th!

Probably a good idea, even if this annual attempt at generating [Choose: a) more; b) some; c) any] positive regard among Christians wasn't already scheduled. Is it my imagination or are the right and left hands of the Body of Christ smacking each other around even more than usual these days?

Christian Unity? What the heck, why not? Here's my contribution to this week's conversation: instead of making up more/new prayers, how's about we do a little lectio divina on these key passages from the Nicene Creed:

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

Please note (again): the "c" in catholic is not capitalized for a reason.

(Deliverance) Prayers from Suburbia

Dear Almighty God,

Given the omnipotent, omniscience and omnipotence thing, You probably already have this situation covered. Still, I feel compelled ─ and You know why ─ to note The Hermitage is going on the housing market this Wednesday.

I'm hoping to You that the perfect pre-qualified ─ but preferably with cash ─ buyer appears in the twinkling of an eye and long before the last trumpet sounds (1 Co 15:52). Please give me the strength to eschew burying St. Joseph upside down in the yard and let me not have to go whinging to St. Jude.

And because the earth and its fullness is Yours (Ps 24:1), I'd be most grateful for a buyer who loves gardening, finds chipmunks amusing; one who appreciates ants and ladybugs alike.*

I give You thanks and praise for delivering me from Suburban Captivity during this, my enfleshed lifetime. All glory and honor are Yours, Almighty God ─ and so am I. Hallelujah, amen.


*How are my kitties' souls doing? I suspect the Betta Boys will be joining your holy menagerie sooner rather than later.

Blogalogue with Paul Brian Campbell: Day Four

Over at People for Others, Paul notes that we're "keeping it 'real.'" More evidence of that in Paul's response to my question, "How is this week different from all other weeks?" He reminds us that our faith calls and re-calls every Christian to generosity and compassion as a commitment, not necessarily a "feeling."

Meredith,

This has certainly been a "different" week. I want to use this post to reflect on what has been happening these last few days. I have been astonished by some of the comments our blogalogue has called forth from readers. Some have remarked that our dialogue is impressive, but others have been less pleased. One commenter expressed the desire to see us rot in hell.*

Yesterday, as you well know, I was pretty worked up about some of the nastier comments and we exchanged a couple of emails about how to respond, if at all, to negative remarks. Before we decided anything, I got word that the father of a fellow Jesuit had a heart attack. Suddenly, I had no time for moral certitude about the correctness of my opinions. My feelings of self-righteous indignation evaporated. Someone I cared deeply about needed my support and this helped me put everything else into a new perspective.

I found myself thinking about my friend's Dad -- a gun-toting (no kidding) rock-ribbed conservative who is also one of the kindest and most courteous men I know. Similarly, a staunch liberal friend came to mind. Never shy about expressing her opinions, she is unfailingly respectful of others no matter how much she might disagree with their positions,

Whether or not they know it or can admit it to themselves, our most strident critics (and perhaps our most ardent admirers) are motivated by fear and/or have been damaged by the Church. They deserve my respectful attention, not my derision. Perhaps the only thing I can offer is to pray for them and wish them well. If I don't resolve to break the cycle of vitriloic point and counterpoint, who will?

My lofty benevolence here makes even me suspicious. Check back with me in a month to see if I'm beginning to "walk the walk."

Paul

*Editor's Note: Really? Must have missed that one because I was fixated on being characterized as "boring." Pride goeth, etc.

____________________________________

Today, you can find out what I have to say about vocation (mine) over at People for Others.

"This is my Bible..."

Once upon a time and long ago, I did indeed attend events where unbearably enthusiastic Believers would wave Bibles above their heads while chanting, "This is my Bible! God said it! I believe it! And that settles it!" It has been years since I've thought about that slogan.

In fact, I searched Google this morning because I could only remember the opener which, once I read the rest, is probably a good thing but let's not go there. And I only found myself searching Google after hearing, "this is my Bible" running through my brain on continuous loop.

You see, over the weekend I decided to be done with the Bible I've been using for personal prayer.

Never mind that I'd probably get another one exactly like it; same translation (NIV) and type size (Giant Print); use the same page clips to find my way through it. As for reinstalling Bible-index tabs? Not at all a problem. Fun!

The (alleged) problem is that I've been scrawling notes in this particular Bible for 15+ years and most entries include the date, time and circumstances of my encounters with scripture. Believe me, it's one thing to rediscover passages I've been led to during times of great joy; quite another to stumble upon ones I've clung to during times of pain, grief and other apocalyptic emotions.

Enough already.

Maybe not?

This morning, I unzipped the case and opened my Bible with every intention of removing all the stuff tucked into its pages, recycling the Page Nibs and then ─ oh, I don't know ─ maybe retiring it to the basement? But I never got that far because all I could hear was, "This is my Bible..."

Lent, 2010: How About Now? (V)

Lent, 2010: Do You See What I See? (IV)

Lent, 2010: How About Now? (III)

Lent, 2010: Do You See What I See? (II)

Lent, 2010: Do You See What I See? (I)

Excerpt from "A Prayer After the Earthquake in Haiti"

Making the rounds on the Internet this week, especially among people of faith, is Diana Macalintal's Spirit-led cry, A Prayer After the Earthquake in Haiti, first posted on the website of the (Roman Catholic) Diocese of San Jose. Also making the rounds are ongoing pleas for aide, even as we receive news reports about how aide workers and supplies are having difficulty reaching those in need.

The devastation of minutes will take years to repair and possibly lifetimes to heal, which is why this part of Macalintal's prayer has captured my attention.

Let us pray:

And once the shaking has ceased,
the images of destruction have stopped filling the news,
and our thoughts return to life’s daily rumblings,
let us not forget that we are all your children
and they, our brothers and sisters.
We are all the work of your hands.

For though the mountains leave their place
and the hills be tossed to the ground,
your love shall never leave us,
and your promise of peace will never be shaken.

Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
Blessed be the name of the Lord,
now and forever. Amen.



Copyright © 2010, Diana Macalintal
Image from CBC News

Modern Monastic? Check out The Virtual Abbey

If you'd like to live in sync with the Benedictine tradition without hieing off to a building, then the Virtual Abbey may work for you. It does for me. This online community, once known as the Urban Abbey, has become a steady and steadying presence. Thanks be to God -- and Twitter.

Seven months ago, I was just beginning to grasp the power of Prayer 2.0. Now, I'm participating more fully. Participation has meant engaging with other believers (interpret that however you wish) to create more ways to become church via social media.

In addition to praying the Daily Office on Twitter (@Virtual_Abbey), we're gathering as a community on Facebook. Our blog, The Virtual Abbey, is now live and I'm happy to reveal that I have the privilege of serving as editor. Please check out our Abbess' welcoming post wherein she notes how "we're ecumenical in the extreme." I love that part!

Check us out and then stay for prayer and conversation; discover how spiritual life transcends boundaries of time and place.

Contemplating September 11, 2001

I thank God that it's raining today, that the sky isn't the expansive gloriously clear blue it was eight years ago, that bird song is silent, and that today's wind sounds like Spirit's deepest sigh.

Serenity Prayer, P.S.

I'm delighted by the response to yesterday's post about the second section of the Serenity Prayer. Both publicly and privately, people have written to thank me for introducing them to the rest of that prayer. I have some thoughts about why the second section might come as illuminating news.

My guess is that by the time Alcoholics Anonymous decided to adopt Niebuhr's prayer, those in leadership had noticed some resistance to "God language" in Twelve Step materials. Maybe Bill Wilson et. al. figured adding "Jesus" to the mix would make recovery even more challenging for non-Christians as well as atheists and agnostics. Certainly, the presence of Chapter Four, "We Agnostics," in the 1939 (and each subsequent) edition of the "Big Book" would indicate such an awareness.

For a wonderfully readable account about how the Oxford Group (aka, First Century Christian Fellowship and Moral Rearmament) influenced the principles and process of Alcoholics Anonymous, I recommend Bill W.: A Biography of Alcoholics Anonymous Cofounder Bill Wilson by Francis Hartigan.

In it, Hartigan writes about Bill Wilson's weekly meetings in 1947 with Reverend Monsignor Fulton J. Sheen and speculates about why Wilson eventually decided against converting to Roman Catholicism. Pretty fascinating stuff, especially if you're interested in the sociology of social movements.

If you're interested in the basics of Twelve Step recovery for addiction in general, or have a loved one (or colleague) you wish would get interested, I recommend my book, Staying Sober: Working a Twelve Step Program of Recovery. I wrote this after deciding it was not-high time for amusing and up-to-date materials. It's my only book that pays royalties, something I find somewhat astonishing given who the audiences are for all my other babies.

The Rest of the Serenity Prayer

Many years ago at a fund-raising auction, I captured a beautifully embroidered and framed copy of the Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr. More accurately, I won a copy of the first and best known section which begins with, "God, grant me the serenity..." For many years, it has been the first thing, other than sets of cat ears, I see each morning.

This morning, for a multitude of reasons, I realized how much I need the second part of this prayer to become consciously subconscious. Here, dear readers, is what comes after praying for the wisdom to know the difference:

Living one day at a time,
enjoying one moment at a time.
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace.
taking, as Jesus did,
this sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it.
Trusting that You will make all things right
if I surrender to Your will,
so that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
and supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.

Prayer 2.0

Self-mortification may now be forbidden by the Roman Catholic Church, but that has never stopped me from self-flagellation for almost always being late for prayer.

By being "late for prayer" I mean being late for formally convened morning (Matins), evening (Vespers), and night (Compline) prayer. I'm always on time for spontaneous utterances of gratitude, grief, or petition to God.

If you stay at a monastery where the Liturgy of the Hours (LoTH) is chanted, I'm the retreatant running -- silently, of course -- down the halls, through the cloister walk, and slipping into her seat midway through the first psalm. I've also replayed this scene in suburban churches and city cathedrals. My practice of being late for practice is interfaith as well as ecumenical. During the ashram years, for example, I was late for morning meditation and evening Aarti.

My seemingly chronic lateness for devotions even happens in the sanctified privacy of my hermitage. Now, thanks to twitter, I've stopped making myself oh-so-wrong for being oh-so-tardy for devotions. I joyfully participate in Prayer 2.0, which currently involves following TheUrbanAbbey. The Abbess posts morning and evening prayer in 140 character tweets.

Goofy? Not at all.

I seem more inclined to pay attention to what I'm praying when I have time to read, repeat, and digest it at my own pace. Something about this medium compels me to sit still long enough to contemplate, "Lord come to my assistance, make haste to help me," rather than hastening on to the next line in what might otherwise become rote prayer. Indeed, I've been jolted out of rote prayer because The Urban Abbey uses a variety of Anglican and Episcopal resources, including prayers from the exquisite New Zealand prayerbook.

I love how Prayer 2.0 frees me from the constraints of praying morning prayer at some dreadful hour -- sacred for some; ungodly for me. Meanwhile, having the call to prayer pop up on my computer monitor has become a powerful incentive to simply stop whatever I'm so busily doing and attend. It's the 21st century and, mea mongo culpa, the screen prompt has more impact than church bells, allowing me to pray in a very disciplined undisciplined way.

You Want Me To Do What??

Although it may feel temporally weird to observe The Annunciation during Lent, the timing of this solemnity always ends up feeling perfect to me.

Don't know about you, but I'm pretty much surrounded by folks who treat Lent like it's a season of total deprivation. They're very busy being NO to this, that, or the other thing.

I also find myself contemplating how, in a mere two weeks, scripture will remind me that Jesus prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me" only to add, "yet not as I will, but as You will." (Clearly his mother's son.)

I'm rarely that reverentially articulate. I'm much more likely to pray, "You want me to do what?" before arriving at, "Oh, alright. Your will, Lord, not mine." Don't know about you, but at this point in Lent, I need to remember the most extraordinary "yes" ever uttered.

Inauguration Day 2009: A Writer's Dilemma

While I can conjure up the words, I can't seem to organize them into a narrative that fully expresses my thoughts and feelings about the inauguration of our country's new president.

The words seem to organize themselves into silent prayers
of thanksgiving for the gift of witnessing this historic event;
of hope for unity and reconciliation among citizens of our great nation; and
prayers of protection for President Obama and his family.