Saturday, May 14, 2022

Saturday Reverie II

 Thanks Chrissie Hynde:


The lyrics possess a near-agape love feel...

Saturday Reverie

 It's one of those "tween days" here in Suburbia Majora. By tween days, I'm speaking of a weather pattern where if it were a few degrees on either side, it would either be cold an d damp or hot and muggy.  But for now, its clammy and unsettled. Long sleeves would be too much, yet short sleeves aren't quite enough.  On  a plus, the atmosphere is very stable so the chances for story weather are pretty much removed.  So for now, its relaxing in the comfortable chair and reflecting on the passing scene.  Believe me, there is plenty to consider in the age of Biden and his nascent Authoritarian State.

Our collective Saturday is ensconced in a mist of global instability where bad actors have moved into the vacuum created by the loss of our national standing.  A frail putative figurehead POTUS, and cabinet have emboldened imperialistic competitors to become predators, preying on their neighbors.  We're witnessing this in the Ukraine and without Divine intervention, I fear we'll see this repeat in the Taiwan Strait.  Will Israel follow behind?

These are moments where I find a harbor of refuge in both Holy Scripture and music.  The words of The Almighty promise us that this world is indeed, enroute to Hell in a hand basket.  Yet, He will right the ship and make all things new at His return where:

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
Yet, in the meantime, He's promised us His presence through the person of the Holy Spirit as a comforter and counselor.  

Sunday, May 08, 2022

A Meditation on a Chilly Sunday

 From the  morning's Gospel reading:

At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one." - Jhn 10:22-30 ESV


This Sunday, in the Western Christian tradition, is often referred to "Good Shepherd Sunday" based on the appointed Gospel reading.  As the Parish Deacon, its my privilege to proclaim that Gospel to those gathered for the Eucharistic celebration.  I use the word "proclaim" purposely, as one doesn't read the Gospel as one might some random narrative.  This is primarily because the very power of it's word:  The power to reveal, the power to convince, the power to encourage, and even to power to either indict or convict.  It has captured the very words of God in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, the one whom Saint John called the very icon of God in his gospel's prologue.