Luke 1:26-38

Mary

your yes

inspires

our listening

for the Holy Spirit

in our lives…

guiding

hands and hearts

to know generosity

kindness and gentleness

through

the Love, Peace and Joy

of the One above 

all others…

given patience

our hearts wait

in faithfulness

to know and understand.

                 Susan Morse

 Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72: 1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17; Romans 15: 4-9;  Mt 3:1-12

God

source

of all patience

and

encouragement

you set

your root

into our lives

branching out

spirit of wisdom

understanding

counsel and strength

peace flourishes

in your tree

of life

set upon

a holy mountain

the child

shall lead us

to your heights

one heart

one voice

where there

shall be

no harm

or ruin and 

all that

is not true

an unquenchable

fire…

 

Will you follow the child?

Will you bear his fruit?

 

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us…

We are all meant to shine as children do.

It’s not just in some of us; it is in everyone.

And as we let our own lights shine,

we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,

our presence automatically liberates others.”

Nelson Mandela

Mt 7: 21:  24-27

I hear your words

and they move in me

in some kindness

some generosity

some love of another…

moving against any anger

or unforgiveness

melting any hardness of heart….

i have no claim

even as they act within

the resistance of my willfulness

creating only

a willingness to say yes

to some thing

that reveals itself

as Truth

Jesus

rejoiced 

in the holy Spirit.

Luke 10:21

 

Do we?

she is light

revealed to me

courage

love

in streaming

words

fashioned in thought

and rhyme

and rap

and song

coming from

mystical trance

she is

a light

healing touch

upon my cheek

a room

opened

to skies

and seas

winds swirl

around us

in her dancing

a body

that loves to be

her mind

wraps around

the problem

seeking solution

she loves

the answer

and the quest

seeking

the music

of the primes

and the answer

of love

listening with my eyes

i see you in beauty

i hear beauty

in all of its ways

splashing colors

upon my palette

flashes of light

from within

from without

you surround me

 

listening with my heart

i search for you

in love

among all

i walk with

a sign

a spark

of heaven here

in the in-between

in some sign

of need

some outstretched hand

some call

for compassion

 

listening with my soul

i search for you

beyond the light

beyond the image

beyond the seen

or heard

in a knowing

to rest in

the moment of no thing

that lies before creation

in my poverty

in my joy

         

                                                          Susan Morse

Readings:  Isaiah 2: 1-5; Psalm 122: 1-9; Romans 13: 11-14; Mt: 37-44

now is the hour

to wake

from sleep

rejoice

and cast off

deeds of darkness

beat your swords

into plowshares

and pruning hooks

for we shall go

to the house

of the Lord

where peace

shall be with us

quarreling

lusting

and jealousy

past

we put on

the light

of Christ

radiant

with his love

 

Are we ready for peace and light?

Are we willing to shed our weapons?

Are we awake and watchful for the Lord?

There is nothing I can give you
Which you have not;
But there is much that
While I cannot give you
You can take.

No heaven can come to us
Unless our hearts find rest in it today.
Take heaven.

No peace lies in the future
Which is not hidden in this present instant.
Take peace.

The gloom of the world is but a shadow;
behind it yet within our reach, is joy.
Take joy.

And so, I leave you with a prayer
That for you, now and forever,
The day breaks and the shadows flee away.

Fra Giovanni, 15th century