01-13-20

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS

January 13, 2020

Prayer for the Week: You seek to inspire our imaginations, O Source of Life and Love. Yet your existence raises concerns with no simple remedy. Your love enfleshed was rejected and executed by those who believed the existence of such love undermined their power. They believed, as we so often do, that love is too weak, fragile and inadequate. It is given plenty of lip service, but very little influence over our lives. Science adds its voice and suddenly those whose faith is in religion are left angry and defensive. Doubt is construed as feebleness for the faithful, and for that reason, it is rejected as having no place in the lives of followers. A purity test is set up by sanctimonious institutions, and many fall in line out of fear of some fiery damnation. O Giver of the Christ, forgive us for what we have done with your gift. We have made science, inquiry and exploration the adversary of you, yet you are the Source of our creativity that stimulates our minds and souls. There is mystery in the universe, some of it science will some day demystify, but there is also Holy Mystery that is intended to simply be. No church-devised doctrine or alarmist preacher or self-enthroned religion will ever provide an explanation. The poets, musicians, dancers, painters and sculptors might provide a doorway through which we can enter your mystery, the Holy Otherness that needs no explanation. Allow for grace in all its manifestations to be the gift that no one seeks to own, but simply to know as the Sacred Other through which we find meaning and purpose. Amen.

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