The Road Not Taken

The Road Not Taken!

John 6: 35:

“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. Robert Frost

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From Common Prayer we read “There is a crack, a crack in everything: that’s how the light gets in.”

    From the moment I announced my call to ministry all through the years,  I have heard all about my “cracks”– reasons I should not go into ministry, and how I will fail–not smart enough, struggles with speaking, not mature enough, not smooth enough, etc. Here in San Francisco they have been poured out on me.  But I  heard the call, the summons, and the understanding that it was only in following that summons, would I find life. There was a still small voice that spoke and and continues to speak, calling to partake in the bread of life. And that participation comes in following God “down the road less traveled”, and understanding that in my cracks the light will get in.

As I  near the end of that road there are no regrets. I have understood from day one that I am the “chief of sinners,” and as a result of  can enter into relationship with anyone, of any age, race, creed, social standard, or background.

    Henri Nouwen writes:

“Today I imagined my inner self as a place crowded with pins and needles. How could I receive anyone in my prayer when there is no place for them to be free and relaxed? When I am still so full of preoccupations, jealousies, angry feelings, anyone who enters will get hurt. I had a very vivid realization that I must create some free space in my innermost self so that I may indeed invite others to enter and be healed. To pray for others means to offer others a hospitable place where I can really listen to their needs and pains. Compassion, therefore, calls for a self-scrutiny that can lead to inner gentleness.”

   

        Compassion comes from looking at ourselves and understanding our own sinfulness, and abilities to hurt others, and in that struggle  become more gentle.

        With the end of the my  road in view the words of

Frost rings true, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. “

    There are no regrets in choosing that road, and my prayer is that the light has shown through those cracks and I have become more gentle on the journey. Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God!

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Father River Damien Sims, sfw, D.Min., D.S.T.

P.O. Box 642656

San Francisco, CA 94164

http://www.temenos.org

415-305-2124

    

Take Me

Take Me

John 6:30-35 English Standard Version (ESV)

³⁰ So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? ³¹ Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” ³² Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. ³³ For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” ³⁴ They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

³⁵ Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

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    “I am the bread of life, take me as your bread.”  These words we read, and hear, and really do not think about them. Often times when we cook and offer bread, we offer”bread and butter,” together, as one item.

    As I get older, and as I have moved through illness, and have moved through rejection, hatred, anger, and physical threats, as I look death in the face everyday now, those words become alive.

    Jesus is the One who stays with me, never runs away, forgives, spanks , but always loves me. He is always present. Friends get afraid. or angry and leave, I disappoint people and they leave, people try to hurt me physically and with words, and there are times that I feel so alone. And I am a reminded that taking him as my principle from day to day all will be well.

    When we take Jesus as our bread and butter in life, we always choose what is good for the world–we do not judge or , label, we work for peace in all areas of the world. We get our hands dirty, even to the point of death.

    We enter into the mercy and sadness he has because of our situation in this world.

    To enter into that mercy, to enter into that sadness, would make us like him, voices for the voiceless, suffers for peace, organizers of justice, chasers of evil, healers of the wounds. We make him our bread of life, and our butter of life. Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God!

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Father River Damien Sims, sfw, D.Min., D.S.T.

P.O. Box 642656

San Francisco, CA 94164

http://www.temenos.org

415-305-2124

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Liturgy for the Pandemic—contributed by Youth Works Our help is in the Name of the Lord; The Maker of heaven and earth.   God of the present moment; God who in Jesus stills the storm and soothes the frantic heart; bring hope and courage to us as we wait in uncertainty. Bring us courage to endure what cannot be avoided, for your will is health and wholeness; you are God, and we need you.    Confession: Heavenly Father, we confess to you our fears, our worries, and our anxieties.   [pause for silent prayer]    You have given us your perfect love which casts out all fear and your peace which transcends all understanding, but even still we feel dislodged, displaced, untethered, and uncertain during these times.   We believe, Lord; help our unbelief    Jehovah Shalom, the God who brings peace has said: “I will never leave you or forsake you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.”   Intercession: Give us grace and courage to hope, and to risk disappointment. Teach us to pray expectantly, and when our prayers seem to fail, bring us to pray again and again; for you are our God, who acts, and will act again. Hear this prayer for your love’s sake.   Jehovah Rapha, the God who Heals, we ask you to protect us from the spread of coronavirus. You are powerful and merciful; let this be our prayer:   “Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.”    For those who are vulnerable, sick and those who have been exposed; grant them strength, healing and protection.    For their loved ones and caretakers; grant them peace and endurance.    For those reeling with fear and grief; grant them comfort in their turmoil and hope in their despair.    For world leaders, national leaders and local leaders; grant them sound minds, courage and humility.    For physicians, nurses, researchers, paramedics, and all other healthcare employees around the world; grant them resilience, discernment, compassion and the resources to do the work before them.    For those who must work, despite the threat of sickness; grant them protection and continued provision.   For everyone dealing with loss of work and financial impacts of this pandemic; grant them comfort, wisdom and financial provision.   For churches and their staff; grant them discernment and creativity to lead and minister in unprecedented circumstances.    For parents and families; grant them understanding, patience and joy.    For children and teenagers; grant them protection from fear.    For those for whom home is not a safe haven; grant them refuge.    For those who are alone; grant them a sense of your nearness and love.    For all navigating decisions during this time of uncertainty and fear; grant them your wisdom and peace.    And for all the prayers we cannot voice because our language is insufficient or our unawareness too great; Lord, hear our prayer.    Closing Prayer: May El Shaddai, the Lord God Almighty who loves you, protect you. May Jesus Christ, the one who died for you, save you. And may the Holy Spirit who broods over the chaos and fills you with the Lord’s presence, intercede for you and in you for others at this time. Amen. **This liturgy was inspired by the following: “A Liturgy During a Pandemic” © The Rev. Porter C. Taylor, 2020, https://porterctaylor.com/2020/03/16/a-liturgy-during-a-pandemic/ “A Prayer for the Deliverance from the Coronavirus by Pete Greig & 24-7 Prayer  https://downloads.24-7prayer.com/pdf/Prayers/cv%20prayer%20slides.pdf “A New Zealand Prayer Book” http://anglicanprayerbook.nz/

 

Spiritual Truth in the Age of Fake News

There was an article in the Chronicle today about the 2016 election and how fake news may have shifted the election to the Republicans; there are fake news items about the deaths of famous people, slanderous items about famous people, and politicians ,  making Face book and other outlets not places to find real news.

    Some surveys have shown that people who spend more than half their time on social media get depressed, ;not having physical human connection. When we  examine ourselves, our expectations we find we can find friendship, and solace on our social media conversations, when it is combined with physical contact through the phone or in person. Like all relationships we have to put our hands to the plow, and work.

    We receive an average of five times a month, comments saying, “You believe in Santa Claus, God does not exist.” “People who are Christian, Muslim are responsible for all violence.’ Those comments are fake news, for it is only in putting our efforts to grindstone, listening, praying, observing, that we find the realness of God.

    Reverend Elizabeth Geitz  in her Spiritual Truth in the Age of Fake News, introduces a quote by the Billy Graham Association:

“He (God) chose to present Himself with an emphasis on masculine qualities of fatherhood, protection, direction, strength, etc. Metaphors used to describe Him in in the Bible include: King, Father, Judge, Husband, Master, and the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

    She proceeds to debunk this concept of God as being male, and moves from there to presenting the other aspects of God which is fake news dealing with Feminine Imagery, Sexism, Racism, Hetero sexism, Xenophobia, Women Leaders, Survival.

    She leads  us through a hundred and one devotions presenting God as the inclusive, non-sexist, non-violent, and all embracing God that she is.

    As I pray through this book we leave each devotion with an up lifted heart, and a greater sense of the awareness of God, Divine Mother, and Divine Father. Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God!

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Father River Damien  Sims, sfw, D.Min., D.S.T.

P.O. Box 642656

San Francisco, CA 94164

http://www.temenos.org

415-305-2124

The Green Good News

Luke 24:13-35 The Message (MSG)

The Road to Emmaus

^13-16 That same day two of them were walking to the village Emmaus, about seven miles out of Jerusalem. They were deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened. In the middle of their talk and questions, Jesus came up and walked along with them. But they were not able to recognize who he was.

^17-18 He asked, “What’s this you’re discussing so intently as you walk along?”

They just stood there, long-faced, like they had lost their best friend. Then one of them, his name was Cleopas, said, “Are you the only one in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard what’s happened during the last few days?”

^19-24 He said, “What has happened?”

They said, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene. He was a man of God, a prophet, dynamic in work and word, blessed by both God and all the people. Then our high priests and leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death, and crucified him. And we had our hopes up that he was the One, the One about to deliver Israel. And it is now the third day since it happened. But now some of our women have completely confused us. Early this morning they were at the tomb and couldn’t find his body. They came back with the story that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. Some of our friends went off to the tomb to check and found it empty just as the women said, but they didn’t see Jesus.”

^25-27 Then he said to them, “So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can’t you simply believe all that the prophets said? Don’t you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?” Then he started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him.

^28-31 They came to the edge of the village where they were headed. He acted as if he were going on but they pressed him: “Stay and have supper with us. It’s nearly evening; the day is done.” So he went in with them. And here is what happened: He sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them. At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognized him. And then he disappeared.

³² Back and forth they talked. “Didn’t we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?”

A Ghost Doesn’t Have Muscle and Bone

^33-34 They didn’t waste a minute. They were up and on their way back to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and their friends gathered together, talking away: “It’s really happened! The Master has been raised up—Simon saw him!”

³⁵ Then the two went over everything that happened on the road and how they recognized him when he broke the bread.

The Green Good News:

Christ’s Path to Sustainable and Joyful Life

T. Wilson Dickinson

    The Green Good News, gives a refreshing presentation on the Gospels, presenting Jesus as a man of humor, a subversive teacher, and organizer of alternative communities and food economics, as a healer of bodies and relationships, and as a prophet who sought to overturn an empire and restore a more just and joyful way of life. Dickinson crystallizes the mission of Jesus as one who teaches and incarnates a sustainable way of life.

    On my desk stands a “Tree of Life” created from stone and metal, given as a gift from a homeless young lady. In her own way she described this creation as the book presents it thesis.

    Today we celebrated Holy Communion in Golden Gate Park. There is a lot of humor in the memory. Each time we try to social distance, they would crowd back together, and finally I screamed at them, that solved the social distancing issue. And I was dressed in a mask, with rubber gloves as we served communion. “Sam” laughing  says “you are a sign of the future.” And the reality he may be right-all of us wearing masks and gloves for protection.

    For our “sermon” we discussed our lectionary reading, and each one vocalized the themes of the The Green Good News.

    We need  a transformation of the “Empire”, (governments still have their focus on the wealthy, and the powerful) in which sustainability of life  through communities of equals,  a recognition of climate change, and treating our environment as our partner, rather than as a slave for our own benefit, and a provision of housing, food, and health care for all are a given.

    I no longer vote, for the same reasons as Dorothy Day, we live in a “dirty rotten system”, and not voting is a protest against that system. We respect how people vote, be they Greens, Republican or Democrat, but for ourselves we can not “hold our noses” and vote. For example the “Healthy San Francisco” money meant for health insurance for those employees who can not afford it, sits in the treasury and the City says there are legal entanglements. Our system is “dirty and rotten”. I have seen little results in housing and health care for the homeless, minorities, and the undocumented. Little is it talked about. That is why I can not hold my nose and vote. It took me along time to come to this, but I have seen and felt the effects of our “dirty rotten” system. I have hesitated to say this publicly since from right and left people essentially criticize and sometimes walk away. I respect whatever you believe, and vote, and seek to meet people in  the way of love.

    On my desk are six photos of young guys, from the age of 15-20, my best friends. They are not street kids, but housed, and from  the time I became ill two and a half years ago they were a demonstration of the Kingdom of God. Two took off school when I was recovering from surgery, let me stay at their houses and nursed me back to health, never judged me in my craziness at times, and never asked for anything in return. We never discuss religion, unless it is True Religion clothes; the color of our skin has never come up, six are Hispanic, we walk on the same plain. In the same way we walk with the those who are homeless. Illness, poverty, pain, rejection levels the playing field of age, race, and socioeconomic status.

    Today as the bread was given from my gloved hands, I have no idea how most of the young men and women believed or if they believed, for the Eucharist is symbolic of the grace of God in the lives of all humanity, and calls us to walk in grace and love. Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God!

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Fr. River Damien Sims, sfw, D.Min.

P.O. Box 642656

San Francisco, CA 94164

http://www.temenos.org

415-305-2124

Spiritual Miracles

Spiritual Miracles

Second Day of Ramadan

Mark 16:15-20 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁵ And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. ¹⁶ Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷ And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; ¹⁸ they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

¹⁹ So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. ²⁰ And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.]]

    Today is the second day of Ramadan and we are witnessing miracles as participants give of their money for the homeless and feed the homeless. We think of miracles as a mighty physical act performed by Jesus of raising people from the dead, and healing an illness, which are signs of his reign, but the miracles that we fail to see are those that are performed daily through us in which he is present. 

    Sixth century hermit Dorotheos of Gaza wrote: “Scripture  says, “Love your neighor as yourself.” And yet you ask , ‘How can I love my neighbor as myself when I have things in my heart, which I can not see or even know?’ Do not consider virtues excessively difficult or unattainable, but make at least a little effort and have confidence in God. If our brother or sister needs something, give it freely. By this we go up the ladder of righteousness one rung at a time, until finally with God’s help, we reach the top. For through this repeated coming to your neighbors rescue, you do what is advantageous for both your neighbor and yourself.”

        Climbing the ladder is climbing the ladder of love through our actions of caring. Democrat, Republican, Independent, black, white, Christian, Muslim, or non-believer, none of this matters in the eyes of love. Our hearts are transformed when we reach out in acts of love. We are all one when we love and care for each other, as we climb the ladder of love together into God’s presence. Acts of love are the real miracles of Jesus. Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God!

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Father River Damien Sims, sfw, D.Min.,, D.S.T.

P.O. Box 642656

San Francisco, CA 94164

http://www.temenos.org

415-305-2124

Do A Good Deed Daily

Holy Communion and the Streets

Do A Good Turn Daily!

    The painting “Holy Communion and the Streets” graces our  wall. It was painted at the time of the Columbine massacre in Colorado. Each day as we pray and  celebrate the Eucharist, this painting is a haunting presence,  for  it brings the truth home; We have seen death, and pain daily for three weeks, we have seen death and pain almost daily for the last twenty six years,  and the reality of being a human being, our frailty, weakness, is very present. Money, power, are irrelevant in the face of death and pain.     Like the boy in the painting our lives are  haunted by the blood, and death we see. It is not romantic. The streets are not romantic. When the night mares come, when we awake sweating from a dream, this painting reminds us that death and pain are a part of life. We can not run from , but must embrace our experience in all of its fullness, and in the Eucharist we embrace that pain, and death to find resurrection.

    The Eucharist symbolizes for us  the nourishment of the bread and wine, of food, in our lives. And we being nourished are called to be the Eucharist for others–to feed them, nurse them, love them.

    How many times  during  our weeks, our days, have we been the Eucharist for others? Daily parents feed, nourish and value their children; a simple smile at a homeless person on the corner,  visiting a lonely senior citizen, and a kind welcome to the immigrant are but a few ways we can multiply the little that we have been given. How many times have we simply listened to one another without judgment, for we give the Eucharist in listening. We can not heal the whole world but we can find ways to “Do a good turn daily.”

    Jesus feeds us in the Eucharist, is present to us in the broken bread, and through his self-gift, we are made whole once again. Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God!

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Fr. River Damien Sims, sfw, D.Min., D.S.T.

P.O. Box 642656

San Francisco, CA 94164

http://www.temenos.org

415-305-2124

Who Has Your Ear?

Who Has Your Ear?

John 15:12-27 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹² “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command you. ¹⁵ No longer do I call you servants,^[a] for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. ¹⁷ These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

The Hatred of the World

¹⁸ “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. ²¹ But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. ²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin,^[b] but now they have no excuse for their sin. ²³ Whoever hates me hates my Father also. ²⁴ If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. ²⁵ But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’

²⁶ “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. ²⁷ And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.

There are an estimated 1.8 billion Muslims in the world who don’t know the love of Jesus—but each year, Muslims celebrate Ramadan. A time of devout fasting and prayer, Ramadan is a time for Muslims to seek God.This year during Ramadan, we  invite you to focus your prayers on Muslims in your neighborhood and throughout the world.

This year we live a life on edge, fearful, and as we join with our Muslim brothers and sisters in Ramadan in the daily sacrifice of food, and spend time in prayer let us remember our faiths call us to love each other. We are called to see each other just as fellow human beings on the same journey. Our question is “Who Has Your Ear?” during this time of crisis?

    

DAY 1: Friday, April 24

Ramadan officially started last night. Many Muslims have dreams and visions of Jesus during Ramadan. Pray that as Muslims seek God during Ramadan, they will encounter Jesus, their prophet as well.

DAY 2: Saturday, April 25In John 6:35, Jesus says, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” As Muslims hunger and thirst while fasting during Ramadan, pray that we will know God in our own reflection,  as the One who gives life.

DAY 3: Sunday, April 26

Islam and Christianity teaches that good deeds will earn God’s favor. Let us as they do, give a meal to a homeless person, phone a friend who is alone.

Day 4: Monday, April 27

Pray for Islamic leaders, and leaders of all faiths. Ask that they will receive a word from God  during Ramadan and that their lives will be transformed by the truth of loving our neighbors.

DAY 5: Tuesday, April 28

Pray for God to work in the hearts of Muslims and Christians  who may practice their faith out of fear—fear of what would happen if they questioned . Pray that they will encounter God’s perfect love that drives out fear (1 John 4:18).DAY

6: Wednesday, April 29

Pray for Islamic governments. Ask God to work in the hearts of government leaders—that they will be open to believers of all faiths. 

.DAY 7: Thursday, April 30

Pray for Muslims and all people of God  who are doubting their faith and who reflect anger and hatred an other faiths.  Ask God to connect them with others of different faiths  and provide opportunities for them to learn that we are all a reflections of the same God.

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Father River Damien Sims, sfw, D.Min., D.S.T.

P.O. Box 642656

San Francisco, CA 94164

http://www.temenos.org

God So Loved the World

God So Loved the World!

Gospel Jn 3:16-21

God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him will not be condemned,
but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,
because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.
And this is the verdict,
that the light came into the world,
but people preferred darkness to light,
because their works were evil.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light
and does not come toward the light,
so that his works might not be exposed.
But whoever lives the truth comes to the light,
so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

– – –

    I look around and there is very little unity. The majority of my understanding of  God is suspect, brings indifference or anger. Our varied socio-economics divide us. Many of us are privileged to have a safe place to be, food to eat, etc; where the poor, the homeless are left to surviving where they are. The majority of my homeless kids have no understanding what we are going through, because they are not exposed to the media, and their concern is for their next meal. Destruction of our environment continues at a rapid rate. We blame politicians, one political party or another, rather than looking at ourselves.

    Yesterday on a call with Independent Catholic  Bishops two things caught my attention:

    First we are all different, in the way we understand liturgy, being clergy, and our life styles; Secondly, we were all unified in our experience of God as One who acts in love, and our ministries reach out with that as our chief criteria.

    We enter Ramadan tomorrow, and we will observe the fasting, and prayer times, we do so to be in unity, to show our respect and love for our Muslim brothers and sisters. 

    I was once told, “Human beings, are who they are, what can you do about them,” which appears to excuse our actions because of our humanity. We are created for change, adaptation, and both come in learning how to love, to care for each other. We each have to act in love, to strive, to work at change. On my desk is a star fish, it reminds me that we save the world one star fish at a time, my littlest action is life giving.

    This pandemic can call us to love each other, to care for each other, and that change comes as we go into a new era, or we can continue on the path that leads to destruction.

    Through the years our scars have always told   us where we  have been, but they do not tell us where we are going. Personally I see my PTSD, as a scar, and in living and working with it, tells me where I am going, I do not stay in one place, but grow on the journey. Let us embrace our scars, and love our neighbor as ourselves. God loves each and every one of us and so desperately want us to love him back. Not in words, but in living, a life of care and love.

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Father River Damien Sims, sfw, D.Min., D.S.T.

P.O. Box 642656

San Francisco, CA 94164

http://www.temenos.org

Pandemic Retreat with Mary Untier of Knots

A Three Day Retreat–  Undoing the Knots of the Coronavirus 

With Mary,  Undo er of Knots

Introduction

    We live within the thin places, that which separates us from life and death. The thin places are real. Our televisions, and social media are filled with news of death after death. We are afraid, unsure of what to do. Personally I am on edge, struggling with depression, and my fears of illness and death. These are the knots that tie all of us up.

    In our journey in the next three days let us look to Mary, Un-doer of Knots, letting the Divine help us untie our knots in order that our lives maybe free, and content.

Day 1

Fear/Uncertainty:

Pandemic

What if you thought of it
as the Jews consider the Sabbath —
the most sacred of times?
Cease from travel.
Cease from buying and selling.
Give up, just for now,
on trying to make the world
different than it is.
Sing. Pray. Touch only those
to whom you commit your life.
Center down.

And when your body has become still,
reach out with your heart.
Know that we are connected
in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.
(You could hardly deny it now.)
Know that our lives
are in one another’s hands.
(Surely, that has come clear.)
Do not reach out your hands.
Reach out your heart.
Reach out your words.
Reach out all the tendrils
of compassion that move, invisibly,
where we cannot touch.

Promise this world your love —
for better or for worse,
in sickness and in health,
so long as we all shall live.

Lynn Ungar’s first book of poetry

    We are twisted in knots with worry and fear. People are dying, our world as we know it seems to have come to an end; people wear masks, and fight over toilet paper.

    The Bible reminds us not to fear:

Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10 | ESV |

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

Psalm 56:3 | ESV |

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9 | ESV |

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 | ESV

Meditate/Pray-A Spiritual Practice By Thich Nhat Hanh

1. Breathing in, I experience calm in me. Breathing out, I smile to the calm in me.

2. Breathing in, I experience joy in me. Breathing out, I smile to the joy in me.

3. Breathing in, I experience equanimity in me. Breathing out, I smile to the equanimity in me.

4.  Breathing in I experience openness in me. Breathing out, I smile to the openness in me.

5. Breathing in, I experience happiness in me. Breathing out, I smile to the happiness in me.

Read slowly one time silently our poem and Scriptures; Practice   the Breathing Exercise, and pray the prayer  to our Lady of UN-doer of Knots slowly three times, if you have a rosary, use this as a rosary prayer:

Holy Mary, full of God’s presence during the day of your life, you accepted with full humility the Father’s will, and the devil was never capable of tying you up with his confusion.

Once with your Son you interceded for our difficulties, and full of kindness and patience, you gave us example of how to untie the knots in our life. By remaining forever Our Mother, you put in order and make more clear the ties that link us to the Lord.

Holy Mother, Mother of God and our Mother, to you who untie with a motherly heart the knots of our life, we pray to you to receive in your hands each one of us, and to free us of the knots and confusion with which our enemy attacks.

Through your grace, your intercession and your example deliver us from all evil, Our Lady, and untie the knots that prevent us from being united with God, so that we, free from sin and error, may find Him in all things, may have our hearts placed in Him, and may serve Him always in our brothers and sisters. Amen (Pope Francis).

Day 2

Recognize Our Unity with Others

    As we are instructed on how to navigate our daily lives and minimize the risks to ourselves and others during the pandemic, one truth becomes clear: We are all in this together. What each of us does — and doesn’t do — can have an impact upon the spread of the virus. No matter what our own health situation is, we are connected with the familiar and the stranger, the strong and the vulnerable. This is what Belleruth Naparstek in Your Sixth Sense describes as a “place of empathic attunement. It’s about seeing the connections, the interlocking webs of energy among people and things, and residing as much as possible in that place of no separation.” At the end of each day, spend a few minutes in self-assessment, identifying those moments when you were reminded most forcefully of your connection with others.

Acts 4:32-37 English Standard Version (ESV)

They Had Everything in Common

³² Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. ³³ And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. ³⁴ There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold ³⁵ and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. ³⁶ Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, ³⁷ sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it as the apostle’s feet.”

Mind Your Relationships

Spiritual Practice by Donald Altman  

    Make a point of consciously imagining each person you meet as your own brother or sister — someone whose well-being, safety, health, and happiness you deeply care about. See how this changes your perspective and willingness to offer kindness and compassion. Also, notice how this changes the nature of the relationship.

— Donald Altman in The Mindfulness Code

Holy Mary, full of God’s presence during the day of your life, you accepted with full humility the Father’s will, and the devil was never capable of tying you up with his confusion.

Once with your Son you interceded for our difficulties, and full of kindness and patience, you gave us example of how to untie the knots in our life. By remaining forever Our Mother, you put in order and make more clear the ties that link us to the Lord.

Holy Mother, Mother of God and our Mother, to you who untie with a motherly heart the knots of our life, we pray to you to receive in your hands each one of us, and to free us of the knots and confusion with which our enemy attacks.

Through your grace, your intercession and your example deliver us from all evil, Our Lady, and untie the knots that prevent us from being united with God, so that we, free from sin and error, may find Him in all things, may have our hearts placed in Him, and may serve Him always in our brothers and sisters. Amen (Pope Francis).

Day 3

Exercise Your Compassion

 Buddhist teacher Sharon Salzberg writes in The Kindness Handbook: “Because compassion is a state of mind that is itself open, abundant and inclusive, it allows us to meet pain more directly. With direct seeing, we know that we are not alone in our suffering and that no one need feel alone when in pain.”

Wayne Muller echoed this point in his book Legacy of the Heart: “We are never alone in our suffering. The pain of being human is shared by all who live. In this meditation, we use our own pain to make contact with the simultaneous suffering of all other beings.”

The Buddhists have many practices to develop your capacity for compassion. Here is one by Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche. “Think of all those around the world who are dying in hospitals right now. . . . Next, bring your attention back to the present circumstances. You are not dying in this moment or losing those you lose. . . . Then resolve to do what you can to reduce the suffering of others.”

Nobody knows how many people will become sick during the Covid-19 pandemic, how many will be affected, and how long it will last. So it makes sense to get some hope practices in place that will serve you for the long run. Hope practices that sustain follow in the words from St. Matthew:

Matthew 25:31-46 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Final Judgment

³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. ³² Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. ³⁴ Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ ³⁷ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? ³⁸ And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? ³⁹ And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ ⁴⁰ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,^[a] you did it to me.’

⁴¹ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. ⁴² For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ ⁴⁴ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ ⁴⁵ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ ⁴⁶ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Welcome the sweet fragrance. Tom Cowan in The Way of the Saints reminds us that time heals all wounds. “When you are troubled by something, light a stick of incense and sit before it, noticing the slow burning . . . Let your thoughts focus on the way time passes, and remind yourself that with courage and goodwill, a sweet fragrance will come even from the difficulties that you currently find yourself in.”
We welcome the “sweet fragrance through working with those who are the poorest of the poor. Our streets are full of people who are suffering loneliness, no housing, fear, many housed are alone, with no contact—living in their fears and doubts. Give of yourself–reach out to phone someone, feed someone. Let this be your prayer of hope as we recite:

Holy Mary, full of God’s presence during the day of your life, you accepted with full humility the Father’s will, and the devil was never capable of tying you up with his confusion.

Once with your Son you interceded for our difficulties, and full of kindness and patience, you gave us example of how to untie the knots in our life. By remaining forever Our Mother, you put in order and make more clear the ties that link us to the Lord.

Holy Mother, Mother of God and our Mother, to you who untie with a motherly heart the knots of our life, we pray to you to receive in your hands each one of us, and to free us of the knots and confusion with which our enemy attacks.

Through your grace, your intercession and your example deliver us from all evil, Our Lady, and untie the knots that prevent us from being united with God, so that we, free from sin and error, may find Him in all things, may have our hearts placed in Him, and may serve Him always in our brothers and sisters. Amen (Pope Francis).

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Fr. River Damien Sims, sfw, D.Min., D.S.T.

P.O. Box 642656

San Francisco, CA 94164

http://www.temenos.org

415-305-2124

 

Being Kept Safe

fM

Mary, Untier of Knots

May she untie all of our knots of fear.

Sunday, April 19, 2020

The Feast of Divine Mercy

Being Kept Safe

“. . .while you are being kept safe by God’s power, through faith, for a rescue that is all ready and waiting to be revealed …I Peter 1:5

    In the streets, the stores, wherever we go there is a strange vibe, everyone is wearing face masks, they shy away from  you, seldom speak.

   

    Covid-19 has devastated normalcy and we pray for all the families tragically struck by this disease.

    Most at risk are those in whom we, as Christians, are called to see the face of God – the homeless, those in poverty, those without healthcare, the discriminated against, those without work and those working without a living wage. Temenos Catholic Worker exists to push for changes to laws to help these people whom Jesus calls “the least among us,” and to walk with them on their journey.

    This week we have held the hands of parents whose son died from the virus; we have sat with people who have the virus. We, who have places to live and income, forget about the devastation on the streets among the homeless, we do not see the pain of those who have the virus. This virus is devastating, and painful.

    Personally what guides  and , under-girds, my day to day life is knowing that God is keeping us “safe”. We are “safe” in God’s arms, no matter what way the wind blows.

    There have been numerous times in our ministry when I have been in danger, hurt, and afraid, in fact terrified, but in the midst of that fear I felt “safe” knowing God was with me.

    People have written emails making fun of “your Santa Claus belief at your age, there is nothing out there, grow up,” and what I know is that I have come face to face with God, God has under girded me at the most horrible times in my life. God is real. I was beaten one time, and the person wanted me to deny Jesus, and I refused. I have grown up with a faith that sustains, supports, and brings me grace.

    For in the midst of our fears stands God.  And on this Feast of Divine Mercy we can feel “safe” and serve where we can, knowing that “all is well, all will be well.” Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God!

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Father River Damien Sims, sfw, D.Min., D.S.T.

P.O. Box 642656

San Francisco, CA 94164

http://www.temenos.org

415-305-2124