Dearly Beloved,
Grace and Peace to you.
In the Gospels Jesus calls attention to himself, saying even such grandiose things as “you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” But as much as the Gospels point us straight toward Jesus, Jesus points us toward God. He invites attention, and even devotion, not to himself alone but to the God he is revealing. Jesus knows we are not dependent even on him: our connection with God is direct, inward and absolute. We connect with God “in” or “through” Christ because Christ is God’s embodiment in this world. We are already one with God; Jesus is the one who uniquely shows us that. We may feel dependent on a certain teacher or pastor, but even the best is merely an icon, someone we look through to see God. My ego can get hold of me and I think my parishioners need me alone to preach at them and pray on them. But I’m leaving my folks in Massachusetts this weekend to lead a retreat on prayer and poetry in Shepherdstown, W Va. They’ll be just fine without me. So will the folks in Shepherdstown. I don’t have the good stuff to give to them; the good stuff is already in them. It’s already in you. God is there. God’s dwelling is not closed off to us. God is not hiding in some temple or guru. God is the center of your being. You don’t need to “seek” God or “acquire” anything. Be still and discover God within; be attentive and see God among us, shining in all Creation.
A meditation on Psalm 139:
O mysterious Love,
Being within my being,
voice of my song,
you know me
because I arise from you.
You breathe me,
you speak me,
you become me.
You encompass me,
you fill me,
you accompany me.
As a candle becomes nothing
but light
your desire in me desires
to become you,
to be your light,
your Word,
your praise,
your joy.
Deep Blessings,
Pastor Steve
__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net
To receive Unfolding Light as a daily e-mail,
write to me at unfoldinglight3(at)hotmail.com