the way, day 3

Come to Stillness: Take a few minutes to allow your mind and heart to be still before God.

Opening Prayer:
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts, see if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24)

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 25

Scripture for the Day: Matthew 7:13-14

Reading for Reflection:

But between them and the foot of the sky there was something so white on the green grass that even with their eagles’ eyes they could hardly look at it.  They came on and saw that it was a Lamb.

     “Come and have breakfast,” said the Lamb in its sweet milky voice.

     Then they noticed for the first time that there was a fire lit on the grass and fish roasting on it.  They sat down and ate the fish, hungry now for the first time for many days.  And it was the most delicious food they had ever tasted.

     “Please, Lamb,” said Lucy, “is this the way to Aslan’s country?”

     “Not for you,” said the Lamb.  “For you the door into Aslan’s country is from your own world.”

     “What!” said Edmund.  “Is there a way into Aslan’s  country from our world too?

     “There is a way into my country from all worlds,” said the Lamb; but as he spoke his snowy white flushed into tawny gold and his size changed and he was Aslan himself, towering above them and scattering light from his mane.

     “Oh, Aslan,” said Lucy.  “Will you tell us how to get into your country from our world?”

     “I shall be telling you all the time,” said Aslan.  “But I will not tell you how long or short the way will be; only that it lies across a river.  But do not fear that, for I am the great Bridge Builder.  And now come; I will open the door in the sky and send you to your own land.”

     “Please, Aslan,” said Lucy.  “Before we go, will you tell us when we can come back to Narnia again?  Please.  And oh, do, do, do make it soon.”

     “Dearest,” said Aslan very gently, “you and your brother will never come back to Narnia.”

     “Oh, Aslan!!” said Edmund and Lucy both together in despairing voices.

     “You are too old children,” said Aslan, “and you must begin to come close to your own world now.”

     “It isn’t Narnia, you know,” sobbed Lucy.  “It’s you.  We shan’t meet you there.  And how can we live, never meeting you?”

     “But you shall meet me, dear one,” said Aslan.

     “Are—are you there too, Sir?” said Edmund.

     “I am,” said Aslan….”This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there.” (The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis)

Reflection and Listening: silent and written

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself

Song for the Week: Come and Welcome

From the cross uplifted high
Where the Savior deigns to die
What melodious sounds I hear
Bursting on my ravished ear
Love¹s redeeming work is done
Come and welcome, sinner, come.

Sprinkled now with blood the throne
Why beneath thy burdens groan
On my pierced body laid
Justice owns the ransom paid
Bow the knee and kiss the Son
Come and welcome, sinner, come.

Spread for thee the festal board
See with richest dainties stored
To thy Father¹s bosom pressed
Yet again a child confessed
Never from His house to roam
Come and welcome, sinner, come.

Soon the days of life shall end
Lo, I come, your Savior, Friend
Safe your spirit to convey
To the realms of endless day
Up to my eternal home.
Come and welcome, sinner, come.
Come and welcome, sinner, come.


Closing Prayer:
May those without hope take heart in you, O Christ. May those with no home find shade at your right hand. May those near the end see beginnings; may those at the last become first. At the foot of your cross, O Christ, I come in prayer. O Christ, be my help, O Christ, be my hope. Amen. (Pamela Hawkins, Weavings Volume XXVI, Number 2)