hunger and thirst, day 2

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

Opening Prayer:
You called, You cried, you shattered my deafness.  You sparkled, you blazed, You drove away my blindness.  You shed your fragrance, and I drew in my breath, and I pant for You.  I tasted and now I hunger and thirst.  You touched me, and now I burn with longing for your peace. (Confessions by St. Augustine)

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 81

Scripture for the Day: John 6:25-35

Reading for Reflection:

     “Are you thirsty?” said the Lion.

     “I’m dying of thirst,” said Jill.

     “Then drink,” said the Lion.

     “May I—could I—would you mind going away while I do?” said Jill.

     The Lion answered this only by a look and a very low growl.  And as Jill gazed at its motionless bulk, she realized that she might as well have asked the whole mountain to move aside for her convenience.

     The delicious rippling noise of the stream was driving her nearly frantic.

     “Will you promise not to—do anything to me, if I do come?”  said Jill.

     “I make no promise,” said the Lion.

     Jill was so thirsty now that, without noticing it, she had come a step nearer.

     “Do you eat little girls?” she said.

     “I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms,” said the Lion.  It didn’t say this as if it were boasting, nor as if it were sorry, nor as if it were angry.  It just said it.

     “I daren’t come and drink,” said Jill

     “Then you will die of thirst,” said the Lion.

     “Oh dear!” said Jill, coming another step nearer.  “I suppose I must go and look for another stream then.”

     “There is no other stream,” said the Lion. (The Silver Chair by C. S. Lewis)

Reflection and Listening: silent and written

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself

Song for the Week: All Who are Thirsty

All who are weak
Come to the fountain
Dip your heart in the stream of life
Let the pain and the sorrow
Be washed away
In the waves of his mercy
As deep cries out to deep (we sing)

Come Lord Jesus come (3x)
 
Holy Spirit come (3x)

Closing Prayer:
O God of tender mercies, I know I’ve kept you at arms length.  I’ve kept you safe in heaven.  But heaven has leaned down to the earth and I’ve been touched anew.  Like thirsty ground I long for you.  Forgive my casualness about your Love.  Forgive my shallow life.  I am finished with shallowness.  I used to pray that I be saved from eternal death, but now I pray to be saved from shallow living.  Eternal death?  Shallow living?  Is there a difference?  O God, deliver me from shallow living! (A Tree Full of Angels  by Macrina Wiederkehr)