more, sunday

Sunday, June 21

Opening Prayer: Lord God, asking for more of you seems like such a dangerous request.  In fact, if you indeed give us what we are asking for, it will probably wreck our lives as we now know them.  But our desire for more of you is also the deepest longing of our hearts.  So regardless of the outcome, O Lord, give us more of you than we have right now.  Fill us to overflowing with your power and your presence and your love—and we will never be the same.  Through Jesus Christ we pray.  Amen.

Scripture: John 10:10

Journal: Where are you yearning for more right now?  Where and how are you longing for more of God?  What would this look like in your life?

Reflection:

     Breathing Under Water

I built my house by the sea.

Not on the sands, mind you;

not on the shifting sand.

And I built it of rock.

A strong house

by a strong sea.

And we got well acquainted, the sea and I.

Good neighbors.

Not that we spoke much.

We met in silences.

Respectful, keeping our distance,

but looking our thoughts across the fence of sand.

Always, the fence of sand our barrier,

always, the sand between.

And then one day,

--and I still don’t know how it happened—

the sea came.

Without warning.

Without welcome, even

Not sudden and swift, but a shifting across the sand like wine,

less like the flow of water than the flow of blood.

Slow, but coming.

Slow, but flowing like an open wound.

And I thought of flight and I thought of drowning and I thought of death.

And while I thought the sea crept higher, till it reached my door.

And I knew then, there was neither flight, nor death, nor drowning.

That when the sea comes calling, you stop being neighbors

Well acquainted, friendly-at-a-distance neighbors,

And you give your house for a coral castle,

And you learn to breathe underwater.

~Sr. Carol Bieleck, RSCJ

Prayers

Closing Prayer: Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!  “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”

     “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?”  For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:33-36)