Give Me Your Hand
SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2009 — 28TH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
GOD CREATED US (by Rainer Maria Rilke), JAMES 3:16-4:3, MARK 9:30-37
Dear Friends,
In this Sunday's gospel, we learn more about who Jesus is and what lies ahead for him in his earthly journey. We also learn more about those who followed him…how they struggled to understand who Jesus was, and how they grappled to be seen as "greatest". In the midst of the disciples confusion and arguing, Jesus basically says: "Look, it's quite simple... and taking a child into his embrace speaks of 'receiving' the child is to 'receive' him, and the One who sent him.". Receiving a child is all about being open, embracing, gentle yet strong, caring yet clear, kind and wise and setting aside one's one sense of self importance to openly embrace the innocence of a little one. This brief reading below from Rainer Maria Rilke which I was blessed o enjoy at a recent reflection morning carries for me a very similar message. Our Creator God holds us in hand as we journey through this life together. May it bring you peace!
God speaks to each of us,
creating us,
then walks with us silently out of the night.
These are the words we dimly hear:
"You, sent out beyond your recall,
Go to the limits of your longing.
Embody me.
Flare up like flame,
and make shadows I can move in.
Let everything happen to you:
beauty and terror.
Keep going.
No feeling is final
Do not let yourself lose me.
Nearby is the country they call life.
You will know it by its seriousness.
Give me your hand
creating us,
then walks with us silently out of the night.
These are the words we dimly hear:
"You, sent out beyond your recall,
Go to the limits of your longing.
Embody me.
Flare up like flame,
and make shadows I can move in.
Let everything happen to you:
beauty and terror.
Keep going.
No feeling is final
Do not let yourself lose me.
Nearby is the country they call life.
You will know it by its seriousness.
Give me your hand
(by Rainer Maria Rilke)
We invite you to come and pray with us at Spirit of Life and share in the experience of who each of us are which graces our time together. We are a Catholic community where every voice is heard, and women and men are unafraid to acknowledge the equality of women and men; and to embrace feminine as well as masculine... and beyond... images of God. As a community, we try wholeheartedly to "be Christ" to one another, to tend to the needs of one another, and to those in need in our world. Together, we celebrate our belief that we are being transformed by God's grace as we gather together in prayer. We warmly invite you to come and gather with us at our Table, and join in our experience of the "kin-dom" of God. We are an inclusive, open, affirming and interactive community, deeply committed to being a people of "justice and joy."
Wishing you the warm embrace of our loving God,
Find more about past weekly reflections and podcasts in our ARCHIVE PAGE.
