Maximus of Turin

 a brief extract which struck me forcibly today: 

"And so, my brothers, each of us ought surely to rejoice on this holy day. Let no one, conscious of his sinfulness, withdraw from our common celebration, nor let anyone be kept away from our public prayer by the burden of his guilt. Sinner he may indeed be, but he must not despair of pardon on this day which is so highly privileged; for if a thief could receive the grace of paradise, how could a Christian be refused forgiveness?" 

Cloud and darkness

 

Prayer was so unsettling today - in that particular way which, more than a few times, has caused such anxiety and puzzlement and, frequently, the urge to turn and run.

I found myself questioning all over again miracles and resurrection in the gospels; mindful of my unconvincing post online the other day: "scriptural and not historical."
Total blankness initially: that sense of foreboding; the possibility that I have completely misunderstood absolutely everything and stand more or less condemned anyway.

Experience has taught me to wade through this . . . the reason I pray is not for personal redemption - which is out of my hands every which way - but simply because You ARE - quite regardless of my personal status.
"I look upon You in the sanctuary to see your strength and your glory"; Your Holiness; Your overwhelming Beauty; Your love for our world, for the children, for those who suffer, for refugees, the homeless, the dying . . .remembering also that "Cloud and darkness are your raiment; "

Where would I be without the psalms?

psalm 23

surely a psalm which people of any faith can sing? 
a psalm about prayer I think: 

 but I like to change the text up a little sometimes: 
a bit like this: 

You are my shepherd.
There (where you are) is nothing I shall want.
Fresh and green the pastures where you give me repose 
Near restful waters you lead me
to revive my drooping spirit:
guiding me along the right path;
true to your name. 
When I walk in valleys of darkness 
(any time that I close my eyes in prayer)
no evil need I fear because
you are there
and with your crook and your staff you give me counsel
preparing the banquet for me 
in the very sight of my foes!
My head you anoint with oil!
and my cup is overflowing! 
Surely, goodness and kindness have followed me
almost all the days of my life.
In your house, Lord, let me dwell
for ever! 

Basil the Great

 "Through the Holy Spirit comes our restoration to paradise, our ascension into the kingdom of heaven, our return to the status of adopted sons, our liberty to call God our Father, our being made partakers of the grace of Christ, our being called children of light, our sharing in eternal glory – in a word, our being brought into a state of all fullness of blessing"

Isaiah 54

the mountains may depart,
the hills be shaken,
but my love for you will never leave you
and my covenant of peace with you will never be shaken.