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Aug 24 , 2008

Practice of Prayer

Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 6, 8 (8bc)

R. Lord, your love is eternal;
do not forsake the work of your hands.

I will give thanks to you, O Lord,
with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple. R.

I will give thanks to your name,
because of your kindness and your truth:
when I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me. R.

The Lord is exalted, yet the lowly he sees,
and the proud he knows from afar.
Your kindness, O Lord, endures forever;
forsake not the work of your hands. R.

Practice of Charity

Friday will mark the anniversary of the death of Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice, teacher of students in poverty-stricken areas and founder of the Irish Christian Brothers. An extraordinary school in Tanzania bears his name and carries on his legacy. Edmund Rice Sinon High School has as its motto "Hope through education." Recent American visitors were struck by the spirit of hospitality extended by the students, who speak excellent English. Many students, male and female, live on campus because of their rigorous academic schedule; often their homes don't have electric lights, hindering nighttime study. Their food is raised on campus, and some students take part in agriculture classes. All students are dedicated and goal oriented. Water, a scarce commodity in Tanzania, became more plentiful recently when a new well was dug. Visit the student-designed Web site, www.edmundrice.hahari.co.tz, to learn more about the school or to make a contribution to its scholarship fund.

Scripture Insights

"Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! . . . For who has known the mind of the Lord ... ?" Paul's words, set at the end of a long reflection on God's call of both Jews and Gentiles to salvation, invite us to reflect on the mysteries of God's ways in our own lives. Surely scripture is the perfect accompaniment to our experience-- not necessarily answering our questions, but always drawing us deeper into mystery and awe.
How often, when faced with perplexing circumstances, do we ponder God's words: "my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways" (Isaiah 55:8)? How often do we take to heart Paul's words: "we know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28)?
How often, in the face of the scientific and technological advances of our age, do we consider ourselves masters of the universe with little time for reflection-when in fact, our "advanced" knowledge should lead us to greater awe? How often do we step back to rejoice in the universe that surrounds us-the beauty of nature, the intricacies of the human body, the unfolding of the pathways of our own lives? The biblical authors grasped this with a profundity that our own day lacks.
Such awe and reverence must have accompanied Peter's recognition of the Lord's divinity-an awe that pulled him ever deeper into discipleship. Led by the words of scripture, let us this day stop and really seethe works of the Creator's hand-in the world around us and in all the events and situations of our lives. May we recognize, in the depths of our being, that "from him and through him and for him are all things." With grateful hearts, let us give him glory.

Why does Psalm 138 call humans "the work of your [God's] hands"?

Why does Jesus command the disciples to be silent about his identity?

How can we develop a sense of awe before the works and the ways of the Lord?

Even though we are in the New Church, we have a pretty sizable loan balance that needs to be paid! In the past we looked at the status of pledges and payments, but now we need to look at the debt and how we plan to pay it off. The chart has been updated to show the amount we owe and the building interest against the money that is being donated. We hope by showing you the growing debt, you will realize that we all still need to give to the effort. We were debt-free for a long time, and with your help we can be again. The current status as of Jul 31 is shown at the "Chart" page.