Caroling through Advent - Devotion 2

Picture - these singers are on the Paul T's front porch - captured by Pr.Kimber when out for a walk.

My early life favourite was “Oh Come All Ye Faithful”- it is the first Christmas carol I remember hearing.  --- Carolyn

 

In the church I attended as a child, Trinity Anglican in Saint John, N.B., Adeste Fideles was always the processional into the lovely old church on Christmas morning, with the clergy and junior and senior choirs entering the church and singing that triumphant hymn along with the congregation.

I associate it with the joy and warmth of Christmas morning amid the cold of winter and the problems of the world around us. ---- Claire

 

Yesterday’s carol, O Come, O Come Emmanuel, reflected that that carol is a prayer inviting God to come to us. Today’s carol reverses the action; we come to God to give praise and glory. We come, not to ask for anything, we come to adore him.

 

*When and how do you offer praise and glory to God?

*Do you ‘adore’ God? What does that look and feel like?

 

For those who are animal lovers, consider the feeling you get in the “awwwwwww he/she is so cute” moment when you meet a fluffy puppy or an adorable kitten; when the creature looks into your eyes and your heart melts. If you are a baby person, that moment when you hold a cooing newborn in your arms, and all seems right with the world. These experiences touch on the feelings included in adoration: thankfulness, love, respect, awe, wholeness, reverence.

O Come All Ye Faithful is a carol that takes the human emotions of adoration and amplifies them through the power of song. The repeated words of the chorus draw the singer into a swelling of music, that has the effect of agency within the heart; bringing about a joyful expression of adoration towards God. And in the singing, hearts are changed; for a moment all feels right in the world.

 

*Does the singing of Christmas carols affect your heart?

*Do you experience a greater capacity (at this time of year) to give and love?

*Would the practice of singing the chorus of this carol, over and over, fill you with joy? How would you share this joy?

 

One of the key messages – it is repeated twice- is the line, now in flesh appearing. God chose to enter human life, to be incarnate. To live, to love, to die. The thought, let alone the reality, of the Incarnation is beyond comprehension. There are no words or actions large enough to express gratitude or respect or awe. But, maybe, just maybe, in the singing of this carol, our gift of adoration comes close.

When I am running, I know it is a good run when I find myself singing O Come All Ye Faithful in Latin -not out loud but in my head, with great gusto and crescendo- Venite adoremus, venite adoremus, venite adoremus Dominum! It is the experience of a runner’s high: a moment of breathing perfection, effortless strides, freedom from all constraints; and a feeling of being at peace, balanced, joy-filled; at one with all and in all.

 

God, now in flesh appearing,

We come and adore you. We ask for nothing. We come to say thank-you, and in song we offer praise, and give you glory. As we are being filled with joy, we say, Amen and amen.

 A link to the carol: https://youtu.be/SCnXtih9AJA

 

 

 

Caroling through Advent - Devotion 1

 

There is something about a Christmas carol that captures our hearts and imaginations. The congregation’s response to the prompt, “what is your favourite carol?” was lively: sharing favourites, memories, and nuggets of wisdom.  

 I love the Christmas music. Not being a singer, I have no favourites I do hope to return one day as I miss everything to do with worship.  I miss you all!  ---- Shirley 

For the Christmas Carols, my current favourite is …I could go on about favourites over the years. ---Carolyn 

Just one favorite carol? Oh, how to choose just one of my beloved old friends! But there can only be one favorite, so today at least, I am opting for…    ----Sandra P.

 

From now through Dec.30^th readers are invited to reflect on thirteen beloved old friends.

This devotion journeys back to one of the earliest carols, O Come, O Come Emmanuel.

The carol sets the stage for reflecting on the purpose of the Advent season.

 

*For you, what is the purpose of Advent?

*What are the themes of Advent?

*What do you expect to experience in this season?

 

In the carol O Come, O Come Emmanuel --- I like the simplicity, the quietness, the thoughtfulness of the notes and words, the royalty and humbleness.  ---Georgi

 

This carol originated in the monastic tradition 1200 years ago. Imagine a group of monks in a stone chapel room, shoulder to shoulder to abate the cold, chanting a simple antiphon, hearing the haunting reverberation of their voices, as they pray for God to come.  For eight consecutive days a verse of this chant echoed through stone halls. Each verse was preparation, preparing the monks and their hearts to celebrate Christ’s mass; that is Holy Communion on Christmas Day.

The chant is quiet and simple – and yet, the resonating words are full and deep. A plethora of names are offered for reflecting on the character of God. How do you imagine God when called:

Emmanuel, Wisdom, Lord of might, Branch of Jesse, Son of God, Key of David, Dayspring, Sun of Justice, King of nations?

How do imagine God when the description of God’s action is presented as a prayer: 

ransom captive, make safe the way, disperse the gloomy, close the path to misery, refresh the hearts, restore the broken, make us new?

When you sing, O Come, O Come Emmanuel, have you considered that it is a prayer? Does this change the meaning of the carol, and how you approach singing it?

 

May our reflections on Christmas carols, prepare us to receive the coming Christ -Emmanuel, God-with-us. When Christmas arrives may our hearts be lifted and filled to overflowing with welcome, hospitality, and joy.

 

A link to the carol: https://youtu.be/TQrZ0qFaGyA

 

*You can expect a devotion to be posted Tuesdays and Fridays, Nov. 29-Dec. 30, with the top 2 favourites as bonus devotions on Dec. 24^th and 25^th.

 

An Advent Practice: Embracing Not Knowing

 Earlier, when listening to the scripture readings for the first Sunday of Advent, did you notice a theme? Or words that were repeated?

Matthew reads:  But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son

…they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them away…

If the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming…

Romans reads:  Besides this you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep.

 

I don’t know about you… but I am not fond of not knowing.

 

In seminary, I had a professor who was preparing us for our final meeting with Synod’s examining committee, the committee that decided if we were indeed candidates for ordination.  The professor related a story of taking a cue card to her examination. On the card were written three things: 1.) breath; 2.) my name is____; and 3.) it is okay to say, “I don’t know.”

That was almost 25 years ago – and although I think about the story, I am hard pressed to admit, “I do not know.” And if I do not know, I will say “I think” and then find out and pass on my knowledge. Today’s scripture texts scratch my humanness – throwing my biggest pet-peeve in my face (not knowing, others not knowing); my want and desire (to be in the know); my deepest fear (to not know and appear stupid). And the texts scratch my weaknesses: a lust for knowledge, pride in the knowledge known, knowledge used as a tool for judging others…

…and an annoying knowledge of an undeveloped virtue.

It came to my attention in the words that greeted me on the ‘Working Preacher’ web-commentary from Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN – Their focus sentence for this week:

 

Not knowing is a condition we are to embrace, not attempt to overcome. 

 

I have a lot of work to do. -Embrace not knowing. Advent is the ideal time to get to work. Through readings, hymns, and themes of preparing, watching, and waiting, along with the shorter days- the season lends itself to contemplation. During this Advent season, prepared mid-week services, focus on the discipline of spiritual practices: breathing, releasing, receiving, rejoicing.

I don’t know how much the disciplines will help. I don't know what I will find. I don't know where I might end up through practice and contemplation – but I will try; for myself, but also for my relationship with others. Psychoanalyst Carl Jung noted, knowing your own darkness is the best method for dealing with the darknesses of other people. Preparing oneself, prepares one to welcome others; to embrace humanity - the known and unknown.

 

Wanting to know more – to prepare myself for Year A in the lectionary; this year we explore the Gospel through the eyes of Matthew-  I read a section of Douglas Hare’s commentary on Matthew. In it he reminds readers of all they need to know; the Gospel of Matthew is a fusion of gospel and ethics, of faith and morality. Jesus’ moral imperatives are to be taken seriously and lived out in the lives of those confessing to belong to Christ. As the disciples are commissioned at the end of the Gospel, go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them, teaching them, Matthew sums up his focus. Preaching is not mentioned, the invitation is inclusive, baptism is given without prerequisites --- the Gospel is shared by the disciples going and living ethical lives that are grounded in faith.

Specifically, the scripture portion read today chides those wanting to know; people have spent a lot of time trying to determine the day the Lord will return, when, how, who…  Matthew encourages, directs Messiah receivers to live faithful, ethical lives, and to consider and acknowledge God’s delay in returning as a time of grace – time for more to hear and receive the good news.

Paul’s writing in Romans echoes and builds on Matthew: Besides this you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep …put on Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify it desires

For those of you who are like me and want to know, the notion of ‘putting on Jesus Christ’ is an image of what it means to be a follower of the Messiah. It is a practice of preparedness: preparing ourselves – like we do when getting dressed. For me, getting dressed to celebrate Christmas (the coming of Christ), is embracing not knowing- facing my humanness and weaknesses; and delighting in God taking God’s time to return.

For at least the past 60 years, North America Lutherans, have been directed -to know- the particulars of how to live into the present moment and wake from sleep. In the weekly offering and post-communion prayers, three generations of Lutherans, have stated how it is that faithful living and ethics go hand in hand. We state that our lives are an offering and that we live out of the grace we have received:

From the Service Book and Hymnal, modernized in the LBW, we prayed:

We offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us- our selves, our time, and our possessions;

with these gifts…we offer ourselves to your service and dedicate our lives to the care and redemption of all that you have made;

Strengthen us through this gift in faith toward you and in fervent love toward one another;

unite the wills of those you have fed;

enable us to receive Jesus always with thanksgiving, and to conform our lives to his.

 

In 2006, from the ELW:

Turn our hearts towards those who hunger in any way, that all may know your care;

Nourish us with these gifts, that we might be for the world signs of your gracious presence;

Use us and what we have gathered in feeding the world with your love;

To serve all in need and give our selves away as bread for the hungry;

That we may proclaim your redeeming love to the world.

 

And now from All Creation Sings:

Nourish us to proclaim your abiding love in our communities and in the world;

Open our hearts to share what we have received;

To keep your word and to proclaim the power of your love in Jesus Christ;

That we may do justice, love kindness, and walk humble with you.

 

We do not know the hour or the time of Christ’s return.

We do not know the particulars.

I can embrace this not knowing, by changing my focus to ethical and faithful living, practicing living life as an offering.

Coronation of a King

 It is a day for sparkling water or champagne. We reach the end of the church year – having heard the whole story of God’s covenant, redemption, and promise; having walked with Jesus and the disciples, prayed with the early church, sung the psalms adding our voices to generations; we come to a coronation of sorts, a celebration naming Christ as King.  This is a day to celebrate … and yet…

It is not the Easter Jesus that stands in our midst.

Jesus comes on a cross wearing a crown of thrones – a different kind of king.

 

In May of 2023, the coronation of King Charles and Queen consort Camilla, is set to take place. Much planning and speculation is underway. One discussion is which crown will be chosen for Camilla to wear.  Reports suggest that Charles would like to use the crown given to his grandmother, made queen, at the coronation of King George VI. However, there is controversy about this crown because it includes one of the largest cut diamonds in the world: the Koh-i-Noor. 

This diamond was mined in the Middle Ages for the Kakatiya Dynasty, and since its debut has had a dark and stormy history, changing hands - succession, gift, stollen, spoil of war, surrendered. The stone arrived in British hands in 1849 following the second Anglo-Sikh war; the Koh-i-Noor was surrendered in the Treaty of Lahore. When India claimed their independence from British Colonialism in 1947, a request was made to have the diamond returned. It was not. Subsequent requests have also been made.

To choose the crown bearing this diamond tells the world much about the monarchy moving forward. The world waits to see - What kind of King is Charles to be?

Will the crown be used because it is the wish of the king? Will the monarchy choose a different crown to avoid and put the conversation of colonialism back into the closet – out of sight, out of mind? Or will the king do something different?

 

This dilemma for the Royal Family gives us a window to consider not only Jesus’ understanding of kingship, but the practicalities of living into a different definition of kingship.

Jesus was not the king that was expected. In many definitions Jesus would not be considered king material. Jesus’ ministry turned human concepts upside-down and in the end his reign began through his crucifixion. This is a different kind of king.

 

Imagine at the coronation of King Charles III, as his first immediate act as sovereign, he personally removes the Koh-i-Noor diamond from the Queen Mother’s crown, before Queen consort Camilla receives the crown.  Then as part of the liturgy, words of reconciliation are offered to India and her people, as the diamond is officially returned to them.

 

That is a different kind of kingship – admitting and righting the wrongs of colonialism, working at reconciliation with more than words, and being prepared to face the costly consequences. Can you imagine the stir that that one action would create?! The British press would have a field day – some might commend him, but as the reality of the action sunk in – things would get messy!

David Cameron, British prime minister in 2010, when asked about the diamond said – If you say yes to one you suddenly find the British Museum would be empty. I am afraid to say, it is going to stay put.

David is right, to have the diamond stay put, is safe. For the British Empire to open up the vaults and repatriate items that were stollen, would be a watershed moment! Then ---would the Empire get to talking about land in the Commonwealth and compensation? Would truth-telling, transparency, and social equity become the kingship of a new era? Would other monarchs follow suit? The Church of England? The Vatican?

One kingly act has the power to change the course of history.

 

For the diamond to be returned to India is extremely bold, turning human concepts of kingship upside down. Many will say, “It can not be done.” But… it could.

Jesus’ actions to issue in a different kind of kingdom; leaders and people said, “It can not be done.”  But… it could.  In the giving of all of oneself – in crucifixion - Jesus of Nazareth, God-with-us – dared to die to imprint on the human heart to what lengths God will go to demonstrate unconditional love.

In return, the reign of God grows from the imprint of love on human hearts.

A different kind of king matters because we are heirs to this upside-down understanding of kingship. An understanding where diamonds can be officially and humbly returned. A new era where kingship is about being prepared to work through the messiness and consequences of doing so. This kind of bold kingship – is not just about the king- it requires subjects, us, to have a heart to be reconciling too. To build up and support leadership who dares to boldly go to great lengths to love; to be willing to return, sacrifice, or lose, accumulated resources for social equity; to be willing to sit in very uncomfortable conversations about the past and what reparations are required to make things right; to be humble, transparent, and tell the straight- out-honest truth.  Following a different kind of king will mean walking with some fear and trepidation – not knowing what instability and change will come. In our relationship with others it may mean biting our tongues or voicing unwelcomed opinions.

 

On the outskirts of Jerusalem, a few disciples and the Marys look on, as their teacher and friend doesn’t fight being nailed to a cross, as he forgives those who have him crucified, as he makes promises of life to the criminal who dies beside him, as he breathes his last. It was not easy to watch this different kind of kingship. In days and months and years to follow, it was not easy to live differently than the dominant culture. It costs the disciples and other followers, their reputations, their relationships, their freedom, their religion, their way of life, and their lives… all to usher in a different reign. God’s reign.  

 

This is a day for sparkling water or champagne. Today is a celebration. Christ is king. And there is hope that we might just be able to live into this different kind of kingship ---- let us return that which needs to be returned. Open our hearts to let God’s unconditional love grow and spread. Let us live boldly!

 

Peace - A Christian Responsibility

 

Eileen Mahoney in her poem “In Waters Deep” writes: In ocean wastes no poppies blow/ No crosses stand in ordered row,/ There young hearts sleep…beneath the wave…/ The spirited, the good, the brave,/ But stars a constant vigil keep,/ For them who lie beneath the deep.

 

A few days ago, we paused to remember- whether by recited poem, a moment of silence, laying a wreath, marching with the pipes, humming Eternal Saviour Strong to Save along with the band, chilled by the fly-over or canon shots.  The day and ceremonies hold a mix of emotion as we particularly remember wars that for many are a distant memory. When reflecting on war, we try to connect ourselves to war – some through family history, hearing veterans’ stories, knowing currently serving military personnel; crossing paths with those from other wars, welcoming displaced persons, knowing people from both sides of the same conflict.

What does war mean -in our day to day lives- when it is not physically here, and yet it is - in a detached nefarious shadow-effect kind of way; and when it is a real on the ground possibility. In a war-torn world, how should I be, how should the church be- when it comes to war, - are we responsible, are we idle, are we lazy- talking about war, protesting war, supporting war, sending aid because of war?

 

I find returning to the written work of Lutheran pastors and theologians from the time of WWII helpful when reflecting on war – a post World War world. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in the Cost of Discipleship, wrote:

The followers of Christ have been called to peace. And they must not only have peace but make it. And to that end they renounce all violence and tumult. In the cause of Christ nothing is to be gained by such methods…His disciples keep the peace by choosing to endure suffering themselves rather than inflict it on others.  They maintain fellowship where others would break it off. They renounce hatred and wrong. In so doing they overcome evil with good, and establish the peace of God in the midst of a world of war and hate.  

 

The Letter to the Thessalonians talks about Christian community and responsibility. The writer commends the community to keep away from believers who are living in idleness, points to the dangers of improper, irresponsible, and disordered work; and berates the busybody meddlers. The letter writer is not talking about “Anyone unwilling to work should not eat,” as meaning a simple loaf of bread. The whole letter is about Christian responsibility (work), and being steadfast in Christ, sharing the Gospel (bread). Within the community people are being irresponsible with the gift of the Gospel they have received, and some are getting in the way – interfering and meddling- with others who are going about sharing the Gospel they have received. As we come to the end of the letter, the writer adds a blessing for the Thessalonian community, “may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of you.” Peace.

 

As I reflect on war and Christian responsibility I return to Lutheran theologians in the aftermath of WWII. In an article on the work of Paul Tillich, an author asks readers to consider: how many soldiers have gone to war with some notion that ‘the nice God’ they believe in, will in the end make everything turn out okay? A theology and belief that many of us hold; in bad times, God will make it better, and if not, God will set all right in eternity. But, once in the trenches, reality has soldiers longing for and hoping for peace, -peace- not a religious sense of hope, the coming of God or eternal life; rather, peace on earth now. Hearts are filled with an immediacy for peace.

 

I too hope for peace – and the peace for which I hope is not in the coming of God at the end of time, or an offering in eternity – the peace I hope for is now; human beings getting along. What makes my sense of peace different from some is that I, like Bonhoeffer, believe peace to be a Christian responsibility, growing out of the Christ within, meeting the Christ in the world. Peace is big picture God vision.

The church needs to hear the letter to the Thessalonians as a letter to the church today. The church has fallen into idleness, living day-to-day unto itself, losing hope through an inadequate concept of God; failing to work for peace in the grander vision of the kindom of God.

 

The Gospel talks about Herod’s Temple, newly renovated. It has been an 80 year rebuilding project. The Temple has been enlarged, with new foundations, white marble, blue/scarlet linen tapestries, siler-plated gates, and gold-plated doors. It is magnificent. Within a generation, the Temple becomes a living illustration of Jesus’ words. War is at the Temple’s door – reality- the Temple is destroyed, 70 AD. The promised peace to be realized through the great Temple lies in ruins. Peace is nowhere to be found.

Even without peace, faith did not die with the destruction of the building – Judaism and Christianity both have continuing histories, despite the Empire… and many Empires that followed…

Jesus did not promise peace.

When you hear of war and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes, and in various places famines, and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven. Before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you… because of my name. (Lk 21: 11-13)

 

There is an intriguing and mysterious story, full of hyperbole, about the Winchester Mansion in San Jose, California. After the death of an infant daughter, her mother, father-in-law, and husband, Sarah Winchester, a well-educated socialite and widow of the Winchester gun company owner, bought an eight room farmhouse and turned it into a Victorian-Gothic styled mansion with 160 rooms, 10,000 windows, 2000 doorways some that lead to blank walls, stairs including some that go nowhere.  When she died in 1922 the house had been in constant around-the-clock construction for 38 years. The mystery and intrigue is wrapped in figuring out why millions and millions of dollars were spend on such a place. One story tells the tale that Sarah was haunted; or believed she would be haunted by the ghosts of those killed by the guns manufactured by her husband’s company, unless, that is, she kept building. Another story tells that she would die if she stopped building. It seems that constant construction was her search for peace.

 

I wonder are we searching, or do we have peace? Do we make peace? Peace at what cost? Peace from what trauma? Peace created by busy-ness; idleness? Peace in creating – a vision of something different from the battlefield of life? Peace in my father’s house there are many rooms? Peace -now?

 

Peace. In a war-torn world,

The followers of Christ have been called to peace. And they must not only have peace but make it. And to that end they renounce all violence and tumult. In the cause of Christ nothing is to be gained by such methods…His disciples keep the peace by choosing to endure suffering themselves rather than inflict it on others.  They maintain fellowship where others would break it off. They renounce hatred and wrong. In so doing they overcome evil with good, and establish the peace of God in the midst of a world of war and hate.  

 

little 's' saints - go BEe

 

On All Saints Sunday this congregation lights candles in honour of those who have died over the past year. We acknowledge that grief is a process that does not end when the funeral or burial is over.  These candles with their flickering flames remind us of those we loved, represent peace and comfort in the midst of sadness, and guide hearts to turn to hope and joy.

I can’t imagine celebrating today without candles.

Church candles are of a special variety; they contain beeswax. Altar candles are often 100% beeswax, while Paschal candles, like the big candle by the baptism font, are 51% beeswax.

 

When thinking of saints, many of us immediately think of capital ‘S’ saints. These are the Saints that are famous, having been sainted by the Pope: St. Peter, St. Paul…

This week as I as preparing candles, I wondered if there was a Patron Saint of beekeepers, bees, candlemakers.  Come to find out there isn’t A patron Saint, there are many: St. Godait an Irish saint, St. Valentine, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, St. Benedict, St. Kharlamil, St. Bartholomew, and St. Ambrose. These Saints were known for various skills related to beekeeping: food in the form of honey or mead, wax for candle making and other uses, and honey used in medicine.

My favourite story is of St. Ambrose, who as an infant is said to have had his face covered by a swarm of bees, some tellings say the bees were in his mouth--- he was not stung by the bees. When the bees left, they deposited a drop of honey on his face. Ambrose’s dad believed this to be a sign that Ambrose would grow to have a gift of a ‘honeyed tongue.’ He did grow to be a preacher and teacher, words sweet on his tongue.

 

Today we are not remembering capital ‘S’ saints. We remember little ‘s’ saints. Regular people.

It is the ‘regular’ that has astounding importance.

Consider, where would the big ‘S’ saints mentioned earlier be without the bees. Bees are little ‘s’ saints, mighty saints that the world cannot do without. The 40000 species of bees in the world pollinate an estimated 1/3 of all food. In 2014 the honeybee contributed $15 million to the US economy. Only 500 species live in colonies, the rest go about being, minding their own beeswax.

Bees are the only insect that make food for humans. Get this, a bee makes 1/12^th of a tsp. of honey in its lifetime. Yes, you heard that right, 1/12^th of a tsp in a lifetime.

How many of you like honey? Included in my breakfast most mornings, is toast with honey on it. If I have one tsp. of honey that is the life work of 12 bees.

Bees are the saints! There is nothing ‘little’ about them.

 

When I look at the list of beloved people we are remembering today, there was nothing ‘little’ about them. The ones I personally knew made great contributions to the world around them and touched the lives of many. Their stories imparted lived knowledge and the sharing of themselves warmed our hearts. For the most part, we are who we are, or are a better version of ourselves for having known them. I am sure that this is true for all the ‘little s’ saints mentioned this morning– otherwise we wouldn’t be here or take time to remember and honour them.

 

In Sunday School I loved when we received stickers. The stickers I remember with fondness were BEE stickers; a series of big bright smiling bees with a phrase that started with Bee (spelled B.E.E), Bee kind, Bee loyal, Bee honest, Bee happy, Bee thankful. They went right along with the passage from scripture known as the Beatitudes; we heard one version of them earlier from the Gospel of Luke. By definition, the Beatitudes, are the blessings listed in the reading, however, I have always understood the beatitudes to BE descriptive of a way of life – Be God’s kindom, Be God’s hands; BE love, be giving, be a blessing.

 

The book of Proverbs (16: 24) has a saying: pleasant words are honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

I think about the bees that make the honey I put on my toast. Their honeycomb is sweet – it feeds me, it is healing – helping me cope with pollens I am allergic too. Honey is pleasant. What if the words we read, the words we use, the words we share, the words with which we bless others are the honey we share with the world – sweet to the soul and healing to the bones – our own soul and bones, and the soul and bones of those around us too. I think of St. Ambrose who had a honeyed tongue; can the world drip in sweetness because of our words.

We could add a new sticker - a new beatitude: bee pleasant. bee sweet.

 

Proverbs (24:13-14) also says: eat honey for it is good for you…sweet to your taste. Know also that wisdom is like honey for you: if you find it, there is a future of hope for you, and your hope will never be cut off.

Bee wise. Bee hope.

 

I don’t know about you, but there are times when I look at the world and I get discouraged. I think about what I have contributed, what communities I belong to have contributed, and I wonder if the contributions to the common good, bringing God’s kindom, have been in vain, or if sweetness has been added and made a difference. The story of the bees -little s saints- has helped me. I think about the number of bees whose life’s work it took for honey for one piece of toast; their work made a difference. It made a difference to my day. It made a difference to my well-being. It made a difference to all the plants that those bees pollinated, who because of those bees were able to produce fruit and vegetables, that fed many others.

Like the bees, we have no idea how far reaching our individual contributions go for the common good.  This wisdom is like honey for me – there is a future of hope.

 

Let us continue in the task of living as little s saints, taking with us the sweetness of those who have gone before us, consciously spreading pleasant words, and living lives faithfully dedicated to BEing.

May we pollinate the world -feeding those who are hungry.

We are saints! There is nothing little about us, so go…

 

Be love. Be a blessing.