I just finished watching the Joan of Arc movie, which is surprisingly historically sound. (Or so I hear.) Her story never ceases to amaze me - the parallels between St. Joan and Christ are interesting - and not exactly inconsequential. Both were put to death as sinners, as blasphemers - Joan was both martyred and canonized (500 years later) by the Church. Interestingly enough, all the Church websites about her still dance around the word martyr. Joan asked to see a crucifix placed before her eyes while she burned.
The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.
All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your faithful shall bless you. They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom, and tell of your power, to make known to all people your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations.
The Lord is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds. The Lord upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down.
-Psalm 145: 8-14
O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and light Rises up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, to ask what you would have us do; that the spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices, that in your light we may see light, and in your straight paths may not stumble, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
I was looking for a certain quote by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, but I found one I hadn't seen before instead.
I can just hear him telling this story, smiling the whole way through. He has such a loping, easy laughter and grace about him - like he knows a great big secret that we don't. I couldn't help but smiling and laughing while looking through pictures of him. I believe he is a Saint, capital S.
Adam is in the garden. And there he was having a great time with the animals and gamboling all over the place, but God looked on and said. uh-uh. It’s not good for that guy to be all by his lonesome.
And God said to Adam, “Well Adam –”
Adam said, “Yes?”
“How about choosing a mate for yourself from the animals?”
So God let animals pass in front of Adam in procession and God said, “What about this one?”
“Nope,” said Adam.
“And what about this one?”
“No.”
“And this one?”
“Not on your life!”
And God say okay, and put Adam to sleep. And as the story goes, out of Adam’s rib, God created this delectable creature.
And when Adam awakes, he looks and says “Wow!” and “This is what the doctor ordered!”
It’s a story that is meant to convey a very profound truth about you and me. That you and I are incomplete, that we can’t, in fact, be human in isolation.
In solitary confinement, as it were.
I wouldn’t know how to be human except by learning it from other human beings. I need you in order for me to be me. I need other human beings in order for me to be human. …
The totally self-sufficient human being is, in fact, subhuman. … One of the sayings in our country is … “A person is a person through other persons.”
This is what it's all about - the Millenium Development Goals, sustainability, rejecting the culture of mass consumption and greed....It's a look at how the world really is; the whole world.
There ain't no reasons things are this way Its how they've always been and they intend to stay I can't explain why we live this way We do it everyday Preachers on the podiums speaking to saints Prophets on the sidewalks begging for change Old ladies laughing from the fire escape, cursing my name I got a basket full of lemons and they all taste the same A window and a pigeon with a broken wing You can spend your whole life working for something Just to have it taken away
People walk around pushing back their desks Wearing pay checks like necklaces and bracelets Talking 'bout nothing, not thinking about their Every little heart beat, every little breath People walk a tight rope on a razor's edge Carrying their hurt and hatred and weapons It could be a bomb or a bullet or a pin Or a thought or a word or a sentence.
There ain't no reasons things are this way Its how they've always been and they intend to stay I don't know why i say the things i say, But i say them anyway. But love will come set me free Love will come set me free I do believe Love will come set me free I know it will Love will come set me free Yes
Prison walls still standing tall Some things never change at all Keep on building prisons, Gonna fill them all. Keep on building bombs Gonna drop them all
Working your fingers bare to the bone Breaking your back, make you sell your soul Like a lung is filled with coal, suffocating slow The wind blows wild and i may move But politicians lie and i'm not fooled You don't need no reason or a 3 piece suit To argue the truth The air in my skin and the world under my toes Slavery is stitched into the fabric of my clothes Chaos and commotion wherever i go Love, i try to follow
But love will come set me free Love will come set me free I do believe Love will come set me free I know it will Love will come set me free Yes
There ain't no reasons things are this way Its how they've always been and they intend to stay I can't explain why we live this way; We do it everyday.
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Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered together and reconciled under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and glory, now and forever.
Episcopalian-flavored Christian with Anglo-Catholic proclivities and a yearning for social justice.
"When Anglicanism is at its best, its liturgy, its poetry, its music and its life can create a world of wonder in which it is very easy to fall in love with God." -Urban T. Holmes III
O Mary Magdalene, Paschal messenger and Apostle to the Apostles; Thy weeping in the garden hath been turned to joy, and thy myrrh hath become a holy chrism: Pray for us, that we also might encounter and trust in the Risen Christ, who maketh the tomb a bridal chamber for his Church, and hast taken away the sins of the world. Amen.
O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and light Rises up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, to ask what you would have us do; that the spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices, that in your light we may see light, and in your straight paths may not stumble, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
