The Prayer of Jesus

What we call the "Lord's Prayer" is the prayer Jesus taught to his disciples.

If we can't pray it sincerely ourselves, we can ask Jesus to pray the prayer in us.

Dawn into Flame

The essence of mysticism is not, as some think, visions, levitations, or other extraordinary phenomena. On the contrary, it is a growing into union with the God of love. “Christian mysticism,” writes Harvey D. Egan , “is a way of life that involves the perfect fulfillment of loving God, neighbor, all God’s creation, and oneself” (Introduction, An Anthology of Christian Mysticism).

Bernardo Olivera, speaking of the great 12th-century mystics, uses a dramatic but very beautiful image to describe this journey of the Christian life.

Thus, mysticism is the reality of grace accompanying the whole life of the believer, transforming him or her from dawn into midday and from an individual burning coal into an all-consuming fire.

The Sun at Midnight (Cistercian Publications)

Through the abundant grace of God, may we too be transformed from dimness into an all-consuming blaze of love in God.

 __________

(For more, see "The Mystic as Flame" on "Caught Up in God.")

Fire photo with fractal by Faylei (Rose Hoover, rc)
(Fractal created in Apophysis)

In Deep Waters

Mysterious Swamp

Save me, O God,
    for the waters have come up to my neck.

I sink in deep mire,
    where there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters,
    and the flood sweeps over me.

I am weary with my crying;
    my throat is parched.
My eyes grow dim
    with waiting for my God.

. . . . .

But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord.
    At an acceptable time, O God,
    in the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me.

(Psalm 69:1-3, 13)

Golden Sunset

Golden Sunset

(Click to view full size.)

Sunsets in Chicago can be spectacular. (One theory is that the air pollution enhances the colors.) This one was indeed beautiful, but I confess that I have edited it and intensified it somewhat with Photoshop.