…sometimes only the passive voice will do.
“Love lives beyond, the tomb, the earth, the flowers, and dew”
These are lines from one of John Clare’s poems and one of my favourites. He lived the turn of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and the anniversary of his birth is 13th July.
Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.
— St. Teresa of Avila
The Franciscan motto: “My God – and all things.”
“‘Spirituality’, in itself and apart from others, without service and concrete love, often leads people to immense ego inflation and delusion”
“The great irony of faith is that authentic God experience does indeed make you know you are quite special, favourite, and chosen – but you realise others are too!” Richard Rohr
“Eager to Love. The Alternative Way of Francis of Assisi,” by Richard Rohr, p14
“Not only were we Franciscans not to be prelates in the church, but we should not hobnob with them too much. You tend to think like those with whom you party” Richard Rohr.
I was particularly struck by the last sentence. It is during leisure that our guard is down (and I wouldn’t expect otherwise or it wouldn’t be leisure) and we may absorb unconsciously the prevailing attitudes and assumptions of our fellow party-goers. You could say “be careful who you party with” but there will be occasions when we go to a social event outside our comfort zone because our work or our conscience requires it.
“Eager to Love. The Alternative Way of St Francis,” Richard Rohr, p13
“There are not sacred and profane things, places, and moments. There are only sacred and desecrated things, places, and moments – and it is we alone who desecrate them by our blindness and lack of reverence.” Richard Rohr from “Eager to Love. The Alternative Way of Francis of Assisi, p 6.
Stands the Church clock at ten to three?
And is there honey still for tea?”
Rupert Brooke, 1887-1915
… an observation made by Sir Edward Grey as from his office window he watched the lamp-lighters at work in the street below on 3rd of August 1914, the day before Britain declared war on Germany.
Sir Edward Grey (1862-1933) was the longest-serving Foreign Secretary in a British Cabinet (1905-1816).
We are an Easter People and “Alleluia!” is our song. (Augustine of Hippo)
A prayer from “Common Worship”
Lord of all life and power, through the mighty resurrection of your Son you overcame the old order of sin and death to make all things new in him. Grant that we, being dead to sin and alive to you in Jesus Christ, may reign with him in glory; to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be praise and honour, glory and might, now and in all eternity. Amen. (Collect for Easter Day)
We cannot escape the cross. There is no Christianity without it. There is no Christianity without self-denial, and self-denial hurts. (D. W. Cleverley Ford)
A Prayer from “Common Worship”
Lord Jesus Christ, you humbled yourself in taking the form of a servant, and in obedience died on the cross for our salvation. Give us the mind to follow you and to proclaim you as Lord and King, to the glory of God the Father. Amen. (Palm Sunday, post communion prayer)
Sundry Times 