Spiritual musings from Catholic Charities of Baltimore's Chaplain
Scripture Passage
“Thus says the Lord GOD:
I will take the children of Israel from among the nations
to which they have come,
and gather them from all sides to bring them back to their land.”
Prayer
would You do this
bring me back
return me
to what was
life
full of possibilities
evil only a puff of smoke
blown away
by the breath of the spirit… amen
Scripture Passage
“O LORD of hosts, you who test the just,
who probe mind and heart.”
Prayer
what do You see
as You probe
reveal them to me
the tender in me
requiring my compassion
the precious within
seeking to be treasured
and the holiness
simply waiting for me… amen
Scripture Passage
“Ask for a sign from the Lord, your God;
let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky!”
Prayer
that’s it
in all my asking
I’ve never asked
so deeply
so high
that what I see in Christ
could be in me …
please… amen
Scripture Passage
“Jesus said, ‘If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples,
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’”
Prayer
there’s that sticky word
truth
it requires, necessitates
ears attentive
a will that can commit
not necessarily to words but
Your word
and what is this word
unlike any other
You’d speak to me
a word of such singular truth
that it’s capable of setting my soul
free
perhaps I already know…
Your word
the truth
my freedom… amen
Scripture Passage
“…the LORD said to Moses,
‘Make a saraph and mount it on a pole,
and whoever looks at it after being bitten will recover.’”
Prayer –
sometimes I’d prefer blindness
some things I would rather not see
fear and shame are such powerful forces
yet here You are
asking
inviting me
to see…to look…to gaze upon
that which I fear
what has caused me such harm
to my surprise
everything fades away
in this vision
and all that’s left
is life
and You…amen
Scripture Passage
“Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life.’”
Prayer
what is this light
that is life,
its origin, sustenance
the inevitable fruitfulness
for that matter then
what is this darkness
not even my feet should touch
lest death cling to my soul
scatter the darkness
in all its forms in me
for I draw near
to the light
so I can catch fire …amen
Scripture Passage
“Remember not the events of the past,
the things of long ago consider not;
see, I am doing something new!
Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”
Prayer
cure me of remembering
failures & regrets
my field of vision
only as wide as my past
effectively blinding me
to You
the always present
making the old give way
a sacred space opening
wide as mystery
what never was – called forth
let me see a-new… amen
Scripture Passage
“But, you, O LORD ….
searcher of mind and heart,……!”
Prayer
let me accompany You today
as You search through my heart
seeking the secret places
You know so well
I’ve yet to visit, understand
let me learn from You
to enter the deeper places
to discover the undiscovered
to know the mystery… amen
Scripture Passage
“He …. boasts that God is his Father.”
Prayer
could I be so bold
could this be true
not just for him but for me
can I risk
such a belief
the changes in me, in living
new companions for a new creed
and You say
simply
believe… amen
Scripture Passage
“Jesus said, ‘He (John the Baptist) was a burning and shining lamp,
and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light.’”
Prayer
only “for a while”
we seem to tire
to become accustomed
turning away, forgetting
seeking something else
to be forgotten as well
teach me the finest art
of lingering, savoring
the Light that never dims
warms eternal life
everywhere… amen
