[Propertalk] Pentecost 2016 - 2

[Robert P Morrison]

Second part:

	 So it is for us. We’re at various levels of experience. There ARE
times when we feel far more like sticking close to 

	home, like taking the familiar paths and only talking with our
immediate family and friends. There are times when it’s good to know
that we can duck into our homes for a quick, reassuring hug and a
band-aid. 

	 But we’re told, we’re sent out, to talk to others in less
familiar settings. We have to discover how to apply what we’ve heard
and learned. We’ve to take a few chances, turn a few corners, be a
little bold and talk to less well-known people about the things
we’ve found are really important to us, and actually help us when we
feel nervous, or uncertain, or are in some sort of a challenging
situation. 

	 And we CAN do this because we know that we can always come back to
our safe place for some reassurance. We know that our Mother – the
Spirit – who gave birth to us in faith and in love; we know that our
Mother is always present for that encouraging, that supporting, that
comforting word. We know that things will always come together, no
matter how long it takes, no matter how far we go. 

	 There’s a dismissal which we use during Advent and Lent – times
when the church may seem slightly off kilter. When we wait with
eagerness to welcome God among us in the celebration of the birth of
Jesus; when we empty ourselves and watch Jesus, trying to model our
lives on His sacrificial giving; when there’s a tension in the air,
Deacon Peggy says at the close of the formal liturgy, “Live without
fear: your Creator has made you holy, has always protected you, and
loves you as a mother. Go in peace to follow the good road and may
God’s blessing be with you always.” 1 We’re reminded then –
we’re reminded right now – that your Creator and my Creator IS our
Mother, so we say again – to God – Happy Mother’s Day! 

	 The remarkable thing about all of this is that I know that I don’t
fully understand how God DOES make us holy, and suspect that you
don’t either. This is one of the many features of our faith. But,
based on our experiences; based on what others have said; based on the
record of what Jesus and His followers said; what we learned in our
gardens telling us about colours, about smells, about interaction with
other members of creation; all of this gives us both courage and hope.
What we have learned on our journey with God is how to begin to
express what it is about God’s Love that makes life so incredible.
What we have learned on our journey with God is how to express and
deal with the various unsettling emotions we feel when we set out and
travel away from the security of our learning gardens. 

	 Truth be told, we’re all at least a bit ill at ease when we start
out on different paths in life. However, our Mother promises to be
with us, to fill us, making us Her home, “where all darkness is
penetrated by (Her) light, all troubles calmed by (Her) peace, all
evil redeemed by (her) love, all pain transformed in (Her) suffering,
and all dying glorified in (Her) risen life.” 2 

	We are called to move out of our gardens, then to return for
refreshment, before going out again, and again, with the blessing of
our Mother. 

	And for those times when it seems quiet, when our Mother’s Presence
may seem a little distant, let us remember to say, with the poet: 

	 O Advocate, come…
 Sit with me a bit.
 Have some tea.
 Visit a while.
 We’ll have a chat.
 And if you could,
 Remind me.
 Of what you already said.
 Remind me of peace.
 Real peace.
 Your peace.
 A peace not of this world.
 Or of my doing.
 A peace found only in you.
 The peace you left me.
 The peace are giving me still.
 Because I almost remember.
 See, life’s gotten busy.
 And I can forget about your peace,
 When I’m focused on my stuff,
 my work,
 my world,
 my worries,
 my woes.
 So real quick,
 before I go,
 to get back to it,
 because I can’t just sit here all day!
 Just remind me, again – 
 What was that you say?
 “Do not let your hearts be troubled,
 and do not let them be afraid.”
 O Advocate, come…
 Sit with me a bit.
 Have some tea.
 And remind me.
 For we’re overdue for a visit… 3 

	 Happy Pentecost! Happy Mother’s Day! 

	NOTES: 

	[1] Source: from Saint Clare – quoted in “Enriching our
Worship”, et al.  

	2 _Prayer 3, Night Prayer, A New Zealand Prayer Book._ Collins,
Auckland, New Zealand, 1989 page 183. 

	  3 Erin Counihan Thursday Prayer | RevGalBlogPals [1]
https://revgalblogpals.org/2016/04/28/thursday-prayer-89/ [2]


Links:
------
[1]
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwi8gtze4tjMAhUW22MKHR5aBoYQFgghMAE&url=https%3A%2F%2Frevgalblogpals.org%2F2016%2F04%2F28%2Fthursday-prayer-89%2F&usg=AFQjCNEPz6-q5k9CoOThgGwql4kNsfH4ag&bvm=bv.122129774,d.cGc
[2] https://revgalblogpals.org/2016/04/28/thursday-prayer-89/

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