January 6, 2023 For many Christians, the Feast of Epiphany marks the end of the Christmas Season and is the culminating celebration of the Twelve Days of Christmas. The story of the Epiphany is found only in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter Two, and it involves the non-Jewish wise men/kings/magi/astronomers (supposedly three, but no numberContinueContinue reading “Epiphany: The Rest of the Rest of the Christmas Story”
Category Archives: spirituality
The Psalms of Advent: Amen
December 16, 2022 “The world is not respectable; it is mortal, tormented, deluded forever; but it is shot through with beauty, with love, with glints of courage and laughter; and in these, the spirit blooms . . . .” George Santayana Twenty-one days ago, I began this series on The Psalms of Advent with theContinueContinue reading “The Psalms of Advent: Amen”
Thursday, Advent Week 3: Shine
The Psalms of Advent, December 15, 2022 You are invited to light a candle and join me as we reflect upon the final psalm selected for Advent, as designated in the Revised Common Lectionary. I hope you will sit with this psalm and listen for the word that Spirit is whispering to you. Today’s poem,ContinueContinue reading “Thursday, Advent Week 3: Shine”
Wednesday, Advent Week 3: Deep
The Psalms of Advent, December 14, 2022 You are invited to light a candle and join me as we finish sitting with Psalm 42 this morning. You may find this psalm at https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2042&version=NRSVUE. My favorite verse in all of the psalms is found in this one, where “deep calls to deep” (verse 7). Within eachContinueContinue reading “Wednesday, Advent Week 3: Deep”
Tuesday, Advent Week 3: Where?
You are invited to light a candle and join me as we continue our journey with Advent Psalm 42, found here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2042&version=NRSVUE. As mentioned in the previous blog, the author of this poignant psalm-song-poem was most likely in Babylonian exile or had just returned to Israel, perhaps Jerusalem, and was mourning the ruin and displacementContinueContinue reading “Tuesday, Advent Week 3: Where?”
Monday, Advent Week 3: Thirst
Psalms of Advent, December 12, 2022 You are invited to join me as we listen to Psalm 42, the second to last of the Advent psalms for this season of seeking, waiting, anticipating, and searching for the light that shines in the darkness. Psalm 42 is familiar to many people because of the memorable imageryContinueContinue reading “Monday, Advent Week 3: Thirst”
Friday, Advent Week 2: Praise
Psalms of Advent, Dec. 9, 2022 You are invited to light a candle and join me in reflecting again on Psalm 146: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20146&version=NRSVUE. Yesterday, we sat with the word “sustains.” Today, we look at the word “praise” which begins and ends this psalm as well as psalms 147-150, the final psalms in this ancient collectionContinueContinue reading “Friday, Advent Week 2: Praise”
Wednesday, Advent Week 2: A Poem
The Psalms of Advent, December 7, 2022 Since yesterday’s post on Psalm 21 and my thoughts on the word “presence” (https://wordpress.com/view/spirit-reflections.org), I’ve had a desire to write a poem about the presence of the Divine as my meditation on this psalm. I thought of that Presence who revealed Itself in evening walks in gardens, inContinueContinue reading “Wednesday, Advent Week 2: A Poem”
Tuesday, Advent Week 2: Presence
The Psalms of Advent, December 6, 2022 Psalm 21 is abundant with words seeking to be heard and treasured in the heart: rejoice, joy, desire, request, and love, as just a sampling: The king rejoices in your strength, LORD.How great is his joy in the victories you give!You have granted him his heart’s desireand haveContinueContinue reading “Tuesday, Advent Week 2: Presence”
Monday, Advent Week 2: Shaken
The Psalms of Advent Greetings to you as we begin the second week of Advent and our communal journey to that which is life-giving and light-giving in this season of darkness, waiting, and anticipation. You are invited to light a candle and join me as we unwrap the next Psalm of Advent, Psalm 21, versesContinueContinue reading “Monday, Advent Week 2: Shaken”
Spirit Reflections 