March 14, 2024 “What cannot be said will be wept.” Sappho This quotation holds a beautiful truth from Sappho, an ancient female poet from the island of Lesbos who was widely regarded as one of the greatest lyric poets of her time. It touches me because I’ve experienced the truth of it. In our culture,ContinueContinue reading “Lenten Day Twenty-six: Sappho”
Tag Archives: psalms
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”
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”
Saturday, Advent Week 2: A Poem
Please light a candle and join me on this Advent journey and exploration of the Psalms of Advent. In my last blog, I wondered about the invitation to make praise both a worship and an everyday practice and experience. This poem is the response to my reflection on that. Like the psalm we have lookedContinueContinue reading “Saturday, Advent Week 2: A Poem”
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”
Sunday, Advent Week 2
The Psalms of Advent Over the last few days, we have listened together to Psalm 72, verses 1-7 and 18-19, the Advent psalm appointed for the liturgy of worship for this second Sunday in Advent. Below are links to two translations (the more formal and poetic New Revised Standard Version and the easier to readContinueContinue reading “Sunday, Advent Week 2”
Saturday, Advent Week 1: Sacred Reading
The Psalms of Advent, December 2, 2022 You are invited to light a candle and join me on this journey of reflecting on the psalms chosen for the Season of Advent, most recently Psalm 72, found here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2072&version=NRSVUE. A couple of days ago, I mentioned that I am not a scholar of the psalms. IContinueContinue reading “Saturday, Advent Week 1: Sacred Reading”
Spirit Reflections 