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December 5 Echoes of Eternity
These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. . . .
Revelation 14:4
As the eagle flies upward, above the noise and strife of this busy world, so should your soul “fly upward” to commune with Me. Most of your life has been lived in the lowlands—your thoughts and imaginations—even your dreams—have lodged there. Take this invitation seriously, My child, while there is yet time. Do not worry about what others are doing or thinking—for that is but a weight and hindrance to you. Seek My face. Seek to know Me in Myself—
not hearsay or opinion—but a living knowledge that I will impart, if you will “follow the Lamb wheresoever He leads.” Be bold in your need and do not fear to draw near.
An Advent Search For Quiet Moments http://www.communityofjesus.org/?p=4088308
An Advent Search For Quiet Moments | The Community of Jesus
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By Sr. Nun Other Yesterday, I experienced quiet in a room with several people. Each was absorbed in their work, but not isolated from the other. It was an active quiet, and brought to mind my personal Advent reading for the day: Luke 1:26-38, the Annunciation. There is no written proof, but traditionally, Mary is pictured alone, in quiet work, when Gabriel appears.
By Sr. Nun Other
Yesterday, I experienced quiet in a room with several people. Each was absorbed in their work, but not isolated from the other. It was an active quiet, and brought to mind my personal Advent reading for the day: Luke 1:26-38, the Annunciation. There is no written proof, but traditionally, Mary is pictured alone, in quiet work, when Gabriel appears. The scene unfolds (at least in my mind) in discreet tranquility, in a quiet village in Nazareth, a quiet event, that will one day alter the course of humankind.
Paraclete Press Sacred Music has some great new anthems and organ works for the upcoming 2015 Lenten season. Please #quot;LIKE#quot; this page and contact one of our music representatives for more information. http://www.paracletepress.com/sheet.html
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December 4 Echoes of Eternity
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Psalm 100:3
I know My sheep and call them by name. This is a mystery beyond your comprehension, for you rightly see how impossible it is for the human mind. But I am the God of the impossible—by which I mean that My power and ability far exceed any thought you might have of Me—however grand and majestic it might be. In My choice to become man and dwell among you, I did not diminish My infinity. Your life has been too circumscribed by your mental boundaries. You have severly limited your participation in My divine greatness by these boundaries. But hear this word again and meditate on it. It contains a key to unlock resources you have not dreamed of or yet experienced. I know My sheep and call them by name. My dear child, that little word can make all the difference—if you learn to believe it.
December 4 Echoes of Eternity
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Psalm 100:3
I know My sheep and call them by name. This is a mystery beyond your comprehension, for you rightly see how impossible it is for the human mind. But I am the God of the impossible—by which I mean that My power and ability far exceed any thought you might have of Me—however grand and majestic it might be. In My choice to become man and dwell among you, I did not diminish My infinity. Your life has been too circumscribed by your mental boundaries. You have severly limited your participation in My divine greatness by these boundaries. But hear this word again and meditate on it. It contains a key to unlock resources you have not dreamed of or yet experienced. I know My sheep and call them by name. My dear child, that little word can make all the difference—if you learn to believe it.
Gifts of Service http://www.communityofjesus.org/?p=4088305
Gifts of Service | The Community of Jesus
www.communityofjesus.org
By Melodious Monk Jesus comes to us in many ways. In this season, we especially pay attention to Him coming as an infant. And what do infants need? In short, lots of help — constant care, someone to feed them, keep them warm, and protect them. I realized something today. I look forward to Advent, to its hope and the expectation of Jesus – for a fresh start, forgetting the past year and moving on with purpose and expectation. [ 182 more words. ]
Gifts of Service http://www.communityofjesus.org/?p=4088305
Gifts of Service | The Community of Jesus
www.communityofjesus.org
By Melodious Monk Jesus comes to us in many ways. In this season, we especially pay attention to Him coming as an infant. And what do infants need? In short, lots of help — constant care, someone to feed them, keep them warm, and protect them. I realized something today. I look forward to Advent, to its hope and the expectation of Jesus – for a fresh start, forgetting the past year and moving on with purpose and expectation. [ 182 more words. ]
By Melodious Monk
Jesus comes to us in many ways. In this season, we especially pay attention to Him coming as an infant. And what do infants need? In short, lots of help — constant care, someone to feed them, keep them warm, and protect them.
I realized something today. I look forward to Advent, to its hope and the expectation of Jesus – for a fresh start, forgetting the past year and moving on with purpose and expectation. It’s a time to say “yes,” to open my heart and to allow more room for Jesus. “Come Lord Jesus, quickly come” falls out of my lips as the time-honored mantra of the season.
I learned something else today. Underneath my hope, need, and expectation for God to come, to save, and to heal me, what I’m really asking (even demanding) is to be given these gifts. I don’t really want to serve this infant King; I just want him to do what I fervently ask!
And yet Jesus comes to us as a needy infant. I can only imagine the time and energy necessary to take care of or “serve” a new-born. This “service” is a full-time commitment. In contemplating the Christ Child during Advent, are Jesus, Mary, and Joseph teaching me how to serve the adult Christ as well? I’m reminded that God wants a relationship with me. In addition to asking for his help and healing, I also must love and serve him. Then I can expect to be able to walk with him.
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December 3 Echoes of Eternity
Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you.
I Peter 5:7
Cast your burden upon Me and I will sustain you. I am He who bears the burden of the weak. You have not yet learned the secret of My burden-bearing, and you inflict pain on yourself and others in your reaction to situations you feel are unjust or unfair. You still demand that others think of you the way you think of yourself, and in your determination not to come under their “false accusations,”
you strike or lash back. My dear child, you do not have to do this! You are a sin-bearer, and I am ready to enter the situation “with healing in My wings” if you will cast your burden upon Me. Your way has never worked—so why not try Mine?
December 2 Echoes of Eternity
Thou shalt show me the path of life; in Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Psalm 16:11
Draw near to Me, and I will draw near to you. I am ever near, but you are usually unmindful of it. It takes a conscious choice on your part to enter into a realization that I am here.
My aim and purpose for you, My child, is for you to dwell in My presence. In My presence there is fullness of joy. In My presence is peace that passes understanding. But in My presence there is no room for self-absorption and self-promotion. These things must die and be purged away. They are deadly and death-giving. They must die so that life, true life, My life, can be yours.
Bless the means by which I further My plan for you. Keep before your eyes what I have told you. In My presence there is fullness of joy.
Timeline Photos
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Angel—golden hinge
swung on silver, silent bolt
opened gate of truth.
—Haiku Poem by Paul Quenon from Unquiet Vigil
December 1 Echoes of Eternity
But his word was in my heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
Jeremiah 20:9
My word is a fire—a purging, purifying fire—burning the dross and refuse of the years past. My word destroys as well as it builds. It must destroy strongholds of darkness and rebellion. You do not even know where or what some of those strongholds are in your soul. They must be assaulted and destroyed that you might be whole in Me. My word is not always in words. My word is My will going forth from Me to accomplish My purpose. You may tremble or weep before it without consciously knowing why or what is being done. Do not worry. Submit yourself inasmuch “as lieth in you” to My sovereign purpose. Keep silent before My mysterious ways, for all will be light in the end. Faith requires this, to trust where you are mystified, to hold on to what I have said when the outward conditions seem to contradict it. This is the way and walk of faith.
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Gregorian Chant: The Eternal Song http://www.communityofjesus.org/?p=4088289
Gregorian Chant: The Eternal Song | The Community of Jesus
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By Cantor To Thee, O Lord The first week of Advent marks the beginning of the new liturgical year and opens with one of the most famous and beautiful Gregorian chants: Ad te levavi (Unto Thee. O Lord, do I lift up my soul). This chant has even been designated by some chant scholars as the #quot;summit of spirituality in Gregorian chant.#quot; [ 206 more words. ]
By Cantor
To Thee, O Lord
The first week of Advent marks the beginning of the new liturgical year and opens with one of the most famous and beautiful Gregorian chants: Ad te levavi (Unto Thee. O Lord, do I lift up my soul). This chant has even been designated by some chant scholars as the “summit of spirituality in Gregorian chant.”
“Ad te levavi” deserves special attention because of the extraordinary way in which it illuminates the text. The opening text phrase — Ad te levavi animam meam, Deus meus, in te confido, non erubescam (Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul: in thee I place my confidence; let me not be confounded) — opens with a quick, upward sweep to the word “animam” but then immediately rises one note higher on the word “meus.” Instantly, our ears tell us that someone is crying out to God, lifting their voice in emphasis on “my soul” but, even more so on “my God.” The chant does not descend until “non erubescam.” The person crying out bows his head at that moment, in hope of hearing a response. In this opening phrase, the chant has placed us in the position of need as we lift our prayer upward.
Dom Eugene Cardine, one of the great 20th century chant scholars, stated that the sound of the chant was literally “extracted” from the sound of the words. We have a moving example of this as we open the new church year.
Image Credit: Abbey of St. Peter of Solesmes, Paleographie Musicale
