Meditation on Isaiah 52:7-10
How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good news,
publishing the glad tidings of peace,
announcing the word of salvation,
who says to Zion,
Your God reigns!
Gospel,
Godspell,
God's story,
Love's story,
how the rejected Lover
reclaimed his bride,
how the willful child
found a loving Father
in spite of his actions
how the contrite found hope,
how the sinful, redemption,
the brokenhearted, healing.
See how the guardians
in their watchtowers
call out the news -
joy unbounded
in the songs that angels sang
to the outcasts with their flocks,
to the poorest of the poor,
how God himself
came to rescue them,
be one with them,
sleeping in a stable,
refusing the palace.
The Lord,
the Lover,
the King,
baring his arms in the glory of his might,
the amazement of his birth,
the wonder of his death,
the splendor of his ressurection,
and to all the ends of the earth,
he proclaims his salvation
O sing forth,
this story of Love,
how the Lover stretched out his arms,
embracing the world,
cruciform,
down to the darkness of death,
shattering its gates
to bring forth
unutterable joy.
Beautiful. Sleep well.
Prayer bump.
BTTT
Morning Prayer Bump!
So I will allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak to her heart....and she will respond there as in the days of her youth. - Hosea 2:16,17
O Lord,
again and again it seems
you come calling us -
we,
who are so enamoured
of our own brilliance,
the flash of things,
the pleasures of our own toys,
the promise of our own power,
who deserve nothing
from you,
how often we
forget you,
run after the bright toys
that lead to our sorrow,
our loss,
our emptiness,
our death.
Lost in the desert,
we so often taste the dust
of our own shattered dreams,
the death of our own schemes,
the ashes of our own weakness.
And yet,
there, if we look,
we can see you,
calling our name.
There, if we listen,
we can hear the sweetness of your voice
saying, "Come, beloved,
let me heal your hurts,
let me soothe your pains,
let me love you."
There, in the desert,
you offer us shelter,
shade against the burning,
protection from the stinging sands,
forgiveness,
love,
acceptance.
"Return to me,
let me love you,
let me show you
peace,
joy,
truth," you whisper.
Lord,
without your call,
we would be truly lost indeed.
May each of us,
hearing your voice,
take your hand
and find shelter in your arms,
this day,
and always.
Amen.