Faith, Grace, and Hope

Luke 6:27-38 1 Corinthians 15:35-50 Seventh Sunday after Epiphany, Year C Memories can be faulty, but yet this one feels clear to me. There we were, a group of students from Yale Divinity School, gathered for the smaller section portion of our New Testament class. One student, after permission from the section leader, asked us all, "Do you actually believe in the resurrection of the body?" The room, long and narrow, was very quiet as we all looked around at each other. Slowly, I raised my hand and said, "I do." There was incredulity all around, with some people unsure of how to put their own beliefs into words. Clarification was sought- did the questioner mean the body of Jesus or our own bodies? He meant both, but more the latter. Wherever the conversation went, I maintained my affirmation, my credo. Of all the things in the Apostle's Creed that might be difficult for me, belief in the resurrection of the body as a real, not metaphorical, promise of G...

This prayer was originally written for and posted on revgalblogpals.org on Friday, 18 January 2019. Holy Breath of Life- There is a fine edge in my world. The space before the ledge is the area wherein I acknowledge the idols in my life, Attempts and desire for control, Tasks that busy my day and prevent rest and stillness, Issues that I have made my own without consulting You, Frustrations and hurts that I feed as though they would produce nourishing fruit. The small border of the larger space, the tiny strip, just before the very edge… This is the space where I admit, oh so quietly, that my life has become unmanageable. This is the space where Your air gives me enough strength in my own mouth to shape the words- I am not doing as well as I pretend to be. I have taken up residence, now, in this tiny borderland- the territory between denial and what seems like it might be a freefall, but is more likely a float in the everlasting arms. I am not thinking of ca...