How can I keep from singing?

 Today I'd simply like to share with you a hymn that has been meaningful to me of late. I hope it is encouraging to you too.

  My Life Flows On 

My life flows on in endless song;

Above earth's lamentation

I catch the sweet though far off hymn

That hails a new creation:

No storm can shake my inmost calm

While to that rock I'm clinging;

Since Love is Lord of heaven and earth --

How can I keep from singing?

The Daily Office

I don't mean the place where you may happen to work.  No, I'm talking about that ancient practice of daily prayer, in which we pause at specified times of the day to focus our attention on God.  I did a post about these prayers, often called the Divine Hours, a few years ago called Time is our Currency, in which you can read a bit about the history of this tradition.

Recently, while driving a long distance by myself, I listed to a series of conference talks on prayer put on by HTB, called Wisdom of the Ages.  (the one I refer to in this post can be found here.)  One speaker, Roy Seale, talked about his experience in the Northumbria Community and their practice of praying the daily office.

grace & housecleaning [of your life]

In The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything, James Martin writes:

God can [...] meet you at any time, no matter how crazy things may seem.  You don't have to have a perfectly organized daily life to experience God.  Your spiritual house does not need to be tidy for God to enter.

It is a good reminder to me, so I thought I'd share it as some encouragement to you.  It's funny how easy it is understand the concept of God's grace in a literal, definition-sort of way and yet not apply it to our own personal spiritual lives.

He is Risen!

He is risen indeed!

Alleluia!

This year, one way I'm celebrating Christ's Resurrection is by making an Easter tree.  Let me share it with you:

Maundy Thursday?

This morning as I got ready for the day, I asked myself, what on earth does "Maundy" mean?  And what does it have to do with the account I read today in the gospels of what happened on this day?  I did some quick research, the results of which, for the sake of those who like me are sadly ignorant in these matters, I will share.

Holy Week readings

For the past couple years, I have found it helpful to read through the gospel accounts during Holy Week.  Since I found it so useful, I will share with you this reading plan:

Shouting Stones

"...the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

  “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

   “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

  Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

    “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (Luke 19:37-40)

This is a strange thing for Jesus to say with such conviction.  What does it mean? As I meditate on it, I see two things and a question: