Psalm 32:11 – Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the Lord; shout for joy, all you who are true of heart.
Being true of heart is difficult, but once begun it is a practice we cannot give up.
God says: I come to walk among you in truth – a very special truth. It is the truth that will set you free. Once you begin to live in me and in this truth, you will feel uncomfortable living any other way because you will living in The Way.
May you find the true stepping-stones of The Way with greater ease and a lighter, freer heart.
Psalm 34:7 – The Angel of the Lord encompasses those who fear him, and he will deliver them.
Guido Reni: Archangel Michael Defeats Satan
The angels are God’s messengers and envoys. The Archangels are Michael the Defender, Gabriel the Announcer, Raphael the Healer, and Lucifer the Beautiful One. Even among these special creatures we see both a willingness and an aversion to obedience.
God says: As special and as beautiful as the angels are, they do not compare to the radiance of the human race. I do not make them in my image. Only you, my beloved ones, have such privilege. My angels are constantly with you, guiding, protecting, communicating. Each of you has a special guardian of your own. There are also fleets of swift-winged creatures who come and go constantly with messages for you.
GabrielI do not want you to be fearful. I do not want you to feel alone and so I send them among you, even as I am among you. Do not be afraid. I am with you. My angels are with you. You are already delivered from the dark ones who would pull you into their world. Sleep well. Rise well. Go into the day tomorrow with a smile.
RaphaelWishing you peaceful days and happy nights. May Michael defend you, Gabriel announce God’s word to you, Raphael heal you, and Lucifer stay far away from you. All this God does that you might be well.
If on any day you find the Noontime reflection does not speak to you or is not to your liking, you may want to explore ideas on the Connecting at Noontimepage offered in the hope that you find a suggestion to feed the soul and strengthen your bond with and in Christ.
Our spiritual life is always about Call and Response. God creates and calls us. We listen, and then return God’s word. This blog is one small way for us to listen, to seek, to discern, to come together, to puzzle through and to respond in full voice to God’s mysterious and beautiful invitation to life in the Spirit. It is our daily visit with God that nourishes and sustains us. It is our persistent connecting with the one who created us that reminds us of who and why we are. It is our constant hope and our fervent prayer that buoy us up when the road is difficult. And it is Christ’s love for each of us that keeps us on The Narrow Way. Thank you for taking part in our Noontimesjourney. We are creatures meant to travel together and, like Paul writing to the Romans, I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus the Lord.
On any given day, you may be looking for a different sentiment, thought, or path. If so, enter a word or words into the blog search bar or explore the blog pages. May you each know and experience Christ’s peace. May you seek and discover God’s Wisdom. And may you be fortified in the Love and Counsel of the Spirit. I hold each of you in prayer as always. S
Psalm 71:18 – Ishall always wait in patience, and shall praise you more and more.
Patience is difficult to practice because we have so many fears and we do not want to fail, to be exposed, to lose, to be in pain, to suffer in any way. Yet the practice of patience itself wears down the fears and brings more patience.
God says: The wisdom I wish to impart to you can only arrive to you through your patient, active waiting. This patience can be learned through your salvific suffering – by offering your pain for the forgiveness of others. You cannot solve your problems through your own cleverness or virtue for they weigh too heavily upon you. I have given you the gift of faith. From this gift will grow mountains of patience – much like the mustard seed in the parable my son loves to tell. I also send you hope, through my son, Jesus Christ. From this gift will flow rivers of patience – much like the rivers in the vision of my prophet Ezekiel. I have given you the gift of charity toward all. From this Love of your enemy will flower infinite patience much like the patience my son shows as he dies innocently for others. And with this faithful, hope-filling, abiding patience you have won my heart. Be patient with me and with my loving discipline, even as I am patient with you. Praise me more and more and this patience will permeate you in such a way that it will never leave you. Just as I will never leave you. You will never have to be without me.
As you wait for patience to settle into your being, I wish you a blessed and holy day. A blessed and holy night.
Lord, do not withhold your compassion from me; may your enduring kindness ever preserve me.
There are lots of times – and they seem to last for too long – when it feels as though God does not listen. I know that God is everywhere, including within me, but there are days and weeks and months and even years when I feel as though I walk entirely alone. Why does he not hear my crying?
God says: Believe it or not, I do hear you, and I understand how you feel. I came to earth to live as one of you so that you might believe me when I speak to you. I love you so much that I have been willing to suffer as you do. I too, have felt alone, misunderstood and maligned. But do not worry. Even though your grief has brought you to a place where you feel no warmth and no compassion, I am with you. I have always been with you. I will always be with you. I will never abandon you. I will save you from the fear that grips you. Let go of that fear so that I can take it away from you to put it in a place from which it will not escape. I have that power. I have that love for you. I will preserve you. Come to me and lay your worries at my feet. Then rest awhile with me. I am here. I have always been here. I will always be here.
Wishing you a bit of peace so that you might feel God’s love and compassion.
Today’s Noontimeis a reflection written for the dedication of a dogwood tree in the memory of Sophie Myers who was born and died on September 25, 2011. It springs from the first verse of Hebrews 11.
Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
I share with you today some thoughts about how the small and beautiful dogwood tree is a symbol of life and faith – a reminder that despite the fact that we cannot see or hear or smell or touch someone, she does, indeed, exist.
The dogwood tree is one of the smallest in the forest but just because it is small does not mean it is any less alive. Older, taller, more substantial trees tower over her but it is the dogwood – even when quite young – that dresses nature with airy pastel blossoms. She brings beauty and lightness and hope to the otherwise darkened forest. Despite her size, the dogwood tree is an integral part of the woods.
Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
My son Will reminded us on the day of Sophie’s funeral that the shortness of her life does not diminish her significance. That shortness does not mean that we love her any less and in fact, her quick coming and going make her existence all the more powerful. This brevity reminds us to tell and show the people we love that we do, indeed, love them. This brevity calls us forward to live our own lives in the assuranceand in the convictionthat Sophie is here with us today despite the fact that we cannot see or touch her.
Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
The urn that contains the earth-held remains of Sophia Josephine Myers is decorated with four dogwood flowers. Each of these flowers has four petals that symbolize her family: Gabby, Will, Vivian, and Sophie. On the prayer card created for Sophia’s funeral there is a photograph of one small, green dogwood leaf floating as it moves along the surface of a crystal clear stream. A sunbeam glints off the rippling water. One tiny droplet rides on the leaf and is carried downstream to an unknown destination. We do not see the end; yet, the journey takes place. We do not know the moment of arrival; yet, the arrival happens. Of this we are assured. Of this we are convicted. This we know. This we live. In faith.
Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Sophie died in her transit to this world and yet, still she lives. We pause to reflect today – in faith – on what that might mean. We pause to reflect today on the beauty and the power and the importance of the Dogwood Tree.
The Risen ChristDo not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you; because I have many people in this city. This is thinking we have visited often in our Noontimes. The Risen Christ constantly reminds us that there is nothing to fear – even when we wander into enemy territory.
We are afraid to risk loss – loss of a friendship, loss of status, loss of youth, loss of vigor, loss of value in any way.
We are afraid to speak up and to speak out. We shrink from what my Dad used to call Stand up time.We do not want to be shunned. We want to be part of the whole. We want someone else to voice what we are thinking and fearing, believing that if we do not say the words we can disown the fear.
We do not like uncomfortable silence. We avoid pregnant pauses and knowing looks. We know that the dictator’s greatest weapon is fear engendered in others and yet we succumb to the tyrant’s whippings by hiding our words and thoughts. We unknowingly – or knowingly – hope to keep ourselves safe by using passive aggression but this always backfires on us and leaves us less than whole.
We want to either solve our own problems or totally give our worries away to let them bother someone else. Solutions stand before us but we humans seem bent on avoiding the Spirit’s help at all costs. And it need not be so.
Jesus tells us to shake away the dust of those who reject us; he tells us to move on in our mission and leave to him the task of converting hardened hearts. (Matthew 10:14, Mark 6:11, Luke 9:5)
Matthew’s Gospel (10:18-20) records Jesus’ words to his disciples: On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Luke’s account is similar (12:11): When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.
Jesus himself relies on the Father for both words and nuance (John 12:49-50): For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.
It is clear that we are never alone and yet we childishly refuse the help offered by our creator, our redeemer and the gentle abider. We cling to wrong thinking because we do not want to make waves or cause turmoil; yet how much turmoil does wrong-headed thinking cause? All we need do is steady ourselves and rely on the creator of all things.
It is obvious that we are in constant company of the Spirit; yet we do not use the words we are given because we fear we are not up to the challenge. How much more difficult is the struggle when we fail to act as we are asked? All we need do is to quiet ourselves and listen.
It is evident that we are not alone, and yet we refuse to recognize the company of our brother and constant companion in life. How much anxiety is caused by our refusal to see who stands before us? All we need do is settle ourselves. And speak.
We are not alone. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: all three remain even though we reject their advice and deny their presence.
It is difficult to connect the idea with God as a Good Shepherd to accounts like today’s Noontime. In this famous scene of Stephen’s martyring, we have much to observe, much to absorb. On this Sunday when we celebrate good shepherding, let us pause to examine the story and ourselves; and let us reflect.
When the crowd heard Stephen name them as stiff-necked and in opposition to the holy Spirit, they were infuriated and they ground their teeth at him.
How often do we gnash our own teeth and plot our arguments when we hear others make statements we do not believe?
But Stephen, filled with the holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
How often are we able to put aside our rising anger and look for God and Jesus in the ugliness we see before us?
The crowd covered their ears, cried out against Stephen and rushed toward him.
How often do we rush against witnessing when we hear words that call us to something greater than we are willing to be?
They threw him out of the city and, and began to stone him.
How often are we more intent on silencing someone than listening to their inspiring and heart-felt words?
The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the foot of a young man named Saul.
How often do we gloat in silence while others suffer?
As Stephen fell beneath the stones he cried out, “Lord Jesus, receive my Spirit”.
How often do we stand by and watch as injustice takes place?
Stephen said with his last breath, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them”.
How often are we able to forgive those who transgress against us? How often do we intercede for our enemies before our forgiving and loving God?
When we are in turmoil and pain and we look for the Good Shepherd to lead us to safety, where do we look? We find good shepherds amidst the mayhem of life, in the fury of human battles, and in the chaos of darkness that seeks to overtake the light. We find good shepherds tending to the shunned and the belittled, living with the marginalized and forgotten, healing the lonely and broken-hearted. And once we find our Good Shepherd, this best of all shepherds, we must follow where he leads. This following may take us along dangerous paths and through storm-tossed seas. We may want to cover our ears and gnash our teeth as do the witnesses we hear about today. We may, like Stephen, feel ourselves falling beneath the weight of too many stones thrown in rage against us; and we may see too late the martyrdom that overtakes us.
When we find ourselves backed up against a howling, angry pack, we, like Stephen, must also look to God and to Jesus. And we must give ourselves over to the Spirit. We will likely be surprised by the miracle in store for us.
This week we will read more stories about the man Saul at whose feet Stephen’s attacked tossed their cloaks. We will see the miracle of this man’s conversion as he witnessed the martyring of Stephen. And we will remember that God always pulls goodness out of evil acts; God always calls forth miracles from martyrdom. For this reason alone, we must not be afraid.
A re-post from Good Shepherd Sunday, April 29, 2012.
These three chapters are filled with sad yet beautiful images, and they follow closely on the heels of a conversation which I have just had with a close friend. The wicked appear to prosper – they have the immediate joys of this world – the faithful gain, through their suffering, the joy that is abiding and eternal. True happiness comes from knowing that the correct thing has been done, that justice has been enacted, the broken-hearted have been tended to, the weary have been comforted, the exiled welcomed home. True, deep and abiding happiness permeates the body, the soul, the mind and the heart when God is allowed to dwell within, when a welcome hearth and table have been laid for the guests, when the Spirit finds a resting place within us. True, deep and abiding happiness blooms when the soul finds its homing path to the Creator. True, deep and abiding happiness engenders serenity – even during conflict – when the ego is emptied of self and Christ steps in. When we celebrate the Feast of The Sacred Heart, we celebrate the groom who takes us to himself.
The verses from Jeremiah speak of complaint, corruption, a broken wine flask, disgrace, skirts stripped away, violation, sacrifices to no avail . . . yet this prophet asks, as we ought, in chapter 12: You would be in the right, O Lord, if I should dispute with you; even so, I must discuss this case with you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper, why live all the wicked in contentment?
He challenges further: How long must the earth mourn, the green of the whole countryside wither? For the wickedness of those who dwell in it, beasts and birds disappear because they say, “God does not see our ways.” If running against men has wearied you, how will you race against horses? And if in a land of peace you fall headlong, what will you do in the thickets of the Jordan?
He speaks of innocence defiled: Yet I, like a lamb led to slaughter, had not realized that they were hatching plots against me: “Let us destroy the tree in its vigor; let us cut him off from the land of the living so that his name will be spoken no more.”
Then the answer to this plaint finally arrives: Giveear, listen humbly, for the Lord speaks. Give glory to the Lord, your God, before it grows dark; before your feet stumble on darkening mountains; before the light you look for turns to darkness, changes into black clouds. If you do not listen to this in your pride, I will weep in secret many tears; my eyes will run with tears for the Lord’s flock, led away to exile.
Tears shed in mourning and petition rise to the Lord in a cloud of incense. Suffering offered as an act of redemption in unity with the Christ ends the wickedness. Our mourning becomes dancing with the indwelling of the Spirit. The economy of God’s plan must and will be fulfilled – in a kaleidoscope array of acts of kindness that counteracts acts of scandal. Division is transformed into union in a symphony of promise and fidelity as the Lord turns all hate to good.
Humanitarian aide in Haiti
There is no place, no thing, no person who heals as does the touch of Christ. There is no achievement, no award, no comfort as lasting as is the true knowledge of Christ. There is no separation, no sin, no evil that cannot be bridged by the covenant with Christ or undone by the strength of Christ. There is no miracle, no impossibility, no marvel that cannot be achieved by the courage of Christ. There is no harm, no sinner, no lost sheep that cannot be converted by the love of Christ.
Christ is the transforming bridegroom which Jeremiah promises in later chapters. This groom will write his vow of fidelity on our hearts. Let us open ourselves to this Lord. Let us open ourselves to this pledge. Let us open ourselves to this miracle of love in this place where the wicked no longer prosper.
A re-post from April 26, 2012.
A Favorite, written on May 30, 2008 and posted today. The Feast of the Sacred Heartis celebrated 19 days after Pentecost and in 2012 it falls on June 15.
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
The Noontimes 