Tag: praise

• 1 Thessalonians 3: Standing Firm in Faith

  
  

  1 Thessalonians 3: Standing Firm in Faith

  Tuesday, July 2, 2024

  From the MAGNIFICAT Evening Prayer Mini-Reflection: Even today, human beings have no control over storms at sea, and sometimes very little control over storms in the heart. Only God has the power to still the tempest without and the tempests within. 

  In today’s Noontime we can hear the anguish in Paul’s words . . . For this reason, when I too could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith. There are times when we can bear things no longer, when we must hear from someone, when we must have a sign from God, when we insist on wanting more support beyond blind faith and wild hope. Our best antidote to this type of obsessive fear is the act of giving thanks for all that we are and all that we have received from God. When the storms without and the storms within begin to brew, we must recall the so many times that we are rescued; and we take comfort from knowing that God loves us more than we can imagine. When we turn to God in thanksgiving we will appreciate Paul’s words: What thanksgiving can we render to God for you? Paul has it right – when the going gets tough, the rocky path suddenly becomes smoother when we praise God.

  In the end, what we want most is to know that all is well – and it always is when we live in Christ. So let us give thanks and praise.

  In the end, the only thing that matters is that we live in Christ – for existing outside of Christ is not the life we are called. So let us give thanks and praise.

  In the end, the only thing that matters at all is that we live with Christ – for living without him, living in fear and hopelessness is a life of anxiety and desperation. So let us give thanks and praise.

  Christ is in each of us. When days are dark, let us give thanks and praise. When days are bright, let us give thanks and praise. Let us remain in Christ, in hope, in faith, and in love. Then perhaps someone will write to us as Paul writes to the Thessalonians of his gratitude that we have remained strong in faith, bold in hope, and merciful in love . . .  For we live, if you now stand firm in the Lord.

  Let us also stand firm. And let us give thanks and praise.

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  Cameron, Peter John. “Prayer for the Evening.” MAGNIFICAT. 26.10 (2010). Print.

  A Favorite from October 26, 2010.

  Image from: https://www.dreamstime.com/photos-images/tourist-legs-grand-canyon-arizona-usa.html

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  July 2, 2024

  faith, fear, hope, love, praise, thanksgiving

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• James 5:13-15: Union in Prayer

  
  

  James 5:13-15: Union in Prayer

  Sunday, October 30, 2022

  When we suffer, James tells us that we must pray.

  When we celebrate, let us sing praise.

  When we are ill, let us ask for anointing.

  When we are discordant, we must come together.

  When we worry, there is nothing but to turn to God.

  When we hope for the forgiveness of sins, we must also ask for redemption.

  Suffering is our road to Christ. Let us not avoid it.

  Joy accompanies us along the way, but we may not at first feel it.

  Paul reminds the Philippians and he reminds us: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

  So let us put aside our divisions and celebrate even as we suffer. Let us lay down our enmities and pardon even as we are pardoned. Let us dialog with our enemies and turn all anxiety over to Christ; and let us celebrate our union in the Spirit. Let us celebrate our union in prayer.

  Use the scripture link to compare varying versions of these verses and let us find union in prayer and praise.

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  Images from: https://mariehumphrey.com/2016/06/20/what-praying-together-does-for-you/ and https://medium.com/arc-digital/love-is-dead-557d90d4b881

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  October 30, 2022

  anxiety, forgiveness, joy, Philippians 4:6-7, praise, redemption, suffering, thanksgiving

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• Luke 1:57-80, 2:29-32: Canticles

  
  

  Saturday, December 5, 2020

  

  Luke 1:57-80, 2:29-32

  Canticles

  When we pray the Liturgy of the Hours we participate in the rhythmic repetition of the morning and evening canticles that we find here in Luke. They – along with the presentation of petition, glorification and thanksgiving through the psalms – give our days and nights a deep sense of tranquility. These times of meditation and contemplation create the pathways through which God speaks. The heart, in this way, willingly readies the soul in hospitality for the reception of the Holy Spirit and the presence of Christ. Prayer cleanses the mind, prepares the spirit and animates the heart for the reception of God’s revelation to us. Nothing can be more important for it is our intentional and incidental prayers that bring us sanity and serenity. These canticles of praise help us to travel through our days, our years, our lives.

  No one experiences life without feeling distress and anxiety, and it is when we turn to God – the source of all that is good – that we are healed, lifted up, salvaged and restored. When we allow harm to transform us through our grieving and our trust in God, we find the joy expressed in the canticles we read today.  We also find reason to celebrate God’s salvific love.

  

  These canticles sung by Zechariah who finds his voice after the loss of speech, and by Mary, who anticipated greatest joy and greatest sorrow, are meant to carry us from sun up to sun down continually. The canticle of Simeon, which the Liturgy of the Hours designates as part of the Night Prayer, is an anthem of gratitude, and together these songs can bracket our goings and our comings, they can guide our days and nights, they can fill us with hope and trust in God.

  When we sit with Jeremiah 20:10-13, Psalm 18, and John 10:31-42 we can see how we too might sing canticles of praise for God’s providence as we move from dread to joy.

  I hear the whisperings of many: “Terror on every side!  Denounce!  let us denounce him!” All those who were my friends are on the watch for any misstep of mine . . . In my time of distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice . . . From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears . . . The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus.  Jesus answered them . . . “If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father”. Then they tried again to arrest him; but he escaped from their power.

  

  And so we pray . . .

  God is in his temple and he hears my voice, it reaches his ears . . . we are the temple in which God resides, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

  They tried again to arrest him; but he escaped from their power . . . we have nothing to fear when we walk in the way which is lighted by the light of Christ.

  Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord! For He has delivered the soul of the needy one . . . we have everything to gain when we live in God.

  As we begin our Advent journey, let us sing these canticles at dawn, at the setting of the sun, and when we lie down to rest. And as we escape from the power of terror’s grip and watch it melt away, let us turn to God in all things, in all ways, at all times . . . and let us sing our canticle of joy.  Amen.

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  Adapted from a reflection written on April 3, 2009.

  To explore these songs of praise and what they can mean to us, click on the images above or go to The Liturgy of the Hours page on this blog.

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  December 5, 2020

  Elizabeth and Mary, fixed hour prayer, God’s providence, Jeremiah 20:10-13, John 10:31-42, joy, Liturgy of the Hours, praise, Psalm 18, restoration, Simeon, Zechariah

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• God as Promise

  
  

  Tuesday, Christmas Day, December 25, 2012

  The Infancy and Childhood Narrative – Luke 1:5-2:52

  

  God as Promise

  From the HARPERCOLLINS BIBLE COMMENTARY: “To speak of God keeping promises is to be reminded that the central characters in Luke-Acts is God.  Some Christian writings are so Christocentric that in reading them one tends to forget what Luke does not forget: the story of salvation is God’s story.  God led Israel; God inspired prophets; God sent John the Baptist; God sent Jesus; God raised up Jesus; and God sends the Holy Spirit.  God is at work through persons, nations, political leaders, laws and institutions.  Since God continues to lead and to work the divine purpose, Luke neither longs for nor looks for nor calls the church back to a golden age of Jesus or of the early church, but shows that each time and place has its own appropriateness in the plan of God”.  (Mays 928)

  On this Christmas Day as we celebrate the arrival of God’s visible sign of promise in our midst . . .

  Let us remember to thank God for all that we have, for all that we wish to be and for all that we are. 

  Let us praise God for all that we hope, all that we believe and for all that we find the courage to do in the Spirit. 

  Let us continue to follow where God leads, let us continue to do as God asks, and let us continue to work the divine purpose.

  Mays, James L., ed.  HARPERCOLLINS BIBLE COMMENTARY. New York, New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1988. 928. Print.

  For more on this painting go the Background Image page on this blog at: https://thenoontimes.com/background-image/

  39.533225 -76.430369

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  December 25, 2012

  celebrate, divine purpose, following God, praise, The Infancy and Childhood Narrative

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• Cause for Joy

  
  

  Monday, December 17, 2012 – Philippians 4 – Cause for Joy

  If we observe the lighting of an Advent wreath, we know that the third candle celebrates the coming of joy.  Yesterday was Gaudete or Rejoice Sunday.  I can remember as a child anticipating this special day with almost as much delight as Christmas – salvation is nearly upon us!  And there are precious few days between now and the day we celebrate Christ’s birth. There is very little time to prepare the way of the Lord.  So despite any turmoil or grief or chaos we might be experiencing in our lives . . . still we pause to rejoice as St. Paul writes to the Philippians as we heard read out to us today: Rejoice in the Lord always.  I shall say it again: rejoice!  Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near.  Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.  Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me.  Then the God of peace will be with you. 

  Verses 4 through 9 of this Chapter of Paul’s letter to the faithful in Philippi form a beautiful anthem to joy.  He told the Philippians, and he tells us today, that no matter our circumstances there is cause for joy.  We have only to acknowledge that God is with us. 

  God created each of us beautiful in his image; yet life can degenerate quickly and seemingly without cause.  Even in the darkest of times, there is cause for joy in that God abides and does not abandon the faithful.  Paul gives us a formula for peace and joy.

  When we find ourselves amidst lies and liars, let us remain true.

  When we find ourselves in difficult situations, let us remain honorable.

  When we find ourselves in an unholy environment, let us remain pure.

  When things around us have become ugly and dangerous, let us remain lovely.

  When people around us are demeaning and cruel, let us remain gracious.

  When others encourage us to get by with little, let us strive for excellence. 

  When the world appears to embody all that is bleak, let us praise God for his abiding presence in all circumstances.

  When the remnant gathers to huddle in a small ray of light that speaks to the darkness, let us persevere with the faithful. 

  In doing all of this, we will find peace and have cause for joy.  And this peace and joy will be with us as they are with God. 

  Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me.  Then the God of peace will be with you.

  To read more about the third, or pink candle on the Advent Wreath, click on the image above or go to: http://frtim.wordpress.com/2011/12/09/whats-up-with-the-pink-candle/

  Written on March 5, 2010.  Re-written and posted today as a Favorite.

  39.533225 -76.430369

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  December 17, 2012

  excellence, God’s peace, graciousness, joy, loveliness, praise, purity

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