The Pull of God - Week 5

‘The Pull Of God’ – A Lenten reflection series adapted with permission from PrayerBench.ca
Reflection
We are mid-Lent now. Our imagery shifts from desert to garden.
The cross is always before us. The Mystery of Easter is always at our back.
When many things seem to be crumbling around us, we look for what is solid and will ground us.
We bravely sing songs of hope and deliverance, even with wavering voice.
We may not always have peace of mind, yet the Wisdom way deepens trust and faith.
With hope, our hearts open in love to suffering and brokenness as much as to joy and beauty.
In this last part of Lent, let us face Godward in hope.
Theologian and advocate for justice, the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber remembers how his grandmother taught him hope is a verb. He writes:
“She and some of the other sisters from the church would make up some to-go plates and, with their aprons still on, head out the door to visit the sick and shut-in. ‘We going to hope somebody,’ Grandmama would say.”
He thought her grammar was bad until a time came when he needed someone “to hope” him and he felt the power of hope as a verb.
Before you listen to our scripture today, work with hope as a verb.
Think into a time when someone came “to hope” you.
Recall a time when you came together with others “to hope” other.
Imagine what it feels like, inside and out, “to be hoped.”
 
Spiritual Practice  - praying the Scripture
Today we will combine our spiritual practice and scripture reading, by taking a moment to prayerfully listen to the scripture from Isaiah 51:1-8, in this beautiful 10-minute video from Janice, author of The Prayer Bench.
https://vimeo.com/686828535
 
May you be moved by hope this week.
Peace, Rev. Gail