Meditations

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

“Why is there so little anxiety to get time to pray? Why is there so little forethought in the laying out of time and employments so as to secure a large portion of each day for prayer?

Why is there so much speaking, yet so little prayer? Why is there so much running to and fro, yet so little prayer? Why so much bustle and business, yet so little prayer? Why so many meetings with our fellow men, yet so few meetings with God?

Why so little being alone, so little thirsting of the soul for the calm, sweet hours of unbroken solitude, when God and His child hold fellowship together as if they could never part?

It is the want of these solitary hours that not only injures our own growth in grace but makes us such unprofitable members of the Church of Christ, and that renders our lives useless.”

Horatius Bonar (1808-1889) in “Time For Everything But Prayer” from Winners of Souls in Celtic Daily Prayer (New York: Harper Collins, 2002) 315.

Bonar was a Scottish preacher who exhorted people to avoid rendering their lives useless by being people of prayer. It’s a powerful notion to think that if we are not spending much time in prayer that our contribution, our lives, are useless.

How much time do you spend in prayer each day?

One thing with Covid is that my physical capacities are diminished. My mind is a bit hazy at times too. But I am learning that I can pray. Often when I do I sense God whispering to me in reply as I sit in stillness. His words are filled with peace and hope.

God help me grow more faithful in prayer so that I may be more useful for you. Amen.

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14

The world gives itself
up to incessant activity
merely because
it knows nothing
better.
The inspired man
works among
its whirring wheels
also, but he knows
wither the wheels
are going.
For he has found
the centre
where all is
stillness.

Paul Brunton in Celtic Daily Prayer (New York: Harper Collins, 2002) 303.

As servants of God, we can give ourselves to incessant activity, trying to advance our purposes or aiming to control our destiny. Or, we can take another path, an inspired one, which leads to peace and generosity. Why? How? When we know and trust the One is is in control and who fights for us, we can rest. Despite difficulty, even Covid, we can have peace and we can bless others with the blessings we receive. The Lord is with us in the center, the eye of the hurricane. He fights for us. We need only be still.

Come to our aid Lord, we who suffer. Our hope is in You all day long.

Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have worked salvation for Him. The Lord has made His salvation known and revealed His righteousness to the nations. He has remembered His love and His faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Psalm 98:1-3

Before we hear Caedmon’s song, read these keen comments that Edward Spencer, a faithful Daily Meditations reader, sent me after reading yesterday’s post.

Spencer writes, “I find it ironic that the song…it’s melody and words…were not revealed to Caedmon until he started to sing. God calls us to get up and walk into our infirmities before He reveals the pathway forward. He calls us to engagement with Him first, in faith and compelling trust, and then reveals the beauty of His full and eternal presence. Prevenient grace poured out in unlimited abundance. He stands at the door and knocks, but each of us must move to open the door, and then be transformed. Before we can fully give, we must fully receive. In the receiving, we learn how abundantly we can give – and never exhaust the abundance of what we have been given.”

Spot on, Edward! Now, as promised yesterday, here are the words of Caedmon’s song, entitled, “Prayers about becoming a voice for those who have no voice.”

“I cannot speak,
unless You loose my tongue;
I only stammer,
and I speak uncertainly;
but if You touch my mouth,
my Lord,
then I will sing the story
of Your wonders!

Teach me to hear that story,
through each person,
to cradle a sense of wonder
in their life,
to honor the hard-earned wisdom
of their sufferings,
to waken their joy
that the King of kings
stoops down
to wash their feet,
and looking up
into their face says,
‘I know–I understand.’

This world has become
a world of broken dreams
where dreamers are hard to find
and friends are few.

Lord, be the gatherer of our dreams.
You set the countless stars in place,
and found room for each of them to shine.
You listen for us in Your heaven-bright hall.
Open our mouths to tell our tales of wonder.

Teach us again the greatest story ever;
the One who made the worlds
became a little, helpless child,
then grew to be a carpenter
with deep, far-seeing eyes.

In time, the Carpenter began to travel,
in every village challenging the people
to leave behind their selfish ways,
be washed in living water,
and let God be their King.

The ordinary people crowded round Him,
frightened to miss
a word that He was speaking,
bringing their friends, their children,
all the sick and tired,
so everyone could meet Him,
everyone be touched and given life.

Some religious people were embarassed
— they did not like the company He kept,
and never knew just what He would do next.

He said,
‘How dare you wrap God up
in good behavior,
and tell the poor that they
should be like you?
How can you live at ease
with riches and success,
while those I love go hungry
and are oppressed?
It really is for such a time as this
that I was given breath.’

His words were dangerous,
not safe or tidy.

In secret His opponents said:
‘It surely would be better that
one person die.’
‘I think that would be better
if he could.’
Expediency would be the very death of Him.
He died because they thought it might be good.

You died that we might be forgiven,
Lord; but that was not the end.
You plundered death,
and made its jail-house shudder
— strode into life
to meet Your startled friends.

I have a dream
that all the world will meet You,
and know you, Jesus,
in Your living power
that someday soon
all people everywhere will hear Your story,
and hear it in a way they understand.

I cannot speak,
unless You loose my tongue;
I only stammer,
and I sopeak uncertainly;
but if you touch my mouth,
my Lord,
then I will sing the story
of Your wonders!

So many who have heard
forget to tell the story.

Here I am, my Jesus:
teach me.”

Caedmon of Whitby (? – 680) in Celtic Daily Prayer (New York: Harper Collins, 2002) 198-201.

Powerful and pointed is the song God put to His lips. Soak in it.

For those who want to grow in generosity, we must not miss the fact that the song is the gospel, and at the heart of the gospel is this truth: “How can you live at ease with riches and success, while those I love go hungry and are oppressed?”

Our living must demonstrate care for the hungry and oppressed.

In my work with GTP, God is opening my eyes to serve the spiritually hungry and culturally oppressed both near and far. I tend to attune to those crying for help from afar, and even forget the needs of family, friends, and voices close by.

God desires that we hear the story from those around us as this shapes our song.

Hild wanted everyone to hear Caedmon’s song. Likewise, we must learn from people near and far to know the gospel and to live it out in a way that shows the renunciation of cultural trappings and the embracing of the spiritually and materially poor. In so doing, I realize how poor I am.

Ironically, I find richness is only in sharing what God gives me, just like Caedmon.

Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. Psalm 96:1

“Caedmon loved to listen. Music thrilled him, and other people’s stories, songs, and ballads carried him along as helplessly as a small boat on a rising tide. But he couldn’t play a note in tune. If he tried to join in with a song when he was a child everyone else was unable to keep singing. Besides he could never remember any words. He couldn’t even tell a joke and get it right. His head got all confused, and the words tumbled out back to front.

So a night like tonight was tortue for him. Heaven and hell, that’s what it was. To hear each person share a song, to listen to the music of the harp as it was passed along, strummed by one, touched gently by another — nothing could be sweeter. But the nearer it came to Caedmon’s turn, the more a sickness rose from his stomach and his bowels stirred uneasily. At the last possible moment, he ran out of the hall.

Once outside, he went straight to the cattle shed to check on his beasts, then threw himself down on his bed and passed into a fitful sleep. In his dreams a man stood before him. ‘Sing for me, Caedmon,’ he said. ‘Sing for me.’ ‘I can’t sing,’ Caedmon protested. ‘Why do you think I’m out here in the cattle shed, instead of inside at the feast?’ ‘Sing anyway. Sing for me.’ ‘I don’t know what to sing.’ ‘Sing about the beginning of the world, and sing about creation.’

So Caedmon sang a song of praise to the Guardian of heaven, the Father of glory. And in his dream he was able to sing a song so beautiful that it could make you cry. When he awoke, the song was still with him, and he sang it for God and for himself. He sang it for the steward of all the farmlands of the abbey. He sang it for the Abbess Hild herself when the steward told her what happened. He sang it for all the scholars and holy men and women of the abbey whom the Lady Hild had called for. He sang it for the people of Whitby and everyone in the countryside round about.

Now someone else looked after the cattle, while whoever could read aloud translated the Scriptures for Caedmon. Each night he sang aloud the things he had heard until a new song was prepared, explaining the Bible to his people in their own language. And for the rest of his life his mouth spoke out the truths that filled his heart.”

Caedmon of Whitby (? – 680) in Celtic Daily Prayer (New York: Harper Collins, 2002) 197-198.

Tomorrow I will share the prayers he sang for God that are attributed to him. So this is one of those “to be continued” posts.

But first, let us pause and get the gravity of what happened to this humble chap who watched over the cattle of the Abbey in Whitby. God had a purpose for a humble guy who could neither read nor sing. He had to overcome his fears, his lack of confidence and ability, and sing the new song God gave him.

What song has God given you to sing?

At present, I am singing one word over and over as I navigate COVID. It’s grace. God’s unmerited favor, His mercy and and blessing, is the greatest gift this old sinner who is suffering back pain and COVID could ever dream of receiving.

The irony is that we don’t just receive it but we get it to overflowing to share with others. It’s a song, like Caedmon’s song. And don’t miss that the song is not just for God, it’s for you and me. When we sing the unique song God gives us, we both glorify Him, and we find our place, our purpose.

Like the piccolo in the William Tell overture, every part matters. You matter. I matter. Whether or not you can carry a tune in a bucket, play an instrument, read or write, God has a part for you. It will likely take you out of your comfort zone to find it.

Together, like Caedmon, when we sing our song, we make known God’s generosity to the world. When they see it they know it is not us at work but God at work. They want others to hear it as well. Stay tuned to hear his songs tomorrow. In the meantime, ask God what your song might be.

Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:15-16

“Ninian returned to Scotland after traveling and studying in Europe. At Whithorn he and a team of skilled builders built a gleaming white stone monastery which became famous throughout the land for education, prayer, and mission.

Sometimes he liked to visit the shepherds and herdsman who tended the flocks and cattle belonging to the monastery. Once he had all the animals gathered into one place so that he could pray a blessing on them. Last of all, he came to the cattle, and with his staff drew around them a circle of protection. Everyone ate, listened to Ninian, then went off to their sleep. The cattle remained, and were noticed by thieves. No wall. No hedge. No ditch. No barking dogs! Just lots of cattle waiting to be carried away!

The thieves rushed inside the circle that Ninian had drawn. The bull of the herd rushed at the men and, attacking their leader, pierced his belly with its horns so that the entrails were torn from him. The bull’s hoof tore at the earth and dug its imprint into a stone there, so that the place became known as ‘The Bull’s Print’. Meanwhile Ninian, finishing his prayer, came past that place as saw the man lying dead and the other thieves running hither and thither nearly. He prayed to God to restore the man to life and health, and did not cease his tears and entreaties till it was so. The other thieves had found themselves unable to leave the confines of the circle until, begging Ninian’s forgiveness and being scolded by him, he bade them depart. And only then could they cross the circle.

Prayers for the blessing of the land and of life

As gulls in hunger’s flight keep to the boat’s track, may we follow in Ninian’s wake.

As we hunger and thirst for truth, may we follow in Ninian’s wake.

May we sound the depths of love for Ninian’s and for Christ’s sake

In the strong name of Jesus, we bless all that is living, and recognize in all that lives the reflection of the Word who said, ‘Let there be life and it lives.’

Teach us to care for all that is entrusted to us and nurture every sign of your presence.

Circle our dear ones in Your love and blessing; and protect us all from evil and from danger.

Give us open eyes to see beyond what others say is possible. Give us the insight to recognize and name deceit.

May the blessing of our love and our strong joy in blessing call out new growth in everyone we know and meet.

Give us a generosity that pushes back the boundaries for even death by You has been defeated. With all our powers we find our power in You.

The light shines on, and life is lived in You.

Ninian of Whithorn (360-432) in Celtic Daily Prayer (New York: Harper Collins, 2002) 194-196.

The stories and prayers of the Celtic saints are so inspiring. Today’s post fills me with life, despite and aching back and other symptoms related to Covid. It has inspired me to draw circles around those entrusted to me, my family, the whole GTP team, the GTP global network, even the readers of Daily Meditations around the world.

I pray to the Father that these posts will “call out new growth in everyone” so that they too have faith to circle and bless others. I pray in the strong name of Jesus for “a generosity that pushes back the boundaries of even death” as He conquered it, delivering each one from harm and sickness (including Covid). And I pray that the Spirit will empower each of us to find power in God alone.

The light only shines through those with such power. In the name of the Holy Three, Empower my family, the GTP team, the GTP global network, and readers of Daily Meditations around the world for your glory to call out new growth, exhibit rich generosity, and find power to circle and bless all those they serve so their lives shine like light for your glory. Amen.

But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” Ruth 1:16

“Brendan is one of the best loved of all the Celtic saints. The story of his sea voyages has held a special fascination for every generation. In the accounts that have been handed down to us the distinction between actual events and interior vision and experiences is not always clear… The voyage of adventure is an appropriate analogy of the spiritual journey that each of us is challenged to undertake.

Part 1
Brendan’s companions notice that his heart has been stirred. He is caught by a vision. A place beyond his present shores is calling to his yearning spirit. Does he know with a certainty that he must go? ‘We will go with you,’ they say. ‘We will journey where you journey. Your God is our God – for life or death we follow.’ Brendan climbs the mountain alone and searches his heart to test the truth of what he feels. And this is Brendan’s mountain prayer.

Shall I abandon the comforts and benefits of my home,
seeking the island of promise our fathers knew long ago,
sail on the face of the deep where no riches or fame
or weapons protect you, and nobody honors your name?
Shall I take leave of my friends
and my beautiful native land,
tears in my eyes
as my knees mark my final prayer in the sand?
King of the mysteries, will You set watch over me?
Christ of the mysteries, can I trust You on the sea?

Christ of the heavens,
and Christ of the ravenous ocean wave,
I will hold fast to my course
Through the dangers I must brave.
King of the mysteries, angels will watch over me,
Christ of the mysteries, when I trust You on the sea.

Brendan’s example speaks to us each:
Have I the courage to leave the familiar
and journey to the unknown?
To journey beyond the way I have prayed,
the life I have lived, the sensible and the secure?
to trust God to take me beyond these familiar shores?

Christ of the mysteries, can I trust You on the sea?”

Brendan the Navigator (c.476-575) in Celtic Daily Prayer (New York: Harper Collins, 2002) 178-179.

This is only the beginning of Brendan’s mountain prayer but it touches on an idea that impacts our generosity. Can we, or rather, will we trust Christ? To pursue the adventures God has for each of us, we must either try to sort things by our own strength or put our trust in Christ.

In Brendan’s prayer he describes the place God is calling us to as “the deep where no riches or fame or weapons protect you, and nobody honors your name.” In this light, our generosity will be just what he supplies and accomplishes through us, and not anything we can plan or muster.

It comes through trusting Christ. While I won’t share the rest of Brendan’s prayer, what I will do is challenge you to join me in going out to the deep. Get out of your comfort zone. Trust Christ to guide, provide, and give you the security and fuel the generosity that He has planned for you.

As I shared last week, I hurt my back. It appears I have herniated another disc. If that’s not enough of a mountain to climb I contracted COVID. Pray for my family as Sophie (our daughter), Peter (our son in law), Jenni (my wife), and I are all COVID+. Christ, thanks that you are with us in our time of suffering.

News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. Acts 15:22-24

“It was Cuthbert’s custom to travel and preach, particularly in those remote districts and villages which were situated in high and rugged hills, which others shrank from visiting. Many miracles followed Cuthbert’s preaching, and he was given grace to see into people’s hearts. As a result, many were converted from a life of foolish custom to the love of the joys of of heaven…

After many years in the monastery he finally entered with great joy, and with the goodwill of the abbot and monks, into remoter solitude that he had so long sought, thirsted after, and prayed for. To learn the first steps of the solitude, he retired to a place in the outer precincts of the monastery. Not until he had first gained victory over our invisible enemy by solitary prayer and fasting, did he seek a more remote place on the island of Inner Farne.”

This prayer is referred to as his “prayer of commitment.”

In the true faith may we remain;
in Jesus may we find hope;
against exploitation of the poor may we help;
against our faults may we fight;
our bad habits abandon;
the name of our neighbor may we defend;
in the work of mercy may we advance;
those in misery may we help;
every danger of sin may we avoid;
in holy charity may we grow strong;
in the well of grace in confession may we wash;
may we deserve the help of the saints,
the friendship of our brother Cuthbert win.
Amen.

In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.”

Cuthbert of Northumbria (635-687) in Celtic Daily Prayer (New York: Harper Collins, 2002) 171-177.

Saints like Cuthbert remind me of Barnabas in the Acts of the Apostles. The driving power behind the ministry of Barnabas, according to Luke, was grace. The grace of God was at work in him. It inspired some to persevere in hard times and drew many others to faith.

Similarly, centuries later in the most remote parts of Northumbria, Cuthbert also traveled and ministered thanks to the grace of God at work in Him. In his prayer of commitment we discern further that in solitude he found the well of grace. Have you located this well?

For us to grow in Christian generosity, we must visit the well of grace. In solitude we must be filled with the unmerited kindness and love of God, which flows at the well of grace in abundance. It blesses those around us and leads many to faith.

Father, fill us from your well of grace.

Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him. Truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken. Psalm 62:1-2

“Hild founded the great double monestary at Whitby (where men and women lived side by side under her rule), and there she was sought out for her wise counsel by ordinary folk and rulers alike.”

This excerpt comes from her prayer entitled “Wrestling with the call of God”

“Take me often from the tumult of things into thy presence.
There show me what I am and what thou has purposed for me to be.
Then hide me from Thy tears.

O King and Savior, what is thy gift to me?
And do I use it to thy pleasing?

Now we must praise the guardian of heaven, the might of the Lord and His purpose of mind.
The glorious all Father, for He, God eternal, is kind.

The will of God be done by us,
the law of God be kept by us.
Our evil be controlled by us,
our sharp tongue checked by us.
Quick forgiveness offered by us,
speedy repentence made by us.
Temptation sternly shunned by us,
blessed death welcomed by us,
angel’s music heard by us.
God’s highest praises sung by us.

Christ, You are the Truth;
You are the Light.

You are the Keeper of the treasure
we seek so blindly.

My soul’s desire is to see the face of God
and to rest in His house.
My soul’s desire is to study the Scriptures
and to learn the ways of God.
My soul’s desire is to be freed from all fear and sadness
and to share Christ’s risen life.
My soul’s desire is to imitate my King,
and to sing His purposes always.
My soul’s desire is to enter the gates of heaven
and to gaze opon the light that shines forever.

Dear Lord, You along know what my soul truly desires,
and You alone can satisfy those desires.

I have prepared a place for you.
Says the Lord, a place that is for you,
And only you to fill.
Approach My table, asking first that you might serve.
Look even for the lowest tasks.
Then, the work of service done,
you may look for your own place at the table.
But do not seek the most important seat
which may be reserved for someone else.
In the place of My appointing will be your joy.

Lord, show me the right seat;
find me the fitting task;
Give me the willing heart.

May I be equal to Your hope of me.
If I am weak,
I ask you to send only what I can bear.
If I am strong,
may I shrink from no testing
that shall yield increase of strength
or win security for my spirit.

I trust in Thee, O Lord.
I say, ‘Thou art my God.
My times are in Thy hand,
my times are in Thy hand.”

Hild of Whitby (614-680) in Celtic Daily Prayer (New York: Harper Collins, 2002) 167-170.

Today is our 29th anniversary. This post seemed fitting as Jenni is much like Hild. People seek spiritual counsel from her. She, like Hild, points people to journey with God in a beautiful way.

Only when we receive everything from God, including our calling, as a gift, can we live generously year after year. Someday we will all assume the place prepared for us and take our seat at the table.

In the meantime, the journey requires a willing heart to serve. When we do what God desires and when we entrust our times in God’s hands we impact the community God gives us like Hild (or Jenni) for His glory.

Show me, LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. Psalm 39:4

“Chad and his brothers were early pupils in Aiden’s school of Lindisfarne. Chad continued his studies by journeying to Ireland; but when his brother Cedd died, he returned to take his place as abbot of Lastingham. Then for a time he was bishop at York, but was soon removed over a technicality. This he accepted with no reproach, and was sent instead as bishop to the people of Mercia. At that time, Chad spoke warily of the honor of being recognized as a bishop: ‘I never thought myself worthy of it,’ he said, ‘but, though unworthy, I consented to undertake it for obedience’s sake.’ Even as a bishop he lived in a small cell and travelled barefoot. His obvious simplicity embarrassed Bishop Theodore of Canterbury, who often urged Chad to ride, not walk. Once he was so frustrated that he bodily lifted Chad onto a horse and sent him on his journey! For just three years Chad lived among the Mercians as their bishop, and then he died. Addressing his community, he urged them always to be prepared for death, ‘for death may call for us any time.'”

Chad of Litchfield (c. 634-672) in Celtic Daily Prayer (New York: Harper Collins, 2002) 162.

Only when we embrace how short and fleeting life is, do we grasp how to live each day to the fullest. Chad of Litchfield models the way for us. He lived with obvious simplicity, and he also urged those around him to always be prepared to meet the Lord.

When Chad ascended to the post of bishop, he rejected special treatment, but served in obedience. And when sent to serve among the mighty pagan people of the Midlands, known as the Mercians, we learn that he won them not by power by with simplicity and humility.

May our generous service follow Chad’s example. God help us appear with humble simplicity and always be prepared to meet you face to face. Each of us will have to give an account for our lives before God. Now is the time to prepare for that day.

I am thinking of the brevity and fragility of life today. I am battling back pain. Think: ice, stretch, walk, repeat. On top of that, our daughter Sophie just tested positive for COVID. At present she has a headache, fatigue, and fever. Hopefully she will recover soon. Lord have mercy.

In her honor I must quote J.R.R. Tolkien from The Lord of the Rings. “Frodo: I wish the Ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened. Gandalf: So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”

God, help us choose wisely how to use the time given us. Let us be people whose generous service exhibits obvious simplicity and always live ready to meet You. May we embrace good gifts as well as cups of suffering knowing that nothing happens to us outside your love and care. Amen.

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” Mark 10:51

“Many legends and few facts survive about this Irish woman who founded a community of Kildare, primarily for women. She was famed for her generosity and hospitality, and her influence was widespread; but she remained eminently practical.

As a young woman, Brigid was in the habit of giving freely of her father’s possessions and food to the poor and needy. Her father became so frustrated that he decided to sell her to the king and bundled her into his chariot. He left her at the castle gate while he consulted with the king, and Brigid was approached by a beggar asking for alms. She gave him her father’s sword. Brigid’s father and the king were so amazed, and the king said he could not buy her from her father: ‘She’s too good for me — I could never win her obedience.’

Once Brigid was teh guest at a house where lepers came begging for food. Brigid could find no one about but a young dumb boy. She asked him for the key to the kitchen. He turned to her and was able to say, ‘I know where it is kept,’ and together they fetched food and attended to the guests.

Brigid led a group of women who had decided to become holy nuns, and she asked Bishop Mel to bless their taking of the veil. Brigid held back out of humility, but the bishop saw the Spirit of God desceneded upon her, he said, ‘I have no power in this matter. God has ordained Brigid.’ And so it came to pass that by the intervention of the Holy Spirit the form of ordaining a bishop was read over Brigid.

A poor leper came to Brigid one day and asked her for a cow. Brigid looked at him and asked, ‘Which would you rather — to take a copw or to be healed of your leprosy? The man chose ‘I would rather be healed than own all the cows in the world.’ So Brigid prayed, stretched out her hand, and the leper was made whole.”

Brigid of Kildare (c. 450-523) in Celtic Daily Prayer (New York: Harper Collins, 2002) 144-145.

I love reading these historical accounts. This one celebrates Brigid and her reckless and radical faith. It struck me that in giving away her Father’s things for those in need she was embodying the childlike and generous faith Jesus calls us to exhibit. The post about her in this wonderful little book, ends with this prayer.

May God our Father, our strength and light, bless you with what you most need, beyond even all you would ask. For the weather is always right for the sowing of good seed.

So rich to be able to ask our Father for what we most need, which is beyond what we often ask for. What do you need today? Like the leper, I pray we will ask big. And do you have the courage to give away your Father’s possessions to those in need? I pray like Brigid we will be reckless and radical in our generosity.