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Dominican Preaching through Word and Image
What a Blessing a Few Days at a Ranch Can Be!
In Saturday’s First Reading from the Prophet Jeremiah we read,
I will appoint over you shepherds after my own heart,
who will shepherd you wisely and prudently.
– Jeremiah 3:15
How fortunate I have been to recently spend some time at Rafter 7 Ranch, a working sheep ranch. Besides being a fun and relaxing experience, I had the opportunity to capture many shots of the sheep. Even more wonderful was the opportunity to feed them.
Continuing the Theme of the Prophet Micah
The Persian Sufi Bayazid does not quote the Prophet Micah. Nonetheless, his words reflect the same meaning, and encourage us to live with generosity, compassion, and humility.
The Friend of God has these three qualities:
a generosity like that of the ocean,
a compassion like that of the sun, and
a humility like that of the earth.
– Bayazid
A Follow-up to the Prophet Micah
On Monday I posted about the day’s reading from Micah 6, and now I came across a quote from The Talmud that expands on it.
Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief.
Do justly, now.
Love mercy, now.
Walk humbly, now.
You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.
We can feel overwhelmed at times, so much so that we are paralyzed, not knowing where to begin. As the Talmud suggests, let us, now, begin with what is before us.
Our Faithful, Forgiving God
The Prophet Micah continues with words of comfort today, reminding us of God’s faithfulness and forgiveness.
You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins.
Micah 7:14-15, 18-20
Shepherd your people with your staff,
The flock of your inheritance,
That dwells apart in a woodland,
In the midst of Carmel.
Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old;
as in the days when you came from the land of Egypt,
show us wonderful signs.
Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt
And pardons sin for the remnant of God’s inheritance;
Who does not persist in anger forever,
But delights rather in clemency,
And will again have compassion on us,
Treading underfoot our guilt?
You will cast into the depths of the sea
All our sins;
You will show faithfulness to Jacob,
And grace to Abraham,
As you have sworn to our ancestors
From days of old.
An Important Word from the Prophet Micah
Today’s reading from the Prophet Micah is one of my favorites. If we could but follow his simple admonition we would be able to see much more clearly that we are now living in the Reign of God . . . knowing that it is truly, as Jesus said, at hand.
And what the Lord requires of you:
Only to do the right and to love goodness,
and to walk humbly with your God.
-Micah 6:8
God Desires that We Be Free from Fear
Sunday’s first reading is from chapter 23 of the Prophet Jeremiah. We are again reminded that God desires for us to be safe and free from fear. We can be free from fear and anxiety when we rest in God’s love and desire for us.
I myself will gather the remnant of my flock from all the lands to which I have driven them
and bring them back to their meadow; there they shall increase and multiply.
I will appoint shepherds for them who will shepherd them so that they need no longer fear and tremble;
and none shall be missing, says the LORD.
How Will You Choose to Live?
There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle.
The other is as though everything is a miracle.
– Albert Einstein
How will you choose to live?
Wise Words from Annie Dillard
The creation is not a study, a roughed-in sketch; it is supremely, meticulously created, created abundantly, extravagantly, and in fine….Even on the perfectly ordinary and clearly visible level, creation carries on with an intricacy unfathomable and apparently uncalled for.
– Annie Dillard
Pilgrim at Tinker’s Creek
Wise Words from Helen Keller
So much has been given to me; I have no time to ponder over that which has been denied.
– Helen Keller
Would that we could all put this into practice.
Wise Words from Aristotle
It is no wonder that Aristotle was a source of inspiration to Saint Thomas Aquinas. This is a truth that transcends all time and all faiths.
In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.
– Aristotle
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