The Living Spirit - May 17th
“The coronavirus is offering us a chance to change the world. As the human family, let us live out the Resurrection of our Lord by seizing the moment and creating something different, something which glorifies our God.”
Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town
(You can read the whole of Archbishop’s thoughts on his website, in the sermon for Easter 4)
From 1 Chronicles 16:
"Sing to the Lord all the earth;
Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.
Tell of His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised;
He also is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the Lord made the heavens.
Splendour and majesty are before Him,
Strength and joy are in His place.
Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come before Him;
Worship the Lord in holy array.
Tremble before Him, all the earth;
Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
And let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
“The coronavirus is offering us a chance to change the world. As the human family, let us live out the Resurrection of our Lord by seizing the moment and creating something different, something which glorifies our God.”
Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town
(You can read the whole of Archbishop’s thoughts on his website, in the sermon for Easter 4)
From 1 Chronicles 16:
"Sing to the Lord all the earth;
Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.
Tell of His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised;
He also is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the Lord made the heavens.
Splendour and majesty are before Him,
Strength and joy are in His place.
Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come before Him;
Worship the Lord in holy array.
Tremble before Him, all the earth;
Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
And let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
The Living Spirit - May 10th
By standing still, we rediscover the present moment, the instant given us here and now. This is the true reality of time. It points to the true reality of ourselves, of our life. As human beings we live only in the present. But we are always tempted to remain attached to a past that is no more, or to project ourselves toward a future that is not yet - and perhaps never will be.
Maurio- Giuseppe Lepori, OCist
Psalm 46:
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Come, behold the works of the LORD,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah"
Maurio- Giuseppe Lepori, OCist
Psalm 46:
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Come, behold the works of the LORD,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah"
The Living Spirit - May 3rd
"When we enter into contemplative prayer, the crowd will not go away. The worries and anguish we bring to our prayer do not disappear miraculously. But the noise decreases. We go to pay attention to something more important. The voice of God comes to the stage... The practice of prayer trains our heart to hear and our eyes to see the pattern of God's speech. The practice of prayer brings forward kindness and makes the noisy cry of our fears and desires become "background music ". To describe what we do as a "prayer practice" serves as a reminder that none of us is specialist in this."
Cézar Fernandes Alves is at Diocese Anglicana de São Paulo, from the ALMA website
From Hebrews 10:
"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."
"When we enter into contemplative prayer, the crowd will not go away. The worries and anguish we bring to our prayer do not disappear miraculously. But the noise decreases. We go to pay attention to something more important. The voice of God comes to the stage... The practice of prayer trains our heart to hear and our eyes to see the pattern of God's speech. The practice of prayer brings forward kindness and makes the noisy cry of our fears and desires become "background music ". To describe what we do as a "prayer practice" serves as a reminder that none of us is specialist in this."
Cézar Fernandes Alves is at Diocese Anglicana de São Paulo, from the ALMA website
From Hebrews 10:
"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."
The Living Spirit - April 26th
"Easter was when Hope in person surprised the whole world by coming forward from the future into the present."
Tom Wright
Excerpts from Hebrews 10
"Let brotherly love continue.
Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.
So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his
will, working in you that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever".
"Easter was when Hope in person surprised the whole world by coming forward from the future into the present."
Tom Wright
Excerpts from Hebrews 10
"Let brotherly love continue.
Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.
So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his
will, working in you that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever".
The Living Spirit - April 19th
"Easter says you can put truth in a grave, but it won't stay there."
Clarence W. Hall
From Corinthians 15:
"Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive."
"Easter says you can put truth in a grave, but it won't stay there."
Clarence W. Hall
From Corinthians 15:
"Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive."
The Living Spirit - April 12th
“Bad times, hard times, this is what people keep saying; but let us live well, and times shall be good. We are the times: Such as we are, such are the times."
St. Augustine, Sermons
From James 1:
" Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
1Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures."
“Bad times, hard times, this is what people keep saying; but let us live well, and times shall be good. We are the times: Such as we are, such are the times."
St. Augustine, Sermons
From James 1:
" Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
1Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures."
The Living Spirit - April 5th
LOCKDOWN MOZAMBICAN STYLE:
*L.O.C.K.D.O.W.N* - is a time to...
*L*-isten to God's voice and reflect.
*O*-bey His word and His teachings.
*C*-all on Jesus name and be calmed.
*K*-now what is the purpose of all this.
*D*-well in His presence. Do not panic.
*O*-ffer a prayer for everyone's safety.
*W*-ait and be patient. This too shall passover.
*N*-uture our personal relationship with God.
From the Diocese of Niassa
“There is not a moment in which God does not present Himself under the cover of some pain to be endured, of some consolation to be enjoyed, or of some duty to be performed. All that takes place within us, around us, or through us, contains and conceals His divine action.”
Jean-Pierre de Caussade, Abandonment to Divine Providence
(One of Chris’ top spiritual reading choices)
From The Gospel of John Ch.14
"These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father."
LOCKDOWN MOZAMBICAN STYLE:
*L.O.C.K.D.O.W.N* - is a time to...
*L*-isten to God's voice and reflect.
*O*-bey His word and His teachings.
*C*-all on Jesus name and be calmed.
*K*-now what is the purpose of all this.
*D*-well in His presence. Do not panic.
*O*-ffer a prayer for everyone's safety.
*W*-ait and be patient. This too shall passover.
*N*-uture our personal relationship with God.
From the Diocese of Niassa
“There is not a moment in which God does not present Himself under the cover of some pain to be endured, of some consolation to be enjoyed, or of some duty to be performed. All that takes place within us, around us, or through us, contains and conceals His divine action.”
Jean-Pierre de Caussade, Abandonment to Divine Providence
(One of Chris’ top spiritual reading choices)
From The Gospel of John Ch.14
"These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father."
Pope Francis Urbi et Orbi 27.3.20