O lead my spirit;
O raise it from these heavy depths,
Transported by thy Art
That fearlessly and joyfully it soar up to thee.
For thou, thou knowest all things,
Thou alone canst inspire.
---Beethoven---

St. Barnabas

Today is the feast day for St. Barnabas, whose name means “Son of Encouragement.” Barnabas was St. Paul’s partner in mission for many years until their association was broken by a disagreement about Mark, who had left the mission to return to Jerusalem. Paul then took up with Silas. But Barnabas and Mark went to Cyprus, where he is traditionally honored as the founder of the church.

Barnabas was known as a faithful person – both as a friend and as a believer. His disagreement with Paul over Mark may have been because Barnabas was the more merciful of the two: he recognized that Mark was young and not ready for the hardships of the missionary life, while Paul felt that Mark should “tough it out.” In the long run, Barnabas’ mercy proved to be the right attitude: Mark became a valuable apostle, and worked with Barnabas in many endeavors.

Collect for St. Barnabas:

Grant, O God, that we may follow the example of your faithful servant Barnabas, who, seeking not his own renown but the well-being of your Church, gave generously of his life and substance for the relief of the poor and the spread of the Gospel: through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. AMEN.

Obedience
If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words,
shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town.
Matthew 10:14

This passage from Matthew often causes people to feel some conflict about what Jesus is asking the disciples to do. Is He really advocating simply abandoning those who won’t hear the word? That image of Jesus doesn’t quite jive with the lover of humankind-always forgiving, always inviting.

But let us remember that Jesus was giving this instruction to disciples, human beings, you and me. We are people of limited energy and even more limited vision. God has the whole picture, and as we are able to see the edges of the vision we are invited to participate in God’s plan.

We are not called to enlighten everyone-that was Jesus’ call. We are, however, asked to focus on those that God is giving us. The ones who come to us are the ones that God sends. Our responsibility is to be obedient to the call that we hear, rather than trying to save all those that we think need saving.

Which brings us to the subject of obedience.

Obedience is a monastic vow and a Christian virtue. In the monastic structure, especially as outlined by the Benedictine Rule, there are known channels for practicing obedience. For those of us living on the "outside", however, we may wonder about how to exercise the virtue of obedience.

Obeying figures of authority and human spiritual guides is fraught with stumbling blocks. Obedience is not about a cult of personality or the idea that one person knows more than another. Obedience is about doing the will of God.

We need to practice reflection and listening in our human communities as we contemplate how our actions fit into the will of God.

Some call this mirror obedience. Leaders listen to the community and the community listens to the leaders. Within the listening a sharp arrow of truth is revealed which everyone recognizes.

The community of listening, in this case, becomes a sensitive compass, which enables us to perceive true north and then move toward it.

St. Benedict shows us that obedience is the step off point to even greater attributes. We note from the opening paragraph of the Prologue that it is the labour of obedience that will bring us back to the Lord from whom we have drifted.

As Jesus told His disciples, ‘Blessed is the one who hears the word of God and keeps it’ (Lk11:28).
The Benedictine Oblate Newsletter-St. Gregory Chapter

Obedience is our guide to returning to the center. As we listen, together and alone, for God’s word, we shed self-direction and move into God direction.

As we move God ward we find that we have also begun to move deeper into the heart of who we really are-beloved and lovely sons and daughters of the Divine.

Don’t shortchange your inheritance, Dear Ones. Be obedient to the One who sees your true heart.

Blessings, Debra

O God, help me to see as far as I can
and then trust you beyond my sight;
I ask to know your will and way,
and for your strength to do and to follow it, day by day.

Daily Morning Prayer:
http://www.episcopalchurchingarrettcounty.org/churchonthewebpage.htm

This Week at St. James:

Saturday: 11:00 Laura Brecht’s ordination at the Cathedral Sunday: Laura will preach at both services. Wednesday: 8:30 Healing Eucharist; 10:30 Funeral for Ruth Ann Coleman

Prayers Etc.

For the repose of the soul of Ruth Ann Coleman, and for her family who mourn.

For those on our prayer list:
Alexa; David; Arabella; Brittany; Owen; Jennifer D.
Rob C.; Andrew; Jason; Donna & Jim; Larry
Mimi & Poppa B.; Betsy; Mary S.; Todd; Vicki T.
Ray W.; Cathy A.; Carol W.; Charles R.; Dolores; Sherry
Charlie B.

For Laura and her upcoming ordination to the transitional deaconate.
For those who are deployed and their families.

In Closing:

Dear Lord,
We give you our hands to do your work;
We give you our feet to go your way;
We give you our eyes to see as you see;
We give you our tongues to speak your words;
We give you our minds that you may think in us;
We give you our spirit that you may pray in us.
Above all, we give you our hearts that you may love in us -
Love the Father and love all humankind.
We give you our whole selves, Lord,
That you may grow in us,
So that it is you who lives, works and prays in us.
AMEN

Pax et Bonum,
Loree+

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