Eckhart: the greatest sufferer

Saturday, November 7, 2009
    Feast of Willibrord of York, Archbishop of Utrecht, Apostle of Frisia, 739
Meditation:
    Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants.
    —Hebrews 2:14-16 (NIV)
Quotation:
    There never was a pain that befell a man, no frustration or discouragement, however insignificant, that, transferred to God, did not affect God endlessly more than man, and was not infinitely more contrary to Him. So, if God puts up with it for the sake of some good He foresees for you, and if you are willing to suffer what God suffers, and to take what comes to you through Him, then whatever it is, it becomes divine in itself; shame becomes honor, bitterness becomes sweet, and gross darkness, clear light. Everything takes its flavor from God and becomes divine; everything that happens [reveals] God when a man’s mind works that way; things all have this one taste; and therefore God is the same to this man alike in life’s bitterest moments and sweetest pleasures.
    ... Meister Eckhart (1260?-1327?), Works of Meister Eckhart, Watkins, 1952; reprint, Kessinger Publishing, 1997, p. 17 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You know our suffering.CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Temple: traveling heavenward

Friday, November 6, 2009
    Feast of William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury, Teacher, 1944
Meditation:
    [Jesus:] “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
    —John 14:2-4 (NIV)
Quotation:
    If we are travelling heavenwards, we are already in heaven.
    ... William Temple (1881-1944), Readings in St. John’s Gospel, v. II, London: Macmillan, 1940, p. 228 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You are already bringing Your people to our destiny.CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Summer: complete Gospel

Thursday, November 5, 2009
Meditation:
    [Jesus:] “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
    —John 3:16-18 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Complete Gospel: God loves you.
    Incomplete Gospel: God loves you if...
    ... P. M. Summer, over lunch one day
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You are our Savior!CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Thomas a Kempis: a prayer for practical wisdom

Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Meditation:
    “They will be mine,” says the LORD Almighty, “in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”
    —Malachi 3:17-18 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Grant to us, O Lord, to know that which is worth knowing, to love that which is worth loving, to praise that which pleaseth Thee most, to esteem that which is most precious unto Thee, and to dislike whatsoever is evil in Thine eyes.
    Grant us with true judgment to distinguish things that differ, and above all to search out and do what is well pleasing unto Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
    ... Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471), Of the Imitation of Christ [1418], Leipzig: Bernhard Tauchnitz, 1877, L.vii, p. 211 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    You are the source of all true discernment, Lord.CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Hooker: Scripture is enough

Tuesday, November 3, 2009
    Feast of Richard Hooker, Priest, Anglican Apologist, Teacher, 1600
    Commemoration of Martin of Porres, Dominican Friar, 1639
Meditation:
    But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
    —2 Timothy 3:14-15 (NIV)
Quotation:
    There is in Scripture therefore no defect, but that any man... may have thereby the light of his natural understanding so perfected... that there can want no part of needful instruction unto any good work which God himself requireth.
    ... Richard Hooker (1554?-1600), The Works of that Learned and Judicious Divine, Mr. Richard Hooker, Oxford: University Press, 1841, p. 271 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, by Your grace, perfect my understanding of Your word.CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Owen: mixed motives

Monday, November 2, 2009
    Feast of All Souls
Meditation:
    [Jesus:] Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
    —Matthew 9:38 (NIV)
Quotation:
    To some men it is hard seeing a call of God through difficulties; when if it would but clothe itself with a few carnal advantages, how apparent it is to them! They can see it through a little cranny.
    ... John Owen (1616-1683), Works of John Owen, v. VIII, London: Johnson & Hunter, 1851, Sermon VII, p. 237 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, grant me clarity in Your calling.CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Wesley: our work

Sunday, November 1, 2009
    Feast of All Saints
Meditation:
    Now, Lord, [the disciples prayed] consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.
    —Acts 4:29 (NIV)
Quotation:
    You have nothing to do but to save souls. Therefore spend and be spent in this work.
    ... John Wesley (1703-1791), The Works of the Rev. John Wesley, v. IV, New York: J. & J. Harper, 1826, p. 377 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    May Your power, Lord, enable us to speak boldly.CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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