A weekly curated collection of essays, poetry, and reflections for your spiritual journey. From The Wisdom Years.
No one ever knows what divine narrative God may be writing with the crooked lines of someone’s struggles, misdeeds, and omissions.
-John O’Donohue, Eternal Echoes
From Well for the Journey
The Day the Wind Blew and the Church Grew
Brother David Vryhof reminds us that there are two Pentecost events in scripture. The first occurred when Jesus breathed on his disciples on the night of his resurrection. A gentle giving. (Jn 20:22). The second, in the Book of Acts, was a violent event (2:1-21). Are we brave enough to light a fire under the Church?
Welcome the Holy Spirit
It is only by living in the spirit that Jesus’ disciples – and we – can do what Jesus did. Richard Rohr translates Jesus’ invitation to “Be compassionate, just the way your Father is compassionate” (Luke 6:36).
Consecrated by Circumstance and Need
Moses would rather have been left alone to tend to his sheep. Send Aaron instead, he said to God. But God had need of Moses; he was chosen for the job because he had seen his people’s suffering.
From Ron Rolheiser.
Music, a Place of Sanctuary
Terry Hershey recalls that during the Bosnian War, Serbs surrounded the city of Sarajevo. Even while the war raged and people were killed, even in the midst of gunfire, members of the city orchestra brought their instruments into the town square, where they played day after day. Did they have some internal fortitude that the rest of us do not?
From Sabbath Moment.
A Further Baptism
God gives God’s holy spirit not to those who are worthy, for none of us is worthy. God gives God’s spirit to those who want it, says Richard Rohr.
Gathered Wisdom is an offering of The Wisdom Years, a ministry devoted to the spiritual journey of the last third of our lives.
If this post was forwarded to you, sign up to receive Gathered Wisdom in your email by subscribing at wisdomyears.org.
To learn more visit our website.
The Wisdom Years 