Recently, after one of my 3 mile runs, I sensed a desire to get away. I was tired from my run but I was also tired from the daily grind. You know, so tired you want to get away from the hectic pace of life. The stress of the church, family obligations, my own personal scrutiny all were overwhelming. I had a desire to seek God. I needed a break. 

    This week I sit in the midst of the old oak trees dripping with moss and the peace that is Mepkin Abbey, a Trappist Monastery in Monks Corner, SC. The beauty is breathtaking. The countless trees, the green grass, the manicured gardens that overlook the Cooper River are all reminders of the beauty that is God. And it’s quiet. There is a peace here. Just what I needed.

    So I’ll be clear. I didn’t come to Mepkin Abbey to get away from but rather to move toward. I am seeking God. The yearning for God’s voice and the peace and quiet of Mepkin make this time special. I came with no plan on how I would spend my time. Yet, God showed me a plan on how I should spend my time wisely, whether I’m at Mepkin or not. Here are three ways I’m spending my time this week at Mepkin. 

1. Read – I’m waking at 5 am each morning to have personal time with God. Reading the Bible, devotional material, and prayer are essential pieces to this time. How are you spending your mornings?

2. Walk – I am taking three walks a day around the beautiful grounds which means that I’m logging in nearly 15,000 steps per day. How are you moving each day?

3. Nap – This is the key to my time at Mepkin. I take at least two naps per day. Our bodies know what we need. Seeking God is tiring so our bodies need rest. How often do you take a nap? 

    I’ll be leaving for home soon. Back to the noise of everyday life. I will return home with many lessons learned. I hope you too have learned a lesson or two. Take a retreat, find a quiet spot, or stay at home. Just seek God. 

How do you seek God in a noisy world?

    I’ll leave you with this thought from one of my favorite spiritual writers. Blessings on the journey. 

‘For most of my life I have struggled to find God, to know God, to love God. I have tried hard to follow the guidelines of the spiritual life – pray always, work for others, read the Scriptures – and to avoid the many temptations to dissipate myself. I have failed many times but always tried again, even when I was close to despair.

Now I wonder whether I have sufficiently realized that during all this time God has been trying to find me, to know me, and to love me. The question is not ‘How am I to find God?’ but ‘How am I to let myself be found by him?’ The question is not ‘How am I to know God?’ but ‘How am I to let myself be known by God?’ And, finally, the question is not ‘How am I to love God?’ but ‘How am I to let myself be loved by God?’ God is looking into the distance for me, trying to find me, and longing to bring me home.’

Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Return of the Prodigal Son

Crossing the Road for One Another

We become neighbours when we are willing to cross the road for one another. There is so much separation and segregation: between black people and white people, between gay people and straight people, between young people and old people, between sick people and healthy people, between prisoners and free people, between Jews and Gentiles, Muslims and Christians, Protestants and Catholics, Greek Catholics and Latin Catholics.

There is a lot of road crossing to do. We are all very busy in our own circles. We have our own people to go to and our own affairs to take care of. But if we could cross the street once in a while and pay attention to what is happening on the other side, we might become neighbours.

Henri Nouwen

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Father of the Universe, today as we celebrate Father’s Day, I want to thank You for always supporting me and being there to help and comfort me. I know by the power of Your Spirit, all things are possible—and with You on my side I will always be fine. On this special day, bless all fathers on earth and give them the grace to look to You for guidance.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…

Heavenly Father, when I am facing temptation strengthen me to resist. Lead me away from the path of evil and guide me to walk in Your ways. Create in me a heart that desires to please You. Help me cultivate peace of mind and serenity. I want to walk with You and sin no more.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

Loving Father, help me pray for my enemies and extend Your mercy on those who have wronged me. Guide me to let go of grudges and release the weight of resentment so that I mirror Your unconditional love with others.

Give us this day our daily bread.

God of Provision, I praise You for knowing what I need before I ask. You nourish my spirit with Your Word and help me have peace by focusing on this day, rather than dwelling on yesterday or worrying about tomorrow. In the glorious moment of today, the Bread of Life sustains me.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Father in Heaven, surround me with the love, goodness, peace and joy of Your kingdom. Bless me with Your divine guidance and help me make decisions that please You. Help me align my will to Yours. I place my life completely in Your hands, for You alone know what is best for me.

Hallowed be Your name.

Dear Lord, today and every day I will honor You through my thoughts, words and actions. I promise not to fall into the trap of forgetting how You gave Your all for me. There is nothing too hard for You. There is nothing You cannot do. I will speak your praises and hold Your name holy in my heart. 

Our Father, Who art in heaven…

Heavenly Father, You are my Eternal Parent, an ever-present Source of love, protection and guidance. You comfort me and teach me. You shape me with Your love. You are the Potter, I am the clay. I praise You for the path You prepare for me and the heavenly Light You shine on my life.

Gospel Reading: Luke 19:1-10

He entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.” Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”
 

Sermon: Jesus and Zacchaeus

Today we are going to talk about the “wee little man” Zacchaeus. We find his remarkable story in Luke 19. Jesus touched his heart, turned his life around. This gives us all great hope! 

Somewhere back there in the past, Zacchaeus had gotten off the track. The children sing, “Zacchaeus was a wee little man and a wee little man was he.” Well, he was “a wee little man” all right, not only in physical stature, but also in spirit.

Bad habits had evidently taken root in his heart-greed, selfishness, the lust for power, prestige, and money had possessed him. And they were destroying him. Zacchaeus, too, had a diseased heart, and his sick heart was cutting him off from other people and from God.

But, then, along came Jesus, and when Jesus touched his heart, look what happened to Zacchaeus. We see in his experience the drama of redemption, conversion, and the miracle of the transformed heart.

When the light of Christ spilled into his life, Zacchaeus was exposed in all his littleness. Perhaps for the very first time, Zacchaeus saw himself as he really was: greedy, self-centered, a traitor, a cheat, a con man. Zacchaeus didn’t like what he saw. He was ashamed and remorseful. 

The Zacchaeus story sheds God’s light on our diseased hearts. So what happens to Zacchaeus? Hold on for a surprising ending. 

Blessings on the journey!