Midweek Devotion 30 October 2024

Reading

Psalm 130:1

Out of the depths have I called to you, O LORD;

LORD, hear my voice; *

    let your ears consider well the voice of my supplication.

Devotion

Personal photo by the author, used by permission of the artist

We near a liminal spiritual time.  The celebration of All Saints Day, also known as All Hallows, is in a couple of days.  Before that comes All Hallows Eve or All Hallows Even as it's sometimes known--or more popularly Halloween.  Following All Saints Day is All Souls Day.  In the Celtic calendar, and as long-time readers know, my mum's a Brit and the family roots are in Aberdeenshire, the feast of the Celtic New Year, Samhain (pronounced SAH-win) has also arrived.  These are times when to a contemplative mystic like me the world seems very 'thin'.  If one looks one can see the interpenetration of the material world with a great spiritual reality.

This is why I love today's painting by local artist, mystic, and friend, Sherry Oehler.  She titled it "Painting My Soul."  Light bursts forth from the center filled with Love enlightening all.  The celestial realm dances above as divine messengers move above whirling dervishes or tree's reminding me of English theologian Owen Barfield's, Saving the Appearances and the presence of the supernatural coterminous with the natural.  I'm drawn into the work and feel my own spirit responding.  My Celtic heart leaps with joy!

This year we are also near a liminal political time, at least here in the United States.  I ponder our call as people of the Spirit to enter into the times as, using St. Paul's words, ambassadors of reconciliation.  How do we go about making the Love of God, the Peace of God, coterminous with chaos and discord?  Perhaps catching a glimpse of the larger world can inform our responses?  May you be touched, dear reader, by the holiness of this time and let it wash over your mind, body, and spirit, leading you to embrace a higher calling that is revealed by Perfect Love. 

Prayer

God of all seasons,

Inspire us to see with the eyes of faith.

Encourage us to speak words of hope.

Fill us with a spirit of selflessness.

We ask this in the name of Jesus, source of new life. Amen. (Praying with the Mystics, Diocese of Dublin)