This “A Prayer for a Leader” devotional (HERE) from 2017 spurs nice reminders from Psalm 72 regarding justice, compassion and peace. May those characteristics emanate from all our leaders in the coming years, especially in light of the behaviors of yesterday!

At the end of the devotional is this prayer:

God of all nations, as the Psalm affirms, give our leaders—and us—your justice, your compassion for the poor, and your passion for peace. Amen.

Perhaps this is a prayer to be said today and in the days ahead?

May we all – fueled by the Spirit – seek justice, show compassion and pursue peace!

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, January 10, 2021:

• • Genesis 1:1-5 
  • Psalm 29 
  • Acts 19:1-7 
  • Mark 1:4-11
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My brother Andy shared the Christmas 2020 commentary HERE by Bishop William J Barber, II. For those unfamiliar with Barber, he is one who has picked up the mantle of Martin Luther King, Jr., highlighted by his efforts with the Poor People’s Campaign. Dr. Barber is a powerful voice physically, figuratively and spiritually.

Andy specifically mentions

• the impact of the re-casting of the Christmas story (along with subsequent commentary) in today’s terms and says “Rev. Barber is simply calling us to let Christ rise within us and around us every day, and to walk hand-in-hand with Christ, ‘so that we will be free from prejudice and arrogance, from fear and hate and carry on his revolution and make way for his kingdom.’ ” **
• Barber says it best when he says “Let’s work together for a better world in 2021 – and a Christmas when we can truly sing of peace on Earth and good will to all people.”

Whether now or in the days ahead, please find time to read Rev. Dr. Barber’s entire article HERE.  Opportunities to read such works and consider our places in helping make this world a better place can be inspirational as we begin 2021.

PRAYER: Dear Creator, let our tears of sorrow fuel our commitment for justice, love and mercy. In this year ahead, may we seek new ways to act in wonderful Spirit-led ways, moving those in our sphere of influence to actions leading to peace and good will for all people…. Amen

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

** Dorothee Soelle, Revolutionary Patience (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1977), p. 23.

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, January 10, 2021:

• • Genesis 1:1-5 
  • Psalm 29 
  • Acts 19:1-7 
  • Mark 1:4-11
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The Matthew Fox daily meditation yesterday was on “The ‘New Normal and Kwanzaa” HERE. A wonderful aspect is that Kwanzaa began “as a response to the commercialism of Christmas” for African Americans.

Many of us are unfamiliar with the Kwanzaa (“first fruits” in Swahili) season ending on January 1. Like so many wonderful traditions, it allows celebrants to focus on heritage and relate experiences. Kwanzaa is not grounded in a specific faith community.

“While the first principle of Umoja brings us closer and harnesses our strength, the last principle, Imani, inspires us and sustains our togetherness. Let us have faith in ourselves, in our creator, in our mothers and fathers, in our grandmothers and grandfathers, in our elders, and in our future–knowing that we are more than keepers of our brothers and sisters, we are our brothers and sisters.” 

~ The Black Candle, a 2008 documentary on Kwanzaa, narrated by the late Dr. Maya Angelou

May we all have faith in ourselves, the creator and those key others past, present and future….

POSSIBLE ACTIONS:

1. Learn more about Kwanzaa – the candles, the principles, the foods, etc.. Christian Playbook has some helpful links HERE
2. Listen to Hope is Born Again (sorry the link from yesterday didn’t work!)
3. Think about those gone before us who have helped establish a wonderful legacy of faith

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, January 3, 2021:

• • Jeremiah 31:7-14 or Sirach 24:1-12 
  • Psalm 147:12-20 or Wisdom of Solomon 10:15-21 
  • Ephesians 1:3-14 
  • John 1:(1-9), 10-18
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