Tonnau Duw ('God's waves') Fr Tim Ardouin

Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.  May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.   Romans 15

                                                                

People of faith, share your faith,

With each other, with people of different faith, and with people who don’t think they have any faith.

I don’t mean impose your doctrines,

But share your faith,

The Love that is inside you,

The Love born in the experience,

Of God, I AM,

That in you, which is authentic,

Uncluttered by ideas or ideals,

Spoken of by the Prophets,

And written for you in your Scriptures.

Speak of this, share it,

And be ready to listen.

Listen deeply,

Celebrate what speaks into your heart,

Share what you know, witness,

With steadfast integrity,

To the Christ in you

But when (John the Baptizer) saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers!  Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  Bear fruit worthy of repentance.  Do not presume to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.  Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees…            Matthew 3

The One who Loves is coming,

With the Christed axe of freedom,

To cut away the trees of arrogance in you,

In me,

All sense of entitlement,

Attachments to religious or philosophic,

Preferentialism,

Self-justifying reason,

Or slanted manipulation of heritage.

No expert knowledge about Abraham will open the gates of heaven, nor about Buddha, Mohammed, Shiva or Christ.

It is faith like theirs,

That holds the key,

That unlocks the sacred Life in every heart.

So let’s wait here, you and me,

Sadducee and the Pharisee,

In the Advent earth beneath our trees,

While the axe of redemption,

Swings at the feeble roots,

Of our fear-constructed,

Self-delineating expertise………………..

~ breathe ~

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  His winnowing-fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’    Matt cont.

When the cutting and the burning is done,

Our beautiful selflessness will be laid bare,

And all that marks us out,

In the imagination selfhood,

Will be like ash and splinter,

And I will behold you,

Sister,

Brother,

And you will behold me,

And we will come to know,

That I am you and you are me…………………. 

~ by Fr Tim Ardouin on November 29, 2022.

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