Reading: Thomas Merton
(from New Seeds of Contemplation, 1961)
The pale flowers of the dogwood outside this window are saints. . . the bass and trout hiding in the deep pools of the river are canonized by their beauty and their strength. The lakes hidden among the hills are saints, and the sea too is a saint who praises God without interruption in her majestic dance. . . For me to be a saint means to be myself. Therefore, the problem of sanctity and salvation is in fact the problem of finding out who I am and of discovering my true self. Trees and animals have no problem. God makes them what they are without consulting them, and they are perfectly satisfied. With us it is different. God leaves us free to be whatever we like. We can be ourselves or not, as we please. We are at liberty to be real, or to be unreal. We may be true or false, the choice is ours.
Prayer and Poetry Response:
Earth as the Original Saints By Christine Valters Painter, Abby of the Arts
Morning Prayer & Evening Prayer
Service Art:
Artist: LJ Throstle www.ljthrostle.ca
