Reflexion, A Spiritual Community

I get the feeling that when we read the book of Revelation,We tend to watch each scene unfold from a safe distance- I don’t think it was meant to read this way,• we’re supposed to feel a threatening closeness• we’re drawn into the dream – it’s our collective nightmare- John was certainly more than a spectator• characters approach him, converse with, and engage him�

When my children were small, I’d read to them every nightFirst from a book of fairytales, then from a Bible storybook- we would pray, say goodnight, and turn off the lights• we were careful about the last thing that entered their minds before bed• I doubt we can prevent our kids from having nightmares◦ but we can do things to help them sleep well◦ and we can comfort them

They came on the first day of week, first thing in morningThey knew what spices and ointments to bring,- and knew what they were doing – they had done this before• what they did not know, was that overnight their world had changed• so what they found at the tomb was not what they expected- I love the lines:Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has ris

How did Palm Sunday become recognized as a holy day?I don’t mean, how did it get put on the Church calendar,- but why do we celebrate it?• Palm Sunday is not like Christmas, Good Friday, or Easter◦ these were the major events in Jesus’ life and ministry• but Palm Sunday is not noteworthy in the same way◦ in fact, if you’ll excuse the expression, it sort of fizzled out

Revelation is not a normal book – in fact, it’s a conundrumWe enter a mystical world of symbols without a map or compass- as I understand it, the Revelation is meant to open our eyes to a reality beyond our knowing or experiencing• there is no way for us to go straight into it with our rational minds- I’ll share something with you that helps me understand this• consider a

You may not have noticed, but something is missingThe action that began prior to this chapter involved a magic scroll secured with seven seals- six of those seals have been opened (chapter 6)• but now in chapter 7, there’s no mention of the seventh seal• instead, we have come to an interlude before returning to the seventh seal- this will happen again (after six trumpets soun

A long time ago, I became interested in Douglas Coupland’s works of fictionOne novel he wrote as if it were the journal of a young man traumatized as a child- his character had lived on a military base that came under a nuclear threat, and everyone was rushed into a shelter• this had left a lasting and foreboding impression on him• an entire chapter consists of brief scenario

Among Jeremiah’s prophecies, we find one that is different from the rest.The difference is that this one brings a positive message regarding Israel’s future- after receiving the prophecy, Jeremiah says,At this I awoke and looked, and my sleep was pleasant to me (Jer. 31:26)• when I wake up from a pleasant dream, I want to go back to sleep and continue it• that's becaus

One day, a few years ago, I was visiting my oldest daughterHer oldest daughter, came to me and said, “I dreamed you last night”- she had told my daughter, “I dreamed grandpa”• Jennifer asked her, “Which grandpa?” she said, “The bald one.”• fortunately I have another dream story- in 1992, my life had been shattered by divorce• that summer a nine year old boy in

Chapters 2 and 3 may be the most well known section of RevelationAt least two of our favorite quotations are found here- what’s the theme of these chapters? Answer: “Church Repairs”• in chapter 1 Jesus appears in a form not found in the Gospels• in his right hand he held seven stars–which represented the angels of the seven churches◦ in scripture, the hand represents