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Sow in Tears, Reap in Joy
Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. She who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, Will return with songs of joy carrying sheaves with her. (Ps. 126:4-6) The passage starts in prayer. This is not a little prayer, it’s a request for a miracle to restore their fortunes “like streams in the Negev.” The Negev is an arid desert and the streams are miracles of life-giving. The streams and river transform the desert landscape into carpets of flowers in the springtime and life-giving irrigation and drinking water year round. Note too that the person is…
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Anna and Simeon: The Holy Spirit Speaks
To the Temple From Luke 2 22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” Mary and Joseph were observing the Mosaic law that we find in Lev. 12:1-8: 1 “Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘If a woman has conceived,…
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Mary at Christmastime
This is the script of a monologue I did as an older Mary looking back on her life as Jesus’ mother. Please note that the part where Jesus’ family thinks He’s crazy is true. I didn’t make it up. You’ll find it in Mark 3. You’ll also read in John 6 that Jesus’ brothers didn’t believe in him at first, although later James and Jude became believers and leaders of the church. Hello. My name is Mary. You may or may not know who I am, since I’m afraid I told Peter in no uncertain terms that he was not to announce me by striding ahead of me in the streets…