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| Image by Image Editor |
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A GREETING
Hear my prayer, O God;
give ear to the words of my mouth.
(Psalm 54:2)
A READING
And God said, “Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” So God made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the dome. And it was so. God called the dome Sky. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.
(Genesis 1:6-8 NRSVUE)
MUSIC
A MEDITATIVE VERSE
By the word of God the heavens were made,
and all their host by the breath of God's mouth.
(Psalm 33:6)
A PRAYER
Let me in thankfulness
be Your mirror, God--
Then Your own rays
might be returned to You,
in grace-words, in equal light.
from "On the Sweet Comfort Brought By Grace", by Catherina Regina von Greiffenberg,
found in The Flowering of the Soul: A Book of Prayers by Women, edited by Lucinda Vardey
VERSE OF THE DAY
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.
Let your glory be over all the earth.
(Psalm 57:5)
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| Celtic Tree of Life wire sculpture, by Jeanette Hibbert as found on X (formerly Twitter). |
In the first verses of Genesis, we hear about how the world was created by separating the heavens from the earth and seas. In Hebrew, the word for seas, mayim, is embedded in the word for heaven, shamayim. In today's reading from the NRSV Updated Edition, the close connection between these words is emphasized by repeating the word 'waters.' The waters of the seas and the waters of the heavens (which contain atmospheric moisture) are separated to form an upper and lower entity that is still deeply connected.
Some Irish Celtic Christian theologians focus on this ordering of Creation, that the seas (and the earth) as well as the heavens, were the first aspects of creation to be made by God, before the animals and creatures came. God made the landscape first, and so it holds the memory of the dawn of Creation. Indigenous spirituality shares in this deep respect for the time immemorial aspect of the land and the waters.
Spirituality of place is very significant in Celtic traditions. Over this coming week we will explore the sacredness of geography, natural phenomena and the elements. Within this perspective, we will explore the Celtic perception that God reveals God's self in scriptures and also in the created world around us. Some Celtic theologians say God made two “books,” the book of Creation and the book of Scriptures. They believe we can learn from the wisdom of both.
In our own lives, we may have very specific locations that hold special memory and/or which feel sacred. This sense of the sacred has arisen because we feel God more keenly in this place, or because we have a personal history there or history of family or community. These sites are places we visit at important times to remember our story and to remind ourselves of who we have been and are.
Where are the sacred places in your life that help you feel your connectedness to both God and Creation? How does it nourish you in your faith to go and be present there?
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| Image by UKGardenPhotos |
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LC† Come Holy Darkness is a project of Lutherans Connect, supported by the Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Centre for Spirituality and Media at Martin Luther University College. To receive the devotions by email, write to lutheransconnect@gmail.com. The devotional pages are written and curated by Deacon Sherry Coman, with support and input from Pastor Steve Hoffard, Catherine Evenden and Henriette Thompson. Join us on Facebook, and on Twitter. Lutherans Connect invites you to make a donation to the Ministry by going to this link on the website of the ELCIC Eastern Synod and selecting "Lutherans Connect Devotionals" under "Fund". Devotions are always freely offered, however your donations help to support extended offerings throughout the year. Thank you and peace be with you!