Author: Catherine Lee

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Advent Word 2022, Day 14 ‘Flourish’ 興旺

Catherine Lee

#AdventWord #Flourish #興旺 ‘A contemporary of mine presented a theological reflection with light at its core and as the source for the reflection’s interrogations. It was a powerful reflection that allowed multiple thoughts about light and interpretations of what light is to be explored. In Psalm 80, the psalmist’s third verse, “Restore us, O God; let your face shine that we may be saved”, ties back neatly to the first verse, “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock!’ We flourish in the light, sensing hope and promise, and restoration with eventual movement toward wholeness.’ … Continue reading Advent Word 2022, Day 14 ‘Flourish’ 興旺

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Advent Word 2022, Day 13 ‘Fire’ 火

Catherine Lee

#AdventWord #Fire #火 ‘A traditional Cherokee story recounts how water spider brought back fire to the People after other, larger, animals had failed. Fire kept the People alive. Important symbol across religions, fire is a primal necessity. My Cherokee teacher shared that when whites first saw Indians dancing around the fire, they assumed the “heathens” were worshipping the fire itself. Instead, they were worshipping Creator, who set the fire of the sun in the sky and the fire of love in our hearts. Advent offers time to rekindle the fire in our own hearts if it has dimmed due to … Continue reading Advent Word 2022, Day 13 ‘Fire’ 火

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Advent Word 2022, Day 12 ‘Breathe’ 呼吸

Catherine Lee

#AdventWord #Breathe #呼吸 ‘Breathe on us, O BREATH. At our beginning and our end, you are with us and within. In the beginning…the BREATH of God hovered above the waters…calling creation into being. From the dust of the ground, God formed the human and b-r-e-a-t-h-e-d… I will put my breath in you…and you will live. And it was so. Life is in the breath, the BREATH of God. Breathe on us. The dust returns to the earth that gave it, and the breath returns to God who breathed it. At our beginning and our end, you are with us and … Continue reading Advent Word 2022, Day 12 ‘Breathe’ 呼吸

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Advent Word 2022, Day 11 ‘Winnowing’ 簸選

Catherine Lee

#AdventWord #Winnowing #簸選 ‘You’re a newly harvested grain of wheat. Suddenly you’re lofted, soaring into the air with your neighbors. For one hallowed moment, the wind holds you, then winnows you free of the tight shell that held you. You settle to the threshing floor, now a seed, ready to be winnowed again because a new husk, or maybe the old one, forms, even as you await your sowing. Emmanuel stands with his fork and his broom, sending you up again into the wind’s embrace, then sweeping away that chaff which bound you. Always ready and waiting, with love, for … Continue reading Advent Word 2022, Day 11 ‘Winnowing’ 簸選

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Advent Word 2022, Day 10 ‘Welcome’ 歡迎

Catherine Lee

#AdventWord #Welcome #歡迎 ‘As we prepare our hearts and minds to welcome Christ in this season of Advent, we are called, in turn, to “Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you.” The deep truth of Welcome is seeing the other, and Jesus modeled this way of seeing for us. He paid attention to what was going on around him, especially those people he encountered daily. Jesus saw the other with a heart of love, compassion, and forgiveness, and he invites us to do the same. Deep holy hospitality requires intentionality, and we bear witness to God’s grace … Continue reading Advent Word 2022, Day 10 ‘Welcome’ 歡迎

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Advent Word 2022, Day 9 ‘Rain’ 雨

Catherine Lee

#AdventWord #Rain #雨 ‘We all relate to rain in a unique way—depending on the hour of the day, the season and our geographical region. The rain may burst on us unexpectedly, or she may arrive while we are gathered to pray for her coming. Whenever she arrives, we’re grateful for her gift. Occasionally she may destroy everything in her path, uncovering injustices and warning us about climate change. More often than not, though, she brings with her moments of peace. Deep within our souls, let us wait for the rain excitedly, knowing that her coming is a gift of divine … Continue reading Advent Word 2022, Day 9 ‘Rain’ 雨

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Advent Word 2022, Day 8 ‘Delight’ 喜悅

Catherine Lee

#AdventWord #Delight #喜悅 ‘What makes delight different from joy or gratitude? For, me it’s the surprise of it. Delight sneaks up on me unawares, bringing a smile to my face before I even have a chance to realize why. Delight might arrive the first time I notice something beautiful—spring’s first crocus, my baby’s first smile—but it might also show up in a familiar sight or sound that I find myself delighting in all over again. Isaiah tells us that God’s promised child will delight in the fear of the Lord. What would it feel like to have God’s justice, God’s … Continue reading Advent Word 2022, Day 8 ‘Delight’ 喜悅

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Advent Word 2022, Day 7 ‘Unity’ 合一

Catherine Lee

#AdventWord #Unity #合一 ‘Jerusalem might have been built as a city that is at unity with itself, but you have to look pretty hard to see unity there these days. It’s almost always that way. We see unity as an aspiration rather than a reality. In our hope for unity, God gives us a gift. As we prepare for Christ’s return, we can look for a common hope and mission even amidst all our variety and diversity. Unity is not uniformity. Unity is, above all else, a shared hope in “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father … Continue reading Advent Word 2022, Day 7 ‘Unity’ 合一