Early February Moon

 

This is how the moon looked Saturday night — except you'd need a telescope to see all those craters. It is a Waning Crescent Moon with about thirty percent of the moon's surface illuminated. Soon it will disappear and we will begin again with a new moon—each night, the moon growing until it is a full moon. Native Americans called the February Full Moon, Snow Moon or Ice Moon. We may have thoughts of surrender or letting go when we see the moon disappearing into shadow. The moon is referred to a number of times in the psalms.

When I see the heavens, the work of your hands

the moon and the stars which you arranged,

What is man that you should keep him in mind,

mortal man that you care for him?  Psalm 8:3

At 4 A.M. last night the moon was more yellow than the orange appearance here, with a shelf of softly lit clouds beneath it. It was lovely in full view. Then it was lovely seen through a tall Hemlock. Lovely again, seen a few steps later through the more wispy branches of a White Pine and then, yet again, through the branches of a Sycamore, which of course in early February were bare. We are always being invited to look closely.

Intercessions ~ Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

Chionodoxa ~ Glory of the Snow

Pope Francis has added the Feast of Sts Martha,/ Mary and Lazarus/ friends of Jesus,/ to the Roman Calendar./ Bless the people who are our friends,/ and may our idea of friendship grow and expand,/personally,/ but also as church and nation./ May we see the child in the womb,/ and children everywhere, / as friend./ We pray to the Lord. 

We are living in times of crisis:/ coronavirus,/ unemployment,/ people falling into poverty./ But there is also a great spiritual crisis of the heart,/ the growth of anger,/ anti-semitism,/ false patriotism/ even the spread of neo-naziism and white supremacy./ May we re-discover transformative light and gratitude./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray gratefully for the many people who work to normalize life during the coronavirus pandemic and winter storms./  For those whose lives are painfully disrupted./ We pray to the Lord.

We ask for the restoration of calm and balance/ where life has become burdensome and hard,/ where there's sickness,/ menace,/ heartache,/ where we feel overwhelmed and unnerved./ We pray to the Lord.

Lent begins in eleven days./ May our approach be a positive one,/ by which we would see ourselves more rightly,/ that we would come to Easter somehow more whole and alive./ We pray to the Lord.

For world governments/ and for our own new administration./ Heal party strife/ and bless every effort to improve the lives of citizens./ We pray to the Lord.

A Blessing Prayer for You on a Snowy Day

 

May the snowy day refresh you,

   the wooded depth lead you to interiority.

May the snow which will melt,

   the streamlet which will thaw, change your heart.

May the forest fox share its constancy with you,

   the woodland squirrel its vigilance,

   the snowy owl its patience.

May the root-chewing rabbit increase love in you by leaps and bounds,

   the alarmed crows keep you safe from treachery.

May the budded trees whisper renewal,

  the greenwood's ancient endurance invite you to a divine security.

May the forest floor teach you of God's Christ-love, awaiting our return.

Stephen P. Morris