Dear Friends,

 As we let Easter echo,

 We pray you are safe and well.

 Today's Meditation presents "An Interpretation of a Resurrection song of Isaiah" sent to us by Michael Harvey.

We invite you to join us as we commit ourselves to working tirelessly to end systemic and structural racism in our society, in healthcare, in the workplace, in the Church--wherever it shows up so that everyone may come to have more abundant life.

May this meditation nourish our contemplative-active hearts and sustain all of us in action.

 In the spirit of our philosophy of co-creating community and our awareness that the Spirit speaks through each of us, we invite you to share your meditations with us as well. We truly believe that in God’s economy of abundance, when we share our blessings, our thoughts, our feelings, we are all made richer.

We hope and pray that you and your loved ones experience genuine peace of mind and heart, and remain in good health during this challenging time.

In this time of Easter, may you find peace, healing, hope, and the infusion of joy in your life!

With our love and care,

Ron & Jean

MEDITATION 324: Invitation to Resurrection

An Interpretation of a Resurrection Song of Isaiah (61:1-4; 8-11)

God is here and has called me

to bring good news to those crushed by capitalism,

Proclaiming healing to the brokenhearted,

liberty to the hostages,

freedom to the imprisoned,

forgiveness to the debtors,

a profound justice from God,

which will be comfort for all who mourn.

God is present to the brokenhearted

to give them flowers

while they are alive,

songs of joy

in place of the sighing of sadness,

an elegant prayer shawl

instead of cold isolation.

Let the people be called

oaks of righteousness

transplanted by God

near streams of mercy,

displaying God’s shining presence.

These people will rebuild

the blighted earth,

they will rebuild

what has been destroyed by war,

they will repair

the destruction of climate change,

the devastations ignored by

the systems of domination,

for God who is present loves justice,

God hates the robbery of the greedy.

God will give victims of systemic evil

reparations,

and make an everlasting covenant

of justice with them.

All the nations will witness this

and acknowledge that it is good,

and the descendants of the oppressed

will rejoice in their rich heritage.

All who see this will acknowledge

that they are people blessed by God.

As for me,

I will sing and dance for joy

in God’s presence,

my whole being will tremble

in happiness,

for God has clothed me

in the fashions of salvation,

God has covered me

with the warm coat of many colors,

for it is the marriage day

of Mercy and Justice,

and what an extravagant wedding it is.

Every spring the young plants

Break through the earth,

and as a vibrant garden

springs into life,

in the same way God who is present

will cause justice and mercy

and joy and satisfaction and praise

to spring up in all nations.