The Altar of Love:

Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy! He who goes weeping, carrying seed to sow, Will return with songs of joy, Carrying sheaves with him. (Psalm 126:4-6)

"Weeping may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning." (Psalm 30:5)


The Desert:

Much-Afraid looked to the left and right, but through it seemed incredible, there was no way possible by which they could continue to climb upward. The hill they were on ended abruptly at this precipice, and the rocky cliffs towered above them in every direction straight as walls with no possible foothold.

"I can't go down there,' panted Much-Afraid, sick with shock and fear. "He can never mean that --never! He called me up to the High Places, and this is an absolute contradiction of all that he promised."

The she lifted up her voice and called desperately, "Shepherd, come to me. Oh, I need you. Come and help me." In a moment he was there, standing beside her.

"Shepherd, I can't understand this. The guides you gave me say that we must go down there into that desert, turning right away from the High Places altogether. You don't mean that do you? You can't contradict yourself. Tell them we are not to go there, and show us another way. Make a way for us, Shepherd, as you promised."

He looked at her and answered very gently, "That is the path, Much Afraid, and you are to go down there."

"Oh no!" she cried. "You can't mean it! You said if I would trust you, you would bring me to the High Places and the path leads right away from them. It contradicts all that you promised."

"No," said the Shepherd, "it is not contradiction, only a postponement for the best to become possible."

Much-Afraid felt as though He had stabbed her to the heart. "You mean," she said incredulously, "you really mean that I am to follow that path down and down into that wilderness and then over that desert away from the mountains indefinately?"

"Why" (and there was a sob of anguish in her voice) "it may be months, even years, before that path leads back to the mountains again. O Shepherd, do you mean it is indefinite postponement?"

He bowed his head silently, and Much-Afraid sank on her knees at his feet, almost overwhelmed. He was leading her away from her heart's desire altogether and gave no promise at all as to when he would bring her back. As she looked out over what seemed an endless desert, the only path she could see led farther and farther away from the High Places, and it was all desert.

Then he answered very quietly, "Much-Afraid, do you love me enough to accept the postponement and the apparent contradiction of the promise, and to go down there with me into the desert?"

She was still crouching at his feet, sobbing as if her heart would break, but now she looked up through her tears, caught his hand in hers, and said trembling. "I do love you, you know that I love you. Oh forgive me because I can't help my tears. I will go down with you into the wilderness, right away from the promise, if you really wish it. Even if you cannot tell me why it has to be, I will go with you, for you know I do love you, and you have the right to choose for me anything that you please."

....Obediently Much-Afraid raised a little heap of sand and loose stones, which was all she could find in the desert, and again laid down her will and said with tears (for Sorrow had stepped forward and knelt beside her), "I delight to do thy will, o my God."

From somewhere, though they could not see the source, there came a spurt of flame which consumed the offering and left a little heap of ashes on the altar. Then came the Shepherd's voice. "This further delay is not unto death, but for the glory of God; that the Son of God may be glorified."

Joy comes in the morning!!! (Ps. 30)

Hallelujah!


I will exalt you, O LORD, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me.

O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.

O LORD, you brought me up from the grave ; you spared me from going down into the pit.

Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name.
For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime;
Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

When I felt secure, I said, "I will never be shaken."

O LORD, when you favored me, you made my mountain stand firm;
but when you hid your face, I was dismayed.

To you, O LORD, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy: "What gain is there in my destruction, in my going down into the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness?

Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me; O LORD, be my help."

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.

O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.

Girl For the Nations

I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard My people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin,
My hand will save.
I who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear My light to them?
Whom shall I send?

I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have born my people's pain.
I have wept for love of them,
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak My word to them,
Whom shall I send?

I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them,
My hand will save
Finest bread I will provide,
Till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give My life to them,
Whom shall I send?

Here I am Lord,
Is it I Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if You lead me.
I will hold Your people in my heart.

by Dan Schutte S.J

There must be more than this...

There must be more than this...Oh breath of God come breath within. There must be more than this....Spirit of God we wait for you. Fill us anew we pray! Fill us anew we pray!

Consuming Fire--Fan into flame--a passion for your name! Spirit of God fall in this place! Lord, have your way...Lord have your way with us.

Come like a rushing wind. Fill us with power from on high....Now set the captives free! Leave us abandoned to your praise! Lord let your glory fall! Lord let your glory fall!

Consuming Fire--Fan into flame--a passion for your name! Spirit of God fall in this place! Lord have your way...Lord have your way with us!