Month: October 2024

Light of the world

Ruth Kirk

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6; NLT).

You are my way, Lord,
My truth, and my life:
You are the light
Of the world.

You are my faith, Lord,
My hope, and my peace:
You are the light
Of the world.

You are my water,
My bread, and my wine:
You are the light
Of the world.

I’m your beloved,
And you, Lord, are mine:
You are the light
Of the world.

I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine (Song of Songs 6:3; NIV).

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life” (John 8:12; NLT).

My liberation

Ruth Kirk

Humankind was created as God’s reflection: in the divine image God created them; female and male, God made them (Genesis 1:27; TIB).

You are my Father, and my Mother;
You are my Sister, and my Brother;
You are my Shepherd, and my Lover;
You are my God: there is no other.

I am your home, and your dependent;
I am your child, and your attendant;
I am your pupil, and your servant;
I am your slave, and your descendant.

You are my way, and my foundation;
You are my truth, and my formation;
You are my life, and my salvation;
You are my God: my liberation.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6; NLT).

God has sent me to bring good news to those who are poor; to heal broken hearts; to proclaim release to those held captive and liberation to those in prison (Isaiah 61:1; TIB).

Together

Ruth Kirk

If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the LORD and rely on your God (Isaiah 50:10; NLT).

Lord,
In darkness, and in light,
Whether I feel sad, or bright,
Whether I am calm, or stressed,
Whether I’m reviled, or blessed:
You love me.

Lord,
In gladness, and in pain,
Whether I face loss, or gain,
You are with me all the time,
I am yours, and you are mine:
I love you.

Lord,
In anguish, and in need,
Even though my heart may bleed,
Day by day, we always walk
Side by side, to pray, and talk:
Together.

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NLT).

I will say to the prisoners, ‘Come out in freedom,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Come into the light.’ They will be my sheep, grazing in green pastures and on hills that were previously bare (Isaiah 49:9; NLT).

Faith, hope and love

Ruth Kirk

Three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13; NLT).

There’s faith, and hope, and love of God
Beyond the Catholic Church,
And you, my Saviour and my Guide,
Beyond the Catholic Church.

There’s openness and honesty
Beyond the Catholic Church,
And your dear Spirit, deep inside,
Beyond the Catholic Church.

There’s freedom, joy, and peace of mind
Beyond the Catholic Church,
And moves towards equality,
Beyond the Catholic Church.

There’s warmth, acceptance, truth, and life
Beyond the Catholic Church,
And even room to disagree,
Beyond the Catholic Church.

I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd (John 10:16; NLT).

In God’s house there are many dwelling places; otherwise, how could I have told you that I was going to prepare a place for you? (John 14:2; TIB).

References

Stop passing judgment on one another. Rather, we must resolve not to be stumbling blocks or obstructions to each other (Romans 22:13; TIB).

Be confident in your personal belief before God (Romans 14:22; TIB).

Jesus

Ruth Kirk

Trust in God, and trust also in me (John 14:1; NLT).

Jesus, I trust in you.
Jesus, I’m clinging, too.
Jesus, my Shepherd King:
You are my everything.

Though all is dark and drear,
You help me face each fear.
Light of the World, adored:
You are my only Lord.

Lord, there is no one else that we can go to! Your words give eternal life. We have faith in you, and we are sure that you are God’s Holy One (John 6:68-9; CEV).

All in all (with thanks to K.B.)

Ruth Kirk

YHWH Omnipotent says: … I will be mother and father to you, and you will be my child (2 Samuel 7:8,14; TIB).

You are my Mother,
My way, and my guide:
You are my all in all.

You are my Father,
Here, at my side:
You are my all in all.

You are my Shepherd,
My truth, and my light:
You are my all in all.

You are my Saviour,
My love, and my life:
You are my all in all.

When, finally, everything has been subjected to Christ, Christ will in turn be subjected to the God who had subjected everything to Christ – and so God will be all in all (1 Corinthians 15:28; TIB).

Reference

There is one Savior, one faith, one baptism, one God and Creator of all, who is over all, who works through all and is within all (Ephesians 4:5-6; TIB).

Speaking my truth

Ruth Kirk

If your sister or brother should commit some wrong against you, go and point out the error, but keep it between the two of you. If she or he listens to you, you have won a loved one back (Matthew 18:15; TIB).

I’ve always been afraid
To speak my truth:
So full of dread
That I would be rejected.

But now it’s time
To speak my mind at last,
Even if my truth
Is not respected.

So this is what the way to healing
Looks like!
Growing like Christ
Is not what I expected!

Speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ (Ephesians 4:15; NLT).

Peace and justice

Ruth Kirk

This blog takes the form of an inner dialogue:

If only you had paid attention to my commandments! Your peace would have been like a river, and your justice would have been like the waves of the sea (Isaiah 48:18; Catholic Public Domain Version). 

Is there truly Christian faith beyond the Catholic Church?
Ah yes, my friend, there is.
And is there hope of love for all?
There is.

Is Christ the way, the truth, the life?
He is.
And is there freedom, healing and salvation for us all?
Of course there is!

But what about equality for all, including women?
Yes, there’s change and growth in this – not perfect, but it’s started.

And is the gender-free all-inclusiveness and all-transcendence of Yahweh fully acknowledged?
Yes, despite the masculine vocabulary which still prevails for God, this truth is neither shocking, nor off-limits.

Is there room for different views, and for the voice of conscience?
Yes.
Are people staying open to the guidance of God’s Spirit?
Yes, they are.

So, can my deep desire for justice and equality for all in terms of calling, ministry, respect, authority and opportunity, be satisfied beyond the Catholic Church?
Ah, yes, thank God! Ah, yes, at last, it can! 

In my distress I prayed to the LORD, and the LORD answered me and set me free (Psalm 118:5; NLT).

Speaking the truth

Ruth Kirk

You know our secret thoughts (Psalm 44:21; GNT).

You know the hidden recesses of our heart (Psalm 44:21; TIB).

You know all my thoughts and feelings,
All I say, and all I do.
Everything that’s said to me, Redeemer God,
Is shared with you.

All that hurts, and all that harms me,
Yahweh God, you bear it too,
So, at last, within my darkness,
Shepherd, Saviour, I find you.

You’re the words I leave unspoken,
Fearful I will be despised.
You’re the light within my darkness:
Honesty, the pearl to prize.

Yahweh, help me face my fear,
And openly express my truth.
This, alone, will end my dread,
And heal the wounds of my abuse.

The Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6; NKJV).

Love should always make us tell the truth. Then we will grow in every way and be more like Christ (Ephesians 4:15; CEV).

If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back (Matthew 18:15; NLT).