Each day CIA will be sharing their prayerful reflections during this time of recovery in our lives.  Visit this page daily for the new reflection!

May 15

"Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters.
Did not God choose those who are poor in the world
to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom that he promised to those who love him?"

James 2:4

Friday morning's newpaper headlines Mayor Ray Nagin's comment concerning the homeless in New Orleans.  The top story reminds us that about 5,000-12,000 homeless are accounted for in New Orleans alone.  Whether or not people are without homes intentionally, chronically homeless or episodically homeless, we turn to our sisters and brothers and begin to consider who the poor are in our midst.

Allow the radical-ness of the Good News to pentrate your heart today.  Listen to God.  Listen to those around you.  Then, perhaps, you will know where to begin to help this world by being more humane to one another.

May 13

"Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters:
all good giving and every perfect gift is from above..." James 1

Turning to God most often includes the moments when we are at our end or it seems hopeless or our fate simply seems all so terrible.

Do you remember turning to God in a moment of joy or of goodness?

To contemplate God's presence assures just that: that God is present in ALL things.  Namely, we ought to be present to God's goodness, a goodness that is beyond us and our making.  When we are able to begin our days here, then the rest is truly all gift. 

May 10-11
Pentecost Sunday

As we come to the end of the Easter Season, we celebrate the great Feast
of Pentecost.  The gift of the Holy Spirit is bestowed on us when Jesus
appeared to his disciples in the Upper Room after his death and
resurrection. 

Jesus offered us peace.  He also instructed us to live lives of
reconciliation.

We are invited to consider living lives "with the Spirit" and "of the
Spirit." 

To live with the Spirit, we acknowledge the Spirit's gifts of wisdom,
knowledge, counsel, fortitude/courage, understanding, piety, and awe
and wonder.  We put all of these characteristics on each day and are
instructed to champion them as we walk along with others.

To live of the Spirit, we practice peace amidst terrifyng grief and pain
and hurt.  We live lives trusting in God's mercy and so we, too, show
merc to others along the way.

May the Celebration of Pentecost encourage you to live spiritual lives
for the reconciliation of you family, your neighborhood, your city, our
world.