Daily Devotions and Podcasts
Prayer: Lord, help me to see You in every part of my day, even in the places I least expect. Open my eyes to Your presence in the ordinary and the extraordinary moments of life. Amen.
The Cathedral of Hope Devotion Ministry began as an answer to Progressive Christians who wanted to start their days with a little insight, observation, or wisdom about the Christian faith from their own point of view. Conservative internet devotions were abundant, but there was not much out there for liberal thinkers. The need was clear.
Being a large church, we had a generous amount of writing talent available and also a large number of congregants with theological training who were not on the pulpit. In the early days of the ministry, most of the writing was done by the clergy, but gradually the majority of the writers emerged from those lay volunteers.
That dynamic is still in place as new authors are always joining in to keep the ideas fresh. It’s a fitting structure for any center of progressive thought. This particular Body of Christ has many voices and each one has a unique and important story to tell.
READING Mute Potato by Billy Collins Before introducing it to a pot of boiling water I caught a medium-size Idaho potato staring up at me with several of its many eyes. WORDS OF HOPE I bet you are wondering why we are talking about a potato. It’s not so much the potato that is important here; rather it is the eyes of that potato. The “eyes” of a potato are growing points. As long as they are dormant, they cause no harm when ingested. However, once these buds become green and and begin to grow, they produce the toxic compound solanine. Though toxic, preliminary research has found solanine also to be an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-cancer agent. Darkness and light. The eyes of potatoes are so-called because of their resemblance to the structure of human eye. Have you ever looked up at the clouds and seen a face? Or seen a face in vegetables? On the moon? In paint swirls or textures on a wall? This phenomenon is called pareidolia, meaning that the brain is perceiving a recognizable shape, often a face, in abstract visual stimuli. Think about the toast on which people see the face of Jesus. This phenomenon of finding eyes and seeing faces on random objects is part of our human defense system. It helps us with social cues and in detecting the threat of predators, the theory being better to perceive eyes that prove to be safe rather than miss those that are dangerous to us. In his poem Mute Potato , Billy Collins simply acknowledges that he saw the eyes of the potato. It is up to the reader to decide what he saw in those eyes. Matthew 6:22-23 from The Message reads, “Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a musty cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have!” During the holidays, I received Holy Communion several times from a relatively new Episcopal priest. After the first time, something didn’t feel right, but I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what was wrong. The second time I received communion from this person, it felt like the communion wafers were being dealt like playing cards at a black jack table in Vegas, quickly and with a subtext of keep your hands moving. It was after my third encounter with this priest that I finally figured out what was causing my discomfort. They did not make eye contact with me or anyone else that they were communing. “If you open up your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light…”. I was surprised at how much such a seemingly small thing affected my spirit as I partook of the sacraments. Reflecting on my experience, I think at some level I felt like I was holding my hands up to the darkness rather than reaching toward the light. As I walked away from the altar rail, my initial feelings were that I had been gypped, that somehow this experience was less than what it could have or should or what I wanted it to be. Then, from that darkness, loudly came a message. If we are to be the hands and feet of Jesus on earth, we also need to have the eyes of Jesus, eyes wide open to truly see the people on earth as Jesus sees us. As Christ-followers, we don’t have the luxury of closing our eyes to avoid seeing those in front of us or the pain, the destruction, the injustice, the inequality, the corruption, the hatred…the muted potatoes…all around us. We must keep our eyes wide open to be an effective conduit for God’s love. We can’t serve others as did that close-eyed priest. “Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.” Proverbs 7:2. Did Collin’s see open or closed eyes when looking at that Idaho potato? Maybe the better question is what did the potato see when looking up at Collins?” And what do we see when we look at the “pot of potatoes” in front of us each day? It’s better to see a pareidolia than overlook the face of a single child of God. PRAYER ļ»æ God of light, open my eyes so that I will see and acknowledge all that you have created. Help me to be Your light in this dark world. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Kris Baker Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
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Words of Hope Podcast
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READING Mute Potato by Billy Collins Before introducing it to a pot of boiling water I caught a medium-size Idaho potato staring up at me with several of its many eyes. WORDS OF HOPE I bet you are wondering why we are talking about a potato. It’s not so much the potato that is important here; rather it is the eyes of that potato. The “eyes” of a potato are growing points. As long as they are dormant, they cause no harm when ingested. However, once these buds become green and and begin to grow, they produce the toxic compound solanine. Though toxic, preliminary research has found solanine also to be an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-cancer agent. Darkness and light. The eyes of potatoes are so-called because of their resemblance to the structure of human eye. Have you ever looked up at the clouds and seen a face? Or seen a face in vegetables? On the moon? In paint swirls or textures on a wall? This phenomenon is called pareidolia, meaning that the brain is perceiving a recognizable shape, often a face, in abstract visual stimuli. Think about the toast on which people see the face of Jesus. This phenomenon of finding eyes and seeing faces on random objects is part of our human defense system. It helps us with social cues and in detecting the threat of predators, the theory being better to perceive eyes that prove to be safe rather than miss those that are dangerous to us. In his poem Mute Potato , Billy Collins simply acknowledges that he saw the eyes of the potato. It is up to the reader to decide what he saw in those eyes. Matthew 6:22-23 from The Message reads, “Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a musty cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have!” During the holidays, I received Holy Communion several times from a relatively new Episcopal priest. After the first time, something didn’t feel right, but I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what was wrong. The second time I received communion from this person, it felt like the communion wafers were being dealt like playing cards at a black jack table in Vegas, quickly and with a subtext of keep your hands moving. It was after my third encounter with this priest that I finally figured out what was causing my discomfort. They did not make eye contact with me or anyone else that they were communing. “If you open up your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light…”. I was surprised at how much such a seemingly small thing affected my spirit as I partook of the sacraments. Reflecting on my experience, I think at some level I felt like I was holding my hands up to the darkness rather than reaching toward the light. As I walked away from the altar rail, my initial feelings were that I had been gypped, that somehow this experience was less than what it could have or should or what I wanted it to be. Then, from that darkness, loudly came a message. If we are to be the hands and feet of Jesus on earth, we also need to have the eyes of Jesus, eyes wide open to truly see the people on earth as Jesus sees us. As Christ-followers, we don’t have the luxury of closing our eyes to avoid seeing those in front of us or the pain, the destruction, the injustice, the inequality, the corruption, the hatred…the muted potatoes…all around us. We must keep our eyes wide open to be an effective conduit for God’s love. We can’t serve others as did that close-eyed priest. “Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.” Proverbs 7:2. Did Collin’s see open or closed eyes when looking at that Idaho potato? Maybe the better question is what did the potato see when looking up at Collins?” And what do we see when we look at the “pot of potatoes” in front of us each day? It’s better to see a pareidolia than overlook the face of a single child of God. PRAYER ļ»æ God of light, open my eyes so that I will see and acknowledge all that you have created. Help me to be Your light in this dark world. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Kris Baker Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
SCRIPTURE ļ»æ James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above WORDS OF HOPE Life is like a white elephant gift exchange. Not the gift you asked for or expected. Just a surprise gift. Throughout my life I have received "gifts" or assignments that seemed kind of strange when they came to me! But a lot of them were on-the-job training for life assignments ahead of me. Me becoming president of city PTA in Abilene and an officer in State PTA when my denomination was saying women could not be strong leaders. Receiving foster boys soon after the birth of each of my daughters. God calling my husband and me to teach a single again Sunday School class just as our marriage was falling apart and when I didn’t really believe in divorce! There was always some strange thing I encountered that led me to a journey or future job in my life. God leads us and prepares us for so much of our life if we just try to take each opportunity as a teaching opportunity. Even the process of a marriage break up is a lesson - hard as it may be. Discovering that my husband was a closet alcoholic was an earth-shaking shock for a lifelong Baptist! I never drank alcohol at all! It was a big issue for a Southern Baptist Preacher. And a big lie like that was the breaking point in our marriage! Each journey I traveled, God had prepared me in some way. And God was always present with me. And I could see, in hindsight, the training God had given to prepare me for each new step of faith. Like the White elephant gift, not the answer I expected from my prayers. But God’s gifts are good even though it was not the way I expected it! I don’t know what my future holds. But I know God holds my future and I trust that I will continue to be guided to the best gifts. PRAYER God of perfect gifts, help us understand that some gifts do not seem so perfect when they arrive, but with your love and guidance they become for us your perfect gift. Make us grateful every day for all your gifts, both great and small. DEVOTION AUTHOR Jan Nunn CoH Volunteer
SCRIPTURE Acts 9:11-14 The Lord said to Ananias, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” WORDS OF HOPE A crew of zealots with orders in their hands and hate in their hearts enter the city. For the established citizens, this is cause for celebration, for these violent men are here to arrest and harm those who do not belong among the privileged. They are led by a particularly extremist man who is an upcoming star in the administration. He is loyal to the despotic leadership and has a reputation for cruelty and efficiency. His current mission: To arrest and harass anyone who dares oppose those in charge. This could be a description of what is happening in cities across this country when ICE and DEA agents descend into neighborhoods. However, it is a narrative about what is about to happen when a man from Tarsus named Saul, with authority from the chief priests, arrives in Damascus. However, on his way to that city, Saul of Tarsus has an encounter with the risen Christ who confronts Saul with the question “why do you persecute me?” Suddenly, Saul finds himself blinded and led to the city where he ponders for three lonely days and nights the dramatic appearance of Jesus and his future life as a blinded man. Meanwhile, a faithful follower named Ananias receives a command to go to Saul, the very man known for breathing threats and violence against the church. However, where Ananias sees danger; God sees purpose. “Go,” the Lord says, “for he is an instrument whom I have chosen.” God does not deny Saul’s past. Instead, God reveals a transforming future shaped by grace. Ananias goes. His courage is quiet but costly. He enters the house, lays hands on Saul, and calls him “Brother.” With that single word, Ananias embodies the gospel—naming kinship where others would only see threat. Sight is restored, the Spirit fills Saul, and baptism follows. Healing flows through obedience. Acts 9 reminds us that God often heals and calls through ordinary believers willing to trust beyond their comfort. We are not asked to approve of harm or ignore wisdom, but to remain open to God’s redemptive work—even in people and places that unsettle us. Sometimes the miracle is not only what God does in them, but what God forms in us as we go. PRAYER God of surprising grace, give us ears to hear your call and courage to follow. Help us trust your vision when ours is limited by fear. Make us instruments of healing, in Jesus’ name. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR ļ»æ Thomas Riggs
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