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.
SCRIPTURE ļ»æ Mark 7:7-8 These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their heart isn’t in it. They act like they are worshiping me, but they don’t mean it. They just use me as a cover for teaching whatever suits their fancy, Ditching God’s command and taking up the latest fads. WORDS OF HOPE In a conversation with a friend the other day, I mentioned that I am having a hard time right now calling myself a Christian, not because I am having a crisis in my faith in Christ, but because the word “Christian” looks and sounds like so many different things right now. And if I may be honest, many of those expressions of Christianity are nothing like what the Jesus that I carry in my heart looks and sounds and feels like. When asked about my faith, I simply say that I am “a follower of Christ.” Those that are confused by this response and looking for something more concrete usually ask the follow-up question: “What church do you attend?” Often, my answer leaves them still wondering. In our conversation, my friend and I tried to unpack our feelings about the word “Christian.” At its core, faith is what nourishes our spirit; it is food for our soul. Christianity is like food. And with that, it all made sense to me. There is junk food and there is healthy food. That is the dichotomy that exists in Christianity today. Food that is less healthy often seems more appealing. The doughnut covered with brightly-colored sprinkles that catches our attention, the fast-food burger that is quick and easy, the plate of nachos at the local bar—all these things taste and feel good in the moment, but are they the best thing for our bodies long term? After indulging on junk food, there is no room left for a healthier meal. within the meaning of the act, we “ate.” It’s like saying, “I went to church.” The question is, were we fed? Reading and quoting the Bible, and even going to church, doesn’t feed your soul if you are not taking in nourishing “food” that can be digested and used to fuel the work of Jesus. The words of Jesus in the above passage from Mark, “These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their heart isn’t in it” remind me of people who are hungry and are enticed by the sugary doughnuts because they are pretty and easy and taste good. They then exist on a short-lived sugar high, eventually leading to a crash and the hunger soon returning. “They just use me as a cover for teaching whatever suits their fancy,” The true work of being a follower of Christ requires feeding ourselves with “the leafy green veggies, the seeds and nuts, the fruits” of faith, things that nourish us deep down and sustain us for the long haul. This often means not taking the “fast food” route, the sweet route, the fun route. When we strive to live our faith fully and do the work that the gospels call us to do, it doesn’t always taste good, but at the end of the day, we are filled up with good things. PRAYER “ O Bread of Heaven exposed upon the altar, nourish my soul, strengthen my faith, and inflame my heart with divine love.” -Pope Leo XIV DEVOTION AUTHOR Kris Baker Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare
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Words of Hope Podcast
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SCRIPTURE ļ»æ Mark 7:7-8 These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their heart isn’t in it. They act like they are worshiping me, but they don’t mean it. They just use me as a cover for teaching whatever suits their fancy, Ditching God’s command and taking up the latest fads. WORDS OF HOPE In a conversation with a friend the other day, I mentioned that I am having a hard time right now calling myself a Christian, not because I am having a crisis in my faith in Christ, but because the word “Christian” looks and sounds like so many different things right now. And if I may be honest, many of those expressions of Christianity are nothing like what the Jesus that I carry in my heart looks and sounds and feels like. When asked about my faith, I simply say that I am “a follower of Christ.” Those that are confused by this response and looking for something more concrete usually ask the follow-up question: “What church do you attend?” Often, my answer leaves them still wondering. In our conversation, my friend and I tried to unpack our feelings about the word “Christian.” At its core, faith is what nourishes our spirit; it is food for our soul. Christianity is like food. And with that, it all made sense to me. There is junk food and there is healthy food. That is the dichotomy that exists in Christianity today. Food that is less healthy often seems more appealing. The doughnut covered with brightly-colored sprinkles that catches our attention, the fast-food burger that is quick and easy, the plate of nachos at the local bar—all these things taste and feel good in the moment, but are they the best thing for our bodies long term? After indulging on junk food, there is no room left for a healthier meal. within the meaning of the act, we “ate.” It’s like saying, “I went to church.” The question is, were we fed? Reading and quoting the Bible, and even going to church, doesn’t feed your soul if you are not taking in nourishing “food” that can be digested and used to fuel the work of Jesus. The words of Jesus in the above passage from Mark, “These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their heart isn’t in it” remind me of people who are hungry and are enticed by the sugary doughnuts because they are pretty and easy and taste good. They then exist on a short-lived sugar high, eventually leading to a crash and the hunger soon returning. “They just use me as a cover for teaching whatever suits their fancy,” The true work of being a follower of Christ requires feeding ourselves with “the leafy green veggies, the seeds and nuts, the fruits” of faith, things that nourish us deep down and sustain us for the long haul. This often means not taking the “fast food” route, the sweet route, the fun route. When we strive to live our faith fully and do the work that the gospels call us to do, it doesn’t always taste good, but at the end of the day, we are filled up with good things. PRAYER “ O Bread of Heaven exposed upon the altar, nourish my soul, strengthen my faith, and inflame my heart with divine love.” -Pope Leo XIV DEVOTION AUTHOR Kris Baker Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare
READING "Not every sky will be blue and not every day is springtime. So, on this spiritual pathway a person must learn to find her kind of happiness (contentment) without a whole lot of nice things happening outside." -Depak Chopra WORDS OF HOPE On this Memorial Day, our reading is from the well-known New Age writer, Depak Chopra. We are reminded of what is only too obvious today. Not every day is filled with "blue sky" happiness. How can spiritually attuned persons find their own happiness in our present turbulent world? They must first learn to focus their "spiritual eyes" on the value of each interaction which they have with the world, interactions with other people and the environment. It is the first step on a path to peace. We live in a world of clashing messages which often lead to bitter disputes or physical conflict. Some days are so distressing that it seems like we're running over a path of broken glass. There is no stop to the painful stimulation. Where is a place of peace? Who can clear some of the glass shards and create a zone of peace... a place for healing? As a follower of Christ, you are that one! When Jesus sent his disciples to go into small Galilean villages, he instructed them to meet people with peace. In Luke 10:5, Jesus says: “Whenever you enter someone’s home, first say, ‘May God’s peace be on this house.’ It's important that as I am in contact with others, whether I’m in their home or not, that I am fully aware of that magnificent gift which I can bring to others. Jesus said, in John 14:27: "My peace I give to you." So, when you meet others, you can give them the blessing of holy peace. I use voice recognition software to jot down my thoughts or write devotions. As I dictate the word p-e-a-c-e, it usually writes p-i-e-c-e. That's a less than helpful software error. But it reminds me that when I enter into any interaction with someone, I can bring "peace" to them only if I carry a "piece" of Christ's loving presence into that action. PRAYER Lord Jesus Christ, may I always remember that your peace resides in my soul and in my spirit, so that I may say to those around me “my peace I give to you” by my presence alone. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR ļ»æ Donald (Luke) Day Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
SCRIPTURE ļ»æ James 3:5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. WORDS OF HOPE “It only takes a spark to get a fire going” is from the gospel song “pass it on” and that’s what activists who step up, speak up, and lay their lives on the line for others have done and are continuing this legacy today. Each year on May 22, Harvey Milk is remembered for his work as a gay activist before his assassination in 1978. Harvey Milk Day commemorates an amazing advocate for gay rights who stood up for injustice along with the likes of Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King, and Anna Mae Aquash who was assassinated for supporting indigenous rights. The minute each of those spoke out, they understood their lives were in danger yet willingly made enough noise until others heard the cry for justice and joined in. They each pioneered a cause sparking a fire in individuals so enormous that even after their deaths, those flames continue burning today. Harvey became the first openly gay person elected to serve as a San Francisco city supervisor. He urged and encouraged people to come out of the closet and openly fight for their rights. He championed anti-discrimination laws and coined the phrase “you gotta give em hope” which inspired folks to fight for their rights. After his assassination, instead of the fire being extinguished, his legacy began to catapult the movement toward greater national awareness and mainstream influence. Milk’s activism sparked the quest for justice and radical inclusion ensuring the same rights for ALL who had been expelled, dismissed and harmed by injustice. The Bible is full of individuals who stood up, shouted out, lost their lives and sparked movements that are still burning today. Our best example is Jesus who’s teaching to love one another was given as a command, not a suggestion! PRAYER Sovereign, Omnipotent God, Creator of ALL things everywhere, we give you thanks and praise for the sacrifice Jesus made creating the spark that burns in our hearts with hope! In Jesus name, Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Donna Jackson
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