Creating Connections

On the 16th December, I listened to Julian speak on this youtube audio entitled: Philosophy of Julian Assange — a multi-award winning Journalist and Publisher of Wikileaks

I saved it with the view to putting a quote, from his talk, with a piece of artwork to go on our ‘Julian Assange inspired art of free expression’ facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/artforjulianassange/

There is nothing concealed, that will not be disclosed or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark, will be heard in the daylight. And what you have whispered in the ear, in the inner rooms, will be proclaimed, at last – from rooftop to rooftop.’

On Friday, I chose the quote above for the artwork ‘Butterfly in pause before spreading its wings’ and posted it on the page. I had listened to Julian say these words several times and had repeated them over to myself. There was a power and resonance to them that affected me deeply.

The following day I attended the Vespers service at the Abbey. It was a beautiful chant filled with the expectancy and joyous momentum of Christmas approaching. At the end of the service, the Extern Sister thoughtfully offered me a small publication called The ‘Gospel of Luke’ with a foreword by Bishop Philip Egan suggesting its use for Lectio Divina.

Once home, I read the forward dated Christmas 2019: Lection Divina is a prayerful and life-changing way of reading scripture. Set aside 10 -15 minutes (more if you wish): choose a passage to meditate on; in your own words, ask the Holy Spirit to help you and the Blessed Mother to pray for you; then read the passage a bit at a time. Use your imagination to enter the scene. Let the Lord speak to you. What is His message here to you? Read the passage slowly again. Is there a phrase, a line, something that stands out? Ask Jesus what it means and what He wishes to say. Spend some time contemplating Him. Pray to him for all your needs and the needs of others. Finally, read the passage again. Is there a resolution He wants you to make, a commitment to some action? Pause a while. Finish the Lectio Divina with a prayer of praise, such as Glory be.

After reading the foreword, I decided to open the book at random to see what message Jesus had for me. I opened it at page 22 and at first my eyes fell on the verse ‘Jesus’mother and brothers’ which is a short one.

‘Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. Someone told him, ‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside waiting to see you.’

He replied, ‘My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.’

For me, the meaning of the verse is that there are no special relationships in God’s family; just those hearing God’s word and putting it into practice.

Being such a brief verse, my eyes soon went to the top of the page. There I read the line ‘For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.’

I was completely astonished!!! The very words that had been resonating with me since yesterday were written there on this page

If we listen to guidance and then act on it, overcoming any hesitation or doubt, beautiful gifts of confirmation strengthen our trust and faith to be open to receive.

If we listen to guidance and then act on it, overcoming any hesitation or doubt, beautiful gifts of confirmation continue to further strengthen our trust and faith.

Prison walls and conditions of torture cannot hold back communication for there is, in truth, no barrier to messages of love.

For those who are interested, the full verse which started on page 21 was titled: A lamp on a Stand. ‘No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts under a bed, instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.’