Word in the Hand

Circle of Protection I call on the mercy of the Sacred Three To send circles of angels To protect me. And the mighty Archangels To stand over me To shield me with their wings. To the North, stand Michael, Prince and Warrior To the South, stand Gabriel, Speaker of Truth To the West, stand Raphael, Healer and Defender To the East, stand Uriel, Lightbearer. May they be comrades in arms Guardians of faith Beacons against the darkness Sentinels of God's Love Amen wordinthehand2010

I stretch out my arms to you I stretch out my soul, like a land without water.

  Matthew 10 Don't be afraid. Aren't two sparrows sold for only a penny? But your Father knows when any one of them falls to the ground. Even the hairs on your head are counted. At the crossroads on Holy Island there is a cafe, Massie's, an islander cafe; family-run for generations. The menu recognises the needs of the traveller; comfortable, warm, not too posh;  with hot drinks in mugs, tasty sandwiches and toasted teacakes. For the good weather, the hardened pilgrim or those with dogs there is a garden area with with a thick privet hedge on one side. In the hedge live the Massie sparrows; hundreds of them; generations of them from the palest fluffy grey of the fluttering fledglings to the striking bronze filigree of the patriarch males. These feathered families live just as the human islanders do; out of season gathering together for warmth, finding food where they can, holding onto reserves of energy to survive the ceaseless easterly...

Gospel Luke 16:19-31 Jesus said to the Pharisees, ‘There was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen and feast magnificently every day. And at his gate there lay a poor man called Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to fill himself with the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even came and licked his sores. Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. ‘In his torment in Hades he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off with Lazarus in his bosom. So he cried out, “Father Abraham, pity me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames.” “My son,” Abraham replied “remember that during your life good things came your way, just as bad things came the way of Lazarus. Now he is being comforted here while you are in agony. But that is not all: between us and you a great gulf has been fixed, to stop anyone, if he wanted ...

And so I have called out to you, Lord, and in the morning my prayer will come before you.

 You will show me the paths of life, the fullness of joy before your face, 

You will lead me out of the trap that they laid for me – for you are my strength.