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Posts Tagged ‘Meditation’

The Secret Science of Divining(i)

Come with me, I shall revealthe secret of diviningour ancestors knew.

I shall take you to the hallowed spotswhere stand pyramids and astrofieldsto show you the rim of the cosmic orbwhere existed an observatory for all space.

These hieroglyphs tell of a lost civilizationof those who could commune through signs,masters of geometric anagrams and schemes.

No thinking pigmieslike the jet-set, computer-brained, robots,no automatons sans feeling or emotion,who worship only the machine.

The aborigines possess to this daythe knowledge of invisible paths;locked in their secret sciencethe treasury of ancient wisdom.

No unfeeling savagesbut visionary beingswho knew where to buildthe great pyramids.

Who knew the unified fieldof quadrangles and trianglesthat form the invisible gridencircling the globe.

Who knew well the movementsof prevailing winds,of cosmo-oceanic currents,of hidden forces of the cosmos.

Who knew the spots of magnetic powerto locate the precise spotsfor the countless megalithic structuresto predict the rising and setting of the sun;made the magnetic field retain the sunstonesin the ordained positions.

Who had the ability to communewith beings from far-off constellationswe are still struggling to find.

Many a mysterious sign on the groundbe it a bridge over the seaor an airfieldor the markings of Nasca-tell of the intelligencebehind the perfect architectural planof astroportsfor visitors from outer spaceto land to consummatean unknown mission.

The mystery of Ande lines toopoints to the invisible handof the unknown denizensfrom far-aff galaxies.

(ii)

Ancient men possessedthe unerring intuitionto locate the spotsfor their minarets and pagodas,their circles and parabolas.

They had the innate abilityto catch supranatural frequenciesa power modern man has lost.Sensate values have taken a tolla sure sign of man’s fall.

Knew that from coarse eroticato archetypal myths,from  racial memory-roots of aboriginesto the consciousness of superman,dreams span the legendary lore.

We sleep to dream,we dream to sleeptill we are shakenby a knock at the door.

We shuttle from bliss to horrorbreaking the sequence of space-time,hourly undergo a sea change.

We leave the corporeal frameto travel by the astral pathways.After a spell of relaxation,go to sleep again.

Many a time have I dreamtin a wakeful state,seen and thought three-dimensionally,oblivious of my fourth dimension,the basis of all creativitythat guides the artist’s insight,lets him see the hidden beautyin the darkest night.

Sleep is a relaxationa state of receptive passivity,for paranormal communication,for entering a trance.

I climb the chestnut,become the tree,stand with my peers,proud of my ancestry.

Oblivious of the hallowed pastthat gave meaning to my thoughts,beneath the banyan I lie.My roots go back in time,I recollect each onewho stood there.

I become the wood,bound to every one ,stretching my arms in every direction.

I understand the heartof cyclones and storms,of creativity and creation,in my soul’s calm.

Travel from trunk downardsfar away in space-time,in my crystal costumeI become all that I see.

Breathing the air of new skieshopping from sphere to sphere,buffeted by electromagnetic waves,I crossmany a sound barrier,many a starlit dome,winging from the earthly roofto my celestial home.

there I meet my father,my father’s fatherand onto the Father.

In His lap I rest a whileto take my place with the pole-starto guide the stranded.

Go back hometo know the sourceI strayed fromto live my mortal destiny.

(v)In my trances,in nine circles of the moonI unrolled the scrollof my previous lives.

I re-lived the crucial rolesof my previous births,having a bearing on my present,as if I were acting in a film.

Till my thirties I was a witnessto disjointed episodesfrom my previous livesreflected on a screen.

Suddenly, in early thirties,a strange dispassion entered my being:I started shunning all menretreating to lonely spotsfor meditations deep and longtill I was summoned to shirdiby a celestial call.

There I met  a realized soulwho transferred the yogic powersto create and uncreate at will,to see beyond space-time,to commune with spirits divine,to hear the first sermonsof ancient saints and divinesin their original tongues.

My precognition in that statewas marked by precision,my prophecies were fulfilled,I was the star of the great.

I heard  Christ’s golden sermonin his own sonorous voicein a language alien to my ear;its music haunts.

I was rousedfrom the sleep of ignoranceto tread the seeker’s pathplayed in my previous births.

Dattatreya and SaiGurcharan and GolakZen patriarchs and Babajiwrapped in effulgence,entered my inmost being;I was filled with translucent light.

They awakened me to my mission,conferred the mystic sightto bear the godly light,to carry the cross of human woes.

From the meshes of worldliness freed,longing to walk by His lightmaking it burn into a steady slame,in my dark cavern I dwell.

Hear the callto join my voiceto the choir of God.

I sing of the faith,of the earth as one family,of unity permeating all,of  service as love made visible:the destination of every man,of soul’s deliverance,of its merger with the One,the source supreme.

(vi)

Ecstasy is a gateway to eternalfrom the void of oblivionto eternities of memory.It is an invitationto life divine.

The sages of yorewho sing philosophies to redeem,prophet, poet and philosopher, rolled in one,to them I look for inspiration.

Science has to be a hymn to the Creator,no more a preserve of godless menor it will become a deviceheaping untold miseries upon men.

Reason and spirit interacting mouldthe force of personalitythat ordains the route mankind will takewhen the spirit is caught in a fix.

” To be or not be” is not a questionconfined to a mythical personbut the haunting obsession of every epochin search of a breakthrough.

No forecast is possible in reverse,neither about the past nor the future.History is a graveyard of all prophecies,of all ” ifs” and ” buts”.

Spirituality is the last retreatfor science and religion to meet;when clash of creeds alarms,realization has to drawn.

The savage and the scientist sharethe same substratum of intelligence,the same gene,yet in the chain of natural progressionsavage remains the archetypal man.

Psychokinesis and clairvoyancebelong to every manin psychic reservoir locked.

What you need is the right intelligenceto attune yourselfto the unified fieldof human awareness,encircling the universe,hissing for recognition.

I travelled to distant lands,unknown to my physical mind,in contemplation firm-fixedyet moving faster than light.

A mental falcon following,retaining the memory of things I see,of the sights and soundsthat lapped around me;reviving the ability or remote -seeing,natural to every one.

I have experienced levitation,materialized out of thin airsultanas and sacred ash.Also, solid balls out of nothing,and let them fall to the groundwithout bouncing or making a sound.Twisted metal spans and knives,made eerie signs.Pulled out fires from the walls,saw flowerpots hanging in midair,automatic writing on a clean slate,a shadowy presence in the room.

(vii)

What we do in this lifedetermines what we gainin the next.

Good or evil we doforsakes us noton our journey to the unknown,neither in the course of flightnor on reaching the destination.

What we are, we shall be,all determined by our deeds.The universe is not a game of dicebut a mathematical paradigm.

Each and every step of the designsquares well with the pattern of the theorem.Everything depends on our actions.Karma and reincarnationsmonitor the cosmic mechanism.

Cryptompesia explainsthe truth of transmigration,our turning away from the sun,our striving for salvation,an integral aspects of total organismthat inheres in the cosmic unconscious:the extension of microcosmic self.

We cannot explainthe totality of the human personby physio-neurology alone,the truth lies in prenatal existence.

Many a timemeeting a person,passing through a situation,or reading some piece,the sensation of ” already seen”haunts usas if our double had been to the placeand had met the person.

(viii)

Stuck by weightlessnessI levitate in space in a state of trance.

In my upward glide swill,turning in air itself,into the tunnel,cross the little  hill,to arrive where my father sleeps.

I too shall sleep thereafter I shuffle off my worn-out coil,cut the umbilical cord that joinsthe causal to the mental-physical sheath,all over the globe to fly.

I follow the music,cross the astral paths,the sun and the moon,cross the river of mortalityneedling my way through invisible tunnels,through inaccessible mountain passesdotted by sunspots and black shadows,well-marked by ethereal poles.

Out-of-the-body experience is not the sameas the fact of being out of the bodybut an altered state of consciousness.

(ix)

The spirit never dies,in various incarnations it survivesdrinking the bliss sip by siptill we attain nirvana.

I know reincarnation to be a factfro sage Bhrigu unfolds the scrollof my previous birthsspanning many aeons.

In one birth I was King Yayati,the ancestor of the solar race.I carry with me Brighu’s cursefor my infidelityto Devayani,daughter of the mighty sage.

She criedfor restoration of her conjugal rights,for her son’s succession to the throne,brought upon my headdecrepitude too soonand a straw bed.

Twenty-nine births from the present oneI was the sage Madanand livedin the Hemkund mountainsabsorbed in Sat Chit Anand.

In my last birthwas I a scholar-sainthonoured by courts and kings.

In this life reborn to the onewho was no God-manbut true man of God,free from the taint of worldliness.The Jiwan Mukta, by Brighu proclaimed,the liberated while livingand not to be born again.

Father bade me stopthe out-of-body journeysto confine myselfto ordained duties and affections,to quicken the liberation of man,to imbibe earth consciousness,to make earth-citizens,to re-live the religion of man.

Father touched me by chance,instantly I went into a trance:neither a sleep nor a dream was itbut the light of bliss.

Through many a secret pathwayI travelled to unreachable realmsshortening distancesof many million light years.

Suddenly I see something flickerwith a pair of eye-glassesin a far-off gloom,my sense of discernment returns.

I retrace my steps ;a black dog,tucking at my knees,coaxes me home.

http://mysticinfoun.blogspot.com/2008/12/mystic-signs.html

For daily readings, you will find few better books

There is a holiness about this book of readings, “Celebrating the Seasons: Daily Spiritual Readings for the Christian Year.” I bought my copy at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco in 2000. Here are some of my writings about that event, and I call it an event since the book has meaning to me: “January 11, 2000. I visited Grace Cathedral Gift Shop and bought this since the 12 days of Christmas are over. I was going to get a new pew copy of The Book of Common Prayer. I ducked into the Cathedral–while waiting for a friend–this turned out well…God loves a sinner and seeks the lost sheep and the lamb.” You can see I was in a spiritual state of mind, and discovered that the readings enhance my sense of the liturgical year. So the compiler and editors intended. The publisher is Canturbury Press in England that the compiler is an Anglican priest working in the Diocese of London named Robert Atwell. He has a Benedictine bent, and that tells you something of the nature of these selections. They will move the reader, and inspire. So it is, for here is a word or two from the introduction about the book’s intent: “Beginning afresh each year on Advent Sunday, the Church has crafted a rhythm of prayer and worship that continues to shape much of Christian life and thought.” The readings aid in that exercise and manner of life. This short quote from Ephrem of Syria on Christmas, since as I write this we are celebrating the Christmas season. “At this feast of the nativity let each person wreathe the door of his heart so that the Holy Spirit may delight in that door, enter in and take up residence there; then by the Spirit we will be made holy.” Here are some of the titles to these short, daily readings in the Christmas season. They give an idea of the kind of readings offered in this keeper and daily book of meditation and thoughts: “A Reading from a sermon of Augustine;” “A Reading from a letter of Athanasius of Alexandria;” for today, January 4, “A Reading from a sermon o Bernard of Clairvaux;” “A Reading from the ‘Catechetical Orations’ of Gregory of Nyssa;” “A Reading from ‘The Light of Christ’ by Evelyn Underhill.” There are many more, a kind of religious education of their own to be read again the following year. This excellent compilation (and I am sure you will agree should you purchase and use the book) is useful year after year. You may think some of the things said obvious, but really they are necessary things to say such as this from The Epiphany date, “A Reading from a sermon of Peter Chrysologos, Bishop of Ravenna.” “In the mystery of our Lord’s incarnation there were clear indications of his eternal Godhead. Yet the great events we celebrate today disclose and reveal in different ways the fact that God himself took a human body.” You’ll like the story, too, as a prospect for such a book as this. There are words about loving God, who is “…O Lord adorable an loveable…” There are words about opening one’s heart to God through the psalms, “…receive Christ, unlock your soul to him, offer him a welcome in your mind…” There are words about Christs offering and bringing to the world love that reconciles and transcends, “…never stops wor4king to bring it back into being through love, inviting it back by grace…” I find the opportunity in this review to find more Epiphany statements, but you get the idea. These are food for thought, food for meditation. The words by the spiritual and religious writers are good words, and those inclined to matters of the Christian faith and spirit will find some direction for the seasons, like this from Lent as part of “A Reading from ‘Holy Living’ by Jeremy Taylor.” “God is especially present in the consciences of all persons, good and bad, by way of testimony and judgement…” These are easier to understand than one would think, and just the right length for daily reading and thought. Notes in the back of the book give the page number for selections, their reference under each category of season. For those who will want to study the book more, or search out readings by particular figures, there is a listing of people (John Donne, Gertrude of Helfta, George Herbert, and of course many others) with the pages numbers where they can be found. There is other material at the back of the book, interesting also and probably something a reader will want to look at if only for curiousities sake. There is a companion to this title, compiled by the same man. For those who like this title, take a look at it. “Celebrating the Saints: Devotional Readings for Saints’ Days.” The two books together make a set, and having them for daily reading makes for a full measure of meditation. This reviewer recommends the title “Celebrating the Seasons” because it is food for thought, with many excerpts of inspirational and spiritual value for the Christian. The book itself is easy to use, and contains a variety of religious writers throughout the Church seasons of the year. A helpful title when keeping the rhythms of the Church year, this is a handsome edition for someone’s library and daily use. –Peter Menkin, Christmas

Useful book for people interested in reading, using prayer

This is a book that I read, but more I use for prayer. I grant many of the prayers by the well known and should be known Anglicans in this book are old. And their language may be unusual to us moderns, at least to an extent, but they are useful and meaningful. I bought this hardback to have access to prayers. I had read a biography of Terry Waite, the Anglican held captive some years ago in Iran. He said of his captivity, that one thing that held him was staying with prayers he knew from his prayer book. Albeit I have The Book of Common Prayer, and I say those prayers from it as do many Episcopalians. I thought to myself that I needed more, and though I don’t believe that Terry Waite, a devout man, only said those prayers from his prayer book, and none of his own, nonetheless it is a good idea to have a source of prayer like the Anthology as also starting point and inspiration. Those who wish to widen their scope will find this a useful book, one full of history of the Anglican Church. Say you are perusing the book, rather than reading it from one cover to the other, you will find all kinds of interesting prayers. Some are long. There is John Donne, who says prayers before various sacraments, like marriage. He is of course giving a sermon at the marriage. Here is some text to give you a taste of the language you may encounter. This from the time of 1571 to 1631: “O Eternall and most gracious God, who hast promised to hearken to the prayers of thy people, when they pray towards thy house, though they be absent from it, worke more effectually upon us, who are personally met in this thy house, in this place consecrated to they worship. Enable us, O Lord so to see thee…” The language is to this reader most moving and lovely. The book has many such samples of prayer. Here is another sample, this from Jeremy Taylor: “An Act of Contrition…Lord, thou shalt find my heart full of cares and worldly desires, cheated with love of riches, and neglact of holy things…” I was introduced to prayers from the New Zealand Prayer Book by a minister, and I was happy to find some of those prayers in this book, which Episcopalians may find a good source of history and interesting reading. There is a text before the prayers of each person who is quoted that tells of that persons life, and the years they lived. The quotes from the New Zealand book are too lengthy for here, but this excerpt about the night: “The night is dark/Let our fears of the darkness of the world and of our own lives rest in you.” “The night is quiet./Let the quietness of your peace enfold us,/all dear to us,/and all who have no peace.” That is a modern, contemporary prayer from their book. More prayers, or subjects for prayer are given. Elizabeth Goudge, a layperson who lived 1900 to 1984 has some of her prayers in this book “Give Us Grace:” “For the Crippled, For the Blind,” “For the Dying,” “For Political Prisoners,” Frankly, I enjoy finding these prayers, and I think if you are so inclined to a need to get words to pray and connect with God on all sorts of topics, you will find this a treasure of such good things. A book to keep, the type is large enough for easy reading and the hardback binding seems sturdy. So one can put this book to use for a long time. One reviewer calls this book, a “Feast.” I think it is that, too. The publisher is Morehouse Publishing, an Episcopal Church publishing house. Interestingly, the genre or category for the book is “spirituality,” and that should tell you something of it, too. There is no harm in being introduced to a rich tradition. The book is compiled by a well known Episcopal editor, Christopher L. Webber. Congratulations to him for an eminent job. Rich in prayer, this book is a keeper for those so inclined to the spiritual path and religious reading. –Peter Menkin, Mill Valley, CA USA This is a book that I read, but more I use for prayer. I grant many of the prayers by the well known and should be known Anglicans in this book are old. And their language may be unusual to us moderns, at least to an extent, but they are useful and meaningful. I bought this hardback to have access to prayers. I had read a biography of Terry Waite, the Anglican held captive some years ago in Iran. He said of his captivity, that one thing that held him was staying with prayers he knew from his prayer book. Albeit I have The Book of Common Prayer, and I say those prayers from it as do many Episcopalians. I thought to myself that I needed more, and though I don’t believe that Terry Waite, a devout man, only said those prayers from his prayer book, and none of his own, nonetheless it is a good idea to have a source of prayer like the Anthology as also starting point and inspiration. Those who wish to widen their scope will find this a useful book, one full of history of the Anglican Church. Say you are perusing the book, rather than reading it from one cover to the other, you will find all kinds of interesting prayers. Some are long. There is John Donne, who says prayers before various sacraments, like marriage. He is of course giving a sermon at the marriage. Here is some text to give you a taste of the language you may encounter. This from the time of 1571 to 1631: “O Eternall and most gracious God, who hast promised to hearken to the prayers of thy people, when they pray towards thy house, though they be absent from it, worke more effectually upon us, who are personally met in this thy house, in this place consecrated to they worship. Enable us, O Lord so to see thee…” The language is to this reader most moving and lovely. The book has many such samples of prayer. Here is another sample, this from Jeremy Taylor: “An Act of Contrition…Lord, thou shalt find my heart full of cares and worldly desires, cheated with love of riches, and neglact of holy things…” I was introduced to prayers from the New Zealand Prayer Book by a minister, and I was happy to find some of those prayers in this book, which Episcopalians may find a good source of history and interesting reading. There is a text before the prayers of each person who is quoted that tells of that persons life, and the years they lived. The quotes from the New Zealand book are too lengthy for here, but this excerpt about the night: “The night is dark/Let our fears of the darkness of the world and of our own lives rest in you.” “The night is quiet./Let the quietness of your peace enfold us,/all dear to us,/and all who have no peace.” That is a modern, contemporary prayer from their book. More prayers, or subjects for prayer are given. Elizabeth Goudge, a layperson who lived 1900 to 1984 has some of her prayers in this book “Give Us Grace:” “For the Crippled, For the Blind,” “For the Dying,” “For Political Prisoners,” Frankly, I enjoy finding these prayers, and I think if you are so inclined to a need to get words to pray and connect with God on all sorts of topics, you will find this a treasure of such good things. A book to keep, the type is large enough for easy reading and the hardback binding seems sturdy. So one can put this book to use for a long time. One reviewer calls this book, a “Feast.” I think it is that, too. The publisher is Morehouse Publishing, an Episcopal Church publishing house. Interestingly, the genre or category for the book is “spirituality,” and that should tell you something of it, too. There is no harm in being introduced to a rich tradition. The book is compiled by a well known Episcopal editor, Christopher L. Webber. Congratulations to him for an eminent job. Rich in prayer, this book is a keeper for those so inclined to the spiritual path and religious reading. –Peter Menkin, Mill Valley, CA USA This is a book that I read, but more I use for prayer. I grant many of the prayers by the well known and should be known Anglicans in this book are old. And their language may be unusual to us moderns, at least to an extent, but they are useful and meaningful. I bought this hardback to have access to prayers. I had read a biography of Terry Waite, the Anglican held captive some years ago in Iran. He said of his captivity, that one thing that held him was staying with prayers he knew from his prayer book. Albeit I have The Book of Common Prayer, and I say those prayers from it as do many Episcopalians. I thought to myself that I needed more, and though I don’t believe that Terry Waite, a devout man, only said those prayers from his prayer book, and none of his own, nonetheless it is a good idea to have a source of prayer like the Anthology as also starting point and inspiration. Those who wish to widen their scope will find this a useful book, one full of history of the Anglican Church. Say you are perusing the book, rather than reading it from one cover to the other, you will find all kinds of interesting prayers. Some are long. There is John Donne, who says prayers before various sacraments, like marriage. He is of course giving a sermon at the marriage. Here is some text to give you a taste of the language you may encounter. This from the time of 1571 to 1631: “O Eternall and most gracious God, who hast promised to hearken to the prayers of thy people, when they pray towards thy house, though they be absent from it, worke more effectually upon us, who are personally met in this thy house, in this place consecrated to they worship. Enable us, O Lord so to see thee…” The language is to this reader most moving and lovely. The book has many such samples of prayer. Here is another sample, this from Jeremy Taylor: “An Act of Contrition…Lord, thou shalt find my heart full of cares and worldly desires, cheated with love of riches, and neglact of holy things…” I was introduced to prayers from the New Zealand Prayer Book by a minister, and I was happy to find some of those prayers in this book, which Episcopalians may find a good source of history and interesting reading. There is a text before the prayers of each person who is quoted that tells of that persons life, and the years they lived. The quotes from the New Zealand book are too lengthy for here, but this excerpt about the night: “The night is dark/Let our fears of the darkness of the world and of our own lives rest in you.” “The night is quiet./Let the quietness of your peace enfold us,/all dear to us,/and all who have no peace.” That is a modern, contemporary prayer from their book. More prayers, or subjects for prayer are given. Elizabeth Goudge, a layperson who lived 1900 to 1984 has some of her prayers in this book “Give Us Grace:” “For the Crippled, For the Blind,” “For the Dying,” “For Political Prisoners,” Frankly, I enjoy finding these prayers, and I think if you are so inclined to a need to get words to pray and connect with God on all sorts of topics, you will find this a treasure of such good things. A book to keep, the type is large enough for easy reading and the hardback binding seems sturdy. So one can put this book to use for a long time. One reviewer calls this book, a “Feast.” I think it is that, too. The publisher is Morehouse Publishing, an Episcopal Church publishing house. Interestingly, the genre or category for the book is “spirituality,” and that should tell you something of it, too. There is no harm in being introduced to a rich tradition. The book is compiled by a well known Episcopal editor, Christopher L. Webber. Congratulations to him for an eminent job. Rich in prayer, this book is a keeper for those so inclined to the spiritual path and religious reading. –Peter Menkin, Mill Valley, CA USA

Book of readings, useful for meditation and reflection at Advent and Christmas

The writings and excerpts from the Bible seep into the reader after a time, inviting meditation and offering an education for Advent and Christmas. Certainly, an Advent and Holiday time reading, the works are not authored as a standard series of Advent readings, but they are traditional: “It is our hope that this book will encourage profound exploration and contemplation, but it is not, perhaps, a conventional Advent book of readings and prayers, for that the reader will have to look elsewhere.” Good. This is just the kind of book I wanted this past Advent and Christmas, one published by Morehouse Publishing. I must say that I have been looking at books published by the Episcopal publishing house, and for a few years have been intrigued by this one whose cover is a mother with her baby. It’s an intimate cover, and so I was and am intrigued by the intimacy of the book. If you, like me, look for books for the season like Advent and Christmas, you will find this a good one with its readings and reflections for each day of the season, into the first day of Epiphany. This “Come, Lord Jesus,” had me thinking of the end of times, when we all go to heaven and are judged. Previous years I hadn’t thought so much of it. Now I don’t want to burden you with my own needs and interests so much, but this does more pointedly demonstrate how the readings go. First there is the Gospel, as this one of Day 4 in Advent. From Matthew: “When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him…” This of the second coming, the end of the world, and the question asked by Christ is this, “…for I was hungy and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me…” Good thoughts for reflection about a man who taught important things and as the incarnate God would ask us to be with our fellow man in ways that are good and helpful. The reflection, which is the second part of the reading, asks, “Such grace transforms situations, delivers from sin, heals our brokenness, floods our hearts with light and encircles us in the communion of love.” Of course, for the sake of brevity, I must truncate the text. But you see that there is a grace offered to us, which we look forward to in the birth of Jesus, during the Advent season, that is “…that which goes byond that moral demand–God’s accepting love, his forgiveness and mercy, his overwhelming free gift, his loving-kindness.” This seems like a kind of sermon, and it is a kind of sermon. “Passages for reflection were drawn for the most part from sermons, addresses and meditations on passion themes that I have given throughout my ministry both as chaplain for many years…and as a bishop.” This from the Preface. Too, there are the reflections of musician Julien Chilcott-Monk. He, I think, wrote the Mary reflections and the shorter reflections for each day, a kind of note to the reading. The longer and introductory readings and remarks by Geoffrey Rowell, Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe (of the Anglican Church), and the almost point making writings of Julien Chilcott-Monk make this a team written book where the writing and the team impact is helpful to the meaning and for the writing of the book. Like a prayer, “The Sequence” of each day focuses the reader. So these are really meditations and prayers, subtle sometimes. “With thy favoured sheep, O place me; nor among the goats secure me…” Perhaps you are not so steeped in the Bible, for the book relies on the Bible, and therefore here is the end of that quotation: “…but to thy side please upraise me.” Asking to go to heaven, something most people who live their lives in a religious manner desire. Continuing with the format, the book has an imaginative (fictional) statement by Mary on the Biblical text. Afterall, this is about Jesus and Christmas, and Mary is a key player. Here the writer gives mature thoughts to the young mother, and she is religiously profound. As I understand it, Mary was a Jewish woman who was well educated in her faith. That adds credence to her thoughts, as fictionalized here: “Is Jesus to establish the New Eden so that mankind can realize God’s original intention for his creation? If so, mankind will have to turn, to respond.” I found these very satisfying and they kindled in me the desire to imagine myself what Mary would think, and what kind of woman she was, as a mother to be. The readings, which are not so long nor do they take a great deal of time, end with a statement for “…consideration…” In this reading, “The King is concerned with the reality of response to human need, not our tally for engagements.” As a means of inspiration, information, and intelligent readings for reflection and mediation, albeit guided worthily by the text, the book “Come, Lord Jesus!” makes a worthy addition for the season. The daily readings guide the pilgrim through Biblical and reflective texts, engaging the individual with the season, and educating him in the sense that these ideas can grow. I want to add a personl note about my own reading during this season of Advent in 2005. The book grew on me as I went through it, as I found it a gentle and easily taken series of introductions as guidance to the seasons of Advent, Christmas and entry to Epiphany. –Peter Menkin, Epiphany