Praise and Resurrection at Dawn

Morning is a call to our own resurrection, and so we reflect on what needs to rise in us.

Macrina Wiederkehr, sevensacredpauses :Living Mindfully through the Hours of the Day.

Macrina suggests that to honor the Awakening Hour of the day, we might prayerfully look into our hearts to determine what kind of resurrection needs to take place in us today. Is it our prayer life? is it our compassion, our gratitude, our forgiveness, our praise?

Reflecting on resurrection is an essential part of my prayer life, and it is the reason that I stand during the Eucharistic prayer at church every Sunday - in a sure and present sign of THE Resurrection of Christ. Living into resurrection is the best way I know to live out the remembrance of the Source of Life and the love of God in everyone and everything.

"We are summoned from sleep..invited to behold the face of the dawning day" as we rise from sleep and go forth to praise God for another day of living. Regardless of what happened yesterday, this new day gives yet another opportunity to make good our baptismal vows, to praise God from whom all blessings flow and to forgive and be forgiven.

Listen to this poem by John Ciardi and imagine yourself standing before the pond at dawn, silently beholding the heron's flight.

Step outside wherever you are and give praise with a glance, a breath and a grateful heart. I desire to live this day well with a resurrected heart, yet again for the first time.