Chalice Lighting

Fire cannot be grasped, or held within the hand.
Fire is transparent, giving light and warmth to all.
As we light this chalice, let us kindle within ourselves and our fellowship
A shared fire that illuminates us to share warmth and light with the world.

Reading/Song

Hymn 140, Hail the Glorious Golden City, begins with the following lyric:

Hail the glorious golden city,
pictured by the seers of old:
Everlasting light shines o’er it,
wondrous things of it are told.

Wise and righteous men and women
dwell within its gleaming wall;
Wrong is banished from it borders,
justice reigns supreme o’er all.

Reflections

“A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”

― Albert Einstein 

“One love, one heart, one destiny.”

― Bob Marley 

“Justice has always evoked ideas of equality, of proportion of compensation. Equity signifies equality. Rules and regulations, right and righteousness are concerned with equality in value… If all men [sic] are equal, then all men are of the same essence, and the common essence entitles them of the same fundamental rights and equal liberty… In short justice is another name of liberty, equality and fraternity.” 

– Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar

Ted Talk by Joan Halifax: Compassion and the true meaning of empathy. Watch it here!

Meditation
from Jeff Liebmann

A glorious golden city where wrong is banished and justice reigns supreme. If such a place existed, wouldn’t you move there in a second? You might be willing to do whatever it took to relocate to that city, because the benefits would be worth any cost, any sacrifice.

Well, the gleaming walls don’t reflect the sun. There is no off ramp from the highway of life to this place.

You won’t find a dot on any map, or a link on Google or Wikipedia.

But, the glorious golden city exists. It exists here in your heart, and here in your mind. Every brick is laid by each act of justice you commit. The mortar mixes each time you demand fairness from friends and family, employers, government, and businesses. And, the everlasting light shines brightest when you love others with that purest unconditional compassion that guarantees that we are all equal in the eyes of whatever forces power our universe.

So, cancel the moving van – you already own a plot in the glorious golden city.

Mindfulness and Action

On this second day of Chalica, we affirm and promote justice, equity, and compassion in human relations. You’re invited to select one of the questions or suggestions below for conversation with others or personal reflection. Suggestions for activities with children are included. Consider offering a gift to honor those in our local community who need justice.

• Is there a local justice-seeking organization to which I can offer time or talents?
• How does my silence perpetuate injustice? Can I speak up in ways that help others know I care?
• Are there people near me to whom a simple kindness would make a world of difference?
• How can I learn or participate in ways that promote justice and equity in my community?