Once Upon A Tomb3/31/2024 Easter Vigil 2024
Here's the homily I gave last evening at the Easter Vigil. I'm also attaching my poem, "Once Upon A Tomb." I think it is a good accompaniment to the homily. Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried. So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day for the tomb was close by. These are the final words of John’s Passion Narrative which we heard at yesterday’s Good Friday Service. “for the tomb was close by.” As they say, “Ain’t it the truth!) You don’t have to go very far to find the tomb close by. Listen to the nightly news or read in the newspapers or on the internet. You’ll hear of 1800 deaths in Israel and more than 32,000 in Gaza. And how many deaths of Russians and Ukrainians because of another senseless war. And how do we begin to count the tombs of those dying from famine and disease? It seems as if the “tomb” is always close by. And, of course, living here at Campion the tomb is very close by. We only have to walk a ways to visit the tombs of our deceased brothers. Last year for my homily for the Easter Vigil, I told you how I walked to the cemetery on Good Friday and stood behind the cross. All I could see was the arms of Jesus held up as if in a Victory sign. On my walk yesterday to the same place, it looked like his arms outlined a chalice or cup. “Can you drink of the cup that I am to drink of?” I’m reminded of a homily I gave on this night in 2000. Who do we think we are? Claiming life’s victory over death when death is all around us. Death claims the lives of loved ones. Death claims millions of lives by violence, war, famine disease and natural disaster. Death can come suddenly. Unexpectedly. And we claim life! In the past weeks, we have mourned the loss of two of our brothers, Jim Bowler and Joe Appleyard. Two Jesuit “giants” who contributed so much to the educational and spiritual life of the church and the society, Last night we heard of the sudden death of Brad Schaeffer, another Jesuit “giant” who served so faithfully. And today, some of us are remembering our friends’, Maria and Ram’s son, Jairam who lost his life in a rock-climbing accident at age 17, five years ago. Today is Jairam’s 22’nd birthday. And as I walked to the tombs of so many whom we know and love, I remembered the last words I heard from Joe Appleyard. As he was leaving the chapel after Sunday Mass two weeks ago, he stopped and said, “Bob, slow down.” He was asking me to speak more slowly, but his last words were latent with meaning for me. And I remembered some of the last words that Jim Bowler’s spiritual daughter, Magdalena Richter shared with me. Jim said to her “Spiritual Direction is Eucharist to me. Yes, I go to Mass every day and receive the Eucharist, but here in this encounter, Christ is present.” And Maria, what are the words that you continue to hear from your beloved son, Jairam. Today on his 22nd birthday. Yes, the tomb always seems to be close by. But in the place where he was crucified there was a garden. The tomb may be close by but so is the Garden, the symbol of new life surprising us with new shoots and flowers, and hopeful signs. Aren’t we here this afternoon because the tomb has been transformed into a source of new life? In the story of Jesus, we hear how what once was a place of death and burial is now the rock from which living water flows. His risen life, our share in his life. The women who came to the tomb with spices to anoint the body of Jesus, discovered a tomb empty of death and decay, holding the promise of Risen Life. They came to the tomb, not with 100 lbs of aloes and myrrh as Nicodemus did, but with some spices, the little they could hold, while a weight of more than 100 lbs must have crushed their hearts. And what was the reaction of Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James and Salome when they heard a voice speaking from the tomb? Well, you didn’t hear it tonight in the “approved” Gospel text since the editors must have considered it an embarrassment. “So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. Fear and amazement? In the Greek, it’s tromos kai ekstasis. Trauma and ecstasy. Something happened to these women that awakened their deepest fears and their most exquisite joy. What they felt was that the world had been turned upside down and was spinning around and around and out of control. The world was off its axis of evil and sin and death and a new world of love and sacrifice and Life with a big L was re-placing the old. In and through the dying and rising of Jesus. And that is simply TOO MUCH for the human mind and heart to fathom. And so, Satan’s power still has a grip on them, a traumatizing fear that makes them run wildly from the tomb. But still... oh be still... for I am your God. Be still now and listen and you will hear my voice. With the fear there is the ecstasy, God’s Spirit is moving, breathing new life and hope into them as God’s spirit breathed life over the waters of creation, as God’s spirit breathed new life into the Crucified one, as God’s sprit breathes new life into us as keep vigil. The tomb is always “near at hand.” We live in a world where trauma of all kinds can bury us with hopelessness, where the weight of loss, illness, aging, and the litany of the world’s ills can feel as crushing as those 100 pounds of aloes and myrrh that Nicodemus brought to the tomb. But there is also, thanks be to God, the “ecstasy,” the transformation of tomb into a flowering garden of hope and new life. And we are here this afternoon to God have the last word, which was the first word made flesh. Rejoice, He is risen as he said. Alleluia, Alleluia! once_upon_a_tomb_2.docx
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God's Free Day3/29/2024 Good Friday The photo above was taken this past Sunday during the rendition of the Passion. Here's a link to a collage of images I put together from the service. https://vimeo.com/928401485/f4dd6ff2c9 And here’s the poem that I wrote for Good Friday in 2020. I think it’s worth praying with this day…. (Of course, there was no sunrise this Good Friday 2024. Just ceaseless rain, grey, cloudy. Good weather for Good Friday!) I should have shunned this morning’s sunrise, shouting “Go back where you came from!” What right have you to rise shedding light rays cross sea and sky? You should be shedding tears instead!” Who does Sun think he is? Doesn’t he remember the day when he refused to shine? Wasn’t he there when the world was shrouded in darkness? Sun should be ashamed of shining this day! Moon knows who she is. Sun’s glare of day is spared at night. Moon masks our mourning She gives us just enough light To carry on in this carrion time. It was then as it is now Then The Word’s flesh and blood In the cross hairs of death and life Now The world’s flesh and blood In the cross hairs of contagion Then A grave for one, a grief for some Stabat mater, stoic John, faithful women, flighty men petrified Peter. Now Graves for many, a grief for all A world awash in tears The moon is more in tune with tears than sun, basking in bravado. I should have shunned sun’s shining, but, no, I could not turn away even on this, Good Friday It was stunning, you see as every day when it dares to rise and remind us of another Rising against all odds and even in this carrion time to carry on in hope and not despair and here and now hear voices of the past, those witnesses of death’s defeat and life’s victory calling today, God’s Free Day Holy Thirst Day3/28/2024 Each year that I have written a reflection on Holy Thursday, I think of it as “Holy Thirst Day.” Although it is on the Cross that Jesus says “I thirst,” there is a thirst and longing for God’s reign to come that Jesus expresses in all the symbolic gestures of the Last Supper.
I’m sharing with you the reflections I put together for the EP Arc of the Covenant. Holy Thursday This meditation for Holy Thursday, the beginning of our Triduum is in two parts. Part 1 has three prayer movements. The first uses the Gospel text of the washing of the feet. The second invites you to remember celebrations of Holy Thursday in former years and the third asks you to bring your experiences of the present day to this time of prayer. Feel free to pray with these thoughts and questions throughout the day. Part II has a single prayer movement that flows from the supper to the Garden of Gethsemane. Part 1 Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Master, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” Jesus said to him, “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all.” For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.” So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” Praying with Scripture As you read through the passage above, are you able to imagine this last supper scene? Who is at the table? Traditionally, we think of the Last Supper as being solely for Jesus and the twelve. In your prayer, do you see others there? Perhaps, Mary, the Mother of Jesus, Magdalene, Martha, Mary, Lazarus? Are there children there? How do you image this final meal in your prayer? John’s version of this meal does not include the familiar words of Jesus identifying the bread and wine with his body and blood. You may want to bring these familiar words and images into your prayer. (They are included in Paul’s letter that is the second reading.) Can you imagine yourself as one of those around the table? What are the feelings you recognize in yourself as you hear Jesus’ words, “Take and eat. This is my body. Take and drink. This is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for the many.” Are you shocked, confused, wondering what he means? And when he removes his garments and begins to wash your feet, do you identify with Peter and resist this gesture of service and intimacy or do you let yourself “lean into” the experience? You are invited to take some time to engage in a “colloquy” or conversation with Jesus. What is it that you want to say to him in this poignantly beautiful moment of self-gift and service? How do you respond to the question he asks all of the disciples, “Do you understand what I have done for you?” When you have finished this time of prayer, we suggest you keep a journal of your thoughts and feelings? Were there moments of consolation where you felt animated by the Spirit of God? Were there feelings of desolation where you felt more absence than presence? Praying a Memory Can you remember a liturgical experience of Holy Thursday that engaged you with its power and beauty? Memory is always at the center of Eucharist, as it is for our Jewish brothers and sisters who continue to remember God’s faithfulness in the Passover. Let your memory recreate a Holy Thursday Eucharist from the past. Who was the community with whom you gathered? What did the Church look like? How was it decorated? Can you smell the incense, see the elements of bread, wine and sacred oils carried in procession? Can you remember the sounds of voices proclaiming the word? Can you hear again the community singing throughout the liturgy? Do you remember some elements of the homily? How was the washing of the feet done? Did the whole community participate or only a fixed number? Was the Eucharistic prayer more “memorable” because of the context of this celebration? Do you remember processing to an altar of repose, kneeling before the Sacrament, singing, Tantum Ergo? Who were the members of the faith community gathered with you? Can you see their faces and hear their voices? Will you bring your memory of a past celebration of Holy Thursday be an integral part of this year’s liturgy? When you have finished this time of prayer, we suggest you keep a journal of your thoughts and feelings? Were there moments of consolation where you felt animated by the Spirit of God? Were there feelings of desolation where you felt more absence than presence? Praying the Present Thanks be to God that we are able to enter into the celebration of Holy Thursday in person. Has the memory of the COVID years faded yet? Unfortunately, the return to reception from the cup has not happened for all communities. Despite the ongoing limitations in celebration of the Eucharist, are you able to find in yourself a sense of hopefulness and gratitude for what we have, even if it is not what it was before? Can you enter into a “colloquy” i.e., a conversation with Jesus asking him for whatever it is you need at this time? In this prayer period, can you focus on the meaning of Jesus’ invitation to “wash each other’s feet, “and ask yourself, how you might actualize that “command” in your daily life? How do you hold in prayer those who are fleeing for their life because of the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, or because of famine in Sudan, persecution, and violence of all kinds in so many places around the world? What does Holy Thursday reveal to you about God’s desire to deliver people from all forms of injustice and slavery? What do the mysteries we celebrate reveal of the God of Covenant love. Given our Lenten/Easter theme of “Arc of the Covenant,” do you hear the words “This is the new covenant in my blood in a deeper sense? When you have finished this time of prayer, we suggest you keep a journal of your thoughts and feelings? Were there moments of consolation where you felt animated by the Spirit of God? Were there feelings of desolation where you felt more absence than presence? Holy Thursday Part II Then they came to a place named Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took with him Peter, James, and John, and began to be troubled and distressed. Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch.” He advanced a little and fell to the ground and prayed that if it were possible the hour might pass by him; he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Take this cup away from me, but not what I will but what you will.” When he returned he found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” Withdrawing again, he prayed, saying the same thing. Then he returned once more and found them asleep, for they could not keep their eyes open and did not know what to answer him. He returned a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough. The hour has come. Behold, the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners. Get up, let us go. See, my betrayer is at hand.” Following the supper, Jesus goes with his disciples to the garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. Mark’s version of this story which we heard on Palm Sunday emphasizes the intensity of Jesus’ agony as he ponders what he will have to suffer. Mark does not tell us why the disciples fall asleep so easily. The time of night? The meal that they have shared? The wine they have consumed? Very simply, the disciples are not present to Jesus in his agony. Using your imagination in prayer, can you visualize this “olive grove?” Are you immersed in the darkness? Are you wondering why you are there at this time of night? What are the feelings that arise in you as you hear Jesus’ words and see him fall to his knees in prayer? As you witness the suffering of countless people across the world, how might their experience of loss and grief be held in the experience of Jesus’ agony in the garden? Speak to Jesus as one friend speaks to another. What words does he use to strengthen your faith when it is challenging to believe in God’s care for this world subjected to such inhuman cruelty? The photos above and below were taken at EP in 2020 when we were unable to gather for Eucharist. That was a very "Holy Thirst Day!" Knot/Not I?3/27/2024 Wednesday of Holy Week
One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over. On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The teacher says, "My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.”‘“ The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover. When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” He said in reply, “He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.” Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” He answered, “You have said so.” The drama continues. You may have spent yesterday’s time of prayer imagining this scene as John portrays it. Today it’s Matthew’s version. If you are so inclined, you could begin the prayer using your imagination to see this gathering of Jesus with his disciples, seeing the betrayal in action, hearing the apprehension and distress in the voices of his followers as each one says “Surely, it is not I, Rabbi?” Can you imagine this played on a “revolving” stage? First, you see Judas with the authorities, bargaining away the life of Jesus. Then, as the stage revolves you see Jesus telling some his disciples to prepare for Passover. The stage revolves once again, and you see all gathered at table and here Jesus speaking of his imminent betrayal. As the stage revolves, you see Judas, alone, separated from Jesus and his former friends. Judas is a “stand alone” character in the Gospels. He is the villain of the story. And he is an easy target for blame, scorn and scapegoating. You can easily imagine him wearing a scarlet letter setting him off from the rest of humankind as one to be shunned in his shame. That is certainly the way the Gospel writers portray him. Even in Matthew’s Gospel where he repents of the evil he has done to an innocent man, he is rejected and scorned and takes his own life. Truth is that we “do not know the man.” We do not know his interior life, his motivations for what he did. Was he a thief and a villain as he portrayed? Was he handing Jesus over in the hopes that this would force him to use his divine power to bring about the kingdom of God on earth? (Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar) Was he resentful and jealous of “the disciple whom Jesus loved?” Or was he just a pawn in the cosmic drama of redemption. Someone had to play the antagonist. In your prayer, would you dare to “ask for the grace to know Judas” as one like you and me, flawed and in need of understanding and forgiveness? Can you imagine Judas leaning on Jesus as a “beloved” disciple, restored to a loving relationship? What would a colloquy with Judas offer you? A number of years ago I created a dance piece whose title was “Knot/Not I.” I had been listening to the score of La Pasión Según San Marcos and was quite taken with this musical setting by Osvaldo Gólijov, a Venezuelan composer. His setting of today’s Gospel with the refrain “Surely, Not I/ ¿Acaso no soy yo? set to salsa rhythms captured my imagination and I began to envision Jesus as a salsa dancer! In fact, the person who dances the role of Jesus, Edwin Johnson is an Episcopal priest who is also a salsa dancer. (God is good!) In the choreography, which focuses on the relationship between Jesus and his disciples, beginning with the entry into Jerusalem, I tried to suggest how knotted together their lives were. I was also trying to make Judas a more complex character than he is usually portrayed. Judas is the ultimate “bad guy” and in a way is an easy scapegoat, winning the infamous title of “worst betrayer in the world.” In my choreography I’m grappling with the question, “Is there a way of looking more deeply into Judas’ motivation that acknowledges the complexity of human behavior rather than pointing a finger and saying, “Surely, it was you!” Judas is danced by Steven Cornwall, a professional dancer from Kingston, Jamaica. Here is a link to the choreography https://vimeo.com/41647854 "Lean" times3/26/2024 Tuesday of Holy Week
On Palm Sunday afternoon I took a drive to Eastern Point for an overnight stay. I felt compelled to visit the Cross at the water’s edge made from the wood of the iconic pinetree which I named “Petronella.” Having draped her each year for three on Palm Sunday, I wanted to return to spend some time in prayer. While I was there I began to walk the path to the rocks which I had trod many times over the past 50 years since I began to make retreats at EP. As you can see in the photo above, erosion has taken its toll and the pathway is so narrow now that one care barely tread the path. Seeing the path narrowed, I thought of how Jesus’ path became narrower as he made his way to the Cross because of the erosion of trust on the part of his disciples, and because of the cruelty of his accusers, judges and those who would put him to death. As you hear today’s Gospel, you might think of how these were “lean” times for Jesus, in the sense that his life was being stripped away, due to the betrayal of a friend and the imminent denial of him by another. 'What you are going to do, do quickly' While at supper with his disciples, Jesus was troubled in spirit and declared, ‘I tell you most solemnly, one of you will betray me.’ The disciples looked at one another, wondering which he meant. The disciple Jesus loved was reclining next to Jesus; Simon Peter signed to him and said, ‘Ask who it is he means’, so leaning back on Jesus’ breast he said, ‘Who is it, Lord?’ ‘It is the one’ replied Jesus ‘to whom I give the piece of bread that I shall dip in the dish.’ He dipped the piece of bread and gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. At that instant, after Judas had taken the bread, Satan entered him. Jesus then said, ‘What you are going to do, do quickly.’ None of the others at table understood the reason he said this. Since Judas had charge of the common fund, some of them thought Jesus was telling him, ‘Buy what we need for the festival’, or telling him to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the piece of bread he went out. Night had fallen. And yet, this is also a “lean” time for Jesus, as the beloved disciple leans on him. But who did Jesus have to lean on? As you pray today you might ask yourself the question, “What is the human experience that speaks to you in this passage? Have you ever had the experience of being betrayed by someone whom you trusted? Can you relate to Jesus’s pain? Can you relate to the comfort Jesus must have felt knowing the disciple whom he loved was leaning on him?” Who are the people whom you trust so completely that you know you can lean on them? Can you see yourself leaning on Jesus? Is Jesus inviting you into an intimacy with him that is all about mutual trust? Suggestions for Prayer: Speak to Jesus as one friend speaks to another. Share with him your experience of disappointment, being let down or even betrayed by someone whom you consider an important person in your life. Let him speak to you of his own feelings of loss and disappointment, but also knowing that there were some he could lean on. Hands and Feet3/25/2024 Monday of Holy Week In today’s Gospel we hear how Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, anointed the feet of Jesus with a costly aromatic nard. I’m assuming she used her hands to anoint his feet before she dried them with her hair. What a beautiful gesture! Yesterday at Campion, we were “anointed” with the ministry of liturgical artists with whom I have worked for decades. Mark’s passion, narrated from memory by Mickey Corso, begins with a similar scene where a nameless woman anoints Jesus. The name of the woman who performed that role yesterday is Cha Cha Epps. She is a beautiful person and dancer. I share with you a link to the 2016 Lenten Evening prayer in which Cha Cha opens the dance “What Wondrous Love is this!” There’s some beautiful “handiwork” and “footwork” that you may enjoy seeing. Monday of Holy Week Is today an invitation to think about God’s “handiwork” and “footwork” in this Holy Week? Is today an invitation to let yourself be anointed by Christ’s love for you? The photos today are from last year's Palm Sunday service where the women in our company danced "Were You There." Notice the beauty of their hands outstretched. I also want to share with you Sr. Nancy Sheridan’s presentation on the woman who anoints Jesus. She gave it on our March Day of Prayer. It’s simply beautifu monday_of_holy_week_2024.pdf Held in the Palm of God's Hand3/24/2024 palm_sunday_2024.pdf
Since I’m getting ready for the Palm Sunday celebration here at Campion, I’ll share with you the reflection I assembled for the Arc of the Covenant. A blessed Holy Week! The photo above is from when I was Pastor at St Ignatius. The photo below was taken at our Palm Sunday Mass last year. This year, in addition to the dancers, we have Mickey Corso narrating the Passion by memory! A Stone's Throw Away3/22/2024 Friday of the 5th Week of Lent
They picked up rocks to stone Jesus. Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?" They answered him, "We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy. You, a man, are making yourself God." It is ironic that the 10th chapter is about Jesus the “good shepherd” who knows his sheep as they know him and recognize his voice. Clearly, his adversaries do not recognize the voice of God speaking through him. But what if “these stones would cry out?” What if stones and rocks actually were capable of feeling pain? What if each time someone steps on a stone, they heard “ouch” or “ugh?” What if each time a stone was thrown, one heard the cry, “Please don’t use me to break the bones of another!” Stones are better for building than tearing down, for creating something of warmth like a chimney, or a stone wall that becomes a backdrop for something beautiful. There is always a choice to use what is in our reach, a stone’s throw away, to heal or to hurt, to build up or break down. The prophet Jeremiah always seems to be a stone’s throw away from those who would hurl insults at him and even seek to take his life. I hear the whisperings of many: "Terror on every side! Denounce! let us denounce him!" All those who were my friends are on the watch for any misstep of mine. "Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail and take our vengeance on him." Even so, he trusts that God is with him. “For the Lord is with me, like a mighty champion.” His sentiments are echoed in today’s Psalm 18. I love you, O LORD, my strength, O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer. My God, my rock of refuge, my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold! Praised be the LORD, I exclaim, and I am safe from my enemies. If you have ever been had verbal “rocks and stones” thrown at you, you may know the broken-heartedness that Jeremiah and Jesus must have experienced. And, perhaps, like them you have cried out to God who has answered you in your distress and have come to know your Rock of Refuge! Suggestion for Prayer: How is God a “stone’s throw away” for you? How is God your rock, your fortress, your deliverer? The stone tower in the photo above was created by my friend Scot Bateman on a visit to EP in July of 2020. Such a creative use of stones! Abraham's Oak3/21/2024 Thursday of the 5th week of Lent
Last year, Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent was superseded by the Feast of the Annunciation since it fell on March 25th. As usual, the photo I used was Henry Ossawa Tanner’s painting of the scene of the Annunciation. Since the readings today focus on the covenant with Abraham (first) and the claims that the adversaries of Jesus make as children of Abraham, I chose another Tanner painting. His “ Abraham’s Oak” certainly exudes a sense of mystery. You can barely make out the three strangers approaching. Truth is, until this morning, I had no idea that Tanner had painted this scene. Until yesterday, I really knew very little about Tanner, except some vague details of his life as an African-American painter and his “Annunciation.” My knowledge of him and his work increased exponentially as I read the chapter on him in “Rembrandt in the Wind.” I wrote about this book recently since it’s what the reading group I’m part of has been discussing. Honestly, I was “blown away” by Tanner’s story and the range of his corpus of works. One of the things that I learned was that Tanner painted many biblical scenes, in addition to his “Annunciation.” To my surprise and delight, I found “Abraham’s Oak” and that is the image you see above. Here is a brief reflection I wrote or today in the Arc of The Covenant. “My covenant with you is this: you are to become the father of a host of nations. No longer shall you be called Abram; your name shall be Abraham, for I am making you the father of a host of nations. Abraham, and the covenant God made with him is the focus of all the scriptures today. In the first reading we hear the story of the genesis of the covenant. The Psalm echoes the promise made to him and his descendants. In the Gospel, however, Abraham is a divisive presence as Jesus’ opponents claim him for their own. In our own times, we know the divisiveness between the three “Abrahamic faiths; Jews, Muslims, and Christians. We are particularly aware of this division and conflict in the war in Gaza. Can our prayer this day be for peace and understanding among all members of these faith traditions that trace their roots back to the covenant God made with Abraham? Grain Fall3/20/2024 Wednesday of the 5th Week in Lent It’s another gray day! I’m sharing the reflection I did for the EP Arc of The Covenant which features a “rainbow” as sign of God’s promise. I include, as well, my poem “Grain Fall” which was inspired by this past Sunday’s Gospel in which Jesus says, “Unless a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it remains just a grain of wheat.” The scriptures for the rest of this week are “white-hot” like the furnace in the reading from the Book of Daniel. At this point in the Arc of the Covenant, the colors of the rainbow are absent, unless you think of Nebuchadnezzar being “blue if the face” or Jesus’s opponents as “purple with rage.” If there is a “color” for the readings this week it may be the “color” we name “gray” even though it is a color “without color” since it is composed of black and white. There is very little “grey” area in the passages from the Gospel of John we hear this week. It’s a black and white controversy between Jesus and his opponents. There may be no “color” but there is a great deal of “choler” or “anger.” Is there an underlying question that haunts us this week? “Why is the world the way it is? Why so much conflict in our world? Why so much misunderstanding, pitting one side against another?” Grain Fall Grey skies today portend a rain fall. Let’s pretend that It’s not rain, at all that clouds portend. In some other universe could grey and cloudy bring baskets of cheer and clear as a bell, hope and holiday? Picnic under cloudy skies without worry that rain will fall and fail the games we play. Life’s not that way, you say. “Up is up and down is down. Not the other way around.” Unless rain falls to the ground there will be no sprouting, shouting, “Spring is Here” and how we wait and bear the weight of grey, grief-stricken skies, readying their tears that thirsty ground imbibes. And from this watery grief grows new life and one wonders how this can be when grey skies birth beauty? And sow it is with grain fall that hungry ground consumes. This single seed bursting its britches cracking its casing if it let itself be engrained in ground chafing at the bit to become the staff of life. Oh, what wheat must bear to become bread! Only with withering comes the seed, the germ within holding hope of something bran new. Some grey days one wonders why the world is as it is. Why this blend of pain and gain, where one must die to be born again and a-gain? Would a universe without this gravitational pull, where one need not fall to live at all, be a better bargain than the one we know now? Blue skies today stretch the length and width and height of life’s horizon portending promises of gain, again, grains of wait and yet, sea’s depth still hides the sunken treasure of love’s labors lost. Take life with a grain of salt and sand in hand and let it fall where it may flower and bear fruit. Suggestion for Prayer: Pray with the poetic text above. Are there words or images that capture your imagination? Is the Spirit of Jesus asking you to rise above the controversies in the Gospel and in our world today, to see clear signs of God’s abiding love and presence? AuthorAs an ordained Catholic priest for 45 years and a member of the Jesuits for 57 years, I've had a great deal of "spiritual" experience! This is a place where I can continue to share my thoughts about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and what it means to live the "mystery of God." 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