Gossips?5/31/2021 Feast of the Visitation
In my reflection for Trinity Sunday, I wrote about the baptism of Jameson Tobin. His godparents were his aunt Emily and uncle Dan. Had I told them they were “gossips,” they would most likely have been offended at this suggestion. But then, I would clarify and say that the word “gossip” which has a negative connotation came from the middle English, “God sibb” ; someone related to God, or in an intimate friendship with God. That was the term used for godparents or baptismal sponsors. A number of years ago for the 4th Sunday of Advent, I spoke of Mary and Elizabeth as true “gossips.” “Are there any gossips here this morning? Now, don’t be embarrassed by the question. Will you own up to your love of gossiping? Are there any godparents here? Sponsors for baptism? I thought so. Did you all know that you are gossips? That’s what the word means, a sponsor at someone’s baptism. It literally means God-sib or “someone who has a special relationship, special kinship through God.” Gossips, in its original meaning were those who rejoiced and made merry at the birth of a child. (I learned this about gossiping from a chapter titled “Visiting Women” in Anne Thurston’s book on women in the scriptures called “Knowing her Place”) So all you gossips, or want to be gossips, why a homily about gossiping? Because we hear this morning the beautiful gospel of two women, gossiping. Mary and Elizabeth are already related by blood, but now their kinship as God-sibs is something so much more. God has worked marvels for each woman in their unexpected pregnancies. They recognize God’s mothering them in a new way, mid-wiving their births to-be. As Elizabeth says to Mary, at the sound of your greeting, the babe in my womb leaped for joy! Blessed are you who believed that the Lord’s word to you would be fulfilled! Or as Mary sings, “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God, my savior!” Women’s words! Words of faith, of hope, of joy! Women gossiping! Revealing God’s life stirring, leaping and dancing within them. So let me be silent and stand in awe of such great mystery and such great gossip! And finish this brief “visitation” with another woman’s words. Dancing God by Joyce Rupp Dancing God passionate leap of creative energy skipping among the stars waltzing on rivers birthing a universe Dancing God tumbling from somewhere into Jewish territory whirling Spirit seeding Mary's womb with alluring divinity Dancing God uncontainable granduer kicking and rolling in Mary's flesh while untamed cousin echoes the dance in aunt Elizabeth (the link below I have shared before. It's the Visitation section from a 1988 performance of A Dancer's Christmas with Dianna Daly as Mary, Carol Faherty as Elizabeth, and me as Joseph. It has always been one of my favorite pieces of choreography. The photo below is Carol Faherty as Mary and Liz O'Boyle as Elizabeth in 1984.) vimeo.com/495314665#t=1560s
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A Divine Dance - A "Poenies" Waltz5/30/2021 Trinity Sunday
Yesterday I baptized the son of Eric and Anna Kate Tobin at Holy Trinity church in West Harwich, MA. (You can see the Rublev Icon of the Trinity on the back wall of the church.) How perfect to baptize Jameson at Holy Trinity Church, on the day before Holy Trinity Sunday, with a trinity of Father (Eric) Son (Jameson) and Anna Kate (Holy Spirit) What a wonderful reminder that God is “family.” Jameson is the grandson of Bill and Marie Franklin, friends and longtime parishioners of St Ignatius. There were three generations of the family gathered for the baptism. How perfect to think of “generations” on Holy Trinity Sunday when we believe the essence of God is to “generate” life and love throughout creation. There are many theological ways of “explaining” the mystery of God which we believe is “three-fold.” There is the “immanent and economic” Trinity; theological concepts that can be reduced to God’s inner life and God’s outer life or perhaps, “God who is and God who does.” Since I am more of a dancer than a theologian, the term, “perichoresis” which is used to capture the “inner movement” or “divine dance” of the three persons in One, is my preference. Although the poem below was written two weeks after Trinity Sunday last year, when the Peonies were “popping out,” the experience of seeing this “regeneration” of beauty, brought me to a contemplation of the Trinity, which expresses itself in exquisite beauty and a divine dance, a “perichoresis.” A Paean for Peonies I’d like to compose a paean for peonies Those posies who rival roses Not in perfume but in pomp, Pom-poms, cheering the eye And heart of the beholder. We should be beholden To the Creator For peonies’ pomp and eye-popping Beauty. Their circumstances remind us Of how we hope to be seen. Their short-lived lives, Begin as perfect orbs, Self-contained, Holding their beauty Close to the vest, Meant for us to “ooh and ah” As we wait for them To show their raiment in all its panoply They pop open, Bursting at the seems like proud parents of newborns. Peonies have no need For self-promotion, Their beauty is self-evident A reflection of divine Perichoresis, A “peonies waltz” In Trinity’s time. (On the Quiver of Mystery: Pastoral Poems in Four Quarter Time) Summer Shall We Dance?5/28/2021 Friday of the 8th Week in OT
I’ve always been grateful for this single line from today’s Psalm (149) “Praise God’s name in the festive dance!” Whenever people were suspicious about dance used in liturgy, I would quote this verse as evidence that dance was an integral part of worship for the Hebrew people. It was the dichotomy between body and spirit/soul in Greek philosophy that influenced early Christianity and caused a mistrust of the body, especially the dancing body in worship. I wrote an article for America magazine in 2002, entitled Shall We Dance? I’m including the text here for those who might be interested in reading more on this subject. shall_we_dance_2.doc I was looking for a “festive” dance and decided on Paul Melley’s “Journeying Prayer.” The movement is lovely and very festive! God above and God behind God be on the path I wind….. youtu.be/3honxUzSZDw Splendor For Us5/27/2021 Thursday of the 8th Week in OT
The reading from the Book of Sirach portrays and image of God and the world as complete perfection. God is almighty, all knowing, all seeing. God has it all together! Would that that were so! We live in a world where imperfection is much more noticeable than perfection. Occasionally, you get a “fleeting” vision of the beauty of creation, as in the perfectly formed Rhodos that are in bloom these days in many colors. But you also know that their beauty is fleeting. They blossom for a week of so and then they lose their luster. And yet, according to the book of Sirach, the splendor of creation, as fleeting and time-bound as it is, is a remarkable reminder of the one who is ultimate and eternal beauty. God’s creation is splendiferous, “splendid for us.” So, I think the gift of the Spirit for today is “awe and wonder.” My reflections these days are very brief since I’m on “vacation” for the week on Cape Cod but it’s important for me to write each day. Disc Us5/26/2021 Wednesday of the 8th Week in OT
The gift of the Spirit I’m asking for today is “knowledge.” In my reflection on Monday, I presumed that the memorial of Mary, the Mother of the Church was always on May 24th. I mused about why it wasn’t a “moveable” feast. This morning, I discovered my mistake. It is, in fact, always the day after Pentecost so its calendar date does change each year. (Thanks to Pope Francis!) I’m thinking I should put a “disclaimer” at the beginning of each reflection indicating that not everything that one reads is correct. I’ll need to be more careful in the future! And yet, this “disclaimer” led me to some other words that begin with “disc” As it turns out “disclaimer” follows to words that are important for today’s scriptures. “Disciple” and “Disc jockey.” In the Gospel today, James and John are “jockeying for position.” They ask to be seated at the right and left hand of Jesus In his Kingdom. The other disciples “diss” them and an argument breaks out. Jesus, then, reveals what it means to me “disciple.” Jesus summoned them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” So much of life is “getting ahead” and jockeying for position, fame and fortune. It’s not what the Gospel is about but it’s hard to resist the natural attraction to the values of the world. If you’re old enough to remember the “discs” that were used on record players, there was a difference between 78-45-33. The numbers indicated the revolutions per minute. So what’s your “disc” speed? And what’s your “disc-iple” speed? I think it should be “long playing” and long “praying.” Beads of Wisdom5/25/2021 Tuesday of the 8th Week in OT
I chose the title of today’s reflection, “Beads of Wisdom” since it’s also the memorial of Venerable Bede, the English Benedictine theologian who died in the 8th Century. The reading for today from the Book of Sirach can be read as “beads or pearls of wisdom.” Each “bead” is a gem. These are a few of my favorites. In works of charity one offers fine flour, and when one gives alms, she presents her sacrifice of praise. In a generous spirit pay homage to the LORD, be not sparing of freewill gifts. With each contribution show a cheerful countenance, and pay your tithes in a spirit of joy. The gift of the Spirit that I’m asking for today is “wisdom.” Yesterday for me was “understanding.” Wisdom gives you a broader perspective on life. It’s so easy to be caught up in the moment so that you lose sight of the larger picture. I chose the photo of the wisteria to accompany this brief reflection since each looks like a necklace, created by the individual “beads.” This is the wisteria vine that only began blooming two years ago, after 25 years of no flowering. This year there are more blooms than ever! There must be some wisdom to be gained from this vine that seemed unable to flower and now is so fetching! Is the wisdom simply to wait for the unexpected? Baptized in the Spirit5/24/2021 Mary, the Mother of the Church
Looking at the photo above, you might well think that we are in the summer season. I took this photo yesterday at Corporation beach in Dennis on Cape Cod. Yes, on May 23rd people were in the water and were being “baptized in the spirit.” Perfect for Pentecost! The weather today is much more “ordinary” for this time of year. There is something “serendipitous” about today’s memorial of Mary, the Mother of the Church falling on the day after Pentecost. Usually, the day after brings us back to “ordinary” time, but the connection between this feast and Pentecost is so strong that you wonder why this is not a “moveable” memorial, always falling on the day after Pentecost. The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles relates the image of Mary, the mother of Jesus waiting with the women and the other disciples for the coming of the Spirit. We speak of Pentecost being the birthing day of the Church. As Mary was once open to the Spirit in the conception of Jesus in her womb, she is here open to the Spirit again, giving birth to the Church in the upper room. Why not choose a gift of the Spirit for each of the seven days of this week? Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, Counsel, Courage, Piety/Humility, Awe and Reverence? Double Take.... and Receive5/23/2021 Pentecost
The double rainbow here on May 16th came at as a perfect prelude to Pentecost and the ending of our spiritual Lenten/Easter journey, “The Arc of the Covenant” From Ashes to Tongues of Fire.” Since I’m preparing to spend a week away on the “other” Cape, I’ll share with you the materials from yesterday’s day of prayer for Pentecost. prelude_to_pentecost.pdf pentecost_points_for_prayer_2021.pdf I chose the title "Double Take... and Receive" because of the double rainbow but also because Pentecost is all about receiving the gifts of the Spirit that God desires to share with us. My prayer for you today is that you will be filled with the Spirit of God's great love for the world and for each of us! Happy Pentecost! Christ Coda5/21/2021 Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Here’s the definition of a “coda” the concluding passage of a piece or movement, typically forming an addition to the basic structure. the concluding section of a dance, especially of a pas de deux or the finale of a ballet in which the dancers parade before the audience. a concluding event, remark, or section. The Gospel for today and tomorrow; the Risen Jesus’s conversation with Peter after he has cooked breakfast for the disciples has always felt like a “Christ Coda” to me. After all the drama of his ministry, Passion and Resurrection, the conclusion of John’s Gospel has the two friends in an intimate conversation about love and the meaning of life. It’s one of those conversations that we hopefully have when our own life is concluding. Is there any better way to end than with the question, “Do you love me?” I chose the photo of the lilac busy that is abundant in its flowering as a kind of coda to this time time of flourishing. I also chose the photo below of our "fire pit" which reminds me of the charcoal fire over which Jesus cooked breakfast for the disciples. Glory- Us?5/20/2021 Thursday of the 7th Week of Easter/ 500 anniversary of the conversion of St Ignatius.
And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. It’s appropriate that today’s Gospel speaks of the glory God in Jesus and that he shares with us. 500 years ago on this date, Inigo, the Basque soldier was wounded in the battle of Pamplona. A cannon ball shattered his leg and in a moment his life was changed forever. This cataclysmic event in the life of Inigo put into motion his conversion experience in which his desire to achieve fame and glory for himself would become a passion for the “greater glory of God.” If you are reading this reflection, you are part of the Ignatian family who has been affected by that dramatic event on the fields of Pamplona. The great irony, of course, is that this weapon whose intent was to destroy a life became the instrument of grace. (Sounds like the Cross!) The photos above and below are from the Church of St Francis Xavier in Tepotzolán, Mexico. I was looking for some "glorious" images and found these from a visit I made with Jesuit liturgists a number of years ago. It's not Ignatius but close enough! I’m trying to write about the life of the cannon call that shattered Ignatius’ leg. Who knows where the Spirit will lead? 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." Categories |
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