Revisiting the Visitation5/31/2023 Feast of the Visitation I always like to share a visitation dance on this day when we remember the joyful encounter of Mary and Elizabeth, so different in age but so alike in their faith in God who “works marvels.” In the video, you will see a much younger version of me dancing the role of Joseph, with Dianna Daly as Mary and Carol Coggio Faherty as Elizabeth. The photo above was Carol as Mary and Liz O'Boyle as Elizabeth. Visitation
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Sevenfold5/30/2023 Tuesday of the 8th Week in Ordinary Time
I was delightfully surprised when I saw the photo above of a pink rhododendron. Notice the color of the “fountain” inside on the back petal. It’s golden. Who knew that there were these variations depending on the color of the flower. (Yesterday's was black) I was also delightfully surprised when I read this verse from Sirach in today’s scriptures. “For the Lord is always one who repays, and he will give back to you “sevenfold.” These days following Pentecost, I always focus on the “gifts of the Spirit.” I’ve often said that these gifts are “undersold.” They are glossed over in a way that most of us don’t recognize what a treasure they are on a daily basis. And, of course, there are “seven” gifts. In the Pentecost sequence we heard, On the faithful, who adore And confess you, evermore In your sevenfold gift descend; Can you see how the generosity of God in the Sirach reading is related to the generosity of God’s Spirit? Usually, I ask readers to think about one of the seven gifts that they could use on a particular day. There may be days when we need more than one. Some days I know I could benefit from all seven! What “gifts” do you need today? Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, Counsel, Courage, Reverence (Piety), Fear of the Lord, (Awe and Wonder) Today’s one of those days when I feel like I could benefit “sevenfold” from each one of them! May Magnificat5/29/2023 Mary, Mother of the Church
Mary’s Magnificat was at the heart of my prayer this morning. I realized that we celebrate Mary as Mother of the Church the day after Pentecost since it's the day on which we celebrate the birth of the Church. But it was the magnifying lens of my camera that enabled me to see “inside” the flower that made me think of Mary’s Magnificat. “My soul magnifies the Lord. My spirit rejoices in God my savior.” Notice how the flower in all its detail “magnifies” the Creator of such beauty. I never noticed the pattern in the center of the flower. It almost looks like a fountain or fireworks. Seeing this with a “magnifying” lens, also made me think of Gerard Manley Hopkins poem, “May Magnificat” It's a beautiful tribute to Mary, Spring and the wonders of Creation. May Magnificat May is Mary's month, and I Muse at that and wonder why: Her feasts follow reason, Dated due to season-- Candlemas, Lady Day; But the Lady Month, May, Why fasten that upon her, With a feasting in her honour? Is it only its being brighter Than the most are must delight her? Is it opportunest And flowers finds soonest? Ask of her, the mighty mother: Her reply puts this other Question: What is Spring?-- Growth in every thing-- Flesh and fleece, fur and feather, Grass and greenworld all together; Star-eyed strawberry-breasted Throstle above her nested Cluster of bugle blue eggs thin Forms and warms the life within; And bird and blossom swell In sod or sheath or shell. All things rising, all things sizing Mary sees, sympathising With that world of good, Nature's motherhood. Their magnifying of each its kind With delight calls to mind How she did in her stored Magnify the Lord. Well but there was more than this: Spring's universal bliss Much, had much to say To offering Mary May. When drop-of-blood-and-foam-dapple Bloom lights the orchard-apple And thicket and thorp are merry With silver-surfed cherry And azuring-over greybell makes Wood banks and brakes wash wet like lakes And magic cuckoocall Caps, clears, and clinches all-- This ecstasy all through mothering earth Tells Mary her mirth till Christ's birth To remember and exultation In God who was her salvation. Gerard Manley Hopkins On Memorial Day last year when I was making my retreat on the Cape, I posted a spring version of my poem “All Aquiver.” Of course, I dedicated it to Gerard Manley Hopkins. Here it is again. All A Quiver Again For GMH John 17:20-26 Was it the bird songs heard this Hopkins morning, that set my ears aquiver; cardinals, robins, finches and mourning doves, their quavering voices lasting longer than a quaver and me all a-quiver? Or was it the deciduous trees seen this Hopkins morning that set my mind’s eye a-quiver, their branches bearing new life leaving nothing to the imagination, baring their full-blown beauty for all to see wearing spring’s stripes of all hues and oh! those redolent rhododendrons, ruby red, pristine pink, lovely lavender fancy fuchsia and patches of blue peeking through. Or was it the sheep, the Scottish cow, or the miniature mules felt this Hopkins morning that set my hands aquiver, wanting to touch and feel their coats, coarse and wooly, of course? Were these creatures of our God and King, key to my quivering? Or was it the lilacs, with their springtime scent on this Hopkins morning that set my soul a-quiver? The nose knows. Spring swells anew and I am all a-quiver. Or was it the Gospel heard this Hopkins morning that set my heart a-quiver? Jesus draws from his quiver of Love’s arrows, not missing the mark, but piercing through a heart that heaves with sadness over what once was and is not now but somehow is, reawakening something within. Could it be that the Divine Marksman was drawing from the quiver of creation, shooting arrows of awe as Hopkins himself heard and felt and saw? A poet’s Eros and A-gape? And all is on the quiver of mystery. On this day when we celebrate Mary ‘s birthing the Church through the Holy Spirit, we also remember our deceased loved ones with gratitude for their giving birth to love within us. “My soul magnifies the Lord. My Spirit rejoices in God my Savior. For God has done great things for me . Holy is God’s name.” Wait a while...5/28/2023 Pentecost Sunday
I've been waiting since yesterday for a "Pentecost" experience that would sweep me off my feet, make me feel like dancing in the streets, blow me away with the power and beauty of the Spirit. So far, not so good. I'm heading off to Mass now in the hopes that something will make a difference. Here's my best attempt.... It’s ordinarily the special effects of the Acts of the Apostles reading that capture my imagination; the tongues of flame, the strong driving wind, the verbal cacophony that is heard as harmony. But it is the “sequence” that spoke to me in prayer this morning, especially the following verses. Heal our wounds, our strength renew; On our dryness pour your dew; Wash the stains of guilt away: Bend the stubborn heart and will; Melt the frozen, warm the chill; For that reason, when I went to Mass this morning at the parish on the Cape where my friend, JA used to preside, I was disconcerted to hear the words of the sequence sung to the to tune of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, aka Joyful, Joyful. The beautiful, poetic and evocative words of the Sequence felt forced and crammed into the musical line. It was cacophony to my ears; just the opposite of what I usually feel when I read, sing, pray with these words. The preaching that followed the Gospel left me cold. I heard it as theological pablum. Nothing inspiring or creative, reflective of the Spirit. I cannot number the times I heard God, He, Spirit He. All I can say is “Hee, Hee, Hee,” Haw! When we sang Dan Schutte’s “Send Us Your Spirit” as the gifts were prepared, I began to find my voice which had been silenced by the musical setting of the "sequence" and the deacon’s preaching. It was the words, “Give us hearts that see, set our loving free,” that felt like the Spirit’s bending my stubborn heart and will, melting my frozen mind and warming the chill that I was feeling. It came in a rush of memory. I remembered my friend JA whose memory I was honoring by being in the Church community that meant a great deal to him, telling me that the book he wanted to write would be entitled “Set Our Loving Free.” The work he did as a therapist, especially with clergy and religious made him want to speak about genuine spiritual freedom as elusive in a Church that tells people how they should think, feel, act, and doesn’t leave much room for the Spirit. He never got to write it, but he tried his best to live it in a world and a church that would rather imprison and confine rather than “set our loving free.” As I write this, I’m sitting outside looking at some very beautiful manifestations of the Creator’s creativity. A red and purple, fuchsia and red rhododendrons that almost look like “tongues of fire.” I think I still have to “wait a while” before the Spirit does “her” thing with me as promised in the “sequence.” But there’s still ti me….. I always like to share my poem Cobbles Tones which I wrote for Pentecost a few years ago. cobbles_tones.docx I hope and pray that you’ve had your own personal Pentecost today! Would love to know what that feels like! Postmortem?5/26/2023 Friday of the 7th Week of Easter
Postmortem is a medical term that literally means “after death.” It also has come to be used as a term for a meeting that evaluates an event that has taken place. During a postmortem, participants give their opinions of what was successful and what failed. It’s a chance to review what happened in the hopes that there will be improvement if the event happens again. In a sense today’s Gospel in which we hear Jesus asking Peter the question, “Do you love me more than these?” is a kind of “postmortem.” Of course, it is a literal postmortem in that it is after his death that the Risen Jesus is in conversation with Peter. And after all the successes and failures of the ministry of Jesus it comes down to the question, “Do you love me?” and the exhortation, “Feed my lambs, feed my sheep.” I know that I’m not the only one who is living in “postmortem” time. Anyone who has lost a loved one recently or not so recently, knows the experience of memory flashes. Certain things remind you of a common bond shared with the other. And it usually is so simple. This morning I went for a walk on Corporation Beach, trying to emulate the walk that Peter must have taken on the beach with Jesus after he cooked breakfast for his disciples. Of course, this brought back so many memories of walks on this beach with my good friend, JA. When I went back to his family’s home where I am staying for a few days, I cleaned up the patio and put up the “blue umbrella” which always symbolized the beginning of summer for us. How can some “thing” like a blue umbrella carry so much meaning? And then, there were the red rhododendrons… I’ll save them for tomorrow’s reflection since it’s the vigil of Pentecost. It is ironic that I titled this reflection, “Postmortem” since “after death” for Jesus came new life. That’s certainly the hope that we are called to, but when you are living in “postmortem” time, it’s easier said than fully embraced. The invitation for me and I hope for you is to listen to the voice of the Risen Jesus, asking each of us the question, “Do you love me?” Glory... Us?5/25/2023 Thursday of the 7th Week of Easter
Last March, when we heard the story of the Raising of Lazarus, my dear friend Kerry Maloney sent me photos of a statue of Lazarus that she had been given by John Fleming, a sculptor from Rockport. I knew, at some point, that I would use the image. I had written the following reflection four years ago. “And I have given them the glory you gave me,” God’s glory in us? Really? I don’t think I’ve ever paid attention to this line from John’s Gospel. Sharing in the divine life? Yes. Jesus says over and over that we are united with him as he is with the Father. Isn’t “glory” reserved for the glorious? If you’ve ever felt “tarnished” or “lackluster,” you may be skeptical about Jesus’ claim that he has given you the glory that God has given him. Some of us may feel more “notorious”” than worthy of note or glory. Despite the famous words of Irenaeus, “The Glory of God is the human person fully alive.” Speaking for myself, it does seem like a stretch to imagine God’s glory within me. Love, yes, but Glory? Glory is something reserved for God, or in human terms, for the rich and famous. Most of us don’t fit into those categories. And yet, Jesus says “I have given them the glory you gave me.” There is something about the statue of Lazarus that captures for me the feeling of Irenaeus’ “the human person fully alive.” Not only has Lazarus been given his life back, but there is something glorious in this image that expresses the spark of the divine within. As I contemplated this affirmation of God’s glory within each of us, I thought of the most “glorious” piece of choreography that I’ve created. What came to mind was “Hodie Christus Natus Est” The music is by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Hodie Christus Natus Est As you will see, the movement, color, lighting, music meld together to create something very “glorious.” Even though it’s a Christmas piece with Angels, Shepherds, Magi, Mary and Joseph, there may be something in it that illustrates something of the “glory of God” not only in the birth of Christ 2000 years ago but in the day to day (Hodie) birthing of Christ’s glory in each of us. And Christmas is 7 months from today! As it happens, today I will be visiting my dear friend, Howard Enoch who did the lighting design for Hodie, and years and years of A Dancer’s Christmas and Christmas Reflections. Howard is now confined to his home because of critical health issues but I am so grateful for the “glory” that he created in his lighting designs for so many years. Blown Away by Beauty5/24/2023 Wednesday of the 7th Week of Easter
The inspiration for today’s reflection did not come from today’s scriptures but from an email that I received this morning from a spiritual companion who has been playing “hide and seek” with God for a while. Something happened yesterday where this person felt “found.” My “finding” experience was noticing a dogwood tree that is not so much “hidden” but not not prominent. It doesn’t stand out where it is. And yet, in this time when its white flowers are blooming, it seems to be calling out, “Hey! Over here! Please notice me! See how beautiful I am! So I went closer and took the photo above. But then I notice a red rhododendron bush hidden behind some others, and then some lily of the valley. All hidden! I had to make the effort to see this beauty right before my eyes. And I was blown away by beauty! And yes, it may be better to give than receive as the scripture says today, but sometimes it’s “best” to receive! Shrink-Age5/23/2023 Tuesday of the 7th Week of Easter
“I’m shrinking!” I’m sure you remember the Wicked Witch of the West’s cry when Dorothy throws a bucket of water on her at the end of the Wizard of OZ. That scene came to mind as “shrinking” is on my mind this morning. As you know from reading my reflections, there are certain words in the scriptures that capture my attention. Today it was Paul saying that he did not “shrink” from preaching the Gospel. “and I did not at all shrink from telling you what was for your benefit, or from teaching you in public or in your homes.” “For I did not shrink from proclaiming to you the entire plan of God” Earlier on he says that he did not shrink.” The irony, of course, is that Paul knows his time in this world is shrinking. Soon his world will be as small as a prison cell. No more journeys around the Mediterranean. No more sailing ships. And yet, his passion for preaching the Gospel never “shrinks” or lessens. This morning I’m reflecting on how as we age, there is a natural shrink-age. We are no longer as tall as we were. Our worlds tend to be more circumscribed. We cannot do what we took for granted when we were younger. Our ministry or professional careers have diminished, down-sized, or even “shrunk” to a fragment of what once was. But with all this shrink-age, how can we make sure that our hearts and passions for God and the Good News do not shrink as well. How do we find ways to let our hearts grow larger, when life circumstances circumscribe our opportunities? Can we let our hearts be liking the blooming "iris" expanding in a such a beautiful way? And speaking of "buckets," perhaps a "bucket list" will help our shrinkage and enhance our expansion! Life Stream5/22/2023 Monday of the 7th Week of Easter
I was originally going to title this reflection, “Go figure! ” Reading today’s Gospel made me think of the figures of speech that we use to pepper our language. (Not literally, but figuratively!) Just this morning I heard some synecdoche used: "Boston Lost Again!" "BC graduates today!" "There’s nothing wrong on a Monday morning that Mozart can fix." Synecdoche, of course, is when a part is used to express the whole, or vice versa. If you are a fan of the Boston Celtics, you’ll know exactly what “Boston Lost Again!) means. And BC graduates refers to the students who will be graduating today. And if you live in British Columbia, you won’t have a clue as to what “BC graduates means.” And Mozart who lived centuries ago cannot literally “fix” all that is wrong on a Monday morning, even if Mozart’s music can lift our spirits. The disciples say to Jesus, “Now we see you are speaking plainly.” Earlier on Jesus refers to his use of figures of speech. John’s Gospel has Jesus using many of them. “I am the vine, you are branches, I am the gate, I am the Light of the World etc.” but here he is speaking plainly. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures but I will tell you clearly about the Father. On that day you will ask in my name, and I do not tell you that I will ask the Father for you. For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have come to believe that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father." And if I make speak plainly….. Yesterday we had a wonderful celebration of the life of my friend, Fr. JA Loftus. Almost 150 friends gathered to remember his “life stream” I narrated the stages of his life along with other of his family and friends, interspersed with hymns, musical performances, poetry and drama. As moving as this all was, I was overjoyed that many of JA’s friends from Canada and the states were able to participate through “livestreaming.” As I read their comments on Facebook this morning, I couldn’t help thinking of JA’ “life stream” being “livestreamed.” And then, of course, I thought of Jesus (I’m always thinking about Jesus.) Can we hear this part of John’s Gospel as a “life stream” between Jesus and his Abba, in the Spirit of Love that is “livestreamed” to each of us? Here's a link to the celebration, in case you are interested in seeing some of it. www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092277443565 While they wait5/21/2023 7th Sunday of Easter
Yesterday was the feast of Our Lady of the Cenacle. It is a day that has held special meaning for me for almost 50 years when I met the Sisters of the Cenacle in Brighton and eventually became their chaplain for 10 years. As it so happens, today’s first reading from Acts is the same as the one prescribed for yesterday’s feast. It tells of the disciples, Mary the mother of Jesus and “some women” waiting in the Cenacle (upper room) for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Because of my relationship with the Cenacle, I’ve had many years to pray with this text and reflect on the meaning of this special place in the life of Jesus and the early church. One of the things that has always bothered me is that the male disciples are named but the women who are there are nameless. Couldn’t the author of Acts given them names? Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of Joses, Salome? Although there is no comparison between the number of art works that depict Mary with the child, Jesus and in the classic Pieta, and those that portray this scene, the majority of them leave out the women. It’s Mary at the center surrounded by the apostles. I discovered this website that does show some alternative images that are more inclusive. You may want to check it out. women-at-pentecost I’m also sharing the play that I wrote years ago for the Arts-Based community at St Ignatius. It imagines a conversation between the women and men in the upper room while they wait. prelude_to_pentecost.pdf The photo above is the Spirit Window that used to live in the chapel of the Cenacle in Brighton. 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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