In Tents7/31/2019 Memorial of St Ignatius of Loyola
This week we have been hearing about the conversations Moses has with God in the tent of meeting. It must have been very intense in the tent since Moses always comes out looking “radiant.” In fact his face is so radiant that it strikes awe and wonder in those who see him. It’s so intense that he has to wear a veil to cover his face, except when he enters the tent to speak with God, he removes the veil. Now that’s intense in tents! Today we celebrate the feast of St Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus. The daily reading for yesterday and today are perfect for Ignatius. Although he has his own set of readings tailored to his person and mission, the readings from the book of Exodus work as well. If you have made the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius in any form, you know that the heart of Ignatian prayer is “speaking with God as one friend speaks to another.” Intimacy and intensity are the hallmarks of Ignatian prayer because one is invited to converse with God, “face to face.” And from that experience of prayer, when one is filled with consolation, you can’t help but be “radiant.” You have to remove the veil that hides your face and speak directly and honestly to God. Now that's intense! It’s in our nature to hide ourselves, especially the sinful parts of ourselves. We don’t want an “unveiling” of our selves. But Ignatius says that God sees us as we are, as sinful but loved unconditionally. If you let God do the unveiling, you may find yourself radiant with joy. Over the years I have been extraordinarily blessed working with dancers whose faces are “radiant with joy” when they dance for the Greater Glory of God. I think you can see that radiance on the faces of the dancers in the photo above. It's the final moment of the Anima Christi/Soul of Christ. I’d also invite you to look at the opening Song of Praise and see the radiance on the faces of Nicole Huggins, Jamie Huggins and Wendy Lawson. Here’s the link https://vimeo.com/265442500 A Blessed St Ignatius Day to All!
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Dove Tale, Too7/30/2019 Tuesday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time
When I created the characters of Elohim Eagle and Johanah Dove a few weeks back, I knew that the Eagle who would lead a “convocation of eagles and represent the “pillar of fire” would symbolize Jairam Rao since he was such a free and dynamic leader. I did not know at that time that there would be someone whom I knew who would become in my mind the “gentle dove.” Yesterday while I was writing the reflection on Martha’s grief and belief, I received the heart-breaking news that Rebecca Lavoie Deane had lost her battle with cancer. It was only a week or so ago that Rebecca reached out to me asking for my prayers. If only they could have helped! If only the healing power of Jesus would have reached out to her in a way that would have restored her to her family as he did with Lazarus! If only… Rebecca was truly a “gentle dove” as a wife, mother, and daughter. I had the great blessing of performing her wedding to Jeremy Deane and baptizing their children, Grace, Craig and Mark. Her daughter, Grace, danced in Christmas Reflections for many years and has become an amazing dancer. I would see Rebecca, Jeremy, Grace, Craig and Mark every week at the family Mass at St Ignatius. I can’t imagine the grief and disbelief of Rebecca’s family as they try to comprehend the incomprehensible and sudden loss of such a beloved wife, mother, daughter, friend. This morning in prayer I felt Rebecca’s presence as a “gentle dove.” The scriptures today speak of Moses’ coming to the tent of meeting to speak with God, face to face. Whenever they would speak the “column of cloud would come down.” In my poetry of the eagle and the dove, I saw the column of cloud as a “flight of doves.” Until this moment it had not crossed my mind that the Latin word for dove is “colum-ba” Here again is the poem I wrote. Elohim Eagle Yohanah Dove Strange bird fellows One preying One praying (How can two words sound the same and be so opposite?) The Grand Interlocutor. Interlocking lives, Dovetailing, Weighing in on the way out Exodus, Elects an eagle Desires a dove to lead the flight With freedom the outcome Coming out the free way. Elohim calls to other Eagles, Now a convocation Yohanah coos to other doves Now a flight of doves flying, The Grand Interlocutor speaks Elohim/Yohanah Lead the exodus Be for them A pillar of cloud by day A pillar of fire by night Humans being short-sighted Do not see the pillar of cloud for what it is A flight of doves by day Do not see the pillar of fire A convocation of eagles by moonnight Strange bird fellows I’m finishing this heart-breaking reflection with the lyrics of a song that is close to the hearts of many as Rebeccas is close to the hearts of so many. Gentle woman, quiet light, morning star So strong and bright, Gentle mother, peaceful dove Teach us wisdom, teach us love. Skiffs and IFs7/29/2019 Memorial of St Martha
The photo above was sent to me by Maria Hanlon who was taking the Harborwalk home and noticed the two sailing “skiffs,” one with the name Martha and the other Mary. All that’s missing is one with name Lazarus! I don’t know enough about boats to know whether they are small enough to be “skiffs” but for the purposes of this reflection, I need them to be small “skiffs” so I can talk about big “ifs.” The timing of the photo was perfect since I knew that the Memorial of St Martha was today. I read that it’s also a memorial for Mary and Lazarus but they are not mentioned by name. Maybe Martha chose the better part after all! “If you had been here, my brother would not have died.” That’s a very big IF! It’s an “if” that is filled with grief and even some recrimination. The grief that Mary and Martha experience at the loss of their brother, Lazarus, must have been even more intense believing that Jesus could have made a difference, had he been there. How many times in our lives have we felt a profound regret about something that has happened to us or a loved one and we say “If only……” And so when Martha professes her faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Resurrection and the Life it is so much more than a theological statement or affirmation of belief. From the depth of her mourning, her loss, her pain she is able to find the “will” power to say, “Yes, I will believe you and believe in you!” Martha and Mary have the great good fortune of Lazarus’ coming out of the tomb and being restored to his former life. If only Jesus could have done the same for those who have lost loved ones to an untimely death! But like Martha, we need to draw from the well of love deep within to make the affirmation, “Yes I will believe you and believe in you!” In the photo I took this morning I’m seeing three dominant colors; green, blue and violet. I’m told this is “lacecap hydrangea” Considering the interlacing of the lives of Martha, Mary and Lazarus with Jesus capping it off, I think it works! "Will" Power7/28/2019 17thSunday in Ordinary Time
The original title of this reflection was “Prays Wordy” after yesterdays’ Praiseworthy. The readings today are about Jesus’ teaching his disciples to pray without a lot of words. Prayer is meant to be a conversation with God, speaking simply from the heart, not unlike the way that Abraham does in the first reading from Genesis. But then I read Cathy Shea’s comment about being without power because of the tornadoes and the havoc they created in Harwich and other Cape towns. She reminded us what it means to be “out of reach” when the technology we depend on fails us. At the same time, she was very much “in reach” of those who had lived simpler lives. “Speaking of ancestors, it is a good thing to imagine life back in the day and to be grateful for the grit and perseverance passed down to us in 2019. When the tornado BLEW through Harwich, I found myself without power and Internet for several days, causing me to feel a bit BLUE. Instinctively, I put myself in my grandmother's shoes. She never had electricity. She got up early to feed 11 children and milk the cows. She could never be bored, because every moment was filled. So a few days of "What's going on?" can be good for the soul.” Although Cathy was “power-less” she had a very “powerful” experience of connection with the past and a special person from the past in the present. It was Cathy and her husband John’s being without power, (along with thousands more!) that made me reflect on the power of prayer that Jesus speaks of. I have to honestly say that I feel more “powerless” than “powerful” when it comes to prayer. I always seem to need something. As much as I believe that prayer is a conversation with someone who has my best interest at heart, there almost always is a “begging and pleading” if not for my needs, then for the needs of others. There’s always so much to pray “for.” Some of those prayers are answered but so many seem to go unanswered. And that is the conundrum in which we often find ourselves. Jesus says, "And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Jesus does not say, “Ask and you “might” receive.” No, you WILL receive, you Will find, the door Will be opened. There is such power in that WILL! I know that I want to believe this to be true but I cannot do this by sheer “willpower.” I am completely dependent on the grace of God to help me believe in the power of “will.” Going through the archive of old homilies, I found this one for the 17thSunday. It picks up on the theme of being “in reach” and “out of touch.” 17thSunday 2001 I broke down the other day and got a cell phone. For the longest time I have resisted the temptation. I wanted to be "out of reach" at certain times. I didn't want to be found, or told of the latest drainage problem or some other crisis. Recently, I've been in situations where I needed to be "in reach.” So now you can reach me by email, text, or cell. Lucky you! Lucky me! We live in a society and world where it's easy to keep in touch, be in reach, and make contact. If only God were accessible by e-mail! IAM @ kingdom.com. If only God were accessible by cell! Imagine God's voice mail message! "You have reached 111-111-1111, the one any only God. God can't come to the phone right now, but if you leave your name and number God will get back to you as soon as possible. You have an eternity to leave your message.” Of course, it doesn't work that way. There's no easy access or speed-dialing to God. Or is there? One of the core beliefs of our Judeo-Christian heritage is that God is very much, in reach, in contact. Abraham (who reminds me of Tevye in the Fiddler on the Roof) is very intimate with God in his bargaining. His tone is conversational and respectful. Abraham knows his place but he also feels "at home" enough with God to tell him how he really feels. Jesus, too, tells us that God is in reach, even if God seems to be "out there", God is "Abba." God is as near as the deepest desire of your heart. Jesus models for us what prayer is. Prayer is an open conversation with God who hears us (if even we can't believe that God does hear us) But is that because we think of God only in emergencies or in crisis, when something is going wrong or someone is sick? Jesus encourages us to be in constant communication with “Abba/Ima” through him and the Spirit. I often say, “We pray who we are and how we are.” Sometimes who we are and how we are trusts whole-heartedly. Sometimes who we are and how we are wavers and doubts. I share with you a beautiful song written by Paul Melley. It’s called “The Other Side of Prayer.” It’s danced by Jamie and Nicole Huggins and Wendy Lawson. https://youtu.be/bQaU3vJkH_U I hope the photos I have chosen today need no explanation! But when there are no cell phones and technology, you may have more time to appreciate the beauty around you! Praiseworthy7/27/2019 Saturday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time
Which one of us doesn’t appreciate hearing words of praise? Good work! Nice job! Well-done! Great shot! I have to admit that I have never excelled at anything related to any athletic endeavor. From time to time, however, on the golf course someone will say, “Great shot!” and I have to stop and remind myself that they are talking to me! Yesterday I had the great good fortune of playing golf with friends at a breathtakingly beautiful course. I’m happy to say that there were many “Great shots!” shouted and heard. Some were even for me! But when I reflected on the time with my friends, the praise that I wanted to give was not for making good shots but for letting me have “God shots.” What I mean by that is getting a glimpse of God’s goodness through the innate goodness, kindness and love between these two "god-friends" who have been married for 52 years! Is it in our human nature to give and receive praise? If we are made in the image and likeness of God, I hope it is. For some of us giving and receiving praise comes naturally and spontaneously. For others it may be given begrudgingly or received reluctantly, But what is praise? That is the question that’s been on my mind this morning, especially hearing the psalm for today’s liturgy. “Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.” Ordinarily when we think of praising someone, it’s because of his/her accomplishments, like those cries of “great shot!” When we praise God, it is most likely for what God has done; the beauty and majesty of creation, the gifts of this world. Sometimes it’s difficult to praise God for creating us, given human cruelty and the harm we inflict on others and on this creation. But we also give praise to God for who God is, source of life, beauty and lovel We praise God for the loving kindness and mercy that God shows to us. We especially praise God for God’s own self-sacrifice in Jesus Christ. “Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.” Could the sacrifice of praise that God desires be more than a litany of God’s “accomplishments?” Good Work, God! Nice job, God! Well done, God! Could the sacrifice of praise that God desires be simply the gift or ourselves? Could the sacrifice of praise be simply a return of love for all that God has given us? When we are overwhelmed by the world’s woes and our personal losses, praise does not come easily to our lips. It feels as if God is responsible for the mess of our world and our messy lives. Praising God’s goodness comes begrudgingly, if at all. Then it may be time to look again at God’s creation and contemplate its beauty. Then it may be time to focus on some person’s goodness, kindness and generosity of spirit. Then, realizing that the beauty of God’s creation and the goodness of that person is a mere glimmer of God’s beauty and Goodness, a sacrifice of praise may come freely and without reservation from a heart filled with gratitude. The photos below are "non-stop" begonias. In their beauty and blooming, non-stop they speak to me of who God is as giver, gift and giving. Way Back When7/26/2019 Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Today is the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, parents of Mary and grandparents of Jesus. If you’re wondering what a house built around 1682 has to do with today’s feast, let me explain. My oldest brother, Rich, has been doing genealogical and historical research on our ancestors and has discovered some fascinating details. He is also a wonderful story-teller as he brings to life the people, places and times of “way back when.” For example, he has traced the line of my paternal grandfather’s mother, Mary Bowker back 7 generations. The house you see was built by our 7th great grandfather in 1682 and is "situated" in Norwell, once part of Scituate. :-) He has also managed to trace that family line back to the Norman Invasion, when the name Bowker was Bouquier. They were most likely butchers, like my grandfather, William Roggy. My maternal grandfather’s line goes back to Alsace-Lorraine and the family were Anabaptists, present day Amish. I guess I was destined to wear black! Enough of our family history. What about yours? Aren’t you intrigued by the “way back when” of your ancestry? This feast of the grandparents of Jesus invites us to think about who we came from, their lives, loves, joys and struggles. I imagine that at some point they were immigrants, with hope and dreams of building a life in America. Sound familiar? There is no evidence in scripture of the names of Mary’s parents. Somewhere along the line, they were given these names of Joachim and Anne. The names do not really matter as much as the imagination that we can bring thinking of Jesus as a young boy and the relationship he might have had with his grandmother and grandfather. Our family is very fortunate that my brother has taken the time to bring to life the stories of these ancestors. What a gift it is for the “way back when" to be a “here and now.” My brother sent me the photo below. It’s the wedding picture of my grandparents, William Roggy and Augusta Wachter. What a remarkable keepsake! Shell, We Dance7/25/2019 Feast of St James, Apostle/ Santiago de Compostela
Today is the feast of St James. Also known by his Spanish name, Santiago, he is most famously associated with the City of Compostela and the Camino or pilgrimage way. Everyone whom I know that has walked the Camino has been transformed by the experience. There is something very fitting about the choice of the scripture for today from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians for a celebration of the feast of James/Santiago: Brothers and sisters: We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. The symbol of the Camino is a scallop shell. One interpretation of its meaning is that its lines represent the different routes that pilgrims follow from all over the world, all walking trails leading to one point, the tomb of Santiago de Compostela. I understand that the shell was of practical use as well. “Scallop shells were a handy and light replacement for a bowl so the pilgrims could use them to hold food and drink for their long journey.” Caminoways.com The scallop shell is another kind of “earthen vessel.” It is no wonder that a shell is often used in the baptismal ritual, holding the water of life that will be poured over the head of the person to be baptized. Over the past weeks, the fragility of life, symbolized by our bodies as “earthen vessels” has hit home for so many of us who have grieved the sudden and unexpected loss of a loved one or heard of the diagnosis of serious illness that a friend has received. That is why the words of St Paul that remind us that we are always “carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus," are so powerful and relevant. I shared with you how my dear friend Carol Coggio Faherty was diagnosed with cancer in 2001, went through treatment and “came back” to dance in a piece that I entitled ComeBack. The piece wove together the story of the “empty tomb” and Mary’s encounter with the Risen Jesus. With Carol’s dancing after her battle with cancer, the theme of Resurrection and “coming back from death” was ever more powerful. What I had forgotten was that the music I used was Loreena McKennit’s SANTIAGO, which was inspired by her visit to Compostela. (A friend who lives in Austria saw the video and SHAZAMED the music. He told me that it’s title was SANTIAGO.) Small world? https://vimeo.com/346158176 I also shared with you that when Carol was recovering from the trauma of her illness I choreographed a piece for her entitled “Unless You Bless Me.” This piece, set to the music of John Rutter, describes the joy of movement that Carol embodied, the joy of her family life with her husband Brian and children Anna Teresa and Patrick and my joy at becoming her friend and dance partner. It also describes the pain and suffering that Carol went through when she was diagnosed. The final section set to the Lord is my Shepherd is a vivid representation of the power of dance to help and heal.https://vimeo.com/350175955 The two “earthen vessel” pieces that I created for Carol, a vessel of beauty and love who came to know what a “treasure” life is, are the reasons that I chose the title, Shell, We Dance. The photo below was sent to me by Peter Haig who encourages everyone he meets to walk the Camino. Whine and Dine7/24/2019 Wednesday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time
When I was thinking yesterday afternoon of a title for today’s reflection, a smile came across my face. The story of the Israelites whining about their trek through the desert and God’s feeding them with manna and quail made me think of the common expression ‘wine and dine” and give it another meaning. That was yesterday’s smile but today the smile is more a grimace. Seeing the effects of yesterday’s tornado on the Cape, hearing from friends about diagnoses of illnesses of all kinds, lamenting the sudden and tragic loss of loved ones of dear friends, whining feels justified. At the heart of the whining is the WHY? It’s the question the Israelites asked, “Why did you bring us to this place? Why all this suffering? Why, Why, Why?” Sometimes when you are feeling the weight of the world and its brokenness and you have no answers to the question “WHY?” and you are tired of WHY-NING, someone invites you to dinner, or prepares a home-cooked meal for you (More than manna and quail). It’s no surprise that when there is a death in the family, neighbors bring “comfort” food. Sometimes the only response to the heart-breaking “whys” of life area the words, “Take and Eat, Take and Drink. This is for you.” The manna and the quail in the Exodus story are meant to be much more than bodily nourishment. It’s meant to be “soul-food.” God is hearing the cries, complaints, whines of the people, responding not with answers to the “whys” but giving them what they need to continue the journey. So if you’re why-ning today, perhaps there will be some version of “manna and quail” appearing and you may say to yourself “What’s the manna with me?” Myth-Taken/ It's a Stretch!7/23/2019 Tuesday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time
I have a vivid memory from 60 years ago, sitting in our Ford station wagon at a Drive-in theater on Rt 110 in Huntington, Long Island. Cecil B. DeMille’s Ten Commandments was playing and even though I was only 10 years old I was transfixed by the scene of the Red Sea “parting” and the Israelites making their way to freedom as the chariots of Pharaoh were swallowed up the sea. When I saw the film decades later as an adult, I laughed with skepticism at the special effects and wondered how anyone could believe this story was “for real.” What do we make of the Exodus story of the parting of the Red Sea that is today’s scripture? Do we see it as “mistaken” or “myth-taken?” Biblical literalists go to great pains to find an explanation of this story to say that is grounded in real phenomena. One that has gained credence is that the “Red Sea” is actually the “Reed Sea,” where it would be possible for the people to make their way through the muck and where horses and chariots would get stuck in the mud. It’s a stretch to see and hear this account of the Exodus as a “reality show.” My preference would be to hear this as a myth taken and appropriated into our religious consciousness. After all, the story is really about a God who desires freedom and liberation for the people of Israel. Something must have happened to deliver them from their persecutors. The experience of this deliverance is worthy of a dramatic rescue, of God’s doing marvels with sea and land. This is deliverance on a “grand scale!” The reality is that God’s deliverance is most often on a “small scale.” God works in the everydayness of our lives. That’s the power of Moses’ stretching out his hand to do God’s work. Jesus’ too. The simple gesture of “stretching out one’s hand” can be so powerful and meaningful. Rather than focusing on the special effects of the parting of the Red Sea, I suggest we focus on the special affects that are expressed in the gesture of stretching out one’s hand to greet, help, or unite one with another. Here is a link to an Exodus dance I created in 1992. Unfortunately the video is very dark but you can see Moses’ stretching out his hand. Notice how the dancer’s are led by Moses in a counter-spiral, symbolizing their movement to freedom and dancing in celebration when they have crossed the “sea.” https://vimeo.com/340328148 The photo I have chosen for today is from the Easter Vigil since the reading from Exodus is so central to that liturgy. It's not the parting of the Red Sea but there is a sea of people waiting for deliverance, following the Easter Light and the dawning of a new day. The photo below was sent to me by dear friend, Amanda Green. She took it at the dawn of the day in Rockport, Ma. It speaks to me of new beginnings! Out of the Ordinary7/22/2019 Feast of St Mary Magdalene
Today is the feast of St Mary Magdalene. In a sense we take a break from “ordinary” time in the liturgical calendar to celebrate an “out of the ordinary” woman. She was the first to proclaim the Resurrection. Her encounter with the Risen Jesus in the Garden holds the primacy of place as she is entrusted with the Good News that Jesus is risen from the dead. She is the “Apostle to the Apostles.” For centuries, the memory of Mary of Magdala was distorted by inaccurate readings of the Gospels. Thankfully, she has been restored to her rightful place in the Church’s memory. This morning on her feast, I’m thinking about her very human experience of being in love with Jesus, losing him to death and finding him again in a new way. The words of today’s scripture “Do not hold on to me/ Do not cling to me” resonate powerfully this morning. Reading Maria’s comment on yesterday’s reflection, I am moved to tears by the realization that we have to live in the present, as painful and as heartbreaking as the present may be. Being present to the present is not easy, especially when you remember the “way things were.” (I am tempted to quote the love song, The Way We Were but I’ll resist that temptation!) Mary has to “let go” so that she can experience Jesus in a new way. He will still be there for her. Her heart tells her so but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t miss his “real, tangible presence.” Memory is not enough to fill the void of a beloved’s absence. I chose the photo of the Hibiscus this morning for the feast of Mary Magdalene. Notice it’s radiant beauty. It’s flowering only lasts for a day or so but while it is open to the world, it is stunningly beautiful. Can this flower teach us how to live in the present? 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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