AMDG7/31/2022 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time/ Feast of St Ignatius of Loyola
Here's the homily I'll give very soon as the 30 day retreatants head home. As you know, today is the feast of Ignatius of Loyola, and if today were any other day than a Sunday, you would have heard Moses’ invitation to “choose life.” In the Gospel you would have heard the question to the disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” I did choose to use one of the readings for Ignatius that invites us to do everything for the Greater Glory of God. We owe a great debt of gratitude to Ignatius. If it weren’t for him, his conversion, his choosing life in Christ over all things, and doing all for the Greater Glory of God, we wouldn’t be here on this sacred ground of Eastern Point Jesuit retreat House. And here you are having finished the Exercises that he composed for you almost 500 years ago. But it is a Sunday and that takes precedence over Ignatius. And I’m sure he’s fine with that. Humility was in his bloodstream. It was always about Jesus. That is why he called his small group of companions, “the company of Jesus.” We’ve just heard pretty “bleak” scriptures on this beautiful day when you are leaving to return home. But, if you think about it, you are ending where it all began. Do you remember the first mediation of the Exercises? How could you forget? The human person is created for a purpose; to praise reverence, serve God our Lord and by this means to save our souls, or in other words, we are created for a relationship with God who is simply awesome. And every other created thing is a gift to help us attain the purpose for which we are created. Isn’t that what our depressing readings remind us today? What really matters in life when everything comes and goes as Qoheleth reminds us. What’s worth investing yourself in? You’ve had 30 days of intense prayer to know your heart’s treasure and what really matters in your life. As you leave here you will take with you treasured memories of God’s visitation in the company of all the saints who have prayed with you. I, of course, have a poem that was inspired by this Gospel. It’s title is “Cache or Credit” That’s spelled “cache” as in something that is hidden or stored away. cache_or_credit.docx And here are two photos of the vault of the sky and the wooden box that contains the universe.
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Lazarus, Come Forth!7/29/2022 Memorial of Sts Martha, Mary and Lazarus
The photo above is the tree which we named Lazarus. He was so bound by invasive “demon” vines, that the life was being choked out of him. (you can see the vines but they are "detached." ) There’s still some life in him. Hopefully we helped to “raise him up.” My prayer this morning began with Martha, trying to imagine what she felt when Jesus did not respond to her cry for help. She had sent him a message that his friend Lazarus was near death, but he had not showed up and Lazarus’ life was slipping away. Can you imagine her distress and anxiety as each day passed and there was no word that Jesus would appear? But then, my prayer was with Lazarus. I remembered the meditation one of my retreatants, Luz Diaz, did on her 30 day retreat this past January. When she prayed with the early life of Jesus, she imagined that Lazarus was Jesus’ best friend in Nazareth. They grew up together, but then the family moved to Bethany. So, I imagined what it would be like to be Lazarus longing for his best friend to appear and see him for the last time. Unlike Martha or Mary, Lazarus knew it was his time and there was no one, not even Jesus who could heal or help him. His longing was simply to be with his friend. But Jesus did not show up for him He had to take his last breath without seeing his face and feeling his hand on his head in blessing. This gave me new insight into the expression, “I’m dying to see him.” The story tells us that Jesus did ultimately show up for Lazarus. He shed tears and brought him back to life. If you’ve ever experienced the longing for Jesus to show up and help you or heal a loved one, you may be able to enter into the human experience of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. Below is my entry from 3 years ago. Since then, something must have changed since Mary and Lazarus are now mentioned by name on the USCCB website for this day. The photo below 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 the 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 our 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!” Harried Potter? Hurrahed Poet!7/28/2022 Thursday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time
I went down to the potter’s house and there he was, working at the wheel. Whenever the object of clay which he was making turned out badly in his hand, he tried again, making of the clay another object of whatever sort he pleased. Then the word of the LORD came to me: Can I not do to you, house of Israel, as this potter has done? says the LORD. Indeed, like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, house of Israel. Do you wonder how many times the potter was unhappy with his work and decided to begin again to mold and shape the clay? Do you wonder if he was a “harried” potter or was he an “unhurried” potter who would take his time and keep going back to the wheel until he was pleased with his work? The image of God as a potter is a very powerful one to pray with. Do you wonder what God as potter is molding and shaping you into? What kind of vessel are you? In the Gospel for the feast of St James, Jesus asks the question, “Can you drink of the cup that I am to drink of?” Sr Nancy Sheridan who gave the reflection showed us a cup that a local potter had made for the retreat house in the 1990’s. She said he used the soil and sand in creating it and inscribed images of this beautiful place. For many years this cup was used for the Eucharist, until the instructions on the liturgy demanded that only “precious metal” was worthy enough to hold the blood of Christ. Hearing Sr Nancy’s description of the potter and this cup, I decided that I would use it in the Eucharist. Given the love, care and “mettle” of the potter who made it, it seemed “precious” enough to use as a sacred vessel for this feast. To accompany the “harried” potter, I chose the “hurrahed poet.” Today is the birthday of my favorite poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins. Although his work was not appreciated while he lived, there have been countless “Hurrahs” for him since his death. On his birthday I share with you this poem. § Hurrahing in Harvest
Down all that glory in the heavens to glean our Saviour;
Treasure Trove7/27/2022 J
Wednesday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time Jesus said to his disciples: "The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that she has and buys that field. Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it." Today I presented the Contemplation on the Love of God to the four retreatants whom I’m directing in the 30-day Spiritual Exercises. I chose the image of the book we use because it’s a real “treasure trove.” The deeper you go in prayer, the more hidden treasure you find in God’s love for the world, and for each unique individual. (The word “trove” has its derivation in the French word “trouver” which means “to find.”) The final contemplation on Divine Love is a “pearl of great price.” It’s a beautiful reminder of how precious each of us is in the eyes of God. And another “pearl” is the prayer that is so integral to the contemplation: Take Lord, Receive. The question I’m asking this morning is how we can pray this prayer when there is so much hatred and cruelty in our world. How do we find the courage to believe in a God who is Love when there are so many examples of everything that is opposed to God’s commandment to love God and neighbor as oneself? In my own prayer this morning, when I asked God this question, I felt the answer was “Focus on my light and my love.” So that’s my mantra for the day. I share with you the link to the Contemplation from For the Greater Glory of God vimeo.com/265442500#t=4500s And what a "treasure trove" it has been for me to work with such amazingly talented dancers, musicians, actors and others whose friendship I treasure over all the years we have worked together. Shell, We Dance7/25/2022 Feast of St James
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. 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. Last night I was blessed to share dinner with two courageous and faith-filled women who are living with cancer. Their witness to the power of prayer and faith in God is extraordinary. Sr. Nancy Sheridan SASV has been my spiritual director for almost 30 years. She is presently directing the 30-day retreat. Ann-Margaret Ferrante is the state rep for Gloucester. Each embodies the words of Paul we hear today. 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. Being with Nancy and Ann-Margaret last night, at the dinner hosted by another dear friend, Laura Sen and her husband John, made me think of another dear friend of more than 40 years, Carol Coggio Faherty. She was diagnosed with cancer in 2001, went through treatment and “came back” to dance in a piece that I choreographed for her entitled” Come Back!” 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. Here is the link to the dance Comeback! Two years ago on this feast, I wrote the poem “Undertow” for my friend Fatima who lost her precious son and lost her faith as well. I’m consoled to know that since that time some of her faith in God’s goodness has returned to her. The "pieta" below is in the chapel at the abbey of Montserrat in Spain. It's one of the most dramatic I've ever seen. undertow.docx Stumped7/24/2022 17th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Whenever I hear this passage from Matthew’s Gospel, I am stumped by Jesus’ words. "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. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? We are asked to trust in Jesus’ words and keep asking, seeking, knocking. But don’t we get tired of hearing no answer, not finding what we’re looking for and coming up against closed doors? And which one of us hasn’t had to deal with scorpions and snakes when our prayers and petitions are not heard? And so I look again at the stump of Petronella, the pine tree and notice the delicate flowers blooming. There are bees drawing nectar from these tiny flowers, pollinating others. Somehow mysteriously life continues and perhaps there are answers for our asking, findings for our searches, and more open doors than we had thought. The 30 day retreatants I’m directing have transitioned into the 4th Week of the Spiritual Exercises which is an invitation to know the joy of the Risen Christ and he comes to console those whose hearts were broken. Sometimes an appearance of the Risen One is the only answer we need. He comes to find those who believe in him. And he himself is the open door to the Trinity of Love. Out of the Ordinary7/22/2022 Feast of 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. 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.” Mary must “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? Let Us S'pray.....7/21/2022 Gabriel's Oboe from Robert VerEecke on Vimeo.
Thursday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time
With this oppressive heat wave bearing down on us, not to mention what is happening across the world, my thoughts went to cooler images. The reading from Jeremiah and the psalm speak of God as the “source of living waters” and the “fountain of life.” What came to mind was children playing in and around a fountain to cool off in the heat. I hope the music from the Mission and the images of the “spray,” as the water breaks over the rocks will bring you some relief, rest and refreshment today. Let Us Spray! Willy-Nilly7/20/2022 Wednesday of the 16th Week in Ordinary time
One of my retreatants grew up on a farm in Nebraska and I have learned a good deal about the parables of Jesus that use agrarian images. Today’s Gospel is the familiar one of the Sower. My retreatant’s comment about this was that his father would never have “scattered” the seed, “willy-nilly.” Seed was too valuable, too costly to throw haphazardly. His father would be very precise in his scattering the seed. The Sower in the parable is profligate and prodigal in his scattering all over the place and letting it fall where it may. Is this another image of God’s lavishing his word and his love “with abandon?” The question, of course is whether we will receive it and let it root itself in us so that it may bear fruit. My retreatant also illustrated what “a hundred-sixty-thirty-fold” would look like for a corn field. It’s a whole lot of corn! Or grain, or whatever the harvest is. I chose the title “willy-nilly” thinking about its contemporary meaning of “haphazardly.” What I found however, is that its original meaning was “I will, I will not,” or “I am willing, I am unwilling.” I think that works well for the hearers of the Word and whether we are willing or unwilling to receive it. It also works well for the call of Jeremiah who is “unwilling” to be a prophet because of his age and immaturity, but who ultimately says, “I will.” I cannot resist sharing “Full-Grown” which I wrote for this Gospel in 2020 when we heard it for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The second reading that day was “All creation is groaning” Feel free to groan! 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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