For Crying Out Loud!8/31/2022 Wednesday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time
“For Crying Out Loud” is one of those idioms we use to express frustration, irritation, or annoyance. It is also one of those expressions that don’t make much sense. We know what it means to “cry” and to “cry out.” We also know what “out loud” means. But put them together and what do you get? Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo! (As the song from Cinderella goes.) I learned today that the expression was a replacement for the common curse, “For Christ’s sake!). The expression, “for crying out loud” came to mind this morning, thinking of how to share with you what I’ve been doing the past two days. I’ve been in the recording studio at Paraclete Press in Brewster, Ma. reading “aloud” my two books of poetry. (I was blessed to work with Dan Pfeiffer, a brilliant sound technician who with his family is a member of the Community of Jesus in Orleans. He's also a gifted french horn player and conductor.) In a few weeks, they will be available for download on Audible, Apple and Amazon. It was quite an amazing, moving, and exhausting experience for me to read aloud the poems and stories I have written over the past three years. From time to time, I would read one poem aloud at a liturgy, or in a spiritual direction session, but the whole “kit and caboodle?” That was something else! And I caught myself feeling the urge to “cry out loud” with tears as I remembered the moments of inspiration, the writing, the sharing these poems and stories with retreatants. At times I had to stop the recording because it was too emotional for me to go on. The more I thought about the expression, “for crying out loud,” I began to realize it had application to today’s Gospel. So many people who were infirm or suffering from some disease or other were “crying out loud” for Jesus to heal them or their loved ones. And then there were the demons who were crying out loud that Jesus was the Son of God. He, in his turn, rebukes them as he did the fever which possessed Simon’s mother-in-law. And did Jesus “cry out loud” as he rebuked them? Jesus must have been exhausted from a day of healing so many who were “crying out loud” to him, and we hear that he goes off to a deserted place. It’s unusual for Luke not to add “to pray” since that’s what Luke’s “m-o” when it comes to Jesus going off somewhere. And I suppose that Paul was “crying out loud” in frustration with the Corinthians because of the jealousy and rivalry among them. Paul reminds them that all is “for Christ’s sake.” Paul’s planting and Apollos’ watering were done for Christ’s sake so that can be All in All. And for God’s sake, we are coworkers in the mission. My prayer this morning is that the seeds of religious imagination that the Spirit has planted in my poetic words and stories will be watered with readers’ tears of joy and sorrow and somehow this little work I have done “for Christ’s sake” will bear fruit. With all the gardening imagery in Paul’s reading and given that I have been using songs from the Fantasticks I share with you a link to “Plant a Radish.” Vegetables are so much more dependable than children, or Corinthians! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBcpAaUHwNM
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Rubble Rouser8/30/2022 Tuesday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time
“The Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.” As usual, I’ve been on a word search this morning. “Scrutinize” is the word that has caught my eye and ear. I even went back to the original Greek text to see what word was used. Ironically, it’s the word for “search” My word search led me to the word “search.” So why is the translation, “scrutinize?” It’s meaning is to examine or search closely. If you are scrutinizing something, you’re looking very closely. You may need a magnifying glass to see in detail what you’re looking for. My word search also led me to the root for scrutinize which in Latin is “scrutor” or search. In ancient Rome, the “scrutari” were those searching for valuables amidst broken, discarded, rubbish. And so, the title of today’s reflection “Rubble Rouser” And then, in the Gospel we have the man possessed by a demon. This demon is a real “rabble rouser,” stirring up animosity toward Jesus. (How said is it that there are so still people around the world who make their “living” sorting through garbage heaps to find something of value to keep them going day in and day out.) What in the world could any of this say to us today? I can’t imagine that any of us likes to be scrutinized. It’s difficult enough to examine ourselves. To have someone else put us under a microscope and magnify our faults and failings is very disturbing. And yet, if we return to the original meaning of “scrutinize,” and the text from Paul to the Corinthians, we may see God’s Spirit, searching through the “rubble” and finding the “immortal” diamond in each of us, the precious jewel that is of ultimate value. Doesn’t Jesus do this for the man possessed? Jesus is one who searches through the “rubble” of this “rabble rouser” and returns him to his true self. And does the Risen Jesus do the same for us? With the Spirit, doesn’t Jesus sift through the broken, discarded, fragmented rubble of our lives and find what’s worth keeping? I chose the photos of St Ignatius and a copy of his Spiritual Exercises to accompany this reflection since he was quite a “rabble rouser” before his conversion and a “rubble rouser” afterward. One of the great gifts of the Exercises is to know that out sinfulness, the rubble of our lives does not impede the gift of God’s UNCONDITIONAL LOVE for.us. He asks the director of the Exercises to scrutinize another’s prayer and notice whether it’s the “good spirit” or the “evil spirit” at work. If the voices one hears are affirming in God’s love for them and Jesus’ call to them to follow him, it sounds like the movement of the “good spirit.” If the voices one hears say that they are “rubbish” and unworthy of God’s grace and love, that’s coming from the “enemy of human nature.” When you pay attention to the voices of those who want to destroy your sense of self-worth, like the demon in the Gospel, you can be sure it’s not the movement of the Holy Spirit. Whose voice will you listen to today? Which voices will I listen to today? Tale Spin8/29/2022 Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist
The gospel for today’s commemoration of the execution of John the Baptist always sends me into a spiritual tailspin. This tale of Herod’s cowardice, Herodias’ malice and her daughter’s dance makes my head spin like it does when executing a double or triple pirouette. When a ballet dancer is executing any kind of turn, she/he needs to focus on a particular spot, hold the spot and then rapidly turn the head back to the spot to achieve balance and equilibrium. Otherwise, the dancer gets very dizzy! What is so dizzying for me about this passage is that despite Herod's’ bad behavior and Herodias' cruelty, it is “dance” that is focused on. As I have written about at length in other places, there is no textual evidence of the age of Herodias’ daughter or the kind of dance she did. Because of Herod’s “over the top” response, “Ask of me anything you wish and I will grant it to you….. even to half of my kingdom,” the presumption is that the dance was meant to seduce Herod in his drunken state. (Thank you, Hollywood for Salome’s Dance of the Seven Veils!”) When I speak of this passage, I try to spin the tale in a way that emphasizes the youth, innocence and naiveté of Herodias’ daughter. Is it possible to think of a child who “delights” an adult audience with his/her song or dance? I would imagine that we all have been present at a party where a child performs, and everyone can’t get over the talent and spontaneity of the young girl or boy. (Recently I was telling someone that my first public performance was when I was 5 years old singing “Mister Sandman” dressed in my Dr. Denton Pajamas! The audience laughed, applauded and was absolutely “delighted.”) Despite my attempts to “spin the tale” in a positive way, the ultimate outcome is the execution of John the Baptist. It’s a biblical “tailspin” as John’s ministry unravels because of the cruelty of Herodias and the cowardice of Herod. The daughter’s dance was the catalyst for the Baptist’s beheading. In a way, the dance with all its spins, twists and turns is a fitting metaphor for the life and death of John the Baptist who “leapt” in the womb of his mother, Elizabeth before this birth. Turning from today’s scriptures to everyday life, the question for me is what helps you recover from a personal “tailspin?” When something unfortunate happens, or something cruel and judgmental is said or when you feel your life spiraling downward and out of control, what’s the “spot” that you fix on to help you achieve balance and equilibrium? There is wisdom in keeping your eyes “fixed on Jesus.” His passion for life, love of God and his passion/death and resurrection can execute a gravitational pull on us so that our focus keeps coming back to him, like the “spot” in a pirouette. We have been reassured about you, brothers and sisters, in our every distress and affliction, through your faith. For we now live, if you stand firm in the Lord. Paul seems to be saying that despite his own “tailspins” it’s the example of other people’s faith that strengthens him and gives him abundant joy. What thanksgiving, then, can we render to God for you, for all the joy we feel on your account before our God? Speaking for myself (and who else can I speak for?) when I’m thrown into a spiritual tailspin, I try to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus, especially on the cross. When I’m thrown into an emotional tailspin, I try to keep my eyes fixed on friends and their kindness and generosity. When I’m thrown into any kind of tailspin that feels like free fall, I pray that I may be free from all that is discouraging and free for all that is encouraging. It’s what I call a “tales spin.” I wrote this three years ago when I was in the midst of a personal “tailspin.” I’m trying to take to heart what I wrote then in my “tailspin” now. Easier said than done! I chose the beautiful photo of Lauren Mead, dancer with the Chevalier Ballet Company. It’s from the Ave Maria in A Dancer’s Christmas. And then I chose another photo of children “delighting” at Christmas time. Beauty and delight are what dance really offers. Pried of Place8/28/2022 "22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
This is not the first time I have used the title “Pried of Place” to reflect on the experience of being removed from a place you were occupying and then experienced the embarrassment of being told that it’s not where you belong. In today’s Gospel, Jesus sees those who are jockeying for the “best seats at the table," where they will have the ear of the host and the really important people, and warns them that they could be humiliated when they are told they should move to a lower place. His logic is to choose a lesser place with the hope that one may be invited to come closer. My good friend, Fr. JA Loftus preached a homily about these readings three years ago. He begins by reminding us that the first six verses of this Lucan passage are left out. The context for Jesus’ teaching is important. 14 One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. 2 There in front of him was a man suffering from dropsy/ abnormal swelling of his body. 3 Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” 4 But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him on his way. I’d like to share with you his homily which is worth reading. I’d also like to share with you my own from 2013. As you will note, I had just returned from my annual retreat at Eastern Point. It’s a “humbling” reminder of how I’ve encountered the mystery of God in this special place from which I can never really be “pried.” I wonder if Jesus as the perfect host, is always saying to each of us, "Come closer! I want to hear what you have to say and I want you to hear my voice above the "hubbub" that may keep you from hearing me. 22nd_sunday_2013.docx 22nd_sunday_in_ordinary_time.docx I chose the photos of hummingbirds at two different feeders for the theme of the “banquet.” It would be nice to think that are giving “pride of place” to the one who is most thirsty and in need of refreshment. (Thanks to Mary Dailey and my brother Dick VerEecke for sending the photos.) A Pair of Ducks8/27/2022 Memorial of St Monica 50 years ago I was teaching Sophomore English at Regis High School. On an exam I asked the question, “What is a Paradox?” One of the students drew a picture of two ducks. This “pair of ducks” was his answer to the question. (I did give him some credit for his imagination.” 50 years later, having lived through so many paradoxes in my life, I think that “a pair of ducks” is as good an answer to the question. A paradox always raises more questions than it answers. For example, why is it that you have to “die to yourself” in order to have “life.” Why is love about letting go? Why do you have to lose your life in order to gain it? Why the cross at all? Paul’s letter to the Corinthians is filled with all these paradoxes. Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God. I know that many of you are living life’s paradoxes of loving and letting go. My dear friend Ann lost her beloved partner Walter this past week. Others are suffering from various forms of cancer that are physically and spiritually exhausting as it seems that “prayers” go unanswered. What is the paradox that is claiming your heart and soul these days? And where do you find comfort and consolation as you live through these paradoxes that drain you of physical, spiritual, emotional energy? Yesterday as I was driving to Eastern Point for a brief visit, I heard on the radio, Ralph Vaughn Williams, “Five Variations on Dives and Lazarus.” The theme of the music is the same that is used for “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say.” I had choreographed this music over 40 years ago, focusing on the ministry of Jesus. Hearing it again, it brought me some comfort in midst of my own life’s paradoxes. I hear the voice of Jesus say, Come unto me and rest. Lay down O weary one lay down, your head upon my breast. I came to Jesus as I was, so weary, worn and sad, I found in him a resting place and he has made me glad. On a lighter note, today is the memorial of Monica and tomorrow would be that of Augustine, her son. Now that’s a “pair of lucky ducks!” I’m using the photo of this morning’s mysterious dawn to accompany the theme of “paradox.” Upside Down8/26/2022 Friday of the 21st Week in Ordinary Time
For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. Since today is a travel day for me, I don't have the time to pray and write. I will post something tomorrow morning from EP where I'll be visiting for an overnight. The theme of today and tomorrow is "foolish and wise." Everything is turned "upside down" in God's wisdom. But when your world and life has been turned "upside down" you are not sure what is "right side up." More tomorrow They Were You8/25/2022 Thursday of the 21st Week in Ordinary Time I guess I’m on a Fantasticks roll this week, since songs keeping coming to me in prayer. Today’s is “They Were You.” I have to admit that as I was “trying to remember” the story, I had to refresh my memory with a google search. The plot is too convoluted to sum up in a short reflection. Let’s just say it’s a love story filled with hopes, dreams, hurts, disappointments and ultimately a realization that the the one you were searching for was right before your eyes. all along. “They Were You” is the song that the two lovers, Matt and Luisa sing to each other after they find each other for the first time. (Here is one verse. If you want to listen to the whole song, the link is below. When the dance was done When I went my way When I tried to find rainbows far away All the lovely lights Seemed to fade from view They were you They were you They were you (I chose the photo of the rainbow with the Petronella Cross in the background because of the "rainbow" reference in the song, but the whole image works with this reflection.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liKLMWxbASo In a few days we remember St Augustine, but this year he’s overshadowed by the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time. As I listened to “They Were You” the words of St Augustine came to mind. “Late have I loved you, beauty so old and so new: late have I loved you. And see, you were within and I was in the external world and sought you there, and in my unlovely state I plunged into those lovely created things which you made. You were with me, and I was not with you. The lovely things kept me far from you, though if they did not have their existence in you, they had no existence at all. You called and cried out loud and shattered my deafness. You were radiant and resplendent, you put to flight my blindness. You were fragrant, and I drew in my breath and now pant after you. I tasted you, and I feel but hunger and thirst for you. You touched me, and I am set on fire to attain the peace which is yours.” This morning as I was praying outside, I was captivated by the interplay of light and shadow on the wall. Of course, I recognized these forms as shadows of trees. Seeing the shadows, reminded me that they are a momentary illusion of the “real.” How much of our time is spent pursuing illusions of meaning, beauty, and love when all along “They Were You.” Callow- Call-Oh!8/24/2022 Feast of St. Bartholomew, Apostle
This past Monday, for Mary’s Reign, I referred to the song from the “Fantastiks,” Soon It’s Gonna Rain. This morning Try to Remember from the same show popped into my head; Here are the lyrics: Try to remember the kind of September When life was slow and oh, so mellow Try to remember the kind of September When grass was green and grain was yellow Try to remember the kind of September When you were a tender and callow fellow Try to remember and if you remember then follow What does this song have to do with this day when we remember the apostle, Bartholomew aka Nathanael? It may be that these days, I’m trying to remember the first call I heard from Jesus to follow him. I certainly wasn’t glib and sarcastic like Nathanael who responds to Philip’s enthusiasm with the words, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” No, I was innocent and “callow.” I was “without guile.” Until this morning, I had thought the word “callow” meant, “mean-spirited.” When I would hear the song, Try to Remember I assumed that this young man was unkind, perhaps with a cutting wit like Nathanael? What I discovered was that “callow” means young, immature and unexperienced in the ways of the world. Ironically, the word’s origin in Latin is “calvus” which means “bald.” On further investigation, I found that the connection between “immature” and “bald” was a fledgling bird who had no feathers at birth. Try to remember when life was so tender That no one wept except the willow Try to remember when life was so tender That dreams were kept beside your pillow Try to remember when life was so tender That love was an ember about to billow Try to remember and if you remember then follow There is something “fantastic” about the call of Bartholomew aka Nathanael, in John’s gospel. In the Synoptics, he’s just a name called, but in this little vignette we are invited to “come and see” not just Jesus, but a fledgling disciple. From the get-go, Jesus recognizes him, knows him, and promises so much if he chooses to follow. That doesn’t mean that he won’t experience heartache, disappointment, loss, and grief in following Jesus. Bartholomew aka Nathanael began his journey as a “callow” fellow and followed. Deep in December, it's nice to remember Although you know the snow will follow Deep in December, it's nice to remember Without the hurt, the heart is hollow Deep in December, it's nice to remember The fire of September that made us mellow Deep in December, our hearts should remember and follow I do not doubt that Bartholomew aka Nathanael could resonate with the lyric, “without the hurt, the heart is hollow.” As a disciple of Jesus, he would have known the “hollowing” of his heart that would become “hallowing” in his encounter with the Risen Christ. As you know, prayer almost always brings you to surprising places. As I was writing this, I imagined Bartholomew aka Nathanael after the Crucifixion feeling a prompt of the Spirit to find the fig tree in Bethany where he was sitting when Philip first told him about Jesus. When he arrives, he sees the fig tree is in full bloom with ripe figs. As he is “trying to remember” his first encounter with Jesus, he opens his eyes and sees the Risen Jesus before him. I haven’t yet concluded what Jesus would have said to him. Maybe, “I told you that you would see much more than you ever could imagine.” So, I’d invite you to find your “fig tree” and wait for the Risen Jesus to appear to you. Speaking of waiting, this morning I saw two hummingbirds at the fuchsia plant the photo of which I shared yesterday. I had forgotten that these marvels of creation feed from the fuchsia. I’ve been “humming and hawing” waiting for their return, but they have not made an appearance. I asked my brother if he had a photo of hummingbirds that he could share since he has so many that come to his feeder. If he sends me one, I’ll be sure to share it. And with all this talk of “callow,” “bald,” “fledging” birds, I have to share the poem I wrote for Jairam, Maria and Ram’s son. EXODUS I The mother eagle broods Warming the about to be With her brood patch, Hatching, soon and very soon son Or daughter, God knows, this nest Branch-built with love and care mother’s-kind, father’s kind. Both breed and brood, turn-taking. The mother/father eagle brood Worrying about the about to be Eaglet Will he free-fall, way down, Weighed down with gravity’s pull? Or will she fledge and fly, way up Wings fluttering, weighing in on ways Up and down, down-covered wings Stretching, spanning, soaring finally. All the while, warm The eaglet’s eyes open, just a crack Open to the darkness, seeing nothing but Feeling warmth and walls Then, pushing, pipping, piping Sound breaking out Light breaking in Wow! Where, how, who, why am I? I am. In the Now8/23/2022 Tuesday of the 21st Week in Ordinary Time
In a conversation with my dear friend, Maria Rodrgiues, she shared her wisdom of how she tries to live “in the now.” She admits that it is not an easy task to stay “in the now" when there are so many reasons for anxiety that can plague you. It’s much easier to give over to worries than find an inner calm that enables you to see and feel the gentle promptings of the Spirit. Maria quoted the passage from Matthew’s Gospel where Jesus tells us to look at the lilies of the field and the birds of the air. Let yourself be in the now! To be in the “now” is to be in the “know.” This conversation came to mind this morning as I prayed with Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians. He’s encouraging them not to worry about Christ’s second coming. He urges them not to be “shaken out of their minds suddenly,” but to trust in God’s faithfulness. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word. That sounds like a mantra for living in the “now.” It’s a challenge to take these words to heart when you are overwhelmed by your own or others suffering, but if you let them permeate your being and be your “now,” they may help to free you from the worries and anxieties that can consume you. There are no lilies in the fields nearby that I could easily find. But there are hanging fuchsia plants outside my front and back door. Their beauty and delicate form can invite us to live in our “now” as they do in theirs. Mary's Reign8/22/2022 Monday of the 21st Week in Ordinary Time/ The Queenship of Mary
“Soon it’s gonna rain, I can feel it. Soon it’s gonna rain, I can tell. Soon it’s gonna rain, what are we gonna do?” If you’ve ever seen a production of the Fantastiks, you’ll recognize this song. I’m thinking of it for three reasons. First, friends invited me to see a production of this show at the Cape Playhouse in Dennis. Second, I’m sitting outside writing this and rain is beginning to fall. Third, we celebrate Mary’s reign as Queen of Heaven and Earth today. To be honest, the image of Mary as a Queen doesn’t inspire much depth of reflection. Yes, I can relate to Mary in the Annunciation, Visitation, Nativity, and at the foot of the Cross. I can enter into her joy at the Resurrection and image her return to the arms of God in her Assumption. But her “reign?” How is it that this simple peasant woman from Nazareth in Galilee can assume a heavenly throne? What does it mean that Mary reigns as Queen? Does she expect homage from us? Is she really comfortable as the “holy Queen, enthroned above?” In any colloquy I have had with Mary, she seems to be an ordinary woman, mother, and disciple of her son Jesus. She shares her love and wisdom freely. She certainly doesn’t demand obeisance as an earthly Queen might. Directing the Spiritual Exercises this summer, each of the retreatants had profound encounters with Mary, the mother of Jesus. She was for them, to paraphrase the Hail Holy Queen, “mother of mercy, their life, their sweetness and their hope.” In prayer, she would bring each of them closer to Jesus. That is what Mary’s reign is all about, bringing us into a more intimate relationship with Jesus. As I listen to the “pitter patter” of rain drops, I think of the tradition associated with the Feast of the Assumption which Sr Nancy Sheridan described in her reflection that day. She told us that the custom of going into the water for healing on that day in some cultures was because Mary had shed so many tears of joy at her homecoming that they spilled over into the oceans, rivers and seas. Now that’s a beautiful rain! FANTASTIK! The painting below of Mary generating life and love is the work of Sr. Joannie Cassidy, SSJ who is presently directing retreats at EP. Joannie is a gifted artist in image and the poetic word. I invite you to pray with this image today. 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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