On Call11/30/2022 Feast of St Andrew
I am presently in NYC for rehearsals for the showcase of dances for Sunday’s performance of A Dancer’s Christmas at the Manhattan Movement and Arts Center. Since my time is taken up focusing on all that needs to be done for the performance, I don’t have time for “original” reflections this week. I will be sharing some from past years and the EP Advent Adventure which I was responsible for when I was on the staff there. I titled the reflection this year, “On Call” because of the obvious connection with the “call” of Andrew, but also because being “on call” means that you have to be ready to “fill-in” if necessary. You’re in the background while you’re “on call.” Sounds like Andrew! And, of course, a “call” is a theater term that tells you when you need to show up, so being “on call” is very much on my mind. As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of people.” The photo above is a painting in America House where I'm staying. The image of the disciples in the boat with Jesus caught my eye. It's not a great photo but I think it works for the "call" of Andrew. I wonder if he's one of the "red-heads"? Do you ever wonder about Andrew? How did he feel not being in the inner circle of the disciples closest to Jesus? Peter, James, and John are the trio who get to accompany Jesus to the mountain of Transfiguration, as well as in the Garden of Gethsemane. They are the chosen among the chosen. And what about Andrew? He was called the same day with the other three. Did he feel left out, when Jesus called the trio to be with him at these special moments? This morning as I was reading the liturgy of the hours, the antiphon was “One of the first disciples who followed Jesus was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. My first reaction was to think that Andrew’s identity comes from his relationship with Peter who is more important than he. If you have siblings, you may have heard, “Oh you’re so and so’s brother/sister.” In John’s Gospel Andrew is the one who introduces his brother to Jesus. That should count for something! Colloquy: In your prayer, can you imagine a conversation between Andrew and Jesus in which Andrew expressed his feelings about being left out? What would Jesus say to him? What about yourself? Is there anything in the experience of Andrew that you can relate to? Speak to Jesus as one friend speaks to another. What does he have to say to you? Are his words consoling? In last year’s Advent Adventure on this feast, we mentioned that the motto for St Andrew’s in Scotland is the expression, Dum Spiro, Spero. (While I breathe, I hope) Tradition has it that the bones of St Andrew were brought to this town in Scotland centuries ago. These days, we all need to “take a deep breath” and fill our lungs with Hope! This Advent season offers us the opportunity to renew the hope that comes from knowing that we have already been redeemed by Christ’s love for us. We know that he is with us “now.” It is so easy to be discouraged and to lose hope during this difficult time when we have lost so much. And still we are urged to “Wait in Joyful Hope!” A Spiritual Exercise: Use the words, “Dum spiro, spero,” alternating them with “While I breathe, I hope,” as a mantra during the day. Breathe in on “Dum spiro” breathe out on “Spero.” Breathe in on “While I breathe,” breath out on “I hope.”
0 Comments
I Sigh "Ah"11/29/2022 Tuesday of the First Week of Advent
(The photo above is the stump of Petronella the Pine Tree. Notice the blossoms budding!) On that day, A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him: a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, A Spirit of counsel and of strength, a Spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD, and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD. Not by appearance shall he judge, nor by hearsay shall he decide, But he shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the land’s afflicted. He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips. When you hear these words of Isaiah, do you breathe a sigh of relief and say “I sigh, Ah!” Wouldn’t it be a relief to belong to a world where “justice and faithfulness” held sway, where a leader embodied the gifts of the Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge, reverence, and awe? Isaiah envisions a world where God’s ways hold sway. Do you wonder what in the world came over Isaiah when he envisioned the “peaceable kingdom” where natural enemies changed from “beasties to besties.” It must have been the Spirit of God, the reconciler, the unifier, the healer, the whole maker who enabled him to see beyond the present reality. Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; The calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them. The cow and the bear shall be neighbors, together their young shall rest; the lion shall eat hay like the ox. The baby shall play by the cobra's den, and the child lay his hand on the adder's lair. There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD, as water covers the sea. Even though Isaiah’s vision has not been realized to “this” day. It stirs up hope that “that” day will come. But what about “this” day. What’s our prayer for “this” day? Do we pray first for reconciliation within, so that whatever our inner conflicts are, they can be resolved? Do we pray for reconciliation with those who are for us more “beasties” than “besties?” Do we pray for reconciliation within our church and our world that its leaders might embody the vision of Isaiah and not take sides but “be side by side” working together for the peace that Isaiah promises? Questions for reflection: What are the feelings that this passage from Isaiah awakes in you? With what seem to be unreconcilable differences in so many dimensions of our lives, what does the promise of peace and reconciliation evoke in you? Colloquy: Speak to God as one friends speaks to another. Ask for the grace to be a peace maker and reconciler. Ask Jesus, the one who leads with justice and faithfulness to help you to see how you can be a source of healing for others. Ask the Spirit to fill you with the gifts that are yours for the asking. Can you name the gifts you most need to be your best self? "Uplifting"/ "Lifting Up"11/28/2022 Monday of the First week of Advent
The prescribed first reading from Isaiah for today’s liturgy has some “not so pretty” images. Yes, it was written 2500 years ago but to contemporary ears it can be offensive. Ordinarily, the first weekday of Advent begins with the reading we heard yesterday which is much more “uplifting.” Whoever was in charge of the lectionary decided that it shouldn’t be heard one day after another. But…. In the spirit of Ignatian “repetitio” I’m using yesterday’s reading in place of the one used for Cycle A. There is so much rich imagery and hopefulness in Isaiah’s vision that It bears repeating. This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In days to come the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established as the highest mountain and raised above the hills. All nations shall stream toward it. Many peoples shall come and say: “Come, let us climb the LORD’s mountain to the house of the God of Jacob, That he may instruct us in his way. and we may walk in his paths.” For from Zion shall go forth instruction and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples They shall beat their swords into plowshare and their spears into pruning hooks. One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. O house of Jacob, come let us walk in the light of the LORD! How “uplifting” is that! When we think of Advent, we usually think of stillness, taking time out from the business of the pre-Christmas season. The irony, however, is that the text from the prophet Isaiah has everyone on the move, rather than sitting or standing still. Notice all the movement words. “All nations shall stream toward it” “Come, let us climb the Lord’s mountain” “Let us walk in the light of the Lord! And the responsorial psalm has the joyful refrain” “Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.” What we may want to pay attention to on our Advent journey, is the interior movement of the Spirit within that desires to bring us closer to God as we go about our “busyness.”. We may also want to pay attention to the interior movements of the Spirit that may surprise us with joy in the midst of the pain and suffering that we see all around us. We may want to pray daily for the realization of the vision of Isaiah where peace reigns and all war and conflict is at an end, especially with the ongoing war in Ukraine. Question for Reflection: What do you find consoling and uplifting in this image of all nations streaming to God’s Holy Mountain? Are you able to trust Isaiah’s vision, knowing the centuries of conflict and strife among nations? What is the interior movement within you as you pray with these hopeful images? In your prayer, how is God encouraging you to trust and continue to hope that this vision will have its time? The choices of today’s Gospel may have been made because it is a Roman centurion whose servant is healed, and the Isaiah reading speaks of “all nations” coming together in peace. Another way of reading this, however, is noting that Advent is a season of healing. God in Christ desires to heal our brokenness. Advent is not meant to be a penitential season, focusing on our sinfulness, as much as it is a season of healing and wholeness. Christ “lifts up” the servant of the centurion and restores him to health. Question for reflection: As you begin this Advent, what is the healing you are asking for? Can you acknowledge your own need for God’s consoling love as a healing balm? With all the loss, grief, anxiety that comes with living in a very troubled world, how can God’s spirit help you to be healed and be healer for others? How does God want to “lift you up.” "This and That" Day's Dawning11/27/2022 First Sunday of Advent
(The photo above is not "this day's dawning." It's "that day" at Eastern Point almost three years ago, after the storm that I refer to in the poem, "On That Day") This day’s dawning appeared to be stunningly beautiful. At least what I could see of it. Like one of those theater seats with partially obstructed views, I could only catch a glimpse of the multi-colored sky with speckled clouds. As I looked out my window, I so longed to see the sky in all its raiment, but the building obstructed the view of the dawn. And in my frustration, I said to myself, “Oh how I wish I were at Eastern Point where I could see clearly the panorama of sky and see and the sun’s rising.! And take a photo of it! My frustration increased when I read what I had preached last year at the beginning of a Priest’s retreat and the scripture was the one we just heard: This is what I said: If I were around for the second coming of Christ, and if I had a chance to “speak my piece,” I’d put my hands on my hips and say “well, It’s about time!” We’ve been waiting for more than 2000 years! What took you so long?” I’m sure you can hear the frustration in my voice. Listen to Isaiah’s words: “in day to come, all nations shall stream toward God’s Holy Mountain? Really? When all we hear is nations closing their borders because of Covid variants or immigration issues, we’re supposed to trust “in days to come?” And the day when nations shall beat their swords into plowshares? With thousands of years of armed conflict, and now weapons of kinds unimaginable, we’re supposed to imagine “that day” when there will be an end to this all? This year I would add the threat of nuclear weapons in the War in Ukraine! So here’s the problem. I long for a return to the past and I’m anxious and skeptical about the future. So how do I live in the present? How do I live in the ‘now? My prayer this week took an unusual turn as I reflected on the readings for this First Sunday of Advent. Matthew’s dramatic presentation of the coming of the “Son of Man” has always instilled in me a vague anxiety about the end days and last judgment, but this time, it was the words “one will be taken, and the other left” that caught my attention. I’m pretty sure that the recent death of a best friend, him being taken and me left behind to deal with grief, absence, and many other challenges made those verses jump out. But as I went deeper in prayer, I realized that we all here have had so much taken away and we have to live with what is left. We may have been robbed of health, memory, ministry. As Paul Kenney so poignantly expressed in his Christ the King homily, all of us here can identify with the crucified Christ from whom so much was taken. And what is left? In the homily I gave last year when I expressed my frustration to Jesus while speaking my piece, this is what I heard. Jesus says, “let me speak my peace.(that’s p-e-a-c-e) It IS about “time.” I know you know the difference between Chronos and Kairos I’ve heard you preach about the difference between the two, how often, in Advent? Chronological time that is measured by seconds, minutes, days, weeks, years, decades, centuries can be pretty bleak. But what about “Kairos,” time that isn’t measured, but is the “now” of my being with you? It’s those moments that are pregnant with possibilities, when you know that I’m here with you. Aren’t there moments when you sense my presence, and feel my peace, healing and consolation in the midst of the mess of this world? Yes, pray for “that day” to come in Time but in the “mean time” (and I know it can be a pretty mean time) focus on “this” day, my Spirit’s inbreaking, the “pow of the now” (I know that’s bad but I’m trying to get on your wave length, speak to you as one friend speaks to another.) Really, Jesus? The Pow of the Now? (and I think I saw him grinning at me.) If you’ll. Indulge me another poem which I wrote for this Sunday three years ago when there was a storm raging. “On That Day” The photo below was "that day" three years ago on the First Sunday of Advent. "Pass" Ways11/25/2022
Friday of the 34th Week in OT “This too shall pass.” How many times have you heard those words or spoken them yourselves? They are meant to give someone who is encountering difficult times a hopefulness about the future. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” When Luke was writing his Gospel, the expectation was that the “end times” were near. Two thousand years later the heavens and earth are still around, and countless generations have passed away. And yet, we know deeply the experience of time passing. We experience loved ones passing. As human beings we are rooted in the experience of transience. As Jesus says, we learn from trees who speak to us about the cycle of life; leaving, losing, rebirthing. How beautiful is it that we can at once see “deciduous” trees with bare branches and “evergreens” that give the appearance of permanence, even though we know they too will pass. The photos today are three moments in the life of the maple tree that I would pass on my way to the cemetery. There is something beautiful in each one. There is a profound regret and melancholy that comes from the knowledge that all things will pass away and yet, in faith, hope and love there is a “pass” way that opens up into the everlasting labyrinth of God’s eternal love. Perhaps that is why the expression, “he/she passed away” means more than someone died. I hope it means that they "passed a way" that is God’s eternal way, truth and life. The "Rite" Way11/23/2022 Thanksgiving Eve and Day
Thanksgiving Day may be the “rite” day to write about the importance of rite and ritual in our lives. There are other holidays of the year that are rife with rites; Christmas, Easter etc. but Thanksgiving is the one that stands out because it’s focus in coming together at the table. And of course, there are the rites of preparation of the food, the menu, the setting of the table. the shared grace with family and friends. The photo above is the Thanksgiving table at my friend JA’s family's townhouse in Dennis, MA. I think I’ve set and sat at that table for Thanksgiving almost every year for the past 38. This year, one person will be physically absent for the first time but very present in our memory. As I go the “rite” way, preparing for Thanksgiving dinner and all the rituals that are part of it, I can’t help thinking of the great Thanksgiving meal that we call the Eucharist. (The Greek word for “thanksgiving.”) Although Jesus is not present in the way he was to the disciples in his earthly life, we believe he is present in the elements of bread and wine, in the community gathered. He is also present in the Word and in the presider who leads the great prayer of blessing and thanksgiving. Sometimes in our celebration of the Eucharist as well as in the “rites” of Thanksgiving Day, we go by “rote” and not by rights of what is asked of us. We go through the motions without thinking and feeling as we engage in these familiar rites. I know that for me this Thanksgiving will invite me to “full active, and conscious participation” in a way that will be so much more than going through the motions. Is the invitation to all of us to be grateful and present to the moment and do this the “rite” way? The image below is of a watercolor that Maureen Carey, a retreatant at Eastern Point just sent me. Perfect timing! thanksgiving.2022.1.pdf Anchors A Way11/22/2022 Anchors A Way
Tuesday of the 34th Week/ Memorial of St Cecilia Since today we remember St Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians who is usually pictured with an organ or a viola, I chose the photo of my viola. And I suppose I was hoping to be inspired by a song for this reflection since she is associated with music. What surprised me was the song that came to mind. It’s Anchors Aweigh. Where did that come from? As I continue to grieve the loss of a friend, I came to realize how there are certain people in our lives who are “anchors.” They hold us in place. They help us to stay centered and safe even in “choppy waters” These past days I found myself saying to my friend, “You were my anchor!” And now that this anchor is away, I feel adrift and at sea. The Gospel today and tomorrow is one we just heard two Sunday ago. I wrote about it focusing on the adornments of the Autumn, more than the cataclysms Luke’s Jesus speaks of. Today, it’s the experience of being anchored in our relationship with Jesus that I’m “weighing in on.” Jesus asks us to be steadfast and firm in our faith in him. He assures us that we will experience cataclysms in our world and in our personal lives, but if we are “anchored” in him and his love for us, we will get through it all. As the Alleluia verse says: Remain faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Can we ask for the grace to be “anchored” in Jesus’ love and companionship and know his compassion? Can we ask for the grace to know him again and again as the “Way, the Truth, and the Life? I chose the photo of the rainbow over Brace Cove since it was right next to the photo of the viola. I thought it could work with this reflection, since the rainbow is a sign of peace and calm after a storm. And since it's the memorial of St Cecilia, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is music to my ears. It's All in the Presentation11/21/2022 Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
I’m sure you know the expression, “It’s all in the presentation.” It usually refers to the way different culinary elements are arranged. Of course, the food needs to taste good but “presentation” makes a difference. Today happens to be the feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. As I reflected on this, the expression above came into my mind. Although there is no Gospel evidence for this feast which tells of Mary’s being dedicated to God from an early age as she is brought the temple by her parents, Joachim and Anne, there is something very lovely about the story of this child being “given to God” so that she can become “God-bearer.” In the Eastern Churches this feast is called “the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple.” Although there are optional readings for this memorial, I chose to use the Gospel of the day which is Luke’s version of the widow’s offering at the temple treasury. When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.” The parents of Mary presenting her to the temple make an offering of what was most precious to them, their daughter. Mary, as we know, will offer herself unreservedly to God, giving her whole self, body and soul to God. Much of my own “livelihood” has been spent offering praise to God through the medium of dance. I’m so happy that my friend Sara Knight will be “presenting” a showcase of dances from A Dancer’s Christmas with her beautiful Chevalier Ballet Company. The presentation will be on Sunday December 4th at 2:00 at the Manhattan Movement and Arts Center. The first part of the presentation will be four dances whose theme is the Annuciation. Here’s a link to the Ave Maria with music by the Boston Camerata that will be part of the program in NY. I choreographed it in the 1990’s. I hope it will help you reflect on the beauty and gentleness of this feast of the Presentation. https://vimeo.com/342154365#t=600s Tantum Quantum11/20/2022 Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe
If you are a regular reader of these reflections, you’ll know by now that I arrive at some very peculiar titles for them. Today is a good example. As I read Luke’s Gospel of the Crucifixion of Jesus, I was taken up with the “sneers, jeers, jibes” of the leaders and the thief on the Cross who “taunts” Jesus. To be honest, I’ve never been led to focus on these taunts. Perhaps it is our culture that is so rife with “sneers, jeers and jibes” in politics and on social media that gave prominence to the ones that victimized Jesus in the Gospel. If you’ve even been the object of “sneers, jeers and jibes,” you know how painful it is. The tendency is to focus on the physical agony of Jesus on the Cross, but there’s another aspect to his suffering. A word search for “taunt” led me to “tantus” which is the Latin word for “so great” or “so much” Over time the Latin word morphs into “taunt” which is an insult. The suggestion is that it came from the French “tant pour tant” or a bantering, the way an insult from one evokes an insulting response from another. Then I was led to think of “Tantum ergo” which is sung at Holy Thursday for the adoration of the Eucharist. The English translations is “So great a mystery!” In light of the Gospel which focuses on the Cross and Jesus” sacrificial death, the words “Tantum ergo Sacramentum” invite us to reflect on the mystery of his love for us on the Cross. Three years ago on this day I wrote the poem INRI with its refrain of “What would he not do for you? And “What would he not be for you.?” I’d invite you to read it again since it was written for this Gospel. INRI Finally, I thought of the expression, “Tantum quantum” which means “in so far as.” In Ignatius’s Spiritual Exercises it is the expression used for the invitation to “indifference.” In so far as all the gifts of creation are meant to lead us to God, so much the more we must keep a balance in our use of these gifts. And then “quantum” led me to think of the Universe and “quantum theory” which tries to reveal the mystery of all things. St Paul’s “quantum theory” is what we heard in today’s second reading. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven. Or as Pope Francis says in his Twitter feed today: Christ is the unifying center of all reality. He is the answer to all human questions. He is the fulfillment of every desire for happiness, goodness, love and eternity present in the human heart. You don’t need to make a “quantum leap” to believe in “how great” God’s love for us is in Christ Jesus. (I chose to use the photo of the Cross from Oberammergau because of the prominence of the inscription above the head of Jesus. But I chose a photo of the "universe" as an expression of the love embodied on the Cross.) How sweet it is! Aw...shucks!11/18/2022 Friday of the 33rd week in OT
I dined on Nantucket Bay scallops last night. If you have never had “bay scallops” from Cape Cod, you don’t know what you’re missing! (Unless you have a shellfish allergy!) These tiny morsels so much smaller than the sea variety are noted for their sweetness. They are harvested from November to March and are a Cape delicacy. They are delicious, sweet, nutty and an absolute delight! My friends Alice Brennan, Mary and Jack Curtin and Fr. JA were as “nutty” about them as I am. As soon as October arrived, I would begin the refrain, “Is it Cape scallop season yet?” Finding them last night on the menu of the Old Yarmouth Inn, I was “over the moon.” (I have to confess that my preference is to have them lightly fried with tartar sauce.) Why this paean to these precious little mollusks? Praying with the scriptures today, the word “sweet” appeared so often that I couldn’t help but think of the expression, “How sweet it is.” R. How sweet to my taste is your promise! How sweet to my palate are your promises, sweeter than honey to my mouth! And the scroll in the book of Revelations, although sour in the stomach is “sweet” in the mouth of the one who consumes it. I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand and swallowed it. In my mouth it was like sweet honey, As I reflected on those sweet scallops, I thought about where they came from, hidden in eel grass in the bay so that they would be concealed from predators, then dredged up by scallopmen/women, shucked on the shore, distributed to fish stores and restaurants, prepared by chefs there or at home, and then savored by those of us fortunate to taste “how sweet they are.” And think of the word of God and the promises God makes. The words we hear from the psalm today were composed and sung by someone 2500 years ago. They tasted the goodness of the Lord and had to sing about it. And here we centuries later savoring the words of the psalmist, translated over time from the original language to our own tongue. How sweet it is! For someone who has had a “bitter” and “sour” taste from recent experiences of loss and disappointment, it’s very comforting to reflect on “how sweet” life can be if we taste and see the goodness of the Lord. The photos for today were taken a few years ago when I had the wonderful opportunity to sail from Nantucket to Martha's vineyard with my dear friends, Fred and Judy Basilico. How sweet they are! (If you're not familiar with the geography, the sail was across Nantucket Sound. 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 |
Proudly powered by Weebly