At Last...12/31/2021 7th Day of the Octave of Christmas
The last photo of the year is the same that I posted on New Year’s Eve 2019 and 2020. As you can see it’s 7 swans-a-swimming. After four challenging months at the end of 2018, I took this as a sign of better times ahead….. And they certainly have been. Now on this final day of 2021, after a year in which we have endured Capitol riots, climate cataclysms, covid surges, to name only a few of the challenges to our emotional, spiritual, physical, and mental health as a human community, I wonder what lies in store for 2022. Do you hold out hope that next year will be better? By nature, I am a hopeful person. By baptism into Jesus Christ, I am a faith-filled person. And so in the “last” hours of 2021, when we hear the letter of John speaking of the last hour, and John’s Gospel speaking “in the beginning” I am thinking of the One who is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, asking for the grace to know that he is “Emmanuel,” God with us. Since I will not be posting tomorrow for January 1st, I share with you “Mary’s Mind” which I wrote on the first day of 2020. marys_mind.docx May the New Year of 2022 be filled with peace, grace, hope and love!
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"Anna" Gram12/30/2021 Sixth day of the Octave of Christmas
I chose a photo of myself with my mother and grandmother, since the Gospel that tells the story of Anna, the prophetess holding the Child Jesus in the temple reminds me of my grandmother who held my youngest brother's first-born, soon after she had been widowed. If I remember correctly, it was my nephew Peter Richard's baptism. What follow is the homily I'll be giving for the retreats who are finishing today. what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands concerns the Word of life -- Those are the words from John’s letter that you heard on the first evening of your retreat. And now, as you prepare to leave this Holy place, take a few moments to ask yourselves, “What have you heard? What have you seen and looked upon? What have you touched with your hands? What have you heard? You’ve heard the story of the Innocents and how Herod’s jealousy and rage destroyed the lives of innocent children. You heard Fr. Campbell’s story of Montserrat and the painting of the Flight into Egypt. Do you remember how he mused about why that image was outside a place where people from all over the world would confess their sins? What he heard was how our sin affects others. And might we add how our own resistance to forgive others causes even greater harm. We heard that from John’s letter as well. “Whoever says they are in the light, yet hate a brother or sister are still in the darkness.” Speaking of John’s letters, what we have just heard, would certainly have been edited by a composition teacher! He repeats “I am writing, or I write” six times! He really must be trying to get a” point “across with his reed pen or stylus! And what’s the point? God is doing something wonderful in you in Jesus Christ. But, wait! Why the dichotomy between God and the world? Why do we hear: Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ? Could this possibly be the same person who wrote the most quoted lines from the New Testament? “For God so loved the world, that God sent his only Son…” As you have seen and looked upon the seals playing in the Cove, the beauty of the morning dawn (at least one morning), as you have basked in the glow of the candle light in this room or in the Chapel, looked upon the blazing fire in the evening, prayed with the tender images of Mary holding the child in the Mary Chapel or the beloved disciple resting on the breast of Jesus, marveled at the many manger scenes all around the house, (I could go on) does your heart tell you that the “world” that God so loved is not to be loved by you? Yes, there is evil in the world, but it is no match for the infinite unconditional love of God. Have you felt some of that unconditional love for you these days? I hope so. And what else have you heard? Yesterday we heard the story of the Presentation in the temple. We heard about a pair of turtledoves or a pair of pigeons as sacrificial offerings. We heard about a pair of parents, Mary, and Joseph, presenting their child, Jesus to God. (Of course, Jesus needed to introduction.) We heard a pair of prophets. Actually, we only heard one yesterday. Simeon. Today we hear of Anna, the prophetess. Do you wonder why we hear what Simeon says, but not what Anna has to say? Here’s a woman of great faith, age and wisdom, who experienced significant loss, as a widow after 7 years, and yet dedicated her life to fasting and prayer. Wouldn’t you want to hear “Anna’s Magnificat?” (Who knows, unlike the writer of the Johannine letter, Luke may not have wanted to repeat himself, since he had already written down Mary’s Magnificat.) When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him. - - - Now that you have completed these days of retreat and are returning to your home town, has your faith, hope and love grown and become stronger? Are you filled with the wisdom of Simeon and Anna? Do you believe the “favor of God” is upon you? Do you believe that you are God’s beloved? Pare a Pair of Pears, Pére12/29/2021 5th Day of the Octave of Christmas
Today's reflection is quite different from yesterday's about "rage" and the sadness of the Coventry Carol. You can see that I'm in a "lighter" mood, with the title, "Pare a Pair of Pears, Père" The photo above is a pair of manger scenes that could not be more different! One is the traditional one with Mary, Joseph, and a super-sized baby Jesus, with animals and the magi waiting in the wings. The shepherds must have gotten lost over the years. There is, however, a koala and a surfing bear! The other manger scene is more like a Christmas pageant, with the characters from Peanuts dressed up à la Charlie Brown Christmas. Today’s Gospel of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple is one we will hear again, 40 days after Christmas on 02-02-2022. All these “twos” make me think of the pairs that appear in this Gospel. A pair of turtledoves A pair of pigeons A pair of parents (Mary and Joseph) A pair of prophets (Simeon and Anna, who appears tomorrow.) What could the significance of these pairs be in this Gospel? Could it be that a “a pair” usually means “completion” (like the number 40) One shoe, one glove, one sock isn’t enough. It takes two…. The Gospel of the Presentation has this sense of “completion.” “When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses,” In the pairing of Mary and Joseph as parents of the child, there is a sense of the completion of God’s desire for the infant Jesus to be raised in a loving home. Simeon and Anna both have a sense of completion, as they recognize the long-awaited Messiah, held in their arms. Their long lives are complete. The pairs of turtledoves or pigeons complete the obligation of the Mosaic law. It’s kind of ironic that I’m writing about “completion” when I chose manger scenes that are really “open-ended.” Anyone, angel, human or beast can show up for the showing of the child Jesus to the world, as Simeon and Anna did in the temple. In one sense, the Incarnation is a completion of God’s desire to be Emmanuel, born into this world in flesh and blood. But at the same time, the invitation is to enter into the never-ending mystery of God’s self-revelation in the person of Jesus, the child whose birth we remember in the stories that we hear this Christmas week. All the Rage!12/28/2021 Feast of the Holy Innocents
I’ve been listening to the Coventry Carol this morning. It’s one of the saddest, most melancholic of Christmas carols. It was originally part of the Mystery Play Cycle in Medieval times. These Miracle and Mystery Plays were "all the rage" in those times. Speaking of "all the rage," the line from the song that is “jingling” in my mind this morning is “Herod the king in his raging…” In the Matthean narrative, it is Herod’s rage and fury that is the cause of such unspeakable cruelty. What a contrast with the Lucan narrative of Angels song to the shepherds, “Glory to God in the Highest and Peace to God’s people on earth!” I confess to feeling some “rage” this morning. If you are feeling frustrated, overwhelmed by the Covid virus, helpless and at wit’s end about one thing or the other, you may identify with what I’m feeling. The cry of my own heart to God is “Why can’t You put an end to this suffering? Where are you these days when we are “ensnared” by illness? What good is your promise of peace and joy when there is so much rage within and without? I turned to today’s psalm for some comfort, not joy, but comfort….. (7) Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler’s snare. Had not the LORD been with us-- When men rose up against us, then would they have swallowed us alive, When their fury was inflamed against us. R. Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler’s snare. Then would the waters have overwhelmed us; The torrent would have swept over us; over us then would have swept the raging waters. R. Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler’s snare. Broken was the snare, and we were freed. Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. R. Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler’s snare. Joy did come, however, when I thought about how the Coventry Carol was part of a Medieval Mystery play. It reminded me of the second act of A Dancer’s Christmas where I had the medieval players interpret the story of the Fall in a humorous way. A little bit of laughter can go a long way in changing one’s mood! https://vimeo.com/60840818#t=1845s "Jingle" bells12/27/2021 Feast of St John the Apostle and Evangelist
I wrote a little “jingle” on the feast of St John, Apostle and Evangelist two years ago. I’ll be using it tonight as we begin a 3-day Christmas week retreat. What a beautiful day to begin a retreat! John the Evangelist has gifted us with images of light, the Word made flesh, the beloved disciple. So much to inspire us, lift up our hearts and fill us with joy This is what I wrote two years ago. There’s a line from John’s Gospel that has been a recurring theme for me for the past few weeks. I had suggested this to one of my retreatants, but it seems that I needed to hear it as well. “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This line is like a bell ringing in my ears. You could almost say it’s “jingling” and I suppose that’s what made me use the tune of Jingle Bells for a lyric that I hope captures the Joy of today’s scripture from the First letter of John as well as his Gospel. St John tells St John tells Good News all the way Oh, what joy it is to write On St John’s festive day (2X) Scribing what he knows Has heard and seen and touched The Word of God made flesh The world God loved so much Jesus Christ, the Lord Is making spirits bright Oh, what joy he brings to us What peace and love and light! St John tells St John tells Good News all the way Oh, what joy it is to write On St John’s festive day (2X) Racing to the tomb With Peter just behind O’er the roads they go Not knowing what they’ll find The wrappings all that’s left The Risen One’s not there What joy to see with eyes of faith God’s gracious, loving care! St John tells St John tells Good News all the way Oh, what joy it is to write On St John’s festive day (2X) The wood carving of the beloved disciple resting his head on Jesus’s chest is truly “beloved” of so many of our retreatants. Can you imagine yourself as the beloved disciple? If you do, what do you feel? There are no words that you need to speak. Just let yourself be….loved. Precious, Precocious, Precarious!12/26/2021 Feast of the Holy Family “Precious” is a good word to use to describe the Lucan Gospel narratives of the birth and infancy of Jesus. It’s Luke who gives us the stories of the Annunciation, Vistiation, the Nativity with images of the manger, the angels and shepherds, the presentation of the child in the temple. Matthew’s narrative emphasizes the “precarious” nature of the infancy in his weaving together the stories of the birth of Moses with those of Jesus. There is great danger in the stories; Joseph’s conundrum, the visit of the Magi which instigates the flight into Egypt and the slaughter of the innocent new-borns. For the most part, Luke stays with “precious” images that we cherish. In the Gospel today, however, he goes from “precious” to “precocious.” The twelve-year old Jesus can best be described as “precocious” in his remaining in the temple and his responses to his parents. One could say he is a “typical twelve-year-old!” Earlier this year, I recommended Bill Cain’s new collection of homilies, “The Diary of Jesus Christ.” If you have it, I recommend that you read the two stories, Simeon (Joshua age 12) Magnificat (Joshua age 13.) If you want to imagine how very precocious Jesus was as a pre-teen and teen, these two stories capture how he was already growing in “wisdom and age” but not so gracefully! If you don’t have a copy, it’s available on Kindle and more than worth the investment. I can’t let Christmas Day go by without offering you one of my favorite pieces of Christmas choreography. As I watch “Hodie” I wonder how I was able to weave together all the movement of the biblical characters that you see in the dance. Was it “precocious” of me to think that I could create a dance so “precarious” for the dancers, and yet would be so “precious” to so many of us who danced it” Hodie A Cheer-y Christmas!12/25/2021
Christmas Day
On this (dreary) Christmas Day, I wish you a day filled with Christmas Cheer! And to help the cheer of this day, I share a poem and a story I wrote last Christmas. Christmas Stollen/ and the First Noel. christmas_stollen.docx I wonder if there are "cherries" in the Christmas stollen? BTW did you know that our word “cheer” has its origins in the Greek word “kara,” the Latin word “cara” (head) and then the old French word “chiere” which means “face” So may your head be filled with good cheer and you face have a cheery smile! And while we are at it…. Three “cheers” for Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus whose birth we celebrate today. And I supposed the Holy Trinity deserves “three cheers” for coming up with the idea of the Incarnation. Cheery Christmas! The First Noel.m4v from Robert VerEecke on Vimeo. Eve'n So...12/24/2021 Eve’n So
Christmas Eve Day has always been one of my favorite days of the year. I believe it was the flurry of activity during the day; decorating, wrapping presents, baking cookies (I never baked cookies.) And then, when I was a pastor, the flurry of activity; decorating the Church (I just watched.) preparing the homilies for the family Mass, the midnight Mass, Christmas day. (They were all different.) There was a sense of expectation, waiting for something special. In my many years as pastor, it all culminated as the organ sounded the first notes of of O Come All Ye Faithful at Midnight Mass and we would process down the aisle with the Church illuminated by candlelight. Oh, what joy! There were some Christmas eves when it was snowing at the end of the Mass. Oh, what rapture! The photos above are from Carol of the Bells in the NY performance of A Dancers' Christmas, 2018. This song and dance that I choreographed in 1984 always created a similar sense of expectation, especially as I would wait for the tree to be lit at the final chime of the bells! Here you can see for yourself. vimeo.com/149612973#t=60s Speaking of “flurries,” it’s predicted that we will have some on Cape Cod this morning. I have to admit I’ve been like a little child, scanning the skies, eagerly anticipating the first flakes. So far I’ve been disappointed, but I’m holding out hope. The sky holds promise and it is certainly cold enough! If there has been a dominant theme in my reflections this year, it has been finding grace in the “little things:’ a single leaf, flower, snowflake or a single gesture of kindness. The “big” news is so dour these days, that the “little” can be a source of hope and healing. Although the “big” news of Advent is the Second Coming, at Christmas we do celebrate the birth of a “little” one. And so, I keep looking out my window, hoping to see that first flake! Here’s what I wrote for the Advent Adventure: ‘Twas the day before Christmas and all was a whirl, all the stores were still open with last minute sales. All the grown-ups were hustling and bustling around, hoping gifts long sought after soon would be found. Running this way and that way, texting and tweeting, praying this frenzy would finally be fleeing. while children were waiting with anticipation. For the EVE of the day, with Christmas elation! This “riff” on “Twas the night before Christmas” is one I wrote for a performance of A Dancer’s Christmas, 25 years ago. It seemed to capture the frenzy of the day as folks would do their last-minute preparations. Here’s another that might capture what this Christmas Eve day will be like for most which I wrote last year but may still apply. Tis the day before Christmas and nothing’s awhirl, No need to go shopping for last minute sales. No need to go hustling and bustling around Since gifts that are priceless are already found Walking this way and that way down memory lane Saying “thanks be to God” and blessing Christ’s name For all friends and family, faithfully giving, Gifts to be cherished, our reasons for living. Christmas day is soon coming, twelve hours away For its “twas, ‘tis and ‘twill be I gratefully say, What wonders are woven through all days and years Know well, God is with us in life’s joys and tears! Here’s a link to a dance that expresses the whirl of Christmas eve! https://vimeo.com/61032238 - t=3995s Will this Christmas Eve day give you an opportunity to rest and pray in gratitude for the gifts in your life that are really “priceless?” Here is an alternative way of looking at the Incarnation that expresses God’s desire to be Emmanuel, God with us in another way. Once Upon No Time God was looking at the creation God had made and thought, “How I love to behold my creation. I love to see the stars shining brightly giving light to the earth. I love to see peace upon the earth I have created and how I love to see my children dancing! Oh! that I could join in the dance! There is a dance within me. They call it a dance of three, a Trinity. But how can I dance without arms and legs and hands and feet? And heads and toes. They have legs to walk and arms to swing and heads to roll and hands to join with one another. If I give myself in love, if I am born in their flesh and blood. Then I will always dance with my love. Ah Yes, Tomorrow will be my dancing day!” Here is a link to a “Dance of Creation” https://vimeo.com/309917966#t=3505s From Lark to Hark!12/23/2021 Thursday of the 4th Week of Advent
The title of Sunday’s reflection was “On a Lark” as I remembered the choreography I had done for the Visitation. Today’s reflection on “messengers/angels” made me think of the story I wrote for Advent years ago. It’s title is “Harold the Herald” and features “Hark, the Herald Angel.” Since the Gospel heralds the arrival of John the Baptist who will be Jesus’s herald, I thought it would be worth sharing again. You can read it for yourself or see it performed. (My nephew Ryan plays the role of Harold.) I also share the reflection for today from the Advent Adventure. Did you know that the name “Malachi” means “Messenger?” The reading today from Malachi is filled with “messengers.” Lo, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me; And suddenly there will come to the temple the LORD whom you seek, And the messenger of the covenant whom you desire. And, of course, the Greek word for “messenger” is “angelos” or Angel. The Angel/ messenger Gabriel is the one chosen to speak to Zechariah and Mary of God’s marvels in their lives. Zechariah, as you know, was more questioning and Mary, just more curious. She was able to trust that God could do something “inconceivable” in her. “and the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and call him Emmanuel, God with us.” The Gospel today relates a powerful moment of “unsealing” the lips of Zechariah. His lips have been sealed since he doubted the word of the messenger, Gabriel. Unable to speak, he would have used gestures or the written word to communicate. In this moment, he uses a tablet (not an IPad, a Fire or a Surface) to assent to the name that will be given his son. And after months of silence, he speaks some of the most beautiful words in the scriptures. (Tomorrow morning’s gospel) Zechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied, saying: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; for he has come to his people and set them free. You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Question for reflection: Are there ways in which you are an “angelos” or messenger to others? How has Advent been a season of “light” for you, illuminating the lives of others? How has God reached out to you with “tender compassion?” What would a colloquy with Zechariah be like? How would he encourage you to trust God, knowing that there will be times when you are left speechless? The story of Harold the Herald tells of a young boy, who name is Harold who thinks he has nothing to say. He finds his voice through a visit from the Angel “Hark.” https://vimeo.com/254965878 - t=538s Magnify-Sent12/22/2021 Wednesday of the 4th Week of Advent Magnificat Anima Mea Dominum! My soul magnifies the Lord! The scriptures today sing with the voices of Hannah and Mary as each proclaims the greatness of God in their lives. To “magnify” of course means to enlarge, as when you look through a magnifying glass. Everything looks so much larger. During these pandemic yeasr, life has become so much smaller. All that seems to be magnified is the number of people suffering. How do you sing God’s praises and “magnify” the Lord when there is so much personal loss and pain? Just as yesterday the invitation was to reach deep down and find “joy” within, today’s invitation is to ask God to “magnify” our hearts and minds so that we might be in solidarity with those who are suffering. That is what Hannah and Mary’s Magnificats are really about. God is turning the tables on the proud and mighty and lifting up the humble and lowly. I chose the photo of a single hibiscus flower magnified to a size larger than it is in reality. Notice how much detail you can see when something is magnified. What would your “magnifying glass” be these days? What are the small things that need some magnification so you can see and know that God is with you? Colloquy: Speak to God as one friend speaks to another. Ask for the grace to see with a “wide-angle” lens (see the photo below) so that your spirit may magnify the good in your life during these challenging days. Here is a link to a dance to Mary’s Magnificat. https://vimeo.com/60764715#t=1800s 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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