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A "Light Bulb" Experience on What Advent Is All About
I've heard many a pastor and/or theologian speak at length on the liturgical season of Advent, the two-thirds of December meant to prepare us for the celebration of Christmas. Nothing quite puts a handle on it. I had an “Aha!” moment this morning that comes closer than anything else.
About six weeks ago, my wife was going about her daily work – homeschooling our son and keeping our home in order – when a maintenance worker knocked on the door of our apartment. He had come unannounced to check out our bathroom, most notably the bathtub. The maintenance worker didn't speak much English, and my wife understands very little Spanish; but the gist of what transpired indicated that there was a problem with water seeping from the tub enclosure somehow and dripping through into the apartment below. The worker put some caulk around places where he thought it was needed, and then told my wife that sometime soon more major repair work would have to be done.
My wife phoned me at work right after the maintenance guy left. What was going on? We weren't experiencing any water problems – at least not with the tub. So I placed a call to our leasing office and confirmed what was happening. Yes, the bathroom would have to go through this major repair work. It was to be done sometime over the course of the next week or so.
We made some contingency plans. As we get older, it's important not to be far from a working bathroom, or at the very least some way to flush wastes from the body as God designed it. We were assured we'd have access to a bathroom in a vacant apartment while work was being done.
And so we waited. The ten days passed, and no strange knocks at the door. Three weeks passed and we were still waiting.
At the beginning of the month, I had to visit the leasing office to pay the rent. While I was there, I brought up the subject. Maybe things had improved and the repairs weren't needed after all. I wanted to get some more information I could give my wife. Yes, the work was still needed and would be done. Okay – just give us a heads-up so we're not half-dressed should they arrive early in the morning.
At the beginning of this week, roughly a month after we heard work was to be done, the contractors came to do their own inspection, to determine how much work was needed. The work was to begin early the next morning. Yet there was still one 'gotcha' – the weather. A major winter storm was coming through, and it might delay the workers from showing up. As promised, though, they arrived and work began. I left for work shortly after they started. When I got home they were still there. The big work was done, but someone would be back the next day to finish.
We now have a very nice looking tub enclosure – one that brightens up the room and makes sound bounce everywhere. (The old enclosure was formica or plastic sheeting, the new one is ceramic tiled.) We should no longer have to worry about dripping on our neighbors below. Also – any material that could have been rotting or collecting mold due to water damage was removed, thus making our little corner of the world a better, safer place for us as well as our neighbors.
When we first heard the news we felt bad because we had no way of knowing we were making life more difficult for our neighbors. We wanted very much for the repairs to take place quickly, and the waiting didn't make things any easier. But the assurance that we weren't forgotten and the workers would come made those contingency plans doable.
We really do feel out-of-sorts when the consequences of our actions have been harmful to others. We might have been held accountable and unable to offer recompense. But help was sought, and help came. It involved preparation and readiness, for it was uncertain when the workers would come. And when the work was completed, we are left with something much better than it was; not only for ourselves, but for those around us who might not even know we had work done.
Advent is much like this episode from daily life. We have hurt, and are hurting. We come to an understanding of how what we do affects others. We have hope and believe that a broken world will be made whole. And we wait. And we watch. And we are as ready as we can be. When the Messiah comes, we will be interested in the work he does. And we will remember his ways, for in his wake, a new and brighter creation remains, one that belongs to everyone, everywhere.
The Season of Light:
The Second Sunday of Advent
The Feast of St. Nicholas, 4th Century Bishop
The Word:
Baruch 5:1-9 (Jerusalem - God will show your splendor)
Psalm 126:1-6 (The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy)
Philippians 1:4-11 (Show yourselves sinless and without blame in the day of Christ)
Luke 3:1-6 (All shall see the salvation of God)
First, I have to beg forgiveness. I was hoping - and in a way promised - that I'd post a daily reflection this season, and they'd be fresh; not repostings of what I wrote a year ago. Sadly, that's just not going to happen. I'm much busier this year than last, and I don't have nearly the same amount of 'idle' time. It is only right to mention, however, that some of that previously idle time has been spent in daily personal and private prayer and reflection - specifically, the Divine Office (also known as the Liturgy of the Hours). Most of the rest have been spent in work-related projects - my employer is going through an elaborate systems conversion, and I'm part of the implementation team.
But this Season of Light has not gone without moments of joy, and a surprise or two.
I finally managed to get my car in for some much needed repair - tonight it's sporting two new tires which will do their best to assure me they won't go nearly flat every fourth day. (That is a blessed relief, but it is still a joy!)
Because of all the timing constraints, we elected to keep the decorating simple this year. Our decorations are stored in a locked room in our apartment building, and it requires getting someone from our leasing office with enough time to unlock the room twice (once to pull out the storage bins, and another to put them back - and this is done at both the beginning and the end of the season). My dear wife has a few collectible holiday pieces - some of the village miniature houses and some international Santas. When it's decided to display them, it's a trick to get them all up. So we decided upon some poinsettias and a few strings of lights, which we bought at Home Depot's "Black Friday" sale (our only concession to that day's madness), and that was that.
Because of the time involved to get the tires installed today, I had planned to take the family to an early dinner at a buffet restaurant in our area, and then visit one of the more spectacular neighborhood holiday light displays nearby.
On our way there, as we still had a little time, we stopped at a thrift store in the area. There are usually some inexpensive pieces of bric-a-brac for augmenting the decor. Actually, I didn't expect to find much. But my son's suggestion and my wife's eyes spotted a windfall - a cluster of those International Santas (many of which are not in her collection) at a mere pittance. I couldn't say no to this. Supposedly an old Italian tradition dictates that on St Nicholas' feast day you should gift your sweetheart (Nicholas is the patron of brides and children, amongst other things), so the find was quite fortuitous.
Oh - the buffet was still quite crowded, even some 45 minutes later. Somewhere in our collective minds we get the idea that this type of restaurant is a good value at roughly $10 per person. Considering the choices and how we manage to stuff ourselves, I am not so sure. We spent the same amount at a nice (and not busy) sit-down restaurant and felt just as full without the umpteen trips to the dessert bar. We saw some other light displays. Maybe they won't win any awards, maybe they're not 'extreme'; but they remind us of what is ahead.
God didn't come to Earth where one might have expected him or wanted to find him. And while there was fanfare from a choir of angels, and a light from a star in the sky brighter than observers of the time had ever seen, much of that went unnoticed by the general townsfolk in Bethlehem.
I'm not sure how the Fourth Century bishop of what is now Turkey would react to his having become the archetype of our modern Santa Claus. Certainly in his own lifetime he demonstrated the many traits that have been made legend to this day. His joy came in being able to give of himself to others, something all the various legends behind the many international faces of Sinterklaas, Pere Noel, and Jolly Old St. Nick is meant to remind us.
Our eyes are blinded by the holiness you bear -
The bishop's robe, the mitre and the cross of gold obscure the simple man within the saint.
Strip off your glory, Nicholas, and speak!
Across the tremendous bridge of sixteen hundred years
I come to stand in worship with you
As I stood among my faithful congregation long ago.
All who knelt beside me then are gone.
Their names are dust, their tombs are grass and clay,
Yet still their shining seed of faith survives in you!
It weathers time, it springs again in you!
With you it stands like forest oak
Or withers with the grasses underfoot.
Preserve the living faith for which your ancestors fought!
For faith was won by centuries of sacrifice
And many martyrs died, that you might worship God.
Help us, Lord! to find the hidden road
That leads from love to greater Love,
From faith to greater Faith.
Strengthen us, O Lord!
Screw up our strength to serve Thee with simplicity.
---Opening to Benjamin Britten's cantata "St. Nicolas", Op. 42 (1948)
libretto by Eric Crozier
The Feast of St. Andrew, Apostle and Martyr
The Season of Light contains many special days recalling people who were called by the Lord. The feast of Andrew is on the cusp of the season - sometimes it falls during Advent and sometimes it doesn't.
Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist and is attributed to have said upon seeing Jesus for the first time, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" (cf. John 1:38-40). He was instrumental in introducing his brother Simon (Peter); who would likewise follow Jesus. When the multitudes were miraculously fed, starting the Bread of Life Discourse (John 6), it was Andrew who pointed out the boy carrying the five loaves and two fish.
Following the Great Commission and the first Pentecost, Andrew ended up in Patras in Achaia (modern-day Greece). There he ran into resistance from the proconsul, Aegeas. Aegeas ultimately sentenced Andrew to death by crucifixion - but in Andrew's case, he was bound to an X-shaped cross by ropes and hung there two days before he died.
According to the ancient monastic Office of Readings:
Andrew was led to the place of martyrdom, and as soon as he saw the cross he cried out, "O precious cross, which the members of my Lord have made so honorable, how long have I desired you! How fervently have I loved you! How constantly have I sought you! And now that you have come to me, how my soul is attracted to you. Take me from here and unite me to my master, that as by you he redeemed me, so by you he may take me to himself." Then he was fastened to the cross, where he continued to live for two days, not ceasing to preach the faith of Christ. Finally, he passed into the presence of him, the likeness of whose death he had loved so well.
His life was not his own, but that of his Master.
He was put to doing and suffering, sent by Christ and ultimately laid aside for Him.
He had nothing save the Word of Christ, but in this he had everything.
And, he freely gave all, including his life, to the will of God.
The First Sunday of Advent
The Word:
Jeremiah 33:14-16 (I will cause a good seed to spring forth from David)
Psalm 25:4-14 (You are God my Savior, and for you I wait all day long)
1 Thessalonians 3:12 - 4:2 (When Christ comes may he strengthen your hearts in holiness)
Luke 21:25-36 (Your redemption is near at hand)
In a recent post I defined the timeframe of what I call the Season of Light; generally that is from the First Sunday of Advent through the traditional date of Epiphany, January 6. Apparently I'm not alone in this assessment - a Google search rendered several hits that at least suggested others agree to some degree.
The Season of Light is symbolized by the the candles of the Advent wreath, the menorah of Hanukkah, the Yule Log; in the lights we use to decorate greenery and our homes; and in the legendary Star of Bethlehem, one of the heralds of the birth of Jesus, the Messiah. It is aptly placed at the onset of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, when there is less sunlight.
Themes of justice are prevalent as we await the coming of the King. To be a Light-Bearer, one will do what he/she can to adjust the imbalance between peoples. Over this first week I will post a couple of examples. I think I need to do that, as suddenly I have come to something of a crossroads of reality.
I had an interesting conversation with my dear wife after celebrating Thanksgiving with her family. There are now several new additions in the extended family, and all are struggling under the weight of the cost of living and the state of the economy. I've never considered myself to be financially well-off, but over the course of our conversation we realized that among that half of the extended family, we're the most affluent. Honestly, that scares me a bit. There's a correlation to affluence and influence, one that is all too often misused.
While Christmas is nearly here, and Advent is the gateway, it is too easy to miss both by not celebrating one or the other. This year, our little family trio have set a goal to celebrate Advent. We want to experience much, and will do our best to do so simply, so that the resources we might otherwise use can be offered to those who need it, whether they be family, friends, or the passerby. It means being careful. It means being watchful and ready, and making choices - sometimes on short notice. It's the foundation of what will hopefully turn out to be a truly, wonderfully, warm and bright season.
Refrain:
God of all power
You kindle the stars
Spark in your people
Spark in us a season of light
God turns now to the world
To see if anyone will uphold him
For fools rage in the land
They turn away from God and his Word
(Refrain)
The nations go astray
They crumble ev'ry road, ev'ry pathway
They lay waste to the land
They trample on our dreams for the future
(Refrain)
The heedless have their day
They take away the breath of our children
Lord, when will they accord
Lord, when will they accord with your Word?
(Refrain)
The Lord will hear the just
He will overthrow the plans of the reckless
The Lord will give us blessings
And then shall we rejoice and be glad
(Refrain)
--A Season of Light (1985)
Paul Lisicky
verses based on Psalm 53
The Word:
Sirach 50:22-24 (Now thank we all our God)
Psalm 113:1-8 (Blessed be the name of the Lord, forever)
1 Corinthians 1:3-9 (I give thanks always to God for you)
Luke 17:11-19 ("Ten lepers were cured - where are the other nine? Was there no one to return and give thanks to God except this Samaritan?")
Other passages:
Deuteronomy 8:7-18; 1 Kings 8:55-61; Isaiah 63:7-9, Joel 2:21-27; Zephaniah 3:14-15;
Ephesians 1:3-14; Colossians 3:12-17, 1 Timothy 6:6-19;
Psalm 67:2-8; 1 Chronicles 29:10-12; Psalm 138:1-5; Psalm 145:2-11;
Mark 5:18-20; Luke 12:15-21
Thanksgiving Day has a great significance in its history as a celebration in America. Evidence holds that what most of us look to as the first idyllic celebration of thanksgiving by the Pilgrims at Plymouth in Massachusetts in 1621 was a three-day foodapalooza with 100 last-minute guests (the natives) prepared by five women. Yes, I'm oversimplifying. Those five women had no time to complain, which may be one reason why this festival has such endearing attachment to family and home, two things of which we should be grateful.
But back to those five ladies - I'm thankful for their culinary expertise, such as it was nearly four centuries ago. Their endurance eventually won out over Yankee vs. Southern political quirkiness - and due to the persistance of Sarah Hale.
It was President Abraham Lincoln who finally set in stone the establishment of a national observance of Thanksgiving. His proclamation is all the more profound today:
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years, with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-eighth."
--Proclamation of President Abraham Lincoln, 3 October 1863.
May you be surrounded today by the things of which you are most thankful.
Thanks be to Thee
Lord God of hosts,
Thou broughtest forth
With mighty hand
Israel safe through the sea.
Thanks be to Thee
Thanks be to Thee
Thy holy name
Be ever blest
Glory, honor and praise be Thine!
Thy loving kindness doth forever prevail
Tenderly, tenderly guiding all those who come unto Thee.
Thanks be to Thee
Thanks be to Thee
Thou art the King
O'er land and sea
Praise, adoration we sing unto Thee!
--Thanks Be to Thee
(composite translation)
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King
The Word:
Daniel 7:13-14 (His sovereignty is eternal)
Psalm 93:1-5 (The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty)
Revelation 1:5-8 (The ruler of the kings of the earth...made us a line of kings, priests to serve his God)
John 18:33-37 (Jesus to Pilate: "It is you who say that I am a king...Anyone committed to the truth hears my voice")
It's one of those seemingly awkward points in the year.
In Chicago today it's about 60 degrees, which is warm for late November. The trees have 'decided' to shed their leaves; but the grass looks greener than it does in April, and some fresh dandelion blossoms have popped up. The stores are pulling out the Christmas decorations, and Lite FM has switched over to their "all-holiday" music format; yet Thanksgiving is still four days away. Even I have been swayed a bit and started reviewing some plans to start this year's "Season of Light" devotions. For the reader surfing by, this is my term for the period that starts with the fourth Thursday in November (Thanksgiving Day in the US) and January 6 (Twelfth Night, "Little Christmas," and the traditional date of Epiphany). I am going to do it again this year...trying my best to keep things fresh and not too repetitive since I did this last year.
It's rather ironic but at the same time most appropriate that this Season of Light takes place at the time when there's ever decreasing daylight, at least in the Northern Hemisphere. (Bear with me if your reading this from someplace in the Southern Hemisphere. It's the Season of Light there as well, but with a different significance.)
Today, Catholics recognize the representation of Jesus as King. It is the last feast of the liturgical year; as such, it's good to recall other representations in which we know Christ: the Good Shepherd, the Bread of Life, the Way, Truth, and Life; and lastly, the Light that no darkness can extinguish.
Soon we will be immersed (if not already drowning) in the sea of darkness that is the secular side of "Holiday Preparation." Is it just me, or are all the new holiday-themed TV specials having their premiere airing before Thanksgiving? There's going to be less, and there's more that is needed. Is this just going to make me wish it's all over before it even starts?
The King of Kings charged his disciples with the task of being "Light-Bearers." How important that mission is, now more than ever! To be merry and bright and preparing the way of the Lord! To not forget where we've been, but to let that serve as a reminder of the event we're supposed to be celebrating in roughly...33 days, and where it is we're ultimately heading.
These are the days of Elijah,
Declaring the word of the Lord:
And these are the days of Your servant Moses,
Righteousness being restored.
And though these are days of great trial,
Of famine and darkness and sword,
Still, we are the voice in the desert crying
'Prepare ye the way of the Lord!'
Behold He comes riding on the clouds,
Shining like the sun at the trumpet call;
Lift your voice, it's the year of jubilee,
And out of Zion's hill salvation comes.
These are the days of Ezekiel,
The dry bones becoming as flesh;
And these are the days of Your servant David,
Rebuilding a temple of praise.
These are the days of the harvest,
The fields are as white in Your world,
And we are the laborers in Your vineyard,
Declaring the word of the Lord!
Behold He comes riding on the clouds,
Shining like the sun at the trumpet call;
Lift your voice, it's the year of jubilee,
And out of Zion's hill salvation comes.
There's no God like Jehovah.
There's no God like Jehovah!
Shining like the sun at the trumpet call;
Lift your voice, it's the year of jubilee,
And out of Zion's hill salvation comes.
--Days of Elijah (1997)
written by Robin Mark
recorded by Twila Paris
The Word:
1 Kings 17:10-16 (The widow of Zarephath feeds Elijah the prophet from her meager provisions; God rewards her by keeping her from running out of flour and oil)
Psalm 146:7-10 (The Lord provides food for the hungry, and sustains the widowed and orphaned)
Hebrews 9:24-28 (Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, but into heaven itself)
Mark 12:38-44 ("The widow, in her poverty, contributed all she had")
And - Judges 4 & 5 (Deborah, Israel's female judge, and why you need her - Behind every man there is a good woman)
Ephesians 5:10-20 (Do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord)
A crossroads.
The Mass of Remembrance and the Days of the Dead are now past, and the Season of Light (Advent through Christmas to Epiphany) - though not quite here yet - is now in the planning stages.
It's usually all hands on deck for church musicians for the next seven weeks. This is one of the two seasons when even the casual musician tends to get busy, adding to the general business and mayhem that prevails throughout December. It's time for the first string leaders to take a quick breather (hopefully, nobody's noticed) and the second string to take charge (again, hopefully, nobody's noticed).
I've a strong belief that church musicians should pray (often) and it should be part of rehearsals and warm-ups. That's something I wasn't always used to, but through Mike and Jeff and several of the folks at Cornerstone, it's part of the landscape and routine. Over the years I've become just comfortable enough to ad lib when called upon to lead, and that includes impromptu or spontaneous prayer. However, it's easier to have something on which to focus and adapt where necessary. I attribute this to my Catholic upbringing, where everything can be scripted - including private prayer.
For several reasons I was called upon to serve as the team leader this morning. Not wanting to leave out something I believe to be important, I went searching for stuff to use for a launchpad. Deo Gratias to the Internet and Google - and of course to the folks who were blessed enough and received the inspiration to write what I'm about to share. I offer this as a public service - a few thoughtful and prayerful moments (not to mention a few that are accompanied by a laugh or two) can go a long way to keep things in perspective..
The Traditional Musician's Prayer
(with apologies to Francis of Assisi)
Source: www.qmcorp.net/zouki/scripta/prayer.html
Lord, keep always before me
The appreciation of music as one of Your greatest gifts.
Never let me stray far from the tune;
Help me to remain faithful to the spirits
Of those musicians who have gone before
Leaving this lovely legacy in my care.
Lord, let me always remember
What Your Golden Rule instructs
So that I treat other musicians
As I would wish to be treated myself.
Lord, let me always remember
That You give Irish musicians a special gift:
The opportunity to praise and glorify You
While sitting around playing jigs and reels
In dark smoky pubs.
Lord, give me patience always
And help me to remember
That the word "tradition"
Implies sharing.
Lord, give me tolerance always
And help me to appreciate
The Great Mystery:
Not everybody likes what I like.
Never let me slip too far into self-importance
And help me use as necessary
Whatever sense of humor
You may have imparted to me.
Lord, let me never forget
That I don't have all the answers
And that there's nobody
That I can't learn from
(Even bodhrán and banjo players)
And finally, Lord - if it's not too much to ask -
Make me competent first
Then respected
And eventually brilliant.
(But Your will always be done.)
Amen.
Fifteen Dead-Certain Recipes for an Insipid Musicians' Prayer Group
Source: www.crescendo.org/download/pdf/gkee.pdf, June 1988
1. The inner attitude with which you go to group meetings is luckily unimportant. The
important thing is above all loyal fulfilment of duty, which you, as a good
Christian, are willing to take upon yourself. No-one is really counting on your
expecting something special from God during the meeting. So: drop in, and see what’s
going on.
2. It makes a bit of an impression if you arrive too late. This shows a) that you
have a full appointments diary and b) at the same time you have a deeply spiritual
attitude: you look in, even though you really have some pressing things to
practice.
3. Don’t have a bad conscience when the same old things disturb you even during the
first greetings of the evening: that F.seems so insecure, that M. is always
talking about her successes (she isn’t actually that good, anyway), and that L.
always sounds so religious. Unity isn’t made by generously looking away from the
faults of others but by recognizing the faults for what they are and trying to
convince oneself that God loves these people as well.
4. Last time, someone asked you if you would lead the prayer time, and you
responded enthusiastically. Now, it was right that you didn’t prepare yourself
specially for this. The more spontaneous, the more spiritual. The others should
contribute wishes. If there are prolonged pauses, just ask "What shall we do now?".
This stimulates discussion. The opposite, a prepared plan, leads on the contrary to a
serious disturbance of the discussion. (This appears rather familiar to me!)
5. During personal sharing, it is important for everyone to give the full story of all
the little things that happened in the past week. The smallest details are particularly
interesting, and lively discussions on technical matters often develop - for example on this or that teacher or on yesterday’s concert.
6. Feel free as well to say out loud where someone has got on your nerves in recent
days. Perhaps the same has happened to others, and we can pray precisely for the
person concerned. Unbridled criticism is edifying when it is laid aside again in
prayer.
7. Say long prayers and use that theological language which God understands.
Short, powerful prayers only betray a simple mind.
8. It is generally true that concrete prayer rapidly becomes embarrassing. How do
you respond when what you have prayed for doesn’t happen? God (and the people
praying) should not be pinned down to definite wishes. It is better to pray
"Lord, let many come to faith in this congregation (or assembly)" rather than "Help me to start
a conversation about you with S. in the next few days and enable me to pass on your
love."
9. The prayer requests should not demand too much faith. It seems exaggerated if you
have big goals in faith. It is better to let humility speak and to be particularly
thankful for small things. As Christians, we are not worthy to receive great things
from God.
10. Matters for prayer often weigh heavily upon us. This fact should be reflected in a
serious, oppressive atmosphere. Especially in times of intercession, praise and thanks
for God’s powerful working should be avoided. Our gaze should be fixed entirely
on the mountain of problems, which can only be levelled by grim wrestling. This - and
nothing else - is what moving mountains is all about.
11. A point concerning songs. Suggest difficult songs, not the familiar ones that
perhaps help people to fix their gaze worshipfully on God. You are musicians and
have to show your ability in prayer times as well.
12. Take care that no close contacts develop between members of the group. This
could detract from serious studies. In addition, fellowship amongst Christians
should be marked by spiritual earnestness and never by a lot of merriment. Remember:
Christians who like laughing are suspicious...
13. What should you do if a group has been spiritually asleep for weeks on end? It’s
best to do nothing, for, remember, "While they sleep, the Lord provides for those he
loves"!
14. The spiritual and mental state of the others is basically none of your business.
If someone is feeling bad, recommend some good books or a pastor. It would be a
mistake to deviate from the program in favor of a deeper discussion or perhaps to
have an extended time of prayer for a problem that has suddenly turned up. By the
way, the silliest thing that can happen in a prayer group is for someone (perhaps even
a man) to start crying. Strict measures are to be taken to prevent such situations
arising.
15. Just a last word on being interdenominational:
this offers material for hours of discussion. Questions about baptism, the significance of Mary, communion, etc., are so central that one really can’t pray until these things have
been sorted out. So: we hope you have a good time!
It is true, dear friends, that the Holy Spirit covers up a multitude of mea culpas during high season. Raise your voices, and raise the roof!
- Mood:
happy
The Solemnity of All Saints, November 1
(The Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time)
The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls), November 2
(Los Días de los Muertos)The Word:
Revelation 7:2-14 (The survivors of ‘great distress’ are clad in white robes washed in the blood of the Lamb)
Psalm 24:1-6 (Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face)
1 John 3:1-3 (When all is revealed we shall be like God, for we shall see him as he is)
Matthew 5:1-12 (The Beatitudes)
Wisdom 3:1-9 (The souls of the just are in the hand of God, no torment can touch them)
Psalm 23 (Even though I walk in the dark valley, I fear no evil)
Romans 5:5-11 (Hope does not disappoint)
Or Romans 6:3-9 (Our Christian baptism is baptism into Jesus’ death, that we will be united with him in the resurrection)
(To view and read the citation from the book of Wisdom, click on this link: www.usccb.org/nab/110109.shtml)
Despite what you may have heard, among the things that are celebrated as October turns to November and Autumn's colorful gown is shed as Winter's dormancy begins to settle in, is the remembrance of our ancestral roots.
The Fourth Commandment (of those famous ten that Ted Turner once referred to as "suggestions") speaks of honoring one's father and mother (see Leviticus 19:3 and Deuteronomy 5:16.) In all seriousness, this extends not only to your immediate parents, but to the ancestors on the family tree. In Catholic tradition, this sense of family extends in two ways - to honor the great men and women who achieved canonized sainthood, and to remember all the good and faithful people who died in the hope and promise of salvation in Jesus Christ.
That's what we should celebrate. That, and the success of the harvest winding down are truly big things. But for some bizarre sets of reason left through the passing of time, we have this strange attraction to the grotesque. The late pope John Paul II spoke and wrote about a pervasive "culture of death" prevalent in modern society, and one place where it would seem readily apparent is in how All Hallows' Eve (aka Halloween) is celebrated.
Without getting deep in theological debate, there's a lot of fingerpointing over who's to blame. The ancient Celts supposedly donned costumes to protect their identity from spirits wanting to steal souls. Catholics sometimes point fingers at Protestant Christians because Martin Luther posted his famous 95 Theses on the door of the cathedral at Wittenburg on October 31, 1517. Protestants retort that Catholics worshiped false gods (in the personages of Mary and the aforementioned holy men and women proclaimed as saints). All this would seem to prove nothing but that all of us have had a hand in turning what should be a recalling of God's glory and grace into anything but that.
I don't buy into this whole commercialized let's see how far we can go to scare the wits out of somebody genre. I can't. There's plenty of real-life things out there that scare me enough. Most of it is brought to me in full color on my television and computer screens. And to get paid to frighten people? Is something good supposed to come out of that? Sorry, I just don't get it.
There's a very beautiful thing about this time of year. Nature reminds us that time ultimately grows short. It's a good time to remember where we are - and the people who helped us get there. It is yet another opportunity to understand that what lies beyond this life is not something we should fear. It is not unknown; but in order to reach that place, we must cross the bridge of death, a bridge given to us by the grace of God.
These are days of remembrance and of hope. Not only for those who have passed, but for all of us still living here. Let us recall with love and affection what all our passed loved ones and friends gave us. It is this giving that is what these days are truly about. Not taking, but giving. Not grotesque, but forever beautiful and forever living. Let us not be afraid. Let us not grovel in gruesome fear. Let us dance gracefully with the dead, for in this dance we come to better know the hope to which we are called and aspire.
Recall with me a few of the more prominent names of people who have died in the last twelve months:
2008:
November 4 – Michael Crichton, American author and producer (born 1942)
December 12 – Van Johnson, American actor (born 1916)
December 18 – W. Mark Felt, American FBI agent, "Deep Throat" from the Watergate scandal (born 1913)
December 25 – Eartha Kitt, American singer and actress (born 1927)
2009:
January 13 – Patrick McGoohan, Irish-born American actor (born 1928)
January 14 – Ricardo Montalbán, Mexican-born American actor (born 1920)
January 16 – Andrew Wyeth, American painter (born 1917)
January 27 – John Updike, American writer (born 1932)
February 6 – James Whitmore, American actor (born 1921)
February 25 – Philip José Farmer, American writer (born 1918)
March 29 – Maurice Jarre, French composer and conductor (born 1924)
April 25 – Beatrice Arthur, American actress (born 1922)
May 2 – Jack Kemp, American politician and football player (born 1935)
May 4 – Dom DeLuise, American actor and comedian (born 1933)
June 3 – David Carradine, American actor (born 1936)
June 3 – Koko Taylor, American musician (born 1928)
June 25 – Farrah Fawcett, American actress (born 1947)
June 25 – Michael Jackson, American performer and recording artist (born 1958)
July 1 – Karl Malden, American actor (born 1912)
July 6 – Robert McNamara, 8th United States Secretary of Defense (born 1916)
July 17 – Walter Cronkite, American newscaster (born 1916)
July 28 - Frederick J. Eikerenkoetter II, televangelist, better known as "Reverend Ike" (born 1935)
July 30 - Earl G. Lowrey, lay leader of Cornerstone Church (born 1951)
August 1 – Corazon Aquino, 11th President of the Philippines (born 1933)
August 6 – John Hughes, American film director and writer (born 1950)
August 11 – Eunice Kennedy Shriver, American founder of the Special Olympics (born 1921)
August 13 – Les Paul, American musician and inventor (born 1915)
August 25 – Ted Kennedy, American politician (born 1932)
September 14 – Patrick Swayze, American actor and dancer (born 1952)
September 16 – Mary Travers, American singer-songwriter (born 1936)
October 13 – Al Martino, American singer and actor (born 1927)
October 22 - Soupy Sales, American entertainer (born 1926)
The Word:
Wisdom 7:7-11 (King Solomon recalls his prayer for wisdom, and gives its attributes)
Psalm 90:12-17 (Fill us with your love, Lord, and we will sing for joy)
Hebrews 4:12-13 (The living word of God is sharper than a two-edged sword)
Mark 10:17-30 ("It's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle")
Some loosely connected thoughts...
A week ago, a member of my extended family posted on Facebook that she was 'trying out' for some upcoming community theater project - and when she didn't make the cut, was notably upset because she had been given the impression that everybody who shows up basically gets a part. (That's a pretty interesting thing to consider for a combined population area of nearly 200,000 people - what kind of production could be managed if everybody showed up to audition and was guaranteed a part?) Add to this some confusion on my part. Somewhere in my memory banks I get the impression that there was a fee involved to audition. I can't confirm that, or what the fee was, or if you only had to pay it if you made the cut.
Flashback, forty years ago. An impressionable child is blessed with a decent (trying to be modest here) musical talent. His limited exposure to the entertainment scene gives him the impression that he could make a career out of this.
While the landscape may look more populated these days, not much seems to have changed in the last forty years, with the possible exception of seeing more people create more opportunities to push an envelope for the proverbial fifteen minutes of fame. This in turn has more young folks thinking this is their potential future, only to find out that the chances of 'making it,' let alone big, are measured in light years.
Meanwhile, my son made his debut last week singing in the church praise team at services. He was thrilled. He had practiced for months, observed for years. Both my wife and I had spent time coaching him. My schedule between two churches (as a musician) lengthened the process - but at last he made it.
Now, he's not the type who would get past Round One on American Idol. Just the same, three people came to him after the service, encouraging him to keep up the good work. I know this - I was there. Then, Friday's mail brought a hand-written card from the pastor, addressed to my son. He was also encouraging. This is truly a breakthrough - one I hoped for but dreaded might never come.
I've seen church after church, one congregation after another, come to near begging for young people to volunteer. I can't help but wonder why there aren't more. I don't know if it's kids' busy schedules or parents who insist on their kids doing things they wouldn't do themselves. There's probably a lot more to this than I am considering at the moment; but all I see is much disappointment and anger when aiming high fails. God calls us to do big stuff, to be sure; but there's plenty to do and there's a better chance of it getting done if the target is a bit more within reach; and we're working in collaboration rather than in constant, high-stakes competition.
I am proud of my son's accomplishment. I am even more appreciative that there are people who care enough to encourage him to continue. And continue he shall - I will see to that.
Having said this, I'll turn tables just a bit. Everyone indeed has their moment to shine. However, not everyone will shine in the same thing. Don't count on me to pull a big play in a sporting event. And some, no matter how well-intended, should never be allowed to sing in public, as indicated in the video clip that follows. (Feel free to turn it off the second you've had enough...)
- Music:Don't Let A Crack Head Sing At Your Funeral
World Communion Sunday
The Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi
(October 4)
The Word:
Genesis 2:18-24 (Adam's rib becomes Eve, man's 'suitable partner')
Psalm 128:1-6 (Your wife is like a fruitful vine...your children like olive plants)
Hebrews 2:9-11 (The one who consecrates and those who are consecrated have the same origin)
Mark 10:2-16 ("Whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it")
There are several threads of thought running through my head, any of which would make good starting places for reflection. I'll likely get to them before the month gets away from me. The one that seems to be sticking at the moment is the one that just connected two dots.
If there ever was a soul who continuously appeared to accept the will of God as might a child, it was Francis of Assisi (1182-1226). Perhaps the one person who is seen as a holy man by Christians and non-Christians alike; yet Francis also grasped a couple of spiritual concepts that require much reinforcement and explanation for folks like me just to wrap arms around, let alone understand.
As children we had many 'WOW!' moments. Many things were larger than life to us then. Then we experienced the challenges; the stuff we had to wade through with difficulty. Stuff from the loss of a beloved pet to trying to understand math and proper sentence structure - things that elude some but not others. And suddenly, those 'WOW' moments became fewer and further between.
As adults we try in so many complicated ways to find those moments - or should I say, create them. The more we attempt to create this, the harder it gets. Nothing seems to fit quite right.
Maybe, just maybe, it's our perception. We dream big. That's good in the world of dreams, but is a tall order translating into everyday life.
Like everyone else, Francis had moments where perception translated in an unusual way. When he was urged to "repair" the Church, his first thought was to rebuild La Portiuncula, a small church in ruins. Little did he realize what rebuilding God had in mind.
Francis ultimately founded the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscan priests), yet wept near the end of his life because the rule of poverty he had himself embraced was too harsh for those who would follow him.
In his zeal to deepen his relationship with Jesus, he saw God's hand in everything, and even referred to death as a 'sister.'
He "lived simply, so that others could simply live."
I don't know if this quote is attributed to Francis, but it certainly describes him. If we were to live more in the spirit of that quote, our perception might just snap into clearer focus. Then we would fully appreciate and live in the hope in which God has called us.
And all I can say when I consider that is...WOW.
The Word:
Numbers 11:25-29 (Moses: "Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets")
Psalm 19:8-14 (Lord, cleanse me from my unknown faults)
James 5:1-6 (Come, you rich, and mourn over your ultimate losses)
Mark 9:38-48 ("If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off!")
Both of the priests whom I had the pleasure of hearing today were quick to comment that this difficult quote of Jesus in Mark's Gospel is not meant to be taken literally. But is it really? What else could explain the number of deliberate maimings and mutilations that have occurred since Mark put this one down in the books? Hey, folks, nobody can deny this sort of thing doesn't happen, even in this day and age. When we hear of such in the present, our first thoughts are that the person really needs psychiatric help (and prayer).
I got to thinking along a somewhat related tangent while singing with the choir today.
For the first time in God knows how long, the men outnumber the women this season. (The reason: the three top women in the choir have secular job in semi-pro show biz; their schedules, along with another couple of working women, suddenly rule out their general availability for Sundays.) Among my God-given gifts as a musician are the ability to sight read fairly well, a slightly better than average vocal range, and the ability to adapt on the fly - so our director this morning asked me to become a "bargain" counter-tenor (inside joke) and sing the alto part. This reminded me of the stories of the castrati in the boys' choirs of antiquity. Makes you really wonder just how seriously people took Mark's text. (For the curious, I'll explain it at another time. For now, console yourself with the belief that we've managed to get smarter since those days.)
I am generally convinced that God has a sense of humor. The first person I heard say this was the comedian/actor Robin Williams, who then offered as proof the evolution of the platypus. I don't have to go that far. Father Damien, in his take on Mark's text, took a "what you don't know can hurt you" bent - mentioning that in our (generic) attempts to have personal space, many a child has a TV set and/or computer in their bedroom; thus introducing the concept that lack of a modest degree of vigilance may lead our kids into temptation with the plethora of who-knows-what that's part of cyberspace and mainstream home entertainment today. Then he went on to say that at 70, he doesn't even know how to turn the thing on. Sounds like my Mom.
On that subject, Mom made it to my niece's wedding last weekend. It was great to have her there; it was her first activity anywhere since the end of July when she was hospitalized briefly. Since then, due to her condition aggravated by Parkinson's Disease, she's been in a convalescent care center. She was given the green light to go home this past Wednesday...but at the last minute both she and Dad agreed that it would be best if she remained in the nursing home for a bit longer. How long, nobody's saying yet. This is a very big decision that they agreed to, since the costs aren't minor and Medicare won't cover them. However, I can't argue against the decision. To go home at this point would put my parents back in the position of having to fend a bit more for themselves. Among other things, this means they'd go back to eating mainly microwaved meals - something not really healthy for anyone, let alone the two septuagenarians I know and love most.
My dearest wife Diane, who has been plowing through meal plans, calorie counts, and nutritional information for a good chunk of her life, told me that she would really like to be able to help them. I, too, feel it's important to honor my mother and father by helping them in their old age. The logistics are difficult but not insurmountable - but they'd be easier to manage if we lived a little closer to them than we do presently. Other opportunities, cut off by time, distance, and the lack of public transit, could become available - and will be needed to help Nick make the jump into the bigger world.
So...the big decision we've made here is to move closer to where clearly two-thirds of where/how we interact takes place. By the end of next spring we hope to have found a new place to live - a place closer to where we conduct most of our business, where we're better able to care for each other as well as my parents. It's a tall order, but not doing so seems wrong on so many levels. May we be blessed with the resources we will need to get there.
Move that body...or lose it. It's that important, and that serious.
The Word:
Wisdom 2:12-20 (Let us beset the just one, for he is obnoxious to us)
Psalm 54:3-8 (The Lord upholds my life)
James 3:16 - 4:3 (The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace)
Mark 9:30-37 ("If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all")
(NOTE: The book of Wisdom is not included in most non-Catholic editions of the Bible. To read the excerpt, as well as the other selections of the day, go to this link: www.usccb.org/nab/092009.shtml.)
I've been a pastoral musician for forty years now. That and five bucks will get you a Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks (for a limited time only).
Having said that, though, I've come to understand some of the nuances about this vocation. I won't admit to being an expert as it would automatically discount my experiences. But I want to share just a few thoughts in this area of service.
I might draw some ire from a few, yet it's my belief that the people who serve as pastoral musicians, especially the volunteers, fall in the definition mentioned by Jesus and recorded by the evangelist Mark. I cite as some evidence of proof for this a quote from (Saint) Augustine of Hippo, who wrote that a person who sings "prays twice." (Some of the perfectionists among us like to add the word "well" as an adverb.)
Forty-five years ago, the Second Vatican Council defined the place of music within the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Mass, and the importance of developing and maintaining a repertoire of works, as well as the personnel and attitude required to complement the action of prayerful worship. (At present the Catholic Church in America is on the cusp of establishing a 'universal' hymnal for use in the US, as most of the other Christian Churches already have in place.)
John Wesley, who co-founded the Methodist Church, found it appropriate to write some "Directions for Singing" in 1761:
"IV. Sing lustily and with a good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength. Be no more afraid of your voice now, nor more ashamed of its being heard..."
And:
"VI. Above all sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing him more than yourself, or any other creature. In order to do this, attend strictly to the sense of what you sing, and see that your heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered to God continually; so shall your singing be such as the Lord will approve here, and reward you when he cometh in the clouds of heaven."
John had not to worry about musical content, as his brother Charles would write more than 200 hymns over the course of his life. On the other hand, neither John nor Charles were likely concerned about the potential for burnout from having to plan and execute multiple services on any given Sunday, let alone Christmas or Easter.
As a forty-year veteran, multiple services are part of the territory. It would be great if enough people were to volunteer to permit musicians to serve only once a week. However, it pleased God to allow the faithful to have diverse talents and levels of ability. It also pleased God to invite, rather than demand, that participation in worship include the use of the wide variety of styles presently found in the repertoire of sacred music.
Pastoral musicians are (or should be) constantly aware that there's a fine line between music as worship and music as performance, and that line is often blurred or difficult to see. People in this vocation can actually be overqualified, if you catch my drift.
All this weighs in on the person ultimately responsible for putting together the selection of music for any given service. This person is usually directly responsible to the pastor or church council to see that what's chosen is appropriate for use in worship, doesn't ruffle any doctrinal or theological feathers, and is singable by the congregation as well as the other pastoral musicians. It is not as easy as it sounds. I've been close enough to people who do it, wanted to do it, and then thanked God that it's not my job. Still, I have a certain respect and admiration for those who take up this mantle. That's the reason for this week's devotion.
When you're used to having only one service to work on (with the multiples occurring only at Christmas and Easter), and then have to ramp up to two (or more) per week, it gets appreciably tougher. Even though the services may be identical, there's usually something about them that won't be. In my Catholic circles, one of the services will be led by a visiting priest who has no idea to the way the pastor makes the other services flow. There has been disaster in the making on more than one occasion.
What's common to all traditions, though, is that those involved - who have already given up more time due to setup, warm up, take down, and comments good or bad from anyone, including the pastor - are adding that much more time. Frequently, for those in charge there's no time to decompress from one service to get ready for the next. I'm acutely aware of this and what it can do. Every moment is precious and sometimes you just have to try to simply disappear for a few minutes. Your "time alone with God" ends up being elsewhere and at odd times, and that's if you work hard to remember that and don't have a weekday job.
If this sounds remotely like you, know that I am praying for you and your families. You can use as much prayer as you can get.
I have found connections through prayer while moving/walking that helps me reset my focus. More often than not, however, I've found that the very music I sing (and some I listen to) provide much needed ministry to me. In particular, I have three texts I'd like to share as launching points. The first is a bit more traditional in nature and style:
When in our music God is glorified,
and adoration leaves no room for pride,
it is as though the whole creation cried
Alleluia!
How often, making music, we have found
a new dimension in the world of sound,
as worship moved us to a more profound
Alleluia!
So has the Church, in liturgy and song,
in faith and love, through centuries of wrong,
borne witness to the truth in every tongue,
Alleluia!
And did not Jesus sing a psalm that night
when utmost evil strove against the Light?
Then let us sing, for whom he won the fight,
Alleluia!
Let every instrument be tuned for praise!
Let all rejoice who have a voice to raise!
And may God give us faith to sing always
Alleluia! Amen.
--When In Our Music
Fred Pratt Green (1903-2000)
The second I listen to frequently, have sheet music and actually got to sing once:
He has brought us together
Each of us a different gift to bring.
We’ll serve Him forever
Even if the cost is everything.
He has called us to be faithful,
So with one heart we give this offering.
(CHORUS)
The reason we sing,
The reason we lift our voice,
Is more than just making harmony.
The reason we sing
Is to praise the one who gave His Son to be
The reason we sing.
It's more than just an emotion,
His spirit gives us joy that we can't hide.
We will not be silent,
We've got to let the world hear what's inside.
And as we praise Him with our music,
Jesus is the one we glorify.
(REPEAT CHORUS 2x with modulation and tag)
--The Reason We Sing (1983)
Melodie Tunney (First Call)
Inevitably, though, that blurred line occasionally gets crossed, whether real or imagined. When that happens, I am thankful for being introduced to this last offering:
When the music fades
All is stripped away
And i simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless your heart
I'll bring you more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what you have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart
(Chorus)
I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about you
It's all about you, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord for the things I've made it
When it's all about you
It's all about you, Jesus
King of endless worth
No one could express
How much you deserve
though I'm weak and poor
All I have is yours
Every single breath
I'll bring you more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what you have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart
(Repeat chorus )
--The Heart of Worship (1998)
Matt Redman
Finally, I constantly remind myself (and occasionally others) that the Holy Spirit is present - and being conscious of this, try not to worry as much about imperfections in the aspects of performance. Our imperfections can be made perfect through God's grace, and we may not even be aware of it.
The Word:
Isaiah 50: 5-9 (Third Song of the Servant: The Lord God is my help; who will prove me wrong?)
Psalm 116:1-9 (I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living)
James 2:14-18 (James explains further that faith without works is like a screen door on a submarine)
Mark 8:27-35 (Jesus to Peter: "Get behind me, Satan!")
Over the last few weeks I've written stuff here that is for the most part general in nature. If you got the impression that I was getting preachy, you're probably right. As a minister I am charged to do that.
Having said that, though, the best preachers (in my opinion) somehow manage to weave the fabric of their own life into their preaching, and make it a bit more personal. Probably a bit more real, too. To rely on a gimmick of sorts (my recent "Signs for Our Times" series), while well-intended, doesn't lend itself well to getting personal - and possibly misses an opportunity to be an example of "living" faith. I hope to correct that this time. It may not quite reach the standard set in the epistle of James, but it's substance. That is what counts.
Apart from the psalm, this week's selected readings ask many questions; this has inspired the "Pop Quiz" subject line. I'll try to answer a couple of these - just don't be surprized if the answers come in the form of more questions. And no, this isn't some gimmick-like attempt to tie-in with the Jeopardy! game show - although it might be interesting if Alex Trebek put forth the clues.
Isaiah asks Question #1: The Lord God is my help; who will prove me wrong?
That begs these questions - Is God my help? Do I see the hand of God extended to me through help and assistance from others?
This is tough right from the start. I can feel the sweat on my brow just thinking about it! While I could rationalize much of my sense of peace and security through deliberate thought and careful planning (yes, these are important), it's incomplete without recognizing God's major part in it. Some thoughts are but a snapshot. Plans often have to change on the fly. The two most consistent things about this life are human inconsistency (in which I do well) versus God's consistency (in which He excels). That a divine constant exists is what enables me to work through it all.
James puts forth several questions, best summed up as Question #2: Is your faith one that works? Do your actions echo your beliefs?
These guys don't make it easy, you know? I mean, sure; your actions echo your beliefs whether or not you profess them verbally. And if your faith works only for you, some further inner research may be in order. It seems to be an inevitable part of everyone's personal regime. When I try to be constant, I inevitably get too narrow a focus. That's worked great for a short time. Maybe I put too much emphasis on our human inconsistency. When I learn from my weaknesses, they can be overcome. But if I just sit there and stew over them, nothing good can come from it.
Jesus asks the big one, Question #3: Who do you say that I am?
Oh, this one is easy, right? Or is it?
Sure, as believers and disciples we can all answer just as blustery as did Peter: You are the Christ! The Son of God, the Messiah, the Savior and Redeemer of humankind! But is that answer from head knowledge, or from deep within the heart and spirit?
I can readily identify with Peter. Who else can say something so profound, and then in the next breath say something that irritates Jesus to the point of saying Shut the hell up!
You're reading him. I've done it - I've behaved like that many times in direct contact with people I love dearly; my family who looks up to me for leadership and support. The good news is I'm much better at spotting that behavior than I was earlier in my adult life. The bad news is that I realize it about a second and a half after those irritating things leave my mouth.
With all that, what sort of score should I expect to receive?
Thank God this isn't among the sort of quizzes I find all over Facebook and elsewhere in cyberspace. Optimistically, I hope for an A-, but practically, it's more like a C+. If I listen to the doomsayers and the fire & brimstone people, I could even be looking at a D- or even worse. Happily, God's justice is more balanced; and his mercy, love, and grace is priceless extra credit. God invites us to participate in much more, and that's the stuff that gives everyone the chance to shine.
That's why I'm going to let go of many less-significant issues and questions tonight. There will be no sounding off on the plight of the merry misfits with whom I keep company away from home; no harping on the seemingly endless jumping through hoops to merely get things done. Besides, my dear wife gets much more done in a day than me. She'd be the first to put me in my place if I bluffed my way through life.
If you aren't sure about where you are with God, you've likely scored higher than many who know answers. May that be a springboard for a life at peace from within, a peace only God can give.
Just don't let it go to your head.
Labor Day Weekend
The Word:
Isaiah 35:4-7 (Say to those who are frightened: Be strong, fear not!)
Psalm 146:7-10 (The orphan and the widow the Lord sustains, but the way of the wicked He thwarts)
James 2:1-5, 14-17 (Faith without works is like a screen door on a submarine)
Mark 7:31-37 ("Ephphatha! Be opened!")
Observations on this holiday that once marked the end of summer (that seems to have been taken by "National Night Out") and is supposed to honor our work and labor (yet to enjoy it generally forces somebody to work all the more):
More and more it appears that the places you once enjoyed that cost very little have become unaffordable. Case in point - on a beautiful day a lot like those we've enjoyed lately, on something of a whim, my wife and I introduced ourselves to the beauty that is the Chicago Botanical Garden. It is indeed a great place to visit, and I would recommend it to anyone - provided you don't take your own car. There is no admission charge to the park itself, even though there are fees to a number of seasonal exhibits. But the parking charge, controlled by the Cook County Forest Preserve District, has increased from $8 per car (when we first visited maybe five years ago) to $20 now. You can't picnic on the grounds - you can in the parking area and there is a smattering of tables; but this time of year picnicking is not that great an idea due to the onslaught of the hornets. So add another $20 - $30 for a meal out, and suddenly a nice inexpensive outing becomes cost prohibitive.
I have to say - thank God that at least in most of Illinois, the state, county and municipal parks do not charge simply to walk and enjoy the scenery. I know that in many places such is not true. We were able to change our plans and enjoy a great walk at a lovely forest preserve not far from home. It seemed that many other couples and families had the same idea.
For lunch, we headed to a place we hadn't entered in years - Chuck E. Cheese.
Now, dear readers, I sense your snickering. Hear me out.
The not-so-great pizza place with an act has been something of a refuge for my wife and I. Our son heads off to game land with his cup of tokens (reminder to self - never take him to a riverboat casino), and we get uninterrupted privacy; a chance to talk, plan, get an indication of what's on each other's minds and such. Even though he's now 17-1/2, there are still a number of games and attractions that appeal to him.
It was wonderful to observe on this visit that my son has become much more judicious in his decisions of what games to play, effectively stretching out the time it takes to spend the tokens. When he was younger, he'd exhaust his supply within the twenty minutes prep time for the pizza, and then be looking for more with only a scant glance at the food.
Another breakthrough was apparent in the way his social world has expanded . This time, he was more observant of our reaction of what he was doing. Further, he included other kids in his playtime. As an autistic, he has at times been completely engrossed in game play to the point that anyone nearby is completely oblivious to him.
Lastly, the place still does everything they can to give a family a safe place to enjoy a meal and entertainment at a reasonable price. Can't complain about that! So...I think maybe son will get a return pass a couple more times. Maybe even a party with Mom and Dad on his 18th birthday.
We got home and caught the last couple of hours of Jerry Lewis' MDA fund-raising telethon. This has been an annual Labor Day staple for 44 years. Lewis, now in his eighties, is struggling to maintain a stage presence. A lot of the big name talent of his time have died over the years; the most recent being Ed McMahon, who acted as Master of Ceremonies for many years. The telethon has lost much of its punch and appeal over the years, yet Lewis still manages to tag his corporate buddies to the tune of $60 million. A tough act, given the recession we're in.
Thinking about it this morning, I was prompted to consider how charitable I am. I prefer to do things at the local level, as I am fully aware that there are people suffering in my own neighborhood. I know there are homeless; I know people are hurting, and I try my best to meet that first. It's not that I don't appreciate the need to find treatments for people with catastrophic illnesses; we all deal with one or another of them. Some deal with more than one at a time.
What I observed that bothers me the most is the depths that people will sink to in order to appeal to your sense of guil...umm, charity. A local business pledges to match the total contributions received in a three-minute period. But when the clock gets down to ten seconds, it's suddenly reset for another three minutes...then four more, then five more, and another three, and still another two. This went on at least eight times during one local break.
If you participated in that, would you feel that you were living your faith, as the apostle James exhorts us? I am not sure.
---------
I had planned an educational field-trip to Chicago with my son tomorrow. The main objective was to see how commuter trains operate; to read a timetable and schedule of fares, to know how to find your train in a big terminal like Union Station (not unlike finding Platform 9-3/4 to get to Hogwarts, if you've read Harry Potter). However, Oprah Winfrey has other ideas. She's managed to close down three blocks of the Magnificent Mile (the posh Michigan Avenue business district) to tape the first show of her new season in front of fifty thousand adoring fans. Among her guests - the hottest act currently in pop music, the Black-Eyed Peas (21 straight weeks at the top of the charts) with a troupe of 2500 (reported) dancers. Where are they going to put them all? And what about the people who have to actually, say, work in that area? Is this another ploy that says We know how to throw a party! in order to secure hosting the 2016 Summer Olympics?
We'll make another stab at public transportation closer to Christmas...taking the free trolley between shopping centers at the regional shopping mall.
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The other day, I heard a news story about a series of TV ads that the three local Catholic dioceses will run in December. Developed by a ministerial group named Catholics Come Home (website at same, without the spaces, plus 'dot org'), they're mission is to return 'wayward' Catholics to Sunday Mass.
As clergy, I should be fully supportive of this. Like the fund raising for "Jerry's Kids, " however, I'm sensing a mixed-message.
I can't say these folks didn't do their homework. They report all kinds of statistics designed to make everything look appealing, welcoming, even sympathetic. Let's face it though. If you're in their target audience, you're a big-time sinner. They may not say so outright, but then they don't say anything about sins the Church may have committed to drive the disenfranchised away. Also notably lacking is any comment about issues facing the Church at large; issues that the Magisterium, the teaching body of the Church, has had no problem asserting its position in no uncertain terms. So, to some otherwise faithful people, the place to which they're being urged to come home is no different than the place they left. That just isn't enough.
I hope and I pray that each person sincerely seeking Christ will encounter him. I know it will be enhanced by finding a vibrant faith community. But that encounter doesn't always happen "in church." It didn't for Paul of Tarsus or Francis of Assisi.
And that, at last, brings me to the last of the "Signs for Our Times." As the traveling season ends and the patterns of life keep us closer to our dwellings, it is time to set aside our journey from that perspective and leave you with two thoughts. First, the sign:
And with all the confusion, to whom should we go for directions?
I surely hope for that.
Wherever you are on your spiritual journey, however rough the road may be, know that God is near.
Be open to God's presence, always.
August 30, 2009
The Word:
Deuteronomy 4:1-8 (The Israelites are handed the Law: "Do not add to what I command you nor subtract from it")
Psalm 15:2-5 (The just will live in the presence of the Lord)
James 1:17-27 (What A Christian Does, Revisited: "Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you")
Mark 7:1-23 ("...Things that come out from within are what defile")
And - James 5:1-20 (What A Christian Gives)
Over the course of my life, the month of August has mirrored the spectrum of emotion - all the way from the extroverted frivolity of Mardi Gras to the introspective desert of Lent. Named for an ancient Roman emperor, Augustus, who likened himself to a god (as is July, named for Julius Caesar - the two months inserted into the Western calendar), it has reminded me of late of how artificial, vain, and unreal the "real" world can be.
When I was in grade school, the new academic year began the day after Labor Day - somewhere between the 2nd and the 9th of September. Suddenly, and without so much as a "welcome back", school started shortly after August 20.
The weather in Chicago this past month went from the hottest day of the summer (95 degrees on 8/2) to among the coolest (65 degrees today) in a summer that basically ended before it started.
In Europe, August is seen as a month-long holiday. Here in America, August is the single month to which no holiday is assigned. (While there are no legal holidays in March or April, schools take "Spring Break" in March and Good Friday/Easter occurs at either the tail end of March or in April.)
Earl passed away July 30; his memorial service was on August 8. Since then I have been called to sing at four Catholic funerals. Among all that was the coming and passing of my first son nineteen years ago.
My wife and I celebrated our 28th wedding anniversary quietly - and still managed, like so many others, to get caught up in the train wreck that is The Real Housewives of (fill in the blank), and wondering how long Jon and Kate Gosselin (estranged parents of eight) will take potshots at each other in the media before the reality of what they have become cancels their "reality" TV series.
My mother was released from a five-day hospital stay - but she didn't get to go home. Instead, she is now in a convalescent care center (nursing home) to continue to manage physical therapy, aggravated by Parkinson's Disease.
I went to visit her the other day, after work. My dad was there with her. They were preparing a bulk mailing, putting address labels and stamps on newsletters. (Dad called it "occupational therapy.") I sense my dad's frustration, and yet he is there, managing to do something other than watch time pass. One friend of my mom's also happens to be a resident of the same nursing home. She was in the room with my mom and dad and me. She thinks she's going home soon, and kept mentioning it while I was visiting. But there's little doubt in my mind that the three of us agree, this woman isn't likely to be leaving the nursing home anytime soon. My mom's got a better chance of getting released before her, and I don't think Mom's going to be going anywhere for at least a couple of months.
People who minister to the sick, the elderly, and the bereaved have to shield themselves (think in terms of an invisible plexiglass enclosure) from the reality they see. This doesn't mean we are indifferent; nor do we ignore those to whom we minister. But it means having a firm support system in place. It means having a compassionate partner, spouse, or network of friends and colleagues with whom to share and debrief.
It's also very important to see that you've tuned up your spiritual engine. Prayer becomes more than a list of wishes, as well it should be. It becomes more than the hymns you sing or the sermon to which you did your best to hear.
The Word this weekend touches on all this.
Moses was about to "lay down the Law" as the Israelites came to the threshold of the Promised Land. Of particular note was that the Law as God gave it was rather complete - nothing was to be added to it or removed from it. The apostle James knew that there were differences in interpretation among believers, and sought - in simplest and clearest terms - to instruct the community toward progressing, rather than in idle speculation.
Jesus gives us yet another paradox, and that brings us to the "Signs for Our Times":
It is interesting to note that as we leave the Bread of Life Discourse that when the miracle of the feeding of the multitudes took place, no mention was made of anybody washing anything. We return to Mark's account to find a complaint lodged against Jesus and his disciples as they didn't go through the ritual of washing every last thing before sitting down to eat. Obviously washing had become more than just the tribal knowledge that doing so was important to prevent disease.
Jesus responds by saying that his (and God's) sense of cleanliness is holistic. Further, if the mind and spirit are not clean, the state of the body is meaningless.
With all the attention paid to washing hands to prevent the spread of the H1N1 flu virus, with all the bitterness and anger being exchanged in town hall meetings across America "discussing" the "public option" in health care reform, this passage is indeed timely. If our leisure time is packed with Internet "What (fill in the blank) Are You?" surveys and waiting for the next celebrity wannabe to fall, are we not akin to another icon of ancient Rome, as spectators watching Christians being thrown to the lions? Or Emperor Nero, playing his violin as the city of Rome burned?
There is a free "public option" for our spiritual health. It's available 24/7. It's called prayer.
Whether it is the recitation of common prayer, reflection on Scripture, or a few quiet moments pouring out your heart to God - these are our first and most important steps to remedy our ailments. Ultimately, if we are willing, we will be able to offer up virtually everything we do as prayer.
I have my moments. I'm no better at life than most of you. Lately I have understood the necessity of holistic cleansing in my life, and have renewed my commitment to do so, with prayer as a necessary step. Prayer for what I need. Prayer for what others need. Prayer to understand that my priorities are not necessarily God's.
Prayer works. It may not bring about the results you envision, but that does not mean it doesn't work. Sometimes that prayer is meant to help you stay on track, as it were, when the results don't meet the miracle.
In summary, Common Sense and the Law of God strongly recommend that you Pray Always...before leaving this room to resume work.
Today's Word:
Joshua 24:1-18 (As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord)
Psalm 34:2-3, 16-21 (Let my soul glory in the Lord...Taste and see the goodness of the Lord)
Ephesians 5:21-32 (Paul of Tarsus' often quoted and more often misunderstood treatise on married life)
John 6:60-69 (The Bread of Life Discourse, conclusion: "Do you also want to leave?")
And - James 4:1-17 (What a Christian Feels: 'Whoever wants to be a lover of the world makes himself an enemy of God')
On the eve of my son's 17th birthday last March, I posted in this journal a brief mention of the brother he has but has never known.
It was on this day nineteen years ago that a paradigm event for my wife and I came to its terrible end. Our first child, Adam Robert, was delivered stillborn in the 9 o'clock hour of the morning.
We had set out for a walk in our neighborhood the previous evening. We hadn't quite made it out the door when my wife's 'water broke' (as it's colloquially called), and before I knew what was happening, we were on our way to the hospital.
Within an hour of our arrival we were given the bad news by a doctor not our own (her OBGYN was on vacation at the time). During the long dark night of the soul that followed my focus was, out of love and necessity, on comforting my wife. Just the same, the nagging questions started to pop up. What had gone wrong? What did we do to deserve this? More importantly, How would we ultimately push through our panic-stricken, shock-numbing grief?
Looking back now and seeing where all this has taken us has been revealing.
For my wife, it was a big event that shaped her focus on health, holistic living, and ultimately, healing. Within two years she would lose one ovary and give birth to our (now seventeen-year-old) son. She has become acutely aware at various stages in her life about the effect much of modern lifestyle has on the body, and how that affects the mind and spirit as well. On her own she developed in her working memory a virtual encyclopedia of symptoms to ailments that would rival many professionals - and has a good handle on what she can treat.
For me, Adam's passing turned my focus in ministry formation toward bereavement. During my years as an active deacon this became being the parish minister at wakes. Since then, it has shifted to assisting at the funeral liturgy through my musical abilities. I don't see it stopping there. Not that I'm going to become a professional mourner (believe it or not, such a thing has been known to exist); but rather, continue to develop the lessons learned and the abilities I have to use them in the future.
In all of this is the bittersweet reminder of what was expected; what was supposed to be nineteen years ago. Truly, if Adam had been born in the normal course, everything would be different now. I might not be writing here; we might have been dealing with other 'soccer moms' and who-knows-what else; and our boy might not even have been named Adam!
Today's Sign for Our Times:
Actually, I found the text (minus the bogus phone number) on one of the type of sign one might use to advertise a garage sale or a political candidate; the type that has two small rods that you push into the ground. I found it at the end of an expressway exit near home. Thanks to a few Internet entrepreneurs, you can design your own signboard; as I've done here.
I know I asked questions of God back then - so many times I lost count. And there was a big issue - our pastor at the time never called or came by to offer condolences or guidance or even prayer. But in the depths of grief and despair, to whom else could I go?
Several ministers I know have occasionally preached that God offers many people a "second chance." Let me take this one step closer to what I sense is reality. In Jesus, God has offered everyone a second chance. Further, in his infinite love, God has offered us third, fourth, fifth, who knows how many chances. And we may never 'get it right' in our human vision. The way I see it, the biggest of life's lessons have come through difficult times. There's always a choice - to wallow in the pit or burn in the fire, or to rise above it and sharpen the resolve to do better.
As for me and my house, we shall rise...and serve.
Today's Word:
Proverbs 9:1-6 (Wisdom has built her house..."Come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed!"
Psalm 34:2-7 (Taste and see the goodness of the Lord)
Ephesians 15:5-20 (Do not get drunk on wine...but be filled with the Holy Spirit)
John 6:51:58 (The Bread of Life Discourse: "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life; and I will raise him up on the last day")
And: James 3:1-18 (What a Christian Says: "And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace")
And the Sign for Our Times:
Sometimes, the route you plan isn't available to you.
I write this today from a special perspective. Both my wife and my son have summer colds. Son is on the rebound, but my wife is not doing as well as she spent a good chunk of the week first looking after me, then after my son. Ordinarily, I'd be at work; or, because it's Sunday, working at church. My dear wife of 28 years is fairly resilient and can usually get past these quickly. Today, however, it's at its worst. So, not waiting to be asked (something I don't usually do), I decided to stay home and attend to whatever I could.
It is a rare thing when I don't attend one church or the other of the two in which I serve, praise, and worship God. After doing it for so many years, I tend to feel a bit lost when I don't go. Another thing: staying connected with God doesn't end when the worship service or Mass is finished. What to do, then, when your access to the things you do is temporarily cut off?
Several organizations have helped to create what I call 'cyberchurch.' This started back when radio and TV broadcast some religious programming as well as local church services. Now, there are media 'giants' such as Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN, for Catholics) and Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN, for non-denominational Christians). These broadcast 'ministries' are available 24/7, and have provided vital service especially to the homebound.
Cyberchurch has its home in the online world. There are many sites that cover just about everything imaginable, including a social networking site, www.tangle.com. Pastors and ministers have public blogs and these have followers. And this morning, I discovered a couple of gold mines in the form of podcasts. These allow me to pray the Divine Office and hear the daily Mass readings from my computer anytime - and they're available several days in advance so I can download them to a portable MP3 device or my iPod and listen to them when I'm not tethered to my computer or TV. Other options are becoming available for people with 3G cellular devices such as the iPhone.
Some may scoff at this, saying this puts God in their face too much. I may have agreed to some extent in the past. But being who I am and doing what I do, I realize that I don't always maintain a prayer-filled discipline. Further, I'm sure there are many more who would like to have something like this around - but just don't know where to look. We've all become so busy managing the complexity that life has become. Even for all that I bring up about it, I get preoccupied - even downright lazy - and put the practice of my faith on the back burner; and that's the absolute last place it belongs.
A detour may be well known, or it may be something unheard of. It may seem an inconvenience - but it can also lead to a treasure to which you want to return. That's happened more than once in my life, in both mundane and spiritual areas. I would have missed these if circumstances at the time they were discovered hadn't forced a detour.
I should caution that one should be careful while traversing a detour. Watch (and listen) closely, for the route is sometimes unknown. If your faith and trust is where it should be, though, a detour has the potential to add to a fruitful journey.
Today's Word:
1 Kings 19:4-8 (The prophet Elijah eats of the food given by God while traveling to Mount Horeb)
Psalm 34:2-9 (Taste and see the goodness of the Lord)
Ephesians 4:30-5:2 (Do not grieve the Holy Spirit, with whose gifts you have been sealed)
John 6:41-51 (The Bread of Life Discourse: 'The bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world')
And: James 2:1-26 (Faith vs. Works)
Isaiah 40:28-31 (They who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, and soar like eagles)
Romans 7:14-20 (Paul of Tarsus: 'What I do, I do not understand; for I do not do what I want, but I do what I hate')
Where do I begin - especially when I want to keep this reasonably short?
Jesus is moving on to the greater subject at hand. Not only is there nourishment for the soul, but he's the one providing it. And as may be expected, some just can't believe this. Jesus does not appear as one who would command authority, like the king they've believed the long-awaited Messiah to be. They cannot see beyond the hard reality before them. We'll come back to this.
Today's message in the letter of the Apostle James can best be summed up in this catchy little ditty:
It's about as useless as a screen door on a submarine
Faith without works baby
It just ain't happenin'
One is your left hand one is your right
It'll take two strong arms to hold on tight
Some folks cut off their nose just to spite their face
I think you need some works to show for your alleged faith
Well there's a difference you know
'tween having faith and playing make believe
One will make you grow the other one just make you sleep
Talk about it
But I really think you oughtta take a leap off of the ship
Before you claim to walk on water
Faith without works is like a song you can't sing
It's about as useless as a screen door on a submarine
Faith comes from God and every word that He breathes
He lets you take it to your heart so you can give it hands and feet
It's gotta be active if it's gonna be alive
You gotta put it into practice
Otherwise
It's about as useless as a screen door on a submarine
Faith without works baby it just ain't happenin'
One is your right hand one is your left
It's your light your guide your life and your breath
Faith without works is like a song you can't sing
It's about as useless as a screen door on a submarine
--Screen Door (1996)
Rich Mullins
Okay, now on to today's Signs for Our Times:
Actually, this is an understatement. You probably won't see this sign (or it's graphic counterpart) unless you're on a slope with an incline of 6% or more for a distance of at least half a mile. By then, you're in at least the foothills of mountains (if not in the mountains themselves) or in great river valleys.
What's interesting about this is that when driving in these surroundings, you have to pay more attention to things up close. When going uphill, you may not have enough momentum to reach the top, requiring you to shift into a lower gear to provide more pulling power to the engine. When going downhill, you have to watch that you don't pick up too much momentum, in order to keep the vehicle under control and preserve braking power. Again, shifting to a lower gear is sometimes in order.
But seeing the mountain or drop-off ahead takes focus away from the overall view of the roadway. Because you have to slow down in these areas, you can get a bit disoriented and think you've come out of the area when in reality you're somewhere deep in the middle of it. You have no idea where the crest of that hill is, or if you've reached the bottom of the mountainside. The driver has to make a judgment call; and once committed may not be able to correct himself if that call turns out to be in error.
Sometimes, a lifeline is thrown out in the form of:
But they're not always used, and even when used may not be effective in preventing damage or loss of life.
Believe it or not, there's a great connection here. Jesus' contemporaries can't seem to accept how God has provided for them, even as he explains himself. The sheer controversy behind this is what ultimately sends Jesus to Calvary, where he gives his flesh "for the life of the world."
Even the most devout of followers can be blinded by the immediacy of what's before them, watching gauges, looking for twists and turns, trying to figure out if they've finally come through safely.
Judas, one of Jesus' inner circle, was one such person. All this just didn't add up to him, so he turned Jesus over to the authorities. When he realized that their intent wasn't simply to reprimand but kill Jesus, he tried to recant. But as they had what they wanted and weren't about to give up their trophy, in utter despair Judas took his own life. Jesus could have forgiven him, but he was so blinded by the guilt of his action.
In our own time, people will come into times so difficult that they cannot see past it, even in prayer. God is forever patient; but we aren't. Push will ultimately come to shove. The descent down the mountainside is such that either the runaway ramp is missed or can't be accessed, if it's even there. It reminds me of another song that has a wry bit of humor in it - please pardon it under the circumstances...
It was just after dark when the truck started down
the hill that leads into Scranton, Pennsylvania
Carrying thirty thousand pounds of bananas
Carrying thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
He was a young driver,
just out on his second job.
And he was carrying the next day's pasty fruits
for everyone in that coal-scarred city
where children play without despair
in backyard slag-piles and folks manage to eat each day
about thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
Yes, just about thirty thousand pounds of bananas
He passed a sign that he should have seen,
saying "shift to low gear, a fifty dollar fine my friend."
He was thinking perhaps about the warm-breathed woman
who was waiting at the journey's end.
He started down the two mile drop,
the curving road that wound from the top of the hill.
He was pushing on through the shortening miles that ran down to the depot.
Just a few more miles to go,
then he'd go home and have her ease his long, cramped day away.
and the smell of thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
Yes the smell of thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
(The song builds up in intensity and excitement)
He was picking speed as the city spread its twinkling lights below him.
But he paid no heed as the shivering thoughts of the nights
delights went through him.
His foot nudged the brakes to slow him down.
But the pedal floored easy without a sound.
He said "Christ!"
It was funny how he had named the only man who could save him now.
He was trapped inside a dead-end hellslide,
riding on his fear-hunched back
was every one of those yellow green
I'm telling you thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
Yes, there were thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
He barely made the sweeping curve that led into the steepest grade.
And he missed the thankful passing bus at ninety miles an hour.
And he said "God, make it a dream!"
as he rode his last ride down.
And he said "God, make it a dream!"
as he rode his last ride down.
And he sideswiped nineteen neat parked cars,
clipped off thirteen telephone poles,
hit two houses, bruised eight trees,
and Blue-Crossed seven people.
it was then he lost his head,
not to mention an arm or two before he stopped.
And he slid for four hundred yards
along the hill that leads into Scranton, Pennsylvania.
All those thirty thousand pounds of bananas
--from 30,000 Pounds of Bananas (1976)
Harry Chapin
Today's Word (RC):
Exodus 16:2-15 (Manna "fell from the sky" to feed the wandering Israelites)
Psalm 78:3-4, 23-25, 54 (The Lord gave them bread from heaven)
Ephesians 4:17-24 (Be renewed in the spirit of your minds)
John 6:24-35 (The Bread of Life Discourse: "Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life")
And (UMC): James 1:12, 16-19 (What A Christian Has/Does, qpka. 'What A Fool Believes')
('Fool' in this context is taken as the rejection of ways of the world to follow Christ!)
And today's Sign for Our Times:
Falling Rock
For once, I'm going to follow the advice of St. Francis of Assisi, who once taught his brothers in the Friars Minor to "preach the Gospel...and when necessary, use words."
I ask you quite humbly to figure this one out. A couple of well placed symbols and pictures speak a multitude of words.
If you catch it, you'll want to keep it.
This summer in Chicago is one of the coolest I can remember. I don't recall one day when the temperature reached 90 or higher here (it managed 88 early in June).
I have been reminded in many ways of things to which I should focus. Because it's slow at work, I have even more time to ponder. I haven't slept all that well in weeks, though I'm not suffering aches or pains to any great extent. There's just a lot to have to consider, and no clear way to move in many ways. This is not a feeling of a lack of fulfillment; but more a feeling that I haven't quite expressed adequately how thankful I am for what I have and the people in my life.
And that was before I found out Friday afternoon that Earl died...which brings me to the Sign for Our Times:
Earl was a virtual "jack of all trades" at Cornerstone. I've known him nearly as long as I've known Mike. He sang in the old choir, and moved to the modern praise teams (even though I sense he didn't like some of the contemporary songs). He was a lay leader (the Methodist equivalent of an elder) and wore any number of hats; trying to list them all would be a disservice to him as I'm sure I would miss something. Earl was a tax accountant in his 'day job'. That meant putting in long hours from January through April - yet he would still manage to do any number of things at the church, including helping maintain the schedule of supporting ministers (musicians, ushers, and so forth). His wife directs the Sunday School program, and his daughter is part of the music ministry, following in her dad's footsteps.
I knew Earl had developed diabetes and had some health issues, but he seemed to take it in stride.
There's probably a host of things I don't know - at least not yet. But Earl found his "Dead End" sign last Friday, and it's my sincere belief that the next sign he sees might look something like the one I've included above. Life is not intended to end; but it is changed forever.
I know Earl is not Catholic, but I don't think he or anyone else will mind if I offer a traditional acclamation:
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he, through the love and mercy of God, rest in peace.
And for the rest of us:
Precious Lord, take my hand,
Lead me on, let me stand,
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
Through the storm, through the night,
Lead me on to the light:
Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.
When my way grows drear,
Precious Lord, linger near,
When my life is almost gone,
Hear my cry, hear my call,
Hold my hand lest I fall:
Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.
When the darkness appears
And the night draws near,
And the day is past and gone,
At the river I stand,
Guide my feet, hold my hand:
Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.
--Precious Lord, Take My Hand (1932)
Thomas A. Dorsey
(Note: This is part of the standard repertoire I sing at many Catholic funerals.)
