Pauca Verba is Latin for A Few Words.

Sunday, August 30, 2020

Overwhelmed? Psalm 3 ~ A confidence-restoring morning prayer

 





Here is the 6th century Greek Monastery of St. Catherine at the foot of Mount Sinai in the Egyptian desert. Who knows, but perhaps this is the precise place where the Hebrews camped, while Moses went up to receive God's Law. I imagine the monks who live and pray here feel a great thrill when they chant this psalm written many centuries ago:

I cry aloud to the Lord, 
He answers from his holy mountain. 

Well, here's the mountain of which that third psalm speaks. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Verses 1-3: What a terrible predicament the psalmist is experiencing. We don't know exactly the circumstances, but this is one unhappy fellow. Trouble seems to be assailing him from all sides. How lonely he sounds. The little couplet of words, "How many" appears three times in the opening lines. He even knows what the gossips are saying about him: "He's without help or hope."

Verses 4-5: But as quickly as he has jumped into a lament in the opening verses, here, the psalmist shifts his emotional gears announcing his hope is in God. He calls a shield. A shield can preserve a life even if the arrows are flying out of the sky. He calls God his glory — the bright light that keeps him from being downcast, powerless, depressed. God is the brightness who enables him to lift up his head — to carry on. We've very likely met people like this over the years. 

Then the psalmist tells us that he cries aloud. A cry comes from a deep, inner, pained place — a suffering place. The ancient Israelites didn't believe that God's presence was confined to a mountain — though it certainly seems that this mountain (Sinai) was a place of particular encounter with the divine. The psalmist announces that God doesn't leave him alone in his lonely struggle, but that God answers. In Psalm 62:2 the psalmist declares, "In God alone is my soul at rest; my help comes from him. He alone is my rock, my stronghold, my fortress: I stand firm." 

Verses 6-7: I'm always glad when someone says: "I got a good night's sleep." Here, the psalmist tells us he's been sleeping quite well — not fitful, sporadic or worrisome. Contrast with the previous verses — who could do anything but toss and turn the night away with all those enemies? But better than the money-back-guarantee mattress, pillow or chemical sleep aid, the psalmist gives God the credit. 

I appreciate how sometimes the psalmist can't help himself and keeps returning to his complaint, "I will not fear even thousands of people ranged on every side." We know this — chewing on all the old memories and resentments, slights and offenses. Sometimes it's as if we're under a spell of some kind — "Just let it go" is impossible sometimes.

Verses 8-9: Here the psalmist lapses back into his resentment, asking God to "arise." Does the Christian recall Christ's bright rising out of our dark underworld (our unconscious place)?  But this psalmist fellow wants God to rise up to hit his enemies in the face, to knock out their teeth. But Jesus doesn't allow for this. I'm so disappointed when I encounter Christians who think this way. They often don't know themselves; don't hear themselves. Their lack of self-knowledge leaves me slack-jawed. Rather, by forgiveness, I am to ask Christ-God to rise up to heal my enemies, to restore them, to evolve them.  

Of course, (and we'd best start to get this if we're to take even baby steps into Christ's mind) — inner enemies might well be more dangerous than outer — hearts full of weapons and war, hating other people, buying into stupidity and lies, staying content in my bubble-world. Oh, this stuff is much more dangerous to the soul than an enemy talking smack about me.

Thursday, August 27, 2020

Intercessions ~ Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

 



We join Pope Francis as he asks us to pray for those who are persecuted for their religion,/ mindful of the Christians of Nigeria and China,/ for whom life is particularly difficult./ And for first world Christians who can sometimes be discontented complainers./ We pray to the Lord.

Wherever there are human beings, there is sin./ We pray for traffickers,/ abusers,/ exploiters,/ grifters,/ panderers,/ murderers,/ haters,/ liars and thieves./ And in humility,/may we know the darkness that may be found in our own hearts./ We pray to the Lord.

Much of California is in flames,/ while Gulf States have endured a devastating hurricane this week./ We pray for those who are suffering  losses,/ or who are exhausted in their efforts to help./ We pray to the Lord.

In 213 countries,/ more than 24 million people have contracted coronavirus,/ and more than 825,000 have died./ We pray for the dead,/ for mourners/ and scientists,/ lab workers and medical staff./ Through this difficult time,/ may we learn to love other people rightly./ We pray to the Lord.

For the President of the United States and those in leadership around the world./ For those who seek public office./ We ask for leaders who are healers and community builders,/ freed of suspicion,/ dishonesty and greed./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for the children of the world who have been failed by adults,/ who are waiting to be born,/ who are trapped,/ abandoned,/ un-educated,/ unwelcomed and unloved./ We pray to the Lord.

For ourselves and our families and friends,/ asking for gifts of health and safety,/ strength and hope in the challenges we face./ For anyone who has lost gratitude,/ who has given up,/ feeling cynical or depressed./ We pray to the Lord.


Tuesday, August 25, 2020

El Greco's Christ as Saviour




This painting is titled: Christ Blessing (The Saviour of the World) or Christ as Saviour. I have even seen it called simply, The Saviour. It was painted by Domenikos Theotokopoulos who is nicknamed El Greco - "The Greek." El Greco was born in 1541 in what is now Crete, then part of the Republic of Venice, known as the Center of Post-Byzantine Art. It is said that El Greco received his earliest training as an icon painter. We can detect that in the posture and gaze of Jesus, the position of his blessing hand and even the triangular, instead of circular, nimbus. 

Considered a later work, this Christ was painted in 1612, shortly before El Greco's death in Toledo, Spain in 1614. Because his style was so expressive, unique and new, it has been difficult, if not impossible, to categorize. Infact, he was bitterly rejected. Doesn't this often happen with people who introduce a new idea or concept in any field: theology, art, music, even science. It wasn't until the 20th century that El Greco came to be truly valued. 

What strikes me at once is that there is no gold background, only the deepest darkness. Symbolic of heavenly light, icons are always created with a golden background. But El Greco's Christ seems to be stepping out of the darkness; HE IS THE LIGHT, symbolized by the artist's abundant use of white. We might remember the account of the Jesus' Transfiguration where his clothes became "whiter than any bleacher could make them." (Mt 17:1-8, Mk 9:2-8, Lk 9:28-36). Christ radiates Divine Light. Perhaps the black background images the dark night of our existence: our celebrating the daily record-breaking stock market while the poor don't benefit in any way; children without food security or health insurance; parents whose work doesn't supply a living wage while there's always money for space exploration and the "military industrial complex" (President Eisenhower's phrase); that within a few years the plastic in the ocean will outweigh the fish! Or does the black background image our charred forests, the war-charred people, the charred truth! 

O Christ our Saviour shed your light upon the path I have to tread, that I may keep it without stumbling and without faltering, and come in the end to see you face to face in the heavenly kingdom. Amen.

Jesus covers a crystal globe with his left hand — our world. It is a protective, wing-like covering. With his right hand, moving from thumb to smallest finger, he forms the Greek letters IC XC — the abbreviation for Jesus Christ. While that right hand of Jesus is raised, I am reminded of a young person in class raising his/her hand to ask a question. Does he want to ask our world (you? me?) a question? But a hand can go up into the air, even hesitantly, for fear that someone might deem the question foolish. Could El Greco's Christ be apprehensive, fearing our rejection? Maybe Christ would ask us: "Why can't you (especially men) stop killing each other?" Or perhaps Jesus, looking intently into our eyes, doesn't want to ask a question but seeks to get our attention, so to wake us up out of our global torpidity; our national comma.

Mutual love is the Master's new commandment, the distinguishing mark of the disciple, the principle work to be achieved by all human existence." Teilhard de Chardin


Sunday, August 23, 2020

Buoninsegna's Rucellai Madonna

 



Click 'play' on the bar above to hear a teaching about Duccio's Madonna and Child





Thursday, August 20, 2020

Intercessions ~ Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

 



In Chicago alone this year,/ thirty-eight children have died by gun violence,/ five under the age of ten,/ even a one-year-old baby./ Let us pray for our nation/ where something has gone profoundly wrong./ We pray to the Lord.

While coronavirus deaths are breaking previous records everyday in our nation,/ we ask for all Americans,/ in humility and selflessness,/ to practice the simplest and most basic practices that could begin to turn this pandemic around./ We pray to the Lord.

It is fire and hurricane season./ We pray for those who are in harm's way,/ for firefighters,/ rescuers and helpers./ We pray to the Lord.

May the Christians be freed of all moral preening,/ Catholics,/ Orthodox,/ Anglican,/ Mainline Protestant,/ Evangelical,/ and desire only to grow in the heart-likeness of Jesus./ We pray to the Lord.

Schools are opening/ and not a few are then closing soon after because of coronavirus outbreaks./ For students and their parents,/ for teachers and administrators./ We ask for safety,/ health and wellbeing./ We pray to the Lord.

In an election season/ may we decide to be a country united,/ again trusting each other./ For those who seek public office to be decent and inwardly clean,/ who more than power,/ desire only to serve people/ in their vulnerability,/ struggle and need./ We pray to the Lord.

We ask God to grow-us-up,/ as we are a nation wounded by sexism,/ racism,/ misogyny,/ bias and phobias,/ which are more hatreds than fears./ Strengthen what is just,/ courageous and right-minded in us./ We pray to the Lord.

Tuesday, August 18, 2020

No National Mourning?

 



This photograph reminds me of great paintings I have seen titled: The Descent from the Cross — Jesus laid out on the ground beneath the cross, the holy mother holding her Son, faithful friends grieving and consoling one another. On September 11, 2001 almost 3000 people lost their lives in three separate terrorist attacks. That night, my little church was filled to overflowing with people praying for the nation, the dead, the injured, the first responders, elected officials and those who were frantic at not hearing from loved ones. It was a night of national grieving and mourning. I'm wondering why there is nothing akin to that now in our country — as of this week more than 170,000 Americans have died of coronavirus in a matter of a few months.

The Episcopal Book of Common Prayer has some of the most beautiful prayers we can pray during these days of so much death, sorrow and loss.


A Prayer for the Dead

O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death, and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that your servants being raised with Him, may know the strength of his presence, and rejoice in his eternal glory, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God for ever and ever. Amen

For the Deceased Children

O God, whose beloved Son took children into his arms and blessed them: Give us grace to entrust them to your never failing care and love, and bring us all to your heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

For Mourners

Grant, O Lord, to all who are bereaved the spirit of faith and courage, that they may have strength to meet the days to come with steadfastness and patience; not sorrowing as those without hope, but in thankful remembrance of your great goodness, and in the joyful expectation of eternal life with those they love. And this we ask in the Name of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

Almighty God, Father of mercies and giver of comfort: Deal graciously, we pray, with all who mourn; that, casting all their care on you, they may know the consolation of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

~ ~ ~ 

But there are those other great losses that many people are suffering and mourning — the loss of businesses, jobs, income, food security, home security and health insurance. There is the loss of meaning and the loss of basic respect, courtesy, good manners and other-referredness that is afflicting the nation lately as well.

A Prayer for Guidance

O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and light rises up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what you have us to do, that the Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices, and that in your light we may see light, and in your straight path may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For Quiet Confidence

O God of peace, who has taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength; By the might of your spirit lift us, we pray, to your presence where we may be still and know that you are God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Human Family

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus, your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.



Sunday, August 16, 2020

A Prayer for Beirut ~ The Opening of Hearts Before the Icon of Our Lady of Elige



How are we to pray,
for the devastated city of Beirut,
O Mother of God?

Words fail,
Lady of Elige.
Thoughts can't comprehend
the loss,
the fear,
the despair.

And so, O Mother of the Land of Cedars,
to hold in our hearts
humbly,
simply,
earnestly ~

the children,
the rescuers,
the parents frenzied,

the searchers,
the homeless,
the relatives awaiting news,


the elderly,
the confounded,
the wandering,

the hungry and the thirsty,
the failed leaders,
the generous share-rs,

the wounded,
the mourners,
the doctors and nurses,

the devastated,
impoverished,
speechless,
fearful ones,

the overwhelmed,
exhausted,
devastated ones,

the coronavirus sick,
the ones who 
not knowing what else to do,
shovel,
sweep,
even care for animals.

Give gifts of courage,
Maronite Mother of God ~
hope restored,
endurance,
comfort, 
solidarity
and resolve.









Thursday, August 13, 2020

Intercessions ~ Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

 



Since the recent explosion in Beirut,/ more than 100,000 children have been displaced./ An injured six-year-old boy asks his mother,/ "What is this life?"/. Grant that we would live in/ and govern this world/ that's its children would be our first priority and love./ We pray to the Lord.

We join Pope Francis who prayed in anticipation of Mary's Assumption,/ and as the coronavirus persists:/ "May she help us to resist selfishness,/ indifference,/ and individualism,/ which weakens solidarity within society."/ We pray to the Lord.

In an election year,/ we pray for the President of the United States/ and for all elected officials./ We pray for those who seek public office./ For world leaders not to be blamers,/ liars,/ self-aggrandizing or self-enriching,/ but to live in the service of their people./ We pray to the Lord.

There are presently twenty active conflicts and wars in the world./ Some have been fought for decades/ claiming the lives of combatants and civilians,/ many of whom are children./ We pray for the world to evolve in the willingness to resolve problems peacefully./ For those countries,/ including our own,/ which militarize the world through the immoral sale of weapons./ We pray to the Lord.

Our nation loses 36 million trees in cities alone each year,/ often due to neglect/ or because they are in the way of making money./ May we gratefully acknowledge God's imagination,/ and learn to care for the shade-producing,/ planet-cooling,/ air purifying,/ ground holding,/ soul-pleasing trees./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for our families and friends during this time of sickness,/ and for the many who are out of work,/ at risk of being evicted,/ or struggling with depression or a sense of despair./ For the protection of young people,/ teachers and  other personnel as schools begin to resume classes./ We pray to the Lord.






Tuesday, August 11, 2020

For the Feast of Mary's Assumption ~ Some Audio Thoughts



We can click on Duccio's painting of The Dormition of the Virgin Mary to hear a teaching and a prayer for the feast day. 

Before or after listening—a note about biblical justice. The word justice means "to make right." This suggests things can go wrong. Justice is a relational word—righting our relationship with God, one another and the natural world. The prophet Micah says we are to "do justice." Offenses against justice would be, selfishness, entitlement, willful ignorance, greed, power abuse, exploitation. A formed (raised) conscience and an awakened heart are needed to bring about justice, whether it be that of an individual, a small community, a nation, a collection of nations. 

Sunday, August 9, 2020

"And he lifted up his eyes..."




20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples and said: "Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you that hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you that weep now, for you shall laugh. 22 Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you, and cast out your name as evil on account of the Son of man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. 24 But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25 Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. 26 Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets." Luke 6: 20-26.

Here is Hungarian Aurel Naray's (1883-1948) painting of The Sermon on the Mount. It is a cloudy day. Clouds in the bible always signify God's presence. Jesus is delivering a divine teaching. The little crowd appears to be listening carefully. We seem to be standing on the edge of the group, in the foreground, looking upwards. Ah, that placement suggests I have a choice—I can join the group of learners, ascending spiritually to Jesus' instruction, or not.

Notice there is a little child with his/her back to us. Maybe the little one is me/you. We are all beginners. No matter how long ago we were baptized, we're all little wannabes. I suggested this years ago in a Sunday sermon at the end of Lent, when the catechumens are preparing for baptism. I said, "We are all catechumens." A woman got me at the door, disagreeably indigent at the suggestion.. And I thought, "What a boring Christianity she must live, trying to maintain her high spiritual plateau—her business as usual Christianity. 
 
But then there is Judas to the right of the foreground. Poor fellow, he is staring down at the ground, perhaps in shame or contemplating the complicated connections he has to make in the future. St. Philip Neri prayed each morning, "Be careful of me today, Lord Jesus, I may betray you." Honest saint. 

Under the painting we see St. Luke's version of the Sermon on the Mount. It's very different from St. Matthew's version. Matthew leaves us a back door, a way out. "Blessed are the poor in spirit." Those two words, "in spirit" leaves things amorphous. Remember Tina Turner's 1971, Rollin on the River? (Proud Mary). She begins, "Let's take it from the beginning, nice and easy." Americans love easy—the easy listening radio channel, recipes that are easy, gadgets and chemicals that make housework easy, fabrics that are easy-care. Well, there's nothing easy about the teaching of St. Luke's Jesus: "Blessed are the poor, the hungry, those who weep...and woe to you who are rich, who are full now, who laugh now, who are well-respected."

Jesus has a different world view—God's worldview. It is an inversion of the greedy, planet ravishing culture we live in—the culture, the nation that can't stop professing its greatness. I opened up a dumpster the other day to get rid of a bag of kitchen garbage and found on top of the trash-mountain two antique brass fireplace andirons and a half dozen brand new kitchen rugs. Only in a country of super abundance ("You who are rich) do people throw away things like this.

Reading St. Luke's version of the Beatitudes—we could say, "Oh yes, God DOES have favorites. God favors the poor, the hungry, the ones who weep—trapped in crushing poverty." Some people have no idea (and don't want to know) of the world's deepest poverty—some of which is in our own nation. We just keep consuming and polluting. Coming back up the center church aisle, after saying good-bye to the folks at the door, a man (who had been waiting for me) stepped out into the aisle, blocking my way. He said, "I am so tired of hearing about them." "Who's them?" I asked. "The poor," he said. "But I didn't even mention the poor in the homily today. My text is on the pulpit; let's go look and you can show me precisely what's bothered you." Talk about an angry and raw place. Why aren't we familiar with Luke's version of the Beatitudes? 

I'd suggest that as important as charity is—that we have some special cause(s) to which we send money—St. Luke's Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount require the privileged Christian disciple to have a complete change of mind. "But we have the mind of Christ," St. Paul says, 1 Corinthians 2:16. It is change-of-mind-religion that leaves people uncomfortable. 

"Woe" is a very serious and strong word and Jesus knows what he's saying. To be perfectly honest, there have been times when I have been tempted to despair of Christianity: I don't often meet Christ-followers, Christ-professors, who allow Jesus to change their minds. Or, I am stupefied that their mind-changing is in a confounding, even horrifying direction. They allow themselves to be "fed" by persons other than Christ. They don't see themselves or hear themselves.

I can only imagine what Pope Francis experiences—whose enemies are more likely to be found within the Church than outside. And among them, sometimes there are priests.

Thursday, August 6, 2020

Intercessions ~ Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time


Mother of God Interceding ~ St. Basil's ~ Moscow


Asking for gifts of healing,/ comfort and strength,/ we pray for Pope Emeritus Benedict who is ill after his return from Bavaria/ where he visited his dying brother./ We pray to the Lord.

We ask for new hearts where people are indifferent,/ dismissive/ or willfully ignorant of the seriousness of the Coronavirus pandemic./ We pray to the Lord.

For the President of the United States/ and those who seek public office./ For the leaders of nations/ to shun tribalism,/ the purveying of fear and hate,/ the blaming of others/ and the creation of enemies./ May they be clean of heart./ We pray to the Lord.

May our nation be healed of racial hatred,/ anti-semitism,/ religious bigotry,/ entitlement and arrogant— pride./ Grant spiritual gifts to bishops and clergy,/ to be empowered  in creating and advancing reconciliation and peace./ We pray to the Lord.

For those whose grief is raw,/ who mourn the loss of loved ones,/ who suffer through disasters and wars,/ who are unemployed./ We pray for those who are being evicted for their inability to pay rents during the Coronavirus./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for our families,/ friends,/ neighbors,/ fellow parishioners and colleagues,/ who are feeling stressed these days or who are in any danger./ Strengthen the sick,/ and us/ where we feel anxious,/ impatient,/ frustrated or despairing./ We pray to the Lord.

And let us pray for the people of Lebanon/ where a tremendous explosion destroyed much of Beirut,/ killing dozens and injuring many thousands./ Grant healing,/ comforting and international help./ We pray to the Lord. 






 

Sunday, August 2, 2020

Crucified Between Two Thieves




The Swiss Psychologist Carl Jung (1875-1961) wrote, "Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside awakes." That sounds like something Jesus might have said. But what could it mean? Perhaps, to discover (awaken to) my true self, I need to go inside my heart. If I live only in the outside, surface-world, it's like dreaming. Dreaming someone else's idea of how to live my own unique life: what the culture says, what the "authorities" say, what the radio talk-show guy says, what the preacher says, even what the spouse says. Some people never make their own life; they never ask, "What do I really believe?"

For maybe the hundredth time, someone recently asked me the names of the two thieves who died to Jesus' left and right. Is that a real spiritual/religious question? One Armenian tradition says their names were Dismas and Gestas. But you know what? So what! That's a pious distraction. The question is asked, the official answer is given, and the inquirer goes off feeling somehow better. But that kind of religious inquiry (What was the name of the Samaritan woman at the well? What were the names of the three kings? What was the name of the Prodigal Son? Did the groom at the wedding at Cana leave his new wife after the wedding to become a monk? Was there really a Bethlehem star?) keeps us feeling safe in outside religion. One can spend an entire religious lifetime and never leave the shoals. So, am I curious about the names of the two thieves? By all means — but name them personally, in such a way that the names take me inside, into my heart, where their naming can help me to grow and evolve?

I would suggest, even before we hear them speak from the gospel page, the Calvary thieves have something to tell or ask us. Fulton Oursler (1893-1952) was an American editor, writer and journalist. He must have had the gospel account in mind when he said, "Many of us crucify ourselves between two thieves — regret for the past and fear of the future." 

Regret and Fear are real thieves, robbing us of energy and the possibility for personal insight. They steal away our attention and focus. They deny us real and full life. They leave us depressed and useless. 

Not a few people still fret over the mistakes of long ago. They don't trust the words of absolution spoken over them. They effectively don't trust the crucifix — as if the blood-mercies of Christ are for everyone else. They can't see or accept how God might use the sad tales and poor choices  of the past to a good end. They stay outside, dreaming a nightmare of being lost eternally, because someone else has deemed or threatened it.

The other life-stealing thief is fear. We're an anxious culture. Name it.  Fear is that thief which leaves us enervated, suspicious, sleepless, irritable and perhaps addicted. We can't trust that the God who has had a hand on us from the very start, who watches over us maternally, who has even perhaps staved off death and the worst possibilities, will just as surely see us through into tomorrow. 

"Many of us crucify ourselves between two thieves — regret for the past and fear of the future."  What about it? Seriously addressing the question takes me to an entirely new religious/spiritual place.