Day 2 ~ Akathist of Thanksgiving ~ In the Advent Time

For an introduction to this thirteen part series, scroll back to the post of November 29. 

Kontakion 2

O Lord, how lovely it is to be your *guest. Breeze full of scents; mountains reaching to the skies; waters like boundless mirrors, reflecting the sun's golden rays and the *scudding clouds. All nature murmurs *mysteriously, breathing the depth of tenderness. Birds and beasts of the forest *bear the imprint of your love. Blessed are you, mother earth, in your fleeting loveliness, which wakens our yearning for happiness that will last for ever, in the land where, amid beauty that grows not old, the cry rings out: *Alleluia!

Ikos 2

You have brought me into life as into an enchanted paradise. We have seen the sky like a chalice of deepest blue, where in the azure heights *the birds are singing. We have listened to the soothing murmur of the forest and the melodious music of the streams. We have tasted fruit of fine flavor and the sweet-scented honey. *We can live very well on your earth. It is a pleasure to be your guest.

Glory to you for the *Feast Day of life

Glory to you for the perfume of lilies and roses

Glory to you for each different taste of berry and fruit

Glory to you for the sparkling silver of early morning dew

Glory to you for the joy of dawn's awakening

Glory to you for the new life each day brings

Glory to you, O God, from age to age. 

* "...to be your guest." As if God has personally invited us into his creation.

* "scudding clouds" - rushing clouds.

* "nature murmurs mysteriously" - for the Christian, God so close we may miss it.

* Nature bears the imprint of God's love. How then do we allow anything to go extinct?

* Alleluia! Sounds like a baby's babbling. We are speechless before God's wonders.

* "the birds are singing." But if we spray the insects into oblivion the birds will disappear.

* "we can live very well on your earth." Yes, but the 5 poorest counties in the United States;       are inhabited by the remnants of the continent's indigenous tribes — exploited and                 pushed to desperation. How does that happen in the country which claims to be the                 richest? 

*  "Feast Day of life." When I am awake I see that every day is a feast day.

Akathist of Thanksgiving ~ In the Advent Time

 

An Akathist is a standing prayer which comes to us as a gift of the Eastern Christian churches.  The most celebrated of the many Akathists is that in honor of the Mother of God. For some time I've been eager to share with us the Akathist of Thanksgiving: Glory to God For All Things. I see that between now and Christmas we can pray each of the thirteen parts which comprise the prayer. 

There are two parts to each section — the Kontakion and Ikos are short sermon like paragraphs, the Ikos followed by 8 poem like lines. Said to be the only word we know from the angel lexicon, Alleluia ends most of the Ikos prayers.  While I'll continue to post the Sunday Intercessions each Thursday, the Akathist parts will be posted 11/30, 12/5, 12/6, 12/7, 12/12, 12/13, 12/14, 12/19, 12/20/ 12/21, 12/22 and 12/13.  After each section I'll add a few thoughts (marked with an asterik *) which may help us to enter the prayer more deeply.

The Akathist of Thanksgiving was composed by Metropolitan Tryphon of Turkestan (+1934). The prayer was found in the papers of the Priest-Martyr Gregory Petroff who died in a concentration camp in 1942. Both priests understood suffering which makes the prayer's themes and insights all the more remarkable. Our day has its own suffering. May I suggest bringing that awareness to the prayer.

Kontakion 1

Everlasting King, your will for our salvation is full of power. Your right arm controls the whole course of human life. We give you thanks for all your mercies, seen and unseen. For eternal life, for the heavenly joys of the Kingdom which is to be. Grant mercy to us who sing your praise, both now and in the time to come. Glory to you, O God, from age to age.

Ikos 1

I was born a *weak, defenseless child, but your angel spread his wings over my cradle to defend me. From birth until now your love has illumined my path, and has wondrously guided me towards the light of eternity; from birth until now the generous gifts of your *providence have been marvelously showered  upon me. I give you thanks, with *all who have come to know you, who call upon your name.

Glory to you for *calling me into being

Glory to you showing me the beauty of the universe

Glory to you, spreading out before me heaven and earth

   *like the pages in a book of eternal wisdom

Glory to you for your eternity in this *fleeting world

Glory to you for your *mercies, seen and unseen

Glory to you through every *sigh of my sorrow

Glory to you for *every step of my life's journey

   for every moment of glory

Glory to you, O God from age to age.

* I am always God's child — not only when I am in my infancy.

* God's providence — God's open hands.

* "all who have come to know you" — the prayer is communal.

* "calling me into being" suggests God's naming me — it matters to God that I exist.

* "like the pages in a book" — nature is God's first book.

* "fleeting world" — beauty and joy are partial and last only a short time — might 

        God be beauty and joy which lasts forever?

*  God's mercies — God's kindness.

*  sighs and tears?

* "every step of life's journey" — some steps are setbacks, mistaken, 

        damage along the way.

Torah Scroll Survival

 

Torah Scrolls found in Jewish Synagogues contain the biblical Five Books of Moses. The scrolls in the photograph here are survivors of the Holocaust. On the night of November 9, 1938, Dr. Seligmann Barberger, a Chemistry Professor, rescued these scrolls from his synagogue in Bornplatz, Germany. That night is called Kristallnacht (the night of broken glass) — the first large scale organized physical attack on the Jewish community by the Nazis all across Germany. Hundreds of stores, homes and synagogues were attacked, looted, burned and destroyed. More than 30,000 Jewish men were arrested and sent to concentration camps that night. 

Dr. Barberger, aware of what was happening that night, left his apartment to save the Torah Scrolls. He then went into hiding for several weeks and began the arduous and secreted plan to leave Germany. Finally, having made their way to Italy, the family was able to sail to the United States in March of 1940. All of the family and friends left behind died as did many of Dr. Barberger's Jewish students. 

The family first settled in Washington Heights, then Upper Manhattan and finally to Patchogue, Long Island. Years later, Joseph, Dr. Bargerger's son, who was ten years old on Kristallnacht, said that the most important thing carried in their suitcases were the rescued Torah Scrolls. These were used in the small synagogue they belonged to here and are now seen in a Jewish Heritage Museum.

Joseph testifies that the scrolls were responsible for Dr. Barberger's being saved that night. We might all have some personal story of survival. I needn't  compare or contrast my story to any other — only recall and give thanks during these first days of  another liturgical year. 

But why don't we all survive our ordeal? No one can answer that. What matters is this: "What does my survival signify or mean for my life today? Why did I survive cancer, domestic violence, sex abuse, bankruptcy, near drowning, accident, depression, crippling addiction, some kind of rejection or exile?"  That's a life-question worth pondering. For some reason or other we often avoid "why" questions.

Intercessions ~ First Advent

Christians and Jews both begin celebrations of light this weekend with the start of Advent and Hanukkah./ May God's light dispel the darkness from human hearts which harbor murder,/ rage,/ money-waste,/  greed and indifference./ We pray to the Lord. 

During a recent visit to Assisi,/ in speaking about the Coronavirus Pandemic,/ Pope Francis said,/ "A return to normalcy should not mean a return to the old social structures inspired by self-sufficiency,/ nationalism,/ protectionism,/ individualism and isolationism,/ excluding our poorer brothers and sisters."/ May we learn from his words./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for those who are around us at Mass at the start of Advent./ For those who have abandoned the practice of Sunday worship/ some perhaps from among our own family and friends./ For those who cannot be with us at Mass because of sickness/ frailty or distracting suffering./ We pray to the Lord.

At the start of another liturgical year,/ we pray for the President of the United States and those who lead nations around the world./ May they choose a non-violent,/ non-aggressive path towards the future./ Give them gifts of wisdom and humility,/ able to make decisions for the good of all./ We pray to the Lord.

Summer fires destroyed millions of trees,/ even ancient trees,/ plants,/ endangered animals and needed insects./ Give human beings compassionate hearts that care for every living thing./ We pray to the Lord.

During the Advent time,/ preparing for the Birth of Christ,/ may we grow in the welcome and care of children,/ doing something practical to protect the littlest and most vulnerable./ We pray to the Lord.

 

The 1800th Post ~ Visiting the Chapel of the Mother of God Life-Giving Spring

I've saved this photograph for a special occasion. And here we are — this is the 1800th Pauca Verba post. The charming chapel in the woods bears the title, Mother of God Life-Giving Spring. The single cupola on top of the chapel signifies Christ. It is also a stylized candle — that the church burns with the love of God in Christ. I like that the fallen snow has landed on the ends of the logs to left and right, as if the building is decorated with white dots. And how wonderful is this, the door is wide open inviting us to enter — to rest, to warm up, to pray. Indeed, there are prints in the snow leading up the steps to the door. Perhaps they are ours. Imagine it! Inside and up front near the altar we would find this 17th century icon — The Life-Giving Spring.

 

Here the Mother of God sits in a fountain which overflows into the basin beneath her. She holds the Infant Christ. Always the Lord, he is depicted as a little man. The Holy Mother and Child have an angel escort. The aureole (body halo) shines with a bright, layered softness.

The bottom of the icon, from left to right, shows the sick-crowd who have come to this source of health and wholeness. There are frail old folks, cripples, the exhausted. Above them on the right there are royal persons wearing crowns. No one escapes troubles. On the far left we see a group of monks and mitered bishops. One bishop dips a cup into the basin. Perhaps his prayer asks for the Church to be healed of its affliction, apparent in every age. Church and State in need of healing.

These are angry days. As the racial portrait of the nation changes, not a few people are fearful of losing their privileged status. Media outlets foment fear, fevered resentment, even violence.  We might enter this chapel in our imagination and intercede for our nation before the Life-Giving Spring icon. And prayers for those Christians too who have lost their Christic center —  substituting a political party for their religion. 

Prayer for the Feast of Christ the King

 

Christ Pantocrator Mosaic ~ Hagia Sophia ~ 537 CE

Of the Reign of Christ

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

From the Book of Common Prayer 

Intercessions ~ Feast of Christ the King

Christ Enthroned ~ 14th c Monastery of Dionysiou ~ Mount Athos

May God bless the church with new humility,/ learning again and again how to extend compassion to those who have been harmed by religious people and in religious places./ May parish congregations be healthy revelations of God's reconciling love./ We pray to the Lord.

God loves the created universe from beginning to end./ In this season of change,/ we ask for the protection of the animals as some migrate or enter a time of hibernation,/ and the plants as they rest until the spring./ May we understand how to protect our planet's abundant life./ We pray to the Lord.

We ask for elected leaders and officials to be blessed with gifts of insight and compassion./ As a nation which calls itself, one/ may we be willing to put aside defiance,/ ignorance and stubbornness/ to make the sacrifices needed to protect the common good./ We pray to the Lord.

God is with us in the disasters which afflict the world./ Strengthen and aid the survivors of earthquakes,/ floods,/ famines,/ hurricanes and wildfires,/ and the first responders and helpers who support them./ Calm our terrible fears/ help us to be generous where aid is needed./ We pray to the Lord.

May Christian congregations learn the inclusion of Jesus./ We pray for parishes weakened and stressed by disagreements,/ differences,/ disappointments./ Forgive our fractured communities and unite your people in the love of Christ./ We pray to the Lord.

November is the month of prayers for the dead./ We give thanks for all the people who over the years have taught us,/ blessed,/ protected and guided our lives./ Assure us of Christ's Resurrection promise./ We pray to the Lord.

"Keep Thy Heart Free"

 

Church of All Saints ~ Barrowby, Lincolnshire

"Be thou always as a stranger and a guest on this earth, 

and consider the things of this world as matters that concern thee not. 

Keep thy heart free and always directed upward unto God; 

for here on earth thou hast no permanent home."

The Imitation of Christ ~ Thomas a Kempis

"Keep thy heart free" 

free from resentment

factionalism ~ tribalism

consumerism

free from obsessing

the stupidity du jour

the love of money

free from addiction 

wanting to be like everyone else

self deception

free for

the Glory of God

the re-dramatization of Christ's Life

free to be the unique self born of God's mind and heart.

Patient Trust

Here is the reflection of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, SJ (1881-1955) titled Patient Trust. We might think it is a prayer to help us become more patient in traffic, or with a hard-of-hearing spouse, or with the too loud children in my care. I'd say it is much more than that. I'd suggest, some things invite or require not only a slow and careful read, but a repeated reading. The best rain is the rain that falls gently over a longer period of time. Big downpours, over and done with quickly, don't soak in but only run off  — wasted into a ditch, drain or sewer.

Take note that the priest uses the word "grace" in the second paragraph. It is a word often misused in Catholic circles — conceiving of it as some kind of invisible thing or heavenly stuff we can purchase, win, earn or even store up (like covid era paper towels and bathroom paper). I might feel hushed at the very appearance or hearing of the word — grace. 

Grace by its very nature is free — not earned, but God's gift. It is so much of God we might say it is God sharing God's own energies that are creative/re-creative — evolving and maturing of me into the full human person of God's design or maybe even better, God's dream. 

Above all, trust in the slow work of God.

We are quite naturally impatient in everything

to reach the end without delay.

We should like to skip the intermediate states.

We are impatient of being on the way to something

unknown, something new.

And yet is the law of all progress

that it is made by passing through

some states of instability —

and that it may take a very long time.

And so I think it is with you;

your ideas mature gradually—let them grow,

let them shape themselves, without undue haste.

Don't try to force them on,

as though you could be today what time

(that is to say, grace and circumstances

acting on your own good will)

will make of you tomorrow.

Only God could say what this new spirit

gradually forming within you will be.

Give Our Lord the benefit of believing

that his hand is leading you,

and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself

in suspense and incomplete.

— Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, SJ

Intercessions ~ Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

These days of acrimony and confusion,/ we ask for the people of God to be of such happy face and happy heart,/ that others may be drawn to the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ./ We pray to the Lord.

At Sunday Mass/ while we ponder and gratefully receive the gift of Christ's Real Presence in the Eucharist/ may we also ask ourselves,/ "Am I, are WE, a real presence of Christ in this world?"/ We pray to the Lord.

In his recent visit to the United States,/ Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople said,/ "We are not placed here to rule anyone other than ourselves. But we are all called to serve everyone. And to serve them humbly, righteously and always with mercy and compassion."/ May we understand./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray gratefully for the nations which serve as new homes for refugees whose homelands suffer violence./ Give new endurance to those who work for peace/ and healing to those who bear the scars of war./ We pray to the Lord.

For health care workers and those who answer cries for help./ Bless the ministries of home visitation,/ child care,/ hospitality,/ fellowship and feeding./ We pray to the Lord.

As the holiday time approaches,/ we ask that our families would be safe and well./  Preserve us in peace./ Heal our tribe-like divisions./ Keep us from over-heated emotion,/ narrow-thinking,/ selfishness,/ wastefulness,/ indifference and superficiality./ We pray to the Lord. 

Mind The Gap

 

Along with an oft repeated loudspeaker announcement, this "Mind the Gap" message is found throughout the London Subway system (called The Underground). It is a call to attention,  the gap being the space between the edge of the platform and the open subway car doors. The gap could prove hazardous should someone trip into the car or a shoed foot fall into the space. 

But I'd suggest "the gap" isn't just found in the London Underground but in our thinking, attachments and convictions. One might fall into the gap of media conspiracy theories, the foolishness of the left/right, red/blue divides. The gap could be one's falling into some kind of personality cult or heeding the media talking heads who want only to keep us whipped up into fear-frenzy. We can go a long way (if even then) before we realize we've fallen into "the gap." 

Jesus knows the dangers. Do you recall the miracle of Jesus restoring the sight of the man born blind in chapter 9 of St. John's Gospel? At the end we read this verse (41):

Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, "Are we also blind?" Jesus said to them, "If you were (physically) blind you would have no guilt; but now that you say, 'We see,' your guilt remains."

Or this found in Matthew 15:14,15 when Jesus is told the Pharisees resent his teaching:

"Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if a blind man leads a blind man both will fall into a ditch (pit)."

When was the last time I realized I'd fallen into a gap, so to speak and acknowledged, "Wow, was I ever taken in," or "How foolish of me to have believed that," or "Did I ever get that wrong." 

We might print MIND THE GAP on a post-it and stick on the television or car radio.  Make it our home page on the cell phone!

This Autumn, Look Up!

 

A neighbor lady

despairs of this season —

with the falling of leaves

everything is down,

despondency sets in,

death and decay. 

"Days grow shorter; faces grow longer,"

she says.

A pity she doesn't know

the great Mass lifting up —

everyday —

   through Christ,

   with him and

   in him,

and all the autumn sacramental elevations,

venues to the divine:

   tree tops

   coned and acorn clustered,

   dawn and dusked-hued autumn —

with fewer clouds

   a bluer sky

   more pure,

   vast,

   open and wide,

whirring-winged,

   resonant,

   V-formed geese,

elevated phasing moon,

constellated night time of

   flowers and animals,

   clusters, cups and chains,

   spirals, spindles and wheels

bright, reliable Venus.

Bow your heads and pray God's blessing.

Nay!  —

"Lift up your heads and see God's blessing!"

Intercessions ~ Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

At the start of November/ we pray for those who celebrate birthdays,/ anniversaries and other days of remembrance./ Bless them with good health,/ safety and peace./ Build  them up in faith,/ hope and love./ We pray to the Lord.

While repeatedly calling for an end to wars and the sale of weapons,/ Pope Francis calls wars useless massacres./ This Thursday is Veterans Day./ We pray for veterans who are homeless,/ addicted,/ maimed,/ depressed,/ traumatized, / whose relationships are shredded./ Heal us, O Christ./ We pray to the Lord.

We believe that at every Mass/ the bread and wine are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ./ May we also believe our weary and ailing world is a sacred gift/ and that we have a duty to tend this gift together./ We pray to the Lord.

It is the seasonal time of darkness,/ hinting at the inner darkness of selfishness,/ anger and greed./ We ask for Christ's beatitude gifts of light,/ mercy,/ humility,/ justice and reconciliation./ We pray to the Lord. 

We ask for God to form our communal Christian lives./ May we encourage one another and truly love one another./ May our prayer and worship be born of clean hearts,/ our disagreements be kept free of bitterness./ May joy increase./ We pray to the Lord.

God of comfort,/ strengthen and heal those who mourn the deaths of dear ones./ We give thanks for the holy people we have known over the years/ who have brought us to faith and wellness./ Build us up believing in the Resurrection of Christ/ and the new and whole life he offers./ We pray to the Lord.

Prayers for the Feast of All Souls

 Trappist Cemetery ~ Our Lady of Gethsemani ~ Kentucky

For the Departed

Eternal Lord God, you hold all souls in life: Give to your whole Church in paradise and on earth your light and your peace; and grant that we, following the good examples of those who have served you here and are at rest, may at the last enter with them into your unending joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. 

Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to you our brothers and sisters, who were reborn by water and the Spirit in Holy Baptism. Grant that their deaths may recall to us your victory over death, and be an occasion for us to renew our trust in your Father's love. Give us, we pray, the faith to follow where you have led the way; and where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Sprit, to the ages of ages. Amen. 

Prayers for the Feast of All Saints

 

Fra Angelico ~ A Great Cloud of Witnesses

Almighty God you have surrounded us with a great cloud of witnesses: Grant that we, encouraged by the good example of your servants, may persevere in running the race that is set before us, until at last we may with them attain to your eternal joy. Through Jesus Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and eve. Amen.

O God, you have brought us near to an innumerable company of angels, and to the spirits of just men and women made perfect: Grant us during our earthly pilgrimage to abide in their fellowship, and in our heavenly country to become partakers of their joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, how and for ever. Amen.