Intercessions ~ Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

Empty, late summer nest

We pray for the Church to have ears that are open to the pain of children,/ young people,/ the elderly,/ the disabled,/ and those who feel un-welcomed or empty./ For the Church to be characterized by deep caring./ We pray to the Lord.

Since 1776/ the United States has been at peace for less than twenty years total since its birth./ We pray boldly for a new desire to change that sad statistic./ May we learn how to create a peaceful world./ We pray to the Lord.

It has been a wet summer in the North East this year./ May God rain down justice on the earth,/ through the conversion of those who lead and govern./ We pray to the Lord.

For the sick,/ those in hospitals and hospices,/ for anyone requiring surgery,/ for those recoverng from accidents./ We pray for the places where people receive no medical care./ We pray to the Lord.

For the health and well-being of family members and friends./ We pray too for people who live in daily stress and chaos,/ where people are frightened,/ degraded and hurting./ We pray to the Lord.

Finally,/ we ask for those qualities which will help us to love effectively:/ May we talk less and listen more./ May we learn patience,/ non-judgment of others,/ compassion,/ light-heartedness and humble gratitude./ We pray to the Lord.

The Denial of Peter

Meanwhile Peter was still in the courtyard downstairs. One of the High Priest's serving-maids came by and saw him there warming himself. She looked into his face and said, "You were there too, with this man from Nazareth, this Jesus." But he denied it: "I know nothing," he said; "I do not understand what you mean." Then he went outside into the porch; and the maid saw him there again and began to say to the bystanders, "He is one of them" and again he denied it. 

Again, a little later, the bystanders said to Peter, "Surely you are one of them. You must be; you are a Galilean." At this he broke out into curses, and with an oath he said, "I do not know this man you speak of." Then came the second cock-crow; and Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, "Before the cock crows twice you will disown me three times." And he burst into tears. Mark14: 66-72

Caravaggio painted this picture in 1610, a year after he was assaulted outside a tavern. He knew the man who oversaw the attack. We might wonder how that betrayal impacted the emotion we feel in this painting of Peter being confronted in the courtyard and denying he knows Jesus. 

The artist has reduced the drama of the scripture verses to just three large close-up figures. It is a scene full of human emotion. Notice the soldier and the maid are linked while Peter is a little distanced. He doesn't look like a saint, does he? He looks rather like a very common man, even sickly and with a furrowed brow. His tense hands are turned in on his heart. There is a harsh light coming over the soldier's shoulder - Peter is under the spot light.

This soldier, with his ornamented helmet and gauntletted, pointing hand has the power. The woman has just made her announcement: "He is one of them." "Them!" Oh, there's that word again. We love the word them. It's such a power-word; a dismissive word. It means different; not like us.

The picture-story is one of extremes. There is a strong contrast between light and dark. The soldier is in darkness while Peter is in light. We might say Peter steps into the light when his conscience is troubled and he bursts into tears realizing he's betrayed his dearest friend.

This drama of light is called chiaroscuro. Caravaggio is a master in depicting the tension between light and darkness. The soldier and the woman have made their accusation and are waiting for Peter's reply. His eyes look as if he has already cried or is on the verge of tears.

This is a painting of human imperfection - the drama of those who have no love for Jesus and Peter who has failed the test of love. These verses and  the emotionally charged painting focus for us that every Christian at some point will be questioned and have his/her loyalty to Jesus tested. Maybe it happens often. Maybe every day.

Glory to the Eyes of Christ

Traditionally in paintings the eyes of Christ are suffering and sad. But Rembrandt didn't do that. His portrait-eyes of Christ are open, thoughtful, alive, connective and reflective of a deep interiority. They are the eyes of one who might be sitting across from us at table, attentive to what we share from our own deeply felt-place.

Through the eyes of Christ, God reveals heaven's looking into our world. Through the eyes of Christ, God looks love into our world. Through the little prayer-refrain I've used here, "Glory to the eyes of Christ' we might gratefully extol God's vision.

I grew up being taught that God sees everything. In translation that meant: "God doesn't miss a trick and will catch you out in every secret  sin and flaw." But when we meet Jesus in the intimacy of the Gospel, we realize that isn't so. Glorify the eyes of Christ with a happy and grateful heart.

Glory to the eyes of Christ,
returning the gaze of his nursing mother.

Glory to the eyes of Christ,
greeting the shepherds of Bethlehem.

Glory to the eyes of Christ,
accepting the first-seeing of Bartimaeus.

Glory to the eyes of Christ,
embracing the non-Jews;
the ones considered other.

Glory to the eyes of Christ,
interfacing with Lazarus at the opening of the tomb.

Glory to the eyes of Christ,
recognizing the hunger of the hillside congregation.

Glory to the eyes of Christ,
welcoming the children and their anxious mothers.

Glory to the eyes of Christ,
all-seeing, discerning stony hearts
and Peter's repentance.

Glory to the eyes of Christ,
witnessing the heavens opening over Jordan's waters.

Glory to the eyes of Christ,
delighting the face of the woman bent over.

Glory to the eyes of Christ,
loving the young man who had great wealth.

Glory to the eyes of Christ,
weeping over Jerusalem's apathy.

Glory to the eyes of Christ,
looking mercy to thieves, left and right.

Glory to the eyes of Christ,
carrying the Easter announcement, Peace be with you.

Glory to the eyes of Christ,
which in kindness watch over me,
little and confounded.