Bougainvillea, Lourdes and Our Christ-Fragrance

This mighty vine is Bougainvillea, which can be tidily clipped and controlled as a bush, or allowed to trail off up to thirty feet. 

Bougainvillea isn't growing in my garden here, but for the past few weeks I've detected its intense fragrance wafting onto the property and through the neighborhood. It's evidently growing on someone's property. But what a memory for me! Bougainvillea's perfume is the first sense-impression one has walking through the gate and into the domain at Lourdes in France, where the Virgin Mary appeared to young Bernadette 18 times in 1858.

Stream of consciousness! Bougainvillea might invite us to recall that other arresting fragrance — the chrism with which we were anointed after our Baptism. We all carry a fragrance — a Christ fragrance — to spread wherever we go. Our Chrism-scent is the fragrance of compassion, willingness and cooperation. It is the scent of joy in difficult times, confidence in God's presence and enduring hope. It is the good odor of consolation, transformation, and the gift of being able to feel with others. 

That last one — feeling with others — might be in short supply these days. One politician said recently that our national goodness is at stake these days: gun mayhem and threats of violence over masks during a pandemic. Someone might object and say, "Oh no, look at all these health professionals doing heroic work for others during the pandemic." True, but where there is great light, there can also be great shadow.

Our "Miracle Country"

A young-ish medical doctor had his Middle Eastern mother come to the United States for a visit. One morning while driving her around on errands, a lights-flashing, siren-blaring ambulance came up behind them. All the other cars and trucks quickly pulled over, and the intersection ahead cleared to let the ambulance through. The mother looked over at her son and said, "This is a miracle country. At home, no one would pull over for an ambulance. If it gets stuck in traffic with everyone else, then that's how it is, even though someone might die. But this is a miracle country." 

The doctor said to the TV interviewer, "If we pull over to let an ambulance pass so someone can live, why can't we all wear a mask during this time of deadly, disease threat, so someone might live?"

Intercessions ~ Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

We pray for the President of the United States and those who govern around the world,/ asking for leaders who are skilled at listening,/ who know what it is to feel the pain of the people they serve./ For the healing of leaders who are soul-sick,/ lacking compassion and good judgment./ We pray to the Lord.

At the height of the summer we pray for those who suffer from the heat/ or who must work out of doors./ For those who are shut-in during the Coronavirus pandemic./ For the safety of travelers./ We pray to the Lord.

Our nation has isolated itself in the global  effort of addressing climate change./ May we be wise and brave in protecting the life of the planet we have been given for our home./ We pray to the Lord.

Nearly 140,000 people have died in our nation from Coronavirus./ Still,/ cases and hospitalizations spike in many places,/ often due to carelessness and willful ignorance./ May we learn the mind of Christ./ We pray to the Lord.

Around the world,/ nearly 600,000 people have died from coronavirus,/ among them,/ little children and young people./ Each leaves behind loved ones who are suffering loss./ We pray for them/ and for the many who continue to help the sick./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for our own families and friends these days,/ asking for good health and safety./ We ask for the restoration of balance these days marked by every negative and enervating emotion./ We pray to the Lord.