Thanks to Jerome

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God calls us, language, scholar, Scripture, seekers, St. Jerome, St. Paul, temper, The Jerome Biblical Commentary, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, traveller

There is a book that I would always carry with me – except that it is almost too large and heavy for me to lift! It is called The Jerome Biblical Commentary, a title given it, not for the author but in honor of the man who, in the 4th century, translated the Bible into Latin, the scholarly and universal ecclesial language until the 20th century. “The Jerome” (as many fondly call the book) is the most commonly used commentary in the Catholic Church today, the work of many Scripture scholars, gratefully received by students like myself and others always willing to go deeper in finding meaning in scriptural texts.

Jerome was a traveler, leaving his birthplace of Stridon in Dalmatia in the Middle East to travel to Rome, Germany and Palestine where he settled at the end of his life, choosing to live a life of prayer, penance and study in Bethlehem. His travels remind me of the life of St. Paul. I am always amazed at those early seekers whose passion for knowledge or the desire to share God’s word led them to travel far distances regardless of difficulty or danger. In addition, the fact that Jerome spoke five languages (Latin, Greek, Hebrew and Chaldaic in addition to his own), learned no doubt for the purpose of understanding the ancient texts which he was to translate, is a feat I do not expect from the people of his time. The greatest surprise to me in what I read of Jerome this morning, however, was that Jerome was plagued by having a terrible temper! How does that square with the personality of such a saint?! Was it that passion that allowed him to complete such a work as a translation of the entire Bible?

Once again, I am reminded that God calls us all – no matter our character flaws – to the service of love. So even in days of torrential rain, like this morning, I am compelled to get up, get dressed and get going!

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An Encouraging Word

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God's beauty, love, praise, Psalm 138, the lowly, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, truth

The voice singing Psalm 138 this morning is vibrant in praise of God and in encouragement to “the lowly” – those who are bowed down by life. Let us sing along:

With all of heaven’s mighty hosts I sing this song to praise you. Your presence is my temple ground, and there I lift my voice and speak your name, in testimony to a love and truth exceeded only by your promises. For when I spoke your sacred name, your word of answer swiftly came as source of all the strength I know within. O peoples of this earth, know this: you too can hear God’s voice and speak the name. You too can know the music of this song revealing all God’s beauty in fullest splendor. For though our God is high beyond this earth, as swift as wind God stoops to hold the lowly close…

Human Frailty

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child-like, childish, children, Luke, Mark, Pope Francis, regular folks, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

An unidentified child, who was carried out from the crowd to meet Pope Francis, reaches out to touch the Pontiff’s face during a parade on his way to celebrate Sunday Mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015. Pope Francis is in Philadelphia for the last leg of his six-day visit to the United States. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

It always makes me feel better when I read gospel texts about the less than perfect behavior/conversation of the disciples. Don’t get me wrong! I love to be inspired by their lives, but to know they were just “regular folks” keeps me striving when I do not feel my best self. Interestingly, the gospel this morning is Luke’s version of what we read from Mark yesterday (9:38-43). Luke begins (9:46-50) with recounting a dispute among the disciples themselves, however, and only later complaining about someone else “not of their company.” They were arguing about which of them was the greatest. Jesus realized the intention of their hearts, (i.e. that they were being child-ish) took a child and placed it by his side and said to them…”The one who is least of all of you is the one who is the greatest.” In other words, the goal is to be child-like, not comparing or lording it over anyone but being happy with playing together with whatever toys are around and whoever comes along.

As I consider this, I see in my mind images of young children with Pope Francis this past week, totally delighted and open to him, as he was with them. I pray today for children who are becoming socialized in less positive ways at a younger and younger age, that their innocence and safety might be preserved and that we all might learn to emulate their sincerity and joy at being totally who they are in God’s sight and ours.

Room For Us All

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acceptance of others, Book of Numbers, curiosity, Festival of Families, love, multifaith, our appreciation, Peace, Pope Francis, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, unity

Last night was my first opportunity to see Pope Francis in action on his USA visit. He was at the Festival of Families in Philadelphia speaking about the Creator’s great love – a love so strong that it could not be contained and so the universe was created! The Pope then applied that concept to the way families are created and must thrive in love. It was a reminder to me that our love, our appreciation, curiosity and acceptance of others must continue to expand in every circumstance in like manner.

This morning’s readings speak to this point, and to the Pope’s comments during the week about religious liberty. Both Moses and Jesus have followers who come to them to complain that others “not of their company” are either prophesying (NM 11:25-29) or healing (MK 9:38-48) and both tell their followers to “let it be.” Moses says, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets!” and Jesus tells his disciples, “There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us.”

Francis is, himself, a great image of inclusion and the welcome that he has received here in this country is indicative of the power of spiritual leadership. People of all faiths have gathered to listen to him, to pray with him and to respond with enthusiasm to his messages in each location that he has visited. This is a moment of possibility for our country and the world – a time for hope and for action toward peace and unity. May it call to us in a way that is too insistent to ignore.

Few Words

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Entering the Silence, love, Peace, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, Thomas Merton

I just read the shortest of quotes from Thomas Merton that could engage me for days – maybe something to write down to repeat every morning. It is at least enough for today.

Every day love corners me somewhere and surrounds me with peace without having to look very far or very hard or do anything special. (Entering the Silence, 196)

 

The Important Question

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Christ, Jesus, Lectionary, Luke, Messiah, Peter, Who do you say I am?

When I was a second year novice, I took a chance and defied the rules of “No adornments in the bedroom area” by taping a poster to the inside of my bedroom door. It wasn’t fancy, just a question in big letters:  I don’t know where I got the poster but I thought it was worth the risk of displaying it since no one was allowed in my room except the novice director on her occasional room inspections. Even she might miss it if she opened the door all the way when she entered. I wanted to ask myself every day the question that Jesus asked his close followers after they had told him what people “in the streets” were saying about his identity. In Luke’s gospel this question came relatively early (LK 9:18-22) so perhaps some of these chosen ones, having been drawn by his charisma and message, were still unsure of who he was exactly. This was one of Peter’s better moments as he was the only one to respond. The translations have varied over the years but the meaning of Peter’s statement is clear: You are the Christ, he says, the Messiah of God.

Having now spent many years of study and reflection about Jesus, attempting to deepen my relationship with him, I am always grateful when the question comes up in the daily lectionary readings so I can check in with myself about how we’re doing when he asks that all-important question which I have come to interpret as Who am I to you, Lois?

Papal Power

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forgiveness, joy, mercy, modern day prophet, Pope Francis, smile, Spirit of God, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

In almost every conversation around the USA this week, comments about the visit of Pope Francis abound. Before he arrived speculation about his message ran high. A man full of surprises, when asked about what he would say to Americans, he responded: “I just want to visit them.” Clearly, just in his presence from the moment he emerged waving from the plane, this first purpose has been achieved. The joy of the crowds, the smiles on the faces of dignitaries and children, the hope that his very being inspires goes far beyond the members of his own Church to all those desiring a better world. But Francis will not leave this country without speaking his mind. This modern day prophet will likely challenge our country to do a better job in caring for the poor and for our environment. His tone will not be one of judgment or condemnation for failure, if we can judge by past statements about mercy and forgiveness. We are wise to listen deeply for universal concerns in his speech which nevertheless are applicable to our personal lives as well.

Let us give thanks for the Spirit of God shining through this simple man who gives so much hope to so many and gives example of carrying the weight of the world with prayerful demeanor and a dazzling smile.

Difficult Grace

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confession, cures, forgiveness, Jesus, miracles, mystics, Padre Pio, St. Pio, stigmata, suffering, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Today on the US Catholic Bishops’ website, I saw the name of the saint being celebrated today. I must’ve been still half-asleep because I was thinking it was some obscure person from long, long ago. I decided to look up St. Pio of Pietrelcina to see if there was anything interesting about him. In doing so, I saw the dates marking the span of his life (1887-1968) and realized all at once that he was the beloved Padre Pio, known the world over for his holiness, his tirelessness in hearing confessions and his suffering – both physical and psychological. An Italian Franciscan friar, baptized with the name Francesco, he modeled the life of his patron, St. Francis, even to the point of having a vision of Jesus (9/20/1918) during which he received the stigmata, the wounds of Jesus, in his hands, feet and side. Twice over the ensuing 13 years, the authenticity of the stigmata was questioned and Pio (his religious name) was not permitted to celebrate Mass publicly or hear confessions. He did not question or complain and these decisions were subsequently reversed. His life was spent in the confessional, forgiving penitents in the name of God, and in concern for the physically ill and suffering people who came to him. Many cures were credited to his intercession. By his urging a 350-bed hospital was built and was called “House for the Alleviation of Suffering.” He died on September 23, 1968 and was named a saint of the Church on June 16, 2002.

Visionaries and stigmatics are not commonly known in our day; we more easily accept those like St. Francis and Catherine of Siena, saints who lived centuries ago. Detractors and the curious were many in the life of Padre Pio in the last century where reason and ability to explain unusual events was (and continues to be for most) the order of the day. Now, when science and spirituality are beginning to speak the same language in tentative ways, it is to our advantage to suspend judgment of how certain things happen and live with the evidence of that they have happened in order to expand our consciousness of how God and the universe conspire for the good of all.

Choosing

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conscious choice, critical questions, daily choice, freedom, Meg Wheatley, perseverance, reflection, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

I read this quote today from Meg Wheatley’s little book Perseverance and thought it a worthy “thought for the day.” It certainly is enough for me!

Perseverance is a choice. It’s not a simple, one-time choice, it’s a daily one. There’s never a final decision…Having to make a choice every day keeps us alert and present. Do I have the resources, internal and external, to keep going? Can I deal with what’s in front of me right now? Do I have any patience left? Is there a way through this mess? These critical questions require a momentary pause, a little reflection. Rather than just striking out or being reactive to a bad day, we offer ourselves freedom. Do I continue or do I give up? Even a brief pause creates the space for freedom. We’re not trapped by circumstances or fatigue. We give ourselves a moment to look as clearly as we can at the current situation. And then we make a conscious choice. Every day.

The Tax Collector

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Ash Wednesday. Jesus, Cuba, God waits, Jews, Matthew, mercy, patience, poor, Pope Francis, Romans, sinners, tax collector, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Today is the feast of St. Matthew who, before being called by Jesus, spent his time collecting taxes from the Jews for the Roman occupation forces – and probably, according to the custom, kept some of the money himself. He was an unlikely choice to become one of the closest followers of Jesus since the “publicans” as they were called were considered traitors by their fellow Jews. When the buzz began about why Jesus would associate with such immoral people, Jesus stated that those who are well do not need a physician but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I did not come to call the righteous but sinners. (MT 9:12-13)

Pope Francis is in Cuba on his way to the United States where millions of people will see him in person or, at least, on television. His message is always one of mercy – that “fierce, bonding love of God” for us and his vision for the Church is one of mercy and embrace of the poor. In one of his first homilies as Pope, he spoke of many of the closest followers of Jesus who came to him late like Matthew or those whom we remember sometimes for their weakness, like Peter or Thomas. He said then that God always has patience; God waits, acting like Jesus with the disciples on the road to Emmaus who were slow to recognize him or like the merciful father who ran to meet his wayward son. God always waits and pours out his love and mercy on all who turn or return – early or late – to love. This is, I think, the “good news” – maybe the best news – for this day.