Lessons Learned

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Ascension, guidance, inheritance, Mark, spirit, Spirit of Jesus, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

On most days I have occasion to say something like: “My mother used to say…” or “My father had a saying for that.” There is no specific incident or situation that brings them to mind with just the right advice – or, in the case of my father, some humorous retort! They are, however, present and at the ready to urge me on. And there are others who have passed from this life whose spirit remains here on earth in vibrant ways that guide me in a moment of need.

Today the Church celebrates the feast of the Ascension of Christ into the eternal realm. The extension of his life for a time after he had been put to death but rose again was crucial for the birth and spread of Christianity. The apostles had not been ready on that first Easter day to take up the work of spreading the good news; they were still trying to put together the fragments of what Jesus had said and demonstrated for them so that they would be able to continue the mission after his departure. Now, ready or not, he was unequivocally leaving. It still took them some days to recognize the reality of this fact.

I always look for what seem like “throw-away” lines in the readings of the day. There is often something in the way of commentary offered by the gospel for our comfort or deeper understanding of “the rest of the story.” As we remember them huddled again together for some days waiting for guidance on how to proceed, we also have the assurance that Pentecost, the miraculous outpouring of the Spirit, did indeed happen with amazing results.

It is Mark’s gospel today that offers the news of their transformation and the reason it could be sustained. After the moment of Jesus being taken up, Mark skips to the report that “they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.” (MK 16: 15-20)

As with the apostles, we have confidence that the Spirit of Jesus remains with us through our remembrance, just as the memories of our best teachers bring alive the lessons of our lives. As we let go of the physical presence of those we love, let us recognize the great gift of their abiding spirit, our best inheritance, and be unceasingly grateful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Considering Light

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Colossians, dance, holy ones, inheritance, light, metaphor, silence, St. Paul, surrender, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, willingness, wisdom

It appears that we will be snowed in here today. The effort of the meeting facilitators yesterday to finish early today – by noon – was futile as there is a new and complicating wind advisory in the path of most of us toward home. Up early, we have already been checking maps and forecasts on television or computer or both. Nothing changes as we watch. It is only our willingness to surrender to this first winter event that will change anything (read: us!). So what will we do with this time that will likely stretch until at least tomorrow?

When I began to read today’s selection from St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians, the first verse gave me pause. Brothers and sisters, he said, let us give thanks to God who has made you worthy to share the inheritance of the holy ones in light. (COL 1:12) That line is, in itself, worthy of reflection but I found it serendipitously more intriguing because of an e-mail message I received late yesterday. The e-mail came from the same person who had started the chain involving our “wisdom community” that I quoted here after our national elections. Rebecca wrote: So there is something about light that is drawing me, urgent in its continuing to show up. Physical Light, the metaphor of Light, the way the eye sees and the brain – it’s coming from lots of places. So I’m writing to ask you to play with me on this – what do you know about light?

This is an attractive thought for what may indeed become a “play date” with God and God’s friends. I rarely feel that I have the luxury of this kind of “day off” but today the invitation is strong with – apparently – nowhere else I need to go. So why not engage the silence that will be necessary to open up deeper channels of knowing…of seeing…of considering Light? There is already in my inbox an amazing response by one of our more poetic companions.

Question: What would it cost you to enter our playing field or engage your own circle in the dance? Whatever you choose, have a nice day.

Of Brothers and Sisters

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a difficult surrender, Genesis, human relations, inheritance, jealousy, Joseph, Matthew, siblings, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

About three weeks ago my sister wrote asking for prayers for a friend whose beloved sister had just been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Last night I had an email from her friend that was titled “Update” and was shocked upon opening it to find Camille’s obituary. The reality of losing a sibling came a bit closer at that moment.

This morning’s first reading (Gn:37:3-28) begins to tell the story of Joseph whose father loved him “best of all his sons, for he was the child of his old age.” We all know the story of the brothers throwing Joseph into the cistern in a plot to kill him because of their jealousy but selling him instead to a passing caravan. The tables turn in the end to a happy conclusion for Joseph and – luckily for them – for his brothers. The gospel is similar but more violent as the son of a landowner is killed by tenants seeking his inheritance. (MT 21:33-46) In both stories, the expectation that perpetrators could not possibly disrespect a beloved child of a father is proved false.

I am left sitting this morning with thoughts of the complexity in human relations, mourning for Connie’s sister and for the loss that her family is experiencing and saddened that jealousy can – and does – play such a role in families even today. Whether because of money or levels of affection, personality or birth order, lives can be damaged and families fractured in many ways.

All I can do, I suppose, is offer gratitude for the harmony and love among my siblings, pray for those who have not been so blessed and take every opportunity to listen and help those who are suffering in situations of brokenness, offering them the love that is missing in their lives to the extent possible. What I know for sure is that offering my inability to solve the problems of others is a difficult surrender, a lesson still to be embraced.