The Voice of God

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baptism, God's voice, hear, Jesus, John the Baptist, listen, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Psalm 29 proclaims the power of the voice of God, speaking in myriad ways. Today the Church celebrates the baptism of Jesus by John, citing the testimony of Matthew’s gospel as evidence of God’s voice in the world. “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” It’s one of those dramatic scenes that we can imagine as we are told that “the heavens were opened for him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon him.”

Was it only Jesus who heard the voice of God that day, or did all the people that witnessed the event hear it as well? Some translations have God saying “YOU are my beloved Son…instead of “THIS IS my beloved…?” Maybe it was a message to all because of the deep meaning of the event for the public ministry of Jesus. Maybe it was a message just for Jesus himself, delivered internally, to strengthen him for that ministry. I like to think of it in that way as it makes Jesus more human and God more accessible, speaking in a softer voice, you might say.

Have you ever heard God speaking in you, for you? It takes a willingness to be silent and listen, as well as trust that God would choose to speak to me personally…I am coming to believe that God is speaking in many ways all the time and is longing for us to hear.

The wind is blowing outside today. Gusts of 35 to 50 mph are expected. Perhaps God is trying to get our attention. The trees are certainly dancing. What can they hear? Perhaps we ought to join them…

Paul's Passion

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blessings, Christmas, compassion, Jesus, love, mercy, Philippians, St. Paul, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

According to the liturgical calendar, today is a “Christmas weekday.” Would you know it if I hadn’t told you? Are your presents still visible under your tree? Are you saying: “What tree?” I’m being facetious, of course – trying to make the point that sometimes we move from expectation (a long process) through experience (sometimes very brief) to let-down (“business as usual”) without savoring the event itself or being changed by it at all.

There are two sets of readings for today and in both St. Paul seems to be pleading for our attention to the effect of Jesus coming into the world. First, the Christmas weekday reading says this: “See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we are children of God…Beloved, we are God’s children NOW!” (1 JN 2) The second, from the Letter to the Philippians, urges an even deeper consciousness of who we must be in the name of Jesus. “Brothers and sisters,” Paul says, ” if there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind with the same love, united in heart…”

Can you feel it? Did you experience the love that Christmas calls us to? If not, is there still a chance you might manifest it today or work toward the recognition of which Paul speaks even in some small way? A “hello” or a kind word to a colleague? Even a smile would do for a start. You may be surprised to “see what love God has bestowed upon us.”

Blessings on you this day, children of God.

Christ Is Coming Soon!

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Christmas, Emmanuel, Isaiah, Jesus, Malachi, radiant dawn, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

When I read the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ offering of the lectionary readings for the day, I am occasionally stopped by a line or two that rankles or makes me squirm a little. We’re very close now to Christmas, the “feel-good” holiday. It’s surprising, I guess, that I would be experiencing the opposite feeling two days before Christmas. I’m singing “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” and loving the titles given to Christ by Isaiah’s writings (e.g. O Radiant Dawn or O Key of David…) not expecting Malachi’s insertions of counterintuitive questions such as the following:

Yes, he is coming, says the Lord of Hosts. But who will endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears? For he is like the refiner’s fire…he will sit refining and purifying silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi…

Does that include us? Must we leave our “heaven and nature” singing of “joy to the world” because “the Lord is come?” I think not, but there is a caution in this message from the prophet Malachi. Jesus was born into this world – this great and wonderful world – to show us the way to navigate all the joys and sorrows, the gifts and tests that help us grow into our true selves, to become more conscious with each turning of the earth that we are beings of light, made in the image of God, here to mirror that image to the world each day. The celebration of Christmas reminds us of the privilege and the responsibility of that birthing that is ours in imitation of the Christ who is coming to walk the path with us with new vigor each time we experience this commemorative moment.

The sun is strong this morning. Let us now prepare for Christmas, as the “Radiant Dawn” appears in the sky of our lives, offering to us the Word of Life!

Strength for the Journey

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David Haas, Eagle, Isaiah, Jesus, strength, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, We Will Rise Again

During the last half century there has been a great shift in and addition to religious music, especially (I think) in Christianity. We have many fine musicians who have based much of their music on Scripture. Because of the work of David Haas, Marty Haugen, Michael Joncas and the St. Louis Jesuits among others, our familiarity with many scriptural texts has deepened and given us hope in difficult moments in life. Whether from the prophet Isaiah or the mouth of Jesus himself, we remember the message because of the melody that accompanies the words.

Today is such an example for me. The first lectionary reading from Isaiah 40: 25-31 assured me that God will renew the strength of the young (and their elders, I believe!) with these words: “They will soar as with eagles’ wings; they will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint…” David Haas wrote a stirring song based on that reading where God promises total care for us in every verse and we, in hearing of such care, respond with an equally stirring chorus, singing: We will run and not grow weary for our God will be our strength! And we will fly like the eagle; we will rise again!

I recommend a trip to YouTube for a listen to WE WILL RISE AGAIN!

On Alert!

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Advent, Christmas, feasts, Jesus, new life, reflective moment, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, waiting

The waiting has begun. Today is the first (Sun)day of Advent and there is no doubt that we are in a new season, even as the calendar says we have yet to arrive at the first day of winter, still three weeks away. Christian tradition interestingly calls this day a new beginning even though it is the beginning only of preparation for the major feast of Christmas. The feeling this morning here in New York State is one of expectation – but not so happy. We’re expecting a strong storm, a significant dump of snow. It’s been happening all over the country, coming east and promising all kinds of havoc in travel and cancellations of all kinds of events.

People everywhere will be marking important feasts toward the end of December – some central to their religious practice and some cultural events. Whether Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali, the Chinese New Year or the Winter Solstice, it’s a time for consideration of what we are about as we move into a new season of life. As I sit here this morning my brain and my body are alert for the first sign of snow and/or ice tapping on my window. It’s like a time of pregnancy when everything strains toward a new life and all that such an event will mean to change things. Yes, that’s exactly what it’s like…what it is actually for those of us who now begin the intense season of Advent – this “New Year’s Day” in the Christian Church.

How will this season of Advent – a brief 24 days this year – ready us for a deeper understanding of what the birth of Jesus into the world can mean? When all the festivities of the Christmas season are over, will we be different? Kinder, perhaps? More tolerant and even loving? Where will the emphasis of our “new beginning,” the recognition of our “New Year’s resolutions” be written in our hearts? Today is the day to begin this searching, the reflective moment for stopping to look deeply for possibilities. The snow will blanket us in silence and slow our active lives.

May you know the gifts of Advent that find their fulfillment at Christmas and beyond.

Make It Personal!

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blind, examination of consciousness, faith, Jesus, Luke, pity, question, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

There are so many ways to learn from the Scriptures. We can usually find literal meaning in the passages we read. Sometimes it is also really easy to see more than a literal meaning to the gospel stories. Today is a good example of that. (LK 18: 35-43)

When Jesus approaches the city of Jericho, he hears someone calling, “Jesus of Nazareth, have pity on me!” We already know that this man is blind, sitting on the roadside begging. (Could we be the blind man? Are we sometimes blind to what’s going on? Do we ever ask those around us for help?) Even though people try to get him to stop yelling, he keeps calling out for pity. (How persevering are we in our prayer?) Jesus has the man brought to him and asks the important question: “What do you want me to do for you?” (Would you be ready for the question? Would you dare to ask for something or would you just say as many of us often do: “Oh, I’m okay…I don’t want to bother you…”) The man was brave enough to acknowledge what was wrong with him: “Please let me see,” he said. (Are we willing to ask God for what we need, even if it exposes some weakness or sinful behavior?)

The reward for honesty about ourselves is clear in this story. Jesus answers immediately: “Have sight!” and it’s clear that it is the man’s faith in the power of Jesus to heal that allows the healing. (What is your faith quotient these days? Are you sure that if you have faith you will get what you need? Would you be willing in your request to believe that God knows better than you do what you need and what will be good for you?)

I like this way of approaching the gospels and see it as an examination of consciousness because I really have to be awake if I’m going to get to the depth of meaning in my search. This story was easy to interpret. It’s the answers to the questions, however, that take time and honest digging. Are you willing to give it a try?

Of Beams and Splinters

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Guardian Angel, hypocrites, Jesus, Luke, spiritual blindness, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, the spiritual center

I was lucky this past week during the retreat I was leading at the Spiritual Center where I live that quick action and skill avoided a serious accident. Participants were out in pairs pruning trees and observing how mindfully they could be in working together. Suddenly, a large branch that had been wind-tossed during a storm came down and left a small piece of bark in the eye of one of the participants. It was quickly removed (to my great relief) by another “guardian angel” in the group and the pruning continued.

You can, perhaps, guess that today’s gospel was the famous text from Luke 6 where Jesus uses hyperbole to make his point. He asks, “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye?” He sounds frustrated, even calling that kind of offender a hypocrite. “You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your own eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye!”

Even a speck of dust in my eye can be painful. I notice any such invasion right away. I should take note of that when I begin to speak about the failings of others that seem so offensive, and practice reminding myself each time I am rubbing my eye to see clearly that focusing on the gifts of others would be a better way to avoid spiritual blindness of any kind.

Lower the Nets

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asked, command, Jesus, Luke, Peter, Simon Peter, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Today’s gospel from Luke 5:1-11 recounts a rather unique way of finding followers for his ministry. The scene is familiar. Jesus is by the lake. Not walking as usual, however, he just gets into a boat belonging to the fisherman named Simon (Peter). The fishermen have already been out on the lake all night with nothing to show for their work and are washing their nets, ready to go home for the day – somewhat discouraged, I would guess. As if he is in charge of things at the lake, Jesus tells Simon to “put out into deep water and lower the nets for a catch.”

There could have been many responses to that directive. Simon could have said, “Are you crazy? Do you see what we’re doing here?” or “No way! We’re going home!” or any of a number of reactions to what seemed a ridiculous suggestion at that point. But Simon must have encountered Jesus before – or at least have heard of him – because he addressed him as “Master.” Then came the decision that changed Simon’s life. He stated the obvious but then acquiesced to a possibility that Jesus knew something that he, Simon, did not or simply that there was more in the command than a simple request. “Master,” Simon said,” we have worked all night and have caught nothing, BUT at your command I will lower the nets.”

Has God (or God’s envoy) ever asked you to do anything that seemed impossible? ridiculous? just nonsensical? Are you listening for that kind of challenge? Could it change your life? Just a thought…a call to be ready, just in case…

What’s in a Name?

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companionship, Jesus, St. Bartholomew, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, twelve apostles

Some of us were taught the names of the twelve apostles – the closest companions of Jesus during his public life – as they’re listed in the gospels. I get stuck sometimes when running the list but am always sure I could find them again if need be. There are also a couple of texts where we find Jesus calling one or another of these “Twelve” to follow him. What some may not be aware of (and what is rarely noticed) is that the apostle in the list whose feast is today, Bartholomew, is also the one to whom Jesus said “I saw you under the fig tree” whose name is Nathaniel!

Scholars have undoubtedly wrestled with this issue – or found a simple answer to it. I have just never heard any explanation. What it does remind me, however, is that we know very little about the close companions of Jesus but that they were more or less like all of us: faithful but sometimes clueless, obedient to the mission, and even passionate about it, regular folks who were not chosen for their scholarship or IQ but rather by their willingness and ability to follow the one who was unlike any other “Master,” who called them to a ministry of love and service that meant giving their lives to God, whatever that meant.

When the apostles said “Yes” to Jesus, they likely had no idea what it would cost but they gave it anyway. We might say the same thing in our living out of our commitments for the good of humanity and the love of God. Living every day is the only way it works. Opening ourselves and not worrying about becoming famous – or even whether people remember our names – is the way of close companionship with Christ. And that relationship is worth everything.

Feast of the Assumption

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Assumption, Assumption of Mary, humble, Jesus, Mary Mother of God, motherhood, The Magnificat, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

We Christians honor Mary, the Mother of Jesus, with many feasts and many personal devotions. We celebrate her as Queen of Heaven and have doctrines – like the one we proclaim today: the Assumption of Mary into heaven – which declares that unlike all other humans, she was taken bodily to heaven at the time of her death. This feast has been a tradition in the Church since the sixth century but only became doctrinal (believed as true by the institutional Church) in 1950, proclaimed by Pope Pius XII.

I often think of Mary and wonder how she would have handled all the titles we give her and all the homage that is paid to her. A humble maiden, I believe she would only have endured all the fanfare if certain that people understood it was/is prompted by the gift of her motherhood of Jesus. I wish there was more evidence from the Scriptures of the relationship between Jesus and Mary, as well as words from her about her role in salvation history. The gospels give us only 13 texts directly involving her (if I’m recalling correctly the information in Sister Elizabeth Johnson’s Book, Truly Our Sister).

Today’s gospel is – for me – the most perfect choice for this feast because it paints a picture of Mary as a conflicted teenager seeking the support of an older kinswoman during her early months of pregnancy, a normal thing to do, especially because she was as yet unmarried. At the same time, when she is with Elizabeth sharing the news of her impending motherhood, we have what has come to be known as “The Magnificat,” the declaration of how God has favored her as “most favored” among all women. (LK 1: 39-56)

Mary is quick to praise God when Elizabeth recognizes Mary’s situation (“Who am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”) and sees herself as God’s “lowly servant” while recognizing that she will “from this day” be called blessed by all generations. “the Almighty has done great things for me,” she says to Elizabeth, “and holy is his Name.” I can just see her bowing as she speaks those lines, taking no credit for worthiness but accepting that she has been chosen for this role, not knowing the future and what it holds…

The lesson for us is, I think, the same – perhaps not in scope but in willingness. No matter our age or situation in life, if we have yet to say “yes” to God’s choice of us, today may be the day to do so. If we have accepted our role in God’s plan, may we be reinvigorated in the living out of our call to carry Jesus in all we do, just as we are able each day.