God’s Song: Us!

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Ancient Songs Sung Anew, God, Lynn Bauman, Psalm 147, raise up, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

The Psalm for today’s liturgy is personalized by Lynn Bauman in a lovely way. Just reflecting on the first six verses, translated in a much more personal and lyrical manner than traditional English, gives us pause. See if you don’t agree. (Read aloud and stop to reflect on what is said, bringing our life situation now into the meaning, if you will.)

Hallelujah! My whole being longs to be a song in which you, my God, are always the refrain. So let this canticle of praise which is my life bring honor to your name. The music for this song began in ages past when you, O God, drew back the exiles from afar, when you rebuilt your ancient city called Jerusalem. And now it sings the healing of our shattered hearts, the binding up of all the wounds our world has caused. The chorus of stars, each named by you, sings out and adds its voice. It sings the majesty of God and wisdom’s boundless name. For God steps down and raises up in tenderness all those who live in grief; and just as surely God subverts all wickedness and casts the wicked in defeat upon the ground. (PS 147: 1-6, Ancient Songs Sung Anew)

(Can’t you just see God stepping down somewhere in the sky, picking you up out of whatever sadness clings to you and calling you – softly smiling – by your name…?)

Personnification

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Lynn Bauman, nourishment, praise God, psalm 98, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

On the verge of our Thanksgiving Day in the U.S.A. when we are being reminded of the gifts of God to us, we ought perhaps to stop and remember all of what comes from the earth to nourish us – as this was the goal and celebration of the first Thanksgiving meal here in our country. Our earth is a great gift that keeps on giving, regardless of how we misuse or ignore her participation in our lives.

In preparation for tomorrow, let us enter into a prayer of praise with the earth for the God who gives us all good gifts. Try to picture the prayer, PS 98 in images, vivid as they are, in the words of Lynn Bauman – and be sure to smile as you pray.

Praise God till all the earth itself becomes a song, till seas and all the waters flow and waves begin to dance with land and all the peoples sing. Let every river lift its hands to clap in time, while hills and valleys join in song to offer hospitality to the Holy One who comes to right our every wrong. This God will weigh the worth of everything that was, and is, and shall ever be, so mercy can be known in full and justice here be balanced with compassion.

Do I Measure Up?

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Friends of God, give, Lynn Bauman, promise, psalm 15, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, truth

Lynn Bauman, in his translation of the Psalms, characterizes Psalm 15, the psalm for today, as “Friends of God.” Who wouldn’t want to be in this circle? Here are some of the criteria listed in response to the initial questions to God about: Who may approach the summit of your mountain strong? Who may come invited to your presence there? Listen to a few of the requisite behaviors:

1. Those who live their lives devoid of blame, who do what is right, and from whose hearts truth is the only word;

2. Those who treat their neighbors as their own, their kind;

3. Those whose promise is as good as any word they ever give, even in the face of loss or gain;

4. Those who give and give and ever give again without hope of getting in return…

I think I have some climbing to do before reaching the summit of that holy mountain but the good news, as I see it, is that God is standing up there, maybe with a megaphone (depending upon the distance between us) cheering us on with lots of enthusiasm…so we’ll all get there…together!

God’s Dwelling Place

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Basilica of St. John Lateran, Corinthians, God, Lynn Bauman, psalm 46, refuge, St. Paul, strength, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

I used to think it strange that the Roman Catholic Church counts in the daily list of “saints” a Church building. That was back in the days of my most concrete way of thinking. Today I know that the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome is symbolic for many reasons, not the least of which is the fact that it has survived from the early part of the fourth century, the oldest church in Europe. Yes, it has been renovated, having survived several fires and even an earthquake, but as such has become a symbol of the ongoing presence of the Church—the home of God, so to speak, and as the site of papal installation until 1870. It still stands as one of the most beautiful and significant churches in Rome.

The symbolic value of the Church is seen today in the lectionary Psalm 46, chosen for the celebratory Mass of this day. Listen to the images found in the translation of Lynn Bauman (more powerful if read aloud).

God is for us a place of refuge and a mighty strength always present to us in our time of need…Suppose an earthquake rumbles through our world, or a mountain tips and tumbles into the sea; should these make us afraid and be the cause of dread? Though storms may blow and the seas themselves begin to foam, and though the foundations of the world are shaken to their core, Our God is the God of thousands, the God of myriad beings, like a stronghold to our ancestors, our God is with us now.

As if that were not enough, St. Paul tells the Corinthians today: Brothers and sisters, You are God’s building…Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? AND the temple of God, which you are, is holy. (1 COR 3)

Think on these things, if you will!

Proceed with Caution

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awareness, best practices, blessed, Lynn Bauman, psalm 112, reconciliation, resolution, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Here we sit with knowledge of unprecedented numbers of votes having been cast in our national elections – a very good thing – and with incredibly close numbers of those votes for each of the two presidential candidates – not such a good thing. I say that because that split in the vote is so indicative of the divide in our country. More than ever before as we continue to see new numbers with each report, we cannot imagine how a reconciliation will be achieved. I do not mean, of course, that I would ever hope for a world or even a country where everyone held all the same ideas, where there was no diversity; that would be boring! So what do I mean?

Lynn Bauman’s translation of the psalm for today (PS 112) speaks of how we need to proceed in life, and I think it is a fitting way to move forward. It begins with Hallelujah! and continues in a statement of what we might call “best practices.” See if you don’t agree.

I speak in praise of all the truly blessed upon the earth. They stand in awe, aware of God, and listen carefully to every breath and word God utters. (That would certainly take a great deal of attention! Later in the psalm we hear a darker side of life and how “the blessed” manage to keep the faith): In all the dark and bitter places of their lives the light remains and brightly burns with mercy and compassion, for these they balance with righteous laws.

As the days pass and the outcome seems close to a resolution, I can only hope that our “better angels” are with us as we strive for peace and compromise.

Hidden Blessings

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challenges, hidden blessings, Lynn Bauman, psalm 128, St. Paul, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Psalm 128 tells us quite clearly today (in the translation of Lynn Bauman): Your life is filled with hidden blessings which overflow from your hands—the gift of many labors. For it is God, the center of the heart, who prospers life until its end.

We might not feel that this season is full to overflowing with blessings but if we can look more deeply into things and take the long view we might agree with St. Paul. Speaking for myself, if I look at the rhythm of my days, I see that my work has changed significantly during the pandemic. It has become, at the same time, more simple and more challenging. Simpler in the tasks of service to my housemates: trips to the post office and the bank with proper precautions, time at home together praying and even planning and executing new menus for meals which teaches me that the challenges are not as daunting as I thought and the results and benefits of a successful meal are better than I expected.

The more challenging side of life is trying to maintain a work schedule that keeps the Sophia Center going. Challenge is primarily in the realm of technology so I have learned to admit what I can and cannot manage and it becomes easier to ask for help. I am blessed with wonderful women who provide that. The upside of navigating the shifts in how we present and participate is the depth of sharing as well as the fact that participants can attend whether from downtown Binghamton or in the far reaches of Florida or the Northwest USA. Our zoom calls keep digging the roots of our sharing deeper and our recognition of our oneness beating in our hearts.

All in all, I am reminded by Psalm 128 to look for the “hidden blessings” and remember that I will surely find God in the search.

Metanoia

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Ancient Songs Sung Anew, I call your name, John Foley, Lynn Bauman, metanoia, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, Turn To Me, turn toward God

In Lynn Bauman’s book on the psalms, Ancient Songs Sung Anew, the commentary speaks of the concept of metanoia, one of my favorite terms for reconciliation or turning around. In a more exact rendering, it is Greek for “after or beyond the mind or thought.” It suggests a change of mind or heart, a spiritual conversion or even a re-formation. There is (of course!) a song by the Saint Louis Jesuits that speaks well of that process, with God saying: ‘Turn to me, O, turn and be saved,” says the Lord, “For I am God. There is no other, none beside me. I call your name.” It’s that last part that always makes me stand to sing it and move my body slowly to the music in a circle while almost stationary (just tiny movements of my feet) that takes me in the opposite direction to where I was facing.

Hearing God’s call is always a motivator but we need to be still and attentive to hear the voice. It helps to use our bodies to listen. Try it. (Song on YouTube “Turn To Me,” by John Foley) Be sure to listen to the verses…Try it. You may like it.

A Tender Testament

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Ancient Songs Sung Anew, grace, lift up, Lynn Bauman, psalm 121, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, Your hand shall guide me

The psalm from today’s lectionary in most Christian denominations is a familiar and consoling one. At least the first two lines are generally recognized. (“I lift up my eyes from the mountains from whence comes my help. My help is from the Lord who made heaven and earth.” PS 121) The psalmist seems to begin in these verses to be stating his confidence in God and then changes his address to his listeners, giving reasons for all of us to have trust in God.

Lynn Bauman has chosen to frame the psalm as a direct address to God, a kind of testament to relationship, one might say, which I found quite beautiful this morning. I write it here as a streaming totality, a love letter maybe, that flows from the pen of a grateful servant. See what you think.

“The summits of the mountains draw my eyes and lift them upward and beyond to you, the secret source of all my being. For in the height and depths of you, in you alone, I find the grace and help I need to walk upon this path called earth and never stumble nor go astray. For you as guard and guide keep watch; you will not sleep by day or night as we do. I walk into your wakefulness; your guarding eye, your guiding hand protects and shades my way. The sun by day, the moon by night provide no better light than yours, no better shade. And in the shadows of the mountains deep you preserve me from its evils. And in this traffic of the heart you shield my life and keep my soul in all its many wanderings, until at last I come to stand, my weary feet now firm upon the borders of your land, eternity.” (Ancient Songs Sung Anew, p.315)

Memorial Weekend

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bravery, C.S. Lewis, Lynn Bauman, Memorial Day, patriotism, surprised by joy, thankful, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

It’s not always easy to feel the joy that’s expressed in Psalm 47, the response in today’s lectionary readings. (“All you peoples, clap your hands; shout to God with cries of gladness.”) Usually when we approach this weekend on the calendar there is a deep sense of celebration but, even in happier times, there is a tinge of sadness as we remember all the brave men and women who have given their lives to keep us safe, especially in wartime. This year it is even more complicated as we face this weekend from the midst of COVID 19, the most brutal and dangerous disease of our time, not limited to warring countries but spread across the entire world. There is a lot of fear of infection as well as frustration and anger toward people who seem to disregard warnings of how celebration can lead to infection.

In Lynn Bauman’s commentary on the psalm today I read a paragraph that got me thinking. He says the following:

There are times when, as C.S. Lewis said, we are “surprised by joy.” The psalmist may be caught in one of those moments of surprise when the knowledge of God overwhelms human consciousness and history is seen in the light of divine reality. Have you ever had such a glimpse where everything shifted and you saw the world and your circumstances in an entirely new, transcendent light?

While this may be a little off the mark, I can point to one such experience of a Memorial Day weekend a few years ago when I was watching the celebration from the White House on television. Usually well-done events, this was the first time I remember famous people – either celebrities or military leaders – taking the parts of “real-life soldiers” and recounting their experiences of war. The most touching moment was at the conclusion of each narration when the narrator moved out from the stage to the audience to embrace and thank the real life hero of the story they had just told (or the family if the hero was deceased). The overwhelming sense that arose in me was a mix of gratitude for their bravery and patriotism and a recognition of the strong bonds of camaraderie as they spoke of their comrades-in-arms with whom they had served. I actually felt a joy for the gift of life in the United States where daily we can see or read about diverse outpourings of what can only be named as love of country or fellow citizens. I think at this moment of the healthcare workers who are spending themselves to save lives of people whom they do not know but whom they serve nevertheless…and whom they celebrate as the lucky ones are wheeled from the hospital on their way home.

Tears are indications of sadness, pain or joy and this weekend is about all of those feelings. May we be thankful for the good and forgiving for what we find disturbing this weekend and may we always be grateful, respectful and caring for the life we have been given in this vast, complicated and beautiful country that is ours.

Bowing to Beauty

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Ancient Songs Sung Anew, awe, child, humility, Jesus, Lynn Bauman, psalm 2, St. Paul, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

I found a surprise today from the Acts of the Apostles. Paul is in Antioch, preaching in the synagogue, telling the story of Jesus. Toward the end of the text, speaking of the Resurrection he says, “…what God promised our fathers …as is written in the second psalm…”

Although there are many references to the Hebrew Scriptures in the New Testament, I don’t recall ever reading any specific reference to chapter or verse, like “the second Psalm.” I wondered at that so I went, of course, to Psalm 2 and found exactly what Paul was referencing in speaking of Jesus, a very familiar verse. (“You are my son; this day I have begotten you.” )

Looking for more as an expansion of the message of Psalm 2, I found from Lynn Bauman a lovely, inclusive translation*. “God says, ‘You are a child of mine, this day I birth you.'” A bit later in the psalm we see the responsibility accompanying God’s favor to the people, as the psalmist proclaims: Learn service to the God of earth and heaven. In humility and awe draw close, come near.

I look up from my computer and see the sun dappling my prayer plant as it bows in beauty before me. The tiniest of breezes ruffles the leaves. The birds are singing and the sun continues to warm the day. How can I not “draw close in awe and humility” to God in the presence of these beautiful signs and the expectation of what God holds for us this day.

*Ancient Songs Sung Anew, p. 3)