Hope-filled Holiday

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anxious, Elizabeth, endure, Mary, Memorial Day, pandemic, persevere, re-connect, rejoice, St. Paul, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, Zephaniah

Zephaniah, the ninth of the twelve minor prophets, is a rarely quoted text in the daily lectionary. Thus, it is a memorable moment when we read a message like the joyful one that is the first reading for today. Listen:

Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem…Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged! The Lord, your God, is in your midst. He will rejoice with you with gladness and renew you in his love. He will sing joyfully because of you…

It was significant today for me to read such an account of emotional experiences as I had just spent a heartfelt half-hour reading about families and other groups that have been spending this weekend re-connecting with loved ones. All across our country people are gathering in celebration of the incipient end of the pandemic. One after another, families and friends tell of the joy they have experienced upon spending time with one another. The stories are full of hugs, kisses, laughter and new stories from over the past year when such behaviors were not allowed. Love was the over-arching theme and the possibility of actually touching one another seemed almost miraculous. All of it gave credence to the second reading for this day from Paul’s letter to the Romans. We would do well to take his words to heart:

Brothers and sisters: Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor. Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise hospitality…

Above and beyond all that, there was the consummate example of love and hospitality—my favorite in the entire gospel (at least today…) where Mary “went in haste” to her cousin Elizabeth. Mary was a pregnant teenager seriously needing solace and she found it in Elizabeth (undoubtedly held tightly in her arms). How similar are some of today’s stories to Mary’s, how needy are we all of comfort after the past sixteen months!

May we find joy in the Lord as Zephaniah did, camaraderie as Paul and the early followers of Jesus did, and comfort at the possible end to the pandemic as Mary did in the person of her relative. And may we all remember on this Memorial Day to thank God for all the good that has been done for us.

Assessments

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daily practice, inner strength, Lent, navigate, persevere, routine, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

So now again it is March—and raining. The capricious month is back. Has it come quickly for you or does it seem as if we have been dealing with unexpected happenings for a very long season? “In like a lion, out like a lamb,” we say. I think the lion has been with us for a very long time. Can you go back in memory to early March of last year (for us 3/12/20)? Could you have even conjectured what was brewing? And how have you navigated events since then? Have you settled into a routine that allows you some sense of achievement or is lassitude a constant companion? Who and/or what are you missing that has been impossible or restricted over these past months? Have there been any benefits? How has your spiritual life survived/thrived?

So many questions…so many changes. Should we say today: “Happy New Year,” just hoping against hope that the vaccines that have been approved will be an answer for us if we continue for a specified time to follow the protocols of mask-wearing and hand-washing and social distancing? (That seems like a BIG IF). Are we up to the task ahead of us? (Perhaps we are lucky that it’s Lent, the season of disciplining ourselves for the good of the whole.) If we’re still waiting for our “start-up” practice to begin in earnest—for our inner strength to kick in—perhaps we ought to add a prayer practice that will get us back to a routine—even if it’s just “Good morning, God! Thank you for this day!” when we wake up and “Good night, God. Thank you for this day” before we sleep each night.

We seem to be on the verge of better days. Let us hope for that but persevere no matter what is ahead of us. God bless us all!

John of the Cross

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contemplate, persevere, prayer, silence, St. John of the Cross, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, transformation

When I wrote yesterday’s post, I wasn’t conscious that we were on the doorstep of John of the Cross. I know that there are several “Greats” celebrated in December, but being on vacation has a way of erasing any sense of date or time…It’s quite delightful but not so good for “devotion to duty” as in a daily practice. I say that because yesterday’s post seems to me a surprisingly appropriate introduction to this memorial.

Discipline and self-denial are not popular terms in our era but, in truth, they might be the best – if not the only – way to find what many of us long for: deep and meaningful relationship with the Divine. Spiritual author, mystic, founder of communities of Carmelite monks and nuns, spiritual director to many including St. Teresa of Avila and Doctor of the Church, John of the Cross is one of the “bright lights” of Christianity. As we celebrate his feast, let us consider some of his thoughts for reflection.

Silence is God’s first language.

Where there is no love, pour love, and you will draw love out.

To love is to be transformed into what we love. To love God is therefore to be transformed into God.

Never give up prayer, and should you find dryness and difficulty, persevere in it for this very reason. God often desires to see what love your soul has, and love is not tried by ease and satisfaction.

However softly we speak, God is so close to us that he can hear us; nor do we need wings to go in search of him, but merely to seek solitude and contemplate him within ourselves, without being surprised to find such good Guest there.

Music Lessons

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holy hour, joy, persevere, remembrance, singing, St. Cecelia, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Today we sit in the midst of a distressing “moment” in our country’s history (only the fourth incidence of a presidential impeachment inquiry) while also remembering the tragic event of the presidential assassination in 1963. Today is also the feast of St. Cecilia, patron of musicians. Many people would say I am stretching a bit to throw St. Cecilia into that mix but I would beg to differ.

At our “holy hour” last week from the Sophia Center, we celebrated those who step up to serve in difficult times like natural disasters or mass shootings, those whose lives are dedicated to services like the military or as first responders and people who quietly “do good” each day. The most moving moment for me and for many others was at the invitation to stand and sing all four verses of America the Beautiful with our voices being the only musical instrumentation. It was a stirring – one could easily say “emotional” – event that could never have been as meaningful as a spoken recitation of the lyrics would have been. It was a reminder both of the beauty and history of our country and the strength of character of those who have made the country great.

We need music. We need concerts and “singalongs” and hymns in religious services both joyful and those filled with sorrow. Music helps us to express emotions that are deeper than words. Today might be a good day to find some music in our personal “favorites” file and allow ourselves the emotions of remembrance, sadness or despair, pleading for peace, hope for resolution or seeking God’s grace to persevere. See what you can find and listen with your heart. Feel better and give thanks.

Found In Translation

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endure, God is love, happiness, hope, hospitality, love one another, New American Bible, persevere, Romans, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

I was always envious of people who could quote Scripture with chapter and verse. I had my favorite passages – most of them short, like “God is Love” – but was usually only vaguely aware of where to find them in the Bible. The exception was Romans 12:12 (most likely because of the double 12) that reminded me to “base your happiness on your hope in Christ.”

I read the first lectionary text for today (ROM 12:9-16) at least three times looking for my favorite line, disappointed at not seeing it there. I concluded finally that perhaps the translation had been updated from my 1970 edition of the New American Bible. It finally occurred to me during my third attentive walk through each line that the whole text is an amazing pattern for life! Here’s a smattering of it. See if you don’t agree.

Brothers and sisters: let love be sincere…hold onto what is good; love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor…Rejoice in hope (new vs. 12!), endure in affliction, persevere in prayer…exercise hospitality…

Which line calls to you today?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Red Sky In the Morning

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affliction, bless, cheerfulness, diligence, endure, evil, generosity, good, hate, honor, love, persevere, prayer, rejoice, rejoice in hope, Romans, see, sincere, spirit, spiritual growth, St. Paul, Thanksgiving, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, weep, zeal

Sometimes opportunity is so fleeting that we easily miss it if we aren’t paying attention. Take, for example, the coming of light to the sky. That’s something that happens every morning so it’s often taken for granted. Today, because of the shift to Daylight Saving Time, I was happy to see that it was in process as I started the trek downstairs for my coffee. Had I not been paying attention when I sat to write on my return I would have missed a breathtaking red sky whose glory dissipated within two minutes. I was almost too busy reading Paul’s staccato-like advice to the Romans in chapter 12 to look out the window. Both “feasts for the eyes” were worthy of a pause.

I could have just glided over that reading (ROM 12:5-26) because of what seemed self-explanatory as well as familiar. I mean, why would I need to think about how to exercise our differing gifts as I read: “let us exercise them: if ministry, in ministering; if one is a teacher, in teaching; if one exhorts, in exhortation…” since it follows automatically in that way. I got stopped, however, by the last three elements on the list: “if one contributes, in generosity; if one is over others, with diligence; if one does works of mercy, with cheerfulness.” Generosity, diligence and cheerfulness are certainly qualities to be pondered.

Had I not been slowed down by those three important words, I could have missed the brilliance of what came next. I find it impossible not to share the totality of this message because every bit of Paul’s exhortation is so vital to our spiritual growth. If we took each one of the following clauses for a day’s reflection we would be much richer when Thanksgiving rolls around. And then it would be a good practice to start again for the season of Advent! But I’m getting ahead of myself. I plan just to bask in the sunshine of this morning and read the text – the entire remainder – aloud, to hear Paul’s words again as if for the first time.

Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor. Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise  hospitality. Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Have the same regard for one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly.

Blessings on us all!

 

Edge Walking

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anger, balance, comforted, despair, edge, enthusiasm, jeremiah, Las Vegas, life, Meg Wheatley, mourning, overwhelmed, perseverance, persevere, perspective, prayer, presence, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, tired, violence, weeping

On days like today when we have been once again faced with senseless, unspeakable violence, this time on a scale not seen before in our history, it is difficult to even begin to speak of it. My first thought this morning was of a line from Scripture: A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more. (JER 31:15) As we turn in prayer toward the people of Las Vegas – for that seems the only thing to do as the tally of dead and wounded continues to rise – we must lament, as individuals and as a nation. And in the face of the distress in this dawning day, I turn to Meg Wheatley for a way to persevere.

Presence, she writes, is the only way to walk the edge of chaos. We have to be as nimble and awake as a high-wire artist, sensitive to the slightest shift of wind, of circumstances, emotions. We may find this high-wire exhausting at first, but there comes a time when we rejoice in our skillfulness. We learn to know this edge, to keep our balance, and even dance a bit at incalculable heights.

Walking the edge never stops being dangerous. At any moment, when we’re tired, overwhelmed, fed-up, sick, we can forget where we are and get ourselves in trouble. We can lapse into despair or anger. Or we can get so caught up in our own enthusiasm and passion that we lose any sense of perspective or timing, alienate friends, and crash in an exhausted mess.

The edge is where life happens. But let’s notice where we are and not lose our balance. (Perseverance, p.131)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dancing with the Stars

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Bindi Irwin, Dancing with the Stars, gifts, hope, joy of life, loss, persevere, psalm 131, quiet, rejoice, soul, St. Paul, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Last night I commented that the reason I like watching the television show Dancing with the Stars (besides the dancing) is that the celebrity participants seem, for the most part, like “real people” who are excited about learning a skill and appreciative of the camaraderie of the experience. Personalities emerge, of course, for better or for worse, but at this point in the 21st season, I find it all delightful. One of the stand-outs is Bindi Irwin, the daughter of Australian environmentalist Steve Irwin who died in 2006 from a stingray barb injury. Bindi was 8 years old. In addition to her talent as a dancer (whose partner is the amazing, 5-time winner Derek Hough) Bindi exudes the joy of life at every moment. She is authentically bubbly in spite of the devastating loss of her father that remains, and now even in the midst of the pain and injury during practice. She claims that complaining is never useful.

I thought St. Paul would have appreciated Bindi and I hear echoes of her comments in today’s Psalm 131. Paul says, “Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them…if one contributes, in generosity; if one is over others, with diligence; if one does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be sincere…Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.” (ROM 12:5-16) Psalm 131 seems a humble response to Paul’s exhortation: O Lord, my heart is not proud, nor are my eyes haughty; I busy not myself with great things, nor with things too sublime for me. Nay, rather I have stilled and quieted my soul like a weaned child. Like a weaned child on its mother’s lap, so is my soul within me… Good advice from the great ones of old and the example of a lovely young lady.