Words

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gentleness, patience, perseverance, psalm 146, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, Timothy, virtues

There are a lot of words in the USCCB readings for this Sunday. I suppose it would be only fair to choose a balance of difficult – if there be such – and joyful words, but today I am filled with happy gratitude. I am a guest at a lovely, large, friendly house of the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Wilton, Connecticut and feel only the warmth of hospitality that fits Psalm 146 where I read: Praise the Lord, my soul! or an alternative response of Alleluia!

What prompted me initially to consider the words was the beginning of the reading from Paul’s first letter to Timothy which held the following advice. Brothers, (but of course he meant “and sisters,”) pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience and gentleness. (1 TM 6:11) That’s a pretty big order but in this house I am certain that the effort Sisters make toward those virtues is all wrapped up in perseverance which is, I believe, all that God desires from all of us.

Today seems a good day to reflect on those six words, saying them aloud looking in a mirror to see how I find each looking back at me and which, if any, appear in shadow today. Perhaps I might then bring the “shadowy” ones into the sunlight that is already shining brightly outside my window. (Remember patience and gentleness are both in the list and God asks only for our best!)

Inner Healing

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Alan Cohen, compassion, external actions, freedom, God, healing, ills, inner methods, justice, psalm 146, solemn promises, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, unbroken faith, wounds

There is a subtle theme of healing in what I have read this morning, first in an alternate reading of Psalm 146 and then in a quote from Alan Cohen. There is so much to be healed in the world right now that seems impossible to correct that I continue to be drawn to working on inner methods rather than external actions. The psalm and its commentary seem to me to segue into Cohen’s thought and give me an impetus for the flow of my day.

PS 146:5-8 The infinite source of heaven and earth and brimming seas keeps unbroken faith and solemn promises. For the downtrodden God is justice; for the hungry God is food. For those in prison God is freedom; all our blindness God can cure. God’s compassion flows to the broken hearted and seeks out those whose ways are just, for God loves the stranger in our midst and holds the widows and the orphans close.

COMMENTARY: This Psalm speaks not merely of personal wounds, but of political and social wounds and ills as well. To sing a song of healing for the world is part of the redemptive work that human beings are called to. Do you see yourself as a healer?

COHEN: Do what is healing for your spirit and without effort you will offer the world healing in return. (prayer) Direct me to the work that will feed my soul that I may feed others as well.

Recognize Your Potential!

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compassion, faith, freedom, healing, Henri Nouwen, ills, joy, justice, miracles, political, poor, psalm 146, social, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, turbulence, wounded healers

At this mid-point in the season of Advent, we are reminded by Psalm 146 of the enormity God’s power to heal our ills and, if we are willing, our potential for participation in healing the world. I am not speaking here of the “miracles of modern medicine” – which are, of course, extraordinary. The psalm focuses on deeper issues in our lives and includes political and social ills that need healing as well. One translation expresses it as follows.

For the downtrodden, God is justice, for the hungry, God is food. For those in prison, God is freedom; all our blindness God can cure. God’s compassion flows to the broken-hearted and seeks out those whose ways are just, for God loves the stranger in our midst and holds the widows and the orphans close. God delights in overthrowing evil. The reign of God shall know no end; it spans the generations. Hallelujah! (vs. 6-9)

I often think, when reading messages like this, of our Sisters who have served in very poor countries in times of turbulence – like Central America in the 1980’s – and how they often spoke of the deep joy of the people in the midst of their troubles. It was faith in God and the strength of their communities that allowed joy to be the stronghold of their lives. Thus, they became what spiritual writer, Henri Nouwen, called “wounded healers” to one another. This morning’s commentary asks how we are or can become the same. How can I – how can you – participate in the healing of our world today?

 

 

 

 

 

Ephphatha!

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blind, blindness, deafness, Ephphatha, fearless, Isaiah, letter of james, Mark, openness, prejudice, psalm 146, show no partiality, sight, strength, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

The vision of the prophet Isaiah today (35:4-7) is full of energy and good news. My heart was lifted to hope as I felt his words: THUS SAYS THE LORD! Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God…who comes to save you…Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf will be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag and the tongue of the mute will sing. Streams will burst forth in the desert, rivers in the steppe. The burning sands will become pools and the thirsty ground springs of water! Good news indeed, which the psalmist picks up again in Ps. 146, speaking about God giving sight to the blind and raising up those who are bowed down.

When I read of Jesus curing the blind man in MK 7:31-37, it appeared that the easy topic for today was gratitude for all of God’s gifts, especially of healing of the senses and the earth, but the second reading from the Letter of James (2:1-5) wouldn’t be ignored. Show no partiality, James says, when dealing with other people. Sometimes our prejudices are based on what we see and hear and sometimes they are so subtle that we do not recognize the motivation for our leanings toward or against another person. James speaks of blatant things: gold rings and fine clothes vs. shabbiness in dress. Sometimes a regional or foreign accent draws or repels us – or sometimes it is religious or political party affiliation…The list is endless. So when the Scriptures speak of blindness or deafness I think it is clear that in addition to our physical senses, we need to be attentive to openness on deeper levels. Ephphatha! Jesus cries. Be opened! – the key I will carry to observe my thoughts and actions throughout this day.