Everyday Saints

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All Saints Day, Matthew, Revelation, saints, survive, The Beatitudes, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

On this feast of All Saints, I look at the time at the top of my computer screen as I type and find that it is – ironically – 9:11 a.m. Last night the winds were howling (How fitting for Halloween) and rain was pelting on our windows late into the night. Thinking of California as I lay awake, how I wished that we could stop the wind and send the rain to put out the fires there! I have a feeling of devastation that is different from 9/11/2001 but still catastrophic as I pray for the safety of our Sisters of the Los Angeles province and all of the people on the news whose houses have been reduced to ashes.

With all of that in mind, I turn to Scripture readings for the day where I find “These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress” from the Book of Revelation. That sounds a little like today so then I ask myself, “Who are the saints of today?” I am quick to answer: “First responders.” But I can’t stop there. The networks of people who step up at catastrophic moments are legion and then there are the everyday saints who respond to their neighbors as a matter of course, wherever there is a need. See today’s gospel for the Beatitudes as an explanation of that kind of sainthood. (MT 5: 1-12)

We have our favorite canonized saints, of course: Francis and Clare, Therese and Teresa…and even some named in our own lifetime now – Pope Saint John XXIII, etc. On this day, however, my prayer list is wide and long of good people that I celebrate and for whom I give praise and gratitude to God. Why not share their names if you know them and pray to or for them, as the case may be? Maybe you will hear your own name coming back at you from this “great cloud of witnesses.”

What To Say?

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Creator, Holy Trinity, Redeemer, Revelation, sanctifier, spirit, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, trinitarian God

Today Christians mark the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity. Having searched for something erudite but understandable to say about this feast that speaks of an incomprehensible truth, I will say only what I have found to be helpful in the description (not to say definition) of the Trinitarian God, *the Three-in-One, *the Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier, *the First Cause who manifested this and every other universe, who became incarnate as a human being to teach us how to live and die, and who finally left but remains in Spirit to guide our walk through this world.

You see how voluminous it could become if I launched into theological constructs or philosophical treatises. Because that is all “above my pay grade” and would not serve here anyway, I prefer to consider this mystery of faith for its meaning in my own life and offer only the words of the Gospel Acclamation for today as homage on this feast.

Glory be to God who is, who was and who is to come! Alleluia! Alleluia! (RV 1:8)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Epiphany Today

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Christ, compassion, epiphany, essential meaning, experience, insight, intuitive, occurrence, perception, recognition, Revelation, success, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, universal love

I just read my post from yesterday to refresh my memory of what I said or didn’t say about Epiphany. As it happens, I think that post turned out to be a bit of an example of the meaning of the word. As celebrated in Christianity, the Epiphany is the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles represented by the Magi: a moment of great revelation. In a modern dictionary definition it is seen as “a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.”

I was talking yesterday about the possibility of overcoming fear through simple, commonplace practices of eating, walking and talking to a friend. It isn’t the practices themselves, however, that overcome the fear. It is rather our recognition of our ability to achieve success in those things that gives us new confidence in facing what frightens or stops us.

It is all well and good for us to celebrate the revelation of Jesus to the larger world 2000 years ago but that revelation is only “activated” in our day if something related to the event is triggered in our lives. If we consider the most important lessons we have learned from the life of Christ, which I believe to be universal love and compassion, it would seem that our job is to manifest the reality of those lessons in our daily lives.

What does love of neighbor mean in 2018? How are we able to practice compassion when we see a need – either spiritual or physical? It takes keeping our hearts open and, yes, “eating our vegetables” to push us beyond our limits – one step at a time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Saints?

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canonization, darkness, God's children, heart of God, holy, John, Matthew, positive, psalm 24, Revelation, sainthood, saints, The Beatitudes, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

I knew, of course, that yesterday was Halloween, i.e. “All Hallows’ Eve” but it’s still a bit of a shock this morning to wake up in November! Suddenly the trees are bare and the temperature outside is so low that one can hardly hold on any more to the season of autumn. It’s rather ironic that we celebrate many of our grandest holidays during the darkest time of the year. Perhaps it’s necessary that it be that way to keep us positive through the darkness. We begin today in Christianity with the feast of All Saints.

If we ask what constitutes “sainthood” we can expect many different answers. Dictionary definitions abound, some of which pose further questions like: Are Christians saints after they die or while they are still living? There is an answer to that for Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians whose Churches “require certain procedures before people can be officially named saints; this procedure is called canonization.” But there are two notes on the internet that make me happiest.

1. A statement: Saint is the French word for “holy.”
2. A question: How does the Bible define a saint?

If we look at today’s lectionary texts, each of the readings gives us an image that might move one to deeper pondering on the above question. The vision in the Book of Revelation has shining images of “a great multitude, wearing white robes and carrying palm branches in their hands…those who have survived the time of great distress…” (Ch. 7). Psalm 24 speaks of the people “who long to see God’s face, those whose hands are sinless and whose hearts are clean, who desire not what is vain.” John’s first letter tells us that “we are God’s children now” and that when all is revealed “we shall be like God…” (1 JN 2).

I thought the choice of gospel passage for this holy day was brilliant when I read the chosen text: Matthew 5:1-12, known to us as The Beatitudes. Coming to embody the qualities of those who are blessed listed in this passage must surely qualify us as “sainted” or “holy.” Just to read them quickly won’t get us there. We truly need to allow them to penetrate the deepest cave of our hearts and then to shine out of us in love that is humble, merciful, peacemaking…reflecting the love of God.

So perhaps as we move into this new month we can make a new (or renewed) determination to be those saints that may not yet be formally recognized but who are already held as such in the heart of God.

 

 

 

 

This Day

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Bible, God's dwelling, holy cards, human race, John, love one anpther, Revelation, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, today

When I was young my Bible was a home for a collection of “holy cards” – some commemorating events or people who had died but others sporting prayers or poetry like “I am the mother of a priest…” (my grandmother) or “a prayer for religious vocations.” This morning as I read the text from the Book of Revelation in today’s lectionary, the beginning of one of those prayers popped into my mind. It said: “Today is mine to mar or make; O keep me strong and true…” I wondered where it came from but then looked again at REV 21:1-5 and really heard the visionary’s words proclaiming that God’s dwelling is with the human race…God will dwell with them and they will be his people…Behold, I make all things new. Following this covenantal statement was Jesus saying: I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (JN 13:34-35)

I realize more and more lately that living each day “like the first or the last one” (as John Denver once sang in his song about Alaska) is the only sane way to proceed. Doing our best is all God asks, I think, and all we should be asking of ourselves and others. Recognition that perfection is likely still out of our reach and making peace with that seems enough to go on as the sun comes back for another round, another chance at loving. So good luck to us today, I say, as we keep in mind whatever prayer of intention will “keep us strong and true.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synchronicity

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Carl Jung, Cynthia Bourgeault, John, Luke, psalm 119, Revelation, spirit, synchronicity, the Kingdom of God is among you, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, understanding, wisdom, Wisdom Schools

Years ago I learned the term synchronicity that describes a concept developed by psychologist Carl Jung to describe an “acausal connecting principle in which events, both large and small, in the external world might align to the experience of the individual, perhaps mirroring or echoing personal concerns or thoughts.” (Merriam Webster)

Today I am off to North Carolina where a grand experiment will take place. People from all over this country and beyond will gather for a “mega wisdom school” with Cynthia Bourgeault. There will be over 200 people spending a week together to delve the Wisdom tradition of Christianity, presented by Cynthia and shepherded through the different practices by a number of “interns” who have participated in numerous but smaller events during the past decade. Being part of the planning and execution for this event has been a great privilege and, at some moments, overwhelming. The opportunity to gather with those who have shared some part of this inner journey with me will be a great joy.

So why should I be surprised when today’s first reading begins: In Wisdom is a spirit intelligent, holy, unique, manifold, subtle, agile, clear, unstained, certain, not baneful, loving the good, keen, unhampered, beneficent, kindly, firm, secure, tranquil, all-powerful, all-seeing and pervading all spirits…(WIS 7:22) And, as if that were not enough to calm any nervousness in me as I make final preparations for departure, Psalm 119 adds: The revelation of your words sheds light, giving understanding to the simple (vs. 130). The gospel acclamation proclaims, I am the vine, you are the branches, says the Lord: whoever remains in me bears much fruit (JN 15:5) and in the gospel I hear Jesus attest that The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed…for behold, the Kingdom of God is among you. (LK 17:20)

It’s clear to me, if I believe Professor Jung, that today must be the start of something great. As I look up from my computer screen I see a sky painted pink with the promise of light breaking through and I am grateful for all the messages of this and every morning. I have no idea what the week will hold of miracles but will report as I am able as the week unfolds. Blessings and beauty be yours today and all days!

 

The Power of Words

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Jesus, language, Luke, prophesy, Psalm 103, psalm 119, Revelation, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, words

All three readings for this morning speak of words. The Book of Revelation (10:8-11) and the Psalm (119, vs. 103) create strong visual images. The first is of “a voice from heaven” to John that commands him to swallow a scroll (!) after which he is to prophesy – apparently about what he has eaten which, by the way, soured his stomach. The psalmist sings of the word of God which is “sweeter than honey to the mouth.” In the gospel (LK 19:45-48), Jesus has some harsh words for those selling things in the temple saying that they have turned the temple from a house of prayer into a den of thieves. It seems that “every day he was teaching in the temple area while the chief priests, the scribes and the leaders of the people” were trying unsuccessfully to silence him – actually by putting him to death. The reason for the failure of this project, according to Luke is that “all the people were hanging on his words.”

There is so much here to contemplate! Language is the most fundamental method of communication and even the way we “deliver the message” can change it entirely. People with the gift of oratory can woo us into compliance – sometimes without our knowing it. Tone of voice can make us cower and sometimes those messages received can do even more damage than “souring” our stomachs. When there is a sign language interpreter at church the ritual becomes more profound for me if I listen and watch at the same time. In singing I find that my words of praise or longing touch me deeply as I hope they are touching God. Words have power for great good or devastating destruction.

All of this leads me to spend the day watching and listening to the words that inform my day, assuring that what comes out of my mouth adds to the building up rather than the tearing down of my personal “universe.” Let my first task be to wish you “Good morning!”

Fan the Flame!

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ask, beggar, clarity, embers, flame of love, Jesus, Luke, restored, Revelation, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

There is a caution in this morning’s first reading, taken from the beginning of the Book of Revelation – a book that is filled with symbolism and “apocalyptic” language. The section of which I speak this morning, however, is easily understood and calls me to self-reflection. It says, in part: “You have endurance and have suffered for my name and you have not grown weary. Yet…you have lost the love you had at first.” (REV 2:1-5, italics mine) The image that comes to me is that of a fire that has been burning for a long time. There are still smoldering embers but unless someone comes to stoke what’s left, allowing some air to circulate, the fire is likely to go out. Sometimes it seems that there is nothing of life left in that situation, but the reality is that with a little help the heat and beauty can be restored.

In the gospel this morning (LK 18:35-43) the crowd passes a beggar who has been told that the commotion around him is because Jesus is coming. The beggar calls out to Jesus to have pity on him which causes Jesus to ask the question, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Please let me see!” the man answers, and so he does. I am gratified by this reminder that we need only to ask for clarity of sight in order for it to be given. Perhaps then, to assure that the flame of love remains alive, I need only to add one sentence to my morning practice: Lord, please let me see today!