Good Pope John

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Gospel, Pope John XXIII, Saint John XXIII, Second Vatican Council, serve, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, understand

Today we honor the life of the one remembered as “Good” Pope John, now called “Saint John XXIII.” Pope Francis made official in April of 2014 what Christians (and others) around the world knew for decades. Most vivid in my memory were the videos of the day in October of 1963 when the Second Vatican Council was inaugurated. Carried in procession in the midst of throngs of Catholics and others from the worldwide gathering, Pope John oozed humility and love. His head slightly bowed as he waved to those gathered, tears were in his eyes at the momentous beginning of what was to be a Council that rocked the world and changed the trajectory of the Roman Catholic Church for good.

Less than a year from that day, John XXIII died, leaving a final message of hope, not only for his beloved Church, but for the entire world. We would do well to reflect on it today and re-energize our efforts toward his vision.

Now more than ever, he said, certainly more than in past centuries, our intention is to serve people as such and not only Catholics.; to defend above all and everywhere the rights of the human person…It is not the Gospel that changes; it is we who begin to understand it better...The moment has arrived when we must recognize the signs of the times, seize the opportunity and look abroad. (June 3, 1963)

Giving Or Getting?

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Acts of the Apostles, afflicted, Corinthians, demand, esteem, Jesus, Matthew, Paul, perplexed, persecuted, power, serve, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, zeal, Zebedee

Today’s lectionary readings seem to point out two basic attitudes to life. I often smile when I read the text from 2 Corinthians (4:7-15) where Paul reminds me of the play when the “Unsinkable Molly Brown” sings (as the Titanic is sinking), “I ain’t down yet!” Paul says, “We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted but not abandoned, struck down, but not destroyed…” He is so full of zeal for the mission of Jesus that nothing can stop him. I am always amazed when I read of his travels in The Acts of the Apostles, knowing that a trip in his day has absolutely no comparison to mine. What took Paul months on the sea or overland might cost me a few hours on a plane. Paul’s attitude was that of a consummate optimist; he was willing to suffer anything for what he knew of Christ and wanted to share.

The gospel (MT 20:20-28) shows us something different with which we are quite familiar in our “dog-eat-dog” culture. Enter: the mother of the sons of Zebedee, an over-zealous parent who has obviously not learned the disasters that can afflict spoiled children. She approaches Jesus with the wish – no, the demand – that her sons be at his right and left, the positions of power, when it comes to sitting in the kingdom that she presumes he will establish. Not only were she and her sons totally mistaken about the mission of Jesus but they then had to deal with the other ten apostles who were indignant about the way they put themselves forward. Getting all you can of power or esteem or money is a prevalent attitude in our time and culture but is definitely not the way those who seek a spiritual life view right living.

Jesus is clear in his assessment of this situation and in his response both to the Zebedee family and the other apostles, saying, “Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.” Paul got the message and maybe the Zebedees eventually did too, since it appears they remained in the company of Jesus whose closing remark in this text is a good lesson for all of us: “The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve…”

 

 

 

 

 

Here Comes July!

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A Deep Breath of Life, A Way Without Words, Alan Cohen, cycle of growth, divine expression, incentive, independence, intention, learn, love, new projects, purpose, renewed, serve, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Three impressions opened before me a moment ago that were like steps to a conclusion. Here was the order: 1. As I turned on my computer I thought: “July first. New month, new incentive.” 2. My eye fell on the title of a book that someone had recently given me for our library. It’s called A Way Without Words and is subtitled A Guide for Spiritually Emerging Adults. 3. I read the prayer and affirmation for July first in Alan Cohen’s book, A Deep Breath of Life. Taken together those two said, “Help me remember my purpose and live the highest life possible. I honor my purpose of divine expression. I am here to love, learn and serve.

I’d say that’s a good start for the month that holds our country’s celebration of  independence, traditional vacation time for many, the fullness of nature’s cycle of growth and so much more. It’s a good day to renew myself, to begin where new projects appear on the horizon or begin again to put energy into intentions that have lost their verve. May we all be renewed physically and spiritually as we accept this day, the half-way point of 2017.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

O Adonai, Come!

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Adonai, Colossians, covenant, creation, love, Moses, O Antiphons, Old Testament, prudence, serve, set us free, St. Paul, teach, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Today is the second of seven in the series of “O Antiphons” used in Christian liturgical practice. (See yesterday’s blog). One author explains the use of these verses for Christians this way: The antiphons are, in fact, a collage of Old Testament types of Christ. Their predominant theme is messianic, stressing hope of the Savior’s coming. Jesus is invoked by various titles, mainly taken from the prophet, Isaiah. The sequence progresses historically, from the beginning, before creation, to the very gates of Bethlehem. Thus, yesterday we began with the call to Wisdom, seen in the Scriptures as God’s consort in the creation of the world. Today we hear the plea to the Lord and Ruler of the house of Israel. The title Adonai is Hebrew for Lord, or the Lord of Lords, the Master, the Owner, in this case, the One who gave the Law to Moses.

O Adonai, Ruler of the house of Israel, you appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush, and on Mount Sinai gave him Your law. Come and teach us the way of prudence.

O Adonai, you are the covenant maker and promise giver. You appeared to Moses in the burning bush and gave him the commandments. Come, set us free to serve you.

As Christians, this title of Adonai ascribed to Christ can be understood as in the Letter to the Colossians where St. Paul writes that He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities: all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all else that is, and in him all things hold together…God was pleased to have all fullness dwell in him…(COL 1:15-20)

This is the one to whom we cry out: Come! Teach us to live your covenant of love!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Face in the Mirror

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beloved, doer, God, hearer, letter of james, mirror, serve, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

I have a friend who used to do workshops for women wherein she would ask the question: “How many of you get up in the morning, look in your mirror, smile and say, ‘What a woman!'” I’ve used that line (with obvious changes if there are men in the room) and the first reaction is usually hearty laughter. If pushed to really answer the question, there’s rarely more than one or two people who admit of the practice or even the possibility that they might be able to say those words about themselves.

This morning’s reading from the Letter of James reminded me of this sad commentary on our self-esteem. But James is getting at something different, albeit related, in what he says. Never one to mince words, James is talking about daily behavior when he says that “everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger…[and] humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you…” Then comes the relevant paragraph.

Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his own face in a mirror. He sees himself, then goes off and promptly forgets what he looked like. But the one who peers into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres, and is not a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts; such a one shall be blessed in what he does. (The lack of inclusive language here only proves the point more forcefully, were this a contemporary text!)

Truly knowing ourselves as beloved of God, we are enabled to look deeply into the inner mirror of ourselves, accepting what we find there. In that way, we do not forget our call to live what we have accepted, knowing also that each person’s face reflects God’s love in some way and is worthy of our care. Thus we will act on this knowledge, never forgetting our call to serve.