I had some business in the church late this morning. I was in a hurry, I had things to do and I needed to get back
to the tasks at hand.
I met a parishioner in the gathering area and found myself engaged in long conversation. When I finally got into the church the lights were all dimmed.
It was peaceful.
I bowed and sat for a moment.
The natural light coming through the skylight softly illuminated the crucifix above the altar and cast two shadows of the cross, one to left and one to the right of the crucifix. A subtle image of Calvary coinciding with yesterdays Gospel reading. Luke 23:35-43
I think a lot lately about the apostles and what it means to be a disciple. This gospel really struck me yesterday and today I see this image of Calvary.
Think about it, this unnamed man (the repentant theif) hanging on a cross next to Jesus got it 53 days before the apostles! (Pentacost)
Peter had just denied even knowing Jesus not once but three times and we all know what it took for Thomas to finally get it.
I pray this evening that my faith will never falter
will continue to grow and eventually lead me one day to be a disciple
worthy to walk side by side with this repentant thief in paradise.
From: ” A Diary of Daily Pray” by John Baillie (no relation to me)
Morning Day 9
Here am I, O God, of little power and of mean estate, yet lifting up heart and voice to You before whom all created things are as dust and a vapor. You are hidden behind the curtain of sense, incomprehensible in Your greatness, mysterious in Your almighty power; yet here I speak with You familiarly as a child to parent, as friend to friend.
If I could not thus speak to You, then were I indeed without hope in the world. For it is little that I have power to do or to ordain. Not of my own will am I here, not of my own will shall I soon pass hence. Of all that shall come to me this day, very little will be such as I have chosen for myself. It is You, O hidden One, who appoints my lot and determines the bounds of my habitation. It is You who has put power in my hand to do one work and have withheld the skill to do another. It is You who keeps in Your grasp the threads of this day’s life and who alone knows what lies before me to do or to suffer.
But because You are my Father, I am not afraid. Because it is Your own Spirit that stirs within my spirit’s inmost room, I know that all is well. What I desire for myself I cannot attain, but what You desire in me You can attain for me. The good that I would I do not, but the good that You will in me, that You can give me power to do.
Dear Father, take this day’s life into Your own keeping. Control all my thoughts and feelings. Direct all my energies. Instruct my mind. Sustain my will. Take my hands and make them skillful to serve You. Take my feet and make them swift to do Your bidding. Take my eyes and keep them fixed on Your everlasting beauty. Take my mouth and make it eloquent in testimony to Your love. Make this day a day of obedience, a day of spiritual joy and peace. Make this day*s work a little part of the work of the Kingdom of my Lord Christ, in whose name these my prayers are said. Amen.
“A young girl in a parking lot was preaching to a crowd, singing sacred songs and reading from the Bible. Well I told her I was lost and she told me about the Pentecost and I seen that girl as the rood to my survival”
Paul Simon “Duncan”
I Loved this song as a young man but I didn’t take the time to read about Pentecost. I had heard of Pentecost and knew a couple of the bullet points about the event, but in truth I missed that class in Sunday School.
So what happened to Duncan? He got lucky (in that mano e mano sense). Ah the fire of passion. Is there another force as strong? Remember the first time you felt passion?
Imagine the Twelve Apostles on this life changing day. Even if you are you are not a Christian take a moment to reflect on the force and power of passion.
These twelve men were lost. They were scared. Their life was in danger. Jesus had been killed fifty days earlier and people were now hunting for his band of associates. Remember, there were no legions of Christians to come to their defense. There were NO Christians yet.
The apostles were having a difficult time explaining what had transpired with Jesus of Nazareth. (Remember: “Nothing good ever came out of Nazareth“) “Jesus? Jesus of Nazareth? Jesus the carpenter, Jesus the son of Joseph the carpenter? What are you out of your freaking mind? You want us to believe the he is the Messiah? You want us to put our lives and our family’s lives in peril and live in hiding like you and your band of nuts? No way! Leave us alone and get away from me!!! Now!!! or I will point you out to the authorities.” and that tirade came from a loving family member…
Passion. I have felt like I could scale the highest mountains and all was possible when a wave of passion covered me. On top of the world, and everyone sees the glow. Chores get easier and the world is somehow a better place and I was unstoppable.
The twelve apostles were empowered on the Pentecost and the world would never be the same. Passion can be a fleeting thing but when infused with Love it will endure. So here we are almost 2000 years later* and the world is still experiencing effects of the Love and Passion that these twelve brave men shared with the world.
As always I must address my friends and loved ones who do not believe in Jesus.
I know about the horrors inflicted on the world in the name of Christianity but like all things it is a matter of focus and perspective and examining the good and bad in individuals and by interpolation organized groups of people. The good that Jesus brought to the world far out weighs the bad that has been done “in his name” and the bad really has nothing to do with Jesus or his teachings. The “evils” of Christianity? These are lessons on how people are used and manipulated by men of power. History is littered with examples of this fact and Christianity is not the only victim. There are forces at work. Passion is a force, Love is a force, Hate is a force. These forces are very very real.
I look forward to Ordinary Time. I hope to make good of it. Advent will be here before we know it!
Live your life in such a way that if someone speaks poorly about you, none will believe” Anonymous (found on a poster in a middle school classroom)
For a friend: Some people seem to have a need to cast aspersions on those around them. No need to get revenge or confront them they may be doing you a favor by shinning a light on people who are not actually your friends after all. We must of course defend our reputations. Another one of the great balancing acts of human interaction and choosing our battles wisely. In the end Love answers all questions and conflicts.
5 The LORD watches over the innocent; *
I was brought very low, and he helped me.
6 Turn again to your rest, O my soul, *
for the LORD has treated you well.
7 For you have rescued my life from death, *
my eyes from tears, and my feet from stumbling.
8 I will walk in the presence of the LORD *
in the land of the living.
Eric Clapton sings a song titled “In the Presence of the Lord” I’m looking for the lyrics to post here but I came across this hymn that according to this article on Clapton’s early life helped shape his Christian belief . I like it.
“Jesus Bids Us Shine”:
Jesus bids us shine with a clear, pure light,
Like a little candle burning in the night;
In this world of darkness, we must shine,
You in your small corner, and I in mine.
Here are the lyrics to “Presence of the Lord” from the album “Blind Faith”
I have finally found a way to live Just like I never could before. I know that I don’t have much to give, But I can open any door.
Everybody knows the secret, Everybody knows the score. I have finally found a way to live In the color of the Lord.
I have finally found a place to live Just like I never could before. And I know I don’t have much to give, But soon I’ll open any door.
Everybody knows the secret, Everybody knows the score. I have finally found a place to live In the presence of the Lord. In the presence of the Lord.
I have finally found a way to live Just like I never could before. And I know I don’t have much to give, But I can open any door.
Everybody knows the secret, I said everybody knows the score. I have finally found a way to live In the color of the Lord. In the color of the Lord.
Tomorrow is Easter. I work in a catholic school and Linda my wife of twenty five years is a practicing catholic so I am attuned to the Lenten season. I didn’t give anything up for lent this year but I have been very aware of God’s presence in my life and His presence in the world around me. So I think I’m probably ok… but I must say it is empowering to deny yourself something for six weeks that you are truly accustom to having whenever you wish. I gave up eating bread for Lent two years ago. That was tough.
At one point I thought I might get confirmed in the Catholic faith this Easter season. Many adults who enter the Catholic faith get confirmed at the Easter Vigil on the Saturday before Easter. I am not sure when I will get confirmed now; I am considering waiting an entire year before I take this step, to be determined.
I know a whole lot of people who are Christian. They represent many denominations and various depths of belief. I have friends who do not believe and I have friends who are of deep and abiding faith and I have friends everywhere in between. They (you) are all beautiful people and we share this time, this is our time, on this earth.
I don’t really care where my friends fall in the religious spectrum. I have an acquaintance who is a “card holding” atheist. He is a great guy, well educated and religion doesn’t make any sense to him. Personally I believe he would have a more fulfilling life if he had faith and believed in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit but I would never invade his space with my beliefs. I respect who he is. But if he ever brought it up to me I would love to share with him my faith journey.
My prayer this Easter is that we all look more towards what we have in common and focus more on what we agree upon.
What would the world look like if more people really, really loved more people? Quite simply this is what Jesus wanted and wants for us. Even those who view Jesus merely as a historical figure and not one who is of divine nature can agree the world is better when there is more Love.
Happy Easter Everyone,
Jack
O, be some other name! What's in a name? that which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet;
