sept. 11, 2009

In honor of those who lost their lives in Pennsylvania, New York, and at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttwJpPMSzBc Thank you to all those who have reached out to the survivors, nurses, therapists, teachers, friends and musicians and singers. In thanksgiving for the healers and the Great Healer.

september 10, 2009

But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful.
“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” from Luke's gospel from today's readings.

I've wondered sometimes how anyone can be merciful, if they haven't been on the receiving end of mercy. I remember one of my first experiences of mercy. My sisters and I were late for the bus in Columbus, Mississippi. I was maybe a first grader which would have made me 5 or 6 years old. My mother was no doubt upset with us, because if we missed the bus, we weren't going to school that day. I seem to remember that she was still in her bathrobe when she got us to the bus. Anyway, I remember CLIMBing on to the bus and crying hard. A big girl, atleast a third grader, pulled me in to her seat, put her arm around me and said comforting words. She poured third grade love all over me! and because I was in need of comfort, I soaked it in. I've often thought about that little girl. Her kindness was a life line for me. Then I knew what mercy was... I hope that she has had that measure of kindness in her life too.

the birthday girl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjKnHAKtYFA We celebrated my mother in law's 80th birthday tonight with dinner out at one of her favorite restaurants on the bay. It was a lovely family evening with all of her children, respective spouses, grandchildren and even a few great grandchildren. I would say that she subscribes to this song... always generous with all of us. God bless Jacqueline Claire Hayes.

loch lomond and discernment

from Luke's gospel: Then he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.” Jesus is explaining to the authorities why it's okay for his disciples to be picking grain on the Sabbath. He reminds them that Moses had pulled a stunt like that once taking bread intended only for the priests in the house of God. He concludes with the statement above. I guess if the Son of Man is hungry that takes precedence over the sacred rite. Jesus is really rocking the boat now. It's easy for any of us to get sidetracked about what's important from what's really important, isn't it? and that discernment takes serious soul searching.

image of the invisible God

"Brothers and sisters: Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation." from the letter to the Colossians. Depending on your source, Paul may not be the author of this letter, likely written at the end of the 1st century. The firstborn of all creation? More and more I find myself interpreting Scripture as if it were poetry. It helps to play with the ideas of words like "firstborn". What is my understanding of firstborn? (new beginning, miracle, life is never the same again for the parents!, what else?) and then to imagine that Christ is the firstborn of ALL CREATION! This is quite a statement! was this an idea floating around the ancient world: that gods were described in these terms? and if so, does that necessarily diminish the impact or truth of this idea? What is this really saying to ME? That Jesus of Nazareth brought to the world a profoundly new understanding, or truth, to mankind. That he WAS the new truth. We are unconditionally loved ...no strings attached.

let us put out into the deep

...lines from the gospel reading for today, this feast of St. Gregory the Great, 6th century bishop of Rome. "Let us put out into the deep". Jesus instructs his disciples as they are fishing. Where in my life do I need to put out into the deep?

Trust

" like a green olive tree in the house of God, Trust in the mercy of God forever and ever." (from Psalm 52, from today's liturgy) I like this image of a tree in the house of God. and not just any tree, but a green olive tree. I'm not sure at all what the psalmist was saying here. but like poetry it probably says more than what I can glean, but perhaps what it does say to me is still valuable.

I have my own associations with green olives, but I believe I've heard that for people of the psalmist's time and place olives and olive oil were life enhancing foods. Without it life would have been paltry. So, there sits the olive tree in the house of God.. providing shade for people who've come to pray, a resting place for birds, offering its fruit for picking. Those things are gifts and speak of a merciful God, a God who cares about his creation... us.. and provides for it. Is the tree trusting in God... ? it's just being a tree and doing what olive trees do...

Olive trees are pretty too... it's branches are graceful and hmmm, isn't an olive branch a symbol of peace. That sounds pretty merciful.