Blessed are you, Creator, Lord of heaven and earth, you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
Responsorial Psalm 119
Not everyone sees the world through the eyes of faith. We are blessed if we do. Our readings tell us that we come to such clarity of vision only through humility. Job suffered much before he rested in the revealed mystery of God. So did the disciples in today’s Gospel.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy: We ask to grow in humility and patience, always trusting that the mystery of God surrounds us in Love.
Thought:
The greatest honor we can give Almighty God is to live gladly because of the knowledge of God’s love. __________ ~ Julian of Norwich ~
Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.” Then they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the Good News and curing diseases everywhere. Luke 9:1-6
That’s what Jesus said – NOTHING – “Take nothing for the journey”! Within their coming journey, everything already awaited his disciples. He asked them to empty the box of their acquired possessions so that they could see through to heaven.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy: I picture myself when I go on a journey of a week or two. Almost always, I carry at least one suitcase I never need. Instead, I have dragged a bag full of inessentials through most of Europe and the U.S.! We carry so much with us we do not need – both materially and spiritually.
Whenever I read this Gospel, I am reminded of a verse from Janis Joplin’s smash hit song of 1971, “Me and Bobby McGee”. Janis was a tortured soul but a magnificent artist. Her song captured the transitory nature of anything we try to possess in life
The line I love is this – take it for whatever truth it can offer you:
Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose.
Poetry:On Freedom – Hafiz
We have not come here to take prisoners, But to surrender ever more deeply To freedom and joy.
We have not come into this exquisite world To hold ourselves hostage from love.
Run my dear, From anything That may not strengthen Your precious budding wings.
Run like hell my dear, From anyone likely To put a sharp knife Into the sacred, tender vision Of your beautiful heart.
We have a duty to befriend Those aspects of obedience That stand outside of our house And shout to our reason “O please, O please, Come out and play.”
For we have not come here to take prisoners Or to confine our wondrous spirits,
But to experience ever and ever more deeply Our divine courage, freedom and Light!
Music: Me and Bobby McGee – written by Kris Kristofferson, sung by Janis Joplin
To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. Haughty eyes and a proud heart– the tillage of the wicked is sin. The plans of the diligent are sure of profit, but all rash haste leads certainly to poverty. Whoever makes a fortune by a lying tongue is chasing a bubble over deadly snares. Proverbs 21:3-6
King Solomon is credited with writing this portion of Proverbs. His wisdom wrapped in wit is both inspiring and enjoyable. But his admonitions are not humor – he is dead serious about what is “acceptable to the Lord“.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy: We pray for the grace to erase the frivolous from our lives – the “bubbles” that fool and distract us from the centrality of God.
Poetry: from Emily Dickinson
So has a Daisy vanished From the fields today -- So tiptoed many a slipper To Paradise away --
Oozed so in crimson bubbles Day's departing tide -- Blooming -- tripping -- flowing Are ye then with God?
Music: Bubbles over the Ocean You may want to listen to just a few minutes or maybe to all of this reflective music. Enjoy!
If Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how can some among you say there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then neither has Christ been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then empty too is our preaching; empty, too, your faith. 1 Corinthians 15:12-14
Paul takes his listeners to the foundation of their faith – the Resurrection. Believing in it, we are freed from our greatest common fear – the fear of Death.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy: In rising from the dead, Jesus changed Darkness to Light. Every dawn transforms our nights to Easter if we allow Christ to rise in us, making all things new.
Poetry: excerpts from The Exultet
O wonder of your humble care for us! O love, O charity beyond all telling, to ransom a slave you gave away your Son! O truly necessary sin of Adam, destroyed completely by the Death of Christ! O happy fault that earned so great, so glorious a Redeemer!
O truly blessed night, worthy alone to know the time and hour when Christ rose from the underworld!
This is the night of which it is written: The night shall be as bright as day, dazzling is the night for me, and full of gladness.
Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment….
Simon, when I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; because she has shown great love. Luke 7:37-38;44-47
Mary (identified in John’s Gospel as Mary of Bethany) loves Jesus beyond words. Sensing that his Passion and Death are near, she pours out that love in silent tenderness.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy: Prayerfully imagine the alabaster jar, holding it gently in your hands. It is fine and delicate, easily broken unless handled tenderly.
As we express our love for God and for God’s Creation, we carry it in delicate wrappings, like alabaster. Sometimes, we may doubt our capacity for love, faith, and hope. We may see our “sinfulness” rather than our spiritual strength.
But if we, like Mary, focus our hearts on God, and fearlessly pour our love over God’s Creation, our fragility becomes our strength.
Poetry: Anointings at Bethany – Irene Zimmerman, OSF
Solemnly, Mary entered the room, holding high the alabaster jar. It gleamed in the lamplight as she circled the room, incensing the disciples, blessing Martha’s banquet. “A splendid table!” Mary called with her eyes as she whirled past her sister.
She came to a halt at last before Jesus, bowed profoundly and knelt at his feet. Deftly, she filled her right hand with nard, placed the jar on the floor, took one foot in her hands and moved fragrant fingers across his instep.
Over and over she made the journey from heel to toes, thanking him for every step he had made on Judea’s stony hills, for every stop at their home, for bringing back Lazarus.
She poured out more nard, took his other foot in her hands and started again with strong, rhythmic strokes. She felt her hands’ heat draw out his tiredness, take away the rebuffs he had known —the shut doors, the shut hearts.
Energy flowed like a river between them. His saturated skin gleamed with oil.
But she had no towel!
In an instant she pulled off her veil, pulled the pins from her hair, shook it out till it fell in cascades and once more cradled each foot, dried the ankles, the insteps, drew the strands between his toes.
Without warning, Judas Iscariot spat out his anger, the words hissing like lightning above her unveiled head: “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?”
“Leave her alone!” Jesus silenced the usurper. “She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial.”
The words poured like oil, anointing her from head to foot.
Music: Pour My Love on You – Craig and Dean Phillips
I don’t know how to say exactly how I feel And I can’t begin to tell you what your love has meant I’m lost for words Is there a way to show the passion in my heart Can I express how truly great I think you are, My dearest friend. Lord, this is my desire: To pour my love on You
Chorus: Like oil upon your feet Like wine for you to drink Like water from my heart I pour my love on you If praise is like perfume I’ll lavish mine on you Till every drop is gone I’ll pour my love on you.
Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win. Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. Thus I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight as if I were shadowboxing. No, I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Both our readings touch the topic of spiritual self-awareness. Paul does not want to preach to others and end up “disqualified” himself because of any infidelity.
Jesus says, to achieve holiness, be as aware of your own splintered eyes as you are of your neighbor’s!
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy: Examining one’s conscience is an ancient religious practice. Its purpose is not to create a checklist of behaviors that need improvement. It is a way of acutely recognizing God’s Presence in our lives and listening to God’s hopes for us. Sometimes we fail to respond to those hopes, and we need to run harder, as Paul did.
Poetry: When I Am Among the Trees – Mary Oliver
When I am among the trees, especially the willows and the honey locust, equally the beech, the oaks and the pines, they give off such hints of gladness. I would almost say that they save me, and daily.
I am so distant from the hope of myself, in which I have goodness, and discernment, and never hurry through the world but walk slowly, and bow often.
Around me the trees stir in their leaves and call out, “Stay awhile.” The light flows from their branches.
And they call again, “It's simple,” they say, “and you too have come into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled with light, and to shine.”
Music: Running to the Light – Brandon Lake
You can have my yes with no exception I’m laying down my rights to second guessing You can have my yes I’m giving you my fear of never knowing Whatever’s coming next, I know You’ve got me You can have my yes You’re the lamp, You’re the light You’re the cloud that guides me You’re the way, You’re the truth You’re the life inside me You conquered my fears So I leave it all behind I’m running to the light Running to thе light I’m giving you my dreams and my ambitions Your presencе is my prize and my provision I’ll answer when You ask Oh, who could come against if You are for me? ‘Cause even in the fire, I know You’ve got me I’m giving You my yes again You’re the lamp, You’re the light You’re the cloud that guides me You’re the way, You’re the truth You’re the life inside me You conquered my fears So I leave it all behind I’m running to the light Running to the light Oh, wherever You are Wherever You wanna go I’ll follow You Wherever You are Wherever You wanna go I’ll follow You Oh, wherever You are Wherever You wanna go I’ll follow You I’ll follow You Oh, wherever You are Wherever You wanna go I’ll follow You Wherever You are Wherever You wanna go I’ll follow You Oh, wherever You are Wherever You wanna go I’ll follow You I’ll follow You You’re the lamp, You’re the light You’re the cloud that guides me You’re the way, You’re the truth You’re the life inside me You conquered my fears So I leave it all behind I’m running to the light Oh, I’m, oh I’m running to the light, light Running to the light
But Jesus realized the Pharisee’s intentions and said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up and stand before us.” And he rose and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” Looking around at them all, he then said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so and his hand was restored. Luke 6:8-10
In this reading, Jesus invites the crippled man to stretch out his hand – to reach beyond himself for the healing grace God offers. Jesus is inviting the Pharisees, who suffer from a crippled faith, to reach out as well. Is Jesus inviting you to stretch?
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy: I have included a picture of my beloved statue of giraffes. When I pray with this carving, no words are necessary. The youngster is stretching up to receive grace, nourishment, and love. For me, it is an image of our stretching up to God and God’s tender leaning toward us.
Poetry: Movement by Denise Levertov
Towards not being anyone else’s center of gravity
A wanting to love: not an other, and fall, but feel within one a flexible steel upright, parallel to the spine but longer, from which to stretch; one’s own grave springboard; the outlying spirit’s vertical trampoline.
Thus says the LORD: Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing. Streams will burst forth in the desert, and rivers in the steppe. The burning sands will become pools, and the thirsty ground, springs of water. Isaiah 35:4-7
Isaiah’s prophecy foretells the time when God will turn the world upside down. It will be time of vindication for all those who have suffered. In God’s realm, even nature will be blessed by the recompense of salvation – by what they earned by their faithfulness.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy: We look to the Gospel – the Good News of Jesus – to guide us so that we may foster this recompense for all people and in our own time. Those tied only to material values do not understand the infinite hope of a world turned upside-down by Jesus.
Poetry: Ain’t I A Woman – Sojourner Truth
A formerly enslaved person, Sojourner Truth became an outspoken advocate for abolition, temperance, and civil and women’s rights in the nineteenth century. In this poem she gives us an insight into her view of the world turned “upside-down”.
That man over there say a woman needs to be helped into carriages and lifted over ditches and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helped me into carriages or over mud puddles or gives me a best place… And ain’t I a woman? Look at me Look at my arm! I have plowed and planted and gathered into barns and no man could head me…
And ain’t I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man — when I could get to it — and bear the lash as well and ain’t I a woman?
I have born 13 children and seen most all sold into slavery and when I cried out a mother’s grief none but Jesus heard me…
And ain’t I a woman? that little man in black there say a woman can’t have as much rights as a man cause Christ wasn’t a woman Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with him! If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down, all alone together women ought to be able to turn it rightside up again.
While Jesus was going through a field of grain on a sabbath, his disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them. Some Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” Jesus said to them in reply, “Have you not read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry? How he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering, which only the priests could lawfully eat, ate of it, and shared it with his companions?” Then he said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.” Luke 6:1-5
A religion, like any other social construct, makes rules to define its character. The process can be as simple the “club” rules we made in elementary school (with the accompanying “All Others Keep Out” sign.) Or it can be as complex as who qualifies, by their behavior, as a certified Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian, etc.
But humanly constructed rules can be easily degraded when the purpose of their design is forgotten or ignored. This is what Jesus wanted his listeners to understand. He did not come to redefine the Old Law. He is Lord of the New Law whose definition is mercy and love not regulation.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy: A sainted Mother Superior, in my young religious life, once offered me this insight: “The rules are for those who need them.” Did she mean that religious rules should be ignored? Certainly not. The maxim suggests that those who live the true spirit of the Gospel have no need of a list of rules to guide them.
Thought: from Joan Chittister, OSB
The spiritual life… is not achieved by denying one part of life for the sake of another. The spiritual life is achieved only by listening to all of life and learning to respond to each of its dimensions wholly and with integrity.
And Jesus also told them a parable. “No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one. Otherwise, he will tear the new and the piece from it will not match the old cloak. Luke 5:36
Jesus wants his disciples to understand that his Gospel invitation is to an entirely new way of thinking. The word Jesus preaches is one of Mercy not Law. To understand that dynamic change, his disciples must let go of the measurements of the Old Law. They are not sufficient to convey the infinite mercy and love of God.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy: We ask for the grace of a clearer understanding – one that can release the need for measurements and judgements. May the overflowing love of God move our hearts to see the world with Mercy.
Poetry: But Not With Wine – Jessica Powers
O God of too much giving, whence is this inebriation that possesses me, that the staid road now wanders all amiss, and that the wind walks much too giddily, clutching a bush for balance, or a tree? How then can dignity and pride endure with such inordinate mirth upon the land, when steps and speech are somewhat insecure and the light heart is wholly out of hand?
If there be indecorum in my songs, fasten the blame where rightly it belongs: on Him who offered me too many cups of His most potent goodness—not on me, a peasant who, because a King was host, drank out of courtesy.
Music: Wineskins – Cloverton
[Verse 1] There is trouble up ahead The water’s getting rough And smoke is in the wind There’s a fear that comes with the unknown But clinging to the past Will keep you where you don’t belong
[Chorus] New wine in the old wineskins Something breaks when nothing bends New wine in the old wineskins We can’t stay so how’s this end?
[Verse 2] Don’t try to cover up the holes With patches that are fragile And stitches that won’t hold These patterns hold us in a line We need an alteration The old self must be left behind
[Chorus] New wine in the old wineskins Something breaks when nothing bends New wine in the old wineskins We can’t stay so how’s this end? New wine in the old wineskins Something breaks when nothing bends New wine in the old wineskins We can’t stay so how’s this end?
Lavish Mercy 