Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved. Ephesians 1:3-6
(The readings I used for today’s reflection are for the Mass for St. Ignatius of Antioch who lived in the century after Jesus. He is not the same person as Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, who lived in the 15th century.)
The passage from Ephesians, so beautifully expressed, encapsulates the character of a true disciple: called by God to holiness, expressing gratitude through a life of praise and mercy.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy: We pray to receive God’s blessing and call with grateful hearts, and to live a life reflecting God’s Mercy.
Quote: from Ignatius of Antioch
We recognize a tree by its fruit, and we ought to be able to recognize a Christian by his action. The fruit of faith should be evident in our lives, for being a Christian is more than making sound professions of faith. It should reveal itself in practical and visible ways. Indeed it is better to keep quiet about our beliefs, and live them out, than to talk eloquently about what we believe, but fail to live by it.
The Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, Who intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will. Romans 8:26-27
Our readings for the Feast of St. Teresa reflect the power which inspired her holy life. She lived deeply in the Spirit of God, sharing that infinite blessing with the world in her inspiring writings.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy: We ask St. Teresa to intercede for us in our desire to grow in holiness.
Poetry: If, Lord, Thy Love Is Strong – St. Teresa of Avila
If, Lord, Thy love for me is strong As this which binds me unto thee, What holds me from thee Lord so long, What holds thee Lord so long from me?
O soul, what then desirest thou? Lord I would see thee, who thus choose thee. What fears can yet assail thee now? All that I fear is but lose thee.
Love’s whole possession I entreat, Lor make my soul thine own abode, And I will build a nest so sweet It may not be too poor for God.
A sould in God hidden from sin, What more desires for thee remain, Save but to love again, And all on flame with love within, Love on, and turn to love again.
Music: Adoro Te Devote – Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart
Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test.” Luke 11:1-4
Today’s Gospel shows us the centrality of prayer in the life of Jesus and his disciples. The prayer Jesus leaves us in this passage is a prayer of presence, an intimate conversation with the God who supplies our needs.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy: Like the disciples, we ask Jesus to teach us how to pray – to move from recitation to presence; to move from timed practice to timeless oneness.
Thoughts – from Thomas Merton
First of all, prayer is a spiritual activity. This activity engages the highest faculties of our soul, our mind and our will. To be valid, prayer must be intelligent and it must be an act of sincere love. Already we can see that prayer is one of the most perfect actions a man can perform. When we pray properly we are exercising our intelligence and we are working with our will. This cannot be done without interior discipline. The more we practice prayer the stronger do these higher faculties become, and so they regain their lost control over the passions which are the root of all prejudice and of all error. Thus, in the natural order alone, the true practice of prayer would be sufficient to elevate and purify the soul to some extent. But this presupposes that prayer is really prayer and not pious automatism, or mere exterior formalism, or, worse still, an act of blind superstition. These dangers mustall be obviated by the constant striving for intelligent attention and for a sincere, earnest and fervent intention of the will.
Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” Luke 10:38-42
What is the sacred balance between prayer and action? How do we acieve the sweet point where prayer and action infuse each other in mutual inspiration? In this Gospel, Jesus indicates that one element has precedence over the other — there is a “better part”.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy: We seek to deepen our prayer life while employing it to inspire our merciful service to Creation.
Poetry: Martha and Mary by John Newton (1725-1807)
Martha her love and joy expressed By care to entertain her guest; While Mary sat to hear her Lord, And could not bear to lose a word.
The principle in both the same, Produced in each a different aim; The one to feast the Lord was led, The other waited to be fed.
But Mary chose the better part, Her Saviour’s words refreshed her heart; While busy Martha angry grew, And lost her time and temper too.
With warmth she to her sister spoke, But brought upon herself rebuke; One thing is needful, and but one, Why do thy thoughts on many run?
How oft are we like Martha vexed, Encumbered, hurried, and perplexed! While trifles so engross our thought, The one thing needful is forgot.
Lord teach us this one thing to choose, Which they who gain can never lose; Sufficient in itself alone, And needful, were the world our own.
Let groveling hearts the world admire, Thy love is all that I require! Gladly I may the rest resign, If the one needful thing be mine!
Have you ever in your lifetime commanded the morning and shown the dawn its place For taking hold of the ends of the earth, till the wicked are shaken from its surface? The earth is changed as is clay by the seal, and dyed as though it were a garment; But from the wicked the light is withheld, and the arm of pride is shattered. Job 38:1, 12-15
The character of this passage from Job fits so perfectly the spirituality of Francis of Assisi whom we honor today. Francis had a deep veneration for all Creation where he saw God’s beauty and vitality. Francis’s heart anguished for those unable to share in that beauty because of the burden of poverty.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy: May we be inspired by Francis’s example, and Job’s honesty to develop a generous and reverent sharing of Creation’s gifts.
Poetry: Saint Francis and the Sow – Galway Kinnel
The bud stands for all things, even for those things that don’t flower, for everything flowers, from within, of self-blessing; though sometimes it is necessary to reteach a thing its loveliness, to put a hand on its brow of the flower and retell it in words and in touch it is lovely until it flowers again from within, of self-blessing; as Saint Francis put his hand on the creased forehead of the sow, and told her in words and in touch blessings of earth on the sow, and the sow began remembering all down her thick length, from the earthen snout all the way through the fodder and slops to the spiritual curl of the tail, from the hard spininess spiked out from the spine down through the great broken heart to the sheer blue milken dreaminess spurting and shuddering from the fourteen teats into the fourteen mouths sucking and blowing beneath them: the long, perfect loveliness of sow.
Music: St. Francis Preaching to the Birds – Franz Liszt (performed by Brandon Hawksley)
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
Jesus departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles. Luke 6:12-13
Jesus wants to have a real heart-to-heart with the Creator. He goes to the mountain – where he can lift his spirit above and away from distractions.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy: Our minds can become so cluttered and distracted, can’t they? They can throw tons of static into our conversation with God.
How and where can our hearts be lifted into the sacred ambience of silence? Where can we go, both spiritually and physically, to hear the Infinity beyond yet within us?
Poetry: Morning Mountain Prayer – Norbert Krapf
Morning mountain air calls me to sit outside and let it caress my knees and calves.
Just after I settle in a chair the sun rises above a small divide in the mountain
and warm light slants onto this yellow paper across which the black ink of a German pen walks leaving word tracks
that knew all along that in the end near the bottom of this page
they would become the thanksgiving prayer I send to the universe.
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.
The Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God. Among men, who knows what pertains to the man except his spirit that is within? Similarly, no one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand the things freely given us by God. And we speak about them not with words taught by human wisdom, but with words taught by the Spirit, describing spiritual realities in spiritual terms. 1 Corinthians 2:10-13
When Jesus lived, God was present to us in the flesh. With Pentecost, God became present to us in the Spirit. But we who are bodily may be challenged to perceive the invisible Spirit. The Spirit becomes visible only in our works of mercy, justice, and love.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy: We ask that we may grow in our relationship with the Holy Spirit, and that we may allow God’s Omnipotent Power to work through us for the continued sanctification of the world.
Poetry: In Whom We Live and Move and Have Our Being – Denise Levertov
Birds afloat in air's current, sacred breath? No, not breath of God, it seems, but God the air enveloping the whole globe of being. It's we who breathe, in, out, in, in the sacred, leaves astir, our wings rising, ruffled -- but only the saints take flight. We cower in cliff-crevice or edge out gingerly on branches close to the nest. The wind marks the passage of holy ones riding that ocean of air. Slowly their wake reaches us, rocks us. But storms or still, numb or poised in attention, we inhale, exhale, inhale, encompassed, encompassed.
Music: Hymn to the Holy Spirit – Nicholas Echeveria, OSA
Lyrics are taken from a prayer attributed to St. Augustine
Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls.
Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James 1:21-22;27
In his epistle, James is reiterating some strong words from Jesus.
In today’s Gospel, the Pharisees are all whipped up about hand-washing. They have succumbed to the temptation to live a religion of appearances. Jesus basically tells them that no one ever gained eternal life by washing their hands.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy: Jesus tells us, and so does James, how we stay clean and pure in God’s sight. Let’s take a look in the mirror to see how squeaky clean we look.
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James 1:21-22;27
Poetry: from Rumi
If you will be observant and vigilant, you will see at every moment the response to your action.
Be observant if you wouldst have a pure heart, for something is born to you in consequence of every action.
Music: Salvation – Michael Hoppé, Martin Tillman & Tim Wheater
Lavish Mercy 