My most recent super moon tinted with a touch of blue, to match my mood, and the mood of many of us who grieve over oh so many things…
What troubling stories fill our news, and what great suffering is happening at the hands of radical militant factions in Iraq and the Middle East, Ukraine, Afghanistan and Nigeria.
I keep thinking of Psalm 120:6-7 "Too long have I had my dwelling among those who hate peace. I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war."
It appears that things as powerfully disordered as our current worldly threats may not be changed except through prayer and fasting.
The moon shines silently above us as a beacon in the night, and in our darkness, we surely need a light to guide our way.
We are in the midst of the three days of celebration and reflection leading up to Easter Sunday. They are my favorite time year, and the most significant, for me, in the Christian calendar. They capture the heart of Christ's message of humility and obedience, which Jesus demonstrated perfectly. In how many other religious, political, or other traditions does the leader, (in this case, the Son of God) take on the role and duties of the servant? Jesus, whose entire mission was to reveal more of the Father to us, takes on the guilt of all of us, and becomes the perfect sacrifice. His sacrifice replaced the annual Jewish sacrifices at Passover, where the unblemished yearling lamb or goat was offered for the sins of the household. That first Passover was a bloody affair. All that killing and blood... it's disturbing to me to read the account and imagine the scene. Jesus fulfilled, completed that offering, and became the perpetual sacrifice, the perfect, unblemished offering. Crude and bloody, barbaric really, his crucifixion, his death, was the price of our freedom.
It wasn't easy for Him to bear it, but it was the Father's will.
"In the days when Christ was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him." Heb 5:7-9
He sets the example for us when it comes to obedience. We are to obey as He obeyed, so that the Father's will be done.
The Servant's Song:
Brother let me be your servant Let me be as Christ to you Pray that I might have the grace to Let you be my servant, too.
We are pilgrims on a journey We are travelers on the road We are here to help each other Walk the mile and bear the load.
I will hold the Christ light for you In the night-time of your fear I will hold my hand out to you Speak the peace you long to hear.
I will weep when you are weeping When you laugh I'll laugh with you I will share your joy and sorrow Till we see this journey through.
When we sing to God in heaven We shall find such harmony Borne of all we've known together Of Christ's love and agony.
Brother let me be your servant Let me be as Christ to you Pray that I might have the grace to Let you be my servant, too.
There are a variety of versions of this hymn on YouTube. I prefer a quieter version but couldn't find it. This one is nice.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent today, Feb 17, 2010.
This is a flower pic, taken a couple years ago, which I've converted to this black and white image. Just as I have stripped away the color from this image, during this season of Lent, we now strip away ourselves to find more of the genuine, and less of the facades. We quiet those external noises that drown out the voice of our Creator. We gladly make sacrifices because we find our truer selves in so doing. And we turn our hearts toward God and others. This is the way we were meant to be. This is how we were designed.
We are not perfect, but there is beauty in our imperfection. We are not whole, but He can make up what is lacking.
Like the tulip above, we are open, and ready.
"Here I am, Lord. Your servant is listening."
As I woke today, I thought of St. Paul. He had many reasons to feel secure in his relationship with God. Born a Jew, circumcised on the eighth day, years of zealous (overzealous?) service within his tradition... But his worldly standing did not grant him access to the One he desired. All that effort to be good and holy... fell short. Paul tells us that knowing Jesus was worth more than all of his public position and standing. Paul's relationship with Jesus was the thing he valued most. St. Paul is a credible witness. Knowing all that he knows, he tells the Philippians (3:8-10), "I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ...being found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, based on law, but that which is through faith in Christ...that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that if possible, I may attain the resurrection form the dead."
We fast during Lent because it gives us great joy to be joined with Jesus in his own selflessness. While it may cause us temporary pain or difficulty, our eyes are looking toward the prize, the goal. That is, we are looking toward Jesus, himself. Our faith sustains us when He seems quiet. This is why, as Catholics, we are pleased to embrace small (or great) sufferings for we know that they are good teachers. We are not afraid of hardship. Our sacrifices teach us to be patient, and to wait in faith.
One more thing about St. Paul is that he leaves the outcome of his soul with Jesus. "...that if possible, I may attain the resurrection from the dead." He doesn't boast that it is his. If he boasts at all, he boasts only in his trust, in his relationship, in his faith in Jesus.
So many times it is difficult to trust. When He seems quiet, or we feel distant. That is when we must call on the virtue of patience, and rely on His timing. God is not a genie to be called forth from some shiny lamp. He is God. We must be his patient servants.
God bless any of you who stop to read these words. Those of you who observe Lent and those of you who do not. We are all His creatures.
Thanks for stopping by my blog. Maybe you'll find something here that resonates with you. Leave a comment if you like or just say hello. Other sites of mine:
I'm a wife, mother, grandmother, and retired nurse practitioner. I spent my nursing career with cancer patients. My work was gratifying often, and difficult and sad sometimes, too. Since retiring, I walk my dogs, and try to do the things that are needed. When I am able, I take classes in photography.
I'm average and extraordinary, just as you are. I've experienced profound failures, significant disappointments, had a few successes, and been the recipient of a lot of mercy. I try to keep perspective on what's important in life, and not get too upset about the rest.
My Catholic faith is important to me, and while I'm no theologian, it's my intention that my faith inform my outlook and values, and inspire personal virtue. I love that God desires to reveal himself to us. I love the small hints, the little bread crumbs, the multiple clues, and the pieces of the puzzle that dot the created world and point to the hand of the Creator. I love that He uses beauty, art, science, all his creatures and the invisible realm of our heart and emotions to communicate His goodness to us. And I love that the fullness of his love can be seen in the sacrifice of his son, Jesus, which makes me free.
