The Life of Service

I have been unable to move from the images of Pope Francis in the midst of the refugees celebrating the liturgy of Holy Thursday.  The simplicity of the ritual, the clarity of message, the lack of theological and doctrinal discourse did not distract from the clarion call to be present to those at the margins. As the reserved hosts were removed from the assembly with nary a swing of the thurible without pomp and procession, the reality of the transformational, sacramental grace of the eucharistic commnity was in clear focus.

They story was told in the eyes of those present.  I am not sure they understood a lick of Italian.  It is not important.  The expression of the eyes of the men and woman clearly expressed their depth of pain and experience of welcoming love.  

I remember these "eyes" from my experience in the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Working with what we lovingly called "those old time heroin addicts" and the many variants of the fringe people we saw daily, taught me many things about these eyes.  Rich or poor, housed or homeless, I saw these same eyes as we reached out to attempt to meet them in their many places of brokenness.  I can never forget them.

Now I see these "eyes" on the faces of those in places not regularly identified as "the fringe." Brokenness, alienation, fear, terror and grief have taken hold in our world and drive all of us into a life that looks ever inward for solutions and comfort.  In these most holy days, Jesus teaches us the our happiness and healing is found in service to each other. A healthy interior life is essential. Jesus did spend 40 days in the desert. He now teaches us that this is not enough. The seeming modern obsession with a nearly narcissistic self completion blinds us. When we can have the courage to step outside the protective mote of "pomp and circumstance"in our lives and serve, we will live.  

Imperfectly, I join Father Francis is emptying the mote and being open to the grace that comes from the margins of my life and others, with the life of the "yes" to Jesus.

We Sing Hosanna in the Highest Heaven

Hosanna to the Son of David  (Weelkes)

Hosanna to the Son of David: blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna! Thou that sittest in the highest heavens; Hosanna in excelsis Deo!

Palm Sunday and Holy Week.  There is so much written about these sacred days. It is awkward to bring my thoughts forward for sharing.  I will and must as I stay true to my struggles as a Catholic in the Diaspora.  These are the days when we all should feel most welcome in the community of faith.  I do not. They are the days that define our faith and bring our baptismal mandate into focus.

It is painful to be apart.  These are days filled with prayers and rituals I know so well. I have lived them, led them and prayed them my entire life. 

As I read the lectionary selections for today, I was again stunned by how powerful and beautiful the passion account of Luke really is.  Uninterrupted by pseudo theatrics, the story is my story and the story of my baptismal entry into the “life, death and resurrection” of Jesus.  I am relieved to not have the story interrupted by endless fracturing of the text between various “players”.   This may have been the best, right solution for a musical setting of the story which, as it was, a precursor of the oratorio and opera; a miracle / mystery play of sorts.  Why has it persisted into modern times?

My single greatest objection to this format is simple.  The congregation is relegated to the position of shouting “Crucify him.”   Wait a minute. I did not crucify, Jesus.  I am crucified WITH Jesus. 

The crucifixion is a result of the “happy fault… necessary fault of Adam…..to ransom a slave God gave His Son.” Paul teaches us clearly that by baptism we are one with Jesus in the crucifixion and by baptism gain our place in heaven.   Why do we hold onto to this archaic representation in word and ritual that keeps the People of God the wrong place, denying their baptismal right and holding the blame for crucifying Jesus? 

Of course, in our life, we sin.  We turn away from God’s love. We do not love ourselves, as we should in order to love our neighbor.  We do not live and proclaim the kingdom. However, our sins do not condemn Jesus to die.  Only God the Father could ask Jesus to die;  a death  that could only come of Jesus’ own free will.  This is so  in order to free us from the sin of Adam in the Garden. 

Wouldn't it be a somewhat more genuine approach to have share the banquet and, then as a family, recount the story of our salvation as a story, carefully told as you would share the most tender moments of your family heritage with the children of the household?   

In truth, we sing “Hosanna to the Son of David” throughout this week. It does not end with the reading from the book of Isaiah.  We walk with Jesus  expressing our deepest gratitude for him being one among us and willingly, in a most human moment, saying yes to God the Father for our salvation. This is the reason Jesus came to live as one with us. In this he knew our struggle to say, “Yes.”  We die too with him as do we rise and sit in the highest heaven. "Hosanna in the Highest."