Holy Thursday - the lessons get bigger

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From Richard Rohr this a.m. - partial excerpt -"Wondrous Encounters: Scripture for Lent," pp. 134-135................

"The sacrificial instinct is the deep recognition that something always has to die for something bigger to be born.  We started with human sacrifice (Abraham and Isaac), we moved to animal sacrifice (the ritual killing of the Passover lamb described in Exodus 12), and we gradually get closer to what really has to be sacrificed—our own beloved ego—as protected and beloved as a little household lamb!  We will all find endless disguises and excuses to avoid letting go of what really needs to die.  And it is not other humans (firstborn sons of Egyptians), animals (lambs or goats), or even “meat on Friday” that God wants or needs.  It is always our false self that has to be let go, which is going to die anyway."

And, yes, I gave particular attention to my tootsies (that would be toes for many) this morning during my shower as this evening I will be rendering those feet for washing by one of my Christian friends and/or acquaintances during the remembrance of Jesus' washing the feet of his disciples as an act of servanthood - and of becoming the least of them.  

I, unlike the disciples, will not be unaware of what will be happening during the ceremony so I will be somewhat prepared as a man, woman, boy or girl takes each of my feet in their hands and applies a warm water "bath" in remembrance of Jesus' act.  I know that the feet that I may handle may not have remembered to give a good soak this a.m. but that will matter little as the reality of this act washes over me and makes even clearer what all of this leading up to Easter is about.  Clean feet only?  I think not, but an effort to live in service to others in whatever small ways I may offer - let me remember.

Holy Week, Tuesday - More Little Lessons

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In reading this a.m. I was reminded of how eager I/we can be when it comes to judging others.  It can be an almost knee jerk reaction - what's that outfit, they should lose five pounds, they should gain five pounds, what's up with that purple hair, what's up with that dog of theirs, what's up with the way they're driving - on and on and on.  

What's up with me?! Someone else's business is not mine......what wasted time I spend in judgment.  Let me/us suspend judgment of others for a day - today.  Let me cultivate the habit of non-judgment.

Holy Week, Monday - Little Lessons

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"We are all your blessed Body, 

and you have always loved me precisely in my unworthiness.  

How can I not do the same to others?"

Quote from Richard Rohr - Hope Against Darkness p.38

Reading the daily devotion from Richard Rohr, I was struck by the above sentence in relation to something I've been harboring "against myself" for the past week or so......case in point - I desperately needed a parking place for a meeting (I happened to be running a little late) and as I searched  slowly, cautiously, a pickup truck roared up behind me, right on my tail - he tooapparently in a hurry.  Allowing myself to be pressured into stepping on the gas, I inadvertently pulled past a very open, vacant spot - which I noted in my rearview mirror was immediately taken by my pickup friend!  

I declared to myself quite loudly, I was alone in the car, just what I thought about this young fellow AND IMMEDIATELY thought, .........what was I thinking blurting out such a rude declaration?!!!  I'm supposed to be a child of God, the other driver the same - what made me blurt out that hatefulness, that uncalculated venom against a stranger?  Would I have said the same thing if another meeting member that I knew well had taken what I perceived as my parking spot?  I doubt it.  

That lesson hit me squarely, I mean I'm still thinking about it two weeks later - I'm praying that's the last time such rudeness regarding a stranger and their actions will pass from my lips or even through my mind.  If I can only treat strangers as friends, or neighbors as myself.....mmmmm, sounds familiar doesn't it? 

Holy Wednesday Reading

Holy Wednesday was started in a very comfortable way - and that was with a solid night's sleep preceding its dawning.  Amazing how the body craves and sometimes even demands something as basic as rest to clear one's head and heart for the day ahead!

It's now midday here and I spent the balance of the a.m., aside from my yoga class, in reading and reflection.  My readings today rather sum up this season of Lent for me, so far, as an eclectic journey  commencing with Ash Wednesday in Maui with lots of personal time for reading, reflection, and writing, through days back home active with an online Lenten Study from Abbey of the Arts, volunteer work at the YWCA, the Carnegie Board of Trustees, and mentoring; medical checkups, spiritual formation study, catching up at lunches and on long walks with friends, Bible study classes, and physical body workouts.  Some days I found scripture speaking directly at me and to me, other days more secular reading grabbed my attention in unexpected ways.  I've taken on an assignment from a Life Coach and observed my own behavior in myriad ways......an eclectic month interwoven into the journey through Lent.

And now this Holy Week and Wednesday to be specific, I've been prompted by various readings and resolutions to continue this up and down/higgeldy-piggeldy journey through until Easter morn.    Reminded by Thomas Merton "That Christ and angels walk among us, everywhere" - and more Merton - "Jesus saw that all things were good, and He did not enjoy them.  He saw that all things were beautiful and He did not want them.  His love is not like ours.  His love is unpossessive.  His love is pure because it needs nothing."  And by bloggers - friend Bruno's reflection re "They will know we are Christians", Barbara's post about "What Makes us Brothers and Sisters" - Christine Kane's secular post, but to an observing eye and reflective heart, not necessarily so secular, entitled The Nine Skills Every Woman Should Master.  And for VERY good measure, I visited The Country Parson today and read an extraordinarily mind-provoking post regarding "Reciprocity and Atonement."

For the rest of the day - I'll have to see what happens.  At 5:30 I'll be in St. Paul's again celebrating the eucharist with fellow Christians, some of whom I may suspect find this homestretch into Lent, one of challenge, relief, and expectation.  At 7:00 p.m., I'll be around a table with yet another group studying what Hebrews has to say to each of us and once more, I anticipate hearing questions and answers regarding the final days of this year's Lenten journey.

If you have a minute, I hope you'll check out some of the readings that I did today and if you're a participant in the celebration of Lent and Easter, I'd love to hear where you'll be for the next few days.

SS Collage - "A Look Within"

What could be heavy about Holy?

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Holy Week - sounds nice doesn't it?  I mean what could be heavy about holy?  I seem to forget each year what a heavy week is that, which we call Holy Week.  

Seems simple enough, visit church for a short time each day, think of my sins, think of the imminent death of the founder of my faith, participate in life with other worshipers who have been asked to share just a part of what their life with Jesus means to them, participate in Holy Communion, pray, remember those dead and dying, those in sorrow, need sickness or any other adversity, those held captive by enemies, those held captive from their own crimes, victims of war,.....my mind drifts to the terrorists in Moscow killing innocent commuters, the arrest of a group claiming to be a "Christian militia group" - what does THAT mean - a "Christian" militia group - I must have the distasteful sensation that every devout Muslim has when someone calls a group "a Muslim terrorist group"............come back mind to the prayer book!  There's a LOT to  ponder during this HOLY Week!

So tonight, only the second day of this week, I feel spent from a day of emotional highs and lows.  This a.m. the celebration of a friend's birthday with laughter, age jokes, stories of our kids, spouses, our childhood memories - some fond, some not so - the joy and sadness of lives attempting to be led with love, understanding, and compassion for others.  Later today the news of a friend's death,  news of successful surgery for a young boy, news of an upcoming surgery for a church friend, and the weather turning dark and cold today on top of the profusion of tulips, jonquils, and flowering trees that dress so many yards and street corners welcoming spring.

Yes, it's Holy Week.  I said to a blogger friend yesterday, this week is for me a week of hope.  Hope of the resurrection.  Hope of changed lives and loves.  Hope of peace and salvation.  And tonight, selfishly, just a simple prayer for an early lights out into a peaceful night.