Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love." Jeremiah 31:3
A Franciscan Blessing (from an anonymous Friar)
May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart,
May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.
Bonne et heureuse année 2010!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Great Big Thank You
Photographs by musician, composer film maker, and Foundation Director, Dennis Sobin, Director of the Safe Streets Foundation, Washington, DC [ www.prisonsfoundation.org ]To the Choir Director at St. Matts at Midnight Mass.
And all Choir Directors everywhere.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Missing the Message Maybe
And Roosting Karma
Everyone is abuzz about the Pope getting jumped and tackled by a woman inside Saint Peter's. A cardinal is waiting surgery for a broken hip. Not nice- in fact criminal to assault anyone. Particularly upsetting at Christmas, even more upsetting during a church service.
But is it too easy to dismiss as the demonic derangement of a woman off her meds? A couple people (admittedly not Catholic) I know actually said "he deserved it but that's not nice at Christmastime."
At the Christmas church service I attended, a high up catholic clerical type in the pinnacle of his homily repeated that the pinnacle virtue is the Eucharist. This is of course, not correct. The pinnacle virtue is LOVE- the Eucharist is not a virtue, it is food for the journey and it is the 'real presence' of Christ with us, which means that it is a focal point of heaven touching earth- just as wherever and whenever, just as forcefully, real Love is present it is a focal point of heaven touching earth. God is Love. It's in the bible, read it.
Faith, Hope and Love, and the greatest of these is LOVE.
Why this "the greatest of these is the Eucharist" is such a dangerous mis-statement of the Heart of Jesus is because anything can be justified in the name of the Eucharist, giving far too much justifying power to do anything in the name of the Eucharist to protect the institutional organization that provides it- and even evil can be done in the name of the Eucharist and the Priests who serve it.
The Priests who serve it are all men. Single men. Men who have had the desire for intimate relations with women beaten out of them either by their own "immolations" or castigations from an emotionally castrating institution-all in the name of Holiness, virtue and the greatest virtue- ostensibly "the Eucharist." It thus creates a milieu ripe for abuse against women. An institutional discrimination against women persists in the misunderstanding that Jesus only wanted celibate priests to serve him- when he picked on purpose Peter, a married man, and the Holy spirit inspired scripture makes sure everyone knows that the man had a mother in law that he took care of. Emotionally and physically healthy women naturally understand Love in all its dimensions and manifestations, culminating in the supreme pinnacle of Love- incarnation. New Life. Childbirth. Like that in the manger you see in paper mache, plastic and plaster painted relief, rather than in the burping, smiling, cooing, suckling nursing flesh and blood of an infant child. Paper, plastic or flesh and blood- you choose.
Article after article is written about the issue of the abuse against minors, two billion dollars has been paid in the US alone in secret and not so secret settlements in the name of the highest pinnacle of virtue; the Eucharist. And the issue of abuse against women, when reported at all, is deemed such a litigation threat to even mention that archdiocese insurance dogs everywhere gnash their teeth at any woman people find too attractive for her choir robe.
So is it shocking or surprising that this confluence of arrogant institutional pride/conceit, theology off the rails, and brutal insensitivity has landed the Pope on the floor of the Vatican by an angry woman? No, it's surprising it hasn't happened sooner, and frankly, more often. Were I her criminal defense counsel I would argue "provocation in the heat of passion for the Love Of Christ."
Everyone is abuzz about the Pope getting jumped and tackled by a woman inside Saint Peter's. A cardinal is waiting surgery for a broken hip. Not nice- in fact criminal to assault anyone. Particularly upsetting at Christmas, even more upsetting during a church service.
But is it too easy to dismiss as the demonic derangement of a woman off her meds? A couple people (admittedly not Catholic) I know actually said "he deserved it but that's not nice at Christmastime."
At the Christmas church service I attended, a high up catholic clerical type in the pinnacle of his homily repeated that the pinnacle virtue is the Eucharist. This is of course, not correct. The pinnacle virtue is LOVE- the Eucharist is not a virtue, it is food for the journey and it is the 'real presence' of Christ with us, which means that it is a focal point of heaven touching earth- just as wherever and whenever, just as forcefully, real Love is present it is a focal point of heaven touching earth. God is Love. It's in the bible, read it.
Faith, Hope and Love, and the greatest of these is LOVE.
Why this "the greatest of these is the Eucharist" is such a dangerous mis-statement of the Heart of Jesus is because anything can be justified in the name of the Eucharist, giving far too much justifying power to do anything in the name of the Eucharist to protect the institutional organization that provides it- and even evil can be done in the name of the Eucharist and the Priests who serve it.
The Priests who serve it are all men. Single men. Men who have had the desire for intimate relations with women beaten out of them either by their own "immolations" or castigations from an emotionally castrating institution-all in the name of Holiness, virtue and the greatest virtue- ostensibly "the Eucharist." It thus creates a milieu ripe for abuse against women. An institutional discrimination against women persists in the misunderstanding that Jesus only wanted celibate priests to serve him- when he picked on purpose Peter, a married man, and the Holy spirit inspired scripture makes sure everyone knows that the man had a mother in law that he took care of. Emotionally and physically healthy women naturally understand Love in all its dimensions and manifestations, culminating in the supreme pinnacle of Love- incarnation. New Life. Childbirth. Like that in the manger you see in paper mache, plastic and plaster painted relief, rather than in the burping, smiling, cooing, suckling nursing flesh and blood of an infant child. Paper, plastic or flesh and blood- you choose.
Article after article is written about the issue of the abuse against minors, two billion dollars has been paid in the US alone in secret and not so secret settlements in the name of the highest pinnacle of virtue; the Eucharist. And the issue of abuse against women, when reported at all, is deemed such a litigation threat to even mention that archdiocese insurance dogs everywhere gnash their teeth at any woman people find too attractive for her choir robe.
So is it shocking or surprising that this confluence of arrogant institutional pride/conceit, theology off the rails, and brutal insensitivity has landed the Pope on the floor of the Vatican by an angry woman? No, it's surprising it hasn't happened sooner, and frankly, more often. Were I her criminal defense counsel I would argue "provocation in the heat of passion for the Love Of Christ."
The Message of Christmas is INCARNATION-
Love of God that was so fierce, so real, so true, so powerful it was INCARNATED in human flesh
so he could save humanity and reach it where it lived.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Ciao Benny
Send the Pope an E-Christmas Card-
he's not afriad of email e-discovery (like who in their right mind listens to litigators about love).
www.Pope2You.net
You can even upload pictures (your kids, your dog, yourself) with a cheery Merry Christmas message. I wonder if he writes back. Let me know. When is the Vatican running the 'cutest kid on the planet' contest because I want to enter my three year old miracle baby boy nephew Jack.
This is actually real- the Vatican is more techy-savvy than your local computer geek- the Pope is on the i-phone, i-tunes, Facebook and has his own YouTube Channel. Get with the program people!
he's not afriad of email e-discovery (like who in their right mind listens to litigators about love).
www.Pope2You.net
You can even upload pictures (your kids, your dog, yourself) with a cheery Merry Christmas message. I wonder if he writes back. Let me know. When is the Vatican running the 'cutest kid on the planet' contest because I want to enter my three year old miracle baby boy nephew Jack.
This is actually real- the Vatican is more techy-savvy than your local computer geek- the Pope is on the i-phone, i-tunes, Facebook and has his own YouTube Channel. Get with the program people!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Lets Play Jeopardy
He Believed His Dreams Over the Maddening Crowds
Question: Why did God pick Joseph to be Jesus ' earthly stepdad?
Mary was pregnant. It wasn't his. That is all he knew 'in the natural.' It looks pretty darn grim in the natural sometimes. Looks like the person you love and wanted to marry is so evil she should be buried alive which is what they wanted to do to her- it was a stonable offense. Too bad to entertain the thought- they are going to just kill her off.
But God talked to Joseph by sending Gabriel in a dream to let him know- it's OK- it's not what it looks like. Looks pretty bad, I know- but don't be afraid. It's all part of the plan. It's all going to be so awesome you can't even imagine it now.
He didn't see it in the natural. Didn't make sense. Plus he had to drag her all the way to Bethlehem to register for the census where he was born- on a donkey. How fun was that?
It looks like not only a curse but a burden. And how was he supposed to pay for the two of them when he got there?
Things often look grim. That is what Faith is for.
There is a sign on top of Macy's this year. It says simply "BELIEVE"
BELIEVE in your dreams. They are real.
Question: Why did God pick Joseph to be Jesus ' earthly stepdad?
Mary was pregnant. It wasn't his. That is all he knew 'in the natural.' It looks pretty darn grim in the natural sometimes. Looks like the person you love and wanted to marry is so evil she should be buried alive which is what they wanted to do to her- it was a stonable offense. Too bad to entertain the thought- they are going to just kill her off.
But God talked to Joseph by sending Gabriel in a dream to let him know- it's OK- it's not what it looks like. Looks pretty bad, I know- but don't be afraid. It's all part of the plan. It's all going to be so awesome you can't even imagine it now.
He didn't see it in the natural. Didn't make sense. Plus he had to drag her all the way to Bethlehem to register for the census where he was born- on a donkey. How fun was that?
It looks like not only a curse but a burden. And how was he supposed to pay for the two of them when he got there?
Things often look grim. That is what Faith is for.
There is a sign on top of Macy's this year. It says simply "BELIEVE"
BELIEVE in your dreams. They are real.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Bite Me
Eat Me, No Really.
Did you know that the French word in the infinitive for eat is "manger" pronounced "monjay." It's similar to the Italian "mange." The Old English, which borrowed from the Norman French pronounced it differently- it's where we get the word Manger, as in the Creche scene. The manger was actually believed to be a feeding trough for animals in a barn. It was full of hay because that is what cows and horses chomped on. It's possible that the donkey cleaned it out first before laying Jesus in it-he would have been rather hungry carting a pregnant woman all that way all day and night. It is also possible that the French word for it travelled to England because Mary Magdalene and/or other disciples (possibly Mary) landed at some point in France- as is rumored throughout the South of France. Hence the name of La Magdalene Cathedral in France and their fondness for Mary Magdalene. This is my body which is broken for you. When he was born they actually laid his head in a feeding trough.
(No, Dan Brown didn't tell me that-it's possible the Holy Spirit did.)
Did you know that the French word in the infinitive for eat is "manger" pronounced "monjay." It's similar to the Italian "mange." The Old English, which borrowed from the Norman French pronounced it differently- it's where we get the word Manger, as in the Creche scene. The manger was actually believed to be a feeding trough for animals in a barn. It was full of hay because that is what cows and horses chomped on. It's possible that the donkey cleaned it out first before laying Jesus in it-he would have been rather hungry carting a pregnant woman all that way all day and night. It is also possible that the French word for it travelled to England because Mary Magdalene and/or other disciples (possibly Mary) landed at some point in France- as is rumored throughout the South of France. Hence the name of La Magdalene Cathedral in France and their fondness for Mary Magdalene. This is my body which is broken for you. When he was born they actually laid his head in a feeding trough.
(No, Dan Brown didn't tell me that-it's possible the Holy Spirit did.)
Reconciliation Starts
In The Home
How not to be full of beans:
http://www.h2onews.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=224499
How not to be full of beans:
http://www.h2onews.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=224499
Last Year At Christmas
I Gave Someone A Book
of sayings of JPII. Now Pope JPII has just been beatified "Venerable"....and we only need one more miracle to make him a Saint. I'm believing for a Miracle. I'll let you know.
http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=18408
.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=18408
BACK AT YOU PADRE.
[did i ever tell you about the time i was as close to him as the length of a rosary once at a special Mass at Saint Peter's ...]
[
of sayings of JPII. Now Pope JPII has just been beatified "Venerable"....and we only need one more miracle to make him a Saint. I'm believing for a Miracle. I'll let you know.
http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=18408
.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=18408BACK AT YOU PADRE.
[did i ever tell you about the time i was as close to him as the length of a rosary once at a special Mass at Saint Peter's ...]
[
No Room At The Inn
And the hovels in Nazareth didn't look like much fun either 2,000 years ago.
Think you have it bad? Try being pregnant with no fosset running water, toilets, microwaves, electric stoves or electric blankets or baby bottle warmers. Nazareth wasn't much bigger than
Bethesda with a few caves and hovels and stone houses- one with a "grotto" to hide from the Romans that Franciscans were led to discover. Now do you know why Mary appeared at a "Grotto" in Lourdes, France?
Remember: They "reclined" at table because they didn't have chairs.
http://www.sphere.com/world/article/first-jesus-era-house-uncovered-in-nazareth-israel/19289213
So if they made it work with nothing and a donkey for transport.....
postscript: actually Mary and Jo might have had a bit of runnning water even out of a sort of spicket/fosset; one thing Romans were really crafty at was building Aqueducts and Nazareth was under Roman rule- they had huge water systems and "bath" houses- remember the English town "Bath"- aptly named. Running water into the barn out back where Mary delivered was likely a different story. Get the "NATIVITY STORY" and watch it this year on DVD.
Think you have it bad? Try being pregnant with no fosset running water, toilets, microwaves, electric stoves or electric blankets or baby bottle warmers. Nazareth wasn't much bigger than
Bethesda with a few caves and hovels and stone houses- one with a "grotto" to hide from the Romans that Franciscans were led to discover. Now do you know why Mary appeared at a "Grotto" in Lourdes, France?
Remember: They "reclined" at table because they didn't have chairs.
http://www.sphere.com/world/article/first-jesus-era-house-uncovered-in-nazareth-israel/19289213
So if they made it work with nothing and a donkey for transport.....
postscript: actually Mary and Jo might have had a bit of runnning water even out of a sort of spicket/fosset; one thing Romans were really crafty at was building Aqueducts and Nazareth was under Roman rule- they had huge water systems and "bath" houses- remember the English town "Bath"- aptly named. Running water into the barn out back where Mary delivered was likely a different story. Get the "NATIVITY STORY" and watch it this year on DVD.
Wasn't ever trying to use you
Never needed your help to survive
Just wanted your heart's inspiration
and the song of your voice to make me feel alive
Just wanted to give back
a life inside you created
by manifesting your hope and devotion consecrated
by a faith that pierced the madness of oppressions
imposed upon you from all those needy souls.
Just wanted to hold you.
MERRY CHRIST MASS
Never needed your help to survive
Just wanted your heart's inspiration
and the song of your voice to make me feel alive
Just wanted to give back
a life inside you created
by manifesting your hope and devotion consecrated
by a faith that pierced the madness of oppressions
imposed upon you from all those needy souls.
Just wanted to hold you.
MERRY CHRIST MASS
Bearing Gifts From Afar
Want To Help?
I know that you have more people to shop for than bucks in the bank this holiday with market meltdown. But you still can do something phenomenal this Christmas if you are in DC this year. Holy Trinity, the Jesuit Parish in Georgetown is hosting ON CHRISTMAS DAY ten homeless people from the "rotating shelter" who are sleeping for the holiday in a converted room of the church building complex right in Georgetown. Typically in shelters people are kicked out at 7:00 and get to return in the evening- but not on Christmas Day. They get to spend the entire day in the church.
At 3:30 we are cooking and serving them a beautiful Christmas dinner. Nothing too fancy but something warm and delicious. If you want to help you can drop off your favorite caserole, pies, extra Christmas cookies, that fruitcake aunt Sally sent that you don't have a heart to send back! or anything you want to treat these folks to- because it is Christmas.
Just drop it off at the church reception upstairs with a note that it's for the Christmas homeless shelter. You will be rewarded a hundred times over.
www.TRINITY.org
I know that you have more people to shop for than bucks in the bank this holiday with market meltdown. But you still can do something phenomenal this Christmas if you are in DC this year. Holy Trinity, the Jesuit Parish in Georgetown is hosting ON CHRISTMAS DAY ten homeless people from the "rotating shelter" who are sleeping for the holiday in a converted room of the church building complex right in Georgetown. Typically in shelters people are kicked out at 7:00 and get to return in the evening- but not on Christmas Day. They get to spend the entire day in the church.
At 3:30 we are cooking and serving them a beautiful Christmas dinner. Nothing too fancy but something warm and delicious. If you want to help you can drop off your favorite caserole, pies, extra Christmas cookies, that fruitcake aunt Sally sent that you don't have a heart to send back! or anything you want to treat these folks to- because it is Christmas.
Just drop it off at the church reception upstairs with a note that it's for the Christmas homeless shelter. You will be rewarded a hundred times over.
www.TRINITY.org
Sunday, December 20, 2009
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