Illuminating Lent: The Transfiguration

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February 21, 2016 – February 27, 2016 

Transfiguration

The Transfiguration, Donald Jackson in collaboration with Aidan Hart, 2002. The Saint John’s Bible, Order of Saint Benedict, Collegeville, Minnesota USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

WEEK TWO•DAY ONE

Reading
Mark 9: 2-8Mark Transfiguration

What word stands out to you?

 

WEEK TWO•DAY TWO

Listening

As Christians, we are reminded to see God at work in the common occurrences of our lives, in the everyday encounters that we have. We see Christ in the words of encouragement that we might offer or receive, through helping to ease a hurt or assuage fear in the heart of friend, and in the face of the person to whom we have reached out in love and compassion. In Mark’s account of the Transfiguration, however, we are told that Jesus takes his three disciples to a place that is extraordinary: “up a high mountain apart, by themselves.” God reveals something extraordinary to Peter, James, and John in a place quite removed from the ordinary and every day.

Traditionally, the Mount of Transfiguration is held to be Mount Tabor in Galilee. The lone mountain rising from the rolling hills is striking in its solitary grandeur. Climbing to the top of Mount Tabor is not an easy task. It is while they are resting at the summit that this miraculous event happens. Despite being related in the third-person, Jesus’ Transfiguration is meant to be shared with us as an eye-witness account. We become witnesses, also, of this revelation of Christ’s divine nature and the culmination of Law and Prophecy that he represents.

As a participant in this story now, by extension through narrative, I find myself wanting to experience it in deeper ways. What is that place apart, by myself, to which I can retreat and be prepared to encounter Jesus in an extraordinary way?

 

WEEK TWO•DAY THREE

Meditating

I find it difficult to find a quiet place, set apart, where I can be alone with God. So much in our lives works against this simple desire of more intimate communion with Christ. The omnipresence of digital media creates an atmosphere in which it is well-nigh impossible to be alone. When we add the busy schedules of our children, the demands of our professions, and the burdens we place upon ourselves to the cyber-word, we realize the difficulties that exist in answering Jesus’ simple call to come to be alone with him. I feel a longing in my heart when I think of the three disciples being with Jesus at the top of the mountain.

I suspect that Peter, James, and John responded to that same longing, glad to be alone with Jesus and awe-struck with the Transfiguration. This is why Peter suggested erecting three tents, to connect the Transfiguration with a place, a place to which they could return for rest and comfort. The story does not record the building of dwellings, nor does scripture recount a return to the Mount of Transfiguration. An essential part of pilgrimage is to know that there is no standing still, only the next stop along the way. Jesus invites us to that next place where he reveals himself to us in new ways. Movement, not stasis, is the essence of pilgrimage.

Part of my pilgrimage of Lent is to set aside all that prevents me from being alone with Jesus and to listen to his invitation to come apart to a separate place.

 

WEEK TWO•DAY FOUR

Seeing

Jesus’ face attracts my attention immediately in this illumination. It is not the iconic representation of a bearded rabbi with which we are familiar. Rather, this face is something new, something unexpected, something transfigured. There is an energy and freshness to this vision of Christ that is at the same time powerfully attractive and yet strange. Christ’s face is full of humanity; I’m able to see myself in him. While Jesus’ garments, shimmering with dazzling brightness, reveal the essence of a transformed reality, his face reminds me that he is both fully God and fully human. He is part of the world that I inhabit.

Moses and Elijah are depicted very differently, in the Eastern iconographic style—a representation that is rooted in tradition. They, themselves, are not changed. Their transfiguration comes by virtue of being united and fulfilled in Christ. Transformation and redemption are to be found in the “Son, the Beloved”, not in the Law or the Prophets alone.

It is important that Jesus’ feet are not seen in this illumination. He inhabits a place between the earth, upon which Moses and Elijah stand, and heaven, the swirling blue reminiscent of the first day of the Creation illumination. In Christ, we find God’s power to transform our lives on earth. The world needs to know the power of God’s love. I need the transfiguring love of Jesus in my life. To acknowledge that need, that desire, is to begin truly to listen to the voice of Jesus.

 

WEEK TWO•DAY FIVE

Prayer

O God, you are always ready to hear the voice of our prayers.
Our world is full of violence and hatred; nation against nation,

people against people, belief against belief.

We seek your transforming love to be made manifest

in the midst of the terrible suffering of multitudes.

In our lives we experience fear, loneliness, anxiety, illness, and grief.
Hear the voices of our hearts that seek your loving presence

in a way that transfigures our daily lives.

There is beauty all around us in the world;

our families, our friends, your creation, the joys of work and play.

Help us not to be so overcome with adversity that we fail to see

the blessings in our lives that your love creates.

Too often, in the midst of our busy lives, we fail to notice the faces that surround us.
Give us wisdom not to lose sight of the face of your Son,

in whom we see your glory, the dazzling light that shines in the darkness.

Be with us, in a place set apart, so that we might listen to your voice

and follow the paths of love and service to which you call us.

 

 

WEEK TWO•DAY SIX

Contemplating

I love my children. I express that love in many ways. I want what is best for them. I want them not to be satisfied with the way things are, but to always be looking for ways to change the world for the better. Change, after all, is an essential and natural part of life. The old saying is true: When we stop changing, we die.

God loves us. We are described in Scripture as “children of God”. In the beginning, God created us to live in perfect harmony with the world and in full communion with him. God wants what is best for us. Part of that divine desire is for us to actively seek ways to change the world around us and to allow God to change us.

This illumination of the Transfiguration and the scripture that inspires it contain a deep message of change. Moses and Elijah are changed in relation to the Messiah. Jesus is changed in the sight of the disciples. Peter, James, and John are changed in their understanding of their Lord and, therefore, their understanding of themselves.

Part of human nature is to dislike change. The three Apostles attempt to forestall transformation by enshrining the Transfiguration, much like we in the church can avert change through an unhealthy attachment to the institution, rather than to Christ.

We know that God is love. God’s love, in Christ, is dramatically projected in this vision of Transfiguration and is the catalyst by which we are changed. May we so embrace God’s love that we accept the transformation of our lives that God wills.

 

WEEK TWO•DAY SEVEN

Becoming Christ-like

One of the most tragic aspects of human civilization is its emphasis on “winners” and “losers.” This stratification can be seen at all levels of society. Children learn this dichotomy between haves and have-nots through the awarding of trophies. While it is true that not every team can win, the emphasis on trophies, rather than on the fulfillment of the game, inculcates an understanding that worth is based upon attainment. The truth of our ultimate worth as beloved of God is obscured.

In the Transfiguration, Jesus’ humanity is shown to be but a part of his true nature: fully human and also fully divine. The brilliance of God’s love overwhelms the earthly manifestations of the incarnation of the Son.

We are not of a dual nature, like Christ. Jesus, nonetheless, dwells within us and the Holy Spirit fills our lives with the fire of God’s love. We, too, have within us the potential for transfiguration, not out of our own power, but through God’s grace. To become more Christ-like, then, is to seek the transfiguring love of God in our lives. Such seeking cannot be merely symbolic, either; it must be practical.

To live in hope of transfiguration is to be purposeful about rejecting the stratification taught by the world around us. There are no trophies for the best or brightest in the kingdom; all persons receive the crown of life. Regardless of any division we could imagine, all persons are equal in God’s eyes. All persons receive God’s love in full measure.

Through the sharing of the narrative of the Transfiguration, is not only Peter, James, and John who are witnesses to this miracle. We are all now part of the story.

 

The Reverend Mark Goodman, a native of Oklahoma, is Dean of St. John’s Cathedral in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He has served congregations in Ohio, South Carolina, and New Mexico. Before ordination, Mark received degrees in botany, and still maintains an interest in that science. He is a Fellow of Sinai and Synapses, an organization whose work is the deepening of the conversation between science and faith. He is married, with two children, and he enjoys cooking, reading, travelling with his family, and taking long walks with his dog, Jeeves.

 

Illuminating Lent: Raising of Lazarus

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February 14, 2016 – February 20, 2016

WEEK ONE•DAY ONE

Reading
John 11:17, 21-27, 32-44

Listen to what word God has for you.

 

WEEK ONE•DAY TWO

Listening

There are many details of this story that easily perplex us. Perhaps the most blaring question is, why does Jesus wait two days before traveling nearby to see his dear friend, Lazarus, who is ill? On the other hand, there are some details that seem more straightforward and therefore cause us to engage them less. For example, when Jesus encounters the mourners, we have the well known line: “Jesus began to weep” (John 11:35). This phrase has become the tagline for Jesus’ share in human emotions and his deep capacity for empathy and grief. Yet this instance of tears that Jesus sheds does not so obviously convey grief over the loss of his friend, because Jesus is about to raise Lazarus from the dead after all. Instead, the passage says “he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved” (John 11:33). He was grieved by their resignation to the finality of Lazarus’ death, by their allowance for death to have the final say.

Jesus came to liberate humanity from the grips of the death—both physically and spiritually. Exclaiming that he is both the Resurrection and the life, he promises not only to resurrect our bodies on the last day but also that each setback we have in life need not send us in a tailspin to a premature death. Belief in Christ and his promises are integral to abiding in the fullness of life. Even though we may continue to question Jesus’ timing and have different ideas of when and how he should act in our lives, let us remain confident that he will act.

 

WEEK ONE•DAY THREE

Meditating

When Jesus asks Mary and those accompanying her where they had laid Lazarus’ body, they respond, “Lord, come and see” (John 11:34). It is as if they are thinking that they must show Jesus the tomb in order for him to finally understand the permanence of Lazarus’ death. But Jesus is not satisfied, he commands them to remove the stone from the tomb. With the hope to deter him, Martha then warns Jesus of the stench, which is certain to accompany a body that has been lifeless now for four days. Hoping it would be enough for Jesus to lay eyes on the tomb, the last thing they wanted was for him to actually open it and disrupt their mourning ritual.

Have you ever grown so comfortable with the less than desirable parts of your life that when Jesus offers to touch them and breathe life back into them, you shutter at the thought? Have you grown weary in believing that Jesus can truly do anything for you? Do you ever want take Jesus by the hand and show him all the tumultuous things with which you are dealing so as to prove it is impossible to live with a spirit of hope? Jesus is not ignorant or indifferent to the injustice humans inflict upon one another nor the hardships we face. Just because he does not always intercede during the most critical phases of our suffering, he is still with us and will still restore us to greater wholeness. Where do you place your trust?

 

WEEK ONE•DAY FOUR

Seeing

The death head moth situated near Lazarus’ figure brings to mind the idiom “like a moth to a flame,” serving to warn us of the dangers of our attractions. When modern journalism splashes the most horrific events that take place in our world across our pages and screens, we can easily succumb to belief that such traumatic occurrences are inevitably the norm. Instead of letting our culture lead us down the path of resignation to things that fail to bring us life, it is crucial to challenge our attractions and hold them up to see them as they are in the light of Christ. We empower the things on which we focus our attention.

As I acquaint myself with the view from within Lazarus’ tomb, I notice that these words “I am the Resurrection and the life” seem to be etched into the stone (John 11:25). But they clearly would not be visible until the stone is rolled away from the tomb and Jesus’ light floods through the tunnel. Because Jesus’ words are so much closer in the foreground than his tiny figure at the end of the tunnel, I am reminded how Jesus’ words often precede his actions in our lives. Many times we receive his promises, his covenant, and his truth before we see the fruits of Christ’s words. We often find ourselves in periods waiting and longing for further fulfillment. In the meantime, let us cling to his light. What words has Jesus written on your heart? Invite his light in today and see what awaits you.

 

WEEK ONE•DAY FIVE

Prayer

Merciful Lord, you have created us with tender and impressionable hearts. Yet sometimes our circumstances harden our hearts toward you and toward one another. We erect barriers, walls, and fortresses out of self-protection only then to find ourselves imprisoned in isolation. As our gracious protector, show us the way out. We long to emerge from the darkness, but parts of us have grown comfortable here. Your light is alluring; your glory is attractive. Yet sometimes it seems to overwhelm us. You care for us through it all, even when our desire is to retreat from your presence. Thank you for respecting our boundaries and our freedom; your gentleness is astounding. As you call humanity away from the grips of death, and you summon us each by name, strengthen our resolve to accept your healing grace and the helping hands of those you send to unbind us. Gather your people, Lord, so that together we may unite our efforts to loosen the bonds of the most prevalent evils oppressing our brothers and sisters across the globe. We pray that in this season of Lent we may come into deeper alignment with your will and act accordingly. Fortify us so that we may not only point people toward the hope of the resurrection, but also share the good news that life begins anew daily when we abide in you.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

WEEK ONE•DAY SIX

Contemplating

Jesus, you said to Martha, “Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:25-26). And then you followed this with a question: “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26). Your voice carries over the centuries and your words reverberate within me as I empty myself before you. “Do you believe this? Do you believe me when I speak?” Your voice is gentle, not accusatory. But it is also eager, hopeful, as it is so evident how great your love is for me. I long to believe your words, Lord, more than just saying that I do. Help me in my unbelief. Release me from the cloths that bind me and immobilize me. Fill me with your powerful light that casts out any shadows of doubt. May it spill over and illuminate any darkness I encounter.

 

WEEK ONE•DAY SEVEN

Becoming Christ-like

When Jesus told the disciples that he wanted to go to Judea to see Lazarus, they cautioned him because Jesus had just nearly escaped being stoned there by the Jews. He went anyway. When Jesus stood before Lazarus’ tomb, Martha tried to deter him from opening it. He proceeded anyway. Neither the threat of his death nor the ritual uncleanliness, which would occur from entering the tomb of a dead man, caused Jesus to waiver. May we, too, resist acclimating to the culture of death that seeks to entice us every which way we turn. Let us follow after Jesus, whose peaceful assurance to proceed without succumbing to fear is the type of determined presence our world craves.

Today and every day, Jesus summons us to come out. He encourages us to embody the purpose he intends for us. He invites us to rise, to welcome the help of those whose aid we need to unbind us as we recognize that we cannot do it on our own. Further, Jesus sends us to unbind those who are still bound.

Let us pray that we may free the mouths, hands, and feet of your faithful disciples, Lord, enabling all persons to serve you in the ways you have equipped us. And Jesus, as the objections and excuses arise within us as they inevitably will, amplify your truth in our hearts so that we may stand firm in your name. Pour out your blessings upon us so that we may be diligent in seeing your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.

 

Rachel Gabelman is a Master of Divinity candidate at Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary. She serves as a graduate assistant with Seeing the Word.

 

Illuminating Lent: Ash Wednesday

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Reflection for Ash Wednesday

The Lord’s Prayer
Matthew 6:9-15

LordsPrayer

Lord’s Prayer, Donald Jackson, Copyright 2002, The Saint John’s Bible, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

On the first day of Lent, as we receive ashes on our foreheads each year, we take the time to reflect, to remember. We remember we are dust, and to dust we shall return. Today is set aside to reflect on our mortality, so that in turn we may know what is necessary to live and live fully. In his Rule, Saint Benedict writes “day by day remind yourself that you are going to die.” By being mindful in this manner, one can more clearly distinguish what is essential and what is futile, what is healthy and what is harmful.

While working in palliative care, Dr. Ira Byock discovered that a few simple phrases are powerful catalysts in bringing resolve to the emotional issues with which humans most commonly grapple. In his book, The Four Things: A Book About Living, he encourages people to say: “I love you,” “Thank you,” “I forgive you,” and “Please forgive me.” Needless to say, two out of these four things involve forgiveness. As humans, we endlessly underestimate the power of forgiveness. Yet it remains a foundational component of our Christian life. We see the importance of forgiveness indicated by its mention in the Lord’s Prayer. In fact, the colors of this illuminated text—blue, red, and gold—speak to just how primary and necessary both forgiving and being forgiven are for our well-being.

When we pray primarily in the way that Jesus taught us, an infinite and eternal spectrum of possibilities opens up for us. An intimate relationship with the Lord, a genuine desire for the will of God to manifest more fully on earth, an authentic agreement to work hard for our daily bread while still relying on God to provide for our deepest needs, imploring protection against the deceit of empty promises, and resolving to continually do the work of forgiveness: these are our vital signs as Christians. Just as a painter begins with the primary colors of red, yellow, and blue to mix and achieve the rest of their color scheme, these are the elements of the Christian life that we start with on our palette. By layering these practices over one another, we begin to live vibrantly in the fullness of the reality that God intends for us.

In this Year of Mercy and particularly in this season of Lent, I invite you to search your heart for any unforgiveness you are holding onto that impedes you from truly welcoming the tender mercy of the Father. What can you let go of in order to freely allow God’s love to penetrate your inmost being? For what do you need to forgive yourself? What demands or expectations have you placed upon God that you are now willing to release and repent of? Whom do you need to forgive? Can you hand over these burdens to Christ?

Forgiving others and asking forgiveness will not determine whether or not we will return to dust; it is inevitable that we all will. Rather our choice to forgive determines whether we say yes to Christ, who summons us and seeks to gather us back to himself as one united body. As we begin our journey in this season of Lent, let us pray that we may be humble and courageous in embracing the power embedded in this beautiful prayer Christ offers to the Father in the presence of the disciples. By remembering our eventual return to dust, may the present begin teeming with the potential to practice love, gratitude, and forgiveness. What opportunities do you have today to begin saying “I love you,” “Thank you,” “I forgive you,” and “Please forgive me”? Will you make the most of them?

 

Rachel Gabelman is a Master of Divinity candidate at Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary. She serves as a graduate assistant with Seeing the Word.

Illuminating Advent & Christmas: The Birth of Christ

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On the first day of each week of Advent, Seeing the Word will post an illumination paired with an audio reading of the associated Scripture passage. The subsequent days will feature the six movements of visio divina: Listening, Meditating, Seeing, Praying, Contemplating, and Becoming Christ-like.

 

December 20, 2015 – December 26, 2015

Week Four•Day onE

Reading

Luke 2:1-20

Listen to what word God has for you.

 

Week Four•Day two

Listening

This story is so familiar that it requires effort to hear it with fresh ears. Beautiful nativity scenes and Christmas card images automatically jump to mind. Because of this familiarity, we risk missing the real impact of the story—what it means for the divine Son of God to put on flesh and enter humanity. Our first picture of Jesus is as this tiny baby, and it is tempting to want to leave him there. In the innocence and familiarity of the account of this event, we may forget that if one is born, one also will die.

We instinctively know that the baby Jesus is the main character. Yet all the participants get equal billing—Joseph, Mary, the angels, the shepherds. We even find ourselves in the cast of characters as this good news of great joy is for everyone, including us. Just as “all the world” is taxed, the news the angel brings is for “all the people.”

We are also reminded that God is in charge; he works even through corrupt governments who disrupt people’s lives just to get their taxes. The Emperor’s decree brings the birth of the Messiah to the town of Bethlehem, fulfilling scripture. God works through the haughty and the humble alike. We can only imagine the discomfort of Mary as she makes this long trek while expecting a child. This reminds us that when we obey God’s calling, we are not promised an easy journey. But we are promised that everything has meaning and purpose according to God’s will.

 

Week Four•Day three

Meditating

The world-wide event of taxation reeks of legalism. It starkly contrasts the angel’s world-wide declaration of good news for all the people. In the midst of a human invention, a divine exclamation vibrates in the ears of the universe, reverberating throughout all of history—Jesus Christ is born!

The human decree is bland; the angel’s decree is glorious. The glory of the Lord almost acts as another character in the story. At first, it terrifies us. Why? Is it because the closer we get to the glory of the Lord, the more we see our deficiencies, weaknesses and vulnerability?

The second mention of glory is as praise. We say we are to give glory to God, but God is not dependent on us for his glory. If he has all the glory, which he does, how can we give him more? As C.S. Lewis said, “A man can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word ‘darkness’ on the walls of his cell.”

We do not glorify God for his sake but for ours. We glorify God when we recognize that the only one who is worthy of praise knows our name and seeks us out. When that sinks in, our hearts overflow with joy and hope. I wonder if joy and hope aren’t relatives of glory. Each produces the other and all three are due to and because of God.

 

Week Four•Day four

Seeing

My eye is immediately drawn to the shaft of gold in the center of the illumination. It is a beautiful indicator of the glory of the newborn King. On both sides of this golden vertical shaft, heavenly hosts create a horizontal plane, creating the image of a cross. It seems cruel to acknowledge the cross when we are celebrating new life, but they are intrinsically tied together. The ultimate “new life” we experience through Christ requires us to know the full story, from birth to death to resurrection.

I am struck by the prominence of the animals in the scene. The ox is like a black hole that draws my reluctant eye to itself. It seems to mar the glory of the shaft. Yet, could it be that the ox is genuflecting to the manger? My attitude towards its blackness softens as I now see the black ox as the shadow of death bowing to the Christ-child. Could it be that the bull, symbolizing the fake idols we create, is bowing to the only one who deserves to be worshipped?

The donkey and sheep have a prominent place in the scene and obvious ties to many references in scripture. The depiction of the shepherds hardly succumbs to conventional images. But all who peer into the manger have a sense of awe on their face. I’m glad the baby Jesus is not depicted but implied. It leaves us room to focus on the mystery and awe of this human-divine event.

 

Week Four•Day five

Prayer

God our Father,
We climb into your lap and feel your wide embrace enfold us. We rest our heads gently on your chest. Your face turns downward so you can kiss the top of our heads. We settle in, feeling peace, feeling safe, feeling known.

Jesus our Savior,
You approach and we fall to our knees. You reach under our bowed heads and touch our chins, lifting our face to meet yours. The radiance of your smile overwhelms us; the love in your eyes melts our fear away. You help us to our feet and wrap us in a tight embrace. Your head leans in as you whisper “I love you” in our ear. We whisper back, “I love you too.”

Holy Spirit,
You permeate our selves. You are our conscience, our advocate, the transformer of our hearts. Without you we cannot praise or glorify for you reveal the truth to our souls. Course through our souls like the blood that courses through our veins.

Holy Trinity,
You are perfect love, perfect community. You have been dancing in perfect harmony for all time. Thank you for inviting humanity into the dance, for leaving a place for us at your table.

As you prepare our hearts for the first coming of Christ, keep us ever mindful of the permanent place he desires to have in the manger of our hearts. May all we do be to your glory and be of service to your people. Amen.

 

Week Four•Day six

Contemplate

I feel a very real sense of “coming down” and of “coming into.” As I contemplate the gold shaft piercing through the dark night and landing on the gritty earth, I long for that kind of direct connection with the divine—pure, strong and unhindered. I am reminded that the “coming down” of the shaft is not dependent on anything I do. I had nothing to do with creating it or summoning it. I cannot work my way up to it, and I find peace when I realize I don’t have to. God has come to me. All the faces of the people in the illumination are pointed downward, not upward. To find God, I look down into my heart, not up to some faraway heaven. He resides here, now, with us, within us, between us, and among us. Our faces reflect his glory, just as those who behold him in the illumination reflect the warm glow of the manger.

The darkness of night that undoubtedly surrounded the manger also surrounds us, but the light of God has come into the world. The world cannot overcome this light nor does the world understand this light. What an amazing gift to be invited to live in the light of Christ!

 

Week Four•Day seven

Become Christ-like

I am challenged to resist falling into the trap of familiarity with this story or any other passage I know well. What has become so familiar that I gloss over it, thinking I already know what it has to say? The Living Word of God is just that—living. Even in the most familiar passages and stories, I can hear a new word from God.

I long to join the angels in their heavenly song, glorifying God. Again, he doesn’t need me to, but I need to; I long to. How do I do that? By carrying his light into a world bathed in darkness. The world is full of judgement and shame. The light of Christ coming into our humanness shatters the notion that we can earn his love. He has come to us. We want to do good works because we recognize this love we’ve been shown, not because we think they will somehow save us.

Let all I do be for the glory of God. Remind me that God is Creator and I am the created; he is the redeemer, I am the redeemed. It cost me nothing but it cost God everything. As I come closer to his light, I see my fallen-ness more clearly. I am humbled as I recognize my need for this gift freely given. How can I judge another? For we all fall short. Glory to God in the highest!

 

 

Laurie E. Neill is a pastor at First Lutheran Church in Fargo, ND. She graduated from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN in 2012. Prior to ordination, she worked as a lay pastor at The Lutheran Church of Christ the King in Moorhead, MN. She became “hooked” on The Saint John’s Bible during the Praying with Imagination retreat this past summer.

 

 

Illuminating Advent: The Word Made Flesh

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On the first day of each week of Advent, Seeing the Word will post an illumination paired with an audio reading of the associated Scripture passage. The subsequent days will feature the six movements of visio divina: Listening, Meditating, Seeing, Praying, Contemplating, and Becoming Christ-like.

 

December 13, 2015 – December 20, 2015

Week Three•Day onE

Reading

John 1:1-14

Listen to what word God has for you.

 

WEEK THREE•DAY two

Listening

“In the beginning…” This first line of the Gospel of John may have you wondering if you are reading Genesis. Here is a stand up, pay attention phrase, shared to introduce an important event. The incarnation story unfolds right before our eyes. At the center of this passage is the everlasting gift of light that overpowers darkness. John the Baptist co-stars as a staunch herald of the power of this light. He bears witness to the incarnation and the Word, who becomes flesh and lives among us in the person of Jesus.  

This reading from the Gospel of John offers a dichotomy, that even today, is both confounding and hopeful. Some of God’s own creations do not accept or recognize Him. Nevertheless, day after day God continues to offer the opportunity for all to become God’s faithful children.  

This week let us recognize that we were uniquely fashioned by God. Let us claim this truth and cling to the Lord’s light, which overcomes darkness. Let us look forward to basking in the warmth of the Christmas story that reveals the incarnation.

 

WEEK THREE•DAY Three

Meditating

Imagine the miracle: The Word breathed life, and the world came into being. The Word became a living being—a true light illuminating our very existence. Experiencing times of anxiety, fear, and loneliness is part of the human condition. These feelings can erode us, leaving empty holes that can so easily be filled with darkness. But there is always an alternative! Words are powerful; a caring and compassionate word can pull us out of an unbearable situation into a place of light and peace. Jesus was famous for His healing words. Remember the story of the Centurion asking Jesus to heal his sick servant? Jesus responded, saying, “Only say the word and my servant will be healed” (Matt 8:8).   

So it was in the beginning. The Word created a new earth filled with life and light, where His grace and truth prevail. It is striking that this combination of grace and truth does not appeal to all people. Sometimes we reject it. Personally, when I choose to act in darkness rather than light, a shadow hangs over me and drains my spirit. However, the Word has come to open the gate where light and life flow back to me and set me free. Positive changes are possible for all of us when the Word becomes deeply seeded in our hearts. The Word is so much more than a word. The Word is life itself. May our words model the grace and truth that Jesus has offered us and be a source of ongoing life for others and this world.

 

WEEK THREE•DAY Four

Seeing

The illumination of the incarnate golden Christ beckons. Christ, standing against the cosmos, is solid, yet delicate. This is an ideal prelude for the birth of Jesus. A dying star hangs at the top of the illumination. Millions of years later, after this star morphs into a black hole, the earth will still receive its light. So too with Jesus, though his physical body is gone, he remains a brilliant source of life and light for us even today.  

The Lord’s presence, symbolized by gold in The Saint John’s Bible, is bold. It is hard to take my eyes off of the sparkly figure. It is a stunning, yet haunting illumination. I am taken with his transparency and causal stance. Where are his hands and feet? Jesus seems to open himself to us in the illumination. I wish I could see his face. I want to talk to him. I wonder why Jesus is so transparent. I want to touch him. I want Jesus to stay but it looks as if he is on the move. Or is that me? My busyness makes it difficult to contemplate Jesus and my life with him.  

On the left side of the illumination is a mysterious keyhole. Its placement seems worthy of taking the time to ponder. The key to the door may open us to the birth of the Christ Child. What else might the key unlock? During this Advent there is still time to look, listen and get in touch with his grace and truth and to find the gifts that Jesus brings into the world through his birth.

 

WEEK THREE•DAY Five

Praying

Lord, you must make yourself shine like gold for me to pay attention. You must sparkle so much that I will stop in my tracks to look at you. I wonder why it is that I don’t make you a priority. Rather I often just try to fit you into the cracks of my life. When I fix my gaze on this illumination I am reminded of the gift you are to me. This image lacks hands and feet. What are you trying to tell me? My head keeps filling with the hymn based on words from St. Teresa of Avila:

“Christ has no body but yours, no hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world, yours are the feet with which he walks to do good, yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world… You are his body. Christ has no body now but yours…”

Thank you, Lord, for coming. Thank you for sharing your flesh and blood. Help me to offer your love and compassion in this world. Unlock in me that which resists a more authentic relationship with you. Implant your Word on my heart. Amen.   

 

WEEK THREE•DAY Six

Contemplating

Gold upon gold shimmers throughout this illumination. God’s presence is in every fleck. When an artist applies gold leaf onto a page, one’s mere breath can send the gold flying in the atmosphere. In order to keep this precious material in place, windows and doors must be secured. No quick motions or unplanned actions can occur. The atmosphere must be regulated so that the gold does not dissipate. These demands of using gold may not seem compatible with our life, where changes abound.  Twists and turns, depths and valleys are traveled year after year.

Is gold compatible with our perception of Jesus? The illumination seems to be open, moving and incorporating the whole of the cosmos. Perhaps the pure gold of Jesus’ figure is meant to fly in a billion different directions in order to touch every person on earth. Jesus’ incarnation reflects his relationship with us. The micro specks of his golden presence abound in our lives every day and permeate our existence.  We are part of him and he is part of us. The kingdom of God lives today, on earth, through us. Gold is everywhere.       

 

WEEK THREE•DAY Seven

Becoming Christ-like

The Word is divine. Yet Jesus, the Word, also lived among us and was fully human. Like us, he experienced thoughts, feelings, loves and losses. He understands us. The Word continues today to echo and impact in our lives. Darkness may surround us and convince us this is our lot, yet Christ is still present. As his disciples, we can offer each other words of comfort and acts of mercy. We can visit the sick, the lonely, and those imprisoned by all sorts of darkness. We can offer a smile, a hug, a can of soup, a prayer or a note. What do you do best? Offer your gold.

May we be comforted by the fact that Christ’s life and light will never abandon us. May we be the hands and feet and heart of Jesus in our communities. When darkness befalls us, let us be open to receive the light from each other. We are in this together. We can hold a candle in the darkness and be assured of an eternal source of fuel for the light.  

Let this week’s illumination enliven you as you claim the grace and receive the gold that is available as quickly as the flutter of a heartbeat. As you sit by the fire in adoration, may your spirit be rekindled during this amazingly warm season.

 

Susie Kuszmar is a Marriage and Family Therapist with a Master of Arts degree in Adult Christian Community Development from Regis University in Denver, Colorado. She is a newly retired Mission Vice President from Saint Agnes Medical Center in Fresno, California and a very thankful wife, mother and grandmother.

Illuminating Advent: Messianic Predictions

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On the first day of each week of Advent, Seeing the Word will post an illumination paired with an audio reading of the associated Scripture passage. The subsequent days will feature the six movements of visio divina: Listening, Meditating, Seeing, Praying, Contemplating, and Becoming Christ-like.

 

December 6, 2015 – December 12, 2015

Week Two•Day One

Reading

Isaiah 7:13-14, 9:6-7

Listen to what word God has for you.

 

WEEK TWO•DAY Two

Listening

Have you ever needed something, but were too hard-headed or embarrassed to ask? This passage from Isaiah sets us up for that.  Some context: the people of Judah were in trouble and their leader, King Ahaz, needed help to protect his people from forces who wanted to invade Jerusalem and replace him with a so called “puppet king”, thus destroying the Davidic lineage of which he was a part. Yet, Ahaz did not want to bother God.  Have you ever felt that way—not wanting to be a burden but not knowing what to do otherwise?

Ahaz did not want to test God.  Ahaz was timid and lacking the faith that was demanded of him.  Nevertheless, God had other things in mind, which he provided.  By refusing God’s offer, Ahaz refuses to trust God.  Through the prophet Isaiah, God offers a sign that lacks restrictions cf. verse 11.

How awesome that we have this reading during the Advent Season when we recall “God with us”, and God’s promises of ongoing faithfulness to be with us are remembered.  This text reminds us of faithful patience and of responding to unexpected help.  There is a hopeful future in a leader whose vision and authority will shine as a message of hope.  As we will pray throughout the week, this text beckons us to respond with trust to the gracious and unexpected presence of God.

 

WEEK TWO•DAY Three

Meditating

The words that I am holding are “shall grow.” As a whole, the passage contains comforting words to hear as our world is still healing from terrorism and acts of violence. In a season where the weather reminds us of our longings and the darkness we feel, this passage brings an energy and light that is needed so that we can “run forth to meet…Christ” (Collect, Advent I, Roman Missal). More so, it allows us to remember the importance of the season in preparation for Christmas.

The prophecy of an infant, whose authority grows with peace, that is foretold by the Prophet is palpable. It is a sign of God’s faithfulness in human form! (“You mean the Holy is going to be touchable?!”)

I appreciate the four titles attributed to the messiah, which are bold and yet soothing, timeless and yet looking forward.  I wonder with curiosity what other names Isaiah would include—what about you?  These titles highlight an anticipation in which our community can broach the fear of mystery that all Christians share as we wait for the Lord’s Second Coming.  We are longing for the joyful moment, of loving communion with God. Further, these titles give a face to the invisible God. We can enter into this Year of Mercy, for in these titles we can claim that “Jesus Christ is the face of the Father’s mercy” (Misericordiae Vultus, 1).

Advent is a season to remember God’s promises and to see those promises again with renewed eyes and faith.  We know that Christ has come and will come again.  I appreciate that we celebrate Advent with this reality, acknowledging that there is an “advent going on” in ourselves at all parts of the year.  And so it leads us to a response of trust in the presence of God with us.  We should ask ourselves whether or not our eyes are wide open, knowing that God is already in all things.

 

WEEK TWO•DAY four

Seeing

When I asked God to open my eyes to the illumination, it was not toward a particular color or shape.  Rather, the illumination evokes in me feelings of movement and energy, resembling the hustle and bustle of the red carpet of Hollywood, and triumphant sounds of trumpet blasts.  You can almost hear Handel’s Messiah breaking through the ink and page. Humor me (and I mean this with all due respect), but it feels like a Tetris game meets Picasso as the pointed shapes and the circles fall into each other.

Advent occurs when the weather is frigid, on the cusp of the tail end of the autumn season, when days are shorter and light is a true gift. This illumination is contrary to that—the messianic predictions create a movement of energy, of light and warmth.  I enter into the Paschal Mystery because although the Advent liturgy is shaped by our longing and waiting, this illumination is an explosion of movement that alludes almost to the joy and excitement of Easter.

The circles of gold, bordered by the various titles, to me, allude to the rose windows of old European cathedrals. These in turn echo intricate evergreens that shape advent wreaths, a home devotional that has found its way into liturgical communities. These beautiful circles of greenery give way to the progressively consuming light of candles, as the winter nights grow longer.

The hints of blue all around allow me to celebrate God’s promise of mercy with Mary, one of the important Advent characters, whom God has chosen.  Further, the blue brings me to a place of prayer by connecting with Mary’s Magnificat.  And so in this promise of mercy to be with us, the gold throughout the illumination allows us to shout our praises that God is entering our world as we cry out, Maranatha!

 

WEEK TWO•DAY five

Praying

The first gift we were given besides our breath was our name.

And so, dear God, we lift up our souls and cry out,

“Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace.”

The winds hush us, encouraging us to bundle up, to wait and be patient, to long,

although the world we live in says, “Hurry!  Shop!  Keep busy!”

Give us the boldness to grow continually

and to keep on asking you what we most desire.

As our world pains from distresses like terrorism, fear and uncertainty

give our hearts that deep comfort,

as deep as the indigos of Advent sunrises,

and the abiding peace, which you alone can fill for eternity.

Anchor us with your love and grace in our moments of fragility.

As we recall your coming as a child, of spirit meeting flesh,

help us to see you in the beggar on the corner,

the refugee, the outcast, the lonely, the hopeless and the doubter.

Let us await with joyful expectation

those moments that call us out of our ordinary

into moments where a glimmer of your heavenly kingdom shines through

and we share in the foretaste of heavenly joy.

May our broken world turn towards you,

aching for that bearer of hope and restorer of spirit.

May we be like Mary, willing servants

who say yes to bear your image and likeness,

and be healing balm for our communities.

May we also be like Joseph,

who dreamed dreams and helped accomplish the plan of salvation.

And so with Advent hope,

may we be powerfully transformed

to continue sharing the love and presence you have promised.

May we come to Christmas,

and all the days of our lives,

with hearts filled with the light that can bring peace.

This we ask through Jesus, Emmanuel,

and through your many and holy names, now and forever.

Amen.

 

WEEK TWO•DAY six

Contemplating

When I first gazed at this illumination, I had a negative reaction.  I could not get a handle on what was going on because there was only so much that my eyes could take.  As I prayed with the other movements, I shifted in my prayer.  Contrary to the movement of energy and swiftness that occurred as I prayed during the week, the word that is now surfacing is “slowness.”  This echoes back to the words I first chose in the process.

Why slowness?  The spirit guided me to think of the illumination as one in slow motion, like a “freeze frame.”  I am given a glimpse into heavenly movements of praise and adulation syncopated with the “the beating heart of the gospel, which is mercy” (Misericordiae Vultus, 12).  This illumination—what I thought was an obstacle to prayer—is actually one that brings forth the holy mystery of how time is but a human thought.  In the midst of the illumination’s movement and holy chaos, the words of the prophet ring true and it settles me into what the prediction’s essence is about: God with us.

There is peace emanating from the bottom half, almost as if that portion connects easily to earthly eyes.  The parts with undulating hallelujahs and names of God are part of the heavenly realm, where the love of God is so intense and the perichoresis of the Trinity enables all in heaven (and earth!) to dance.  It is as to what Anne Dillard writes:

Angels, I read, belong to nine different orders. Seraphs are the highest; they are aflame with love for God, and stand closer to him than the others. Seraphs love God…. The seraphs are born of a stream of fire issuing from under God’s throne. They are, according to Dionysius the Areopagite, “all wings,” having, as Isaiah notes, six wings apiece, two of which they fold over their eyes. Moving perpetually toward God they perpetually praise him, crying “Holy, Holy, Holy…. But according to some rabbinic writings, they can sing only the first “Holy” before the intensity of their love ignites them and dissolves them again, perpetually, into flames (Holy the Firm, Harper & Row, 1977).

May we continue to seek God’s signs from this time and forevermore because the zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

 

WEEK TWO•DAY seven

Becoming Christ-like

Where does this now bring me?  This passage and illumination give me an opportunity to reflect on the anticipation that is building up within me: that Christ is being born in my everyday experience.  It edges me toward this year of mercy where “we find proof [that] God loves us…and comes to our aid whenever we call” (Misericordiae Vultus, 14).

As I pray with this, I realize the honor that we have today.  Isaiah did not know the name of the child whose authority rests on his shoulders.  We do and this is comforting.  We know this person and he comes to bring light to the world. That work of bringing light continues in each one of us.  People of God, why is it so hard to shout that God is Lord?  We are the “herald of glad tidings” and the “herald of good news.”

One of my family traditions is the celebration of Misa de Gallo or Simbang Gabi—Mass in the night—a novena of Masses in the days preceding Christmas, originating from the Philippines.  For nine days at 5 am, I approach the tables of Word and Sacrament to prepare my heart for the Christmas season. After each liturgy, with the assembly, I am sent forth spiritually nourished in order to greet the Advent morning complete with indigo hued sky, and barely awake drivers!

This week, I prayed noticing the winter season in which Advent coincides.  I look forward to continuing this Advent with the fullness of my being, where the night sky gives way to the sun with rays of hope.  My prayer for you is this: let us not sit idly waiting, hoping, longing.  We as the people of God need to move, and to do so with joy.  May we find ways to shout that joy of “Mighty God” from the rooftops, or whisper “Prince of Peace” into the ears of a young one, or yet share the joy of “Wonderful Counselor”” with someone in need.

Maranatha; let us dream together.

 

John Michael Reyes is a Campus Minister at Santa Clara University.  He received a Master of Divinity degree from the Graduate Theological Union (JST and FST). Prior to SCU, he worked as Liturgist and Chapel Coordinator at Seattle University. Additionally, in recent years, he has served as a liturgy coordinator for the annual Los Angeles Religious Education Congress. He hopes to be able to study at Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary some day.

 

Illuminating Advent: Seven Pillars of Wisdom

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On the first day of each week of Advent, Seeing the Word will post an illumination paired with an audio reading of the associated Scripture passage. The subsequent days will feature the six movements of visio divina: Listening, Meditating, Seeing, Praying, Contemplating, and Becoming Christ-like.

 

November 29, 2015 – December 5, 2015


Week One•Day one 

Reading

Proverbs 8:22-36, 9:1, 5-6

Listen to what word God has for you.

 

Week One•Day Two

Listening

This passage from Proverbs begins in the form of a poem. It is written in the voice of Wisdom, who is personified as a woman. The poem locates Wisdom’s presence with God both before and during the activity of creation. Though scholars are not in agreement about whether or not Wisdom represents the second person of the Trinity, the similarities are striking between the two.

Additionally, there are quite a few parallels between this poem and the creation account in Genesis 1, in which “God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good” (Gen. 1:31). As Wisdom describes how she rejoices in creation, she also expresses a particular affinity for humanity. In the next line the passage switches into an instructional discourse; she addresses humanity as her children for whom her care is quite evident.

The lyrical tone, archetypal imagery, and cosmic language are all literary devices used to attune the reader to the attractive nature of pursuing wisdom. The book of Proverbs juxtaposes the foolish choices one is free to make with sensible choices. This passage stays true to form and sets up the duality between life and death. If one hates wisdom, one is said to love death. Whoever finds wisdom has life in its fullness, which Christians now know to be communion with Jesus Christ, who is the eternal Word, Wisdom and Power of God.

 

Week One•Day Three

Meditating

“I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race” (Prov. 8:30-31). So often I have fallen into the pitfall of conflating the Creator solely with the Father. Thus as I read Wisdom’s poetic narrative, Christ’s participation in creation—and his delight at that—struck me deeply! If Christ designs, creates, and delights in human beings, then what excuses do we possess to deny the goodness of humanity? What keeps us from rejoicing and delighting in the human race as well? How much longer will we refuse to see the beauty of Christ’s design in ourselves and in one another?

This passage refutes a misconception I held at various points of my life that Jesus only begrudgingly became human out of sheer obedience to the Father to atone the sins of humanity. Alternatively, this poem gives me a glimpse into the divine blueprints in which the incarnation was not simply a backup plan after Adam and Even ruined it for the rest of us. Instead, Christ became human wholly out of love—the kind of love celebrates us as its recipient, not pities us. He became human not simply to fix our fatal mistakes, but to show us in the flesh that he is the Way to eternal life and encourage our participation in his divine plan. I can no longer downplay his humanity, nor wish to escape mine. Instead, I have a newfound reverence for Christ’s embodiment and my own.

 

Week One•Day Four

Seeing

In this illumination, the fact that there are seven pillars indicates completion and perfection. Yet one of the pillars remains unfinished. The third pillar is missing its capital–the topmost part of the column. Instead of contradicting the significance of the number, however, I believe this is illustrative of the Christian paradox of what is already but not yet.

Wisdom’s house is complete, but it is also still evolving as Wisdom extends her hospitality to persons of every time and place. Often the style and ornamentation used on a capital indicate when a column was built. The absence of the capital on the third pillar is a small detail but it acts as a significant gesture, inviting those who encounter the illumination to personalize it. Individuals reading The Saint John’s Bible may imagine how Wisdom’s house might look with stylistic contributions to the architecture that are representative of their historical and geographical location.

As I gaze at the buildings, which are sprawled across the page, I imagine that they extend infinitely outward in every direction to accommodate all who heed the call of Wisdom. The spaciousness and span of the architecture showcase the design of the Creator. The fact that Wisdom’s house is not just one big open interior space reveals that diversity is part of the divine design. The many doors and rooms imply that the cultural contexts within which the pursuit of wisdom takes place are to be respected–not expected to conform to any one norm.

 

Week One•Day Five

Praying

Holy Wisdom, teach us to rejoice before the Lord as you do.
Show us what steps we must take to be free from the pressures of the world that draw us away from you, from your path, from your way.
Purify our hearts so that our eyes become set on you alone.
Guide us to greater and lasting freedom so that we may choose to participate in the life you promise us freely.
Grant us fresh lenses with which to view the world and humanity so that we, too, might delight in the Lord’s magnificent creation.

This Advent, we incline our ears to you.
We come before you, watching daily at your gates and waiting beside your doors.
Equip us with your hospitable nature.
And accompany us as we extend your invitation to all whom we encounter, in Jesus name.

Amen.

 

Week One•Day Six

Contemplating

What does it mean to watch daily at Wisdom’s gates and wait beside her doors? I imagine it is a lot like spending time in contemplation. Poised at the edge of Wisdom’s house, I am removed from the noise of my surrounding area. But yet I am not fully inside her house. Trying to be attentive to the space in which I dwell, I pay no mind to the others who are passing nearby. Trying to be attentive to the presence of Wisdom, herself, I simultaneously try not to get hung up on every word she utters. Slowly she convinces me that I am not meant to grasp her words so firmly, but trust instead that they will settle as they are intended to settle. Finally, I let go. After exhausting myself by trying to strike the perfect balance on the many continuums involved here, I surrender nearly by default. This type of surrender is not something I conjure up; the more I try, the more I resist contemplation. Instead surrendering is like a free fall. Only then does Wisdom welcome me. Beginning from this disposition alone does Wisdom’s teaching find a home within me. As I surrender, Wisdom dances all around me. She writes her delights upon my heart. She carries my burdens, renews me, and gently awakens the insights I need for today.

 

Week One•Day seven

Becoming Christ-like

The pursuit of wisdom is a timeless endeavor. People of all times and cultures have sought after wisdom. To be wise allows one to live with understanding of one’s identity, to make sense of one’s circumstances, and to live in the world in a way that is life-giving and fruitful. While the outward manifestations of wisdom take many forms, wisdom itself is unchanging. Thus the Church invites us to stand on the foundation built by those who have sought the way of wisdom before us. Doing so allows us to embrace the security she provides. As the Church hoists us onto her pillars, we can radiate the light of Christ as the moon reflects the light of the sun.

Many individuals long to walk in the way of insight but do not know where to begin or what that looks like. Christians who sit daily at the gates of the Lord become lights to those who are still finding their way. Wisdom says, “For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord” (Prov. 9:6). May we use our favor for the sake of drawing others into the great banquet Wisdom has prepared, so that all might know her, so that all might find life and live. May we, like Wisdom, be hospitable to all whom we encounter, truly rejoicing in the inhabited world and delighting in the human race.

 

Rachel Gabelman is a Master of Divinity candidate at Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary. She serves as a graduate assistant with Seeing the Word.

Identifying and Praying for the Needs of Others

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Making The Saint John’s Bible a Part of Your Home
National Bible Week 2015

“National Bible Week provides a unique opportunity for parents to revisit and renew their understanding of the power of the Word of God in the life of their family. As leaders of the ‘domestic Church,’ parents are encouraged to be not only the first but the best of teachers for their children in the ways of faith.” -USCCB

Day Seven

The Saint John’s Bible highlights many faces and voices of the marginalized and vulnerable, of those who often are overlooked in day to day life. These faces help us to remember, that it is the marginalized that Jesus often sought out. He healed them and restored them to their communities. As you pray with the faces in the illuminations, spend time reflecting together on who you are reminded of today that could use prayers.

Teaching your children to pray for others helps them establish a pattern of noticing the needs of others as Jesus does. It begins to broaden their circle of awareness. A great way to initially pray for others is within your own family. In order to pray for your family member you must first listen to their needs and understand what to pray for. This is why it is an excellent opportunity to pray for each other after you check-in on your highs and lows.

Once you hear in what way that person’s day did not go as well as it could have, you can pray focused on that topic. And then you can pray in a specific way in thanksgiving for the highlight of their day they mentioned. In the coming days, ask to see if anyone has noticed that the prayers for them have been answered. When they have you may practice offering prayers of gratitude and praise.

Activity:

Ask each member of the family to bring a magazine or newspaper article and/or photo of a current event. Invite each person to explain why they were drawn to the one they chose, how the event makes them feel, and offer a prayer for the persons and places effected.