Month: December 2012
St. Stephen’s Day – Heroic Love
Today, December 26, is the second day of Christmas, the first day of Kwanzaa (African American). May we learn about our own and each others’ celebrations. It’s easy, just Google the word Kwanzaa.
For us Christians the mystery of Incarnation (God-becoming-human in the person of Jesus Christ) needs more than one day to celebrate. Here is Day Two: The Catholic liturgy centuries ago placed the feast of St. Stephen, the first martyr, the day after Jesus’ glorious feast to show that our faith is not sentimental but requires of us heroic, sacrificial love. Stephen fearlessly witnessed in court (the word martyr means witness) to his conviction that Jesus is the Messiah, knowing that his testimony was his death sentence.
Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people. Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and people from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and debated with Stephen, but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.
When they heard this, they were infuriated,
and they ground their teeth at him.
But he, filled with the Holy Spirit,
looked up intently to heaven
and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,
and he said,
“Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man
standing at the right hand of God.”
But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears,
and rushed upon him together.
They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him.
The witnesses laid down their cloaks
at the feet of a young man named Saul.
As they were stoning Stephen, he called out
“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59
How heroic is our love, Lord?
Do we abandon people — our friends, our lovers, our spouses, our children when the going gets tough?
And I ask you please to be with those who have been abandoned by loved ones, Lord, such as children of alcoholic parents or kids who have gone through the foster care system and may never feel Your Love, as a result or those who have to prostitute themselves in order to survive.
Are we only concerned about our own survival? What’s best for Number One — Me?
Are we willing to sacrifice for the sake of a friend in need — for You, Lord?
Allow me the grace to witness to your love for me, Lord, to share it when I can.
My life has meaning only when I share the love and kindness you have shown to me. Allow me the grace to do that this day, St. Stephen’s Day and every day.
Stephen, a young man, has always been one of my heroes, Lord.
We need such heroic love in our time, Lord, such heroic young people.
Inspire young women and men to break through the wall of their isolation and be there for their friends in the hard times ahead.
Teach us to never abandon a friend, Lord.
And let my readers know that you love them, Lord, and will never abandon them either ~ no matter what.
Now, before you go, here is Joan Baez’ Forever Young that I referred to a young man that I wished to aspire to heroic love. Be sure to turn up your speakers and enter full screen for a beautiful slide show accompanying the song. Click here.
With love,
Bob Traupman
contemplative writer
Merry Christmas, everyone!
The Birthday of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
(Check this video out first!) (Then click on the << arrow on the top left corner of your computer to return to this page.)
While all things were
in quiet silence,
And that night was
in the midst of
her swift course,
Thine Almighty Word,
O Lord,
Leaped down out
of thy royal throne,
Alleluia!
~ And the Word became flesh and lived among us. John 1:14
WE Christians tend to sentimentalize the Christmas story.
And yet the whole message is there beneath the charming Christmas pageants with the cute little girls holding baby dolls and boys dressed up in bathrobes as St. Joseph. Yes, it’s all there. Now let’s think about what it means.
John sums the whole story in one sentence(!) saying “the Word became flesh and lived (dwelt) among us” or as the Greek word actually translates as “pitched his tent among us.” Thus, he intended to move with us and stay with us a while!
He is Emmanuel ~ God with us!
Now there are two words here that Christians generally don’t like. One is “flesh” as in “the world, the flesh and the devil.” And the other is in the middle of the Christmas part of our faith story in theology. That theologica word is “Incarnation. The “carn” part is carnal. We don’t like that word, do we? We think it (um) refers to sin!
But there you are, folks “flesh” and “carnal” referring to what our God has taken upon himself.
Let’s look at what this charming Christmas story means ~ what its implications mean for your life today:
If God accepted our “fleshiness” (by becoming flesh, by taking on a human body) – then so should (must) we accept our own bodies and, yes, our sexuality, our “fleshiness.” This was the reason he became Man: to throw his lot with the human race and show us how to become fully human, fully alive!
Dear Friends,
Our waiting is over.
Christmas is here.
I have the peace and satisfaction that I have poured my love into my writings
I am at peace. My heart is ready to receive the special gift Jesus wants to give me this Christmas.
And I pray so very earnestly that you receive the special gift God wishes to give you.
Cleanse your heart of resentments / of preoccupations with unnecessary things.
Ask yourself what really is the meaning of life ~ your life.
For me the answer is to love as best I can.
I have a lot of love in my heart to share with whomever would like to receive.
I also have some wisdom to share that arises out of my own crosses I’ver carries over the years.
But it’s all gift!
So, I hope you have received something nourishing and sweet in the 24 posts I have been able to create this Advent.
They are my gift to you.
Have a wonderful Christmas with your family.
And if your Christmas is lonely with no one really special to share it with,
know that you have someone here who understands and who reaches out to you from my heart to yours.
And be sure to open yourself to the holiness / the wholeness / the peace of Christmas.
It is there beneath all the craziness and hype. It is yours if you seek it and ask for it.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!
Glory to God in the highest and peace to people of good will! If you would like the Scripture readings for the Scripture readings for any of the several Masses for Christmas Click here.
Here is a YouTube video of Handel’s glorious GLORY TO GOD ~ PEACE ON EARTH ~ GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN!
With love,
Bob Traupman
contemplative writer
ADVENT DAY 23 — OUR VULNERABLE GOD
Our Lady breast feeding Jesus — Shrine of our Lady of La Leche
— St. Augustine, Florida
THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
(YOU CAN FIND THE MASS READINGS FOR TODAY AT A LINK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE.)
LUKE TELLS US THE CHARMING STORY THAT GOD BECAME INCARNATE — ENFLESHED — AS A LITTLE VULNERABLE BABY BOY.
IT’S AMAZING TO REALLY THINK ABOUT THAT.
EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT READY TO ACCEPT THE STORY AS TRUE, THE MEANING OF THAT STORY CAN REALLY GRAB YOU IF YOU LET IT.
BUT, SADLY, SO MANY OF US CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS ALL OUR LIVES WITHOUT REALLY REFLECTING ON THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE STORY FOR OUR LIVES.
JESUS WAS NOT ONLY VULNERABLE IN HIS BIRTH, BUT ALSO IN HIS DEATH.
HE CHOSE TO STAND BEFORE PILATE, BOUND, SCOURGED AND SILENT.
HE CHOSE TO SAY NOTHING OR DO ANYTHING IN HIS DEFENSE.
VULNERABLE INDEED.
WHAT’S THE MESSAGE HERE?
ST. PAUL GIVES US A CLUE:
“WHEN I AM POWERLESS THEN I AM STRONG” ~ (2 COR 12:9-10.)
HOW CAN THAT BE?
I THINK ABOUT THAT A LOT BECAUSE I AM POWERLESS A LOT WHEN I’VE HAD TO DEAL WITH DEPRESSION.
THERE WERE DAYS I COULD NOT GET OUT OF MY CHAIR. I SPENT OVER A YEAR INSTITUTIONALIZED BECAUSE OF MY BIPOLAR ILLNESS OVER THE YEARS.
YES, I LEARNED THE MEANING OF PAUL’S WORDS, “WHEN I AM POWERLESS, THEN I AM STRONG.” I HAD TO. FOR MY SURVIVAL’S SAKE.
AND AS A RESULT, I BEGAN TO THRIVE. HOW? BECAUSE I FOUND THE SECRET. I FOUND THE SOURCE OF POWER IN CENTERING PRAYER IN THE CORE OF MY BEING ~ EMMANUEL: GOD~WITHIN~US!
JESUS IS SHOWING US HIS OWN VULNERABILITY AS A BABY AND IN HIS DEATH:
“HE EMPTIED HIMSELF” (PHIL 2:1-11)
AND IN OUR WEAKNESSES,
IN OUR POVERTY OF SPIRIT,
IN THE BROKENNESS OF OUR LIVES
WE WILL FIND GOD.
JESUS,
YOU CAME INTO THIS WORLD AS A LITTLE CHILD,
AS NEEDY AS ANY OTHER BABY.
YOU SUCKLED AT MARY’S BREAST
AND RECEIVED YOUR NOURISHMENT AS GOD FROM A HUMAN MOTHER.
YOU BECAME ONE OF US AND WITH US.
YOU ACCEPTED OUR FLESHINESS,
~ OUR MISERY, OUR JOYS AND SORROWS.
YOU CAME DOWN TO OUR LEVEL TO RAISE US UP TO THE DIGNITY OF GOD.
THANK YOU, JESUS!
COME INTO OUR WORLD THIS DAY.
TEACH US TO ACCEPT OUR OWN VULNERABILITY AS SOMETHING POSITIVE.
TEACH US TO RECOGNIZE YOUR FACE IN THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US
FOR THEY CAN BE OUR MOST RADICAL SPIRITUAL TEACHERS.
THEY KNOW. THEY UNDERSTAND.
HELP US UNDERSTAND TOO, LORD. HELP US TO TRULY UNDERSTAND
~ THAT VULNERABILITY AND POWERLESSNESS ARE VERY GOOD TEACHERS.
I THANK YOU, LORD.
COME, LORD JESUS! COME INTO OUR HEARTS THIS DAY.
NOW, BEFORE YOU GO, HERE’S ANOTHER YOUTUBE VIDEO FROM HANDEL’S MESSIAH ~ UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN, PERFORMED BY THE MIGHTY MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR. BE PREPARED TO BE INSPIRED.
CLICK HERE BE SURE TO TURN UP YOUR SPEAKERS AND ENTER FULL SCREEN.
HERE ARE THE MASS READINGS. CLICK HERE.
WITH LOVE,
BOB TRAUPMAN
CONTEMPLATIVE WRITER
ADVENT DAY 20 – WHAT WONDROUS LOVE IS THIS?
FRIDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT
O COME, O COME EMMANUEL,
AND RANSOM CAPTIVE ISRAEL,
THAT MOURNS IN LONELY EXILE HERE,
UNTIL THE SON OF GOD APPEAR,
REJOICE! REJOICE! EMMANUEL
SHALL COME TO THEE, O ISRAEL!
EMMANUEL, THEY TELL US YOU ARE “GOD-WITH-US.”
WHERE ARE YOU, EMMANUEL?
ARE YOU HERE?
ARE YOU HERE IN THE MESSINESS OF OUR LIVES?
CAN YOU REALLY RANSOM US FROM OUR CAPTIVITIES,
OUR SLAVERIES TO ADDICTIONS, OUR HATREDS AND GRUDGES AND JEALOUSIES
THAT EAT US UP AND SPIT US OUT?
OUR GUILTS, OUR “COULDA, SHOULDA, WOULDAS — OUR DRUTHERS AND REGRETS?
OUR LETHARGY, OUR HOPELESSNESS, OUR SLUMBER, OUR RAGE?
O ISRAEL! O AMERICA!
DO YOU WANT EMMANUEL TO COME?
DO WE WANT YOU TO? (DO I?)
MANY LANGUISH IN MOURNING, EMMANUEL
IN EXILES MADE BY WALL STREET OR HOMELESSNESS OR SICKNESS.
LONELINESS AND SELFISHNESS.
MANY A YOUNG HEART MOURNS / ACHES FOR DIRECTION AND MEANING ~ AND LOVE.
PRISONERS WASTE AWAY; SUCH A WASTE OF YOUNG LIVES!
WILL YOU RANSOM THEIR HEARTS, AND SOULS, EMMANUEL?
– OUR HEARTS AND SOULS?
WILL YOU TRULY RAIN DOWN JUSTICE AS THE PSALMIST SAYS?
WILL YOU ENABLE US TO CHANGE OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM TO BE TRULY JUST?
YES, O COME, EMMANUEL!
BE GOD-WITH-US!
EVEN THOUGH WE CAN SOMETIMES HARDLY BE WITH OURSELVES, LORD,
CAPTIVATE US, INHALE US WITH YOUR LOVE.
DAZZLE US WITH HOPE AND NEW LIFE AND POSSIBILITY.
YES, EMMANUEL! WE BELIEVE YOU WILL COME.
MAYBE NOT TODAY OR TOMORROW.
YOU WILL TRANSFORM THE SECRET MOURNINGS OF OUR SOULS.
WE WILL DANCE AND SING AND EMBRACE YOU AND EACH OTHER
BECAUSE YOU CAME AMONG US, EMMANUEL.
YOU ARE WITH US, EMMANUEL.
YOU ARE LOVE ITSELF!
IF ONLY WE COULD — WOULD — SEE YOU, RIGHT IN FRONT OF US — WITH US.
THEN, WOULD WE — COULD WE — EMBRACE YOU / OPEN OUR HEARTS TO YOU!
BECAUSE OF YOU, OUR BEING BECOMES “BEING-IN-LOVE!”
WE REJOICE! WE GIVE THANKS! WE BELIEVE!
COME, LORD JESUS! YES, LORD JESUS, COME.
BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THIS CHRISTMAS LET EACH ONE OF US GIVE THANKS
– AND RECEIVE AGAIN IN A NEW WAY FOR SUCH A PRECIOUS, WONDROUS LOVE,
SUCH A WONDERFUL GIFT.
HERE IS A YOUTUBE PRESENTATION OF THE POWERFUL HYMN SUNG BY STEVE GREEN “WHAT WONDROUS LOVE IS THIS? BE SURE TO TURN UP YOUR SPEAKERS AND ENTER FULL SCREEN.
ENJOY AND HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!
WITH LOVE,
BOB TRAUPMAN
CONTEMPLATIVE WRITER
ADVENT DAY 19 ~ DEPRESSED OR LONELY AT CHRISTMAS?
O Root of Jesse,
Who stood as a sign for the people,
before you kings shall remain silent
to you the nations will make their prayer:
Come and deliver us, and delay no longer.
~ O Antiphons
THURSDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT
SOMETIMES, THERE CAN BE A LOT OF DEPRESSION SWIRLING AROUND AT CHRISTMAS.
PEOPLE CAN FEEL LONELIER BECAUSE WE’RE EXPECTED TO BE CHEERIER AND WE OFTEN DON’T FEEL VERY CHEERFUL.
I INVITE YOU TO TAKE TIME TO NOTICE THESE FOLKS, REACH OUT TO THEM AND PRAY FOR THEM.
CHRISTMASTIME IS AlWAYS HARD FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LOST A LOVED ONE. I HAVE TWO FRIENDS WHO HAVE LOST CHILDREN IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS. AND I’VE TRIED TO BE THERE FOR THEM. AND THEN LET’S ALL BE IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE IN NEWTON, CONNECTICUT.
THERE ARE OTHERS, TOO, WHO FIND CHRISTMAS DIFFICULT . . . .
KIDS WHO ARE SHUFFLED BACK FROM ONE PARENT TO ANOTHER TO “CELEBRATE” THE HOLIDAYS.
SOLDIERS FAR AWAY FROM HOME AND THEIR FAMILIES AT HOME WITHOUT THEM.
AND SO, MAY WE PRAY:
THERE ARE SOMETIMES DARK CLOUDS IN OUR LIVES, LORD.
PIERCE THE GLOOMINESS OF OUR LIVES WITH YOUR VERY OWN LIGHT.
MAY THIS CELEBRATION OF JESUS’ BIRTH BRING MEANING AND JOY IN THE MIDST OF OUR WORRIES AND CONCERNS.
AND MAY WE BRING YOUR LIGHT AND LOVE AND JUSTICE
IN OUR HOMES, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, OUR JOBS, OUR WORLD.
PIERCE OUR GREED, OUR HATE AND FEAR, OUR COMPLACENCY AND VIOLENCE WITH HOPE, LORD.
MAY WE PRAY EARNESTLY FOR OUR BELOVED COUNTRY AND OUR WORLD.
MAY WE BE THE DAWNING OF YOUR LIGHT AND LOVE AND JUSTICE IN OUR LAND.
LORD JESUS, COME!
MAY YOUR LIGHT TRANSFORM OUR LIVES AND OUR LAND.
WE NEED YOUR LIGHT AND YOUR LOVE MORE THAN EVER.
AND NOW BEFORE YOU GO, HERE’S ANOTHER SELECTION FROM HANDEL’S MESSIAH AS WE GET CLOSER TO CHRISTMAS ~ “O THOU THAT TELLEST GOOD TIDINGS TO ZION.” CLICK HERE
WITH LOVE
BOB TRAUPMAN
CONTEMPLATIVE WRITER
ADVENT DAY 18 ~ THE BURNING BUSH OF THE WORLD
O ADONAI AND RULER OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL,
YOU APPEARED TO MOSES IN THE FIRE OF THE BURNING BUSH
AND ON MOUNT SINAI GAVE HIM YOUR LAW.
COME, AND WITH OUTSTRETCHED ARM, REDEEM US.
~ O ANTIPHONS
WEDNESDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT
YESTERDAY, WE SAID THAT ONE OF THE ADVENT THEMES WAS THAT OF WAITING.
WE’LL NUANCE THAT TODAY AND SAY THAT A FURTHER THEME IS TO WATCH FOR LIGHT TO SHINE IN OUR DARKNESS.
FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE CHRISTIANS AWAIT, JESUS,YESHUA, WHO IS FOR US THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.
WE PREPARE A PLACE FOR HIM TO SHINE IN OUR OWN HEARTS THIS DAY.
WE INVITE YOU TO SEARCH OUT YOUR OWN INNER MEANING WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE.
AND MY PRAYER . . .
O ADONAI*, WE NEED YOU IN OUR WORLD MORE THAN EVER!
YOU APPEARED IN THE BURNING BUSH LONG AGO.
I REMEMBER THIS AWESOME SUNRISE THREE YEARS AGO OVER THE OCEAN AT ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH.
I’M REMINDED OF THE OLD SAILOR’S MAXIM: “RED AT NIGHT, A SAILOR’S DELIGHT; RED IN THE MORNING, SAILOR’S TAKE WARNING.”
COME WITH YOUR REFINER’S FIRE AND BURN YOUR WAY INTO OUR HEARTS,
SO THAT WE CAN PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE MESSIAH TO COME INTO OUR LIVES,
INTO OUR HOMES,
OUR WORKPLACE AND MARKETPLACE,
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
OUR BELOVED COUNTRY,
OUR WAITING WORLD!
COME LORD JESUS!
______
WHAT ARE THE “O ANTIPHONS?”
THEY’RE ONE OF THE MOST CHERISHED COLLECTIONS OF OUR ANCIENT LITURGICAL CHANTS. THE SEVEN “O ANTIPHONS”ARE SUNG EACH OF THE SEVEN NIGHTS BEFORE CHRISTMAS AT VESPERS. THEY HAVE BEAUTIFUL CHANT MELODIES. I AM SHOWING YOU SOME OF THE BEAUTIFUL TEXTS THIS WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
HERE IS AN AUDIO SLIDE SHOW OF O COME, O COME EMMANUEL FOR YOUR REFLECTION THAT IS AN ENGLISH POETIC TRANSLATION OF THESE 7 ANTIPHONS. WHEN YOU GET TO YOU TUBE THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER PRESENTATIONS OF THE MELODY AVAILABLE INCLUDING A HAUNTING ONE BY ENYA. ENJOY.
* ADONAI IS ONE OF THE NAMES THE JEWISH PEOPLE USE FOR GOD.
WITH LOVE,
BOB TRAUPMAN
CONTEMPLATIVE WRITER
ADVENT DAY 17 ~ WHAT / WHO ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
Tuesday of the third week o f Advent
O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,
reaching from one end to the other,
mightily and sweetly ordering all things:
Come and teach us the way of prudence.
~ O Antiphons
One of the major themes of Advent I promised I would talk about is “waiting.”
The Jewish people are waiting for the Messiah. We are waiting for the return of Christ.
Some expect him “soon and very soon.” The Mayan calendar ends on Friday, the day of the Winter Solstice which for some is supposed to mark the end of the world, so?
(As for me, I don’t worry my lil head about the rapture and stuff or anything apocalyptic ’cause we ain’t gonna know the answer anyway! Jesus doesn’t even know, only the Father.)
Every single one of us is longing / yearning for something — Someone.
What — or Who — are YOU waiting for?
– for Godot?
– to be accepted into college?
– a new job?
– your son to come home from Afghanistan?
– to win the lottery?
– someone to fill your loneliness?
– for news that your biopsy is benign?
– to get home after being stuck in rush hour traffic and bad day at work?
– a letter that never comes?
There are all kinds of things we have to wait for.
Advent is about learning how to use “waiting time” well.
We can wait patiently or impatiently.
Some people want “fast access DSL” to be even faster.
But I have learned that slower is better.
When we’re waiting in line or in the doctor’s office — especially during Advent — we can go inside ourselves. Quiet our mind. Just focus on our breathing for a while or say a decade of the rosary.
REAL LIFE happens when we’re waiting for something else to happen.
Real life happens between here and there.
But we have to be ready. Open. Ready to hear God speak to us in the murmured wisdom of a three-year-old.
Ready to see the evidence of God’s presence when you walk out the door in the morning.
– or even to see God in a baby in a manger.
Ready and waiting for Jesus to come to us in a new way this Christmas.
Yes, life happens WHILE we’re waiting.
When we’re not in any particular hurry.
When we’re ready to respond to whomever wants or needs our attention at the moment
– one of your children or perhaps a stranger at the checkout counter at the corner grocery store.
That’s what a real Christmas is all about!
That’s what a spiritual life is all about whether you are Catholic or Hebrew or Muslim or Buddhist or non-believer.
But the most important waiting that we try to learn during the Advent season is to wait for the Lord.
Having enough faith to wait for God to act in our life on God’s time — not ours.
So, Advent is about learning patience.
It’s also about longing for something –Someone more.
About realizing as St. Augustine said:
“Our hearts are restless until they rest in you, my God!“
Finally, dear friends, I share with you a song I’ve always loved from West Side Story because it captures so well the excitement / the anticipation/ the hope / the yearning / striving / hungering / the thirsting / the DESIRE of the human race for something MORE! Someone NEW to break into our life and turn us upside down.
Click here > > > “Something’s Coming!” sung by Tony in West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein — a YouTube presentation. Turn up your speakers and enter full screen. Christmas is one week away.
Have a great day!
With love,
Bob Traupman
contemplative writer
Advent Day 16 ~ O Radiant Dawn ~ A Memorial
In Ramah is heard the sound of moaning,
of bitter weeping!
Rachel mourns her children
she refuses to be consoled
because her children are no more
~ (Jer 31:15).
Wherever I saw little kids playing in the streets as I drove home from church this morning, my mind and heart would turn to the picture in Saturday’s paper. And even now, as I try to write the next word, the word is grief. And the next is tears, because I have them now.
You know, the infant Jesus was threatened by violence himself. So, the Christmas story is not all sweetness and light. The Wise Men inquired of Herod where the newborn King of the Jews was born. Seething with diabolical fury because of his jealousy, Herod orders the massacre of all who resemble Jesus in gender and age.
Three days after Christmas each year, we thus have the Feast of the Holy Innocents, the very first martyrs. The Mass text proclaims:
The innocents were slaughtered as infants for Christ;
spotless, they follow the Lamb and sing for ever: Glory to you, O Lord.
I would think the same is true for our own dear innocent children ~ not that all of them are Christian, but that will in their own way sing for ever.
Psalm 124 states, “Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler’s snare.” So, for many, an eternal life of happiness and a reunion with loved ones is indeed a consolation. But, for those who are left behind, especially the parents of these dearest ones, the trauma, the shock will take all the faith, all the courage, all the strength that they can muster to survive this tragedy.
Jesus’ Mother Mary is some help as an inspiration here and as someone to pray to. When Jesus was circumcised in the temple, the old man Simeon prophesied to Mary “a sword will pierce your soul.” We’ve all seen images of Michelangelo’s Pieta with Mary holding the dead body of her son in her lap. No one wants to bury their own child! When my best priest friend died at age 46, his Mom kept saying What a dirty trick, What a dirty trick.
So, here we are one week from Christmas Eve. The Church begins the wonderful ancient O Antiphons this evening at vespers. I’ve selected this one and the image for this post to match it because it will almost conclude my thought the day, but you must watch at least the first of two very powerful videos ~ Surely He hath borne our grief.
O Radiant Dawn,
splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:
come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the
shadow of death.
~ O Antiphons
The first powerful music video is Surely He hath borne our grief. The second one is equally powerful I know my Redeemer lives, and is sung by Al Green. You’ll find just to the right of your screen. Click here. Be sure to enter full screen and turn up your speakers.
Remember to keep these people in Connecticut in your prayers,
With love,
Bob Traupman
contemplative writer
ADVENT DAY 15 ~ REJOICE! THE LORD IS NEAR!
Father Bob's Reflections 