Dennis McDonald, ARCWP and Kim Panaro, ARCWP led the Upper Room liturgy with the themes of transfiguration and transformation. Dennis McDonald's homily reflection on the readings is printed below the first reading by Lao Tsu.
Lao-Tzu (also known as Laozi or Lao-Tze) was a Chinese philosopher credited with founding the philosophical system of Taoism. He is best known as the author of the Tao-Te-Ching, the work which exemplifies his thought. The name by which he is known is not a personal name but an honorific title meaning `Old Man’ or `Old Teacher’ and there has been countless speculation as to whether an individual by that name ever existed or whether Lao-Tzu is an amalgam of many different philosophers. The historian Durant writes, “Lao-Tze, greatest of the pre-Confucian philosophers, was wiser than Teng Shih; he knew the wisdom of silence, and lived, we may be sure, to a ripe old age – though we are not sure that he lived at all” (652). If he did exist, he is thought to have lived in the 6th century BCE.
Theme:
Our theme today focuses on transfiguration and transformation. Lent is a time of contemplation and reflection as we move toward the death and resurrection of Jesus, according to tradition. The 40 days of Lent, reflective of the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert which was in last week’s readings, provides a time to go within and examine who we are in relation to the Divine and how we come to follow this man called Jesus, who spoke against the injustices of his day. Lent prepares us to embrace and live the Gospel message and continue the work of Jesus in our world today.
Opening Prayer:
O Holy One, we gather today as a community of believers who hope that this Lenten season will afford us the ability to be transformed and renewed. Send us your spirit of discernment and grace, so that we may come to know the work to which we are called to bring peace and healing to a broken world. May we, like Jesus, reach out to those in need, and touch their lives with mercy and tenderness, enabling them to recognize the Divine that resides in them and exclaims, “This is my Beloved, My Own”. Amen.
Opening Song: You Have Anointed Me
https://youtu.be/1Um-qpu2xco
Little Crystal was only two and a half years old when she got hopelessly stuck. She went into her mother’s study, holding in one hand a family treasure and her other hand couldn’t be seen. Crystal cried out, “Mommy I’m stuck”. Her unseen hand was stuck inside her great-grandmother’s vase. The precious vase had been handed down from her great-grandmother to her grandmother, to her mother. Crystal had always been told that one day the magnificent vase would be hers.
Crystal’s mother tried to move quickly without panicking. She scooped the vase and her little girl up into her arms and carried them to the kitchen sink. She used warm soapy water to try to loosen the toddler’s hand, which was stuck all right. When soap didn’t work she reached for the butter. While greasing her child’s wrist like a cake pan, she asked the obvious “mother question.” “How in the world did you do this, child?” Crystal carefully explained that she had dropped candy down into the vase to see if she could still see it when it was at the very bottom. But she couldn’t see it, so she reached in for her candy and that’s when she got stuck and she couldn’t get her hand back out.
Well, as time passed, the situation became more and more serious. Crystal’s mother called for re-enforcements. She phoned her own mother and told her to get there as fast as she could. A neighbour suggested Vaseline. The apartment manager got out some WD40. Still no luck. It began to seem like the only way to get Crystal’s hand out was to break the family heirloom.
When Grandma finally arrived, both Crystal and her mother were almost hysterical. Grandma sat little Crystal on her knee.
Grandma took a good look at the vase that used to sit on her mother’s kitchen table all those years ago. She looked at the miserable look on her grand-daughter’s face, and she said, “Crystal, sweetheart. Your mommy told me that you reached into the vase for candy. Is that right?”
Crystal whimpered, “Mmm hummm.” “Honey, tell grandma the truth now. Do you still have a hold of that candy?” “Mmm humm”. Crystal sobbed. Then Grandma rubbed little Crystal’s back, held her close and gently, but firmly said: “Let it go, child. Let it go.” Sure enough, the vase slipped off as smooth as silk.
In today’s reading, Peter wants to erect three tents and capture the moment, hold on to what is transpiring before their very eyes. The thought of staying in the presence of this divine experience is overwhelming, and why wouldn’t it be. Have you ever had an experience that is just so wonderful, so fulfilling that you never want it to end? But, alas, it does end and there is the letdown, the need to release what we are holding on to and return to everyday life and the struggles set before us.
Final Blessing:
Always remember that you have the power
to transfigure the face of God!
You can wipe the tears from God’s eyes.
You can make God smile.
Reach out with love.
Be the compassionate people God created you to be!
Receive the blessing of God whose love knows no boundaries,
Christ whose peace you embody,
And the Holy Spirit, whose power breathes
in with and through you,
To transfigure the world with love!
Theme:
Our theme today focuses on transfiguration and transformation. Lent is a time of contemplation and reflection as we move toward the death and resurrection of Jesus, according to tradition. The 40 days of Lent, reflective of the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert which was in last week’s readings, provides a time to go within and examine who we are in relation to the Divine and how we come to follow this man called Jesus, who spoke against the injustices of his day. Lent prepares us to embrace and live the Gospel message and continue the work of Jesus in our world today.
Opening Prayer:
O Holy One, we gather today as a community of believers who hope that this Lenten season will afford us the ability to be transformed and renewed. Send us your spirit of discernment and grace, so that we may come to know the work to which we are called to bring peace and healing to a broken world. May we, like Jesus, reach out to those in need, and touch their lives with mercy and tenderness, enabling them to recognize the Divine that resides in them and exclaims, “This is my Beloved, My Own”. Amen.
Opening Song: You Have Anointed Me
https://youtu.be/1Um-qpu2xco
A reading from the works
of Lao Tsu, a Chinese Philosopher
“Would you like to save
the world from the degradation and destruction it seems destined for? Then step
away from shallow mass movements and quietly go to work on your own
self-awareness. If you want to awaken all of humanity, then awaken all of
yourself. If you want to eliminate the suffering in the world, then eliminate
all that is dark and negative in yourself. Truly, the greatest gift you have to
give is that of your own self-transformation.”
These are the inspired
words of Lao Tsu and the community affirms them by saying, Amen.
Dennis' homily reflection:
Little Crystal was only two and a half years old when she got hopelessly stuck. She went into her mother’s study, holding in one hand a family treasure and her other hand couldn’t be seen. Crystal cried out, “Mommy I’m stuck”. Her unseen hand was stuck inside her great-grandmother’s vase. The precious vase had been handed down from her great-grandmother to her grandmother, to her mother. Crystal had always been told that one day the magnificent vase would be hers.
Crystal’s mother tried to move quickly without panicking. She scooped the vase and her little girl up into her arms and carried them to the kitchen sink. She used warm soapy water to try to loosen the toddler’s hand, which was stuck all right. When soap didn’t work she reached for the butter. While greasing her child’s wrist like a cake pan, she asked the obvious “mother question.” “How in the world did you do this, child?” Crystal carefully explained that she had dropped candy down into the vase to see if she could still see it when it was at the very bottom. But she couldn’t see it, so she reached in for her candy and that’s when she got stuck and she couldn’t get her hand back out.
Well, as time passed, the situation became more and more serious. Crystal’s mother called for re-enforcements. She phoned her own mother and told her to get there as fast as she could. A neighbour suggested Vaseline. The apartment manager got out some WD40. Still no luck. It began to seem like the only way to get Crystal’s hand out was to break the family heirloom.
When Grandma finally arrived, both Crystal and her mother were almost hysterical. Grandma sat little Crystal on her knee.
Grandma took a good look at the vase that used to sit on her mother’s kitchen table all those years ago. She looked at the miserable look on her grand-daughter’s face, and she said, “Crystal, sweetheart. Your mommy told me that you reached into the vase for candy. Is that right?”
Crystal whimpered, “Mmm hummm.” “Honey, tell grandma the truth now. Do you still have a hold of that candy?” “Mmm humm”. Crystal sobbed. Then Grandma rubbed little Crystal’s back, held her close and gently, but firmly said: “Let it go, child. Let it go.” Sure enough, the vase slipped off as smooth as silk.
In today’s reading, Peter wants to erect three tents and capture the moment, hold on to what is transpiring before their very eyes. The thought of staying in the presence of this divine experience is overwhelming, and why wouldn’t it be. Have you ever had an experience that is just so wonderful, so fulfilling that you never want it to end? But, alas, it does end and there is the letdown, the need to release what we are holding on to and return to everyday life and the struggles set before us.
The challenge that Lao Tsu and Jesus lay before us, is that in order to be transformed and live the Gospel we must reach deep within ourselves and see what is holding us back from fully embracing our call to be disciples of Jesus. Like Crystal, it is not always easy to let go of what we are holding on to. Of course, as we heard in the reading from Lao Tsu, what we are holding onto can be things that are ‘dark and negative in our lives’. We hold onto preconceived notions about people, onto our way of doing things, onto our prejudices, onto our sense of importance, onto our fears.
We are called during Lent to reflect on our lives, to contemplate the change needed within, where we can experience transformation so that we can more fully reach out to the world and address the injustices we see about us. It is a time to challenge ourselves to open our hands and release that which we hold onto which can hold us back from walking the way of justice and peace, and speaking out for those who are voiceless.
It has been interesting and heartening to watch the youth of our nation this week, rise up and speak out against gun violence. So often they are deemed as voiceless, but they are speaking truth to power and having a remarkable impact on our nation. It recalls for me the plea of Jeremiah, “but Yhwh, I don’t know how to speak! I’m too young!” But Yhwh replies, “Do not say, I am too young. Now go wherever I send you and say whatever I command you. Do not fear anyone for I am with you to protect you.”
These students faced “dark and negative” forces within their lives. One can only imagine what it must have been like living through the nightmare that occurred. Within the reflection of and reaction to what they experienced this week, they were transformed and moved to action on behalf of all students who cry out for change.
As we continue the journey through Lent and open ourselves to transformation, let us like Jeremiah and the youth, open ourselves to be bearers of truth to power and voices for justice and peace.
What did you hear? How do you respond? What will it cost you?
We are called during Lent to reflect on our lives, to contemplate the change needed within, where we can experience transformation so that we can more fully reach out to the world and address the injustices we see about us. It is a time to challenge ourselves to open our hands and release that which we hold onto which can hold us back from walking the way of justice and peace, and speaking out for those who are voiceless.
It has been interesting and heartening to watch the youth of our nation this week, rise up and speak out against gun violence. So often they are deemed as voiceless, but they are speaking truth to power and having a remarkable impact on our nation. It recalls for me the plea of Jeremiah, “but Yhwh, I don’t know how to speak! I’m too young!” But Yhwh replies, “Do not say, I am too young. Now go wherever I send you and say whatever I command you. Do not fear anyone for I am with you to protect you.”
These students faced “dark and negative” forces within their lives. One can only imagine what it must have been like living through the nightmare that occurred. Within the reflection of and reaction to what they experienced this week, they were transformed and moved to action on behalf of all students who cry out for change.
As we continue the journey through Lent and open ourselves to transformation, let us like Jeremiah and the youth, open ourselves to be bearers of truth to power and voices for justice and peace.
What did you hear? How do you respond? What will it cost you?
Communion Song: Namaste
https://youtu.be/7olTHC5rscE
Final Blessing:
Always remember that you have the power
to transfigure the face of God!
You can wipe the tears from God’s eyes.
You can make God smile.
Reach out with love.
Be the compassionate people God created you to be!
Receive the blessing of God whose love knows no boundaries,
Christ whose peace you embody,
And the Holy Spirit, whose power breathes
in with and through you,
To transfigure the world with love!
No comments:
Post a Comment