An unending source of comfort

The great commandment that Jesus mentions several times before He is taken away to be put to death is emphasized at the beginning and at the end of today’s Gospel (Friday of Week 5): This I command you: love one another. Three simple words at the end of the passage. (John 15:17).

The command is better explained at the beginning of the passage: Love one another as I love you. That has particular meaning for us as we continue our journey through the psalms asking the question, “How does he love us?” In light of the great commandment given above, our search takes on new immediacy. Whatever we discover about how God cares for us, that is what we must do to the best of our abilities. Sometimes we uncover things which are too far beyond our human capacities, but at all time and in all ways, we must seek to do whatever we can, whatever we are ready to do, and whatever the Spirit of God prompts us to do. Keep that in mind as we continue with this Psalm series over the weeks to come.

We are still looking at Psalm 23:

If I should walk in the valley of darkness

no evil would I fear.

You are there with your crook and your staff;

with these you give me comfort. (23:4)

·         Last week we studied a hymn which suggested that the staff becomes the Cross, and that may be our guide.

·         I remember when I was Pastor of our parish, and I could see from the altar so many people who were obviously in pain and who spent a good deal of time simply staring at the crucifix over the altar. That was what got them through the time of suffering they had to endure.

·         What might be your “valley of darkness?” Is it some experience that you got through and survived, or might it be something that you are actually going through right now? Look to the “crook and staff”---look to the Cross. Experience the comfort which God alone can give.

·         I remember a very difficult and painful time in my own life. I was at a concert in a Lutheran church. Behind the altar was a beautiful mosaic of Christ the good shepherd. During the concert, I became transfixed by looking at the mosaic, and it seemed to come alive, and Christ’s eyes were on me, and I sensed power and comfort coming from the image and entering my heart and soul, and I was filled with comfort and love so much so that the difficult time I was having simply came to an end right there in that lovely little church. (The music, by the way, was by J.S. Bach, to whom I often look as a patron.

·         Perhaps we are incapable of offering comfort to the power and the degree that Our Lord is able to do; but whenever we see another person in pain, Christ may use us to bring His comfort to that person. And when we read the stories in the news or on the Internet about people who are suffering, perhaps we can pause from our reading and hold those people up in prayer and ask Christ to comfort them. In this way, we are living in the space of Psalm 23.

We are moving very slowly through Psalm 23. And that is fitting, since it is so full of the love and care of our God. We continue on Sunday.

God bless you.

Sailing on Unknown Seas: a transformative approach to Lent

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Now for the reflection:

Verse 3 of the hymn “From Shallow Waters” (complete text at the end of this post):

We dare to launch on unknown seas and cast our nets abroad,

For you have bid us grasp by faith the promises of God.

O Christ, you crossed the same wide seas you send us now to sail;

Be present when we reach the depths with strength that does not fail!

I don’t know about you, but for me, by this point in the hymn, the metaphor about sailing seas is getting a little tiresome. I can’t help thinking of a little feature in the New Yorker magazine called “Block That Metaphor.” I invite you Translate the Metaphor: look to see what is underneath the imagery in the hymn. As so:

“We dare to launch on unknown seas.”  reminds me of something from the Letter to the Hebrews: Thus Moses went forth, not knowing where he was going. (Heb 11:8) And that is also true of us this Lent, isn’t it? We set out on our journey towards Easter, not knowing what this Lent will do for us, what this Lent will bring us, how this Lent will affect our lives. But we may ask, will it affect our lives? Will we cast our nets abroad? And what does that mean to us, to cast our nets abroad?

I’m giving you more questions than answers, I know. But the answers are up to you: are your Lenten observances going to have an impact on your life? What changes will you make, what new graces will be available to you because you open yourself up to receive them? I am not talking about earth-shattering heroic efforts, either. I’m thinking of little things. A few extra minutes added to your meditation time, or beginning to meditate . . . if you are in a city, how about putting spare change in your pocket so you can give an alms to some beggar . . . or give a smile to someone who looks lonely or sad . . . offer a kind word to someone you usually take for granted . . . fasting from something that is an obstacle between you and God. Don’t forget that fasting doesn’t only refer to food and drink. Change your life a little bit. Walk on unknown seas. The Lord will help you.

“O Christ, you crossed the same wide seas you send us now to sail—be present when we reach the depths with strength that does not fail.”  Christ travelled a journey that he bids us to travel as well. A journey through the Cross, through death, and on to new life. Now you’re probably not going literally to suffer and die this Lent, but how about those “little deaths” that each of us ends up encountering or experiencing in life? For this, I offer you the 4^th Step of Humility from the Rule of Saint Benedict: “ . . . that under difficult, unfavorable, or even unjust conditions, his heart quietly embraces suffering and endures it without weakening or seeking escape.”  How might you apply that to your own life?

Please indulge me if I make just one tiny suggestion, and this is about casting your net abroad: Would you, could you invite someone you know to begin reading these reflections and get on the mailing list? I’d appreciate it.

God bless you.

The Hymn:

From shallow waters call us, Lord, from safety near the shore,

And bid us launch upon the depths where faith is tested more.

Let not past failures hope destroy nor caution paralyze,

But help us follow where you lead and wait for Love’s surprise.

We cannot fish the ocean’s depths with nets shrunk small by fear.

We need the gift of greater faith when we your summons hear.

And, if we plead unworthiness from what your call demands,

Then may we trust you’ll cleanse and calm our soiled, unsteady hands.

We dare to launch on unknown seas and cast our nets abroad,

For you have bid us grasp by faith the promises of God.

O Christ, you crossed the same wide seas you send us now to sail;

Be present when we reach the depths with strength that does not fail!

For neither fear nor scorn nor death could turn you back to land.

You knew no storms could carry you beyond your Father’s hand.

Your cross seemed but a fragile craft upon an angry sea,

Till Easter dawn brought light and peace through Love that sets us free!

Herman G. Stuempfle, Jr. 1973-2007. © 2006, GIA Publications, Inc.

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