Psalm 30:6: At night there are tears, but joy comes with the dawn.
The darkness of night seems to magnify our fears; demons multiply when shadows fall. The morning light dispels our aches, pains and fears. If only we might live constantly in those moments of first light.
God says: I understand why you fear the darkness; it is where the wicked spend their time. I appreciate how much you love the light and how hard you work to bring light into the darkness. Jesus comes to you each day in both obvious and subtle ways to replenish and nourish the energy that drains as you struggle with your dark hours. My Spirit abides with you endlessly to lift you when you are down, to animate you when you are discouraged. I defend, protect, call and unite you. The darkness is empty and hollow, and has no power over you. Live in me and you will have the light with you always. With me joy abides. In me the Spirit lives. For me Jesus saves. Come, and remain in me.
It is possible to live in the light even though we are surrounded by darkness.
For more reflections about dispelling the dark, type the word Light in the blog search box and see where the light leads you. Click on the image above to read a story about two brothers and the lesson that the “first light” brought to them.
We visited this portion of Mark’s Gospel a few years ago when we reflected on the divergent images of fire and water – the fire of the Spirit within and the cleanness of the water that purifies. Jesus is both human and divine; he is a vessel that holds – what seems to be – two contrary natures. Jesus comes to tell us that we too, as his adopted sisters and brothers, have this potential to hold two opposing forces. He comes to tells us that the impossible is possible when we live in him. He comes to tell us that the Mystery of Christ is also the Mystery of our own origin.
Mark writes his Gospel with amazing clarity and precision. We see a lightning view of Jesus’ meteoric rise and then what appears to be a fading into darkness, but we know better. When circumstances are darkest, hope is strongest. When the light seems the most dim, clarity arrives within. This is the Mystery we understand from our brother Jesus.
Mark’s original story ends at 16:8: Then they went out and fled from the tomb, seized with trembling and bewilderment. They said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. Sometime later the final stories of the Resurrection and Ascension were added. Some believe that the final portion of the original was lost (Senior 94). There is speculation about who added which ending and when – but there is no doubt about the veracity of the story. The fervor here cannot be denied. Just as Jesus cannot be denied, despite all of our efforts to put ourselves first and Christ last.
We are human. We are divine. When it is dark, it is bright. Where there is fire, it does not consume but feeds us. Where there is water, it purifies and cleanses rather than drowns. We need not fuss and fidget with the details of this story. We do not need to look for inconsistencies or to point at events we think cannot have taken place. All we need do is trust and believe. All we need do is relax into the mystery and enjoy its wonder and beauty.
This is a familiar story to us – and when we open scripture to a comfortable place, we might look more closely, more intensely, to see if we are perhaps missing something because of the familiarity.
Samson was one of the series of Judges who protected and guided the Hebrew people before they asked for a king. In this book we see the people of God continually repeat a cycle of dissent into separation from God . . . which causes loneliness and anguish followed by sorrow and repentance. Yahweh always responds by forgiving and tending to his lost sheep. There are periods of complacency and quiet when the people forget that God is central to their lives which separate the times of the judges whom God sends to lead the faithful. Samson is one of the most famous. We look at the following verses: 2 – And all the night they waited saying, “Tomorrow we plan to kill him”, verse 19 –Then she began to mistreat him, for his strength had left him, verse 28 – Samson cried out to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, remember me! Strengthen me, O God, this last time . . . let me die with the Philistines!”
Samson enters into a cycle familiar to all of us. He succumbs to Delilah and to the plot surrounding him. He is human. He fails. He suffers. He has hope. He repents. He makes reparation for his former action. He is honored. He brings the light of truth into the darkness of greed and corruption. After closer reading, we see the cycle so familiar in our own lives. After closer reading, we do not understand the mystery of what happened more, but what we do understand is that no destruction or death can overcome the bright light of God’s goodness and mercy, and we are – we hope – a little more willing to see God’s goodness in our own lives..
From MAGNIFICAT today: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:5) God is mystery. The maker of the universe dwells in light inaccessible, so bright that it blinds the probing eye, the questioning mind.
For those who are powerless, that they may experience your power employed on their behalf.
For those who have abandoned hope, that they may know your mercy.
For those who fail to see you in mystery, that they may come to feel your gentle love.
Amen.
Cameron, Peter John. “Prayer for the Morning.” MAGNIFICAT. 9.4 (2008). Print.
Do not be afraid.We need to hear these words. We need to share these words. We need to use these words every day.
The angel of the Lord speaks to the high priest Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, assuring his that the Living God was making the impossible possible in their lives.
But the angel said to him, “Donotbeafraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. (Luke 1:13)
The angel of the Lord speaks to the girl Mary, the mother of Jesus, assuring her that the Living God was entering her life in a special way.
The angel said to her, “Donotbeafraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. (Luke 1:30)
The angel of the Lord speaks to shepherds who guard their flocks on the night of Jesus’ birth, assuring them that a newness has just entered into a weary world.
But the angel said to them, “Donotbeafraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people. (Luke 2:10)
Jesus speaks to Jairus, a synagogue leader, assuring him that his daughter is alive and has not died.
But when Jesus heard this, He answered him, “Donot beafraid any longer; only believe, and she will be made well.” (Luke 8:50)
Jesus speaks to the people, assuring them that the darkness of the world can be dissipated by the light of truth and peace.
“I say to you, my friends, donotbeafraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. (Luke 12:4)
Jesus speaks to his followers, assuring them that the evil of the world is transformed by love.
Donotbeafraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32)
Anton Raphael Mengs: Dream of Saint Joseph
Lifetimes after these verses are recorded, we remind ourselves that the impossible is possible with God. All harm becomes goodness through God. Darkness becomes light. Despair becomes home. Doubt becomes faith. Evil becomes love. And for all of these reasons, we need not fear.
Today we might ask, “How do we live in order to remember that we need not be afraid? How do we live in such a way that we demonstrate our understanding that God is everywhere and lives in us? And how do we share this Good News in our thoughts words and deeds?
In Matthew 1:19, An angel of the Lord appeared to [Joseph] in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. To learn why, visit: http://www.ncregister.com/blog/jimmy-akin/why-did-joseph-plan-to-divorce-mary
Throughout Christmastide, we continue to remember God’s words, “Do not be afraid”.
James Tissot: Jesus heals a Mute Man Possessed by Demons
The crowds were amazed and said, “Never has anything like this been seen in Israel.”But the Pharisees said, “By the ruler of the demons he casts out the demons.”
As always, when goodness happens, evil will be lurking nearby, looking for an opportunity to douse the light, hoping that the darkness will take over. When we have no moral compass night and day look the same to us. Truth and lies have no boundaries. Deceit and honesty are difficult to discern. The innocent suffer as the wily take over. But this describes the world in which we live. In the Kingdom, the Beatitudes hold sway. The broken-hearted, the poor in spirit, the meek, the hungry, the thirsty, those who mourn and suffer persecution, the merciful, the pure of heart, those reviled in the name of goodness, all of these have value.
When we are confused or frustrated by the events around us we might turn to Matthew 5 to the new Rules for the Road that Jesus gives us so clearly. The inversion of values will not make sense to the unscrupulous or greedy, but what do we do when we are up against those who cheat a system meant for good or who look out only for themselves? How do we address such darkness? And must we speak or act when confronted by violence that takes advantage of the innocent?
Today we read about Jesus bring speech to a man who could not speak and we see that the crowds were amazedfor never before had they seen such authority used to heal someone afflicted and disadvantaged. Those in power, on the other hand, are alarmed. We know the end of this story as does Jesus; still, he moves forward with his acts of healing, opening eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot hear. Are we as willing as he is to step into the darkness, bearing the light of The Word?
We are not Jesus, we tell ourselves. We are not expected to interfere with those who hold so much authority and power, we say as we comfort one another, so we will let someone else speak up. But is this the case? Are we – who have the gift of speech and the ability to use it – expected to remain mute in fear and confusion when we have the Beatitudes to guide us? Or might we use the words the Spirit gives us to bring clarity to obfuscation? Might we use our strength in Christ to shed light in the darkness? Might we use the power of Christ’s love, in solidarity with others, to bring about kingdom moments in a world waiting for freedom and honesty?
We have this to ponder today as we compare the translation above with other versions using the scripture link and drop-down menus.
Upon the recommendation of a friend, I am reading Mountains Beyond Mountainsby Tracy Kidder about Paul Farmer, a physician who is saving bodies and souls in Haiti against all odds. As a coincidence, yesterday a photograph of a Haitian child arrived who is not starving this year because of a modest contribution I made to his church through my own parish. He wears a pink shirt open at the neck and he is not smiling. We have fed the stomach but have we answered the cry of his soul?
Paul Farmer lives out his call in a way that few of us are able; but I am not thinking about that kind of inequality today. Nor am I thinking about guilt or gluttony or inebriation. I am thinking about inequality and what each of us might do to lower obstacles so that we might all see what happens in the mountains beyond mountains of our world. One of the gifts of the internet is a glorious burgeoning of micro loans from one of us to another all around God’s blue/green globe. This seems to me to be the hand of God’s Spirit at work. Another gift of the internet is the way in which light permeates darkness, and the way in which the darkness exposes itself. It becomes more and more difficult to hide when this electronic presence can pierce the thickest fog and travel the roughest terrain with no effort.
What do we do about the great and small inequalities of life? We address them with the greatness and the smallness of our own bounty. Even the tiniest of ceramic shards is needed to create a mosaic depicting God’s glory. And even the smallest of these slivers is important for without that one sliver the total is incomplete.
Jesus ben Sirach calls us to think about small, every day matters in big ways. The life of Paul Farmer does the same. Rather than become frustrated about the inequalities before us, we might address them even in the smallest of ways.
Rather than curse the darkness, we have learned to light one small candle. Rather than succumb to the avarice and addictions of the world, we have learned to lend one tiny gesture, send one small check which calls us to sacrifice from our needs rather than our wants. These gestures and prayers rise to God like incense in the night, and in God’s hands they are capable of toppling tyrants. These are the acts that dispel the darkness and free souls from captivity, for they are acts of God carried out by good and faithful servants.
For another reflection on Farmer, enter his name in to the blog search bar and explore.
Paul contrasts apostles of the light with those of the dark in today’s reading. As we have before in our Noontimejourney, we know that evil is everywhere, present in the many small and big ways that we allow division to happen within ourselves and within our communities. Wherever difference occurs, demons and their works flourish. Using the most insidious of methods, false prophets take on the guise of protection and guidance but they deliver deception and manipulation. We can feel Paul’s frustration in his words today.
For a detailed commentary we can look at notes; as an overview we might consider these words from yesterday’s Evening Prayer in MAGNIFICAT, and we might use them in a prayer offering to God this evening. The mini-reflection: We can use our treasured capacity for speech to offer prayer as fragrant as incense before God or to offer hurt to another. Psalm 19:15: May the spoken words of my mouth, the thoughts of my heart, win favor in your sight, O Lord. Psalm 141: I have called to you, Lord; hasten to help me! Hear my voice when I cry to you. Let my prayer arise before you like incense, the raising of my hands like an evening oblation. Set, O Lord, a guard over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips! Do not turn my heart to things that are wrong, to evil deeds with men who are sinners. Never allow me to share in their feasting. If a good man strikes or reproves me it is kindness; but let the oil of the wicked not anoint my head. To you, Lord God, my eyes are turned: in you I take refuge.
Both the psalmist and Paul recognize the power of words, those which we say and those we hear. They also recognize our human need to be in society, to share meals, time, problems and prayer. They know that evil and goodness live side by side and that it is often difficult to discern the difference between the two.
As we struggle to determine if the apostles we follow are true or false, as we struggle to remain faithful apostles of Christ rather than the false apostles Paul describes for us today, we pray.
Loving and patient God, we lift our prayer to you like incense in the night. May our prayers be pleasing to you.
Knowing and persistent God, we struggle to discern the difference between false and true leaders. May our eyes see with your wisdom and love.
Faithful and just God, we abide with and in your Spirit. May our hearts be always open to you.
Strong and compassionate Christ, we look to you as a model of how we are to act in the world. May our hands and feet be willing followers of your Way.
We ask this today and all days. Amen.
In different versions, Psalm 19 has a varying number of verses. Use the link above go to the last verse in this psalm for other translations.
Cameron, Peter John. “Prayer for the Evening.” MAGNIFICAT. 21.10(2009). Print.
Adapted from a reflection written on October 21, 2009.
“It is easy to look on the gifts of others as a threat. We often want what we don’t have and in doing so forget the good that God has given us. But wanting what is not rightfully ours is the root of many serious sins. Let us instead look how generous God has been to us and rejoice in his generosity to others. For this is the way to justice and happiness”. (MAGNIFICAT Evening Prayer for Friday, March 13, 2009).
Psalm 103, often given the name Praise of Divine Goodness, brings us an opportunity to consider how willing we are to consider what is ours and what is not. It asks us to reflect on who has given us all that we have. It is an opening into our own psyche to think about who and what we covet, and why.
Today’s readings bring us new windows on our own lives.
It was out of envy that they handed Christ over.Matthew 27:18
It is now the hour for you to awake from sleep . . . The night is advanced, the day is at hand. Let us then throw off the works of darkness [and] put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and licentiousness, not in rivalry and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ . . . Romans 13:11-14
Wanting what is not ours only brings pain to ourselves and others. This we know and we are quick to realize the damage we suffer when we covet the possessions of others; but how often do we unknowingly covet the intangibles of life? We may wish we possessed others’ friends, others’ jobs, others’ good looks and easy manner. Do we wish we had the closeness others have with God? Are there relationships others might have in work and in play that we wish were ours?
When we want what is not ours, we open ourselves to that which grows in the dark. When we give thanks for the gifts freely given us by God, we open ourselves to the light. When we use our feelings of jealousy as opportunities to thank God, we regard each sensation of envy as an opportunity to rejoice in God’s merciful kindness.
Bless the Lord, oh my soul, do not forget all the gifts of God . . . he delivers your life from the pit, surrounds you with love and compassion, fills your days with good things . . .
Tomorrow, The Forgotten Son.
To read about women and envy at the PSYCHOLOGY TODAY site, click on the image above or visit: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-couch/201307/why-women-fear-envy-and-why-we-dont-need
Cameron, Peter John. “Prayer for the Evening.” MAGNIFICAT. 14.4 (2009). Print.
Adapted from a reflection written on March 14, 2009.
Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence.
God says: You need not worry about the false statements uttered against you. Continue to follow the path of integrity. Remain on the path of The Way that my son has shown to you. Stay the honest course you have chosen in the Spirit. If the falsehood created about you has the hint of truth to it, change your ways. Come fully into the light and leave all deceit behind. You cannot outrun a lie. Nor can you hide from the truth. Rest in me. Rely on the Christ. Live in the Spirit. And you will find that you have no need to struggle. The falsehood begun against you will go home to roost with its creator . . . and the world will recognize the truth in you.
Enter the words the faithful need not fight into the blog search bar and reflect on how we might best work with falsehood.
Psalm 30:6: At night there are tears, but joy comes with the dawn. 
The Noontimes 
