Christmas Benedictine Style

by Monica

        This Advent and Christmastide are a very special time of year to focus on Jesus and on our level of love for Him -- in other words, to "Come let us adore Him."  One way is just to speak to Him for at least 15 minutes straight every day, even if you have to do so on returning to bed when you wake up for that middle of the night bathroom stop.
        Also, there is a new book put out by the Children of Mary called I Will Think of Everything And You, Only Loving Me."  It is a powerful push to put the focus of our lives on Christ and loving Him as much as we can and offering "ceaseless acts of perfect love" to Him every waking moment possible.
        Simplifying your prayer life is another way to focus almost exclusively on Christ and His bidding in this holy season commemorating His birth.  From reading this book (above), I decided for Advent and Christmas that my only petitionary prayers are going to be: "For everyone in my past, present, and future, and all affecting them."
         I was spending a large part of my prayer life with rosaries, chaplets, etc., in lengthy and time-consuming petitions for others instead of putting all things into His hands totally, letting even the prayers along with outcomes, etc., be fully in His decision-making hands.  I decided to let Him FULLY figure out what even to ask for and when, leaving all to Him alone, with full trust.
       I feel I have been freed and actually feel more trust by not burdening or busying my head and heart with things out of my control anyways.  I can also better "meditate on the actual mysteries" of the rosary.  I feel these things have drawn me closer to Him, but I have a ways to go!
       Here are further reflections written by Benedictine monks over the years for Third Order Benedictines of St. Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana at Advent and Christmas time in order to draw all of them, us, closer to Jesus, Our Lord.  Dorothy Day was a Benedictine Oblate, or Third Order Benedictine, which is why many Benedictine monasteries are praying for her canonization.

      Come, Holy Spirit, come, through the powerful intercessory prayers of Mother Mary on this feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  Fr. Schalk preached this morning at mass how the single most powerful person to ask intercessory prayers of against Satan Himself, from the Revelations scripture of the woman clothed with the sun against the seven-headed dragon, is Mother Mary herself.

     This season is also to honor her amazing yes at such a youthful age and in so dangerous a society to do such a momentous thing. We love you Jesus.  We love you Mary.  Come be with us, Jesus, and as the famous song of Mary says, "Come walk with us, Mary, come walk with us," "Ven Con Nosotros a Caminar, Santa Maria Ven."

"Christmastide 1941"  by Fr. Bernardine Shine, OSB

    .." With the activity, haste, and busyness, the world rushes towards Christmas.  But what has the world to do with Christmas?  The world missed the first Christmas completely because of its spirit; that same spirit reigns in the world today.
      ... There was no room for two spirits in the cave; the world did not enter.  It had all the song, tinsel, and good cheer of the season, but it did not have Christmas.
     Angels directed the shepherds to Him Who made the true Christmas.  Good oblates look to St. Benedict for the spirit that feels at home in the cave, for the safe way that leads to Christ."

"The Mystery of Christmas, 1945" by Fr. Walter Sullivan, OSB

   " ... Now what does it mean to believe and live the Whole Mystery of Christmas?  It means to ponder in your heart with Mary how this Infant cradled in His Mother's arms is the Wisdom from on High, The Root of Jesse, The Key of David, The King of Nations, The Emmanuel, The Expectation and Savior of Peoples, The King of Peace whom the whole earth has desired to see.
   ... It means to ponder in your heart how the Song of God, begotten from all eternity of God the Father, took to Himself of the flesh of Mary a human body, and created for Himself a human soul.
     ... For the mystery of Christmas is a soul-searching test of true Christianity, and it demands of the Christian seven profound acts of living the faith:

1. To see Christ in the crib of Bethlehem and to adore Him.
2. To see Christ in His Church and to obey Him.
3. To see Christ in Holy Mass and to offer Him.
4. To see Christ in Confession and unburden the heart to Him.
5. To hear Christ in the Gospel and to imitate Him.
6. To see Christ in the other members of His Body and to love Him.
7. To see Christ in our own bodies and to reverence Him

    ... its purpose [Christmas] is to divinize people -- to make them partakers of Divine Life in the living Body of Christ that is the Church.

      By the mystery of Christmas, we are more closely knit to one another than are Americans under the same flag, our club members wearing the same pin, or even kinfolk of the same family.  For regardless of club, country, race, or family, we are One in Christ, if we are faithful members of His Body."

"Christmas 1951" by Fr. Walter Sullivan OSB

     "Amidst the frills and sweet sentiment that have been associated with the Babe of Bethlehem, we may forget the prophecy of Simeon to Our Lady: 'Behold this Child is destined for the fall and rise of many.'

     ... The struggle between what is weak in us and what is strong in us is a necessary element of Christian life on earth.  If there were no weakness, there could be no spiritual maturity in people.  Our Lord says plainly to St. Paul (2 Cor. 12:9), 'Strength is made perfect in weakness.'  The apostle, recognizing the reserve power of grace in his soul, says a startling thing to us, 'I will glory in my weakness that the strength of Christ may dwell in me.'

    St. Benedict speaks forcibly of this life-long conflict between self-indulgence and the life of Christ in us when he says in the last part of the Prologue to the Holy Rule, 'We must prepare our hearts and bodies to do battle under holy obedience to God's command.  Let us ask God  to give us grace (strength) for anything which our nature finds almost impossible.  A person, counting merely on his own strength without seeking sincerely and perseveringly help from God, will remain miserably disillusioned.'

    "... Best news of all, He has come to save us from our despair and from ever losing hope.  His grace is ours for the asking in every crisis of our life, if, trampling pride and selfishness underfoot, we ask Him for help."

"Christmas 1957" by Fr. Blaise Hettich OSB

     "... In the middle of the whirl of shopping, partying, ... the hub of all our activities should be Christ.  It's His birthday we are celebrating.
     ... Let us recall that when Moses made Aaron high priest of Israel, he poured oil over his head.  The people saw this as a sign of God's power coming upon the priest.  Likewise, the prophet Samuel poured oil on the head of David to show that God had chosen him as king.
     To the Jews, 'the Anointed' meant the great King and Priest who would be sent from god to be their leader.  'Messiah,' a Hebrew word, and 'Christ,' a Greek word, both mean 'the Anointed.'  When the Son of god became a human being, He remained God.  The divine Christ 'anointed' the human.
     .... May God bless you this Christmas with 'the oil of gladness,' so that the Life and Love of
Christ may strengthen your hearts."

"Christmas 1964" by Fr. Gerard Ellspermann, OSB

       "These are the days of quiet joy.  They are days of prayer and pondering.  In imitation of Mary, who 'kept in mind all these words, pondering them in her heart,' we should not let these days go by without much prayer and frequent meditation...  He 'for us and our salvation was born of the Virgin Mary, and became flesh.'
       "... He has come to give us life, and make us sharers in His life.  The very impressive words of the Vespers refrain for the feast of the Octave of Christmas fill us with joy:  'Oh wondrous exchange!  The Creator of the human race, taking onto Himself the living body, deigns to be born of a Virgin; and becoming man from no human generation, has bestowed upon us His divinity.

       [Pope Leo the Great] had this to say in strong and vibrant words: 'Remember all Christians, your dignity.  You  have been made a partaker of the divine nature.  Do not return to your former base way of life.'  In a sense, then, this is the point of no return.  We can't look back. We cannot even think about turning back.
     ... As Fr. Emerick Lawrence, OSB, has said, 'This feast means  ... social justice, racial justice, tolerance, charity.  It is a call to all of us to contemplate the goodness and kindness of God in His gift of Himself to us, and then to carry the fruits of our contemplation into our environment so that it may become Christ's ... It means patience and kindness in our homes, forgiveness of enemies, consideration for the weaknesses of our brethren, active charity, and a never-ending effort to promote unity in our parishes and communities."

"December 1981" by Fr. Gerard Ellspermann, OSB

"... God takes from Mary flesh.  The Incarnate Word gives us in return an incomprehensible gift.   This is a participation, real and intimate, in the Divine nature.  And thus is achieved the most wonderful event that ever happened to us -- God giving us a share in His divine life by taking upon Himself our human life.
      At this time of mutual giving of presents to those we love, we are reminded of the supreme gift God gives to us.  Exchanging gifts makes us think of the admirable exchange brought about by the Incarnation.  Give glory to God for His bringing peace to mankind!"

"Christmas 1993" by Fr. Michael Keene, OSB

  "... St. John the Evangelist speaks of Christ who was the 'Light that shines in the darkness' and the darkness cannot overcome it.  he is the 'true light that enlightens each one who comes into this world.'  Our Divine Savior said to his disciples:  'I am the light of the world; whoever walks by Me has the light of life and does not walk in darkness.'
   

"Christmas 2000"  by Fr. Meinrad Brune OSB

      "... God sent Jesus to be born into a poor family, far from their home.  God sent Jesus to tell us and show us how to feed the hungry, heal the sick, and offer forgiveness to sinners around us...
     ... We must slow down the pace and grow still...  This child, the Word of God, is God's promise that we never will be asked to travel down a harder road than Jesus has gone down before...
      Every time we listen to any person in his or her simple human need -- a confused teen, aching sick person, lonely shut-in, grieving widow or widower, repetitious elderly person, overburdened parents  -- we celebrate Christmas."

     Addition 12-16-17 from The Word Among Us, December, 2017, for Friday December 15, p. 35.  This is in the spirit of talking with Jesus for at least 15 minutes a day during advent.

"Psalm 1:1-3

'He is like a tree planted near running water.'

     It sounds peaceful: a big tree,

planted 'near running water,' its

roots sunk down into the fertile soil

(Psalm 1:3). That tree would be guar-

anteed constant refreshment and

nourishment.  Wouldn't it be great

to have a similar peaceful life?  Being 

tapped into what nourishes us, we

would always feel invigorated, care

for, sustained.

     The good news is that we do

have a constant, streaming source

of nourishment: Jesus.  How do 

we 'tap into' his refreshinglife?

If we listen to the saints, one part-

ticular way stands out:  Eucharistic 

adoration.

     Here is what St. Catherine Laboure

has to say:

     'Whenever I go to the chapel, I

put myself in the presence of our 

good Lord, and I say to him, 'Lord,

I am here.  Tell me what you would

have me to do.' ... Ande then, I tell

God everything that is in my heart.  I

tell him about my pains and joys,

and then I listen.  If you listen, God

will also speak to you, for with the

good Lord, you have to both speak

and listen.  God always speaks to you

when you approach him plainly and

simply.'

     St. Catherine describes spend-

ing time relaxed and comfortable

in Jesus' presence in the Blessed

Sacrament.  She brought him her con-

cerns and needs.  But she also sat and

listened to Him.  She was a lot like

the psalmist's tree, quietly absorbing

the constant flow of life.  We can do 

it too.  Eucharistic adoration provides

a time set apart from our everyday

responsibilities. It's a time to listen,

learn, and absorb.  Beyond pouring

out our concerns, we simply sit in his

presence.  we enjoy Him.

     Try this the next time you are able

to go to adoration:  sit with Jesus

with no particular agenda.  Enjoy

his company.  Soak in the peace of

those moments set apart for him.  If 

you find your mind wandering, you

might want to try to imagine that tree

near streams of water.  The more time

you spend with Jesus, the more com-

fortable you will become,and the

easier you'll find it to sense His pres-

ence and hear His voice. 

      So go!  Rest by the river and absorb

those nourishing, healthy waters.

      Lord, I thank you for the gift of

Eucharistic adoration!  I love Your

Presence!"

     He rejoices over YOU as well, he dances over you! -- Zeph. 3:17 – “rejoice over you” – literally means “dance, skip, leap, and spin around in joy.” God dances with shouts of joy over us!  O, come let us adore Him!  

New Zealand CW Pacifism Touching in the Season of the Prince of Peace

By Monica,  The Lamb Catholic Community, (evolving of the LCW)        Columbus, Ohio

       In this approaching season honoring the birth of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, one will marvel at the constant and unblemished history of the Christian pacifist Maori people against "the Crown," [England], and its imperialist havoc of greed, malice, slaughtering and prejudice.  Still, they remained true to their Savior, who preached, modeled, and died for love.  Their history is below from the Christchurch Catholic Worker in New Zealand ("Christchurch" being the name of a city).

     As one recounts horrific details of a massive ISIS bombing in Egypt yesterday killing over 300 innocent Muslims at prayer in a mosque, and as one recalls another very recent grisly tragedy of innocent praying civilians in a Texan Baptist church at the hands of Devin Patrick Kelley, a former U.S. Air Force soldier (committed with mainly a Ruger AR-15 assault rifle),  -- one's immediate reaction may at first be to take up arms and kill the enemy. An eye for an eye. Yet, the power of God, who is love, who created the universe, all life, all human beings the world over made in His image and likeness, beckons to much higher ground, much higher levels of love.

       Like the purity of witness in Jesus Christ, all members of the early church communities for the first 300 years after Christ's death, Martin Luther King Jr, Dorothy Day, St. Francis of Assissi, St. Justin the Martyr and countless Catholic Workers, Amish, Mennonite and Quakers, death does not have the final say; and the nonviolent cross and way of Jesus Christ has enormous power -- moreso than hate and killing will ever have.  

      Was the Temple restored because of the armed killing and slaughter at the hand of the "Jewish rebel warriors," as described by history scholars, called the Maccabees, or mainly from the pure, holy and undefiled blood of the seed of the martyrs -- elderly Eleazar, tortured and killed for his beliefs in Yahweh, as well as the mother and her seven sons who were brutally tortured and who perished together rather than disobey even one of God's smallest commands?  These pure actions and  witnesses have greater power to change the world with the genuine conversion of hearts, the method typical of God's sweeping movements in history.

       I have heard from the pulpit that the main way that the Catholic Church proliferated was not with the Old Testament mentality of killing, pillaging, and butchering of men, women, and even children (there are several genocides in the Old Testament) in the name of God, but with running further and further distances to avoid persecution.  Done purely, in holiness and Truth, and even with martyrdom, this is the seed that grows strongly and steadily, that explosively proliferates -- that precious seed of the blood of the martyrs.

       Even our country was somewhat begun in this manner -- with the English Puritans fleeing religious persecution in England, going to dangerously great lengths to begin anew far, far away.  

       Some say we would not have a country now if it were not for winning the Revolutionary War, defending ourselves against these British.  Great Britain had far far greater control over India in the 19th and 20th century than it ever had over the British colonies.  Ghandi, and his program of active nonviolence -- purer to Christ than many Christians live  -- helped to completely overthrow British control and gain India's independence in 1947.

        In Matthew Kelly's book, Catholicism, he quotes what Ghandi answered when asked why he did not simply become a Christian since he read Jesus' words nearly daily, lived them nearly perfectly, and promoted this way often.  He replied, "I would become one if I met one." 

       I have heard some say that all of Europe would be Muslim if it were not for this or that "Christian" army and their bloodbath, or without the rosaries prayed to kill and slaughter the enemy men and boys fighting against them.  Is God not capable of the proliferation and spreading of His Gospel in pure and holy ways and witnesses? Must He have these violent, bloody ways at all?  Could He employ His own newer commands aligned with His Way of His own Son who came down to show us how to fulfill all the prophecies and old order, to then further purify, align, and raise all of our actions to the level of perfect love toward all, even the enemy?  Jesus contrasted ways of old to His new way with prefaces like "... before it was ..... but now I say .... "

Tom Siemer and Rita D'Escoto Clark

         My father, peace activist, Tom Siemer, always said to me, while growing up, that the reason the very birth place of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Middle East is so Muslim is that we Christians messed up the purity of Christ's way and Truth in our militaristic and often greed-filled attacks and slaughter of the "enemy" men and boys.  This Old Testament mentality still continues in the Middle East to this day, sadly, and in the name of God on both sides.

        In giving the "Our Father," Jesus furthered His desiring that our actions here be indistinguishable from our actions in Heaven: "Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven."  Jesus wants our actions to be pure from beginning to end -- such as with Mother Teresa's whose actions of love are the means and the ends and everything in between -- mirroring what they will be in Heaven.

      Some say, "But we had to kill, especially at times like Hitler's, when the atom bomb was necessary..."  Fr. Richard McSorley, S.J. and Georgetown University always taught that "He who chooses the lesser of two evils soon forgets he chose evil in the first place.  There is always a third choice."

     But wait, aren't we not truly, truly capable of loving on Earth the way that we will be able to love in Heaven after our time of purification and purgation?  We will be capable then only after this process that we will undergo, right?  Won't it be perfect there because of the purification of people, as opposed to now, when we are still weak and exposed to the human condition as well as to evil?

     It seems that Jesus believes that we are capable of our actions being to the level they will be in Heaven and even beyond the best of human actions altogether (to the Father's perfect love level) when he teaches: "You must be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect."  He says this after giving the new command of loving even the enemy.  His confidence in us and our ability to love and act at the perfection level of the Father is utterly amazing, but true.  

       Should we be so willing to not risk breaking a least command of God surrounding what goes into our mouths (as with the Maccabees), but risk breaking far greater ones surrounding the outright killing of people through carnage and butchery, of violently ending actual sacred human life?  Do we take seriously Jesus new command to solely love our enemy, do only good to those who hate us, only bless those who curse us, be the proof that we are a children of our heavenly Father in our peacemaking?  

    Which actions are more powerful, the blood of the seed of the martyrs and their holy, unblemished  offering of their lives, or the militaristic killing, maiming, and mutilating of sacred human life?  Is human life sacred or is it not?  Can it be destroyed or can it never be destroyed at the hand of human beings?  Can one person ever choose or have a choice over the life or death of another person?

     My mentor, Fr. Richard McSorley, S.J. from his mentor, Fr. Horace McKenna, S.J. (who many things are named after in Washington, D.C.) taught me that "Jesus Christ is present in every single human being the world over."  Pope Emeritus Benedict XVII and Martin Luther King Jr. said that God's own indelible stamp is within every single person.  You stop God's work of salvation in the person that you choose to kill.  In a sense, you play God, and as in the Old Testament, and "God alone is the author of all life and death."   

    Our special prayers are for and appeal is toward the Muslim women in Egypt, and in the Middle East, from all sects of Islam.  They must see the recent carnage and bloodshed of the innocently praying men, women and children in Egypt as so evil, so against all that is good, against all-merciful God, against love and and beliefs of all kind, that they will work hard for peace, mercy, and reconciliation for a world they are leaving for their children.

     We ask all Christians, especially Catholics, to do the same.  One small way here in Columbus, is to learn more about and extend friendship toward the Muslim cultures and peoples here in Columbus, many war refugees from the recent Iraqi War as well as refugees from Somalia and other countries, at the Noor Islamic Culture Center and mosque (5001 Wilcox Rd. in Dublin). 

      They have certain days of the year where teachers and others are invited to learn about their religion and their culture. In peacemaking, dialogue and friendship are crucial, and we can all be instruments of peace and mercy.

Meeting Tariq Tarey, Nov. 2017

       One Muslim from Somalia, famous photoartist, director, and documentarian, Tariq Tarey, has created an exhibit at our Ohio History Connection (formerly the Ohio Historical Society near the soccer stadium) about some of our newest Ohioans -- the Bhutanese and Nepali refugees.  These join other refugees, such as those from Somalia, and teaches the difference between an immigrant (coming for a better way of life) and a refugee (fleeing for their lives typically from war-torn or high famine areas).  This exhibit ends January 8th, so get their quickly. :)

     

Bhutanese-Nepali Neighbors:
Photographs by Tariq Tarey

Fri., May 5, 2017–Sun., Jan. 7, 2018
Weds.–Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. Noon–5 p.m.
Ohio History Center, Columbus 

The history of the more than 20,000 Bhutanese-Nepali people in Columbus is rapidly becoming the history of Ohio. This exhibit consists of 30 photographs of members of the Bhutanese-Nepali community, taken by Tariq Tarey. Each photograph is accompanied by a narrative written by Doug Rutledge, which explains each individual’s history. The photographs emphasize the historic sequence of the Bhutanese-Nepali refugee experience; from living and working in Bhutan, to being forced to leave Bhutan, the experience of living in refugee camps in Nepal for 20 years or more, to resettlement in Columbus, finding jobs, buying homes and finally becoming American citizens.  

The exhibit at the Ohio History Connection on refugees was put together by Tariq Tarey, his background is  below.

Tariq Tarey from Somalia (I met him
at a talk he gave in Columbus)

          Tariq Tarey is a documentary photographer, skilled in both still photography and video, who specializes in refugee affairs. In July of 2006, Tariq’s show, Forlorn in Ohio, which documented the plight of Somali refugees, appeared at the Kiaca Gallery in Columbus. Forlorn in Ohio also traveled to Wright State University, in 2007. Several images from that show are now part of the permanent collection of the Columbus Museum of Art. In recognition to the power of his work to call attention to the plight of refugees, Tariq was honored with the South Side Settlement House’s prestigious Arts Freedom Award in 2006. In that year, he also won the Ohio Art Council’s Individual Artist Award. In 2008, Tariq was given the Individual Artist Award by the Greater Columbus Arts Council. He directed the documentary, “Emergency Living: Somalia in the Aftermath of Famine.” Tariq also directed “Women, War and Resettlement: Nasro’s Journey,” which was aired on WOSU Public Television in 2012. In 2014, Tariq’s film, “The Darien Gap,” was shown in the 2 nd United States Conference on African Immigrant and Refugee Health. In 2015, Tariq’s photo spread appeared in the Magazine, 614, in an article entitled, “Journeys of the Diaspora.” In 2015, Tariq also did a photo spread for a publication entitled, Impact of Refugees in Central Ohio.

      Mother Mary, or Maryam in the Muslim world, pray for us, especially the Muslim women to help bring peace into their world, as you brought Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, into the world.

     The New Zealand Catholic Worker article is below.  To revive your hope in humanity, in the sacredness of all human life in their witness of Christ-like pacifism, and gain a restored fervor over the power of love and peace beyond what this world could give amidst a sometimes violent and cruel world, please read this amazing true story of the history of the Maori people in New Zealand..., which models so very well, Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.

We Are Prophets of a Future Not Our Own

                                          by Archbishop Oscar Romero

It helps, now and then, to step back and take the long view.

The Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,

It is beyond our vision.

We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God's work.

We plant the seeds that one day will grow.

We water the seeds already planted, knowing that 

they hold the future promise.

we cannot do everything

and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.

This enables us to do something, 

and do it very well.

It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning,

a step along the way,

an opportunity for God's grace to enter and do the rest.

We may never see the end results,

but that is the difference between the master builders,

and the worker.

We are the workers, not the master builders,

ministers, not messiahs,

We are prophets of the future not our own.

Embracing the 'Folly of the Cross,' as St. Francis Preached and Lived

       THE LAMB CATHOLIC WORKER, Columbus - When forced to codify the Franciscan way of life, St. Francis merely replied: "Yes, this is my rule - the folly of the cross." His way of being solely an instrument of God's own peace and God's own love in this world was so unpopular during the Middle Ages and especially during the Crusades, that his own order tried to kick him out, even with the stigmata (for this along with other items such as his radical poverty).
      Fully allowing the "weeds" to grow together with the crops (people who behave well and who behave badly), is a message taught by God concerning how we who consider ourselves children of God are called to live harmoniously with others in this exquisite world He so lovingly created as good.  Yet, he furthered this precept through Jesus by now calling all to actually love the "weeds,"  to love our enemies, or those very different from ourselves, who either bother us, disagree with us, offend us, or hate us - whoever "we" are.  God personally demonstrates how we are to love the good and bad alike by unflinchingly showering rain and sun on both equally, lovingly, without partiality.  Are we above God not to?

  

King's Son

Lord, isn't your creation wasteful?

Fruits never equal the seedlings abundance.

Springs scatter water.

The sun gives out enormous light.

May your bounty teach me greatness of heart.

May your magnificence stop me being mean.

Seeing you a prodigal and open-handed giver,

Let me give unstintingly, like a king's son,

Like God's own.

Dom Helder Camera The Desert is Fertile

     
     Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani girl was shot in the head and neck by the Taliban, survived, and boldly advocates for the education of girls and women, and more recently, for peace.  She met with President Barack Obama and told him to stop the deadly drone attacks on Pakistan.  They are killing many innocent civilians, including children, and turning many ordinary people against the U.S. and onto the side of the Taliban, she said.  She was also interviewed by Jon Stewart on the Daily Show who marveled at her bold peacemaking and wondered what he has been doing all of his life.

Military Reaper Drone with Hellfire Missiles

     

       As we approach the season of Advent, preparing for the birth of the Prince of Peace, may we open our hearts in love and peace to all, the very peace that is also Christ Himself ("He shall BE peace"), to embrace the "weeds," or people in our minds highly different from ourselves.  

     There is a new children's picture book out called, Jerusalem Sky: Stars, Crosses, and Crescents that speaks of the holiness of deeply regarding other people and respecting their beliefs, their very persons.  This is particularly so among all of the children of Abraham, of whom all Christians, Muslims, and Jewish people are sons and daughters, each and every one, historically. Abraham's firstborn son was Ishmael, the bloodline of Islam, and then Isaac, the bloodline of Jews and Christians.

      The story goes that "there is a hole [in the Jerusalem sky] ..." through which "hope reaches heaven."  It goes on to describe how "Jewish sages tell of  ... Solomon ... and the [great] Temple being made ... and torn down [many times], and that every stone from which was flung from the Temple in these attempts to destroy it, 'a synagogue was built.'"

     Then the book poetically speaks of how "Christians tell of a wondrous star in the Jerusalem sky, ... announcing the news of Jesus' birth. And how thirty-three years later, a spring afternoon's daylight blackened .. when Jesus died on a small ... hill"  What should have concluded the sky theme here is the following: "Followers retold how Jesus' apostles witnessed Him rising up through the sky; and an angel telling them to stop looking up, but 'go and tell the good news.'"

     Finally, it tells the story of how "Muslims tell of the prophet Muhammed's night journey ... in which he rode through the sky on a flying horse, then reached heaven on a stairway of light.  Where Muhammed rose to heaven now stands a mosque with sky blue stones and a dome of gold, shining like a second sun."

    The book speaks tenderly of Jerusalem, a city that has "seventy names," mainly called the "City of Peace," yet "no place has been fought over more - seventeen times torn apart and rebuilt..."  The book concludes that "perhaps possession of Jerusalem is like trying to own the sky," this city that "has been mapped on God's palm -- ... with prayers for peace and miracles ... and hope that lights the Jerusalem sky."

      This eloquently matches a very recent Catholic mass reading concerning love of Jerusalem.  It is one of the few New Testament writings that mention Jesus weeping:

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem!  You kill the prophets

and stone those sent to you!  How often I have longed 

to gather your children together,

as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,

but you would not let me."

Matt. 23:37