Today began with a trip to Mt. Irenaeus for Mass. That’s my routine on most Sundays. First a trip to the grocery store to pick up some brunch items to share after Mass and then a forty minute trip to the Mountain. Fr. Bob was the celebrant today. At Mt. Irenaeus all the homilies are interactive. The celebrant offers his reflections and that is followed by a chance to share what is on our own hearts with respect to the homily or the readings or what is moving in us today. Today was day rich in imagery and exchange about purging ourselves of the idols that block us from relation with God. The gospel was about Jesus driving the money changers from the temple. The story is familiar but today the reflections were especially meaningful to me.
Following a tasty brunch our Partners in Ministry team assembled for a couple of hours discussing the Incarnation in Franciscan spirituality and how we carry the fruits of that incarnation into our daily lives and how we share it with a world that desperately needs to hear that message. Our animators of the discussion today did an artful job of sharing their insights. One of the metaphors Anita shared was about “blood and water” and how as Jesus died blood and water came from him and that when a mother gives birth to a child there is a release of blood and water. We were all struck by the poignancy of this observation. We began to discuss at length these holy symbols which draw us to the Mystical Christ.
Last night I was reading a piece entitled Maya and Sacrament in Bede Griffiths. After reading it and reflecting on today’s discussion and sharing I thought how much this means to me. All around me I am surrounded by the evidence of the Incarnation. In fact it is shouting to me if I have ears to hear it. It is in the snowy ground around me, in the air I breathe, in my family at the supper table. There are some lyrics to a song that I like that say, “The heavens are telling the glory of God, and all creation is shouting for joy! Come dance in the forest, come play in the fields. And sing, sing to the glory of the Lord!” The song proclaims the incarnation. I am brother and sister to all creation just as St. Francis proclaimed. All that is created is created by God and for his glory.
What a different relationship I have and a change of attitude when I have the eyes to see and the ears to hear that all that is created is brother and sister to me. There can be no duality. It is not part of God’s creation. St. Augustine described the nature of God “as a circle whose center was everywhere, but whose circumference was nowhere.” Peace.