Homily Gem #2

I heard this on Sunday and thought it was a beautiful idea:

“When praying for someone who is sick, you can use the words of Lazarus’ sisters, who said to Jesus: ‘Lord, the one you love is ill.’”

— Fr. Declan Creighton

Fr. Declan was referring to the story of the raising of Lazarus (John 11:1-44). 

How did Jesus respond to Mary and Martha, when they sent word that their brother was ill?  He said, “This illness is not to end in death.”  Of course, several verses later, we find out that Lazarus has indeed died.  And yet with Mary and Martha, we believe the words of Jesus, “Your brother will rise.”

Do you have a loved one or a friend who is facing a serious illness?  This story from John’s Gospel is fertile ground for prayer and reflection:  the delay of Jesus in coming to Lazarus’ side, the faith of the sisters, the tears of Jesus, the power of his voice that raised Lazarus from the tomb, the unbinding of death’s trappings, the foreshadowing of Jesus’ own death and triumph.

Lord, the one you love is ill.  I trust you.  You know what is best.  In your time, raise him, untie him and let him go free.

"This is not to end in death."  The death and raising of Lazarus foreshadows the death and resurrection of Jesus.  Botticelli, Pieta (detail).

"Praised by Happy Voices"

Maybe it’s the Texas girl in me, but I’m finding peace in these long summer evenings.  It’s just the right time of year to share with you one of my favorite evening prayers, a lingering companion from my Episcopal days.  I remember so clearly the little chapel at Holy Nativity where we used to say this prayer together in the evenings. 

The Phos Hilaron is an ancient Christian hymn – one of the oldest we have outside of the New Testament (several New Testament writers incorporate hymns or hymn fragments into their work, such as the familiar hymn of the self-emptying of Jesus included by Paul in his letter to the Philippians; see Phil. 2:6-11).

We don’t know who wrote this lovely prayer, but we do know it has been around since at least the 3rd century.  St. Basil, writing in the 4th century, referred to the Phos Hilaron as an already cherished prayer of the Church.

The hymn, which refers to the “vesper” (or “evening”) light, was sung at the lighting of lamps in the evening, a joyful testimony to the light of the world.

Phos Hilaron

O gracious Light,
pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!

Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.

* * * * * * * * * *

A pdf of the prayer can be found here if you wish to print it:  Phos Hilaron (pdf).

            Illustration by Ade Bethune (1914-2002)

A Prayer for Mothers

This year, Mother’s Day and Pentecost Sunday are just a week apart.  Here’s a prayer to the Holy Spirit that you can say for your mom.  You could even say it for nine days and give her the gift of a novena!  (If you don’t remember what a novena is, ask your mom!)  If your mom has entered eternal life, you can still pray it – she may not need the prayers, but the love you offer by saying it is not without value! 

I based this prayer on St. Paul’s description of the fruit of the Spirit:  “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23).

Come, Holy Spirit, pour into the heart of my mother the fullness of your life.  Breathe into her your Spirit of love, enliven her with your joy, comfort her with your peace, impart to her your patience, and wrap her in your kindness.  May she grow in your generosity, abide in your faithfulness and be renewed every day by your gentleness.  Fill every emptiness in her heart and in her life with the power of your presence and the quiet of your healing love.  As a mother bonds with her child, may my mother be bound to you in the depths of God’s own heart, O Spirit of wisdom, Spirit of love, Spirit of Jesus, Spirit of joy.  Amen.

Mary Cassatt, The Banjo Lesson, 1893

Siobhan's Last Two Stations

Several weeks ago, I posted my daughter’s Stations of the Cross.  As I’m sure you noticed, she only wrote 12!  She originally intended to end her prayer-poem with the death of Jesus.  But another 12-year-old asked if Siobhan could write the final two stations so he could use the whole sequence at school.  So she did! 

Many of you responded enthusiastically to Siobhan’s Stations, so I wanted to share the final two with you.  Below are all 14 stations. 

A blessed Triduum and a very happy Easter to each of you, your families, and your communities.  May our Lord richly bless you in these coming days as you eat with Jesus, allow him to wash your feet, follow him to the Cross, watch him die, wait with anticipation, and encounter him Risen.    

“I : CONDEMNED- JUDGE
Stand before the crowd for me
What have you to say for thee?
No sound, no word to save his name
To end his pain, to stop his fate
Although his heart is pure and clean
He is condemned to endless sleep

II : CARRY- SPECTATOR
I watch them weave a crown of thorns
Hustle, heckle taunt and scorn
I watch them load your back with weight
Bitterness crossed with twisted hate
I want to end their cruel advance
But I do not move when I have the chance

III : FALLING- SOLDIER
You stumble yet we push you down
You cry but we ignore the sound
No one helps you when you fall
No one makes a move at all
I cannot help but feel for you
But when you’re down I do not move

IV : MEETING- MOTHER
So alone you stumble forth
They do not know what you are worth
So now, now when you say to me
“Courage, woman, for this must be”
I truly know that I must believe
For by your cross we are redeemed

V : HELP- SIMON
They push and pull me toward the tree
The heavy burden meant for thee
They grow impatient tired of
Your slow progress or lack thereof
They snatch me off the streets of ill
So I help you against my will

VI : FACE- VERONICA
Alone again he struggles on
They will nail him to the tree anon
I don’t have anything to give
But I cannot yet leave him
My hands I have and my veil in place
So at least I can wash your face

VII : FALLING AGAIN- PETER
I see you fall this time on rock
I cannot bare to see them mock
I have denied you thrice today
But still I love you, still I pray
That you’ll forgive me for I was weak
As you set on humble and meek

VIII : CRY- WOMAN
As he stumbles toward us still
He is not drained of his good will
Though it’s I who should help thee
You reach out and comfort me
You’ve been abandoned by your friends
But still you love until the end

IX : FALLING STILL- PHARISEE
This time he falls and does not rise
He is so close to his demise
That I can see the wasted land
Where they will nail his feet and hands
In spite of cards that fate has dealt
Why do you not save yourself?

X : ROBBED- JOHN
They take your clothes and leave you bare
Crown of thorns still in your hair
You wear those twigs like the king you are
And despite these horrid scars
I know you’ll come again someday
So that we can then be saved
 
XI : NAILED- MAN
This is my job and I’ve no choice
But I have yet to hear your voice
You do not protest when we stab
Your hands and then your side they jab
I cannot help but think and pray
Are you the king as they all say?

XII : MORTEM - CHRIST
Father father why have you
Abandoned me as I go through
I trust you, I do not doubt
The things you ask to carry out
With my last breath, I want all to hear it:
Into your hands I commend my spirit

XIII : TAKEN - APOSTLE
His body hangs limp on the tree
Broken skin bleeding for me
They take him down with faith and tears
As the space around them clears
Though we left you on that cross
You promised to come back for us

XIV : BURIED - FATHER
They lay your body in the tomb
My spirit fills up the ashen room
You did not let this cup pass by
And still the world does not know why
Nails were driven through your skin
To save your beloved from their sins
”

Jesus Laid in Tomb, William Henry Machen (1832-1911)

Guest Blogger: My Daughter's Stations of the Cross

I am so happy to share with you something that my 12-year-old daughter Siobhan wrote and shared with me.  It is hard to describe how I felt when I read these Stations of the Cross.  

Siobhan, I’m so proud to be your mom.

---

“I : CONDEMNED- JUDGE
Stand before the crowd for me
What have you to say for thee?
No sound, no word to save his name
To end his pain, to stop his fate
Although his heart is pure and clean
He is condemned to endless sleep

II : CARRY- SPECTATOR
I watch them weave a crown of thorns
Hustle, heckle taunt and scorn
I watch them load your back with weight
Bitterness crossed with twisted hate
I want to end their cruel advance
But I do not move when I have the chance

III : FALLING- SOLDIER
You stumble yet we push you down
You cry but we ignore the sound
No one helps you when you fall
No one makes a move at all
I cannot help but feel for you
But when you’re down I do not move

IV : MEETING- MOTHER
So alone you stumble forth
They do not know what you are worth
So now, now when you say to me
“Courage, woman, for this must be”
I truly know that I must believe
For by your cross we are redeemed

V : HELP- SIMON
They push and pull me toward the tree
The heavy burden meant for thee
They grow impatient tired of
Your slow progress or lack thereof
They snatch me off the streets of ill
So I help you against my will

VI : FACE- VERONICA
Alone again he struggles on
They will nail him to the tree anon
I don’t have anything to give
But I cannot yet leave him
My hands I have and my veil in place
So at least I can wash your face

VII : FALLING AGAIN- PETER
I see you fall this time on rock
I cannot bare to see them mock
I have denied you thrice today
But still I love you, still I pray
That you’ll forgive me for I was weak
As you set on humble and meek

VIII : CRY- WOMAN
As he stumbles toward us still
He is not drained of his good will
Though it’s I who should help thee
You reach out and comfort me
You’ve been abandoned by your friends
But still you love until the end

IX : FALLING STILL- PHARISEE
This time he falls and does not rise
He is so close to his demise
That I can see the wasted land
Where they will nail his feet and hands
In spite of cards that fate has dealt
Why do you not save yourself?

X : ROBBED- JOHN
They take your clothes and leave you bare
Crown of thorns still in your hair
You wear those twigs like the king you are
And despite these horrid scars
I know you’ll come again someday
So that we can then be saved

XI : NAILED- MAN
This is my job and I’ve no choice
But I have yet to hear your voice
You do not protest when we stab
Your hands and then your side they jab
I cannot help but think and pray
Are you the king as they all say?

XII : MORTEM - CHRIST
Father father why have you
Abandoned me as I go through
I trust you, I do not doubt
The things you ask to carry out
With my last breath, I want all to hear it:
Into your hands I commend my spirit
”

A self-portrait by Siobhan.