Mended Family by Thomas Bierdz (Click on image for larger version)
Theologian Paul Tillich tackles a weighty matter here in equally weighty terms. Still, most of us will identify with the experience Tillich describes. Lent is a time for grappling with this dynamic within us and for seeking and trusting God's loving ultimate acceptance of who we are. Allowing God's acceptance to embrace us is the path to peace in our restless hearts.
There is a section of life which is nearer to us than any other and often the most estranged from us: other human beings. We all know about the regions of the human soul in which things look quite different from the way they look on its benevolent surface. In these regions we can find hidden hostilities against those with whom we are in love. We can find envy and torturing doubt about whether we are really accepted by them. And this hostility and anxiety about being rejected by those who are nearest to us can hide itself under the various forms of love: friendship, sensual love, conjugal and family love. But if we have experienced ultimate acceptance this anxiety is conquered, though not removed. We can love without being sure of the answering love of the other one.St. Augustine put it more simply:
-from The New Being by Paul Tillich
Our hearts are restless, Lord, until they rest in you...
This is probably not the right combox to use for this request, but how about an update on Austin Cody?!
ReplyDeleteI'm piggybacking on this one, too, because it's from today and I just got a preview of part of my unplanned Lenten program, and I wanted to share about it. (Remember I said that Lent provides its own program without my doing anything but being willing? or words to that effect.)
ReplyDeleteWell, a few weeks ago I decided that this year instead of taking off just Holy Thursday and Good Friday, I'd take all of Holy Week off. I have a lot of work to do for the Thursday agape meal with foot washing that's a tradition at my church now, and Good Friday is, well, Good Friday, but I'd thought I'd like to go to the Tuesday service, too, plus since I'm in discernment towards ordination this Lent, it might be a good time to take a closer intentional look at the Passion.
So, today I get in my email box a notice of a spring "learning event" by the diocese featuring Marcus Borg (a big fave rave of mine) on Saturday, March 15, the day before Palm Sunday. And what did Borg (with John Dominic Crossan) just publish which came out in paperback last month? _The Last Week: What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus's Final Days in Jerusalem_
OK. I get it. Focus on Holy Week. Check!
I'm sure non-piskies would be welcome. More info at http://diomass.org/events/Marcus_Borg
Just Another Piskie
What is a "piskie"?
ReplyDeleteA "Piskie" is an Episcopalian, a member of the Episcopal Church.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Concord Pastor. Yes, "pisky" or "piskie" is an affectionate nickname some Episcopalians adopt for themselves or others of their denomination. I began my life in a family within the United Church of Christ, did a bit of spiritual traveling, spent some important formative years in the Roman Catholic Church, and climbed the wall to Canterbury about seven years ago. Imagine a Mr. Spockian raised eyebrow and the lips twitching into a hint of a smile when I call myself a piskie. ;-)
ReplyDeleteAnd here I have been thinking that "Piskie" was just using the alternate form of "Pixie" - now I must picture smiling humorous Episcopalians instead of the "Frozen Chosen" -
ReplyDeleteMaeve, truly -- some of us snicker and snort and are a sore trial indeed to "The Republican Party at Prayer!" And it's been a while since that particular appellation has applied. ;-)
ReplyDeletePreachers at my church tell me they enjoy my presence because I laugh out loud at their jokes. When I started preaching myself I really "got" how much that can mean!
Having been preaching for nearly 36 years, I know how important can be a chuckled response from the assembly when the homilist employs humor. I don't consider myself a very good joke teller so I don't use humor very often in my preaching but when I do I know how deflating it can be when the punch line seems to get no response: it certainly doesn't encourage me to try it again soon!
ReplyDeleteHi Pixie,
ReplyDeleteThis is my fourth attempt to talk to you; Blogger dowsn't like me today.
I'll just say this time that the Episcopalian who referred to the "Frozen Chosen" had humorous intent. I have never heard the one about the Republicans.
Concluding this time with a coincidence - I own "The Last Week" and haven't read it yet.
Hey, Maeve! I walked into my sponsoring priest's office this morning for my monthly meeting with him, and he had it on a pile of books on his side table. (A sponsoring priest in the Epis. church is one who helps someone discern a call to ordained ministry, prior to the parish discernment committee getting involved -- usually the rector of the parish. I'm in discernment towards the vocational diaconate and just today learned that the chairperson of my discernment committee will be a woman whose brain works just as oddly as mine. [That's a compliment.] We could have some good conversations!)
ReplyDeletePixie -
ReplyDeleteI am an ancient Roman with relatives by blood or marriage who belong to several other Christian denominations. The longest church service I have attended in my life was at Grace Cathedral. Episcopal priests (some former Romans), deacons, and deaconesses (one my niece by marriage) were being ordained with much pomp and circumstance for four hours. Will this happen to you? (If maybe not in Grace Cathedral), which must be HIgh for other reasons than being situated on Nob Hill; they were selling "Rosaries for Episcopalians" in the Gift Shop! (No, I didn't buy one)