Soulful Muse

Gospel of St. Mark, 6:7 “called his twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil spirits. …

“Two by Two”

June’s joyful word is “joy.” Not happiness – fleeting, situational, often quickly passing. Add to happiness not being the word, is glad. Again, limited. You can be glad you got something back on your taxes. 

Joy is limitless because is neither begins nor ends with us. A resident I became friends with was named Joy Divine. What a handle to carry throughout life. A staunch Republican, we still became good friends. Wonderful conversations complete with smiles and laughter enjoying hot fudge sundaes Wednesdays in the retirement Cafe. 

I told her what I’m about to tell you. I told her that joy is divine. Ours to daily embrace and hold but knowingly recognizing its origin. I hope we can all possess it, each in our own way and in our own degree. 

My conclusion is that Joy Divine was legally blind but able to remain in her apartment.  May our joy be shared living here with a clear vision of the worth of each person and those wonderful persons who service us. 

Hail Mary,” I prefer “Hi” Mary, a simple name for such a great role. It’s me with a bunch of your friends behind me. We’re here today to remind you and to renew for us your special role and place in our lives. 

You were and are a loving daughter, affectionate wife, devoted cousin, and the best relationship saved for last – a mother. Not only toward your Son but to us all. 

Your place in history knows no time. Your place within our lives places you securely in our hearts. 

We see it in your patience by telling the headwaiter, “Do whatever he says” as your Son changes an earthly liquid into divine nourishment. Sidesaddled trip to Egypt? You now journey through all of our trials and turmoils. That last minute plea used in football? That’s the most common one we all use and rely upon. The agonizing heartbreak of any mother is holding a dead son. It’s the hopelessness any anxious mother has about a wayward child, now an adult. Your Son’s ressurection proves that hope truly springs eternal for all your children. 

Today we crown you not with power nor with prestiage. Today we crown you with your simple “yes,” as simply said as is your name. We say and live our “Yes” to all the marvels, mysteries, mistakes and mishaps we all experience. 

Today we ceremonisly crown you as you daily crown us. 

After crowning:

Glorious Queen of peace, grant us peace in our hearts, harmony in our families and concord throughout the world. Immaculate Mother, as patroness of our beloved country, watch over us and protect us with with the love only a mother can provide. Amen.

If anyone asks you what the sermon was about today, just say it was about “smorgasbord.” I can’t spell it, but I know what it means. An emotional smorgasbord living in hungry hearts and souls. All waiting to be enjoyable eaten. 

Easter’s Spring is a newness for everyone. Whether gainfully employed, unemployed or retired – something new awaits each of us.

Pagan or Believer, this day has an impact on us all. For pagans this is only a seasonal change. For us believers, it’s a constant religious reversal, a constant wake-up call. A pagan smorgasbord is a Big Mac. For us, it’s a juicy steak at an overpriced restaurant. 

Spring slowly leans into a warm summer and doubt rapidly leaps toward hope.

Employed, unemployed, retired?

For those employed and imbued, their old tasks bring a new perspective or a different twist. If they’re able to see it, there’s a morsel of change in each minute of their work day. 

For those unemployed like I was, it’s, “Oh, it’s 2:10; no, now it’s 2:11; wrong again, it’s 3:00 p.m.” That cocktail adage, “It’s 5:00 somewhere” back then for me began at 4. An unemployed priest’s endless days at home with two loving cats who wonder to themselves, “Why-Is-He-Still-Here?”

Easter hope. It’s substantial. The substance of hope can be experienced and felt in all parts of your life. Whether a new grandchild enters the world and even hearing a cancer diagnosis.

Wishing is such a fluid word. Wishing is for the Packers and Brewers. Hope and hoping touches deep depths where words are useless. Jesus didn’t whimsically wish for the good of people to emerge, he died for the peaceful benevolence of hope. Abiding within us throughout our lives. 

For us retired, well, you’re all on your own clock. A calmness emerges when time appears to have nothing but time. When the morning hours could very well duplicate nighttime. But through creative human ingenuity and an obvious human need, time takes on a natural daily division that becomes livable, worthwhile and doable. 

In addition to a calmness, it is coupled with patience. Imagine patience in the golden years of retirement? Instead of fighting with time, when time always wins, patience becomes a learned discipline; a gift. 

Preoccupied with a doctor’s appointment a month from now? It doesn’t hurry nor change time. It only hurries and upsets an anxious timeless mind. Hence, that special new guest is welcomed into your retirement life – patience. We are all already a patient to how many doctors so why not put on and wear the mantle of patience. Nurse it, care for it, protect is as much as a young child because it is now a member of your single family. 

Calmness, patience with a heavy dose of humor. All sandwiched inside hope. Laugh away those accumulating years and savor the present patience and peace that only faith provides and fulfills. Laughing at yourself makes looking in the morning mirror so much more fun. 

The Body of Christ, food of transition, we are about to receive is the beautiful bounty of the bounty Jesus freely offers to us. Unfortunately, Jesus was wrong with his final words, “It is finished.” His resurrection is never finished. It becomes wonderfully complete with and through our embracing acceptance. 

Again with Jesus.  He only experienced one Easter. Poor guy. We’re exposed to Easters as often as we open ourselves to its daily invitation. We so often think of the word hope as something about to happen instead of something that has happened within and around us. Easter is not about planning, waiting and anticipating… Easter happened folks and is happening within our lives.

A shared meal is a transition time from the completion of the past day toward a hope-filled tomorrow of challenges and rewards.

It’s only finished when the meal is enjoyed and savored by all present. This emotional smorgasbord is only finished when we complete the gifts, talents, and treasures that God entrusts to us to make even the darkest of a winter’s night into a wellspring of hope.

Let’s eat.

When one stands on a mountain height and scans the beauty all about — the wondrous sight of your splendor, O God, must needs compel the soul to cry out: “You have done all things well!”

When day is turning to evening and one rests in its peace and quietly reviews the day’s journeying with its rich release of work — the stillness renews the spirit and stirs it joyfully to say: “Truly, you experienced a beautiful day!”

One – who with hard toil acquires a great store and treasure – if noble-hearted and loyal, will measure its usefulness with caring and happily appraise its worth, declaring: “You will serve well in many ways!”

For God and for souls! Everything!

Each one in his or her own way, quietly — (working, praying, suffering).

As for me – only that I may lovingly complete each day’s task and come to a blessed end at last.

Each day brims over with opportunity.

Oh! Spin, my soul! Spin my soul ardently!

And you, my eye: Close … not in sleep nor lightly doze….Yet, must you really sleep – But even then, your vigil keep!

Contemplate God’s doings with faith-filled eyes; out of your hope, new strength will arise.

Accomplish much – your motive such: “For God alone!”

So fixed on God, do your part – angel-wise: all with pure of heart!

(author unknown)