Hindsight

 When I place myself in Jesus' time, I know that there is no way I would have followed Him.  I don't have that confidence.  I know that I'm not that smart so I would have obeyed my betters in what to believe.  If they had said something shocking, I would have looked to those in authority above those whom I followed.

I would never have followed Someone Who told me to devour their flesh, even emphasize and reinforce the eating of His flesh and drinking His Blood.  No way! Jesus was telling me to reject the Mosaic covenant.

Thanks be to God, that He placed me here and now in these times.  I can read the biblical prohibitions against eating and drinking blood. Now I am taught that the Mosaic laws were not intended to last forever.  Indeed, Jeremiah foretold that a new covenant would fulfill the old one Jer 31: 31-34 and Ezek 36: 24-28. And Luke explains that Jesus' time had come to establish a new covenant in blood   Luke 22:20.

We do not carnally eat Jesus' flesh and drink His blood, rather we eat of the risen and glorified Body and Blood under the sacramental species of bread and wine.

I guess God really does know what He's doing.  Since my intelligence is limited.  I'll just follow His directions: 

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life...For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.  He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.  John 6: 52-56.

Spiritual Communion

 Paul Murray, OP is a poet and a Dominican theologian.  I enjoy his poetry and even more than his poems, I enjoy his essays or articles, because he writes beautifully.  This is the case in this article in Australia's Catholic Voice.  The article is a few years old--during COVID.

People couldn't attend Mass, so the church told people to unite themselves spiritually to the Eucharist.  Of course, my saying this is so banal, but Father Murray explaining it makes you want to pray a Spiritual Communion.  

Spiritual communion, when it is authentic, always has at its core a desire to be one with Christ in the Eucharist.

His example is one of a prisoner on death row.  Priests to celebrate Mass are hard to come by, not only here where I live, but in Australia, where Father Murray is writing.  Actually, it's a universal problem.  The idea is that prisoners are in prison to be punished, not rehabilitated. I hope depriving Catholic prisoners of the Eucharist isn't a deliberate punishment, because that would be heinous, indeed.  But Mass hadn't been celebrated in this prison for years!  

Catholic Mass had not been celebrated in that particular part of the prison for several years. The prisoner in question, a Catholic, struck me as a very ordinary guy. All the more striking, therefore, was the strength, the force, of his desire to attend Mass and to receive the Eucharist. He asked the authorities of the prison that Mass be celebrated at least on Sundays, and he kept on asking although ordered to stop. After some considerable time, permission was granted, but only after he had suffered a great deal.

When, some months later, I celebrated Mass for him and for a small number of other prisoners on Death Row, I noticed that he wept at the moment he received the host. And, just after the Mass, when I spoke to him through the bars, I noticed that once again tears were flowing down his cheeks. He said to me: “It’s only when you are deprived of something that you realize how precious it is!”

Yes indeed, like manna in the dessert.  The Eucharistic host is spiritual food.  Jesus emphatically says that it is His Body and Blood.  John 6: 51.

The prisoner had been denied Divine Manna.  This is how many people felt when they were denied the Eucharist during COVID.  Hence, praying a Spiritual Communion was used.  The one I know is: 

Lord, since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart and dwell there forever. Amen.

A Cenotaph

 

This is a cenotaph, known as the hill of crosses, in Jurgaičiai, Lithuania. It started in Medeival times to mark a grave with no body. Probably during some battle with the Russians, someone placed a cross on the hill to remember someone.  Others copied.  For certain, since 1831, people have come specifically to this hill to place cross and remember.

The Soviets have bulldozed all the crosses more than a few times.  But the crosses keep coming back.  Finally, the Soviets gave up. 

Four Nights

 The poem of the Four Nights appears in the first century books known as the Targums--paraphrases of the Hebrew Bible in Aramaic.

The Four Nights are four distinct events, separated by hundreds of years yet linked by spiritual history:

Creation

Isaac

Passover

Messiah

The Tamid

 The Arc of the Covenant in the Old Testament housed God's special presence.  Also, it was a place where the people could offer sacrifices.  On Mount Sinai, God instructed Moses to institute the Tamid. Ex 29: 38-39, 42-43.

Now this is what you shall offer upon the altar:

two lambs a year old day by continually...It 

shall be a continual burnt offering throughout

your generations at the door of the tent...

These are the instructions Abraham received on Mount Sinai. This is prefiguring the liturgical sacrifice of daily Mass.  The lambs were used to remember Isaac's close call.  Today, we offer Jesus, the Lamb of God - fulfilling the Tamid sacrifice.  

Everything we do, fulfills the Old Testament covenants.  

                                                  Valentin de Boulogne

The Sinner's Prayer

I imagine that the Israelites prayed The Sinner's Prayer in ceremonies, like we pray the Our Father during Mass and occasionally in groups.  Back in the day, 1950's, we children prayed the Our Father, every morning in school. Psalm 51: 1-19, would be a good Sinner's Prayer.

Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me— now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins.

Blah Taste

 Every First Communicant is surprised that the Eucharist has no taste.  If anything, they'll liken the taste to cardboard.  Well, guess what? That's exactly what it is supposed to taste like.  Remember that the Liturgy of the Eucharist is re-presenting Jesus' Last Supper and Sacrifice.

Jesus' Last Supper was a Passover meal.  The Passover meal was roasted lamb AND unleavened bread with bitter herbs (Exodus 12:8-11), reminding them of their hardships escaping from Pharoah.  

It is what it is.  

Seder plate. Courtesy of Mandell JCC 

Understanding Passover and the Passover Seder - We-Ha | West Hartford News

Aliens and the Catholic Church

 An article entitled "Vatican Helped Cover UP UFO Crash," caught my eye.  The article claims that a space ship crashed in Italy, during WWII.  The Vatican told the Americans and never told anyone else. 

You can read the article yourself.  What interested me was a commentator's post.  He said, This is one of the more far-fetched ones out there. Why would the pope have known about anything? Mussolini barely tolerated the Vatican’s presence in Rome.

I wanted to respond to him. But it was too complicated to make a comment.  So I'll inflict my response on my own blog.

It's not far-fetched.  Since the 16th century, the Vatican has had an astronomical observatory.  Contrary to anti-Catholic bias, the Vatican encourages science.  Remember the Galileo controversy.  He was a good Catholic and a good astronomer, among other sciences.  Also, it was Pope Gregory who changed the old Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar--the one we have now.  And that change was made in the 16th century, also.  IOW, the Vatican has been looking at space for quite awhile.

BTW, the Vatican also has an observatory in Arizona at the Mont Graham International Observatory.

Reparation

 The U.S. Bishops are requesting everyone to pray Litany of the Sacred Heart today, the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in reparation for the blasphemies at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles this evening when the team will showcase the so-called Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence on Pride Night.

After a month of often-vitriolic debate and a well-publicized change of heart by the team, the Dodgers are hosting their annual LGBTQ+ Pride Night despite angering the Catholic Church and Christian organizations due to the inclusion of the self-described "queer and trans nuns."

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, who are members of the LGBTQ+ community who dress in religious-looking garb, will receive a Community Hero Award during the Pride Night celebration, honoring the group's efforts to promote human rights, diversity and "spiritual enlightenment."

Catholics are offended.  The group has been characterized by some Catholics (including the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights) as anti-Catholic and a hate-group for impersonating and mocking Catholic practices and beliefs, including religious sisters.  

Why don't they dress in hijab and call themselves Muslim sisters?  Why don't they dress as Hasidic Jewesses?  Why is Catholicism the acceptable prejudice?

It's insulting to mock holy women dedicated to God.

Today is the Catholic solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Pray this litany in repration.

Lord, have mercy	Lord, have mercy
Christ, have mercy	Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy	Lord, have mercy
God our Father in heaven	have mercy on us
God the Son, Redeemer of the world	have mercy on us
God the Holy Spirit	have mercy on us
Holy Trinity, one God	have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, Son of the eternal Father	have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, formed by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mother	have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, one with the eternal Word	have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, infinite in majesty	have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, holy temple of God	have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, tabernacle of the Most High	have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, house of God and gate of heaven	have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, aflame with love for us	have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, source of justice and love	have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love	have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, well-spring of all virtue	have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, worthy of all praise	have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, king and center of all hearts	have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, treasure-house of wisdom and knowledge	have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, in whom there dwells the fullness of God	have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father is well pleased	have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, from whose fullness we have all received	have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, desire of the eternal hills	have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, patient and full of mercy	have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, generous to all who turn to you	have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, fountain of life and holiness	have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, atonement for our sins	have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, overwhelmed with insults	have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, broken for our sins	have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, obedient even to death	have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, pierced by a lance	have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation	have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection	have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation	have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, victim of our sins	have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, salvation of all who trust in you	have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, hope of all who die in you	have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, delight of all the saints	have mercy on us
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world	have mercy on us
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world	have mercy on us
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world	have mercy on us
Jesus, gentle and humble of heart.	Touch our hearts and make them like your own.

Let us pray.

Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that we, who glory in the Heart of your beloved Son
and recall the wonders of his love for us,
may be made worthy to receive
an overflowing measure of grace
from that fount of heavenly gifts.
Through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.

Words Hurt

My friend Bill, had his feelings hurt, yesterday.  He expresses himself better in rhyme that he does in reality.  This is what I mean: 

 Words Hurt by Bill Wyllie ..

Sometimes words hurt,sometimes words sting. But oh my god the hate they bring. A sarcastic word it gets me going. I try yo calm myself so it's not showing. Tho sometimes it hurts, I let it pass. But sometimes I want them to kiss my ass. But I digress I'll show the love. In God we trust from heaven above. The memory lives on but I think good thoughts. Or sometimes I'd rather not.

Targums

 Targums are ancient Jewish writings.  Today I learned that there are Targums linking the Passover and the almost sacrifice of Isaac.  Targums were used in synagogue teaching. They were scripture mixed with commentaries, thus making the teachings more accessible to their hearers.  

Targums are important because scholars can see how the history relates to their times.  Sacrificial lambs were important in early Hebrew history.  Hence Isaac was replaced by a lamb.  Lambs were used in the Passover.  Finally, we connect to the Lamb of God, Jesus.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

 The first book on my Book Club's reading list is Foster by Claire Keegan.  I thought I'd get a head start because the book is quite popular and I might not have it read by Sept.

That's a real laugh.  This book is so small; I finished reading it in two hours.  The story tells the tale of a little Irish girl living in Ireland.  The family is large and the mother is expecting a baby.  The family sends the child to live with relatives for the summer.

The girl loves it.  The lady and her husband dote on her; quite the change from her big family.  The girl and lady do chores together, shop together, go to church together.  

At the end of summer, the girl goes home, very reluctantly.  

Strange story.  I don't know whether I liked it or not.

Message of Hope

 Pope Francis' words of hope from the beginning of the pandemic, COVID, have been sent to outer space.  Inside a small satellite is a recorded message.  Here it is:

Melchizedek

 Many times we here regarding Jesus, 'by his Father he was designated a high priest after the order of Melchizedek'.  (Hebrews 5: 9-10)

I'm still in Genesis.  Genesis!  The beginning!  Abram in Genesis 14: 17-20 has won in battle and Melchizedek receives Abram.  Abram pays homage to the high priest.  

Pay attention.

Abram is a hero/celebrity/victor, and Abram pays homage to the priest.  That's demonstrates what high regard Melchizedek had.  

Now the role of a priest is to offer sacrifice.  Is there a lamb anywhere?

No.

What did Melchizedek bring?

Genesis 14: 18!

Addendum to Genesis of the Liturgy

 It occurred to me today during the Liturgy of the Eucharist, when I saw the celebrant drop a piece of the Host into the Chalice, that this was another connection to Genesis.  

Just as Adam and Eve sinned with food, Jesus, as food, saves us.  Jesus in the form of transubstantiated food redeems us.  

It ends as it began--the circle of life, is completed.

Youth Softball

 What inning are we in?
Fifth, much to my chagrin.
That’s all?
Ah, Softball.

I’ve endured the worst.
My own children, first.
Now grandchildren next,
Why am I so vexed!

If they throw it’s overhead,
they will surely miss, I dread.
No one can catch the ball,
They run and trip and fall.

Strike one, two, three
It's not easy you see.
The pitcher can’t throw.
Yet the batter gives it a go.

Look, she’s up, my little pup!
My heart gives a hiccup.
I hold my breath and will
her to drill it over the hill.

She swings and tips
the ball in the catcher’s mitts.
My heart feels very sad
Please don’t feel bad.

Mercifully the inning’s over
My pup’s now in the clover
Don’t worry no one can hit
But as luck would have it

Finally, the game is called
It's too dark the see the ball.
Who won?  It’s all the same.

Good game!  Good game!

We all acclaim, Good game!

Unforgiveness Gets You Killed

 Unforgiveness kills you.  A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny proves it.  This is an Inspector Gamache novel.  Gamache in discharging his duties, has changed two people with unforgiving hearts.

One is a serial killer, in jail for life, John Fleming.  Fleming has escaped and is after Gamache and all that he loves.  The other is Sam, who was only a child, when his mother was murdered, possibly by Sam and his sister Fiona.  Fiona goes to prison for it, but Sam hates Gamache for changing his life.  Actually, Fiona is John Fleming's daughter and Sam, somehow is family, too.  

It's not until the last half of the book that the reader will understand that Fleming and Sam are in cahoots.  The first half of the book has you going down rabbit holes: a hidden room, a painting 160 years old with hidden pictures placed in it, relationships among the residents of Three Pines, and the histories of the characters.  

Gamache is almost killed in this one.  It is close.  I couldn't believe it, but afterwards I thought, he can't live forever.  Louise Penny will kill him off, but how will keep you reading.

Genesis of the Liturgy

 In the beginning of the Bible, we have the story of Adam and Eve.  God told them they could eat any and all of the trees, except one.  (The one they chose.)  Included among all the others, however, is the Tree of Life.  (Gen. 2:9)  Note!  God chose to name it.  

We know the story.  Adam and Eve made the wrong choice.  They failed to live forever because of their mistake.  Guess who fixes that mistake.

For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Cor 15: 20-22)

Christ brings us to life in the Liturgy of the Mass.  We are nourished by eating the Body and Blood of Jesus. "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.  For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed." (John 6: 54-55)

If Adam and Eve had eaten from the Tree of Life, they would have lived forever.  In John 6: 58, Jesus tells us that what Adam and Eve rejected is now available to us because we choose to "eat and live forever"--the Bread come down from heaven. (John 6: 50).

A Reason to Forgive

 Holding on to resentments only binds you closer to the person you can't forgive.  You are hurting yourself.  You need to let go for your own mental and emotional health.  For your own good, you need to let go.

That's why Bishop Desmond Tutu said that you have no future until you forgive.

More, There's Always More

 There is a saying that has often taken up too much space in my head:

There's always more to the story because there is more than meets the eye.

I usually think of my "cloistered brothers,"  whom most people see as deviants.  But they are not what your eye sees.  There is also more to the story than the facts of their crimes.

However, in W. H. Auden's poem, he's thinking of his homosexuality.

What are you thinking?

At Last the Secret is Out

At last the secret is out,
as it always must come in the end,
the delicious story is ripe to tell
to tell to the intimate friend;
over the tea-cups and into the square
the tongues has its desire;
still waters run deep, my dear,
there's never smoke without fire.

Behind the corpse in the reservoir,
behind the ghost on the links,
behind the lady who dances
and the man who madly drinks,
under the look of fatigue
the attack of migraine and the sigh
there is always another story,
there is more than meets the eye.

For the clear voice suddenly singing,
high up in the convent wall,
the scent of the elder bushes,
the sporting prints in the hall,
the croquet matches in summer,
the handshake, the cough, the kiss,
there is always a wicked secret,
a private reason for this.

Monkeys Aren't People

 This is the third Louise Penny novel, I'm reading.  This one, The Madness of Crowds, had me getting out paper and pen to list the characters, draw a map of the village of three pines and post both papers on the wall, while I read.  Ordinarily, I wouldn't bother, would you?  But Louise Penny is that good.  I plan to read all of her Inspector Gamache series, so I'll keep my lists and map for reference.

This story is very timely.  A local college has invited a controversial lecturer.  Abigail Robinson.  She advocates euthanasia.  Since Inspector Gamache has a granddaughter with Downs Syndrome, he was appalled.  He wasn't the only one.  Robinson's speech was interrupted with shots.  While the inspector is investigating that crime, Robinson's companion is murdered.

Was it mistaken identity?  Was the target Robinson?

No spoilers.  The character's arguments are very topical.  Gamache's family takes an adversarial stance. There's even a cold case that is solved and helps in understanding why Robinson is the way she is.

The title comes from the theory of 100 monkeys.  Eventually, if enough people follow, everyone will follow.  The tipping point in the theory was 100 monkeys.  If euthanasia caught on with enough people, then the sick, disabled, elderly, and whomever was considered undesirable would be euthanized. Would Robinson reach the crowd's tipping point?