Holy Nights 2019, Tree of Life

Holy Nights

1 John 1: 1-10

What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have beheld, and touched with our hands: the Word of God which bears all Life within itself -  the very Life revealed itself, and we have seen it and so bear witness to it and proclaim it to you as the life which is through all cycles of time. It was with the Father; now it has revealed itself to us. We have seen it and heard it, and we proclaim to you so that you also can live in spiritual community with us; that is, our community with the Father and with Jesus Christ his Son.

           

These things we are writing so that your joy may be full.

And this is the message we have received from Him and proclaim to you: that God is Light, and there is not any kind of darkness in Him.

If we say that we have community with Him and yet conduct our lives in the darkness, what we say is a lie and what we do is without reality.

Only when our life is fully permeated by light, as He Himself is in the light, are we truly united in community, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us of all sin.

If we say that we are without sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we are conscious of our sinfulness and confess to it, then He proves faithful and just; he takes the sin from us and cleanses us of all unrighteousness.

If we say that we have never fallen into sin, we make Him a liar, and the divine Word which goes forth from him is not in us.

Holy Nights

December 29, 2019

1 John 1: 1-10

Shimmering in eternal realms is the great Tree of Life. In Egyptian myth, this

tree is pictured as the great world tree. Its branches support the star-studded sky, and its roots reach into the divine watery deep. Its trunk forms the axis around which the world revolves. In the myth, the god Osirus was encased in the trunk of this tree; he became the link between the earthly and the heavenly realms.

Christ Jesus carried this further: on the tree of the cross, the tree of death that became a shining tree of life; the divine creator’s arms are outstretched in an embrace of love that includes the whole world.

We are each a living replica of the tree of life. At birth, we are rooted in the divine depths. Our crown is in God’s starry heights. And at the very center of our being is the beauty of our heart, connected with the sun, shining with the creative power that unites all.  Our heart is the axis around which our whole world revolves.

This creative, sun-like center is the radiant beauty of love. It is supported on the one hand by mercy and on the other by justice. For the Christ-Sun on the cross was placed between the two thieves. To the one who was willing to assume responsibility for his own deeds, the Christ-Sun’s beauteous love showed mercy: “Today, you shall be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43 To the one who railed and egotistically cursed God, cutting himself off from divine love, there could remain only the severity of God’s justice.

A merciful and just love—this is the love that God enacted on the field of history. This is the love that He has implanted in each human heart, from there to be radiated forth as the life-giving Sun of Divine-Human love. So, in the words of the poet:

Let us be like

…falling stars in the day sky.

Let no one know of our sublime beauty

As we hold hands with God

And burn

Into a sacred existence …

That surpasses

Every description of …love.*

---

*Hafiz, “The Day Sky”, in The Subject Tonight Is Love, by Daniel Ladinsky, p. 24.

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Christmas II, Dawn

Luke 2: 1-20 (adapted)

Now is proclaimed the [middle of the Gospel[s], according to Luke in the second chapter.

Now it came to pass in those days that a proclamation went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone set out to be enrolled, each to the town of his ancestors.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he belonged to the house and lineage of David. He went to be enrolled with Mary his betrothed. And Mary was with child. And it came to pass that while they were there, the time was fulfilled for her to be delivered. And she bore her son, her first-born. And she wrapped him in linen and placed him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks in the night. And an angel of the Lord came upon them [appeared before them] and the light of the revelation of God shone about them. And great fear came upon them [they felt the fear of fears].

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for I announce to you a great joy, which shall be for all men on earth: today is born unto you the Bringer of Healing, in the city of David, Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign for you: you will find a little child wrapped in linen, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly around the angel was the fullness of the heavenly angelic hosts: their song of praise sounded forth to the highest:

God’s Spirit reveals itself in the heights

And brings peace to men of earth

         In whose hearts good will dwells!

And as the angels withdrew from them into the heavens, the shepherds said to one another: “Let us go to Bethlehem to see the fulfillment of the Word that has happened here, which the Lord let be proclaimed.”

And they came hastening and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger. And when they had seen, they made known the Word that was spoken to them concerning this child. [or, When they saw that, they understood what had been told them concerning this child.] And all who heard it were astonished about what the shepherds said.

But Mary treasured [preserved] all these words, pondering them [turning them over] in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God to everyone for everything they had heard and seen, which was just as it had been announced to them.

Christmas II, Dawn

December 25, 2019

Luke 2: 1-20

A rose begins a tight-closed bud. Gradually it unfurls, bestowing its beauty and fragrance to the world.

The poet asks:

How

did the rose

ever open its heart

and give the world all of its beauty?

It felt the encouragement of the light against its being.*

The old Christmas hymn speaks of Christ as a rose, ever blooming, which comes in the cold of mankind’s winter. Encouraged by the light of the Father, Christ the Rose blossomed upon the tree of Jesse. His beauty and fragrance filled the world. Now he speaks. He has become the Father’s light-filled, creating Word. The poet says:

They can be like a sun, words.

They can do for the heart

What light can

for a field.**

Honthorst

Once again Christ approaches the fields of earth. His light dawns gently at first. We ask to be touched by His warmth and light. It is our hope that the light of his creating Word touch our lips, warm our hearts; so that our souls may open and receive him; so that our souls may bestow His beauty and fragrance.  “Become”, he says.

This is a moment of such gentle fullness. There is so much beauty to give to the world; so much love to give; so much encouragement. The rose of the heart opens because it feels the encouragement of the light against its being.

* Hafiz, “How Did the Rose”, in Love Poems to God, Daniel Ladinsky, p. 161

** St. John of the Cross, “They Can Be Like the Sun”, Ibid, p. 324

4th Advent 2019, The Angel in You

4^th Advent

Luke 1: 26-38

Martin Schongauer

During the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth to a maiden engaged to a man named Joseph of the descendants of David, and the maiden’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”

But she was confused at those words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son and you shall call him Jesus.

He will be great, and will be called the Son of the most High,

And the Lord your God will give him the Throne of David your father.

And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever;

And his kingdom will have no end. “

And Mary said to the angel, “How can this be since I have never known a man?”

And the angel answered and said to her,

Fra Angelico

 “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason, the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God. And behold, even your kinswoman Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For no word is spoken in the worlds of the spirit that does not have the power to become reality on earth."

And Mary said, “Behold, I am the Lord’s handmaid; may it be to me according to your word. “And the angel departed from her.

4^th Advent

December 22, 2019

Luke 1:26-38

Sulamith Wulfing

Besides our earthly mother and father, we each have another set of parents. Our other mother is the earth. From her substance, we have built the house of our body. And we have a ‘sky father’ who has sent our spirits down to be housed in the body. And to accompany us, the Father has sent with us a constant companion. This companion, who is ever with us, who is ever awake, ever inspiring us, suggesting, whispering to us, is our own angel.

This angelic companion has been with us forever. It carries the book of our life, with the arc of the storyline we were asked to write, its chapters our many lifetimes, both past and future. Our angel is our guide and companion; it has joined its own destiny inextricably to ours.

Not all of us have as dramatic an angelic encounter as Mary does in the gospel reading. Nevertheless, Gabriel’s words are echoed by our own angel, who whispers to us: ‘The Lord is with you! The Holy Spirit will come upon you.’ Luke 1:28 and 35

Our community also has its own angel. It, too, announces to us that the healing spirit will come upon us. It is up to us, like  the Mary-Soul, to create the inner quiet, the moments of openness. It is up to us to awaken, to listen, to notice, so that it can indeed happen. ‘For, as Luke says, ‘no word is spoken in the world of the spirit that does not have the power to become reality on earth.’ Luke 1:37 

Tissot

And the poet Rose Auslander says:

The angel in you

Rejoices over

Your light

Weeps over your darkness

Out of his wings whisper

Words of love

Poems, tender affection

He watches over

your path

Direct your step

Angelwards.*

---

*Rose Auslander. “The Angel in You”

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3rd Advent 2019, Out To Meet Him!

3rd Advent

Matthew 25, 1-13

Burnand

The kingdom in the heavens will be like ten maidens who took their oil lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom; but five of them were foolish and dull of soul and five were alert and sensible. You see, the foolish ones took their lamps without taking any oil with them, whereas the sensible ones took flasks of oil with their lamps. The bridegroom being delayed, they all got drowsy and lay down. Then at midnight, the cry went up: “Here comes the bridegroom, everybody out to meet him!” Then all those maidens got up and trimmed their lamps. But the foolish ones said to the sensible ones, “Give us some of your oil, our lamps are going out.”

And the sensible ones answered, “No, the oil would not be enough for us and for you as well; you’d better go to those who sell it and buy oil for yourselves.” After they went off to buy oil, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding, and the door was shut.

Then later the other maidens came along saying, “Master, master, open up for us.”

But he answered, “I tell you once for all, I do not know you.”

So be alert of soul, because you do not know the date or the hour.

3^rd Advent

December 13, 2019

Matthew 25: 1-13

Human consciousness grows and expands. When we were children, we simply took events as they came. But as adults, we can be a bit more far-seeing. We can plan and prepare for the events that we can see coming.

Burnand

Today’s reading gives us an announcement about an event that is most definitely coming. It stresses the importance of being ready. All ten maidens know to expect the bridegroom. They are to be his welcoming committee. They just don’t quite know exactly when. The wise ones carry everything they need with them, just in case. The foolish ones miss their appointment because they have to go shopping.

Christ, the soul’s bridegroom, is coming. He needs the light of our well-stocked inner lamps so that we can travel with him to the great feast. He needs the light of our wide-awake awareness, our presence of mind. Otherwise, the door of the heart is shut for him. The poet describes our inner state:

We live in a world of motion and distance.

The heart flies from tree to bird,

from bird to distant star,

from star to love; and love grows

in the quiet house, turning and working,

servant of thought, a lamp held in one hand.*

*Philippe Jaccottet, “Distance”, in The Selected Poems of Philippe Jaccottet, translated by Derek Mahon

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2nd Advent 2019, Be Alert!

2^nd Advent

Mark 13: 24-37 (Madsen)

In the days after those hardships, the sun will be darkened, the moon will no longer give its light, the stars will be falling from heaven and the powers of the heavenly spheres will be thrown off course. Then the coming of the Son of Man will be visible in the realm of the clouds, invested with power, illumined by the light of revelation of the world of spirit. And he will send out the angels to gather in all those who feel themselves united with him, from all four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

Learn from the parable of the fig tree: When the sap rises through its branches and it puts forth leaves, then you see that summer is near. So also when you see these things coming about, you shall be aware that the revelation of the Son of Man is near, at the very door. Yes, I say to you: Even before the time of human beings now living shall have come to an end, all this will begin. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. No one knows anything about that day or that hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Be observant and be awake; for you do not know when the time will be. It is like when a man goes on a journey and leaves his house. He gives his servants authority, gives each one his task and tells the doorkeeper to be alert. So you too, be alert. You do not know when the master of the house will come, whether in the evening or at midnight or at cockcrow in the morning. Take care that he does not find you sleeping if he comes suddenly. And what I say to you applies to all human beings: Be alert!

2^nd Advent

Mark 13:24-27

December 8, 2019

One can watch a rose in the process of blossoming over time: what was enclosed inside the bud opens and unfurls in a profusion of petals. In the center is a crown with pollen. With pollination the crown is gradually drawn down and inward again, becoming the cluster of seeds enclosed in the fruit.

Our experience of the world at any moment is often divided into polarities like inner and outer. But if we look closely, we can see that, over time, like the rose, inner becomes outer and outer becomes inner, in a kind of breathing.

Today’s Gospel reading has something of this same quality. It starts with a profusion of outer signs, in sun, moon, and stars. The Son of Man appears ‘in great radiance and glory.’ He seems to come from outside, ‘in a cloud.’ And yet His qualities, His uprightness, His soul rising to the spirit, can also be absorbed inwardly by human beings. The outer becomes inner. He gives inner strength and uprightness and awakens prayer.

Burnand

The reading makes it clear that the quality and accuracy of our perception is of utmost importance. For perception is the doorway, the entryway into our souls. We are to keep the threshold clear and free. We are to keep a calm and open watch at the doorway of the soul and recognize the signs: just as new leaves signal summer’s return, so do dire outer signs signal the approach, the nearness of the Divine Human Being. We are to perceive His presence and open the door for Him. We are to invite Him into the soul’s house, take Him in, for He is our heart’s calm center.

The mystic Meister Eckhart wrote,

What is the prayer of a heart grown calm

in the peace of God?

From such a purity one no longer prays

as we are wont to pray.

…A heart in calm detachment asks

for nothing, nor has anything

it would wish to shed.

Its prayer is finally only for uniformity

with God. This is its entire prayer.

…With such a disposition you

can easily accept honors and ease.

Should hardships and disgrace arrive,

you will bear them also, and be

oddly pleased to bear them.

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Meister Eckhart, “The Prayer of a Heart Detached”, and “Unburdened”, in Love’s Immensity, Mystics on the Endless Life, Scott Cairns, p. 99.

1st Advent 2019, Grace Approaching

1st Advent

Luke 21:25-36

And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth, the nations will be constricted with anxiety and doubt with the advent of these spiritual revelations, as before a roaring sea and waves. And men will lose their inner strength of soul out of fear and foreboding of what is coming over the living earth: for the dynamic powers of heaven will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud, in the sphere of life, with dynamic power and great radiant glory.

And when these things begin to happen, stand upright and lift up [raise] your soul to the spirit, for your deliverance draws near.

And he gave them a comparison, saying, ‘Observe [behold] the fig tree and all the trees when they

burst into leaf. Seeing this, you know yourselves that summer is near. So also when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

Amen, the truth I say to you: this present age of Man’s being shall not pass away until all has happened.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Guard yourselves lest the perceptive power of your hearts be smothered by excess of food and drink and by over-concern with the cares and worries of life, and the light of these spirit events break upon you suddenly like a snare…for it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth. So be awake in the spirit at all times, praying, so that you may have the strength to live through all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.

1st Advent

December 1, 2019

Luke 21:25-36

When a seed is planted, the first thing to happen is a kind of cataclysm, a disintegration. It swells; the hull cracks; the seed itself splits apart as the sprouts break forth, one diving down to root itself in the earth, the other rising into the light.

This is what life does. Real life, real progress and evolution break us apart. They change us, sometimes fundamentally. Life pushes us out of our comfortable place of the merely potential into the uncomfortable stretching and growing toward fulfillment.

At this time of the year, humanity is God’s Bride. He has impregnated us with His hope for us; with His trust in us; with His love for us. We are to grow and carry His Spirit-Child within us, His Son who will be born into our hearts at Christmas. Like any other fruitfulness, this brings us both joy and discomfort. The poet describes how it is for us:

There is a grace approaching
that we shun as much as death,

it is the completion of our birth.

It does not come in time,

but in timelessness

when the mind sinks into the heart

and we remember.

It is an insistent grace that draws us

to the edge and beckons us surrender

safe territory and enter our enormity.

We know we must pass

beyond knowing

and fear the shedding.

But we are pulled upward

none-the-less

through forgotten ghosts

and unexpected angels,

luminous.

And there is nothing left to say

but we are That.

And that is what we sing about.*

---

*Stephen Levine, “Millennium blessing”  in Breaking the Drought

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