It's really amazing how Jesus has the power to transform our lives. I had always wondered what the "pearl of great price" meant and for me, it is the realization of God's creative breath coursing through our veins. It is Jesus' life that we receive in the Eucharist, in the Church body, in the priest's inspired homily acting as the Head of the Body of Christ and in The Word or Holy Scripture that is inspired by God. It is in our domestic church's, our homes. It is in every interaction.
Some days I can feel this powerful, transforming power in the world around me and other times it comes from deep within on Jesus' signature written on my heart. For me, I can sometimes feel this "pearl" when I'm lost in the moment, when I'm listening to great music, writing a piece of poetry and not really knowing where the words are coming from, or when I capture a great shot with my camera, or when the sun just shines a certain way through the fall leaves or when the forceful wind blows them to the ground to meet their demise. It all seems to be part of a cycle--a creative cycle, nature's cycle, life's cycle. Circles within circles.
Jesus' death was such a self-giving act, so that we can have more life because of it. What I have found lately, is that my encountering his passion, death and resurrection through the Mass is True Life lain upon the altar. This Truth is what I have to base all other truths on. We remember him best by way of the Cross present above our altar. I suppose it is the crosses in our lives which make the biggest impact and the joys that much more sweet or bittersweet.
Sometimes the pearls are found deep within the closets we're trying to clean out.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Piano Concert
I went to a piano concert yesterday at my church. It was the third year that I've gone to see Michael Allen Harrison play there. His music reminds me of George Winston and he plays variations on existing tunes and composes his own music as well. He is very talented and is very personable. I really like listening to the variations he makes on the music. This year he played along with his violinist son and they both played well together and I'll have to get one of their CD's when they come out this winter.
The listening crowd was older, as it was a fundraiser for the local Catholic high school. My husband and I were sitting near the back of the church so we couldn't see him that well but it was nice to listen to the music and hold my eyes up at the image of the crucifix. The Blessed Sacrament had been removed and the Tabernacle was left open. Most of the time I remained very still, without fidgeting. I'm really good at that. Fidgeting is a distraction. When I remain as still as a stone, I can focus more. However, when a jazzy tune was played, I subtly just had to move. I can't help that music does that to me. Other people expressed themselves with movement somewhat but I noticed the majority did not.
That being said, I read a small commentary relating to Sunday's readings in my Magnificat yesterday that spoke of when Jesus comes again it will not be the end of the world but merely the end of the world as we know it. God will make all things new. Lately, I'll take things that I read or even hear about and pick a song to listen to that relates to it. I have a wide taste in music so this commentary reminded me of the song by R.E.M. It's the End of the World as We Know It. I pulled it up on utube and went to town. I have not danced like that in ages. It's very fast and kind of a headbanger type song but it felt so good to MOVE, especially after sitting so still yesterday.
I have been asking my husband and friends to go dancing lately. We went recently but I felt the music was too slow. I must be having a midlife something with the music and braces and all.
The listening crowd was older, as it was a fundraiser for the local Catholic high school. My husband and I were sitting near the back of the church so we couldn't see him that well but it was nice to listen to the music and hold my eyes up at the image of the crucifix. The Blessed Sacrament had been removed and the Tabernacle was left open. Most of the time I remained very still, without fidgeting. I'm really good at that. Fidgeting is a distraction. When I remain as still as a stone, I can focus more. However, when a jazzy tune was played, I subtly just had to move. I can't help that music does that to me. Other people expressed themselves with movement somewhat but I noticed the majority did not.
That being said, I read a small commentary relating to Sunday's readings in my Magnificat yesterday that spoke of when Jesus comes again it will not be the end of the world but merely the end of the world as we know it. God will make all things new. Lately, I'll take things that I read or even hear about and pick a song to listen to that relates to it. I have a wide taste in music so this commentary reminded me of the song by R.E.M. It's the End of the World as We Know It. I pulled it up on utube and went to town. I have not danced like that in ages. It's very fast and kind of a headbanger type song but it felt so good to MOVE, especially after sitting so still yesterday.
I have been asking my husband and friends to go dancing lately. We went recently but I felt the music was too slow. I must be having a midlife something with the music and braces and all.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Braces for the Aged
I'm 47 years old and I just received a brand new, shiny set of metal orthodontic braces. I've been thinking about getting braces for a while and now my smile resembles Jaws in an old James Bond movie. I know they have the clear brackets, but they suggested metal as I drink coffee and glass ones are bulkier. I guess 18 months is not a lifetime.
I read the readings for November 10th and the first reading which was from the Book of Wisdom has a line...Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. as gold in the furnace, he proved them...thus the name of this blog. I just can't believe the reading fell in line within a week of me creating the name for this blog. Coincidence some say, but not for me. This happens to me all the time.
Sometimes life can be restraining, just like these braces on my teeth, but eventually the braces will shape a "new smile" for me just like life reshapes us into what God has willed for us. Just like the braces, sometimes it isn't pretty, and it can be painful but God is perfect and we hope in the end product, our final destination, an eternity with Him or in the case of braces, a picture perfect smile.
I read the readings for November 10th and the first reading which was from the Book of Wisdom has a line...Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. as gold in the furnace, he proved them...thus the name of this blog. I just can't believe the reading fell in line within a week of me creating the name for this blog. Coincidence some say, but not for me. This happens to me all the time.
Sometimes life can be restraining, just like these braces on my teeth, but eventually the braces will shape a "new smile" for me just like life reshapes us into what God has willed for us. Just like the braces, sometimes it isn't pretty, and it can be painful but God is perfect and we hope in the end product, our final destination, an eternity with Him or in the case of braces, a picture perfect smile.
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