As we the people of God continue our time of Holy Waiting in Diaspora, I invite you to set some time aside each day to ponder the puzzles of our faith story.
A prayer to begin each day of Holy Waiting.
O God, bless my Holy Waiting. Look with compassion upon me and my addictions to my food, my health, my habits and my way of doing things. Free me to rest in the assurance of your unfailing mercy, remove from me the fears that beset me, strengthen me in my work to recover my best self and to be patient and generous in my care and provision for the needs of others. AMEN.
Take time to listen to Messiaen's "Three Small Liturgies of Divine Presence."
While listening you may want to ponder Caravaggio's painting
While listening you may want to ponder Caravaggio's painting
"The Incredulity of St. Thomas."
Having missed the appearance of Jesus to the other disciples, Thomas said, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." (John 20.25) The following week Jesus appears to Thomas as depicted by Carravagio.
Thomas had to "touch" Jesus wounds, his suffering, with his own hands in order to believe.
As we the people of God continue our time of Holy Waiting, what wounds, what suffering are you touching? Fear, anxiety, feverishness, coughing, boredom, whatever??? How much suffering must you touch in order to believe that we, the people of God, are meant to offer our lives to free prisoners and the oppressed? nourish the hungry? and dignify all people?
Like prisoners or elders confined to their small quarters, are you touching the wound of isolation?
As a person with special dietary needs or preferences are you touching the wounds of food scarcity?
As a person accustomed to finding your income or your sense of worth in work or volunteering, are you touching the wounds of the unemployed and undignified?
As a healthcare, grocery, gas station, public safety, plumbing, teaching, electrical or other essential worker, are you touching the wounds of those who sacrifice themselves for the good of others every day?
How are you like Thomas?
What do you need to turn your skepticism into belief?
What do you need to turn your wonder into amazement?
For an entirely different kind of music and reflection than we began with, please listen to "The Many," a contemporary Christian Music Group's performance of "Waiting for You."
For Holy Waiting during the First Week of Easter:
A prayer to conclude each night.
O God, bless my Holy Waiting. Look with compassion upon me and my addictions to my food, my health, my habits and my way of doing things. Free me to rest in the assurance of your unfailing mercy, remove from me the fears that beset me, strengthen me in my work to recover my best self and to be patient and generous in my care and provision for the needs of others. AMEN.
Please let me know your experience with Holy Waiting.
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