Part 2 of 2
What does it mean to ponder? I'll give you a one line definition: To
ponder is to be able to carrry tension and transform it.
For Socrates it meant: The unexamined life is not worth living. The
philosopher is urging an intellectual exercise that is important and good.
That, however, is not what pondering means in scripture. When Mary is
standing at the foot of the cross she is pondering in the biblical sense.
She is helpless not only to stop the crucifixion but even powerless to
explain the actions of her own son. She is not shouting and screaming
and losing it and saying he is innocent; it¡¦s the other two guys who are
guilty. In Hebrew, standing is a position of strength. Artists often depict
Mary as weak. They¡¦re all wrong. Mary was strong. She sees the
wrongness, the injustice of it all and there is nothing she can do about it.
She doesn¡¦t lash out or fall apart and crumble. She takes in all the hatred
and it doesn¡¦t go through her and come out of her as bitterness. She
carries the tension and transforms it, with her dignity intact.
Allow me to give another example of pondering. Boy meets girl.
Instant physical attraction. Two hours later they are in bed. That
happens. It¡¦s not that God is going to rain thunder bolts down on them
from heaven. There isn¡¦t anything sublime in their behaviour. There
may be amazement. Sublime comes from the word sublimation . Before
anything can be sublime there has to be a long sublimation, a long
restraining of oneself without giving in or folding up. Meeting someone
and going to bed within three hours or three days or three weeks is not
very sublime because they haven¡¦t carried the sexual tension. A second
couple meet, fall in love, feel the attraction, experience the amazement but
carry it and carry it and carry it. Painfully and slowly the tension is
transformed and the relationship grows and matures. This is how one
person described it: ¡§I¡¦m a better person when I don¡¦t give in because I am
carrying more of the tension that all of us should carry in this life. I¡¦m a
better person when I carry that tension.¡¨
We see examples of this in great literature. What makes a great hero
or heroine? What constitutes nobility of soul? It¡¦s not Rambo with a
magnum gun blowing away everybody regardless of the consequences.
That¡¦s not nobility. That is machoism. Usually we describe nobility to
somebody who, mindless of his or her comfort, need and pain, is willing, for
a higher reason to carry a great tension for a long period of time. We
sense greatness of soul when we see someone like Jesus in the garden of
Gethsemane sweating blood and not giving in to the temptation to
prematurely resolve things or settle for a quick easy fix.
Nobody will ever remain faithful in a marriage, family, relationship, job,
religion without at times sweating blood and carrying great tension. Yes, I
believe the time is already here when we either become mystics or
unbelievers.
THOUGHT PROVOKING
Voice Mail
What if God installed voice mail?
"Thank you for calling My Father¡¦s House. Please select one of the
following options:
Press 1 for Requests.
Press 2 for Thanksgiving.
Press 3 for Complaints.
Press 4 for All Other Inquiries.¡¨
What if God used the familiar excuse¡K¡K
¡§I¡¦m sorry, all our angels are busy helping other sinners right now.
However, your prayer is important to us and will be answered in the order
it was received, so please stay on the line.¡¨
Can you imagine getting these responses as you call God in prayer: ¡§If
you would like to speak to
Mary, press 1
Gabriel, press 2
Michael, press 3
Martin, press 4
Pio, Press 5
If you¡¦d like to hear King David sing a psalm while you are holding,
press 6.
To find out if a loved one has been assigned to Heaven, press 7.
For reservations at ¡§My Father¡¦s House¡¨ please enter J-O-H-N,
followed by 3-1-6.
Our computers show that you have already prayed once today. Please
hang up and try again tomorrow so that others may have a chance to get
through.
This office is closed from 5.30pm on Friday, all day Saturday and
Sunday. Please pray again Monday after 9.30am. If you need emergency
assistance when this office is closed, contact your local priest.
Thank God that God doesn¡¦t have voice mail and listens whenever
we pray!!!
NOTICE BOARD
A Service of Reconciliation in preparation for the feast of Easter will
take place on Thursday, 5th April at 7.30pm.
Visiting priests will be available for Confession. The choir will be in
attendance. We ask you to take time our and make a special effort to join
in this joyful service of reconciliation.
Damien Byrne Bursary sponsored by the Dominican Family, Ireland.
This is a bursary to facilitate a course of study at a college in Ireland
for a prmary degree in theology or scripture.
If interested, send for an application form to:
Chairperson, Dominican Association, 1 Avonbeg Road, Tallaght, Dublin.
or to the Shop, St. Saviour¡¦s, Bridge Street, Waterford, not later than
25th April 2001.
The recipient will be notified by 1st June 2001.
Open Meeting
There will be an open meeting to discuss the Sunday Mass Schedules
on Wednesday 4th April at 7.00pm in the Church.
Padre Pio Mass
The monthly Padre Pio Mass will take place in the Dominican Church
on Tuesday 3rd April at 7.30pm.
Dominican Shop
Full selection of Confirmation and Communion prayer books, beads,
rosettes and souvenirs now in stock. |