Arthur: Lectio Sacra

Arthur: Literature for the liturgical season of Pentecost, Lectio sacra

This book “is a journey of the imagination guided by poets and author, both classic and contemporary, who have known the things of God but speak in metaphor.” Sarah Arthur, p. 7,  At the Still Point, Paraclete Press. 2011.

At the Still Point is a literary guide of daily and weekly readings and prayers by well-known authors for the long green liturgical season between the Day of Pentecost and Advent compiled by Sarah Arthur. She has also written companion similar guides for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany   (Light Upon Light) and for Lent  Holy Week, and Easter (Between Midnight and Dawn).

 In these twenty-nine weeks between the day of Pentecost and the first Sunday in Advent, Arthur hopes to open up our imagination as she exposes us to brief excerpts or short works of writers well known to us as well as some authors we may not know but should! Arthur warns us that as we encounter some of the readings in this anthology, there should be an alert: “Warning: Powerful Spiritual Moment Ahead!” Arthur suggests that we read each passage not as something for our English Literature class or for pleasure, but as liturgical pieces for worship and especially prayer.

Each week begins with an outline for the next seven days consisting  of an opening prayer, scripture readings, readings from literature, a place of personal prayer and reflection, and a closing prayer.  Arthur suggests applying the ancient principles of lectio divina or divine reading that we used reading scripture now as we read the weekly poetry and fiction writings she has prescribed.  We read the passage, meditate on it, pay attention to a word or phrase that connects to us, and finally rest in God’s presence with what we have experienced. It has been helpful to me to carry that word or phrase with me during that day or perhaps the whole week.  Since this process is now being used for literature and poetry rather than scripture, Arthur has christened it holy reading or lectio sacra.

I invite you to journey with me with Sarah Arthur during this ordinary season with an extraordinary spiritual practice of daily worship and prayer.

Joanna joannaseibert.com

May: Religion, Connections

May: Other Religious Traditions

“We are all rooted together in the ground of consciousness that is God’s gift to all of us.. and our joining is absolute. When the Islamic mullah prays with true and quiet heart, I believe that the souls of the Iowa farmer and the Welsh miner are touched. When the gong sounds in the Japanese monastery and the monks enter the timeless silence of Zazen, their quiet nourishes the Brazilian native and the Manhattan executive. When Jews and Christians pray with true willingness, the Hindu scientist and the Russian policeman are enriched. Thus, when you struggle with your own mind…, you do this as much for others as for yourself, and you help the struggles of others in ways beyond all understanding.”

Gerald May, Will and Spirit. p. 319-320. HarperOne 1982.

 Many authors remind us of our connection to Nature and to the world around us. Others remind us of our connection to the poor, the weak, the sick, the lonely. Gerald May reminds us of our connection to other religions, how the Spirit moves in so many different paths that we do not understand, too deep for words. 

There is more here, though than just recognizing God at work in so many different ways. May is also telling us that we are intimately connected by this Spirit. What we do to further the Spirit, to connect to God, in our own day, in our own way, makes a difference across the globe in some distant rain forest.

Again, this relationship is a deep mystery beyond our knowing. Sometimes when I read this passage from May, I can sit and  almost feel the Iowa farmer working his black dirt since we spent four years in Iowa City in training. Then I try to cross the Atlantic to England. I can connect to the shepherd and his dogs and sheep striding along green pastures since we have made several trips to England and Scotland.

Because of our political scene, I am having more difficulty connecting to the people in Russia. I have never been there, but always wanted to go to St. Petersburg to see Rembrandt’s  Return of the Prodigal Son in the  Hermitage  Museum. The next time I watch a newscast from Russia, I will look and try to image the people there. I think this could make a difference. I hope they are doing the same for us.

Joanna  joannaseibert.com

Guest Writer: Chris Schaefer, Ragamuffins all are we!

Guest Writer: Chris Schaefer, Ragamuffins all are we!

“The gospel portrait of Jesus is that of a person who cherished life and especially other people as loving gifts from the Father’s hand…The living presence of Jesus awakened joy and set people free. Joy was in fact the most characteristic result of all His ministry to ragamuffins.”  Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel

Yup, that’s me!  A long time ago!  It was Halloween a few days after my Confirmation. My mom and I decided I would dress as a hobo, a ragamuffin if you will.  With an old dress shirt and tie of my dad’s, a candy cigarette, some well placed eyebrow pencil for my moustache and beard and a funny hat, I was ready to go. But wait I wanted to take something more.  The bouquet of flowers I had received from my mom and dad after my confirmation was going to go with me.  The flowers were special to me.  At 12 did I understand how special?  Not a chance!  But after reading Brennan Manning’s Ragamuffin Gospel, I see just how symbolic my youthful gesture was.  I realize I am the ragamuffin of my youth and I always will be because it is to the ragamuffins that Jesus brought joy, to us through His love and forgiveness.

Luke in his gospel says, “But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (5:30-32) I am one of those sinners but that is okay because I am loved for who I am, not in spite of who I am. I am a card-carrying ragamuffin and proud of it.

 I look at this picture of me and see so much.  I see me, the ragamuffin standing there, but I also see myself carrying the bouquet of Jesus with me and that 12-year-old that is still within me, like the picture, is joyful.  I am joyful in that I know that I am loved and there is nothing I can do to lose that love nor was there anything that I did to earn that love.  I will always be a ragamuffin because no matter how hard I try I will sin again and again.  I will cry to Jesus my sorrow and ask for His forgiveness. Because as Louis Evely said in That Man is You, “If we weren’t sinners and didn’t need pardon more than bread, we’d have no way of knowing how deep God’s love is.”  So, I am a joyful ragamuffin walking in His eternal love.  Swinging the bouquet of Jesus around for all to see.  This ragamuffin says come smell my beautiful bouquet.  It is the sweet smell of a loving and forgiving Jesus.  And I want to share my joy with you!

Chris Schaefer

Joanna joannaseibert.com