I am preparing for worship on Epiphany 3b. The Gospel is Mark 1:14-20. The word: 'immediately' is used twice in that short passage. I am interested what you think about 'immediately' then? Is it a different interpretation than - they dropped everything right then and there? Or is it - they went home, said good bye to their family and left immediately the next morning? I hope you have some thoughts about this. Thank you
As a retired school counselor, I was always trying to guide students to their "morning light", that place where they could find their inspiration and joy and fulfillment of their life's purpose. All of these themes echoed through your post this week and revealed the importance of following in a path that leads to the light.
This took me to the memories of places and moments of stepping out/into a future not defined or mapped. All of those have brought me through this live as the moments continue. And the result has been a place where “The Work of Christmas” finds me today. I am grateful for the chance here to be more prayerful about it. Thank you from one Diana to another.
Diana, thank you for sharing this great piece and for struggling with the poet's way of reading epiphany. I had my "epiphany" reading Hildegard of Bingen's Christmas homilies while writing our 12 Days of Christmas Contemplations. Hildegard offers an allegorical reading of the Christmas and epiphany texts into our soul's journey and transformation.
For her, the three kings symbolize what we would call today the well-educated, cosmopolitan mind, filled with all sorts of worldly wisdom and knowledge. But then a star in the East arises, pulling them on a journey towards their "heart's knowledge." It leads hem away from all the cherished stars they held before, even away from their own stardom, all the way to "God's grace" swaddled in the clothes of an innocent child. They find Divine gifts in this little child, gifts which would frighten rulers and threaten their worldly powers.
Arriving in Bethlehem the three seekers also arrive in that innermost “chamber,”… of their own heart. Overcome they offer their heart's riches (I translate freely here): gold, the beginning of Divine knowledge, frankincense, the becoming transparent to our shortcomings, myrrh, the deepening of the self.
Long ago, in a seminary paper on Glory, I did a study on glory and that is means "to make known." As a dancer in the Christian lineage, glory is a kind of personal good news. Showing up fully in body and soul, dancing and singing, is a condition for human beauty and exemplified by that dancing soul, Jesus.
A very thought provoking meditation. Thank you. I resonate today with the notion of light!! You, Diana, have enlightened me. And it is my responsibility to be a light, a lamp or a beacon for others through caring, a helping hand , kindness and other necessities. My horizon is right here.
On the slow walk through the transition we call "retirement," I'm grateful for the images of star and horizon. Horizon, especially, because a horizon is broad and expansive, not a pinpoint destination but a range of possibilities. Both have a place.
I REALLY REALLY ENJOY YOUR MUSINGS. I ESPECIALLY LIKE THE CSLEWIS INCLUSION TODAY. COULD YOU SHARE WHERE THAT PIECE OF WONDERFUL SHARING IS FROM? SOMETIMES YOU DON'T IDENTIIFY THE SORCES. I8TS A SMALL CRITIQUE HERE BUT THOUGHT I'D SHARE.
TED JOHNSTONE, A 85 YR OLD RETIRED CLERGY AND SOCIAL WORKER
Our minister closes every Christmas Eve service with "The Work of Christmas". I also like the part from Wendell Berry: "Those who wish to see Him must see him through the poor, the hungry, the hurt, the wordless creatures, the groaning and trevailing beautiful world". I am seeing much more of that hurt in my ministry today. My Pastoral Ministries part of my degree is being used more than the Christian Education part. I am also feeling the hurt as a dear friend is in ICU and not expected to live. We are all a community---part of this beautiful but hurting world.
Thank you! Loved the picture of my hometown. " It is great to be alive in the Blue Ridge Mountains". Every Sunday at the community of faith I used to attend in Asheville, my good friend, and reader of the welcoming always said this to get us started.
Yes, Epiphany another Chance to begin again trusting in our ever loving God that this time we will stay on the path that the Light is leading us toward and get perhaps a glimmer of what we are supposed to be about in this world of Mystery and Light. Thank you Diana for these posts.
There were a couple of typos in the original email version of the Maya Angelou poem. They have now been corrected in the online version. Sorry! And thank you to a sharp-eyed reader who alerted me.
You rounded up so many of my favorite writers this morning: Mary Oliver, Wendell Berry, C.S. Lewis, Maya Angelou. Thank you, Diana Butler Bass. The Cottage beckoned me into a New Year of hope, kindness, and possibilities.
First of all, I adore David Whyte...just like I adored (and still adore) John O'Donahue; I truly believe that great writers - poets, essayists, sometimes even novelists - are just as inspired as those we deem Scriptural authors. Second, your words here remind me that the destination is the journey itself, and that there is always more light, more glory, to be followed, pursued, and absorbed...it is a lifelong journey, probably beyond this life. Thank you.
I am preparing for worship on Epiphany 3b. The Gospel is Mark 1:14-20. The word: 'immediately' is used twice in that short passage. I am interested what you think about 'immediately' then? Is it a different interpretation than - they dropped everything right then and there? Or is it - they went home, said good bye to their family and left immediately the next morning? I hope you have some thoughts about this. Thank you
As a retired school counselor, I was always trying to guide students to their "morning light", that place where they could find their inspiration and joy and fulfillment of their life's purpose. All of these themes echoed through your post this week and revealed the importance of following in a path that leads to the light.
This took me to the memories of places and moments of stepping out/into a future not defined or mapped. All of those have brought me through this live as the moments continue. And the result has been a place where “The Work of Christmas” finds me today. I am grateful for the chance here to be more prayerful about it. Thank you from one Diana to another.
Diana, thank you for sharing this great piece and for struggling with the poet's way of reading epiphany. I had my "epiphany" reading Hildegard of Bingen's Christmas homilies while writing our 12 Days of Christmas Contemplations. Hildegard offers an allegorical reading of the Christmas and epiphany texts into our soul's journey and transformation.
For her, the three kings symbolize what we would call today the well-educated, cosmopolitan mind, filled with all sorts of worldly wisdom and knowledge. But then a star in the East arises, pulling them on a journey towards their "heart's knowledge." It leads hem away from all the cherished stars they held before, even away from their own stardom, all the way to "God's grace" swaddled in the clothes of an innocent child. They find Divine gifts in this little child, gifts which would frighten rulers and threaten their worldly powers.
Arriving in Bethlehem the three seekers also arrive in that innermost “chamber,”… of their own heart. Overcome they offer their heart's riches (I translate freely here): gold, the beginning of Divine knowledge, frankincense, the becoming transparent to our shortcomings, myrrh, the deepening of the self.
Long ago, in a seminary paper on Glory, I did a study on glory and that is means "to make known." As a dancer in the Christian lineage, glory is a kind of personal good news. Showing up fully in body and soul, dancing and singing, is a condition for human beauty and exemplified by that dancing soul, Jesus.
A very thought provoking meditation. Thank you. I resonate today with the notion of light!! You, Diana, have enlightened me. And it is my responsibility to be a light, a lamp or a beacon for others through caring, a helping hand , kindness and other necessities. My horizon is right here.
On the slow walk through the transition we call "retirement," I'm grateful for the images of star and horizon. Horizon, especially, because a horizon is broad and expansive, not a pinpoint destination but a range of possibilities. Both have a place.
I REALLY REALLY ENJOY YOUR MUSINGS. I ESPECIALLY LIKE THE CSLEWIS INCLUSION TODAY. COULD YOU SHARE WHERE THAT PIECE OF WONDERFUL SHARING IS FROM? SOMETIMES YOU DON'T IDENTIIFY THE SORCES. I8TS A SMALL CRITIQUE HERE BUT THOUGHT I'D SHARE.
TED JOHNSTONE, A 85 YR OLD RETIRED CLERGY AND SOCIAL WORKER
All the Lewis quotes were, indeed, cited as part of "The Weight of Glory."
Hope for the New Year. The horizon beckon's or horizons beckon ! Thank you .
My granddaughter and I will be with you, virtually this coming week.
Our minister closes every Christmas Eve service with "The Work of Christmas". I also like the part from Wendell Berry: "Those who wish to see Him must see him through the poor, the hungry, the hurt, the wordless creatures, the groaning and trevailing beautiful world". I am seeing much more of that hurt in my ministry today. My Pastoral Ministries part of my degree is being used more than the Christian Education part. I am also feeling the hurt as a dear friend is in ICU and not expected to live. We are all a community---part of this beautiful but hurting world.
Thank you! Loved the picture of my hometown. " It is great to be alive in the Blue Ridge Mountains". Every Sunday at the community of faith I used to attend in Asheville, my good friend, and reader of the welcoming always said this to get us started.
Yes, Epiphany another Chance to begin again trusting in our ever loving God that this time we will stay on the path that the Light is leading us toward and get perhaps a glimmer of what we are supposed to be about in this world of Mystery and Light. Thank you Diana for these posts.
There were a couple of typos in the original email version of the Maya Angelou poem. They have now been corrected in the online version. Sorry! And thank you to a sharp-eyed reader who alerted me.
You rounded up so many of my favorite writers this morning: Mary Oliver, Wendell Berry, C.S. Lewis, Maya Angelou. Thank you, Diana Butler Bass. The Cottage beckoned me into a New Year of hope, kindness, and possibilities.
What a lovely post this morning. Thank you.
First of all, I adore David Whyte...just like I adored (and still adore) John O'Donahue; I truly believe that great writers - poets, essayists, sometimes even novelists - are just as inspired as those we deem Scriptural authors. Second, your words here remind me that the destination is the journey itself, and that there is always more light, more glory, to be followed, pursued, and absorbed...it is a lifelong journey, probably beyond this life. Thank you.