MONDAY, JANUARY 29, 2024 “Yesterday’s Gospel shows us Jesus freeing a person possessed by an “evil spirit” (see Mk 1:21-28), tormenting and making them scream (see. vv. 23, 26). This is how the devil acts this is the way he acts: he wants to take possession of us in order to “enchain our souls.” To enchain our souls: this is what the devil wants. We must be careful with the “chains” that suffocate our freedom, because the devil always takes away our freedom.”
Pope Francis
Gospel: Mark 1:21-28
Jesus and his disciples went into Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebiked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching-with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” At once His fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
A strory from Garrison Keillor: I did a show in New York a couple weeks ago and at the end I had the audience sing “Silent Night,” the verse about calmness and brightness and also the shepherds and heavenly hosts and then we hummed a verse which, a capella, was so tender and haunting and beautiful, I saw people dabbing at their eyes, but at the same time I knew I was out on a limb, it being New York, there being so many unbelievers in the crowd and –– Hello? It’s New York? The handclapping to “Chanukah O Chanukah” an hour before told you that the Bernsteins and Brusteins and Blooms were in the house, and had they paid $109.50, to attend a Lutheran service? I don’t think so but I’m not going to speak for them.
They all knew the words: this came through clearly. Maybe they were Orthodox Chasidim from Crown Heights but they knew “Silent Night” and you can call it colonial acculturation but it sounded authentic to me and my purpose was only to give them the pleasure of joining a 1500-voice choir, a rare privilege in our fragmented society, wary people edging away from each other, and shouldn’t each of us at least once a year consider the possibility that the Creator of the Universe of galaxies known and unknown billions of light years away should come to this tiny insignificant planet in the form of an infant in order to better understand us mortal beings? It’s beyond our understanding but then so is the Universe. In return, I will consider that maybe the Chasidim are right and I have wasted a great deal of time listening to sermons on the Pauline epistles. I do believe in the Christmas story, that God put his omnipotence on a shelf and became an infant child –– it’s in keeping with Christ telling his disciples, “What you do for the least of these, ye do for me.” I believe, except for the three wise guys. How they snuck in is a mystery. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh are not suitable gifts for a newborn. Three wise women would’ve brought something useful and arrived in time to help deliver the infant, make supper, and clean the stable.
And so I prepare to sing at Communion.
Bring my virtual piano, my music arrangement.
Dress appropriately.
Arrive for choir practice.
Everything has been moved around.
No organ,
no accompaniment,
different seats,
choir facing the congregation,
prayers for Robin Williams,
sadness and grief….
I choke up.
Can’t breathe.
Can’t sing.
My walk in grace was not sound, but quiet.
“There is a time to sing, and a time to keep quiet.”
As a child we played a game called:
“Please may I?”
The leader on the sidewalk said I could take: three giant steps, or five umbrella steps, or two baby steps, or two backward steps.
One was not allowed to begin until asking: “Please may I”
If you forgot, you had to return and begin at the starting place.
What power was given to the leader to design the choreography,
and then grant permission to proceed.
The game was a grand tribute to courtesy
and we learned to interact with respect.
The word “May” is endowed with power.
Perhaps God used it when He created us, thinking: They may obey or disobey.
I want them to choose!!!!
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist after one grows up.”
Pablo Picasso
1 Peter 1:24:
“All our greatness is like a flower that droops and falls; but the Word of the Lord will last forever: Jesus, the Living Christ!”
I believe the Holy Spirit is a comforter, counselor, advocate, minister and spirit of truth.
John 14:15-18
14:26
15:26
16:5-16
I believe that even God can’t know himself without his Holy Spirit.
So why would we symbolize Him as a bird, and more specifically as a dove?
Doves are the sheep of the bird world: gentle followers;
Devoted to their mates, for life; nesting in beaks;
Docile in sacrifice, roaming freely in clouds;
Glimmering silver and gold against the peaks.
Devoted to their mates, for life; nesting in beaks;
Loyal nurturers to young and to weak;
The patient, proud parents we seek.
Docile in sacrifice, roaming freely in clouds;
Transporting, transforming, ne’er loud.
But swiftly swelling, quiet and proud.
Glimmering silver and gold against the peaks;
Dazzling light, prism’s plumage;
Other worldly, other person, other lover!
The Vibrant Channeled Creator 