Pax et Bonum

The Online worship resource for St. James Parish

March 11, 2009

Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs,
even though checkered by failure...
than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much,
because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.
Theodore Roosevelt
Father, you know us in secret,
And you know all our secret places.
What we do to benefit your kingdom
Will not be lost if is not seen by others,
For you see and you reward
According to your grace and mercy.
Strengthen us to do good works,
Visibly or invisibly, always in your name.
from Lent and Easter Wisdom

Counting the Cost

I love to collect quotes, to read the words of famous persons who had an impact on this world. For many years the above quote from Theodore Roosevelt was one I tried to live up to. I wanted to be one of those people who dare mighty things.

The problem with quotes is that one does not get the context of the words – one does not know the back story, or the circumstances in which the words were said. Years after I had placed Roosevelt’s words in my journal, I discovered that, while this was his philosophy in early life, later he began to question this philosophy. The reason was that through daring mighty things, his son had been killed during World War I. Roosevelt was thus faced with the cost of his philosophy, up close and personal. He never got over the loss of his son.

It is not wrong to dare mighty things…to win triumphs checkered by failure. I would still rather live that way than in what Roosevelt called the "grey twilight." But I am wiser about counting the cost. Like Roosevelt, as the years continue to roll, I discover more of what there is to lose.

Lent is a season in which we are called to revisit our salvation, to re-prioritize our lives, and to re-commit ourselves to Christ once again. Counting the cost of these endeavors is part of the process. What will it cost me to give my life fully to Christ today? Tomorrow?

Most of us are not called to great deeds. But we are all called to be faithful, and in faithfulness, there is no room for "grey twilight" living. There is only room for Christ, his love, and his mercy. Count the cost. Then plunge in.

Lachrimae Amantis
 
What is there in my heart that you should sue
So fiercely for its love? What kind of care
brings you as though a stranger to my door
Through the long night and in the icy dew
 
Seeking the heart that will not harbour you,
That keeps itself religiously secure?
At this dark solstice filled with frost and fire
Your passion’s ancient wounds must bleed anew.
 
So many nights the angel of my house
Has fed such urgent comfort through a dream,
Whispered, "your lord is coming, he is close"
 
That I have drowsed half-faithful for a time
Bathed in pure tones of promise and remorse:
"tomorrow I shall wake to welcome him."
Geoffrey Hill

Silent Speech

The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard;
yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.
Psalm 19

How can you speak without words?

How can you tell when your voice is silent?

Showing truth doesn't always require sound. Revealing where you come from doesn't need words.

Think about the resemblances that we often find in families, for instance. We look at our children, and see our parents or ourselves. The tilt of a head, the movement of hands, the color of eyes-all these reveal ancestry both genetic and familiar.

The Psalmist is saying the same thing about the heavens. The stars at night, and the sun during the day, are transparent to the infinite beauty and glory of God.

There is something about standing under a moonlit sky that causes us to stop for a moment and look up, isn't there? Almost as if we expected revelation of some sort.

When I went on pilgrimage to Ghost Ranch, New Mexico, I experienced a moment the firmament's silent witness. At high elevations the moon does seem large and closer and more of a presence.

It was shortly after dinner and we were waiting for our evening program to begin. Some of us were sitting outside the meeting room when we saw the tip of the moon begin to rise over the red cliffs. The sky was deep blue; the cliffs burnt red, the moon large and white gold.
The scene took our breath away.
We stood transfixed-silent-and yet in the midst of a great voice-
The silent voice of God's firmament!

As you move through your week, take some time to notice the firmament and its silent witness as well as participate as a silent witness to God's beauty yourself.

Blessings,
Debra

Daily Morning Prayer

Daily Morning Prayer

This Week at St. James

Prayers Etc.

For those on our prayer list:

Merciful Father,
Fill our hearts with your live
And keep us faithful to the gospel of Christ.
Give us the grace to rise above our human weakness.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
One God forever and ever, AMEN.
Liturgy of the Hours

In Closing:

Let every creature
In heaven, on earth, in the sea and in the depths,
Give praise, glory, honor and blessing
To Him who suffered so much,
Who has given and will give in the future every good,
For he is our power and strength,
Who alone is good,
Who alone is almighty,
Who alone is omnipotent, wonderful, glorious
And who alone is wholly,
Worthy of praise and blessing
Through endless ages. AMEN
St. Francis of Assisi

Pax et Bonum,
Loree+

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