God’s Qi Charges the Cosmos

Posted on May 14, 2012 by pat

God's Grandeur c. J. P. Mahon

[This is an exploratory essay where I try to connect the dots between Chinese medicine and a new view of God as Energy-Matter. Your response is welcomed.]

In the fall, I became reacquainted with Tai Chi. The Great Outdoors in Titusville, where we spend time in our fifth wheel, was offering Tai Chi three days a week. It was a Yang form of Tai Chi which was adapted at the University of Oregon in order to give senior citizens greater balance thereby reducing the incidence of falling. Previously, I had taken Tai Chi from Harry Wong back in the late 80s. Continue reading →

The Grand Inquisitor Rules

Posted on April 24, 2012 by pat

Reading Jeanne Schuler’s Creighton reflection on the daily scripture on April 24 piqued my interest in re-reading Dostoevsky’s The Grand Inquisitor. Amid yet another ill-advised Vatican crackdown on religious women, everyone should consider the dire consequences inherent in Dostoevsky’s story.

In brief, the story goes this way as Ivan explains his “poem.” It is the 16^th century and Spain is in the throes of the Inquisition. The Grand Inquisitor—a cardinal of the catholic church—has witnessed an auto de fé in Toledo on the previous day where hundreds of “heretics” were burned at the stake. Continue reading →

Whoever is close to me is close to the fire

Posted on April 18, 2012 by pat

And this is the verdict,
that the light came into the world,
but people preferred darkness to light,
because their works were evil.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light
and does not come toward the light,
so that his works might not be exposed.
But whoever lives the truth comes to the light,
so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God. (Jn 3:20-21)
As I read this, I thought about an article I had read yesterday in Commonweal. The fact that the Pope has used non-canonical sources showed me another side of Benedict: Commenting on the Easter fire and Pascal Candle in his Easter Vigil homily, Benedict said: Continue reading →

Filling the Hole in our Souls

Posted on April 15, 2012 by pat

We attended a presentation on Teresa of Avila on Friday at Valle Crucis Retreat Center with Bishop Porter Taylor, Diocese of Western North Carolina. Bishop Taylor introduced us to Teresa and helped us understand how the saints can assist us on our journey. It was unique because I have never known a bishop that was willing to go out and teach the people about adult spirituality. Thank you, Bishop Taylor, for being there for us.
Prior to the conference, I realized that I have slowed down. Spiritual reading is no longer speed reading; it is lectio divina—pondering sacred texts. The Institute for Continuing Learning seminar with Dr. Eric Dickman on the Language of God propelled me along the path. Here is my take on God language. God’s primary language is silence; God’s secondary language is poetry. How else can you describe the indescribable? What amazes me is that I think I am developing the capacity to understand poetry. Continue reading →

He Is Risen!!!!!

Posted on April 8, 2012 by pat

New Life

Hold

Onto

Peace

Emerging.

HOPE!

The Christ is risen!

He goes before us–

into Galilee, North Georgia

and North Carolina,

Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria,

Pakistan, Iran, Israel,

Palestine, the Sudan—

indeed into the whole world.

Resurrection is truly all about

Peace, shalom, salaam,

wholeness and well-being—

Shalom! Continue reading →

Occupy Good Friday–Lament!!!!

Posted on April 6, 2012 by pat

Richard Rohr has been doing a series of meditations that make it very clear that the downward spiral of suffering is the way up and the only way out to resurrection—at least that is what I have got out of his reflections. If I missed the point, blame me not Richard.
Somehow the image of the Risen Christ—once crucified—hanging with us in our human condition struck me this morning. My angst this day is somehow coupled with our sense of loss at not being able to participate in the Good Friday Ecumenical Walk in Cocoa, Florida. The walk visits a veterans’ center, a soup kitchen, a homeless shelter, the mainline railroad tracks (symbolic of the immigrant strangers among us, and the city government center. Appropriate prayers and songs are sung at each site. It is wonderful to see so many people of faith putting it on the Gospel line. I am thrilled when the young people in our midst cannot wait for their turn to lead the procession and carry the cross. The Walk gives a whole new meaning to the absurd power of the cross. With all this as background, here goes my Good Friday meditation. Continue reading →

Holy Thursday Is for Real

Posted on April 5, 2012 by pat

I am still wresting with interpreting the Bible as myth and poetry; however, I am finding deeper meaning in understanding that all peoples have “made up” stories to understand deeper realities.
The story of the Exodus is one story in point. There is scant archaeological evidence that a group of thousands of Hapiru suddenly exited from Egypt after a recalcitrant pharaoh refused to grant them freedom in spite of horrible plaques delivered on the people. Continue reading →

Crucifixion Is for Real

Posted on April 3, 2012 by pat

The beat goes on in Holy Week as we anticipate a sacred meal before descending into the dark depths of the crucifixion only to arise to new life in Easter glory. The First Testament images we ponder come from Isaiah and a series of songs about the Suffering Servant:
Hear me, O islands,
listen, O distant peoples.
The LORD called me from birth,
from my mother’s womb he gave me my name.
He made of me a sharp-edged sword
and concealed me in the shadow of his arm.
He made me a polished arrow,in his quiver he hid me.
You are my servant, he said to me,
Israel, through whom I show my glory.
Though I thought I had toiled in vain,
and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength,
Yet my reward is with the LORD,
my recompense is with my God. Continue reading →

Holy Week Is for Real

Posted on April 2, 2012 by pat

It is Holy Week once again. I say “once again” because the stories have become so familiar that we gloss over them and get on with our petty daily lives. Too bad indeed when some disciplined reading the texts—lectio divina—would once again stir our hearts and rouse us to new life and action in the Spirit of the Living One—Isaiah’s HOLY ONE .
Isaiah had a mystical experience of the holy One in the Temple. It changed his life. Such numinous experiences including the Burning Bush are “H___ S____” scary moments. The Holy One always demands more than what we think we can do or give. Continue reading →

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