Resurrection is about loss: If you have lost, and survived, and revived somehow, you have tasted resurrection.
The staggering anguish of Mary at the foot of the cross rips at my guts when I hear Josh Groban sing the song here, 'Bring him Home.' This is not romantic love. This is existential love. The love which we all have, and which in certain acute moments, encompasses all of our existence.
Mary knew her boy would walk in danger. She was warned that a sword would pierce her heart. She couldn't avoid it. She tried to save Jesus once by saying he was mad. But she saw it all unravel as he walked stubbornly onwards with his truth towards his death. Then she stood, ripped apart by grief, as the soldiers tortured him with vinegar as he died thirsting, feeling abandoned.
Who could have thought that he would really come back? The sweetness of that encounter with Mary Magdalen in the garden, so profoundly unexpected, astounding to believe. The men could not believe it.
But you can. You can believe it.
Watch for him, flickering by in the corner of the eye, hints of his wisdom or peace or humour, his cheekiness and his challenge, awesome demands in our days.
We are an Easter people. We live in Resurrection. We can turn our hearts to grace to begin again, to begin again on our own path day after day.
We can try to realign or recalibrate the song of our own soul, constantly. And call to the Spirit, the Holy Spirit, to fill us up and breathe us right.
Who reminded me that any action is better than none? Someone said that today. Go out and do a thing, anything (not a harmful thing) to make your mark and make your start again. Take one step outside, or make one move inwards.
Resurrection is about continuing.
Christ broke open the gates of hell and stepped into the light. For us. And came back, flickering here and there, then in his body, now in his spirit. We can go to the light.
With practice, through deep meditation, the light stays with us longer, healing and strengthening. Seek the light. Seek your light. It will revive you. As just now, when a thought came, and I wandered out to the garden. I cut the grass before the rain. And thought of you. And how much it means to me that you are there, helping me unravel these tangled understandings. How grateful I am.
Go outside. Breathe the air. Sense His Spirit. See Him. Hear Him, in His creatures and creation. He is here.
Resurrection means that we are never alone. He is with us. In his Spirit we are never alone.
Thank God.
Mahalia Jackson - You'll Never Walk Alone
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Carmel Reflections
SpiritualEver wonder what it's all about? I need to try and work it out. I'll just begin with the deer. This is about what and who and where strength comes from.
