Looking Beyond..

God, The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit

The BEYOND 

John 15:19

If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: 

but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

These are troublesome times, to say the very least.  People are confused, anxious, scared and angry.  It is harder and harder to find the much needed middle way, the via media.  Much is being thrown at society to distract our focus.

At Nazareth House Apostolate, we deal with such things through prayer and Pilgrimage.  Pilgrimage is a journey dedicated to ongoing prayer.  Walking the path we pray and praying the path we walk, experiencing source and destination that in coming home we can know it again for the first time. 

See previous blog post on Pilgrimage: Click Here for Pilgrimage Blog

And so, we at NHA have been spending this time of uncertainty in pilgrimage.  Our certainty is in the journey of our relationship in God.

St. Joseph was the protector and provider for the Holy Family as they lived their life in Nazareth.

Our Pilgrimage, naturally led us to the Shrine of St. Joseph, St. Meinrad, Indiana.  As the world laments in much sorrow, it is there we prayed the  first three Sorrowful Mysteries of the 7 Sorrows of Mary because St. Joseph was with Mary for these mysteries. 

As we prayed these mysteries, I couldn't help but notice the faces of the 70 year old hand carved wood statue.  Both St. Joseph and the young Christ Child are looking beyond - standing upright and firm, looking to the Beyond --not at the things of this world.  

Colossians 3:2

Set your affection on things above, 

not on things on the earth.

As we journeyed from one Sorrowful Mystery to the next, I discerned St Joseph's continual focus away from the world and towards The Beyond.  I noticed the bird droppings running down his shoulder, 

 

on his head, and the insects clinging to his forehead and likened them to the dregs of sorrows we have had pelted down on us in this world.  

and yet, the statue of St. Joseph steadfastly looks out from the world to the Beyond, The Kingdom, our real home.  And so should we.  

Philippians 3:20

For our conversation is in heaven; 

from whence also we look for the Saviour, 

the Lord Jesus Christ

The Christ Child also has bird droppings but an added sting of a hornet making a nest under his right arm.

And yet the Christ Child looks on, forward, out from the world, to The Father.  

John 17:16

They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. - James 1:26

More than ever, we must keep our focus on God and not allow the world to distract us. And it's not easy, because everything is increasingly designed to divert us. I wonder if the artist that carved this statue meant for it to be a symbol away from distraction, and a visual of how our focus should be - beyond this world and on the Next --especially when we've had so much to the contrary dumped on us.   

...I think maybe he did. 

Romans 12:2 - 

And be not conformed to this world: 

but be ye transformed by the renewing 

of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, 

and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.- John 16:32

Shared Blinks

I read yesterday, a quote from Saint John Paul II: 

"My greatest desire in life is to be in 

constant eyelash-to-eyelash 

relationship with God."  

I found the quote to be a beautiful description of the depth and longing of closeness with The Almighty.  

When you consider the use of 'eyelashes' in the quote; "*The key is hidden inside the word “reconciliation.” Many words contain what are called dead metaphors—“dead” because their metaphorical meaning has become lost to us as language has changed. So, for example, when we say someone has scruples, we mean they have a sensitive conscience; but, in Latin, a scrupulum is a small pebble, so when someone has scruples, it’s like they have a rock in their shoe, niggling them. It’s easy to recognize the similarity in the two situations.

Another metaphor lies within the word “reconciliation.” The Latin word for eyelash is cilia. If you were so close to someone as to have your eyelashes with theirs (“with” being cum or con-  in Latin), you’d be con–cilia. And if you were once that close, but had drifted apart and then returned again (“again” being re- in Latin), you would be re-con-cilia—you would be reconciled.

This one word, with its hidden metaphor, succinctly summarizes salvation history. In the beginning, human beings shared a great closeness with God. In their innocence, Adam and Eve stood uncovered before God, not needing to hide anything. God walked with them in the garden in the cool of evening, like you might do with an old friend after a big dinner.

But we separated ourselves from God by our pride; we withdrew from that closeness, that intimacy, by wanting to change the nature of the relationship, by trying to be equal to God. Instead of being gentle infants held in our Father’s arms, cheek to cheek, we were headstrong toddlers who pushed and wiggled and squirmed out. And when we realized what we did, we hid, we covered ourselves, and we couldn’t look God in the face anymore.

But God loved us and wanted us back. God wanted us to be able to look Him in the eye again. So He came among us as one of us, like to us in all things but sin—he had arms and legs, hands and feet, a heart and a mind… and eyelashes. 

Icon: Our Lady of Tenderness, Anna House (St. Simeon Skete)

Jesus came to sinners, to the afflicted, to the poor, and stood eye to eye with them and said: “Your sins are forgiven you.” And by His Cross, as man he stood eyelash to eyelash with God on our behalf and said, “Father, forgive them,” and as God could respond, “It is accomplished.” Thus God “reconciled the world to Himself,” as the prayer of absolution says." -Nicholas Senz

*-Nicholas Senz

THE NAME, HEART FLASHES

The Prayer of Jesus is the chief weapon of the Remnant that must be fought in the battleground of (for) the heart, the method is to invoke the Name of Jesus over and over again in the heart, as flashes of lightning appear in the sky before the rain (Joel 2:23).  

The Name of Jesus is the lightning flash which, when repeated in the sky of the heart (the nous), induces the healing rain of Divine grace to water the "earth of the heart".  (i.e. the nous, mind is the sky of the earth or the heart, the sky coming down to the earth with the lightning of the Holy Name invoked and as the sky delivers this rain, the earth (heart) opens to receive and there the Name is invoked by the heart. (MLP 1:158).  

Furthermore the heart is truly a cosmos: sky, atmosphere, rain, earth, fruit producing, all pointing to the existence of life, as with the earth, only the heart has life. 

 "Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all." - Phil. 2:17

And so this is Advent

Today begins the preparatory Season of Advent.

Advent wreath at table in Holy Trinity Kellia, St. Simeon Skete

The Gospel for 1st Sunday of Advent
St. Matthew xxi. 1.

WHEN they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, and brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name 'of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. 

Jesus tells His disciples to go into the city  AND He tells them to find a tethered colt that no one had ridden.   
Think about that image:  "a tethered colt which no one has ridden..."

Young mule of Denny & JoanE Markwell,  members of St. Simeon Skete

Of course the people are waiting for a dominative, powerful, substantive image - a King, A Ruler who is going to change everything from the outside (the surface).  

But Jesus says "I'm not going to come in on a horse, in triumph but ...as Zechariah 9:9 prophesied... I'm coming in on a donkey to redefine what power is, worth is, strength is, trust is...

This colt/donkey, THIS powerless image is a tethered colt, its been tied up in all of history.  No one's ever wanted to use it, no one's ridden this kind before but Jesus is going to ride it into the city to show the world a different way, a new way, the way of trust, the way of vulnerability, the way of powerlessness.  


When your generosity has been tied up, loosen it and when greed rises up and asks "what are you doing?", say, "The Lord has need of it"  When your humility is tied up, loosen it and when pride questions you, say "The Lord has need of it."  When your forgiveness is tied up, untie it and when mercilessness asks you "why?,  say "The Lord has need of it." 
As Jesus rides into the city in this "different way" the people wonder "Who is this?"  "What is this new way?"  Jesus upsets the system and says: "its prayer". 

Jeremy Lopez, in prayer before his Confirmation.  Nazareth House Apostolate, Athens, Georgia

Of all the battles that God has with human consciousness, the battle to get rid of those things (furniture) that keep us from making our souls a house of prayer must be God's most difficult battle.   Culture wants to rearrange the "furniture" by dominative power - the ability to influence others through coercion, hiring and firing, punishing, threatening, lawsuits, money, position.  This will rearrange the "furniture" and most will respond to it.  But at best, this is all we can do: re-arrange the "furniture".   But Jesus doesn't re-arrange the furniture, He pitches it - throws it out - opting for a House of Prayer!  Anything in your life that is keeping you from prayer needs to be pitched! 
As the Holiday Season approaches many will be re-arranging their living rooms to prepare for Holiday guests or give a new look but only PRAYER can change the living room into a LIVING room.  

Personal milagro of Seraphim, housed where he hangs his prayer beads

Advent Collect

ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal, through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, now and ever. Amen. 

Winds of Change

Yesterday, I told you about the wonderful "LOVE Scale" at the Pallet Yard. We found something else on that same property that I want to share today.  God is absolutely everywhere trying to break into our life, we only need to look for him - in our neighbor, at the grocery, at the gas station, at work and yes,... in a Pallet Yard. 

Next to the scale was a statue of a woman, a mother standing tall as the winds of change bear down on her.

. 

The sign reads 

The sign says "Yet I do not want to be anymore than I am; a woman, your mother"; I am reminded we must be leery of the false self that seeks to please the world.  Do not listen to what society and progression dictates you should do, be who God made you to be, the real you. "All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made." -John 1:3

"Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." - 1John 4:4

Ablutions

At all the sinks at St. Simeon Skete, you will find the Ablutions posted.  They are to be said before each Prayer Office.  

The Ablutions 

1. Wash the hands to the wrists:  “May these hands be instruments of peace”
2. Then cup a handful of water to the lips with the right hand, rinsing the mouth three times: “May this mouth speak only the pleasing words, the healing words, the truthful words”.
3. Then lightly snuff water into the nose three times, which has remarkably brightening effect on the senses: “May I long for the sweet fragrance of His Presence.” 
4. Then wash the whole face and eyes: “May this face shine with the light of His countenance. May these eyes see the hand of the Creator everywhere they look.” 
5. Clean the ears by inserting the tips of the index finger wetted with water into the ears, twist them around the folds of the ears then pass the thumb behind the ears from the bottom, upwards, and then over the nape of the neck: “May these ears hear only the resonance of His Word; may this neck bend in humility to the One.” 
6. Wash the feet (right foot first) up to the ankles, making sure that no parts of the feet are left dry: “May these feet walk on holy ground.” 

Exodus 30:21 “So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations”.          

Exodus 40:31 “And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat:”

More often than not, Christians see this “ritual” as belonging to another religion - when in fact it was from our Jewish roots, carried on by the early Christians.  It remains a practice at St. Simeon Skete and with many Christians in the East.   As time went on the physical expressions of our Christian worship were left behind.  We say our prayers as we lay in bed,  as we drive from one appointment to another, or whenever we find a moment to remember - a lot of the time we tend to catch God “on the fly”.  There is nothing wrong with meeting up with God in any situation. We should be in prayer at all times in all that we do (“pray without ceasing”).  Many times I find myself in prayer while doing normal, regular chores - while baking a pie - saying the Jesus Prayer with every cherry that I pit, with every stroke of the scrub brush as I wash the dirty floor.   Even in the shower, as I wash my hair I add to the listed ablutions...  “may this hair remind me to keep myself untangled from the ways of the world”, etc.   All that we do should be done in prayer, however it is crucial that we come apart from the world, our work, our busy lives each day to deliberately make an effort to make time specifically set aside for Him.  It is this effort, going out of our way to do something special with Him.  

As a child I remember my mother, after breakfast, returning to her bedroom to say her prayers.  My brother and I knew not to disturb her during her time with God.   Of all the things I remember in my childhood, it is the importance my mom placed on her prayer time that I find the most endearing.  The effort she made to arrange that special time alone with God - a time where my brother and I had no doubt of the huge significance that God played in her life. Despite demanding, cranky kids, despite the piled up housework, despite financial worries... she left it all to be with Him. Somehow, as a child, that made me feel all the more secure, knowing that God came first.  

Beside the sink on every wall at St. Simeon Skete, you are reminded to pray. The purpose of washing each of these parts outlined in the Ablutions is that it gives you time, bit by bit, part by part, to move your awareness away from the world and toward God. 

2 Samuel 12:20 “Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.”

Time to say within your heart:

I am now going to establish a connection with God

I am now going to turn toward God

I am going to hand over my responsibilities, my love, to God. 

This determination must become strong through the process of your ablutions.  By the time you have finished, you must have the intent and the aim of seeing God.  The day you succeed in these ablutions, your prayer becomes fruitful! 

In 1 Timothy 2:8 it says “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting”.   The lifting up of holy hands - to lift up the hands - denotes supplications, as it was a common attitude of prayer to lift towards heaven.  The “holy hands” refer to the Jewish and early Christian custom of washing their hands before prayer; this was/is done to signify that they had put away all sin, and purposed to live a holy life. 

Acts 21:26 “Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.”

Stability

"Without stability to place, without stability to presence, 

without stability to posture, without stability to prayer

spirituality becomes like a tossed salad." -Seraphim

The 100 Names of Jesus

The Icon on this cover is enthroned at Anna House, St. Simeon Skete

From the daily insights of working on the streets, in 1997 Seraphim put together this list of the hundred Names of Jesus.  There are many more Names of Jesus within the Epistles but Seraphim restricted himself to only those taken from the Four Gospels.

Pa Amadu Barrie, Waliullah and Seraphim had many deep discussions about the names of God.

The Hundred Names of Jesus ©1997 NHA

1. Ax: cutting illusion, Mt. 3:10
2. Bread of Life: that none may hunger, Jn. 6:35
3. Babe: to be held gently in my heart, Lk. 2:16
4. The Thirsty One: who Thirsts for me, Jn. 19:28
5. Carpenter: that I may be made in His image, Mk. 6:3
6. Destination: being my source and destination at the same time, Jn. 14:2,3.
7. Divider: separating me from what is not Him, Mt. 3:12; Mt. 25:32,33
8. Uniter: that I may be one with Him who is One, Jn. 17:21, Eph. 4:11-13, Jn. 12:32
9. Gatherer: that I may not be scattered. Mt. 12:30
10. Door: giving liminality, Jn. 10:7 
11. Dayspring: God’s light breaking into darkness, Lk. 1:78-79
12. Emmanuel: God with us, Mt. 1:23. 
13. Friend: to be friendly, Mt. 11:9, Lk 7:34, Jn. 15: 12-14. 
14. Forsaken: God forsaking Himself for us, Mk. 15:34. 
15. Gift: to be given, Jn. 4:10.
16. Governor: to direct my life, Mt. 2:5b-6. 
17. Heir: killed to take His inheritance, Mk. 12:7
18. IAM: because no one name can describe Him, Jn. 8:58 
19. Invisible: choosing visibility in us, Jn. 14:19-20
20. Nazarene: to remind me that holiness isn’t at all where or what I think it is, Jn: 1:45; Mt. 21:11, 2:23; Lk. 24:19b-24     
21. Key: unlocking the mysteries of the Kingdom, Mt. 16:19
22. Lamb of God: who takest away the sins of the world, Jn. 1:29
23. Light: for my path, Jn. 8:12
24. Lord of The Sabbath: making each day holy, Mt. 12:7-8.
25. The Life & the Resurrection: that none need fear death, Jn. 11:25-26
26. Lord and Master: before which I prostrate, Jn. 13:13; Lk. 8:24.
27. Messiah: my deliverer, Jn. 4:25-26, 1:41
28. Manna: to be eaten, Jn. 6:31-35
29. Last: so taking the last place that no one has ever been able to get it away from Him, Mk.10:43b-45. 
30. The Hungry One: to be fed, Mt. 25:35
31. Needful: that I might choose the better, Lk. 10:41-42
32. Physician: making me whole, Lk.4:23
33. Pearl: to be sought, Mt. 13:45-46
34. Rejected: to be embraced, Lk. 17:24-25
35. Rest: for the weary, Mt. 11:28-30
36. Shepherd: to follow, Jn. 10:11-16
37. Stranger: to be known, Lk. 24:13-35 
38. Transfigured: The Beyond in our midst,  Mk. 8:34-9:10, 16:12, Mt. 17:2
39. Teacher: to learn and to be taught, Mt. 10:25, 7:28-29
40. Truth: to be told and lived, Jn. 14:6, 1:14
41. The True Vine: to be a part of, Jn. 15:1,5
42. Word: to be spoken, Jn. 1:1-4
43. Way: to be walked, Jn. 14:6;1:14
44. Water of Life: to be drank, Jn. 4:13, 14
45. New Wine: making all things joyfully new, Mt. 26:27, 29. 
46. Yoke fellow: learning the unforced rhythms of grace, Mt. 11:28-30
47. Jesus: The “Sonning” of God, Lk. 1:31, 8:28, Mk. 5:7, Jn. 10:36, Mt. 1:21
48. Son of David: showing His mercy from generation to generation, Mk. 10:47
49. Saviour: making me one of the rescued, Mt. 1:21, Lk. 1:31, 2:11
50. The Towel and Water: example to be followed, Jn. 13:4-5, 12-15.
51. The Homeless One: to be taken in, Mt. 8:20
52. The Eternal One: to be found in the eternal now of the Father, Jn. 8:58
53. Creator: speaking things into existence, Jn.1:3 
54. Consolation of Israel: that I may be consoled, Lk. 2:25
55. God: to be my all, Jn. 20:28
56. Ruler: to rule my life, Mt. 2:6
57. Holy One of God: to render me holy, Mk. 1:24
58. Horn of Salvation: (“Horn” here symbolizes strength) stronger than all my sin, Lk. 1:69
59. Life: to be lived, Jn. 14:6 
60. Son of Man: may He find rest in me, Mt. 8:20
61. Mercy: that I may have, become, and render, Lk. 1:78, 1:50, Mt. 5:7, 9:13 
62. Remember: that I may be ‘re’-membered, Lk. 22:19.
63. Tameion: to be entered, - Mt. 6:6
64. Hour: to be prayed, Mt. 26:36-41 (40)
65. Lord of the Harvest: prayed and labored for, Lk. 10:2
66. Presence: Name gathering, Mt. 18:20. 
67. The Pilgrim/wanderer: going down the road but the road is inside, Lk. 9:57-62
68. Prophet without Honor: indicting familiarity, Mt. 13:57
69. The Imprisoned One: to be visited and released, Mt. 25:36
70. Father Confessor: who forgives, Lk. 7:49
71. Greater: giving courage to be less, Jn. 3:30
72. Provider: freeing from attachment, Mt. 6:33
73. The Chosen: who chooses me, Jn. 15:16, Lk. 9:35
74. Deserted: that I may not be, Mt. 27:46
75. Blessed Sacrament: to be visited, Lk. 10:39-42
76. Sacrifice: to be offered, Jn. 15:13
77. The Temple: my place of worship, Jn. 2:19
78. Sower: making possible the harvest, Mt. 13:4, 37, Jn. 4:36
79. Bridegroom: that I may not be alone, Mt. 25:6, Jn. 3:29
80. Samaritan: binding my wounds, Lk. 10:30-36
81. The Rock: that I may have a sure foundation, Mt. 16:18
82. Righteous man: that I may glorify God, Lk. 23:47
83. Mouth of God: that I may hear and live, Mt. 4:4
84. Cornerstone: holding together, Mt. 21:42-44
85. Son of Joseph: giving meaning to humanity, Lk. 4:22
86. Anointed: to preach the Gospel to the poor, Lk. 4:18
87. Guest: to be ready for, Lk. 19:7
88. Flesh: to be our food, Jn. 6:49-58
89. Drink: that I may have eternal life, Jn. 4:13-14
90. Comforter: with which to comfort, Jn. 14:16-18
91. Brother Son: that I may be both, Mt. 12:50
92. King: to be in subjection, Jn. 1:49
93. Messenger: the message for all, Jn. 6:38, 7:29, Mt. 21:37
94. The Naked One: to be clothed, Mt. 25:36
95. Love: loving, Jn. 3:16
96. The Sick: to be visited, Mt. 25:36
97. Peace: that my heart may not be troubled, Jn. 14:27, 16:33
98. Son of Mary: that I may not be motherless, Lk. 2:7, Jn. 19:27
99. Householder: leaving none behind, Mt. 20:1, (vv. 1-16)
100. “  Your Name”  : Jesus disguised as your life, Mt. 25:34-40.      

  

“Who do you say that I am?” Mt. 16:15    

Discussion:  the Names of God 

“Spread your protection over them, that those who love your Name, may rejoice in You” Ps. 5:11   

“From the rising of the sun to its setting my Name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is offered to my name,” Malachi 1:11

Sheik Huran of Senegal and Seraphim talk about the Names of God.