Living the Word through Service

Jennifer O'Neill on a medical mission in Haiti

Many of us in the CBS community are involved in serving communities locally and abroad. Even current students, whose biblical studies can be all-engaging, are finding time to be "doers of the Word" in a small way together.

Each of Amy Ekeh's Year Two classes, for example, took on simple Lenten service projects. Manchester class is providing cleaning supplies for families transitioning from homelessness to housing. North Haven is providing food items for a Milford middle school that provides food for kids who arrive at school hungry. Those who are free and want to are also meeting at the related food pantry in Milford on a Saturday morning in April to help out.

And two students studying in Manchester, Phyllis Blauvelt and Jennifer O'Neill, spent the week before Holy Week in Haiti doing Christian outreach.

Phyllis Blauvelt on a medical mission in Haiti

Remythologizing the Myths: Genesis 1-3

Chapter Three

Moving Out the end.
Inspired by Genesis 3

"Choose love," Wisdom counseled our first parents.

"Here is the home you have chosen. Go and explore. It will be hard here, hard on that cold mountain. But this home is the choice of your stubborn, beloved hearts.

"Yes, God is here and will always be near to welcome you. God's love is unending and persists in spite of sin. His compassion is perhaps even greater now that you yourselves are weaker. 

"But with your eyes now clouded by sin you can no longer see God as bright and clear as in glory once you saw him. Stick together now, children, now more than ever. It is the desire of God that what one of you manages to discover can be shared. So both may become wiser.

"Put on these warm clothes, stitched together by your own Ama God. You will need them in your chosen home.

"When you look for me," continued the Wisdom Woman, "and discern the Presence by the love that seeks you out, in those moments you will know that God remains with you always."

The girl and the boy; the woman and the man; the parents of our world; the frail grandparents: they lived together as one flesh on that mountain for many years. They knew both love and fear, joy and sorrow, glory and sin, health and sickness. In short, they knew life as all now know it. And, finally, they knew death.

With death came the long waiting.

Remythologizing the Myths: Genesis

Chapter Three
Moving Out continued
Inspired by Genesis 3

We see indistinctly, as in a mirror." (1 Cor 13:12)

Then, Adam and Eve had comfort to mingle with their fears. They knew God's spirit must be near, for they now realized that the comfort feeling only came in the Presence of God.

St. Bonaventure Monastery, Detroit, MI

"But joy is not lost forever!" Wisdom proclaimed. "Ama God will always be with you. 

"Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning. (Ps 30:6)

"Yes, you will find much suffering and pain. Toil in your work (toil?), pain in childbirth (childbirth?). You will learn of great new things, as you wished, but with knowledge will now come the struggle to know. With joy will come frustration in labor. Tears will follow laughter as laughter will follow tears.

"It will not be easy, for it is not ease that comes with sin. Your God weeps with you for your choice. Even so, Ama God rejoices in a new future which will come about in God's slow, loving, purposeful way." But the sadness in Lady Wisdom's face cast a shadow on her bright hope.

"Where there is love (remember, God is love), there must be freedom to choose love. Choose love always, my children," were her hushed words to our first parents.

Remythologizing the Myths: Genesis

Chapter Three
Moving Out continued
Inspired by Genesis 3

Adam and Eve knew fear.

Upper Room, Bloor
Lansdowne Christian Fellowship

"Evil, sin, pain and fear cloud your vision now," continued the Lady. You hoped to see more clearly when you sought the mountain. Instead your sight became darkened, because the light with which you see comes from love. And you chose to walk away from the love you knew waited for you at God's table.

"You sought what was good. (Yes, knowledge and wisdom are good, as you knew when you sought them). But you closed your eyes to the source of knowledge and wisdom. You turned away from the table of love. There God gave you wisdom and knowledge--but with a slow, loving purpose. So instead of finding the clarity you desired, your eyes are now dimmed and confused. We see indistinctly, as in a mirror, you know."* (Mirror?)

*1 Cor 13:12

Best of Barron

Wednesday of Holy Week
Matthew 26:14-25

Bishop Baron writes:

"Judas is present there at the Last Supper, the root of the Mass. This is startlingly good news. Why? It means Jesus associates with all of us sinners, in all of our dysfunction. He entered into the darkness in all of its power in order to bring the light. If even Judas was invited into the Lord's presence, so are you."

For Bishop Barron's reflection in its entirety, click here: http://dailycatholicgospel.com/get-reflections.

Remythologizing the Myths: Genesis

Chapter Three
Moving Out continued
Inspired by Genesis 3

They wondered if God had come looking for them, and they were afraid to show themselves.

What they saw in the starlight, though, seemed to be a woman, much like themselves. The couple had never seen any woman or man beside themselves. They were curious, but afraid to move closer.

The old woman (what is old?) came straight toward them as though she knew exactly where to find them. "Adam," she called, "Eve." The beautiful young woman (was she young?) spoke their names and somehow they knew her to be Divine Wisdom then. At least, they knew that the woman was from God and that she spoke with the love of God in her voice. "I am Hokmah, Sophia, the Wisdom Woman."

"Now that you have chosen it, you know there can be evil for you." Evil, they thought. I get it. A strange new (sad) knowledge was theirs, born of their own dis-ease and the word of Lady Wisdom.

"Now that you have chosen it," said Sophia, choking on her own sorrow, "you know that evil is always and has always been possible for you. Now that you have chosen it once, it will be much too easy for you and your children-to-come (children?) to choose evil again and again. The feelings you now feel, the dis-ease that grows inside you, is also called sin. Choosing what you know God does not desire will always bring the pain you feel now. Where there is goodness and freedom, there must always be the potential for sin and sorrow."

At her words, Adam and Eve knew fear.

Remythologizing the Myths: Genesis

Chapter Three
Moving Out
Inspired by Genesis 3
They didn't speak of it. And so night fell.

Never before had the dark made the woman feel nervous. The man, too, was ill at ease even as he dozed. They both knew something was far wrong. And even though they knew exactly what was far wrong, they refused to name it, even to themselves.

Then, just as the moon and the Milky Way came on the job to light the night, they both heard it. A loud crack, as though someone ... or something ... had pounced on a dry branch. What in the world? They bolted awake in real fear, now. The newness of the world was a little more daunting than it had been when they lay secure in the arms of their Ama.

The next footsteps they heard were soft, but discernible. Not liking or wanting any surprises, they peeked out from under their evergreen umbrella. They wondered if God had come looking for them, and they were afraid to show themselves.

Stations of the Cross in the Eyes of a Child

Siobhan Ekeh was 12 years old when she wrote her own version of the Stations of the Cross, originally published online by Amy Ekeh (Siobhan's mother and CBS faculty member) at amyekeh.com/blog. The Ekeh family belongs to St. Ann parish, Milford, CT.

Prince Of Peace, by Siobhan Ekeh

I : CONDEMNED- JUDGE

Stand before the crowd for me

What have you to say for thee?

No sound, no word to save his name

To end his pain, to stop his fate

Although his heart is pure and clean

He is condemned to endless sleep

II : CARRY- SPECTATOR

I watch them weave a crown of thorns

Hustle, heckle taunt and scorn

I watch them load your back with weight

Bitterness crossed with twisted hate

I want to end their cruel advance

But I do not move when I have the chance

III : FALLING- SOLDIER

You stumble yet we push you down

You cry but we ignore the sound

No one helps you when you fall

No one makes a move at all

I cannot help but feel for you

But when you’re down I do not move

IV : MEETING- MOTHER

So alone you stumble forth

They do not know what you are worth

So now, now when you say to me

“Courage, woman, for this must be”

I truly know that I must believe

For by your cross we are redeemed

V : HELP- SIMON

They push and pull me toward the tree

The heavy burden meant for thee

They grow impatient tired of

Your slow progress or lack thereof

They snatch me off the streets of ill

So I help you against my will

VI : FACE- VERONICA

Alone again he struggles on

They will nail him to the tree anon

I don’t have anything to give

But I cannot yet leave him

My hands I have and my veil in place

So at least I can wash your face

VII : FALLING AGAIN- PETER

I see you fall this time on rock

I cannot bare to see them mock

I have denied you thrice today

But still I love you, still I pray

That you’ll forgive me for I was weak

As you set on humble and meek

VIII : CRY- WOMAN

As he stumbles toward us still

He is not drained of his good will

Though it’s I who should help thee

You reach out and comfort me

You’ve been abandoned by your friends

But still you love until the end

IX : FALLING STILL- PHARISEE

This time he falls and does not rise

He is so close to his demise

That I can see the wasted land

Where they will nail his feet and hands

In spite of cards that fate has dealt

Why do you not save yourself?

X : ROBBED- JOHN

They take your clothes and leave you bare

Crown of thorns still in your hair

You wear those twigs like the king you are

And despite these horrid scars

I know you’ll come again someday

So that we can then be saved

XI : NAILED- MAN

This is my job and I’ve no choice

But I have yet to hear your voice

You do not protest when we stab

Your hands and then your side they jab

I cannot help but think and pray

Are you the king as they all say?

XII : MORTEM - CHRIST

Father father why have you

Abandoned me as I go through

I trust you, I do not doubt

The things you ask to carry out

With my last breath, I want all to hear it:

Into your hands I commend my spirit

(c) Copyright Siobhan Ekeh, 2016.

Freedom Seder for the Earth

Facing the Plagues and Pharaohs of Our Generation

From Rabbi Arthus Wasgow's 2009 Freedom Seder for the Earth, I offer you his thoughtful reflection on the Hebrew name of God:

If we were to “pronounce” these four letters [YHWH] without any vowels— “Yyyyhhhhwwwwhhhh”—the pronunciation would be simply a breath. In this way, we not only mentally understand but bodily experience God as the One Who is the breath and gives the breath to us and to all life. What the trees breathe out, we breathe in; what we breathe out, the trees breathe in. As the Jewish prayer book says, “The breath of all that lives praises Your Name.”

Christian Holy Week began yesterday with Palm Sunday. Check out service times in your parish bulletin, online, or participate through ORTV at http://www.ortv.org/.

Jewish Passover begins tonight at sundown. Keep our our Jewish brothers and sisters in your hearts and prayers as they celebrate 8 days of Passover.

Best of Barron

Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Fifth Week of Lent John 8:31-42

Bishop Baron writes:

"Friends, today in our Gospel Jesus confronts Jewish leaders who want to kill him, telling them they are hardened in their sin... "Theologian Henri de Lubac [talks about sin as] ... this mysterious limp. It is a deformation, a corruption. ... I become the center of the universe, I with my needs and my fears and my demands. "And when the puny “I” is the center of the cosmos, the tie that binds all things to one another is lost. The basic reality now becomes rivalry, competition, violence, and mistrust.

For Bishop Barron's reflection in its entirety, click here: http://dailycatholicgospel.com/get-reflections.

CBS 100 Lenten Scripture Day

Reminder for Year One Students:

Our Lenten day of study, "Exodus, Passover and the Paschal Mystery in the Life of the Church," is scheduled for Saturday, April 8, 2017 at St. Thomas Seminary (Alumni Lounge). Our presenter is Celia Sirois of the Archdiocese of Boston and faculty member at St. John’s Seminary, Brighton, Mass.

First-year students are required to attend. What you should expect:

8:30   am  Coffee and fellowship (please arrive by 8:50 at latest)
9:00   am  Welcome / Opening Prayer
9:20   am  First Presentation with Break
11:30 am  Eucharistic Liturgy (Saturday’s liturgy with Fr. Jeff Gubbiotti)
12:15 pm  Lunch
1:00   pm  Second Presentation with Break
2:50   pm  Closing Prayer
3:00   pm  Evaluations & Departure

We will also be taking registration forms and offering for sale the Year 2 Student Workbooks. Please note: We can only accept checks (no cash or credit). Checks should be made out to "OEEC."

Remythologizing the Myths: Genesis

Chapter Two 
Adventures Gone Sideways continued
Inspired by Genesis 3

They experienced an unfamiliar, uncomfortable feeling in their bellies...

Mistaking the feeling for hunger, their bellies decided it for them. They were much too hungry to hike and swim all the way back to the center of their valley for what must by now be a late, late supper indeed with their Ama. Feeling both relieved and anxious at the same time (though neither of them said so), they began to settle in for what must be a strange night.

The man scoured the gorge for eggs and ground nuts, while the woman swam with the fish in search of a particularly pungent river weed. And they ate their dinner together in an unaccustomed silence. Each was afraid to speak their dis-ease, each really wanted to be at home, telling God about all they'd seen and done that day. When they remembered how Ama talked and laughed with them, an urge to run to her arose in each of them. But they didn't speak of it, and so night fell.