Value and Values

A message from Bono in the New York Times.

THE LIGHT OF CHRIST!

The Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, GA

The Great Vigil!!!

If you don't know, there is a tradition of keeping vigils for especially holy feasts in the Christian tradition. As you probably do know, Easter is one of those feasts.

With the Easter Vigil come the lighting of the "new fire". In many places this is actually done in the church. In that case the fire has to be small, but it is still dramatic as it is lit in a darkened church.

At the Cathedral of St. Philip, we light our fire outside. The picture should indicate why. A bonfire is pretty dramatic, eh? From the fire we light the Paschal Candle, and from that worshippers light hand-held candles as we process into the darkened nave to celebrate the light of Christ come to us.

I hope that this photo can give you a taste of this bonfire experience. More than that, I wish you a blessed Easter season. May you know the light of Christ.

Good Friday: The Wall Test

The Wall Test

When they say "To the wall!"

and the squad does a right turn,

where do you stand? With the squad

or the man against the wall?

In every case

you find yourself standing against the wall.

-Louis Simpson

On Good Friday, Christians around the world contemplate the crucifixion of Christ. An odd thing if you think about it, especially considering that Christians also claim that Christ was raised from the dead. Why dwell on the death?

Death is real, and Christianity doesn't shy away from that (at least in principle.)The Louis Simpson poem above speaks to what Good Friday is all about. We don't look back on the crucifixion as something that happened 2000 years ago that we will someday reap some benefit from. We know Good Friday in the ways that humans live together. We know what it is to be blindfolded against the wall, and we know what is to be the executioner.

I hesitate to elaborate anymore as the poem is enough. However, I caution against seeing this is a moment only to consider the cross and wallow in our responsibility for it. Even more, know that God goes to the wall. Every time we are against the wall having lost it all, God is there. Even when we scapegoat others and become executioner, God is there. God knows.

Having been against the wall, Christ empowers us to tear it down. Maybe Good Friday isn't only about losing it all, but also about all the junk we cling to so tightly.

Let Your Crazy Out During Holy Times

Calls to my study often begin with, “I know you think I am crazy. . .” I sometimes do think that, but generally keep it to myself. The implication being that their problem is just too small, unimportant, and certainly not worthy of the attention of such a busy priest. (Clergy everywhere are laughing- except for a few hand wringers.)

As we approach Holy Week and Easter, I am reminded that it is usually around such holy occasions that the ‘crazy’ comes out. A few years back I received two requests for exorcisms within a two week period. Most of the calls around holy days are not so extreme. People just get religious. They are thinking about family members who have died, the ones they wish would die, and of all the feelings and thoughts they have been holding onto (This is not at all personal. I have heard people say things like this.) So they reach out to clergy like me, hoping for a listening ear.

I hope that clergy respond to people reaching out for counsel. We are not therapists. I can listen, I can pray with folks, hear confession, anoint, read scripture with, recommend books to, admonish, encourage, edify, and do all sorts of things passed down to me through the traditions of scripture and the Church.

I hope that parishioners can and will reach out. This is all simple stuff. but stuff that bears repeating. Don't fear the anxiety that comes up during holy times. Instead, rely on the traditions of prayer, and avail yourself of the resources of the Church and the community. We just mind find that God meets us in the crazy places of our lives.