The Barren Fig Tree

 

Today's thoughts: Monday of the Last Week, from Crossan & Borg's book "The Last Week"

Mark 11: 12-14
The Barren Fig Tree

... Jesus is hungry, sees a fig tree and is angry because it has no figs for him to eat.
Now, it was quite unreasonable of Jesus to expect there to be figs at this time of year (March-April) and just to make sure no one misses this point, Mark clarifies that in verse 13.

My older commentary* explains it by suggesting that verse 14 was added later and it is quite possible that the Triumphal entry (Mark 11:1-11) actually took place in the fall.
Borg and Crossan suggest that it’s more about symbolism than actual expectations.
What do you think?

Prayer
God who makes things good in their time, may my understanding of your words and your way grow and blossom. Amen.
*Schweizer, Eduard (1970). The Good News According to Mark. Atlanta: John Knox Press

Posted by Shannon Tennant

Ash Wednesday

From T S Eliot's Ash-Wednesday:
If the lost word is lost, if the spent word is spent
If the unheard, unspoken
Word is unspoken, unheard;
Still is the unspoken word, the Word unheard,
... The Word without a word, the Word within
The world and for the world;
And the light shone in darkness and
Against the Word the unstilled world still whirled
About the centre of the silent Word.

Holding edges in the center

On the 50th anniversary of John Glenn’s triple orbit of the earth ...

Here are some more of Anthony DeMello’s little stories from “One Minute Wisdom”. I’ll be posting a few of them over the months. For some background, check the posting in this Blog for Nov 25, 2011 One Minute Wisdom

They are such delicious nuggets to ponder that I couldn’t choose just one for this post.

Enjoy as you ponder your own life this Lent.

Mechanicalness (p 35)

The Master once asked his disciples which was more important, wisdom or action.

The disciples were unanimous: “Action, of course. Of what use is wisdom that does not show itself in action?”

Said the Master. “And of what use is action that proceeds from an unenlightened heart?”

Charism (p 14)

The Disciple was a Jew. “What good work shall I do to be acceptable to God?”

“How should I know?” said the Master. “Your Bible says that Abraham practiced hospitality and God was with him. Elias loved to pray and God was with him. David ruled a kingdom and God was with him too.”

“Is there some way I can find my own allotted work?”

“Yes. Search for the deepest inclination of your heart and follow it.”

Meditation (p 24)

A disciple fell asleep and dreamed that he had entered Paradise. To his astonishment he found his Master and the other disciples sitting there, absorbed in meditation.

“Is this the reward of Paradise?” he cried.

“Why, this is exactly the sort of thing we did on earth!”

He heard a Voice exclaim. “Fool! You think those meditators are in Paradise? It is just the opposite -- Paradise is in the meditators.”

BREATHE DEEPLY

We all know that breathing is essential to life - most of the time we do it unconsciously - and every breath renews us.  When breathing is difficult we are in trouble!  We have to think about every breath - to force it past our clenched throats - to pull it into our lungs - and when it arrives we have a momentary sense of relief and then we have to do it again - soon!  We may well panic!

I’ve often said, and I do believe deeply that God is as near to every one of us as the air we breathe.  For me, much of the time, my awareness of that Holy Presence is much like my breathing - a kind of unconscious awareness that renews me for living day to day.  I’m grateful for that awareness that is so ingrained in me - but I know that when I stop and listen, when I become fully conscious of the blessing that surrounds and fills my very being, I am changed.  The change is like a deep renewing breath that gives me courage and assurance.

It’s so important to remember how near this One is - always ready to renew us.  And then it’s equally important for us to take the time we need to breathe deeply.  We are not alone!  Thanks be to God!

Sharon Copeman

LOVE

As we approach Valentine’s Day, we think about

Love.  And while Valentine’s Day is a day for celebrating romantic love, it can also be a time to celebrate God’s presence as Love in the world.  Valentine’s Day can also remind us that we are conduits of that love in so many ways.  Take some time today, to use a Buddhist practice of sending Love into the world with the following prayer:

Sit quietly.  Invite Love to fill your mind, your soul, your body.

Summon it and wait patiently for the thoughts and sensations to come.

When you are filled with Love, offer thanksgiving.

Then send Love out into the world.  Send it to each direction, above and beyond, send it to those you love and those you don’t.  Send love to all the corners of the earth that come to mind.

Rest quietly in the state of Love.

Amen.

P.S.  Pay attention to the actions that this prayer inspires for you.  Go into the world and do them.

Happy Valentine’s Day,

Lori

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,

God of glory, Lord of love;

Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee,

Op’ning to the sun above.

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;

Drive the dark of doubt away;

Giver of immortal gladness,

Fill us with the light of day!

This is possibly my favorite hymn for several reasons. I appreciate the magnificence of the image of God which invites me to a broader awareness of creation. I feel the humility of three creative and faithful men across the centuries trying to find the words and the music to covey  the greatness of a Creator God. I feel the connection to the One who gives " immortal gladness" and fills me with light. As I look at the words I hear the music of Beethoven's last symphony. I feel the glory of the notes unfolding, one after another. He was completely deaf yet in his head and heart the notes still played softly and boldly.

Within the context of the sentiments of the hymn I live my life softly and boldly, always aware of the Creator urging my on to great possibilities and Hopes.  When I listen to the hymn, I am at Home.

"You are not a human being in search of a spiritual experience. You are a spiritual being immersed in a human experience."  Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Posted by Sally McShane

Friends, I found the following poem in a novel I was reading.  It’s by Denise Levertov.  You may know it already, but it has drawn me back to read and re-read it ~ and to be still.  It is a gift - truth I know and yet forget. . .

As swimmers dare

to lie face to the sky

and water bears them,

as hawks rest upon air

and air sustains them;

so would I learn to attain

freefall, and float

into Creator Spirit’s deep embrace,

knowing no effort earns

that all-surrounding grace.

Such a gift!

Blessings,

Sharon Copeman