Our readings for Sunday are here.
These are the poem, my notes, and interpretations of Fr Dennis’ homily from the Masses of
- November 8, 2015 Noon and 5PM
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The poem Fr Dennis references this year is:
- Talk About Walking by Philip Booth
In 2015, we reflected on —
- The two readings are connected by widows, a condition created by death. Today’s readings and this time of the liturgical year in the northern hemisphere have death lurking in the background (the content of the readings, the earth’s flora going to rest and fallow over the winter).
- In the first reading, the threat of death pervades everything as —
- Elijah is trying to find safety from lack of food in a drought
- The widow — (matter of factly) I only have this, and it’s hardly enough. My son and I will eat this and then we’re going to die.
- Don’t worry, trust! Elijah exhorts. God will provide. So instead of sharing the bread with her son, the faithful widow takes it to the prophet (ancient rule of hospitality), and indeed, they all survive.
- Absolute trust in God, her trust is the gift.
- In the gospel, Jesus notes
- the scribes “devour” the widows’ houses through taxes? through undue burdens and takings? It evokes anger because of the cruelty on top of the emotional loss and violation of Jewish law to protect widows and orphans (Ex 22:21).
- how to help occurs through real faith.
- Jesus notes she contributed all but is not (nor is Fr Dennis) recommending that everyone donate everything. Instead, like the widow in the first reading, the idea to take in is that we shouldn’t cling to things.
- In Philip Booth’s poem, Talk About Walking,
- he commits to doing it (despite his uncertainty of destination) with spirit, faith, and trust in God.
- He’ll learn something — even though he’s dying (“feeling so centripetally old”).
- The long walk is a metaphor for life.
- Our Communion line is a metaphor for life as well, the journey with our hands open to giving and receiving / living and dying in the Eucharist.
I chose a path in the woods for the image as I couldn’t find a good image of bread being shared that didn’t feel like I was objectifying those who are in poverty. The image above may be subject to copyright, but I couldn’t find the name of the photographer.
The image of journey and uncertainty fit the week as many in the U.S. are struggling to understand the outcome of many of the election results. Those who support President-Elect Mr. Trump may be struggling over the failure of the majority of abortion restriction/elimination proposals. Those who support Vice-President Harris are struggling. So … we all have some long walks ahead of us alone and together.
I’ve begun to heal with long walks on beautiful autumn days and good dogs. I seem to have quit assigning votes to everyone based on appearance and facial expression. (A big step forward on my interior state!!) And, to our credit, there seems to be less denial, less gloating, and grief is being processed more appropriately than in the recent past elections.
For those of you who are international readers, please understand U.S. democracy is as much a mystery to us as it is to you. And many of us share the very same concerns that you do.
However, I work the elections, and they are fair and free due to the very hard work of many, many people — state, county, and city staff and citizen poll workers alike.
So we will all keep walking together. Hopefully, with God’s Grace, I will do my best to walk like Micah walks.
The Surest Sign 