Memorial of St. Mary Magdalene

Songs 3:1-4b

Jn 20:1-2, 11-18

Mary Magdalene is a unique and important character in the gospels.  Unfortunately, she is also a mysterious one about whom very little to nothing is known, a situation that has not prevented volumes of books about her and acres of canvas filled with paintings depicting her. 

The tradition in the West is that Mary Magdalene was one of the group of women to discover the empty tomb and, as we heard in today’s gospel, it was to her that the risen Jesus first appeared.  However, the tradition in the West holds that she is also “the woman who was a sinner” as well as the sister of Martha.  That seems like a lot.  The tradition in the East holds that they were three different women.  Considering that Mary, or the Hebrew equivalent Myriam, was a common name, the tradition of the East, makes the most sense. 

But, just as nature abhors a vacuum, human nature abhors a vacuum of evidence about an historical personage.  Thus, many legends and cults have grown up around Mary Magdalene.  She is seen as something of a feminist icon upon whom all sorts of ideas are projected.  Some of those ideas, oftentimes advanced by "theologians" desperate for attention, are truly bizarre, revealing more about the writer than the saint.  Are her relics in France?   Established "tradition" is no better.  Are her relics somewhere in France?  Unlikely. 

In the end we are left with a cipher, a woman who was present at some, though we are not certain which, historical moments in Jesus’ life.  Beyond that we know little else.  We are not even certain about the reason for the name Magdalene.  We have to become comfortable with that lack of knowledge rather than trying to create a persona who isn't there; a persona constructed almost entirely of projection mixed with liberal doses of Hearst tabloid journalism "data".  Once we admit that we don't know, and what we don't know, we can return to what we do have from scripture.

Today’s gospel tells us a great deal.  Like the apostles on the road to Emmaus and like us today, Mary failed to recognize the Risen Jesus when she first encountered Him.  Only when he spoke did she realize that this man was not the gardener but rather, Jesus.  Thus, she is a model for us.  We do not always recognize Jesus when we encounter him in prayer, when we encounter him in others, and when we encounter him in the Eucharist.  Our task is to imitate Mary Magdalene by seeking the Lord where we may find him, by seeking the Lord even when he seems to be absent.

Mary could say with the writer of the Song of Songs in today's first reading:  “I sought him, whom my heart loves.  I will rise then and go about the city in the streets and crossings I will seek Him whom my heart loves."  We are called to nothing less.

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Black and white photography.

There are some photos that do not work well in color.  The corollary, that some black and white photos are very much enhanced by color, is also true.  An article in this morning's paper touted a way of transforming old sepia, and I assume black and white photos, to color.  In the given example there was something wrong with the color.  The colorization of old black and white movies is very jarring.  

My first camera was a Canon AE-1, one of the first automatic cameras.  I gave it away some time during novitiate.  However, one turned up in the minister's office recently.  It weighed a relative ton.  The first roll of film I ever shot, while driving Rt 45 West between Danville and State College, was black and white.  Of course one was committed to b&w images until the roll ran out.  In the spring of 1977 I spent six weeks in England, working as a visiting registrar at St. Christopher's Hospice.  Several of the b&w photos from that trip hung in my officer for years.  Thus, I have a particular affection for that medium.  

I picked up a digital photography magazine during a very long layover in Charlotte last year.  The feature article was about b&w photography.  Given the ease of moving from color to b&w along with the ability to finely adjust the result, the author suggested shooting all photos in color and then converting rather than using a b&w filter, something available on many digital cameras.  I've no argument with the reasoning or in doing so.  All of the photos below were taken as color and then converted and adjusted to achieve a particular look.  

Gerroa Beach, New South Wales Australia.  This is from early in tertianship.  The sun was blazing and the photo was quite hazy as a result.  Switching to b&w, polarizing and increasing the contrast massively improved the result. 

San Francisco.  Steps at my niece's condo complex.  Lots of contrast applied resulting in a graphic-arts effect.

Penn State.  A similar approach to a photo of a bridge between the two parts of the (stunning) new life sciences building. 

Plymouth, PA.  The organ at St. Mary's Church.  This was taken on Holy Saturday afternoon a year ago as sun, filtered by the stained glass, streamed into the choir loft.  Added a bit of contrast.

Campion Center.  The sacristy has been a source of photographic material.  Ignatius did an amazing job arranging what was beginning to look like hoarder heaven.  The chalices belonged mostly to men who are now dead. 

The candelabra used for Holy Thursday.  Ignatius removed all the melted wax from the holders and polished everything. 

A self-portait taken while looking into the elevator shaft for the small elevator in the health center.  I have keys to the roof.  Talk about a great perk.  Added some contrast, darkened some shadows and highlighted some brighter areas.  

+Fr. Jack, SJ, MD

Hospitality

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time  

Gn 18:1-10a

Ps 15 2-5

Col 10:24-28

Lk 10:38-42

Dick Clifford notes in his commentary on the responsorial psalm that Psalm 15 verses 2 to 5 contains ten descriptors of the ideal worshipper.  One could say that these verses contain ten descriptors of the ideal behavior for all persons.  This very short psalm--we are only missing the first verse--is a description of authentically religious individuals whose actions reflect their belief.  It describes those who fulfill the admonition attributed to Francis of Assisi, "Preach the Gospel at all times.  Use words only when necessary." The psalm ends with the promise, "One who does these things shall never be disturbed" or, in another translation, "will never be shaken."  There is no good reason to argue with that conclusion.

The challenges put forth by this psalm are daunting.  How many of us consistently do justice?  How many of us enthusiastically slander others under the guise of gossip or idle chatter? I suspect most of us breathe easily at the proscription against lending money at usury, though some of the quid pro quo situations we create with others are usurious in their own ways.  The psalm describes positive and negative attributes of acting virtuously.  It may surprise some who argue that there are no moral absolutes or necessary virtues that the characteristics of the virtuous individual are not unique to Judaeo-Christianity. 

Jesus elaborated on this list from Psalm 15 in numerous places in the New Testament when he described the virtuous action.  Consider for example his demand to the rich young man to sell all he owned and then to follow him.  Virtuous to be sure.  But not easy. 

The Analects of Confucius give a description of virtuous behavior that almost echoes Psalm 15.  Confucius lived from around 550 to 473 BC.  Scholars think the Analects achieved their final written form some around 350 years before Jesus' birth. One reads the following in Book XII Chapter II:  Chung-kung asked about perfect virtue.  The Master said, "It is when you go abroad, to behave to every one as if you were receiving a great guest; to employ the people as if you were assisting at a great sacrifice; not to do to others as you would not wish done to yourself; to have no murmuring against you in the country and none in the family."  Chung-kung said, "Though I am deficient in intelligence and vigor I will make it my business to practice this lesson." 

I like Chung-kung because, after hearing what perfect virtue entails he admitted in essence, 'I am a sinner but I will try.'  We are in the same boat, deficient in intelligence on how to act and weak when confronted with less-than-virtuous options.  In the context the first reading and the Gospel it is apparent that Abraham was much closer to virtuous behavior than was Martha, no matter if one uses the psalm or Confucius as the yardstick. 

Abraham was certainly a master of understatement.  "Let me bring you a little food that you may refresh yourselves."  A little food?  Rolls.  Beef.  Curds and milk.  It seems as if there was quite a bit of exertion put into preparing this little bit of food.  And then he hovered over his unknown guests, waiting on them, until the meal was over.  No mention of complaining how hard he was working, or how much he was spending or anything else. 

Martha, for her part, blew it.  While there is much allegorical interpretation of this narrative along the lines of the difference between the contemplative and active vocation, the story itself comes across as a slice of life that remains relevant today.  Unlike Abraham, who was almost obsequious to his guests, Martha committed a serious breech of etiquette when she tried to drag a guest into what seems to be sibling rivalry flare-up.  It is difficult to imagine anyone asking a guest to tell that sister of mine to get in here and help me instead of listening to you?  The most essential component of hospitality is to pay attention to the comfort of the guest, precisely what Abraham did and Martha failed to do. 

Martha and Mary are not either/or:  Be preoccupied with service or attend to the words of Jesus.  We are called to serve AND to hear the words of Jesus.  Contemplative religious life must entail some element of action and active religious life demands a degree of contemplation.  The challenge for all of us, religious or lay, active or contemplative, old or young, is to place the burdens that confront us on a daily basis in their proper perspective so that we can hear the words of Jesus in the midst of our busy-ness.  It is not always easy but it is, like the admonitions in the psalm and in Confucius, an ideal toward which we must strive.  Our reward for such striving was limned in the Gospel acclamation:


"Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance."

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The heat and humidity have finally broken.  Alas, there was no rain.  The grass is getting a tad beige.  Last Sunday was an almost perfect day.  It rained at some point Saturday night.  All of the flowers in the planter were bedecked with rain drops.  I spent about 45 minutes  wandering around with my camera both in the house and around the planter.  The results are below. 

"Up on the roof."  The elevator is done.  We are awaiting the state inspection before it can be put into use.  The old parts were still on the roof last week.  

Down in the lounge the chessboard was sitting beneath a window.  Definitely a b&w photo rather than color.  I call it The Bishop and His Deacon.

The flowers were particularly lovely.  In the past week the searing heat has done a real job on them. 

I learned a new technique on Aperture 3.  Here is the first attempt. 

Two bees were busy gathering pollen. 

And now we have the reason for photography.  A blue dragonfly was teasing me.  The first shows it on the concrete near a flower petal.  This one has to be cropped as I took it while standing.  The other shows the same dragonfly a few minutes later perched on a daisy.  No cropping, no manipulation at all.  This is how it came out of the camera.  I think I am inordinately pleased with myself for these two (he said as he rubbed his nails on his lapel.)

+Fr. Jack, SJ, MD

14th Friday in Ordinary Time

Celebrated Mass on Thursday and Friday at St. Zephiran in Wayland.  One of the men in the community generally celebrates Mass there on Thursday and Friday.  As he was away for a few days I went down.  On Thursday traffic was a nightmare.  It took 40 minutes to get there, with 15 of those minutes trying to get onto Boston Post Road.  On Friday I left early.  Had lots of time to pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament as the trip took 15 minutes.  But still, traffic here is better than the Beltway and 270 in D.C. 

12 July 2013

Mt 10:16-23

Today’s gospel is not one of the comforting ones.  There are no images of good shepherds, the blessedness of the poor, or anything else that might make us feel good about ourselves or about being followers of Jesus. 

Today’s gospel comes from the middle portion of a long instruction Jesus gave to the apostles before sending them off on mission. It began in the readings on Wednesday when Jesus “summoned the twelve and gave them authority over unclean spirits and to cure every disease and every illness.”  Yesterday he set the radical ground rules: “Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”  Today he gives the apostles a dose of reality.  He tells them what their mission is going to be like.  Preaching the gospel wasn’t easy then and it isn’t easy now.  As we are all called to preach Jesus crucified and risen from the dead, the instruction which Jesus gave to the apostles is for us as well.  Of course it has to be understood in our own setting, in this time and place. 

Here in Wayland, as well as in most of the Western world, it is not as if we are facing death or charges of blasphemy for preaching Jesus' message.  The risks are much higher in parts of India where Hindu fundamentalist are burning Christian churches, the Middle East where the Iraqi Christian community has practically vanished, and China, to name a few.  We are physically safe.  However, that physical safety does not mean that we will not be persecuted for being Catholic.  We may have to suffer the martyrdom of exclusion, of ostracism or, horror of horrors, not being considered sufficiently liberal, modern or with it, whatever IT might be. 

We live in an age where it isn’t “cool” to be religious.  Many assume that everyone supports living out of wedlock, gay marriage, abortion, and physicians giving old sick old people a prescription for a lethal dose of medication upon request.  It is a shock to some when they find out that there are those who live their religious beliefs by speaking out against such abuses.  We cannot afford to be silent when it is time to speak.  The comfort in this gospel comes from Jesus’ promise, “Do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say.  You will be given at that moment what you are to say.” 

The apostles were called to profess Jesus as coming in the name of the Father.  The apostles were called to preach the Kingdom of God here on earth.  We are called to nothing less.

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Some semi-random photos from Gloucester and Taiwan

The first few are from Taiwan, specifically Sun Moon Lake trips. 

The orchids in the hallway of the hotel were simple but made a strong statement.  Asian hotels, in general, use flowers a lot better than U.S. ones in that they are not prone to the huge over-the-top sprays of flowers beloved of places like The Four Seasons. 

This is my first attempt at night photography.  Did not have a tripod then but there was a wall.  The flowers above were in the hotel to the right of the neon bedecked one.

The little boy's yellow shirt caught my eye.  We were now across the lake from the hotel at an Aboriginal village.  His concentration on whatever he was concentrating on was complete. 

Gloucester.  

The photos below were taken at the beginning and end of the whale watch on 4 July.  Had to use a high iso setting and fast shutter speed because the boat was bouncing all over the place.  Holding any kind of focus was impossible.  

The red boat was sitting in the harbor.  

 The lighthouse and jetty at the entrance to Gloucester Harbor are important in my prayer life.  During the long retreat I would walk down to the jetty and out to the very end at night if the tide was low.  Boston was visible in the distance with the lights glittering.  I would yell at God on the jetty.  In the mornings, if the tide was low, I would run to the jetty and out to the edge, a very tricky thing given the rocks.  The lighthouse is at the beginning of the jetty.

The old factory sits a bit further out in the harbor.  The only thing missing is a Burma Shave sign.  

We did see whales.  Here is proof.

+Fr. Jack, SJ, MD

Fourth of July Fun

14^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

7 July 2013

Psalm 66: 1-3,4-5,6-7, 16, 20

Gal 6:14-18

Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

The reading from Galatians consists of the last four verses of the letter.  As such, they function as a summary of Paul’s message.  The first verse is the well known and oft-quoted,  “But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.”  In a few words Paul is describing the radical change brought about by Christ’s crucifixion.  Change in the world.  Change in Paul himself.  And, one hopes, change in us who responded to Jesus' call: "Follow me."

Paul’s sentiments here are neither surprising nor out of step with his other writings.  The verse recalls 2 Cor 12:9-10: “I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me.  Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”  

Fr. Stanley Marrow frequently reminded students at WJST--he had to because they  continually forgot-- that Paul’s theology begins at the foot of the cross and nowhere else.  We must not forget or deny that it is at the foot of the cross, the shameful, insulting, degrading and scandal causing instrument of Jesus' death, it is there that our lives as Jesuits begins and must remain. 

The Exercises put us at the foot of the cross soon after we entered the novitiate.  The introduction to the first exercise of the first week notes that, following a preparatory prayer and two preludes, there are three main points and a colloquy.  The instruction begins, “Imagine Christ our Lord suspended on the cross before you, and converse with Him in a colloquy.”  Ignatius graciously supplied the outlines for that colloquy. 

“Reflect on yourself and ask: 

What have I done for Christ? 

What am I doing for Christ” 

What ought I to do for Christ?”  

We are born as Jesuits at the foot of the cross.  Not at the feet of the Risen Jesus near the empty tomb.  Not looking up at Jesus as his soul ascends to the Father.   Not standing alongside the Jesus as he heals the sick. Not sitting next to Jesus as he repeats the Beatitudes of the Sermon on the Mount.  We are born at the foot of the cross on which Jesus hung in agony, an embarrassment to his apostles and disciples. 

This is the same Jesus who, in today’s Gospel, sends disciples out on pilgrimage, rather like a first-year novice.  When he sent out the seventy he gave them detailed instructions in what was to be their way of proceeding.  He covered: dress, baggage, accommodations, how to comport themselves in the towns and homes in which they stayed, and what to do if they and their message were rejected. There is an endearing quality in the reactions of the group upon their return from the pilgrimage.  “They returned rejoicing; amazed that even the demons were subject to them because of Jesus’ name.”  They were acting like a bunch of first-year medical residents—who literally began their training six days ago. They are stunned that they are actually able to heal someone with a touch, a prescription or a bit of surgery.  Healing is an exhilarating a feeling  a first-year resident; it should be for a grizzled and gray physician.  Similarly there are moments during one’s early years of ministry in the Society—and one hopes later ones as well—that are thrilling, consoling, and perhaps life-changing. 

Would the disciples have acted differently or been less effective if they had known that the one to whose name demons were subject was soon to die the shameful death of the lowest kind of criminal?  We know that their behavior when Jesus was crucified was less than admirable.  Would they have preferred an ultimately less-humbled Jesus?  A political-social activist perhaps?  A military liberator from the yoke of Roman domination?  A kind of stand-up comedian who never challenged their assumptions about their own goodness?  A permissive buddy who allowed all sorts of moral and ethical transgressions?  We cannot afford to be ashamed of or minimize Jesus’ death on the cross.  We can't replace the reality of Jesus' death on the cross with something more palatable to modern or post-modern sensibilities. 

It is the crucified Jesus who is the center of the mysterium fidei.  It is in the name of the crucified Jesus that we preach, heal the sick, comfort the sorrowing,  minister to the poor,  and instruct unlettered youth.  If, as Jesuits, we remain in our privileged position at the foot of the cross engaged in the triple colloquy, we can proclaim with the psalmist:

"Hear now,

all you who fear God,

while I declare

what he has done for me. . . ."

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Had a good time on the Fourth.  The weather was great.  It was hot but not humid.  Out on the whale watch boat the temperature was about 65, considerably lower than the 94 on land.  Super conditions for photography throughout.  We went on the whale watch with Cape Ann Whale Watches.  Saw quite a bit of action once we got there.  I enjoyed it but, without the camera to keep me occupied, would probably have wanted to chew my leg off.  Got some great shots of Gloucester Harbor both out and inbound.  Those will appear in a subsequent post.  After a quick burger we went to Marblehead to watch the fireworks.  

The shots below reflect my first attempt at taking fireworks.  We were at some distance  overlooking Marblehead Harbor and I had the roof line of a building in front to contend with.  All the shots below were at ASA 1600 (as high as the camera will go, would love an Olympus OMD that has a max ASA much higher) with a shutter speed of 1/4000 and a wide-open f-stop.  Then there was the post-photo manipulation on the computer.  It involved cropping to get rid of a lot of black space, and other maneuvers.  

Put on a little Handel and flip the pix and you've got your own royal fireworks.  

Speaking of royal, that was one great Wimbledon Final.  

+Fr. Jack, SJ, MD