Second Sunday of Lent (I think I'm going to make it this year)

Gn 15:5-12, 17-18

Ps 27

Phil 3:17-4:1

Lk 9:28b-36

The readings for this second Sunday in Lent include significant interpretive challenges beginning with the first reading.  The ritual described in Genesis is very odd, even bizarre.  It does not resonate with modern sensibilities.  It would send the domestic terrorist group known as PETA into spasms of indignation, though maybe Planned Parenthood could gather up the parts and sell them.

What does it mean to slice several animals in half and place the halves, along with some birds, on the ground opposite each other?  What about the passage describing the movement of a smoking pot and a torch between the pieces? 

The Jewish Study Bible puts things into both historical and covenantal contexts.  It notes in the commentary on this episode:  “The ritual of cutting animals in half and passing between them is found in both the Bible and in Mesopotamia. . . . It is likely that the meaning of this ritual is calling down a curse upon oneself such that those walking between the sacrifices will be like the dead animals if they violate the covenant.”  It is the ancient equivalent of the old playground invocation, "If I'm lying may God strike me dead."  Since the smoking fire pot and flaming torch symbolize the Lord, the Lord is invoking a self-curse should He violate the covenant.

Oddly enough, the reading says nothing about Abram’s obligations under the covenant.  This covenant is pure gift.  It is a reward for past loyalty.  There are no obligations placed on the recipient.  Abram—who had not yet been instructed to change his name to Abraham—is given two promises.

First, his progeny would outnumber the stars.

Second, he would possess the land.  

Thus, his question “How am I to know that I shall possess it” is answered in the starkest most definitive terms possible. 

Paul is emphatic when he writes that Jesus will change our lowly bodies to conform with His glorified body. This transformation cannot occur through a ritual or a magic incantation, or even through the modern secular liturgies of going to the gym or eating vegan. This transformation can only be effected through Jesus who first conformed His body--and His life--to ours.  Our lowly bodies can only be transformed through Jesus who was like us in all things but sin. 

Every year on the First Sunday of Lent the Church tells of Jesus' temptations in the desert.  She does so to remind us that Jesus, Son of God and Son of Mary, is like us in all things but sin.  And every year on the Second Sunday of Lent we hear the narrative of the Transfiguration of Our Lord.

The Transfiguration appears in all three synoptic Gospels.  There are some minor differences across the three accounts but the main actors and the content are consistent.  Jesus’ Transfiguration both points us towards and draws us into a mystery.  It is a mystery beyond the reach of historical reconstruction.  It is beyond modern scientific explanation. There is no geographic specificity.  That is good because all of these factors are irrelevant.  Demanding that the Transfiguration fulfill criteria of modernity is simply a smokescreen to obscure one's lack of faith.

“While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white.”   Imagine the scene. Moses and Elijah, the Law and the Prophets, standing and conversing with Jesus.  The apostles were confused and frightened.  To say that any of us would have acted differently would be absurd if not delusional.  Despite the vogue for apostle bashing in some theological circles, none of us would have responded any better than Peter.  Most likely, we would have acted worse, perhaps grabbing the Ancient Near East equivalent of a cell phone and snapping pictures, or taking a selfie with Elijah, to tweet to the rest of the apostles at the bottom of the mountain. 

As the tension mounted the voice of God the Father confirmed Jesus as the one who Peter brilliantly confessed him to be earlier in this same chapter of the Luke: The Christ of God.  The Anointed one.  Then, the apostles, and thus by extension each of us, received  a mandate:

"Listen to Him."

 

Interpreters do not agree on the specifics of God’s command to listen to His beloved Son.  Does it refer to Jesus' earlier prediction of his passion and death?  Does it refer to his teaching?  Today that mandate is unmistakably clear.  We know that Jesus suffered and died.  The historical reality removes any ambiguity.  We are to listen to his teaching through His words.  We are to learn through the teaching of His actions.  We are to pray and meditate on scripture and avail ourselves of the sacraments.  As we listen to Jesus, as we take His teaching to heart and allow those teachings to transform us, we move closer to the glory foreshadowed in the transfigured Jesus. 

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"I think I'm going to make it this year."  No, it has nothing to do with not eating chocolate during Lent, which wasn't a "give-up" anyway.  It has to do with the desire to give a homily for every Sunday of Lent.  Every year since I've been ordained there has always been at least one Sunday during Lent when I was unable to celebrate Mass.  This year I think I have it nailed.  I won't be in the same place every Sunday.  Seeing as last week I was in Ljubljana that is a given.  In a few weeks I will be at Regina Laudis getting together the chanted prefaces etc. that I will have to learn for the Triduum.  

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I you didn't hear the homily Father Paul Scalia gave at the funeral of his father Justice Antonin Scalia, find it on You Tube.  It is one of the best funeral homilies I've ever heard.  I was enthralled.  It was not long, no more than ten minutes, but it was powerful.  Indeed it proved that if one is careful with words and ideas a great deal can be included in a rather short homily.  

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Got home from Slovenia on Tuesday night.  It was 24 hours between waking up in Ljubljana to get ready to go to airport (4:00 AM there, 10:00 PM EST)  and falling into bed here (10:00 PM).  The travel back home was as good as it could have possibly been.  It was a short flight from Ljubljana to Munich.  Munich is a much nicer airport than Frankfurt.  It was rather like being dropped down into the middle of a luxury mall.  I was drooling over a 36,000.00 Euro Rolex (I lust after very fine watches).  Had a very good breakfast.  It was an 8 hour layover.  If you must have a long layover in Germany go to Munich and not Frankfurt.  

Life got even better on the plane when I had both of the seats on the left side of the plane to myself.  Had three seats on which to stretch out on the trip over.  How did that happen twice?  It took an hour to get through passport control and customs (nothing to declare).  Even the T from the airport to BC was not bad.  The last thing I remember was crashing on the bed and pulling the blankets up around my shoulders.  That was it for the next seven plus hours.  

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The last Saturday in Ljubljana was great.  We had rain Friday.  It turned to snow on Friday night.  Saturday turned into a brilliantly sunny day (for a while) with perhaps two inches of wet snow.  Grabbed camera at 8:30 and headed out.  

The first four photos are the Butcher's Bridge.  It is a new bridge either built or reconstructed  in 2010.  Shortly after it was opened lovers began to put padlocks on the cable supports in imitation of a bridge in Paris.  

And one taken at night.

The Ljubljana market early Saturday.  A few hours later when I was on the return trip (with a completely used battery.  Like a fool I forgot to put the backup in my coat) the area was parked.  The hill in the background leads up to the castle that overlooks the city.  I did not get up there with the camera for multiple reasons, most of which were weather related.

One of my favorite photographic subjects in Slovenia was the cobblestoned curving streets and alleys lined with stuccoed buildings.  The fading and flaking of the stucco adds to the texture and feel.  

The view from the Three Bridges in front of the Franciscan Church.  This is a very large plaza that is a crossroads.

Saturday was Valentine's Day Eve.  Valentine's Day is celebrated but it isn't the hysterical deal that it has become in the U.S.  That is refreshing.  One can only tolerate the sight of so many red hearts.   The young couple were walking under the train tracks to a large park. 

It was unlikely that this particular outdoor seating area in a cafe near the community was going to see any use that day.  It definitely did not get used on Valentine's Day as the rain was steady. 

+Fr. Jack, SJ, MD

Last Homily in Ljubljana

1^st Sunday of Lent

Lk 4:1-13

“Come let us worship the Lord

who for our sake endured

temptation and suffering.”  

Every morning during Lent the Divine Office, or the Liturgy of the Hours, begins with this antiphon. Temptation and suffering  are two critical words that define what it means to be human.  They characterize the human condition. Temptation and suffering describe how Jesus was like us, like us in all things but sin. Though the word temptation generally suggests something negative and almost synonymous with sin, the Latin, Hebrew, and Greek  roots of the word temptation are neutral. They suggest “trying,” “testing,” or “proving.”  

Each of the temptations satan dangled in front of Jesus were tests of his trust in God the Father.  Each temptation tested Jesus’ obedience to his Father.  Unlike Adam,  who was disobedient to God’s command, Jesus, the New Adam, was obedient to  the Father’s will in all things.  He was obedient even to accepting death on the cross.  Satan held up temptations front of Jesus, who was hungry from fasting, tired from prayer, and disoriented from his long time in the desert.  They are the same temptations satan presents to us.  They are the same temptations that dance in front of our eyes when we are hungry, when we are tired, or disoriented. They are the temptations we must confront when we are dissatisfied with the status quo, when we are more concerned with being of the world rather than simply in the world.

In the first test satan tempts a hungry Jesus with bread.  “C’mon, take care of yourself.  You can be self-sufficient.  Aw Jesus, just do it.”  Sound familiar?  It is more than bread here.  It is the temptation to self-sufficiency,  the temptation to taking care of number one:  me, myself and I. That temptation looms large in our lives.  

The second temptation is to put God to the test.  “Hey Jesus, it’s a quid pro quo.  You jump and the Father saves you.  If not . . . welllllll.”   God is not a divine marionetteer who pulls our strings to make us dance.  Nor is God a marionette that we control with strings or with prayer.  “If this or that happens I will no longer believe in God.”  That is the type of thinking characteristic of a three year-old.  An immature three year-old at that.  How often do we try to test God in that way?  How often do we demand that God answer our prayers in a highly specific manner?  The late Jesuit Father Stanley Marrow, was accurate when he wrote that,  '. . . our appetite for signs is insatiable.  We are forever testing to see if God is still there, to check whether our prayers are getting through.'

The third temptation is the classic Faustian bargain.  “Sell your soul.  Worship me. I will give you great power.”   Power.  Prestige.  Money.  Control.  These idols have replaced God in too many lives.  Just read the papers.  Or if you really want to become repulsed, follow the campaign for president in the U.S.  At the moment taking Slovenian citizenship seems like a good idea. 

All of Jesus' replies to Satan are direct quotes from the Book of Deuteronomy.  Jesus freely chose to be faithful. He freely chose to be obedient to God the Father.  And in so doing he made it possible for us to imitate Him in our own exercise of free will. 

Human freedom, the gift of free will, is generally misunderstood.  It is not a freedom from.  It is not freedom from restrictions, rules, or responsibility. Freedom  is not  the opportunity to choose anything whatsoever.  Dogs and monkeys can do that.  They have no will, only instincts.  Freedom is not the ability to adopt an individual attitude towards this or that. 

Human freedom is freedom for.  Human freedom, our free will,  is the possibility of saying yes or no.  As we see in Jesus' example in the Gospel human freedom is the possibility to say yes or no to one's self, one's real self.  Free will grants us the ability to decide for or against ourselves, to decide for or against God.  Freedom is the opportunity to choose or to reject sin and to act on that choice.  Think back to Adam and Eve. They chose and acted on their choice.  They chose wrongly. But they were and remained free.  We have the same freedom.  Jesus had that same freedom.  He is our model, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

“Come let us worship the Lord

who for our sake

endured temptation and suffering.” 

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It has been a rewarding and deeply consoling three weeks here in Ljubljana and Maribor (I spent half me time there).  The Jesuit community has been warm and helpful.  As I've come to see the work they are doing here I am having the opportunity to see the Society at its best.  They are taking risks, beginning some new apostolates and working very hard.  

Most consoling has been meeting the college students, mostly those from other countries (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Netherlands and Italy to name a few) who are studying here for a semester.  We met at Mass on Sunday and Bible study on Friday evenings.  The last Bible study for many of the students this past Friday began at 8 PM as usual.  It ended at midnight.  Also met a few Americans while here.  Approximately 50 people attend the English Mass at 11 AM on Sunday.  

The weather has been interesting.  Thursday was glorious.  Will include some photos of going with Fr. Joze (little mark over the z) to his family farm in the mountains about thirty minutes from here.  Then to Maribor.  Snow began as we returning from Maribor at noon on Friday.  It began to rain Friday night.  The rain changed to snow.  LJ (Ljubljana) got about 2 inches of wet heavy snow.  Saturday dawned spectacularly sunny.  Yeah, I was out with the camera for several hours.  Fortunately I brought some water-resistant construction boots with me.  It was no time for a pair of canvas Chucks.  

I fly home on Tuesday.  Leave LJ at 7 AM (one of the men will drive me to the airport at 5 AM and I will owe him dinner should he come to Boston) for a short flight to Munich.  Seven hours in Munich and then direct shot to Boston.  This is not bad.  The other option was LJ to Geneva.  Geneva to Paris-Charles de Gaulle, an airport I hope to never visit again.  Then, and this is the kicker, CDG to JFK arriving in New York at 9:15 PM with a flight to Boston at 7:00 AM.  Nine hours overnight at JFK.  No way.  I could drive from NYC to Boston in four hours but not at that time of the night.  Munich will be fine.  

Thursday in the mountains was tremendous.  Frs. Joze and Vili and I hiked at a slow pace for about an hour.  I lagged behind a great deal.  They were good humored about it.  The first photo is a house just up the street from Father's family home and farm that his brother and sister still run.  Wonder if it is recycling day. 

This is the view from the back door of the family home.  Indeed, I took this as I was getting into the car for the short drive back to LJ.  These mountains are visible from parts of LJ including a little bit from the skylight in my room. Hope to return.

The parish church in the town.  The priest was very welcoming, it seems to be a characteristic of Slovenians.  Tea, cookies, cheese, bread on no notice whatsoever.  He also had a dog.  Glad he was tied up on a short leash.  There are thousands of them.

The two below are from the cold room or root cellar in the family home.  We had some of the kielbasa for lunch.  It was great.  Father came to call me to lunch and saw me taking photos of the kielbasa curing.  He found it rather funny and, I suspect, bizarre.  This evening I showed him the photo and told him that in my eyes it is the Mona Lisa.  Then he lost it.  

We have many dozen of eggs in the refrigerator.  It turns out that they come from Father's family.  He took a handful of empty cartons out with us. 

The next two photos are from the Butcher's Bridge in LJ.  A number of years ago it became the custom for lovers to place a padlock (mostly, there were a few very large bicycle locks.  Was wondering what the stories were behind those) that is sometimes inscribed with names and dates.  

Back in LJ we see a man shoveling snow to clear out a sidewalk cafe for business.  Slovenians are prone to sitting outdoors for their coffee in weather that would rule out the possibility for most Americans.  This one included.  When offered the chance to do so on a day in the fifties I declined. 

The view from the plaza in front of the Franciscan Church.  Ljubljana seems to be a mixture of wide public spaces and narrow streets and alleys. 

A narrow cobblestoned street.

Slovenia appears to celebrate Valentine's Day though it seems with less hysteria compared with the U.S.  The photo of the nearby cafe, again with outdoor seating, was probably not going to be using it today.  The snow is gone.  But it poured all day long. 

Wonder if they had plans to today? 

And finally Fr. Peter who invited me over.  We were at Georgetown together while he was doing his PhD.  Social paranoia was a part of a paper he was writing.  It was obvious that his understanding of paranoia and delusional thinking was not much better than the popular understanding.  We had a very long conversation that night.  I gave him some papers, and subsequently quite a bit of what he wrote.  Slovenian does not have the articles 'a' and 'the.' He is quite the athlete and has participated in triathlons.  He ran by me in the plaza in front of the Franciscan Church.  Couldn't resist a few photos.  Oh to be able to run again.  But that ain't gonna happen.  Ever.  

+Fr. Jack, SJ, MD

Two Weeks On in Slovenia          

The visit here has been terrific.  I've been busy with travel between Ljubljana and Maribor twice weekly.  Ljubljana is the country's largest city and capitol at about 310,000 while Maribor is approximately one-third the size.  The Society has started a small residential college in Maribor to serve Catholic students at the 26,000 student University of Maribor.  In a few weeks they will open up a small residential space for men in Ljubljana.  Only recently learned that the University of Ljubljana has about 65,000 students.  Huge.  

The Slovenian universities are different from the U.S.  They do not have a central defined campus.  Rather the various faculties or departments are scattered throughout the city.  In Maribor there are a few dormitories for perhaps one-tenth of the students.  Those rooms are reserved for Slovenian nationals and one or two other groups.  Thus students have to find their own lodging.  It took several walks through Maribor to begin recognizing the various university faculties. 

MAGIS, the Jesuit residential college in Maribor, fills an important gap in that it offers a community living arrangement for men and women who are either Slovenian or from other countries and studying in Maribor.  There is a focus on community life, prayer and liturgy.  When Mass is not celebrated in the chapel at MAGIS there is a church on the ground floor of what had been the Slovenian Jesuit novitiate where there is daily Mass. The students are a happy supportive group.  Peter is hoping to have Catholic American students who wish to study in Maribor consider living in the college.  Every student living there speaks English.

Slovenia is a beautiful country.  It is most definitely a photography heaven.  It is very mountainous to the extent that World Cup skiing events are held here.  Alas, this year has been atypical in that there has been almost no snow.  Temperatures are hovering in the 40's and a bit above while dropping into the 20's at night.  Yesterday felt like a spring day back in the States.  There is snow in the higher mountains visible from my room but nothing down here on the ground in either Ljubljana or Maribor.  Once on the ground the streets, buildings, and shops supply unlimited possibilities.  I would add that there are no flowers or other accents at the moment.  I suspect it is glorious here in the spring.  Hope to find out some day.

Both Ljubljana and Maribor are very safe.  This has been confirmed by many.  I've been out at night alone with the camera without anxiety or fear.  The only place in the world I've felt the same lack of fear when out late at night with the camera is Taipei.  Certainly never felt safe after dark in D.C., even on the exclusive streets of Georgetown. 

There is a surprising amount of graffiti here.  Wish I knew Slovenian.  Some of the it is very elaborate.  It could not have been done in just a few scrawling moments. 

Love the food.  Having grown up in a Polish-American household and town (along with Slovaks, Lithuanians, Ukrainians, and other Eastern and Central European ethnic groups it is like a flashback to childhood.  I asked one student for a recipe for a Slovak form of haluski.  Amazing.

The Jesuit community has been very friendly and supportive.  The men in our house are fairly young.  Peter, the superior who has been a friend since we lived in Georgetown, is beyond energetic.  He makes the 90 mile trip to Maribor twice weekly.  He is going tomorrow but I will stay behind because of the weather (see next paragraph).

The weather has been interesting.  Ljubljana is relatively cloudy, foggy, and rainy.  It has rained a lot.  On non-rain days the skies have been mostly cloudy.  Tomorrow's forecast is for mostly sunny.  Thus, I will stay behind when Peter goes up to Maribor  so I can go up to the castle that overlooks the city.  Was there on Sunday without the camera.  Tremendous views of the city.  I may go up tonight with a tripod to do some night shots (the skies are clearing) and then go up again tomorrow during the day.  Peter has had me taking a lot of photos of various facilities for students and now wants some atmospheric shots.  I'm pleased to oblige. 

Am going to post a bunch of photos of Slovenia with explanations.  Easier than simply trying to explain things.  I return to the States in six days (rats).  Preaching at Mass on Sunday.  Will try to post homily.

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 A small home in Maribor.  I'll be this guy doesn't have to explain his choice of home decor to a homeowner's association at a condo complex. 

There is a shop on the left bank of the river in Maribor not far from MAGIS.  It takes perhaps five minutes to walk there.  I saw this silver sequined dress with the sun bouncing off it.  Immediately the song Let's Face the Music and Dance began playing in my head as Fred and Ginger danced what is perhaps their masterpiece on the screen.  Ms. Roger's dress, heavily sequined and probably over 20 pounds, was an important part of the dance because of the way it moved.  The graffiti adds a touch of absurdity to the shot of an (at least formerly) elegant dress. 

It seems that every other hilltop is crowned with a church, chapel, or shrine.

 Maribor and the bridge leading from our place into the center of town.  

Slovenians are a hardy bunch of people.  It was in the low 40's when I took this but people were still sitting outdoors at cafes drinking coffee.  Only a few outdoor cafes seemed to have heating elements in place.  Most people just sat there bundled up to drink coffee or smoke.  There is a surprising amount of smoking here. 

The interior of the Franciscan Church in Maribor.  Had been seeing the spires of the church for a few days and decided to try to find it.  Glad I did. 

A cobblestoned street in Maribor.  The rise from the river to the town is rather steep.  There are many small and tortuous streets and alleys leading up from the river.  Note the 'street art' as one friend called it, to the left.

Liked the facade of this house.  The photo would not have been as effective with the open windows.  I'm guessing some of this is student housing. Note that there are no front yards.

Two views of the interior of St. Nicholas Church.  Talk about baroque. 

+Fr. Jack, SJ, MD