Psalm 123
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Supplication for Mercy
A Song of Ascents.1To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens! 2As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master,as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until he has mercy upon us.
3Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt. 4Our soul has had more than its fill of the scorn of those who are at ease, of the contempt of the proud.
Psalms of Ascent
Jerusalem
Jesus
121 Protection
122 Peace
123 - this is a Psalm about God's mercy.
Lift up!
Eyes!
God shows us mercy
We appeal to it
Mercy in the Bible
Old Testament - hesed: legal/covenant/behavioural/retribution
New Testament - eleos: pity/compassion = relational
HH Esser
"Here we see the breaking in of the divine mercy into the reality of human misery which took place in the person of Jesus of Nazareth in his work of freeing and healing which marks his authority."
Pilgrimage this Holy Week
To go again to Jerusalem
Ask God to be with us
Ask God for his peace
Ask also for his mercy
When we say "Lord in Your Mercy"
- a confession of faith in the divine authority of Jesus
-brought near to the living hope
St Ambrose
"Mercy is a good thing for it makes us perfect; in that it imitates the perfect Father. Nothing graces the Christian soul so much as mercy."
Thursday, 20 March 2008
St Mary Abbots Holy Tuesday Address
Psalm 122
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Song of Praise and Prayer for Jerusalem
A Song of Ascents. Of David.1I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’ 2Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem.
3Jerusalem—built as a city that is bound firmly together. 4To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord,as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord. 5For there the thrones for judgement were set up, the thrones of the house of David.
6Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you. 7Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers.’ 8For the sake of my relatives and friends I will say, ‘Peace be within you.’ For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.
Jesus going up to Jerusalem
Jerusalem - the City!
A place where people go to make sense of the world.
The City where God resides
This is a Psalm concerned with peace.
Psalmist says:
We take everything with us
We pray for peace and security
Something we share
"God's peace has something to do with the acceptance of God's world in its complexity."
Rowan Williams
"Establishing peace is the very essence of sonship."
Pope Benedict
"Let nothing ever disturb you,
Nothing affright you;
All things are passing,
God never changes.
Patient endurance
Attains to all things;
Who God possesses
In nothing is wanting:
Alone God suffices".
St Teresa of Avila
1 -->
Song of Praise and Prayer for Jerusalem
A Song of Ascents. Of David.1I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’ 2Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem.
3Jerusalem—built as a city that is bound firmly together. 4To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord,as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord. 5For there the thrones for judgement were set up, the thrones of the house of David.
6Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you. 7Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers.’ 8For the sake of my relatives and friends I will say, ‘Peace be within you.’ For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.
Jesus going up to Jerusalem
Jerusalem - the City!
A place where people go to make sense of the world.
The City where God resides
This is a Psalm concerned with peace.
Psalmist says:
We take everything with us
We pray for peace and security
Something we share
"God's peace has something to do with the acceptance of God's world in its complexity."
Rowan Williams
"Establishing peace is the very essence of sonship."
Pope Benedict
"Let nothing ever disturb you,
Nothing affright you;
All things are passing,
God never changes.
Patient endurance
Attains to all things;
Who God possesses
In nothing is wanting:
Alone God suffices".
St Teresa of Avila
Tuesday, 18 March 2008
St Mary Abbots Holy Week Address (1)
Jesus - immersed in the tradition of the Old Testament
This is a Pilgrim Song
On his way to Jerusalem for the last time.....this song would have been popular in his mind.
Language of the Psalm
Simplicity
Conversational
Rooted in Creation
God is never Far Away
"Past, Present, Future"
God Alone can save us
Main messages:
"In every kind of danger, God keeps us from evil and guards our soul."
The relationship between God and each person is personal.
This Psalm guides us into the essence of this Holy Week.
Psalm 121
A song of ascents. 1 I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
Sunday, 16 March 2008
Pope Benedict Review
book REVIEW
Ratzinger’s Faith
Tracey Rowland
The Theology of Pope Benedict XVI
Oxford University Press £12.99
Because of Joseph Ratzinger’s crucial role in the Vatican before his election as successor to Pope John Paul II, this book greatly assists us in unravelling how the Cardinal was able to move smoothly and without any great sense of effort to the throne of St.Peter. It also helps us if we want to know more – there are many references to where we might go if we want to explore further.Rowland is Dean and Associate Professor of Political Philosophy and Continental Theology of the John Paul II Institute in Melbourne, Australia and the book proclaims itself as “The first substantial assessment of Pope Benedict XVI’s theological vision.”
The book is well written with a concise sense of conviction and focus. It looks at revelation, scripture and tradition as well as exploring liturgical issues and the nature of communion. The Subiaco and Regensburg addresses, delivered by the Pope, are appended in full.
This book is an excellent resource for all those concerned about unity and authority. Urging Christians to stick to the truth as revealed in Jesus, Rowland suggests that Ratzinger sees the Church as the vehicle by which the truth is revealed: “He is critical of interpretations which would transform Christianity into what he provocatively calls a ‘poorly managed haberdashery that is always trying to lure more customers.”
Ratzinger’s Faith
Tracey Rowland
The Theology of Pope Benedict XVI
Oxford University Press £12.99
Because of Joseph Ratzinger’s crucial role in the Vatican before his election as successor to Pope John Paul II, this book greatly assists us in unravelling how the Cardinal was able to move smoothly and without any great sense of effort to the throne of St.Peter. It also helps us if we want to know more – there are many references to where we might go if we want to explore further.Rowland is Dean and Associate Professor of Political Philosophy and Continental Theology of the John Paul II Institute in Melbourne, Australia and the book proclaims itself as “The first substantial assessment of Pope Benedict XVI’s theological vision.”
The book is well written with a concise sense of conviction and focus. It looks at revelation, scripture and tradition as well as exploring liturgical issues and the nature of communion. The Subiaco and Regensburg addresses, delivered by the Pope, are appended in full.
This book is an excellent resource for all those concerned about unity and authority. Urging Christians to stick to the truth as revealed in Jesus, Rowland suggests that Ratzinger sees the Church as the vehicle by which the truth is revealed: “He is critical of interpretations which would transform Christianity into what he provocatively calls a ‘poorly managed haberdashery that is always trying to lure more customers.”
Thursday, 13 March 2008
Our Pilgrimage Day in London
Priorities in Pilgrimage
Bishop David Hope chaired a day in London looking at pilgrimage in the 21st century on March 12th.
It attracted delegates from all over the country.
A brief synopsis follows:
Bishop David Hope:
Loves the quote:
"Doing is a very deadly thing"
Caring less for doing - rather more for being.
Preoccupation with being busy.
Pilgrimage is a journey
Exploring new places: lots of information: all interesting: "at the end of the day the purpose of going on pilgrimage is to be closer to Jesus Christ".
Call to a deeper expression of discipleship.
Jesus inviting us to be friends of God on a journey.
Still moments on a pilgrimage when you can make space: different sites affect different people differently.
Finding time for the divine light to radiate in our lives and being.
Importance of pausing, stopping, reflecting……..
When we return - the gifts of the spirit should be more obvious within us.
We come back to our lives, our parish: pilgrimage makes a difference.
Dr.Gavin Wakefield
St.John’s College, Durham
Pilgrimage belongs to many religious traditions.
Christian pilgrimage: focused on Christ: shaped by the call of Jesus.
Stations of the Cross - a kind of pilgrimage close at hand.
History of Christian pilgrimage outlined.
Early Irish Christians
value in the very act of journeying - and not necessarily related to what God had done in the past.
They went because they were worried about what might happen in the future:
Martyrdom
various concepts explained
-deep engagement with God
-seeking the way of the cross
being on the move with Christ
Brendan
historical figure: 5th century
monk/abbot
based in Ireland
traveller
he went all over Europe
new monasteries founded
voyage of Brendan
Columba
6th century
founding of monastery on Iona
deaconed at 19
these monks loved going on journeys
he didn't travel as much
563 - Columba took 12 monks with him from Ireland to Scotland
Iona set up
went on many more journeys
centre for prayer, mission and politics
Irish monasteries were not places of peace and quiet
like a village - people trying to follow Christ in that place
Mark 1.35 -Jesus also did the same
Aidan
Founded monastery on Holy Island
Further development of prayer in Irish tradition
Wonderful rhythm of the day
Tide ebb and flowing on Lindisfarne
Aidan = with a definite mission
He also needed time away to be with God and pilgrimage was not always an option
Farne Islands
Aidan encountered those who needed to know the message of Christ.
He wanted to enable other people to be able to grow.
Summary:
Monasticism and Pilgrimage were all bound together.
Spiritual Rhythm
Monks did it the other way round: in the monastery they engaged with people, pilgrimage was about withdrawing from the world and going off to meet with God.
Points to note:
1) Pilgrimage today usually has a known destination.
Irish way - not always the case
2) Pilgrimage today is usually highly organised.
Not in their case
3) Journey is the outward expression of the inner journey.
Pilgrimage
many different ways
eventually does become a withdrawal from the world
don't organise God out of the event
it is the unexpected in which God can make himself known
If pilgrimage enables you to meet with God - embrace it.
Canon Martin Warner
Master of the Guardians of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham
Recounted the history of the Shrine
Slipper Chapel – slipping in to pray.
1922 Father Hope Patten begins to restore the Shrine.
Rediscovery of the well was important.
250,000 people go on pilgrimage to Walsingham every year.
Story of the Holy House
Story of Annunciation
Story of Mary’s YES to God
Bringing the whole of life to us.
Praying at the Shrine:
Intercessions:
Narrating the human condition
Every day, without fail, at 6.00pm
Water:
The waters of the well
Baptism transforms our lives
Adoration
Just being there
People come from our large cities to link up with creation
Stations of the Cross and Processions
Most groups do this reenacted symbol- a liturgical reminder/ a restoration of confidence
Eucharist
Fed with the bread of heaven
Citizens of Heavenly Jerusalem
The way in which we should remodel love.
Pilgrimage is where we grow graciously into what God as in store for us.
Bishop David Hope chaired a day in London looking at pilgrimage in the 21st century on March 12th.
It attracted delegates from all over the country.
A brief synopsis follows:
Bishop David Hope:
Loves the quote:
"Doing is a very deadly thing"
Caring less for doing - rather more for being.
Preoccupation with being busy.
Pilgrimage is a journey
Exploring new places: lots of information: all interesting: "at the end of the day the purpose of going on pilgrimage is to be closer to Jesus Christ".
Call to a deeper expression of discipleship.
Jesus inviting us to be friends of God on a journey.
Still moments on a pilgrimage when you can make space: different sites affect different people differently.
Finding time for the divine light to radiate in our lives and being.
Importance of pausing, stopping, reflecting……..
When we return - the gifts of the spirit should be more obvious within us.
We come back to our lives, our parish: pilgrimage makes a difference.
Dr.Gavin Wakefield
St.John’s College, Durham
Pilgrimage belongs to many religious traditions.
Christian pilgrimage: focused on Christ: shaped by the call of Jesus.
Stations of the Cross - a kind of pilgrimage close at hand.
History of Christian pilgrimage outlined.
Early Irish Christians
value in the very act of journeying - and not necessarily related to what God had done in the past.
They went because they were worried about what might happen in the future:
Martyrdom
various concepts explained
-deep engagement with God
-seeking the way of the cross
being on the move with Christ
Brendan
historical figure: 5th century
monk/abbot
based in Ireland
traveller
he went all over Europe
new monasteries founded
voyage of Brendan
Columba
6th century
founding of monastery on Iona
deaconed at 19
these monks loved going on journeys
he didn't travel as much
563 - Columba took 12 monks with him from Ireland to Scotland
Iona set up
went on many more journeys
centre for prayer, mission and politics
Irish monasteries were not places of peace and quiet
like a village - people trying to follow Christ in that place
Mark 1.35 -Jesus also did the same
Aidan
Founded monastery on Holy Island
Further development of prayer in Irish tradition
Wonderful rhythm of the day
Tide ebb and flowing on Lindisfarne
Aidan = with a definite mission
He also needed time away to be with God and pilgrimage was not always an option
Farne Islands
Aidan encountered those who needed to know the message of Christ.
He wanted to enable other people to be able to grow.
Summary:
Monasticism and Pilgrimage were all bound together.
Spiritual Rhythm
Monks did it the other way round: in the monastery they engaged with people, pilgrimage was about withdrawing from the world and going off to meet with God.
Points to note:
1) Pilgrimage today usually has a known destination.
Irish way - not always the case
2) Pilgrimage today is usually highly organised.
Not in their case
3) Journey is the outward expression of the inner journey.
Pilgrimage
many different ways
eventually does become a withdrawal from the world
don't organise God out of the event
it is the unexpected in which God can make himself known
If pilgrimage enables you to meet with God - embrace it.
Canon Martin Warner
Master of the Guardians of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham
Recounted the history of the Shrine
Slipper Chapel – slipping in to pray.
1922 Father Hope Patten begins to restore the Shrine.
Rediscovery of the well was important.
250,000 people go on pilgrimage to Walsingham every year.
Story of the Holy House
Story of Annunciation
Story of Mary’s YES to God
Bringing the whole of life to us.
Praying at the Shrine:
Intercessions:
Narrating the human condition
Every day, without fail, at 6.00pm
Water:
The waters of the well
Baptism transforms our lives
Adoration
Just being there
People come from our large cities to link up with creation
Stations of the Cross and Processions
Most groups do this reenacted symbol- a liturgical reminder/ a restoration of confidence
Eucharist
Fed with the bread of heaven
Citizens of Heavenly Jerusalem
The way in which we should remodel love.
Pilgrimage is where we grow graciously into what God as in store for us.
Monday, 10 March 2008
John Humphries
Great breakfast today with JH.
Discussed his excellent charitable work over breakfast.
More to follow.
Discussed his excellent charitable work over breakfast.
More to follow.
Peacemakers
Blessed are the peacemakers.
Eirene – peace (Greek)
Opposite of war
“Peace is the state of law and order which gives rise to the blessings of posterity.”
Hebrew
Shalom
Occurs 250 times in the Old Testament
“well being in the widest sense”
Associated with the presence of God
Fulfilment/completion/satisfaction
Christ is the mediator of peace.
Part of the Kingdom
Sharing of the peace in the Eucharist.
About wholeness: well being.
C Brown;
“There is no room for false peace. By its very nature peace is grounded in the righteousness and wholeness which God gives to man for the sake of Christ and his merits.”
Give peace in our time O Lord
Blessed are the peacemakers
Monday, 3 March 2008
Israel
My first visit to Israel for over a year has just finished.
It was super to be back and to enjoy introducing up to 100 people to the joys of pilgrimage in the Holy Land.
With the tension between Israel and the Palestinians in Gaza increasing all the time there were earnest prayers for peace between both parties.
Back to London on El Al with a Holy Land cold, but fully refreshed in the spirit of this special place.
It was super to be back and to enjoy introducing up to 100 people to the joys of pilgrimage in the Holy Land.
With the tension between Israel and the Palestinians in Gaza increasing all the time there were earnest prayers for peace between both parties.
Back to London on El Al with a Holy Land cold, but fully refreshed in the spirit of this special place.
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