Dear Hearts,
The Second Week of Lent
What is lent but a time of reflection, a time of
new perception, peering out of the cocoon of winter, of Covid toward Spring.
Signs of rebirth tremble against short days and blizzards. Each
week there is something more to see, taste, touch, experience. But we
must look! Life is gently stirring in the deep, beginning a phase of
vibrancy. I cherish this fluttering, aware of the new energy of
resurrection.
Sometimes I miss the church, the mystery of the
eucharist, even the cold hard pew where so many prayers learned in childhood
made for warmth and comfort. You could count the days, the weeks in masses
and on Sundays, sip from the chalice, that little bit of Manischewitz Gold, a
soft fire all the way to the belly. It was just enough to uninhibit my need for
God and set my heart to swooning.
This season, I am honoring my need for space
from institutions, a breath from old boys clubs and truth distorters. But I
hold and taste and touch the ancient roots that offered me real relationship
through the Eucharist. Part of lent is sorting out the valuable from the chaff,
the true and untrue. Communion is true, however it comes to you. God
comes from infinite directions, Arms opened wide to enfold you.
My first desire for a Lenten practiced happened
in a dimly lit chapel, scarlet and indigo enflamed. There I talked with the
Sacred Hearts, opening my own. The smell of melting beeswax, the power of
burning votives and the holy hush of having a whole church to oneself, these
are wondrous memories in the cocoon of my winter. These enkindle the energies
of Spring.
The second week of lent is called the
Laetare or celebration of what is to come. It’s a week for remembering
transfiguration, watching and asking in our hearts what does Jesus mean when He
says, we are light?
Jesus went from the desert to the mountain
top. Peter, James and John witnessed Him, a Being enveloped in
resplendence, a shining so powerful they fell face down to the ground,
trembling.
Many years ago, I entered meditation with a
fervent prayer for transformation and communion with God. I found
myself curled up in a fetal position on the floor, teeth chattering. Love,
I found, terrified me. An ancient shadow blocked my knowing our Father as
sublimely Beneficent.
On Mt. Tabor, Jesus talked with Moses and
Elijah. The apostles looked on, mystified, confused about what to
do. A clear Voice rang out… This is my beloved Son,
with whom I am well pleased; listen to him. (Mt3:17) You would think after that initial prostration,
they would listen with their whole hearts, but trust in His Radiance was
met by the righteousness of their own plans. They had an image of what Christ
was supposed to be and do. I have tried to use God that way, too in
resistance of real transformation.
During this season, Jess reminds us, you are
Mine, and all that I have is joy. He is the sign of Spring, having
brought us through blizzards of false identity and ego domination. Will
we climb beyond the fear of Light and join Jess on the mountain top? Are we
ready now to shine and listen?
If we say yes, we too will hear Our Father
speak, this is my beloved, with whom I am well pleased. (Mt3:17)
As we listen, we learn, He speaks of us! We are God’ Beloved. The
Spirit that dwells in Him also dwells in us. The Voice that asks us to
listen, speaks from our own hearts. We journey to
resurrection with The Resurrected, Who lives and moves in us as the
energy of Life.
This week, with Presence, with Love, and through
Sight, we express the beauty of life to which we are called. We give thanks for
the path and origins of our awakening, letting go of our judgments,
understanding the perfect way we have been led. The Beneficence we feared,
has become our ultimate Desire. We trust and celebrate
Christ’s transfiguration, letting our hearts glow and love express.
Now, do you understand? Your life has become the
sign of a beautiful Spring.
All Love,
MaryBeth
www.foundationofopenhearts.com
mbopenheart@foundationofopenhearts.org
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