I have always been drawn to this sculpture but did not discover its origin until today. And that happened by reading an entry in Raissa’s Journal in which she describes a sculpture from Chartres. When I searched for the sculpture, I found it to be this very one which I myself have meditated on for years. It is of Christ and the creation of Adam. I have found such tenderness in it all these years. Raissa’s comments:
“Looking at the photograph of a sculpture in Chartres Cathedral, God moulding Adam, drawn to recollection by the thought that our very loving Father continues to mould us like that right up to the day when our perfection is achieved in Heaven. “Ah! to stay like that under his gentle hand, one’s head abandoned on his maternal lap and let him do as he will with one, always.” (Saturday, 14th April)
Her comments will make my meditation on this so much richer for years to come.
Today’s book quote comes from Romano Guardini’s The Living God.
“There is nothing brighter than the eyes of God, nor is there anything more comforting. They are unyielding, but they are the source of hope. “To be seen by him does not mean to be exposed to a merciless gaze, but to be enfolded in the deepest care. Human seeing often destroys the mystery of the other. God seeing creates it. “We can do nothing better than to press on into the sight of God. The more deeply we understand what God is, the more fervently we shall want to be seen by him. We are seen by him whether we want to be or not. The difference is whether we try to elude his sight, or strive to enter it, understanding the meaning of his gaze, coming to terms with it, and desiring that his will be done. “We can do nothing more better then place ourselves and all that we have in God’s sight: ‘Behold me! Let us put away the fear that prevents us. Let us abandon this sloth, the pretense of Independence, and the pride. ‘Look at the good! Look at the shortcomings! The ugly, the unjust the evil, the wicked, everything–look at it, O God!’ “Sometimes it is impossible to alter something or another. But let him see it at any rate. Sometimes one cannot honestly repent. But let him see that we cannot yet repent. None of the shortcomings and evil in our lives are fatal as long as they confront his gaze. The very act of placing ourselves in his sight is the beginning of renewal. Everything is possible so long as we begin with God. But everything is in danger once we refuse to place ourselves and our lives in his sight.”
I love to collect quotes. In fact, I am known for it in our community. So I thought I would start a series sharing some of those with you. This first batch is from a book by Frederica Matthewes-Green called The Jesus Prayer which I read almost 15 years ago.
“So practice agape [long suffering, self-giving love] in every context (and it does take lots of practice). Every person you encounter gives you a God-appointed opportunity to die to self. The six or ten people you deal with every day are meant to furnish your own Roman Colosseum where you can battle against self-will to your last breath.” (p.51)
“Expect that you will have sorrow, and that you will suffer injustice; expect this, and it won’t shatter your faith. Believe firmly that all your joy is with Christ, and you will be able to bear it if other sources of joy prove temporary, or are never found at all.” (p. 52)
“Humility is of more value than the greatest asceticism. One day, as the desert monk Saint Macarius was returning to his cell, the devil attacked him swinging a scythe, but was unable to wound him. The devil complained, ‘Macarius, I suffer a lot of violence from you for I cannot overcome you. Whatever you do, I do also. If you fast, I eat nothing; if you keep watch, I never sleep. There is only one way in which you surpass me: your humility. That is why I cannot prevail against you.'” (p. 53)
That phrase has been haunting my thoughts the past couple of weeks. It comes from a passage which I will quote in a bit. I have been familiar for a long time with the concept of standing before the Lord in one’s poverty. Learning to do so is not an easy thing. I find myself so often choosing what bits of my poverty to bring to him and hiding others. I’ll come to him with my inability to love my sisters very well, but I’ll hide my failings with keeping my time on social media under control. The temptation is always to hide what causes me the most shame. So I was really struck by this description of “unconditional poverty” because that means that I must stand before the Lord in all of my poverty, every bit and expression of my lack and my failings. But I know that is the only way for me to be open to all of his love for me and not just part. The times when I have responded to the grace to be completely vulnerable to him, hiding nothing, have been the most intimate. So, I pray that that phrase haunt me for ever, for I know I will never have what I most desire–which is his very Self–without unconditional poverty being my continual and habitual state of being before him. Pray for me for that.
“All that I am, all that I have ever felt, known, had, or desired–all shame and fear, all desire and effort, all failure and guilt, all capacities and incapacities, all experience and expectation–everything absolutely everything, is to be laid before him in trusting nakedness, and to be opened wide, in unconditional poverty, to receive his gift as he wishes to give it and this gift is ultimately his very Self . . . .” (Joshua Elzner, Responding to the Thirst of God)
How a poem about our Lady on this Mother’s Day? This is a poem I have posted before. It’s also about the Ascension, about her experience after Jesus ascended. Seems doubly appropriate for today.
Our Lady of the Assumption
Fold your love like hands around the moment. Keep it for conference with your heart, that exit Caught on clocks, by dutiful scribes recorded Less truly than in archives of yor soul.
Turn back from His going, be His still-remaining. Lift the familiar latch on cottage door . . . Discover His voice in corners, hear His footfalls Run down the porches of your thoughts. No powers
However hoarse with joy, no Dominations Curved with adoration guess what whispers Of “Mother, look!” and “Mother, hurry!” Glance off the cottage walls in shafts of glory.
How shall your heart keep swinging longer, Mary? Quickly, quickly, take the sturdy needle Before your soul crowds through your flesh! the needle And stout black thread will save you. Take the sandal
Peter left for mending. After that, The time is short, with bread to bake for John.
A beautiful short Sunday-poem. Using just a few words, Joseph Massey creates an exquisite image of prayer in an empty church. Do sit with it for a moment.
In an empty church in the middle of the day dark but for stained glass flooded with sun, a prayer held in the breath in my hands.
You can find his latest bestselling book of poems here.
Witnesses to Hope 