Adventia, day 24. From an unseasonably cold to an unseasonably warm heading back to an unseasonably cold Edinburgh, I give you…
“The Nativity” by C. S. Lewis
Adventia, day 23
Currently, I am reading through a favourite book of prayers, poetry, and contemplative practice entitled “Hearts on Fire: Praying with the Jesuits” (Loyola Press, Chicago / ed. by Michael Harter, SJ 1993/2004). It is a useful and rich resource as an accompaniment and guide to the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. It is also a perfect place to start for anyone interested in exploring the highly imaginative, participatory manner Ignatian spirituality teaches meditation by drawing one to inhabit biblical narratives.
For Adventia, day 23, I am sharing this gorgeous and inventive retelling of the Luke 2 story by Michael Moynahan, SJ simply titled, “In the Out House.”
It’s been a long,
dusty ride.
A steep and winding road
weaves serpentine
up the side of mountains.
They race the sun
with prospects of a new head to tax,
albeit a small one,
an impending certainty.
Sky and mother
are visual proof.
–
They reach the city
exhausted
but full of hope.
The husband,
mistaken on occasion
for her father,
fails to act his age
and dashes toward
a door about to close.
–
“Excuse me,
Could you give us a room for the night?
Some place to lay our heads?”
–
“Can’t you read, buster?
We’re all filled up.”
–
“I understand.
It’s my wife,
She’s about to have her first child.”
–
“That’s not my problem.”
–
“He’s not a problem.
He’s a fact
of life.”
–
“Open your ears, buddy,
because I’m only
gonna say this once.
We ain’t got no room.
So scram!”
–
“I understand”
is drowned
by the sound of a
slammed door.
–
Three times he will try
to find them lodging.
And with each failure
fell less capable
of caring for his wife
and that life within her
wanting out.
–
“It doesn’t look good.
All their rooms are taken.”
–
“Don’t worry.
God will provide.”
–
And all the time thinking:
“That’s what I’m afraid of.
They’re sorry
but they’re full.
It’s looking bleak.”
–
“God will give us
what we need.”
He shakes his head.
She believes this
and it comforts him little.
–
The third stop
looking like a
distant bleak relation
of the previous two.
Until the owner’s wife
spies the young girl wince
from movement she understands
all too well.
–
“You can have
the place out back.
It isn’t much
but it will be a roof
over your heads.
There’s fresh hay thrown.
The animals won’t bother you
and the child will be warm.
I’ll get some rags and water.
Go on now,
the mother
and baby
are waiting.”
–
Silently
the young girl’s face
proclaims:
–
“Magnificent!”
Adventia, day 22 (fourth Sunday of Advent)
One of the most evocative songs ever. Shane MacGowan’s growly, barroom voice actually adds to the earthiness of this modern day classic. Adventia, day 22 brings you Fairytale of New York by The Pogues.
It was Christmas Eve babe
In the drunk tank
An old man said to me, won’t see another one
And then he sang a song
The Rare Old Mountain Dew
I turned my face away
And dreamed about you
Got on a lucky one
Came in eighteen to one
I’ve got a feeling
This year’s for me and you
So happy Christmas
I love you baby
I can see a better time
When all our dreams come true
They’ve got cars big as bars
They’ve got rivers of gold
But the wind goes right through you
It’s no place for the old
When you first took my hand
On a cold Christmas Eve
You promised me
Broadway was waiting for me
You were handsome
You were pretty
Queen of New York City
When the band finished playing
They howled out for more
Sinatra was swinging
All the drunks they were singing
We kissed on a corner
Then danced through the night
The boys of the NYPD choir
Were singing Galway Bay
And the bells were ringing out
For Christmas day
You’re a bum
You’re a punk
You’re an old slut on junk
Lying there almost dead on a drip in that bed
You scumbag, you maggot
You cheap lousy faggot
Happy Christmas your arse
I pray God it’s our last
The boys of the NYPD choir
Still singing Galway Bay
And the bells are ringing out
For Christmas day
I could have been someone
Well so could anyone
You took my dreams from me
When I first found you
I kept them with me babe
I put them with my own
Can’t make it all alone
I’ve built my dreams around you
The boys of the NYPD choir
Still singing Galway Bay
And the bells are ringing out
For Christmas day
Songwriters: Jem Finer / Shane Patrick Lysaght Macgowan
Fairytale of New York lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Adventia, day 21
I am aware that this just feels lazy. Maybe it is! However, for Adventia, day 21, I’m redirecting you to another favourite site of mine, Art and Theology, where you will find a most remarkable collection of deeply considered, carefully curated, imaginatively presented artistic fare. All of it is steeped in theological depth and mystery and points us heavenward where we live with God in the perfect dance of truth and beauty.
I give you “Out of the Ash” by William Everson. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Adventia, days 19 & 20
The following prophetic poetry has always been such a seismic piece that it deserves a couple days. For Adventia, days 19 and 20, I am posting one of the most remarkable, strangely comforting, but deeply subversive prophetic passages in the entire Scripture.
These words, from the mouth of a young, pregnant Mary are as powerful now as they ever were. For those who think the Gospel nothing more than one’s personal ticket to heaven with little social impact, the poem that would become known as “The Magnificat” easily challenges such quaintly dismissive, erroneous assumptions.
In two translations, the New Revised Standard Version and The Message, I give you –
Luke 1:46-55 – “The Magnificat”
(NRSV)
And Mary said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
48 for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’
(The Message)
46-55 And Mary said,
I’m bursting with God-news;
I’m dancing the song of my Savior God.
God took one good look at me, and look what happened—
I’m the most fortunate woman on earth!
What God has done for me will never be forgotten,
the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others.
His mercy flows in wave after wave
on those who are in awe before him.
He bared his arm and showed his strength,
scattered the bluffing braggarts.
He knocked tyrants off their high horses,
pulled victims out of the mud.
The starving poor sat down to a banquet;
the callous rich were left out in the cold.
He embraced his chosen child, Israel;
he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high.
It’s exactly what he promised,
beginning with Abraham and right up to now.
Um, wow.
Adventia, day 18
For Adventia, day 18, it’s hard to do much better than America’s poetic darling, the late Mary Oliver; St. Mary as I call her!
Adventia, day 17
Tuesday, 13th of December. We’ve enjoyed many great poems so far from numerous pens and a gorgeous musical setting of an Austrian carol. Today, I feature this piece by Anne Porter, “Noël.”
Adventia, day 16
Nothing makes Advent better than great music. Today we listen to the wonderful arrangement of the famous Austrian folk tune, “Still, Still, Still” by Future of Forestry.
Still, Still, still
Let all the earth be still
For Mary in her arms enfolding
Hope of all the world is holding
Still, still, still
Let all the earth be still
Sing, sing, sing,
Sweet angel voices sing
While Jesus lies in manger dreaming
Seraph choirs from heaven are streaming
Sing, sing, sing
Sweet angel voices sing
Light light light
Let all the earth be light
The holy star its news a blazing
Sign of hope for nations blazing
Light, light, light
Let all the earth be light
Adventia, day 15 (third Sunday of Advent)
George Herbert (1593 – 1633) was a Welsh-born poet, orator, and priest of the Church of England. He hailed from a wealthy family and his poetry is recognised as some of the greatest in the Christian devotional canon.
Adventia, day 14
Today’s offering comes from none other than Wendell Berry. “Remembering that it happened once.”
