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!”
innerwoven 