I had the privilege this past Easter weekend of getting a last minute call from my parish to read at our Vigil Mass. The reading was the long reading from Genesis. I wish the whole congregation could somehow stand as one and read it aloud. It is just so beautiful.
Those short simple sentences throughout that explain the days of creation rush the soul – or at least mine! - and then how the end of each day is so succinctly wrapped: “Thus evening came, and morning followed . . . . “ I encourage you to find time this week when you need peace from the frenzy of your life to find your Bible and read Genesis 1:1 – 2:2, the Easter Vigil – out loud! – it is beautiful. Forget the creation of Darwin and science for a moment. This is how the patriarchs who wrote our Biblical story explain our creation, and it is beautiful – the only word I can attribute to the reading.
And then there is that bit of reading we hear this weekend. Perhaps a thorn in the side of feminists, who for some reason are anxious to take it out of context and see it as the man being made the superior being. But wait! They are one flesh. They are equals. They walk as one! Just as any suitable partner should be!
The Mass this weekend goes on with the reading from Hebrews, and we don’t dwell on marriage and partnership but the bonds of family. Every single person in our congregation can relate to this reading no matter their calling and relationship status. We are all a part of family. We are all consecrated with a family of origin and a part of many families be they birth, our church, parish, through marriage, work, children, nieces, nephews, neighborhood. We are surrounded by many “brothers and sisters” that make our life whole and enriched. And what a Gospel from Mark to tie this all together.
I just celebrated 52 years of marriage. There have been challenges and difficulties. More importantly, we have been so blessed with children and grandchildren, family, and good friends and neighbors beyond our expectations. Let me close with a message loosely from Ruth (1:16) which guides me (decide who the “you” is as needed each time you might use this) . . . . . .
Do not urge me to leave you
or to return from following you.
For where you go, I will go,
and where you lodge, I will lodge.
This is my guide when things are challenging in life, a relationship, work. It gives me peace and calm to find a perspective so I have always been able to carry on, and fairly successfully. In my Diocese we are currently working to find a way to better support our Marriage Ministry and Pastoral Teams so that families and marriages may have better support. Marriage and all relationships are not easy. Our Church has not been particularly stellar in supporting married couples or even families. I believe Ruth saw pastoral gaps. You and I see our challenges. The Scripture writers and our Lord knew the people’s pain. May you find peace as you face your challenges.
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