The Wounds That Remain
"Wounds That Remain!"
John 13:1-15
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There is a wound in the heart of these high holy days, a scarlet thread binding both the divine and the human in an experience of deep love and suffering.
Today we celebrate in a particular way the overflowing of God's presence in the Eucharist, in Christ who is poured out in self-emptying love. This sacrifice overflows into our love and concern as we see Christ present in others; two nights ago I held the hands of an individual dying at San Francisco General, I sat with him until he was gone, I cried, in blessing him--my care, my love, is poured out in Christ who poured out his self-emptying love.
We gaze upon the wounds of Christ crucified on Good Friday, we even adore the wood of the cross on which he hung. On this cross, we encounter the God who submits to being broken out of a deep love for us in our brokenness, the God who becomes wounded to heal our wounds, the God who chooses to walk with us even though that walk ends brutally on Calvary. We contemplate the Great Silence of God amid that suffering.
There is no need to label me--priest/counselor/spiritual director, Reverend, Doctor/ for those words denote a wholeness that none of us have, a wholeness which others look to, all I am is in the words of Henri Nouwen a "wounded healer", I sit in the pain and suffering of others as a result of being a broken, human being. I sit in the Great Silence, simply being present, and that is what I look for at times in my pain, someone simply to sit, listen, without judgment. The Cross calls all of us to experience our own woundedness and become a "wounded healer."
On Holy Saturday we enter into solidarity with all who are bereaved. We contemplate the disorienting stillness of the garden, the unnerving sense of absence, the crushing pain of a future denied. Before the world-shaking eruption of the resurrection, there is only the earth-shattering realm of grief, of knowing some wounds may not be healed this side eternity.
All of us are in grief--over aging, over retirement, not getting the job we were destined for, and on the street many are in a death of not able to obtain housing because of their mental illness, being on the streets so long they know nothing else, and those who are far yond being able to work.
I think of George who is having his feet removed because of drugs and failure to treat his diabetes, he has been on Polk for 20 years and now is alone in the pain in an SRO hotel. I think of Francene who is fifty-something, on the street selling her jewelry, living in SROs, wearing shoes that are worn out, looking for an apartment, that frankly is not there, I wanted to end up retiring from a large church, with praise and glory, I wanted to live a middle-class life, and yet I live on the edge. In this great silence, there is God in the midst of our suffering.
Into this darkness, the first lights of the Easter Vigil flicker, The light shines in the darkness and the night overcomes it (John 1:5). Here we may be tempted to think Easter is simply a big electric blanket thrown over the brutality of the previous days.
And yet when Jesus is risen he still has wounds, pierced hands, pierced side, a pierced heart. The horrible torture he endured, the trauma inflicted upon him by callous, uncaring, and unforgiving people, remains imprinted upon his glorified body.
And the wounds, once a cause of tremendous pain for both redeemer and redeemed, have now become fonts of healing, conversion, gratitude, and joy.
In celebrating these holy mysteries we encounter a wholeness bigger than all the brokenness the world could ever muster, and a goodness greater than all the suffering we may experience.
Most importantly we begin to know the Love that is stronger than death and to learn that this love has a face, and a name, and is holding us with hands that have known suffering. And we believe this Love will always hold us, whatever wounds may come.
As I age, physically decline, and am more wounded; having few friends, and see death more and more, and am wounded with each death I experience, I believe with all my heart, that this Love will hold me, whatever wounds I have and which will come.
The cross above was made last year by a friend and revised this year. On it are photos of young, and I mean young men who have died violent deaths through the years. Each one was homeless, a prostitute, questioning life, and each one is being held in the arms of the Great Love, each one is in the Communion of Saints, and the day is coming when I will see them in all of their wholeness.
Lou Kaver sums it all it all up:
"The central teaching for followers of Jesus is at the heart of Maundy Thursday.
While gathered with his friends Jesus instructed:
"Love one another," and "By this will others know that you are my followers: your love for one another."
No other dogma, creed, or faith-filled experience is as important as this core teaching."
Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God!
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Prayer of St. Brendan!
"Help me to journey beyond the familiar
and into the unknown.
Give me the faith to leave old ways and break fresh ground with You. Christ of the mysteries I trust in You to be stronger than each storm within me.
I will trust in the darkness and know that my times, even now, are in Your hands.
Tune my spirit to the music of heaven,
and somehow, make my obedience count for You"
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(Temenos and Fr. River seek to remain accessible to everyone. We do not endorse particular causes, political parties, or candidates, or take part in public controversies, whether religious, political or social--Our pastoral ministry is to everyone!
Press Release:
"Jesus continues to be crucified in all those who are crucified in history...There are not enough Stations of the Cross to depict all the ways in which the Lord continues to be persecuted, imprisoned, condemned to death and crucified today!"
-Leonardo Boff
What: Non-Violent Witness in the Tenderloin to commemorate Good Friday!
(Rain, Springling, or Threatening to Rain--The Stations of the Cross will proceed at Noon!)
Tenderloin Stations of the Cross
“A Journey With People on the Street!”
“Our Haunted-ness!”
When:
March 29, 2024
Noon-2:00 p.m.
Meet in Front of Polk Street-Side City Hall
Why:
There are approximately 8, 000 people on the street, without housing, or health care, they suffer from prejudice, anger, and hatred; they are shuffled around as if they are "objects" rather than human beings.
As followers of Jesus, and all who care, living in a war-making and uncaring empire we say loudly and clearly with Jesus: "Love one Another," "Love your enemies", "Be merciful as God is merciful," "Put away the sword," and "Thou shalt not kill."
We witness as people of faith who believe in God's reign of justice, love, peace, and restorative justice!
Sponsored by Temenos Catholic Worker
For more information:
Fr. River Sims, D.Min., D.S.T.
415-305-2124
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