Ut Unum Sint: Quiet Projects for Christian Unity III

AN ARMENIAN JONAH

(copied from a 16th century Armenian illuminated hymnal)

Reluctant Jonah (redux)


Because I’m pregnant
With fire my guts ablaze;
Molten metals red and glowing
Billowing outburst
Exploding deep within;
Awakening,
Emerging,
The flight of dawn awaiting.

Of street signs
And girth and heights and lengths,
Of varying hues and portals
I was fed;
Until my mug of morning woes
Was filled to overflowing
Much more than what I ever need
As fuel for a day’s travail.

Some do know me, another few
Who love I guess;
And less than a handful, hardcore loonies
Would dare with me transgress,
The stiff and mortared walls of niceties,
To swim, and fly, rappel;
To laugh out loud and faint,
To cry before I’m dead.

And thus not with a small amount
Of excruciating pangs I wait;
My stupor state
A bait
For some monster fish to open up
and swallow me anew,
To germinate deep
Within its fishy bowels
As it transports me
Back to the Nineveh I once despised.

And when the whole enterprise
of regurgitation's done
I would,
I must,
On its sandy beach
Give birth.

Private Sanctuary

Wisdom!

Let us attend!

More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, Thee who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the Holy Theotokos, Thee do we magnify!

Kyrie Eleison +
Kyrie Eleison +
Kyrie Eleison +

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever unto the ages of ages!


(My Icon Wall)

Ut Unum Sint: Quiet Projects for Christian Unity II

THE GATES OF PARADISE 
(portable, cabinet-type, triptych; acrylic on canvass and gessoed board)


"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders us and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our gaze on JESUS, the AUTHOR and PERFECTER of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
(Hebrews 12, 1-2)



(closed)

The Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel stand in perpetual vigilance at the Doors...

(open)

upper left - Annunciation
lower left - Nativity
upper right - Resurrection
lower right - Crucifixion
central panel - Pantokrator- Christ in Majesty surrounded by the four winged creatures (Evangelists)
four corners of central panel - Holy relics of Saint Jean Baptiste Marie Vianney, Saint Therese of Lisieux, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta and Saint Anthony of Padua.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us!

Ut Unum Sint: Quiet Projects for Christian Unity I

Best said in colors and contemplation...

Kyrie Eleison...

Ethiopian-Coptic Meditations:

The Insanity Called Jesus

Judas have finally had it.

Not a minute longer in this unstoppable insanity called Jesus.

But he'll not leave with empty hands.

Might as well cash in on his retirement.

"How much will you pay me for handing him over to you?" he asked the temple officials.

Then he thougth:
"Three long years of unemployment...Ten pieces of silver for every wasted year of following his earstwhile boss (OT without pay, free food for just about everyone, begging on the streets, running all the time from mad crowds, praying for impossibly long hours, the disgusting habit of touching wounds, sores and even raising up dead people, etc.)...fair enough."

It was a deal...

The Judas in me, too, often engages in such baragains.

Cash in exchange for Christ.
Fame in exchange for Christ.
Reputation in exchange for Christ.
Career in exchange for Christ.
Political survival in exchange for Christ.
Pleasure in exchange for Christ.
Indulgence in exchange for Christ.
Comfortable and quiet living in exhange for Christ.
Power in exchange for Christ.
Practicality in exchange for Christ.

How much do I often find myself willing to exchange Christ for?

How much does it cost for me to call it a deal?

Today I shed my inner Judas.

Today I have decided to be impractical and foolish.

Today I willingly embrace the insanity called Jesus!

EXTRAVAGANT LOVE: Holy Monday Thoughts

She was a gracious friend, a thankful servant. She just broke an expensive alabaster jar to lather the Master's feet with a most costly ointment.

Very excessive, says the zealous Judas. Utterly extravagant.

Such wasteful splurge of hard-earned silver.

Could have been saved for the poor.

The Master retorted:

Judas my friend,

DO YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW THE MEANING OF EXCESSIVE?

DO YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW THE MEANING OF EXTRAVAGANT?

COME, I WILL TELL YOU!

I need not come down from heaven to help you and save you, I chose to be born like you and the rest. That is excessive. That is extravagant.

I need not work for my keep for I am Lord. I submitted to a simple maiden and a righteous carpenter. That is excessive. That is extravagant.

I need not do anything in that wedding party once when they ran out of wine. I ordered huge jars of plain water and turned those into finest wine. That is excessive. that is extravagant.

I need not feed the multitude who followed me. They would have understood anyway. Still out of pity I handed bread and fish for everyone. All five thousand of them. There were even twelve baskets full of leftovers. That is excessive. That is extravagant.

Martha asked that I rid Lazarus of fever. I waited 'til he's dead and showed everyone what I got.That is excessive. That is extravagant.

That centurion who came to me for his ailing daughter, I healed his daughter even before he could finish saying 'amen.' That is excessive. That is extravagant.

Remember that night when you all caught nothing at sea. And I insisted that you go back and throw the net at the other side. Do you still recall how terrified you all were because there simply was way too many fish that was caught in the net, that it was already bursting at the seams and the boat nearly sank?

Or that time when I stood up at the stern and ordered the winds and the waves to be quiet after you roused me from my deep sleep one stormy evening?

Or that other night when you all saw me strolling on water and mistook me for a ghost?

That, my friend, is excessive. That is extravagant.

And I am not done yet my dear friend.

I am saving the best for last.

I will not only touch the face of the leprous, nor keep company with prostitutes and vagabonds,

I will even wash the feet of my disciples, including yours; that after I tender a banquet for everyone.

I will give my body as your bread.

I will give my blood as your wine.

I will allow my self to be hoisted high up on the cross of shame and infamy as a slaughtered holocaust for the sins of all,

This I will lovingly embrace to pay a debt that none of you could ever do.

I will die for offenses and sins that are not even mine.

I need not do it but I will.

NOW THAT IS EXCESSIVE.

THAT IS EXTRAVAGANT!

encore: ANG MAHIWAGANG BAG (para kay SONIA at lahat ng mga NANAY namin sa LANGIT at sa LUPA)

Para itong botika, maraming lamang gamot (Biogesic pang sakit ng ulo at sinat, Diatabs pag nagtatae, Neozep pag humahaching, Mefanamic Acid pag masakit ang ipin). Meron ding Vicks, White Flower, Tiger Balm, Shampoo, toothpaste, pamahid na kung anu-ano at sabon.

Para itong beauty parlor, maraming kolorete (may make-up kit, lip gloss, lip balm, lip stick, cologne, eye shadow, eye liner, Eye-Mo, rollers, nail cutters at polvo).

Para itong sari-sari store (may kendi, chicklet, polvoron, mamon, Cheepy, minsan ay mayroon ding lighter at yosi, posporo at isang tambak na mga resibo, suki card, discount coupons at listahan ng pamalengke).

Para itong tool box (may gunting na de tiklop, screw driver, blade, perdible, paper clip, maliit na stapler, flash light at mga butones na extra).

Kasya rito ang maraming bagay. Walang 'di matatagpuan dito na 'di makakatulong kahit kanino, kahit saan, kahit anung oras. Sagot ito sa lahat ng kirot at angal at prublema ng lahat.

Ito ang bag ni nanay.

Ito ang kanyang buhay.

Parang isang mahiwagang bag.

Para ito sa ating lahat.

Bitbit n'ya ito palagi. Bawal masagi. Walang paki-alam kung nakakasagi. Napakahalagang katabi n'ya ito palagi. Parang bunsong kinakalong sa jeep; parang amigang ka-chismisan na may sariling upuan pag nasa restawran.

Pag dating ng hapon, pag uuwi na ng bahay, ang mahiwagang bag ay nagiging unan ni nanay. Dinarantayan ng ulo habang nakasiksik sa FX o bus o tren at duo'y saglit na inihihimlay ang pagod ng maghapon.

Ito ang bag ni nanay.

Ito ang kanyang buhay.

Mabigat ang bag ni nanay.

dala-dala nito ang ating buhay.

Tignan mo ang mukha ng nanay mo. 'wag mo na lang pansinin ang mga eye bags n'ya na minsan ay halos kasing laki na rin at kasimbigat ng mahiwagang bag na dala dala n'ya araw araw.

Tignan mo ang magandang mukha ng iyong nanay at sabihin mo sa kanya:
IKAW ANG PINAKAMAGANDANG NANAY SA BALAT NG.........(your address here)!
BIYAYA KA NG DIYOS SA AMING BUHAY! DALA MO SA BAG MO ANG AMING MGA BUHAY! PINASASALAMATAN NAMIN ANG DIYOS DAHIL IKAW ANG AMING NANAY!
MAHAL NA MAHAL KA NAMIN NANAY!