“Cogito ergo Sum”… was Descartes’ awakening, [i] but, “Our Father” [ii] sees Martin Buber’s I and Thou, complete, [iii] “who art in Heaven” we live our separation in a Finity whether now, or in eternity, we call Lazarus [iv] begged each day on earth [v] “Give us this day our bread”.... Dives, who never listened, [vi] cries from Death’s abyss, [vii] “Deliver us from Evil,” But lacks “Forgive our trespasses,” neither giving nor forgiving “Thy Kingdom come” – we are here but call to you there in the Eternity before and beyond, while all the Prophets Dives rejected, [viii] (each soul carrying a Word of Creation) travel through History’s liturgy, warning: “Lead us not into Temptation.” Faith says... “Credo in unum Deum” (2010s) [i] “Cogito, ergo sum”. Wikipedia.org. {https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cogito,_ergo_sum } (accessed December 1, 2021). – “The Latin cogito, ergo sum, is a philosophical statement that was made in Latin by René Descartes, usually translated into English as ‘I think, therefore I am.’ ” [ii] The Our Father prayer given by Jesus – from this point on the phrases from this prayer are mixed into the poem, using quotation marks. [iii] “Martin Buber, I and Thou”. Wikipedia.org. {https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_and_Thou} (accessed December 1, 2021). “Ich und Du, usually translated as I and Thou (You), is a book by Martin Buber, published in 1923, and first translated from German to English in 1937 …. In Buber's view, all of our relationships bring us ultimately into relationship with God, who is the Eternal Thou. Martin Buber said that every time someone says Thou, they are indirectly addressing God.” [iv] Lk 16:19-31, Jesus taught “The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus.” (USCCB footnote: “Dives” of popular tradition is the Latin Vulgate’s translation for “rich man.”) [v] Lk 16:19-21 – “There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.” [vi] Lk 16:22-23 – “When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side." [vii] Lk 16:24-26 – “And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.’ Abraham replied, ‘My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.’ ” [viii] Lk 16:27-31 – “He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.’ But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’ He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.’ ” Is he not perfectly crowned, this King? Are not the thorns more lovely than gems or roses? And the blood and pain more transcendent than Gold of Epiphany? [i] The Wounds on his disrobed body can never heal in this world – openly suffering Mystical Members – while Division’s veil is torn, [ii] for “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand …” [iii] Then, over the Boundary he carried his Scars, we find their mirror, in Eternity. Oh, greet me at Heaven’s door, you Least [iv] and now transfigured, greet me, once-Idiot, Blind or Lame – And Sinner, – forgiven for Not Knowing, – [v] open for me the gate, show me His hands! (2010s) [i] Matthew 2:11 – “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” [ii] Isaiah 25:7-8 – “On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, the web that is woven over all nations. He will destroy Death forever.” . [iii] Matthew 4:17 – “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.’ ” [iv] Matthew 19: 30, Jesus says – “But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” [v] Luke 23:34 – Jesus dying on the Cross: “Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.’ ” Not so much suffering, as contrariness, unexpected – snow mixed to rain or rain mixed to snow – How change this slush and gray to Hope-Fuel? St. Francis, Nature-Lover, did such, using Love beyond Creation and Sister Poverty – God’s Gift was all. He asked Brother Monk what “great joy” could be? Cold with snow? – what greater still? hunger and night? – greater still door-closed rejecting ? – yet, greater still. refused as “ragged Francis”? – that, then, he called the Greatest Joy. A February – not just in cold, Or hunger-fast, or dark – but found in human Heart-Slap, [i] is where our Francis felt beginning-ending hand of God, No question – just rejoicing (2010s) [i] Brown, Raphael. The Little Flowers of St. Francis. New York: Image Books, 1958, Part One, Chapter 8. “How St. Francis Taught Brother Leo That Perfect Joy Is Only in the Cross”. “Gott, welch ein Dunkel hier!” God, what a Darkness here – says Florestan, after the orchestra, without words, describes a dungeon, [i] and man’s despair beyond reach “Da, nimm das Brot, du armer Mann!” Now, take this Bread, you poor man – says the faithful one, disguised, – accept the first morsel of freedom, light, and joy, sustained … “Du armer Mann” thus becomes Every, each, and Beethoven’s soulful music builds the scene of our contingent rescue – Love (2010s) [i] “Fidelio”. Wikipedia.org. {https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fidelio} (accessed December 1, 2021). – “Fidelio, Op. 72, is Ludwig van Beethoven's only opera. The German libretto was originally prepared by Joseph Sonnleithner … with the work premiering at Vienna's Theater an der Wien in 1805.” Since the One we follow said “To do my Father’s will is Daily Bread,” [i] then – how to grasp, to hold in sight, that given piece and walk each day a-right? Moments and occasions fly… I try, but not enough, or don’t, or just forget, then look in fright at how the time has sped while choice and choice were Other-wise instead. And now indeed I wish to hear “the still, small voice” [ii] Isaiah promised near behind me, guiding, in my ear “This is the way; walk in it,” [iii] when I “would turn to right or left” [iv] just for a minute…. How can my ears not hear, or eyes not see the Bread so blessed, the Portion and the Lot [v] designed for me? To do His will, my simple task: to walk “that Way” [vi] is all I ask (2000s) [i] John 4:34 – “Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to finish his work .’ ” [ii] Isaiah 30:20 – “No longer will your Teacher hide himself, but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher .… ” [iii] Isaiah 30: 21 – “… and your ears shall hear a word behind you : ‘This is the way; walk in it…. ’ ” [iv] Isaiah 30: 21 – “…when you would turn to the right or the left.” [v] Psalm 16:5,6: “Lord, my allotted portion and my cup, you have made my destiny secure. Pleasant places were measured out for me; fair to me indeed is my inheritance.” [vi] John 14:6 – “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ ” By valley’s length marches David the King And leads his courtiers on foot, in troop. Let all who have ears to hear, hear. [i] ~ ~ ~ Atop the hills, Shimei keeps pace, cursing, throwing stones: “Man of Blood, Scoundrel, Yaweh has paid you back now for all spilled blood – your wickedness has reached you.” ~ ~ ~ Upon the road, servant-soldier Abishai leaves the escort to defend, “Why should this dead dog curse you, O Lord, my King? Let me go up beyond, cutting his head off.” ~ ~ ~ Atop the hills, see Book of Wisdom’s Queen, [ii] “overlooking the road, she takes her stand, ‘I am calling to you, all people, simpletons, learn to behave, come to your senses, my words are right.’ ” ~ ~ ~ On the road, the harpist and writer of hymns, student of scripture and King, tells servant Abishai, [iii] “What concern is my business to you? If Yaweh has said, ‘Curse David,’ let this man then curse, while Yaweh sees my heart.” ~ ~ ~ Between the hillsides goes David the King and Shimei on the mountain throws stones. Let all who have ears to hear, hear. (2010s) [i] Mark 4:9 Jesus added, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.” [ii] Proverbs Ch 8: 1-11: “The Discourse of Wisdom” "Does not Wisdom call, and Understanding raise her voice? On the top of the heights along the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand; By the gates at the approaches of the city, in the entryways she cries aloud: “To you, O people, I call; my appeal is to you mortals. You naive ones, gain prudence, you fools, gain sense. Listen! for noble things I speak; my lips proclaim honest words. Indeed, my mouth utters truth, and my lips abhor wickedness. All the words of my mouth are sincere, none of them wily or crooked; All of them are straightforward to the intelligent, and right to those who attain knowledge. Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold. For Wisdom is better than corals, and no treasures can compare with her." [iii] 2 Samuel 16:5–13 – “5 As King David was approaching Bahurim, there was a man coming out; he was of the same clan as the house of Saul, and his name was Shimei, son of Gera. He kept cursing as he came out, 6 and throwing stones at David and at all King David’s officers, even though all the soldiers, including the royal guard, were on David’s right and on his left. 7 Shimei was saying as he cursed: ‘Get out! Get out! You man of blood, you scoundrel! 8 The LORD has paid you back for all the blood shed from the family of Saul, whom you replaced as king, and the LORD has handed over the kingdom to your son Absalom. And now look at you: you suffer ruin because you are a man of blood.’ 9 Abishai, son of Zeruiah, said to the king: ‘Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.’ 10 But the king replied: ‘What business is it of mine or of yours, sons of Zeruiah, that he curses? Suppose the LORD has told him to curse David; who then will dare to say, ‘Why are you doing this?’ 11 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants: ‘If my own son, who came forth from my loins, is seeking my life, how much more might this Benjaminite do so! Let him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. 12 Perhaps the Lord will look upon my affliction and repay me with good for the curses he is uttering this day.’ 13 David and his men continued on the road, while Shimei kept up with them on the hillside, all the while cursing and throwing stones and dirt as he went.” Not naked enough not naked enough [i] I try to shed treasures, pleasures and plans laid by [ii] until a small thread can fit the needle’s eye [iii] and a path narrow and straight can pass through Heaven’s gate [iv] I may be clothed enough I may be pleased enough because Your will Your voice, my choice, has filled my needs. and while I’m wondering still... your plan succeeds! [v] How can the rich find entry unless it’s – Providently? Oh, we bring camels-full of happiness to pass that needle’s eye we, your Pearl of price [vi] you found and kept aside…. There is abundance in the heap of folly we possess we lay baubles at your feet and wear our Nakedness (1990s) [i] Job 1: 21, Job says – “Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I go back there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord!” [ii] Luke 14: 33, Jesus says – “In the same way, every one of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.” [iii] Matthew 19: 22-24 – “When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ ” [iv] Luke 13: 23-24 – “Someone asked him, ‘Lord, will only a few people be saved?’ He answered them, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.’ ” [v] Matthew 19: 25-26: – “When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, ‘Who then can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For human beings this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.’ ” Matthew 13: 45–46, Jesus tells the parable of “The Pearl of Great Price” (here, Reader, please reverse the ordinary meaning, to see ourselves from God’s point of view) – “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a Merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a Pearl of Great Price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.” I think I was asleep, perhaps not altogether since I did kick my feet in womb’s “comfort” weather Guarded and cradled surrounded by Love feeling the Great World sometimes give a shove Yes, I had Sleep to the day of my Birth Then, challenge and trauma as I passed through to Earth What did I find? So much to tell Excitement and Life outside that safe cell Yes, they called this my Birth to explore a New Land where early you crawl and later you stand For me there were long years, for others – so brief Here also I’ve slept some but now feel Restless Feet Prepare now for new Birth beyond a new Wall my eyes just as closed, not seeing at all Now I wish I could wish [i] for the New World beyond hope tickling of feet will send me where I Belong [ii] (2020s) [i] Psalm 130:5,6 – “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits and I hope for his word. My soul looks for the Lord more than sentinels for daybreak.” [ii] Psalm 42: 1,2 – “As the deer longs for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When can I enter and see the face of God?” “You have blessed us when we could not bless you.” [i] This shows how upside-down it is – always is – to guess the flow from Low-Above whether acts of good or simple love When actually – and always – it’s not “I and Thou,” [ii] but Thou and I from birth and infancy for any constant move against inconstancy Why, more than half (not always half) when not aware, my blessings fail in sleep forgetting you, or fight with time, dejection and destruction, too (continued on next page) And all the while – yes, always – Your sun will shine, rain fall on just and unjust. [iii] Sometimes we find how much we grew while in our own Un-Blessing we were Blessed by you (2010s) [i] “Daily Companion”. Magnificat. February 2013. p. 326 – Also, see: {https://aleteia.org/daily-prayer/saturday-february-27/prayer-for-this-morning-0/} “O God, you have loved us without our deserving it. You have forgiven us without our earning it. You have blessed us when we could not bless you. Grant us the grace to love as we have been loved, through Christ our Lord. Amen.” [ii] “Martin Buber, I and Thou”. Wikipedia. org. {https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_and_Thou} (accessed December 1, 2021). “Ich und Du, usually translated as I and Thou (You), is a book by Martin Buber, published in 1923, and first translated from German to English in 1937 …. In Buber's view, all of our relationships bring us ultimately into relationship with God, who is the Eternal Thou. Martin Buber said that every time someone says Thou, they are indirectly addressing God.” [iii] Matthew 5:44-45, Jesus said, – “But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.” A sculptured arch on ancient church [i] pictures men dividing, Christ presiding, at the Last Day….[ii] As well as crowds of Faithful at the End, each soul has first an inward sifting [iii] of scattered pieces, in Timelessness, we watch Our time [iv] while, under Christ’s hand, this sorting out proceeds, [v] our Inner Goats and Sheep depart…. [vi] and we are cleansed by His review – however long – each moment, each life decision: He was hungry, and we gave food – or Not, [vii] our love for Least Ones was for Him. Thus earthly instants trot, off to eternity, directed right or left our blurring wrong decision weighed, each grain as Blessed, or Banishment to fire…. But yes, our Inner Rich Man from the flames [viii] will yet gaze across a chasm to find our blessed Lazarus consoled. (2010s) [i] “Tympanum (architecture)”. Wikipedia.org. {https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tympanum_(architecture) } (accessed December 1, 2021). “A tympanum over a doorway is very often the most important, or only, location for monumental sculpture on the outside of a building. In Romanesque architecture … the tympanum more often has a semi-circular shape” [ii] Illustration Footer: Peter Campbell, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. “Conques doorway carving 2003 IMG 6330.JPG”. {https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Conques_doorway_carving_2003_IMG_6330.JPG} (accessed December 1, 2021) More on this Tympanum at the Church of St. Foy in Conques, France: “The Last Judgment”. “The Tympanum of the Last Judgment”. Office de tourisme Conques-Marcillac, France. {https://www.tourisme-conques.fr/en/en-conques/the-tympanum} (accessed December 1, 2021). “At the western gate, a deep barrel vault shelters the Tympanum of the Last Judgment, one of the masterpieces of Romanesque sculpture from the first half of the 12th century .... All is set around the central figure of Christ, out of proportion with the others, so he attracts all the attention. …. On his left, ‘Hell seems the image of Paradise in negative (set on his right), an anti-heaven. In this case, all is order, limpidity and peace, contemplation and love, when in the other it is violence, compulsive agitation and fright.’ (Marcel Durliat)" [iii] “Particular Judgment”. Wikipedia.org. {https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Particular_judgment} (accessed December 1, 2021). “Particular judgment, according to Christian eschatology, is the divine judgment that a departed person undergoes immediately after death, in contradistinction to the general judgment (or Last Judgment) of all people at the end of the world.” [iv] “Purgatory”. Wikipedia.org. {https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purgatory} (accessed December 1, 2021). “Purgatory is, according to the belief of some Christians, an intermediate state after physical death for expiatory purification. The process of purgatory is the final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.” [v] Jesus’ parable begins in Matthew 25:31-33: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.” [vi] Illustration Header: showing the Sheep and the Goats: “Sarcophagus Lid with Last Judgement, late 3rd –early 4th century?”. The Met. {https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/466583} (accessed December 1. 2021) [vii] Jesus explains his parable in Matthew 25:38-42 – “When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink.’ ” [viii] Luke 16:22-24, Jesus tells the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man: “When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.” |
Poems by Janet
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von Gumppenberg | Meet me at the Passage |
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