The Anchoress
After two weeks of readings prompting us to “clear a pathway” and “make straight” the wilderness of our hearts, that the Lord might come, today we take rest from the interior work, that we might dance off a bit of that anticipatory energy in joy – a dance of the heart.
The readings are especially comforting. Isaiah reminds us of Jesus proclaiming himself in the synagogue:
“The spirit of the Lord God is upon me; he has anointed me; he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners; to announce a year of favor from the Lord…”
What beauty! What consolation!
Then for the psalm we go to the Gospel, again, to the great canticle, the Magnificat; “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior…”
Then comes the challenge, from St. Paul:
Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks…
Yes, that one is tough – the reminder, as if we needed it, that all is not sweetness-and-light, but that we must receive all of the circumstances of life as having a purpose beyond our understanding; as being meant for the glory of God, and hence, worth our thanks and praise.
Whenever I hear this reading, I think of Corrie Ten Boom’s book, The Hiding Place, the remarkable story of how she and her sister Betsy, both older ladies, and their aged father, hid Jews in a false wall of their house during the Nazi occupation of Holland, and – when possible – found safe haven for them.
The heroic family members were eventually caught, arrested and sent to concentration camps. The women never saw their father again. Betsy and Corrie were sent to Ravensbruck, where they were subject to unimaginable humiliations and deprivations. There they managed to survive, and even to minister to other prisoners, by the grace of God.
At one point, the sisters were assigned to a filthy, flea-infested barrack. Betsy immediately began praying, giving thanks. Corrie wondered if she were mad. “Give thanks in all circumstances,” her sister said, adding, “thank you, Lord, that we are together.”
Chagrined, Corrie joined in: “Oh, yes, thank you, Lord that we are together.”
“Thank you for the fleas,” prayed Betsy.
“I’m not giving thanks for the fleas – ”
“…give thanks in all circumstances,” said Betsy, again.
Corrie sighed and probably grimaced and said, “oh, all right! Thank you for the fleas and for this filthy barracks…”
The sisters were able to create the closest thing to a genuine community of co-operative human beings in that inhumane place, in that filthy building. Their ministry was unimpeded by the usual and cruel tyranny of the barracks guards…because the guards did not wish to risk exposure to all those blessed fleas!
It is hard to give thanks in all circumstances. But surprising things happen, when you manage it.
Deacon Greg has an inspiring homily to help us stay grounded in these uncertain times.
Gaude! Gaude! Emanuel
Nascetur pro te, Israel.
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