Living, Effective, Divine Word

Lectio Divina

The word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword.

Hebrews 4:12

Library

Continuing William D. Miller's biography Dorothy Day with a little more intention now. Her life is so rich, and even her life before conversion, in Miller's telling of it, is radiant with grace. May she be one with the prophets and the saints.

Log

Today, Mass at nine-thirty at Old Mission Santa Ines. It was a "family Mass," so the Scripture readings came from the lectionary for children. The hymns, too, were simplified for children, simple refrains with hand motions to accompany the songs. A heartening sight, to see the children play-acting the proclamation of the Gospel, and a cheerful sight to see them gathered around the altar during the liturgy of the Eucharist. The Church needs to do more of this sort of worship, never mind my personal preferences for a more orderly, more sedate, more cerebral service. We are to receive the word of God and the bread of heaven like little children. And while adults will always need an intelligent, mature, and trustworthy presentation of the Gospel, the word of God must never be buried under theological erudition or de rigueur dogmatisms. (One of my theology professors once assigned her students, for their final examination, the task of writing a homily for children explaining one or another Christian doctrine.) Likewise, the re-presentation of Christ at Eucharist must be done with utmost reverence and respect for the rituals handed down to us, but the presence of Christ must never be occluded by excessive liturgical scrupulosity.

Read this afternoon and talked to my brother Nicholas. This evening, my family is nearest to the heart of my prayers, and Nicholas most of all. Now, to rest in prayerful silence before compline.

Promised a while ago to post some more "insights," and I will, but that will be another day. Perhaps tomorrow after my meeting for spiritual direction.

O Word of God, be our wisdom.

Weather

A sudden rise in temperature. The heat has risen. But I sense it will escape very soon.