Archive for August, 2011

Blessing in the Shape of a Cross

August 23, 2011

Image: Blessing Cross © Jan Richardson

Reading from the Gospels, Year A, Proper 17/Ordinary 22/Pentecost +11: Matthew 16.21-28

Following so close on the heels of Jesus’ encounter with the Canaanite woman, who would not release Jesus until he healed her daughter, this week’s gospel reading confronts Peter—and us—with the demand to let go: not of Jesus, but of any impulse we have (and, oh, my goodness, I have them) to lock him into our own plans. Pondering this passage as the story of the Canaanite woman lingers with me, I find myself wondering: How do we discern what we should be fierce about? How do we choose what we will hold on to, and what we need to release?

“If any want to become my followers,” Jesus says in this passage, “let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Some crosses are made of what we take on; some crosses are made of what we let go. Always, the cross that Christ invites us to is the place where our desires and Christ’s desires find their place of meeting, and all that distracts us from Christ falls away.

Where is this place in your own life? How do you discern what you will hold on to, what you will claim and fight for, and what you will release? How does this choosing, this discerning, draw you closer to Christ and to what God might imagine for your life?

Blessing in the Shape of a Cross

Press this blessing
into your palms—
right, left—
and you will see
how it leaves its mark,

how it imprints itself
into your skin,
how the lines of it
meet
and cross

as if signaling you
to the treasure
that has been in
your grasp
all along.

Except that these riches
you will count
not by what you hold
but by what you release,
by what you lose,
by what falls from
your open hands.

—Jan Richardson

P.S. For an earlier reflection on this passage, click the image or title below:


To Have without Holding

Related posts:


Lent 2: In Which We Set Our Mind Somewhere


The Shape He Makes

[To use the image “Blessing Cross,” please visit this page at janrichardsonimages.com. Your use of janrichardsonimages.com helps make the ministry of The Painted Prayerbook possible. Thank you!]

Posted in art, blessings, Gospel of Matthew, lectionary, Ordinary Time | Leave a Comment »

Return

August 16, 2011


A Thin Place © Jan L. Richardson

Reading from the Gospels, Year A, Proper 16/Ordinary 21/Pentecost +10: Matthew 16.13-20

Gary and I just returned late last night from our two-week trip to the marvelous Grünewald Guild in Washington State. As we begin to settle back into the rhythm of our life here in Florida, I am full of gratitude for the hospitality that I always find in the company of the folks who gather at the Guild. I am also itching to get back into the studio and to offer up some fresh fare for you here at The Painted Prayerbook. In the meantime, here’s a previous reflection on this week’s gospel lection—still edible after three years, no refrigeration necessary:

The Thin Man

I do have a fresh new post at my Sanctuary of Women blog; I welcome you to visit A Spiral-Shaped Sanctuary for a glimpse of the Grünewald Guild and the wonderful Celtic spiral labyrinth there.

Blessings to you!

[To use the “A Thin Place” image, please visit this page at janrichardsonimages.com. Your use of janrichardsonimages.com helps make the ministry of The Painted Prayerbook possible. Thank you!]

Posted in art, Gospel of Matthew, lectionary, Ordinary Time | 1 Comment »

From Feast to Feast

August 9, 2011


The Feast Beneath © Jan L. Richardson

Reading from the Gospels, Year A, Proper 15/Ordinary 20/Pentecost +9 (August 14): Matthew 15.(10-20), 21-28

We had a wondrous Liturgical Arts Week here at the Grünewald Guild last week, which drew a splendid community of folks from around the country who shared in savory times of conversation, creating, and community worship and reflection. Our theme was “Garden, Table, Story,” and among the highlights was a Saturday evening feast beside the lovely Guild garden. The feast was dreamed up by faculty member Laurie Clark, who brought it into being with her intrepid creative collaborators.

Gary and I are lingering at the Guild this week. He’s using it as home base while he does some traveling for his concert tour around Washington State, and I’m giving myself the week to rest, read, do a little writing and pondering and dreaming, and soak up the spirit of the community that’s gathered at the Guild this week.

I am a happy camper.

In the spirit of giving myself some Sabbath time, I’m not offering a new lectionary reflection this week but would be delighted for you to stop by an earlier reflection on this week’s gospel reading:

The Feast Beneath

As I continue to savor the stories and images shared around last week’s tables, know that I’ll be with you in spirit as you reflect on this story of the woman who claimed a feast on behalf of her daughter.

And speaking of feasts, this week holds the feast day of Saint Clare of Assisi. For a reflection I offered in celebration of the day, click the image or title below:

Feast of Saint Clare

Many blessings to you, and may you find much sustenance for body and soul in these days.

[To use the “Feast Beneath” image, please visit this page at janrichardsonimages.com. Your use of janrichardsonimages.com helps make the ministry of The Painted Prayerbook possible. Thank you!]

Posted in art, Gospel of Matthew, lectionary, Ordinary Time | 2 Comments »