[Propertalk] 5 Easter a 2017 - part 2

[Robert P Morrison]

Part 2
Bob

 If you’ve heard or read of the early twentieth-century German
theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, you may see a similar focus on God
and God’s Love as shown in Jesus. Bonhoeffer, though in a different
way that Stephen’s saw that it was impossible NOT to proclaim the
Gospel through deeds as well as words. He was arrested for his
involvement in a plot to kill Hitler and sentenced to death.

	“The camp doctor who witnessed the execution of Bonhoeffer later
wrote, ‘I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer … kneeling on the floor praying
fervently to God. I was most deeply moved by the way this lovable man
prayed, so devout and so certain that God heard his prayer. At the
place of execution, he again said a short prayer and then climbed the
few steps to the gallows, brave and composed. His death ensued after a
few seconds. In the almost fifty years that I worked as a doctor, I
have hardly ever seen a man die so entirely submissive to the will of
God.’” 1

	 Two who showed what it’s like to live a diaconal life, though at
different times, who lived with Jesus, and lived AS Jesus, to the
extreme embarrassment and anger of the authorities; these two, along
with countless others, SAW Jesus, even in the shadow of the valley of
death, and walked with Him to the end of their earthly lives.

	 Of course, those with the power in Stephen’s day felt that if they
simply kept silencing or killing Jesus’ followers, sooner or later,
these followers, these diaconal ministers, would get the message, and
the movement would die out. But they underestimated grossly the Love
of God.

	 Fortunately for us, for the past two thousand years, women and men
have gone about their ministries just as Stephen did. They’ve sat at
the bedside of the sick and dying; they’ve engaged and educated
children and youth; they’ve worked to make sure that everyone knows
about all the social needs present in the community, and have opened
doors, or at least banged hard and long on them doors that others have
shut and locked; banged and opened, trying to force a response of
compassion and care.

	 We need to remind ourselves of the role of diaconal ministry and how
we all have to be engaged, with each generation of deacons, in
following Stephen and, above all, trusting and believing like Stephen;
seeing Jesus like Stephen, no matter how frightening the people and
the world may appear.

	 As Jesus said, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Believe in
God, believe also in me.

	 “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. …”

	 Oh well, you know the rest. No matter who comes after you; no matter
whether they try to abuse you with words and mess with your minds, and
try to take away your dignity and your certainty; no matter if they
come after you with all sorts of weapons – no matter – no matter
what – DON’T WORRY. You’re safe! You’ll always be safe! Even
when it hurts!

	 Suzanne Guthrie wrote, “Christ prepares a place but just as I get
there he disappears, just as he did at Emmaus. For he is going to
prepare the _next_ place for me. For in the house of the Holy One
there are many mansions/ dwelling places/ resting places/ rooms.
Teresa of Avila said, ‘Let us now imagine that this castle, as I
have said, contains many mansions, some above, others below, others at
each side; and in the center and midst of them all is the chiefest
mansion where the most secret things pass between God and the soul.’
Each sphere of consciousness draws me forward toward the next sphere.
And when I shed my body will this pattern continue from glory to
glory, from intimacy to intimacy, toward the Throne, the Source, the
Uncreated Light, pure Love? I don't know, but I'm guessing so.” 2

	 In the introduction to her translation of Teresa of Avila’s “The
Interior Castle”, Mirabai Starr gave some fascinating insights and
encouragement – and challenges.

	 “There is a secret place.” She wrote. “A radiant sanctuary. As
real as your own kitchen. More real than that. Constructed of the
purest elements. Overflowing with the ten thousand beautiful things.
Worlds within worlds. Forests, rivers. Velvet coverlets thrown over
featherbeds, fountains bubbling beneath a canopy of stars. Bountiful
forests, universal libraries. A wine cellar offering an intoxication
so sweet you will never be sober again. A clarity so complete you will
never again forget.
 “This magnificent refuge is inside you. Enter. … Put away the
incense and forget the incantations they taught you. Ask no permission
from the authorities. Slip away. Close your eyes and follow your
breath to the still place that leads to the invisible path that leads
you home.” 3 Seek and see Jesus.

	 It’s not that there isn’t anything in the world and in our lives
to scare us. There’s plenty. Yet, knowing that all shall be well;
knowing that Stephen’s descendants will always be there to encourage
us and show us how to face our fears; we live in faith and hope, we
live in love and service.

	 Thank you, Stephen! Thank you, Teresa! Thank you, Peggy!

	NOTES:

	[1] Biography Online – Dietrich Bonhoeffer Biography  

	sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwis8cSR_eHTAhXqq1QKHTE0DNUQFggmMAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biographyonline.net%2Fspiritual%2Fdietrich-bonhoeffer.html&usg=AFQjCNE7bHIXN75lNhOMxA-KFh_y9AmNkQ
[1]  

	2 “_At the Edge of the Enclosure Soulwork Toward Sunday: Liturgical
Year as Mystical Journey Self-Guided Retreat”_  Easter 5 (Year A)
May 14, 2017  “MANY MANSIONS” BY Suzanne Guthrie
http://www.edgeofenclosure.org/easter5a.html [2]

	3 _“The Interior Castle, St. Teresa of Avila, A New Translation and
Introduction”_ by Mirabai Starr, The Berkly Publishing Group, a
division of Penguin Group, New York © 2003



Links:
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[1]
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwis8cSR_eHTAhXqq1QKHTE0DNUQFggmMAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biographyonline.net%2Fspiritual%2Fdietrich-bonhoeffer.html&usg=AFQjCNE7bHIXN75lNhOMxA-KFh_y9AmNkQ
[2] http://www.edgeofenclosure.org/easter5a.html

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