Celtic Vespers
April 27, 2025
Meditation … Joy
Our theme is Joy
Because Easter is about Good News
We expect the spring to come after winter
We are not surprised when the wound heals
But the Good News is
That life overcomes death
Light shines in darkness
Good has the final word over evil
Tradition tells us that the empty tomb
Was in a garden
And Mary Magdalene went there very early
To tend the body of Jesus
Only to discover the tomb was empty
One tradition has an angel say to here
Why do you look for the living among the dead
He is not here
It was good news that shook her
Startled her
And then surprised her
With exceeding Joy
Mary Madalene
Named by St. Thomas Acquinas
The Apostle to the Apostles
The one sent to those who are sent
Discovered a new Joy that Easter Day
As I meditated on Joy for our time together
I was struck by the God-intoxication John McQuarrie attributes to the Celts
And I was stuck by Pope Francis talking about the running that represents the longing in his last Easter Sermon
I was struck by the strong emotions of the Magdalene
And I realized that the Joy I have these days
is that I have come to rest more in my center
in my core
There is a saying
That when we are stable spiritually
We are like an ocean
Yes there are always waves even storms on the surface
But in the depth this is peace
I think the resurrection rings true
Not because some angel told us
Or like Thomas we saw the wound
Or like Peter and John they had an experience of the risen Lord
I am not discounting these
Far from that
But I think the resurrection rings true
Because in our hearts we feel this God thirst
We feel this human longing
And we feel this deep assurance
That as Dame Julian of Norwich said
All will be well, and all manner of thing will be well
This is actually why I push contemplative prayer or as the
east calls it meditation
So much
When we quiet all the noise
There is in our core a peace that is given by God
I am interested in the trees
The trees talk to each other through the soil
Apparently there are these networks that run from tree to tree
They can contribute to each other
The trees are all connected
It reminds me of what Jesus said
I and the father am one
I dwell in him
And he dwells in me
This core
This center
This longing in our depth
This peace under the waves
It is not lonely
It is the place where all things meet
It is another place where God and Humanity at table are sat down
Music allows this
And so do gardens
And birdsong
And love
Actually seeing someone as a child of God
If we want to find Jesus
I agree with Pope Francis
Let us look for him among the living
Let us find him in making all people our friends
And let us find it in our hearts
The joy that comes from Easter
Is not a passing whim or fancy
The Joy of Easter
Is the permanent gift of the divine
That binds us together
May we all rest in that deep joy
May we be with God in peace
As the waves toss and turn on the surface
We will deal with those waves
But the Good news is in the depth
Alleluia Christ is Risen
He is risen indeed Alleluia
April 27, 2025
Meditation … Joy
Because Easter is about Good News
We expect the spring to come after winter
We are not surprised when the wound heals
But the Good News is
That life overcomes death
Light shines in darkness
Good has the final word over evil
Was in a garden
And Mary Magdalene went there very early
To tend the body of Jesus
Only to discover the tomb was empty
Why do you look for the living among the dead
He is not here
Startled her
And then surprised her
With exceeding Joy
Named by St. Thomas Acquinas
The Apostle to the Apostles
The one sent to those who are sent
Discovered a new Joy that Easter Day
I was struck by the God-intoxication John McQuarrie attributes to the Celts
And I was stuck by Pope Francis talking about the running that represents the longing in his last Easter Sermon
is that I have come to rest more in my center
in my core
There is a saying
That when we are stable spiritually
We are like an ocean
Yes there are always waves even storms on the surface
But in the depth this is peace
Not because some angel told us
Or like Thomas we saw the wound
Or like Peter and John they had an experience of the risen Lord
I am not discounting these
Far from that
But I think the resurrection rings true
Because in our hearts we feel this God thirst
We feel this human longing
And we feel this deep assurance
That as Dame Julian of Norwich said
All will be well, and all manner of thing will be well
So much
When we quiet all the noise
There is in our core a peace that is given by God
The trees talk to each other through the soil
Apparently there are these networks that run from tree to tree
They can contribute to each other
The trees are all connected
I and the father am one
I dwell in him
And he dwells in me
This center
This longing in our depth
This peace under the waves
It is not lonely
It is the place where all things meet
It is another place where God and Humanity at table are sat down
And so do gardens
And birdsong
Actually seeing someone as a child of God
If we want to find Jesus
I agree with Pope Francis
Let us look for him among the living
Let us find him in making all people our friends
And let us find it in our hearts
Is not a passing whim or fancy
The Joy of Easter
Is the permanent gift of the divine
That binds us together
May we be with God in peace
As the waves toss and turn on the surface
We will deal with those waves
But the Good news is in the depth
He is risen indeed Alleluia
Notes
Chris Miller – God thirst and intoxication
Pope Francis – He is among the living – they ran because of their longing
Mary Magdalene – arrives in a garden and is astounded by Joy
Thomas Aquinas- The Magdalene is the apostle to the apostles
Pope Francis – He is among the living – they ran because of their longing
Mary Magdalene – arrives in a garden and is astounded by Joy
Thomas Aquinas- The Magdalene is the apostle to the apostles
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