Peace in Pieces5/12/2020 Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Jesus said to his disciples: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. How often have you heard those words? Whenever you have participated in the Eucharist, you’ve heard them just before the “exchange of peace.” And how often have you heard the “exchange of peace” is the “favorite” part of the Mass for so many. And if this moment in the liturgy is sometimes more “raucous” than “peaceful,” it’s always “peace-filled.” If you’ve ever participated in a liturgy where everyone “lets loose” at the kiss of peace, you can’t help but feel the energy and enthusiasm as people greet, embrace, shake hands, and kiss one another, sharing with each other Christ’s peace. Whether we will ever be able to return to this expression of community and connection, remains to be seen. The invitation today is to tap into the flow of the deep peace that is Christ’s gift to us. It is beautifully expressed in this Gaelic Blessing. Deep peace of the running wave to you. Deep peace of the flowing air to you. Deep peace of the quiet earth to you. Deep peace of the shining stars to you. Deep peace of the gentle night to you. Moon and stars pour their healing light on you. Deep peace of Christ, of Christ the light of the world to you. Deep peace of Christ to you. The question, however, is how we experience that “deep peace” when there is so much trouble and turmoil in our world caused by the virus and its human and economic casualties? Rather than experiencing deep peace, everything feels “in pieces,” fragmented. There may be some consolation in the words of Jesus, encouraging his followers to trust in “his” peace. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. For myself, I’m finding “peace in pieces,” not in the sense of fragments but rather in moments of genuine exchange of peace. These “bits and pieces” of peace can flow together and become a patchwork of peace. The challenge for us is to believe that Christ desires for us to know his peace, especially during this very troubled time. This morning, in prayer, I was reminded of a “piece” that I choreographed in 2001 for my friend Carol Faherty when cancer was threatening her life. I thought of it because one of the pieces of music I used was John Rutter’s setting of A Gaelic Blessing which I quote above. Unless You Bless Me is danced to the music of John Rutter. There are three sections. The first portrays Carol’s love of dance, her husband Brian and two children Anna and Patrick and her work with me in sacred and liturgical dance. The music is “For the Beauty of the Earth.” At the end of this joyful dance of life, the adversary takes hold of her and she is separated by this illness from those whom she loves and those who love her and feel so helpless. As her pastor, friend and dance partner for so many years, I am desperate to make a “blessing” take hold and heal her. It seems though, that all the prayers and incantations, signs of the cross, anointings and blessings are useless. The irony of this second section is that the Rutter piece I chose was, A Gaelic Blessing, singing about “Deep Peace.” The final section, Rutter’s version of the Lord is my Shepherd, portrays Carol’s encounter with the Risen Lord Jesus, as three women who wear the dresses that Carol wore in different roles she had danced. The piece ends with all blessing her with the hope that holding on would be enough. I believe that this is a very timely piece, given our present reality. The movement from the “joy” of life to the isolation caused by illness and finally to the encounter with the true source of peace and healing in the Risen Jesus speaks a powerful word of Hope for us and for our world. I hope this piece will bring you a bit of peace. The dancers are Dina Ternullo Melley/ Carol Faherty Jamie Huggins/ Brian Faherty Jeffrey Polston/ Patrick Faherty Nicole Huggins/ Anna Faherty Kenda Newbury/ Carol as Mary the Mother of Jesus Nicole Huggins/ Carol as Mary Magdalene Tatiana Obeso/ Carol as Angel vimeo.com/350175955
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