Good Friday Proceeds

The Taize community, France

sings Jesus Remember Me

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Shepherd Me Oh God

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Christ Be Our Light

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It was just last Sunday, Palm Sunday, that there in the front of the church sat two men; they looked on together at the roman missal as the prayers were said and sung together from the hymnal as music wound together the meanings and intentions of the Mass. And they together, were unmistakable, and quite pleased by one another. It was just another Sunday in some Roman Catholic church in Urbana, Illinois.
Seated as any other couple in the church, they prayed and worshiped together with the community in recognition of something both larger and greater than themselves; something the community of faith held to be beautiful, and worthy of adoration. Partaking in this beauty were these men. A Simple mind saw them and was reminded how the Church has always taught, prayed and preached the words of the Christ, to love one another, to remember that the Creator formed us out of love, to be love, for love. There these men sat.
Many have branded the Church as exclusionary, yet she herself has not taught this; rather some communities have not found the courage and strength to fully follow the Gospel teachings of the Christ, and some have been captive to their own fears and stayed away.
I admired these two men as they stood, sat and kneeled; we prayed together in our community. May all find the blessings of Easter. Chag Sameach!

The Community Garden

PSALM 86*
Turn your ear, O Lord, and give answer
for I am poor and needy.
Preserve my life, for I am faithful;
save the servant who trusts in you.

You are my God, have mercy on me, Lord,
for I cry to you all the day long.
Give joy to your servant, O Lord,
for to you I lift up my soul.

O Lord, you are good and forgiving,
full of love to all who call.
Give heed, O Lord, to my prayer
and attend to the sound of my voice.

*NOTE: Psalms are meant to be sung or chanted. This has been so for thousands of years.

Listen here.

 Again taking up the topic of 'making my garden green again,' it is now on the approach of spring. The growing season is ahead. In our community and in others around the United States there is a green movement, one that is truly green, that supports all who participate. The idea is a 'community' garden in which a large plot of land is made available to all who wish to tend a part of it. They plant, cultivate and harvest from their own parcel and because of their efforts, they and every other person who chooses to garden there, receive the produce of any other parcel. It is then, truly a community garden. In our community, the local University and some other smaller entities make land available for this use. The university may be the largest, giving several acres to this endeavor.
 Each person freely enters into the process, grows a crop that is shared with one and all alike. There is fresh produce for the season, an avenue for good health, irrespective of social status or financial wherewithall. This truly community garden does not require any significant financial investment beyond seeds and any other soil amendments the prospective gardeners wish to make; all benefit. They work ultimately for food and for collective justice of the common good. And that is good which does no harm, which engages in food politics in a beneficial  manner. Will you find a garden and choose your plot today?