Fifteenth of Year A. 11
July 2011
Over the last few weeks some of you might have got the impressing that I was rubbishing prayer, processions, pilgrimages, long impressive liturgies, extended periods of prayer, etc.
Nothing of the sort. What I have been doing is putting these, lets call them ’spiritual exercises,’ in their proper place and perspective.
I am sure that many of you watched ladies day at Ascot on the TV. Most of you probably watched the recent royal wedding. The style of the ladies is to be marvelled at. The ‘piece de resistance’ is of course the headgear. For the ladies the headgear is the eye catcher. The focus of envy and jealousy. The ‘arena of contest.’
I used to watch my mother when she was investing in a new outfit. Thankfully this did not happen very often in Ireland during the forties and fifties.
The first thing and the most important was what was called the new costume. This was two-piece and was made by a dressmaker over a period of a many months after much measuring and fitting and refitting. This was a source of grinding boredom for a boy of four, five, six, or seven who was hauled along to stop him from getting lost in the big city. Next came the shoes - again endless searching and fitting by elderly shop attendants who regularly disappeared into dark alcoves and re-emerged with new treasures.
Only then came the hat. This involved much trying on and consultation and viewing in many mirrors before purchase, but was always the last article to be bought.
In those days everywoman wore a hat but never just purchased a hat. It was always bought as part of an a full outfit. The hat was essential but had to fit in with the already purchased outfit.
What I have been saying over the past few weeks is that prayer in common, liturgy, pilgrimages, processions, fasting etc. are the hat.
Just as the hat is the crowning glory of the well dressed woman so too extended periods of common prayer, grand liturgies, fasting, pilgrimages etc. should also be the crowning glory of a life dedicated to giving, compassion, tolerance for all, forgiveness and service to others.
Without this foundation my spiritual exercises, my grand liturgies, my lengthy prayer cessions will be meaningless if not ludicrous - a spectacle, like a lady wearing an Ascot hat over a baggy sweater, jeans and green wellies.
One can easily get preoccupied with ‘spiritual exercises,’ and, when reminded of the necessity of service to others and sharing ones good fortune with others, finds the reply ’but I always pray for them’ adequate.
For the Christian both are necessary.
“Look, you fast and pray only to quarrel and to fight.
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover them,
and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up quickly;
Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;”