Go Out For The Sake Of The Gospel : remember Godspell?
What do I do in order to communicate to others the joy of encountering (God)? Pope Francis
Fifty years ago, while a resolute resister of all things religious, refusing even to utter the word g-o-d, I found (lost) the self (not-self) that I thought I was in the straight-forward, heart sweeping songs of Godspell. Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak’s wonky and irreverent musical winnows the heart of the parables, as written in the Gospel text according to Matthew, and serves me marrow unfettered by doctrine, dogma, or a vindictive death demanding g-o-d. And I swallowed it without ever seeing what was being served!
I sang the words of Godspell songs that made me laugh, tear up and wonder with their happy, sad, eager and shy characters. It never occurred to me that I was singing stories lifted straight out of the Bible. Who do you think I am? Surely not one of those “Jesus Freaks” — hippies for g-o-d! Nonetheless, there I was singing tunes of hope and humility, forgiveness and generosity, and a promise of light that shines in every person.
Is that when the seeds of my future (utterly unlikely) vocation fell on the first bit of fertile soil? Me, unwittingly belting out the good news of gods-spell, which is actually a literal translation (Anglo-Saxon) of the word ‘gospel,’ aka good story. Today I rather like the notion of “gods-spell;” God’s subtle allure, slipping in, charming me , drawing me out (for drearily long decades because I am a rather rebellious and unruly wretch) before delivering the whammy. “You are called to work as a pastor, priest and teacher,” communicating to others the joy of encountering “God in all things.” So, here I am. Inconceivable!
Have a listen to Turn Back, O Man If you open this is a new window you can read the lyrics below.
Today I understand Sonia , more or less, represents Mary Magdalene
[SONIA]
Turn back, O man
Forswear thy foolish ways
Old now is earth
And none may count her days
Da da da da da
Yet thou, her child
Whose head is crowned with flame
Still wilt not hear
Thine inner God proclaim
Turn back, O man (Is your seat comfortable, sir?)
Turn back, O man (Mmm, I like that)
Turn back, O man (Can you take it?)
Forswear thy foolish ways
See ya later
I’m going to the front of the theater
Earth might be fair
And all men glad and wise
Age after age their tragic empires rise
Da da da da da
Built while they dream
And in that dreaming weep
Would man but wake
From out his haunted sleep
Turn back, O man (Mmmm, I’ll say it again)
Turn back, O man (Can you see from where you’re sittin’?)
Turn back, O man (How do ya likе that?)
Forswear thy foolish ways
[JESUS]
Earth shall be fair
And all her pеople one
Nor till that hour
Shall God’s own will be done
Now, even now
Once more from earth to sky
Peals forth in joy
Man’s old undaunted cry
Earth shall be fair
And all her people one
[SONIA]
Come here, Jesus, I got somethin’ to show ya
Turn back, O man
Forswear thy foolish ways
Old now is Earth
And none may count her days
Hey yea, yea, yea
Yet thou, her child
Whose head is crowned with flame
Still will not hear
Thine inner God proclaim
Turn back, O man
Turn back, O man
Turn back, O man
Forswear thy foolish ways!
Ba da mm ba dow! Bow!
Words through Debra Asis, by the grace of Infinite Generativity
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Pope Francis’ quote is found in today’s selection in An Ignatian Book of Days by Jim Manney is a series of daily reflections from the Spiritual Wisdom of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Throughout the book we hear the voices of St. Ignatius as well as many great thinkers and writers, long gone and present day, each uniquely revealing the way of finding God in all things. And that is my intention; to find God/Divine Presence/Ultimate Reality in whatever presents itself to me each day in 2024.
Each day I read, reflect and write on the selection, hoping to articulate the ways in which I come to know God/Divine Presence/Ultimate Reality via personal experience, impelled by the leading of my inner life.
INVITATION
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All words are generated by grace and the grit of a real human being,
Debra Asis writing challenge
