Good Fridays

A few months ago here in Baghdad during a spike in deaths among our own, our small group of ministerial brothers together decided to set aside Fridays for prayer. Some of us fast a meal or two, some gather in our chapels at a certain hour, and some quietly pray in our offices. We invite anyone anywhere to join us. Friday is significant as a day of contrition considering it was the day of Christ's death. Sundays are for resurrection, Fridays are for death; Sundays for standing, Fridays for kneeling; Sundays for strength, Fridays for weakness; Sunday a feast, Friday a fast. As ancient and biblical as any cycle of prayer, the week witnesses to our union with the life of Christ come into the world's moments of life and death. Pray with us for peace in our time.

Where liberty dwells, there is my country.

I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers—and it was not there … in her fertile fields and boundless forests—and it was not there … in her rich mines and her vast world commerce—and it was not there … in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution—and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.

Alexis de Tocqueville (1805–59)

From Cluny to Cîteaux--Did I really ask for this?

In order to make some sense of life over the last couple of years far from my usual comforts, I’ve turned through the pages of books reflecting on

men and women who ran from civilization into the desert in order to find God. Having spent some of my childhood in the Sonoran desert, my early notions of desert life considered it a controlled place of play and adventure. Now as a man, the desert has taken on a more horrific sense. It strikes me as odd to think of finding God here. Yet, these desert men and women were convinced that their trek into the desert was a journey toward divine majesty. When I've found God's presence elusive, they have pointed out that time in a Pauline Damascus can lead to Christ. The letter to the Hebrews seems to suggest the same inviting us Today to see the holy in an unholy harsh place.

Father Doulus “the slave” and student of Father Bessarion tells a story of God’s presence: When we were walking along the sea one day, I was thirsty, so I said to Father Bessarion, Father, I am very thirsty. Then the old man prayed, and said to me, Drink from the sea. The water was sweet when I drank it. And I poured it into a flask, so that I would not be thirsty later. Seeing this, the old man asked me, Why are you doing that? I answered, Excuse me, but it's so that I won't be thirsty later on. Then the old man said, God is here, and God is everywhere.

God is here.