Reading the newspapers lately, and Sheila’s posting the other day, about the tragedy on the gulf coast reminded me of something that seemed worth relaying….
Just about a month ago, Fr. McFadden (the voice of Hoyas basketball, and the man who taught me my first formal theology) gave a pretty great homily about water. Now, Fr. McFadden can tell a story, and he usually does. On this Sunday the gospel was about Peter walking out to meet Jesus on the water, and then getting scared, and starting to sink.
Rather than starting here, Fr. McF. began with the wonderful imagery from Gilead, where John Ames is recalling walking to his church one morning when he comes up behind some young lovers out for a walk. He sees the young man jump up and shake a tree branch, showering the young woman with glistening drops of water from the leaves. Rev. Ames is overwhelmed with the pure joy of this interaction, and comments that, “it is easy to believe in such moments that water was made primarily for blessing, and only secondarily for growing vegetables or doing the wash.” It’s this infusion of the holy into the mundane that makes Gilead such a great book.
But, Fr. McF’s point was altogether different–though he loved the imagery–we know, as Peter knew and the folks in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas know, water can be a tremendously dangerous and scary thing. It’s hard to see how this water could be a blessing. But, I suppose, it’s our chance to pony up some serious support, ’cause these folks are sinking.
- American Red Cross — (800) HELP-NOW
- America’s Second Harvest — (877) 817-2307
- Catholic Charities USA — (800) 919-9338
- United Jewish Communities
I must read Gilead, it sounds wonderful.
Water is such a powerful element as it functions on so many levels in our lives fundamentally and spiritually.
In the case of the Gulf Coast, it seems as if water functions as a blessing and a danger simultaneously. So many people lived in the area because of the water and all that it brings: goods, commerce, food/sustenance, recreation, tourists. So while it was the cause of devastation, water will probably be part of their salvation and rebirth.
We just hope that this rebirth can begin soon.