A luminous week

Sometimes when the full moon rises high in the midnight sky and there is a bit of moisture in the air, it almost seems like there is a night light on. During the last full moon, I awoke in the night and stepped out on our deck and marveled at how luminous it all was. I could see throughout the back yard and because of the slight cloud cover, I could not see the full moon. It was a bit mystical... and so I marveled at it all and went back to my bed.
I did not take a picture of it but this past week I enjoyed several experiences that in their own right were quite luminous and mystical:
On Saturday the 4th we spent the day with 55 high school youth who began the intentional process of reflecting on their life of faith. Rather a lofty goal, but with the guidance of the Spirit and the hands and voices of our group of 16 peers and 6 adults, we journeyed together through the day. All went well and we ended at twilight with a visit to the cemetery and our small chapel (snug for our group, but helpful for groupiness). It always moves me as we witness the group wandering amongst the grave stones seeking the one of which they will make a tracing. The significance of noting the cold hard reality of physical death marked by the stark recognition of only the DASH between our dates as a sign of those who have gone before us is something for us all to reflect on over the next several months.


If that was not enough to brighten your day, this past Saturday a group of us traveled to the freshly restored Basilica in downtown Baltimore for the Illumination event. This basilica was constucted starting in 1806 and in celebration of its 200 years it has undergone a major restoration effort to bring it back to its original architectural design... the young church of Baltimore was invited to participate in the celebration. Twenty-two of us rode the bus in after a stop at Resurrection Parish to pick up 16 from there and 16 from St Francis. We arrived in time to find a seat and celebrate the mass with Cardinal Keeler, Bishop Malooly who presided and Bishops Rozansky and Madden concelebrating. To recount the experience like that is backwards though because the most immediate and overwhelming part of the experience was upon entering the Basilica... an overwhelming sense of lightness and luminosity filled the space. It was not lit from the light of a full moon, but from beautiifully designed spaces and well hidden lighting. The sense of awe and wonder stayed with me throughout the mass. I couldn't help looking up to take it all in.
How appropriate it was that the effect on me was that I was drawn to a sense of awe for the majesty of the space which directed our thoughts to our Creator God. King David said it well in 2 Samuel 7 "See now I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent"... and intrinsically all who love the Lord seek a special place that elevates our spirits to God. Ultimately, Solomon had the honor of building the Temple to house the ark of the covenant...and yet this past Saturday we had the honor of building up the Body of Christ as hundreds of believers gathered to sing the praises of the Lord in a temple dedicated to the Lord.










And after the mass we moved to the side street called Mulberry and viewed the slide show, laser and fireworks to celebrate the 200 years of freedom of religion experienced here in the states... Kimmie Meissner was there with Sergeant Chris and Bishops Malooly and Madden to countdown to the show...


























Our group at the end was jubilantly in awe and oneness (thanks to our photographer of the group pic Mr John)
Sorry for the extended post as this was certainly an illuminating week!!!