Untying the knots – open to the healing touch of love
LEAD ME, GUIDE ME |
Johann George Schmidtner
- Mary Untier of Knots |
This painting in the church of St Peter am Perlach in Ausburg, Germany, drew Jesuit Jorge Mario Bergoglio, into deep reflection upon his life. Untying the knots became a metaphor for pondering life, acknowledging what was binding him from living life more faithfully, and then discerning ways to untie these ‘knots’. In fact it became a symbol for the people of Argentina when Jorge Bergoglio returned to his homeland. For us too it can become a symbol to open us to the healing touch of God. |
A reading from the gospel according to Mark
A leper came to him and pleaded on his knees:
‘If you want to you can cure me.’ Feeling sorry for him, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying. ‘Of course I want to! Be cured!’ And the leprosy left him at once and he was cured. Jesus immediately sent him away and sternly ordered him, ‘Mind you say nothing to anyone, but go and show yourself to the priest, and make the offering for your healing prescribed by Moses as evidence of your recovery.’ The man went away, but then started talking about it freely and telling the story everywhere, so that Jesus could no longer go openly into any town, but had to stay outside in places where nobody lived. Even so, people from all around would come to him. Mark 1: 40-45 In the time of Jesus leprosy made a person unclean and they were expected to live on the
edges of villages away from the flow of daily life within a village. This leper had courage to seek out Jesus and his courage was acknowledged in being cured. But this gesture of healing had consequences for Jesus – he could no longer move freely. He had touched a leper and that was against the law.
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RELEASE ME FROM THE DARK FURY O Holy and Haunting Presence whose spirit moves quietly but surely in the sound and fury of the world and of my life, you know me as rushing water knows the rock and releases its beauty to reflect new life. Open me to the insistent abrasiveness of your grace, for I often trivialize love by abandoning the struggles which accompany its joys and rejecting the changes which lead to fulfilments. Release me from the dark fury of assuming I am unloved when the day calls for sacrifice and the night for courage. Release me from the ominous fear of thinking some sin or failure of mine can separate me from you when life demands hard choices and the battle, high risks. Release me from the dangerous illusions of independence when the human family summons me to the realities and promises of interdependence among races, sexes, nations. Release me from being possessed by riches I do not need and grievances that weary me when you call me to share my very self with neighbours and to reflect for the world the light of the kingdom within me. Ted Loder – Guerillas of Grace |
HEALING IS YOUR TOUCH |
Reflection and Suggestions
Paul Vallely’s book Pope Francis: Untying the Knots draws inspiration from Francis’ devotion to this art work as a way of reflecting upon the unfolding of Jorge Bergoglio’s life. He names those darker moments in his life as leader of the Jesuits and his difficulties in dealing with the political realities of his times. The image is powerful as we see life’s circumstances enable Jorge to reflect upon his past in the light of new experiences and insights gained in his work among the poor in Argentina. This enabled him to begin a journey of ‘untying the knots’ in his own life and we see today the man he has become. This chance visit to the church in Augsburg became a moment of grace for Jorge and now for us as we respond to the invitations he is offering us as the leader of our faith tradition. Sometimes it is helpful to have something tactile as we ritualise faith. Thick wool, rope or strands of calico could be given to each person. As the prayer unfolds you might invite people to tie knots symbolic of their own shadow, weakness, failure… you may even invite them to knot it tightly around the arm and feel what a knot can do to the circulation…. And draw the comparison that sin can block the flow of life within us personally and among us as a community. This prayer could be used in preparation for reconciliation or during Lent. |