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Jumping for Joy

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

The Visitation by Domenico Ghirlandaio 1486-1490

This reflection is based on Luke 1:39-45 and the Joyful Mysteries: The Visitation.

At the sound of Mary’s greeting the pre-born child John leaped in his mother Elizabeth’s womb. I often wonder about Mary’s greeting, what she said, how far off she was etc.

I imagine the words of Mary’s greeting to be the common Hebrew greeting, “Shalom!” Shalom as you probably know is the Hebrew word for peace but it also means completeness, which implies wellness or wholeness. This greeting coming from our mother who alone received the fullness of grace is a great blessing indeed. Jesus greeted the disciples this way so it is fitting that Mary should greet us this way also. In her many apparitions Mary repeats the phrase, “Peace, peace, peace.” So when I pray the Joyful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary and I get to the Visitation, I now imagine Mary entering the room (her relative’s room and also my own room) and greeting everyone with, “Peace!” and blessing us from the fullness of grace that she received.

Notes:
In paintings Mary is often (but not always) pictured greeting Elizabeth outside the home yet in scripture it is written that she entered before she spoke her greeting. This may be a cultural custom or it may be that the outside grounds are considered part of the home. This also shows me how today Mary enters the homes of those who welcome her in prayer.

Various paintings of the visitation showing the greeting outside:

Visitation by Fra Angelico 1433-34

The Visitation by John of Stagnos, 1637

Visitation of Mary by Rogier van der Weyden 1440-1445

Visitation

O blessed Virgin Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

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Luke 1:39-45
View in: NAB Vulg Greek

39And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda.

40And she entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth.

41And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

42And she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

43And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.

45And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.

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A Constant Miracle

Sunday, November 15th, 2009

The Widow's Two Mites: Gustave Dore Aprx. 1866-70

This reflection was inspired by the Sunday Mass readings on Sunday November 8th 2009

1 Kings 17:10-16

Mark 12:41-44

Although the miracles of Jesus are in no way ordinary, when we read of them we usually expect something to change. A leper is made clean, a deformed arm grows, a fever breaks, and the possessed regain sanity and society. We seldom think about miracles where appearances remain constant such as the sun standing still for Joshua and the Israelites (Joshua 10:12-14) or a bush burning but is not consumed by the fire (Exodus 3:1-3). Such miracles Jesus is able to do with only two mites. He can sustain them for a miraculously long time because in heavenly terms a gift of total commitment is richness indeed. Both widows in both readings contribute their whole livelihood as Christ gives up his entire self. Such is the gift of the Eucharist. It’s a gift of Jesus’ total commitment as he is fully there, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. And it is a gift we receive with the total commitment of faith.

To those poor souls without the gift of faith the Eucharist appears ordinary, yet if the Church has taught you that Christ is present, veiled beneath the appearance of bread and of wine then you know that it is a miracle of miracles. Just as daily the measure of flour did not change for the widow, her son and Elijah, so too the appearances (or accidents) of the Eucharist do not change even though the substance does. This, apart from the presence of Christ, is a miracle. Think about it, when water turns to steam we see the change in its form and form is lesser than substance. Since substance is greater than form and since we can sense a change in form, wouldn’t we naturally expect to be able to sense a change in substance? So the fact that the appearances remain constant is a miracle.

Another way that the Eucharist is a constant miracle is in its potency no matter how small the piece it is broken into. Like the widow’s two mites which were tiny but potent, the tiniest piece of the Eucharist is 100% potent… it is 100% Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus.

The Eucharist is also constant in the respect that it is perpetual sacrifice and is always, somewhere in the world being offered.

It is constant in the respect that the Mass is the same no mater where in the world that you go (despite the sometimes less than subtle liberties often taken). The words of consecration, though they may be translated into vernacular are the same everywhere and throughout history since the Senegal.

The Eucharist truly is a constant miracle.

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Luke 1:39-45
View in: NAB Vulg Greek

39And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda.

40And she entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth.

41And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

42And she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

43And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.

45And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.

1 Kings 17:10-16
View in: NAB Vulg Hebrew

10He arose, and went to Sarephta. And when he was come to the gate of the city, he saw the widow woman gathering sticks, and he called her, and said to her: Give me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.

11And when she was going to fetch it he called after her, saying: Bring me also, I beseech thee, a morsel of bread in thy hand.

12And she answered: As the Lord thy God liveth, I have no bread, but only a handful of meal in a pot, and a little oil in a cruse: behold I am gathering two sticks that I may go in and dress it, for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

13And Elias said to her: Fear not, but go, and do as thou hast said: but first make for me of the same meal a little hearth cake, and bring it to me: and after make for thyself and thy son.

14For thus saith the Lord the God of Israel: The pot of meal shall not waste, nor the cruse of oil be diminished, until the day wherein the Lord will give rain upon the face of the earth.

15She went and did according to the word of Elias: and he ate, and she, and her house: and from that day

16The pot of meal wasted not, and the cruse of oil was not diminished, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke in the hand of Elias.

Mark 12:41-44
View in: NAB Vulg Greek

41And Jesus sitting over against the treasury, beheld how the people cast money into the treasury, and many that were rich cast in much.

42And there came a certain poor widow, and she cast in two mites, which make a farthing.

43And calling his disciples together, he saith to them: Amen I say to you, this poor widow hath cast in more than all they who have cast into the treasury.

44For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want cast in all she had, even her whole living.

Joshua 10:12-14
View in: NAB Vulg Hebrew

12Then Josue spoke to the Lord, in the day that he delivered the Amorrhite in the sight of the children of Israel, and he said before them: Move not, O sun, toward Gabaon, nor thou, O moon, toward the valley of Ajalon.

13And the sun and the moon stood still, till the people revenged themselves of their enemies. Is not this written in the book of the just? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down the space of one day.

14There was not before nor after so long a day, the Lord obeying the voice of a man, and fighting for Israel.

Exodus 3:1-3
View in: NAB Vulg Hebrew

1Now Moses fed the sheep of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Madian: and he drove the flock to the inner parts of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, Horeb.

2And the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he saw that the bush was on fire and was not burnt.

3And Moses said: I will go and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

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Transfiguration Cloud

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

This is the fruit of an Ignatian exercise on Friday 11-14-2008, contemplating Christ at the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8). I humbly offer this as pure speculation. I have no idea how it stands theologically.

The Transfiguration (top portion), Raffaello Sanzio 1516- 1520

What struck me about this passage, which I had never noticed before was that “a bright cloud cast a shadow over them.” I wondered if the cloud is bright then how is it that it can cast a shadow… [If the light is coming from the cloud wouldn’t it shine light]? Bright things usually illuminate other things. Then it occurred to me that the cloud is bright because there is a greater light behind it. If the cloud is blocking the light, as earthly clouds block the sun, then this cloud will cast a shadow. This made me see that the Father is covered with this cloud and the Father’s light shines through it and around it, such that the full greatness of Him is kept from our vision (cf Exodus 24:16-18). Later as I read that the cloud is the Holy Spirit (CCC 555), it occurred to me that this overshadowing is like that which God’s messenger Gabriel said would overshadow Mary so that she would conceive Jesus and He would be called holy and the Son of God(Luke 1:35). So here the cloud overshadows the Apostles, Moses and Elijah at the inception of the Church. Is it right to say that God conceived the Church in them? Certainly the Church is not the invention of man but men have cooperated with the Holy Spirit just as Mary cooperated with the Holy Spirit. The National Catholic Register wrote in their Guide to the Rosary that Peter, James and John, whom Jesus chose to witness the transfiguration, were thus rewarded for three acts of piety:
1. Saying yes to Christ’s invitation
2. Praying
3. Staying close to Jesus
This is what we honor Mary for doing at the Annunciation when she heard the good news that she would bare Christ. Mary was likewise rewarded for:
1. Saying yes to be God’s handmaid (Luke 1:38)
2. Praying and keeping these things in her heart (Luke 2:19)
3. Staying close to Jesus
So I think that this idea has merit… that the Apostles bore and raised the Church as Mary bore and raised Jesus. That brings up the question, when was the Church conceived rather than born or instituted (Jesus instituted the Church at His Ascension Matthew 28:18-20)? It may be that the Church was announced at the Transfiguration, conceived at the Last Supper, labored for at the Crucifixion and born at the Resurrection. Indeed, as scripture says, this child was born quickly…

Isaiah 66:7-8
7Before she was in labour, she brought forth; before her time came to be delivered, she brought forth a man child.
8Who hath ever heard such a thing? and who hath seen the like to this? shall the earth bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be brought forth at once, because Sion hath been in labour, and hath brought forth her children?

Resource:
National Catholic Register – Guide to the Rosary, Copyright 2003 Circle Media Inc., pg 25

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Luke 1:39-45
View in: NAB Vulg Greek

39And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda.

40And she entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth.

41And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

42And she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

43And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.

45And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.

1 Kings 17:10-16
View in: NAB Vulg Hebrew

11And when she was going to fetch it he called after her, saying: Bring me also, I beseech thee, a morsel of bread in thy hand.

13And Elias said to her: Fear not, but go, and do as thou hast said: but first make for me of the same meal a little hearth cake, and bring it to me: and after make for thyself and thy son.

14For thus saith the Lord the God of Israel: The pot of meal shall not waste, nor the cruse of oil be diminished, until the day wherein the Lord will give rain upon the face of the earth.

15She went and did according to the word of Elias: and he ate, and she, and her house: and from that day

16The pot of meal wasted not, and the cruse of oil was not diminished, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke in the hand of Elias.

Mark 12:41-44
View in: NAB Vulg Greek

41And Jesus sitting over against the treasury, beheld how the people cast money into the treasury, and many that were rich cast in much.

42And there came a certain poor widow, and she cast in two mites, which make a farthing.

43And calling his disciples together, he saith to them: Amen I say to you, this poor widow hath cast in more than all they who have cast into the treasury.

44For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want cast in all she had, even her whole living.

Joshua 10:12-14
View in: NAB Vulg Hebrew

14There was not before nor after so long a day, the Lord obeying the voice of a man, and fighting for Israel.

Exodus 3:1-3
View in: NAB Vulg Hebrew

1Now Moses fed the sheep of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Madian: and he drove the flock to the inner parts of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, Horeb.

2And the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he saw that the bush was on fire and was not burnt.

3And Moses said: I will go and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

Matthew 17:1-8
View in: NAB Vulg Greek

1And after six days Jesus taketh unto him Peter and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart:

2And he was transfigured before them. And his face did shine as the sun: and his garments became white as snow.

3And behold there appeared to them Moses and Elias talking with him.

4And Peter answering, said to Jesus: Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

5And as he was yet speaking, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them. And lo, a voice out of the cloud, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him.

6And the disciples hearing, fell upon their face, and were very much afraid.

7And Jesus came and touched them: and said to them, Arise, and fear not.

8And they lifting up their eyes saw no one but only Jesus.

Exodus 24:16-18
View in: NAB Vulg Hebrew

16And the glory of the Lord dwelt upon Sinai, covering it with a cloud six days: and the seventh day he called him out of the midst of the cloud.

17And the sight of the glory of the Lord was like a burning fire upon the top of the mount, in the eyes of the children of Israel.

18And Moses, entering into the midst of the cloud, went up into the mountain: and he was there forty days, and forty nights.

Luke 1:35
View in: NAB Vulg Greek

35And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Luke 1:38
View in: NAB Vulg Greek

38And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Luke 2:19
View in: NAB Vulg Greek

19But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart.

Matthew 28:18-20
View in: NAB Vulg Greek

18And Jesus coming, spoke to them, saying: All power is given to me in heaven and in earth.

19Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.

CCC 555

¶555 For a moment Jesus discloses his divine glory, confirming Peter's confession. He also reveals that he will have to go by the way of the cross at Jerusalem in order to "enter into his glory". Moses and Elijah had seen God's glory on the Mountain; the Law and the Prophets had announced the Messiah's sufferings. Christ's Passion is the will of the Father: the Son acts as God's servant; the cloud indicates the presence of the Holy Spirit. "The whole Trinity appeared: the Father in the voice; the Son in the man; the Spirit in the shining cloud."

You were transfigured on the mountain, and your disciples, as much as they were capable of it, beheld your glory, O Christ our God, so that when they should see you crucified they would understand that your Passion was voluntary, and proclaim to the world that you truly are the splendor of the Father.

Tags: Bible, Catholic, Jesus, reflections, Transfiguration
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From Cana to Senegal & from Baptism to Eucharist

Tuesday, September 1st, 2009

RE: John 2:1-11

1596-97 Vrouwekathedraal, Antwerp

Wine is representative of the work of human hands because the grapes must be cultivated, harvested, crushed and contained. So when the wine runs out it is representative of the insufficiency of man’s work to provide the elements that facilitate joy and celebration. Since the wedding is a union of man and woman, who are in the likeness of God, it represents the coming together of Heaven and Earth. The question then arises, how will the celebration go on when the wine runs out, or how will the union of man and God be celebrated if man’s work is insufficient? Christ Himself must make up for our insufficiencies. Since no man’s work is sufficient on its own merit to bring him to God, God must make up the difference. How does Jesus bridge the gap? Jesus first instructs the workers to fill jars with water. And here is where every Christian journey begins, with instruction and the purifying waters of baptism. Take notice in John 2:6 that the stone water jars that are used for this miracle are intended to be used for purifying (ceremonial washing: NAB). The baptismal waters are just a beginning because the water must be turned to wine before the head waiter approves. In a sense the head waiter is like God the Father who at His son’s baptism declares, “This is my Son in whom I am well pleased.” Similarly, the head waiter approves of the wine in an extraordinary way. The wine that Christ makes is more than sufficient in both quantity and quality and the head waiter testifies that it is better than the first wine, which was already good. This refers to the first or Old Covenant which is good not because of man’s effort but because of God’s goodness. Now the New Covenant that the Father makes is greater than the first covenant because the sacrifice will not be the blood of creatures but of His own Son. In the context of a wedding celebration this covenant shows God’s plan to save the celebration of life, which is the union of man to God. This plan involves the obedience of man, our receptiveness to His instruction and our effort in carrying out that instruction no matter how insufficient our work is. We see this kind of obedience in the actions of the waiters whom Mary tells to do as Jesus says.

Institution of the Holy Eucharist

In this plan, Jesus leads us from one sacrament to another; from repentance through Baptism to communion through the Holy Eucharist. For now, at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry He makes the water into wine yet when His ministry culminates in the Senegal and on the Cross He will make the wine into His blood. It is through water that we come to His Body and Blood; it is through Baptism that we come to the Holy Eucharist.
© Tim Bartel 2009

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Luke 1:39-45
View in: NAB Vulg Greek

39And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda.

40And she entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth.

41And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

42And she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

43And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.

45And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.

1 Kings 17:10-16
View in: NAB Vulg Hebrew

11And when she was going to fetch it he called after her, saying: Bring me also, I beseech thee, a morsel of bread in thy hand.

13And Elias said to her: Fear not, but go, and do as thou hast said: but first make for me of the same meal a little hearth cake, and bring it to me: and after make for thyself and thy son.

14For thus saith the Lord the God of Israel: The pot of meal shall not waste, nor the cruse of oil be diminished, until the day wherein the Lord will give rain upon the face of the earth.

15She went and did according to the word of Elias: and he ate, and she, and her house: and from that day

16The pot of meal wasted not, and the cruse of oil was not diminished, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke in the hand of Elias.

Mark 12:41-44
View in: NAB Vulg Greek

41And Jesus sitting over against the treasury, beheld how the people cast money into the treasury, and many that were rich cast in much.

42And there came a certain poor widow, and she cast in two mites, which make a farthing.

43And calling his disciples together, he saith to them: Amen I say to you, this poor widow hath cast in more than all they who have cast into the treasury.

44For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want cast in all she had, even her whole living.

Joshua 10:12-14
View in: NAB Vulg Hebrew

14There was not before nor after so long a day, the Lord obeying the voice of a man, and fighting for Israel.

Exodus 3:1-3
View in: NAB Vulg Hebrew

1Now Moses fed the sheep of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Madian: and he drove the flock to the inner parts of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, Horeb.

2And the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he saw that the bush was on fire and was not burnt.

3And Moses said: I will go and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

Matthew 17:1-8
View in: NAB Vulg Greek

1And after six days Jesus taketh unto him Peter and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart:

2And he was transfigured before them. And his face did shine as the sun: and his garments became white as snow.

3And behold there appeared to them Moses and Elias talking with him.

4And Peter answering, said to Jesus: Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

5And as he was yet speaking, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them. And lo, a voice out of the cloud, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him.

6And the disciples hearing, fell upon their face, and were very much afraid.

7And Jesus came and touched them: and said to them, Arise, and fear not.

8And they lifting up their eyes saw no one but only Jesus.

Exodus 24:16-18
View in: NAB Vulg Hebrew

16And the glory of the Lord dwelt upon Sinai, covering it with a cloud six days: and the seventh day he called him out of the midst of the cloud.

17And the sight of the glory of the Lord was like a burning fire upon the top of the mount, in the eyes of the children of Israel.

18And Moses, entering into the midst of the cloud, went up into the mountain: and he was there forty days, and forty nights.

Luke 1:35
View in: NAB Vulg Greek

Luke 1:38
View in: NAB Vulg Greek

38And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Luke 2:19
View in: NAB Vulg Greek

19But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart.

Matthew 28:18-20
View in: NAB Vulg Greek

18And Jesus coming, spoke to them, saying: All power is given to me in heaven and in earth.

19Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.

CCC 555

John 2:1-11
View in: NAB Vulg Greek

1And the third day, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee: and the mother of Jesus was there.

2And Jesus also was invited, and his disciples, to the marriage.

3And the wine failing, the mother of Jesus saith to him: They have no wine.

4And Jesus saith to her: Woman, what is that to me and to thee? my hour is not yet come.

5His mother saith to the waiters: Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye.

6Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three measures apiece.

7Jesus saith to them: Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.

8And Jesus saith to them: Draw out now, and carry to the chief steward of the feast. And they carried it.

9And when the chief steward had tasted the water made wine, and knew not whence it was, but the waiters knew who had drawn the water; the chief steward calleth the bridegroom,

10And saith to him: Every man at first setteth forth good wine, and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse. But thou hast kept the good wine until now.

11This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee; and manifested his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

John 2:6
View in: NAB Vulg Greek

6Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three measures apiece.

Tags: Cana, luminous, Mary, mysteries, rosary, wedding
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Two Standards – Part ONE

Thursday, August 20th, 2009

Note:

This post is the result of an Ignatius exercise I did a year ago. The exercise is to contrast the devil’s standard with Christ’s standard. Although I completed the meditation I did not write type the second half (I may have hand written notes but I cannot find them at present). I can still recall some of the images of Christ’s standard and perhaps if I do the exercise again (or if I find my notes) I will publish the second part.

Part ONE:

Paradise Lost - Gustave Dore

I was in the middle of the field of grain that I had planted when I had the thought to survey my crops. So I climbed a near by hill that overlooks my property. From there I could see the small expanse of my handiwork. The grains were tall and moved with the wind gently dancing beneath a bright pale blue sky. Off to the left, in the peripheral of my vision I saw something dark. Is it rain clouds I wondered? Then the darkness grew and billowed out like smoke from a raging fire, thick and black. As I stared, half in curiosity and half in dreaded fear of a fire started by lightning, I found myself drawn nearer to the darkness. My vision was pulled closer, though I stood yet firm on the tiny outcropping of mud and grass near my home. Still my eyes could see what was afar just as if I were near that distant darkness. I saw a glimpse of something red and fiery cutting through the smoke like the eyes of a possum at midnight when caught by a strong beam of light. It flashed at me and I was drawn in closer. I saw hundreds of thousands of men and women dancing and cavorting, undulating in and swaying to a deep and pulsing drumbeat. This dance in the brimstone darkness was different than the dance of the grain in the sun. This dance came not from the wind as it breathed or the stalks as they moved, but rather it pulsed outward from the center of the darkness like waves of percussion, like shock waves from the constant pounding. The people seemed enraptured in the dance. In my minds eye I kept moving inward toward the center. Now I saw people whose eyes had turned white as if they turned their eyes inward to look upon themselves. They had creatures on their shoulders and heads; tiny beasts of varying type. Some were like cats, some like ravens and still others like reptiles. Still further in I saw people with these creatures, snakes mostly, twisting about them and speaking in their ears. Moving deeper toward the dark center of this place I saw many, many hundreds of thousands of people with snakes burrowing through their bodies, moving in and out of their flesh like worms in viscous mud. The people there stood nearly catatonic, not dancing at all but still as if completely given over to the movements of the serpents. The people’s heads were turned upward and their mouths open as if dry from thirst. But no water was given them. They breathed not but the beasts writhing in them breathed for them. The pounding of drums was now so deafening that I hardly could think of anything else. And them I saw the greatest beast of hem all at the center of the darkness. It was almost completely dark except for the red flicker of flames that occasionally showed through the black smoke. This giant dragon was many stories tall and scaled from head to toe. It had six wings and six large hands with millions of threads attached like spiders webs but strong like steel cables. These threads went from the dragon’s hands, through the black smoke and ended in the tiny beasts and snakes that slither though the people’s bodies. When the dragon thumped its tail it caused the horrible beat which traveled not just through the air but also along the spider threads to the small beasts and the people sense it heightened so that they no longer have control. Fear ran through me so great that it stopped my heart for a moment and I feared that the dragon had pulled me in with the others. I feared the worst, that the beasts were in me and I had stopped breathing too. In an instant I thought of all the good things I was losing. I thought of home, the blue sky and the fields of grain. I thought I would never see those things again like I had died while yet living. Then a bolt of lightning shot out at my feet and shocked my body knocking me backward and leaving me unconscious.

When I woke up the smoke and fire, dragon and beasts, drumbeat, webs and people were all gone from my sight and I could breathe and feel my heart beating for itself once again. Was it real? I had no doubt even if no one would ever believe me. Gaining my strength I got up and went down the hill into my field to breath in the thick air sweetened with wheat. The grains had grown tall. They were over my head and sun illuminated their dancing heads as the stalks brushed against each other to the movement of gentle breezes. They made a heartwarming bustling sound like women dressed to the hilt in beautiful gowns rushing to make ready for a grand ball. As I moved through the field the waves of stalks parted but for one that stood directly in my path. It was not a stalk of grain but a weed, darker and stronger that the wheat. I thought to cut it down and as I grabbed a hold of the stalk I came close enough to it to see that it had my name written on the main stem. Then when I recoiled, startled at this, I saw another weed and another and still many more all with my name on them.

Note about part two:

In the second part I fall prey to the drum beat but am rescued by a flood of water and am carried on its waves to a brighter land where I meet a king who bids me to sow better seeds.