New Wineskins Summer 2006

NewWineSkins New Wineskins is intended to be a collaborative effort of Jesuits and lay students of JSTB. Consequently, the editorial board shall endeavor to preserve a ratio of three Jesuit editors to two lay editors, or vice versa, in the composition of the board itself.

In addition, the role of editor in chief will rotate thusly: in even calendar years (e.g., 2006), a Jesuit; in odd calendar years, a lay student.

All articles and material contained in New Wineskins, the Journal of the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley are the intellectual property of the authors and may not be reproduced or used without the written consent of the authors.

Cover Design by Oliver Putz

Š Copyright 2006 Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley.

NewWineSkins Table of Contents A Jesuit’s Journey through the Refugee World

1

Tom Greene, S.J., traveled to southern Africa to learn about the plight of refugees. What he discovered struck far closer to home.

The Overlooked Ones

7

Karen Chambers recounts a miraculous story from the perspective of

two children in ancient Israel and relates it to a parallel context in Los Angeles.

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

14

Kyle Lierk reflects on what the Good Friday experience of Mary, the

Mother of God, has to communicate to mothers in similar circumstances.

“I Wake and Feel”

18

Justin Walsh analyzes and dwells with the poem I wake and feel by

Gerard Manley Hopkins, thereby revealing the poem’s poignant insights into the experience of darkness and despair.

Memorial Mass Homily Fr. John Endres , S.J., bears witness to the Resurrection of Christ during a memorial Mass for the only child of a JSTB staff member.

25

Editor’s Forward On behalf of the editorial staff, I want to greet those of you reading this first edition of New Wineskins, an on-line journal of the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley.

The impetus for the journal was quite simple: while we students read the works of the likes of Norman Gottwald, Karl Rahner, and Elizabeth Johnson, as well as the interdisciplinary scholarship of many of our own faculty members, we nonetheless have scant opportunity to read one another’s work. Yet we know from class discussions, liturgies, and informal conversations that we are a talented and motivated bunch. Thus, the logical question arises: what does the culturally contextualized study of theology, and a faith that contributes to justice, mean to us? Furthermore, what themes inspire students most to ‘speak in their own voices’?

Let me say a word about the composition of the first edition. The editorial staff decided, rather than soliciting papers around a specific topic, to post a general call for papers on the Magis electronic newsletter during the first two weeks of March. This yielded some twenty manuscripts, of which five were selected for inclusion in this first edition.

These seemed to coalesce around the theme of faith and love in the midst of suf fering.

And while said theme might seem rather heavy for an inaugural edition of a journal, the reader will discover abundant rays of hope in the theological reflections, exegesis, and homily that follow, bearing witness to the presence of God in a refugee camp in Africa, at Oakland Children’s Hospital, and in a memorial Mass celebrated in JSTB’s Gésu Chapel.

The articles will also focus the reader’s gaze upon the prophet Elisha, and upon the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins.

Meanwhile, I wish to thank Fr. T. Howland Sanks, S.J., for his time and input as faculty reader; to Jill Marshall and Fr. Jack Treloar, S.J., for their enthusiastic response to the journal concept at its earliest stage of development; and to Julie Benbow, Eloise Helwig, and Catherine Kelly whose advocacy and technical expertise were indispensable to the realization of the project. Receive my heartfelt gratitude.

Finally, an uncle of mine, a professor of education for more than thirty years, is fond of saying that “Feedback, rather than Wheaties, is the ‘Breakfast of Champions.’”

With this in mind, I invite you to share your comments about the journal with the editorial staff, whether in writing or by word of mouth, as we plot a course for the second edition next fall. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy reading New Wineskins.

Sincerely, Tim Manatt, S.J., Editor † A.M.D.G.

Photo by Hanh D. Pham, S.J.

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7E BEGIN THE ONE HOUR DRIVE TO $ZALEKA #AMP WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE HILLS OUT SIDE OF ,ILONGWE -ALAWI S CAPITAL CITY 4HE CAMP IS SITUATED ON THE SITE OF A FORMER PRISON AND AS WITH MOST PRISONS THE LOCATION WAS PICKED BECAUSE OF ITS INHOSPITABLE ENVIRON MENT 4HE AREA IS DRY AND HOT IN THE SUMMER AND COLD AND WET IN THE -ALAWIAN WINTERS 7E ARRIVE AT THE CAMP WHICH IS BASICALLY A GRID OF WHITE ONE STORY UNITS THAT CAN HOUSE

REFUGEES (OWEVER THE CAMP HAS GROWN TO ABOUT FOUR THOUSAND SMALL BY REFUGEE CAMP STANDARDS AND NOW A SPRAWL OF MUD BRICK HUTS HAS EMERGED AROUND THE CORE GRID 4HE TEMPERATURE DIPS DOWN TO ABOUT FORTY DEGREES AT NIGHT WHICH MAKES THINGS DIFlCULT FOR NEWLY ARRIVED REFUGEES WHO ARE WITHOUT BLANKETS OR WARM CLOTHES 4HE CAMP IS lLLED WITH SICK CHILDREN AND THE REFUGEES WANDER ABOUT IN ANY WARM CLOTHING THAT THEY CAN lND 4HE ADULTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO WORK OR GO TO SCHOOL AND THERE ARE NO RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AT THE CAMP EXCEPT FOR A LIBRARY WHICH *23 STARTED TWO YEARS AGO

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3UDANESE #ONGOLESE AND %RITREAN 4HE CAMP ADMINISTRATOR HAS BEEN MEETING WITH THEM IN THE HOPE THAT THEY WILL DESIST FROM THEIR VOW TO RIOT IF THE BLANKETS THAT ARE IN THE STORAGE WAREHOUSE ARE NOT DISTRIBUTED EQUALLY TO EACH NATIONALITY REGARDLESS OF NEED 4HIS POLICY MEANS THAT THE NEW ARRIVALS WILL RECEIVE NOTHING BUT REFUGEES ALREADY POSSESSING BLANKETS WILL RECEIVE MORE 4HE GAME IS TO GET MORE BLANKETS AND THEN SELL THEM IN TOWN n AN UNFORTUNATE MOVE THAT CAUSES HARD FEELINGS WITH LOCALS WHO HAVE NO BLANKETS AND PERCEIVE REFUGEES AS HAVING MORE THAN ENOUGH !FTER AN UPDATE FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR ) HEAD OUT ON MY ROUNDS TO VISIT REFUGEES AND DETERMINE WHICH ONES WE CAN AFFORD TO HELP WITH THE LIMITED RESOURCES OF *23

) PASS THE NURSERY SCHOOL WHICH IS A SMALL ROOM lLLED WITH ABOUT EIGHTY SMALL CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF THREE AND lVE 4HEY SEE ME AND COME RUNNING YELLING -U ZUNGU 7HITE -AN AND THEIR TEACHER HUSHES THEM AS THEY CROWD AROUND ME AND TRY TO TOUCH ME OR SHAKE MY HAND AS IF ) M SOME SORT OF HERO 4HIS IS HUMBLING AND EMBARRASS ING AND ) NEVER KNOW HOW TO REACT 4HEY ARE ALL COLD STARVING AND SICK AND ) AM ARRIVING AFTER A GOOD NIGHT S SLEEP WELL FED AND RESTED

) BREAK FREE AND MAKE MY WAY DOWN TO THE END OF CAMP WHERE THE MOST RECENT AR RIVALS ARE HOUSED IN AN ABANDONED BUILDING )T IS A DILAPIDATED STRUCTURE COVERED BY RUSTED CORRUGATED IRON SHEETING 4HE NEW ARRIVALS HAVE BEEN GIVEN SHEETS OF BLACK PLASTIC TO CORDON OFF THEIR LIVING QUARTERS AND ) ESTIMATE THAT THERE ARE EIGHT TO TEN FAMILIES lFTY TO SIXTY MEN WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE BUILDING )N PARTICULAR ) AM ENTERING TO CHECK ON ONE FAMILY THAT HAS A SICK CHILD !NNA 7HEN ) ENTER THE BUILDING ) CANNOT SEE ANYTHING 4HE PLASTIC SHEETING FORMS A MAZE BACK TO THE LIVING AREA OF -AMA !NNA THE CUSTOM IS FOR THE MOTHER TO TAKE THE NAME OF THE lRST BORN CHILD AND HER HUSBAND 0ASTOR -OSES

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) FUMBLE MY WAY BACK TO THEIR LIVING AREA BUMPING INTO A FEW PEOPLE ON THE WAY WHO GREET ME ) CANNOT SEE WHO THEY ARE BUT RESPOND "ONJOUR 4HE PLACE SMELLS OF HUMAN ) FUMBLE MY WAY BACK TO THEIR LIVING AREA BUMPING INTO A FEW PEOPLE ON THE WAY WHO WASTE BODY ODOR SMOKE AND ROASTED GOAT ) COME TO THE ENTRANCE AND CALL OUT (ODI

GREET ME ) CANNOT SEE WHO THEY ARE BUT RESPOND "ONJOUR 4HE PLACE SMELLS OF HUMAN WASTE BODY ODOR SMOKE AND ROASTED GOAT ) COME TO THE ENTRANCE AND CALL OUT (ODI

A +ISWAHILI GREETING WHICH BOTH ALERTS THAT A VISITOR IS PRESENT AND REQUESTS PERMISSION TO A +ISWAHILI GREETING WHICH BOTH ALERTS THAT A VISITOR IS PRESENT AND REQUESTS PERMISSION TO ENTER ) HEAR A CHORUS OF VOICES SAY +ARIBU WHICH MEANS h7ELCOME v ) ENTER AGAIN TO A ENTER ) HEAR A CHORUS OF VOICES SAY +ARIBU WHICH MEANS h7ELCOME v ) ENTER AGAIN TO A CHORUS OF "ONJOUR 4OM COMMENT Â A VA -Y EYES BEGIN TO ADJUST AS THE GLOW OF A SMALL CHORUS OF "ONJOUR 4OM COMMENT Â A VA -Y EYES BEGIN TO ADJUST AS THE GLOW OF A SMALL GROUP OF COALS PROVIDES A HINT OF ILLUMINATION ) SAY h(OW ARE YOU v 7HY DO ) EVEN GROUP OF COALS PROVIDES A HINT OF ILLUMINATION ) SAY h(OW ARE YOU v 7HY DO ) EVEN ASK 4HEY RESPOND h7E ARE COLD 4OM 7E NEED BLANKETS )S THERE ANY WORD FROM THE ASK 4HEY RESPOND h7E ARE COLD 4OM 7E NEED BLANKETS )S THERE ANY WORD FROM THE #AMP !DMINISTRATOR v h.ONE v ) ANSWER %VEN THOUGH THEY HAVE #AMP !DMINISTRATOR v h.ONE v ) ANSWER %VEN THOUGH THEY HAVE !S ) LEAVE ) REmECT ON WHETHER !S ) LEAVE ) REmECT ON WHETHER VIRTUALLY NOTHING THEY OFFER ME SOME TEA ) SIT WITH THEM AND TALK VIRTUALLY NOTHING THEY OFFER ME SOME TEA ) SIT WITH THEM AND TALK ) AM A VOYEUR OR A MINISTER ) AM A VOYEUR OR A MINISTER ABOUT #ONGO )T IS OUR RITUAL NOW ) SIP TEA AND ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT ABOUT #ONGO )T IS OUR RITUAL NOW ) SIP TEA AND ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT !M ) SIMPLY VIEWING THE SUFFERING !M ) SIMPLY VIEWING THE SUFFERING ,UBUMBASHI +ISANGANI AND 'OMA ) LOVE TO HEAR THE DESCRIPTIONS ,UBUMBASHI +ISANGANI AND 'OMA ) LOVE TO HEAR THE DESCRIPTIONS OF ANOTHER WITHOUT MAKING ANY OF ANOTHER WITHOUT MAKING ANY OF THEIR HOME TOWNS AND THEY LAUGH WHEN ) TELL THEM ) AM THINKING CONTRIBUTION TO THEIR WELLBEING OF THEIR HOME TOWNS AND THEY LAUGH WHEN ) TELL THEM ) AM THINKING CONTRIBUTION TO THEIR WELLBEING ABOUT MOVING THERE IF THE lSHING IS GOOD ) ALWAYS SAY THAT ) HOPE ABOUT MOVING THERE IF THE lSHING IS GOOD ) ALWAYS SAY THAT ) HOPE ) CAN VISIT THEM THERE IN A FEW YEARS ) PRAY TO 'OD THAT THIS MAY SOME DAY OCCUR !S ) ) CAN VISIT THEM THERE IN A FEW YEARS ) PRAY TO 'OD THAT THIS MAY SOME DAY OCCUR !S ) LEAVE ) REmECT ON WHETHER ) AM A VOYEUR OR A MINISTER !M ) SIMPLY VIEWING THE SUFFERING LEAVE ) REmECT ON WHETHER ) AM A VOYEUR OR A MINISTER !M ) SIMPLY VIEWING THE SUFFERING OF ANOTHER WITHOUT MAKING ANY CONTRIBUTION TO THEIR WELLBEING ) BELIEVE THE ANSWER LIES OF ANOTHER WITHOUT MAKING ANY CONTRIBUTION TO THEIR WELLBEING ) BELIEVE THE ANSWER LIES IN WHAT ) WILL DO WITH THE KNOWLEDGE GAINED BY THE EXPERIENCE IN WHAT ) WILL DO WITH THE KNOWLEDGE GAINED BY THE EXPERIENCE

) CONTINUE TO MAKE MY WAY THROUGH THE CAMP %ACH NATIONALITY OCCUPIES A CERTAIN AREA ) PASS THE 3OMALIS AND THE WOMEN LOOK DOWN 4HEN ) PASS THE "URUNDIAN WOMEN ) CONTINUE TO MAKE MY WAY THROUGH THE CAMP %ACH NATIONALITY OCCUPIES A CERTAIN WASHING CLOTHES AT ONE OF THE WATER SPIGOTS AND THEY BREAK INTO BROAD GRINS AS WE GREET AREA ) PASS THE 3OMALIS AND THE WOMEN LOOK DOWN 4HEN ) PASS THE "URUNDIAN WOMEN EACH OTHER IN &RENCH )N MY PERIPHERAL VISION ) SPOT A THREE FOOT MASS BARRELING DOWN THE WASHING CLOTHES AT ONE OF THE WATER SPIGOTS AND THEY BREAK INTO BROAD GRINS AS WE GREET ALLEY TOWARD ME 7HAM (E HITS ME GOING FULL SPEED WITH A GRIN A MILE WIDE ON HIS FACE EACH OTHER IN &RENCH )N MY PERIPHERAL VISION ) SPOT A THREE FOOT MASS BARRELING DOWN THE (E IS A YOUNG BOY POSSIBLY FOUR YEARS OLD WHO ALWAYS HAS A RUNNY NOSE A DISTENDED BELLY

ALLEY TOWARD ME 7HAM (E HITS ME GOING FULL SPEED WITH A GRIN A MILE WIDE ON HIS FACE NO SHOES AND OFTENTIMES NO SHIRT (E SPEAKS NO %NGLISH AND ) SPEAK NO +INYARWANDA

(E IS A YOUNG BOY POSSIBLY FOUR YEARS OLD WHO ALWAYS HAS A RUNNY NOSE A DISTENDED BELLY

BUT WE EXCHANGE GRINS AS ) PICK HIM UP GIVE HIM A BIG HUG AND WATCH HIM SPEED BACK TO NO SHOES AND OFTENTIMES NO SHIRT (E SPEAKS NO %NGLISH AND ) SPEAK NO +INYARWANDA

HIS MOTHER WHO STANDS IN THE DOORWAY OF HER hHOUSE v LAUGHING AND SHAKING HER HEAD BUT WE EXCHANGE GRINS AS ) PICK HIM UP GIVE HIM A BIG HUG AND WATCH HIM SPEED BACK TO AT OUR DAILY RITUAL (E S LIKE A lFTY POUND NUGGET OF PURE LOVE AND THIS HAPPENS EVERY HIS MOTHER WHO STANDS IN THE DOORWAY OF HER hHOUSE v LAUGHING AND SHAKING HER HEAD SINGLE DAY #ERTAIN DAYS HE TRIES TO GIVE ME A MORSEL OF FOOD THAT IS IN HIS HAND %VERYONE SHOULD HAVE SUCH A FRIEND 4HIS HAPPENS WITHOUT FAIL UNTIL HE DIES LATER IN THE SUMMER AT OUR DAILY RITUAL (E S LIKE A lFTY POUND NUGGET OF PURE LOVE AND THIS HAPPENS EVERY OF MALNUTRITION AND DISEASE *ESUS ADMONITION THAT WE MUST BECOME LIKE LITTLE CHILDREN SINGLE DAY #ERTAIN DAYS HE TRIES TO GIVE ME A MORSEL OF FOOD THAT IS IN HIS HAND %VERYONE COMES SHATTERING THROUGH MY COGNITION SHOULD HAVE SUCH A FRIEND 4HIS HAPPENS WITHOUT FAIL UNTIL HE DIES LATER IN THE SUMMER

) MAKE MY WAY OVER TO THE SCHOOL )N THE PAST YEAR *23 SUCCESSFULLY LOBBIED THE OF MALNUTRITION AND DISEASE *ESUS ADMONITION THAT WE MUST BECOME LIKE LITTLE CHILDREN -ALAWIAN GOVERNMENT FOR THE RIGHT TO EDUCATE THE REFUGEE CHILDREN 4HE SCHOOL IS HALF COMES SHATTERING THROUGH MY COGNITION BUILT AND CHILDREN ARE STUDYING IN FOUR AVERAGE SIZE CLASSROOMS 4HE CLASSROOMS CONTAIN NO DESKS OR TEXTBOOKS AND WHEN ) ENTER ) SEE THE CHILDREN CRAMMED TOGETHER SIT ) MAKE MY WAY OVER TO THE SCHOOL )N THE PAST YEAR *23 SUCCESSFULLY LOBBIED THE -ALAWIAN GOVERNMENT FOR THE RIGHT TO EDUCATE THE REFUGEE CHILDREN 4HE SCHOOL IS HALF TING ON THE mOOR 4HEY ALL SPEAK THEIR OWN INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE AND THE TEACHER IS A LOCAL BUILT AND CHILDREN ARE STUDYING IN FOUR AVERAGE SIZE CLASSROOMS 4HE CLASSROOMS CONTAIN NO DESKS OR TEXTBOOKS AND WHEN ) ENTER ) SEE THE CHILDREN CRAMMED TOGETHER SIT TING ON THE mOOR 4HEY ALL SPEAK THEIR OWN INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE AND THE TEACHER IS A LOCAL

! *ESUIT S *OURNEY THROUGH THE 2EFUGEE 7ORLD t

WHO ONLY SPEAKS #HECHEWA #AN ANY LEARNING TAKE PLACE )T S FRUSTRATING BUT ) THINK THE STRUCTURE AND DISCIPLINE OF HAVING SOMETHING TO DO MUST BE SOMEWHAT BENElCIAL

) USUALLY MAKE ONE MORE VISIT TO SEE *EAN -ARIE A TWELVE YEAR OLD BOY WHO SUFFERS FROM CEREBRAL PALSY (IS MOTHER CARRIED HIM ON FOOT OVER MILES FROM "URUNDI TO -ALAWI )N THE 5 3 ) HAVE WORKED IN WELL FUNDED SCHOOLS FOR THE DISABLED WHERE THE KIDS ARE NOT AS WELL CARED FOR AS *EAN -ARIE (IS MOTHER COOKS FOR AND CLEANS HIM REGULARLY

AND ALTHOUGH HE ONLY HAS TWO SETS OF CLOTHES

HE IS ALWAYS CLEAN ) ENTER THEIR HOME AND -AMA *EAN -ARIE SMILES AND GREETS ME IN &RENCH *EAN -ARIE CANNOT SIT UP AND THUS HE IS BASICALLY PROPPED AGAINST A WALL 4HE 2ED #ROSS PROMISES TO GET HIM A SPECIAL CHAIR

BUT AS YET THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING ) GREET *EAN -ARIE RUB HIS HEAD AND TALK TO HIM (IS MOTHER THINKS THAT HE HAS SOMETHING AKIN TO THE mU ) DON T KNOW HOW TO TELL HER THAT THIS IS A PERMANENT CONDITION ) STAY FOR TEN MIN UTES AND AS ) AM LEAVING 9OLANDE ARRIVES AND GREETS -AMA *EAN -ARIE 3HE TELLS 9OLANDE ALL IS WELL AND THAT SHE WILL BE lNE h'OD IS WITH ME ) AM A #HRISTIAN v -AMA *EAN -ARIE EXCLAIMS AS SHE POINTS TO THE PINK PLASTIC 2OSARY AROUND HER NECK 3HE IS A WOMAN OF GREAT FAITH AND ) FEEL SMALL AND OF LITTLE FAITH AS ) LEAVE HER HOME

.OW IT S TIME TO HEAD BACK TO TOWN ! THRONG GREETS US AT THE CAR TO ARGUE ABOUT WHO IS ON THE RIDE LIST 7AITING QUIETLY IN THE BACK IS THE #ONGOLESE WOMAN -ARIE 9OLAN DE TELLS HER THE CAR IS TOO CROWDED AND SHE NODS AND WALKS AWAY SLOWLY 3HE WILL HAVE TO MAKE HER WAY TO TOWN THROUGH OTHER MEANS 3OME CURSE AT ME AND 9OLANDE WHILE OTHERS JUST WALK AWAY ) PULL AWAY FROM $ZALEKA WONDERING WHAT IT S GOING TO TAKE TO END ALL OF THIS 7HEN WILL WE HEED THE PROPHETIC INJUNCTION TO DEFEND WIDOWS ORPHANS AND STRANG ERS )N A FEW WEEKS ) WILL BE RETURNING TO A COUNTRY AND CULTURE THAT VIEWS THESE PEOPLE WITH MISTRUST AS OUTSIDERS WHO ARE BURDENS ON OUR SOCIETY 5 3 $EPARTMENT OF *USTICE #OURTROOM (OUSTON 4EXAS

)MMIGRATION COURTS ARE NONDESCRIPT AND BEAR NO RESEMBLANCE TO TRADITIONAL 5 3 COURTHOUSES 4HE HALLS ARE lLLED WITH PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD WAITING TENSELY FOR THEIR DAY IN COURT -Y MIND MOVES FROM THE BLACK SHEET PLASTIC OF $ZALEKA TO THE STER ILE AND SEPTIC ATMOSPHERE OF THE COURTROOM %VERY BIT OF CULTURE OR HUMAN WARMTH IS STRIPPED AWAY AS ) ENTER THE COURTROOM THERE ARE NO PICTURES OF PEOPLE OR LANDSCAPES

t t.EW 7INESKINS

.EW 7INESKINS t .EW 7INESKINS

ANYWHERE )NSTEAD THERE ARE MERELY THREE ROWS OF WOODEN PEWS AND ANYWHERE )NSTEAD THERE ARE MERELY THREE ROWS OF WOODEN PEWS AND SEPARATE TABLES FOR THE PROSECUTOR AND THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY 4HE JUDGE SEPARATE TABLES FOR THE PROSECUTOR AND THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY 4HE JUDGE ANYWHERE )NSTEAD THERE ARE MERELY THREE ROWS OF WOODEN PEWS AND SITS IN AN ELEVATED PERCH BEHIND A LARGE BALD EAGLE EMBLEM WHICH PU SITS IN AN ELEVATED PERCH BEHIND A LARGE BALD EAGLE EMBLEM WHICH PU SEPARATE TABLES FOR THE PROSECUTOR AND THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY 4HE JUDGE TATIVELY REPRESENTS FREEDOM AND JUSTICE !S AN ATTORNEY ) AM GRANTED TATIVELY REPRESENTS FREEDOM AND JUSTICE !S AN ATTORNEY ) AM GRANTED SITS IN AN ELEVATED PERCH BEHIND A LARGE BALD EAGLE EMBLEM WHICH PU TATIVELY REPRESENTS FREEDOM AND JUSTICE !S AN ATTORNEY ) AM GRANTED THREE HOURS NO MORE NO LESS TO PRESENT MY CLIENT S CASE (OW DO ) lT IT ALL IN ) TRY THREE HOURS NO MORE NO LESS TO PRESENT MY CLIENT S CASE (OW DO ) lT IT ALL IN ) TRY THREE HOURS NO MORE NO LESS TO PRESENT MY CLIENT S CASE (OW DO ) lT IT ALL IN ) TRY TO HIT THE HIGH POINTS AND PRESENT AS MUCH AS ) CAN ) HAVE NO DOCUMENTS TO BACK UP MY TO HIT THE HIGH POINTS AND PRESENT AS MUCH AS ) CAN ) HAVE NO DOCUMENTS TO BACK UP MY TO HIT THE HIGH POINTS AND PRESENT AS MUCH AS ) CAN ) HAVE NO DOCUMENTS TO BACK UP MY CLIENT S CLIENT S STORY STORY ) WISH ) WISH THAT THAT PAIN PAIN AND AND SUFFERING SUFFERING COULD COULD BE BE ) HAVE NO DOCUMENTS TO BACK UP MY ) HAVE NO DOCUMENTS TO BACK UP MY CLIENT S STORY ) WISH THAT PAIN AND SUFFERING COULD BE ) HAVE NO DOCUMENTS TO BACK UP MY MEASURED LIKE A BLOOD TEST AND THAT ) COULD OFFER IT AS MEASURED LIKE A BLOOD TEST AND THAT ) COULD OFFER IT AS CLIENT S STORY ) WISH THAT PAIN AND SUFFERING CLIENT S STORY ) WISH THAT PAIN AND SUFFERING MEASURED LIKE A BLOOD TEST AND THAT ) COULD OFFER IT AS CLIENT S STORY ) WISH THAT PAIN AND SUFFERING EVIDENCE )NSTEAD MY CLIENT MUST GET HER OR HIS POINT EVIDENCE )NSTEAD MY CLIENT MUST GET HER OR HIS POINT COULD BE MEASURED LIKE A BLOOD TEST AND THAT COULD BE MEASURED LIKE A BLOOD TEST AND THAT COULD BE MEASURED LIKE A BLOOD TEST AND THAT EVIDENCE )NSTEAD MY CLIENT MUST GET HER OR HIS POINT ACROSS VERBALLY A TOUGH TASK WHEN THEY ARE NERVOUS AND ACROSS VERBALLY A TOUGH TASK WHEN THEY ARE NERVOUS AND ) COULD OFFER IT AS EVIDENCE )NSTEAD MY CLIENT ) COULD OFFER IT AS EVIDENCE )NSTEAD MY CLIENT ) COULD OFFER IT AS EVIDENCE )NSTEAD MY CLIENT ACROSS VERBALLY A TOUGH TASK WHEN THEY ARE NERVOUS AND HINDERED BY THE LANGUAGE BARRIER 4HE JUDGE HAS HEARD HINDERED BY THE LANGUAGE BARRIER 4HE JUDGE HAS HEARD MUST GET HER OR HIS POINT ACROSS VERBALLY A TOUGH MUST GET HER OR HIS POINT ACROSS VERBALLY A TOUGH MUST GET HER OR HIS POINT ACROSS VERBALLY A TOUGH HINDERED BY THE LANGUAGE BARRIER 4HE JUDGE HAS HEARD HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR CASES AND LISTENS WITH HALF INTEREST HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR CASES AND LISTENS WITH HALF INTEREST TASK WHEN THEY ARE NERVOUS AND HINDERED HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR CASES AND LISTENS WITH HALF INTEREST TASK WHEN THEY ARE NERVOUS AND HINDERED TASK WHEN THEY ARE NERVOUS AND HINDERED TO THE STORY )N ALL LIKELIHOOD HE HAS NEVER BEEN TO !F TO THE STORY )N ALL LIKELIHOOD HE HAS NEVER BEEN TO !F

BY THE LANGUAGE BARRIER

BY THE LANGUAGE BARRIER

BY THE LANGUAGE BARRIER TO THE STORY )N ALL LIKELIHOOD HE HAS NEVER BEEN TO !F RICA OR VISITED A REFUGEE CAMP AND THEREFORE WILL RELY ON RICA OR VISITED A REFUGEE CAMP AND THEREFORE WILL RELY ON RICA OR VISITED A REFUGEE CAMP AND THEREFORE WILL RELY ON THE LATEST 3TATE $EPARTMENT REPORT TO hGET THE REAL PICTUREv OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN !FRICA THE LATEST 3TATE $EPARTMENT REPORT TO hGET THE REAL PICTUREv OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN !FRICA THE LATEST 3TATE $EPARTMENT REPORT TO hGET THE REAL PICTUREv OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN !FRICA 4HE VAST MAJORITY OF ASYLUM SEEKERS WILL LOSE AS APPROXIMATELY TWENTY PERCENT OF THE CASES 4HE VAST MAJORITY OF ASYLUM SEEKERS WILL LOSE AS APPROXIMATELY TWENTY PERCENT OF THE CASES 4HE VAST MAJORITY OF ASYLUM SEEKERS WILL LOSE AS APPROXIMATELY TWENTY PERCENT OF THE CASES WERE GRANTED LAST YEAR (ENCE AT THE END OF THE DAY MOST PEOPLE WILL RETURN HOME TO WERE GRANTED LAST YEAR (ENCE AT THE END OF THE DAY MOST PEOPLE WILL RETURN HOME TO WERE GRANTED LAST YEAR (ENCE AT THE END OF THE DAY MOST PEOPLE WILL RETURN HOME TO COLLECT THEIR FEW BELONGINGS AND CONTINUE WANDERING IN SEARCH OF A SAFE AND PEACEFUL PLACE COLLECT THEIR FEW BELONGINGS AND CONTINUE WANDERING IN SEARCH OF A SAFE AND PEACEFUL PLACE COLLECT THEIR FEW BELONGINGS AND CONTINUE WANDERING IN SEARCH OF A SAFE AND PEACEFUL PLACE TO LIVE )N ALL LIKELIHOOD IT S BACK TO THE BLACK PLASTIC SHEETING HOME OF A NEWLY ARRIVED TO LIVE )N ALL LIKELIHOOD IT S BACK TO THE BLACK PLASTIC SHEETING HOME OF A NEWLY ARRIVED TO LIVE )N ALL LIKELIHOOD IT S BACK TO THE BLACK PLASTIC SHEETING HOME OF A NEWLY ARRIVED REFUGEE IN !FRICA REFUGEE IN !FRICA REFUGEE IN !FRICA

4HERE ARE NO EASY ANSWERS TO THE WORLD S REFUGEE SITUATION (OWEVER THE JOURNEY TOWARD THAT ANSWER BEGINS WITH SMALL STEPS TOWARD GAINING EVALUATIVE KNOWLEDGE OF REFU

4HERE ARE NO EASY ANSWERS TO THE WORLD S REFUGEE SITUATION (OWEVER THE JOURNEY 4HERE ARE NO EASY ANSWERS TO THE WORLD S REFUGEE SITUATION (OWEVER THE JOURNEY GEES AND THE UNJUST SITUATION IN WHICH THEY ARE FORCED TO SUBSIST /NLY BY GAINING EVALU TOWARD THAT ANSWER BEGINS WITH SMALL STEPS TOWARD GAINING EVALUATIVE KNOWLEDGE OF REFU TOWARD THAT ANSWER BEGINS WITH SMALL STEPS TOWARD GAINING EVALUATIVE KNOWLEDGE OF REFU ATIVE KNOWLEDGE WILL WE HAVE THE POLITICAL AND PERSONAL WILL TO ACT IN A DECISIVE WAY /NLY GEES AND THE UNJUST SITUATION IN WHICH THEY ARE FORCED TO SUBSIST /NLY BY GAINING EVALU GEES AND THE UNJUST SITUATION IN WHICH THEY ARE FORCED TO SUBSIST /NLY BY GAINING EVALU THROUGH FACE TO FACE ENCOUNTERS WILL WE DEVELOP OUR PERSONAL AND COLLECTIVE hSHOCK AND ATIVE KNOWLEDGE WILL WE HAVE THE POLITICAL AND PERSONAL WILL TO ACT IN A DECISIVE WAY /NLY ATIVE KNOWLEDGE WILL WE HAVE THE POLITICAL AND PERSONAL WILL TO ACT IN A DECISIVE WAY /NLY AWEv STRATEGIES OF COMPASSION INSTEAD OF VIOLENCE

THROUGH FACE TO FACE ENCOUNTERS WILL WE DEVELOP OUR PERSONAL AND COLLECTIVE hSHOCK AND THROUGH FACE TO FACE ENCOUNTERS WILL WE DEVELOP OUR PERSONAL AND COLLECTIVE hSHOCK AND AWEv STRATEGIES OF COMPASSION INSTEAD OF VIOLENCE AWEv STRATEGIES OF COMPASSION INSTEAD OF VIOLENCE

4OM 'REENE 3 * IS A MEMBER OF THE .EW /RLEANS 0ROVINCE OF THE 3OCIETY OF *ESUS (E RECENTLY COMPLETED HIS SECOND YEAR IN THE -ASTER OF $IVINITY PROGRAM (IS LEGAL TRAINING AND CONCERN FOR HUMAN RIGHTS HAVE TAKEN HIM TO #ENTRAL !MERICA THE $OMINICAN 4OM 'REENE 3 * IS A MEMBER OF THE .EW /RLEANS 0ROVINCE OF 4OM 'REENE 3 * IS A MEMBER OF THE .EW /RLEANS 0ROVINCE OF 2EPUBLIC (AITI AND !FRICA THE 3OCIETY OF *ESUS (E RECENTLY COMPLETED HIS SECOND YEAR IN THE THE 3OCIETY OF *ESUS (E RECENTLY COMPLETED HIS SECOND YEAR IN THE

-ASTER OF $IVINITY PROGRAM (IS LEGAL TRAINING AND CONCERN FOR -ASTER OF $IVINITY PROGRAM (IS LEGAL TRAINING AND CONCERN FOR HUMAN RIGHTS HAVE TAKEN HIM TO #ENTRAL !MERICA THE $OMINICAN HUMAN RIGHTS HAVE TAKEN HIM TO #ENTRAL !MERICA THE $OMINICAN 2EPUBLIC (AITI AND !FRICA 2EPUBLIC (AITI AND !FRICA

t

4HE /VERLOOKED /NES 7HO !RE THE #HILDREN IN 9OUR ,IFE "Y +AREN #HAMBERS

.

ARRATORS OF STORIES INCLUDING THOSE IN 3ACRED 3CRIPTURE SOMETIMES LEAD US TO READ PAST THE SO CALLED hMARGINALv CHARACTERS OF A GIVEN STORY 9ET WE OUGHT TO RESIST THIS PHENOMENON FOR AS READERS LISTENERS AND ESPECIALLY AS THOSE WHO ATTEMPT TO DISCERN THE MOVEMENT OF THE 3PIRIT WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE INDEED MANY INSIGHTS TO BE GAINED FROM SUPPOSEDLY MINOR CHARACTERS

! CASE IN POINT IS THE STORY OF THE MULTIPLICATION OF THE WIDOW S OIL AS RECOUNTED IN THE 3ECOND "OOK OF +INGS IN WHICH THE PROPHET %LISHA COMES TO THE AID OF A WIDOW FACED WITH THE PROSPECT OF SELLING HER CHILDREN INTO SLAVERY ON ACCOUNT OF HER DECEASED HUSBAND S DEBTS +INGS 4HE NARRATOR WOULD HAVE US FOCUS MOST IF NOT ALL OF OUR ATTENTION ON THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE DESPERATE WOMAN AND %LISHA "Y CONTRAST

IN THE EXEGESIS THAT FOLLOWS ) WILL HIGHLIGHT THE STORY OF THE CHILDREN WHO ARE FACING THE PROSPECT OF SLAVERY )NDEED ) WILL ARGUE THAT THE CHILDREN S ACTIONS SIGNAL THE CLIMAX OF THE STORY FOR THEY PLAY AN INDISPENSABLE ROLE IN THE MIRACLE THAT LIBERATES THEM 4OWARD THIS GOAL ) WILL EMPLOY NARRATIVE AND READER RESPONSE CRITICISM AS HELPFUL METHODOLOGICAL TOOLS THE FORMER ASSISTS IN A CLOSE READING OF THE TEXT THAT HIGHLIGHTS MARGINAL CHARACTERS

WHILE THE LATTER TAKES INTO ACCOUNT MY SENSITIVITY TOWARDS YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR PARTICI PATION IN 'OD S SAVING WORK

3OMETIMES PEOPLE lND THEMSELVES IN PREDICAMENTS FOR WHICH SOLUTIONS SEEM ELU SIVE EXCEPT FROM OUTSIDE INTERVENTION #ONSIDER THE CASE OF A DESTITUTE WOMAN IN ,OS !NGELES WHO TOOK HER NEEDS TO A RELIGIOUS SISTER AND SOCIAL WORKER NAMED +ATHY IN THE HOPES THAT +ATHY COULD HELP HER AT A TIME OF DIRE NEED 4HE WOMAN HAD NEVER MARRIED (OWEVER SHE HAD TWO CHILDREN -AX AND HIS SISTER ,ACEY

BY TWO SEPARATE MEN 2ARELY SOBER THE POOR WOMAN FOUND IT VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO BREAK HER DRUG ADDICTION DESPITE REPEATED ATTEMPTS AT REHAB )NDEED IT SEEMED THAT ALCOHOL DRUGS AND SEX ALWAYS CAME lRST IN HER LIFE !S A CONSEQUENCE SHE WAS UNABLE TO HOLD DOWN A JOB AND HAD TO MOVE FREQUENTLY DRAGGING HER CHILDREN FROM ONE FRIEND S HOUSE TO THE NEXT !S HER SITUATION DETERIORATED SHE FOUND +ATHY AND ASKED FOR HELP

!NOTHER STORY OF A DESTITUTE FAMILY IS THAT OF THE WIDOW AND HER CHILDREN AS RE COUNTED IN THE 3ECOND "OOK OF +INGS +GS 4HE NAMELESS WOMAN lNDS HERSELF SADDLED WITH HER LATE HUSBAND S DEBT &ACED WITH THE FURTHER PROSPECT OF SELLING HER CHIL

t .EW 7INESKINS

DREN AS SLAVES TO THE CREDITOR SHE APPROACHES %LISHA THE hMAN OF 'OD v FOR HELP )N TURN HE INSTRUCTS HER TO BORROW AS MANY VESSELS AS SHE CAN FROM NEIGHBORS TO CLOSE THE DOOR BEHIND HER AND HER CHILDREN AND TO POUR THE LITTLE OIL SHE HAS INTO THE VESSELS !FTER CLOSING THE DOOR HER JUG BECOMES AN ENDLESS SUPPLY OF OIL lLLING ALL THE VESSELS THAT HER CHILDREN PASS TO HER 7HEN THERE ARE NO MORE VESSELS TO BE lLLED THE OIL CEASES TO mOW 3HE THEN RETURNS TO %LISHA WHO TELLS HER TO SELL THE OIL TO PAY OFF THE CREDITOR AND THAT SHE AND HER CHILDREN CAN LIVE ON THE REST

/N THE SURFACE THESE TWO STORIES MAY NOT APPEAR TO HAVE MUCH IN COM MON BUT UPON CLOSER EXAMINATION IMPORTANT POINTS OF INTERSECTION EMERGE &OR INSTANCE BOTH STORIES FOCUS ON A WOMAN IN DESPAIR WHO SEEKS OUT THE ASSISTANCE OF A THIRD PARTY -EANWHILE THE lRST STORY EXPLAINS A WOMAN WHO CANNOT PULL HER LIFE TOGETHER 4HOUGH SHE TRIES SHE DOES NOT POSSESS THE INNATE CAPABILITIES 3IMILARLY IN THE SECOND STORY THE WIDOW DOES NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITIES EITHER BUT HER PROBLEMS ARE DUE TO EXTERNAL CAUSES )N ANCIENT )SRAEL A WIDOW WAS DElNED NOT ONLY AS A WOMAN WHO HAD LOST HER HUSBAND BUT ALSO AS ONE WHO ALSO DID NOT HAVE lNANCIAL SUPPORT #ONSEQUENTLY A WIDOW OFTEN RELIED ON hLEVIRATEv MARRIAGE FOR HER WELL BEING A CUSTOM BY WHICH THE CLOSEST RELATIVE OF THE DECEASED HUSBAND USUALLY HIS BROTHER WOULD MARRY HER 4HIS ARRANGEMENT WOULD HELP SUPPORT HER AS SHE DID NOT RE CEIVE ANY INHERITANCE FROM HER DECEASED HUSBAND )N THE CASE OF THE STORY OF THE WIDOW S OIL HOWEVER SUCH A REDEEMER THROUGH LEVIRATE MARRIAGE DOES NOT APPEAR TO EXIST AT LEAST THIS IS NOT ALLUDED TO IN THE TEXT 2ATHER %LISHA APPEARS AS THE REDEEMING HOPE FOR THE WIDOW JUST AS WE HOPE +ATHY WILL IN THE lRST STORY

+ATHY AND %LISHA THE NAMED CHARACTERS IN THE TWO STORIES APPEAR AT lRST GLANCE TO BE THE ONLY ;CENTRAL= CHARACTERS ASIDE FROM THE TWO WOMEN (OWEVER THIS APPEARANCE MAY HAVE MORE TO DO WITH THE BIAS OF THE NARRATOR THAN WITH REALITY REDUCING THE NARRATIVES TO . . . reducing the narratives to )N BOTH STORIES THE NARRATIVE BEGINS WITH A WOMAN GOING TO A NAMED ORIES OF TWO DESTITUTE WOMEN AND stories of two destitute women PERSON FOR HELP &ROM THERE BOTH NARRATORS SWIFTLY FOCUS ATTENTION THEIR RESPECTIVE HELPERS DOES NOT and their respective helpers ON THE WOMEN AND THE lGURES TO WHOM THEY TURN FOR HELP 5N does notCONVEY THE WHOLE STORY convey the whole story.

DOUBTEDLY THIS MOVE DEMONSTRATES THE COURAGE AND ASSERTIVENESS OF BOTH WOMEN IN THE FORMER AND ACCENTUATES THE ROLE AS REDEEMERS OF %LISHA AND +ATHY &OR MORE BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON %LISHA AS PROPHET SEE -ARSHA 7HITE h%LISHA v IN %ERDMANS $ICTIONARY OF THE "IBLE AND 3HIMON "AKON h%LISHA THE 0ROPHET v IN 4HE *EWISH "IBLE 1UARTERLY NO

/IL WAS A VERY NECESSARY COMMODITY IN BIBLICAL TIMES DUE TO ITS EXPENSE AS WELL AS ITS VARIOUS USES /NE OF THE USES DESCRIBED IS MEDICINAL )T WAS OFTEN USED ON WOUNDS AND WAS SEEN AS A hSYMBOL OF 'OD S PROTECTION v )NTERESTINGLY

IT IS THROUGH THE MULTIPLICATION OF THIS SYMBOL OIL THAT THE CHILDREN ARE SPARED SLAVERY &OR MORE ON THIS SEE * & 2OSS

h/IL v IN 4HE )NTERPRETER S $ICTIONARY OF THE "IBLE

"EN :IO "ENNO 3CHERESCHEWSKY $R *UR h7IDOW v %NCYCLOPAEDIA *UDAICA VOL !LSO UNDER LEVIRATE MARRIAGE

IF THE WIDOW DID NOT HAVE A SON THE lRST SON FROM THE WIDOW AND HER NEW HUSBAND WOULD BE CONSIDERED THE HEIR OF THE DECEASED

4HE /VERLOOKED /NES t

(OWEVER REDUCING THE NARRATIVES TO STORIES OF TWO DESTITUTE WOMEN AND THEIR RESPECTIVE HELPERS DOES NOT CONVEY THE WHOLE STORY

!FTER READING THE TWO NARRATIVES WE MUST ASK THE QUESTION h7HAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN v &OR IN BOTH CASES THE CHILDREN SUFFER FROM THE FAILINGS OF THEIR PARENTS )N THE CASE OF -AX AND ,ACEY THE CHILDREN SUFFER DIRECTLY FROM THEIR MOTHER AND HER ADDIC TIONS -EANWHILE THE CHILDREN OF THE WIDOW ARE ON THE VERGE OF BEING SOLD INTO SLAVERY ON ACCOUNT OF THEIR FATHER S ACCUMULATED DEBTS 4HE NARRATOR SEEMS LARGELY TO IGNORE THEM AND IT IS EASY TO FOLLOW HIS LEAD 9ET DOING SO SERVES ONLY TO NEGLECT THE CHILDREN S IMPORTANCE TO THE STORY AS WELL AS TO IGNORE A PRINCIPLE OF "IBLICAL INTERPRETATION NAMELY

THAT NARRATORS ARE NOT THE ONLY AUTHORITY ON HOW TO READ THE TEXT FOR hTHEY THEMSELVES ARE CHARACTERS v (ENCE THE CHILDREN IN THE TWO STORIES SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED SIMPLY BE CAUSE THE NARRATOR SEEMS TO OVERLOOK THEM )NSTEAD THE CHILDREN ALSO HAVE A STORY TO TELL !FTER ALL hEVERY LIGHT GREAT OR SMALL THAT SHINES ABOVE US HAS ITS OWN SPECIAL OFlCExNONE OF THE LIGHTS OF 3CRIPTURE ARE TO BE DISREGARDED EACH LIFE AND CHARACTER TEACHES ITS PROPER LESSON WE SHALL BE LOSERS IF WE NEGLECT ANY v

! CHILD S PERSPECTIVE SHEDS NEW LIGHT AND CAN EVEN REACH A NEW AUDIENCE ONE THAT BETTER UNDERSTANDS AND RELATES TO THE ROLE OF THE CHILD AS OPPOSED TO +ATHY %LISHA

OR THE UNNAMED MOTHERS )NDEED WE MIGHT ASK WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE FOCUS WERE TO BE PLACED ON THE CHILDREN IN THE STORY OF THE WIDOW S OIL 7HAT STORY WOULD BE TOLD AND WHOM WOULD IT REACH 3HIFTING THE FOCUS THROUGH A CLOSE EXAMINATION OF THE TEXT PROVES THE POINT

)N THE lRST VERSE +INGS THE NARRATOR SEEMS TO INTRODUCE A STORY ABOUT A DESTITUTE WIDOW WHO TAKES THE INITIATIVE TO SEEK OUT %LISHA FOR HELP 3HE EXPLAINS TO HIM WHO SHE IS AND WHAT HER DIRE SITUATION ENTAILS (OWEVER THE NARRATOR PASSES BY THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE CHILDREN 4HE NARRATOR DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE JUST LOST A FATHER WITH WHOM THEY MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE HAD A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP AND THEY KNOW THAT THEIR MOTHER CANNOT SUPPORT THEM )T CAN BE ASSUMED THAT THE CHILDREN ARE OF A SOMEWHAT YOUNGER AGE OR THEY WOULD BE SUPPORTING THEIR MOTHER AS WAS THE CUSTOM IN BIBLICAL TIMES 4HE FACT THAT THEIR MOTHER DOES NOT HAVE A BENEFACTOR FROM AMONG HER HUSBAND S FAMILY NOT ONLY AFFECTS HER BUT THE CHILDREN AS WELL &OR ALTHOUGH THERE WERE 'INA (ENS 0IAZZA .AMELESS "LAMELESS AND 7ITHOUT 3HAME 4WO #ANNIBAL -OTHERS "EFORE A +ING #OLLEGEVILLE -. ,ITURGICAL 0RESS

2EV &RANCIS "OURDILLON - ! ,ESSER ,IGHTS ,ONDON 3OCIETY FOR 0ROMOTING #HRISTIAN +NOWLEDGE

IX #ECIL 2OTH h#HILDREN v IN %NCYCLOPEDIA *UDAICA VOL

5NFORTUNATELY AS IN THE CASE OF THE WIDOW AND HER CHILDREN hTHE LAW WAS SO OFTEN VIOLATED THAT EVENTUALLY EXORBITANT

INTEREST BECAME A SOCIAL PLAGUE MAKING THE SITUATION OF DEBTORS HOPELESS v 3EE ,OUIS 'OLDBERG h$EBT v IN "AKER % NCYCLOPEDIA OF THE "IBLE VOL

t .EW 7INESKINS

LAWS INTENDED TO ASSIST WIDOWS IN ANCIENT )SRAEL THEY WERE OFTEN BROKEN AND DISREGARDED 3UCH IS THE CASE IN THE STORY OF THE WIDOW S OIL $UE TO THIS DISREGARD FOR WIDOWS OFTEN CONSIDERED THE POOREST OF THE POOR THE WIDOW IS LEFT WITHOUT SUPPORT AND CREDITORS THEN HAD THE RIGHT TO FORCE HER TO SELL HER DEPENDENTS AS SLAVES TO PAY OFF HER DEBTS #ONSE QUENTLY THE WIDOW COULD NEVER GAIN BACK HER CHILDREN

%LISHA S RESPONSE TO THE WIDOW S PLEA IN VV INCLUDES AN INQUIRY OF WHAT SHE HAS IN HER HOUSE FOLLOWED BY PARTICULAR INSTRUCTIONS /VERLOOKED BY THE NARRATOR THE CHILDREN S REACTION TO THIS INTERACTION IS NOT EXPRESSED ! REACTION OF HOPE OR ANXIETY CAN %LISHA DOES NOT TELL THE WOMAN TO Elisha does not tell the woman to BE EXPECTED BUT THIS CANNOT BE MORE THAN MERE SPECULATION $URING PERFORM THE ACTIONS BY HERSELF BUT perform the actions by herself, but THE MOTHER S INTERACTION WITH %LISHA HOWEVER HE INSTRUCTS HER TO

hCLOSE THE DOOR ON YOURSELF AND YOUR CHILDREN POUR THE OIL INTO ALL WITH HER CHILDREN %LISHA HIMSELF with her children. Elisha, himself THE VESSELS AND AS EACH IS lLLED SET IT ASIDEv +GS !LTHOUGH NOT PRESENT FOR THE MIRACLE HAS not present for the miracle, has THE NARRATOR MAY APPEAR TO IGNORE THE CHILDREN %LISHA DOES NOT 5N ACKNOWLEDGED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE acknowledged the importance BEKNOWNST TO THE WIDOW %LISHA HAS GIVEN HER INSTRUCTIONS THAT SHE of theCHILDREN S PRESENCE children’s presence.

MIGHT FULlLL A MIRACLE (OWEVER %LISHA DOES NOT TELL THE WOMAN TO PERFORM THE ACTIONS BY HERSELF BUT WITH HER CHILDREN %LISHA HIMSELF NOT PRESENT FOR THE MIRACLE HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CHILDREN S PRESENCE

4HE ACTION OF THE MIRACLE TAKES PLACE IN VERSE lVE "ETWEEN VERSES FOUR AND lVE

HOWEVER THE NARRATOR LEAVES A GAP 4HE STORY SKIPS FROM %LISHA GIVING THE WIDOW INSTRUC TIONS TO THE MIRACLE ITSELF )T IS ASSUMED THAT THE VESSELS HAVE BEEN COLLECTED FROM THE NEIGHBORS ,EFT UNKNOWN HOWEVER IS WHETHER THE WIDOW THE CHILDREN OR ALL THREE HELPED IN THE COLLECTION %ITHER WAY THE NARRATOR LEAVES US TO PRESUME THAT %LISHA S INSTRUCTIONS WERE FOLLOWED 7HEN THE STORY CONTINUES IN VERSE lVE HOWEVER THE CHILDREN ARE PRESENT 4HE WIDOW CLOSES THE DOOR BEHIND HER AND HER CHILDREN AS DIRECTED BY %LISHA !GAIN

THE NARRATOR MAKES NO MENTION OF THE EMOTION OF THE WIDOW AND THE CHILDREN YET BASED UPON THEIR OBEDIENCE THE READER CAN SPECULATE THAT THEY HAD FAITH THAT 'OD WOULD RESCUE AND PROTECT THEM )N FACT THE WIDOW HAS ALREADY DEMONSTRATED SUCH FAITH BY TAKING THE INITIATIVE TO SEEK OUT THE hMAN OF 'ODv FOR HELP THEREBY BREAKING SOCIAL BOUNDARIES OF WOMEN AT THAT TIME

&EW WOULD DENY THAT A MOTHER EXERTS FAR REACHING INmUENCE OVER THE CHARACTER OF HER CHILDREN )N THE TIME OF THE PROPHET %LISHA TH CENTURY "#% PARENTS HAD THE 4HIS STORY CAN BE SEEN AS A MIRACLE STORY SINCE IT IS ANNOUNCED PRIOR TO THE ACTION TAKING PLACE AND IT IS SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE 4HIS IS TAKEN FROM 9AIR :AKOVITCH h-IRACLE /4 v IN !NCHOR "IBLE $ICTIONARY VOL

!LTHOUGH %LISHA IS NOT PRESENT WHEN THE MIRACLE TAKES PLACE MANY SCHOLARS HAVE USED IT TO ATTEST TO THE STRENGTH OF %LISHA S WORD 3EE 4ERENCE % &RETHEM &IRST AND 3ECOND +INGS +ENTUCKY 7ESTMINSTER *OHN +NOX 0RESS

4HIS STORY OF THE WIDOW MAY FUNCTION hAS A GENRE OF EMPOWERMENT SHARED AMONG SUCH PERSONS TO ENCOURAGE THEIR OWN INITIATIVE IN THE FACE OF DESPAIR v 3EE #AMP AND +INGS IN 4HE 7OMEN S "IBLE #OMMENTARY EDS #AROL ! .EWSOM AND 3HARON ( 2INGE ,ONDON 7ESTMINSTER *OHN +NOX 0RESS

4HE /VERLOOKED /NES t

DUTY OF INSTILLING THEIR FAITH IN THE ,ORD IN THE LIVES OF THEIR CHILDREN )N THIS CASE THE CHILDREN HAVE A FAITHFUL AND STRONG MOTHER TO MODEL THEMSELVES AFTER !S A RESULT THE CHILDREN SHOW lLIAL PIETY TOWARDS THEIR MOTHER WHEN THEY COOPERATE WITH HER IN THE POUR ING OF THE OIL )NDEED

BY OBEDIENTLY PASSING HER THE VESSELS

BY OBEDIENTLY PASSING HER THE VESSELS by obediently passing her the vessels AS SHE lLLS EACH ONE THE CHILDREN LIVE OUT OF THE SPIRIT OF ...

AS SHE lLLS EACH ONE THE CHILDREN LIVE OUT THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT OF THE $ECALOGUE I E TO HONOR as she fills each one, the children live out OF THE SPIRIT OF THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT OF ONE S MOTHER AND FATHER THAT YOU MAY HAVE A LONG LIFE $EUT of the spirit of the fourth commandment THE $ECALOGUE I E TO HONOR ONE S MOTHER %ACH INDIVIDUAL IN A FAMILY NEEDED TO PUT FORWARD of the Decalogue, i.e., to honor your mother AND FATHER THAT YOU MAY HAVE A LONG LIFE TIME AND EFFORT FOR SURVIVAL AND THE WELL BEING OF THE FAMILY and father that you may have a long life.

4HE $ECALOGUE ALSO ILLUSTRATES THE IMPORTANCE OF lLIAL PIETY IN ITS COMMANDMENT TO h(ONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER v ,IVING ACCORDING TO THE &OURTH #OMMANDMENT AND DOING WHAT WAS NECESSARY TO SURVIVE THE CHILDREN COOPER ATED WITH THEIR MOTHER

!LTHOUGH %LISHA MAY HAVE SPOKEN THE WORD FOR THE MIRACLE THE ACTUAL MULTIPLICATION OF THE OIL TAKES PLACE PRIVATELY AT THE HANDS OF THE CHILDREN AND THEIR MOTHER )T HAS BEEN SAID THAT hNO CONSTRUCTIVE APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM OF 0ROVIDENCE CAN BE MADE UNTIL WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE BASIC PRINCIPLE OF 'OD S #REATION IS INTER DEPENDENCE v 4HESE WORDS

MADE IN REFERENCE TO THE COOPERATION OF %LISHA AND THE WIDOW ALSO APPLY TO THE COOPERA TION BETWEEN THE CHILDREN AND THE WIDOW AND BETWEEN THE CHILDREN AND %LISHA 4HROUGH TRUSTING AND DEPENDING ON EACH OTHER %LISHA THE WIDOW AND THE CHILDREN TOGETHER BRING ABOUT THE MIRACLE .O SINGLE PERSON IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MIRACLE %LISHA MAY HAVE GIVEN THE WORD BUT IT COULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT THE ACTIONS OF THE MOTHER AND THE CHILDREN WORKING TOGETHER

!LTHOUGH SILENT THROUGH MOST OF THE STORY ONE OF THE CHILDREN lNALLY SPEAKS IN V 4HIS CHILD REVEALED HERE TO BE A SON RESPONDS TO HIS MOTHER WHEN SHE ASKS FOR ANOTHER VESSEL SAYING hTHERE IS NONE LEFT v (IS SIBLING REMAINS SILENT AND GOES WITHOUT IDENTI lCATION AS A BROTHER OR SISTER 7HILE THE STORY BEGINS AND ENDS WITH DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE WIDOW AND %ILSHA THE SILENCE OF THE MIRACLE ITSELF SPEAKS VOLUMES $IALOGUE MAY INTRODUCE AND CONCLUDE THE MIRACLE BUT PERHAPS THE FOCAL POINT OF THE STORY LIES IN THE SILENCE 4HE CHILD THEN SPEAKS AS THE TRANSITION BETWEEN THE MIRACLE AND THE CONCLUDING DIALOGUE 4HE FOCAL POINT THEN WOULD LIE WITH THE CHILDREN AND THE ACTIONS THEY TAKE IN THE REALIZATION OF THE MIRACLE

4HROUGH THEIR ACTIONS THE TWO CHILDREN WHO PREVIOUSLY FACED SUCH HARSH SUF FERING FROM OTHERS FAILINGS NOW BECOME INSTRUMENTS OF 'OD S MIRACULOUS SHOW OF LOVE AND PROTECTIVE CARE THEIR PARTICIPATION IS KEY 4HROUGH INSTANCES SUCH AS THIS hTHE "IBLE 'EORGE 3 'IBSON h! *AR OF /IL v IN 4HE %XPOSITORY 4IMES VOL *ANUARY

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PRESENTS 'OD AS ACTING IN A SURPRISING WAY THROUGH CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE v 2E MARKABLY BOTH %LISHA AND 'OD HAVE ENTRUSTED THESE TWO NAMELESS CHILDREN WITH CONTRIB UTING TO THEIR OWN SALVATION FROM SLAVERY AS WELL AS A MEANS FOR THEM AND THEIR MOTHER TO SURVIVE IN THE YEARS TO COME 4HUS WHILE THE NARRATOR DOES NOT EXPLICITLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPACT OF THE CHILDREN S PARTICIPATION IN THE MULTIPLICATION OF THE OIL NEVERTHELESS THE READER SURELY CANNOT IGNORE IT ALTOGETHER THE DOOR SHUT BEHIND THEM AND THEY ALONG WITH THEIR MOTHER HAVE PRIVATELY PERFORMED 'OD S WORK AND IN TURN RECEIVED 'OD S LOVE AND PROTECTION THAT ULTIMATELY WILL SPARE THEM A LIFE OF SERVITUDE

!FTER THE MIRACLE HAS TAKEN PLACE %LISHA ASSURES THE WIDOW IN VV THAT THEY HAVE ENOUGH OIL TO PAY OFF THE CREDITOR AND TO CONTINUE LIVING 4HIS ASSURANCE MUST HAVE COME AS A RELIEF NOT ONLY TO THE WIDOW BUT ALSO TO HER TWO CHILDREN 4HEY HAD TRUSTED THEIR MOTHER WHEN SHE WENT TO %LISHA FOR HELP AND PROCEEDED TO FOLLOW HIS INSTRUCTIONS )N TURN THEY BECAME INSTRUMENTS OF 'OD IN THEIR OWN RESCUE 4HEIR HOPE FAITH AND OBEDIENCE HAVE PAID OFF #URIOUSLY HOWEVER THE NARRA TOR PASSES OVER ANY POSSIBLE REACTION OF THE CHILDREN !LTHOUGH THE NARRATOR BEGINS AND ENDS WITH DIALOGUE BETWEEN %LISHA AND THE WIDOW ) WOULD ARGUE THAT THE TWO CHILDREN OCCUPY A PROMINENT PLACE AT THE HEART OF THE STORY 4HEY HAVE SUFFERED THE LOSS OF A FATHER FACED THE POSSIBILITY OF SLAVERY AND ULTIMATELY FOUND SECURITY THROUGH THEIR COOPERATION WITH %LISHA THEIR MOTHER

AND 'OD 'OD S MIRACLE DEPENDS NOT ONLY ON %LISHA AND THE WIDOW BUT THE CHILDREN AS WELL 0RESENT AND ACTIVE DURING THE MULTIPLICATION OF THE OIL THE NAMELESS CHILDREN ARE BOTH RECIPIENTS AND VESSELS FOR 'OD S LOVE AND PROTECTIVE CARE !ND WHAT OF -AX MENTIONED AT THE OUTSET OF THIS ESSAY 3ISTER +ATHY SECURED A STABLE FOSTER FAMILY FOR HIM STARTING IN THE FOURTH GRADE !LTHOUGH HE STILL STRUGGLES WITH HIS PAST AND WITH HIS RELA TIONSHIP WITH HIS MOTHER WHO STILL MAKES FREQUENT TRIPS TO REHAB -AX BELIEVES HE HAS ACHIEVED HIS GOALS THROUGH 'OD S LOVE AND PROTECTIVE CARE FOR HIM (E DOES NOT CONSIDER ANYTHING HE DOES SPECTACULAR BUT RATHER AS MERE TASKS HE NEEDS TO ACCOMPLISH TO HAVE A POSITIVE INmUENCE ON SOCIETY &OR THEIR PART +ATHY AND THE FOSTER FAMILY HAVE INSISTED ON *OSEPH ! 'RASSI h#HILD #HILDREN v IN 4HE !NCHOR "IBLE $ICTIONARY VOL

)NTERESTINGLY WHEN EXAMINING THE (EBREW TEXT NE SÔ IS USED WHICH TRANSLATES TO hDEBT v BUT MORE SPECIlCALLY TO

hBOYS WHO ARE BEING TAKEN AS PLEDGES v &OR TRANSLATION SEE * % (ARTLEY h$EBT v IN 4HE )NTERNATIONAL 3TANDARD "IBLE %NCYCLOPEDIA VOL

4HE /VERLOOKED /NES t

-AX S HARD WORK IN SCHOOL OBEDIENCE TO THE RULES OF THE HOUSE AND A STRIVING FOR A BET TER FUTURE -AX HAS RESPONDED BEAUTIFULLY AND IS ACHIEVING A COLLEGE EDUCATION A DREAM HE NEVER THOUGHT HIMSELF CAPABLE OF WHEN LIVING WITH HIS MOTHER !LTHOUGH HE IS STILL A hMARGINAL CHARACTERv IN THE EYES OF HIS MOTHER WHO RARELY CALLS OR SEES HIM -AX HAS AC CEPTED THE SUFFERING HE HAD TO ENDURE IN LIFE AND NOW LIKE THE CHILDREN IN THE STORY OF THE WIDOW S OIL ACTS AS BOTH RECIPIENT AND VESSEL IN 'OD S SHOW OF LOVE AND PROTECTIVE CARE

-AX AND THE TWO NAMELESS CHILDREN OF 3ECOND +INGS ALTHOUGH MINOR CHARACTERS

ARE NOT MINOR IN THE EYES OF 'OD 'OD LOVES AND PROTECTS EACH ONE OF THEM WITHOUT DIS CRIMINATION -OREOVER 'OD ENLISTS THEIR HELP AND MAKES THEM Put tersely, God does not 0UT TERSELY 'OD DOES NOT IGNORE BOTH A CRUCIAL PART IN BRINGING ABOUT THEIR ULTIMATE SAFETY AND THESE CHILDREN AND NEITHER SHOULD ignore these children, SURVIVAL 4HESE TWO STORIES ARE PRIME EXAMPLES THAT hIT IS THE THE READER MINOR CHARACTERS WHO OFTEN PROVIDE THE KEY TO THE MESSAGE OF and neither should the reader.

THE STORY v 4HE NARRATOR MAY WANT THE READER TO SIMPLY GLOSS OVER THESE CHILDREN BUT IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE READER TO OBJECT TO THE NARRATOR AND TO MAKE A PERSONAL DECI SION AS TO THE SO CALLED MAJOR AND MINOR CHARACTERS IN THE STORY 0UT TERSELY 'OD DOES NOT IGNORE THESE CHILDREN AND NEITHER SHOULD THE READER

4HE STORY OF THE MULTIPLICATION OF THE WIDOW S OIL IS NOT ONE TO BE READ AND SET ASIDE 2ATHER IT HAS A MESSAGE FOR EVERYONE IN SOCIETY INVITING EACH PERSON TO PONDER THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN THEIR OWN LIVES PEOPLE WHOM WE MAY BE TEMPTED TO LOOK PAST "Y THUS FOCUSING ON THE NAMELESS IN ONE S OWN SURROUNDINGS A PERSON IS LIKELY TO BECOME MORE AWARE OF THE hCHILDRENv IN OUR SOCIETY NO MATTER WHAT AGE THEY MAY BEˆTHOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED MUCH BUT WHO ARE NONETHELESS THE KEY TO 'OD S MIRACULOUS SHOW OF LOVE AND PROTECTIVE CARE tt t

+AREN #HAMBERS COMPLETED THE -ASTER OF $IVINITY IN -AY

AND WILL BEGIN TEACHING AT 6ERBUM $EI (IGH 3CHOOL IN HER HOME TOWN OF ,OS !NGELES IN THE FALL 0RIOR TO COMING TO *34" SHE SPENT A YEAR AS A RESIDENTIAL COUNSELOR IN A GROUP HOME FOR GIRLS WITH THE PROGRAM "OYS (OPE 'IRLS (OPE

5RIEL 3IMON h-INOR #HARACTERS IN "IBLICAL .ARRATIVE v IN *OURNAL FOR THE 3TUDY OF THE /LD 4ESTAMENT &EBRUARY

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VERY DAY ON EVERY CONTINENT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF WOMEN WHO KNOW THE FEELING ALL TOO WELL THEY LOOK DOWN ON THEIR SONS OR DAUGHTERS DYING IN THEIR ARMS AND FEEL TERRIBLY ALONE )N THE MIDST OF THIS DARK NIGHT EXPERIENCE THEY YEARN FOR A LIGHT TO ENTER THEIR SOULS IN ORDER TO BRING CONSOLATION AND UNDERSTANDING

4HROUGH A CHAPLAINCY PROGRAM AT THE /AKLAND #HILDREN S (OSPITAL ) HAVE VISITED WITH THESE WOMEN AND LISTENED TO THEIR STORIES ) HAVE ACHEDˆSOMETIMES WITH THEM IN THE ROOM AND OTHER TIMES IN MY OWN BED AS ) WAIT FOR SLEEP TO COME /N ONE OCCASION

) STOOD BESIDE THE CRIB OF A CHILD WHO LIVED FEWER THAN HOURS )N THE MIDST OF THIS WOUNDEDNESS AND SORROW AND DEATH ) DESIRE TO SHARE THE STORY OF *ESUS OF .AZARETH S CRUCIlXION AND THE PRESENCE OF HIS MOTHER THROUGH IT ALL )NDEED ) DEDICATE THIS ESSAY TO THE MOTHERS WHO DEAL WITH THE SUFFERING AND DEATH OF THEIR CHILDREN -ORE SPECIlCALLY ) WRITE TO MOTHERS WHO WATCH THEIR CHILDREN SUFFER IN HOSPITAL BEDS

4HERE IS A MOTHER SIMILAR TO YOURSELVES WHO HAD TO WITNESS THE SUFFERING AND DEATH OF HER CHILD &OR HER IT BEGAN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT SOME YEARS AGO (ER SON WAS MOCKED SPIT UPON AND BEATEN !FTER ALL OF THIS HE WAS NAILED TO A CROSS AND LEFT TO DIE (IS MOTHER WAS WITH HIM EVERY STEP OF THE WAY SHE NEVER LEFT HIS SIDE 3HE TOO FELT POWERLESS AND AFRAID 3HE TOO WAS TIRED AND LONELY 3HE TOO SHED TEARS

4HE STORY OF -ARY AND HER SON *ESUS DEATH AS TOLD IN THE 'OSPEL OF *OHN IS ONE THAT CONVEYS MANY STRUGGLES BLATANT PHYSICAL PAIN THE AGONY OF WATCHING INNOCENCE SUFFER AND THE MYRIAD QUESTIONS THAT ARE BORN WITH THE DEATH OF A CHILD ) INVITE THERE IS NOTHING MORE HEART ... there is nothing more heartYOU TO REMEMBER YOUR STORIES IN SOLIDARITY WITH -ARY AS WE ACKNOWL WRENCHING THAN TO WITNESS THE wrenching than to witness the EDGE WHAT YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED HELPLESS BEING HURT 0ERHAPS THAT IS helpless being hurt. Perhaps that

9OUR CHILDREN HAVE SUFFERED INNOCENTLY JUST AS *ESUS DID WHY *ESUS WAS SO INSISTENT ABOUT is why Jesus was so insistent 4RULY THERE IS NOTHING MORE HEART WRENCHING THAN TO WITNESS THE BRINGING CHILDREN TO HIS SIDE about bringing children HELPLESS BEING HURT 0ERHAPS THAT IS WHY *ESUS WAS SO INSISTENT ABOUT to his sideDURING HIS MINISTRY during his ministry.

BRINGING CHILDREN TO HIS SIDE DURING HIS MINISTRY 4HEY ARE INNOCENT

BY NATURE AND SO TO WATCH THEM SUFFER AND DIE IS TO FEEL A DEEP SENSE OF HURT AND CONFU SION -ARY TOO WOULD HAVE FELT THIS AS SHE WITNESSED HER SON S PASSION

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"EFORE HIS CRUCIlXION *ESUS WAS SCOURGED AT THE PILLAR CROWNED WITH THORNS AND FORCED TO CARRY HIS OWN CROSS !LL THIS LED UP TO THE TORTURE OF BEING NAILED TO A PLANK OF WOOD AND LEFT TO HANG BY HIS PIERCED HANDS AND FEET 9OUR CHILDREN HAVE FELT A SIMILAR PAIN .EEDLES HAVE BROKEN THE SURFACE OF THEIR SKIN AND THE lRE OF DISEASE OR INJURY HAS RUN THROUGH THEIR BODIES !ND LIKE -ARY YOU HAVE BEEN LEFT TO WALK WITH THEM THROUGH THIS TRAUMA

4HERE IS NO DOUBT THAT -ARY WAS LEFT WONDERING h7HY v IN THE FACE OF *ESUS CRU CIlXION !FTER ALL SHE HAD NURTURED AND PROTECTED *ESUS FROM THE TIME OF HIS CONCEPTION 7HAT S MORE -ARY BELIEVED IN HER SON S DIVINE MISSION SO ... in death, a new family is born.

MUCH SO THAT SHE CLEARLY AND DISTINCTLY INSTRUCTED THE SERVERS IN DEATH A NEW FAMILY IS BORN Most often this family is biological, AT THE WEDDING FEAST AT #ANA TO hDO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOUv -OST OFTEN THIS FAMILY IS BIOLOGICAL THOUGH though it can also include nurses, *OHN 3UBSEQUENTLY AT THE HOUR OF HIS DEATH -ARY IT CAN ALSO INCLUDE NURSES CHAPLAINS

chaplains, and long-lost friends.

REACHED OUT TO *ESUS BUT COULD NOT STOP THE HURT OR EASE AND LONG LOST FRIENDS 2EGARDLESS *ESUS Regardless, Jesus instructs you to HIS PAIN .EVERTHELESS IT WAS AT THAT MOMENT OF DESPAIR INSTRUCTS YOU TO EMBRACE THOSE PEOPLE WHO embrace those people who stand in THAT AN EXTRAORDINARY POWER WAS BORN FOR IN ADDITION TO THE STAND IN THE FACE OF DEATH WITH YOU the face of death with you. @MOTHER POWER THAT -ARY HAD ALWAYS ENJOYED IN RELATION TO *ESUS SHE WOULD HENCEFORTH HAVE ACCESS TO @OTHERS CENTERED POWER *ESUS MADE THIS CLEAR WHEN HE CALLED HER TO UNITE WITH HIS BELOVED DISCIPLE h7OMAN BEHOLD YOUR SONv *OHN )N ESSENCE *ESUS ESTABLISHED A NEW KIN SHIP FROM THE #ROSS ON #ALVARY 4HAT IS HIS lNAL ACT PRIOR TO PASSING FROM THIS WORLD TO THE NEXT WAS TO INVITE HIS MOTHER AND THE ONES WHOM HE LOVED TO COME TOGETHER AS CHILDREN OF 'OD !ND SO

EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY FEEL POWERLESS AT THE BEDSIDE OF YOUR CHILDREN REMEMBER THE POWER OF OTHERS AROUND YOU

4HUS FAR ) HAVE HINTED AT A HIDDEN GRACE THAT LIES JUST BELOW THE SURFACE OF WOUNDED INNOCENCE

ACUTE PAIN AND GROWING QUESTIONS AND POWERLESS NESS .OW WE MUST CALL IT OUT INTO THE LIGHT )T IS A SYMBOL OF BELIEF AND OF SALVATION BEYOND DEATH FOUND IN THE 'OSPEL OF *OHN )T IS THE COMMUNITY THAT FORMED UPON THE DEATH OF -ARY S SON

*ESUS NEVER OVERLOOKED THE PRESENCE OF HIS MOTHER AND NEITHER DO YOUR CHILDREN 2ATHER YOUR PRESENCE AS MOTHERS BY THE BEDSIDE OF YOUR CHILDREN OFFERS A RELIEF TO WHAT 2 #ULPEPPER 4HE 'OSPEL OF *OHN .ASHVILLE !BINGDON 0RESS

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EVER PAIN THEY MAY BE EXPERIENCING 4IME AND AGAIN ) HAVE SEEN CHILDREN S FACES LIGHT UP AS THEIR MOTHERS WALK INTO THE ROOM ) HAVE WITNESSED CHILDREN n GROGGY AND IN PAIN

WITH INTRAVENOUS TUBES PROTRUDING FROM THEIR ARMS AND LEGS ELECTRODES ATTACHED TO THEIR CHESTS AND OXYGEN RUNNING INTO THEIR NOSES n CRAWL UP INTO THEIR MOTHERS LAP AND FALL ASLEEP !ND ) HAVE HEARD STORIES OF CHILDREN WHOSE MUSCLES ARE RIGID AND WHO APPEAR LIFELESS TO THE WORLD FROM TUMORS ON THEIR BRAIN WHO MOVE EVER SO SUBTLY WHEN MOTHER ENERGY IS NEAR

4HE DEATH OF *ESUS BECAME THE DOORWAY THROUGH WHICH 'OD S HOUSEHOLD WAS OPENED TO THE WORLD 3IMILARLY THOSE INVOLVED WITH THE DEATH OF A CHILD ARE INVITED INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH THOSE AROUND THEM &OR IN DEATH A NEW FAMILY IS BORN -OST OFTEN THIS FAMILY IS BIOLOGICAL THOUGH IT CAN ALSO INCLUDE NURSES CHAPLAINS AND LONG LOST FRIENDS 2EGARDLESS *ESUS INSTRUCTS YOU TO EMBRACE THOSE PEOPLE WHO STAND IN THE FACE OF DEATH WITH YOU 0LEASE DO NOT ISOLATE YOURSELF OR TURN AWAY FOR THIS WILL ONLY RESULT IN TWO MORE DEATHSˆNAMELY THE EMOTIONAL DEATH OF YOURSELVES AND THE DEATH OF POTENTIAL LIFE GIVING RELATIONSHIPS THAT RISE FROM THE ASHES OF LOSS

!S YOU SIT WITH YOUR CHILDREN YOU TOO ARE INVITED TO EMBRACE AND TO BE EMBRACED

BY THOSE WHO STAND WITH YOU IN THIS SUFFERING AND YOU MUST NEVER THINK OR DESIRE TO STAND ALONE IN THAT HOUR 'OD PROVIDES PEOPLEˆBLOOD RELATIVES FRIENDS NURSES CHAPLAINS

OTHER FAMILIES IN THE HOSPITAL WITH THEIR CHILDRENˆTO BE WITH YOU AT THE FOOT OF YOUR OWN CROSS !S WE LEARN FROM *OHN S NARRATIVE WE SHOULD ACCEPT THOSE WHO STAND WITH US AND

IN SO DOING REALIZE THAT WE ARE CHILDREN OF 'OD BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF #HRIST 5NITED TOGETHER IN OUR SUFFERINGS AND CONSOLATIONS WE FORM AS 3T 0AUL SAYS THE hBODYv OF #HRIST

) WITNESSED SUCH A COMMUNITY UNITED AT THE FOOT OF THE #ROSS WHEN ) ASSISTED WITH THE CRIB SIDE BAPTISM OF A BOY WHO WAS BORN BRAIN DEAD 7HILE HIS MOTHER LABORED FOR HOURS TO BRING HIM INTO THE WORLD HE WAS BEING ASPHYXIATED BY THE UMBILICAL CORD (OW TRAGIC IT WAS TO THINK THAT THE VERY SOURCE OF LIFE AND (OW TRAGIC IT WAS TO THINK THAT THE VERY How tragic it was to think that the NOURISHMENT WHICH MOTHER AND CHILD SHARED HAD IN FACT SOURCE OF LIFE AND NOURISHMENT WHICH very source of life and nourishment BEEN TAKING HIS LIFE AWAY !N EMERGENCY C SECTION WAS MOTHER AND CHILD SHARED HAD IN FACT BEEN which mother and child shared had PERFORMED AND THE BABY WAS RUSHED TO THE EMERGENCY TAKING HIS LIFE AWAY in fact been taking his life away.

ROOM )N THE ABSENCE OF BRAIN ACTIVITY THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE FOR THE CHILD .EVERTHELESS THE HOSPITAL STAFF HOOKED UP THE INFANT S HOURS OLD BODY TO LIFE SUPPORT WHILE THE MOTHER HEALED FROM HER WOUNDS 3HE AND HER FAMILY ARRIVED THE NEXT DAY AT THE HOSPITAL WHERE HER SON WAS BEING KEPT ALIVE 4HE GRAND MOTHER OF THE BABY AS WELL AS UNCLES AUNTS AND COUSINS ALL CROWDED INTO THE CORNER OF THE

!N INTERPRETATION ATTRIBUTABLE TO $R -ARY #OLOE 0"6- IN LECTURES DELIVERED AT THE 'RADUATE 4HEOLOGICAL 5NION

"ERKELEY #!

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NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AND SHARED IN THE BAPTISMAL CEREMONY OF THIS LIFE 4HROUGH IT ALL THE MOTHER THOUGH PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY IN PAIN WAS BEING SUPPORTED BY A COMMUNITY THAT AFlRMED LIFE FOR HER BEYOND THE CHILD S DEATH

-Y PRAYER IS FOR THE AFmICTED MOTHERS OF THE WORLD -AY YOU lND COMFORT AS YOU WALK THE WAY OF THE #ROSS ALONGSIDE YOUR CHILDREN -AY YOU lND THE PRESENCE OF YOUR CHILDREN IN THOSE AROUND YOU IN SIBLINGS WHO CARRY A RESEMBLANCE IN SPOUSES WHO SHARE STORIES ABOUT THE DECEASED CHILD AND IN NURSING AND HOSPICE STAFFS WHO WALK WITH YOU THROUGH THE lNAL HOURS !ND MAY YOU FEEL AND KNOW THAT -ARY THE MOTHER OF *ESUS IS WALKING WITH YOU 4ELL THE WORLD THE STORY OF YOUR CHILD S LIFE AND AS YOU LOOK UPON YOUR LIFEBLOOD IN THAT HOSPITAL BED MAY YOU HEAR *ESUS INVITING YOU TO LOOK AT THOSE AROUND YOU WITH THE WORDS h7OMAN BEHOLD YOUR CHILDREN v

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+YLE ,IERK FROM !LLIANCE .EBRASKA IS STUDYING FOR THE -ASTER OF $IVINITY $URING THE SCHOOL YEAR HE MINISTERED AS A CHAPLAIN AT #HILDREN S (OSPITAL OF /AKLAND 0RIOR TO COMING TO *34" HE WORKED IN YOUTH MINISTRY FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND HOPES TO RETURN TO THAT WORK AFTER GRADUATION IN

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h) 7AKE AND &EELv ! ,IGHT IN THE $ARKNESS "Y *USTIN 7ALSH ) WAKE AND FEEL ) WAKE AND FEEL THE FELL OF DARK NOT DAY 7HAT HOURS / WHAT BLACK HOURS WE HAVE SPENT 4HIS NIGHT WHAT SIGHTS YOU HEART SAW WAYS YOU WENT !ND MORE MUST IN YET LONGER LIGHT S DELAY 7ITH WITNESS ) SPEAK THIS "UT WHERE ) SAY (OURS ) MEAN YEARS MEAN LIFE !ND MY LAMENT )S CRIES COUNTLESS CRIES LIKE DEAD LETTERS SENT 4O DEAREST HIM THAT LIVES ALAS AWAY ) AM GALL ) AM HEARTBURN 'OD S MOST DEEP DECREE "ITTER WOULD HAVE ME TASTE MY TASTE WAS ME "ONES BUILT IN ME mESH lLLED BLOOD BRIMMED THE CURSE 3ELFYEAST OF SPIRIT A DULL DOUGH SOURS ) SEE 4HE LOST ARE LIKE THIS AND THEIR SCOURGE TO BE !S ) AM MINE THEIR SWEATING SELVES BUT WORSE

)N THIS ARTICLE MY INTENTION IS TO EXPLORE THE POEM ) WAKE AND FEEL BY 'ERARD -ANLEY (OPKINS SO AS TO CONSIDER HOW ITS SONORANT WORLD MIGHT BE PROlTABLY FUSED WITH THE WORLD OF THE READER -OST ESPECIALLY WE WILL LOOK AT THE WAY IN WHICH ) WAKE AND FEEL LIBERATES THE READER FROM THE IMPRISONING WORDLESSNESS OF DESOLATION EQUIPPING HIM OR HER WITH A VOICE IN THE DARKNESS 4HIS REQUIRES BOTH READING THE POEM LITERALLY AND lGURATIVELY n lNDING A NEW IMAGINATIVE WAY OF VIEWING THE WORLD IN THE TENSION BETWEEN THE SAID AND THE UNSAID THE IS AND THE IS NOT ) WAKE AND FEEL IS A hFORMALv POEM NOT A PROSE MEDITATION BY A POET SEEKING LANGUAGE THAT MIGHT SPEAK TO HIS BODILY SPIRITUAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL STRUGGLE WITH OPPRESSIVE EVIL 4HE SPEAKER S hDEAD LETTERSv NOT ONLY STAND (OPKINS NEVER TITLED THIS POEM YET FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS PAPER WE WILL REFER TO THIS TEXT IN ITALICS AS ) WAKE AND FEEL

"Y PSYCHOLOGICAL ) REFER TO THE ORIGINAL MULTIVALENT SENSE OF PSYCHE I E AS ONE S INNER LIFE BEING HEART SOUL SPIRIT n EVEN ONE S PHYSICAL LIFE )T IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ESTABLISH A DElNITIVE DElNITION OF THIS MULTIVALENT WORD (OWEVER SEE &RED ERICK 7ILLIAM $ANKER ED ! 'REEK %NGLISH ,EXICON OF THE .EW 4ESTAMENT AND /THER %ARLY #HRISTIAN ,ITERATURE #HICAGO 5NIVERSITY OF #HICAGO 0RESS

) WAKE AND FEEL t ) WAKE AND FEEL t

AS A POSTAL METAPHOR BUT AS SOMETHING DEEPER AS A METAPHOR FOR LANGUAGE AS LETTERS AS A POSTAL METAPHOR BUT AS SOMETHING DEEPER AS A METAPHOR FOR LANGUAGE IS THE THESIS OF THIS PAPER THAT BY STRINGING LETTERS TOGETHER n EVEN FROM THE IM ITSELF )T IS THE THESIS OF THIS PAPER THAT BY STRINGING LETTERS TOGETHER n EVEN FROM THE IM NT OF DESPAIR TO AN ABSENT 'OD n THE SPEAKER PARADOXICALLY REACHES ENACTS AND PRISONMENT OF DESPAIR TO AN ABSENT 'OD n THE SPEAKER PARADOXICALLY REACHES ENACTS AND REALIZES HIMSELF OR HERSELF IN RELATIONSHIP WITH hDEAREST HIM v IMSELF OR HERSELF IN RELATIONSHIP WITH hDEAREST HIM v

'ERARD -ANLEY (OPKINS

ERARD -ANLEY (OPKINS WAS BORN WAS ON BORN *ULY ON

*ULY

INTO INTO A A WEALTHY !NGLICAN FAMILY IN %SSEX %NGLAND !T THE AGE OF TWENTY TWO

!NGLICAN FAMILY IN %SSEX %NGLAND !T THE AGE OF TWENTY TWO

HE CONVERTED TO #ATHOLICISM ! YEAR LATER HE GRADUATED FROM /XFORD RTED TO #ATHOLICISM ! YEAR LATER HE GRADUATED FROM /XFORD AND SUBSEQUENTLY ENTERED THE 3OCIETY OF *ESUS THE *ESUITS (OPKINS EQUENTLY ENTERED THE 3OCIETY OF *ESUS THE *ESUITS (OPKINS WAS ORDAINED A PRIEST IN 3EVEN YEARS LATER HE WAS APPOINTED 0ROFESSOR OF 'REEK AT 5NIVERSITY #OLLEGE $UBLIN WHERE HE FELT OVER AINED A PRIEST IN 3EVEN YEARS LATER HE WAS APPOINTED WHELMED BY ACADEMIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES "EHIND ) OF 'REEK AT 5NIVERSITY #OLLEGE $UBLIN WHERE HE FELT OVER WAKE AND FEEL WRITTEN IN IS AN AUTHOR SUFFERING FROM DEEP DE

BY ACADEMIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES "EHIND ) PRESSION AND DESOLATION D FEEL WRITTEN IN IS AN AUTHOR SUFFERING FROM DEEP DE

"EFORE PROCEEDING ) SHOULD SAY A WORD ABOUT POETRY !S STYL IZED CLIPPED HEIGHTENED AND FORMAL LANGUAGE POETRY FUNCTIONS UNLIKE ANY OTHER LINGUISTIC AND DESOLATION GENRE )NDEED ONE CAN QUICKLY SEE HOW ) WAKE AND FEEL IS AN hELEVATIONv OF IMAGINA EFORE PROCEEDING ) SHOULD SAY A WORD ABOUT POETRY !S STYL TION OR FEELING WHICH INTENTIONALLY STIRS THE LISTENER READER S IMAGINATION AND EMOTION PED HEIGHTENED AND FORMAL LANGUAGE POETRY FUNCTIONS UNLIKE ANY OTHER LINGUISTIC THROUGH HARMONY LATENT OR PATENT METER AND RHYTHM 7ITH THIS IN MIND LET US START BY NDEED ONE CAN QUICKLY SEE HOW ) WAKE AND FEEL IS AN hELEVATIONv OF IMAGINA ANALYZING THE MUSICAL QUALITY OF ) WAKE AND FEEL EELING WHICH INTENTIONALLY STIRS THE LISTENER READER S IMAGINATION AND EMOTION 4HE 7ORLD OF THE 4EXT HARMONY LATENT OR PATENT METER AND RHYTHM 7ITH THIS IN MIND LET US START BY

'ENERALLY SPEAKING IN HIS POEMS (OPKINS COMBINES POETIC TECHNIQUES SUCH AS G THE MUSICAL QUALITY OF ) WAKE AND FEEL ASSONANCE DISSONANCE ALLITERATION ENJAMBMENT IAMBIC PENTAMETER AND SPRUNG RHYTHM TO CREATE TREMENDOUS MUSICAL SCORES (OPKINS CREATES AN INTENSE WORLD OF MUSIC IN WHICH

RLD OF THE 4EXT THE WORLD OF THE POEM IS LITERALLY SUNG INTO EXISTENCE 7E DO AND WE MUST lRST OF ALL LOSE OURSELVES IN (OPKINS S SCORE THE CURSED 3 S SOUR SELF ENERALLY SPEAKING IN HIS POEMS (OPKINS COMBINES POETIC TECHNIQUES SUCH AS (OPKINS CREATES AN INTENSE WORLD OF MUSIC Hopkins creates an intense world YEAST SCOURGE " S BITTER BLOOD BRIMMED HEARTBURN & S FELL

E DISSONANCE ALLITERATION ENJAMBMENT IAMBIC PENTAMETER AND SPRUNG RHYTHM IN WHICH THE WORLD OF THE POEM IS LITERALLY of music in which the world of the mESH lLLED LIFE , S LAMENTABLE LOST LIGHT 7 S WORSE WIT SUNG INTO EXISTENCE poem is literally sung into existence.

TREMENDOUS MUSICAL SCORES (OPKINS CREATES AN INTENSE WORLD OF MUSIC IN WHICH NESS AND $ S DEAREST DARK DEAD DELAY "EFORE ENTERING THE D OF THE POEM IS LITERALLY SUNG INTO EXISTENCE 7E DO AND WE MUST lRST OF ALL RATIONAL LEVEL THE POEM S SOUND ARRESTS AND WASHES OVER US 4HROUGH THE MELODIC WE REMEMBER A TIME BEFORE THE SPATIALIZATION OF LANGUAGE BEFORE THE INSPIRATION WAS UNBID ELVES IN (OPKINS S SCORE THE CURSED 3 S SOUR SELF (OPKINS CREATES AN INTENSE WORLD OF MUS DEN THE WORD ENmESHED URGE " S BITTER BLOOD BRIMMED HEARTBURN & S FELL

IN WHICH THE WORLD OF THE POEM IS LITERALLY ED LIFE 4HE /CTAVE , S LAMENTABLE LOST LIGHT 7 S WORSE WIT SUNG INTO EXISTENCE

-OVING FROM PHONEMES AND WORDS TO PROPOSITIONS AND STRUCTURES WE BEGIN TO $ S DEAREST DARK DEAD DELAY "EFORE ENTERING THE MAKE SENSE OF THIS INSCRIBED DISCOURSE (OPKINS WE ASSUME IS SPEAKING EITHER TO HIMSELF EVEL THE POEM S SOUND ARRESTS AND WASHES OVER US 4HROUGH THE MELODIC WE

$ANKER

ER A TIME BEFORE THE SPATIALIZATION OF LANGUAGE BEFORE THE INSPIRATION WAS UNBID

7EBSTER S )) .EW 2IVERSIDE $ICTIONARY DElNES hPHONEMEv AS ONE OF THE SMALLEST UNITS OF SPEECH AS THE M OF MAT AND B

WORD ENmESHED OF BAT THAT DISTINGUISHES ONE WORD OR UTTERANCE FROM ANOTHER

t .EW 7INESKINS

OR TO DEAREST HIM 4HE LANGUAGE IS BOTH HYPERBOLIC PAINED LUCID AND HIDDEN EACH JAG GED LINE lNISHING WITH A RHYME DAY SPENT WENT DELAY SAY LAMENT SENT AWAY &ILLED WITH BLEAK DEPLORABLE BANKRUPT ANGST RIDDEN IMAGERY (OPKINS EVOKES A HUMAN CONDITION EMPTIED WITH DESPAIR

) WAKE AND FEEL THE FELL OF DARK NOT DAY 7HAT HOURS / WHAT BLACK HOURS WE HAVE SPENT 4HIS NIGHT WHAT SIGHTS YOU HEART SAW WAYS YOU WENT !ND MORE MUST IN YET LONGER LIGHT S DELAY 7ITH WITNESS ) SPEAK THIS "UT WHERE ) SAY (OURS ) MEAN YEARS MEAN LIFE !ND MY LAMENT )S CRIES COUNTLESS CRIES LIKE DEAD LETTERS SENT 4O DEAREST HIM THAT LIVES ALAS AWAY

)N THIS OCTAVE IT APPEARS THAT (OPKINS IS lXATED ON PERSONHOOD SEEN IN HIS AVID USE OF PERSONAL PRONOUNS n OCCURRING NINETEEN TIMES IN THE POEM 4HIS IS TIED DIRECTLY TO (OPKINS NOTION OF THE SELF AND SELVING )T IS THROUGH THE OUTPOURING OF LANGUAGE THAT THE SPEAKER IN THE POEM ENVISIONS HIS OR HER @SELF IN A NEW LIGHT 4HIS @SELVING AS (OPKINS UNDERSTOOD IT WAS ESSENTIAL TO HIS POETICS n TO SELF ACTUALIZATION &OR (OPKINS A POEM IS AN INSTRESSED INSCAPE OF AN EXPERIENCE OR INSIGHT )N ) WAKE AND FEEL THE VERB hFEELv IS IMMEDIATELY CONNECTED TO THE hWAKING MOMENTv GIVING US A SENSE OF THE SPEAKER S INSTRESSED SOUL PERCHED BETWEEN WAKING AND SLEEPING 2UNNING BETWEEN THE LITERAL AND THE lGURATIVE LANGUAGE ELUDES DElNITION 4HE hFELL OF DARKv CAN MEAN SO MANY THINGS )S hFELLv TO BE TAKEN AS THE ANIMAL PELT WHICH THE DESERT FATHERS SLEPT ON A PROPHET S MANTLE E G %LIJAH IN +INGS OR AS PART OF A PERSONIlCATION OF THE DARKNESS AS 3ATAN S HAIRY HIDE 3ATAN BREATHING ON THE BACK OF THE SPEAKER S NECK /R IS IT hFELLv AS IN FOREBODING

MALEVOLENT OR BANAL !LTERNATIVELY MIGHT IT BE AN ALLUSION TO THE FALL OF !DAM

) WAKE AND FEEL IS WRITTEN IN SPRUNG RHYTHM NOT THE MORE TRADITIONAL hRUNNING RHYTHM v 4RADITIONALLY A DEVOTIONAL

ROMANTIC NATURALISTIC GENRE IT IS IN THE TERRIBLE SONNETS THAT (OPKINS FULLY REmECTS ON THE DIVINE HUMAN RELATIONSHIP FREELY FORMING INTERTEXTS WITH *OHN OF THE #ROSS $ANTE 3HAKESPEARE )GNATIUS *OB 0SALMS AND 4HE .EW 4ESTAMENT

h3ELVINGv IS A MARKEDLY NINETEENTH CENTURY TERM CONNECTED TO THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND RELIGIOUS THOUGHT OF THE DAY (OPKINS IS CONCERNED WITH THE DISSOLUTION OF THE SELF AND THE hSELFYEASTv OF SPIRIT THAT MIGHT BRING HIM INTO DEEPER RELA TIONSHIP WITH #HRIST

)NSTRESS h4HE PRINCIPLE OF ACTUALITY IN A THING THE PERFECTION OF BEING PROPER TO A THING v )NSCAPE HAS TO DO WITH THE INDIVIDUAL ESSENCE AND UNIQUENESS OF EVERY PHYSICAL THING 4HIS IS COMMUNICATED FROM AN OBJECT BY ITS hINSTRESS v THE ENERGY BY WHICH ALL THINGS ARE UPHELD AND STRAIN AFTER THEIR CONTINUED EXISTENCE $AVID !NTHONY $OWNES 4HE )GNATIAN 0ERSONALITY OF 'ERARD -ANLEY (OPKINS ,ANHAM -$ 5NIVERSITY 0RESS OF !MERICA

#OTTER TALKS ABOUT THE hFELL OF NIGHTv ON THE SPIRITUAL FALL OF !DAM AND LITERAL LEVELS FALL OF NIGHT h4HE PRETERITE lXES THE ACTION IN HISTORY AND EXISTENCE THE DEED OF WICKEDNESS IS DONE AND NEVER AS SUCH CAN BE UNDONE ALL MEN ARE SINNERS NOW v *AMES &INN #OTTER )NSCAPE 4HE #HRISTOLOGY AND 0OETRY OF 'ERARD -ANLEY (OPKINS 0ITTSBURGH 5NIVERSITY OF 0ITTSBURGH 0RESS

) WAKE AND FEEL t

,IGHT IS ABSENT FROM THE POEM AND THERE APPEARS TO BE A DIVISION BETWEEN THE SPEAKER AND THE SPEAKER S HEART WHICH WENT hWAYSv AND hSAWv THINGS DURING THE BLACK HOURS OF THE NIGHT 4HE SPEAKER IS IMMERSED IN A TENEBROUS PROGRESSION IN THE POEM

A PROGRAMMATIC INTENSIlCATION FROM FELL TO DARK TO BLACK HOURS CONCLUDING WITH LONGER LIGHT S DELAY -OVING THROUGH THESE LEVELS OF LIGHT THE SPEAKER lNALLY EXPERIENCES THE UTTER ABSENCE OF LIGHT n OF WHICH MORE MUST BE ENDURED !S $ 7ALHOUT NOTES h4HE UNCERTAINTY OF DARKNESS IS WITHOUT DIRECTION OR SURCEASE v 4HE POEM RUNS ADRY $AY HAS NOT COME 4HE SOMNOLENT SELF SLEEPS THE HEART DIVIDED

.OT ONLY HAS THE SPEAKER FELT THIS BUT HE HAS ALSO WITNESSED THE LIGHT S DELAY THE ABSENCE 4HIS WITNESS ALSO CARRIES A LEGAL TONE AS IF SOMEONE HAS WITNESSED A CRIME OR IS STILL BEING ATTACKED NOTE THE PRESENT TENSE ) SPEAK THIS )N TAKING UP $AVID !NTHONY $OWNES S IDEA THAT (OPKINS S POEMS ARE VERY MUCH IN THE BIBLICAL TRADITION WE lND HERE .EW 4ESTAMENT SPEECH AND /LD 4ESTAMENT DIALOGUE (AS SOME NATURAL LAW BEEN BRO KEN 4HE DARKNESS HAS BEEN WITH THIS VICTIM FOR YEARS n FOR LIFE 0ERHAPS OVERDRAMATIC !GAIN THE SPEAKER S FEELINGS OF DESPAIR ARE INTENSIlED THROUGH THE METAPHORICAL MOVE MENT FROM WITNESS TO SPEAK LAMENT CRIES COUNTLESS AND CRIES LIKE DEAD LETTERS 4HE EMOTIONAL LANDSCAPE DARKENS PACKED WITH A VOCALIZED ANGUISH &ROM THE SOFTLY SPOKEN WORD TO THE OUTRAGED SCREAMS THAT PERVADE THE SPEAKER S LIFE A PICTURE OF THE ALIENATED SELF IN THE DES ERT IS COMPLETE 9ET WHAT ARE THESE hCRIES LIKE DEAD LETTERSv

7ITH THE INDIVIDUAL LETTERS SENT AWAY THERE IS A SENSE OF THE FAILURE OF LANGUAGE TO MEAN ANYTHING I E TO lND FORM OR TO REACH ITS DESTINATION 4HE INTENDED RECIPIENT OF THESE LETTERS THIS LANGUAGE APPEARS TO BE UNAVAILABLE 4HIS DEAREST HIM LIVES AWAY * #OTTER TAKING THIS #HRISTOLOGICALLY ARGUES h.O ANSWERS COME TO HIM HIS PLEAS ARE LEFT FORGOTTEN IN SOME OBSCURE CORNER #HRIST IS A DISTANT MARK AND DISTANT INDEED v 4HE PRESENT TENSE hLIVESv CONNOTES A SENSE OF THE STATE OF THINGS THE HABITUAL ORDINARY AND ACCEPTED REALITY 9ET WHO IS THIS @DEAREST HIM THAT v OR SHOULD ) SAY WHAT IS hTHIS DEAR EST HIM THATv SINCE (OPKINS DOES NOT USE THE PERSONAL RELATIVE PRONOUN WHO 4HE PLOT THICKENS

$ONALD 7ALHOUT 3END MY 2OOTS 2AIN ! 3TUDY OF 2ELIGIOUS %XPERIENCE IN THE 0OETRY OF 'ERARD -ANLEY (OPKINS !THENS

/HIO /HIO 5NIVERSITY 0RESS

$AVID !NTHONY $OWNES 'ERARD -ANLEY (OPKINS

-ARYLOU -OTTO DISCUSSES THE IMPRESSIONISTIC NATURE OF (OPKINS S WORK AS WITNESSED IN THE DISORDERED DARKNESS AND THE SPEAKER S LIFE SENTENCE 3HE NOTES ( 'ARDNER S RESPONSE TO THIS WORK n THAT (OPKINS S POETRY HERE IS JUST hMELO DRAMATICv AND hSELF ABSORBED v -ARYLOU -OTTO -INED WITH A -OTIONv 4HE 0OETRY OF 'ERARD -ANLEY (OPKINS .EW "RUNSWICK . * 2UTGERS 5NIVERSITY 0RESS

*AMES &INN #OTTER )NSCAPE 4HE #HRISTOLOGY AND 0OETRY OF 'ERARD -ANLEY (OPKINS

7E WOULD ASSUME THAT THERE IS NO h) 4HOUv RELATIONSHIP HERE BETWEEN 'OD AND THE SPEAKER n THAT THERE IS AN ABSENCE OF ONE OF THE PARTIES %ACH HALF OF THE OCTAVE ENDS WITH ABSENCE ONE OF LIGHT HOPE AND SEEMINGLY ONE OF DIALOGICAL RELATIONSHIP

t .EW 7INESKINS

4HE 3ESTET

) AM GALL ) AM HEARTBURN 'OD S MOST DEEP DECREE

"ITTER WOULD HAVE ME TASTE MY TASTE WAS ME

"ONES BUILT IN ME mESH lLLED BLOOD BRIMMED THE CURSE

3ELFYEAST OF SPIRIT A DULL DOUGH SOURS ) SEE

4HE LOST ARE LIKE THIS AND THEIR SCOURGE TO BE

!S ) AM MINE THEIR SWEATING SELVES BUT WORSE

)N THE SECOND PART OF THE POEM THE POINT WHERE AN OCTAVE SESTET SONNET TURNS

THE POET S STATE OF VEXATION TAKES ON EXASPERATED TONES 'ALL BILE MINGLES WITH HEART BURN 4HE SPEAKER S BODY MALFUNCTIONS IN A PSYCHOSOMATIC EPISODE 4HE HEARTBURN IS A TERRIFYING PLAY ON THE BURNING OF THE SPEAKER S HEART FOR DEAREST HIM TO BECOME HIM WHO SOMEONE FAMILIAR )N THE NEXT LINE

WITH *OB LIKE FEROCITY WE HEAR THAT IT IS 'OD S hMOST DEEPv DECREE THAT THE POET SUFFER THIS BILIOUS BURNING CONDITION ,OOKING AT THIS WITH AN )GNATIAN UNDERSTANDING OF THE HU MAN PERSON IT MAY BE NOTED THAT )GNATIUS OF ,OYOLA FOUNDER OF THE *ESUIT /RDER WRITES IN HIS 3PIRITUAL %XERCISES OF THE ENEMY S TACTICS

HOLDING THE PERSON FAST PLUNGING THEM DEEP ER INTO SIN ; = WHILE PRODUCING GNAWING ANXIETY SADNESS DARKNESS OF THE SOUL TURMOIL IMPULSIVENESS DISQUIET SETTING UP OB STACLES AND UNSETTLING THE PERSON ; = /NE IS COMPLETELY LISTLESS TEPID AND UNHAPPY

FEELING SEPARATED FROM OUR #REATOR AND ,ORD ; = )N A *OB LIKE GESTURE 3T )GNATIUS ALSO WRITES h7HEN WE ARE IN DESOLATION WE SHOULD THINK THAT THE ,ORD HAS LEFT US IN ORDER TO TEST US

BY LEAVING US TO OUR OWN NATURAL POWERSxv ; = )T IS CLEAR TO SEE HOW )GNA TIUS S OWN POWERFUL PROSE PENETRATES (OPKINS S WORLD 0OTENTIALLY ALLUDING TO THE STORY OF *OB THERE IS A SENSE OF THE !CCUSER HAVING THE FULL PERMISSION OF 'OD TO PLAY WITH *OB

'OD S RIGHTEOUS ONE * #OTTER TAKES UP THIS *OBIAN READING h)N THE SESTET THE POET TO ALL APPEARANCE THROWN BACK ON HIMSELF WITH THE COMMON LOT OF FALLEN MANKIND GIVES FULL OUTLET TO HIS *OB LIKE DISTRESS v #ITING THE PROCESS OF HIS OWN CREATION THE POET GOES SO

3T )GNATIUS )GNATIUS OF ,OYOLA 3PIRITUAL %XERCISES AND 3ELECTED 7ORKS 'EORGE % 'ANSS ED .EW 9ORK 0AULIST 0RESS

3UBSEQUENT NUMBERS IN SQUARE BRACKETS INDICATE THE %XERCISES &OR )GNATIUS THE hENEMY OF OUR HUMAN NATUREv IS 3ATAN

*AMES &INN #OTTER )NSCAPE 4HE #HRISTOLOGY AND 0OETRY OF 'ERARD -ANLEY (OPKINS 0ITTSBURGH 5NIVERSITY OF 0ITTSBURGH 0RESS

) WAKE AND FEEL t

FAR AS TO SAY THAT 'OD INTENDED THIS CURSE FROM HIS INCEPTION 4HE SPEAKER BITTERLY TASTES 'OD S MOST DEEP WORK IN BONES mESH AND BLOOD

2EADING OF hTHE LOST v THE SPEAKER REMAINS SCOURGED UNSELVED CAUGHT IN A PLACE BETWEEN #ALVARY AND THE 2ESURRECTION n SWEATING 4HE LANGUAGE IS PACKED WITH MEAN ING HEARKENING TO *ESUS IN THE 'ARDEN OF 'ETHSEMANE WHERE IN 4HE 'OSPEL OF ,UKE

hHIS SWEAT BECAME LIKE GREAT DROPS OF BLOOD v RIGHT BEFORE HE WAS TAKEN AND SCOURGED 4HE POEM ENDING WITH hBUT WORSE v LEAVES US EMPTY 4HE SPEAKER FEELS THE FELL OF DARK

THE SWEAT OF ANGST THE BILE GORGING IN THE THROAT THE It is not just depression or desolation )T IS NOT JUST DEPRESSION OR DESOLATION HEARTBURN )S hDEAREST HIM v NAY THE ENTIRE POEM

(or Satan) that can bind us, but also language.

OR 3ATAN THAT CAN BIND US BUT ALSO LANGUAGE JUST A HEAP OF DEAD LETTERS )S THERE ANY HOPE TO BE Entering into the poetic landscape, and %NTERING INTO THE POETIC LANDSCAPE AND RESPONDING FOUND !ND HOW MIGHT WE APPROPRIATE LITERALLY

POETICALLY IS YET ANOTHER KEY TO UNLOCKING THE responding poetically, is yet another key to OWN THIS WORLDVIEW IMPRISONMENT OF DESPAIR unlocking the imprisonment of despair.

)N ENTERING THE WORLD OF THE POEM REALITY AS WE KNEW IT CEASES AND WE lND OUR SELVES IN A WORLD ON THE hMYTHICAL LEVEL OF DISCOURSE v 7ITH THIS PLAYFUL VIEW OF POETIC LANGUAGE THAT HAS THE CAPACITY TO BUILD AND DESTROY ) WAKE AND FEEL DESTROYS OUR REALITY

THEREBY CHALLENGING US TO STRING LETTERS TOGETHER IN A NEW WAY IN A NEW AND DEEPER RELA TIONSHIP )T IS NOT JUST DEPRESSION OR DESOLATION OR 3ATAN THAT CAN BIND US BUT ALSO LAN GUAGE %NTERING INTO THE POETIC LANDSCAPE AND RESPONDING POETICALLY IS YET ANOTHER KEY TO UNLOCKING THE IMPRISONMENT OF DESPAIR 4HE FORMAL ELECTION OF #HRIST AS 3AVIOR USING LANGUAGE IS NOT THE PROJECT OF ) WAKE AND FEEL 2ATHER THE SPEAKER IN THE POEM MOVES BEYOND ORDINARY DISCOURSE AND REALITY TO THE CONSTRUCTION SITE OF A NEW REALITY USING THE EXISTENTIAL TOOLS OF POETIC DISCOURSE )N THIS WAY THE POET SINGS A NEW REALITY INTO BEING

.EVERTHELESS (OPKINS S POETRY CAN BE WELL UNDERSTOOD WITHIN THE )GNATIAN TRADI TION OF COLLOQUY I E PRAYEFUL DISCOURSE WITH THE 4RINITY AS WELL AS A INDIVIDUAL S EXPLORA TION OF CONSOLATIONS AND DESOLATIONS OF DAILY LIVINGˆVERILY A PLACE WHERE HE OR SHE MAY lND PEACE AND GRACE 0OETIC DISCOURSE AS COLLOQUY OFFERS AN ELECTION OF A NEW REALITY IN WHICH PEACE MAY BE FOUND &OR EVERY SAID IN THE POEM THERE IS A VAST UNSAID )T IS IN THIS SURPLUS OF MEANING THAT THE READER CAN PARADOXICALLY REACH ENACT AND REALIZE HIMSELF

0LAYFULLY *OHN 2OBINSON NOTES THAT THE hHELL S SPELLv OF 4O SEEM THE STRANGER HAS HERE BECOME A CURSE *OHN 2OBIN SON !N %XTREMITY ! 3TUDY OF 'ERARD -ANLEY (OPKINS #AMBRIDGE #AMBRIDGE 5NIVERSITY 0RESS

2EMINISCENT OF THE %UCHARIST

h3COURGEv HAS A SENSE OF MALICIOUS PUNISHMENT TOO n POTENTIALLY REFERRING TO A 'OD @THAT OCCASIONALLY METES OUT PUNISHMENT ON A WHIM A 'OD WHO TESTS AS )GNATIUS HIMSELF PUTS IT

)BID

0ETER (ARDWICK IN h3PIRITUALITY AND THE !RTIST %SSAYS IN (ONOR OF 'ERARD -ARLEY (OPKINS

v 4HE 7AY 3UPPLEMENT AUTUMN

t .EW 7INESKINS

OR HERSELF IN RELATIONSHIP WITH hDEAREST HIM v )N THIS SENSE ) WAKE AND FEEL OFFERS A MODEL TO THE READER TO ALSO hSEND LETTERS v TO hCRY OUT v AND ULTIMATELY TO ENCOUNTER THE TEXT IN A NEW AND TRANSFORMATIVE WAY )N LONELINESS ENCAGEMENT AND ISOLATION IT IS THROUGH SENDING OFF LETTERS AS FRAGMENTS OF LANGUAGE THAT THE DIVIDED HEART AND hDEAREST HIMv ARE CONTACTED /N THE LEVEL OF METAPHOR THE IMAGINATION SEEKS A NEW EXPRESSION OF THIS RELATIONSHIP PERHAPS EVEN A NEW TRANSLATION THAT IS LIVING !S PHILOSOPHER 0AUL 2ICOEUR TELLS US WE WILL NOT lND A LIVING METAPHOR IN THE DICTIONARY ) WAKE AND FEEL APART FROM SHATTERING OUR ESTABLISHED UNDERSTANDINGS OF #REATOR AND CREATURE CALLS US TO POETICIZE IN OUR OWN COLLOQUY THE BEGINNINGS OF A NEW REALITY )N ALL OF ITS METAPHORICAL UNSAID AM BIGUITY ) WAKE AND FEEL IS ULTIMATELY CONGRUENT WITH THE HUMAN CONDITION n ITSELF FRAUGHT WITH DOUBT AND TREPIDATION n SEEKING A NEW LANGUAGE OF THE HUMAN HEART CATCHING IT OFF GUARD AND BLOWING IT OPEN tt t

*USTIN 7ALSH A NATIVE OF -ELBOURNE !USTRALIA RECEIVED HIS -ASTERS IN "IBLICAL 3TUDIES FROM *34" AND THE 'RADUATE 4HEOLOGICAL 5NION IN -AY (E HOPES TO INFUSE FURTHER STUDIES IN THEOLOGY WITH HIS PASSION FOR LITERATURE AND MUSIC AND TO PURSUE A CAREER IN TEACHING

4HIS IS SOMETHING OF A THEODICY OF PROTEST n CRYING OUT TO 'OD IN PROTEST IN SUFFERING n USING LANGUAGE TO CONSTRUCT A NEW REALITY A NEW DIALOGICAL RELATIONSHIP

$ONALD 7ALHOUT 3END MY 2OOTS 2AIN

0AUL 2ICOUER )NTERPRETATION 4HEORY $ISCOURSE AND 3URPLUS OF -EANING &ORT 7ORTH 48 4EXAS #HRISTIAN 5NIVERSITY 0RESS 2ICOUER DEVELOPED CERTAIN PRINCIPLES OF INTERPRETATION INCLUDING THE NOTION THAT ALL SELF UNDERSTANDING OF THE INDIVIDUAL IS MEDIATED BY SIGNS SYMBOLS AND TEXTS

&ROM THE 'REEK POIEO n TO MAKE DO CAUSE EFFECT BRING ABOUT ACCOMPLISH PERFORM PROVIDE CREATE OF 'OD PRODUCE YIELD BEAR PUT FORTH GIVE PREPARE KEEP CELEBRATE OF FEASTS ETC CLAIM PRETEND TO BE SOMEBODY SHOW MERCY ETC WORK BE ACTIVE LIVE PRACTICE ACT DO GOOD ACT BENEVOLENTLY OR KINDLY SPEND STAY OF TIME EXERCISE AUTHORITY WAGE WAR EXECUTE JUDGMENT GIVE ALMS APPOINT -K (E CONSIDER COUNT !C !

'REEK %NGLISH ,EXICON OF THE .EW 4ESTAMENT AND /THER %ARLY #HRISTIAN ,ITERATURE RD ED S V hPOIEO v

3EAMUS (EANEY 3ELECTED 0OEMS $UBLIN .OONDAY 0RESS

t

h&OR THIS IS THE WILL OF MY &ATHER THAT EVERYONE WHO SEES THE 3ON AND BELIEVES IN HIM MAY HAVE ETERNAL LIFE

AND ) SHALL RAISE HIM ON THE LAST DAY v *OHN

(OMILY 'IVEN AT THE -EMORIAL -ASS OF *USTIN 4RUONG "Y *OHN %NDRES 3 *

) WANT lRST TO EXTEND MY DEEP SYMPATHY TO ,AN AND TO ALL OF YOUR FAMILY ON THE LOSS OF YOUR BELOVED SON *USTIN !S WE GATHER HERE WITH HIS AUNTS AND UNCLES COUSINS AND DEAR FRIENDS ) AM SURE HIS DEATH STILL SEEMS A BIT UNREAL ) FEEL MOST PRIVILEGED TO BE ABLE TO PRESIDE AT THE %UCHARIST TODAY AND TO OFFER A FEW REmECTIONS ABOUT OUR FAITH ) KNOW THAT ) BRING TO YOU THE LOVING SUPPORT OF OUR WHOLE SCHOOL ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO CAN T BE HERE TODAY

&OR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE GUESTS OF *34" FOR THE lRST TIME ) WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE MOVED INTO THIS NEW CHAPEL WITH A JOYOUS lRST -ASS JUST FOUR DAYS AGO !ND TO DAY WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO HAVE OUR lRST OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER LOVING HOSPITALITY TO ALL OF YOU

BROUGHT HERE BY ,AN 4RUONG WHO HAS ALREADY BECOME A WONDERFUL MEMBER OF OUR *34" COMMUNITY 3O THIS IS OUR lRST %UCHARISTIC CELEBRATION FOR SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES IN THIS

THE 'ESÞ CHAPEL NAMED IN HONOR OF *ESUS AND OF THE *ESUITS MOTHER CHURCH IN 2OME ,A #HIESA DEL 'ESÞ !ND INDEED IT IS IN *ESUS NAME THAT WE GATHER HERE TODAY

&ROM THE MOMENT THAT ,AN CALLED ME VERY EARLY ON THAT 3UNDAY WITH HER NEWS ) HAVE FELT JOINED TO HER AND ALL OF YOU IN BONDS OF LOVING COMPASSION ) SPEAK AS ONE WHO WAS REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING *USTIN DURING HIS SCHED ULED 3PRING "REAK VISITnAND NOW ) COME TO KNOW HIM THROUGH YOUR GRIEF AND STORIES TEARS AND LAUGHTER PHOTOS AND MEMORIES AND THROUGH ALL OF YOU WHO LOVE AND MISS HIM SO MUCH

*USTIN WAS OFlCIALLY NAMED AT HIS BAPTISM AND AT THE SAME TIME SPE CIALLY DESIGNATED AS A BELOVED SON OF 'OD AND A BROTHER OF *ESUS (E ENTERED INTO A GRACED EXISTENCE CAUSE FOR GREAT JOY "UT OUR #HRISTIAN LIFE ALWAYS REmECTS THAT OF *ESUS INCLUDING HIS DYING ON A CROSS AS WE STAND UNDER THE CRUCIlX IN THIS CHAPEL TODAY 3T 0AUL REMINDS US OF THAT MYSTERY AS HE ASKS h!RE YOU UNAWARE THAT WE WHO WERE BAPTIZED INTO #HRIST *ESUS WERE BAPTIZED INTO HIS DEATH v 2OMANS "APTISM BRINGS LIFE ESPECIALLY THROUGH SHARING IN *ESUS DEATHn

t .EW 7INESKINS t .EW 7INESKINS

ONLY WE DO NOT EXPECT THE PHYSICAL DEATH TO HAPPEN AS EARLY IN LIFE AS DID *USTIN S

.EW 7INESKINS tONLY WE DO NOT EXPECT THE PHYSICAL DEATH TO HAPPEN AS EARLY IN LIFE AS DID *USTIN S *USTIN S LIFE IS LIKE A WORD SPOKEN BY 'OD LIKE THE RAIN THAT COMES DOWN FROM THE

*USTIN S LIFE IS LIKE A WORD SPOKEN BY 'OD LIKE THE RAIN THAT COMES DOWN FROM THE HEAVENS )SAIAH ASSURES US THAT THE RAINS HAVE THEIR IMPACT THEY DO THEIR WORK OF ENHANCING HEAVENS )SAIAH ASSURES US THAT THE RAINS HAVE THEIR IMPACT THEY DO THEIR WORK OF ENHANCING LIFE AND FERTILE LOVELINESS )S !ND 'OD S WORD TRACES THAT SAME PATHnSPOKEN LIFE AND FERTILE LOVELINESS )S !ND 'OD S WORD TRACES THAT SAME PATHnSPOKEN ONLY WE DO NOT EXPECT THE PHYSICAL DEATH TO HAPPEN AS EARLY IN LIFE AS DID *USTIN S IN EARNEST

BRINGING ABOUT ITS PROMISE AND FULlLLING ITS MISSION ,IKE 'OD S CREATION OF IN BRINGING ABOUT ITS PROMISE AND FULlLLING ITS MISSION ,IKE 'OD S CREATION OF EARNEST

*USTIN S LIFE IS LIKE A WORD SPOKEN BY 'OD LIKE THE RAIN THAT COMES DOWN FROM THE THE WORLD WHEN 'OD SPOKE AND IT ALL CAME INTO BEING SO *USTIN S LIFE WENT FORTH FROM THE WORLD WHEN 'OD SPOKE AND IT ALL CAME INTO BEING SO *USTIN S LIFE WENT FORTH FROM HEAVENS )SAIAH ASSURES US THAT THE RAINS HAVE THEIR IMPACT THEY DO THEIR WORK OF ENHANCING 'ODˆTHROUGH LOVING WORDS SPOKEN BY ,AN AND 4ONY 'ODˆTHROUGH LOVING WORDS SPOKEN BY ,AN AND 4ONY LIFE AND FERTILE LOVELINESS )S !ND 'OD S WORD TRACES THAT SAME PATHnSPOKEN ,IKE 'OD S CREATION OF THE WORLD WHEN 'OD ,IKE 'OD S CREATION OF THE WORLD WHEN 'OD FROM HIS MOTHER S WOMB FROM HIS FATHER S SEED !ND IT FROM HIS MOTHER S WOMB FROM HIS FATHER S SEED !ND IT IN EARNEST BRINGING ABOUT ITS PROMISE AND FULlLLING ITS MISSION ,IKE 'OD S CREATION OF SPOKE AND IT ALL CAME INTO BEING SO *USTIN S SPOKE AND IT ALL CAME INTO BEING SO *USTIN S HAS NOT RETURNED VOID WITHOUT IMPACT OR ENHANCEMENT HAS NOT RETURNED VOID WITHOUT IMPACT OR ENHANCEMENT THE WORLD WHEN 'OD SPOKE AND IT ALL CAME INTO BEING SO *USTIN S LIFE WENT FORTH FROM LIFE WENT FORTH FROM 'ODˆTHROUGH LOVING LIFE WENT FORTH FROM 'ODˆTHROUGH LOVING OF LIFE AND JOY 9OU KNEW THAT FROM THE HUGE NUMBERS OF OF LIFE AND JOY 9OU KNEW THAT FROM THE HUGE NUMBERS OF WORDS SPOKEN BY ,AN AND 4ONY FROM HIS 'ODˆTHROUGH LOVING WORDS SPOKEN BY ,AN AND 4ONY ,IKE 'OD S CREATION OF THE WORLD WHEN 'OD WORDS SPOKEN BY ,AN AND 4ONY FROM HIS LOVING FRIENDS WHO CAME TO HONOR HIM IN (AWAII AND IT FROM HIS MOTHER S WOMB FROM HIS FATHER S SEED !ND IT MOTHER S WOMB FROM HIS FATHER S SEED !ND SPOKE AND IT ALL CAME INTO BEING SO *USTIN S LOVING FRIENDS WHO CAME TO HONOR HIM IN (AWAII AND IT MOTHER S WOMB FROM HIS FATHER S SEED !ND IS SO CLEAR TODAY AS WELL 'OD INVITES US ALL TO PONDER EX HAS NOT RETURNED VOID WITHOUT IMPACT OR ENHANCEMENT IT HAS NOT RETURNED VOID WITHOUT IMPACT OR LIFE WENT FORTH FROM 'ODˆTHROUGH LOVING IS SO CLEAR TODAY AS WELL 'OD INVITES US ALL TO PONDER EX IT HAS NOT RETURNED VOID WITHOUT IMPACT OR ACTLY HOW *USTIN S LIFE hACHIEVED THE END FOR WHICH 'OD ENHANCEMENT OF LIFE AND JOY OF LIFE AND JOY 9OU KNEW THAT FROM THE HUGE NUMBERS OF WORDS SPOKEN BY ,AN AND 4ONY FROM HIS ACTLY HOW *USTIN S LIFE hACHIEVED THE END FOR WHICH 'OD ENHANCEMENT OF LIFE AND JOY SENT IT v LOVING FRIENDS WHO CAME TO HONOR HIM IN (AWAII AND IT MOTHER S WOMB FROM HIS FATHER S SEED !ND SENT IT v

7E HEARD *ESUS WORDS FROM THE 'OSPEL OF *OHN SPEAKING TO THE CROWDS OF THE IS SO CLEAR TODAY AS WELL 'OD INVITES US ALL TO PONDER EX IT HAS NOT RETURNED VOID WITHOUT IMPACT OR PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE I E THAT WHOEVER SEES THE 3ON AND BELIEVES IN HIM MAY HAVE ETER 7E HEARD *ESUS WORDS FROM THE 'OSPEL OF *OHN SPEAKING TO THE CROWDS OF THE ACTLY HOW *USTIN S LIFE hACHIEVED THE END FOR WHICH 'OD ENHANCEMENT OF LIFE AND JOY PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE I E THAT WHOEVER SEES THE 3ON AND BELIEVES IN HIM MAY HAVE ETER NAL LIFE 7E LISTEN TO *ESUS WORDS AND TRY TO BELIEVE DEEPLY WHAT HE SAYS THAT 'OD WILL SENT IT v RAISE UP THE BELIEVER AND PARTICULARLY THAT 'OD WILL RAISE UP *USTIN TO SHARE LIFE IN 'OD S NAL LIFE 7E LISTEN TO *ESUS WORDS AND TRY TO BELIEVE DEEPLY WHAT HE SAYS THAT 'OD WILL

7E HEARD *ESUS WORDS FROM THE 'OSPEL OF *OHN SPEAKING TO THE CROWDS OF THE PRESENCE 4HESE WORDS REMIND US OF OUR #HRISTIAN BELIEF IN THE 2ESURRECTION OF *ESUS AND PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE I E THAT WHOEVER SEES THE 3ON AND BELIEVES IN HIM MAY HAVE ETER RAISE UP THE BELIEVER AND PARTICULARLY THAT 'OD WILL RAISE UP *USTIN TO SHARE LIFE IN 'OD S OF THAT SAME PROMISE EXTENDED TO *USTIN 4O MOVE JUST A BIT FURTHER THAN THE WORDS OF THE NAL LIFE 7E LISTEN TO *ESUS WORDS AND TRY TO BELIEVE DEEPLY WHAT HE SAYS THAT 'OD WILL PRESENCE 4HESE WORDS REMIND US OF OUR #HRISTIAN BELIEF IN THE 2ESURRECTION OF *ESUS AND 'OSPEL WE ALSO PROFESS BELIEF IN THE @COMMUNION OF SAINTS OF OUR CONTINUING RELATION RAISE UP THE BELIEVER AND PARTICULARLY THAT 'OD WILL RAISE UP *USTIN TO SHARE LIFE IN 'OD S OF THAT SAME PROMISE EXTENDED TO *USTIN 4O MOVE JUST A BIT FURTHER THAN THE WORDS OF THE SHIP AND SHARING WITH THOSE WHO SHARE ETERNAL LIFE !T THIS %UCHARIST WE THANK 'OD FOR PRESENCE 4HESE WORDS REMIND US OF OUR #HRISTIAN BELIEF IN THE 2ESURRECTION OF *ESUS AND 'OSPEL WE ALSO PROFESS BELIEF IN THE @COMMUNION OF SAINTS OF OUR CONTINUING RELATION *USTIN S LIFE AMONG US FOR THE PROMISE OF ETERNAL RISEN LIFE FOR HIM !ND WE BEG 'OD TO OF THAT SAME PROMISE EXTENDED TO *USTIN 4O MOVE JUST A BIT FURTHER THAN THE WORDS OF THE SHIP AND SHARING WITH THOSE WHO SHARE ETERNAL LIFE !T THIS %UCHARIST WE THANK 'OD FOR DEEPEN OUR FAITH AND TO BRING US ALSO IN ALL FORMS OF COMMUNION 'OSPEL WE ALSO PROFESS BELIEF IN THE @COMMUNION OF SAINTS OF OUR CONTINUING RELATION *USTIN S LIFE AMONG US FOR THE PROMISE OF ETERNAL RISEN LIFE FOR HIM !ND WE BEG 'OD TO SHIP AND SHARING WITH THOSE WHO SHARE ETERNAL LIFE !T THIS %UCHARIST WE THANK 'OD FOR /UR #ATHOLIC &UNERAL 2ITES INVITE US TO ENGAGE PRAYER IN TWO DIRECTIONS FOR THE DEEPEN OUR FAITH AND TO BRING US ALSO IN ALL FORMS OF COMMUNION ONE WHO HAS DIED AND FOR THOSE WHO REMAIN AMIDST THEIR SENSE OF LOSS AND MOURNING ) D *USTIN S LIFE AMONG US FOR THE PROMISE OF ETERNAL RISEN LIFE FOR HIM !ND WE BEG 'OD TO LIKE TO TURN TO THAT SECOND GROUP NOW THOSE OF YOU MOST CLOSE TO HIM WHO STILL MOURN /UR #ATHOLIC &UNERAL 2ITES INVITE US TO ENGAGE PRAYER IN TWO DIRECTIONS FOR THE DEEPEN OUR FAITH AND TO BRING US ALSO IN ALL FORMS OF COMMUNION HIS EARLY DEATH AND ALWAYS WILL

/UR #ATHOLIC &UNERAL 2ITES INVITE US TO ENGAGE PRAYER IN TWO DIRECTIONS FOR THE ONE WHO HAS DIED AND FOR THOSE WHO REMAIN AMIDST THEIR SENSE OF LOSS AND MOURNING ) D

!T TIMES LIKE THIS WE WANT TO BE STRONG AND WE SHOULD BE ESPECIALLY STRONG AND ONE WHO HAS DIED AND FOR THOSE WHO REMAIN AMIDST THEIR SENSE OF LOSS AND MOURNING ) D LIKE TO TURN TO THAT SECOND GROUP NOW THOSE OF YOU MOST CLOSE TO HIM WHO STILL MOURN LOVING AND SUPPORTIVE TO EACH OTHER "UT BEING STRONG DOES NOT ALWAYS MEAN hNO TEARS v

LIKE TO TURN TO THAT SECOND GROUP NOW THOSE OF YOU MOST CLOSE TO HIM WHO STILL MOURN HIS EARLY DEATH AND ALWAYS WILL HIS EARLY DEATH AND ALWAYS WILL ) BEGIN BY DRAWING OUR ATTENTION TO *ESUS WHO WENT !T TIMES LIKE THIS WE WANT TO BE STRONG AND

!T TIMES LIKE THIS WE WANT TO BE STRONG AND WE SHOULD BE ESPECIALLY STRONG AND TO THE TOWN OF "ETHANY IN ORDER TO BE WITH -ARY AND

!T TIMES LIKE THIS WE WANT TO BE STRONG AND WE SHOULD BE ESPECIALLY STRONG AND WE SHOULD BE ESPECIALLY STRONG AND LOVING AND LOVING AND SUPPORTIVE TO EACH OTHER "UT BEING STRONG DOES NOT ALWAYS MEAN hNO TEARS v

-ARTHA AFTER ,AZARUS THEIR BROTHER AND *ESUS DEAR LOVING AND SUPPORTIVE TO EACH OTHER "UT BEING STRONG DOES NOT ALWAYS MEAN hNO TEARS v SUPPORTIVE TO EACH OTHER "UT BEING STRONG DOES ) BEGIN BY DRAWING OUR ATTENTION TO *ESUS WHO WENT FRIEND

HAD DIED 7HEN *ESUS SAW -ARY WEEPING

) BEGIN BY DRAWING OUR ATTENTION TO *ESUS WHO WENT !T TIMES LIKE THIS WE WANT TO BE STRONG AND NOT ALWAYS MEAN hNO TEARS v !T TIMES LIKE THIS WE WANT TO BE STRONG AND HE BECAME hPERTURBED AND DEEPLY TROUBLED v !ND TO THE TOWN OF "ETHANY IN ORDER TO BE WITH -ARY AND TO THE TOWN OF "ETHANY IN ORDER TO BE WITH -ARY AND WE SHOULD BE ESPECIALLY STRONG AND LOVING AND WE SHOULD BE ESPECIALLY STRONG AND LOVING AND WHEN HE ARRIVED AT THE TOMB WE HEAR THESE SIMPLE WORDS hAND *ESUS WEPT v 3O MAY WE -ARTHA AFTER ,AZARUS THEIR BROTHER AND *ESUS DEAR -ARTHA AFTER ,AZARUS THEIR BROTHER AND *ESUS DEAR SUPPORTIVE TO EACH OTHER "UT BEING STRONG DOES SUPPORTIVE TO EACH OTHER "UT BEING STRONG DOES WEEP AND CRY FOLLOWERS OF *ESUS FRIEND

HAD DIED 7HEN *ESUS SAW -ARY WEEPING

NOT ALWAYS MEAN hNO TEARS v FRIEND HAD DIED 7HEN *ESUS SAW -ARY WEEPING

NOT ALWAYS MEAN hNO TEARS v HE BECAME hPERTURBED AND DEEPLY TROUBLED v !ND HE BECAME hPERTURBED AND DEEPLY TROUBLED v !ND WHEN HE ARRIVED AT THE TOMB WE HEAR THESE SIMPLE WORDS hAND *ESUS WEPT v 3O MAY WE WHEN HE ARRIVED AT THE TOMB WE HEAR THESE SIMPLE WORDS hAND *ESUS WEPT v 3O MAY WE WEEP AND CRY FOLLOWERS OF *ESUS WEEP AND CRY FOLLOWERS OF *ESUS

! (OMILY t

) WANT TO SHARE A SIMPLE EXCHANGE DESCRIBED BY THE LATE *ESUIT FROM )NDIA 4ONY $E-ELLO IN ONE OF HIS BOOKS FOR ) THINK IT SPEAKS ELOQUENTLY TO US

! WOMAN IN GREAT DISTRESS OVER THE DEATH OF HER SON CAME TO THE -ASTER FOR

COMFORT (E LISTENED TO HER PATIENTLY WHILE SHE POURED OUT HER TALE OF WOE

4HEN HE SAID SOFTLY h) CANNOT WIPE AWAY YOUR TEARS MY DEAR

) CAN ONLY TEACH YOU HOW TO MAKE THEM HOLY v

/FTEN WE THINK OF ANOTHER MOTHER WHO HAS LOST HER SON IN DEATH WE RECALL -ARY WEEPING OVER HER SON *ESUS !LTHOUGH OUR 'OSPELS DO NOT TELL US OF A SPECIAL APPEARANCE OF THE 2ISEN *ESUS TO -ARY HIS MOTHER MANY HAVE WONDERED ABOUT IT 3T )GNATIUS ,OYOLA

FOUNDER OF THE *ESUITS HAD AN INTUITION ABOUT THIS MATTER )N THE 3PIRITUAL %XERCISES HE ASKS THE PERSON MAKING THE RETREAT TO IMAGINE THIS VERY SCENE AS THE lRST 2ESURRECTION EXPERI ENCE NAMELY *ESUS COMES AND APPEARS TO HIS MOTHER IN HER GRIEF AND LOSS !ND THENnONLY THENn)GNATIUS SUGGESTS WE ASK THE GRACE TO FEEL GLADNESS AND JOY WITH THE 2ISEN *ESUS

4HE PRAYER SUGGESTIONS OF 3T )GNATIUS HAVE COME TO MIND ,AN AS YOU HAVE SPOKEN TO ME OF THE WAYS IN WHICH YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED YOUR BELOVED SON S PRESENCE OFF AND ON IN RECENT DAYS !ND WE HAVE ALSO SHARED YOUR TEARS *OY AND TEARSnBOTH ARE HOLY BOTH ARE SIGNS OF 'OD S PRESENCE OF A NEW EXPERIENCE OF *USTIN S PRESENCE THAT CAN AND WILL COME IN QUIET MOMENTS

) END WITH A FEW WORDS FROM A FAVORITE #HRISTIAN AUTHOR # 3 ,EWIS WHO WROTE A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE JOURNAL AFTER THE DEATH OF HIS BE LOVED WIFE *OY (E ADMITS THAT AFTER HER DEATH HE KEPT TRYING TO REMEM BER HER BUT THEN hSINCE ) STOPPED BOTHERING ABOUT IT SHE SEEMS TO MEET ME EVERYWHERE v (E DIDN T MEAN THAT HE HAD APPARITIONS OR WAS HEARING VOICES BUT HER FELT PRESENCE PERVADED HIS BEING ,AN YOU HAVE ALREADY SHARED SOME EXPERIENCES LIKE THAT -AY THEY CONTINUE FOR YOU AND FOR ALL OF *USTIN S LOVED ONES

) CONCLUDE WITH WORDS OF *ESUS WHICH ,AN TREASURES h7ELL DONE MY GOOD AND FAITH FUL SERVANT 3INCE YOU WERE FAITHFUL IN SMALL MATTERS ) WILL GIVE YOU GREAT RESPONSIBILITIES #OME SHARE YOUR MASTER S JOYv -ATTHEW

28 t .EW 7INESKINS New Wineskins

!FTER THE DEATH OF HER HUSBAND OF CANCER ,AN 4RAN RELOCATED After the death of her husband from cancer, Lan Tran relocated to Berkeley in January, ‘06 to work at JSTB as the TO "ERKELEY IN *ANUARY @ TO WORK AT *34" AS THE $IRECTOR OF &INANCE AND "USINESS 3ERVICES (ER ONLY CHILD *USTIN Director of Finance and Business Services. Her only child, 4RUONG A JUNIOR AT 5NIVERSITY OF (AWAII WAS SCHEDULED TO Justin Truong, a junior at University of Hawaii, was scheduled to visit Berkeley in March on his Spring break, and move to VISIT "ERKELEY IN -ARCH ON HIS 3PRING BREAK AND MOVE TO THE the bay area in the fall.

BAY AREA IN THE FALL *USTIN CELEBRATED HIS Justin celebrated his 19THth BIRTHDAY ON *ANUARY THEN birthday on January 21, 2006 then TRAGICALLY DIED IN AN ACCIDENT ON &EBRUARY

tragically died in an accident on February 19, 2006. )N -EMORIAM In Memoriam Justin Truong-Lan *USTIN 4RUONG ,AN

1/21/87 - 2/19/2006

*OHN %NDRES 3 * BELONGS TO THE /REGON 0ROVINCE OF THE John Endres, S.J., belongs to the Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus. He has taught Old Testament studies at JSTB 3OCIETY OF *ESUS (E HAS TAUGHT /LD 4ESTAMENT STUDIES AT *34" since 1982, with particular interests in the Book of Psalms and SINCE WITH PARTICULAR INTERESTS IN THE "OOK OF 0SALMS AND the role of Scripture in liturgy and prayer. He is long-time THE ROLE OF 3CRIPTURE IN LITURGY AND PRAYER (E IS LONG TIME MEMBER OF THE #ATHOLIC "IBLICAL !SSOCIATION OF !MERICA member of the Catholic Biblical Association of America.

IHS Jesuit school of Theology 1735 LeRoy Ave., Berkeley, CA 94709 www.jstb.edu (510) 549-5000