[Sundaycommunity] Mardi Gras Tuesday, Feb. 22

[John Scandiffio]

Marsi Gras Feb. 21

Hi all. my Irish side has pancakes with maple syrup on  Shrove Tuesday. 

Today’s Gospel’s reading, Mark.1, 29 - 39 involved Jesus and his power over demons. 

It’s time for this fellow to prepare for a forty day retreat this Lent. My last attempt at the retreat was during Advent, to have the Spirit open its light. The Spirit happened ,so gentle , on the Wednesday of the last week of the four week retreat.  A reality check on my physical powers at retreats. 

Why retreat this Lent ?  I am searching for the eye of the Holy Spirit to match it with the eye of the Demon.  Straight on no withering retreat.  It is just to hold my ground with Jesus help? not to defeat the Demon but to love the Demon’s children. 

By chance I had the opportunity to meet one of the Demon’s children of Haitian authority.  It was a truly stunning awakening. A Haitian Voodoo priest.  Her gaze caught me for a few seconds, I had two grocery bags and a back pack, while I was choosing which door to enter the subway train.  We did not meet eye to eye. I entered the nearest door and took a free seat for seniors beside a fellow with my grocery bags on the floor. 

Oh oh, my side view told me the priest was at a close right angle facing me. Two older women were across the aisle, somewhat attentive.  The man beside me rose and went past me back in the car. Oh, oh again. why did he change seats? 

The priest ordered me, “move over there” to the vacant seat. I had only one stop to go and said to her, “hasn’t your mother ever told you to say please”.  
This is a line I heard from a good friend when she looked in my fridge for something to drink.  I asked her” can’t you say please”.  Please, I learned from my mother.  My friend said “her mother never taught her to say please”.  A deep serious answer.  Please may not come easy. 

The onslaught by the priest was a lesson on crucifixion . The priest ohming howl, clicking teeth dancing snapping hands , humming words in Voodoo, French and finally English, a towering blast from above. 

By the time it was over my head , and arms had been cut of my torso, a bloody offering to her Demon god. 

I talked to friend about it and she warned not to seek more on the event.  I called the Flynns , past members of our community. John Flynn warned me in the past not to go wandering on Halloween.  Joselyn was great. She said trust a community of genuine friends.  

Last week I was on a street car. A large woman was across from me.  She was carrying a great load of  many bags strewn on the seat and floor. She was talking on a cell phone about family being ready to feed her grand children in twenty minutes.  I lowered my head, closed my eyes and offered a prayer to levity the weight she carried.  She started to sing, shape fingers in zeros, pointing and singing while looking at me.  I looked back, eye to eye, a good grand mother,maybe Haitian, woman. 

I’m excited to start the retreat for Lent. 

Pax

John Scandiffio

Sent from my iPhone
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