Tuesdays with Glory

Blest be the tie that binds
our hearts in Christian love;
the fellowship of kindred minds
is like to that above.
 
Before our Father's throne
we pour our ardent prayers;
our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
our comforts and our cares.
 
We share each other's woes,
our mutual burdens bear;
and often for each other flows
the sympathizing tear.

   Recently I saw a stage adaptation of the best-selling memoir by Mitch Albom called “Tuesdays with Morrie ”. The original book sold about 10 million copies and was then made into a TV movie as well as the stage adaptation, so unless you have been living in a cave for the past 15 years (Not that there is anything wrong with that. I myself am strongly considering retiring to a cave to live a monastic existence...although I may miss the electricity and plumbing. This may require some more consideration.), you should be familiar with the story of a disenchanted sports writer who unexpectedly sees his old Brandeis College professor/mentor, who is dying of Lou Gehrig’s disease, being interviewed by Ted Koppel on Nightline and, on a whim, decides to visit the professor in his Massachusetts home. This spontaneous visit is so moving to the young man that, despite the fact that he lives in Detroit, he visits the professor every Tuesday until the man dies. It is a heart-wrenching memoir (I cried...but hey, I’m secure in my masculinity), some would say depressing but most would say uplifting because of the enlightening discussions that the two men engage in over nearly a year’s worth of time on a weekly basis. The teacher-student relationship is born again as the young man asks his questions about life and love and the old man responds in wisdom. This memoir is so popular because of its main expostulates:

1. Love one another
2. Forgive one another, whatever the reason
3. Pursue peace of mind, not money or materials
4. Build wonderful memories by building profound relationships
5. Be kind, giving, and sympathetic. Treat people with dignity.
6. Seek joy.

   Certainly these are important ideas to employ in a constant effort to live a fuller life, and to those of us who are Christians, they all bear a very familiar ring. Let’s just explore another best-seller to find some parallels:

1. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13: 7
2. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13
3. Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. Proverbs 23:4-5
4. Make every effort with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:2-3
5. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
6. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12.

   It’s a wonderful thing when a book such as “Tuesdays with Morrie” can positively affect so many people. It quietly affirms the notion that the human race is still looking for goodness and instruction and altruistic influence. But “Tuesday. . .” is a short memoir and to some individuals, unsatisfying in its brevity; “Bible-Lite” if you will. Just think of the riches and depth that await these individuals if they were to dive into the true and expansive Word of God, a choice of Bible-Lite versus the Bible. There they would find goodness and instruction and influence to their heart’s content. In my own case, I will propose the following option whenever the situation presents itself: Why only accept “Tuesdays with Morrie” when you can accept Tuesdays with Glory?

Dear Heavenly Father,
Many of us are still infants living on milk, not acquainted with your consummate teachings about righteousness. Let us pursue solid food and thereby become mature, who by constant use can train ourselves to distinguish good from evil on Tuesdays and Thursdays and Sundays and Mondays and Wednesdays and Fridays and Saturdays. Amen. (Paraphrased from Hebrews 5:12)

Contributed by Donald
Monday February 10, 2014
Liturgical Year A: Week 11
Liturgical Color: Green
Sunday Gospel reading:
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany