¶ Welcome to Solace
Welcome to Solace: Soul +
¶ Purpose of the Podcast
Grief . I'm glad you're joining us today . When we started this podcast four years ago , its purpose was to assist those who are grieving a loss-- really any kind of loss deeply or over a period of time . These podcasts are designed to be revisited for various topics , on various subjects
¶ Exploring Sorrowing as a Verb
. Today , I want to talk about "sorrowing , a verb from the word sorrow that was offered to me by a friend named Terry Allen . As we are both grieving the loss of our parents , we share some commonalities in the grief process , and so I thought I would offer you some thoughts about Sorrowing
¶ Poetic Reflection on the Soul
today . How should the soul not take wings when from the glory of God it hears a sweet , kindly call-- why are you here , soul Arise ? How should a fish not leap fast into the sea from dry land when from the ocean so cool the sound of the waves reaches it ?
How should the falcon not fly back to his king from the hunt when from the falconer's drum it hears to call O , come back . Why should not every Sufi begin to dance atom-like around the sun of duration that gives from impermanence ? What graciousness and what beauty . What life bestowing . What grace , if anyone does without that --whoa , what air . What suffering .
Oh fly , oh fly , oh , my soul bird , fly to your primordial home . You have escaped from the cage . Now your wings are spread in the air . O travel from brackish water now to the fountain of life . Return from the place of the sandals now to the high seat of souls . Go on , go on , we are coming , we are coming .
O soul , go on , go on , we are going and we are coming , o soul , from this world of separation to union a world beyond worlds . How long shall we be here ? How long shall we here in the dust world , like children , fill our skirts with earth and stones; without value and broken shards without worth ? Let's take our hand from the dust grove .
Let's fly to the heavens high . Let's fly from our childish behavior and join the banquet of men . Call out , o soul , to proclaim now that you are rules and kings . You have the grace of the answer and you know the question well .
¶ Faithful Love in Suffering
In that book there is a moment that talks about faithful love in suffering . It asks us to learn from Mary's place in Jesus' life and death . It asks us to pray for the gift of being able to feel sorrow , with Jesus in sorrow , to be anguished with Jesus' anguish , and even to experience tears and deep grief because of all the afflictions which Jesus endures .
For me , meanwhile , standing near the cross of Jesus , were his mother and his mother's sister , Mary , the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene . When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple , whom he loved , standing beside her , he said to his mother --Woman , here is your son . Then he said to the disciple here is your mother-- .
And from that hour the disciple took her
¶ Biblical Consolation in Affliction
into his own home . That's a story from John 19 , verse 25 to 27 . Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord , Jesus Christ , the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation , who consoles us in all our affliction , so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with consolation with which we ourselves consoled by God .
For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us , so also our consolation is abundant through Christ . If we are being afflicted , it is for your consolation and salvation . If we are being consoled , it is for your consolation , which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we are also suffering .
Our hope for you is unshaken , for we know that as you share in our sufferings , so also you share in our consolation . This is from 2 Corinthians , verse 1 , 3-7 . As we become aware of our need of a particular grace in order to be more faithful to God's invitation , ask Mary to join you in asking God for that grace .
The source material is a book called Moment by Moment by Carol Ann Smith and Eugene F Mertz SJ
¶ Closing and Contact Information
. That concludes this week's episode . You can find us on Apple , Spotify or Amazon . Feel free to send any questions you might have about grieving to my email in the show notes I'll try to answer any questions you have in the future . Remember I'm always available for spiritual direction by Zoom to those who are grieving .
Please reach out to me if you have this need . Be safe . Travel with God always at your side . Vaya con Dios .