Today begins the Jewish High HolyDays, with Jews all around the world ushering in the year 5768.
Today begins the Fast of Ramadan, with Muslims gearing themselves up for the next 28 days of reflection and asceticism.
Coincidence, of course. The revised lunar calendar of Judaism has just by happenstance lined up with the strict lunar calendar of Islam.
However, MFoD is not one to leave such a coincidence by the wayside. For, within the convergence lies a stronger connection. Jews celebrate the New Year, the creative actions of the Master of the Universe. The gift of a world, of a set of regulations for using the world properly, and a constantly-shifting intimate relationship with God, are reasons for celebration. However, underneath the joy is the awareness of the need for penitence. In a few days, the fast of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, will absorb the hearts and minds of the faithful.
Islam fasts for a month, also remembering one of the greatest of Allah's gifts: The Holy Quran. God graciously sent down, on multiple occasions, the Word. The last time it came to the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), who set up a social system to ensure that its message would reamain clear. Being unworthy of God's indulgence, Muslims engage in a grueling fast: 28 days with not so much as a drop of water from sunup to sundown. When MFoD lived and taught in the Middle East, Ramadan occured during the summer. The Muslim students were stoic and brave; the occasional fainter was tended to by the other students, who instructed MFoD to continue the lesson.
Of course, both religions enjoin compassion on those unable, due to age (youth or maturity), health or pregnancy, to fast; the are, in effect ordered to take nourishment. Humanity abounds in both religious traditions.
The convergence is indeed harmonic. Those with eyes will see, and wonder what all the "fussin' and feudin'" is about. Two great religions, both prostrate before the goodness and mercy of the same God, named either Allah or YHWH, are deeply into Sacred Time.
MFoD heaves a prodigious sigh, sheds a tear, and hopes.
Today begins the Fast of Ramadan, with Muslims gearing themselves up for the next 28 days of reflection and asceticism.
Coincidence, of course. The revised lunar calendar of Judaism has just by happenstance lined up with the strict lunar calendar of Islam.
However, MFoD is not one to leave such a coincidence by the wayside. For, within the convergence lies a stronger connection. Jews celebrate the New Year, the creative actions of the Master of the Universe. The gift of a world, of a set of regulations for using the world properly, and a constantly-shifting intimate relationship with God, are reasons for celebration. However, underneath the joy is the awareness of the need for penitence. In a few days, the fast of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, will absorb the hearts and minds of the faithful.
Islam fasts for a month, also remembering one of the greatest of Allah's gifts: The Holy Quran. God graciously sent down, on multiple occasions, the Word. The last time it came to the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), who set up a social system to ensure that its message would reamain clear. Being unworthy of God's indulgence, Muslims engage in a grueling fast: 28 days with not so much as a drop of water from sunup to sundown. When MFoD lived and taught in the Middle East, Ramadan occured during the summer. The Muslim students were stoic and brave; the occasional fainter was tended to by the other students, who instructed MFoD to continue the lesson.
Of course, both religions enjoin compassion on those unable, due to age (youth or maturity), health or pregnancy, to fast; the are, in effect ordered to take nourishment. Humanity abounds in both religious traditions.
The convergence is indeed harmonic. Those with eyes will see, and wonder what all the "fussin' and feudin'" is about. Two great religions, both prostrate before the goodness and mercy of the same God, named either Allah or YHWH, are deeply into Sacred Time.
MFoD heaves a prodigious sigh, sheds a tear, and hopes.
2 comments:
What a little bijou of a blog! Here in the Yorkshire Dales, I am experiencing all sort of harmonic convergence. Hopkins who did his Jesuit formation in Wales was attuned to these convergences and would most likely have been appalled by the ignorance of the "religious" today. Judaism, Islam and Xtianity would do well to examine their cyclicity and connection to natural rhythms. - Pancras
Thanks for your comment. Hopkins is a favorite poet of mine; thanks for bringing him once again to my attention. You're absolutely right than a little more attention to nature would help the three Western Faiths in ways we can only imagine and hope for.
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