From Trasna to Transformation
St. Catharine, Kentucky
September 28, 2008
In 1965, I was a young
professed studying at Siena College and had the experience of meeting Raymond
Nogar, OP who was a professor of Philosophy at Aquinas Institute when it was in
River Forest, Illinois. Nogar was both a scientist and theologian who wrote
among many things a book entitled The Lord of the Absurd. Nogar was
writing in the “Death of God” era and from the perspective of a scholar of
evolution and Teilhard de Chardin. (Adrian probably taught him)
Nogar’s theology of the cross had yet to be critiqued by Rene Girard , James Allison or Elizabeth Johnson. He writes of the decision-making struggles of Peter…these words have remained with me for 43 years.
He writes…It was one of those grey days, filled with grim skies and the metallic taste of confusion and bitterness. Christ has just made another of those statements: “Unless you eat my body and drink my blood, you shall not have life in you; he who eats of my body and drinks my blood shall never see death.” Do you believe this? Peter must have had that sick feeling in his heart which Abraham felt as he walked towards Mount Moriah to obey God’s command to kill his son Isaac. There was that old silence which always accompanied these awful moments. How can a man be expected to follow this man going this way?” (Nogar, p. 156)
Peter watched his friends walk away. “ Then he heard the question that struck terror in his heart, the last one he wanted to hear at this moment. Will you also go away?” (Nogar, p. 156)
Peter’s answer is not enthusiastic, not generous…he had to swallow hard and say…to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Half-hearted, slightly bewildered, his reply was good enough for a beginning. Another day was coming when he would have another chance at the question. This time he would reply: “Lord, you know all things, you know that I love you.” (Nogar p. 157)
These were the last words of Nogars book and his last book. He died in 1967 at the age of 51.
I’ve always wondered how Raymond Nogar would have continued his struggles with evolution and the theology of the cross; how he would have interpreted the Lord of the Absurd in our new millennium and in the light of the new cosmology.
I believe, however, that his description of Peter and his existential anxiety is timeless and perhaps can speak to us today.
For all of us this could be one of those grey days, filled with grim skies and the metallic taste of confusion and bitterness. What is God asking of us?
I really have no idea what God is asking of us…I would never presume to interpret God’s will for us.
I do take comfort in Nogar’s interpretation of Peter. Peter plodding through grey days; grim skies and the metallic taste of confusion and bitterness. Peter struggling with hard sayings; Peter not enthusiastic, not generous; Peter in the face of the absurdity of following this man, swallowing hard. To whom shall we go?
I don’t know about you but on occasion I find myself staring at some television show.
Have you ever watched Extreme Home Makeover? As you may know a family in need of a new home is chosen and builders, interior decorators and people from the community come together to do an Extreme Home Makeover and give the family a home that really works for their particular needs. It is very emotional, and builds up to the time when the family returns to see their new home. There is a large bus blocking the view of the house and everyone who worked on the house is chanting…”move that bus”..move that bus…move that bus.
Of course, the bus moves, they see their beautiful new home; everybody screams and cries and they run into the house to discover how it has been transformed.
It offers the fairy-tale promise of living happily ever after; of magical transformations: of dreams coming true; of getting everything you ever wanted for Christmas.
I would like to suggest that we are in the midst of an EXTREME HOME MAKEOVER and it may or may not have a “happily ever after” ending. It would be great if we could all chant “move that bus” and our future would be revealed to us and we could all skip and run into our new life and ooh and aah..
On Extreme Home Makeover, they often design the childrens’ bedrooms around the child’s interests and loves…so if the kid likes elephants, they build an elephant in the bedroom and make it the kids bed. The kids are really excited but I’ve wondered what will happen when the 10 year old becomes a 13 year old and begins to wonder “why is there an elephant in my bedroom?” I don’t like elephants.
This metaphor could be stretched to fit but I think we are capable of much more. We have spent our lives in a search for truth; hearing and proclaiming God’s word, engaging the more challenging questions and issues. We have never all agreed on things but we have been faithful to the discipline of prayer, study, discernment, and community We have always been challenged by one another. We haven’t always liked it …but we have always expected to come together and be challenged.
For some of us this is an exciting new moment, a challenge; perhaps a new opportunity, a new beginning;
For some of us this is one of those grey days, filled with grim skies and the metallic taste of confusion and bitterness…we are swallowing hard; we are not feeling enthusiastic or generous. Some of us are angry and disappointed. Some of us are very skeptical about moving the bus…we aren’t going to like the Extreme Home Makeover…no way, no how, not ever.
So what’s new…we have always valued and prized our individuality; we have always struggled with our diversity. And in that struggle we have hurt and wounded one another and we have been hurt and wounded. But with amazing resiliency, we have always come home to one another and tried to find some common ground. But with amazing resiliency, we have always come home to one another and tried to find some common ground.
As we leave this grand celebration filled with the joy and pride and comfort of our 186 year old story, what is our common ground? How will we go forward together?
I would like to suggest that what we hold in common is a TRASNA…We have come to Trasna, a crossing place. Some of you have asked me about this word…If you google it, you will find many entries. I’m using Trasna, the crossing place as Raphael Consedine, PBVM, used it in her poem. Trasna; a poem that was used during our Last Chapter.
In the Hebrew Scriptures, Jeremiah writes…”Stand at the crossroads and look. Learn from the ancient paths. Which was the good way? Take it.”
Trasna
The pilgrims paused on
the ancient stones
in the mountain gap.
Behind them stretched the roadway they had traveled,
already a far journey –(was it a lifetime?) –
ahead, mist hid the track.
Unspoken the questions hovered:
Why go on? Is life not short enough?
Why seek to pierce its mystery?
Why venture further on strange paths, risking all?
Surely that is a gamble for fools – or lovers.
Why not return quietly by the known road?
Why be a pilgrim still?
A voice they knew called to them, saying:
This is Trasna, the crossing place.
Choose! Go back if you must,
you will find your way easily by yesterday’s road,
you can pitch your tents by yesterday’s fires,
there may be life in the embers yet.
If that is not your deep desire,
stand still. Lay down your load.
Take your life firmly in your two hands –
(gently…you are trusted with something precious)—
while you search your heart’s yearnings:
What am I seeking? What is my quest?
When your star rises deep within,
trust yourself to its leading.
You will have light
for your first steps.
This is Trasna, the crossing-place Choose!
This is Trasna, the crossing-place Choose!
Raphael Consedine PBVM 1996
Trasna is a rich time for Transformation. As we come to this place in our shared history; we are each and all at the Trasna, the crossing place. Whether we come to this with hope and anticipation; whether we come to it with dread and despair; whether we come to it with skepticism and doubt we have all been given this opportunity to use this crossing place as a time of transformation, a time of personal and communal transformation.
It is a time to look forward
It is a time for new horizons.