Catholic Mass Readings for Sunday, March 30, 2014

So, I was in Church today and the readings kind of confused me. In particular, it was the two new testament readings  - Ephesians 5: 8-14 and the Gospel John 9: 1-41 that kind of threw me for a loop. I don't know much of this blog you've read or how much has been expressed in here, but I'm kind of a fan of the Dark and Dr. D of the Light. For several years, I've grappled with the portrayal of Dark as evil, but then again, I'm one of those people who is not quite sure that there is good and evil, but if you consider that there is, kind of thinks there can't been good without evil, Yin without Yang, etc. You know what I'm saying. So, to me that kind of makes light and dark equal - to me they play off each other and help keep the balance of the Cosmos. I mean you can't have day without night, can you?

However, today's Scripture readings seem to be encouraging just that: From the Ephesians reading: 

for once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light
(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true)
Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
For it is a shame even to speak of the things that they do in secret;but when anything is exposed by the light it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light.Therefore it is said,
 "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light." 

Hmmm, so according to that reading, the light is clearly good and anything to do with the dark is clearly bad. Maybe that is just symbolism of the time, when darkness was really scary - cuz like they didn't have electric lights and things. 

From today's gospel:

Jesus talking: We must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work.
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." 

More of this light is good stuff. 

So, I guess taking away any symbolism, "darkness" cannot be good - but I don't believe that is the case and I think we need to realize that wonderful things can happen in the dark at night - music, dancing, lovemaking - swimming under the moonlight for goodness sakes! I guess maybe I am just wrestling with the choice of symbolism here and taking it too literally - which of course is a problem that fundamentalists have and something I should be able to move beyond. 

In a literal sense darkness can be good - but if we are symbolizing Jesus as the light of the world - meaning light symbolizes everything that is good - than I guess I'm okay with it. But, can we come up with a new symbol. Have we not outgrown, surpassed with technology, the old "darkness is bad" analogy. Any thoughts?

Mapping How Emotions Manifest in the Human Body

For the latest evidence that human beings have a special relationship with light in a literal sense, click here. Scientists are literally able to map the light that manifests in the human body as a result of experiencing various emotions. For my detailed essay on this topic, go here.

References to Light in Pearl Jam Lyrics

I've been studying Pearl Jam since June. It's been an amazing musical journey. I've made particular note of Eddie Vedder's references to "light" in his lyrics. Here's an excerpt from a song called "Light Years": "your light's reflected now, reflected from afar/ we were but stones, your light made us stars" This once again supports my assertion that human consciousness is deeply connected to light as a physical property. The evidence is so abundant that it cannot be dismissed as "simple metaphor." Joseph Campbell and Neil deGrasse Tyson both argue that humans are "star matter." See my detailed essay on this topic on this blog.

Greek heroes

From the introduction to Robert Fagles' translation of the Illiad. Intro. was written by Bernard Knox "Such people the Greeks called 'heroes;' they recognized the fact that they transcended the norms of humanity by according them worship at their tombs after death. Heroes might be, usually were, violent, antisocial, destructive, but they offered an assurance that in some chosen vessels  humanity is capable of superhuman greatness, that there are some human beings who can deny the imperatves which others obey in order to live."

This all reminded me Raskolnikov, the ax murder's thinking in Crime and Punishment.

Just thought I had to put that on the record somewhere.

Snoop Lion

Snoop has taken the light and dark thing to a whole new level:

http://www.grantland.com/blog/hollywood-prospectus/post/_/id/54237/please-allow-this-slickly-produced-movie-trailer-to-convince-you-of-the-authenticity-of-snoop-doggs-reggae-rebirth

"Out of the dark and into the light" Seriously. The only light this guy is seeing is at the end of his joint/bowl/bong/hookah. But, good for him. At least he seems to be enjoying hisself.

Neil deGrasse Tyson says humans are made of stars and light

I love it. Neil deGrasse Tyson says we are made of star matter. He also says we are made of light.

Here is the video:
http://vimeo.com/38101676

On we go...

MJD

John Milton, "Comus," and Light

Today's entry focuses on the English poet, John Milton. Milton was born on in London on December 9, 1608 and died on November 8, 1674. He was famous for writing Paradise Lost, which he dictated to assistants while blind.

His poem, "Comus," is a masque, which is a poem presented at court, for entertainment. Typically, a masque involved music, singing, dancing, and acting, similar to the play presented by the folk actors in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, by Tom Stoppard.

The dominant theme of "Comus" is chastity, driven by the notion that a human being is able to resist temptation through sheer force of will. The plot revolves around two brothers and a sister who become lost on a journey through the woods. The sister becomes fatigued, so the brothers go in search of food, leaving their sister alone.

Soon, Comus, the god of mockery, comes along disguised as a villager. He lures the woman to his palace and tempts her with his magical cup, which represents sexual pleasure. She repeatedly refuses, which illustrates the power of personal freedom, rationality, and self-control. She is soul; Comus is body. She is reason; Comus is libido. She is virtuous; Comus is sinful. Her only error is that she was deceived by sophistry disguised as wisdom.

Meanwhile, her brothers, who have been searching for her, have come across an angel, disguised as a shepherd. The brothers, with the help of the angel, defeat Comus and the lady is rescued. At the end, brothers and sister are united with their parents, which signifies the sublime happiness that awaits those who prevail over the temptations of life.

The excerpt below, which includes a reference to light, reflects the dominant motif of the poem.

John Milton "Comus: A Masque Presented at Ludlow Castle, 1634" (an excerpt)
He that has light within his own clear breast
May sit i' the centre, and enjoy bright day:
But he that hides a dark soul and foul thoughts
Benighted walks under the mid-day sun;
Himself his own dungeon