It's Still Easter!

The painting The Three Marys at the Tomb 

by Nikolai Haberschrack  15th century

Wikipedia

Some women were watching from a distance, Among them were Mary Magdalene,

 Mary the mother of Janes the younger and of Joseph, and Salome.  Mark 15:40(NIV)

I still have a lot of questions.   It’s not just about the triumph of life over death, it is about the deep problem of evil in the world.  What do survivors do wherever they are?

An answer for me to these theological questions happened on “Good Friday” in the Eastern Orthodox calendar(4/22/2022).  It was the holy experience of listening to the reports of Covid and maternal mortality from the “frontline”.  I was a witness to the healing in the lives of the residents and staff in the “locked room” of HIPPA.  My message to them was this needs to be shared.  That won’t be easy!

Thanks be to a God who shows up in places that continue to surprise us.  We need to be there as individuals and as the Church.

Peace,

Marvin

References

Washington Post: How Russia’s war in Ukraine is dividing the Orthodox Christian world

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/04/24/russia-ukraine-orthodox-church/

Hage, M. L. (2019). Suffering Revisited.

http://healingagents.blogspot.com/2019/10/suffering-revisited.html

Hage, M. L. (2022). “Holy Covid”.

http://healingagents.blogspot.com/2022/04/holy-covid.html

"Holy Covid"

Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’” Luke 4:23 (NIV)

And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!”

Luke 23:35 (NRSV)

Each Lenten period in the Christian liturgical year brings a reckoning on “How Shall We Live”.  This has been the title of a Lenten book study at Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church.  It has been a wonderful way to hear individual stories of suffering and healing in this community of faith.

In the middle of Holy Week, after finishing the book study, a cough appeared that seemed like my typical exacerbation of seasonal allergies.  The other event were reports of an “outbreak” of Covid in our community, so I performed my Covid Home testing which returned positive in a few seconds.  I was quickly evaluated, the test confirmed and treatment initiated.  

What is interesting is the context of pandemic fatigue with relaxation of masking and social distancing.  There seems to be an effort of “active forgetting” the reality of our recent history of global suffering.  We all are desperately seeking healing.

For me, the intersection of Covid in the middle of Holy Week is another reminder of our human fragility.  This is the mystery of healing that we will celebrate.

Thanks be to God for this Good Friday and Holy Week.

Marvin

References

Bowler, K; Powery LA Living and leading from our mortality.

Christian Century, September 29, 2021.  

Bowler, K. (2021). No Cure for Being Human. Random House.

Hage, M. L. (2011). The Mystery of Healing

http://healingagents.blogspot.com/2011/04/mystery-of-healing.html

Hage, M. L. (2021). Promised Healing.

http://healingagents.blogspot.com/2021/03/promised-healing.html

Healing Reflections

So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership, and lay your hand on him. 

  Numbers 27;18 (NIV)

It is always wonderful to be surprised!  That happened this last week with the publication of a new book by Michael Mwachiro, MD, Reflections on Mentorship, Inspiring the Next Generation.  In his book, we hear his medical educational journey and are challenged to implement mentoring in  a new generation of physicians.   He addresses new realities of the changing environments of medical education and practice.   

But this book is bigger than its subject material.  Its best seen as a marker of leadership!  It is a signal of his success and the educational missions in places like Tenwek Hospital.   It encourages me to continue to look for mentoring opportunities.   

Asante sana, Michael

Marvin

References

Mwachiro, M. (2022). Reflections on Mentorship, Inspiring the Next Generation.

Hage, M. L. (2009). Reflections.

http://mhage1941.blogspot.com/2009/02/reflections.html

Hage, M. L. (2010). Healthcare Leadership.

http://mhage1943.blogspot.com/2010/12/healthcare-leadership.html

Hage, M. L. (2018). Healing Together.

http://healingagents.blogspot.com/2018/01/