Portfolio > JML - PLOGS

2019

Madonna della seggiola
Oil on panel, Raphael, 1514
Galleria Palatina, Palazzo Pitti, Florence

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madonna_della_seg…

PLOGS BELOW (JML's Poetic Commentary)

Gaudete Sunday

When reflecting on the Blessed
Mother, I know she felt sadness
because of the crucifixion of her
Son, Jesus. And I wonder where,
why, when, and how she got all this
joy from. Joy cannot be externally
realized from things or circumstances
or events. Joy has to be cultivated
internally out of peace and acceptance
with the self.

Not much is written in the Bible about the
Blessed Mother’s birth, youth, and
adolescence. Just like everyone else,
I question the validity of the Christ story
and how Christianity came about and
whether or not this book the Bible was
a great attempt or ploy to document the
undocumented.

So, in my cynical thoughts, I came to
the conclusion that the Blessed Mother
had joy long before being asked to carry
Christ as an unwed mother. The
Blessed Mother most certainly would
have to have tremendous confidence
in God and herself to be so certain, willing,
and at peace with that kind of task. I
imagine that the Angel Gabriel knew the
Blessed Mother was discerning enough
to ask, “how can this be?” Maybe this
question allows us to see the Blessed Mother
as a human— this question makes the
Blessed Mother relatable. Possibly in the
Blessed Mother’s youth, she wanted to know
why about everything regardless of being
“submissive.” All of that self assurance,
confidence, willingness, peace was because
the Blessed Mother had joy.

One of the Sisters of the Holy Cross regularly
says, “Oh, be joyful!” as if it’s a mantra she
really lives by. I remember hearing her
saying, “Oh, be joyful!” and thinking, “joyful
about what?”— “why would anyone be joyful
about being crucified?”— “the Bible even
says the world is essentially full of jerks and
crap... where’s the joy— honey?” And that’s
just joy— it’s not part of the external world or
external experience. Joy comes from within.
“Oh, be joyful!”— ultimately means— “let it be.”

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I
say, rejoice. Let your forbearance
be known to all, for the Lord is near
at hand; have no anxiety about
anything, but in all things, by prayer
and supplication, with thanksgiving,
let your requests be known to God.
Lord, you have blessed your land;
you have turned away the captivity
of Jacob." Philippians 4:4–6;
Psalm 85 (84):1

XOXO! JML

In honor of Gaudete Sunday,
The third Sunday of Advent,
Sunday, December 15, 2019

Gaudete Sunday
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaudete_Sunday

Difference in joy and happiness
Psychologies
www.psychologies.co.uk/joy-vs-happiness

Huffington Post
www.huffpost.com/entry/the-important-di…

ADVENT DAILY REFLECTIONS
www.ptstulsa.edu/wp-content/uploads/201…

The Long Loneliness by Dorothy Day
(audiobook) youtu.be/mTtMj9INlnE

THE INTERIOR CASTLE
Saint Theresa of Avila

PDF
www.documentacatholicaomnia.eu/03d/1515…

AUDIO
m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL42528F62F…

THE SECOND SEX
Simone de Beauvoir

eBook
uberty.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/1…

Death Comes For The Archbishop
Willa Crather