Dorothee Soelle
August 15 th celebrated in Poland as the feast of the Mother of God of the Herbs? You’re kidding me? No mother and no herbs, gentlemen! Let’s celebrate the strength of our members! And if they are not hard enough to take it alone (an accidental ambiguity, or perhaps not!), let’s arm them with bayonets and other “toys for the (old-) boys”. For August 15 th is the day of the Polish military, the anniversary of the “ miracle at Vistula ”. The new Mr President takes over command of the army, and before the army – as it is with the army – everything has to retreat, even the group of bigots “ defending the cross ” at Krakowskie Przedmiescie, which the same Mr President wasn’t able to face yet. So they too had to retreat. Neither because of the law, nor the secular character of the state, but because of a military parade…
Magdalena Środa is right when she writes at Wirtualna Polska, The last Sunday, even though it was also the day of the Mother of God of the Herbs, was probably the greatest day of the patriarchate of the year . Indeed, it belonged totally to men, which means mainly bishops, generals, saints, heroes, the fallen ones and the proud mr president, who was taking over command of the mainstay and emanation of patriarchate, which is the army.
The day after I’m listening to the service the Dutch interdenominational channel “IKON” broadcast yesterday. It was dedicated to Dorothee Sölle. The rule of guys over chicks will finally come to an end , this left-wing German feminist theologian dreamed…
A few days ago I and Loukas watched a service from the Washington National Cathedral. As usually, there were women among the celebrants of course. How fast can one get used to it , Loukas remarked in a certain moment. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to. Some time ago a friend of mine shared with me the link to an article by Agnieszka Zakrzewicz entitled Pedophilia and Women . The author comments on the Vatican document Normae de gravioribus delictis (norms for addressing cases of “grave crimes”). Firstly, a good news: the Vatican has finally sharpened the rules regarding priests sexually abusing children and other persons they are in pastoral relationship which. But here ends the good news, because the document defines as a “grave crime” also… the ordination of women.
And what to do about it? Swear, curse, turn away with disgust, recommend the Vatican gentlemen a solid psychotherapy? Pray? If we decide, by an act of a devout Kyrie, to submit this case to the Most High, let’s not forget what Dorothee Sölle writes in her poem Ich – dein baum ( I – your tree ).
Nicht du sollst meine probleme lösen
sondern ich deine gott der asylanten
nicht du sollst die hungrigen satt machen
sondern ich soll deine kinder behüten
vor dem terror der banken und militärs
nicht du sollst den flüchtlingen raum geben
sondern ich soll dich aufnehmen
schlecht versteckter gott der elendenDu hast mich geträumt gott
wie ich den aufrechten gang übe
und niederknien lerne
schöner als ich jetzt bin
glücklicher als ich mich traue
freier als bei uns erlaubtHör nicht auf mich zu träumen gott
ich will nicht aufhören mich zu erinnern
dass ich dein baum bin
gepflanzt an den wasserbächen
des lebens.
Not you should solve my problems
but I yours god of the asylum seekers
not you should feed the hungry
but I should protect your children
from terror of banks and the military
not you should provide space for the refugees
but I should absorb you
badly hidden god of the afflictedYou dreamed me god
as I learn to walk straight
and learn to kneel
more beautiful than I am now
happier than I dare
more free than it’s allowed among usDon’t stop dreaming me god
I don’t want to stop remembering
that I’m your tree
planted upon the water streams
of life
Only when their meaning enters our consciousness and we finally start to act in their spirit, a real chance will appear that “guys will loose the rule over chicks”, the exploiters over the exploited, and the erected penises over common sense and reasons of the heart.
At the end, let’s listen to Magnificat – one of the most subversive and rebellious Biblical texts, in which Miriam of Nazareth prophesizes, the mighty will be cast down from their thrones , the hungry will be filled with good things and the rich sent away empty . It’s sung by sister Marie Keyrouz , a Basilian nun from Lebanon with her L’Ensamble De La Paix .
