"Elizaveta Iurievna Kuzmina-Karavaeva Skobtsova, later known as Mother Maria, was a Russian Orthodox religious thinker, poet and artist. Her multi-faceted legacy includes articles, poems, art, and drama. In the 1910s she was part of the literary milieu of St. Petersburg and was a member of the Socialist Revolutionary Party. She fled Russia soon after the Bolsheviks' takeover and lived in Paris, where she became a nun. In 1935, she participated in organizing the so-called Orthodox Action, which was designed to help Russian immigrants in France. She and her fellow-workers from Orthodox Action opened a house for homeless and sick immigrants in Paris. During the Nazi occupation of the city, the house was transformed into a refuge for Jews and displaced persons. Mother Maria and her son were arrested by the Gestapo in 1943 and died in the Ravensbruck camp in Germany. Mother Maria's selfless devotion to people and her death as a martyr will never be forgotten. In 2004, the Holy Synod confirmed the glorification of Mother Maria." - from Columbia University Libraries Special Collection link

Moral Grandeur and Spiritual Audacity

I want to share a quote with you that has deepened my understanding of the passion living inside theologians and prophets.  It is by Abraham Joshua Heschel - the most passionate and God-loving theologian of this century.  Heschel understood the connection between mysticism and social action.  I first read this book  a dozen or so years ago, when his daughter published these essays - with a superb introduction of the man - her father.  


Heschel is a prophetic figure.  He embodies the desire and activism of a prophet.  He reminds me of Mother Maria of Paris.  this quote was taken from a telegram Heschel sent to President John F. Kennedy just before attending a religious leaders' summit.  Listen for the personal sacrifices he is willing to make and asking the President to request of the religious leaders.  Who among our religious will stand this tall, this honest in front of the president - and still maintain a humble demeanor, with no rancor? 


"I look forward to privilege of being present at meeting tomorrow. Likelihood exists that Negro problem will be like the weather. Everybody talks about it but nobody does anything about it. Please demand of religious leaders personal involvement not just solemn declaration. We forfeit the right to worship God as long as we continue to humiliate Negroes. Church synagogue have failed. They must repent. Ask of religious leaders to call for national repentance and personal sacrifice. Let religious leaders donate one month's salary toward fund for Negro housing and education. I propose that you Mr. President declare state of moral emergency. A Marshall plan for aid to Negroes is becoming a necessity. The hour calls for moral grandeur and spiritual audacity." - Abraham Joshua Heschel


We need men and women of this caliber today.  We need folks who will fast, pray, march and protest and merge their words with the passion of a Heschel.  We need to eradicate many more social injustices.  Take courage from Rabbi Heschel, and STAND UP.


Ciao!


TJM+





If you have never read Heschel...today you are invited.  The link to purchasing the book of essays this quote comes from is above, on the left.  He also wrote God In Search of Man, Man is Not Alone, I Asked for Wonder.
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