Thoughts and opinions from a Priest in the PNCC
To everyone who enjoys Russian Folk Culture!
Evgen Malinovskiy will be appearing tonight, Thursday, June 25th, 7:30pm at Albany’s Polish Community Center, 225 Washington Ave. Ext., Albany.
He will present the music and poetry of Vladimir Visotski, Bulat Okudjava, and Rozenbaum. Mr. Malinovskiy is known as the Siberian Bard. He is also a movie and theater actor.
Come and enjoy evening with friends and family. Suggested Donation between $5 and $10 per person.
When the sun’s rays from Cancer pour
And the nightingale sings no more,
Saturday fires, at Time’s behest,
Were lighted in the Black Forest.Both visitors and the household
Rushed promptly towards the bright glow;
Three bagpipes played in unison
And the orchards echoed their song.They all were seated on the grass,
Then six pairs stood up as is just
Of maidens who alike were dressed
And girt with artemisia sash.All the maidens were taught to sing
And had no equal in dancing;
And so in sequence they began,
The first of them took lead and sang:First Maiden
Sisters, the fire is now ablaze
And for the dancers they’ve made space;
So why not join together hands
And in one voice begin our chants?O fair night, grant us good weather,
Guard us from winds and flood water.
The time has come for us tonight
To wait outdoors for morning light.This was passed on by our mothers,
They learned it in turn from others,
That on the feast day of Saint John,
Saturday fires were burning on.Children, heed my admonitions,
Firmly keep the old traditions,
Let holy days be holy days,
Since it has been like that always.In the past they kept holy days
And yet their work was done apace;
The earth produced abundantly,
For God rejoiced in piety.We work this day without delays,
We disregard the holy days;
Although we work hard in the field,
We do not have much of a yield.Sometimes we are smitten with hail,
Sometimes ruined by a hot gale;
Each year our harvests get poorer,
Bigger expenses then occur.You work by day, you work by night —“
All this in vain if God doesn’t guide:
You need God, children, and Godhead,
If you want to have enough bread.Let us entrust all to His grace,
And not alone the worry face:
The good years may even recur,
It’s not yet the end of the world.And at present this glorious night
Let’s celebrate as an old rite:
Tending fires until early dawn,
With joyous music and with song.
Translated by Michael J. Mikoś
Gdy słońce Raka zagrzewa,
A słowik więcej nie śpiewa,
Sobótkę, jako czas niesie,
Zapalono w Czarnym Lesie.Tam goście, tam i domowi
Sypali sie ku ogniowi;
Bąki za raz troje grały
A sady sie sprzeciwiały.Siedli wszyscy na murawie;
Potym wstało sześć par prawie
Dziewek jednako ubranych
I belicą przepasanych.Wszytki spiewać nauczone,
W tańcu także niezganione;
Więc koleją zaczynały,
A pierwszej tak począć dały:Panna 1
Siostry, ogień napalono
I placu nam postąpiono;
Czemu sobie rąk nie damy,
A społem nie zaspiewamy?Piękna nocy, życz pogody,
Broń wiatrów i nagłej wody;
Dziś przyszedł czas, że na dworze
Mamy czekać ranej zorze.Tak to matki nam podały,
Samy także z drugich miały,
Że na dzień świętego Jana
Zawdży sobótka palana.Dzieci, rady mej słuchajcie,
Ojcowski rząd zachowajcie:
Święto niechaj świętem będzie,
Tak bywało przed tym wszędzie.Święta przed tym ludzie czcili,
A przedsię wszytko zrobili;
A ziemia hojnie rodziła,
Bo pobożność Bogu miła.Dziś bez przestanku pracujem
I dniom świętym nie folgujem:
Więc też tylko zarabiamy,
Ale przedsię nic nie mamy.Albo nas grady porażą,
Albo zbytnie ciepła każą;
Co rok słabsze urodzaje,
A zła drogość za tym wstaje.Pracuj we dnie, pracuj w nocy,
Prózno bez Pańskiej pomocy;
Boga, dzieci, Boga trzeba,
Kto chce syt być swego chleba.Na tego my wszytko włóżmy,
A z sobą sami nie trwóżmy;
Wrócąć sie i dobre lata,
Jeszczeć nie tu koniec świata.A teraz ten wieczór sławny
Święćmy jako zwyczaj dawny,
Niecąc ognie do świtania,
Nie bez pieśni, nie bez grania!
|
New blog post: Daily Digest for June 23rd http://bit.ly/bKwCL [#]
|
|
|
New blog post: Daily Digest for June 23rd http://bit.ly/bKwCL [#]
|
|
|
New blog post: Just because… http://bit.ly/SBIMY [#]
|
|
|
New blog post: June 23 – I wasn’t with you long by Ryszard Kniat http://bit.ly/9i45h [#]
|
It was a typically gray day,
The children crying loudly
My husband says: “Smile!”
So I obediently twist my face.
And suddenly someone’s knocking,
Obtrusively, loud, alarmingly;
Yes, it can only be you,
But how did you find your way into my thoughts?I wasn’t with you long,
I thought you wouldn’t return.
This is my world
I cannot leave this now!Better for you to go away until time passes,
Hidden away until the end of the world,
Today — no longer the time for us,
Today — too late, well you know!
Don’t knock loudly, the children are asleep
They depend on my concern;
The head of the house after all,
And life like a bitter tear.I wasn’t with you long…
It was a typically gray day
With the voices of children crying loudly
My husband says: “Smile!”
So I obediently twist my face.I wasn’t with you long…
Translation by Dcn. Jim
[audio:https://www.konicki.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/krystynagizowska-niebylociebietylela.mp3]To był zwyczajny, szary dzień,
Za ścianą dzieci głośny płacz
I męża głos – uśmiechnij się!
Więc ja posłusznie krzywię twarz.
I nagle stuka ktoś do drzwi,
Natrętnie, głośno, że aż strach;
Tak pukać możesz tylko ty,
Lecz jak strafiłeś pod mój dach?Nie było ciebie tyle lat,
Myślałam, że nie wrcisz tu,
Poukładałam sobie świat
I nie zostawię tego już!Najlepiej odejdź póki czas,
Na końcu świata schowaj się,
Dziś już nie pora szukać nas,
Dziś już za późno – dobrze wiesz.
Nie stukaj dłużej, dzieci śpią
I na mnie czeka tyle spraw;
Na głowie przecież cały dom,
A życie gorzkie jest jak łza.Nie było ciebie tyle lat…
To był zwyczajny szary dzień,
Za ścianą dzieci głośny płacz.
I męża głos: “Uśmiechnij się!”
Więc ja posłusznie krzywię twarz.Nie było ciebie tyle lat…
The song is “Kuchnia Śląska” from the Polish television show “Kuchnia po Śląsku” (Silesian Kitchen). The video was filmed at the restaurant Chata Polaka in Gliwice.
|
New blog post: Daily Digest for June 22nd http://bit.ly/vSuWm [#]
|
|
|
New blog post: Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time – B http://bit.ly/10myxm [#]
|
|
|
New blog post: June 22 – To Mme. Kossowska in Dance by Stanisław Trembecki http://bit.ly/M3Yaj [#]
|
|
What is this nature’s delightful display
Which with a graceful step sets out to dance?
Who is this goddess that began to play
And charm the world with her fine appearance?People draw around, all of them wide-eyed,
Seeing the wonders of beauty and charm,
While Cupid, sighing silently aside,
Tightens his strings, unable to do harm.Of beautiful figure, quick as a doe,
Her eyes like the dawn, lips of ruby red,
She is running along the swift wind’s flow,
She captures each heart that passes ahead.From here her fine legs can barely be spied
And only at times they’re touching the ground,
All her limbs at play in harmony glide
And Zephyr frolics with soft robes around.Zephyr who himself is deserving spite,
For all his desires met with full success,
Can see the places hidden out of sight,
Kissing her lips in a gentle caress.When during a turn to some small extent
Her light apron or skirt will get askew,
The greedy eye will suffer a torment
In its attempt to spy at least a shoe.Your glory, Graces, is truly in vain,
When you amaze Olympus with your dance,
For our Kossowska can well entertain
Mortals of this world in their existence.To paint with skill the picture truly grand
Of beauty and charm of her countenance,
I pass the pen into Krasicki’s hand,
Leave the brush for Smuglewicz’s talents.But in doing so, I feel a great fear;
Before this work is brought to conclusion,
I have to give an early warning here:
Beware the destiny of Pygmalion.
Translated by Michal J. Mikos
Cóż to za lube natury dzieło
Wdzięcznym się zrywa w tany podskokiem?
Cóż to za bóstwo igrać zaczęło
I świat czarownym bawi widokiem?Lud się zgromadza, cały w zdumieniu,
Widząc piękności i wdzięków dziwy,
Kupid, wzdychając z dala w milczeniu,
Próżnie zaostrza swoje cięciwy.Śliczna z postaci, żywa jak łania,
Oczki jak zorza, usta w rubinie,
Z rączym się wiatrem w tańcu ugania.
Chwyta za serce, kto się nawinie.Nóżki się ledwo widzieć pozwolą
I tylko czasem tykają ziemi,
Wszystkie w niej członki razem swawolą,
A zefir igra z szaty wiotkiemi.Zefir, który sam godzień zazdrości,
Bo wszystkie jego chęci spełnione,
Najtajemniejsze widzi skrytości,
Całując zawsze usta pieszczone.Gdy się na zwrocie nieco zawinie
Lotny fartuszek albo spódniczka,
Ledwo z chciwości oko nie zginie,
Żeby obaczyć chociaż trzewiczka.Daremna chluba, Gracyje, wasza,
Że Olimp swymi pląsy dziwicie,
Ta to na ziemi Kossowska nasza
Umie śmiertelnych zabawić życie.Do malowania widoku tego,
Jaka jest kształtność i wdzięk oblicza,
Pióro zostawiam dla Krasickiego,
Pędzel malarski dla Szmuglewicza.Lecz to im zdając, słuszną mam trwogę,
I ta robota nim jest skończona,
Uczynić muszę wczesną przestrogę:
Bójcie sią losu Pigmalijona!
|
New blog post: Daily Digest for June 21st http://bit.ly/Vzkn8 [#]
|
|
Listened to 10 songs.
|
First reading: Job 38:1,8-11
Psalm: Ps 107:23-26,28-31
Epistle: 2 Corinthians 5:14-17
Gospel: Mark 4:35-41
The LORD then said to Job:
Will we have arguing with the Almighty by the critic?
We don’t know:
The verse taken from Job 40:1-2, or, according to Warner Brothers and Tweety Bird, “We don’t know Him very well, do we?”
Job lost everything, and was trying to figure it out.
Job’s loss wasn’t like loosing a 401k nowadays, however grievous that may be. Job’s loss was incalculable. His sons and daughters were dead. His flocks and herds were dead or stolen. His house and all his possessions were gone. He was sitting on a dung heap covered with sores. Three of his —friends— showed up and tried to find fault with Job. Certainly he did something wrong and God was punishing him for it! Job and his friends debated, calculated, argued, and looked. They tried to find the cause. Job lamented his losses. Finally God shows up and says: You do not get it. You can’t debate me, you can’t figure it out, you just cannot know because you have no concept of Me.
Debating God’s plan doesn’t work:
One human technique that is quite common is to debate with God. We think we are engaging in a back and forth. ‘God, why did you do this?’ We hear silence. ‘God, why can’t I?’ We hear silence. We think that we are having some sort of conversation with an almighty vending machine. We ask and the machine will dispense answers. The worst part of it all is that we think we can win the argument, especially when we try to interpret the silence.
It is a fallacy to think we can win the debate. Sure, we run about thinking we can change things. We justify it by saying that we debated God and we won. Church people do that a lot. We think we have an inside track in the debate. Why, why, why? ‘God, don’t you see how marvelousness my plan is, my logic?’
If God had wanted to form a debating team I am sure He would have fashioned us into a different sort of being. God isn’t looking for a debate, He is looking for something else.
Arguing with God doesn’t work:
Another human technique is to argue. When we ask and hear silence we begin to argue. We get really angry because we think we are being ignored, that God isn’t paying any attention to our marvelous plan. Our anger takes over and we blame God as we would blame a vending machine that stole our dollar. We all want to kick that vending machine, to push it over, to get our candy…
If God had been looking for a people who would argue everything, who would subsist on anger, I am sure He would have fashioned us into a different sort of being. God isn’t looking for our anger, nor is He going to respond to it. He is looking for something else.
Calculating God doesn’t work:
Here’s yet another technique, the calculation. God, here’s the deal — and it’s such a deal — if I am good and give to charity, and don’t say mean things about my co-worker who’s only half awake, then would You…
We’re back at the machine and we want to put our four quarters in. We know that if we pay the right amount something yummy will come out.
Our interaction with God is not a give and take, payment in, goods and services out. God’s not looking for a deal. If God had wanted a deal I am sure He could have arranged for a better one, one better than dying on a cross. God’s not looking for a deal, or for people who know how to carefully calculate rules and regulations that will get us from here to heaven, He is looking for something else.
Who shows up?
The only people who show up, most especially when we are at our lowest point, are our closest family members and friends. Think about how essential, how key just showing up is. Think of our children, the look they would have on their faces if we failed to show up for graduation or recital. Think of the husband being there for his wife when she gives birth. Think of the present of a person’s companionship. They could have sent a gift, but how very special when they come in person.
Love is the motivator for showing up, for being there. What happens when we show up? Sometimes nothing. Showing up is a quiet event. It is simply our presence, our being in proximity to those we love; offering support and encouragement. We need not say anything.
Relate that showing up to our ways of interacting with God. Debating, arguing, and calculating have nothing to do with showing up. That can all be done from a distance. We can mail the check. But showing up — that’s different. That’s a step above.
God showed up:
Interesting isn’t it, that God showed up. Job and his three friends could have gone on forever, and wouldn’t have figured out anything. No answers, only questions, only debating, arguing, and calculating. God showed up and put Job to the true test. God didn’t need to explain anything. He simply pointed out Job’s position relative to God’s position. ‘Job, were you there when I created the world, when I laid its foundations, when I gave existence to the creatures of the earth, sea, and sky.’ God gives three chapters of examples — showing Job to be unable to comprehend.
God did show up. He showed up for Job, so that Job would know the truth. What was Job’s loss, his disaster, all about?
The lesson for Job and for us is that we know nothing. Rather we learn that we must acknowledge God as God, and re-orient ourselves, our thinking, to focus on what God wants from us. It wasn’t about what Job had and lost, it was about what Job had to find.
God wants us to see and live clearly:
In the end Job gets it. He says (Job 42:1-6)
I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be hindered.
I have dealt with great things that I do not understand; things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know.
I had heard of you by word of mouth, but now my eye has seen you.
Therefore I disown what I have said, and repent in dust and ashes.
God, I knew a lot of facts. I engaged You in transactions, through charity and sacrifice. Now I know that You are more than facts and transactions, more than something to be debated, argued, and calculated. I know that You are God and that You want me to know and love You. I now know that You are not a vending machine that dispenses sons, daughters, oxen, sheep, gold, and jewels.
We understand that God is wisdom but He is not about wisdom. God isn’t looking for us to challenge Him on His wisdom. Rather He wants us to set aside the notion of God as someone we debate, argue, and calculate and to come into a relationship with Him.
By example and word Jesus taught us these lessons. He told us to be like children (Matthew 18:3). He called us His friends (John 15:15). Most of all, as we see today, He asked that we trust in Him.
Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion.
I recently read a comment that said that the only time Jesus slept, He was busy of course, was when He was in the back of the boat during a storm. What a picture, a horrific storm and Jesus asleep through it all, peaceful.
The Apostles didn’t see it that way. They panicked. Do you think they were calculating the deals they were going to make with God before they woke Jesus. Perhaps they were angry with God, or were debating with Him.
He woke up,
rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!”
Relate this to Father’s Day. I can see the look on Jesus’ face, like an upset father being woken from a nap on his easy-chair. Jesus woke up and said what any father would say: “Quiet! Be still!” I wonder if He meant the disciples or the sea.
They were filled with great awe and said to one another,
“Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”
Poor Apostles… they still attempted understanding and calculation. They were trying to figure God out instead of relating to Him. They say “Who then is this,” but it isn’t who it is or why it is, it is simply being in the presence of God who is there, who is present to them. God showed up. He’s in the back of the boat. They should have trusted Him.
So for us? For us, it is time to set aside all the worry. The debating, arguing, and calculating have gone on too long. Rather, remember, we are in the presence of God. Our God is the God who shows up. He’s in our lives. He’s home, at work, in the car, in the public square, here in church. He is with us because He wants to be with us. Let’s smile like the child whose parent showed up for his recital, like the friend who was sad before you showed up. Let’s smile because God is with us and He wants us to know Him as He is: Full of love and kindness, rich in forgiveness and compassion (Psalm 86:15). That’s what God wants from us. We shouldn’t say that we don’t know Him very well, but rather that we know and love Him. Amen.
|
New blog post: Daily Digest for June 20th http://bit.ly/YmOpY [#]
|
|
|
New blog post: Lajkoniki in Krakow http://bit.ly/TyToi [#]
|
|
|
New blog post: June 21 – The bench by Maria Magdalena Orłowska http://bit.ly/1uy3U6 [#]
|