Christ is the Bridge Over Troubled Water
I admit it—I’m a bit behind the times, and I like it that way. When I was a teenager I developed a deep appreciation for Simon and Garfunkel, despite the fact that they’d been popular many decades before I discovered them. I then dove into the solo career of Paul Simon, finding delight in his artistic lyrics and ever-evolving musical style. Despite the fact that he’s 84 years old, even time can’t stop Rhymin’ Simon—he’s on tour yet again, so to prepare for the upcoming concert this summer, my husband and I have been listening to his music with a renewed appreciation.
Bridge Over Troubled Water has always been one of my favorite songs, and while listening to the lyrics the other day, I began thinking about St. Catherine of Siena. Okay, so when am I ever not thinking about my lovely saint? Still, the song took on new meaning as I began meditating upon St. Catherine’s teaching of Christ as our Bridge over the turbulent waters of sin—the Bridge that unites heaven to earth with its salvific grace.
In the Dialogue God the Father speaks to St. Catherine and, by extension, to all of us:
With sin there came at once the flood of a stormy river that beat against them constantly with its waves, bringing weariness and troubles from themselves as well as from the devil and the world. You were all drowning … But I wanted to undo these great troubles of yours. So I gave you a Bridge, My Son, so that you could cross over the river, the stormy sea of this darksome life, without being drowned (D21).
Our great Lord also speaks the same message through secular music. Imagine Him singing these words over you:
When you’re weary
Feeling small
When tears are in your eyes
I will dry them all
I’m on your side
When times get rough
And friends just can’t be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Christ lays down on the wood of the Cross; raised high for our salvation, He is the Bridge we must travel in order to reach eternal life.
Even when I was away from the Church and mired deep in sin, the Holy Spirit imprinted this truth deep into my heart. Although it took me years to finally get the message through my thick skull and into my hardened heart, He never gave up His gentle message of love and salvation.
When I was away from the Church for all those long, dark years a recurring dream frequently haunted me, a dream consisting of turbulent water, a bridge, sin and redemption. I hadn’t yet learned about St. Catherine of Siena, and was completely ignorant of her teachings or for my dire need of salvation. Even so, God spoke to me in ways similar to the message He conveyed to her.
As a coastal girl, I know the rhythms of the tides well; the undulating swell of waves, the whisper or shout of the water’s unceasing voice. In my frequent dream it was always night, yet my surroundings were easily visible because of the glowing full moon above my head.
The tide was high, and the pull of the moon—coupled with a recent storm—caused the water to rise more than usual. As I walked down the road with a few companions, we suddenly came upon a large washed-out section stretching ahead of us. An inlet of the ocean spread on both sides, and the path before us had vanished. The water looked deep, turbulent and intimidating. Not knowing how to swim, I shrank back in fear of drowning.
No words were spoken between myself and my companions. They were all behind me; apparently I had to lead. But how? I was too terrified of the water, of its power to pull me under and keep me there until no life-breath remained.
As I stood, wondering what to do, an inner Voice of reassurance promised that if I had faith, I wouldn’t drown. There was a bridge just below the water, and if I trusted, I could simply walk across the bridge to the other side, where dry land awaited.
Taking the first step was frightening. Water surrounded me on both sides, yet I knew I had to keep going. I had to have faith that Someone larger than myself was directing me, so I moved forward. As I continued walking, joy and relief washed over my body—there was indeed a bridge just beneath the surface, causing the water to rise only to my ankles.
After reaching the other side, I turned around to let my companions know that they, too, could easily cross—only to discover that the water had receded and was no longer covering the bridge. Visible to all, dry and sturdy, the bridge over troubled waters had turned out to be the Bridge of safety and salvation.
I now understand so much more about this recurring dream than I did twenty years ago when God was calling me home to Him. Back then, lost and drowning in my lack of faith, I didn’t know St. Caterina or her teaching on Christ as the Bridge stretching from heaven to earth. I didn’t realize the turbulent water represented my sin, or that the Holy Spirit was calling me to regain my faith in Jesus, God’s only begotten Son. Despite my stubborn ignorance and insistent sin, Christ refused to give up on me.
Such is the mystery of faith, and the powerful shadow of Divine Mercy.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Mot High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’
(Psalm 91:1-2)
God was perpetually singing to me:
When you’re down and out
When you’re on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you
I’ll take your part
When darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Christ has made of Himself a Bridge, a Bridge made of the wood the most holy Cross.
I want you to look at the Bridge of My only-begotten Son, and notice its greatness. Look! It stretches from heaven to earth, joining the earth of your humanity with the greatness of the Godhead. I say then that this Bridge reaches from Heaven to earth, and constitutes the union which I have made with man … This was necessary if I wanted to remake the road that had been broken up, so that you might pass over the bitterness of the world and reach life.
(Dialogue 22)
The breadth and length and height and depth of the Supreme Deity stooped to earth in Christ’s humanity, bridging the wide and otherwise insurmountable gap between God and man that occurred with original sin.
And why should He have made of Himself a roadway? So that you might in truth come to the same joy as the angels. But My Son’s having made of Himself a Bridge for you could not bring you to life unless you make your way along that Bridge.
If I’d refused God’s invitation to faith, if I’d allowed my sin and fear to keep me hunkered on the wrong side of the road, the waves would have eventually engulfed me. Jesus is a chivalrous gentleman—He never forces or coerces. We must listen to that still, soft inner Voice urging us to deeper and greater faith, then we must step out, despite anxiety or hesitation, and embrace the wood of the Cross, the Bridge uniting us to the Father.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Here the eternal Truth was showing that, although He had created us without our help, He will not save us without our help. He wants us to set our wills with full freedom to spending our time in true virtue.
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You think you're a bit behind the times? No shame in that. I was there! I sang "Bridge Over Troubled Water" at the Cony High School variety show in 1975 in Augusta, Maine. After my teen reversion experience, being saved from some pretty deep depths, this song meant much to me in a similar way. Thanks for sharing that memory, and giving me another chance to be grateful....