SWEAT
INTRODUCTION
The title of my homily is, “Sweat!”
WEDDINGS
This past week I found myself trying to keep calm about yesterday. There was to be no air conditioning and we had 3 weddings coming up and I had the third one – at 3 PM.
Obviously, I realized the bride and groom, the families, all want the wedding day to go perfectly – and I realized without air conditioning, we were going to have to sweat it out.
I told the bride at the rehearsal practice on Friday evening that I didn’t know whether to call her on Monday, or wait till Friday so she wouldn’t be worrying about Saturday all week. She said, “Thank you for not calling!” It was warm in here at 3 PM yesterday but we got through the weddings – thank God.
CONFESSIONS
Then I found myself in the confessional over there from 4:15 till 4:58. It was a sweat box. Sitting in there I began to think about Sweat Lodges. I heard about them, but never was in a Sweat Lodge. I thought, “Relax. People pay good money to go to sweat lodges for spiritual growth and healing and you’re in one right now for free.”
About twenty years ago I had done a lot of reading and checking out Native American culture and religion – but I don’t remember finding out too much about sweat lodges. So last night I looked it up and found out that many cultures in the history of the world had places where people would go to sweat: saunas, steam baths, and sweat lodges.
I found out they could be New Age or Old Times or what have you. It's an intriguing exercise: wanting to sweat - and what that can do for a person. I'm sure if you knew you were going to hear a sermon on this today, you would have come wearing your "sweats".
SWEAT LODGES
Some of you might know about sweat lodges personally. I just know what I heard from people here and there and what I picked up last night doing a little bit of homework on sweat lodges.
All in all, it sounds like it would be an interesting experience. The symbolism seems very rich. Before you do the sweat lodge ritual, the leaders ask a person to do a serious 24 hour fast. Then when it’s time to enter the small enclosed tent like structure, one bends down and crawls in. One climbs into the womb – a very dark place. There is a fire pit in the center as well as an altar. There can be chanting, drums, or silence. Some practices have 4 sessions - 4 rounds – each taking 30 to 45 minutes. I tried to figure out what goes on during these four rounds. One description has 4 recognitions – for the 4 rounds.
CONFESSIONS
Then I found myself in the confessional over there from 4:15 till 4:58. It was a sweat box. Sitting in there I began to think about Sweat Lodges. I heard about them, but never was in a Sweat Lodge. I thought, “Relax. People pay good money to go to sweat lodges for spiritual growth and healing and you’re in one right now for free.”
About twenty years ago I had done a lot of reading and checking out Native American culture and religion – but I don’t remember finding out too much about sweat lodges. So last night I looked it up and found out that many cultures in the history of the world had places where people would go to sweat: saunas, steam baths, and sweat lodges.
I found out they could be New Age or Old Times or what have you. It's an intriguing exercise: wanting to sweat - and what that can do for a person. I'm sure if you knew you were going to hear a sermon on this today, you would have come wearing your "sweats".
SWEAT LODGES
Some of you might know about sweat lodges personally. I just know what I heard from people here and there and what I picked up last night doing a little bit of homework on sweat lodges.
All in all, it sounds like it would be an interesting experience. The symbolism seems very rich. Before you do the sweat lodge ritual, the leaders ask a person to do a serious 24 hour fast. Then when it’s time to enter the small enclosed tent like structure, one bends down and crawls in. One climbs into the womb – a very dark place. There is a fire pit in the center as well as an altar. There can be chanting, drums, or silence. Some practices have 4 sessions - 4 rounds – each taking 30 to 45 minutes. I tried to figure out what goes on during these four rounds. One description has 4 recognitions – for the 4 rounds.
The first round would focus on recognizing the need to get in touch with the spirit world or the Spirit, the Creator – to grasp what is the purpose and direction of life.
The second round would focus on recognizing the need for courage, strength, endurance, honesty – especially honesty – and the need to call upon God for help in all this.
The third round would focus on recognizing the need for knowledge and individual prayer in one’s life.
The fourth round would have as its focus recognizing where I need healing and growth in my life.
Obviously, the religious aspects are not Christian – unless they have Christian Sweat Lodges. That would be interesting. Maybe we should have a Mass each weekend like this one today – no air conditioning. You come into this room, this church, this sacred space. You climb into these very uncomfortable seats, you sweat, and you get in touch with what’s important – and what we need to do to live a good life.
The main stresses in sweat lodges seem to be: purification – sweat it out; connecting with the community; connecting with those who have gone before us – parents and grandparents; honesty; and clarifying our vision of life. It’s a vision quest.
Christians would put it this way: “Thy will be done!”
DON’T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF
In looking up stuff about Sweat Lodges I spotted the book by Richard Carlson, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff – with the sub-title, "and It’s All Small Stuff". I remember reading that book when it came out. It certainly gave practical points for reflection – like not keeping score on who is doing what when it comes to chores around the house etc.
Because that book was so successful a dozen or so books came out with the same theme. For example, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff for Teens. He stresses to teens to see the good stuff your parents are doing. Don’t just complain – compliment. “Turn down the drama” etc.
Then I noticed in reading about this that some people disagreed by saying, “I hope some people sweat the small stuff.” Who wants to get a fork in the restaurant with small pieces of pasta still stuck in the prongs? Who’s checking passports on who’s taking flying lessons?
ONE CONCLUSION
Life has small stuff – but there is also big stuff to sweat about.
As I looked at the bride and groom’s foreheads yesterday I could see small beads of sweat. But that was small stuff compared to the main reason for being there: to take their vows and make their life time commitment to each other with the help of God.
So I disagree with the subtitle of the book about “Don’t sweat the small stuff" when it says "And It's All Small Stuff."
DON’T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF
In looking up stuff about Sweat Lodges I spotted the book by Richard Carlson, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff – with the sub-title, "and It’s All Small Stuff". I remember reading that book when it came out. It certainly gave practical points for reflection – like not keeping score on who is doing what when it comes to chores around the house etc.
Because that book was so successful a dozen or so books came out with the same theme. For example, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff for Teens. He stresses to teens to see the good stuff your parents are doing. Don’t just complain – compliment. “Turn down the drama” etc.
Then I noticed in reading about this that some people disagreed by saying, “I hope some people sweat the small stuff.” Who wants to get a fork in the restaurant with small pieces of pasta still stuck in the prongs? Who’s checking passports on who’s taking flying lessons?
ONE CONCLUSION
Life has small stuff – but there is also big stuff to sweat about.
As I looked at the bride and groom’s foreheads yesterday I could see small beads of sweat. But that was small stuff compared to the main reason for being there: to take their vows and make their life time commitment to each other with the help of God.
So I disagree with the subtitle of the book about “Don’t sweat the small stuff" when it says "And It's All Small Stuff."
There is big stuff – the important stuff, the stuff of today’s readings for example: to thirst for God – to come to the water of God - as today’s first reading from Isaiah puts it; to make sure nothing separates us from the love of Christ as we heard in today’s second reading; and to do our part to make sure nobody goes hungry – to bring our 5 loaves and 2 fishes to the table – as we heard in today’s gospel.
Amen.
