BECAUSE I WATCH,
BECAUSE I LISTEN
BECAUSE I LISTEN
INTRODUCTION
The title of my homily is, “Because I Watch, Because I Listen.”
Could everyone repeat that, “Because I Watch, Because I Listen.”
This is the story of a remarkable young girl – a fourth grader – someone that others might not notice – someone who flies under the radar – someone who is quite quiet. Her name is Nancy.
How do I know about her? “Because I watch, because I listen.”
Could everyone repeat that, “Because I Watch, Because I Listen.”
THE CANE
Nancy was with her mom at Goodwill. Her mom was searching for bargains – and there is some great stuff at Goodwill. While her mom was checking out a coat, Nancy spotted a whole collection of canes – wooden canes, metal canes, plastic canes – canes with all kinds of interesting handles.
Nancy took a good look at the whole collection – studied them – and then came the Nancy smile. She had also spotted a whole collection of yard sticks – each 3 feet long – each with some kind of advertisement on it. She borrowed one of the yard sticks and walked back to the canes. She measured several of them. “Okay, good,” she said to herself.
Her mom didn’t see any of this. She just knew Nancy liked to explore everything. Mom didn’t buy a coat – but she found a neat t-shirt for her husband who loved strange sounding t-shirts – especially all black colored ones.
That Saturday Nancy went with her dad to see his dad and mom. Nancy went with a yard stick that she knew her mom kept in a hallway closet. Her grandfather walked with a cane – and was always bent over. Not only that, he would always be moaning and groaning about his back ache.
While watching TV both her dad and his dad fell asleep. It was a boring baseball game. Nancy took her grandpa’s cane – went outside to the car – took out the yard stick and measured her grandfather’s cane. “Aha,” she said to herself.
The next time her mom was going to Goodwill – Nancy took a five dollar bill from her piggy bank and went directly to the yard sticks and then to the canes. Her mom was checking out coats once again. “Perfect,” said Nancy. She went up to the front of the store with this longer cane and bought it for 75 cents. “Wow!” said Nancy.
When her mom saw her with the cane, she said, “What’s that?”
“Just something,” said Nancy “and it only cost 75 cents.”
Her mom didn’t buy a coat, but she did get another t-shirt for her husband – only a dollar.
THE CANE
Nancy was with her mom at Goodwill. Her mom was searching for bargains – and there is some great stuff at Goodwill. While her mom was checking out a coat, Nancy spotted a whole collection of canes – wooden canes, metal canes, plastic canes – canes with all kinds of interesting handles.
Nancy took a good look at the whole collection – studied them – and then came the Nancy smile. She had also spotted a whole collection of yard sticks – each 3 feet long – each with some kind of advertisement on it. She borrowed one of the yard sticks and walked back to the canes. She measured several of them. “Okay, good,” she said to herself.
Her mom didn’t see any of this. She just knew Nancy liked to explore everything. Mom didn’t buy a coat – but she found a neat t-shirt for her husband who loved strange sounding t-shirts – especially all black colored ones.
That Saturday Nancy went with her dad to see his dad and mom. Nancy went with a yard stick that she knew her mom kept in a hallway closet. Her grandfather walked with a cane – and was always bent over. Not only that, he would always be moaning and groaning about his back ache.
While watching TV both her dad and his dad fell asleep. It was a boring baseball game. Nancy took her grandpa’s cane – went outside to the car – took out the yard stick and measured her grandfather’s cane. “Aha,” she said to herself.
The next time her mom was going to Goodwill – Nancy took a five dollar bill from her piggy bank and went directly to the yard sticks and then to the canes. Her mom was checking out coats once again. “Perfect,” said Nancy. She went up to the front of the store with this longer cane and bought it for 75 cents. “Wow!” said Nancy.
When her mom saw her with the cane, she said, “What’s that?”
“Just something,” said Nancy “and it only cost 75 cents.”
Her mom didn’t buy a coat, but she did get another t-shirt for her husband – only a dollar.
Nancy didn’t say, “I beat you mom.”
When she went with her dad – now wearing his latest black T-Shirt – with the words, “Chicago Auto Parts” on it – it’s a Rock Band nobody ever really heard of - to see his dad that following Saturday, Nancy brought the cane with her. “Grandpa, I got you a new cane.”
“Nancy,” said her grandfather, “thanks, but I don’t need another cane.”
“Grandpa, try it, you’ll like it.”
Two Saturdays later she went with her dad to see his dad again and Grandpa was all smiles. “Nancy. This cane is perfect. I no longer feel any pain in my back and I’m not bent over. How’d you know I needed a longer cane?”
Nancy said, “Because I watch, because I listen.”
When she went with her dad – now wearing his latest black T-Shirt – with the words, “Chicago Auto Parts” on it – it’s a Rock Band nobody ever really heard of - to see his dad that following Saturday, Nancy brought the cane with her. “Grandpa, I got you a new cane.”
“Nancy,” said her grandfather, “thanks, but I don’t need another cane.”
“Grandpa, try it, you’ll like it.”
Two Saturdays later she went with her dad to see his dad again and Grandpa was all smiles. “Nancy. This cane is perfect. I no longer feel any pain in my back and I’m not bent over. How’d you know I needed a longer cane?”
Nancy said, “Because I watch, because I listen.”
Could everyone repeat that, “Because I Watch, Because I Listen.”
"MEANY"
In Nancy’s 4th grade class there is this kid every kid in the class can’t stand. Her nick name is “Meany.” She was a bully, a pest and a pain.
But she never picked on Nancy. Nobody did. Nobody really noticed Nancy.
Nancy waited for the right moment.
"Meany" was sitting there eating an apple.
“Jessica,” she said, “is everything all right at home?”
“What do you mean?” Jessica meanly replied.
“Well,” said Nancy, "when someone has a sharp rock in their shoe it shows up on their face and their words.”
“What are you saying girl? What are you trying to say girl? I don’t have any rocks in my shoes.”
“Well, Jessica,” said Nancy. “You never pick on me, but some kids call you 'Meany' behind your back and I don’t like that. I figured that hurts. So I figured you have a sharp rock in your soul and it’s rubbing you the wrong way.”
“Get out of here girl. Get out of here.”
So Nancy quietly walked away.
The next day however, Jessica came over to Nancy, when she was eating an apple, and said, “That was nice of you yesterday to say what you said. When I get home my older brother and sister pick on me constantly, so that I come into school, I get back at them by picking on others.
But I was wondering how you knew this Nancy?"
"MEANY"
In Nancy’s 4th grade class there is this kid every kid in the class can’t stand. Her nick name is “Meany.” She was a bully, a pest and a pain.
But she never picked on Nancy. Nobody did. Nobody really noticed Nancy.
Nancy waited for the right moment.
"Meany" was sitting there eating an apple.
“Jessica,” she said, “is everything all right at home?”
“What do you mean?” Jessica meanly replied.
“Well,” said Nancy, "when someone has a sharp rock in their shoe it shows up on their face and their words.”
“What are you saying girl? What are you trying to say girl? I don’t have any rocks in my shoes.”
“Well, Jessica,” said Nancy. “You never pick on me, but some kids call you 'Meany' behind your back and I don’t like that. I figured that hurts. So I figured you have a sharp rock in your soul and it’s rubbing you the wrong way.”
“Get out of here girl. Get out of here.”
So Nancy quietly walked away.
The next day however, Jessica came over to Nancy, when she was eating an apple, and said, “That was nice of you yesterday to say what you said. When I get home my older brother and sister pick on me constantly, so that I come into school, I get back at them by picking on others.
But I was wondering how you knew this Nancy?"
Nancy simply said, “Because I watch, because I listen.”
Could everyone repeat that, “Because I Watch, Because I Listen.”
THE BASKETBALL PLAYER
In the eighth grade there was this girl named Rhonda – who was 5 inches taller than any other girl in her class – or any other girl on the basketball team. Her mom and dad were both over 6 foot tall.
Rhonda made the girls’ basketball team – but never got any baskets.
Nancy’s older sister Pamela was also on the basketball team – so Nancy went to different games.
One day Nancy saw Rhonda playing in her drive way. She was visiting and practicing hoops with Pamela. The ball went down the driveway and Pamela went chasing after it.
Nancy had her chance. “Rhonda, I went to all of your games this year and I noticed that you are great at rebounds – but when it’s at your end, you always dribble once before you shoot a rebound. You would do much better to practice not dribbling. If you get the ball at your end, just put it up right away without dribbling.”
Rhonda said, “What?”
Just then Pamela came back with the ball and Nancy went inside.
But that Thursday afternoon Rhonda got 11 points and their team won – and Nancy noticed she didn’t dribble after any rebound at her basket. And after the game Rhonda went over to Nancy. “Nancy, where did you learn that?”
THE BASKETBALL PLAYER
In the eighth grade there was this girl named Rhonda – who was 5 inches taller than any other girl in her class – or any other girl on the basketball team. Her mom and dad were both over 6 foot tall.
Rhonda made the girls’ basketball team – but never got any baskets.
Nancy’s older sister Pamela was also on the basketball team – so Nancy went to different games.
One day Nancy saw Rhonda playing in her drive way. She was visiting and practicing hoops with Pamela. The ball went down the driveway and Pamela went chasing after it.
Nancy had her chance. “Rhonda, I went to all of your games this year and I noticed that you are great at rebounds – but when it’s at your end, you always dribble once before you shoot a rebound. You would do much better to practice not dribbling. If you get the ball at your end, just put it up right away without dribbling.”
Rhonda said, “What?”
Just then Pamela came back with the ball and Nancy went inside.
But that Thursday afternoon Rhonda got 11 points and their team won – and Nancy noticed she didn’t dribble after any rebound at her basket. And after the game Rhonda went over to Nancy. “Nancy, where did you learn that?”
“Oh,” said Nancy, “because I watch, because I listen.”
Could everyone repeat that, “Because I Watch, Because I Listen.”
ONE LAST NANCY STORY
Nancy was on the phone with her grandmother – her mom’s mom - and Nancy made a mistake. The door was open and her dad just happened to hear the whole conversation.
He heard Nancy say, “I hope you are okay grandma. It looked like you were really hurt with my dad’s mother-in-law jokes.”
Silence.
Her grandmother was very quiet.
Finally her grandmother said, “How did you know that? Yes, I am very sensitive, but how did you know I’m hurt every time he tells a mother-in-law joke?”
"Well, last Sunday’s gospel was about Jesus’ healing Peter’s mother-in-law and I was thinking of you."
Her grandmother asked, “But how did you know your dad does that?”
And Nancy answered, “Because I watch, because I listen.”
ONE LAST NANCY STORY
Nancy was on the phone with her grandmother – her mom’s mom - and Nancy made a mistake. The door was open and her dad just happened to hear the whole conversation.
He heard Nancy say, “I hope you are okay grandma. It looked like you were really hurt with my dad’s mother-in-law jokes.”
Silence.
Her grandmother was very quiet.
Finally her grandmother said, “How did you know that? Yes, I am very sensitive, but how did you know I’m hurt every time he tells a mother-in-law joke?”
"Well, last Sunday’s gospel was about Jesus’ healing Peter’s mother-in-law and I was thinking of you."
Her grandmother asked, “But how did you know your dad does that?”
And Nancy answered, “Because I watch, because I listen.”
Could everyone repeat that, “Because I Watch, Because I Listen.”
And her dad overhearing all this said to himself, “Oh no! How could I be so stupid? My own kid is picking this up at her age. Well that’s the end to all this.”
And her dad never told another mother-in-law joke that hurt his mother-in-law again. Amen.
O O O O O O O O O
This was a kids homily at our 8:00 AM kids Mass - 5 Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B - February 7, 2009. The basic inspiration came from the second reading - the call to be a preacher. Nancy is a preacher. Here's the reading from the Children's Lectionary:
A reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians, 9: 16-18
Brothers and sisters:
I don't have any reason to brag about preaching the good news.
Preaching is something God told me to do,
and if I don't do it, I am doomed.
If I preach because I want to, I will be paid.
But even if I don't want to,
But even if I don't want to,
it is still something that God has sent me to do.
What pay am I given?
It is the chance to preach the good news free of charge
It is the chance to preach the good news free of charge
and not to use the privileges that are mine
because I am a preacher.
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