WHY NOT?

“Do me a favor?”

“What?”

“Stop asking `Why?’”

“Why?”

“Well, it annoys me!”

“Oh! Thanks for telling me that. I didn’t know
it annoyed you.”

“It does and you do it every time.”

“I do?”

“Yes, you do, and it’s getting to me.”

“Why?”

“There. You just did it again.”

“Ooops! I’m sorry.”

“I bet you half the time
you don’t realize you’re doing it.”

“Well, … come to think about it, I don’t –
but let me ask you a question, ‘Do
you have any ideas why I do it.’”

“Well … no, but why are you asking me?”

“Why not?”

© Andy Costello, Reflections, 2009

THE DAY JESUS
WALKED AWAY HUNGRY

[This is a story I always wanted to write – and that “want to” hits me every year when we come to July 29th, the feast of St. Martha. So this morning I said, “Do it!” So here it is: a first draft story that I’m sure those here, especially women, think about whenever they hear this gospel text, Luke 10:38-42.]

Once upon a time, Jesus dropped into the house of two friends of his: Mary and Martha. He had been there many times before – and each time he really enjoyed the visit.

It was good to get away from his disciples – all these men. They could be so petty and so stupid. They were always trying to be up front, right next to him, first and foremost, whenever he was telling a parable or teaching a teaching – which they usually didn’t get – until at least the tenth time he told one of his favorite stories.

But Mary and Martha were different. Jesus liked women. Mary was a great listener; Martha was a great cook.

But this time Martha was sitting there waiting for Jesus – wearing her Sabbath best. And there was Mary – wondering, “What’s going on with Martha? She’s usually waiting for Jesus at the door with an apron and a smile.”

Jesus called from outside, “Mary. Martha!”

He always put Mary’s name first. Mary noticed that. Martha also noticed that – and it irked her at times. Jealousy could be rather sneaky – creeping around our mind making various inner innuendos.

Martha knew the way to a man’s heart was his stomach. Mary knew the way to a man’s heart was listening to his stories.

Jesus sat down. Mary and Martha were also sitting. Mary and Martha were all ears – but something was eating at Mary. She wanted Jesus all to herself.

Time ticked on. Jesus and Mary both became both anxious and worried. Mary’s face became twisted a bit – because her mind was wondering, “Did Martha order take-out’s and someone was going to deliver the food any minute now?” “Did Martha forget that Jesus was coming?” “No,” she said to herself, “she’s all dressed up and was talking about his coming to see them for three days now.”

Jesus kept wondering: “What’s Martha doing in here? How come she’s not in the kitchen cooking – cooking up her best stuff?”

Jesus’ words weren’t flowing – because he kept wondering, “Where’s the food?” Jesus sniffed a few times – trying to get a scent of some kind of food - somewhere.

Martha was watching everything. She knew what she was cooking up this time. Mary wasn’t getting it. Jesus wasn’t getting it. Martha got it.

Well, after about two hours of chat as they sat – much of which was blurts – and stories about his busyness – Jesus said, “I better get back to the boys. They’ll be wondering where I am.”

As Jesus walked away from Mary and Martha’s house – his stomach was growling. He wished the stones along the side of the road were bread. He was hungry – more hungry than that time in the desert.

Suddenly, he stopped. Suddenly, he got it. Suddenly, he hit himself on his forehead and said out loud to himself, “Martha, Martha, you are smarter and wiser than all my disciples. Martha, Martha, that’s the last time I’ll say to you what I said the last time I was here, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.’”

He laughed and looked back at Martha and Mary’s house and yelled, “Martha, Martha, I was wrong, cooking is the better part.”

And Luke and John got it too – when they wrote about these two women. They both put Martha’s name first when telling their stories. [Cf. Luke 10:38-40; John 11: 19-27]



Painting on Top: Christ in the House of Martha and Mary, c. 1654-1655, Vermeer, oil on canvas, National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh

© Andy Costello, Reflections, 2009

MISUNDERSTOOD

If there is one thing we need to understand,
it is how to deal with being misunderstood.

In fact, when the other says,
“I understand”,
I need to stand there in silence,
humbly and calmly saying to myself,
“I sort of understand why you just said that,
because I say the same thing all the time,
but right now both of us don’t understand.”

So I understand 
that parents don’t understand kids,
coaches their players, teachers their students,
and vice versa, and then some more,
and then some more after that.

And I understand taking this stance
can make me cynical or angry or both.

It’s life! Classroom Earth.

But I also understand, this is
what can challenge me to listen,
to probe, to ponder, to pray,

and especially to be humble.

This is what can challenge me
to try to understand fiction and non-fiction.

This is what can get me to taste the tears
running down my face in songs, movies,
plays and poems and family hurts.

I guess this is why 
artists paint paintings

or sculpt sculptures. 
I guess

they are trying to get glimpses,
tiny understandings, of the human condition

and everyday situations.

So God, I don’t understand You

or it. In fact, I understand,

I misunderstand You,

and the it of every day.

So it’s back to Shakespeare and the comics,
the Psalms and the Parables – aches and pains,

laughing in the middle of traffic tie-ups,
and life's million misunderstandings
and one million and one miracles. Amen.

© Andy Costello, Reflections, 2009

FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD

INTRODUCTION

Since today’s first reading and gospel talk about food, it hit me to say something about food. So the title of my homily is, “Food, Glorious Food.”

That’s the title of the opening song of the musical and movie “Oliver” – where the orphans long for, hope for, imagine, more food – and all they get is this ugly grey slop called, “gruel”.

The “Food, Glorious Food” song in the movie has the boys dressed in drab colored clothes marching down steps into what looks like a big prison eating hall. They see servants walking with trays and bowls of steaming, delicious looking food. Then you see the boys in the big hall peeking through windows into a small dining room where those who run the orphanage are about to eat a big meal. It looks like there is a large turkey and all kinds of rich food on a full table.

“Food, Glorious Food.”

WHAT IS MORE BASIC?

What is more basic – more important than food?

Abraham Maslow lists food – along with clothing, water, sleep, shelter – as the bottom line – physiological needs – the lowest level in his pyramid of our hierarchy of needs.

We hope for food – glorious food – at least 3 times a day.

“Give us this day our daily bread.”

And when we pray that prayer we pray and hopefully work for all the means to help bring about daily bread for all: family, education, jobs, research and development. And daily bread – obviously means all kinds of food and drink – water, watermelon, rice, beans, proteins, carbs, veggies, what have you. (Cf. http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/09/editorials/brown.htm)

TODAY’S READINGS

In today’s first reading a man from Baal-shalishah brings 20 barley loaves to Elisha, the man of God, to help feed the people. The text from the Second Book of Kings [4:42-44] was obviously chosen because the gospel has a similar story: How can a small amount of bread feed a large amount of people? [John 6:1-15]

And in both stories the people are fed – and there is food left over.

“Give us this day our daily bread.”

THE MASS AS MEAL

It wasn’t by accident that Jesus told us to eat this meal – come to this Mass – and do all this in memory of him.

Just as we need to eat, we need to eat God – and each other. We need communion. We need community. Just as we are hungry for food, we are hungry for God and each other.

Take and eat. Take and drink. This is my body. This is my blood.

We need food. Sometimes we are blind to the close to a billion people on our planet who are hungry. As a kid I couldn't figure out how the vegetables I didn't want to eat could somehow help the starving kids in China. As an adult I know China has improved their food production, yet I know very little about solving and doing anything about world hunger.

In the meanwhile, hopefully we enjoy our daily bread – and coffee – and ice cream – steak, salmon and crab cakes. Hopefully, we are aware that everyone on the planet has a tummy as well.

Food, Glorious Food. Without it, our stomachs will growl. Without it, we will be screaming and growling in the streets. Without it, we’d be checking dumpsters and garbage cans – hoping for something to eat – and I read somewhere we’d be doing this in less than a week – if we had nothing to eat.

POPE BENEDICT XVI

Pope Benedict XVI put out on June 29th, the third of his encyclicals: “Caritas in Veritate” – “Love in Truth”.

Saturday, a week ago, Peter Steinfels in The New York Times, (1) criticized it a bit for its heaviness – its complicated intricacies. It is a hard read. Yet like his first big encyclical letter, “Deus Caritas Est” – “God Is Love” – it tackles not only our need for God and others in our lives, but also one of life’s most important issues: “Give us this day our daily bread” or our need for “Food, Glorious Food.”

In these two encyclicals of our Pope, he links his words with some of the great biblical texts that call the world to be aware of everyone in the world.

In these two encyclicals of our Pope, he links his words with the great social justice encyclicals of other popes. He refers to Rerum Novarum of Leo XIII, as well as the social justice encyclicals of John the 23, Paul VI, and John Paul II. (2)

TWO SUGGESTIONS

If you use a computer, if you have internet, if you have time – if you want to be challenged – if you are hungry to be a saint – here are two suggestions:

1) In the Google search engine on your computer screen type in, “You Tube Oliver Song Food Glorious Food.” Then watch the short film of the song, “Food, Glorious Food” a few times. It’s really well done – and much, much shorter than any sermon you’d hear from me. Then type into Google, “You Tube Les Miserables” and watch some of the songs of that musical as well -and catch the similarities in both plots.

2) Then type into Google, “Encyclicals Benedict XVI” and surprise, free of charge you can read and study the encyclicals “Deus Caritas Est” and “Caritas in Veritate”.

They are tough reads – but if you want to be challenged, go for it.

If you don’t use a computer, find the DVD movies of “Oliver” and “Les Miserables” and watch both of them.

If you don’t use a computer, and don’t have a DVD player for movies or what have you, then check out in a local library, Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens and Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. You’re getting your hands on two authors from the 1800’s who were trying to get people aware of what was happening outside their inner rooms. The Industrial Revolution was changing the world. Crowded cities, open sewers in the streets, child labor, horrible working conditions, pollution, were just some of the problems. This was before the advent of labor unions. Those of you who see the play, A Christmas Carol, every Advent here in Annapolis, know about Scrooge and how folks didn’t have Christmas and holidays off. Charles Dickens spoke up about the same problems that Karl Marx protested. People were hungry. People were starving – while the wealthy ate very well in their inner rooms.

THE UNITED NATIONS AND TODAY’S SECOND READING

I like to tell the story about the time, years and years ago, when I went to the United Nations on a Sunday afternoon. I had time and I was in Manhattan. Why not? I walked up the steps and it was closed.

I stood there for a moment to see what might be around. I went and saw the wall where they have Isaiah’s words, “… they will hammer their swords into ploughshares and their spears into sickles.” (Isaiah 2:4)

I still had time. I spotted what looked like a chapel across the avenue. It was called, “The United Nations Chapel.”

I walked in. Nobody was there. I sat down on a bench and said some prayers for world peace – and while praying, I noticed a Bible or what looked like a Bible, open on the altar up front and center.

I walked up front and there was a rope fence around the altar. I turned and looked to see if there was a camera anywhere. I didn’t spot one, so I climbed over the rope fence and walked up to see what page the Bible was open to, if it was a Bible.

Surprise it was open to today’s second reading: Ephesians 4:1-6

Brothers and sisters:

I, a prisoner for the Lord,

urge you to live in a manner worthy

of the call you have received,

with all humility and gentleness,

with patience,

bearing with one another through love,

striving to preserve the unity of the spirit

through the bond of peace:

one body and one Spirit,

as you were also called

to the one hope of your call;

one Lord, one faith, one baptism;

one God and Father of all,

who is over all and through all and in all. 

There it was – a clear call for unity – that Our God is the Father of us all.

THE HEART OF THE MATTER – THE STOMACH IS WHAT MATTERS

As Jesus knew – and those who cook know – the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach.

As Jesus knew – as we hopefully know – the way to world unity or united nations – is through our stomachs. We need our daily bread. We need food. Of course, we don't live by bread alone, but we better start here.

This is the Gospel message. I don’t think it’s an option.

This is the Church’s message. As Pope Benedict said, this is what St. Vincent de Paul and Teresa of Calcutta and so many saints did and do. This is what we are called to do.

CONCLUSION

In case nothing in this homily grabbed you, let me conclude with 10 quotes to chew upon – 10 quotes to digest.

The first is from St. Basil the Great: “When someone steals another's clothes, we call them a thief. Should we not give the same name to one who could clothe the naked and does not? The bread in your cabinet belongs to the hungry; the coat unused in your closet belongs to the one who needs it; the shoes rotting in your closet belong to the one who has no shoes; the money which you hoard up belongs to the poor.”

The second is from Dietrich Bonhoeffer in Life Together, “So long as we eat our bread together, we shall have sufficient even for the least. Not until one person desires to keep his own bread for himself does hunger ensue.”

The third is from Viktor Frankl who wrote the great book, Man’s Search for Meaning, “We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms -- to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.

The fourth is from the Brazilian, Archbishop Helder Camara, “When you give food to the poor, they call you a saint. When you ask why the poor have no food, they call you a communist.”

The fifth is from Dorothy Day, “I have long since come to believe that people never mean half of what they say, and that it is best to disregard their talk and judge only their actions.”

The sixth is from John Ruskin who warned Christians when he wrote that “you had better get rid of the smoke, and the organ pipes ... and the Gothic windows and the painted glass ... and look after Lazarus at the doorstep.” Works XXXVI, 1864) We were blessed and nagged and challenged in this parish for years by Father Jack Lavin who wrote a whole book entitled “Lazarus at the Doorstep.” Justice, fairness, concern for the forgotten, the edged out, the immigrants around us - were Jack's bread and butter issues and concerns.

The seventh is from Daniel Berrigan, S.J. who wrote, “Sometime in your life, hope that you might see one starved man, the look on his face when the bread finally arrives. Hope that you might have baked it or bought or even kneaded it yourself. For that look on his face, for your meeting his eyes across a piece of bread, you might be willing to lose a lot, or suffer a lot, or die a little, even.”

The eighth is from William Booth of the Salvation Army who wrote that we spend so much energy “to save people from perdition in a world which is to come, while never a helping hand is stretched out to save them from the inferno of their present life.”

The ninth is from Mother Teresa, “There is more hunger in the world for love and appreciation in this world than for bread.”

The tenth is also from Mother Teresa, “If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one.”

++++++++OOOOOOOOOOOOO++++++

Notes: 

(1) Peter Steinfels, "From The Vatican, A Tough Read," The New York Times, July 17, 2009, can be found on line.

(2) Pope John XXIII, Mater et Magistra (May 15, 1961), Pacem in Terris (April 11, 1963); Pope Paul VI, Populorum Progressio (March 26, 1967); Pope John Paul II, Laborem Exercens (Sept. 14, 1981), Sollicitudo Rei Socialis (March 25, 1987, Centesimus Annus (May 1, 1991). Confer also, Pope Pius XI, Quadragesimo Anno (May 15, 1931); Gaudium et Spes, The Pastoral Constitution of the Church in the Modern World (December 7, 1965), Vatican II document.