AFTERNOON CHURCH

Empty – except for the tabernacle.
Empty – me feeling empty walking into the semi darkness.
Empty – seats – hundreds of them – empty but filled with a lot of past.

Sat – somewhere in the empty center of the church.
Sat – relaxed – watching the flickering candles up front – peoples' hopes and prayers reaching for God.
Sat – breathed a sigh – closed my eyes – caught myself.

Prayed – for inner peace.
Prayed – for more faith.
Prayed – for family, friends, for this whole wobbly world.

Heard – the sound a creaking bench.
Heard – an ambulance siren screaming down the street.
Heard – the prayers of a hundred plus years in this old church.

Rose – stood up after 15 minutes – better.
Rose – stood up and genuflected to my Lord and my God.
Rose – stood up and walked out – ready for more moments of life.

© Andy Costello, Reflections, 2009

EPHPHATHA

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Ephphatha”.

Scholars say it’s an Aramaic word – the language of Jesus – and it means as today’s gospel translates it, “Be opened!”

What a great message! What a great prayer! What a great blessing!

“Ephphatha!” “Be opened!”

I’m just back from a great vacation to the Baltic Sea with a group from our parish. Besides England where we got on the ship, we visited 6 other countries – and I noticed in the ship’s paper handouts, “Useful Words” for the different countries we were visiting: Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia and Norway. They gave the local language words for: “Yes”, “No”, “Good Day”, “Good-bye”, “Thank you” and “You’re Welcome”.

For example, “Kiitos” is the Finish word for “Thank-you”. “Versegod” is the Norwegian word for, “You’re welcome!”

Well today’s word is the Aramaic word, “Ephphatha” – “Be opened!”

It can be broken down into three syllables – each with three letters: Eph – pha – tha.

Could you all repeat after me, “Eph” EPH, “pha” PHA, “tha” THA.

Let’s all say, ”Ephphatha” – “EPHPHATHA”. Let’s all say, “Be opened.” BE OPENED.

Isn’t that great? We now know another word in a language different than our own.

Eph-pha-tha.

Be opened! Be open. Open up!

LAST MONDAY

There we were on a street in Oslo, Norway, last Monday, trying to find St. Olaf’s Catholic Church. We came to a spot where we could see three churches – each about a street or two away – so we asked this young lady, “Do you speak English?” She answered with a smile, “Everyone in Norway speaks English!”

“Ooops,” I said. “Do you know which of those three churches is the Catholic Church – St. Olaf’s?”

She said, pointing to the one just up the street, “I think it’s that one!”

I forgot to say in Norwegian, “Tak” – meaning, “Thanks!”

It was 5:45 P.M. The church was open. The priest was just finishing benediction – and we noticed there was a Mass in English at 6:00 P.M. We said some prayers and got moving – because we had to walk back to the ship – which had an “All aboard!” for 7:30 P.M.

TODAY’S READINGS

Today’s gospel from Mark is very interesting. Jesus goes north to go south. He leaves the town of Tyre by way of the lake of Galilee and moves up into the district of the Decapolis – the 10 cities. He was going into new territory.

Some think it is Mark’s way of recognizing the Christian beginnings in that area of Israel. At first they are deaf and dumb to Jesus – but slowly some of them become hearers and followers of the Word: Jesus.

And today’s first reading from Isaiah is chosen because his vision and dream, was that some day – the Lord would open all hearts, all eyes, all ears, all tongues that are mute, and people would accept salvation from our God.

And when that happens – it will be like a desert changing into a land with streams, rivers, pools and springs of life saving water.

And when that happens – as James says in today’s second reading – people will stop putting people down – and start seeing the beauty of every person around us – rich, poor, young, old, fat, skinny, those wearing Givenchy boots or K-Mart flip-flops – or what have you.

MORNING PRAYER: BE OPENED

“Ephphatha!” “Be opened!”

Jesus is saying that to us today.

Jesus is saying that to us everyday.

Be opened today.

You know how some stores have on their front door that swing sign: “Open” on one side and “Closed” on the other side.

When people see our face, the people who know us, what do they read, “Open” or “Closed”?

There’s a morning prayer here for all of us.

Each morning, take a moment. Pause. Put your fingers into your ears or cup your ears like this and pray: “Lord, today, help me to listen to you. Lord, today help me to listen to those I meet. Lord, today, help to hear what those around me are saying.”

Each morning, take a moment. Pause. Touch your tongue and say, “Lord, today, help me to say kind and helpful things to those I meet with this tongue. Lord, today, give me wisdom of words. Lord, today, remind me to use this tongue to compliment those around me.”

We can do the same with our eyes.

“Ephphatha!” “Be opened.”

TWO EARS – ONE MOUTH

We’ve all heard the ancient question: “Why did God give us two ears and one mouth?”

Answer: “To listen – twice as much as we speak.”

I was watching the news the other night and a commentator was mentioning Ted Kennedy’s memoirs that are coming out – and in them he wrote that a former president never listened – and didn’t seem to be able to listen.

I found myself pausing and saying to myself, “Uh oh? I better work on being a better listener.”

I better work on hearing what others are saying and not saying.

We who live with other people – ought to ask that question: “How good am I in listening to those I live and work with?”

“Ephphatha!” “Be opened!”

Besides our ears, besides working at listening, how good are we at communicating our voice – our vision?

We also have a voice.

A few years back I heard someone talking about someone else – and the person observed, “It took this person quite a while, but she finally found her voice.”

I thought about that. I had never really heard the obviousness of it before. Each person has a voice – a vote – comments – ideas about life.

Have you found your voice yet?

Standing up here week after week preaching, I have to shut up and ask myself, “What am I talking about? What am I preaching? Is it my voice? Is it my voice only? Is it Gospel? Is it Good News?

I wonder at times, “Have I shot my wad?”

When we live with others long enough, we get to know all their stories. We know what the other person is off on. And we sort of stop listening to each other. We’ve heard this story too many times! I’ve heard married couples joke about this often. We forget the old adage, “A gentleman never heard the story before.” And we who keep repeating ourselves, unless it’s dementia – maybe we better work on being better listeners to each other’s stories.

I’ve been here at Annapolis going on 7 years now. At some point I’m sure some of you say, “Heard that. Next? Enough of that.”

Yet, I have only used an old sermon once. I had to cover for someone quickly – but I’m sure you’ve figured what the priests here at St. Mary’s are off on by now.

I remember reading the saying, “There are only a few basic concepts, but think of the metaphors.”

I remember reading in Time magazine 40 or some years ago something Eric Heiden, the Olympic Ice skating speed racer, said. He was around 20 years old at the time and someone asked him an opinion about something and he said, “Hey, I’m only 20 years old. What do I know? I haven’t figured out much about anything yet.”

At what point in life do we figure things out?

At what point in life do we find our voice?

At what point in life do we have wisdom?

I don’t like suffering, but I like the wisdom of the saying, “Suffering enters into the human heart to create there places that never existed before.” What have been our hurts and heartaches – deaths and losses – divorces and disasters – and what have we learned from them?

I am not married and don’t have children, so I wonder what would I have learned in the greatest classroom and educational possibility there is: being married and raising children. Those of you who have been married and have had children, what have you learned?

Wisdom comes from opening up our minds and hearts. Wisdom comes from listening – opening up our ears. Wisdom comes from asking questions – using our mouth to ask – to inquire. Wisdom comes from being able to take suggestions. Wisdom comes from good moves and especially from mistakes – if we learn from them.

Open up a blank note book or a blank word document on your computer and write down, “What have been my ten top life learnings.”

I love a message I heard once, “The Talmud says, ‘Teach thy tongue to say, “I do not know.”’”

That taught me that I can say, “I do not know!” And the older I get, the more I’m saying that.

I remember in the late 60’s being at a power breakfast in New York City for rabbis, ministers, priests, teachers, and public officials. It was on Drugs and Youth. Nelson Rockefeller, then Governor of New York was doing a Q and A, a Question and Answer session. Someone asked him a question and he answered bluntly, “Are you crazy? I am not going to answer that question. Next!”

From that moment and that experience, I learned I can calmly say, “I rather not answer that. Next!”

I read once that the secret of life is the ability to say three words: “Yes”, “No” and “Wow!”

At what point in life can we say to ourselves and others, “No!” or “Yes” or “Wow!”? Some people – not just kids – don’t seem to be able to say, “No!”

Some people can’t say, “Yes!”

Some people seem to have forgotten how to say, “Wow!”

It’s very freeing to be able to say to kids or to anyone, “No!” or “Wow!” or “Yes!”

The title of my homily is, “Ephphatha”. Be Opened.

I remember reading in the 1960’s a book by Louis Evely entitled, “That Man Is You.” It was based on the story in the Bible when Nathan told a parable to David and David hearing the parable, the story, gets mad at what the guy in the story had done and says to Nathan, “Who is the man who did that horrible thing?” And David, who had stolen another man’s wife, hears Nathan say, “That man is you!” And David is open to seeing the horrible thing he had done!

I learned from that book: every story in the Bible is told for me to see myself in that story. “That person is I.”

CONCLUSION

Today’s gospel story is that I’m the deaf and dumb person and Jesus can come into my territory and heal me – putting his fingers into my ears, putting his spit on my tongue – putting his forgiveness into my mind and heart saying, “Ephphatha!” “Be opened.”

And the Great Good News is that our parents gave us not only the ticket to life here on earth – but the possibility of eternal life - after this life. I look forward to each new day of life – but I also look forward to eternal life when the Risen Christ says over the dead, “Ephphatha” and the Gates to Eternal Life open for us – and we will meet all those who have gone before us – Norwegians, Danish, Russians, Australians, Africans, Americans, and we’ll all be speaking the same language – the language of love and forgiveness, understanding and joy, laughter and light, memory and eternal hope.