THE PITS

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 2 Wednesday in Lent is, “The Pits.”

When was the last time you heard someone say, “It was the pits.”

What is your word, phrase or sound for “The Pits”?

Mine is, “Ugh!”

"Ugh" as in “Ugly” or a derivation of that word or sound. “Ugh! The Pits!”

TODAY’S READINGS

Today’s first reading [Jeremiah 18:18-20] has the word “pit” in it – which triggered the title and thought for this homily. It’s from the Prophet Jeremiah. As you know he was thrown into a pit. It was the pits. It was the price he paid for being a prophet.

Jeremiah was ditched, pitched, thrown into a pit – a cistern – because he challenged and rubbed people the wrong way. [Cf. Jeremiah 381-13]

And in today’s gospel, Jesus says, “We’re going up to Jerusalem and I’m going to be wiped out – crucified, killed.” [Matthew 20:17-28]

It’s the pits guys. Get ready for it.

And they will hear none of this nonsense from Jesus.

It’s like saying, “We’re going to put this enormous image of Jesus on a cross in our church – right up front – in your face – because this is what everyone is headed for – you just don’t know when at times."

It’s the pits.

Then in today’s gospel, the mother of James and John comes to Jesus asking that her boys get top billing. She wants the perks for them – not the pits.

And Jesus laughs and tells her, “Life is all about drinking the cup of suffering and struggle and service.” Translation: “Who said it was going to be easy?”

LIFE

Is it the pits?

Does it depend upon whether you’re an optimist or a pessimist?

How come some people see differently than other people?

How come some people seem to always have a scowl on their face and others seem to always have a smile on their face?

How come some people seem to have more trouble than other people?

How do I come up with the attitudes, I have come up with?

Can we see in a child, how they deal with having to go to bed at a certain time, having to eat their vegetables, having to turn off their games and do their homework – or be at supper – can we see the 50 or 75 year older in that child on how they deal with those moments?

Is life the pits or the pats on the back?

How do we see life: it’s purpose, plan, ups and downs, ins and outs?

Is it a wedding banquet or a traffic jam?

Is it being the bride or bridegroom or the waiter or waitress?

Who looks happier?

How do you see life?

I love Thornton Wilder’s words from his play, The Skin of our Teeth. I quote them all the time. “My advice to you is not to inquire why or whither, but just enjoy your ice cream while it’s on your plate – that’s my philosophy.”

To me it’s not, “The Pits!” It’s, “The Attitude!”

CONCLUSION

I don’t know about you, but I avoid people if I can, who seem to see life as “The Pits!”

I don’t know about you, I see the pits in the watermelon and oranges and grapes with pits, but I spit them out or cut them out and enjoy the taste and flavor of the watermelon, the orange or the grape much more than the pits.

I also love it when someone cuts up the fruit – and removes all the pits. Yet if I see a pit, I simply spoon it out, and enjoy the chew of all that delicious fruit.

I know there are pot holes and pits, but it’s not the whole road – and I am grateful for whoever did all that work to create Route 97. It always seems to me to be a great ride.

And I pinch myself for being an optimist – because when I was sitting there in my playpen or high chair as a child, I know I didn’t say back then, “When I grow up, I’m going to be an optimist.”

But I do know, I did say to myself, “When I grow up, I don’t want to be a grouch.” I remember rather clearly the day we were playing stickball on the street – 62nd Street, between 3rd and 4th Avenue. It was the late 1940’s. An old man – probably in his 50’s – on our street wouldn’t give us our ball – a pink Spaldeen – that had gone in his front yard – but instead he growled at us.

And I have met grouches – who see life as “The Pits” – and I know Jesus talks about the cross – and I know life has its crosses – but I prefer Jesus’ text, “Unless you be like little children, you’re not going to be experiencing the kingdom.” Amen. [Cf. Matthew 19: 13-15]