LOOKING BACKWARDS
LOOKING FORWARDS

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Looking Backwards, Looking Forwards.”

One of the gifts and skills we human beings have is our ability to look backwards, forwards, as well as to be aware of the present moment.

When we drive, we have that front windshield – the whole road ahead of us – as well as that rear view mirror – to see where we’ve been.

When we’re young – it’s all forwards – we don’t have much of a past; when we’re old, - it’s a lot backwards – we have our stories and our legacy and we know we don’t have all that future ahead of us.

Do we then do what Thornton Wilder suggests in his play, The Skin of our Teeth, “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.” [1942] Act 1.

I love that quote and I loved ice cream till I got diabetes. I’ve enjoyed remembering the past – but I’m also dreaming of what’s next.

WEDDINGS AND A GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY

Saturday, a week ago, I did a Mass here for a couple celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary. Yesterday, Saturday, I had 3 weddings.

Obviously, it’s a very different experience celebrating a 50th Wedding Anniversary and celebrating a wedding. The 50th is very much about the past. The couple had their 13 grandchildren bring up 13 gifts at the offertory: bread, wine, a gold chalice and a gold paten, one of those wooden carvings of the church where they were married, Villanova Chapel in Villanova, Pennsylvania and St. Mary’s Church Annapolis where they have been for 27 years – as well as photographs of their parents, their wedding album and a few other historical items from their life. At a Golden Anniversary it’s looking at the photos; at a wedding it’s folks taking pictures. At a Golden Anniversary it’s smiles and sometimes scars; at a wedding it’s “white lace and promises and a kiss for luck and we’re on our way” as the song by the Carpenters sang it.

Recorders have those fast forwards and slower backwards buttons. We all know that people can get stuck in the past or the future and miss the sugar free ice cream on their plate.

FEAST OF ST. ALPHONSUS

Today – August 1st, we Redemptorists look backwards as we celebrate the feast of our founder: St. Alphonsus [1696-1787]. He’s the little guy – dressed as a bishop – up here at our altar. His feast used to be August 2nd – and it was the day many of us Redemptorists professed our vows. So tomorrow my class celebrates that day August 2nd, 1960 – 50 years ago when we took our first vows as religious – with no clue to what the future held – just hopes and promises. It was here in Maryland, in Ilchester, up in Howard County, which we called “Hellchester” especially in July and August.

We had 6 years plus of studies after that. Then my plan was Brazil. That was the hook and the promise that got me to join – but that day we took 3 vows – the third of which was obedience – so nobody was really sure of what the future would be. Who does?

LOOKING BACKWARDS

Looking backwards I once went to 6 Flags Amusement Park in New Jersey. We got on this long line to take this new roller coaster. It took 61 minutes to finally get seat belted and then the ride took about 2 minutes. Was it worth it? No!

Looking backwards I got ordained in 1965 and had another year at the major seminary and then came here to Annapolis for 5 months further training – September 1966 to February 1967. I came to Annapolis with the dream of then being appointed to go to Brazil as a foreign missionary – but nope, that roller coaster ride never came through. I often wondered what that would have been like. Don’t we all? Don’t we all wonder about the what if’s of life.

Was all that has happened worth it? Yes. It’s been a fascinating ride – lots of ups and downs, twists and turns, but especially surprises.

I’ve met Redemptorists who have enjoyed every appointment and I’ve met Redemptorists who whined about every disappointment.

How many years does it take any of us to realize this was it – this was the ride I got on the line to ride – this was the ticket I bought?

In the photo album of my mind there are many, many pictures – stories and scenes. Don’t worry I’m not going to ask you to look at them – nor will I mention them. Some will be on the monitor in the funeral parlor when I die. But these days while walking I’ve been noticing that I’ve been looking at some of them – great adventures.

I’m sure many of you took courses in college or workshops where you looked at Erik Erikson’s 8 stages of life – or development. The 8th and last stage is called: Integrity Versus Despair. Translation: “It’s been good. I’m content. My life has a deep sense of meaning. I’ve contributed to life. Or I blew it.” One leads to integrity and a wisdom; the other is a fear of death and too many experiences of failures or perceived failures.” And one author says, that can lead to “a strong dogmatism that only my view is correct.” Uh oh! Oh no! Don’t want to get into that sand trap.

TODAY’S READINGS FOR THE 18TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - C

Today’s gospel story of the rich man who had a great harvest both scares me as well as gives me hope.

The guy didn’t know what it is to be rich in the sight of God – and he didn’t know that night after a day of big future plans, he was to die.

Woo. I’m not ready. I want 10 more good years – and if I get there, I’ll probably want 5 more after that and on and on and on.

When Soren Kiegegaard, the famous Danish philosopher was dying, he had St. Alphonsus’ book, Preparation for Death, on a table next to his bed. I don’t – I have a book of Sudoku puzzles.

St. Alphonsus wasn’t scared to tell folks, there are time limits, so make sure you prepare for death well.

Today’s first reading from Ecclesiastes has the author tell us, “Vanity of vanities…. vanity of vanities. All things are vanity.”

The Hebrew word used is, “hevel” – meaning a puff of wind or a morning vapor – that soon vanishes. Qoheleth, the author of this very tough book of scriptures, tells us the tough stuff of life – that often we’re running after hot air – that just blows away or dissipates.

Qoheleth didn’t believe in after life. Now he knows – and his great method of learning was experience. Now he knows.

Today’s second reading has St. Paul telling the people of Colossae – as well as us – that there is life after death – that we can be raised up with Christ – and Christ is the one to seek after. Paul teaches us to die now to the things that can kill us here and now – but we can rise and be wise in Christ who gives us new life here and hereafter.

CONCLUSION: THE LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS

50 years ago when I was making my novitiate before taking my religious vows, we read just one life of St. Alphonsus. There were 3 others that I have read since – newer studies of who he was.

His father was a tough navy captain – strict – very demanding – especially of his oldest son Alphonsus. Nothing Alphonsus did measured up to his father’s dreams for him. Alphonsus became a very successful lawyer in the city of Naples, Italy – till he lost a big land case. The old books said that he blew the case by missing a tiny detail. The later studies said, “There was a bribe by the other side and he lost the case.” With that he fell apart – locked his door – went into bed and wouldn’t come out of his room for a few days.

He finally woke up and came out and came out to become a priest – much to his father’s disappointment. He became a great priest and preacher in Naples – till he got sick from overwork. His friends advised him to go down to the Amalfi Coast for a vacation so that he might recover. While there someone told him about some goat herders up in the hills who nobody was bringing Christ to. So he left everything to found an order to serve those who weren’t being taken care of.

Looking backwards that’s our history. Looking backwards that’s why we came to America – to serve especially the German immigrants who didn’t have enough clergy – and that’s how we got to Annapolis – because of being with the Germans in Baltimore. The Catholics here were not being served that well.

Our province here in the United States has flourished – and then we sent out missionaries to Brazil, Puerto Rico and Santo Domingo.

Looking Forwards those places are doing okay. In fact, today our vice province of Paraguay becomes a province – and they have mostly young guys – and they have sent missionaries to us – like Father Blas Caceres is now stationed here in St. Mary’s.

Life – looking backwards, it’s been great.

Life – looking forwards, we’re hoping for the surprises around the corner – the many pages that haven’t been written yet.

Life – sometimes it’s tarnished; sometimes it’s golden.

Life – sometimes it’s vanity and a vapor and fades away, but sometimes, sometimes, it's ________ You fill in the blank.

In the meanwhile let’s enjoy the daily bread on our plate this morning.


Pictures on top: St. Alphonsus as a young man, later middle aged as bishop, and then St. Alphonsus in his old age.