WALTER

I watched an old man today
watching a large crucifix of Christ
hanging on the wall in front of him.

I sat there wondering
what this old man in his eighties
was thinking about.

He leaned back, stared at the ceiling light,
and scratched his head. I could tell from his
tightening jaw he was not thinking of himself.

© Andy Costello, Reflections, 2010

TWO TYPES OF PEOPLE

There are two kinds of people:
those who are aware of what time it is
and those who aren’t.

Some people are always late.

Some people suddenly stand up and announce,
“Well, I gotta get going!”
They don’t seem to check what time it is
on their phone or watch – or wall clock –
yet they always seem to know
just what time it is?

How do they do that?

Were they born
with an internal clock or calendar
or were they programmed?
Tick. Tick. Tick. Gotta run. Run. Run.

There are two kinds of people:
those who prefer to slouch in couches
and those who sit up straight in hard chairs.

There are two types of drivers:
the driver who drives with tension
and those who always give
the car ahead of them
plenty of space – simply riding
and sliding down the road of
of life unaware of speedometers
or odometers, clocks and watches –
driving clock watchers crazy.

Ooops, am I'm giving myself away?

© Andy Costello, Reflections, 2010

THE LITTLE BOY 

AND THE OLD MAN

Quote for this Friday  - August 13, 2010


The Little Boy and the Old Man

Said the little boy, “Sometimes I drop my spoon.”
Said the old man, “I do that, too.”
The little boy whispered, “I wet my pants.”
“I do that too,” laughed the little old man.
Said the little boy, “I often cry.”
The old man nodded, “So do I.”
“But worst of all,” said the boy, “it seems
Grown-ups don't pay attention to me.”
And he felt the warmth of a wrinkled old hand.
“I know what you mean,” said the little old man.



Shel Silverstein [1930-1999]

ALWAYS LATE 

NEVER  ON  TIME

Quote for this Thursday - August 12, 2010


“He was always late on principle, his principle being that punctuality is the thief of time.”


Oscar Wilde [1854-1900], The Picture of Dorian Gray.

ATHEISM:

NOT ALLOWING GOD

TO SING IN MY BEING

Quote for this Wednesday  - August 11, 2010


“It is good if one can bring about that God sings within me.”


Rabbi Elimelekh [1783-1841]

BEHOLD THE LAMB 

OF GOD 

WHO TAKES AWAY 

THE SINS OF OUR WORLD.

Quote for This Tuesday - August 10, 2010


“Nothing appeases an enraged elephant so much as the sight of a little lamb.”


St. Francis de Sales [1567-1622], Introduction to the Devout Life, 3, 8.


Picture from the Shamwari Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in South Africa - Themba (elephant) and Albert (sheep)

REALITY  THERAPY

Quote for this Monday - August 9, 2010


“Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you’re a thousand miles from a cornfield.”


Dwight D. Eisenhower [1890-1969], speech, September, 1956

FAITH IS RISKY BUSINESS

INTRODUCTION

 The title of my homily is, “Faith is Risky Business.”

Today’s three readings urge us to reflect upon the issue of faith in our lives. And when we do, we often find out, “Faith is Risky Business.”

Hopefully, we also say, “It was worth it!”

· To get married takes faith.
· To stay married takes faith, to stick to one’s vows, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, for 5, 10, 15, 25, 50 years takes faith.
· To have a baby takes faith.
· To be a priest or a nun or a religious for 10, 20, 25, 50 years takes faith.
· To sell a house or in these days, to try to sell a house and move takes faith.
· To take a job – or to switch jobs takes faith.
· To communicate – to talk to each other takes faith.
· To volunteer takes faith.
· To come to church takes faith.
· To become a religious drop out or an agnostic or an atheist – takes faith – different from what we consider faith, but it takes a kind of faith.
· To return to our faith or become a Catholic takes faith.
· To go in a car with some drivers takes faith.
· To get out of bed in the morning takes faith.

Faith is risky business.

FIRST READING

Today’s first reading from Wisdom refers to the night of Passover – the great Exodus – the great exit of the Jews out of Egypt – to leave all and to follow Moses – to move from the know into the unknown – with only a promise and a dream of a land of milk and honey.

This country is a country of people from all over the world who made exits from elsewhere to experience new life here.

SECOND READING

Today’s second reading from Hebrews presents Abraham as the Father of faith. He obeyed God’s call and moved into the unknown.

Today’s second reading is one of the classic texts in the scriptures on faith – especially because it gives several great examples of faith.

The author of this Letter to the Hebrews says that faith is a hope in something using evidence that we can’t see. Faith is a test – and we don’t know the outcome.

TODAY’S GOSPEL

Today’s gospel continues the theme of faith. Jesus asks his disciples to let go of what they have for a treasure they cannot see. Faith is waiting for the Lord – without knowing when he is coming. In the early Church there was a strong belief that Jesus was about to return almost immediately and the world would end – so, “Be prepared.”

It didn’t happen. Christians kept waiting. But it wasn’t happening. Maybe Jesus meant something else. St. Luke begins the Acts of the Apostles asking, “Why are still looking up? Go back to Jerusalem and start listening to how you are called to go into the world and reshape it in Jesus’ Spirit.”

FAITH

So faith has to do with the here and the hereafter.

Faith has to do with everyday decisions and eternal decisions.

Whether the here or the hereafter, faith has to do with the future.

Sometimes we have to practice blind faith; sometimes we have time to think things over and get a second opinion.

In fact, it’s smart, it’s wise, it’s prudent, to step back before we leap. It’s wise to see our options. It’s good if we can say, “No” as well as “Yes!” It’s called freedom.

Then knowing the pool has water in it, knowing it’s deep enough for diving, watching others diving and rising up out of the water after they leap, we climb the steps to the diving board. We head for the end of the diving board. If we can’t dive, we can hold our nose tight and jump, closing our eyes on the way down – then come up out of the water to the clapping of our family or friends on the edge of the pool. We did it – or we can turn and go back down the ladder – red with embarrassment – hopefully with support from our family or “Chicken!” from a close friend – voiced with a smirk or a smile – followed by a, “Just kidding! Next time!”

Faith is a leap!

Someone said faith is like you’re holding onto the trapeze bar and you swinging and you have to let go – if you want to make the show go on – as well as the belief the other will catch you.

The image I like is this: It’s winter. Remember all that snow from last winter. You’re walking in the snow. You come to a street corner. To get to the other side of the street you have to step off the curve. However, there is all this slush and water and ice. You hesitate. You look up around to see if there is a better place to cross. You decide: this is it. To leap or not to leap. You can simply step into the slush and icy water – but you’re not wearing boots. So you decide to jump. You can do it. You’ve done it before. Oops, I forgot to tell you, sometimes there’s a catch. You have to do all this in the dark.

That’s faith.

We have to make acts and actions of faith when we’re experiencing relationship decisions - health decisions – job decisions – raising kids issues – money issues, life decisions etc.

Faith is risky business.

DEATH

 The biggest leap is the leap through death. With that one, we are totally out of control whether there is anything after death and if there is, is there is a God out there or anywhere, and if there is a God, will this God be there to catch me?

That’s the great act of faith. Make it often, so when you have to really make it, you’ve practiced, practiced, practiced.

FAITH IS A JOURNEY

But before we get to death, let’s look at life.

A great message from Jesus is, “Life is a journey.”

Jesus calls people to hit the road with him.

Jesus tells his disciples, “I am the way, the truth and the life.”

By being here today, we are saying to each other and with each other, we’re all in this together – making this journey through life with each other – with Christ as our leader and model and presence.

VACATION IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS

As I thought about this for a homily for today, I remembered a vacation we made – 4 priests – one summer – years ago.

What were you best vacations? You only know which ones were the best from looking backwards - from a distance.

A vacation is an act of faith. It sounds good on paper – you map out the possibilities. You talk to each other. You say, “Let’s do it!”

Let me now give two examples of faith from one vacation – to Estes Park in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.

FIRST EXAMPLE

We had hiked 4 years in a row in the presidential range of mountain peaks in New Hampshire. This year, thanks to a suggestion, we decided on the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.

We started from our church in the Bronx, N.Y. On the George Washington Bridge, we looked at our watches. We drove 32 hours to Colorado – switching drivers every two hours automatically – rotating seats counter clockwise – stopping just for meals and bathroom breaks.

We got our camp sites from the Park Rangers and started climbing at 8,000 feet. One of our goals was to climb to the top of the continental divide. We chose Mount Alice – 13,310 feet high. The first assault failed. We didn’t know how close we were, but two guys went down a good bit and took a picture of two of us up there from below. We didn’t know till we were home and got the pictures back how close we were to the top. This was before digital cameras.

The next day we did it. We close the most direct way which was pulling ourselves up by hand – rock by rock – like climbing a ladder against a building. I thought the top would be just a narrow peak. Surprise it was a boulder field – the size of two football fields.

On a clear day you can see forever!

Looking back all these years afterwards, I still have fond memories of that moment of exhilaration, that day we did it, as well as that whole trip.

Great vacations take great faith – and smart risks.

SECOND EXAMPLE - HANNAH HURDAH

As I was thinking about all this yesterday another memory came floating back – something I had completely forgotten.

Before that trip to the Rocky Mountains in Colorado someone suggested that I buy a paper back book, Hinds Feet on High Places, and read it when I was in the high places - in the Rocky Mountains.

I paged through the book a bit on the trip out – and it seemed "smatlzy maltzi" - but I didn’t really read it till we were in the mountains.

Looking back now – years later – the book as well as that vacation were significant moves for me.

The book, Hinds Feet on High Places, is an allegorical novel about a young woman whose name was Much Afraid. She had two physical handicaps. She had a crooked mouth and her feet were a bit crippled – which made walking difficult.

She took care of sheep and lived in a valley – the Valley of Humiliation.

The book is a true allegory. Like the medieval play Everyman, the names of people and places tell the audience about the person or place.

Well this young lady, Much Afraid, had to deal with a lot of negative relatives and neighbors: Craven Fear, Bitterness, Resentment and Self Pity.

Things changed when she would meet the Shepherd at the watering hole and he suggested she climb to the High Places.

Being Much Afraid she expressed her fears and doubts about being able to do this – especially being crippled.

The Shepherd says she can do it – that her feet will become like hinds feet and she’ll be able to climb to the High Places.

So with faith she makes the journey. She has to go through a desert and then through the Forest of Danger and Tribulation – and then up into the mountain.

As she climbs she grows in strength. She needs Grace and Glory which she meets and receives in each step she takes.

Then after having a high – in the high places – with the great Shepherd, she is called to go back to the Valley of Humiliation. However, she’s a new woman, transformed, changed.

CONCLUSION

That’s what a vacation should do for us. It’s has the stuff of faith – for the here and for the hereafter.

Today, it’s Sunday, it's Sabbath time, so why not take some time to look at your life – the moves you’ve made, the trips, the vacations, the decisions, the choices of a lifetime.

Make a list of your top 10 vacations.

Mark after each vacation notes for yourself like: GM (Great Move) or NSS (Not So Smart), GLOF (Great Leap of Faith)

Not every move was smart. Mistakes are made. But celebrate the great leaps of faith you’ve made – and the gifts you’ve received. And dream new dreams and great vacations – and great life moves.

GOD, WHAT'S THERE 
TO DO ON A RAINY 
SUNDAY AFTERNOON?   

Quote for this Sunday - August 8, 2010


“Someone has somewhere commented on the fact that millions long for immortality who don’t know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon.”


Susan Ertz [1894-1985] Anger in the Sky, (1943), page. 137

THANK  YOU!

Quote for the Day - August 7, 2010


“If the only prayer you say in your life is ‘thank you,’ that would suffice.”


Meister Eckhart [c. 1260 – c. 1237]

TRANSFIGURATION

Feast of the Transfiguration - August  6, 2010


Quote for the Day

“In the beauty of the lilies
Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom
that transfigures you and me;
And he died to make men holy,
let us die to make men free.”

Julia Ward Howe [1819-1910], Battle Hymn of the Republic [1962], stanza 5

Lilium Martagon or Turks Cap Lily - off Internet

SHUT UP  

AND LISTEN  

TO WHAT 

THE OTHER  

PERSON  

IS SAYING.

Quote for the Day - August 5, 2010


“Ideas are like children – our own are very wonderful.”


Anonymous

RELIGION 

IS INTO 

RELATIONSHIPS

Quote for the Day - August 4,  2010


“Let your religion be less of a theory and more of a love affair.”


G. K. Chesterton [1874-1936]

RISKING 

ONE'S LIFE -

FOR WHAT?

Quote for the Day  - August 3, 2010


"If man is not ready to risk his life, where is his dignity?"


Andre Malraux [1901-1976]

THE  UNEXPRESSED 

Quote for the Day - August 2, 2010


"We walk through volumes of the unexpressed and like snails leave behind a faint thread excreted out of ourselves."


John Updike [1932-2010], The Blessed Man of Boston

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.

ST. ALPHONSUS 

DE  LIGUORI

Quote for the Day - the Feast of Saint Alphonsus - Aug. 1, 2010

"Kindness should be observed towards all on all occasions and at all times."


St. Alphonsus de Liguori [1696-1787], Chapter 2 of his book, Practice of the Love of Jesus Christ

Picture on top: St. Alphonsus de Liguori