PEACE MAKING: 
A STEP AT A TIME

Quote for the Day - September 11, 2010


"Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures."


John F. Kennedy [1917-1963] in a speech at the United Naions General Assembly on September 20, 1963.

CALM, COOL,
BLUE SKY FEELINGS

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 23 Saturday in Ordinary Time – September 11th, 2010, is, “Calm, Cool, Blue Sky Feelings.”

When I was growing up in Brooklyn, New York in the 1940's and early 1950's – our subway stop was the 59th Street Station. We lived on 62nd Street between 3rd and 4th Avenues. Two trains stopped there: the 95th Street train – now called the “R Train” – and then the express train which was then called, “The Sea Beach Express” because on Saturdays and Sundays in the summer, it was an express straight to Coney Island – no stops from 59th Street to the Beach. It went something like that – this is a long time ago.

During the week that train – now called the “N Train” became local if you were going in the direction to Coney Island – 10 stops. The first stop after 59th Street was 8th Avenue. It was outdoors. The train came out from being underground right after our stop.

Then my mom and sister and her family moved a bunch of blocks and 8th Avenue became our stop. When the train doors opened you stepped right into the open air and walked to the end of the platform to get to the stairs – and down to the streets.

Next came the Chinese and the Muslims – more Chinese than Muslims – all moving into our neighborhood – buying up some of the Irish, Norwegian, Swedish and Italian houses.

There I am in Ohio – somewhere around 2000 – driving somewhere in a car – and I’m listening to National Public Radio – NPR – and they were doing a piece on the Chinese moving into our old neighborhood – and they said the Chinese called the 8th Avenue Station, “First Blue Sky Stop!”

Now I had seen that station and stop a thousand times – and never, ever got the idea or the imagination to call it, “First Blue Sky Stop!”

Beautiful. Wonderful. Perfect. That’s what it was. We just called it, “8th Avenue” as the sign said.

Sometimes someone from the outside can give us a new perspective – a new way of seeing – something on the inside.

SEPTEMBER 11TH

When we were kids, 8th Avenue was the train stop right near where my aunt, Mary Red, lived. She had red hair and that was the only name I knew her as: Mary Red. Funny lady. She married Ernest Bowman, a Baptist from North Carolina, who became a Catholic – a guy with a neat, dry sense of humor – whom I always knew as my Godfather.

He had 4 sons – who had sons – who had sons one of whom was named Shawn Edward Bowman – whom I never met – and never will meet till Heaven – who was killed that day working at Cantor Fitzgerald – 101st floor – World Trade Center – September 11th, 2001 – with a wife home – pregnant. Those babies were featured last night on ABC News as Persons of the Week.

Now, how do we respond to tragedy and horror and things not going the way we would expect and want things to go?

Do we get red – ignite – burn? Do we become hot headed – furious?

Do we do the very thing that happened that day at the Pentagon, that field in Pennsylvania, and also that day to the Twin Towers – burn - destroy?

Do we burn flags – and people – books – and people in effigy?

Or do we build our lives on Jesus’ words – for example, “You have heard how it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But what I say to you is this: offer the wicked no resistance. On the contrary, if anyone hits you on the right cheek, offer him the other as well.’… You have heard how it was said: ‘You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But what I say this to you; love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; in this way you’ll be children of your Father in heaven….” [Cf. Matthew 5:38-48]

In today’s gospel Jesus says to build our lives on his words. And if you do, you will have a rock solid, strong foundation. [Cf. Luke 6:43-49]

Obviously these are words that would not get good ratings. Rather they are words that will get you crucified – or labeled, “Crazy” or “Stupid” or a “Dreamer”” or what have you – words that have a red spark to them – hot words – burning words. “Hey,” someone might say, “our flag isn’t all blue? It also has red.”

A CONCLUSION: COME TO CHURCH

I would hope people will come to this church when they’re red hot – angry – furious – and I would hope this place with its calm, cool, blue sky ceiling would give folks, “Calm, Cool, Blue Sky Feelings.”

I would hope people will come here to this church and do what Paul advocates in today’s first reading – coming here to eat the bread and drink the cup – and then we calm down – and discover our idolatries. [Cf. 1 Corinthians 10: 14-22]

I would hope that people would then leave this church and go forth and bring forth good fruit – like we heard in today’s gospel. Coming up with figs and offering them to others are better than serving thorns as Jesus tells us in today’s gospel.

By their fruits – you will know them.

Isn’t sharing an apple or watermelon – a pear or some cantaloupe – isn’t that better and much more blue peaceful than burning books – in a red fire – and then screaming and shaking fists and violent words at each other? Amen.

DISILLUSIONMENT

Quote for the Day - September 10, 2010

"Wisdom comes by disillusionment."

George Santayana [1863-1952], The Life of Reason, 1905-1906

PETS  ARE US!

Quote for Today - September 9, 2010

"America will tolerate the taking of human life without giving it a second thought. But don't misuse a household pet."


Dick Gregory [1932- ], The Shadow that Scares Me, 1968

IF MARY CAME TO THE MICROPHONE,
WHAT WOULD SHE SAY?

INTRODUCTION

Today being the birthday, today being one of the several feasts of Mary throughout the Church Year, I thought I’d make a few comments about Mary. This would be entitled, “If Mary Came to the Microphone, What Would She Say?”

I don’t know how to answer that question – other than saying I prefer to go to the gospels – and reflect upon what she says there.

I am aware and have done a bit of research on so called “revelations from Mary” that have appeared down through the centuries. I am aware that some people regard them as gospel truth and others regard them as imaginings and at times hallucinations from different folks.

The Catholic Church has studied and come out with letters about various so called “revelations from Mary” – saying either you don’t have to accept these writings or we reject these writings. Yet that has not stopped people from selling “Revelations from Mary” as Gospel truth. (1)

WHAT MARY SAID IN THE GOSPELS IS SIGNIFICANT
Mary does not say much in the gospels, but what she says and does not say is very significant for growth in the spiritual life – by a Christian.

If I pictured Mary going to the microphone to say something, I would use Luke and John as my sources.

I would pick out these life moments from the gospels:

1) THE ANNUNCIATION MOMENT

Mary would say that the Annunciation moment was the beginning. She would say she was surprised – but she also and questioned. Then she might say, “I said to the Lord, ‘I am your handmaid, your servant, do to me what you want.” (2)

For our spiritual life I would assume the message is to talk and ask questions to God in prayer about life’s experiences – as they come to us – life’s big moments: relationships, marriage, pregnancy, raising kids, seeing kids leaving home, wondering how they are doing, and being there for them – especially in the tough times – as they experience life as well as the way of the cross.

2) VISITATION MOMENTS
When someone could use our presence, be there. Our souls have been created to magnify the Lord.

For a deeper spiritual life, say and pray the Magnificat. (3)

3) EXPERIENCES – PONDERING AND TREASURING THE MOMENTS

In Luke after Mary gives birth to Jesus in the stable, we read that Mary pondered, treasured, reflected, and wondered about the things that were happening. (4)
I see Mary as one who did a lot of deep thinking – more than talking.

“Blessed is the fruit of her womb.” How are we like our parents?

I see Jesus being like Mary – one who did a lot of pondering about life’s moments. When Jesus finally left home and began to speak his sayings and parables, he had thought these things out slowly and deeply. I am not one of those who say, “Oh, he was God and they just popped out his God Mind.” I say he was totally human as well – and it took him time to clarify his mission in life as well as craft his sayings and stories.

Reading the life of Jesus – seeing it unfold – as he made his way to Jerusalem and the cross, Mary knew what was happening as well. Luke says just that – having the angel say to her when Jesus was a kid, “A sword shall pierce your heart – and as a result – the thoughts of many will be revealed.” She knew the cross and life’s sufferings – what it is to lose a child – what it is like to see a son killed. (5)
I would assume this is why both Mary and Jesus have been pictured with their hearts exposed – and sometimes their heart in their hands.

4) DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU

Next I would turn to the gospel of John. Read the story about the Marriage Feast of Cana. Mary says to the waiters at that wedding, “Do whatever he tells you.” (6)

Print those 5 words, “Do whatever he tells you” onto a card and use that card as a marker for your Bible. As you read the 4 gospels, as you ponder the events there and the parables and sayings of Jesus, then look at the words on your Bible marker and then do whatever Jesus tells you to do.

Doing this we’ll see the water of our life – sometimes floods – sometimes tears – become transformed into the wine of life – and we’ll be celebrating the marriage of God to us because of Christ.

5) THE END

Every movie and every life has the words, “The End”.

At the end of the gospels we hear that Mary was under the cross – but she is very much background music. Presence. (7)
I take as a life message to be there at both births and deaths – and be there in support of others in the moments in between.

CONCLUSION

That’s it, but we know that’s not the end of it all.

There is hope and resurrection.

There is new beginnings. Check out The Acts of the Apostles for how Mary is present in new life of the Church. (8)

Next read the gospels and then compare them to Mary’s impact on the Church for 2000 years. She has been pictured as model, mystery and mirror. I look into her icons and see the Story of my life as well.

So life begins with our conception – and then our birth – and Mary’s life tells us that life is so much more. (9)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Picture on top: Centerpiece of the Moulin's Triptych [1498-99] by the Master of Moulins, Jean Hay, a Flemish Northern Renaissance Painter. In the Moulins Cathedral, Burgundy, France

(1) Catechism of the Catholic Church, cf. # 67 and Paragraph 6, 963-975


(2) Cf. Luke 1: 26-38


(3) Cf. Luke 1: 39-56


(4) Cf. Luke 2:19


(5) Cf. Luke 2: 22-35


(6) Cf. John 2:1-12


(7) Cf. John 19: 25-27


(8) Acts of the Apostles 1:14


(9) I have a whole series of meditations on the mysteries of the Rosary earlier on in this blog [5-30-08].

MAGNIFYING  MARY

Quote for today - traditional day for celebrating the birthday of Mary - September 8, 2010

"The idea of the blessed Virgin

was as it were magnified

in the Church or Rome,

as time went on, -

but so were all the Christian ideas;

as that of the blessed sacrament.
The whole scene of pale, faint,

distant apostolic Christianity

is seen in Rome,

as through a telescope or magnifier.

The harmony of the whole,

however, is of course what it was.

It is unfair then

to take one Roman idea,

that of the Blessed Virgin

out of what may be called its context."

Cardinal John Henry Newman [1801-1890]: Apologia pro Vita Sua, 4, (1865-66).

Icon on top: Our Lady of Vladimir

GOD IS IN THE DETAILS

Quote for the Day - September 7, 2010


"In psychoanalysis as in art,
God rested in the details,
the discovery of which
required enormous patience,
unyielding seriousness,
and the skill of an acrobat -
walking a tightrope
over memory and speculation,
instinct and theory,
feeling and denial."


Judith Rossner, August 1983

JOB! TITLE! SALARY?

Quote for Labor Day - September 6,  2010

"Never allow your sense of self to become associated with your sense of job. If your job vanishes, your self doesn't."

Gordon Van Sauter, Working Woman, 1988

I AM SOME BODY

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 23 Sunday in Ordinary Time is, “I Am Some Body.”

Have you ever answered the question, “Who are you?” by simply saying, “I am somebody!” – like to one of those unsolicited phone call people who call just around supper time? Have you ever asked that person, “Can I ask you a question. ‘Who are you?’”

And if that happened, would they answer, “Oh I’m just somebody!” or “I am really nobody.”

TODAY’S READINGS

I read today’s readings – said my usual prayer, “Come Holy Spirit! Based on these readings, what do people need this weekend? Come Holy Spirit! Based on these readings, what do I need to hear? Come Holy Spirit! What challenges me with these words? Come Holy Spirit!”

I must say that the readings for this Sunday have well over a half dozen themes and possible topics: discipleship, carrying one’s cross, poor planning, stuff or possessions – that might be possessing or stuffing me, family dynamics. That’s 5 and that’s just the gospel.

I found myself coming back a few times to the first reading. It had a strange and very complex sentence that kept intriguing me.

Here’s the sentence: “For the corruptible body burdens the soul and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns.”

I wish some translator would put that into manageable English. Here would be my loose translation: The older we get, aging becomes more and more a burden to our soul; the older we get, this tent, this shelter, this skin I’m in, weighs me down because my mind has many concerns.”

Two words grabbed me: “burdens” and "concerns.”

THIS BODY OF MINE

I was going to entitle this homily, “Burdens and Concerns”.

Then because burdens and concerns impact our bodies, I found myself changing the title of my homily from “Burdens and Concerns” to “I Am Some Body.”

Now that can be articulated and understood in a couple of ways:

· “I am somebody! - as opposed to being just a nobody.
· “I am some BODY!” – as in someone in great shape and looks! A hunk!
· “I am some body” – 4 words – one of these 6 billion bodies moving around on this planet each day.

This morning I’m reflecting on the human body – this heart and lungs and brain and skeleton and hands and legs and feet – covered by skin that I call, “My body!”

How’s your body? How’s your skin? How’s your heart? How’s your lungs? How’s your brain? How’s your memory? How are your knees?

As priest I’ve had the experience of baptizing or anointing a body at the hospital. I’ve held or baptized a tiny baby who was dying – a baby the size of my hand – and I have stood there at the bedside of a body that was dying – sometimes large with body problems relative to their size – sometimes someone with a frail – almost skeleton type body.

There are billions of bodies on this earth. Have you ever been sitting there quietly at the beach or church or airport – and you thought something like, “Who are these bodies? What’s their story? Who are these people? What’s going on in their brains?

We see bodies. We meet bodies. Bodies are driving all those cars that get backed up every weekend as they try to get off Route 50 at the Parole Exit. I’m always happy that I get off at the next exit: 24.

Each of us owns and is operating one of these bodies. Tall, short, young, old, quick, slow, sleek, slumped, wide, thin, different, non-descript. Our bodies are us – our container – our history – our mystery – our gift from our parents. Scars, operations, now more and more tattoos. I am some body. This is me folks. What you see – is who I am.

So this morning I’m thinking and talking about bodies because of the writer or writers of this book called, “Wisdom” which we heard from this morning. It talks about bodies not lasting. We’re corruptible. We have an expiration date – a shelf life. The author adds that our bodies have their burdens and our minds get weighed down with its many concerns.

Scholars think this text from Wisdom comes from sometime around the year 100 B.C. – give or take 50 years either way. It’s not found in the Palestinian Jewish Holy Scriptures. It's in the Jewish Holy Scriptures from Alexandria, Egypt, the Septuagint, where a large Jewish community existed. Because of that scholars assume that the contents of this book show impact from Greek sources in Alexandria.

Greek thinkers thought differently than Jewish thinkers.

Speaking very broadly and generically – and hesitatingly, this is not my specialty, Greek thinkers and philosophers thought about the body–soul connection differently than Jewish thought about the body. On the other hand, Jewish – Hebrew – Semitic thought was more wholistic and more integrated. Greek thought at times could separate the body and soul – and that outlook has impacted some Christian writers. Some Greek and Christian and Western spiritual writers think of humans as all mind and soul – neglecting the body – and end up with an unbalanced attitude towards eating and sexuality and exercise, etc.

What’s your understanding of your body, soul, mind, spirit, you, yourself, the person in your seat? Do you have a healthy and balanced attitude towards your body? How do you see yourself? Do see yourself as “I am some body” or “I’m just a nobody?”

We have in our bodies – and in our minds – a vast library of memories, learnings, thoughts and experiences. So what’s your history, your story? Where have you been? What have your learned? What’s in your library? What’s in your brain? What are your thoughts? What are your memories? How has geography, where you’ve been, where you’ve lived, effected who you are? How has your family life impacted who you are: parents, siblings, family members, how you spent your summers, your Saturdays, your Sundays? How has sports, exercise, schooling, teachers, coaches, the arts impacted your posture – how you stand, how you understand, how your body, your face, your smile, your lack of smile, your determination or lack of determination is? How has your life sculpted your body?

Someone asked me last week out of the blue, “Is there some rule how long a sermon should be?” I sort of asked where that was coming from – and the guy said, “Well, most of these sermons start off okay and then go ‘Woooomp!’ The air sort of goes out of me – and I think everyone around me."

I said to him that I try to go 10 minutes – but if you’re thinking thoughts like that, we preachers blew it. I would hope you don’t notice time – but the thought or theme of the homily.

In this homily I’m hoping you’re reflecting on your body – but I’m aware that here at St. Mary’s these benches are not that form fitting for part of one’s anatomy.

3 QUICK QUESTIONS

Let me close with 3 quick questions about the body – I did have 5 – with the hope 1 question triggers something helpful for your body.

1) HOW’S THE BODY?

Somewhere way back in my life, I took some courses on Spiritual Direction and Pastoral Counseling?

One of the teachers was Father Benedict Groeschel. You can still see him on Mother Angelica. He was a fascinating character – funny – wise. I never forgot one of his most important questions in spiritual direction. Ask the person sitting there, “How’s your body?”

Translation. How’s your health? Are you getting enough exercise? Are you walking? It’s been horribly hot this summer, but once cooler weather comes in – before the winter comes in – walk, walk, walk. We have access to walk in the Naval Academy – a wonderful place to walk. Walk. Those near Quiet Water’s Park have that as another place to walk. Then there are neighborhoods and where have you.

Translation: before talking about the Spiritual Life, let's talk about everyday living.

Am I getting enough sleep? When was the last time I saw a doctor?

Do I floss? I saw the dentist I go to the other day at a funeral. I asked him if he flosses. I always wanted to ask a dentist that question.

Do I eat right? Am I couch potato?

Thinking about spirituality, we better thing about all that stuff.

I am some body!

2) WHAT’S YOUR BAGGAGE?

I once made a retreat or a workshop and the speaker began this way. "Everyone here arrived with bags – but everyone has a different amount of bags. And in those bags are all kinds of stuff. Have you ever been at the air port and you had just one or two bags – one you checked in – and another one you’re carrying on – and in comes someone with a whole big cart of bags."

She then concluded, “When you leave this workshop I hope all have you less baggage than when you arrived here. Every thing we’re carrying weighs us down.”

Obviously the hope of church is to come here and let go of baggage that is wearing you down.

3) WHAT’S YOUR HISTORY?

What’s your story? What's your history like? What were your parents like?

Today’s gospel talks about hating your parents and brothers and sisters. It seems scholars try to say, “It’s not hate – as in hating. It’s priorities. It's putting God first. As a follower of Christ, it's putting Christ the Son first who leads us to Our Father.

Everyone has to become one's own person - letting go of father and mother - growing up and becoming the person God is calling us to be.

Every parent has let go of their kids. That's good parenting. Kids got to get on with their life

It helps to know who our parents really are - so I advocate writing one’s autobiography – as well as reading autobiographies and biographies. It's a great way of knowing and figuring out our parents and our family history. They gave us their body and blood - as in Eucharist - and we say "Thanks!"

Have I learned to accept my body, my age, my genes as well as all that has been so far?

Enough already. After all, how much can a body take?

SOUR GRAPES

Quote for the Day - September 4, 2010

"Bewildered is the fox who lives to find that grapes beyond reach can be really sour."

Dorothy Parker [1893-1967], "Not Even Funny", The New Yorker, March 18, 1933