EGOISM

May 7,  2011

Quote for Today - May 7,  2011

“For the egoism which enters into our theories does not affect their sincerity; rather, the more our egoism is satisfied, the more robust is our belief.”

George Eliot – Marianne Evans Cross [1819-1880], Middlemarch (1871-1872)

CONSEQUENCES

Quote for Today - May 6, 2011

“Consequences are unpitying."

George Eliot – Marianne Evans Cross [1819-1880]

TO MEASURE

OR NOT TO MEASURE?

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 2nd Thursday after Easter is, “To Measure or Not To Measure?”

There is a sentence in today’s gospel that intrigued me,

“For the One whom God has sent
speaks the words of God;
he [or she] does not ration his gift of the Spirit.” [John 3:34].

Specifically the word “ration” grabbed me.

When that happens I go to the Greek - to see what the Greek word that the English translator chose the word “ration” for. As we know Greek is the original New Testament language. The Greek word is, “METRON” – which means a measure – the way something is measured – as in a measuring cup or a ruler.

Isn’t that a neat image?

We are familiar with various words that have “METRON” as their root: meter, metronome, metrics, metric system, etc.

JESUS AND MEASUREMENTS

Jesus seems to have noticed measuring sticks and measuring methods. Was it from his days in the carpenter shop? Was it because of how he saw Mary bake or cook or was it his observation about shopping and how things were sold in the market place?

I love the text: “… the amount you measure out is the amount you will get back …” [Cf. Mark 4:24; Luke 8:18; Luke 19:26; Matthew 13:12.]

I love the text that where Jesus says the poor widow who put two copper coins in the collection put in more than all the rest. [Cf. Luke 21: 1-4; Mark 12: 41-44.] Hello! Where did Jesus come up with this kind of a measuring method?

I love the text where Jesus tells the story about this vineyard owner who pays all the workers the same wages, no matter how many hours they worked that day. How's that for crazy bookkeeping? [Cf. Matthew 20:116.]

7 QUESTIONS

1) When you’re dishing out ice cream or cutting cake, are you cheap or very generous – especially to kids?

2) When you’re opening up your wallet to give something to a poor person, do you tend to empty out your wallet of one dollar bills not worrying about counting it – or if a 5 or a 10 or a 20 is amongst the ones – that doesn’t bother you either?

3) Do you see love as, “I scratch your back; you scratch mine.”

4) When it comes to love, do I count the cost?

5) When it comes to love and life, do I ever say, “It’s not fair!”?

6) When you’re in the box – and the rest of the people in the funeral home are talking about you, will the #1 word, heard, be, “generous”?

7) If you had a had a choice of having a favorite prayer and it came down to these two, which one would you choose? 1) The prayer of Solomon: “Lord, give me an understanding heart!” or 2) “Lord, give me a generous heart and hands.”

CONCLUSION

John says in today’s gospel that Jesus, the One whom God has sent, does not ration his gift of the Spirit.

So Jesus is the generous one – so why am I approaching him with a thimble or a Styrofoam cup, when I can show up as the Grand Canyon or the bottom of Niagara Falls?

Now that's Divine Mercy. Now that's Copious Redemption!  [1]



NOTE

1) Check out my homily, "Divine Mercy" for the 2nd Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday or Doubting Thomas Sunday.

MEN  WOMEN 

Quote for Today - Cinco de Mayo - May 5,  2011

“And, of course men know best about everything, except what women know better.”

George Eliot – Marian Evans Cross [1819-1880], Middlemarch (1871-1872) - Notice that I have been exploring comments and observations - quotes - from George Eliot these days - the pseudonym or pen name of Mariane.

WHAT’S  THE  NAME 

OF  THE  HOUSE 

YOU  LIVE  IN?  

 INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 2nd Wednesday after Easter is, “What’s The Name of the House You Live In?”

We’re standing there on the sidewalk and there are all these houses on both sides of the street. And I say to you, “Which house do you live in?” And before you can answer, I add a variation to my opening question, “Or what’s the name of the house you live in?”

That gives you pause, because you’re not sure just what or where I’m going with my question. Then I say, “Houses have different names. Let me give you a few names for starters:

• Jealousy,
• Worry,
• Envy,
• Complaining
• Competition
• Control,
• Anger,
• Freedom,
• Fun,
• Peace

Then you say, “Ooh! Uh! Oooh Uh! If you put it that way, I’m not sure. Let me think about what name to give our house?

 YOU THINK ABOUT IT

You think about it. You smile because you figure the curtains of the house of jealousy, worry, envy, competition, are always being pulled aside to peek at what’s happening in other houses and driveways and who’s got what kind of a lawn or car or lawnmower or visitors.

You think about it. The house of complaining – has people who are not happy with anything – that life is not fair. They are always getting the red light. The bridge is always up. The neighbors are too nosey or too uppity or what have you.

You think about it. The house of anger always has screams coming out the windows and going up and down the street.

You think about it. The fun house has kids on the lawn playing with puff footballs or big red plastic bats and bright white plastic whiffle balls or kids rolling on the lawn.

The house of control has the owner with a scowly face because the kids of the fun house are always going on his lawn to retrieve their white plastic whiffle ball.

The house of freedom has people sitting in their backyard a lot – people have a drink in hand or they are playing a card game together or someone is reading a book by themselves – or someone is chipping a golf ball on the back lawn and we hear some soft music coming out the windows in mid-May or October of mid-November – but it never bothers the neighbors.

PRAYER

You become more and more intrigued with the original question: “What’s The Name of the House You Live In?”

You bring it to prayer.

You ponder the readings at Mass for today about the apostles being in jail and they are freed by the Spirit and the jail keeper is filled with fear and the Sadducees are filled with fear and frustration – and you say, “I don’t want our house to be filled with fear and frustration and that it feel like a jail all the time.” [Cf. Acts 5:17-26 and John 3:16-21.]

 You think about the disciples when they were in the Upper Room filled with panic and worry – and then Jesus comes and gives them a Spirit of Peace and they become free and are not scared to proclaim Jesus as Light and Salvation – and you feel a great sense of peace.

CONCLUSION

And so you make a decision for the name of your house. You know naming it is only the first step. The steps after that are to make it for real.

So you talk with your family and you tell them about the question and what your thoughts are and they say, “Great idea!” And so all of you go to a river not too far from your house and you find a nice smooth stone. You bring it back home. Then you get a Black Magic Marker pen and the whole family work on writing on the stone: “Welcome! This is a House of Peace.” And you place it right outside your front door.

Then you have on the wall just inside your front door a copy of the Peace Prayer of St. Francis and as a family you all agree to say this prayer every morning – together or with one or two other persons and then to try to make it happen.

And you do! And you become more and more a House of Peace.

 ++++++++++++++

MORNING PRAYER

Lord,

make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love,

Where there is injury, pardon,

Where there is doubt, faith,

Where there is despair, hope,

Where there is darkness, light,

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved as to love;

for it is in giving

that we receive,

it is in pardoning

that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying

that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

(St. Francis)

LOVE  AND  DUTY

Quote for Today - May 4, 2011

“Little children are still the symbol of the eternal marriage between love and duty.”

George Eliot – Marianne Evans Cross [1819-1880]

THE  REAL 

GRAVE  STONES 

ARE  WITHIN 

Quote for Today - May 3,  2011

“Our dead are never dead to us, until we have forgotten them.”

George Eliot – Marianne Evans Cross [1819-1880]

THE ROAR 

ON THE OTHER SIDE 

OF SILENCE

Quote for Today  - May 2,  2011

“Nor can I suppose that when Mrs. Casaubon is discovered in a fit of weeping six weeks after her wedding, the situation will be regarded as tragic. Some discouragement, some faintness of heart at the new real future which replaces the imaginary, is not unusual, and we do not expect people to be deeply moved by what is not unusual. That element of tragedy which lies in the very fact of frequency, has not yet wrought itself into the coarse emotion of mankind; and perhaps our frames could hardly bear much of it. If we had a keen vision and feeling of all ordinary human life, it would be like hearing the grass grow and the squirrel's heart beat, and we should die of that roar which lies on the other side of silence. As it is, the quickest of us walk about well wadded with stupidity.”

George Eliot 1819-1880, [Marian Evans Cross] in Middlemarch [1871-1872], chapter 22. The highlighted part in the above quote is noted by many people. I'm giving here the full quote. You can read the whole book on line for free. Dorothea makes her comments in Rome as she’s dealing with unexpected issues that have come up in her recent marriage. I like this quote because it  articulates the silence we all feel when reality settles in after our imagined expectations crash into a wall.

Put in other words:  “Life takes place with these 3 steps: "Illusion. Disillusionment. Decision.” The restaurant looked good from the outside and the menu on the window. It looked like a good investment. I thought he was a good choice. Surprise! Wow was I wrong! Decision time.

DIVINE MERCY

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this Second Sunday of Easter is, “Divine Mercy.”

On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the highest, how would I score, rate, or see myself, as a person who has mercy and compassion, forgiveness and understanding, of others?

CHRIS PAUL

Yesterday afternoon, I finished my homily for today. I was going to preach on the theme of Doubt – and Faith – a big theme in today’s gospel – with the story of Thomas. I paused and decided to look up on the Internet whom the football Giants drafted. I noticed on ESPN.com an article by Rich Reilly on Chris Paul. I think Rick Reilly is a great sports writer. Now that the Knicks are out of the basketball playoffs– which I expected – and now that the New Orleans Hornets are out of the playoffs, I thought maybe the article might hint that Chris Paul might want to be on the Knicks next year.

Nope – no mention of that. The article was about the grandfather of Chris Paul – Nathaniel Jones – the owner of a service station in North Carolina – who was robbed and killed in 2002 by 5 teenage boys. They wanted his wallet. They taped his wrists and his mouth and then beat him to death with metal pipes.

2 of the boys – brothers – are in jail for life. The other 3 will be getting out one of these years. The article says none of them have yet to voice any remorse. The article also says that Chris Paul hopes they would be given a second chance – forgiveness – mercy. The article reports that they are roughly his age. Two nights after the killing, Chris Paul, a senior in high school, got 61 points – deliberately missing the second shot of two foul shots – in memory of grandfather’s life and death at the age of 61.

Chris Paul said his grandfather, Chili Papa, taught him more than he could get with a Ph.D. – being extremely generous all his life.

Based on the article, Chris Paul has a sense of mercy – compassion – understanding and forgiveness.

Could I do that? Would I do that? Do I think like that?

On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the highest, what is my level of mercy, compassion, understanding and forgiveness?

JOHN PAUL II

Pope John Paul II has been beatified this day in Rome.

One of the most significant moments in his life was the day in 1981 when he was shot 4 times in St. Peter’s Square by the Turkish criminal, Mehmet Ali Agca. We all remember the TV moment when John Paul went to his prison cell and spoke and forgave him publically. This took place 15 years after the shooting. Then Pope John Paul II pushed for his pardon – and in the year 2000 he was pardoned – but then went to jail in Turkey for other crimes including the murder of a newspaper editor – from years earlier. In January, 2010, he was released from that prison in Turkey. He made a statement that he had renounced terrorism and violence.

Could I forgive like that? Would I want him out of prison?

What is my position on Capital Punishment?

How many Catholics agree with the Catholic position on Capital Punishment – which in recent years has gotten stronger and stronger – as being against it – a Church that in the past has condemned people to death and tortured people, etc.

On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the highest, what is my level of mercy, compassion, understanding and forgiveness?

LES MISERABLES

By reading the book, seeing the play or a movie – based on Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel, Les Miserables – The Poor Ones, The Miserable Ones, how many people in our world have changed their attitude towards criminals – convicts – ex-convicts?

A man, Jean Valjean, prisoner 24601, is sentenced to 5 years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread. He then ends up being in prison for 19 years because of various failed attempts to escape. Then after he gets out of prison, he can’t find a place to stay or get a fresh start. A bishop takes him in – but he robs 2 silver candle sticks. He’s caught. The bishop lies and says they were a gift to him.  He’s released, but then steals a coin from a boy. He is pursued again. Then he realizes what he did was wrong and wants to give the coin back to the kid. The reader or the audience sees redemption taking place right in front of them.

Did that musical, movie or book, change and help improve any person’s sense of mercy towards other human beings?

On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the highest, what is my level of mercy, compassion, understanding and forgiveness?

Do I ever wonder what’s going on in the minds and hearts of other people – especially those I don’t know – associate with – don’t like – or don’t understand?

Do I ever think that there are people – many people on this planet who are singing, “I Dreamed a Dream”? Did I cry when I heard Susan Boyle sing that song from Les Mis – Susan being a person that many had written off – by her looks? Do I ever see a group of people cutting grass – or being rounded up as illegal’s – and do I ever wonder what their dreams for their lives and their kids are like?

If you feel trapped in prejudice or sin or doubt or any kind of feeling stuck, you’re here in the right place today. Sneak up on the communion line today – even if you feel unworthy and steal the bread. Hear the gospel news today, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Hear Jesus words, “I tell you there is more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine virtuous who have no need of repentance.” [Cf. Luke 15:2, 7,10] Steal the bread of life  today – but don’t take the candlesticks or the collection.

I’VE BEEN BLESSED

I've been blessed joining a religious community in the Catholic Church called the Redemptorists. Our motto sums us up: "Copiosa apud eum redemtio." It's a text from the great Divine Mercy Psalm, 130 - and translates into English from the Latin, "With him there is fullness of redemption." Our charism is to reach out to those who feel they are lost or drowning and they are screaming out to God for help, "Out of the depths, I cry to you O Lord."

A parishioner asked a Redemptorist, "How come you guys never talk about Divine Mercy?" And the priest answered, "That's all we ever talk about!"

I’ve also been blessed in being born in a Catholic Family – the youngest of 4 kids – my father and mother both being immigrants – who came here with the dream of a future. I remember my sister Mary telling me how surprised her grandkids were when she said her dad – our dad - never made more than $100 a week. My mother worked on Broadway – cleaning offices at night. I was brought up in the seminary hearing about the rich legacy of Papal teachings about work – put into encyclicals on Labor and Labor Unions – as the Catholic and Christian answer to the plight of the world’s workers – which the communists were trying to address – especially on a day like today, May 1st – May day. [1]

Last night and this morning as I was thinking about the stuff in this homily. I realized loud and clear that our family was gifted with a great blessing about having mercy and compassion and forgiveness. I have to talk to my two sisters about this – next time we’re yakking. Our mom was killed in a hit and run accident – and it was a horrible experience – but we didn’t go bonkers with the 3 men – in the car who hit her – illegal’s – who ran. We never really had any issue with forgiveness. They didn’t wake up that morning saying they were going to hit and run and leave someone dead on the street. They must have panicked as they were on their way to work and this happened. Somewhere along the line we learned it wasn’t worth holding onto anger or hurt. The death of our mom was tough enough. Let go and let God be our help!

As priest I’ve met various people who can’t forgive others or themselves for disasters in their lives. Sometimes I want to scream, "Enough already!"

TODAY IS DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY

Today is Divine Mercy Sunday. It’s also called "Doubting Thomas Sunday". Today’s readings are filled with the theme of mercy.

Do I have any doubts about my take on others? Is my take on another, really the other?

Do I have any doubts about my take on myself? Do I really know who I really am?

Do I believe people can change? Have I ever changed?

Do I believe people can be forgiven? Do I believe I have been forgiven?

What’s my take on what God is like? Do I see God  as fist or open hand?

Do I believe that Jesus Christ is God - God incarnate? See Jesus, see God? Do I believe that Jesus Christ wants us to have Mercy – and move us towards incarnating or being Divine Mercy?

Do I believe Jesus’ words on the cross, “Father forgive them they don’t know what they are doing?” Did Jesus look at those who were arresting him, putting him on trial, beating him, making fun of them, putting a crown of thorns on him, screaming for his capital punishment and wanting to free Barabbas? Did he look into the eyes of those  in the crowd on the way to Calvary, those spitting at him, cursing him, nailing him to a cross at Calvary, watching him die, as well as his disciples who ran away, denying him, betraying him? Did anyone hear him say, “Father forgive them, because they don’t know what they are doing?” and then apply those words to themselves? [2]

Did I ever think or say, “It’s not fair. All my life I’ve been good and you’re telling me this other person who really never did anything can get into heaven the same as me?” Did I ever realize Jesus might have told the story about those invited to work in the vineyard even at the last hour – and get the same amount of salary as those who worked the whole day to get me to look at my attitudes? [3] Did I ever wonder if I was like the elder brother in the Prodigal Son Story – who wouldn't welcome his younger brother home – like his father did? [4]  Did I ever doubt the story about the Good Thief at Calvary – whom Jesus said would be with him in paradise that same day as well? [5]

Did I ever think that Purgatory might be for those who can’t give the sign of peace to everyone  in heaven – especially those there whom they don't think they should be there - and till they are willing to reach out that hand or whatever we have in Paradise to these others – they will not be fully in heaven – which is being in God – a God of Divine Mercy – a Trinity in the Eternal Dance – which is the so called, "Perichoresis of eternity"  – everyone out on the dance floor with the Three Persons in God leading all of us in the Wedding Dance called eternity. And slowly people in Purgatory – those in those chairs facing the dance floor – realize I have to let go of my prejudices – my inability to forgive all these horrible people dancing hand in hand with God – and those on the dance floor scream joy as they pull that person into the dance – into the dance called God? [6]

CONCLUSION

The title of my homily is “Divine Mercy”. The sooner I discover God is forgiveness – God is all inclusive – God is all let go of what I'm holding onto – the sooner my hands become empty so I can then grab God's hands and I then become Divine Mercy as well. Amen.


NOTES


[1] If you are Catholic and you're against Labor Unions - I challenge you to read the various social encyclicals by our popes. Type into Google the following for starters: Rerum Novarum [1891] by Pope Leo XIII; Laborem Exercens [1981] by Pope John Paul II; Caritas in Veritate [2009] by Pope Benedict XVI.

[2] Cf. Luke 23:34

[3] Matthew 20: 1- 16

[4] Cf. Luke 15: 11-32

[5] Cf. Luke 23: 39-43

[6] Perichoresis is seen by some theologians to mean the "dance of the Trinity". Not all agree with this. I have been intrigued by this analogy ever since I heard it in a lecture years ago. It's personal. The 3 persons in the Trinity are one in the dance, yet 3 persons. And they are pulling all of us into union, communion, with them. If interested explore Google typing in the word, "perichoresis". I don't know how to dance, nor do I like it when people at weddings try to pull me onto the floor, but I do want to be in the Trinity.

MADE IN THE 

IMAGE AND LIKENESS 

OF GOD!

Quote for Today - May 1, 2011



"We hand folks over to God's mercy, and show none ourselves."




George Eliot [Marian Evans Cross] 1819-1880, in Adam Bede, 1859, chapter 42