APATHY
April 21, 2012
Quote for Today
"Be aware of apathy -
like pessimism,
it's catching."
Anonymous
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Friday, April 20, 2012
JOIN THE DANCE
April 20, 2012
Quote for Today
"God is infinite fun."
Mary O'Hara
+++++++++++++
Questions: Would you describe God as "Infinite Fun"? When was the last time you laughed and it was a God experience? What is the funniest animal God came up with? Who is the funniest person you know? Would anyone describe you as "A funny person"? Who was Mary O'Hara and what was the context or circumstances of her making the comment above? Is there a scripture text that would underline that quote that "God is infinite fun"?
Thursday, April 19, 2012
IT'S A LONG
AND WINDING ROAD
April 19, 2012
Quote for Today
"You can tell you are on the right way - it's usually uphill."
Anonymous
On top, You Tube: Olivia Broadfield, "It's A Long Way" - from the Beatles song: "The Long and Winding Road."
Want a scripture text? Try John 14: 6a, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life."
Want a morning prayer? Here are the Lyrics to the You Tube song above:
"Woke up this morning
Singing an old Beatles song
We're not that strong my Lord
You know we ain't that strong
I hear my voice
Among the others
Through the break of day
Hey brothers
Say brothers
It's a long... way
It's a long... way
It's a long
And winding road
(It's a long way)
It's a long
And winding road
(It's a long way)"
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
WHAT DOES YOUR
AUTOBIOGRAPHY SOUND LIKE?
April 17, 2012
Quote for Today
"Lord Illingworth: The Book of Life begins with a man and a woman in a garden.
"Mrs. Allonby: It ends with Revelations."
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde [1854-1900] in the play, A Woman of No Importance [1893], Act 1.
Painting on top: Couple in a Garden [1872-73] by Paul Cezanne [1839-1906]
Questions: Looking at your life - where you came from and where you are now - what have you learned? What have been your revelations? When are you going to write your Memoirs? Here's a quote from me that I'd love to see make it in a book of quotations: "People are fascinated by 'Revelations' from some mystic in some far away place - and they never stop to read their own revelations."
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
THE WIND BLOWS
WHERE IT WILLS
INTRODUCTION
The title of my
homily for this Second Tuesday after Easter is, “The Wind Blows Where It Wills.” John
3:8a
QUESTION
Where does that
mysterious saying of Jesus blow or push you to: like wind blowing leaves in a spring storm or
dry fallen leaves on a November sidewalk?
What are your
memories of this mysterious reality - wind - invisible wind - silent and gentle
sometimes - whistling and wonderful at other times - and sometimes devastating
and destructive? You’re out in the bay and the wind is perfect and your sails
are full; you’re at home and a wind storm comes - knocks down a 101 trees and
you’re without electricity for 2 and half days.
The wind blows where
it wills.
Better not quote
that to the folks in Tornado Alley in the Lower Mid-west - USA - especially
these days - or wherever there is dry brush - electricity storms - and worries about forest fires.
The wind blows where
it wills.
SCRIPTURE
In the First Book of Kings 19: 11 there is the famous
scene when Elijah the prophet is running for his life and hides in a cave and
he has a God experience - and God is not in the fire or the storm or the
earthquake - but God is in the gentle breeze.
How many people have had the same experience sitting alone on a back porch with
a cup of coffee in the morning or a cup of tea at night - or a nice drink - and
there is God in the cool of the morning or the cool of evening?
The wind blows where
it wills.
I love to picture
Jesus’ face when he went into the mountains or to deserted places and
experienced the love of God his Father. When he told Nicodemus - as we heard in
today’s gospel - that “The wind blows where it wills” - was it those
experiences that backgrounded that comment - or was it out on the Lake of
Galilee and a storm came up? How often did he climb the mountains in northern Israel by
himself or with friends - before he started his public life? Did he pause to
feel the wind? Did he pause to study the beauty that surrounded him? He told us
to spot the birds of the air? Talk about awareness of air and wind - learn a
lesson from the birds - flying well before Orville and Wilbur.
CONCLUSION: EARTH DAY
- EARTH WEEK
Next Sunday - April
22 - in 175 countries around the world,
it’s Earth Day. I didn’t have time to check if they were mostly countries in
the Northern Hemisphere - where it’s Spring. Last Sunday, April 15, till this coming Sunday, April 22. it’s Earth
Week in many places.
Question: what are we
doing to make our space - the place of our footprints - beautiful? I try to
pick up paper and dumped and dropped cups and cans in our parking lot. Annapolis certainly is
beautiful - most of the year - but especially in the Spring. Praise God - but
are we already in summer?
Yesterday, a lady
who lost her husband recently told me that the family spotted an Eagle on the
way back from the cemetery - and the family saw that as a sign - because her
husband loved life and creation. Then last
night on NBC evening news Brian Williams spoke in the final segment - the good
news - that eagles in America
are being spotted in many places - the pollution in the air has been reduced
and their eggs are making it.
Next Sunday up in
Annapolis Towne Centre - in front of Gordon Biersch Restaurant - between 2 and
4:30 PM, there is going to be an Earth
Day Celebration and service with various ministers, rabbi, priest, etc. who will
give some reflections and earthy prayers, etc.
Being of Irish
background I might use some of those wonderful Irish blessings, which mention
the wind. May we have the “Deep peace of the flowing of the air” or “May the
breeze tussle your hair, Colleen” or “ “May the wind always be at your back”.
Or I might change that last one to a prayer for earth day: Earth, waters, wind,
may we always have your back - because
if we don’t - we might not have you
back.”
May the wind be
always with us. Amen.
Monday, April 16, 2012
INTRODUCTION
The title of my homily for this Second Monday after Easter is,
“Born Again.”
The word appears here in today’s gospel reading from John 3:
1-8.
It’s a rare phrase in the English translations of our Bible. How many times it appears
in the English scriptures - maybe 4 - maybe 3 times - maybe only 1 - or none - depends on the translation from the Greek that
we use. I didn’t find it in English translations of the Jewish or Hebrew Scriptures
- but like so many things - theologians will point out that there are glimpses
- good glimpses of this theme in the Jewish Scriptures.
For starters I’m saying that “born again” is rare phrase in
the scriptures. Yet I’ve noticed it’s a big theme in Evangelical Christian
theology and life - here in the United
States .
It’s interesting that The New American Bible - the one we
use for our readings - uses the phrase “born again.” We heard it today. That’s
why I got interested in it for this homily. In our NAB translation Jesus does not use it. He
says “born from above” as in "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born
from above, he cannot see the Kingdom
of God
The key Greek word is “ANOTHEN.” Scholars say it can mean
“from above” or “again.” Moreover, it
seems that scholars also say it would be better here to use, “from above.” The King James Version - KJV -uses "born again" in John 3:3. It’s
interesting that the RSV* - The Revised Standard Version - a mainly Protestant
translation - uses “from above” and the NAB - The New American Bible, the
Catholic translation and the JB, The Jerusalem Bible, also Catholic, uses, “born again” when Nicodemus uses the
phrase.
I like what one scholar said: John is trying to point out
all through his gospel how people take things one way and Jesus takes them
another way - and when they get his way of thinking, they change. So that’s the
key to keep in mind.
So “born again” is rare - and can be translated that way or
not.
YET
Yet here in the United States - amongst many Evangelical
Groups - it’s a main phrase in their thinking. I’ve been asked and I’m sure
you’ve been asked at various times, “Are you born again?” Or “Are you a Born
Again Christian?”
This morning I spent about two hours on this. I am not
satisfied with my grasp of what’s going on when Evangelicals use this phrase
big time. I’m sure those of you who are converts or who have been part of some
prayer groups or movements, you know very well what the phrase means.
CONCLUSION
Up till now I’m sort of sorting things out with what I’ve
said till. Let me try to be practical and present 5 “first draft” things hit me this morning? What hits you this afternoon?
1) People can be ministers, priests, deacons, lectors, what
have you in Church and they might never have had a specific Christ experience -
or a born again experience. So we can be baptized as babies or teens or adults,
and we still might not have consciously - oftentimes emotionally - given ourselves
over to Christ as the Lord of our life.
2) Some use this as a put down on Infant Baptism - because
like Nicodemus you need to be older to accept Christ in Baptism. How old - how young - does a person need to be to be reborn again? [Check out the "Born Again" baptismal pictures on the You Tube video on the top of this homily]
3) Some stress the date of their personal “born again” moment. It’s
like a birthday - or a wedding day. Then some sort of imply: if you don’t have
such a specific, particular moment, when you accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, something is lacking.
4) Many point out what is stressed in the difference between a wedding
and a marriage. We’ve all heard the saying, “A wedding is a day; a marriage is
a lifetime.” Well, a baptism or a “born again” experience is a moment; a
lifetime is where one must grow and develop. Don't just talk the talk; walk the walk.
5) What I didn’t see much of in my reading about "being Born Again" - [I only spent 2 hours on
this today] - was the lack of stress on many rebirths - or being born again and then again and then again. If
there is any thing they stress in AA or any 12 step program, it’s that life is a
one day at a time process - and to grow one needs to take a step at a time and
if you slip - then start again, and again, and again.
*RSV - said by many to be the best scripture translation.
++++++++++++
*RSV - said by many to be the best scripture translation.
THINK!
April 16, 2012
Quote for Today
"There are two ways to slide easily through life: to believe everything or to doubt everything; both ways save us from thinking."
Alfred Korzybski [1879-1950]
Check out Alfred Korzybski - Polish-American scientist and philosopher. Here is a paragraph from Wikipedia on him: "Korzybski thought that people do not have access to direct knowledge of reality; rather they have access to perceptions and to a set of beliefs which human society has confused with direct knowledge of reality. Korzybski is remembered as the author of the dictum: 'The map is not the territory.'"
The picture on top I found on line. It's a picture of Alfred Korzybski in his Chicago officer in 1944. The tiny sign on the left hand bottom corner on the blackboard reads,
"When a private at Randolph Field comes to a noncom with a complaint, he is handed a mourning-bordered card which says: 'Your trials and tribulations have broken my heart. They are unique. I have never heard of anything like them before. As proof of my sympathy, I give you this card which entitles you to one hour of condolence.'"
Sunday, April 15, 2012
DOUBTING THOMAS
My name is Thomas - but I have
been nicknamed or dubbed - “Doubting Thomas.” There was a reason for the
nickname. I tend to doubt. Yes - that’s me - no doubt about it.
I’m a twin - and maybe you’re my
twin too - that is, if you’re a doubter as well.
Now, it takes all kinds of folks
- to make this world work. We need those who are sure, who have lots of faith,
but I also believe doubters have a place in life’s schemes and life’s scenes. Being
a doubter, I’m aware that’s a self-serving comment. However, at times I inwardly thought that those who were so sure of themselves,
would be better off, if they had a doubt every once and a while. And I’m sure when I voice my doubts, some wished I
would be quiet and accept with faith and good will someone else’s word for some
understandings about life. So when it comes to faith - and what we hope for,
I’m one of those who tends to have doubts.
Hey you heard the saying, “What would
Jesus do?” Well, after all, Jesus picked
me. Did he have any doubts about me - or any of us - including Judas? I would
think so. At least, I know, I would. As I looked around at those of us he
picked, to be honest, I had my doubts - especially why he picked me.
When Jesus said he was going to
leave us - that he was going to go prepare a place for us - when he said,
“There are many rooms in my Father’s house or mansion” - when he said, “I am
the Way, the Truth and the Life,” John in his gospel gives me credit for saying
out loud, “Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the
way?” I don’t remember saying that, but I thanked John for giving me the credit. To be honest, I might have said,
“Jesus I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Thinking about all this - and
this was long afterwards, I’d like to think that Jesus picked me because I
wasn’t scared to bring up questions others were not asking.
Hey, it’s important to voice
one’s doubts when everyone agrees or everyone seems to be so sure of
themselves. I think it’s important to be able to say in any given situation,
“Wait a minute!” or “What about?” “What are the consequences?” or “Can you
explain that again. I’m missing something?”
Hey! What happened to all those
people whom Jesus fed? Where were they when Jesus was caught and crucified? I
listened to Jesus and I listened very carefully. If I heard him correctly, he
knew that miracle and food followers - could be shallow followers. They were
not there for faith - but for food and miracles.
On Palm Sunday they are praising
Jesus - by Friday they are screaming, “Crucify him!”
So if you want to know why I have
doubts, there it is, my take on people - including myself.
So have some doubts - or think
about whether my way is a good way to do life. Or do doubters have any choice -
if their nature is to doubt? I wonder about that too. Why are we the way we
are? Where do our peculiarities and particularities come from?
And when you’re a doubter or a
questioner, expect comments and criticism. My skin is not that tough - so it
hurt a bit to hear comments made about
me the whole week after the other apostles and disciples in the Upper Room claimed
to have seen Jesus risen after his death.
I wanted to put my hand in the
place in his hands where there were nail marks - and poke my finger into his
side. Then I would believe.
It’s a tough week after someone
dies. It’s a tough week after one’s plans and hopes were crucified and crushed
that day on the cross.
I left a lot to follow Jesus. I
was slowly realizing he was the Way, the Truth and the Life - but I wasn’t
there yet. I was wondering if he was my Lord and my God - but I wasn’t there yet - and then he’s
killed - and that made me feel rather empty.
Peter and Andrew, James and John,
knew about fishing all night and catching nothing. Fishermen need to be
dreamers - but they better be realists as well. Coming home with empty nets and
an empty boat is not a pretty sight - especially when they have families to
feed - especially when one sees the buyers on the beach - and one has nothing
to sell them. They just want to get past
disappointed faces - get some sleep - and try again that night.
So that’s a bit of my story and
what I was thinking that following Sunday when Jesus did appear again in the
Upper Room. This time I was there. He singled me out. He asked me to put my
fingers into the nail holes and into his side. I did. I did and I believed -
and I shouted out, “My Lord and my God.” Then he gave a new beatitude, “Blessed
are those who have not seen and have believed.”
Good beatitude - but I’m here for
all those who need some seeing - in order to believe. In fact, I wish Jesus
would have given another new beatitude, “Blessed are those who doubt, because
when they believe, it’s much deeper!”
Yet, I have some doubts about
that. So when I get to heaven - and because of Jesus I believe there is one -
but sometimes, I have my doubts - sorry to say that in public, but if you know me
by now, I’m honest. So when I get to heaven, I’m going to ask Jesus - or his
Father - if I can stand at a side gate.
Peter - the one who was always so sure of himself - he can have the main spot
at the main Pearly Gates. Just give a small side gate. I’ll wait for all those doubters who didn’t
believe there was even a heaven. And I’ll welcome them into paradise - letting
them slip in a side gate.
Now, that sounds a bit flippant and something off the books, so you might have some doubts whether I can pull this off, but you can be sure that’s one of the first things I’m going to try to do when I get to see Jesus again. He owes me for being a set up to pronounce his new beatitude.
And I know some have got the name
of this Sunday changed to “Divine Mercy Sunday” - when it had been called,
“Doubting Thomas Sunday” for centuries, for the longest time. Time will tell
which one lasts.
Mercy or forgiveness that leads
to Peace certainly is a key message to always remember - but let me repeat.
There are a lot of people who are doubters - and I doubt that will ever change.
And they need to hear about someone like me: Doubting Thomas. Here I am at your
service. I made it. You can make it too.
++++++++++
The painting on top is by Caravaggio and the story above is my attempt to reflect upon the gospel for this Second Sunday after Easter gospel: John 20: 19-31. Last week, Easter Sunday, I preached about faith. I believe that this Sunday after Easter, also called "Doubting Thomas Sunday" was here for a deep purpose: there are people who have doubts!
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