THE 3 BIGGEST QUESTIONS
FOUND IN
EVERY BRAIN
The title of my homily is, “The 3 Biggest Questions Found in Every Brain.”
Let me begin with a question: “Does everyone have
lifetime questions?”
That question was triggered by today’s readings.
It’s my experience that people come up with questions as
they hear or read the Sunday readings at Mass. That sets up a problem – a
question: “How come you didn’t preach on the question that hit me from today’s
readings?”
That causes an “Uh oh!” in me at times – because I think
to myself, “Hey there are a couple of hundred people here – perhaps each with a
different question.”
So, “Uh oh! That’s an, “Uh oh!”
I assume that’s why some preachers start off with an example
– to try to get everyone off their wave length and onto the speakers.
I think – but I’m not sure – that’s why I try to get
people to come up with questions – more than answers. I want to get people to get in touch with their
questions and start thinking about them during the homily – during the Mass - and then during the week.
The title of my homily is, “The 3 Biggest Questions Found in Every Brain.”
I like questions. It's not by accident the question mark is shaped the way it's shaped. It's a hook - like a fishing hook.
CLEMENT JEDRZEJEWSKI
One of my favorite questions is to ask people, “Have you
written your memoirs yet?”
And sometimes people say, “Yeah! I’m working on them.”
There was an article in yesterday's New York Times - exactly on this topic: write your memoirs. [1]
I think people spend the second half of their life –
working on figuring out the first half of their life – as well as what’s
happening now – as well as what’s going to happen in the future. Questions…
wonderings … worries … about kids, marriage, relationships, money, parents,
what’s in the wings?
I think people are always, “Figuring!” They are looking you right in the face – but
what’s behind that face – in that mind behind the face – they are somewhere
else. I know I am.
So what’s going on in your mind – behind your eyes –
behind your face: Where are your energies? What are your questions? What’s
going on? What’s important? Is significance your bottom line?
What have been the 3 most significant moments of your
life so far?
Who has had the most impact on you?
Who have been your greatest teachers?
Answers to these questions are the stuff of memoirs and
memories.
I once ran into an old man named, Clement Jedrzejewski.
I was in my 30’s – and working in a retreat house in New
Jersey – right on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.
I was doing weekend retreats for men’s and women’s groups
– and high school retreats during the week.
Clement lived down the road in another retreat house –
where we used to say Mass in the morning. Finding out that Clement was a
retired teacher – who taught future teachers – I asked him how he’d give a high
school retreat. He had worked at St. Francis College, Brooklyn, New York.
He asked me my questions and then he asked me some of his
questions and then he said, “Give me a week or so to think about your question
and we’ll talk again.”
Two weeks later I was taking him shopping and he said,
“Okay, here’s a method that I like to use.”
“When the kids get off the bus, let them explore the
whole property and the whole place – everywhere. When dogs come into a new
place – they like to sniff in every corner.”
“Then,” he said, “After they eat together, at your first big retreat session, ask them
to jot down all the questions they have about life, school, friends, family,
future, these three days, whatever.”
“Have them do that by themselves – on their piece of
paper. Then tell them to put a circle around their top 3 questions.”
“Then tell them to look around the room and pick out one
person – just one person they think they can talk to. If there is an odd
number, you talk to that person. Then tell them to put that first piece of
paper away – in their pocket. Then the two of you – jot down all your questions
– and once more put a circle around your 3 top questions.”
“Then put that piece
of paper away – and pick out 4 or 5 people – whom you are in a clique with or a
group with – and jot down all your questions – and put a circle around your top
3 questions.”
Clement added, “Don’t try to get them to meet with new
people. Tell them to hang with those they know. That way it’s more real – and serious
conversations might carry over into when they are back home or at school.”
That was different. I was told to break up folks when
doing group work.
Then Clement said, “Now have the whole group – yell out
their questions – not from the papers in their pockets – but from the floor –
then come up with 3 top questions. That’s what you spend the retreat on.”
He concluded: “Keep saying, ‘There are no stupid
questions – only stupid answers.’”
THIS HOMILY
The title of my homily is, “The 3 Biggest Questions Found in Every Brain.”
Today, this week, jot down on paper or computer what you
think might be the 3 biggest questions found in every brain. Start by jotting
down all the questions you think of – then put a circle around the top 3.
Do this by yourself and then do it with someone else –
your spouse – or close friends – then do it with associates.
Relax there is no official list of the 3 biggest
questions in every brain.
This week, this time in your life, they might be this,
next week, next year, there will be different questions.
For example, today’s readings trigger for me various
questions.
What is God like? Is God like the God described in
today’s first reading from Isaiah? God is on a mountain and he’s setting up a
banquet for all peoples. Notice the all – as in all peoples. He’s preparing a
feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food, choice wines. Then he’s
going to destroy the veil that veils all peoples – the web woven over all
nations. Does that mean he’s going to let us all finally see – we are one
people – no walls, no veils, no webs. He’s going to destroy death forever and
wipe away tears from all faces. He is going to save us – save all of us.
Is that what God is like? Is that God’s dream – that
we’ll all see what Isaiah saw – that Martin Luther King Jr. saw – when he said,
“I’ve been to the mountain” – that mountain where we’ll be one. Finally!
Or is God like the king in today’s gospel from Matthew
who invites folks to a wedding feast for his son – but folks reject the
invitation – so he kills all those who reject him? Then when the poor and those
found on the back roads – come to the banquet, the king throws out someone who
didn’t come with a wedding out fit on. Hey is God like that?
That’s one of my life time questions: What is God like?
Obviously I hope my image and likeness of God is God?
I’ve always liked Luke’s Jesus – and Luke’s God – better than the God I find in
Matthew. Luke doesn’t have this guy tossed out into the darkness – where he
wails and grinds his teeth. Matthew has Jesus destroying the fig tree on first
instance – for not producing figs – but Luke has Jesus giving the lazy fig tree
– getting another chance. I’m a softie – so I like Luke’s images of Jesus and
God – at least the one’s I like.
But who’s right? We’ve all heard preachers and parents –
whose image of God – scares us and we say, “That’s not my God?
Well, what is God like?
That’s one of my 3 life time questions in my brain.
Is that question in every brain?
We have to talk to each other to find out.
CONCLUSION
The title of my homily is, “The 3 Biggest Questions Found in Every Brain.”
I just said that one of my biggest life time questions
is: “What is God like?”
I think that’s in every brain – somewhere.
I also think people ask: “Is there a God?”
I also think people ask, “Is there life after this life?”
I also think people ask, “Does God have a plan, a hope, a
will for me – and if “Yes” what is it?
I also think people ask the question found in the world’s
shortest poem – two words and it rhymes, “I / Why?” I don’t know who wrote that
poem but I first heard it when we were studying Existential Philosophy in our 3rd
year of college and I’ve never forgotten it. “I/Why?”
I also think people ask the question found in the world’s
next shortest poem – two words and it also rhymes and I wrote it, “You/Who?”
That’s the relationship question.
What are the questions you’re asking – lifetime questions
– big questions. That’s your homework for this week. Jot them down and put a
circle around the top 3 and compare answers and notes with each other. Amen.
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NOTES:
[1] "Appeal of Writing Memoirs Grow, as Do Publishing Options," by Elizabeth Olson, page B4, The New York Times, Business, Saturday, October 11, 2014
