The title of my homily for this 18th Tuesday
in Ordinary Time is, “Healing!”
Today’s first reading from Jeremiah 30 begins with the
theme of a running sore - an incurable
wound. Today’s gospel from Matthew 14 ends with the message of healing.
“”People brought to him all those who
were sick and begged him that they might touch only the tassel of his cloak,
and many as touched it were healed.”
CUTS, BRUISES
AND WOUNDS
All of us with skin have had our cuts - down through the
years.
I recently mentioned in a homily about a “boo boo” - that a little grandnephew
spotted on my hand across a crowded room.
He saw the band aid. And it wasn’t a kids’ band aid.
I have a cut on my forehead for about two months now - and it’s not healing.
The skin doctor took a biopsy of it the other day - and I’ll find out this week
what it is. I have Irish skin and my brother died of melanoma - so I’m aware of
skin - sunburnt skin as a kid - with the blisters on the shoulders - and skin
problems in my old age. The wrapping starts coming off the package at times -
or gets ripped in shipping.
I remember hearing that the easiest doctor job was that
of being a dermatologist - “If the skin is dry - moisturize it; if the skin is
oily, dry it.”
Times have changed - or I was never in a dermatologist
office way back when. Now they have busy
schedules - dealing with acne, cancer, basal cell carcinoma - tattoo removal,
warts and all.
Then there are folks with diabetes with wounds that won’t
heal - and wound centers keep trying to help folks heal.
PSYCHOLOGICAL
WOUNDS
So folks know physical wounds - everyone of us gets cut
- in the kitchen and while sealing an envelope. I hate paper cuts - especially
on the tongue. “Oooooooh!” “Ouch!”
And we all also know of inner wounds - words that cut us,
memories that won’t go away from abuse, from abandonment.
Sometimes forgiveness doesn’t happen when it comes to forgiving self or forgiving others….
Sometimes communication doesn't happen or it doesn't work.
So we all have battle wounds.
TODAY’S
READINGS
Today’s first reading can be helpful and hopefully move
us towards healing.
After using the word “incurable” - Jeremiah has the Lord
promising healing. First he says that pain and guilt, cries and wounds, can
come from our sins - our choices - our actions.
Then he speaks about coming back to the Lord -
approaching the Lord.
Happiness and laughter can come back as well.
Tents and cities can be restored.
Healing can happen…. Sometimes slowly….
In God’s good time. First the scab…. Then the skin…. Sometimes the scar….
I would suspect that the skin of the soul has lots of
scars - hopefully hard scars - that have occurred where there seemed to be
incurable wounds.
Today’s gospel can be heard as dealing with the storms at
sea and the storms of life.
Life is like a trip across the lake. We’re on
shore. Then it’s time to get into the boat - pull up the anchor - pull
in the ropes - and who knows what might
happen till we get to the other side of life?
Life, from birth to death, can be quite a trip. Sometimes
we are just cruising along or just fishing or sailing and a storm hits us.
Life can be the shore - SHORE - and sure - SURE. And life
on the water can become unsure - UNSURE. Sometimes the water is calm; sometimes
it’s classic strong.
RELATIONSHIPS
Much of life takes place in our relationships.
Relationships are where we get cut, burnt, wounded, many
a time.
Both readings bring out a key dynamic in any relationship.
Sometimes there is clear sailing and sometimes there are storms.
Life can be smooth - sometimes choppy - sometimes stormy.
I love the saying: "In a storm, pray for land - but start
rowing."
I always love to use the saying: “Pray for potatoes - but
pick up a shovel.”
Pray for healing - but go to the doctor.
Pray for healing - but put Vaseline on the cut.
Pray for healing of memories - but talk to someone about what’s going on.
Pray for healing - but reach out to touch the tassel of
Jesus’ cloak.
Pray for safety, but invite Jesus aboard or start walking and
swimming towards him - on the water - even if you start to sink.
Then sink or swim.
Sometimes if we open up our eyes we’ll see God coming
across the waters to save us. When we
feel our life is one big stormy ride, we might have to get out of our comfort
zone, our boat, and walk on the waters towards God.
Sometimes God comes to us - will walk on water to reach
us - especially in the storms of life; sometimes we have to take the chance to walk
on water to reach out to him.
Healing happens - with time - prayer - and action on our
part.
CONCLUSION
The title of my homily was, “Healing.”
Take the IN away from the IN curable.
August 2, 2016
DIFFERENCES AND DISTANCES
It takes time to bridge our
differences and distances …
slowly - your side, my side -
then the reaching out - the
work - so, so difficult at times -
but it’s not for us alone - but
for those who will benefit
because we have met half way -
but that will be long forgotten
as others travel across us into
unknown nexts -
slowly building
a future in which they don’t know yet what it will take. They too will have their own work to do - to bridge their differences and distances
The title of my homily for this 18th Sunday in
Ordinary Time [C] is the first 3 words
of today’s first reading from the Wisdom Book Eccclesiastes, “Vanity of Vanities.”
Here are the first 10 words from the author, Qoheleth,
his opening words for today’s first reading,
“Vanity of vanities… vanity of vanities, all things are vanity!”
Then this author, called Qoheleth asks us, “What are we
after? What are we laboring for? What do
we use our wisdom and education for?”
So it’s obvious - for starters, the readings for today want us
to think about vanity - that we’re not doing what we’re doing for show or in
vain.
Today’s second reading from Paul’s Letter to the Colossians says exactly this: “Seek what is
above!” He adds, “Seek the hidden in
Christ.”
This message becomes even more obvious when we hear the
parable from today’s gospel. It’s the story of the man who has a great harvest
- is planning on building bigger and bigger barns - but the pool guy doesn’t
know - he’s going to die tonight. [Luke 12:13-21]
BUMMER
We know what the word “vanity” means.
It’s being shallow, empty, superficial. We’re an empty
suit. It’s a slick suit or dazzling dress - but the real me is not showing up -
so we’re showing off - wearing a
disguise called, “Vanity.”
Is that a fair description of vanity? A lady in the
parking lot after the 10:30 Mass said she had a different take on it. So talk
to each other on your takes on what vanity is.
I did a little research on use of the word “vanity”. We
use it when talking about a purse for cosmetics - a so called “vanity purse.” There is also the so called, “vanity.” It’s a piece
of furniture - a tiny table with not too deep drawers - usually with some spilled over white powder
in them - a table with a mirror to help with the make-up. We’ve heard about
special license plates - with the words, “Hot Shot” - or “Go Mets” on them.
They are called vanity plates. Then there is self-publishing a book which we
get published by a so called, “Vanity Press”.
TWO POEMS
Here are two poems that I wrote. The first is from years
ago. It’s based on today’s gospel. It’s called, “Death In The Dark.” It’s from a book of night prayers I wrote -
but couldn’t get a publisher.
DEATH IN THE DARK
(Luke 12:16-21)
I can’t pray tonight.
My mind, my fields,
my hands, are all too full.
Dark birds shriek
a death warning across
my cornfield skies
and all I can think of
is building barns:
bigger and bigger barns.
The second poem
is entitled, “Balloon Drop.” I wrote this yesterday for my blog. Talk about
vanity.
BALLOON DROP
The conventions were over
in both Cleveland and Philadelphia….
The balloons filled with air came floating down….
The halls were emptying out.
While watching this on TV
I spotted a cleaning woman
with a broom like handle
with some kind of a metal nail
or needle at its point -
sticking it to the balloons -
bursting them - letting the hot air out.
I couldn’t see her
face. Was
she laughing at the metaphor
or was she inwardly complaining about
how little she was getting paid
to sweep all this stuff up - the now
deflated balloons, the signs,
the cleaning up and getting ready
for the next…. Off to the side the TV people were still interviewing the folks with the names. Nobody noticed her.
TWO NOVELS
I want to quote from two novels - both of which I never finished.
I want to add that - because I don’t want to be vain - or try to impress
you - with what I have read. After all this is a homily on vanity.
The first novel is the 1987 novel Bonfire
of Vanities by Tom Wolfe.
Savonarola
Tom Wolfe got his title from today’s first reading as well as from the
Dominican priest Girolamo Savonarola’s reformation and burning of stuff in big
public bonfires in Florence, Italy back in 1497. He condemned vanity. Take it
off. Dump it. Burn it. He called for reform in church, clerics, pope, and city.
Then he himself ended up being excommunicated, condemned, tortured, hung and
burnt to death.
Tom Wolfe’s novel features New York City
in the 1980’s - Wall Street, filled with greed, corruption, racism,
demonstrations, riots, what have you.
A quote from the novel about Sherman McCoy, the main
character of the novel, “Sherman made the terrible discovery that men make
about their fathers sooner or later that the man before him was not an aging
father but a boy, a boy much like himself, a boy who grew up and had a child of
his own and, as best he could, out of a sense of duty and, perhaps love,
adopted a role called 'Being a Father' so that his child would have something
mythical and infinitely important: a Protector, who would keep a lid on all the
chaotic and catastrophic possibilities of life.”
Is that true? Does that fit? I know I don’t want to
forget the child in me - yet I guess the adult me better show up from time to
time.
Or this quote, “Yes see, Sherman, who started with
so much, lost everything. But he gained his soul. Whereas I, you see, who
started with so little, gained everything. ‘What does it profit a man if he
gains the whole world, but loses...’ Ah well. There are compensations.”
The second novel is Madam Bovary
- by Gustave Flaubert - a classic novel that also gets into the issue of vanity
big time in France in the 1800’s.
Two quotes:
“There was an air of indifference about them [the male guests], a calm
produced by the gratification of every passion … that special brutality which
comes from the habit of breaking down half-hearted resistances that keep one
fit and tickle one’s vanity - the handling of blooded horses, the pursuit of
loose women.” Madam Bovary [1857],
pt. 1, chapter 8, Gustave Flaubert [1821- 1880]
“It never occurred to her that if the drainpipes of a house are clogged,
the rain collect in pools on the roof; and she suspected no danger until
suddenly she discovered a crack in the wall.” Madam Bovary [1857], ib. II, 5, Gustave Flaubert [1821- 1880]
Cracks in the wall - wrinkles - leaks - sin - cancer - sickness - problems with our family
and our marriages - all assault our vanity - and get us in touch with the
deeper things - sometimes - sometimes slowly - sometimes never - hopefully God
from time to time.
So too a sudden death - of someone our own age - or someone like the man in
today’s gospel.
CONCLUSION
I think that’s enough.
Vanity of vanities - quoting Tom Wolfe and Gustave Flaubert - that should
be impressive - but humbling because I
don’t do well pronouncing French names.
The title of my homily is, “Vanity of Vanities.”
It’s a theme we would do well to think and pray about.
There’s a 1972 song by Carly Simon called, “You’re So Vain.”
It has the line, “You probably think this song is about you, you’re so
vain. You’re so vain.” Don’t you? Don’t you.
A bad homily is when people say to the preacher, “I wish my mother-in-law
or my brother was here to hear your sermon today.
A good sermon is when someone doesn’t say anything - but they realize the
sermon is about them.
Hopefully we all thought this homily is about us. It is.
