STORIES  

TRIGGER  STORIES

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Stories Trigger Stories.”

As we all know stories trigger stories.

I tell you a story about a blue rock and you begin thinking about a blue car you once had or a rock band or a rock you once tripped on and you hurt your left shoulder.

Stories trigger stories.

TODAY’S READINGS

Today’s first reading from Judges tells the story of Samson - which triggers the story of John the Baptist in our gospel.

Obviously Luke - today’s gospel - has the story in Judges in mind.

Notice the connections - no strong wine or drink - an angel of the Lord comes and makes an announcement - consecration to the Lord - barren no children - then a son.

Stories trigger stories.

The Bible - the scriptures - the Old Testament and then the New Testament - have many interconnecting stories. If you ever spot the Jerusalem Bible sitting around - just page through it - and notice all the interconnecting cross references.

Jesus is the New Moses. That’s a constant theme - especially in the gospel of John. Moses left Egypt - Matthew has to get Jesus to Egypt - so he can head for the Promised Land.

Jesus is the new Gideon - a savior - who will help the people.

When Jesus came they ask and they wonder if he is Elijah or one of the prophets.

         

WE DO THE SAME THING

We do the same thing - all the time.

I tell a story and it reminds you of something that happened to you - and first chance you get, you cut me off and you tell your story.

This happens all the time.

It happens with jokes as well.

Listening exercises are given to people - and they are trained to hear what the others are saying - and not cut in with our story.

A person was telling me recently that a parish in the Midwest  trained a team of about 12 people to go around the parish in 2’s - to knock on doors and see if they could talk to Catholics who had dropped out of church.  The parish numbers had gone down big time. Their job was to ask dropouts their story.  They were not allowed to tell the persons they were listening to their story. They were just to listen. Then at the end to say, “Thanks for telling us your story. We’re from St. Mary’s and you’re always welcome back.”

It worked.

CONCLUSION

Stories trigger stories - but they didn’t let their stories - to stop them from listening to other people’s stories.

Today ask someone to tell you their story - without you telling your story. Watch what happens.