Saturday, April 21, 2018

.

ALONG A FEW IRISH   
BACK ROADS 

Roads, rocks, rain - 
glimpses of sunshine -
clouds  in muddy mirror potholes -
wind rushing to dry off the meadows
and push away the gray mist - 
so the tourists can see out the windows
of their big buses - and be nosy 
about who's who in these white washed thatched homes of their great, great grandparents - who had no food 
on their tables as they suffered 
the Great Famine and the troubles - but now these homes are the castle 
and the palace of their rich, mind you, 
rich distant DNA cousins - singing and dancing here on this green - green, - 
rain, rain - everyday island called Ireland.

© Andy Costello, Reflections, 2018




WHAT  AM  I   MISSING?

There’s always a catch ….
What am I missing?
The key seems to be ….
It might be in the bottom drawer
or on the top shelf in the back,
or under the bed or in the attic ….
Is It You, God? Is It You?
So, God - keep giving me hints ….
What am I looking for?
What am I missing?
Is It You, O God? You, O God?


© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018


April 21, 2018


Thought for today:

“A car radio blasts,
“Love,  O careless Love ….” I hear
my ill-spirit sob in each blood cell,
as if my hand were at its throat ….
I myself am hell;
nobody’s here.” 


Robert Traill Spence Lowell, [1917-1977], 
Skunk Hour [1959], stanza 5, 6

Friday, April 20, 2018



REVERSED ROLES

Jesus put your hands into my wounds,
into my cuts.  Touch my hurt.  Let me
look into your eyes, so I will know -
you know - what I have gone through -
and both of us will wink at each other -
as we say to the great connector, the
great peace maker,  “What you too?”


© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018
Painting: Doubting Thomas 
by Caravaggio
Check out John 20: 19-29


April 20, 2018





Thought for today:


“What is hell? Hell is oneself,
Hell is alone, the other figures in it
Merely projections,” 

Thomas Sterns Eliot [1888-1965]  
The Cocktail Party [1950]

Thursday, April 19, 2018


CULMINATIONS

Endings: Sometimes we see 
them coming; sometimes we don't.

It's Friday - we're moving towards 
the last days of a vacation.

The breakup of a marriage.
I had stopped saying, “Thank you.”

The waitress says, “Does anyone
want coffee or dessert or the bill?”

The doctor says, “Sorry,
it doesn’t look good.”

People start moving towards
the exit. The score is 7 to 1.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018


April 19, 2018


Thought for today:


“Me miserable! which way shall I fly
Infinite wrath, and infinite despair?
Which way I fly is hell; myself am hell;
And in the deepest deep a lower deep,
Still threat’ning to devour me, opens wide,
To which the hell I suffer seems a heaven."


John Milton [1608-1674], 
Paradise Lost [1667] IV, line 73

Wednesday, April 18, 2018



ROSE PARVIS SCHOLARSHIP

[Good Morning: Welcome to the Rose Parvis scholarship ceremony. Today 33 sophmores  entered into the group.  It’s quite an honor. One has to have  a 4 point average - plus a series of other “have to”s - for all 4 years at  St. Mary’s High School.  The key word this morning is “Scholarship.” Last week in the Washington Post and in the New York Times I noticed announcements for this year’s winners of the Pulitzer Prizes for Journalism. Putting both together last night, I wrote this fictional story for this morning's ceremony. It’s called, “Scholarship!”]


SCHOLARSHIP

It was her first Pulitzer Prize.

She stood there on the shiny wooden stage floor - waiting for someone in a suit to finish his introduction of her. He told of her gifts and skills as a newspaper reporter. He spoke a few quotes and quips. He got a few smiles and two laughs - in his introduction to this award to this woman.

She heard nothing.

She was a bit nervous. This was quite an award for any newspaper or news magazine writer and reporter.

She remembered her first ballpoint pen. It could do what the big people could do with a ballpoint pen: make marks and letters on a pad or piece of paper. Her first word was not cat or dog - but owl. OWL - in big capital letters.

Next came hawk and robin and rooster.

In fact - in the second grade - she wrote her first little book: The Rowdy Rooster - who roared and cleared his throat every night at midnight - instead of every morning at dawn.

She stood there remembering writing a paper in Middle School with 2 friends about people who messed up parking lots with dumping paper and wrappers and Styrofoam containers. The 3 became nicknamed "the Neat Nicks" and got made fun of - but some kids heard the message and kept the parking lot and rest rooms neater.

She stood there remembering her paper in H.S. about verbal bullying in the kind of nick names kids gave kids.

She remembered in College writing a paper pushing for better medical benefits for the college maintenance workers.

She stood there thinking she was well prepared for her job as reporter for the Times - Dispatch.

Finally it was her turn to walk to the podium and get her Pulitzer Prize.  All clapped especially her family. She thanked God and her parents - but especially two high school English teachers - who pushed her to write and to use her talents for a better world.

She thanked her editor for pushing her to do her research in nursing homes in the Midwest - and how the county ones - were not doing their job.

That Sunday she stayed in church a few extra minutes to once more thank God and a whole list of teachers in elementary, middle, high school, university and grad school.  She especially remember Mrs. Lopez who loved to say, “Detailed Research and Scholarship - definitely make the difference every time.”

After being handed her Pulitzer Prize award, someone gave her a dozen roses. It was a first. She remembered  envying  the Home Coming Queen in high school getting a dozen roses and all those kids who were handed roses by family after being in a play. Finally! She joined their ranks.  And she raised her roses and her Pulitzer prize high in the air. 

______________________________________
FROM 2017



Top-Notch Students are proving High School is a stepping stone for things to come!


St. Mary’s Parvis Scholar Program confers recognition and honor upon the most intellectually promising Christian leaders of St. Mary’s High School. 
This program is reserved for select sophomores who demonstrate steadfast commitment to academic excellence and Christian values.
Named in honor of St. Mary’s Teacher of the Year 1991-1992, the Parvis Scholar Program was established to honor the work of Rosemary Annette Parvis, Social Studies department chair and teacher. Following graduation ceremonies on May 23, 1992, the St. Mary’s community suffered the tragic loss of Rose Parvis in an automobile accident. She was an extraordinary woman: a loving wife, a compassionate and caring mother, a consummate academic, a passionate and dedicated teacher. She was a quiet leader and a constant model of the Christian values which she lived each day.
The Parvis Scholar Program is governed by an academic committee which reviews applications and selects students to be named Parvis Scholar nominees. Those students who are selected will receive singular distinction as Parvis Scholars—an honor these students will carry throughout their years at St. Mary’s. Recognized Parvis Scholars, selected on the basis of both merit and potential, as well as academic achievement and Christian leadership ability, will demonstrate the principles which Rose Parvis espoused and which are an inherent part of the philosophy of a St. Mary’s education. Upon graduation, these students will have:
  • Sustained a grade point average of 4.0 or above
  • Demonstrated Christian commitment over a four-year career at St. Mary’s
  • Illustrated service to the St. Mary’s High School community and to the community at large through leadership in co-curricular and social arenas
  • Attained acceptance to an institute of higher learning to further pursue a professional career
"Each of our St. Mary's High School Parvis Inductees for 2017 earned a cumulative GPA of 4.0 or above following the first semester of the sophomore year.  Each has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to Gospel values and a dedication to serving others.  These sophomores employ the gifts of faith, scholarship, sensitivity, compassion, and inclusion. They are leaders in their class and in their school." Stated Chris Morgan, Assistant Principal for Academics.  This year we are honored to have 19 sophomore inductees, 14 of which came from our St. Mary’s elementary school.   This is a tremendous compliment of the great work our lower school is doing to advance our students in academic excellence.  This year’s inductees are Eleanor Aherne, Maggie Aumiller, Mary Byrne, Aidan Doud, Alayna Everhart, Elizabeth Gilman, Elizabeth Harris, Peter Lynch, Trevor Martinez, Thomas Mollen, Ashlyn Odenwald, Alyssa Pasta, Bryce Pfundstein, William Rogers, Spira Rosseau, Charles Ruland, Rylei Smith, Jacob Tribull and Robert Daniel Wilson.  


April 18, 2018 





Thought for today:


“A mind not to be changed by place or time.
the mind is its own place, and it itself
Can make a heav’n of hell, a hell of heav’n.” 


John Milton [1608-1674], 
Paradise Lost [1667] 
bb, I, line 253

April 18, 2018


DISSATISFIED

Dissatisfied, in a rut, ready to move,
to migrate, to immigrate both in body,
mind, soul and being - to get a better
job in a far country - a new place.

But where? Then there is family
and advice from fellow passengers -
then there is homesickness - and
be prepared to feel like an outcast.

Stay still or set sail for the new.
Security pleases some - risk too few.
But risk can bring new relationships
a soulmate - and meeting God within.



© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018 


Tuesday, April 17, 2018



WHAT  WE  LIVE  ON 
AFTER  WE  HAVE  LIVED 

The old priest told the young woman,
“These are the men who built the
tunnels, the bridges and the highways.”

Then he added, looking around the church
hall at these old  wrinkled  weathered men,
“God only knows what they live on now.”

The young girl stood there studying
the faces - as tears slid down her face,
God only knows what she was thinking.


She was homesick. She was experiencing 
changes. She was adjusting. She was future.
God only knows what she’ll live in a new now.





© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018


WHAT’S   YOUR  TAKE 
ON  ANGER?


INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter is, “What’s Your Take On Anger.”

I got that  question and issue to think about from today’s first reading. [Cf. Acts 7: 51 to 8: 1a]

The crowd gets infuriated when Stephen tells them off.

He says, “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always oppose the Holy Spirit, you are just like your ancestors.”

Hearing this they throw him out of town and begin to stone him to death.

HOW MANY TIMES IN OUR LIFE HAVE WE SEEN THAT SCENE

How many times have we seen that same scene?

Saul - who becomes Paul - saw it and wow did he take a lot out of it, but it took him time.

My earliest  memory of anger was as a little boy walking along 4th Avenue in Brooklyn. We were going  by a gas station and two mechanics are screaming at each other - and one guy throws a metal tire wrench - the solid one piece ones - in the shape of a plus sign or a cross - at the other guy and misses him.  I can still hear the clang of that sound on macadam or cement all these years - and my shoulders still jerk back and up when I remember that moment.

Little kids hear anger and screaming and it effects and affects them.

I never could get affect and effect correct - and cheat and say, “It’s often both.”

We have all seen couples, parents, kids, angry, screaming and yelling at each other.

What’s your take on anger?

What are your memories of anger?

What are the angry scenes - on stage - in the auditorium of your mind and memory?

TYPES OF ANGER

We don’t have to define anger or look the word up in the dictionary. We know what anger is.

But I think it’s smart to think of types of anger.

There’s good anger and there’s bad anger.

Everyone who comes to church has heard that Jesus got angry at the money changers in the temple - and threw a tantrum at the crowd.

So sometimes anger is good and justified. We should get angry at those who abuse children - or anyone.

Do you get angry at those who dump on the earth or empty out  their car garbage onto the parking lot or gas station floor - especially when there’s a big plastic can a few feet away.  A couple of times I’ve said, “Hey you just dropped this.”  It could  be a McDonald’s  wrapper of a Burger King big chocolate shake cup.   If they don’t go back and pick it up - that means I have to do that.”

I remember reading about a sociological study and experiment in New Orleans or Nashville or somewhere. During the night for a week - including a weekend -  they cleaned a street totally and then measured and weighed the amount of wrappers and garbage that night. Then then they planted garbage on the street and measured the amount that night. Lesson: clean streets, parks, rest rooms, stay cleaner, the cleaner they are.

I dislike - have a calm low degree of anger - when I’m at a ballgame and everyone just dumps all their garbage on the ground - under their seats - or when I see the dugout by the 7th inning.

What bothers you? What bugs you? What annoys you? What angers you? What does your anger list look like?

So there’s good anger and bad anger and so so anger.

There’s also revelatory anger. That’s anger that tells the person who is angry their values. If you get angry at dumpers and slobs - that should tell you that you like neat. 

For example, some people get angry at talkers in church - before and after mass.  Other people think it’s great to see neighbors and friends greeting each other in church before and after Mass. 

For example, some people go crazy with mismanagement - stupidity - like at the post office - when three counter people are just standing there off to the side talking and laughing and the line is 15 deep - and finally someone of the 3 finish a story and go over to their spot on the counter and yell, “Next!” Good management, good service, flow in a parking lot, etc. etc. etc. are at stake here.  Then there was the heart specialist in California - who said to his heart patients.  When you go into a bank, always pick the longest line. When you’re 2nd in line - get off - and go to the back of the longest line. While standing there try to recall the names of everyone in your high school graduating class. I’ve tried that. I’ve tried that. It works.  But I don’t have an E-ZPass and I always pick the longest toll booth.

CONCLUSION

Some people get angry at long sermons - they gotta get to work - or they know that someone could say the same thing in 10 words or less.

For example: “Hey turkey, don’t you realize, you’re   getting angry too much.: That’s 10 words.

For example, “In the end, Stephen forgives.” That’ 5 words.


April 17, 2018 




Thought for today  

“The heart of man is the place the devils  dwell in: I feel sometimes a hell within myself.” 


Sir Thomas Browne [1605-1682], 
Religio Medici [1642]  pt. 51

Monday, April 16, 2018


JOHN 6
  
INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this Monday in the Third Week of Easter is John 6.

We have a section of that chapter for our gospel reading today. [Cf. John 6: 22-29]

John 6 is the bread chapter in John.

John 6 is the Eucharistic chapter in John.

All those who go to Mass - and / or visit the adoration chapel a lot should read John 6 a lot. It has 71 verses. It’s long - and is usually broken up.

A STARTING IMAGE

Let me begin with a cute and interesting image.

A small company with about 15 folks in the business operations division got a new CEO.  At the first staff meeting for these 15 folks, this CEO said he would like to have dinner with all the families of the folks working there. He thought it would be very important not just to know those he’s working with - but also their families.

This was new. This was different. 

It was this one guy’s night for the dinner. He said to his wife. You’ll  sit next to the president. We’ll have our 5 little kids at the table as well - and I’ll serve the meal. That should impress him.

The meal began and this guy’s wife asked the CEO if he wanted pot roast. “Yes” - then mashed potatoes, “Yes” - then broccoli, “Yes”. And then his wife filled the boss’ plate. Then she started cutting the CEO’s meat - till she caught herself and got totally embarrassed and red in the face.

Well, that’s a way of tackling this 6th chapter of John.

I would like to cut it up into 12 pieces and then do the same for today’s small part of the 6th chapter - cutting that into 3 parts. That’s my sort of a sermon.

It’s a method of reading scripture. Just isolate, cut out one part, and then chew on that text.

12 THEMES - 12 PIECES OF JOHN 6 TO CHEW ON AND DIGEST

First theme or piece: The Passover. It’s mentioned here in John 6:4, “Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near.” It would be wise to reflect on the Passover - the Jews passing over, escaping from Egypt into the desert and heading for the Promised Land. Christ leads us out of slavery. It’s called the New Exodus. It’s called redemption. It’s called salvation. His blood be upon us - our homes - our new lives.

Second theme or piece: Give What You Can Give. You can’t give it all or do it all - or have it all.  I heard Father Matt Allman preach on this theme just last Friday to our high school kids.

Third Theme: Step In and Step Up.  Andrew, the most important apostle in the gospels steps up from time to time and saves everything.

Fourth Step: Remember the Fish. When you read the New Testament, look for mention of the fish.  Christ is symbolized by the fish. It’s ICHXTHUS -  I stands for Jesus.

Fifth Piece: Gather up the fragments.  After all are fed, Jesus says to gather up the fragments.  We store Jesus in the tabernacle.

Sixth Piece: The New Moses - Jesus is the Prophet. He’s the new Moses.

Seventh Piece: The Crossing - Life is a cross the sea or the desert.

Eight Piece: What Are You Looking For?  This question appears several time in the gospels What are we looking for?  Jesus asked the crowd: what are you looking for?

Ninth Piece: Jesus is the Bread of Life. What are you hungering for - Regular Bread and the Eternal Bread of life.

Tenth Piece: God is Our Father - Jesus is here to lead us to the Father.

Eleventh Piece: Want to live forever?  Jesus is the food for eternal life. Eat him and you’ll live forever.

Twelfth:  The Eucharist is a Test.  Many walked away.

PART TWO: TODAY’S GOSPEL - THREE PIECES

First Piece: Two Types of Bread: regular bread and eternal life bread.  We need both.

Second Piece: We are all searchers -- Looking for, searching for, wanting.


Third Piece: We are all looking for Signs.



LIKE  HOME

Home, we’re all longing for home ….
To keep moving till homesickness
like an iceberg is well behind us.
It didn’t sink us. We have arrived.
This is me. This is my place.
We take off our shoes. We’re laughing.
We’re in a favorite chair, Alone or with
others - we’re with each other. We know:
this is it. In the meanwhile we fake it.
We look like we know. Then a moment
happens. It’s then we know. We know
we are at home. We will endure.




© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018 




April 16, 2018 



Thought for today: 

“Hell  is -  other  people!” 


Jean Paul Sartre [1905 - 1980], 
Huis-Clos (No Exit) [1944]







Sunday, April 15, 2018


WHAT’S  YOUR  TAKE  
ON  SIN?


INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 3rd Sunday of Easter  is, “What’s Your Take on Sin?”

Today’s second reading from the 1st Letter of St. John  begins this way: “My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin.”

Isn’t that one of the top concerns for parents - that worry about their kids - not to get messed up in sin -  the bad and the ugly - and miss out on the good?

ONE OF THE 5 TOP QUESTIONS PEOPLE ASK PRIESTS

One of the 5 top questions people ask priests is this: “Father, did I commit a sin?”

When I’m asked that question,  I want to say, “I don’t know. Did you?”  I want to throw the ball back into their court - which is going to be a take in this homily about sin.”

If I have time and it’s the right situation or moment, I might say something like, “Tell me more.”  And then add, “Come Holy Spirit.”

To some questions - I’m tempted to say what Jesus said when asked by someone in  a crowd: “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.”  Jesus said, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” [Luke 12: 13-14]

That’s kind of an “Ouchy” response,  but there’s some truth sitting there in that response by Jesus.

Now I don’t know if there is a list somewhere of top questions people ask priests, but I know that, “Father, did I commit a sin?” has to be one of them.

However, I know another question people ask priests and it’s definitely the # 1 question: “Father, does this count for Sunday Mass?”

We’re asked that at weddings - not in church - but at the reception - after an afternoon wedding Mass.  And somewhere in the attic or cellar of that question is the worry about sin.

BACK TO THE TITLE OF MY HOMILY: WHAT’S YOUR TAKE ON SIN?

I’ll begin by saying that sometimes people think they are committing sins - when they are not.

Then I’d say a lot of people are committing sins - and they don’t realize it - especially sins of omission - like  neglecting affirmation and affection for the people around them.

I’d also say that if someone thinks something that is not sinful is sinful then they don’t sin - even though they think it’s sinful.

However, having said that, I think that’s also an, “It all depends.”

So one of my takes on sin is:  “Sin is tricky stuff.”

What’s your take on sin?

Does every person have to go into the desert for 40 days - for example Lent every year - or 40 years and do their own homework and heart work and mind work on the reality of sin? By that I mean this: Is growing up, is forming our own conscience, all about becoming one’s own priest - one’s own deacon [that is, servant of one’s soul] -  one’s own judge - one’s own decider whether something is a sin or not?

I say 40 years - because I read something some 40 years ago that went something like this: “The greatest sin is the inability to accept  the otherness of the other person.”

I’ve been thinking about that statement for some 40 years now. It comes up when I’m dealing with someone - usually a priest - [I live with priests] - when they don’t think the way I think.

So is that the greatest sin?  I don’t know.

The Bible talks about an unforgivable sin. Mark 3: 28-30 and  Matthew 12:31-32 are quoted. Jesus seems to be saying, If someone refuses the Holy Spirit when there is a question of forgiveness going on - then they are refusing the Holy Spirit who forgives - so they are not forgiven. It’s their own choice - done by their own free will. So it’s not God who won’t forgive, but themselves who won’t accept forgiveness - for our own mistakes  or mistakes and sins or trespasses against us.

Now that’s my take on that issue of whether or not there are unforgiveable sins.  There are many other takes on that issue. It’s one of those mysterious God and self-questions.

Here’s another issue when it comes to sin.  Some 50 years ago - someone - I don’t know who the person was - told me that they don’t bring God into the picture when they are thinking about sin - when they are thinking about right and wrong. They said that they simply ask: is what I am doing here or thinking here making things better or worse for how I am doing life or how I am doing life with others.

She added - it was a woman - but I don’t  remember who: “Too many people think sin hurts God and they don’t pay attention to how sin hurts themselves and/or others. They seem to leave themselves out of the effects of sin.

Now that’s numbness. Now that’s dumbness. 

Now I think that’s something right there that I need to think about a lot more.

MESSES THINGS UP

How do you define sin?

How do you describe sin?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says the following. It's somewhat different to what that someone told me 50 years ago.

“Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity. It has been defined as ‘an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law.’” That's # 1849 in  the New Catechism 

# 1850 is also very different and much more official: “Sin is an offense against God: ‘Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight.’ Sin sets itself against God's love for us and turns our hearts away from it. Like the first sin, it is disobedience, a revolt against God through the will to become ‘like gods,’ knowing and determining good and evil. Sin is thus ‘love of oneself even to contempt of God.’ In this proud self- exaltation, sin is diametrically opposed to the obedience of Jesus, which achieves our salvation.

So is sin that and a list of things in The Baltimore Catechism which many of us were brought up with and were taught - and then become our way of seeing and thinking - that are wrong?

Yes. 

Like, “Thou shall not steal.”

Like, “Make sure you take care of your kids when they are young and your parents when they are old.”

Like, “Keep your married vows!” Better, “Love one another as I have loved you.”

Like, “Keep the Golden Rule” - don’t be doing things to others that you hate happen to you.”

I like to call sin: the mess!

A gal I know, Patricia Livingston, wrote a whole book called:  This Blessed Mess. It's an excellent read.

But when sin happens,  it doesn’t feel like a blessing.

It takes time to learn from our sins and our messes.

So sin is what messes things up  - or keeps things messy - when beauty and unity and love should  be going on.

Go back to that comment I heard some 40 years ago: “The greatest sin is the inability to accept  the otherness of the other person.”

If we spend our time at work not accepting the personality of a boss or co-worker or person we’re hired to serve - then our personality can get filled with agita - and we might become nasty or a person others can’t accept and we then bring that itchy agita onto the road or home.

Sin messes things up and messes us up.

That’s what hits God - seeing us messed up.

I think that’s part of the background Jesus saw and thought about and cried about from the cross.  Here are all these people who yelled and spat at him.

Those nasties can anesthetizes us from being nice and decent to each other.

How did the person who nailed Jesus to the cross treat his kids at supper that night?  Was he moody, silent, nasty or what?

Is that why Jesus said, “Father forgive them for they don’t know what the heck they are doing.”

CONCLUSION

We come to church - we take walks - we think while we’re driving - and hopefully in our adult relationships - we talk to each other about sin - what works, what doesn’t work.

These are just a few ideas about my take on sin - then there are all those other thoughts - like sins of omission - like how we treat our earth - our front yards  and back yards - like how we treat our bodies - health wise - like parking in the far end of the parking lot to get some extra walking in - and making parking easier for others - maybe older than us - like  becoming the person whom God and others hope we become to make life on this planet that much sweeter for each other.