Trash talk.
Apples and oranges.
Saturday, May 26, 2018
RECOVERY
Recovery is a season,
not a one day resolution
or a blurted out promise -
because of a dirty ongoing disaster.
It takes time.
Even if it’s autumn or winter,
it’s a springtime ….
It’s when birds return,
when green begins to bud,
when windows are umphed open,
and if we want tomatoes in season,
we need to get out and hoe,
dig and plant and water
and put up fence
to keep out the rabbits.
©
Andy Costello, Reflections 2018
Friday, May 25, 2018
May 25, 2018
PRAYER …. BLUR
Trying to pray
here on the edge
of blur - waiting in
the quiet -
sitting sort of in
the shadows
of my life - sorting
out nexts -
knowing - that
sometimes -
because of similar
moments
in my past - YOU come
around the corner -
like a car coming up
a dark street
at two or three in
the morning ….
© Andy Costello, Reflections
2018
May 24, 2018
I BELIEVE IN THE INVISIBLE
INTRODUCTION
The title and theme of my homily for this St. Mary’s High School Graduation Mass is, “I Believe In The Invisible.”
I believe in the invisible.
Guess what? Everybody does.
We also believe - better - we know the visible - what we see and taste and touch and smell and hear - in other words what we sense.
But my homily is on, “I Believe In The Invisible.”
AN ARTICLE
I got the idea for the question I want to address this morning from an article I read two days ago about atheists. We were up in Malvern Retreat House with our Juniors - just like you graduates were there last year at this time. Ginny got sick a bit, so we had some extra time. It was then I spotted some magazines. This one magazine had an article on Atheism - and being a priest I would obviously want to check that out.
I recommend: “Don’t forget magazines.” Pick them up when you’re on planes or in doctor's offices. Find the lead article or any article that grabs your interest.
The article was entitled, “Spiritual Literature For Atheists” by Francis Spufford. It was in First Things Magazine, November 2015.
The article begins with a story about Richard Dawkins - who sees himself as a militant atheist. It begins with a moment when Richard Dawkins is on stage. He just finishes a talk and the following happens in the Question and Answer period. Someone asks him why people’s conviction of the presence of God doesn’t count as data.
His answer to that question was, “Oh, all sorts of funny things happen in people’s heads. But you can’t measure them, so they don’t mean anything.”
That hit my button - especially those last words, “... so they don’t mean anything.”
We have buttons - all of us - but buttons are invisible.
What are your buttons?
ONE OF MY EARLIEST MEMORIES
One of my earliest memories has to do with the visible and the invisible. It took place in the front room of our house. My dad was sitting there reading the newspaper in his favorite chair.
I’m on the other side of the room looking at a collection of brown covered books on two shelves. It was a whole series that my dad had bought or got somewhere. I’m paging through a book entitled, Best Loved Poems of the English Language.
Surprise! I open up to a page that has a dark red - dried - rose petal.
I had never seen this reality before: a rose petal in a book.
It had mystery and question.
I didn’t touch the rose petal - lest it crumble or fall apart. I knew enough to realize this.
I took the book in both hands. I left it open to the page the rose petal was seated. Like in an offertory procession I walked carefully to my dad and said, “What is this?”
He put down his paper - looked at the open book - saw the rose petal - smiled - paused - and said, “Memories.”
My dad was seeing the invisible and he remembered what he saw with a great smile.
THE BRAIN - THE MEMORIES
There are millions of memories in our brain - invisible scenes - triggered by the visible.
Our graduating class will come back to St. Mary’s 10, 20 years from now and walk into classrooms - go through our macadam parking lot - still probably filled with cars and car problems.
Memories of teachers, classmates, moments here will come flying through the air.
As Charles Dickens book, A Tale of Two Cities begins, “It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.”
Memories.
High School classrooms are filled with memories since 1946 when St. Mary’s High School opened.
THIS CHURCH
Or take this church.
It’s filled with the invisible.
If you walked into this church at 4 PM - and you walked in alone - and you had been here when you were young - you’d be hit with memories. If you sat in a bench or walked around - the invisible in this room - in this space - could be like a tsunami wave of history hitting a beach - hitting you.
The invisible can be loud and clear - like a fire engine come roaring down Duke of Gloucester Street.
If you opened up any of the three confessionals off to the side - along the walls, out would pour millions and millions of sins.
If you stood up here in the sanctuary - right there [POINT] - you would see and you could hear thousands and thousands of couples saying their marriage vows. Often couples drop in here and point to the front of the church and say, “We were married here, 27 or 52 years ago.
Right there thousands and thousands and thousands of babies were baptized. Right there on the altar [POINT] after baptisms for the past 12 years or so I have couples put their baby on the altar - put their hand on their baby - and I say, “I’m trying to connect baptism to the Mass - so standing there where the priest stands at the altar facing out - with your hand on your baby please repeat after me, ‘This is my body - this is my body - this is my blood - this is my blood - we’re giving our life to you.’”
Then I say, “This is the sacrifice of the Mass. This is sacrifice of a life of giving oneself to one’s kids.”
Right there [POINT] in front of that first front bench a mother of a bride two years ago - while they were taking pictures after a wedding - she fell over and died - and right there a few days later - in that space 10 feet away she was in a casket for her funeral Mass. Tough stuff.
Tough stuff repeated. Many funerals have taken place in this sacred place since way back to 1858.
Years ago - there are pictures in Robert Warden’s sesquicentennial history of Saint Mary’s Church - 1853-2003 - of this church filled with midshipmen from the Naval Academy. They marched up here for prayer - and Mass.
What have been their invisible memories from this sacred space and place?
This church is filled with thousands and thousands of sermons. Okay, some like this one might put you asleep.
Words - words - words…. Does anyone remember what was said?
This church is filled with a million tears and prayers.
Packed in here - as many as the stars in the sky - many more than the stars on our ceiling.
These benches you’re sitting in - these very uncomfortable benches - are filled with memories of all the people who sat here and been here - asking for help - saying “Thank You” to God for blessings - giving God the glory.
CONCLUSION
In other words, “I Believe In the Invisible.”
In other words, “Savor the Moments of Life.”
In other words as Jeremiah said in our first reading, "God has plans for us."
In other words as Psalm 139 put it, "God is near."
In other words as Paul said in today's second reading from Philippians, "God is our strength."
In other words as today's gospel from Matthew put it, "Be salt and light to our world."
That's all to be done - to be in our future. And future is invisible, but ....
In other words as Jeremiah said in our first reading, "God has plans for us."
In other words as Psalm 139 put it, "God is near."
In other words as Paul said in today's second reading from Philippians, "God is our strength."
In other words as today's gospel from Matthew put it, "Be salt and light to our world."
That's all to be done - to be in our future. And future is invisible, but ....
In other words, today is one day, one moment, to pause and realize there is more - much more to life - than what meets the eye.
Go forth from here and make more memories with the skills and knowledge you picked up here at St. Mary’s and from your life here in the Annapolis area of life. Amen.
Thursday, May 24, 2018
May 24, 2018
BOOK STORE
Words, words everywhere
and not a drop to drink ….
I stood at the shelves
thirsting for something ….
The right title, the right book,
the right combination of words ….
Something, an answer, a hint,
till I finally - gave up …. and
they had cards up front and
none of them helped as well ….
So I guess the word, the message
is, “I have to turn to you.” Oh God….
© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018
Monday, May 21, 2018
May 23, 2018
Reflections
Reflections
UNSPOKEN CONVERSATIONS -
LETTERS NEVER SENT
LETTERS NEVER SENT
There have been too
many conversations
I had with so and so … but they were never
spoken to or at them
- only inside my mind.
There have been letters
that I wrote but never
sent to them. They
were crumbled, ripped up
and tossed into the
waste paper basket.
And I was taught - and
always thought - unspoken words, crumbled, or deleted words -never spoken or sent, would ever hurt anyone.
Little did I know, wastepaper
words, unspoken
feelings can’t remain
silent. They become my
face –
my scowl - my itch – my twitch.
They become a virus
in my random access memory.
Does unconscious
speak to unconscious – and the
other knows – without
knowing - the unspoken, the unsaid?
© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018
Sunday, May 20, 2018
HAVE FAITH
INTRODUCTION
The title of my homily for this feast of Pentecost - 50
days after Easter - is, “Have Faith.”
When I read today's readings and that theme hit me, I said to myself, "What? Where is that coming from?"
So here goes. Let me try to explain.
When I read today's readings and that theme hit me, I said to myself, "What? Where is that coming from?"
So here goes. Let me try to explain.
LARRY
A classmate of mine in August of 1966, said something to
me that has had an impact on my life
ever since.
Larry and I - as well as 13 other guys - were
ordained priests in June of the year
before.
I’m talking to Larry a year later and he says to me,
“Wow! I just realized I’ve been preaching the same sermon every weekend for the
past year. I’ve been saying to folks, ‘Have faith.’”
Then he paused and said, “I guess I was talking to
myself. I guess I need faith - deeper faith.”
So I asked myself, “What have I been preaching on?”
I didn’t have an answer as clear as his answer. I didn’t
know.
I still don’t know after almost 53 years.
Do I have the same message - week after week after week - all these years?
I do have some answers - as well as various questions - about what I'm about and what I'm preaching.
I still don’t know after almost 53 years.
Do I have the same message - week after week after week - all these years?
I do have some answers - as well as various questions - about what I'm about and what I'm preaching.
HAVE FAITH
In a way I’ve thought about that “Have faith” question
and answer a bit.
I thought about that moment with Larry when I read the first possible gospel for this
feast. [Cf. John 20:19-23]
It says, “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and
whose sins you retain are retained.”
That hit me. However, I like the translation “hold on to” better than the word “retain” or “krateo” in Greek.
That hit me. However, I like the translation “hold on to” better than the word “retain” or “krateo” in Greek.
To forgive another's sins.... Now that’s quite a power - to be a priest and forgive sins in
the name of God.
From time to time while hearing confessions, I’ve found
myself saying - especially when giving absolution, “Wow this is quite a belief
- that I am forgiving sins - here in
confession - because of sins that took place out there in homes, on the
street or at work.”
It’s a scary thought. In reality, I’m making that act of faith and
absolving this person of their sins in a confessional.
That’s quite a belief.
Then I wonder, “Does this person confessing his or her sins believe? Do they make an act of faith - that their
sins are forgiven?"
This is quite an act of faith by two people.
Pinch me!
This is quite an act of faith by two people.
Pinch me!
Then it hits me: do we realize we all have the power to
forgive sins - or to hold onto sins - out there at home, on the street, or at
work.
I have learned that with or without the sacrament of
penance and confessionals - people hold onto hurts or mistakes they have made
or were made on them - all their life.
Or at some point they make peace with their mistakes or their hurts.
Or at some point they make peace with their mistakes or their hurts.
Come Holy Spirit - bring forgiveness into our homes and
our hearts and minds.
Help this person coming to confession make this act of faith and accept forgiveness.
In other words, "Have faith!"
In other words, "Have faith!"
MANY SUCH MOMENTS - CALLING FOR ACTS
OF FAITH
As human beings we need to make many acts of faith in
life.
This is good water. This is good lettuce - I just read
the label. These other drivers are decent drivers. These school kids will not be shot today.
As human beings we have to make many acts of faith each day.
As priest I make many acts of faith.
For example, I stand here in this church - at that altar right there [POINT] and at the moment of consecration I say, “Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my body, which will be given up for you.”
For example, I stand here in this church - at that altar right there [POINT] and at the moment of consecration I say, “Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my body, which will be given up for you.”
Then, “In a similar way, when supper is ended, he took
the chalice and, once more giving thanks, he gave it to his disciples saying,
‘Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my blood,
the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and
for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me.’”
This is quite an act of faith we make at Mass - when we believe the bread
and the wine become the body and blood of Christ.
I make that act of faith. You make that act of faith.
Over a billion people in the world - who name and claim themselves as Catholics
make that act of faith - those going to church and those not going to church.
In fact, many of those who drop out of church - come back
because this is what they are missing: the body and blood of Christ.
In fact, our Pope, Francis, and many others are wrestling
with this question of intercommunion - as in couples who are married and one
say is Lutheran and the other is Roman Catholic - both of whom have faith - why
can’t they both receive Communion when they come to Mass together?
Faith - have faith - is a big question dealing with very
big questions.
I think this evening of those 10 people who were shot and
killed in Sante Fe - Holy Faith - Texas.
We hear people say they have gone home to God or they are with God - and
they are with those who have gone before us.
Now that’s a great act of faith - this belief in life after
death - because Christ has risen from the dead.
St. Paul makes that act of faith central to
Christianity. He says in 1st
Corinthians 15 that if Christ did not rise from the dead, we’re all a bunch of
fools. Our baptism means nothing.
Listen to Paul in 1 Corinthians 15: 17-19, “If Christ has
not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins."
Then Paul continues, "And what is more serious all who have died in Christ have perished."
More, "If our hope in Christ has been for this life only, we are the most unfortunate of all people."
Then Paul continues, "And what is more serious all who have died in Christ have perished."
More, "If our hope in Christ has been for this life only, we are the most unfortunate of all people."
COME HOLY SPIRIT
Those of us who have faith in Jesus Christ - make
tremendous acts of faith.
We believe in realities that people think we’re crazy for
believing in.
We pray for more faith.
We pray for more faith.
Come Holy Spirit.
Today, Pentecost, we’re praying for more faith - for more
of the Spirit.
In the first reading for today, Acts 2: 1-11 - the disciples were hiding
out in the upper room, scared and afraid, and a strong driving wind blew into
that house and filled it - and tongues, splashes - as if they were of fire
filled each of them - and they were filled with the Holy Spirit of God - and
they went out into big crowds of people and spoke in the languages of everyone
there - people from everywhere - Galileans from where they were from - Parthians, Medes, Elamites, Romans, people from Crete and Arabs. All heard all.
All understood all.
Right now, this Pentecost - people around the world - in
all kinds of languages are hearing today’s second reading - 1 Corinthians 12: 3b-7, 12-13. It states that we cannot say, “’Jesus is Lord,’
except by the Holy Spirit.”
They are hearing we are one body - with many parts and
many gifts - because we have all been given to drink of the one Spirit.
CONCLUSION
This homily has gotten too long, so let me wrap it up this way.
The title and theme of my homily for today is, “Have Faith.”
The title and theme of my homily for today is, “Have Faith.”
I’m saying that we have faith because of the Holy Spirit.
In the first book of the Bible we hear that God formed us
from the mud and clay of the earth like a sculptor and then breathed his Spirit
- RUAH - in Hebrew - into us.
When we let go of that Spirit, that Breath of God - we
die during our life - and at the end of our life.
So every day - pray, "Come Holy Spirit".
So every day - when you pray, breathe in, breathe out,
breathe out evil - bad spirits - and breathe in the fresh breath of God. Amen.
May 20, 2018
CARDS FROM LONG AGO
CARDS FROM LONG AGO
She told me - when she gets lonely,
she gets out the cards
he gave her from long ago.
Then she added
the best part of the story.
When his eyes were almost
gone - when he couldn’t read,
he’d ask the card store lady
to read the words inside
out loud, till he heard
a really good one.
© Andy Costello, Reflections
2018
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