NEXT TIME

The next time you’re drinking a glass of milk 

go back and look at, “Who Milks American’s 

Cows -  a video by Jim Cricchi…. 

The next time you hear someone vent about 

getting rid of all these illegals, look at the 2004 

film, “A Day Without a Mexican”  a  mockumentary by Sergio Arau ….  

The next time you hear about the round-up of

kids who are described as illegal - check out

about whether there is money to be made in

“penning” these kids …. 

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018

July 7, 2018 

Thought for today: 

“Evolution  is  fascinating to watch.  
To me it is most interesting when one can observe the evolution of a single man.” 

Shana Alexander, 

“Evolution of a Rebel Priest,” 

The Feminine Eye, 1970
Drawing by Mark Lelieveld

COUNT  THE  SILVER

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 13 Friday in Ordinary Time is, “Count The Silver.”

NEWSPAPERS

At St. Mary’s Rectory, we get four newspapers every morning: The Capital, The Baltimore Sun, The Washington Post and The New York Times.

That’s a lot of papers. That’s a lot of money. I remember as a kid that newspapers cost a few coins - dropped on the newspaper stand as the vender counted the silver coins for the papers.  Now they cost a lot more. Now there is paper money along with the silver coins.

I assume there is a long history why these papers arrive at our doorstep on Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis, Maryland every morning. 

I can see The Capital - to get the Obituaries and the Sports. I’m sure you heard the cute quip: the obituaries are an old ladies sports column.

I figure we get The Baltimore Sun because we always have had guys from Baltimore. 

I figure The Washington Post - because we’re not just local; we’re national and international.  Hey Father F. X. Murphy was stationed in St. Mary’s, Annapolis for years and he was international.

And then there is The New York Times. One of mysteries is why some people attack The New York Times. They voice the same sounds I hear when some folks attack Notre Dame and other Catholic colleges as not being Catholic. Don’t want to go there in counter comments - other than saying that.

I’m wondering how long before someone will look at our budget and say, “That’s a lot of papers.” The Baltimore Sun bought up the Capital and that means repetition. Why both papers? I’m also seeing that less and less people read the papers - like the young guys. I’m also hearing that  newspapers have cut down on staff - so the news is not that varied.

I like newspapers. I worked for The Brooklyn Eagle as a kid.  I’ve read newspapers all my life. I love it when I spot a copy of The New York Post or The New York News - because they have many sports columns.  I also love to spot a Wall Street Journal. I love their drawings and their pieces.

How about you?  What’s your take on newspapers? What’s your history and your parents history with newspapers?  Where do you get your news?

If you read the papers, what do you look at first? Sports? Obituaries? Cartoons?  Crossword puzzle? Letters to the Editor? Columnists? Sales?

Have you switched over to the Internet or TV for your news?

How serious do you feel the obligation to keep informed?

So in this homily that’s the first item I wanted to make some comments about. A homily can trigger thoughts and questions. So I hope I triggered an awareness of newspapers and where we get our news.

THIS MORNING

This morning I did what I do every morning - in general. After breakfast, I  go through those four papers we get - starting with The New York Times - first section - OP-ED pages. Then depending on time and schedule I go to the Washington Post and then if I have time I check out the Capital and the Sun.  We had a scripture professor - Father Gene McAlee -  who stressed reading the papers and compare at least the coverage on the same topic in different papers.

Then I go upstairs to my room and if I have to get together a homily for the morning, I read the readings for today. This morning,  I wanted  to get some thoughts for a homily this morning here at Heritage Harbor.

SILVER

The first reading from Amos has part of a sermon or blast from Amos, “We will buy the lowly man for silver, and the poor man for a pair of sandals, even the refuse of the wheat we will sell.” [Check Amos 8: 4-6, 9-12.]

I put the text down and asked myself,  “Didn’t I just read something about silver in the Capital or was it the Sun or was it the Post or was it the Times?”

I went back downstairs to our common room where the papers are. I went searching for wherever I saw the word “Silver”.

I started with the Capital. No luck. I went to the Sun. No luck.  I went to the Washington Post. No luck. I was sure it wasn’t in The New York Times.

It was in The New York Times - and it was in the title of the Main Editorial Column. There were the words, “Count the Silver.”

I paused and asked myself,  “What does that mean? Where does that  phrase, “Count the silver” come from?”  I said to myself, “I’ve heard that phrase.”

The column didn’t explain it. Then it hit me - the obvious: when someone or so and so visits our house, count the silver,

The Editorial was about Scott Pruitt - and yes - that was their take on him. Count the silver.

Then I felt the big regret - as priest I try not to talk politics. I don’t want to talk about what party I belong to - nor for  whom I’m voting for.  So I try to be careful about the pulpit and politics.

Next I felt the big thing I have felt in this past year or so: a lot of this stuff is not politics - but it’s morality.

Uh, this is tricky stuff.

I follow the principal of avoiding the bully pulpit.

Translation for me: if someone doesn’t have a chance to answer back, don’t speak about XYZ.

Then the thought: maybe speak up and out - when there is a critical Mass about current issues we need to deal with.  I have spoken up at various Masses about a few issues that were current - that I thought needed speaking out about - and some people expected something should be said from the pulpit. Other people screamed, “No!”  I got uproar one Sunday.

LISTEN TO AMOS

Nevertheless, Amos is speaking up and out about injustice in today’s first reading.

I believe we need to do what Karl Barth said: Take your Bible and put it on the table. Next take your newspaper and open it up and put it on the table. Now having looked at both,  write your sermon.

Next, I will say loud and clear that you could take Amos and open it up to today’s readings and then open up today’s paper and read about the money laundering, the EPA being stripped of regulations  - and now the new guy - who right now will take Pruitt’s place, is a lobbyist right now from the Coal Industry.

To me, the same thing that happened in Amos times, is happening now. It seems to me that money, silver, getting more money is the goal.

It costs money to stop or cut down on emissions and pollution.  It would certainly be cheaper to have deregulation.  I would assume that there are lobbyists out there who want to cut back on such rules.

I remember the first time I was in a car - crossing the border from Nogales, Arizona, USA and going into  Mexico. I noticed immediately, how the cars cough a lot more pollution in Mexico - than in Arizona.  Next I read that these guys at the top of EPA want to cut down on  Auto Emissions testing. As stated, to filter out pollution costs  money - and that silver goes into the pockets of the rich - and not in emission filters for the lungs of the all.

So what was happening in Amos’ time is happening in our time.

CONCLUSION GOSPEL

This sermon has gotten too long. You can change the channel,  You can put down a paper, but you can’t shut up the preacher.

I think this is enough. I preached on newspapers and some stuff on money as a motive for doing unhealthy things.

In today’s gospel, Matthew 9: 9-13  calls for mercy not sacrifice.

In today’s gospel Matthew tells us that Jesus came to call us sinners.

Maybe by admitting that we’re all sinners - that we all contradict ourselves in so many ways - so let’s work together to make life sweeter for each other. Amen.

July 6, 2018

ALLEYS

Try alleys once and a while.

We take the same street or

road or path every day. Try

an alley once and a while.

Why?  Why not? Maybe we’ll

meet a relative who’s been lost

a long time now and because of

us they are found big time big.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018

July 6, 2018 - 

Thought for today: 

“Much has been written  about the beauty, 

the stillness, the terror of the desert 

but little about its flies.”  

Belle Livingston, Belle Out of Order, 1959.

July 5, 2018 

Thought for today: 

“There are two things  that  will be believed of any man whatsoever, and one of them is that he has taken to drink.”  

Booth Tarkington [1869-1946]

Penrod (1914) Chapter 10.

July 5, 2018

PROPOSAL

There are those who don't believe 

in ceremony, rituals or what have you - 

moments like prayers before meals. 

If they're married, ask them how their

proposal went: then ask them again 

if they still don’t  believe in ritual. 

What about weddings, wakes and funerals? 

What about birthdays and anniversaries? 

What about all those times we were 
waiting to hear a, "Thanks!" or a "I'm sorry!"? 

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018

July 4, 2018

FIREWORKS

Some people sparkle;

some people dud.

Some people light up the sky;

some people fizzle.

Some people are hot dogs;

some people are buns.

Some people are watermelons;

some people are a cold one.

Me?  I’m must be me and you’re just you.

Together let’s enjoy the picnic

and go “Wow!” with the fireworks
and enjoy the gifts of life together. Amen.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018

July 4, 2018 

Thought for today: 

“’One sacred memory  from childhood is perhaps the best education,’ said Feodor Dostoevski. I believe that, and I hope that many Earthling children will respond to the first human footprint on the moon as a sacred thing. We need sacred things.”  

Kurt Vonnegut, 

Wampeters, Forma, 

and Grandfalloons, 1974

Moon footprint: July 20, 1969

*

IF  IN  DOUBT, 

SPEAK  UP  
AND OUT  YOUR  DOUBT!  

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “If In Doubt, Speak Up And Out Your Doubt!”

Spit out. Doubt!

Today is the feast of St. Thomas - and he’s famous because of his doubt.

Hey, we don’t know too much about some of the other apostles - apostles like Barthomew, Simon the Canaanite  - [not Simon Peter], James The less, Jude, [not Judas] - also known as Thaddeus.

But we do know about Thomas - mainly because of his doubt.

And when it comes to religion, there are lots of silent doubts - unexpressed doubts - theological wonderings.  

Thomas gets sort of picked on by Jesus - for being the doubter. Then  Jesus uses him to praise those who make great acts of faith.

As we heard as the ending to today’s gospel, “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

THE VALUE OF DOUBTERS

In this homily, I’m giving praise to those who doubt.

Do we have enough milk? Did anyone make sure the widows are closed?  Is the restaurant open on Monday evenings? Who’s in charge of making the reservations? 

Maybe Flint Michigan would not have  had so much lead problems with their water - if the city manager and those in charge did regular checkups.

Catholic Dioceses would have saved millions and millions of dollars if someone checked out their doubts about Father So and So.

A big benefit from the abuse problem in the Catholic Church is that parents keep a better eye on who’s trying to be with their kids. We took a horrible hit - kids getting hurt - and lots of folks not going to church because of the sins and bad example of others. Any of you who have volunteered for school and  teaching kids know you have to be certified. It’s a pain at times, but this doubt culture is protecting kids better.

In other words, having doubts can sometimes have benefits.

A FEW COMMENTS AND A FEW QUOTES

Galileo said, “Doubt is the father of discovery.”  If those in charge - of the thought police in the Catholic Church - would have had some doubts about their sureness that  Galileo was wrong, maybe we wouldn’t have been tagged as being so unscientific.

I love the saying - by someone named Francis Sayer , “Religion isn’t yours  firsthand until you doubt it right down to the ground.” Francis Sayer, Life magazine,  April 2, 1965

That fits in with Isaac Bashevis Singer’s comment, “Doubt is part of all religion.  All the religious thinkers were doubters.”

Rene Descartes wrote, “If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things”  He said that in Principles of Philosophy, 1644.

But I better add that we need also to have doubts about our doubts.  I say that because when I was looking up ideas and comments about doubts the following  statement by a John Hutchinson, in Faith, Reason and Existence, 1956, hit me, “ There is  a measure of truth in the traditional doctrine that … all doubt is at bottom a dishonest rationalization of sin.”

CONCLUSION

That brings me full circle. 

So today  we celebrate the memory and the story of Saint Thomas the Apostle - which I believe is saying, “It’s good to have faith - but we’re also allowed to have doubts - and hopefully our doubts bring us find faith - especially in the wounds of Christ and the realities of life around us.

___________________

* Painting on top: The Incredulity of Saint Thomas [1601-1602] by Caravaggio (1571-1610)

July 3, 2018

BENCH

Single chair - bench - or couch?

A bench - as well as a couch -

says a lot more than a single chair.

Picture a couple on a park bench -

snuggling - or a grandpa reading

to his grand-kid on a couch.

Now picture an individual all alone

sitting there reading a paper or a

Pharisee sitting there far off - alone -  inwardly

complaining about Jesus with a dozen kids.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018

July 3, 2018

Thought for today: 

“Any life … is made up  of a single moment - the moment in which a person finds out … who they are.”  

Jorge L. Borges

Homework: 

Jot down 

10 possible single

moments

and then pick

# 1 - that fits a

Jorge L. Borges

single moment.

July 2, 2018 

A  GRAIN  OF  SALT 

A couple of grains of salt 

were talking - wondering 

where they would end up. 

Me, I ended up on a big pretzel - 

a German one - not bad, but 

the licker really didn't taste me. 

Ah, that’s life, at least I 

didn’t end up being thrown 

out and trampled under foot. 

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018

Cf. Matthew 5: 13

SOME TOUGH WORDS FOR TODAY

 INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 13^th  Monday in Ordinary Time is, “Some Tough Words for Today.”

Both our readings have some tough words and challenges.

I’m sure the listeners - to Amos from 780 -745 B.C.  and to Jesus - around the year 33 - listened with “Uh Oh!”  feelings.

AMOS

Amos spoke out about how people were treating people.  People were selling people for silver or a pair of sandals. The weak and the lowly were trampled and forced out of the way.

That comment triggered something a priest I had worked with in Wisconsin once told  me. He was working in Nigeria. The army would come down busy streets in jeeps and trucks. The military with hard black hoses would hit people who were in their way on both sides of the road.

Amos said fathers and sons would go to the same prostitute. People would curse each other using God’s name. People would be drinking in God’s house.

Prophets would preach politics.

If Amos was around today - and preached what he was preaching  - there would be uproar. There would be screams to keep politics out of religion. There would be letters to the Bishop and to the Editor of the Local Papers.

JESUS PREACHED ABOUT SEEING MORE THAN JUST THE FLOWERS OF THE FIELD

That’s Amos. Now Jesus.

I’m sure you have heard the phrase: the hard sayings of Jesus.

In today’s gospel Jesus seems hard on people by saying “Let the dead bury their dead.”

Jesus cried when Lazarus died.

But Jesus also knew that some folks get caught up in death - and can’t rise to new life.

Death and burials in the time of Jesus were  much, much more difficult than our times.

Listen to these statistics. I found the following quote on page 211 of Bruce Malina and Richard Rohrbaug’s book, Social-Science Commentary on the Synoptic Gospels.

In the Mediterranean basin in Jesus time, “By the mid-teens 60 % would have died, by the mid-twenties 75 %, and 90 % by the mid-forties. Perhaps 3 percent  reached their sixties.”

I visited Israel in the year 2000. As a result, I picture much of the land when I read or hear the Bible - when it talks about Palestine.  So too I remember that text I quoted from Bruce Malina and Richard Rohrbaug’s book.

It would be difficult to picture this, but when Jesus was looking at people like I’m looking at you today, most of the crowd was young and most had experienced a lot of deaths.

Jesus must have seen a lot of people down in the dumps with their deaths.

Here he is telling people bury your dead and move on.

When people tell me about keeping ashes in their house - I just listen.  I am aware that some people have heard some priest say, “You’re not allowed to do that.”

I think they have to learn to bury their dead and move on - but I keep my mouth shut. I believe people have to learn some things by experience.

I remember our provincial saying to me when I was the priest at my mother’s funeral, “I don’t know how you could do your mother’s funeral!” That surprised me. I said nothing. But I thought. “Of course I’m doing it - even though she was killed in a hit and run accident. This is what one does and one moves on.”

Of course we mourn and cry, but we move on.  We don’t stay in locked upper rooms - like when Jesus was arrested and killed - but Jesus rises from the dead - comes through our walls - says “Peace” and “Go!” and “Move it.”

CONCLUSION

The title of my homily for today is, “Some Tough Words for Today.”

I find them quite challenging. How about you?

IS  EVERYBODY  HAPPY?

July 2, 2018

Thought for today: 

“The life of every man  is  a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another, and his humblest hour is when he compares the volume as it is with what he vowed to make it.” 

James M. Barrie

IRRITABLE  BRAIN  DISORDER

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 13^th Sunday in Ordinary Time [B]  is, “Irritable Brain Disorder.”

It’s summer - and in the days before air conditioners - sermons were often dropped on Sundays - during the summer. 

If I’m right - that’s not an issue anymore. 

In fact, if I’m hearing correctly, folks expect a sermon - or homily - not too long - but something to chew on - to think about - and talk about in the car on the way home - as part of the Sunday liturgy.

I also think - folks sometimes expect something - from the pulpit about things happening out there - especially recent  big things.

PROCEED WITH CAUTION

At that I hear three words: “Proceed with Caution.”

I’d add: “Proceed with thought.”

Proceed with the realization that everyone has realizations about motives - what’s going on - what they are reading - what their news sources are.

IRRITABLE

I’m picking up that people are irritable - right now - more than usual.

And it’s not just the heat - the summer heat.

The irritation that probably triggered my thoughts for today - hit  me on Friday and Saturday.  People were irritated that no clergy from St. Mary’s were at the gatherings - the services - for those who were killed here in Annapolis - at 888 Bestgate - the offices of our newspaper: The Capital - now the Capital Gazette.

We got some calls. “How come there were no clergy  at the Mall on Friday evening near the Pottery Barn?”

Father Charlie on Friday evening was  there. Then 5 priests were down near the water where the so called “religious service” was being held. Father Ronnie Bonneau was at the mike for part of that service.

Yet people complained. I had a wedding practice at 6 to 6:45 here at St. Mary’s and then I went down to Kallas for a wake - for one our parishioners from 7:15 - to 8:05  - so I was glad our priests were invited and were there.

Complaints - like sandpaper - can rub my brain the wrong way - some times.

Next - ever since news about this shooting happened - I was listening - like everyone else - for motive.

That’s another place where the “irritable” hit me.

This guy seemed irritated - irritated for years now - as reporters are speculating - in trying to discover motive.

Next I began wondering - if there is a lot more irritation - going on in our world - right now.  More than usual….

Irritation about immigration - especially the children and family separations .  Irritation about politics. Irritation about taking sides. Liberal - Conservatives - Republicans - Democrats - Independents - Socialists - Right - Left - Abortion - Pro Life - Pro Choice - Pro TV Channels.

Turn on the news and one hears about demonstrations - lots of demonstrations.

So once again the question or the wondering: Are the irritations more than usual?

PULPIT

My position is that words from the pulpit can irritate folks - can help folks - or have no impact on folks.

I also hope that - out of another’s mouth preaching - triggers inner brain preaching - of listeners.

Yet I try to be aware of what cards I’m playing  - knowing that sometimes if you say something - it irritates some folks - and if you say nothing - you irritate some folks.

What is the role of the preacher: to challenge, to soothe, to calm, to get folks to step back, to get folks to step forward, to get crucified, to rise.

TITLE: IRRITABLE BRAIN DISORDER

The title of my homily is, Irritable Brain Disorder. I made that up last night as I was working on this homily.

We’ve all heard of Irritable Bowel Syndrome - ugh - and that can last for years.

This morning I got the thought: I wonder if there is such a thing as Irritable Brain Disorder.

Surprise I discovered there is such a thing called Irritable Brain Syndrome.

Surprise one of the big specialists on this is a Doctor Bendover, OD, MS, PhD. He says it’s an addiction and it’s described as follows: “the relentless repeating, pulling, or downing of a substance or any activity that becomes so compulsive it ultimately interferes with everyday life.” 

That statement was an eye-opener.

Are some  people irritable because they constantly rub into their eyes and brains the  same TV programs - keep rubbing into their brain - the same complaints about another or their past or their mistakes or their jobs or their children or their parents or their neighbors  - on and on and on and on and on.  

Negativities - sins - can be like drones - sin drones - flying around  inside our brain all the time - and they become irritable - itchy - witchy - needing healing and conversion. Picky. Picky. Picky. Scratch. Scrath. Scratch.

Now that has to be what all of us want help with and a sermon on - now and then.

TODAY’S READINGS

A homily is supposed to be reflections coming out of the scripture readings.

Today’s first reading from Wisdom begins, “God did not make death, not does he rejoice in the destruction of the living.”

Of course not…. Yet death is part of life.  Yet people become irritable because of death - the death of loved ones and the reality of our death.

I was talking with a lady at the wake I was at on Friday evening. The lady who had died, had a lot of years of cancer, but she dealt with it  well. Then this lady mentioned an aunt who was never in the hospital her whole life. She didn’t have kids. She went into the hospital in her 90’s and she became quite irritable. I blurted out, “Uh oh, I’m 78 and I’ve never been in the hospital overnight in my life. Uh oh!”

Obvious question: What makes us irritable?

Today’s first reading ends with an  enigmatic comment: “But by the envy of the devil, death entered the world, and they who belong to his company experience it.

Is envy the or a key cause of irritability?

Today’s second reading from 2^nd Corinthians urges us to excel in being gracious.  Learn how to empty ourselves of our feelings of richness and become poor to give of our abundance to those who need our gifts and richness.

Today’s gospel presents the story of two people whom Jesus heals.

Pick one. Be like the young girl whom everyone thinks is dead - and let Jesus heal us - so we can start dancing again. Or be like the lady in the crowd who suffered from blood problems - probably women’s problems - for 12 years - and reach out and touch the garments of Christ - to be healed of any of our human problems - especially those that make us irritable.

When you walk up the aisle today to receive communion - reach out and receive Christ - touch him - let Christ touch and heal you. Let Christ come to you.

Hear Jesus say in Aramaic, his native language, “Talitha koum” - which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!”

CONCLUSION

The title of my homily is, “Irritable Brain Disorder.”

The message: Stop being a pain in the brain. Smile.

July 1, 2018

BILLBOARD

A high school put up an electronic billboard.

Hey - it was right on a main intersection.

Kids were asked to come up with messages -

one a day - and the whole school voted on it.

One day - they picked my message: “Everyone

is a billboard. What am I saying with my life?”

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018