December 22, 2018

GLUE

Wouldn’t it be neat if we could reach

for a small tube or bottle of invisible

glue - that we could rub onto the soul

of an angry family member - or another -

who won't connect with or who feels 

cut off from his or her family or group? 

Well, surprise, there is such a glue.

Its contents are meeting together,

presence, talking, listening, listening

some more, crying, remembering,

compromise, prayer and acceptance.

Its brand name is:  FORGIVENESS.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018

December 22, 2018 

Thought for today: 

“Thou shalt not spread my word with the sword.” 

Colin Powell

December 21, 2018

WINTER

Water in the pond and the lake

turning to ice - cold moving up

the street into our house and

into our bones - winter is here.

Appreciating big warm blankets,

radiators, the sound of heat pipes

clanking and banging, knowing

here we are till at least March.

Winter - grey mists and then

white snow…. Even if Christ

wasn’t born on December 25,

it was a very good choice.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018

THIN  PLACES

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Thin Places.”

In Celtic Spirituality - aspects of which come out  of  middle Europe - and moved to Ireland and Scotland, there is a phrase, “Thin Places” or “Caol Áit”.

Probably, because both of today’s readings begin in the great outdoors, I thought of “Thin Places” when I read the first from the Song of Songs and the second, the gospel,  from Luke.

When I’m not too clear about what something means - like “thin places”, one way I learn about the unknown, is  to preach about that unknown topic.

So I did some Google research and came up with some ideas and words about  “Thin Places.”

DESCRIPTION

Gaelic - which includes Scotland and Ireland - and many islands off the coast of both these countries have sacred places - beautiful places - where people feel God’s presence.

If a place is too busy, too noisy, too self-centered, that would be called  a thick place.

Now there are also other places called “thin places” - and your thin places can be different than my thin places.

There is a Celtic saying that  goes like this: “Heaven and earth are only three feet apart, but in thin places that distance is even shorter.”

Let me repeat that, because if you get that, you can begin to get what Celtic spirituality means by, “Thin Places.”

“Heaven and earth are only three feet apart, but in thin places that distance is even shorter.”

In Celtic Spirituality - and hopefully in Italian and Spanish, and German and Filipino Spirituality, hopefully the message is that God is here - closer than 3 feet away.

We come to church - to get in touch by God and to touch God.

After reading up about this last night, I heard that if we get in touch with God here, we can get in touch with God out there.

SOME EXAMPLES

Let me give some examples of “Thin Places” - places where God breaks through or where a sense of God can happen.

In a nursing home a person is in a bed with tubes and they are breathing hard and there is their spouse - in silence - in semi-darkness - holding their spouse’s hand as well as God’s hand. That could be a thin place.

When I’m in a funeral home and the body is in a casket and there is a kneeler there before the body,  I reach down and say one Hair Mary on one rosary bead in the dead person’s hand.  That has often been a God moment for me. Now I can call that a thin place.

When I meet a  mom with a new baby in one of those baby carriers, I like to say, “Can I see your baby.” She unzips or unsnaps the hood, and shows me a 6 week old baby. That is often a thin place.

In the movie City Slickers, Billy Crystal is at a camp fire with a bunch of guys on a western vacation. They talk about the moment a kid goes to his first Major League baseball game with his dad. They walk through the dark underbelly of a major league ball park. Then they go up through the tunnel. They see blue sky and they come out and see that great green grass, the people, the players practicing, and they go “Wow” with awe. For me seeing that moment on the screen was a thin place.

It’s Thanksgiving - my sister-in-law is sitting there looking around the room. She sees all her kids and their husbands and their kids - laughing and being with each other - and she says pointing to her kids, “This is what makes it all worthwhile.” That could be a thin place.

TODAY - DECEMBER 21^ST, IN NEWGRANGE IRELAND

Today, December 21^st, in Newgrange, Ireland, a small group of people go into this prehistoric cave like dwelling. It was under a mound or a small hill. It’s  dated back to 3200 B.C. There is a 10 year waiting list to get in there today.

A shaft of light goes through one opening - to the center of the mound - and it goes directly to the other side and out an opening.

It’s a sacred moment - on this day - the shortest day of the year - when we have more darkness than light - and then we move into winter - as we move towards the spring and more light.

This building is older than Stonehenge in England or the pyramids in Egypt.

In Celtic spirituality the dark is feminine - like in the womb - as mothers long to bring a child into the light of the world.

Mary - from her dark womb - brings Christ the Light of the World - into the world.

In today’s gospel she moves with haste into the hill country to be with Elizabeth who is filled with her baby as well. She runs like the lover in today’s first reading from the Song of Songs - and all of creation - bursts, flowers, the winter is over.  The Holy Spirit has touched Mary as well. Elizabeth says the words of the Hail Mary, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.

It was a thin place between Mary and Elizabeth as they held each other in God.

So thin places are more than places. They can be moments - when we sense the presence of God - moments when we are in the presence of God - and that is every moment.

CONCLUSION

So that’s a few words about “Thin Places”.  Once you bring that idea into your spirituality, you’ll come out of dark tunnels and see new light.

 December 21, 2018 

Thought for today: 

“Don’t panic.” 

Colin Powell

December 20, 2018

SCROOGE

Scrooge appears on stage

at this time of the year - for

each of us - I guess -  not

to appear as a scrooge at

this or any time of the year.

Mean, cheap, lacking the giving

instinct  - not tossing some green

in the pot at the guy or gal with the

bell on the sidewalk at the bottom

of Main Street or at the mall.

And every year - and every time -

we see the play - we celebrate

that I can change, people can

change - once we explain our story

- so that happy endings happen.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018

December 20, 2018

Thought for today: 

“`Broadway is a street,’ typed the columnist, `where people spend money they haven’t earned to buy things they don’t need to impress people they don’t like.’” 

Carl Sandburg, p. 173

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.

December 19, 2018

BODY  PARTS

If you’re happy,

tell your face and give

the world a great smile

If you’re sad,

get what’s bothering you

off your chest.

If you’re lonely,

move your feet and

knock on a friend’s door.

If you’re all talk,

shut up and visit a shut in -

and listen to them.

If you’re wondering

why you’re here,

reach out and help someone.

If you’re doubting God,

open your eyes to all

the beauty surrounding you.

If you’re grouchy,

move your mouth and praise

someone for something quick.

If you’re lazy,

get off your butt and do

something sweet for someone else.

 © Andy Costello, Reflections 2018

December 19, 2018 

Thought for today: 

“O world, I cannot hold thee close enough.”  

Edna St. Vincent Millay [1892-1950] 

in God’s World [1917], stanza 1.

December 18, 2018

TABLE

Who came up with the first table? 

Was it a rock or a board placed 

on two rocks?  At some point did 

some carpenter put together a 

wooden structure - so that we 

didn’t have to eat on the ground 

or off a blanket or an animal hide? 

Did that lead to the idea of an altar?

Who made the first altar? Did the

first altar, did the first table move

our consciousness,  a few degrees

closer to the importance of eating

together, praying together with

each other and with our God?

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018

IF YOU WANT JUSTICE,

WORK  FOR  PEACE

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “If You Want Justice, Work for Peace.”

That’s a saying that Pope Paul VI gets credit for - putting it out there on January 1, 1972  in a message for the celebration of the Day of Peace.

We all know the beatitude: “Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be called children of God.”

We all know and say the Peace Prayer coming from the tradition of St. Francis of Assisi. “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace….today.”

TODAY’S READINGS

I thought of Paul VI’s message, “If you want justice, work for peace” when I read today’s readings.

Jeremiah 25 - today’s first reading -  proclaims - that “The Lord’s name is justice.”

How do you describe, how do you define, justice.

I like to say it means fairness - the very word - every kid screams in games or on  how he or she feels they are being treated. “It’s not fair, Bobby can stay up later than me.” “It’s not fair, the teacher like Sally more than me.”

Paul VI was saying: if we treat each other with fairness and equal respect, we’ll have more peace in the family, in the world, in our groups.

The Psalm response for today was: “Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.”

Today’s gospel describes Joseph as a righteous man.  He treated Mary well.

THE CATHOLIC SOCIAL DOCUMENTS / TEACHINGS

Paul VI gets credit for putting into one short sentence the essence of Catholic Social Teachings. “If You Want Justice, Work for Peace.”

I keep hearing in meetings - and in writings -  the call of our Catholic Church to evangelize the world.

Sometimes I wonder just what evangelization means. Is it pushing for  a  strict and narrow agenda - liberal or conservative positions? Is it simply to teach, preach, stress the gospel to our world?

If Catholics knew our Social Justice documents - and then tried to work them into our lives - our families and our neighborhoods - and our world, then I think things would be clearer what Christ was about.

I would be strongly in favor of pushing that agenda: that everyone knew Rerum Novarum [Leo XIII, 1891], Quadragesimo Anno 1931, Mater et Magister [1961], Pacem in Terris [1963] , Populorum  Progressio,   Humanae Vitae [1968]. Labore, exercens [1981], Caritas in veritate, [John Paul II, 2009  and Laudato si [2015] from Pope Francis on the environment.

However, if the Church stressed and preached on the social justice teachings, there would be complaints and screaming.  People would say, “This is politics!” “This is socialism.” “You can’t preach in the pulpit about Labor Unions or Capital Punishment or the Climate.”

THE CROSS

The cross is central to this church building - this large crucifix on the front wall of our church here at St. John Neumann.

Christ was crucified for a reason.

I wonder when I think about what we’re called to preach about: Do we ever preach messages that could get us killed?

It was Jesus’ call to die to self and selfishness and to sacrifice and care for others.

Read Matthew 25: 31-46: I was hungry, I was sick, I was naked, I was in prison and you visited and tried to help me.

Read Galatians 6:2: “Bear one another’s burdens and this way you’ll fulfill the law of Christ.”

Listen to these words from St. Basil the Great, “When someone steals another's clothes, we call them a thief. Should we not give the same name to one who could clothe the naked and does not? The bread in your cupboard belongs to the hungry; the coat unused in your closet belongs to the one who needs it; the shoes rotting in your closet belong to the one who has no shoes; the money which you hoard up belongs to the poor.”

CONCLUSION

The title of my homily for today was: “If You Want Justice, Work for Peace.”

This message from Pope Paul VI is a one sentence message that is central to the great collection of Social Justice Encyclicals or Letters from our recent popes.

If people knew this is what we stand for, would they still stand with the Church?  Or would they walk away - because their religion stays inside the church buildings?

December 18, 2018 

Thought for today: 

“Humor  is  a  prelude to faith and 

Laughter is the beginning of prayer.” 

Reinhold Niebuhr [1892-1971] 

in Discerning the Signs of the Times [1949]

CHAIR

Some chairs are comfortable - 

the soft seated ones - padded. 

Some chairs are serious - like 

the wooden ones in classrooms. 

We spend so much time sitting. 

I sit here on this wooden bench - 

taking a moment in this church 

to pray for those in tight situations - 

in court rooms - waiting for the 

jury to come back with a verdict. 

I grab the arm rest - because 

the rest of someone’s life is  

in jeopardy - waiting to hear 

what’s next. They are facing 

a possible life sentence. 

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018

December 17, 2018 

Thought for today: 

“We must  not  confuse dissent with disloyalty.” 

Edward R. Murrow [1908-1965] 

in See It Now  [broadcast] 

Report on Senator Joseph R. 

McCarthy [March 7, 1954]

December 16, 2018

ALTAR

Altar - a massive stone kneeling

there in the center of a sanctuary

silent like a guillotine - front and

center in this church, and every church.

It’s waiting for me - waiting like Abraham 
with Isaac, the Father with the Son -

me not knowing what I need to let go off.

What is the next sacrifice I’m need to make?

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018

This altar was done by Henry Moore
in 1972 - but commissioned  by Lord Palumbo,
for the restoration of St Stephen
Walbrook Church in 1978.

ONE CHANGE

INTRODUCTION

The title for my homily for this Third Sunday in Advent [C]  is, “One  Change!” 

For a homily this morning I would like to ask some questions. Relax: you don’t have to answer them out loud. I’d suggest you answer them in-loud, to yourself during this week.

I know it’s a busy week - with at least 3 Christmas parties per person.

FIRST QUESTION

If you could talk to God and ask God to make one change in the way the world works, what change would you ask for? Just one change! 

Remember the world has been working the way it works for a long time now. Make sure you think of the ramifications of your choice.

I suggest you take your time to think about your choice this coming week.

I have often thought about this and the only thing that I could come up with is this:  God, get rid of mosquitoes. I never could come up with the reason for mosquitoes. I’m sure someone could write a short story about someone making that wish. God grants it - and then chaos results.

Complications, implications, and consequences are often not thought out.

Just say you want an end to death.

I can accept death, most of the time. If people never died, I think we would be less the person we are. So too traffic.  You think traffic is getting worse. Imagine if the roads were filled with 800 year old drivers. I think death has a powerful influence on much of what we do and how we are. So too suffering.

SECOND QUESTION

My second question is just the reverse. If God could come up to us and ask us to make one change in our life, what would it be?

Woo. That’s a tough one. Relax. We have a whole week to think about it. In fact, I think we think about that one over and over and on and off during our life.

If God could come up to us and asked us to make one change in our life, what would it be?

I think God often asks us to make significant changes in our life. God suggests these changes through our conscience - through experiences - through  movies - through Dear Abby - through novels. I think this is one way the readings at Mass work, etc.

Is there one thing that God is asking us to change in our life? Name it.

THIRD QUESTION: OTHERS

My third question is somewhat like that and I think it’s one of the ways God works on us.

The question goes like this. If you took a chair, a wooden chair, and you sat it in the middle of your living room, in your house, and if you are living with others, or place of work or your groups, and you asked them, “Is there anything you would like me to change in my life, so that life would be sweeter for you, what would that change be?”

I suspect the first response would be silence. Then your spouse, if you’re married, or your kids, or your parents, or co-workers - or close friends  might say, “Yes! There is something.” Or they might say, “Give me or us a few days and we’ll get back to you.” Or, “Could you leave the room for an hour and let us talk together and see what we come up with?”

What would they come up with?

TODAY’S GOSPEL

Now this idea of asking these questions this morning is not my idea. It’s from today’s gospel.

Crowds came out to see John the Baptist and people asked him the question, “What ought we to do?”

And he answered, “Let the person with two coats give to him who has none.” “Let the person who has food do the same.”

Tax collectors also came to him to be baptized and they asked him, “Teacher, what are we to do?” He answered them, “Exact nothing over and above your fixed amount.”

Soldiers likewise asked him, “What about us?” He told them, “Don’t bully anyone. Denounce no one falsely. Be content with your pay.”

INNER CONVERSATIONS ABOUT CHANGE

So my question is not too far-fetched.

In fact, if we listen to ourselves, don’t we have something about those we live and work with, that we would like to see them change? What is it?

Can’t we make the jump in our logic and say to ourselves: “Now if I have things in my mind about others that I think they ought to change, surely there are things about me that others want me to change.

What would those things be?

If I could pick one, what would it be?

JOY

Today’s first and second reading talk about joy and rejoicing.

Wouldn’t we all rejoice more if we all improved -- if we all changed -- if we all made just one significant change in our life?

SUGGESTIONS

What would some of those changes be?

I made a little list. I’m sure someone has a list of changes they would like to see me make. Just ask the priests over the rectory. Just hand the others in my life a ball-point pen and a piece of paper - with my name on top.

Possible changes that would make this world a better place to live in:

• More patience,
• Less noise,
• Less control
• More being on time
• Less being fixated on time
• Treating each person with dignity and fairness,
• Treating each kid equally and fairly, no favorites,
• More listening,
• Less drinking,
• Less eating,
• Not being nuts about calories and figure and looks,
• More being at home,
• Getting out of the house more,
• More time for eating together,
• Less time at the TV or computer,
• Giving the others the clicker or remote,
• Shorter meetings,
• More visits to parents who are all by themselves,
• Less nagging family others, being a pest, being like a mosquito,
• Less gossip,
• More work at work;
• Give up smoking,
• Give up cursing,
• Give up road rage,
• Calmer driving and enjoying the scenery,
• Not keeping score - like having a mosquito memory instead of an elephant memory,
• Not expecting everyone to be like me,
• Not expecting everything to be perfect,
• Allowing some sloppiness in life if I am a perfectionist,
• Being more neat and tidy if I am a slob,
• Not jumping on each other for the slightest mistake,
• Asking not telling,
• Asking others their motive or hope instead of jumping to conclusions,
• Putting family and faith first,
• Making the main organization I belong be my family,
• If I am married, working on not letting my marriage stagnate,
• Forgiving,
• Not playing the victim game forever,
• Communicating instead of manipulating,
• Discovering and using my talents,
• Asking for light and praying for help to overcome my weaknesses.

CONCLUSION

Homework for this week: just pick one - put it on paper and keep that in our wallet.

Wouldn’t that be a great gift to give those I live and work with for Christmas? A better and more joyful me.  To do this is  free, but actually, it’s very expensive.

December 16, 2018 

Thought for today: 

“Life begins at the end of your comfort  zone.”