THE   UGLY  WHISPER

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 5^th Friday in Lent  is, “The Ugly Whisper.”

The word that jumped out of today’s first reading for me was “whispering”.

Jeremiah – like many a prophet  - was experiencing a whispering campaign against him.

People denounce – announce – his missteps and mistakes to those around town.

We know he ends up in the pits – when he’s thrown in the cistern.

Hence the title and thought of my homily, “The Ugly Whisper.”

And Christ in these readings from John experiences the same whispering campaign against him. “Who do you think you are? God?

Sticks and stones break our bones – and words can really hurt us.

HAS IT HIT YOU YET – THIS PREACHING TO EACH OTHER?

Has it hit you yet, the difference in preaching to each other, compared to preaching to 100 or to the weekday 8 AM Mass group?

I have found myself hesitating a couple of times – whether to say something in a sermon – when it’s just us – just the 5 of us.

Preachers – hopefully - wonder at times - about what impact  something they are thinking about – might have.

When it’s 100 or 15 - then - we can sort of hide – in numbers.  We don’t aim our comments at any one person – because a homily is not a firing squad. It’s a chance to enter into and then out loud - a  reflection – with some folks – and someone might hear something that is challenging and insightful or helpful. This goes especially to the one who is doing the speaking.

The title of my homily is, “The Ugly Whisper.”

None of us want to be an ugly whisperer or find out there are ugly whispers about us – behind our back.

The second sorrowful mystery of the rosary can take place in our corridors or at our tables or in our cars.

PEOPLE!  THE NUMBER 1 TOPIC OF CONVERSATIONS

Right now, the  # 1 topic of conversation is the coronavirus 19 virus.

Throw in the president next – and then the weather – and then food – and sports depending on the community – or Brazil or North East – or an article in the New York Times or a retreat that’s going on – and we have a short list of our conversation topics.

I have said in larger settings – like 100 people – that the #1 topic of conversations is people.

People  - our foibles, our funny characteristics, our  uniqueness – stories about us is life.

Meals could be a boring experience  without talking about people.

There are people in our houses. There are people in our lives.

Morality  gets us  to look at motive as well as impact – so that’s why I added the adjective “Ugly”.  Put downs at another’s expense - how what we say effects another to their face or behind their backs- if we hear or hear about them is the challenge of this homily.

Smiley Blanton or one of those TV talking psychologists once said, “If you say Jack Jones is a nice guy – nobody responds – but if you say Jack Jones is a rotten selfish son of a b, then  the crowd starts throwing their  verbal stones at Jack Jones.

THE MORAL MOMENT OF HESITATION

A key learning for me -  from some sermon by someone - has to do with the inner moment we get a thought – or remember a story – about someone.  We’re in a group and we’re  talking about X Y or Z  – and we have a cute story about him. 

Should I or shouldn’t I? Should I tell it, repeat it or not.  When we have a strong sense of respect for others, there’s  a key moral moment here: I’ll   get a laugh but it will down or not elevate this other guy. When we hold our tongue from voicing that ugly whisper – that we grow in the virtue of respect for others. Amen.

7 SHORT ONE LINERS IN CONCLUSION

It’s  good for us to be together.

 It’s not good to be alone.

When together - conversations about people are fun and enjoyable.

The Golden Rule should be a door stopper: would what I am about to let out of the room my mind be something I would want said of me?

Lighten up.

And if I make the pulpit a bully pulpit – am I avoiding talking to each other in soft chairs – or at our tables with bread and wine in our hands?

When one preaches, say something that will get people thinking – as well as talking and busting the preacher after Mass and at breakfast.

                                      

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Painting on top:

"Gossip" by Pol Ledent