What would Ido,if
God said, “Life is just a bubble – and in a few seconds
it will burst!” I don’t know what I would say, if
that was it. I think I would say, “God. I need
a few years.” I probably would add, “In a
second what could I see? The sky …. The sea…. A
running dog…. Before I die I want to see
mountains … long white fences surrounding
green fields…. I want to see dolphins, love,
children, the consecration at a Holy Mass. I want to see Christ with children,
friends, enemies, the healed and the disciples on
Easter morn…. Then Christ, hearing thatscreamed from Pole to Pole, “Okay! Get moving. And don’t come
home empty.”
“Beware
of half-truth – you may have gotten the wrong half.”
Friday, December 11, 2020
December 11, 2020
ADD ON’S
What is it about us human beings that we come up with all these add on’s? We do it in prayers – thinking more is better. Do they
drive God crazy? Or take windows. They
get flower pots and curtains and decals and light catchers. I guess it’s human nature. People add on tattoos, rings, jewelry, pins, medals, chains. People complain about preachers who seem to be unable to end the sermon. “One more….” Ooops! Better end this right here!
Thank you to those who showed me the paths to the roads – to the bridges – over the rivers – to the people and the places – where I found my life – and then pointed me to the beyond. Thank you to those who didn’t let me stop – and get stuck – in the here and the now – but told me there were more roads - more rivers to cross– more books to write – more poems to dig up – and more people to meet. Thank you to those who threw God towards me – like rock skippers on quiet lakes in the morning – God bounces – plop, plop, plop, plop, plop, plop – then God sinking into the deep, deep, deep, below, below, below ….
“Depend
on the rabbit’s foot if you will, but it didn’t work for the rabbit.”
Anon
Wednesday, December 9, 2020
IMAGE AND
LIKENESS
The title of my homily is, “Image and Likeness.”
We’re familiar with thetext in Genesis 1: 27, that we are made in the image and likeness of
God.
It would be worth reflecting on that text – as well as
studying it Hebrew linguistically.
Obviously, we are called to be Godlike.
t’s interesting that the Jews would keep that text – in that
they were scrupulous in avowing any hint of idolatry – any kind of image of God
We see that same strain and stress in Islam – avoidance of images of God.
I begin this way because today is the feast of St. Juan Diego
– who is famous for the image and likeness of Mary on his tilma.
It’s worthwhile reading the articles – especially the scientific
studies that has taken place regarding the so called tilma of Juan Diego that
has on it the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. One can find lots of material on
line. Just type in Juan Diego or Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Here could be 3 possible observations.
ONE: MEXICAN AND DARKISH
Travel the world and you’ll discover all kinds of images of
Mary.Many are made in the image and
likeness of the places you find her.So
you can find many images of Mary as European and white.
Our Lady of Guadalupe – looks more Mexican – and more Native
American.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help – can look like the women of the
island of Crete where most think the picture is from. In that ikon Mary seems more Mediterranean and Jewish – but
not all.
Our Lady of Guadalupe has in the painting plenty of items for
story and object lessons from early Mexican Christianity. It’s a good cultural
image and likeness of Mexico from that period of history.
TWO: BECOMING WHOM WE
HAVE BECOME
Humans do a lot of looking and comparing kids and their
parents – as well as brothers and sisters. We say things like, “spitting image
of your father”.
I have heard many times how I look like my dad and my
brother.
Then we can add accent: Boston, Alabama, Joisy City.We take on where we grow up – eat – go to
school – play. Kids growing up in Bulgaria, end up speaking Bulgarian – so too kids
in Japan and Argentina – learn the local languages and dialect.
As Catholics we have heard much about Mary. As Mary was
imprinted on Juan Diego’s tilma, so sermons and words about Mary had imprinted
her stories and characteristics on us.We have been encouraged to
question God and angels. We have been told to say and to pray to God, “Be it
done to me according to your word”.We
are to imitate the Mary of Cana and be there for those who have run out of wine
and whatever.We are to be there for those on the road to
Calvary – as wellbe there at death beds
and death crosses. We are to be there
in the local community.So, the value of
presence becomes us.
So how am I like Mary? Watch me. See me. See the Mary of the
scriptures imprinted on my being. For example, today’s gospel to make the yoke
and burdens of life to be easier for each other.
THREE: FULL OF GRACE – HUMAN GRACE AND DIVINE GRACE.
Grace is a great word to reflect upon.
It has many meanings. I like two meanings: gift and acceptance.
To be in the image and likeness of Mary, is to be a grace
filled with gifts for others with the great gifts of life – especially
accepting everyone- and respecting
everyone – and noticing everyone – and taking every child in our arms - like we see in OLPH – after this pandemic.
People are saying they miss hugs.
I like grace to mean gift especially.Hail Mary, full of grace – full of gifts.
If we live life that way – life becomes more and more
graceful each day - accepting everyone
with the gift that they are and the gifts that they have – especially the ones that
impact each other’s life.
CONCLUSION
This sermon is getting too long.
Let me conclude it this way.
Some thinkJuan Diego
was a weaver – a cloth worker.
His image would then get on and in his work – as a way of
expressing his work.
The image of Mary got on his garment – because of her place
in his life.
I think of those metal seals in our offices – which notaries use especially.You take a piece of paper and press it with
the seal and it becomes part of the
paper and documents they seal.
I think of Native American names – which came out of what people saw in people. Juan Diego’s
long Native American name Cuauhtlatoatzin which means(the talking eagle) – I assume that’s how graceful he did life.I assume that’s how he was branded with that
name.
Lord, lately – wait, it’s been more than lately. Well, lately, I’ve stood at the shore knowing there is much more and many a next – way beyond the waves in front of me, if and when I put out to sea.
Soon ….
Santa Claus doesn't just show up on December 6th or December 25th.
She shows up every time a waitress brings us a glass of cold water on a thirsty day. He shows up every time a stranger holds the door for us entering the library. She’s there when a grandmother brings a grand-teenager raison oat meal cookies.
He's there every morning when a stranger says, "Good morning!" or "Have a great day!"
She’s there every time a grandmother brings bread for her grandson to feed the ducks.
