May 7, 2022
Thought for Today
“A man who is not afraid of the sea will soon be drowned."
J.B. Synge
The Aran Islands 1907
Saturday, May 7, 2022
Friday, May 6, 2022
Thursday, May 5, 2022
REJECTION:
I WILL NOT REJECT ANYONE
WHO COMES TO ME
The title of my homily for this 3rd Wednesday after Easter
is, “Rejection: I Will Not Reject Anyone Who
Comes to Me.”
That’s quite a statement – quite a promise – quite a belief – quite a hope.
It’s the second part of John 6: 37 – a sentence in today’s gospel
I believe this idea of rejection – not being rejected - is the central message of the gospel of John.
The key Greek word here is EXBALLO – the Greek word is translated: “cast out, thrust out, rejected.” – or all around. The word and the sound “BALL” – has much the same meaning in many languages - a round sphere that is thrown or rolling to or from.
Every Catholic should read Chapter 6 of John over and over again.
It’s the long Eucharistic text – 71 verses long. It’s all about the bread being the flesh of Christ. The big question: “Do you accept this text, this message or do you reject it? Do you catch it or reject it?”
You’ll hear Jesus saying in this 6th chapter of John that he Jesus knows people are going to walk away – reject him the Christ. Listen to John 6: 66: “After this many of his disciples left him and stopped going with him.
That’s rejection – especially after Jesus says in 6: 58, “But anyone who eats this bread will live forever.”
Amen. Catch the ball.
Wednesday, May 4, 2022
Tuesday, May 3, 2022
Monday, May 2, 2022
THE BEST MOMENT
OF THE WEEK
The title of my homily is, “The Best Moment of the Week.”
4 guys – roughly the same age – in their early 40’s – and in and about the same situation – sort of go to work together – every morning – Monday to Friday. Jack, Bill, Nelson, and Thomas have been doing this for about 6 years now.
They get on the 6:45 A.M. Blue Bus - from near their suburban, Maryland homes – heading for their Washington D.C. government jobs. They move to the back of the bus – last two rows – and always – well almost always - get those back seats.
About five years ago – well into their “Blue Bus Morning Moment” – as they ended up calling it – they began what they called - their “Monday Morning Question”.
By doing this – hey you never know what might come up. And some good surprises did come up.
One week the question – the topic – the wondering for the week was: “The Best Moment of the Week.”
At first, that was a sort of vague – sort of misty – sort of “I wonder where this will go” question.
On Thursday morning Jack said, “I didn’t know this till we started thinking about this – what the Best Moment of the week – was for me.
“Now I know. Every Wednesday evening we babysit for our one and only grandkid: Jason. Half-a-year old. My daughter-in-law and my son go to an AA meeting – every Wednesday evening – and we baby-sit Jason.”
He continued, “Wow! What a difference between having a son and having a grandson. What a difference.
“I missed so much for the first time – going through this experience.
“So …. Wednesday evening baby-sitting is certainly the best moment of the week – for me – for us.
Friday morning – Bill said, “I kept wondering all week – what the best moment of my week was for me.
“Thank you Tom for your story about your son and grandson.
“I got my answer last night on the bus coming home by myself.
Bill said, “I’m a Catholic and every Sunday I go to the 8 AM Sunday Morning Mass. The best moment of the week for me is about the 3 minutes after I receive communion. I used to sit in almost back bench of our church on the right – but a few years ago I moved up to the second row front. This gave me 2 extra moments after I receive communion. I get back to my bench – half kneel and half sit – and close my eyes – and listen.
The other guys said, “I didn’t know you were Catholic. Tell me more”
One of the guys said, “I was born Catholic, but we never went to church.’
Bill – the communion guy – said, “I was wondering if I should say this – but now I’m okay.”
Then Bill said, “I talk to Jesus - tell him everything – 3 minutes is never enough – so coming home at night on this bus – has become good prayer – and good thinking time – for me.
A month later Nelson said one Monday morning. I have been thinking about what Bill said. As I said I was born a Catholic – but never really tried it. So I went to church yesterday.
Dennis said, “I’m a Baptist – but don’t go to Church. So what happened?
Nelson said, “I’m going back next Sunday – so I’ll let you know.
Then he said, “By the way, you other two guys, what’s the best moment of the week for you?”
Conclusion, right now it’s Monday afternoon – what’s the best moment of the week for you?
Sunday, May 1, 2022
153
The title of my homily is, “153”.
Peter died last December. Cancer. December 15th.
He and Rita had 33 years of a wonderful married life together.
In fact that was their favorite movie. It’s A Wonderful Life.
But not last December. Death and the Corona Virus. Bummer.
They had 2 boys – gone and married – living on the West Coast – Seattle and Oregon – each with 2 kids – and a daughter – a lawyer - married – one kid in Miami.
So Rita was all alone for Christmas – last year. It’s tough being alone.
Last night – Saturday evening - she went to the 5:30 Mass. It was wonderful receiving communion again. She had found a good mass and preacher on TV – but she knew Mass in her home parish was better – even though Father Henry was not that great a preacher – and the TV guy was great.
The emptiness in the empty space next to her in church– was Grand Canyon Big.
That Sunday afternoon – May 1st – was a bright sunny day. Rita decided to get in her car and head for the Jersey Shore.
She had a nice walk on the boardwalk.
Then she sat down on the bench facing the ocean.
Couples were walking both the boardwalk and the sandy beach.
She was alone on a hard boardwalk bench.
She was looking out at the many tiny white fishing boats – wondering if they were catching anything – as well as some little kids and probably their dads with fishing rods – on the beach.
She opened up her pocketbook to get a hankerchief. She blew her nose. She was putting the while cloth hankerchief back in her pocketbook and spotted the small paperback missellette.
She took it out and began reading the readings for that Sunday – May 1sr. The priest – last night – said they were not that sure just what the 153 fish meant. It could have been the number of types of know fish they had in the world – back then in Jesus’ time – or it could be simply 153 large fish.
Father Henry had also said take out the Sunday readings during the week and pray with them. He added, “Come up with your own thoughts and imaginations for the readings.”
She closed the missalette and began thinking about the blessings of her life. She thought, “I’m sure I had at least 153 of them.”
First one – being Married to Peter for 33 years. We had our fights especially over his smoking – but we had mostly great times.
She remembered their 25th anniversary and the cruise to Alaska. They stopped in and saw their two boys on the west coast – Seattle and Salem Oregon – and then off to Glaciers and Coves of Alaska.
She remembered the birth of their first grandchild – Max – and how she and Peter loved seeing him for the first time.
Wow. It’s a wonderful life.
The empty seat and space next to Rita felt filled and she laughed when she elbowed Peter – and said, “Great life. Hah?”
She thought for a moment. That’s 3 blessings we caught. 150 more to come.
Wow Peter wow.
Our boat is filled.
Thank You, Jesus.
Thank You.
Our boat is filled.
Thank You Jesus – thank You.
Amen.
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