September 10, 2022
Thought for Today
"There is nothing in Christianity or Buddhism that quite matches the sympathetic unselfishness of an oyster."
Saki,
Chronicles of Clovis [1912]
Saturday, September 10, 2022
September 10, 2022
Reflection
COLD
Cold creeps - coming into an area - and one's toes feel it first - and continue to feel it.
Cold is quiet - invasive- pervasive - and doesn't just stick to hand surfaces. It penetrates hard surfaces - like green metal fences and black iron banisters.
Cold is hard - like ice - freezing water, ponds, puddles, lakes. It freezes, thaws, re-freezes, cracking and crumbling rocks in its story.
Cold is the heart after another dumps us.
Cold is the mind after another gyps us or lies to us - or uses us.
The killer is described as cold hearted - also the tax collector - as well as the church says "No!" to the beggar.
The judge, the principal, the truant officer, has to stay cool, neutral, like Jack Webb in Dragnet. "Just the facts, mam. Just the facts."
Cold is a pause, a stepping back, a calming down - being cautious, stepping back from a situation to consider cause, concessions, compromise, calculating all comers, corners in a situation.
Cold turkey is stopping drinking or smoking or drugs, on the spot, not a slow stopping or turning off from...
To have a cold is to avoid contact with others - till one is better.
Friday, September 9, 2022
September 9, 2022
Reflection
RAIN
It's raining.
Beads and bubbles of rain sitting on a newly washed and waked car.
The sound rain makes on street from tires going by this house.
Rain - the sound on sills and windows after the cars have disappeared.
Rain - nice if needed - not wanted this day because of this wedding this afternoon.
Rain - rare in Arizona - plentiful this day - in Maryland - this late March.
Rain - a bit damp - a bit cold - a bit uncomfortable - but we don't appreciate the coolness of rain - unless we want coolness and rain.
Rain - why this word - why the sound in this word.
"It's raining!"
"We need rain!"
"My roof is leaking. Enough with this rain."
Kids - little girls - boys sometimes too - loving rain - so they want to go outdoor with yellow plastic boots on and a chance to love the rain.
Window shield wipers getting a chance to show their necessity.
Rain ....
The rain of God - rhyming with "the reign of God". Is there any connection.
The two times - a week each time - I was in Arizona - hearing, "You have to be when it rains. The desert blooms when the rain falls."
It didn't happen when I was there.
Rain....
It's sunny today, March 19th, 2007. Spring will be with us - in two days - and hopefully, busy April showers. as well.
Rain ....
Thursday, September 8, 2022
September 8, 2022
Reflection
THE AFTERMATH OF CLARITY
After an argument there is clarity.
After an argument, hopefully, there is also charity - but here I'm talking about clarity.
How many times have we figured out what we should have said - or not said - but we're on our way home - after the argument.
If we are going to see the person or persons we were arguing with again - or if we are in the same home - bedroom - family table - workplace - club - as us - then we can say, "Oh I was thinking about the fight we had the other night, and it hit me afterwards, "I was wrong!" or "What I was trying to say was ...." or "My button was pushed and I apologize for losing it' or "I never did listen to your point."
After the argument there is clarity.
The fog lifts after the battle.
There is such a thing as Monday morning quarter-backing"
If - is a powerful concept.
Second thoughts are often better thoughts.
Yesterday, some ladies were pushing for doing more Divine Mercy stuff. It's not my cup of tea. They were pushing for the Divine Mercy rosary. They were complaining that some churches didn't have statues. Some churches did not have the tabernacle behind the altar. Some people were not praying. Complaints. Complaints. Complaints.
Should I respond or remain quiet.
I blew it. I said something.
But on the way home I saw that I should have shut up.
It was then that I saw what I could have or should have said.
After the argument comes clarity.
Wednesday, September 7, 2022
September 7, 2022
Reflection
SIBLINGS
If someone used the word "sibling" when I was a kid in the 1940's, I would have had no clue what it meant. I'd probably think it was someone's last name.
Today it's used. Is it because there are less kids in families? It seems to me that kids know and like that word "sibling".
I had 3 siblings: a brother and 2 sisters.
Our siblings are with us for a lifetime. And it sometimes takes us a lifetime to figure our what's with our brothers and sisters.
In listening to people talk about their life, I hear expectations they have about their brothers and sisters - their siblings.
In listening to people talk about their siblings, I hear them say they have not told different siblings their expectations of them.
In listening to people talk about their siblings, I sometimes hear them say they are still living in the shadow of a brother or a sister.
In listening to people talk about their siblings, I sometimes hear about the absence - or distancing - they experienced from one or their siblings.
Sometimes it's just the opposite.
Jesus was an only child - yet he often talks about brothers - and there is mention in his life of his visits to Martha and Mary and their brother Lazarus.
Jesus called brothers: James and John, Peter and Andrew.
And Christianity talks about all of us being siblings to each other - but they don't use the word "sibling".
Interesting ....
Yet blood is thicker than thoughts and words - so we drink the precious blood from the family table - so that we become family and siblings to each other.
Tuesday, September 6, 2022
The
title of my homily for this 23rd Tuesday in Ordinary Time is, “Just One Quick Moment.”
“Just
One Quick Moment.”
Sometimes
it only takes a moment – just one quick moment – to get in touch with God – to
get in touch with another person – to get
in touch with myself – pinching myself
for who I am – right here – right now. Hi!
I
got that thought when I read the last sentence in today’s gospel: “Everyone in
the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them
all.”
If
Jesus walked down the main aisle of this chapel – this chapel would be crowded –
and everyone would be hanging out of the
benches - in the center aisle – leaning
out to touch Jesus.
BOBBY
KENNEDY
I
love to tell the story of the moment I touched Bobby Kennedy – who was with his brother - John F. Kennedy
who became president. I was down to Washington D.C. I think it was in 1958. My brother said, “Let’s go to the Congressional Hearings – in which they
were questioning union leaders - for
foul play.
We
got standing room only spaces – in the back.
I had no idea what was happening – but they called a lunch break – and everyone
headed to the edge of the center aisle – to possibly reach out and touch the Kennedy
brothers as they were leaving the room.
I
touched Bobby Kennedy’s right arm – his right sleeve – in the crowd. That’s
all.
I’ve
often asked people did they ever touch the arm or hand of anyone famous?
It’s
a unique moment. People tell of touching the pope of some famous athlete or actor
or actress.
Father
Grohe mentioned at supper last night that he was in our church – St. Peter’s –
in Philadelphia – when the Pope – John Paul II - was there. Well, Gene reached
out this hand when the Pope was going by. And as Gene tells the story, “His hand was almost
chopped off by a secret service agent.” “It hurt!” he said as he gestured about this with his left hand.
It
was just a moment – just one quick moment – the title of my homily for today.
Every
day we have many – just one quick moments – to reach out to others - to say, “Hi!” or “Thank you!” or “I hope
you have a good day!” or “It’s good to see you.” Or just to touch them – if it’s
just their
I
have in my Breviary – my priest prayer book – a tiny little card – I think I
mentioned this in a homily once before. It says, “Each day, at least once, return
the gaze of God.” Then the card mentions
the author, “Richard Rohr.”
I
do that - every day – I read it – and pause.
Thank you, Richard Rohr
I
touch God in that moment. Power comes out from God – from Jesus - in that quick
moment.
By
doing that – it has made the moment I receive communion – better. I touch God
for just one quick moment.
I
also do that when I see – other people – who are receiving Holy Communion. I
like to watch people receiving communion. We’re all the Body of Christ. We’re
all in this together. This is our moment together.
We
are and we do this in one quick moment.
Surprise
– just by looking at that tiny card – in my prayer book - and saying Richard
Rohr’s words - communion has become much better for me.
Surprise
– I also have lots of “Death Cards – in
my prayer book - I call it my portable cemetery
– and I like to just go through a few of them from time to time - and touch that person who touched my life –
and I got power from them – back then -
and now again – for “just one quick moment” – the title of my homily.
September 6, 2022
Reflection
RECOGNITION
I hear on a regular basis, the importance of recognition.
People don't want to always be hiding. They like it when they are recognized.
Walt Whitman liked to recognize strangers - fellow passengers - on the stagecoach of life - as well as the road of life.
"Hello!"
"Nice meeting you!"
"How's it going?"
"Haven't seen you in a while."
"Do you want to drop in some place for a cup of coffee?"
At dinner, 100 people are sitting there, and the master of ceremonies says, "Before our main speaker comes to the microphone, I'd like to recognize a few people."
And 5 important people are mentioned by name. They stand up and sometimes people clap for them.
The 95 others are not recognized.
Yet, before the dinner, people spotted people they know and recognize - people they went to for a "Hello" and a chat. That's the purpose of the cocktails and donuts before the talk or presentation begins.
Sometimes, some people don't want to be recognized. They go outside for different reasons - not specifically to be recognized.
"I just wanted to step outside to get the paper."
"I didn't get a chance to save or brush my teeth - or put on some clean clothes."
Recognition.
Peter didn't want to recognize Jesus - or he himself to be recognized as one of his disciples,
Jesus recognized the presence, the real presence, of every person - especially the inner child and the star within.
Amen.
Monday, September 5, 2022
September 5, 2022
Reflection
THEY CAME TO CODORA
Just watched the movie, "They Came to Cordora."
It was a western that tells a story within a story. The place is New Mexico and Mexico - in 1916. - with Gary Cooper and Rita Hayworth.
Pancho Villa sent soldiers to attack the town of Columbus, New Mexico. They killed a dozen Americans - wounded others and destroyed propeerty. The President of the United States sent an army to retaliate - especially to capture Pancho Villa.
It was not a great movie.
It was too talky, talky.
It seemed implausible - impossible - and stupid.
Yet I stayed up with William Guri to watch it to "The End".
Gary Cooper plays the part of a soldier - an officer - whose job it is to watch a battle and then to recommend battle honors to those he thought deserved them. He won't give any honors to a guy who leads a charge on Ojos. It is badly planned. They don't make any reconnoitering - other than just charging the town of Ojos.
The Mexicans lose the fight because they don't have rapid fire rifles.
The United States officer does it for ego and recognition and honors - so he will get an award and retire at 60.
Gary Cooper won't make any recommendations for honors. In an earlier fight he was in a battle. and got scared. His position was being hit with bullets flying by his face he jumps into a ditch to survive. He's labeled a coward for avoiding battle.
And here he is an Army major trying to capture what is courage.
Four or 5 soldiers are sent as heroes back for honors. Throw into the story, Rita Hayworth, an American, who was very friendly with the Mexicans and is sent back to the U.S, forces.
As I thought, the movie is horrible.
Gary Cooper is trying to get the thoughts of the soldiers. He spends time writing down notes.
"All 5 are little wounded children." That's how he described them in his notes - which they take from him when he is almost dead.
Yet he has to courage to bring them to Cordura. They are trying to kill him. They don't want to be labeled heroes. They see the implications gaining that recognition - one of them is wanted.
That was the movie - an exploration of courage and cowardice.
Motive! We try to figure them out in court rooms, crimes, and movies.
Sunday, September 4, 2022
September 4, 2022
Reflection
THE CRY FOR MYSELF
"What about me?"
"What about my needs?"
"What about my hungers? And thirsts? And desires?"
"Fair!"
"Foul!"
"Unfair!"
"Oh oh!"
Human cries.
Listen to the human cries.
Turn on the TV - open up the newspaper. You'll see, you'll hear, you'll notice some kind of protest somewhere around the world.
Catholic Social Teachings are wordy documents. Yet they are asking folks, "What about babies? The poor? The worker? The married? The people on the edge, the margin? The migrantss? The ones being shot at or terrorized?"
I look at the statue called, "The Thinker." Is he silent? Is he about to go back to sleep? Or is he screaming about his stupidity for the right to life? Or about the night before? Is he shouting? Is he shoulding on himself?
I cry.
I scream.
I am scared.
I am nervous.
I'm tired.
I'm overwhelmed.
I need to escape.
I need to stop and sort out my life.
I scream.
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