PLACES

 

The title of my sermon – it’s a sermon – a conversation piece – more than a homily – the title is, “Places.” [Spell it: PLACES]

What are the key places in my life? 

I’m on foot or in a car – and I’m driving by the house I spent most of my  childhood at and in.  It has feelings – memory triggers – and I’ve moved from there a long time ago – and I’ve been in a lot of places ever since.

What was the church and school of my childhood?

Today’s first reading has a key text for the Israelites – when Abraham got a toe hold for a grave for Sarah.  It will be used from then onwards as an argument why this Land is our land.

The reading says a Transaction took place – then mention of migrations – and then how Rebekah met Isaac in the region of the Negeb.

Places are important. Places have history. Places can be sacred.

Our house in Brooklyn was on the edge of Bay Ridge.  The house was  torn down to make way for a widening of the Gowanus Parkway – but the street is still there. Going back to the street where we grew up  - where our house – 326 – 62 Street – was – still has a great pull for me.

I always wanted to go to Galway Ireland to see where my mom and dad were from. In 1996 we finally got there. We went to my father’s house which is still being used and lived in by my cousins.  It was called “The House with the Books.”

Then we headed for where my mom came from. My dad would say it was a stone throws away.  Well it was about 2 miles away – and nobody had that great a rock throwing arm. Her straw thatched roof house was down – caved in – crumbled.  But there we were in the place where the back door would have been. There was a stone rectangular back step = the side of a suitcase on its side – and the waters of Galway bay were licking that stone. My mom would say she could stick her big toe out the back door and it would be touching Galway Bay.

I finally saw and touched and felt where they came from.

Reading todays gospel I’m sure Matthew had feelings about the place Jesus called him from – whenever they traveled around Israel.

It reminds me of the accidental time I was walking around Rome with two little old ladies from Annapolis, Maryland. Both were around 80 years of age. I didn’t go into the Victoria’s Secret store with them – when they spotted one.  But I went into one of the 10 chapels at the Piazza Navona – with its three big fountains.

Surprise I never knew this – but it was the so called French Church. It had 3 paintings by Caravaggio of Saint Matthew: the Calling of Matthew, the Martyrdom of Matthew and the Inspiration of St Matthew.

The Calling of Matthew is a favorite of Pope Francis. It had been mine too. I bought the book and that place became a favorite of mine.

The topic and title of my sermon has been places. Talk to each other – have conversations with each other – where you are from – where you hope to be buried – and the surprise unique places of  your life story?