July 8, 2023
There are hurts that really hurt -
but
some hurts are worse than others.
The
worst of course have to do with others:
going
far away – but what helps the most
are
returns, letters, calls, and walking -
walking through
the fields of remembrance.
And
don’t forget the presence of others.
© Reflections Andy Costello
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?
July 7, 2023
THERE ARE LINES
In
the movie, John Grisham’s The Rainmaker
the
over voice says, “In every case every lawyer
crosses
a line he doesn’t want to cross. Then he
adds:
do this enough and that line can disappear”
I
thought about that and realized that line could
be
kindness or charity or generosity, or presence,
or
worry about the impact of our comments to or
about
others. So we better be aware of our behavior.
© Reflections, Andy Costello
July 5, 2023
Quote for Today
"La distance n'y fait rien; it n'y a que le premier pas qui cotite."
"The distance is nothing; it is only the first step that is difficult."
Mme Du Deffand
Marie de Vichy-Chamrond (1697-1780)
French literary hostess
Commenting on the legend that St. Denis
carryied his head in his hands
and walked two leagues.
Letter to Jean Le Rond d'Alembert, July 7, 1763.
in Gaston Maugras Trois mois ala cour de Frederic (1886)
July 4, 2023
INDEPENDENCE
We depend on others and
on
others’ beck and calls.
They
need us and we need
them
especially as babies.
This
happens again if we
end
up in a nursing home.
In
the meanwhile, we have
these
urges for freedom.
It’s
life. They are the basic tugs
of
becoming a human being.
It’s
life – the give and take of
acting
and reacting with others.
The
Beatles were right, “Help
I
need someone” everyday.
May
I learn all the skills I can for
for Dependence and Independence
and
learn what they mean by
the
gift of Interdependence.
© Reflections, Andy Costello
July 3, 2023
OLEAGINOUS
George
Will used the word “oleaginous”
in
the opening of a column he wrote.
First
reaction: what does that mean?
I
had no clue. I had years and years
of
courses in both Latin and Greek,
but
I couldn’t figure out its meaning.
Then
I heard him being interviewed.
He
was asked about that word:
“oleaginous.”
He said it was a SAT word.
He
used it to describe a person who
is
oily, slippery, sneaky, greasy,
tricky
and too smooth for comfort.
I
found his late night interview
on
the Lawrence O’Donnell show
challenging
and a good examination
of both conscience and consciousness.
July 2, 2023
NOTHING
Nothing
exists.
It’s
what’s missing.
It’s
what I wish was here,
but
it’s not.
I
feel nothing.
That
proves it exists.
I
have a place for it,
if
and when I get it.
In
the meantime,
I’ll
try anything –
sometimes
something –
but
I know nothing,
Hold
on, I know something:
I
now know why mystics
say
God is nothing because
you
can never quite get God.
© Reflections, Andy Costello
July 2, 2023
Quote for Today
"Time is
Too slow for those who wait,
Too swift for those who fear,
Too long for those who grieve,
Too short for those who rejoice;
But for those who love,
Time is eternity."
Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933)
read at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales,
Nigel Rees in "Quote ... Unquote" 1997
notes that the original form of the last line
is "Time is not".
