FOUR COINS

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Four Coins!”

When you have some time, take a penny, a nickel, a dime and a quarter, and look at them. Study them front side and back. A penny for your thoughts?

All four coins have the image of a president on them: Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and FDR. All four have the word “Liberty” on them. All four have the Latin words, “E pluribus unum”. All four have the words, “In God We Trust” on them.

Then, if you want to throw three of them into a fountain for luck or all four of them for extra luck, go for it. That’s 41 cents. Next time you’re exercising or walking through the Bestgate Mall check out the coins in the water pool. I was surprised at all the quarters in there. A while back I heard someone broke in there one night to get those coins. With the way the economy is going, I hope the Mall is well policed with a good alarm system as well as cameras.

I chose the penny, nickel, dime and quarter – because these are the four coins we usually get as change when we buy something – unless we use plastic.

TODAY’S GOSPEL

In today’s gospel, when his adversaries are trying to trap him, Jesus asks to see a coin. If he says, “Pay the tax” they will attack him for supporting the Romans; if he says, “Don’t pay the tax” they will turn him in to the Romans for supporting the anti-Romans.

I’m surprised that the text says he doesn’t know who’s image is on the coin. They tell him, “It’s Caesar’s.”

And he gives his classic response: “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”

I still like the ring of the old translation: “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.” [Matthew 22:21]

CONFLICT

Today’s Gospel places us in the middle of a conflict situation.

How well do I deal with conflict?

Obviously, with the elections coming up, people are in conflict with others on moral and political issues. I can’t wait till Wednesday, November 5th, when this election is over – unless they discover hanging chads in some states.

Have you found yourself in the past year or so – on the spot – when someone brings up a voting question?

As priest various people have asked, “Is anyone going to say anything about the upcoming election from the pulpit?”

To me – stress on “to me”, that is an “uh oh!” question – as well as a “no no!” situation. For several reasons - one key reason being conscience - I am not in favor of endorsing or going after candidates for public office from the pulpit. Besides those reasons, the final vote count is not going to be 100 million + or so to 0 – so no matter what one says, other people are going to be angry – whether the final results are a 51 to 49 situation or 53 to 47 situation or what have you.

If you want to read a good document on the Catholic position for voting, read, “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States.” Tap, tap with your mouse the following www. to read this document.

[www.usccb.org/faithfulcitizenship/FCStatement.pdf]

Some folks will be grateful for this document; some folks will experience conflict with this document . I also assume the bishops had conflicts in hammering out the text.

Conflict is part of life.

Look at Jesus in today’s gospel. They might not have got him that day – but they nailed him another day.

As to ongoing conflict, this hasn’t been my experience. I don’t see myself as getting crucified. I follow the principle voiced in the German proverb: "A drop of honey catches more flies than a hogshead of vinegar." On personality tests that I have taken, I end up being a smiling, shifty, wimpy type - someone who doesn't like controversy.

I have been a priest since 1965, yet I have only been burnt or yelled a few times because of comments from the pulpit - as far as I know. When it has happened, it’s been because of spiritual issues I’m off on – like not killing prayer with too many prayers – rarely on how to vote.

Yet, I’m sure the current game that we’re all playing is trying to figure out how other people are going to vote. So I try to be aware of the bully pulpit as well as the angry pew.

A MISTAKE

However, I make mistakes. For example, last Thursday I mentioned the names of John McCain, Sarah Palin and Barack Obama in a homily at a Mass for our freshman and sophomore young people.

I was not trying to influence their minds on how to vote – because they are not old enough to vote. I was talking about the importance of reading. At one point in my homily I said that I've heard people say they want to know who a certain candidate is. When I hear that, I find myself saying inwardly, "Read! John McCain has a book out, Faith of Our Fathers [1999] and Barack Obama has a book out, Dreams From My Father [1995]. Read Barack Obama’s book, The Audacity of Hope [2006]. Read columns. Have an informed conscience. Listen to the debates etc."

My mistake was that I was totally oblivious to any adults in the church – in fact I really didn’t see them – only these two classes of kids – and I was trying to use as examples what’s going on in our country and world and not just the world of school and shoes and sports.

I heard afterwards there were comments. I didn't know if those who made them were joking, neutral, or angry.

Being sensitive, that word “comments” hit me.

Being defensive, I said, "Uh oh!"

My first reaction was the feeling that I was stupid. I know the reality that once you mention a person’s name – just their name – that can cause instant reaction. It can push another’s button. Dumb, dumb, me. That’s why some people wear political buttons – to push buttons. That’s why some people have bumper stickers, to bump people.

My second reaction was to examine my motives. Was I pushing a political candidate? No. I was trying to stress to these kids the importance of reading – not just school books – but books they find themselves looking for time to read. I asked if they have their quiet places – on a porch or a corner - where they can turn pages and enjoy the various places in the world and the human heart that books can take us to.

I thought the message of my homily was clear: the importance of reading. In hindsight, however, I didn't think it was that good a sermon. I didn’t feel much of a connection.

However, after I heard there were comments, I backtracked in my mind. Where did I get the idea to push the theme of reading from? I thought and thought. Finally I had an answer. While I was working on the homily for our high school kids, I was also working on a flyer for someone who had asked for help in putting together a prayer service for autumn.

While looking for a good poem on autumn to put in a flyer, I came upon a poem by Rita Dove entitled, “The First Book.” I had never read this poem before. It was in a book by Bill Moyers, The Language of Life [1995]. It has some poems I like and interviews about particular poems. He asked Rita Dove where the idea for her poem came from.

She said she went into some classroom of her daughter's school and discovered that various kids were scared of reading. She thought about growing up in a household where people loved to read, so she wrote the following poem.

THE FIRST BOOKOpen it.

Go ahead. It won’t bite.
Well … maybe a little.

More a nip, like. A tingle.
It’s pleasurable, really.

You see, it keeps on opening.You may fall in.
Sure. It’s hard to get started;
remember learning to use

knife and fork? Dig in:
you’ll never reach bottom.
It’s not like it’s the end of the world –
just the world as you think

you know it.

I thought that was a great poem. I used it in my homily and I told the kids that I didn’t really start reading till a high school teacher in the 3rd year of high school triggered a love for reading. I couldn’t find enough time to go through James Fennimore Cooper’s stories.

Then I mentioned a book by Victor Klemperer, I Will Bear Witness [1998]. I said it was on the best seller list a few years back and my niece Maryna gave it to me as a Christmas gift. Books, I said, can take you to places you could never enter. Holding up the book I said, “This is the diary of Jewish man in Dresden, Germany during horrible times – 1933 - 1941. If you’re nosey and interested in other people, a book can take you into all kinds of places.”

I mentioned a few other books and felt great after Mass standing in the back of the church saying good-bye to kids flying by when one boy asked me, “What was the name of the author of that book about that man in Germany?” I said, “Victor Klemperer.” He said, “I’ll find it on line.”

Then the next day I felt crummy when someone said I was pushing someone for president in the pulpit.

CONCLUSION: FOUR COINS
I began this homily by saying, “The title of my homily is, ‘Four Coins.”

I then said when you have time take a penny, nickel, dime and quarter – and look at them back and front – and see what they trigger in you.

Let me make 4 closing points looking at these 4 coins.

1) The word “Liberty” might stand out. It’s a word on all 4 coins. Liberty is a great American button, buzz, value word. If they were making coins today, would the word be “freedom” instead of “liberty”? I think “freedom” is more current. Our big holiday is July 4th – a free day – our Declaration of Independence Day.

We hope that all peoples of our world can have freedom.

To St. Paul, Jesus, Isaiah, freedom, liberty is also a powerful theme. [Cf. 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 2:4; Isaiah 61:6, Luke 4:18]

Is it for me? Do I try to obtain the freedom of the glory of the Children of God? [Cf. Romans 8:21;

2) “E pluribus unum,” our national motto, is also on all 4 coins.

Our country is a plurality – yet we are called, “The United States”. We have to learn to deal with various viewpoints, a multitude of understandings. This can very difficult – but when we are one, this is our strength.

Our parish is many. We have to learn to deal with many viewpoints – understandings – many comments. This too can be difficult – but when we are one, it can also be our strength.

When there are mis-understandings, it seems that it’s better to talk to each other more than about each other. Here I am talking about something publically that happened to me privately. Here I am talking to people who weren't there. I'm making myself look better than a few people who made a comment. Moreover, I heard this secondhand. In fact, I don't know what the comments were or who made them. So the question: should I say this in a homily? Aren't I being defensive? Yes. Then I said to myself: This is a good example of a conflict situation. So I choose to use this as an example of conflict. Hearing the process behind another's motives or reasons, might bring out the importance and the power of pause and "Go figure." and "Go talk."

3) Four Presidents. There is a different president on each of these 4 coins. Each president is very different from the others – and we will have different ones to come. Will there be changes on our coins 1000 years from now? Will we even have coins? In 2003, the GOP in congress tried to get Ronald Reagan on the dime to take the place of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, but it didn’t pass. Nancy Reagan was against it as well.

4) "In God We Trust." All four coins have “In God We Trust” on them. Religion is part of the fabric of life. That is the Christian position. It’s tricky. America was founded by some people who wanted to avoid the religious wars of Europe. If you really want to do some research, study this issue on line. We have quite a history.

I noticed that Thomas Jefferson had lots of issues about Christianity, priests, etc. Yet the nickel with his image on it - as well as the other three coins each have that great message, “In God We Trust.” Obviously, trust in each other is one of life’s big questions - in marriage, the market, in politics, in milk products. No wonder the last resort is, “In God We Trust.”

WHAT’S ON YOUR CALENDAR?

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “What’s On Your Calendar?”

There is the here and the hereafter. I think I preach on the here a lot more than the hereafter. However, today’s readings – especially Matthew and Isaiah – challenge us to reflect not only upon the here, but also the hereafter, to reflect upon death and what happens after death – a theme that comes up a bit more as we move more and more to the end of the church year.

The title of my homily is, “What’s On Your Calendar?”

Show me your calendar, your schedule maker, your Blackberry, and I’ll tell you who you are?

I am my schedule.

I am my relationships.

I am how and where, whom and what I spend the time of my life with.

What does your life, your use of time, look like?

What’s on your calendar?

MY CALENDAR

Years ago someone gave me one of those electronic schedule organizers – and I used it for a while – but I also stayed with my small paper calendar schedule book. After a while, the electronic gadget went into my bottom drawer – because I found ballpoint pen and small calendar quicker and more practical.

What does your calendar look like? How have you scheduled your life and your appointments down through the years? Kitchen calendar – electronic catch all – appointment book – what have you?

Yesterday when I was preparing this homily I checked out all my old appointment books. They too were in my bottom drawer. I counted 26 of those little calendars – from 1977 – 2002 - that Hallmark used to put out. They were free and I’d start looking for them every November – along with where to get a flu shot. Hallmark made them larger somewhere along the line, so I sliced and diced them a bit so they could fit in my wallet.

Then after I was stationed here in Annapolis, there were many more appointments, so I switched to a larger appointment book – one that could fit in my pocket – vinyl covered – 7 inches by 4 inches – that cost about 8 dollars at Office Depot or Staples. I have all of those from 2003 till this year – and I already have the one for 2009 – with appointments going into it.

I get very nervous when I misplace my current year’s appointment calendar – because this valuable little book has so much important information in it. And stupid, stupid, stupid, I know the rule for computers, I don’t back up. Many prayers in these past 31 years have been said to St. Anthony when I couldn’t locate the current calendar – but I would always find it.

I can look at these small – rather beaten up – appointment books and see where I’ve been, what I’ve done since 1979. I wish I had been smarter and kept a record of my life since my ordination in 1965 – and well before that.

Anyway. I have written here in my sermon, “Get to a message quickly, or get out of the pulpit – people have appointments to keep" – and to quote Robert Frost, “miles to go before they sleep.” – unless you prefer to do that right now.

INVITATION

Today’s readings continue a key theme from the Gospel of Matthew – the theme of invitation.

We get invitations, phone calls, requests each day for getting together with others. We get wedding invitations – game invitations, invitations to attend meetings – this and that invitations.
What’s on your calendar?

Obviously, being here, Sunday Mass is on your schedule. Obviously, being here is proof you want God in the time of your life.

What we say “Yes” to and what we say “No” to in the calendar of our life tells us a lot about who we are to ourselves.

How do you see life? A burden or a banquet?

Then there are the unscheduled – the moments we didn’t have in our schedule: the accidents, the deaths, the surprises – those phone calls – sometimes in the night – that came and we had to rearrange our schedules.

Some things we can control; some things we can’t control.

This is what makes life so fascinating and so frustrating. The plot thickens. We come around a corner and there is a traffic jam that messes up our schedules and sometimes changes our life.

Life is filled with the planned and the unplanned.

Life is filled with serendipity and sorrow.

Life: a chance meeting at an airport or a bar or church or a game or what have you – and two years later we are married.

How many people are changing their schedules as a result of the economic crisis we’re going through right now?

How many people have said in the last two weeks, “I guess I’m not retiring at 65?”

I hope everyone noticed how today's second reading from Philippians is rather relevant for today. Hopefully, we learn to live with abundance as well as need - to enjoy when we're well fed, but also we learn to deal with life when we are going hungry.

Life is both.

Life is not a straight line.

Death is a flat line.

After death will be the surprise!

A bunch of years back my nephew who works on Wall Street was out of work for about a year and a half. He dropped on many desks his resume – no luck. But at a party an old buddy said, “Where are you working now Gerard?”

“I’m out of work!”

“Oh, here’s my card. Come in and see me on Monday morning.”

He’s been at that place the last bunch of years. I called him on Thursday evening around 7:45 and woke him up. He was exhausted with all the action of the last few weeks - but he’s making a living.

Life is the surprise invitations.

Life: some things can be planned; some things you can’t plan.

THE BANQUET OF ETERNITY

One of the great images of eternity is the banquet.

Death is on everyone’s calendar. We just don’t know the day nor the hour – nor the year.

Life after death is often described as a wedding banquet in both Jewish and Christian scriptures.

The Christian scriptures keep proclaiming Jesus is our Savior – the Way, the Truth and the Life. Our great hope is resurrection – because “Christ has died, Christ is Risen, Christ will come again.”

The Christian scriptures also say – our eternity depends on the here and now – whether we love God and neighbor – whether we help create heaven or hell for each other now. Matthew’s addition to today’s gospel story compared to the other gospels has the addition of the story of the man without the wedding garment. If you read Matthew – especially Matthew 25 and the story of General Judgment, presence is not enough. We need to be sheep not goats. We need to be aware and care for our neighbor – to hear the King say, “Come, you whom the Father has blessed, take your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34).

The Christian scriptures also say – it’s a mystery.

THREE PRIESTS AT DEATH

Father Joseph Donders in a sermon for today’s gospel from Matthew * tells the story of a priest who was dying. He said he was standing at the deathbed of this very holy man. He said the priest gripped both hands with his blanket and the doctor said, “His heart.”

“But his friend whispered to me in the corner of the room: ‘Not his heart: Matthew twenty-two verse fourteen!’”

Matthew 22:14 is the closing sentence in today’s gospel. “Many are invited, but few are chosen.”

The priest was scared to death as he was dying.

A former priest standing right there in front of this pulpit was here for the wedding of his daughter. He told me, “I’m in my 70’s and I’m getting closer to death. I can’t wait to find out what it’s going to be like on the other side.”

Surprised, I said, “Not me. I’m not ready yet.”

I remember hearing a story about a priest who was dying. He was watching a Met game when another priest came to give him the Last Rites, etc. The dying priest said to the other priest, “Hurry up, the Mets are coming to bat.”

That surprised me. I hope it wouldn’t be me. The priest who was dying wasn’t a Redemptorist – nor was he from Brooklyn – but he was a Met fan. Poor fellow. That story, which I have never forgot, makes me wonder from time to time, “If I knew I was dying, what would I be like?”

Death is not on our calendar – but from time to time – we realize it’s going to happen on some day of our calendar.

Death – don’t we wonder how we’re going to handle it?

Death – don’t we wonder what is going to happen after it?

CONCLUSION: THE BANQUET ON THE MOUNTAIN

Today’s first reading from Isaiah, Chapter 25, gives a great vision of hope. It describes End Times as a gathering of all peoples on a mountain – and it will be a feast. There will be rich food and choice wines. And the veil that veils all people will be destroyed. The web that is woven over all nations will be destroyed. And then Isaiah says words we need to savor: “He will destroy death forever.”

What a powerful image!

What a great vision of hope!

All the veils, all the webs, all the walls that separate us, will all be torn down. Praise God.

God is for us – not against us. God wants to save us.

Then we heard these words from Isaiah, “Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us! This is the Lord for whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!”

I hope when I die someone standing there off to the side will see a smile on my face instead of a fear, and instead of saying, “Matthew 22:14”, that person will say, “Isaiah 25:9 & 10.”

* Joseph Donders, The Peace of Jesus, Reflections on the Gospels for the A-cycle, page 268

WEDDING DAY

All through the years,
she was the younger sister,
background music,
quiet, unnoticed,
but it was at her sister’s wedding
that someone noticed her,
a few dances, a phone number,
and she came home a different daughter,
the only daughter,
now the noticed one….
And in time she too blossomed.
She dated. There were more dances
with the phone number,
while her sister was on her honeymoon,
while her sister settled into marriage,
and one of these days,
it will be her wedding day.

Life: blossoming, unfolding,
petals opening, but all of us
at different times. Interesting isn’t it?

© Andy Costello, Reflections, 2008

THE LONGEST JOURNEY
IS THE JOURNEY WITHIN

INTRODUCTION

The longest journey is the journey within. We prefer to slip away and step elsewhere. We tend to keep the door to our soul locked. We hang a sign on the door, “Closed!” We don’t take the steps down to our inner room – to the bottom of our basement - to the bottom of our soul. (1) Instead of meeting ourselves down there, and eating with the Lord in there, (2) we spend our time looking at and judging others – judging their motives and thinking we know their souls. (3)

REALIZING WHO JESUS IS TAKES TIME

Jesus walked around for three years – but it took his disciples another 10, 20, 30 40, 50 years to grasp who he is. We know this because this is how it happens to us as well.

Okay, some people get Jesus faster than others.

We start our lives on the pages of Genesis. We are Adam and Eve – and we are some of the characters that follow. We have a history. We celebrate and kill prophets. We cry the complaints of the Psalms. Hopefully, we discover Wisdom and Wisdom figures in our lives.

Then in the fullness of time – we can become New Testament people. This happens when we realize Bethlehem is not just there – back then. It’s here – right here inside us – and i't right now. The down deep stable of our soul is just as stinky and ox and assy as Bethlehem’s was. Of course, we don’t get this or accept this. “Really? The one who can save us is born in me? Never.”

If and when we connect the gospel story of Jesus with our story, we've hearing the Good News. Bethlehem is a story on the pages of Luke and Mathew. It's Good News when it becomes a story in the pages of our life. That small, cold and crying Baby wants to be born in our inner Bethlehem.

Discipleship is turning the pages of the Gospels and entering into its scenes and interacting with Jesus who walks up and down our inner streets. It's asking the questions the followers and crowd ask. It's Jesus healing our demons and helping us to see and hear and speak. The stories are told so we can realize we are the lost sheep or coin or son or daughter – and the call is to come home to the Father – to forgive us our trespasses – and not be like the older brother when we can’t accept ourselves and eat the fatted calf with our mistake-making-self.

We are growing when we stop to help our brother and sister on the road. We are growing when we put in our two cents. We are growing when we give our few loaves of bread and are surprised with what happens next: love and goodness multiply.

We are growing when we know the Law is there to help us. We are growing even more when we shrink ego or die to self so we can squeeze through the eye of the needle and enter the Kingdom. We grow as we are challenged by do's more than don'ts. Jesus is there to liberate us for a life beyond worrying about sin - ours and our neighbors. It's a life in the kingdom – enjoying the birds of the air and the lilies of the field – enjoying spending time with Martha and Mary and their brother Lazarus or whatever our neighbor or friends’ names are. “Joy to the World” is our song.

We are growing when we have Jesus' eye - when we see folks at our doorsteps - on our streets - at work - at home - at school - at church - folks whom we never noticed before.

We are growing when we know down deep within us – our demons can return – and with a fury.

TODAY’S GOSPEL – 27 FRIDAY OT

This is what today’s gospel is about – this story of demons – a way the people of Jesus’ time understood the mystery of the human person. (4)

We have demons. We don't like to accept this inner reality - so we demonize others.

Paul and Augustine will come along and articulate the same message with their take on the psychology of human reality – with their take on evil – to be aware that sin can keep knocking at the door our inner down deep self . We can incarnate evil and then self destruct. Aren’t there days when we say, “I’m beside myself.” or “I’m not myself today.” or “This is not my better self.”?(5) Don't we want to be our best self?

Shakespeare showed us this same inner stuff on the stage – with his plays that hold the mirror up to human nature. (6)

Hawthorne and Melville told us this in their writings. (7)

CONCLUSION: KNOW YOURSELF
We see it every time we’re wanting everyone else to change but ourselves. We see this every time we blame, blame, blame – and make another whom we really don’t know the enemy.

In the meanwhile, go down those stairs and spend time in one's soul - in our inner room.

Be aware! Jesus keeps knocking on our door and it's a good move when we invite him inside. (8)

And beware! The last line in today's gospel has this mysterious warning: the demon down deep inside us wants company....

NOTES:

(1) Matthew 6: 5-6; 7: 1-5

(2) Matthew 9: 9-13; Luke 15: 2

(3) Luke 18: 9-14

(4) Luke 11: 15-26

(5) Confer Romans Chapters 6 to 9; Confessions of Augustine Book 8.

(6) Hamlet, III, ii, 25 “To hold, as ‘twere, the mirror up to nature; to show virtue her own feature, scorn her own image, and the very age and body of the time his form and pressure.” Yet as James says in 1:23-24, we take a quick look in the mirror at most.

(7) The Scarlet Letter, Ethan Brand, and “The Haunted Mind” in Twice-Told Tales, by Nathaniel Hawthorne and Moby Dick by Herman Melville.

(8) Revelation 3:20

BUGGING ME

There was this fly who was bugging me.
I grabbed the fly swatter
and got him on a closed window
on my second attempt.
That was three days ago.
Today in a quiet moment
it hit me, “Not fair!
Why didn't I give him or her a chance for more time?
What’s their life span: 15 to 30 days?
I couldn’t tell if he was a she

or she was a he or how that works with flies

or how old it was."

Then further thoughts:

“Isn't it Jainism – that Indian religion -
that advocates this non-killing

and they have to have
a lot more flies flying around than here?”
Then further thoughts:
“How many people have I swatted
with my interruptions
and never let them finish their comment?
How many people have I hurt
and they are still feeling it
a lot more than 3 days later?"

© Andy Costello, Reflections, 2008

I AM A VINEYARD

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is “I Am A Vineyard.”

A theme from today’s first reading and today’s gospel is, “We Are A Vineyard” and God’s call is that we produce good grapes – not sour grapes or wild grapes.

Describing people as a vineyard is an allegory – an old allegory – that appears from time to time in the Bible.

The Psalm Response between the first two readings says it loud and clear: “The vineyard of the Lord is the House of Israel.”

The author of Psalm 80 says what the first reading and the gospel are saying, “God sees us as a vineyard – and we are God’s vineyard.”

Are we producing good fruit?

The title of my homily is, “I Am A Vineyard” instead of “We Are A Vineyard” – which the readings would suggest.

In general, moving from the “we” to the “I” – from the whole group to the individual, is not something that the Bible does. It’s something we do since the Enlightenment. We see a greater stress on the “I” in modern psychology and spirituality.

A funny side comment: the Creed at Mass was changed to “We believe” from “Credo” – “I believe”. Now it’s going to move back to the “I believe” in the near future.

GOD VISITING US

If God said to us – and this is a theme we’ll be hearing with several readings at the end of the Gospel of Matthew, “Make an account of your stewardship!” what would we say? What would we show? If God came to check out our vineyard, what would it look like? He even allows us to get moving at the last hour. [Check the vineyard theme in the last two Sunday gospels.]

QUESTIONAIRE – PERSONALITY TEST

If a therapist or a counselor, a psychologist or psychiatrist, asked us to draw ourselves as something other than a person, most of us would not draw ourselves as a vineyard.

What would you draw yourself as?

How about the old song by Simon and Garfunkle us older folks might remember, “I Am a Rock." [1965-66] Would I draw or describe myself as a rock or an island?

How about the more recent song, "The Bug", by Mary Chapin Carpenter. “Sometimes you’re the windshield, sometimes you’re the bug. Sometimes you’re the Louisville Slugger, sometimes you're the ball.”

Would we draw ourselves as a glass half empty or half full or would we draw ourselves as a mug overflowing because our life is filled with blessings and we want to share a sip with everyone?

Family test: when the electricity goes out – and we have paper, magic markers, candles or flashlights, have everyone draw themselves as something other than a person.

Animals would be interesting – better: if I was a dog, what kind of dog would I be.

Birds: if I was a bird, what kind of bird would I be?

Family members could also draw the others and then tell the others why they picked what they picked.

Warning: like the porcupine be very careful.

I AM A VINEYARD

If I was a vineyard, what would I look like?

Well tended vines? Beautiful looking grapes? Nice neat rows? Small? Large?

Now if God walked through our vineyard, would God say or sing the same song that the Prophet Isaiah sings in today’s first reading?

A friend of mine created a vineyard on a fertile hillside – spaded it, cleared it of stones, planted the choicest of vines, built a watchtower to protect the property, got great wood to build a good wine press, and ugh, the grapes are horrible.

Wouldn’t the person who did all that work be disappointed big time? Maybe in anger they would destroy everything and let it become a place for grazing.

Jesus in the gospel sings the same song.

God keeps asking us to produce good fruit. If we don’t care, if each time he sends someone to challenge us, we reject them; if he sends his son, and we crucify him, wouldn’t God just destroy us?

Jesus tells this tough parable again for us today – to challenge us – to give us one more chance. God is a God who dreams, who hopes, not a God who wants to destroy.

I am called to be a vineyard? How am I doing? What does the inside of my life look like – inside the walls?

Don’t we all love to see cool, delicious, grapes? How can we walk by a dish or bowl of delicious grapes? Don’t we reach out and take a couple? Don’t they taste “Uuuummmm! Delicious!”?

I don’t drink wine – except at Mass – and I don’t like wine, so at Mass I just take a tiny sip. This allows me to be one of those folks who like to kid folks who like wine.

We’re at the restaurant – let’s make it an expensive restaurant – and the waiter asks the person next to us, “Would you like a taste of the wine you just inquired about?” The person says, “Yes!” A few moments later the waiter comes back with a brand new bottle. He opens it up at the table. He takes a clean glass and pours a tiny bit in. He hands it to the person at our table. He or she tastes it. Sometimes they even sniff it. I don’t know if one is supposed to do that, but I never know which fork to use at big meals. The person says, “Wonderful!” The waiter fills the glass. Next, when the waiter leaves, all of us non wine drinkers, bust that person – about being so “snooty” and “refined”. Or is this ritual busting done only by us fat cat priests?

I am a vineyard.I am called to be good fruit – delicious grapes.

I am called to be good wine – the best of wine – and served first.

Am I?

CONVERSION – CHALLENGE – CHANGE - CALL

The scriptures challenge us, call us, to conversion and change – growth and development.

Don’t we all love stories about someone taking an old or run down house or boat or yard, and restoring it?

I remember my first assignment as a priest on the Lower East Side of Manhattan – New York City. There was an empty lot on this other block I used go down from time to time. It was an ugly space where a building had been. It was all weeds, dirt, bed springs, tires, broken shopping carts, a few rusting washing machines and dryers, and lots of garbage, garbage, garbage, junk, junk, junk.

It was an eye sore.

A group from the block decided to clean it out on Saturdays. It took time, but they did it. They planted tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, flowers, a few benches, a few trees, and surprise, it became a place of peace and meditation – a garden in the middle of an inner city block.

When a human being decides to move from a disaster area to a garden of delights – peace flows – joy grows.

Today’s readings challenge us to be the vineyard God wants us to be. If we hear that call - then we need to work, sweat, dig, hoe, spade, prune. We also need rain and to be watered.

Surprise – we can change. I can change. I can be the person God is calling me to be – the vineyard that brings delight to others.

CONCLUSION

I am not sure just how to end this homily, so let me close this way.

I gave a short talk and then had a discussion this morning over in Marian Hall entitled: “How Different, Different People Can Be: Father Michael Mueller and Father Francis X. Seelos, Redemptorists.”

I contrasted these two Redemptorists who were stationed here at Annapolis. Both are both long dead. I wouldn’t dare use those I live with as examples.

The statue of Father Francis Xavier Seelos – or Blessed Seelos – is out there on a bench in our garden. Sit with him from time to time. He was a wonderful person. He is "delicious grapes". Today, October 5th, is his feast day.

Father Michael Mueller – I think it was pronounced “Miller” by some. There is a marble plaque in his honor in the vestibule of our church. After Mass check it out – along with the Blessed Seelos bench.

Mueller was the man who built this church. Construction began in April of 1858. He was pastor here between 1857 to 1862.

Seelos was a saint who was also pastor here for a short time – 1862-1863. Like Mueller, besides being pastor, he was also in charge of the students who studied here.

Mueller didn’t like Seelos. He thought he was too easy. He wrote letters to get him removed from being in charge of our students. Mueller was a complainer. He got him dismissed.

Mueller preferred the military model for a seminary; Seelos didn’t.

Seelos had long lines for confession – wherever he was stationed. I don’t know if Mueller did. I know that I would never go to confession to Mueller. He was rather rigid – rather strict – rather morose. Father Michael Curley entitled his life of Father Seelos “Cheerful Ascetic” – for he was known for his joy, laughter and love of jokes. Father Mueller is described by Curley for having a “lugubrious mood” (p. 222), having "a picayune mind worried by trifles" that saw "sinister motives in Seelos" (p. 216), “too set in his ways, too rigid in his ideas, too melancholy in personality and ignorant of the American character.” (p. 156).

Surprise! Mueller became famous as a writer. His books are still selling. He’s still a hero of some rather rigid Catholics. Type his name into the Google search box - and be in for surprises. For example I found his book on the web site of the followers of Archbishop Marcel Lefevre who broke off from the Catholic Church . Some of his group are now back to the Church. It seems to me that Pope Benedict has bent over backwards to bring them back – promising more Masses in Latin, etc. I’m also reading that some can irking some folks in the Vatican, because they won’t be satisfied till they get their way.

A person with a sense of humor would add, “Don’t we all? Don’t we all?"

However, I don’t want to get into this controversy. [Blogs can go that way - with lots of letters.] If I learned anything from reading Blessed Francis X. Seelos life, it's this: keep working in the vineyard while others keep writing their letters of complaint.

I’ve drifted a bit here and I used that word, “Conclusion” above – so I’m sure you’re saying, “Conclude!”

So my closing question: Are people born pessimists or optimists, tasty grapes or sour grapes – happy or sad – rigid or relaxed? Am I who I am by nature or nurture? Is the core me, the forever me?

Or can I change? Is Father Mueller laughing in heaven – when it seems he didn’t laugh enough on earth?

I have to believe as a Redemptorist that the Gospel message is change. Yes we have traits we’re born or stuck with, but with God’s help, we can also dig, hoe, spade, remove rocks, sweat – and become a great vineyard that produces great grapes and wine – not sour grapes or undesired wine.

_________________________________________________________________

Pictures on top: F.X. Seelos is the oval picture - as well as the statue on the bench. Mueller is the rectangular picture. The plaque and the grave stone are self explanatory. The two pictures of grapes were recently taken in France by Ellen Griffin.

Michael Curley, The Cheerful Ascetic, The Redemptorists Seelos Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, 2002

Michael Curley The Provincial Story, Redemptorists of the Baltimore Province, Copyright, 2003

Robert L. Worden, Saint Mary's Church in Annapolis, Maryland, A Sesquicentennial History, 1853-2003, Saint Mary's Parish, Annapolis, Maryland

THE GIFT OF WOOD

Backyards, front yards,
lumberyards ….
Wooden floors, ceiling beams,
decks and boardwalks ….
tables, chairs, picture frames,
desks, drawers and doors ….
I need to get to the woods
to see where all this wood
comes from – to say “Thank you”
for this eucharistic sacrifice,
to hear the trees say,
"This is my body…. this is my blood.
I’m giving my life to you.
Remember me. Remember that."
It was then I noticed a cross,
the sacred tree, the cut Christ,
on my wooden wall – the connection:
“This is my body…. this is my blood….
I'm giving my life to you. Remember me.
Remember that." Thank You.

© Andy Costello, Reflections, 2008

TRAFFIC SIGNS

Caught in traffic,
stuck behind a truck
on a spiral road,
late, behind schedule,
feeling my nerves
are doing the same thing,
that snarling,
that about to snap feeling,
antsy, agitated,
like being at a stupid meeting
or a dumb sermon,
of a “have to” meeting
on a “Back to School Night,”
trapped. I have to take
those STOP, YIELD,
SCENIC OVERVIEW
signs more seriously
otherwise I’m going to crash.

© Andy Costello,
  Reflections 2008

REMOTE CONTROL

Okay, this is what I know about you
so far. I’ve been watching you.
You always get the remote,
but please, don’t point it at me.
I’m not a television. I know you
try to change my channel when
I become boring or challenging,
when you want different. Sorry.
I’m not a program to be programmed.
I have my own ideas – my own ways.
My script isn’t finished yet – I’m
still in draft mode. I’m still figuring.
I don’t have to enjoy what you enjoy.
I don’t have to vote for the person
you’re pushing. I hear your reasons,
but I have my reasons. Don’t scream.
Don’t manipulate. Don’t push my buttons.
From what I’ve seen so far,
I don’t think you’re remotely aware of
who I am – what I’m thinking of.
Tune in once in a while
You might find me interesting.

© Andy Costello,
Reflections 2008

LABYRINTHINE
MUTTERINGS

Quite by accident

I found myself muttering the phrase,
“The Burden and the Blessing.”
It sounded like the title of a novel
or a movie made from a novel.
It would be one chase scene after another.
It would be the story of the struggles
of a president or a king,
a restaurant owner or a priest.

Make it a priest.
The word “blessing” has religious overtones.

The burden:
one man’s struggle with a parish,
with a people, with alcohol or anger,
with laziness or love,
with a woman, with God.
Would it be words whispered about him
behind his back, or the dark night journey
in search of God and God in search of him,
or the pain of going it alone,
or the saying “No!”
to powerful temptations hounding him?

The blessing:
the scent of God in the chase,
glimpses of being pursued,
and in the midst of all this
I found myself muttering the phrase,
“I am loved.”
Then the laugh, the realization,
“Hey stupid! All this has already
been written by Francis Thompson
in his poem, The Hound of Heaven.”
Then I laughed again, because it's also
written in Graham Green's novel,
The Power and the Glory - and surprise,
both of these are connected,
because the novel was also named,
"The Labyrinthine Ways.”

© Andy Costello,
Reflections 2008

PAINTED POEMS

I can’t paint,
but I like impressionistic paintings
and some modern art pieces.

I like to paint poems,
poems that are impressions —
impressions of inner conversations,
realities people are mumbling about
in their gallery, their garage – or their attic,
to try to see modern ways
of seeing old themes they vent about:
anger, angst, hope, despair,
morning, night, and blue beauty
in the mist – in the midst of one’s life,
in the mix of personal relationships.

Sometimes after sitting with someone
for a hour or so, they look
like squeezed paint tubes.

Gobs of words, blobs of feelings,
brush strokes and streaks of beauty,
becoming their paintings: exhibitions
they have invited me to look at
on the walls of their soul.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2008

Don't forget to put the cursor on a picture and tap, tap, mouse, mouse, to see the pictures a bit larger.

[Top Blue] White-and-Greens-in-Blue-Posters by Mark Rothko

[One sailboat picture] Sunset at Sea by Childe Hassam

[Man in boat with oar] Impression Sunrise by Claude Monet

[Wall on left] Autumn in Bavaria by Wasily Kadinsky

[Truck on top] Death in the Ridge Road by Grant Wood

BREAKFAST

The butter was yellow,
glossy, laminated on my toast.
The bread had the texture
of a tan terry cloth robe.
The Rice Krispies were
snap, crackle and pop.
The coffee was sending
smoke signals across the table.
But I missed all of this,
because I was still digesting
what you said last night at supper.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2008

HOW MANY TIMES

DOES IT TAKE
FOR US TO LEARN
WHAT SAINT PAUL LEARNED?

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “How Many Times Does It Take for Us to Learn What Saint Paul Learned?”

Since there is going to be “A Special Dramatic Presentation on the Journey of St. Paul” tonight at 6:30 by Kevin O’Brien and his troop, I thought it would be practical to preach a few words on St. Paul tonight in this homily – jumping to my thoughts from today’s 3 readings.*

It will be a little forced, but I’ll try to connect the dots.

FIRST READING

Today’s first reading from Ezekiel gets at the question of fairness.
How are you on the issue of fairness?

This is one of the questions we ask many times in the journey of our life – big time when someone dies – small time when a teacher gives us what we think is an unfair grade – or a referee makes what we think is a bad call in a game – or our parents seem too strict compared to other parents and we can’t throw a red flag for a video replay of their decision.

So the question Ezekiel raises in today’s first reading is a question we know about: fairness.

Ezekiel challenges his own people when they complain, “The Lord’s way is not fair.” He answers them back by saying, “You’re unfair – especially when you sin – especially when you do wrong and you don’t like the consequences.”

St. Paul thought his way was the right way, the fair way, the only way – so he hit the highway to arrest Jewish Christians whom he thought were going the wrong way.

Be careful of the person who is absolutely sure of themselves – people who don’t hesitate – people who don’t step back and take a walk and think about things and think them through – people who don’t consult others.

Sometimes we’re wrong and we don’t want to hear it.

It took Paul, whose prior name was Saul, a good hard push to wake up.

Saul, who becomes Paul, had to be knocked to the ground to have Christ’s way knocked into his head. He had to become blind in order to see. He had to be told to listen to someone else – in order to hear his own thoughts and become aware of his own attitudes.

How many times does it take us to realize that God’s way is the fair way – and our way might not be the best way or the right way?

How many times does it take us to learn what Ezekiel learned?

How many times does it take for us to learn what St. Paul learned?

SECOND READING
Today’s second reading from St. Paul’s letter to the people of the city of Philippi has several heavy duty messages. The key message to me is humility. If I believe what I just said a moment ago, I could be wrong in what I’m saying. Sometimes I have to preach to figure out what I’m trying to say. Sometimes I learn that I am wrong.

This has to happen to all of us.

It’s called humility, so let me say a few words about humility.

Question: How could you get a 50 foot balloon into this church? The doors are not wide enough.

Answer: You take the air out of it.

In today’s second reading, St. Paul takes an early Christian hymn and sort of asks, “How does God – the God who fills the universe – get into our tiny minds and hearts?”

Answer: he empties himself and becomes one of us.

Answer: he becomes a tiny baby – and tries to squeeze into our life.

Question: How does God try to fit into our schedule – our plans – our outlook – our attitudes? How does God try to get into people’s lives?

Answer: he becomes one of us. Every Christmas we hear the story how he became a baby born in a stable. Every time we come to church we hear about this Jesus – a man who grew up in Nazareth – a carpenter who worked with wood, who becomes a carpenter with words – who tries to get us to buy the furniture of prayer and love that should fill our inner room – our brains – who tries to get us to make him the wooden beams - the foundation of our house.

Question: How does Jesus Christ try to stop us in our tracks – turn off our Ipods at times – and start to listen to the scriptures – for example St. Paul – and see what tunes he’s singing – what messages he’s trying to challenge us with?

Answer: Jesus becomes a servant. If he came as a rock star or a brilliant professor or a TV celebrity – we might be moved or scream with teenage screams of delight – but in time we’d get over it. So Jesus walked into towns talking – listening – watching – trying to get us to stop to see the flowers in the field in all their beauty – to see the birds of the air as well – and understand God is behind, above, under everything – and also to see our brother or sister when they are hurting by the side of the road. And when Jesus preached he stung some people who thought they were right – so they wanted to throw rocks at him but he walked away. In the end, they crucified him. They killed him.

St. Paul in this second reading from Philippians says that because he emptied himself – took all the God out of himself – like the emptying of a balloon – because he fitted into a baby’s skin – becoming a baby, an us, a human being, because he was a servant, because he was crucified, and killed, emptied of all life on the cross, God his Father raised him to life again – filled him with life again – and announced to the world, “Jesus is Lord.”

TODAY’S GOSPEL
Today’s gospel tells the story about a man with two sons. One when asked by his father to go into the vineyard said, “No”. Later he realized he was wrong and went to work in the vineyard. The other son said, “Yes” to his father that he would go into the vineyard, but then said “no” by sitting on his butt and not going.

When God was trying to tell Saul, who became Paul, that Jesus was Lord – that Jesus was the way – the way that Israel was called to take – Saul said “No!”

But he changed. It was a difficult change, but he changed.

Then when Paul told Israel that Jesus is Lord, the ones who were saying "Yes" to God, they walked away.

Then when he told others about Jesus, they said “Yes” but didn’t do anything.

How about us?

Many are like Paul. They hear about Christ over and over and over again – but unlike Paul, they don’t catch on as soon as they could.

Some of you will be coming to this GUS [God Uniting Students] Mass all this year – and then next year – and then like so many others, some will drop out – and some will drop out of church when they go to college – and after college – and then some day, like Paul, they’ll hit bottom. They’ll fall down. They’ll need God. They’ll realize they have been self inflated like a big balloon. They will realize they have to emptied to fit into Christ – to become filled with Christ – not self. Then they will be able to say with St. Paul. “I live now not with my own life, but with the life of Christ who lives in me.” [Cf. Galatians 2: 20]

CONCLUSION

“How Many Times Does It Take for Us to Learn What Paul Learned?”



[*Youth Mass for 26 Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A, September 28, 2008 at St. John Neumann Church.]

MELISSA:
NO’S DON’T HAVE
TO BE FOREVER

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this children and family mass is, “Melissa: No’s Don’t Have to be Forever.” *
I would like to tell you a story. It’s the story of a girl named Melissa.

THE STORY OF MELISSA

Once upon a time there was a little girl named Melissa.

And as everyone knows, the name “Melissa” means “Most Sweet” or better, “The Sweetest” and that she was.

She was a star. She was very bright. She was a princess.
She was an only child.

And Melissa loved being an only child. The only pictures on the refrigerator door were pictures of Melissa. The only pictures in her grandma and grandpa’s wallets were of Melissa – because Melissa’s mom and dad were also the only child.

Melissa was loved by neighbors and checkout counter ladies, teachers and classmates – because she was so outgoing – so talented – so cute – so smart.

She could dance. She could sing. She could play the piano. She got all stars in Kindergarten. She was able to catch a lacrosse ball already – when she and her dad went out to play on their front lawn. She was great in Monopoly already.

Her dad and her mom were so proud of her. Life couldn’t have been better.

Then one day Melissa felt an “Uh oh!” in her throat and her tummy.

She heard her mom talking to someone on the phone – and her mom said, “The baby will be due in August.”

“Uh oh,” she said again.

In her gut – without knowing why – Melissa started to become more and more quiet – the closer they got to August.

The baby was a baby brother – 8 pounds and 8 ounces. They were going to name him Jack, but they changed to name to Michael – because they thought that would make Melissa happy – she and her brother being called, “M and M.”

Her mom and dad felt super – her grandparents on both sides felt super – finally more than one child – and her parents thought it was great that Melissa would no longer be an only child. They never liked growing up as the only child – because people would say, “An only child is a spoiled child. They get everything.”

Well Melissa went into a shell – into a mood – into feeling sorry for herself – because nobody was noticing her. Nobody was giving her attention. All the action was with her baby brother Michael.

He was a prince and she no longer felt like a princess.

It was Michael this and Michael that. And the only pictures taken were pictures of Michael.

And a big, big baby picture of Michael went smack on the center of their refrigerator door.

People would stop her mom in the mall and ask to see the new baby. Nobody seemed to notice Melissa any more.

Teachers would say to Melissa, “Aren’t you lucky? You now have a baby brother.”

Melissa didn’t think so. Melissa didn’t like this new arrangement.

Melissa was cranky and moody at Michael’s baptism – in fact, she acted up a bit – and this annoyed her grandmother on her dad’s side.

Everyone drove back to Melissa’s house. There was to be a party in honor of the newly baptized baby Michael.

The priest who did the baptism was there – and he noticed how Melissa was hiding out – how alone Melissa seemed to be – how she was so sour in the face. So he went over to her and asked, “Can I ask you a question?”

And Melissa said, “No!” and ran away.

The priest felt an “Uh oh” in his tummy.

About five minutes later the priest was sitting there eating tiny hot dogs – wrapped in dough – smothered in great yellow mustard – talking with Melissa’s grandparents.

The priest felt someone tap him on the shoulder.

He turned. It was Melissa.

She said, “Okay, you can ask me a question.”

No’s don’t have to be forever.

The priest was surprised. He had to think backwards to remember what his question was. He thought and thought. Then he remembered.

Seeing how much Melissa had changed since her baby brother arrived, how she had become so quiet and moody, he was wondering if she was being jealous . He was wondering if it was because she was no longer getting all the attention. So the priest whispered in her ear so her grandparents wouldn’t hear, “Are you jealous of your new baby brother?”

And before he could say, “because he’s now getting all the attention and you think it’s not fair!” Melissa yelled out, “No!” and ran away again.

Five minutes later the priest was still sitting there. He was eating his fifth tiny hot dog wrapped in dough, smothered with great yellow mustard. Once more he felt a tap on his shoulder.
Once more it was Melissa.

She said, “Yes, I am a little bit jealous.”

No’s don’t have to be forever.

Then Melissa with her old sweet smile and her fingers going like this, [Gesture of her thumb and index finger slightly apart] added “but only a little bit jealous.”

Then she ran over and started tickling her baby brother and from that moment on, she became the bestest of older sisters.

[*Family Mass - especially kids - St. Mary's Church, Marian Hall, September 28, 2008, 26 Sunday Ordinary Time - Year A]