CORNELIUS

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Cornelius.”

There is only one person in the scriptures named, “Cornelius” and he appears only here in the 10th Chapter of The Acts of the Apostles – our first reading. That’s it. I knew that he was someone mentioned in The Acts of the Apostles, but I don’t remember ever reading, thinking or preaching about him. So that’s what I would like to do in this homily: to present some thoughts about Cornelius. This homily lacks poetics. It might sound a bit heady. Luckily it’s short – only 4 pages - in 14 Pica.

CORNELIUS

First of all he was a centurion in a place called Caesarea. A centurion was an officer in charge of 100 soldiers. The Roman Army would post at key small local towns a centurion and his 100 men.

Secondly, it’s interesting in the New Testament there is mention of 6 centurions and they are all good guys. Even the one in charge of crucifying Jesus ends up saying, “Truly this man was a Son of God” (Matthew 27:54; Mark 15:39) and “This was a great and good man” (Luke 23: 47).

Thirdly, Cornelius and his family are described as God fearing – and involved in the Jewish community. However, he was neither circumcised nor a member of the Jewish community.

Fourthly, Cornelius has a vision of an angel who came to him while he was praying; this is how this type of literature describes these things. He is told to send a message to a man named Peter who was in the city of Joppa. The vision gave clear specifics: Peter is staying with a man named Simon who is a leather tanner – whose house is near the sea. Cornelius sends one of his soldiers with two of his slaves to Joppa. In the meanwhile Peter goes up on a roof at the 6th hour to pray. He too has a vision. He sees this big, big cloth or canvas sheet coming down from heaven to earth. It has on it all kinds of animals. Peter is then told to kill and eat the animals. Interesting dream. Evidently, Peter is not a vegetarian. Peter says, “No way Lord, some of these animals are unclean.” A voice says three times, “Whatever God has made, you can’t call unclean.” While this vision is taking place the 3 men show up and ask for Peter. The Spirit speaks to Peter telling him he has visitors. He goes down and the three men tell Peter that a centurion named Cornelius had a vision and a holy angel told him to send for you – that you are invited to come to Cornelius' house to listen to him. The next day Peter goes to Caesarea with some of the disciples. In the meanwhile, as The Acts of the Apostles tells us (10:24) Cornelius invites his relations and close friends to be there for Peter’s arrival. Today’s first reading tells what happens next. Cornelius ends up being baptized a Gentile Christian and he doesn’t have to be circumcised or follow Jewish dietary laws etc. Today’s text uses the pronoun “them” at this baptism – not just Cornelius. Was the “them” his whole family – all his relations – his friends. Who are the “them”? Interesting….

Fifthly, this is a key moment in the history of our church. We are breaking lose from Judaism to reach out to the Gentiles – especially the Greek and Roman speaking world – without forcing everyone to be a Jew first. If you read The Acts of the Apostles and parts of Paul’s Letters, you can see that this was a big struggle. It’s also in the background of the Gospels.

CORNELIUS 2009

We don’t have to have visions to realize that a modern Cornelius might live right next door to us. Cornelius might be working with us each day. Cornelius might be in our car pool, bridge club, book club or tiny tots softball coaching staff.

Notice what happens when Peter enters Cornelius’ house and meets him. Cornelius falls to his knees and pays Peter homage. Peter lifts him up saying, “Get up. I myself am also a human being.”

Then notice what Peter says, “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.”

It hit me last night that I have never heard anyone quote this text, Acts 10:35. “…in every nation whoever fears him [God] and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.”

I’ll have to do some homework to see if this text is used in Vatican II documents and the New Catholic Catechism when talking about ecumenism and world religions. I’ll have to do my research and reading to see it ever comes up in religious arguments amongst Christians on the question: “Who is saved?” and “What is necessary for salvation?”

We could combine this text with Matthew 25: 31 – 46 – the Last Judgment scene of the sheep and the goats – heaven or hell – and then add, “Wow are there going to be surprises after we die?”

These texts and several other biblical texts say we are judged on love – how well we loved and cared for each other.

We’ve all heard the jokes about different folks arriving in heaven and as they go by different doors they ask, ‘Who’s in there?” and the angel butler or St. Peter pointing to the closed door of a big room or mansion goes, “Shhh. Those folks think they’re the only ones here.”

And I noticed that today’s second reading and gospel stress love as the key – that if we are without love, then we don’t know God – for God is love.

And if God is heaven and heaven is all about love, then we better love God and each other a lot more.

And we know that when we love, we are in heaven.

CONCLUSION: 7 ASSUMPTIONS*

I would assume that there are millions of non-church goers – non-Christians – who like Cornelius talk to God in prayer and love God and their neighbor each day.

I would assume that there are millions of non-church goers – non-Christians – those who are Muslims, Jews, Hindi, etc. etc. etc. who like Cornelius talk to God in prayer and love each other each day.

I would assume that there are millions of non-church goers – non-Christians, non anything, atheists, etc. who work at loving their families and neighbors and are joyful people.

I would assume that there are millions of Christians in name – who don’t love – who are not joyful – who don’t listen to Christ – who don’t remain in Christ’s love – and who feel like they are in hell – down deep hell from time to time – and they don’t know why and they don’t know God.

I would assume that the purpose of coming to church, being a Christian, being a Catholic, is to hear about God and loving one another, to be baptized in Christ and in the Spirit, and to walk out of church into the parking lot and into our world and bring the joy and love of Christ to all those we meet.

I would assume this text could be used in the struggles with the “In Your Face” approach to texts like John 3:16 – when folks use that text to put people in hell based on whether they are “born again” or not – some of whom don’t accept the Catholic practice of infant baptism or what have you.

I would assume we Catholics got our name because the Discipleship – Community – Movement – Church – Jesus started – opened up to people like Cornelius. As a result, one can walk into any Catholic Church around the world and feel in communion with everyone in that Church – even if they are speaking in strange tongues according to us – but we can connect with them – and that at Masses in places like this we are united by our love for Christ and each other – people who were born in Annapolis or elsewhere – strangers and non-strangers – that we are all human beings discovering God and his love for us – especially in our love for one another – whatever our name is – Cornelius or Cornelia – Patrick or Patricia – Evelyn or Eddie – Oscar or Ophelia – Sam or Sophie. Welcome! Wellgo!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


*As I was reflecting upon these questions, I realized I was back in the territory of Karl Rahner’s “Anonymous Christian” theology. If we believe that salvation comes through Jesus Christ, then what about those who never heard of Jesus Christ? Karl Rahner could not accept a theology that would say they are condemned. He would hold that the key consideration is conscience – their basic stance towards goodness and life. His theology on this became part of the Vatican Council teachings on this question. Some disagree with this position saying that it’s a put down on other religions. Would Catholics feel they were being disregarded if someone described us as “anonymous Buddhists,” or “anonymous Mormons,” or “anonymous Muslims,” or what have you? Others say this position does not match with scripture texts about salvation. If one starts to study the “salvation questions”: “Who is saved?”; “How is someone saved?”; and “What is salvation?” then be prepared for a lot of research. One must study “Baptism of Desire”, the works of Karl Rahner, S.J., the works of Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, as well as the documents of Vatican II, especially, Lumen Gentium, Gaudium et Spes, Unitatis Redintegratio, Nostra Aetate, and Dignitatis Humanae, as well as the Catechism of the Catholic Church #847. See also #55, 161, 169, 432, 1095. This can lead to the various ways sacred scriptures are interpreted. This can lead one to head scratching – prayer – as well as signing up for classes for furthering one’s theological development. If this has confused you, type into Google, "Anonymous Christian, Karl Rahner."

TATTOOS

Those of us without tattoos
sometimes think it’s strange,
all these tattoos. Yet, come
to think about it, it makes life
interesting – bridesmaid's backs

at weddings - the old and the young
at the beach. It sure gives
folks something to talk about –
something to be surprised about,
and it’s helping some folks
make a living. After all
it’s only skin deep – but what
about those of us with tattoos
on our souls – now those
can be interesting – some
of those can be outrageous
hurts – inked onto our very
being – invisible to everyone
but ourselves, everyday?

© Andy Costello, Reflections, 2009

PRIDE AND THE FALL

Popes and presidents,
bishops, professional
athletes, those on pedestals
or at head tables – those with
fat wallets and svelte bodies,
those who appear in People Magazine,
those who love to compare themselves
to the overweight or over old,
those who look down on those
with dented and crumbling cars,
or those in bleacher seats,
or in back benches at church,*
or on cement sidewalk seats
playing music, begging for a buck.
Beware if you become top heavy.
Beware of beauty or I.Q. or power
or cash or titles or the easy.
A heavy head can snap a neck.
Pride can brings us back
down to the gravity of ground,
the earth, the humus from which
we were all formed from. If none
of this scares us, there is always
death, the heady humble crumble.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2009

* Cf. Luke 18: 9-14
Tap, tap the pictures on top of the flowers

in St. Mary's Garden here in Annapolis

with your cursor to get a close-up

of what I'm talking about.

SINK

The spin of clean, clear water
swirling down the drain – and
all that is left are 2 tiny, ugly pieces
of mushrooms, 1 wrinkled pea
that looks like a 93 year old neck,
and 3 pieces of gristle. While doing

dishes the sink seems to mimic

my inner conversations:
the nice swirls away – while
1 or 2 or 3 ugly comments from

the dinner table remain. They

just won't slink down that drain.

© Andy Costello, Reflections, 2009

MAMA’S SECRET BOX

There’s no way to say this than to say it right up front and bluntly. Mama died in a plane crash. She was one of those 117 killed – as it appeared on the evening news – a number – 117 unknowns – unless you were related or connected to one of the 117 – unless you knew Mama – unless you were one of her 5 kids or 1 son -in-law or 4 daughter-in-laws – or one of her 14 grandkids – or a friend.

Mama – they called her “Mama.” In other families it’s mom or mother or what have you.

It was a horrible death – a very difficult funeral – and nobody really wanted to say anything – at the funeral parlor or the funeral Mass – at the cemetery or afterwards. It was too quick. Tears had to take the place of words. Holding onto each other was all the kids and grandkids could do.

Sometimes time helps. Time heals. A long drawn out suffering and then death – is often easier than a sudden death. Sudden deaths – too dramatic – too quick a cut – too often – too deep a wound. How and how old we are, when we die, makes a difference.

Mama’s Secret Box helped. They didn’t discover it till after the funeral when all five gathered at Mama’s house to sort things out.

Mama was a poet – a photographer – a short story writer – and a novelist – and nobody knew it – and nothing had been ever been published: her pictures, poems or stories.

But before we get into that, a few words about Mama are in order. Mama was mom all through the years – just mom – and a wonderful mom at that.

Mama lost daddy in the Vietnam War – and never married again. She tried a few dates – but no – she realized it wasn’t her. She raised their 5 kids: 4 girls and a boy – her youngest, Jack, – on her own.

All five of her kids finished college. All five kids married. All five – like Mama always did - went to Sunday Mass. All five kids and their families are doing well – very well.

Mama – was fiercely independent – wanting her kids not to worry about her – to grow up and get on with their lives – to be independent like she was. She knew the importance of “self-skills” just in case something happened. You never know what’s going to appear on our personal family evening news.

Oh, she was always there, when wanted. She loved being a mom. She loved being a grandma. She enjoyed baby sitting – any of her 14 grandkids, but if the in-law grandparents wanted to baby sit – go for it.

For starters then, Mama was calm, cool, laid back, independent. This would be her #1 characteristic. Somehow you never felt pressure from her. Her kids were all A students – without nagging on her part in any shape or form through their school years. How she was able to broadcast this was something her 5 kids would start to talk about as adults on phone calls and especially on the long Thanksgiving weekends which they all got together for every year.

It takes adult time to figure out who our parents really are – and many times only after their death. Of course, it would be better if we talked about these kinds of things while we have time with our parents – like long car rides or walks – but this doesn’t happen enough. With these 5 it was really only after Mama died. They had to admit to each other they knew all the mom stuff – but they didn’t know enough about their mom – and then there was dad – dad getting killed in Vietnam so many years ago and they were so, so young.

But now they had Mama’s Secret Box. This was her great unexplained gift to them. Whether she would have wanted them to have it and its contents – they might never know – because she died so suddenly and so violently.

She was on her way to Florence, Milan, Rome and Naples, Pompeii and the Amafi Coast – a tour – on her own with a group she met up with at the airport. She loved her trips. She considered them after the kids were raised “Mom Rewards” – and she had the money from her very successful real estate agency. It got her kids through college. It now got her to see the world.

Wait a minute! I got to get back to Mama’s Secret Box, but I also have to say a few more quick things about money right here, right now. Mama’s will was also a wonderful surprise. The house, the savings, the insurance, all were to be divided equally and evenly. “There were to be no fights over money.” It said exactly that in her will. The house was paid off. And mom had a great insurance policy – and money in the bank – with some good investments. This all took place before the recent recession or depression we’re going through. She learned from the death of her husband in the Vietnam War to take out big time insurance. And there was to be a nice money package because of the plane accident.

Now to that box: Mama’s Secret Box.

They – all five of them – were there in Mama’s bedroom – an arranged meeting in Mama’s house for all of them – one week after the funeral. They were to empty out her bureaus and closets and what have you. Opening drawers is much tougher than sorting out who wants what furniture and dishes and that kind of stuff.

Jack, the only son in the mix, felt a bit of reluctance – standing there in mom’s bedroom. He knew it would be a women’s task to sort out mom’s clothes and that kind of stuff. He had gotten boxes – and announced that he would take what they wanted to give away to Good Will. Till Dolores, the oldest, found Mama’s box, the 4 girls took their time sorting out clothes and what have – sorting out stories and tears about mom’s jewelry and clothes. Memories like perfume scent remain in loved one’s clothes.

Mama’s box was a decent size cardboard storage box – which she kept in her closet – on the floor – in the back. It was dark grainy cardboard brown. It had handles. It was just that: a cardboard storage box.

The girls placed it on her bed – as if it was the Ark of Covenant – the sacred biblical box.

All stood there – a bit nervous, a bit nosey, a bit excited – wondering what this box contained.

Since Dolores, the oldest, had found it, she opened it. No, it didn’t have dust or cobwebs – like something from a “Raiders from the Lost Ark” movie. It was clean – unscuffed –unscarred – and if they reflected upon it later, mom must have been quite gentle going back and forth putting in and taking out her box from that closet.

There were notebooks – lots and lots of tiny spiral notebooks. She wasn’t into computers. They wanted to buy her one – especially for e-mails. “No thanks,” said Mama. “I’m okay.”

Sarah, the second oldest said, “Uh oh! Did mom kept a diary?”

“That would be great,” Sandy, the youngest sister said.

Nope. Mom kept no diary. They were to discover she expressed her thoughts by her stories – and they were to find out that there were 28 of them – 28 short stories. There were about 50 photographs of trees. As they looked at them, Sandy said, “Wow. Mom liked trees. I didn’t know that.” And there were two novels – one finished – handwritten – with hundreds and hundreds of comments and rewrites. And there were lots and lots of poems.

Discovering these note books was like finding the Dead Sea Scrolls. “Surprise. We never knew they were there. Surprise. We never knew this about mom.”

The finished novel was entitled, “The Red, Yellow and Brown Leaves of October.” The second novel – the unfinished one – had three titles, “The Budding Green Leaves of April.” “Spring and the River Was Rising,” and “Spring: New Life Every Year.” “Wow, she was thinking sequel,” Mary the middle sister said.

This scene took place with all the sisters sitting on mom’s bed. It was not a tear time – or a time of laughter – it was unexperienced time.

There were moments of amazed silence as they glanced at the notebooks.

John, the youngest, the only son, began reading mom’s poetry. Her handwriting was impeccable. He read,

PEACH

The soft fuzz of peaches,
like the first time I held you,
my child – sacrament – gift –
unwritten book – what will
appear on your pages? – how
will you deal with the knife slices,
the cuts and sorrows of life?
But they are tomorrow’s questions.
Right now – today – this moment -
just be relaxed in a bowl
with my four other peaches.
Whatever happens, my little one.
You look delicious.

Then John said, “Wow, I wonder which of the five of us that one is about?”

And all four sisters said in unison, “John, it’s about you. You were her favorite.”

“Me? I didn’t know that. I always thought it was you four – because I was always so outnumbered – the only male in the house.”

“Okay,” said Dolores. “What do we do with her writings?”

And all 3 sisters and brother said, “Publish them!”

Mary, the middle and most literary of the 5 said, “I can see all of us on Oprah. But first, let’s divvy them up –- read everything – and see where that takes us.”

And that’s what they did. We never know about each other – till we know what’s in the closet.

[Intead of a homily on today's readings, the 5th Sunday of Easter, I decided to write a story last night. This is total fiction. Moreover I didn't know how to end it. Keep your eye on the best seller list for the rest of the story.]

ICE SCREAM

Mom and dad were screaming!
Older sister and middle sister
were also screaming, but all the
youngest child could see was
the ice cream inside the freezer
section of their refrigerator –
and with a smile while waiting
he sang inwardly the old family song,
“I Scream,You Scream,
We All Scream for Ice Cream.”*

Then the afterthought,
“That will calm them down.”

© Andy Costello, Reflections, 2009
*Popular 1927 song, “I Scream,
You Scream, We All Scream

For Ice Cream”,

(Howard Johnson, Billy Moll,

Robert A. K. King). Transcribed

from vocals by Tom Stacks

performing with Harry Reser’s

Six Jumping Jacks,
recorded January 14, 1928.

*

A CHILD’S EYES

I had enough – too much,
so today I decided to see life
through my child’s eyes.
“Tell me what you see!”
The more she saw,

I saw.
The more I said,

“I see what you’re seeing,
the more I saw.”
Today I saw for the first time
what Jesus saw when he said,
“The one who makes himself
as little as this little child
is the greatest

in the kingdom of heaven.”**
Today I saw how much
I was missing. Wow.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2009

* Statue of Mary and Jesus at

San Alfonso Retreat House,

overlooking the Atlantic Ocean,

West End, Long Branch, New Jersey
**Matthew 18:4 Jerusalem Bible;
Cf. also Mark 10: 15; Luke 18:17

THE HUNGERS AND THIRSTS

OF THE HUMAN HEART

When one is hungry, one looks for food.
When one is thirsty, one looks for water.
When one is hungry, one looks for comfort.
When one is thirsty, one looks to be satisfied.
When one is hungry, one looks for love.
When one is thirsty, one looks for friends.
When one is hungry, one looks for bread.
When one is thirsty, one looks for wine.
When one is hungry, one looks for meaning.
When one is thirsty, one looks for answers.
When one is hungry, one looks for the Someone.
When one is thirsty, one looks for God.
When God is hungry, God looks for us.
When God is thirsty, God finds us.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2009

VOICES

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Voices.”

Today’s gospel triggered that topic and theme for me. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, talks about knowing the sound of the voice of the Shepherd.

So some thoughts about the theme and topic of voices.

TRAIN RIDE

Picture the following. I’m taking a commuter train from Poughkeepsie New York to Grand Central Station in New York City. It’s about an hour and 45 minute ride. I’m sitting in a seat next to someone reading a newspaper or a book. And across from me are two people facing me. They are reading as well. I take out a note pad – to jot down some thoughts about an upcoming talk I was to give.

I begin hearing 4 women who are sitting behind me – two facing two. I never turned to see what they looked like or what have you. They are on their way to a class reunion in New York City – Hunter College.

I begin jotting down their comments – their wonderings – their voices – their questions – their hopes about the reunion. I jotted down about 200 voiced comments. Nobody knew what I was doing. I was just listening. I was being nosey.

The thought hit me: "Wouldn’t it be great to be sitting behind them on the way back that night – and to jot down what they found out about classmates, etc. etc. etc.?" It would be the stuff of a novel. I took notes of their conversation down to New York City – Part One. What was their conversation on the way back home – Part Two?

Voices. I was wondering if this is the thing novelists do – park themselves somewhere – listen to people – jotting down their voices.

A LOST iPOD OR RADIO

Picture the following. Someone finds an iPod or a radio – somewhere in the heart of the Amazon Jungle in South America. This person never saw such a gadget in their life. They have no clue what they have in hand.

They show it to someone else in the village and the other person switches on the on button and out comes music or talking. “Wooooo!”

Voices.

VOICES IN THE AIR
Picture the following. This is a scene we’ve all experienced several times in our life. We’re sitting there on a bench in a park or at the airport or we driving along in our car – and it seems everyone has a cell phone in hand – while driving, while walking, what have you.

Or we’re driving in our car and we turn on the radio and there are voices or music on at least 30 different stations.

It hits us that we are surrounded by a zillion phone calls and radio broadcasts and e-mails, texting and twittering – always and everywhere – all around us.

Even though there is silence – there are a zillion voices – in our surround sound.

Voices. They are everywhere. Someone driving down Duke of Gloucester Street right now might be sending a message that goes right through this church to someone in Eastport. Listen! They might be talking about one of us. Be quiet! What are they saying?

TRANSITION: VOICES IN OUR HEAD

There are also voices in our head – in our skulls – in our brains – in our minds – going on all day long – all life long.

What are you talking to yourself about right now?

If you are still on that train ride and thinking about similar conversations you’ve listened in on – that’s good. Where is your train of thought taking you?

I had the 5 o’clock Mass here last evening. I found out after Mass what two people were thinking about during my homily. They told me that two examples in this homily I used before in other sermons. When I heard that a voice inside of my head said, “Wow people remember what I say. Uh oh. I don’t remember what I say.” I also said, “Ooops I don’t like to repeat myself. Pride. My sin of pride.” Then another voice said, “I’ve been here too long. Run. Get out of here - you're repeating yourself."

Preaching to me is to get you not to notice me – but to get you to talk to yourself about some topic that I’m pushing – or to reflect upon the Sunday readings or a hymn at Mass – or what you have come here to pray about this Sunday.

This homily is on, “Voices”. I hope that’s a practical theme to think about today and this week.

If you are about to get my next point, even better.

Our brain has thousands of conversations each day. I don’t know the number.

There are three kinds of inner voices: voices about the present, voices about the future, and voices about the past. i don't know if that's true. I just made it up and have to think about that.

Present voices would be about today: the weather, this weekend, tonight. Oink! Oink! Aren't they overdoing this swine flu thing?

Future voices obviously would be wonderings and questions about what’s next – and what’s down the line for us and for those we’re connected with. They can be iddy biddy stuff like wondering if the Orioles will ever be good again – or heavy duty stuff like worrying about a job.

Past voices, I believe, are the most significant. If a preacher gets you in touch with a few of them, that’s great.

A voice from my past that I think about from time to time I heard in a talk by a nun, Sister Maureen McCann – a Dallas Pennsylvania Mercy Nun. She talked about this topic of voices. She was an excellent speaker. She spoke about our inner conversations – how important it is to be aware of what we are talking to ourselves about. She said we’re always talking to ourselves – having conversations with ourselves.

She suggested to eavesdrop. She suggested we listen to what we’re talking to ourselves about. She said to isolate conversations. Like on that train there might have been other people talking - voicing things I might have been able to focus in on. I chose to listen to those 4 women in the two seats facing each other that were behind me.

After isolating one voice – like turning the dial to get a radio station just right – she added, “Now turn up the volume.”

Then she said, “Listen carefully. What does that say about yourself?”

What were your mom’s words to you? What were your dad’s words to you?

What were their tone of voice most of the time?

Did you grow up in a house of affirmation and appreciation or a house of anger or agita?

What did teachers say to you? Was there a high school teacher that encouraged you to think about a future career? “You’re very good with numbers. Did you ever think of being an accountant?”

Or listen to how you talk to your kids or neighbors or spouse or co-workers. Does your voice sound like your parents’ voices or the way a boss or a teacher or a drill sergeant treated you?

Voices.

My mother often said – no matter what – “You did your best.” I liked that because I was a B student – with a C from time to time. Once I failed something in grade school - getting a 68. My mom said, “You did your best.” I didn’t, but it was great that my mom thought I did.

When I was a kid I saw an uncle drunk big time – a few times – and a voice inside of me said, “I’ll never drink!” and I never did.

A man on my block growing up was a grouch and I remember a voice inside me that said, “I’ll never be like that when I grow up.”

The other day I had to tell some kids who were skate boarding off our stairs at the school and onto the banister and taking off the paint – to go elsewhere. And I could hear that voice, “Grouch! You’re being a grouch.”

Voices?

What are my present and past voices?

What are the significant voices of my life?

What do I sound like?

THREE CONCLUSIONS
Let me make three quick conclusions:

First Conclusion. As I just said, if you heard my voice, listen to one’s own voices – past and present. Turn up the volume so as to be aware of them.

Second Conclusion: Shut up and listen to God’s voice. Is God the cornerstone of my life – as today’s first reading challenges us? Do I know God’s voice – Jesus’ voice – the Shepherd’s voice? You know how you get a phone call and you know whom the other party is from the first word. Do you know God’s voice? Prayer is talking at times; prayer is listening big time.

Third Conclusion: Jesus voices a great sentence near the end of today’s gospel – when he says, “I have power to lay down my life, etc.” We have the power to lay down our life for those we love. We have the power to die to ourselves so others can rise.

Wouldn’t it be great 50 years from now, someone hearing a sermon on this same topic would think of us as they say to themselves about us:

She always said “Thank you!”

He always said, “It’s so nice to be with you.”

She always said, “I love you” so beautifully – with so much real sincerity and authenticity.

He was humble. He could ask for “Help!” He didn’t have to know it all or do it all.

She was always so positive – so caring – so wonderful – as she talked to us with so much joy. There was always music and laughter and peace in her voice.

Amen.

THIS IS A TEST

INTRODUCTION

The title of my “whatever this is” this morning is: “This Is A Test!”

This morning, instead of a homily, I would like to give all of us a test. Now I know everyone hates tests: Driver’s Tests, Doctor’s Tests, School Tests. However, as I read today’s gospel, I heard John giving his early Christian community a test - a test about some heavy duty stuff. So I took the test. I didn’t like the test, but it made me think. So instead of a homily this morning, I decided to give you the same test.

Relax. Nobody is going to see your mark. Relax. This is a self test. Relax. You give yourself your own mark - because you’re the only one who knows your answers.

Okay. Ready. The test has 3 sections and takes less than 10 minutes. It’s even shorter than a Sunday Homily.

FIRST SECTION: IN GENERAL
1) Name three people in your life, if they called you on the telephone, you would recognize their voice every time - even if you hadn’t talked to that person in 5 years? 1) _______________ 2) ______________ 3) ____________.

2) On a scale of 1 to 10, ten being the highest, how good are you in detecting just from another person’s voice what they are feeling at the moment they are talking to you: for example, they are nervous, they are tired, they are very joyful, they are worried? _____________

3) Do people treat a rent-a-car any different than if they owned the car? Check one. More careless, e.g. throw Wendy’s wrappers under the seat, flip bitten off bits of finger nails on the carpet, let it get dirty, don’t step over muddy puddles before getting into the car? _____ Treat it just the same? ____ Treat it better? ___ It all depends ____.

4) Yes or no. Does a mother treat her baby better than a baby sitter would, that is, giving it much more attention, more holding, more talking to, more smiling at, more tickling, etc.? ________

5) Yes or no. Does a father treat his baby better than a baby sitter would, that is, giving it much more attention, more holding, more talking to, more smiling at, more tickling? _________

6) Check one. Does it make a difference it the baby is the first born or the third born? The same? __ It all depends? __ Very different? _____

7) Does a person who owns their own company work any different than someone who is hired and is then one of 21 people on the third shift? Check one: The same? _____ It all depends? ____ Very different? _________

SECOND SECTION: JESUS
1) Jesus was a carpenter. Joseph was a carpenter. Yet in today’s gospel Jesus says, “I am the Good Shepherd.” Why didn’t he say, “I am the good carpenter”? Check one: I don’t know. _________ I never thought about it __________. He figured more people would get the shepherd image than if he used the carpenter image. ____________.

2) When Jesus was in the garden on the night of the Last Supper, on the night before he died, he said to Peter, James and John, “Would you stay here with me awake while I pray.” They fell asleep. He came back and said, “Couldn’t you stay awake an hour with me?” Did they notice any fear and trembling in Jesus’ voice? Did they notice any difference in the way he spoke at that moment compared to the way he spoke a few hours before at the Last Supper? Check one: I don’t have a clue? _____ No ____ Yes _____ I need more time to think about this one ______.

3) Once when Jesus was in a crowd, a woman came up to him saying to herself, “If I just touch the tassel on his cloak, I will be healed.” She did and Jesus said, “Who touched me?” And his disciples said in so many words, “Are you crazy? There’s a whole crowd here and you ask, ‘Who touched you?’” And the woman who touched Jesus and was healed, then spoke up and Jesus had a healing conversation with her. On a scale of 1 to 10, ten being the highest, how good are you in awareness of seeing specific people in crowds? Do you tend to see just crowds? Or do you tend to see specific people in crowds? ___________

THIRD SECTION: ME
1) When you are in a restaurant, - including a Burger King type place, do try to get the name of the waitress, waiter, bus boy, person at the cash register and say at the end of a transaction: “Thank you Susie;” “Thank you Walter!” Yes or no? __________

2) Do you ever clean up a counter, pick up a piece of paper on the floor, etc. in a women’s or men’s room on a highway or in a restaurant? ____________

3) If your job was to keep rest rooms clean on a high way or in a restaurant, on a scale of 1 to 10, ten being the highest, what would your rest rooms score for cleanliness? _______

4) In today’s gospel, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is no shepherd, nor owner of the sheep, catches sight of the wolf and runs away, leaving the sheep to be snatched and scattered by the wolf. That is because he works for pay; he has no concern for the sheep.” Question: Name the people you would lay down your life for? _____________.

CONCLUSION

This is just a test.

DOESN’T GET IT

INTRODUCTION
The title of my homily is, “Doesn’t Get It”.

How many times have we heard that phrase in various conversations:

· “My husband doesn’t get it.”
· “My wife doesn’t get it.”
· “My teenage daughter doesn’t get it. Flip flops cost money and she already has a dozen pair.”
· “The bishops…. They just don’t get it.”
· “The other priest …. He just doesn’t get it.”

THE POST RESURRECTION READINGS

Have you noticed that the readings at Mass after Easter talk about how the Jewish scriptures – the messages “through the mouth of all the prophets” as we heard in today’s first reading – how “everything in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled” as we heard in today’s gospel – are all about getting it or not getting it?

Different people got it; others didn’t get it.

Today’s gospel has the end of the story of the two disciples who left Jerusalem because they didn’t get it. They thought that was it – that “The End of the Story” the Last Page of the Story of Jesus was finished. Then on their way to Emmaus they met Jesus who broke open the Word – the Jewish scriptures – and they finally recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread – as well as in the breaking open of the Word.

There’s the two parts of our Mass – the breaking of the Word and the breaking of the Bread – the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

We digest ideas and food and drink in sips and pieces – slowly. It’s good to sit down and eat and talk with each other. Jesus often did.

In today’s Gospel Jesus breaks through the locked Upper Room and says to his disciples, “Peace be with you!”

They were anxious, troubled, filled with questions.

They didn’t get it – they didn’t get resurrection - even though Jesus told them what was going to happen before it happened, so that when it happened they would believe.

He had to nudge them a bit – come and eat with them – in today’s gospel eating a piece of baked fish with them. He was not a ghost. He was the Risen Lord of Life and History.

Have we gotten that yet?

We’re slow learners.

TITLE OF MY HOMILY

The title of my homily is, “Doesn’t get it.”

Haven’t we all been in the situation when someone tells a joke and everyone laughs – and we don’t get it – and so we fake it?

Haven’t we all been in a conversation with 4 or 5 people and everyone is talking about someone – or something – and we’re saying to ourselves, “I’m missing something here. I don’t get who or what they are talking about.”

Do women ask, “I don’t get it. What are you talking about?” more than men – if it’s true that men are less apt to ask for directions?

WHAT HAVE YOU GOT – WHAT ARE YOU MISSING?
Sometimes when we go shopping someone asks us, “What did you get?”

When you look at your life, what did you get so far?

When you look at your life, what are you missing?

Let me divide the rest of this homily into two parts – into those two questions: What have I got? What am I missing?

Let me start with the don’t get question first.

DON’T GET

I don’t get why there are people who deliberately try to send computer viruses around the world. I have guesses, but I really don’t get it. Is there a stereotype or a profile or regular motive of who does this?

I don’t get the economy, but I hope lots of somebody’s do.

I don’t get the United Nations. Either make it work better or try to change it.

I don’t get Islam. I mentioned this in a sermon a while back and a few people made suggestions. I finally finished reading the Koran – as well as various aspects of Islam. I don’t get the extremism. I know the Jewish Christian scriptures have God zapping and threatening people – but I think we’ve learned that often these are human projections onto God. I have a long way to go in this area. There are lots of things I just don’t get.

I don’t get why cigarettes are not banned. I get why people smoke. Pleasure. Addiction. Example. Habit. I get that cigarette sales raise tax money etc. I get that they make money for folks. I get all that – but people see those big smoke stacks here and there puffing out smoke and we’re glad if we live far from them – and then someone puts a smoke stack in their mouth and lets it into their lungs. I think of the old Bob Newhart monologue when Sir Walter Raleigh is introduced by the colonists to smoking. Someone says to Sir Walter, “You take this leaf that’s rolled up and you light it on fire till it starts smoking and you take that smoke into your lungs.” And he says something like, “You’re kidding.”


WHAT DO I GET?
There are also things that I do get.

I’m sure there are things that those who know me say behind my back, “He doesn’t get it.”

But there are things in my mind that I do get – things that I got?

What have you got?

I got the importance of “Thank you!” I fail at this at times, but I know the importance of those two words: “Thank you!”

I got the importance of affirmation. However, it has to be real – not fake or phony. “You lost weight, didn’t you?” “You really did a nice job on the new bulletin.” “The choir was really good this morning. Great job.” Appreciation. Affirmation. Recognition. Atta boys. Atta girls. Very important at home, at work, in church, in organizations, etc. You can never give enough affirmation. I have a caveat: I don’t think every team and every player in the league should get trophies or medals because somehow that kills awards.

I get the wisdom of Jesus messages about forgiveness, turning the other cheek, because revenge, retaliation, getting back, is never enough Revenge escalates. An eye for an eye – simply gives us blind or one eyed angry people.

I get that a breakfast, lunch or supper of left over resentments, regrets or regurgitated hurts can cause lots of heart burn – an inner burn there are not Tums or pills for.

I get that enough sleep, a nap at the right time, Sunday, Sabbath, Weekends, vacations, are not just necessary, without them we can become dumb, dull and drowsy. The Pharisees killed the Sabbath by making it so rigid by saying you could only walk so many steps and do only so many things; we kill it by making it too busy. It was made for us – not God. I can’t believe Jesus really said that, but he did. Today is for us. Enjoy!

I got the difference between experiencing something and only hearing about something. Now that’s a difference – to steal something Mark Twain said - between lightning and the lighting bug.

I got the wisdom of why Jesus used bread and wine and why he used the words “This is my body…. This is my blood….” that life is the Mass – that each day moms and dads say to their kids, “This is my body…. This is my blood … we’re giving our life to you.” That each day service people put their lives on the line for others. That it takes work to farm and grow wheat and grapes – and it’s a whole process to make them bread and wine – and it’s a whole process – of many changes – for wheat and grapes to become bread and wine – to become the body and blood of Jesus.

I got the reality that getting it – takes time – lots of time. As they say in AA and in many 12 step programs, it takes time for folks to get it. It takes time to hit bottom – to have things get so bad – that someone is willing to say, “I got a problem and it’s me.”

I get that sometimes to do nothing is smarter than doing something, especially if that something is stupid or it gets the comment: “Mind your own business.”

I get that sometimes it’s better to shut up and sometimes it’s better to speak up and sometimes we don’t know what’s up – so we don’t know whether to shut up or speak up.

I get that listening is more important than speaking – especially if we use other people’s comments to take over the conversation – and tell our stories – never really hearing what the other people in the room are about. Sometimes a room full of people is a room full of monologues and not one dialogue.

I get that prayer is conversation – and prayer can be a monologue or a lot of babble as Jesus said – so prayer is also a lot about silence and listening.

I get that time is relative. I love the saying: How long a minute takes depends upon what side of the bathroom door you’re on. Sometimes a ten minute homily feels like a half hour homily – and thank God people have watches. They tell you how long the sermon really was and they give a signal to the preacher, “Enough’s enough.”

CONCLUSION

Enough already. This week I suggest you make two lists: what you got and what you haven’t got yet. Amen.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY:
UNCONSCIOUS 95 %
OF THE TIME

OPENING IMAGE

A few years back, Charles Grodin, actor, director, and now talk show host, took some time out to write an autobiography about his journey through show business. The title of his book was: “It Would Be So Nice If You Weren’t Here.”

The title of the book comes from an experience he had in England while making a movie. A particular scene takes place in a castle. While the movie cameras were being set up, he and Candice Bergen were just sitting there talking in a room off the main hall. An Englishwoman, perhaps a duchess, obviously someone who was part of the castle, appeared and said, “Did someone ask you to wait in here?” Sort of surprised, they both answered, “No.” Then the woman said, “Well, it would be so nice if you weren’t here.”

HOMILETIC REFLECTIONS

Well, we are here! And hopefully it’s so nice that we are here. However, sometimes people wish we weren’t here. And, thank God, sometimes people are very happy that we are here.

As the old saying goes, “Some people cause happiness wherever they go; some people cause happiness whenever they go.”

Jesus is that sort of person. Some people wish that he would go away. Some people wish that he would stay. Some people see him as a problem, a cross, a person who takes away the fun and joy of life. And some people see him as the way, the truth and the life.

As Peter put it in today’s first reading: some people disowned Jesus. They chose a murderer instead. Then they killed Jesus, “the Author of life.”

Each of us is an author -- the author of our life. Eventually everyone begins to reflect on their life. Most people without knowing it are slowly putting together their autobiography -- knitting themselves together by means of afterthoughts -- talking to themselves -- figuring themselves out when they take time out to sit there in a room off to the side in their castle, their upper room, their mind.

However it’s a slow process. In the meanwhile, it seems that most of us go through life unconscious 95 % of the time.

Or as Peter put it in today’s first reading: we act out of ignorance. Or as John put it in today’s second reading: we lie, we sin. Or as Luke puts it in today’s gospel: it takes time for us to recognize Jesus in the breaking of the bread -- in the breaking of the scriptures -- in the breaking of his body -- in the breaking of our life.

Suffering can tell us secrets. Suffering can make us conscious. Seeing life from up on a cross can help us see so much more.

Sin can also do the same. Sin can wake us up. Sin can also help us to see -- to become more conscious -- to bring us to fulfillment -- but only in the shadow of the cross -- but only in the light of Jesus.

Sin and suffering -- great themes -- great teachers -- if only we are willing to see them as such in the story of our life.

In today’s first reading, after telling us that we act out of ignorance, Peter brings in the themes of suffering and sin, “God has brought to fulfillment by this means what he announced long ago through all the prophets: that his Messiah would suffer. Therefore, reform your lives! Turn to God, that your sins may be wiped away!”

When we look at the story of our life, when we see the times when we gave up because of suffering or sin, we see how we too are like the disciples in today’s gospel, the second part of the Emmaus story. We too had taken the road home -- moving away from Jesus -- thinking Jesus was all over.

Then when we look at the story of our life, our autobiography, more reflectively, we can also see the times when we were like the disciples in today’s gospel when they came back from Emmaus. We can see the times when we came back to church to celebrate with others because we have seen that Jesus is all over our life -- on every page of our scriptures, our autobiography.

We come from our home each Sunday to this church, this upper room, because in this upper room we want to recognize Jesus in all the breaking moments of our life.

It is here that we can look back on last week and last year, in fact, the whole of our life, and see how many times Jesus has walked into our upper room and said what he says in today’s gospel, “Peace!” “Peace to you!”

It is here in this church that are bodies were brought for baptism; it here in this church that our bodies are brought when we die -- because we and our families believe in the Risen Christ.

It here in this upper room, this church, when we are honest, that we can also see and say that there were many times, many days, when we have been too busy, too busy to be conscious of Jesus walking the road of life with us.

We are unconscious 95 % of the time.

In so many words, haven’t we said to Jesus -- maybe in body language, “It would be so nice if you weren’t here.”

However, Jesus is here. We can’t lock him out of our upper rooms. Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ keeps coming again and again and again.

“Peace to you!”

Jesus is peace. Jesus is here. Jesus is here as his life unfolds in our life. As we heard in today’s gospel, Jesus shows us his hands and his feet. Jesus asks us to touch him. Jesus eats with us. Jesus opens our minds to the understanding of the scriptures -- his story, our story, other’s story.

Jesus is here. Jesus is here as our life unfolds -- as we discover -- usually through suffering -- sometimes sin -- the untold parts of our life.

Isn’t that a key message in today’s gospel? Listen to Jesus again from today’s gospel, “Then he opened their minds to the understanding of the Scriptures.”

We are unconscious 95% of the time.

Too many times we journey through life without knowing, without seeing, without being aware of the meaning of our life, neither reading his autobiography, our autobiography, or other’s autobiography.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION
One of the great sections of every library is “Biographies” and “Autobiographies”.

People who have taken the time to sort out their life or another’s life and wrote it down can help us take the time to sort out our life.

Read biographies and autobiographies.

For example, let’s move to the end of this homily by looking at another moment from Charles Grodin’s autobiography. He tells about his childhood days growing up in Pittsburgh. In the afternoon after grammar school he’d go to a large synagogue to attend Hebrew school. He writes, “One day when I was about eight I explored the building. I was down on the bottom floor opening every closed door -- a broom closet, an empty classroom. Suddenly I opened a door, and there was a room with a small stage. On the stage was a piano player and a short, stocky, pretty woman singing ‘The Man I Love.’”

The moment was one of those moments in a person’s life that open up doors to more life. He wrote, “I had never seen a live performer before. I was awestruck. The whole idea that someone on a stage was singing a song somehow took my breath away. It was as though I had entered into a fairy tale. Opening that door, opened a door in my mind about performing.”

However, because it was such a surprise, “so exotic” a scene, and perhaps because he was still so young, he says that he closed the door quickly and forgot about it.

We are unconscious 95% of the time.

But the door had been opened.

It was nice that he was there.

That scene eventually became his scene. He went on stage. He sang. He acted. He was in the movies.

When we enter through the doors of a church or a synagogue, when we enter into prayer into the upper rooms of our minds, when we read the scriptures, when we read other people’s autobiographies, when we put together our autobiography, we become conscious of our life. We can see our story. We can read our autobiography. We can get in touch with Jesus the Author of life, the One we love.

When that happens, we’ll become as today’s Gospel ends, “witnesses of this.”

When this happens we’ll say to Jesus, “It’s so nice that you are here.”

[This is a homily I did for the 3 Sunday after Easter, B, which I wrote for a homily service called, "Markings".]

LIMITATIONS

Life has its edges,
its borders, it endings,
so we need bridges,
boats, hopes, friends,

GOD! GOD! GOD!,
who can help us
get to the other
side – to move across
death, pain, endings
to resurrection, another
day, mornings, but in
the meanwhile,
to quote Clint Eastwood
“We have to know
our limitations.”

© Andy Costello, Reflections, 2009

Picture on top - Evening at the Foyle

River, Derry, Northern Ireland