THE 5 TREES

Once upon a time a first grade religion class put on a play called, “The 5 Trees!”

They came up with this play by themselves with a little help from their first grade teacher. The goal, she said, was to come with a play that everyone in the first grade class would be in – and it had to be a play that wasn’t boring. It had to be a play that was very interesting. And it had to be a play that has a message.

So the first grade kids thought and thought – and talked and talked – and they came up with their own play called, “The Trees.”

It went like this:

ACT ONE – Scene One.

A kid came out to the front and center of the stage and announced, “Once upon a time there was a king who went to visit his cousin – who also was a king – but in another kingdom – far, far away."

And as he was making this announcement, a kid dressed as a king came out and started walking across the stage. He was wearing a Burger King crown – and his grandfather’s dark purple satin bathrobe – pinned up of course – but his grandfather was a short guy.

Everyone in the audience laughed – moms and dads, brothers and sisters – teachers and the principal – all of whom filled the big school auditorium.

Suddenly the Burger King king stopped and putting his hand up to his forehead like this said out loud to himself, “Which way now to my cousin’s kingdom. I’m doing a lot of walking. Okay,” he says, pointing to the other side of the stage, “I remember it’s that way.”

As he walked that way, another king came on stage – from that way. He also wearing a Burger King cardboard crown. He also was wearing a bathrobe – dark blue satin. It was also pinned up.

This second king said, “Cousin. It’s good to see you. I’ve been waiting for you all day long. Come on now. Let’s hurry. I have a big dinner prepared for you.”

And both headed in that direction. [Point]

The curtain closes.

Act One – Scene Two

The curtain opens exactly two minutes later. On stage are a bunch of kids. They are at a table eating dinner. If you were on stage you could notice that there were mostly McDonald’s and Wendy’s fries and hamburgers. But both kings were still wearing their Burger King cardboard crowns.

Holding up a knife – the king who was visiting his cousin, the other king, said, “Cousin King, I notice on your knives and forks and spoons, you have on the top part of their handles an image of a tree.”

They were all plastic, but the people in the audience couldn’t see that.

“Yes, cousin,” said the other king, “that’s our kingdom’s tree. What is the tree of your kingdom?”

Silence.

Big long pause.

The visiting king finally said, “We don’t have a tree for our kingdom – but as soon as I get home we’re going to have a contest – and pick a tree for our kingdom.”

The other king said, “Great idea. Great idea.”

And all the kids on the table raised their soda cans and plastic cups chanting, “Great idea. Great idea. The other king has a great idea – great idea, great idea.”

And the curtain closed.

ACT TWO


Two minutes later, the curtain opened for Act Two of the Play called, “The 5 Trees.”

The king is standing in front of a bunch of his subjects – all kids in the first grade.

The king says, “I was visiting my cousin who is also a king – in a far country – and they have their favorite tree – their kingdom’s tree. I want all of you to come up with your favorite tree and tell me why it’s your favorite tree – and my queen and I will pick the winner.

And all the kids run off in all directions, chanting, “Contest. Contest. Everybody loves a contest.”

The play was almost a musical – but they didn’t have the time nor the singers - to work that out.

ACT THREE - Scene One


The king is standing on a platform – with his queen standing by his side. He still has on his Burger King crown. The queen has a golden plastic princess tiara on – making out it’s a queen’s real crown.

There are about 10 kids standing there – off to the side.

The king announces, "Okay, bring in one by one, the 5 finalists in our 'Pick the Kingdom’s Tree Contest.'

"Tree # 1 please come in."

Tree # 1 is an Apple Tree. It’s a kid dressed as an apple tree – with about 15 apples hanging by cords from her arms – and she has a few extra fake branches as well. She is led in by her best friend who makes her apple tree argument to the king and queen – for the apple tree to be the best tree.

She begins, “The Apple Tree is a great tree – not great in size – but because it gives us apples – and everyone loves apples.

“Did you know there are over 7,500 types of apples in the world?

“The apple tree helps feed the world.

“And by the way, Adam and Eve ate from the apple tree in the garden – because apples are very tempting.”

The crowd of kids on the stage off to the side clapped politely – along with the whole family of the girl who played the apple tree in the play – as well the family of the Apple Tree announcer.

“Thank you Apple Tree,” said the king. “Will tree #2 please come in.”

And Tree # 1, the Apple Tree walked to the other side of the stage, but able to be seen by everyone.

In walked this big tall and fat tree – with a sign on it. “Oak Tree.”

It was lead in by the Oak Tree Speaker – because it could not see where it was going. It was pushed to a place and grabbed so it would stop right in front of the king.

The Oak Tree speaker was a little guy – the smallest kid in the First Grade – but the kid with the loudest voice.

“This is the Oak Tree,” he said, “one of the strongest trees in the world. It starts from a little acorn like me – but becomes big and strong. ” He flexes his muscles and then he taps the oak tree – played by the biggest and tallest kid in the first grade. Everyone laughs.

He continues, “Oak is great wood for ships and doors, barrels and walls.

“White Oak is the state tree for Maryland. We’re hoping it will also be the kingdom tree of this kingdom.”

And the parents of the Oak Tree and the littlest kid in the first grade all clapped.

And the King said, “Thank You. Will Tree # 3 please come in.”

And the Oak Tree and its spokesperson walked over to the side – next to the Apple Tree – but able to be seen by everyone in the auditorium.

Tree #3 walked in. It was the Weeping Willow Tree. It was played by a first grade girl who had lots of hair – that was always falling down over her face – and you could hardly ever see her eyes.

Her mom and dad had duct taped – weeping willow branches down her shoulders – back and front – right down to the ground. She looked like a real weeping willow tree.

Her spokesperson said, “A weeping willow tree is the first tree to show its leaves in spring – so when you see them – you know spring is finally coming after a long cold snowy winter – and its leaves are the last to fall every fall.

“A weeping willow tree gives great shade – and it’s the perfect tree if you get water in your basement – and let me tell you, a lot of people will be wishing they had willow trees when all this snow is melting.”

The king said, “Thank you Weeping Willow Tree. Thank you.”

And it walked off to the side next to the Apple Tree and the Oak Tree.

Next came the Christmas Tree. It was a kid in a wheelchair who was dressed as a Christmas tree. It had artificial Christmas tree branches – but somehow they decorated him to be a nice big tall 7 foot Christmas tree – with tinsel, and bulbs, and lights – and the lights were blinking. The kid’s father was an engineer and helped put the whole thing together with batteries – a lot of batteries.

The spokesperson for the Christmas Tree wheeled the wheelchair Christmas Tree out onto the center of the stage right in front of the king.

She began. “The Christmas Tree is an evergreen tree. It’s green all the time. It’s not scared of snow – and there are no leaves to rake. But it’s a great gift because it gives us the message that Christmas and Christ is here – and it’s the place where people hug and kiss and say thanks when families open up their Christmas gifts from under the Christmas tree.”

The spokesperson bowed when she finished – and the kid in the wheelchair bowed – and a bulb started to fall – and the spokesperson caught it and everyone clapped and laughed at the same time.

“Thank you, thank you,” the king said. “Okay, let’s have the 5th and last tree in our tree contest.

In the meanwhile the spokesperson for the Christmas Tree in the wheelchair rolled him over next to the Apple, the Oak, and the Willow trees.

The 5th tree was this really leafy – wide – not that tall a tree – and you could not see the kid under the branches – except his shoes which had lights in them.

The spokesperson for tree # 5 said, “This is the Fig Tree. It’s not big and tall like a Redwood tree or an oak tree. It’s not pretty like a Christmas tree or an apple tree. It’s wood isn’t good for doors or floors – or even to make a cross. It’s only good for fire wood. It doesn’t need a lot of water like the willow tree. It’s the fig tree. What does it do? It gives food – delicious food – figs – not just once a year, but twice a year and sometimes three times a year.”

Then she said, “Those of you who know about Jesus, know that he had a favorite fig tree and every time he went by it he took some figs from it to eat – and one time it was empty and he wasn’t happy with it – and in the Gospel of Matthew we read that it withered. But in the gospel of Luke Jesus tells a story about how a man who owned a fig tree farm complained about a fig tree that wasn’t giving any figs - especially for the past 3 years. He said, ‘Pull it up and plant a new tree.’ But the gardener said, ‘Give it another chance. Let me work on it. Let me fertilize it.’ And sure enough it gave more figs. These stories tell me that Jesus loved figs and fig trees. Thank you.”

And the Fig Tree and its spokesperson bowed and walked over to where the other 4 trees were.

The King said, “Thank you. Thank you.

"Now let me tell you what tree I picked as the winner – the tree that will be the official tree of our kingdom."

Pause. Long pause.

The king put his hand on his chin – as if he was thinking – thinking – thinking.

And the kids on stage off to the side began chanting, “The king is thinking, thinking, thinking. The king is deciding, deciding, deciding.”

Then the king stepped down from his platform and walked towards the trees and looked at each of them again – carefully.

Then he walked back to his platform and announced, “The winner is: The Fig Tree.”

And the families of the Fig Tree and the Fig Tree spokesperson all clapped, but almost everyone else was silent – and then in the spirit of good sports, everyone clapped.

Then the curtain closed.

ACT THREE - Scene two

The curtain opens and it’s just the Queen and King sitting together at a table eating.

The King is still wearing his crown and his purple satin bathrobe and the Queen is still wearing her plastic princess tiara – making out it’s a queens crown.

And the Queen sees what the King is eating and she yells out, “That wasn’t fair. That wasn’t fair. You didn’t pick the fig tree because of Jesus. You picked it because your favorite cookie is Fig Newton’s. That’s why you picked the fig tree. Not fair.”

And the King taking another bite out of his fig Newton said with a big smile, “It’s good to be the king.”

I wrote this story last night for this morning's Family or "Little Kids' Mass". The first grade were the featured kids for the Mass. It's the Mass for the 3rd Sunday in Lent, Year C, March 7, 2010. As I read this story this morning - the thought hit me - it's one page and one tree too long. Sorry, I didn't have time to cut down one tree.

THE  PLAY'S  THE  THING 

TO  CATCH  UP  WITH 

THY  SLEEP. 

Quote of the Day:  March 7,  2010

“Some come to take their ease / And sleep an act or two.”

William Shakespeare in the Epilogue of Henry VIII. Preachers know the feeling.

Possible portrait of William Shakespeare - when he was around 46. It was owned by the Cobb or Cobbe family since the 18th century. There are arguments for and against whether this is a actual portrait of William Shakespeare. For more information type into Google: "The History Blog - Cobb Portrait of Shakespeare."

DON'T DISTURB THE DEAD

Quote of the Day: March 6,  2010

"Good friend, for Jesus' sake forbear
To dig the dust enclosed here;
Blest be the man that spares these stones,
And curst be he that moves my bones."

Shakespeare's Epitaph

Drawing on top by Ozias Humphry of Shakespeare [1564-1616]

SHAKESPEARE WAS RIGHT

Life really begins
only after the big insight:
there is an audience,
an audience of one,
me, myself and I.
Before that we think the play is for others.
Drama, costume, the teen years, school,
parties, the twenties, thirties, forties for some,
on stage with friends, jobs, relationships, play,
“the play’s the thing” …
that catches the conscience….
And then there are those times back stage –

all those second thoughts,
sometimes tears, sometimes fears:
“Did I say the wrong thing?”
“How did I do tonight?”
“Where am I?"

"What happened?"
“What’s next?"

"Is there a God?"
“Uh oh!”
That play ends.
That curtain closes. Then the real drama
begins on the inner stage of the inner me.
Isn’t that what Shakespeare was all about?
The show must go on.
Open the curtains.
Step out onto the stage,
Play your parts. Say your lines.
Hear the cues. Be ready

for the big questions.

Self. Others. God.

Comedy. Tragedy.

"To be or not to be?"

"Sweet are the uses of adversity, ...

Sermons in stones, and good in everything."
As You Like It.

"I will tell you my drift."

Much Ado About Nothing.

Real acting:
the rest of my life has just begun.

"The web of our life is of a mingled yarn,

good and ill together."

All's Well That Ends Well.

© Andy Costello, Reflections, 2010

Drawing on top - The Droeshout Engraving - 1623. This was the first published portrait of Shakespeare [1564-1616]. It was an engraving commissioned by his friends and fellow actors.

ENJOY 

AND 

THANK

Quote of the Day: March 5, 2010

"My tongue is smiling."

Abigail Trillin, 4 years old, as she finished a dish of chocolate ice cream. Her dad, Calvin Trillin, quotes her in his book, Alice, Let's Eat, Random House Books, 1978

LAZARUS, OUTSIDE
MY OFFICE BUILDING

Hungry, starving….
It’s lunch break at work.
I walk out – past a bum,
sitting on the sidewalk.
He’s there every day;
but I stopped seeing him
about two months ago.
He’s always there – litter,
an empty bag flattened out
on the street – a helluva
place to park one’s bones.
He shakes his Styrofoam cup
begging for money.
I no longer hear his muted voice,
“Have pity on me!
Dip the tip of your finger
into your wallet and give
me a dollar – or some change.

Hungry. Starving.”
He disappeared. Did he die?
Is he on some other corner?
I died – and nobody said
at my eulogy, “He could
never go by a beggar on a
corner – without stopping
to give a dollar or some change.”
Now I wish I did – or someone
else did – because this is
a helluva way to be.





© Andy Costello, Reflections 2010 - This is poetic reflection for today's gospel, Luke 16:19-31, "The Rich Man and Lazarus."

OLD  AGE 

Quote of the Day: March 4,  2010

Old Age: “The time when men pay more attention to their food than to waitresses.”

Anonomous

THE PITS

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 2 Wednesday in Lent is, “The Pits.”

When was the last time you heard someone say, “It was the pits.”

What is your word, phrase or sound for “The Pits”?

Mine is, “Ugh!”

"Ugh" as in “Ugly” or a derivation of that word or sound. “Ugh! The Pits!”

TODAY’S READINGS

Today’s first reading [Jeremiah 18:18-20] has the word “pit” in it – which triggered the title and thought for this homily. It’s from the Prophet Jeremiah. As you know he was thrown into a pit. It was the pits. It was the price he paid for being a prophet.

Jeremiah was ditched, pitched, thrown into a pit – a cistern – because he challenged and rubbed people the wrong way. [Cf. Jeremiah 381-13]

And in today’s gospel, Jesus says, “We’re going up to Jerusalem and I’m going to be wiped out – crucified, killed.” [Matthew 20:17-28]

It’s the pits guys. Get ready for it.

And they will hear none of this nonsense from Jesus.

It’s like saying, “We’re going to put this enormous image of Jesus on a cross in our church – right up front – in your face – because this is what everyone is headed for – you just don’t know when at times."

It’s the pits.

Then in today’s gospel, the mother of James and John comes to Jesus asking that her boys get top billing. She wants the perks for them – not the pits.

And Jesus laughs and tells her, “Life is all about drinking the cup of suffering and struggle and service.” Translation: “Who said it was going to be easy?”

LIFE

Is it the pits?

Does it depend upon whether you’re an optimist or a pessimist?

How come some people see differently than other people?

How come some people seem to always have a scowl on their face and others seem to always have a smile on their face?

How come some people seem to have more trouble than other people?

How do I come up with the attitudes, I have come up with?

Can we see in a child, how they deal with having to go to bed at a certain time, having to eat their vegetables, having to turn off their games and do their homework – or be at supper – can we see the 50 or 75 year older in that child on how they deal with those moments?

Is life the pits or the pats on the back?

How do we see life: it’s purpose, plan, ups and downs, ins and outs?

Is it a wedding banquet or a traffic jam?

Is it being the bride or bridegroom or the waiter or waitress?

Who looks happier?

How do you see life?

I love Thornton Wilder’s words from his play, The Skin of our Teeth. I quote them all the time. “My advice to you is not to inquire why or whither, but just enjoy your ice cream while it’s on your plate – that’s my philosophy.”

To me it’s not, “The Pits!” It’s, “The Attitude!”

CONCLUSION

I don’t know about you, but I avoid people if I can, who seem to see life as “The Pits!”

I don’t know about you, I see the pits in the watermelon and oranges and grapes with pits, but I spit them out or cut them out and enjoy the taste and flavor of the watermelon, the orange or the grape much more than the pits.

I also love it when someone cuts up the fruit – and removes all the pits. Yet if I see a pit, I simply spoon it out, and enjoy the chew of all that delicious fruit.

I know there are pot holes and pits, but it’s not the whole road – and I am grateful for whoever did all that work to create Route 97. It always seems to me to be a great ride.

And I pinch myself for being an optimist – because when I was sitting there in my playpen or high chair as a child, I know I didn’t say back then, “When I grow up, I’m going to be an optimist.”

But I do know, I did say to myself, “When I grow up, I don’t want to be a grouch.” I remember rather clearly the day we were playing stickball on the street – 62nd Street, between 3rd and 4th Avenue. It was the late 1940’s. An old man – probably in his 50’s – on our street wouldn’t give us our ball – a pink Spaldeen – that had gone in his front yard – but instead he growled at us.

And I have met grouches – who see life as “The Pits” – and I know Jesus talks about the cross – and I know life has its crosses – but I prefer Jesus’ text, “Unless you be like little children, you’re not going to be experiencing the kingdom.” Amen. [Cf. Matthew 19: 13-15]

MISSED IT

Quote of the Day:  March 3,  2010

“There is still sunshine on the wall.”

Miguel de Cervantes [1547-1616], Don Quixote, Pt. ii, chapter. 3.

THANK  GOD  I  CAN'T

Quote of the Day: March 2,  2010

“The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents.”

Howard Phillips Lovecraft [1890-1937], The Call of Cthulhu [1928], chapter 1.

MERCY: A KEY
CHARACTERISTIC OF GOD

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Mercy: A Key Characteristic of God!”

We better have a grasp and a handle on this word and theme – "mercy" – because we use it so often at Mass and in religious thinking and talking.

“Mercy!”

In today’s gospel Jesus tells us to, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” [Luke 6:36]

The word in Luke in the primary Greek text is, “oiktirmos”.

When I saw the word “mercy” in our English text, I was expecting that the Greek word would be either “eleous” or “splanchnon”. Nope. It was “oiktirmos” – which can be translated into English by “compassion”, “pity”, “forgiving”, “having a feel for what others are going through”.

I checked out The New Revised Standard Version, The King James Bible, the Good News Bible, and a few other Bibles to see how they translate Luke 6:36. Some use “mercy”; others use “compassion”.

So in general, “mercy” or “compassion” gives us a sense of what Jesus was saying.

MERCY: A CHARACTERISTIC OR ATTRIBUTE OF GOD

Question: When it comes to understanding God, do we see God having “mercy” as a key characteristic?

We use this word “mercy” a lot – like in the Divine Mercy chaplet or in the early prayers at Mass, “Lord, have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy.” That is the English translation of the ancient prayer, “Kyrie eleison”. Notice the Greek word “eleous” in the word “eleison” – “eleos” the word I was expecting to find in the Greek text - which was translated "mercy".

Question: when we say that word “mercy” – when we pray that word “mercy”, do we really believe God has compassion and mercy?

As I listen to people carefully, I think at times they really don’t buy it. They worry about sins of their younger days. They think God is going to zap them when they die.

If there is one key characteristic, one description, that Jesus tells us is the Father, it’s that the Father is full of compassion, forgiveness, and mercy.

Now for those who don’t want to see God that way, they can find texts in both the New and Old Testaments that have God as an angry God.

Preachers and readers of the scriptures have their choice: God’s fist or God’s embracing arms.

Dilemma.

I’m saying here that I hear people struggle with this issue.

I’m saying here that Jesus saw people in his day having this very struggle about what God the Father is like.

START WITH SELF – AND MOVE TO GOD!

Next, if I hear what Jesus is trying to do in the gospels, it’s to get people to stop and go into themselves. Start with self.

I could be wrong that God is a loving Father. Maybe God is going to zap me for my life’s mistakes when I die. It seems that not everyone sees mercy as the key characteristic that describes God. However, I’ll take that - compared to there not being anything after we die.

That’s talking about God.

There is one person right here, right now, whom I can find out if mercy is one of the key characteristics that describes that person.

It’s me.

Right here, right now, I can take a good look at myself.

Is mercy a key characteristic that describes me?

As I was thinking about this theme and topic of mercy, I was wondering, if I don’t forgive others, if I don’t forgive myself, then maybe that’s the person who projects this non-mercy onto God.

Isn’t that remaking God in our own image and likeness?

Does it start with self? If I don’t really believe God forgives me my sins, then maybe that’s why I see God as one who doesn’t forgive or show mercy.

This is tricky stuff.

However, I think when I do that, when I think my image of God is the correct image of God, then that is utter self-centeredness. I also think it’s idolatry – making God in my image.

BUY MERCY

I choose to take Jesus at his word. He tells us that God is a very forgiving Father – a very merciful Father . We find this especially in Luke - the gospel writer we're focusing on this year.

I choose texts that support my hope that God is a merciful God – and I know as priest I’m not going to convince those who can’t accept forgiveness – who can't accept mercy.

In today’s gospel, Luke uses the image of the marketplace where are merchants selling grain. They pour the measure of grain you ask for into your cloak. Then they shake it. Then they add some more. Then they shake your garment even more. It spills over. Now that’s the kind of mercy and forgiveness I want God to pour into my heart and mind. And then I want God to even add some more. Like someone putting gravy on our mashed potatoes or parmesan cheese on our spaghetti, I want more, God, more.

Now that’s God. That’s the Good News.

CONCLUSION

In today’s gospel Jesus says, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

It’s the psalm refrain for today: “Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.”

Who wants to go through life shamefaced – a word that we heard Marcy read in today’s first reading from Daniel 9: 4b-10. Who wants to spend our while life feeling guilty and stupid about mistakes we made 40 years ago or 4 weeks ago?

Today’s let’s try to treat each other with mercy – in church – in the parking lot – on the road – at work – in the stores – in our homes – in our hearts and minds and soul.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

A couple of people asked that I put this homily - for the 2 Monday in Lent - on my blog. It was a first draft homily - for a Monday morning. I tweaked it a bit just now - so I hope I didn't ruin whatever it was that hit a few folks the "right" way.

MARCH  SPRING 

Quote of the Day:  March 1,  2010

”With rushing winds and gloomy skies,

The dark and stubborn Winter dies:
Far off, unseen, Spring faintly cries,

Bidding her earliest child arise: March!”

Bayard Taylor [1825-1878], March

STOPPING TO SEE
THE STARS

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Stopping To See The Stars.”

It sounds like a phrase from Wheel of Fortune: “Stopping To See the Stars”. If you picked an “s”, there are 4 “s’s”. If you picked a “t” there are 4 “t’s”. If you’re good at Wheel of Fortune or word puzzles, you might have gotten that in two spins – even without buying a vowel.

“Stopping To See The Stars”.

When was the last time you stopped to see the stars?

Do people rush into the house at night – without stopping to see the stars so they can see, “Wheel of Fortune” or “Dancing with the Stars.”

To see or not to see? TV or not TV?

Does a star filled night still grab you?

SUMMER NIGHT

One of life’s great memories was sitting on a porch one summer night and my niece Patty’s husband George took his son Patrick out on the porch and was showing him the night sky. Patrick is already finished college – but at the time he was a little guy in his father’s arms.

I sat there enjoying one of life’s great scenes – a father showing his child – the beauty of a night sky – and a kid going, “Oooh wow!” as his dad pointed out planets and stars.

Whenever I walk by Alex Haley’s sit down statue in Ego Alley – down town at the Annapolis Harbor – I recall the scene in the movie “Roots” based on the book by Alex Haley – when the father of Kunta Kinte takes his new born son – in his arms – outside into a dark night – a night filled with stars – and he holds his son up – in prayer, in thanksgiving – to God.

How many parents have done that down through the centuries?This is my body. This is my blood. I’m giving my life to you.

I think of this at baptisms of babies as well.

I have two baptisms this afternoon – here at St. Mary’s – and for the past few years I ask the parents – after the baptism – to go around to the front of the altar – where the priest stands at mass – and I ask the parents to put the baby on the altar – holding onto him or her carefully – right where the bread and wine sit – and I ask parents to repeat after me, “This is my body. This is my blood. We’re giving our life for you.”

I always preface this moment with the words, “I’m trying to come up with ways of connecting Baptism with the Mass.” And I point out that at baptism we’re all anointed to become prophets, priests and kings. I also remember those babies that have sat on this altar when I celebrate Mass here at St. Mary’s.

TODAY’S FIRST READING

The title of my homily is, “Stopping to See the Stars.” I got that thought when I read the opening words in today’s first reading from the Book of Genesis, “The Lord God took Abram outside and said, ‘Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can….”

I came into church last night when it was empty and I tried to count the number of stars on our ceiling here. My first guesstimate is, 10,600 – with one moon up there above the choir loft and one special star up front above the sanctuary. I’m figuring that’s the Star of Bethlehem.

Maybe we should have a contest. Does the company who painted this church ceiling know how many stars were painted up there?

Does this church ceiling trigger the thought: maybe I should take the time from time to time – to look at night skies – and count the stars?

I was wondering: did slaves coming to America like Kunta Kinte have a night sky view on their horrible trip from Africa? At what time of the day or the night did Kunta Kinte get off the boat in the Annapolis Harbor?

TODAY’S GOSPEL – THE STORY OF THE TRANSFIGURATION

Today’s gospel tells the story of the Transfiguration – when Jesus went up the mountain and was transfigured before his 3 key disciples: Peter, John and James.

They had a mountain moment. They had a life memory moment.

They heard a voice – a Father saying, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”

If you ever get to Israel on a tour of the Christian sites, everyone goes to the Mount of the Transfiguration.

It’s a moment. I did it in the year 2000 with 22 priests. We drove to a spot a quarter of the way up the mountain in our tour bus – then we had to get into white Mercedes cars – and they drove us up to the top - fast. We had Mass in the big church up there. The gospel chosen – obviously – was today’s gospel. I remember the half circle ceiling above the altar – and our voices echoed beautifully up and out through the church. After Mass we went outside and we had an hour of silence. It was a retreat more than a tour. I went up on a roof of a building there and I could see for miles and miles – as far as the Golan Heights to the East.

I wondered what it would be like at night. Would the stars be brighter up here? I have fond memories of two backpacking vacations in the Rockies – and at night the stars were magnificent – as we camped out each time for 10 days – above 9,000 feet. Neat.

It was daylight on the Mount of Transfiguration when we were there and it sounds like in today’s gospel that it was day time when Jesus was there with his disciples, but we don’t know that for sure.

It sounds like they remembered this moment for the rest of their lives. I know I still remember that moment as if it were yesterday.

Then after the hour of prayer, we walked to a Franciscan monastery up there on the mountain and had a great spaghetti dinner.

Then we went down to our buses – once more in dusty white Mercedes cars.

LIFE – CLOUDS AND STARS
Life.

Sometimes the night is bright and filled with stars.

Sometimes the night is cloudy and no stars can be seen.

Sometimes we’re in a place where we wish it could be like this forever.

Sometimes we’re in a place where we want to escape – and run – and get away from forever.

Life.

In Luke’s gospel, there are two mountains.

Today’s mountain – the Mountain of the Transfiguration – where his key disciples experience Jesus in Glory – and they love it.

Near the end of the Gospel of Luke there is Mount Calvary – where Jesus is crucified. It’s dark for three hours. The sun eclipses. The veil in the temple is ripped right down the middle. The disciples have disappeared, except for a few women.

It’s a very different scene from the first mountain.

CONCLUSION
Hopefully we have Transfiguration Moments: a moment at night looking up at the stars – a quiet early morning moment at the beach – or time on a boat on the Bay – many moments of holding and rocking a baby – a hike up a mountain – stopping to see a great vista and view while driving – because we saw a sign, “Scenic Overview” – coming to Sunday Mass in a beautiful church – time in adoration – visiting the sick or someone in a nursing home – a powerful funeral –– marriage – family moments – a 50th anniversary – a 50th birthday – all kinds of moments when we reconfigure our lives. Life has many transfiguration moments.

Life also has disfiguration Moments – cross moments – tough moments – cancer or a heart attack – divorces and family disasters - Calvary moments.

Lent hopefully puts us in touch with both – because both kinds of moments can be life changing moments. Amen.

ANOTHER SECRET:

INCREASE THE COMPLIMENTS

CUT DOWN ON THE CRITICISMS

Quote of the Day, February 28,  2010

"I prefer a compliment, insincere or not, to sincere criticism.”

Plautus [c. 254 – 184 B.C.]

HOW  TO  WRITE 

Quote of the Day:  February  27,  2010

“The sun was like a huge 50-cent piece that someone had poured kerosene on and then had lit a match, and said, ‘Here, hold this while I go get a newspaper,’ and put the coin in my hand, but never came back.”

Richard Brautigan [1935-1984], in his novel, Trout Fishing in America, 1967.

TEN DAY DANUBE RIVER CRUISE

Some people asked about the Danube River Cruise - that a group of us are going on - this August 4 till August 13, 2010.

Maureen Eschbacher - of Galavanter's Travel Company - told me there are a few cabins still available - so if interested or you want further information - please call her at 410-224-3108.

We'll start in Vienna, and then cruise to Melk, to Bratislava in Slovakia, and then end up in Budapest in Hungary.

Vienna is the place where the Redemptorists in the U.S. started from. I went there in 1984 and hope to visit the grave of Saint Clement Hofbauer once more at our church of Maria-am-Gestade - as well as St. Stephen's Cathedral - both in the center of the city - where his funeral Mass was said. St. Clement - pictured above - is the patron saint of Vienna.

More information to follow.

INTEGRITY

Quote of the Day: February 26,  2010

"I would rather be the man who bought the Brooklyn Bridge than the man who sold it."

Will Rogers [1879-1935]

WHAT IS YOUR RELIGION? 

WHAT ARE YOUR  DOUBTS? 

COME ON. YOU CAN TELL ME.

Quote of the Day: February  25, 2010

“Religion isn’t yours firsthand until you doubt it right down to the ground.”

Francis B. Sayre [1915-2008], quoted in Life magazine, April 2, 1965. He was the dean of the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. for 27 years. He was also the grandson of President Woodrow Wilson.

THE SIGN OF JONAH

INTRODUCTION
The title of my homily is, “The Sign of Jonah.”

In today’s gospel Jesus says, “This generation is seeking a sign, but the only sign they are going to get is, ‘The Sign of Jonah.’”

And in the first reading we have Jonah going through the city of Nineveh – and it takes him 3 days – and he’s announcing, “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed.”

It’s not by accident this reading was picked for Wednesday in the First week of Lent. Lent is 40 days – and the key 3 days are going to be at the end of Lent – when Jesus dies – and is buried in the earth and rises on the 3rd day – Easter.

It’s not by accident today’s gospel is chosen – with the message of Jonah and people looking for signs.

THOMAS MERTON

Every year on this day I think of Thomas Merton and his book, The Sign of Jonas [1953].

I remember reading that book – some 50 ago – and how wonderful it was to read – after reading Merton’s The Seven Storey Mountain [1948].

Merton saw himself as Jonas – having gone the other way like Jonas – yet God pursued him – and here he is in the belly of a monastery – in the dark of Trappist Life – in prayer – during the night – and early morning – hidden from the world he had been in.

It is early Merton – and what he discovered was the message of Lent – that the sign that Christ gave was the Sign of the Cross – but the cross is connected to his death and resurrection – Christ being buried in the belly of the earth for 3 days and then being spilled out on the beach of heaven – alive again – resurrection.

THIS SEASON OF LENT
So Lent is the 40 days and Lent is the 3 days at the End.

And Lent begins with the sign of the Cross “ashed” black on our forehead on Ash Wednesday - broadcasting that to live we must die and be buried to self – and to let others rise – and that Jesus rises out of our us by being grave.

We can do this daily in many ways: small and big – by serving others. Here are few specifics. We must have about 10 good meeting moments each day. Talk or listen! Listen or really listen. Listening can be a great way to get out of self and really hear another human being – and watch them rise and walk away. Someone listened to me today – actually listened to me. They asked me 3 follow up questions on something I said. Amazing. It’s great to be a human being. And each day we come to at least a dozen doors. What a great opportunity to let others to be first and myself to be last church doors, elevator doors – car doors – store doors.

We can die to self daily – by putting God first – hey here we are in church at the beginning of another day.

We do this in our life – but realizing that like Christ – death is at the end of the road – but death is not the end. The casket is not a locked box for all eternity.

That’s the sign Jesus gave us.

CONCLUSION
So listen carefully to the words of the Eucharistic Canon this morning – and notice the Sign of Jonah in the several mentions of the words of "death" and "resurrection".

I know you have to get to work – but I’ll try to slowly and boldly emphasize them this morning. Amen.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Homily for Wednesday, First Week of Lent, February 24, 2010. Readings: Jonah 3:1-10; Luke 11: 29-32

[The 3 paintings on top are by Verne Davis: 1) Jonah and the Whale (Overboard) 2009; 2) Jonah and the Whale - (In the Whale) 2009; 3) Jonah and the Whale (Beached) 2009 - all 3 paintings on line courtesy of Gavin Brown's Enterprise, New York, N.Y..

ANOTHER SECRET 

Quote of the Day:  February 24,  2010

“Respect for the fragility and importance of an individual life is still the mark of the educated man.”

Norman Cousins [1915-1990], Saturday Review, 1965

Statue on top: The Good Samaritan - Photographed August 2009 in St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church in Trafalgar Square, London. Read Luke 10:29-37 and also Luke 16:19-31

MORAL OF THE STORY:
ON BEING UNHAPPY.... 

Quote of the Day - February 23, 2010


“As soon as one is unhappy, one becomes moral.”


Marcel Proust [1871-1922], Remembrance of Things Past: Within a Budding Grove

THE BAA PRAYER

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is “The Baa Prayer.”

As I read today’s readings for the feast of the Chair of St. Peter, February 22, that’s the thought that hit me.

“The Baa Prayer.”

Now you never heard of this before, because I just made this up last night – and I risk the comment, “Now what was that all about?”

However, in the 2000 year history of Christianity – or 4000-3500 years of Israel's history – I’m sure someone came up with “The Baa Prayer”, but I never heard of it.

WHAT IS IT?

It’s simply the cry of the sheep: “Baaaaah!”

It’s the “Baa!” of the sheep when it’s lost.It’s the “Baa!” of the sheep when it’s hungry.

It’s the “Baa!” of the sheep when it’s all alone!

It’s the “Baa” of the sheep to let other sheep know, “Hey, I’m here!”

It’s the “Baaa!” of the sheep when it’s being led to the slaughter.

PRAY 

So when you’re feeling all alone – lost – hungry – or you just want to say to God, “I’m here” or when everything in you life seems be slaughtered, pray “Baa!”, scream “Baa!”, yell, “Baa!” out to God.

That’s “The Baa! Prayer.”

Image taking a rosary and making 59 “Baas” on the beads.

I tried it last night with a timer and a pair or rosary beads. 59 “Baas” took 2 minutes. I was looking at an image, an ikon, of Jesus on my wall while doing it – looking Jesus right in the eye.

Besides saying, “Baa” – I could hear Jesus saying, “What’s wrong with you? What are you doing? What’s this?”

I began thinking that God must hear a million prayers per minute, but this “Baa Prayer” might catch him off guard – and might give us a double listening.

“Baa! Baa!”

But now that I have let the sheep out of the bag, maybe if enough of us do this, maybe it will become old hat for God.

SCRIPTURES

Maybe and maybe not.

One of the most basic images for God in both the Jewish and Christian Scriptures is that of the “Shepherd!” Notice we said Psalm 23 today, “The Lord is my Shepherd.”

In today’s gospel Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” Nobody gives the answer, “The Good Shepherd” not even John – but in his Gospel he does.

And one of the first and most primitive images for Christians of Jesus in wall scratching and art and prayer was that of the Shepherd.

Why? Because that’s what Jesus was – a Good Shepherd. He told several stories – parables – with shepherd and sheep as the central metaphor and message.

And he called Peter to be the chief shepherd – and we see that in today’s first reading from 1st Peter.

CONCLUSION

So today, when you’re alone, when you’re out of ear shot, say, “The Baa Prayer” to God and see what happens.

I also thought maybe I should write a story about “The Baa Prayer” and one of the scenes would be someone coming into the back of church one morning and there are about 25 people sitting there together with rosary in hand moaning, “Baa, Baa, Baa!” for 2 minutes. Wouldn’t that be interesting?

Would the person say, “Baa! What’s this? Am I in the wrong church?”

“Baa! No!”

This was a weekday homily for the feast of "The Chair of Peter, Apostle." Someone after Mass made the astute observation, "Be careful with that word "Baa!" It's very close to the word, 'Baal' - one of the so called 'gods' that Israel's prophets spoke against." Never thought of that!

SMILE 

Quote of the Day:  February  22, 2010


“It takes 73 muscles to frown and only 14 to smile. No wonder grouchy people are always tired.”


Anonymous

FEBRUARY 

Quote of the Day: February 21, 2010

"February: the shortest month in the year ... also the worst."

Italian Proverb