GETTYSBURG  ADDRESS

Quote for the Day - Lincoln's Gettysburg Address -- June 15, 2010


"Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address while travelling from Washington to Gettysburg on the back of an envelope."


Louis Untermeyer [1885-1977]


Any comments?


Here are my first six:
1) Good thing he had the right address.
2) Was it a comfortable ride?
3) Now that's a way to save the government money. I hear Air Force One is very expensive.
4) Hang on - this could be a tricky ride.
5) Were you able to read your own writing while giving the speech?
6) Others say he wrote and worked on that address a long time before heading for Gettysburg.

MAKE SURE YOU
READ YOUR
OWN AUTOBIOGRAPHY -
WRITTEN OR MEMORIZED!

Quote of the Day - June 14, 2010


"Every man's memory is his private literature."


Ardous Huxley [1894-1963]


At Tom Dabney's wake a few weeks back, one of his sons said, "I once heard someone say that when someone dies, a while library burns down." There is a lesson here - somewhere. Write your memoirs and make several copies - one in a fire proof safe? Sit on a porch in a good chair, close your eyes and read your own stories? Talk to each other?

DO YOU SEE THIS PERSON?

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time [C] is, “Do You See This Person?”

THE SECRET – THE QUESTION – TODAY’S READINGS

If you’re looking for something that will enhance your spiritual life and your happiness, if you want a great eulogy when you’re dead and you’re at your funeral, a great secret is right here in today’s readings.

The first reading from 2nd Samuel has Nathan the Prophet challenging and castigating David the King for stealing and using another man’s wife and then having her husband, Uriah the Hittite, killed, so he can have her for himself.

The second reading from Paul’s Letter to the Galatians says we’re not justified by what we do, for example keeping the Law, but by a relationship with a person, Jesus Christ. All you who are married and all those with kids know that one.

In today’s gospel from Luke Jesus asks Simon the Pharisee a couple of questions. The question that grabbed me was: “Do you see this woman?”

In this homily I’m changing the question so as to embrace both women and men, everyone we encounter. So the title and theme and message of my homily is, “Do You See This Person?”

There it is. That’s the secret: to see the person right in front of us.

“Do You See This Person?"

How many persons in a given week do we act and interact with?

Do we see them? Are we with them? Are we aware of them?

“Love the one you’re with.” Who said that?

Remember the scene in the movie, Hoosiers? Norman Dale, the coach, played by Gene Hackman says in a time out, “Buddy, 41 is killing us. Just killing us. Stick with him! Think of chewing gum … if he’s chewing gum, by the end of the game, I want to know what flavor it is!” And when Buddy fouls out or at the end of the game he says to the coach, “Dentyne. He was chewing Dentyne.”

Now that’s awareness of another person.

How many times have we been at a party or in a vestibule or a hall with a group of people and we reach out our hand to someone, “Hi. I’m Andy.” And the other person is looking right over our shoulder to see who else is in the room or the vestibule – and sometimes they say, “Glad to meet you.” [Gesture looking elsewhere]

“Do You See This Person?”

Imagine being a toll collector on the Bay Bridge? Imagine being a waiter or a waitress? Imagine being a cashier at CVS or Borders or you’re at the front desk at Anne Arundel Hospital?

How many persons in a given week do we act and interact with?

How many of those persons do I see as a person?

I don’t know about you, but I fail – many times. There’s a lot of people walking around on this big ball, this big hall, called “earth” that I don’t notice.

So here in this gospel Jesus is invited to the home of a Pharisee for a dinner. The story is not a parable – but there is a parable in the story.

We find out the Pharisee’s name is Simon. We are not given the woman's name. It was standard practice that a guest would be given a kiss by the host – a welcome kiss. Then the guest would enter the house and during the first course – sort of like during hors d’oeuvres, servants would wash the guest’s feet. The roads were dirty and dusty. Then the guest’s feet and head would be anointed with perfumed oils to counter body odors.

We find out Simon misses these 3 standard courtesies – even though he invites Jesus into his home for dinner.

In the story we are told by Luke that a prostitute – described as a sinful woman – learns that Jesus was at Simon’s house for dinner. She shows up with an alabaster flask of ointment. She stands behind Jesus – at his feet. They ate resting on the floor. She starts crying and her tears fall on Jesus’ feet. She bends over and starts bathing his feet with her tears. Then she wipes his feet with her hair. Then she anoints his feet with the perfumed ointment.

Quite a scene.

And Simon seeing all this says to himself, “If this man is a prophet, if he’s so smart, he’d know who this woman is that is touching him – that’s she a sinner.”

Then Jesus gives a parable. “Simon I have something to say to you.”

Simon says, “What? Tell me, teacher.”

Jesus says that there are these 2 people who owe money to a certain creditor. One owes the creditor 50 days' wages and the other owes 500 days' wages. The creditor cancels both their debts. Who would be more thankful?

And Simon says, “I suppose it would be the one who owed the 500.”

And Jesus says, “You have judged rightly.”

Then he turned to the woman – but said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you didn’t give me water for my feet , but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn’t give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven because she has shown great love. But to the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”

Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Then those at table said to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

Then he says to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

There it is – a story and a parable about life – how we treat each other – what’s going on inside people’s thought processes and what have you.

JESUS WAS OFF ON THIS

Jesus was off on this noticing the other person. You can read the whole gospel of Luke with this in mind. This is the year of Luke’s gospel, so listen for this theme every Sunday till Advent.

I paged through the missallette quickly and came up with these folks to notice. Notice the person at your gate. Notice the person who touches the tip of your shoulder. Notice the person who interrupts you. Notice the person who comes up to you excited about all that happened that day. Notice the person who’s trying to trap you. Notice the person on the sidewalk – who just fell or got mugged. Notice the person who is just sitting there and the person who is doing all the work. Notice the person who seems to be totally concerned about stuff – getting more and more stuff. Notice the person on the other cross.

Jesus noticed folks that other folks were not noticing.

EXAMPLES THAT HIT ME

I don’t work on this enough – but I’m trying.

How about you?

Here are a few examples of this question that have grabbed me through the years:

In his book, The Road Less Traveled, M. Scott Peck talks about two generals who have to decide whether to send a division of ten thousand soldiers into battle. One general sees them as numbers - "a thing"; the other sweats over the decision, because he sees families, he sees them as spouses, children, who could die. Which general do I want to be like? [Cf. pages 75-76]

A college professor put a question on an exam: Give me the name of the person or persons who cleans the bathroom and corridors in the dorm where you are staying this year? The answer to this question counts for your mark. Students whined about this question because many of them didn’t know the names of the persons who cleaned their bathrooms and their corridor. And it was an opportunity for the professor to be a prophet. If you haven’t learned this, you haven’t learned much this year.

Alphonsus Jansen in his book on Love and Marriage, talks about 2 boys at a swimming pool in the summer. There is this great looking gal over there in her bathing suit. One sees the girl as an object – and starts to get big time temptations. The other boy sees the gal and goes, “Wow! He goes over and starts talking to her. He finds out where she works – that her name is Ann – and that her dad had died recently. He doesn’t have the temptations the first boy has. The story went something like that.

I give these examples because Jesus was talking about something like that when he talked about life is between the ears - in our attitudes - in how we see life and people. Isn’t that why Luke is telling us in today’s gospel what these people were thinking inside their head?

CONCLUSION

Practice what you preach.

I have discovered that this message has really made life much more enriching and challenging for me.

I was trying to figure out when I first discovered this theme. It might have been when I read Martin Buber’s book, “I Thou!” If you still have some more time to live, put that book on your list to read before you die.”

Or I can save you time. The book can be summed up simply. We can treat each other in either of two ways: I-Thou or I-It. An I-Thou approach is the person to person approach. The I-It approach is seeing others as an object or a thing.

The choice is always ours.

Let me close with an example of something that came back to me as I was putting together this homily. I was driving down some highway – a long way from home – on a Christmas day – somewhere in the U.S.A. I stopped into a truck stop for a hamburger. Nobody – hardly anybody was in there. I got my hamburger and fries and walked with my tray into the almost empty dining area. There was a middle aged guy sitting all by himself in an open jacket, flannel shirt and baseball cap. He looked like a truck driver. For some reason I said, “Can I join you?” He said, “Sure!”

I know that everyone can't do this – and it would have been much easier – if I was dressed as a priest – and this was long before all the priest stuff – ugh. Merry Christmas! And I found out who he was and vice versa – and he took out his wallet and he showed me the pictures he had which fell down in their plastic sleeve, of his wife and 5 kids. They were in Tennessee and he said, “It’s Christmas Day and it’s a long way from home – away from my wife and kids – but I got to make a living.” And we toasted each other: “Merry Christmas.”

Now that’s I – Thou. Now that’s seeing another person. Amen.

TRUE FRIENDS

Quote for the Day - June 13, 2010


"Your friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you."


Elbert Hubbard, The Roycroft Dictionary and Book of Epigrams, 1923

JESUS THE FRUIT OF
HER WOMB - HANGING 
ON THE TREE OF THE CROSS -
TAKE AND EAT!

Quote for today - Celebrating the Immaculate Heart of Mary - June 10, 2010


"Eve sought the fruit,
but did not find there
what she wished for.
In her fruit
the Blessed Virgin found
all that Eve had wanted."


St. Thomas Aquinas [1225-1274], in Exposition of the Hail Mary, 13th century.


Painting on top by an unknown artist. It's entitled, "Virgin Mary - Undoer of Knots". It has been in the church of St. Peter in Perlack, Germany since 1700. The literature on this image of Mary says, "It was originally inspired by a meditation of St. Ireneus - based on the comparison between Eve and Mary." An added text based on the words of Ireneus could be: "Eve, by her disobedience tied the knot of disgrace for the human race; Mary, full of Grace, by her obedience, untied it for the human race."

STUDY THE HEART 

Quote on this Day - Feast of the Sacred Heart - June 11, 2010

"Japanese poetry has as its subject the human heart. It may seem to be of no practical use and just as well left uncomposed, but when one knows poetry well, one understands also without explanation the reasons governing order and disorder in the world."

Kamo Mabuchi [1697-1769] Writings

CIRCUMSTANCES

Quote of the Day - June 10, 2010

"We are not free. And the sky can still fall on our heads. And the theater has been created to teach us that first of all."

Said by Antonin Artaud [1896-1948] - French playwright, actor, director and poet.

Picture on top from the Internet. For scenes from Arthur Miller's play, Death of A Salesman type into Google: Youtube Death of a Salesman - Dust in the Wind

ARTIST!  ARTIST! 

Quote of the Day  - June 9, 2010

"Though, 
I have looked everywhere

I can find nothing lowly
in the universe."

A.R. Ammons {1926-2001], Still [1972]

RED  BLANKET - MORNING SKY

Quote for the Day - June 8, 2010

"Screaming the night away
With his great white feathers
Swooping the darkness up;
I hear the Eagle bird
Pulling the blanket back
Of from the eastern sky."

Invitation Song [Iroquois], Anonymous




December 2, 2009 - 7:48 Morning sky - St. Mary's Parking Lot - Annapolis, looking out over Carroll Gardens and Spa Creek.

ALL ALONE

The house is quiet ….
A Saturday night ….
Nobody’s home but me….
Surprise! It hits me that
this might be the first time
in a long time everybody’s out.
Wonderful ….
Yet at other times a moment
like this would trigger my emptiness –
my need for family …
for sound and shuffle,
another in another room.
But not now, not this night….
I’m just sitting here enjoying the all alone
the quiet – with the ALL ALONE.
Lord, have you been waiting for me
in a moment like this as well
or do you too just want to be ALL ALONE ?

© Andy Costello, Prayers, 2010

MARRIAGE: 
THE ACHE OF IT

Quote of the Day - an image in a Marriage - June 7, 2010

"Two by two in the ark of

the ache of it."

Denise Levertov [1923-1997] in The Ache of Marriage [1964]

Photo of Denise Levertov - taken off the Internet

BODY OF CHRIST! AMEN!

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Body of Christ! Amen!”

This Sunday we celebrate the feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ!

“Corpus Christi” in Latin. Better: “Corpus et Sanguis Christi.”

Quite a feast. Quite a belief. Quite a moment.

Reflect upon this question for a moment of quiet: At Mass when we say “Amen”, when we come up to receive the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, what are we saying “Amen!” to?

[A moment of quiet]

I came up with 5 answers for starters – but we’ll be here forever if I spelled out my 5 reflections – so let me just give 3 – and the third will be the shortest reflection – because I’m aware if the first two each take 5 minutes – when I say # 3, you’ll say, as you look at your watch, “Oh my God.”

1) REAL MYSTERY

First of all, we’re saying “Amen!” to a real mystery – that Christ is present in this small piece of bread and this tiny sip of wine – if we receive from the cup as well – which we do here weekdays – but not Sundays because of the aisle space here – but we do have the cup on Sundays at St. John Neumann’s.

The Catholic Theology is that Christ is present here completely – in the bread and the wine.

This is a mystery – a great mystery of faith. Amen.

Have you ever read something – that didn’t hit you – till long after you read it – and then you can’t find where you read it?

I read somewhere that there are over 400 theological explanations on how Christ is present in the Eucharist.

I read somewhere that while theologians were arguing in the 1700’s about how Christ was present in the Eucharist, St. Alphonsus de Liguori, who founded us Redemptorists, wrote his little book, “Visits to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament”. He wrote it for people who wanted to just come to church and just be with Jesus – in the mystery of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. And that little, old booklet has been translated into dozens and dozens of languages and has come out in over 2000 editions.

Bottom line: it’s a mystery – how Jesus is present in the Bread and Wine.

Bottom line: it takes faith.

I can’t explain it – but I was taught that Christ is present in the bread since I was a little kid – my mom and dad taking me to church – seeing people kneeling – seeing people receiving communion and coming back to their bench and going into face covering prayer with their hands – sometimes half kneeling and half sitting – people being different than when they were in that same seat before receiving communion. I sensed something special – something mysterious was taking place here.

As a kid I was also an altar boy – and I know the difference between the way bread is treated by people before and after the consecration.

I became a priest – and most of the time I sense the mystery here – but I can’t explain this mystery here. I read Pope Paul VI’s encyclical on the Eucharist, “Mysterium Fidei” – which came out in 1965 the year I was ordained – but reading people’s presence and faith here at Mass all these years since has been a more powerful read.

It’s a gift to believe. It’s as simple as that. It’s faith. And part of faith is freedom to believe or not to believe.

Read the 6th Chapter of the Gospel of John any time you have doubts about Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist – and everyone has doubts from time to time. Doubt comes with faith. If you go to our Eucharistic Chapel – here at St. Mary’s – and if you make a Holy Hour – every once and a while make a Holy Hour reading and chewing upon and digesting the 6th Chapter of the Gospel of John.

So number 1, when I’m receiving communion, and when I say, “Amen!” I’m saying “Amen” to a mystery. I’m making an act of faith.

2) REAL WELCOME

Number 2, when we say, “Amen” we’re saying that “Amen” to a great welcome.

Jesus Christ is welcoming us – bringing us into God – bringing us into a deep well of love – that we become well in this union – this communion with Him.

Part of welcome is food. “Do you want something to eat?” Part of welcome is to have the host say just that when we walk in the door. “Welcome! Are you hungry?”

We come to church because we are hungry.

Welcome! Can I give you something to eat?

Part of welcome is to feel welcomed.

There are a bunch of books out there for parishes – on how to be a welcoming parish. I try to remember to say before my homily the word, “Welcome” and then add, “Welcome to any out of towners – who are visiting with us today.”

“Welcome! Become well here! Become well fed here.”

I hope all of us St. Mary’s parishioners welcome people who are in our bench. Surprise.

Someone was telling me recently about a priest in their parish who gets a groan when he comes down the aisle on Sunday morning, It’s a noticeable “Groan!”. The person telling me this with sadness said, "He has a sandpaper personality. He doesn’t welcome people; people don’t welcome him."

Does he hear those sounds? Does he pick up those looks? Uh oh!

I once heard that 90% of communication is unconscious – and in every gathering – unconscious is speaking to unconscious.

I hope that’s not true.

Yet it gives me another, “Uh oh!” – as well as a tiny bit of relief. Well if it’s unconscious – it might not hurt as much – otherwise we might be wiped out.

So when I hear negative things about priests, I get rumbling “Ugh!” feelings in my tummy. I’m sure you do too?

When I read the gospels I hear Jesus getting those “ugh” feelings tossed at him as well – when he came into synagogues and temple.

What do Catholics who are in a one priest parish and their one priest constantly rubs people the wrong way? “Uh oh!”

What does the bishop do when he gets letters about such a priest? “Uh oh!”

What happens if I’m the “Oh no!” when I walk into a room – or down an aisle and I don’t know everyone is moaning inwardly, “Oh no!”

That’s another “Uh oh!”

And then there are all those feelings and sermons we’ve all heard about pride and humility – and the fear of judging others – of overestimating ourselves. It seems every third Sunday gospel has the Pharisees being knocked for being Pharisaical.

In October, because this is the year we’re hearing Luke’s gospel, we’ll hear the story that Jesus told about the Pharisee and the Sinner – or Tax Collector, who went to the synagogue. The Pharisee up front says, thinking he’s praying, “Thank God I’m not like the rest of people. I do this, this and this and don’t do that, that and that – and I’m not like the tax collector back there.” And the Sinner in the back wouldn’t even lift his eyes, but simply prayed, “O God be merciful to me a sinner.” And Jesus tells us the sinner walked out of the temple more in the welcome embrace of God than the other. [Cf. Luke 18:9-14]

I sense the early church, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, put those stories in there as a warning to us priests. All those who are up front and center have to worry about that one.

I’ve also heard that envy is the # 1 sin of priests. I’m sure others would say, “What about?”

We all fear the judgment, “Who do you think you are?”

We’re all aware of the words, “But for the grace of God” when someone not present is being kicked around.

So hopefully we feel welcome here in church – by God and each other.

And I hope people feel welcomed here in church in the presence of the Body and Blood of Christ.

I know Catholics who have dropped out of our church – and what they miss is communion – with Christ and others – and this is what they want.

I know Catholics who have dropped out of our church – and they have lost faith in the real presence of Jesus in the Mass.

They come to weddings or funerals in a Catholic Church and a tiny bit of that past belief hits them – sometimes. Sometimes they get up out of their bench and come forward and receive. Sometimes they don’t – because they can’t. They know that they have to get reconnected, reconciled, before they can receive the body and blood of Christ – and they are not willing to make that weekly commitment – or act of return and reconciliation – and new beginning with Christ and Church.

Some priests at a funeral make a preamble comment before communion: “Only Catholics can come up for Communion.” Or they say, “You can’t come up for communion unless you’re a Catholic and you’re going to Mass on a regular basis and if you’ve dropped out, you have to go to confession first.”

Someone recently told me they went to a First Communion and the priest made the announcement, “If you haven’t gone to confession in over a year, don’t even think of coming up to communion!” and they wanted to walk out of the church at that moment – because it felt so unwelcoming – and this person is an everyday church goer.

We’ve all moaned and groaned when some priest knocked Ash Wednesday Catholics. I know I have said, “Ouch!” and wanted to scream, "Be happy they are here right now!"

There are ways of saying things and there are ways of saying things.

I want church to be very welcoming. I’m a dreamer. My hope is that all the drop outs, who come to First Communions or Easter or Christmas or Graduation Masses or Weddings or Funeral Masses – are doing some deep soul searching – when they are here and they feel a welcome and a hunger that they need to get in touch with.

And I’ve had people come back to church – as a result of a good Mass or a church experience. They felt welcomed.

3) REAL PRESENCE

Third and last reason what we’re saying “Amen!” to is that Jesus is really present here – and we want to be present to him.

So real mystery, real welcome and real presence.

As I said this 3rd reason will be real short.

Every day of the week we meet dozens and dozens of people.

To be honest, being human, it’s impossible to be really present to every person we meet. We’re not God.

So I don’t know about you, but I fake it.

When someone says, “How are you?” most of the time they are just saying, “Hello”

But hopefully once a day or once a week, we really connect with at least one person.

We become really present to someone at a coffee break – or with one of our kids or when we’re talking with someone on the phone or we’re with a walking friend – and we’re really present to the other person.

I would think the more we are that way with each other, the more we can be that way with Christ in our moments of communion with him at Mass – and vice versa.

CONCLUSION

I’m sure you say, “Amen” to a conclusion. I also hope you say, “Amen” to one of three reasons to say “Amen” – real mystery, real welcome, real presence, but better, that you say a real good, “Amen” when you receive the Body and Blood of Christ in communion at this Mass today.

Painting on top: Albert Herbert, "Jesus Feeds Five Thousand," [1996-98]

I am aware of the 1996 "Guidelines for the Reception of Communion" that are in various Catholic Missalettes. I am very aware that this issue can be divisive.

I have a whole book on the Mass - still looking for a publisher. It's been rejected by 3 publishers so far. I revise it from time to time. At present it's 328 pages. Wooo! Is there a publisher out there who's interested in a best seller?

D-DAY

Quote for this day - D-Day - June 6, 2010


"You will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world. Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped, and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely....The free men of the world are marching together to victory. I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory. Good luck, and let us all beseech the blessings of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking."



General Dwight D. Eisenhower giving the D-Day order on June 6, 1944.

ATHEISM

Quote for the Day - June 5,  2010

"A little philosophy

inclineth a man's mind to atheism;

but depth in philosophy

bringeth men's mind about to religion.

For while the mind of men

looketh upon second causes scattered,

it may sometimes rest in them

and go no further;

but when it beholdeth

the chain of them,

confederate and linked together,

it must needs fly to Providence and Deity."

Francis Bacon [1561-1676] in Essays. On Atheism.

Painting on top: Study of Figure in Landscape by the British artist - Francis Bacon [1907-1992]

HOW DO 
YOU SEE
GOD?

Quote for the Day -
June 4, 2010

"Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man."

Thomas Paine [1737-1809]

Painting on right and above by Auguste Millier [1880];

painting on left and lower by Matthew Pratt [1775-1795]

EXHAUSTED ILLUSIONS

Quote for the Day - June 3,  2010


"An era can be said to end when its basic illusions are exhausted."


Arthur Miller [1915-2005]


Picture on top: Arthur Miller

2011 – THE YEAR OF THE NUN

I don’t know who decides these “Year of the ___” – but if anyone is looking for a suggestion for 2011, a good choice would be, “The Year of the Nun”.

It’s June already – and the "Year of the Priest" is about to run out .

Some of these "Year of the ____" don't start on January 1st - but most do.

I'm sure those who come up with and plan these kinds of things, weigh various possibilities – like the "Year of the Abused" - or the "Year of the Senior Citizen" – or the "Year of the Volunteer" - or what have you.

I’m proposing 2011 as “The Year of the Nun.”

In this age of calls for transparency, I have to state that my sister Peggy is an nun – better known as Sister St. Monica Costello, I.H.M. She’s a member of the Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Scranton, Pennsylvania.

And my dad had 3 sisters who were Sisters of Mercy in Portland, Maine.

And I received my grammar school education at O.L.P.H. grammar school in Brooklyn, N.Y. by the Sisters of St. Joseph from Brentwood, Long Island, N.Y. They were great vocation promotors for our Redemptorist Congregation. Thank you gals!

And in the seminary we had the Grey Nuns of St. Elizabeth from Germany. They cooked for us and they cared for us if we got sick in our infirmary. Thank you gals!

And nuns have built, established and run hospitals, schools, nursing homes, orphanages, and all kinds of centers all over the world – in service to others - down through the years.

When I was stationed at Most Holy Redeemer on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York City, in the late 1960’s, I went the wake of an old fellow named, “Fred Fisher”. The wake was for 2 nights. He had it in his will and it was paid for. I didn’t get to the Funeral Home till late the second night. When signing in I noticed there were only 2 names in the visitor’s book: two Sisters. I found out that they were part of a group of nuns who visited the home bound. They made sure Fred’s home was clean and he had enough food in his house - each week. The next day at the funeral Mass, there were only 2 people present: those 2 nuns.

I’m a member of the Redemptorists. We have a Sister Community: the Redemptoristines – one of the many communities of contemplative sisters around the world who pray for the rest of us in our world.

Thank you my Sisters.

So those are a few reasons for my vote for 2011 to be the Year of the Nun or Sister.

****************

Pictures on top are from my sister's Golden Jubilee in 2009 - which she is still celebrating. The picture of the 4 nuns up in the right hand corner are 4 I.H.M Scranton Sisters who have brothers in the Redemptorists [Right to left: Sister Mary Kay Faliskie, Sister Chrysta Lerhinan, Sister Mary Rassley, Sister St. Monica Costello]. The statue on the bottom is a statue of my sister when she was younger. The gal in the pinkish redish jacket giving directions in the picture on the left is my sister Mary. The picture of my sister Peggy with a priest is a picture of her with her favorite brother.

For more wonderful information and inspiration on United States nuns and sisters tap tap with your mouse the following: http://www.womenandspirit.org/

For more information about IHM Scranton nuns tap, tap the following site: cwis.­marywood.­edu/­www2/­ihmpage/­

For more information about the Redemptoristines: http://www.redemptoristinenunsofnewyork.org/

For more information about the Redemptorists: http://www.redemptorists.net/

For more information about the School Sisters of Notre Dame who are here at St. Mary's Parish in Annapolis, Maryland: http://www.atlanticmidwest.org/

I found a web site for the Grey Nuns of St. Elizabeth - not in Germany but in Kazakhstan. If intersted here it is:

http://www.catholic-kazakhstan.org/Elzbietanki/En/atpar.html

SERMON SLEEPERS

Quote for the Day - June 2, 2010



"If the sermons that ought to be preached were preached, half the congregations of half the churches would get up and leave in indignation before half the sermons were over."


Sydney J. Harris, Pieces of Eight, 1982


Unfortunately this has only happened to me 4 times in 45 years of preaching - 3 times by people sitting there and once by a priest who was concelebrating the Mass - unless all those people whom I thought were going to the bathroom - were really heading for the exits! However, it has happened to me thousands and thousands of times - by people walking away in their minds. How can I say that? Answer: I notice yawns, people texting, looking at their watches, angry looks, reading the bulletin or from comments and notes handed to me afterwards. You can see an awful lot from the pulpit.

ON DESIGNING
ONE’S OWN FACE

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “On Designing One’s Own Face.”

One of my hopes and prayers is that I don’t go through life having an unhappy face – a sad sack face – a “Gotcha” face – or “I’m going to get you!” face.

I don’t want to be a grumpy or griping old man.

So I hope being aware of that hope and fear – will be a reminder to avoid falling into that trap – if possible.

“But for the grace of God ….”

And I'm aware that I preach on this topic more than other topics - which gives me a hint that I am worried about this happening to me. Preachers preach to themselves - whether we are aware of it or not. Smile.

TODAY’S GOSPEL

Today’s gospel – Mark 12: 13-17 – for this 9th Tuesday in Ordinary Time, triggered this topic and worry.

Today’s gospel is the “Render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what is belongs to God” story that we’re all familiar with.

The gospel begins with the comment, “Some Pharisees and Herodians were sent to Jesus to ensnare him in his speech.”

We see this happening all through the gospels – Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians – all trying to trap Jesus – to catch Jesus.

They are trying to play the “Gotcha” game!

Jesus challenges his critics at times and he walks away at other times.

In the end he loses in the ultimate “Gothcha!” He’s crucified on the cross!

WONDERING IF ....

Last night I was wondering – after I read this gospel - if Jesus ever vents to his disciples in the evening by saying something like this, “It was a tough day – eh? The Pharisees and Herodians were being so picky, picky, picky. The only cute moment was when I got that guy to take a coin out of his robe pocket. By showing me the coin, he was telling everyone he used a coin with Caesar’s image on it. I saw about 3 of the sharper Pharisees put that ‘Gotcha’ look on their faces when he was forced to show his hand. He wasn’t complaining about having Roman coins – with Caesar on their faces – but me. That ‘Gotta get him look’ can turn a beautiful face into an ugly one. Not good. Not good.”

And I wonder if Jesus ever vented to his Father later on in the night. “You made these people with your image and likeness on their souls and they are ruining that image with twisted thinking – giving tribute to neither you nor Caesar – but to their worst self.”

DESIGNING ONE'S FACE

Ongoing anger, complaining, downing conversations can turn down one’s face lines. We know the difference in face lines on the happy face vs. the unhappy face. [Make gesture with face.]

In other words, one has to be careful of the glue or cement power in cynicism, criticism, and complaint – because the lines of my face can become frozen in those postures.

LOOK IN THE MIRROR

Every once in a while it’s smart to look in the mirror – or to study photos of our faces - in candid moments - when a person with a digital camera is taking a picture of someone else and there we are with our everyday face exposed - off to the side.

What does my face look like?

Are we into bickering – griping – being ugly?

We, who go to church often, paradoxically often forget the old adage: The two main topics to avoid are religion and politics – especially when there has been some drinking.

I don’t know about you – but I’m wondering if this stuff is getting worse – or nastier.

"What kind of stuff are you talking about? "

I can feel my face tightening up when someone asks me a question - when both of us know it's a game - the "Gotcha Game" - when both of us know the other is not asking a question - but making a statement by using a question.

For the last year or so I’ve been thinking about these attack TV and radio programs. It seems to me the game is to try to trap people - to get someone who is tired or too liberal or too conservative to say something that that will prove to the host or questioner that he or she is right and this person being asked something is wrong - or on the other side.

When I'm alert and I sense this is a game, I try to smile and ask the person what they think the weather is going to be like tomorrow - or what day of the week is Christmas this year.

When I'm not tired sometimes I say, "Your mind is made up on this right? My mind is made up on this right? Do you want to talk about something else?"

In those kinds of meetings, I always hope I remember one of my life insight moments. I've mentioned this before. I was at a breakfast in New York City in the late 1960's on the drug problem in New York State. Governor Nelson Rockefeller was asked a question from the floor and his answer was a breath of fresh air. With a big smile on his face he said, "Are you crazy? I'm not going to answer that question. Next?" And everyone laughed - well maybe not the person who asked the question.

I wish all politicians and people who are questioned or are on talk shows had the smarts to say things like: "No comment!" or "Next question." or "I have to think about that - because I haven't done enough homework in this area to make a comment."

It seems to me TV and radio talk shows and hosts are more interested in making money and a name for themselves – than the content of their conversations. I am not sure about this, but I figure if you can line up a decent size audience – one can make money with a well defined niche – an audience of people with the same mind set – whatever side of the spectrum one’s ideas are falling on.

Even saying that from up here in the pulpit– puts me in a niche – and that gives me an unwanted itch – and that itch appears on my face and touches the tones and sound of my words. Ugh – it gives me that feeling of ugly – that feeling of “Shut up yourself!” – that feeling of “Run!Get out of the pulpit with such driveling comments."

I assume these talk shows are entertainment more than news and education. I suspect they are a strategy for making money – creating a market audience – that will be used to get advertisements. I assume that modern technology has made some folks hungry for instant news – exciting news – the latest news - and ideas that I already agree upon.

CONCLUSION

The title of my homily is, "On Designing My Own Face."

George Orwell's last words in his notebook were, “At 50, everyone has the face he deserves.” (1)

So at times – I better look in the mirror and study the face I’ve been designing down through the years.

And at times I need to be reminded that I have the image of God stamped on me. Do I reflect that image or have I distorted it?

I’m aware that Jesus once said to be as wise as snakes and as innocent as doves. I tried those two attidudes in my mirror. Interesting. I was also wondering, "Did that idea hit Jesus after having a tough day like the day he experienced in today’s gospel?”

I also need to remember Jesus comment to be like a child – not a cranky child – lest I become a cranky old man - instead of a happy child as I move into my second childhood.





This was basically the homily I gave this morning - but I did some editing. It needed it - and my face is happier. Smile.




(1) George Orwell (Eric Blair) 1903-1950, in Last Words in his notebook, April 17, 1949, in Collected Essays (1968), Vol. 4, p. 515

MALE AND FEMALE EQUALITY 

Quote for the Day - June 1, 2010


"Equality is not when a female Einstein gets promoted to assistant professor: Equality is when a female schlemiel moves ahead as fast as a male schlemiel."

Ewald B. Nyquist, New York Times, October 9, 1975

BURIED  LOVE!

Quote for Memorial Day


"Every memory is not necessary for love. There is a land of the living and a land of the dead and the bridge is love, the only survival, the only meaning."


Thornton Niven Wilder [1897-1975], last lines in his book, The Bridge of San Luis Rey [1927].