WHO DO YOU SAY

THAT I AM?

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Who Do You Say That I Am?”

Every year we listen to this gospel story – with this question: “Who do you say that I am?” – because this scene and this question is in the gospel of Matthew, Mark and today in Luke.

Jesus begins by asking his disciples the question, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” Then they give various answers they have heard from others: “You’re John the Baptist, or Elijah, or one of the ancient prophets who has arisen from the dead.”

Then Jesus changes and clarifies his question from, “Who do the crowds say that I am” to “Who do you say that I am?”

THIS HOMILY: THREE PERSONS

In this homily I’d like to ask that question to and about three persons: myself, others and God.

Yesterday I was up in Pennsylvania and then New Jersey for a family party for two of my niece’s kids: one graduating from grammar school and the other from high school. I hadn’t seen any of them since last year, so it was a nice family get together.

Before we drove to the went the party in New Jersey, I said a home mass with my sister and brother-in-law. It was just the three of us sitting there at a dining room table. When I read this gospel I said, “Tomorrow morning I have to give a homily on these readings. What would you talk about?”

My sister Mary said immediately, “Father’s Day.”

Last night, while driving the four hours back here, I thought about the day as I was working on a homily for today. Thinking about my sister’s comment, I said to myself, “Good …. Say something about Father's Day - but how we think about others, our dads in particular, is tied in with how we think about ourselves and our God – if we’re believers.

FIRST: MYSELF

As I was thinking about this, it seems that the first step would to begin with myself.

At times we wonder about ourselves – what’s going on inside our hearts and minds and feelings. So I would assume the answer to this question about who am I or who others are – begins with self. However, I’m not that sure. I hesitate because we are so interconnected . How we are and how people are, goes back and forth, and in and out – and all around about and then some more.

Like fathers – when we think about our fathers, we also think about our relationship with our dad.

So we could start either way – so let me begin with, “Who am I?”

When I was leaving St. Gerard’s Parish in Lima, Ohio back in 2002 to come here to Annapolis, they had a party for me in the parish hall after the 11 AM Mass. I was stationed at St. Gerard’s for 8 ½ years – but more than half the year I would be on the road preaching all over Ohio – as well as lots of other places around the country.

Some of the people knew who I was and that I was being transferred. So about 100 + people came over to the hall – for cookies and coffee and punch – to say, "Good-bye" and "Thanks!" Different folks got up the microphone to make some comments about me. It was like being at one’s own funeral – when people say only the good things about us.

It was a gift – because I was alive – and it was interesting hearing people’s take on me.

They were supposed to give me the tapes of that celebration – but I never got them. It would be interesting to see and listen to them today in hindsight.

I say that because hindsight is very much all of us. We learn so much afterwards.

So to the question: Who do you say that I am? I would think the first step would be to reflect upon what we’ve learned about ourselves so far – from what we have come up with – and what others have said about us from time to time.

As priests, I have learned that many of us put ourselves down – that is, those of my generation – and perhaps half of those in the generation after me. Then there was a change in society where we started teaching kids to say positive things about oneself. We've all seen baseball tournaments or what have you, when every kid gets some kind of trophy. The old way was certainly cheaper.

I would assume something like that happened in our culture. I don’t know for sure. And I'm not sure which is better to deal with: losing or winning.

I know when I hear little kids first confessions – as well as school confessions, I often add a small question, “Now that you’ve confessed what you’ve done wrong, what are some of the good things you’ve done.” My hope is that they see their pluses and not just their minuses – their positives – and not just their negatives.

Us older folks were brought up never to brag or comment about our good stuff , except when we’re trying to get a job. We were brought up to fear the comment, “Who does she or he think she is: God’s gift to the world?”

My hope for everyone is we all see our gifts, our strengths, and that we are a gift to the world. That’s why we are here!

So that's the first question: How would you describe yourself? Who do you say you are? What have you learned about yourself so far?

SECOND: OTHERS

Secondly, we spend a lot of our lives wondering about others – who they are – especially family members – especially spouse – especially children – and especially after we hit 60, we wonder about our parents.

And on a day like today, we wonder about our dads: who do you say that he is?

I’ve always connected my dad to Father’s Day, because he died in the hospital - Friday, June 26, 1970 – 6 days after seeing him for Father’s Day at home in Brooklyn.

Yesterday at a quiet home mass on a dining room table, I asked my sister, “What did you see was daddy’s # 1 gift?”

My sister said immediately, “Respect! He respected everyone.”

Then my sister added, “And I know a lot more about daddy now – long after he’s gone.”

She then referred to something my god-mother Nan said at Daddy’s funeral, “Your dad was the perfect gentleman.” I added that Nan had said that same thing to me years ago at a family picnic – adding that she said all the girls said my mother was the luckiest woman in the world – because some of these guys were heavy drinkers and not the best choice.

I would say that my dad was very quiet. Yet I have found out wonderful things about him – that I didn’t know – long after his death – thanks to conversations with my two sisters and my brother when he was living.

My dad was always there. He took us to the park every Sunday to give my mom a break and to be with us. He didn’t say much – but he said a lot with his presence and his great smile.

Before he died, I sat down with him and wrote out over 40 pages of notes. I got the details about his coming to America – where he lived – jobs – his 10 years of love letters to my mom – before she finally said “Yes”. What ever happened to those letters? I hold that family scriptures – letters, stories written and stories that should be written – on the personal level are more important than the church scriptures.

Thinking about my dad, I’ve learned to understand the sentence, “Be who you is, because if you be who you ain’t, then you ain’t who you is.”

My dad was who my dad was – who my dad was – who my dad was.

Your dad was or is who your dad is - who your dad is - who your dad is.

Yesterday in a backyard party I'm standing there with my niece Maryna. It was just one of those quick 10 minute catch up conversation. She said to me, “When your mom died, your sister – my mom – was clearing away all kinds of stuff – and she gave me a bunch of books. I was just going through them the other day – and there was your dad’s Bible – and as I was paging through it – there was one card – your ordination card – right there the middle of his Bible.”

That was a nice gift from my niece Maryna – just yesterday. That was one more gift from my dad – because today – June 20th is my ordination anniversary – Father’s Day – 45 years ago. Nice.

While driving home last night I began thinking: how many ways does a father celebrate a daughter or a son? What does a father think about on Father’s Day? How do they see each of their kids?

Answers to that question are just some of the answers to the question we all have about others, “Who do we say they are?”

THIRD: GOD

For those of us with faith, from time to time, hopefully we hear God ask us, “Who do you say that I AM?”

For those of us who are Christians, from time to time, hopefully we hear Jesus ask us, "Who do you say I AM?"

Some quick answers that I would voice: You are God. You are my Meaning. You are my hope. You are my Savior. You are the one I long to receive in communion. You are one I need – love – and hope to bring to others.

I would also add on second thought the following: At times I’ve reflected upon Jesus with the words in a Beatles' Song – I think it’s the Beatles. Jesus you are my “Ticket to Ride”.

We’ve all been on a train – or seen the scene in a movie – when the train conductor comes through the train to collect tickets.

Well, when we die, is that all there is? Or is there a trip – the next – that journey into a new existence? I believe there is. At the age of 70 this is a key creed for me. The trip has been described as a bridge – or a sailing across a lake – and in some gospel songs, there is “a train” and you want to be on it.

I’ve said to Jesus in prayer many times, “You’re my ticket to ride. I’m counting on you – and when I get to heaven I hope to meet YOU and Your people – but I also want to meet my people as well – all those who have gone before me - all those I have a lot of questions to ask - and a lot of thanks to give - especially my dad.

CONCLUSION

Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers here.

To everyone here, your homework for this week is to reflect upon that question: “Who Do You Say That I AM?”

If you’re on a bus or a train or driving – or on vacation – or at home – look at each person and say, “Who is this person?”

If they are family members or good friends, talk to each other.

If your dad is alive, ask him, “What was it like?” That's a good way to get to the, "Who are you question?"

If you’re alive, ask yourself, “Who do you say you are?”

And when you’re praying ask and answer that question with Jesus, “Who Do Say That I AM?

Picture on top of a father and son in a city park near an ice cream stand in Helsinki, Finland, 2009 - who said "Yes" to my taking a picture of them. I don't speak "Finnish" but I gestured with my camera and he shook his head, "Yes."

And an Ooops. I just noticed after I gave this homily or sermon that the 1965 Beatles' Song, "Ticket to Ride", could have overtones other than riding on a train. I'll go with Paul McCartney who said that the inspiration for the song was "a British Railways' ticket to the town of Ryde on the Island of Wight."

WHAT MY DAD
TAUGHT ME!

Quote for Father's Day - June 20, 2010


"I talk and talk and talk, and I haven't taught people in 50 years what my father taught by example in one week."


Mario Cuomo, Time magazine, June 2, 1986

TRUTH, BE KNOWN .... 

Quote for the Day - June 19, 2010


"Whenever a fellow tells me he is bipartisan, I know he's going to vote against me."


Harry S Truman [1884-1972]


Or as Prince Otto von Bismarck [1815-1898] said it, "Whenever a man says he approves of something in principle, it means he hasn't the slightest intention of putting it into practice."

A MEAN MIND

Quote for the Day - June 18m  2010


"Nothing is more unpleasant than a virtuous person with a mean mind."


Walter Bagehot [1826-1877]

FROM PASSION
TO COMPASSION

Quote for the Day - June 17, 2010

"To grow old is to pass from passion to compassion."


Albert Camus [1913-1960]

Pictures of Albert Camus off the Internet

PICASSO

Quote of the Day - June 16,  2010

"There are three kinds of people in the world: those who can't stand Picasso, those who can't stand Raphael, and those who never heard of either of them."

John White

Painting on top Raphael [1483-1520] Self Portrait, c. 1506

Below that, Picasso [1881-1973] Self Portrait from his blue period c. 1900

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]