EXALTING THE CROSS,
EMPTYING THE SELF

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Exalting the Cross, Emptying the Self.”

Today, September 14, we Catholics celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross.

Down through the centuries, this has been one of the key dates for this feast – but there are other days that this feast has been and is celebrated – not only in the Catholic Church but in the other Christian Churches as well.

7TH SACRAMENT

Last night as I was doing a bit of research and reading on this I noticed that in the Assyrian Church of the East – not affiliated with Rome – they make the Sign of the Cross the 7th Sacrament.

Immediate question: Which of our 7 don’t they consider a sacrament? Answer: Marriage. Interesting. Joke: some say at some times they are the same. Just a joke.

As I reflected upon that, do members of this Assyrian Christian Church of the East make the Sign of the Cross better – thinking it’s a sacrament – than we who don’t – or only consider it as a sacred sign?

I would think they would.

THE TITLE OF MY HOMILY

The title of my homily is, “Exalting the Cross, Emptying the Self.”

As today’s 2nd reading points out – the great text from Philippians – Jesus emptied himself – lowered himself – by dying on the cross and then was exalted by the Father for suffering and dying for us.

I noticed in a sermon I read last night about the cross, some preacher suggested taking a pen or pencil and simply write the letter I on a blank piece of paper. Then he said, “Notice the I standing alone by itself. Next take that pen or pencil and cross out that I – eliminate oneself – and surprise – you have a cross.

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WHAT TO DO TODAY?

There are several things you can do today – to help make this feast significant.

Resolve next time you are at St. John Neumann’s church – to go up to the front – go up into the sanctuary – and stand under the cross and look up and see Jesus. Be aware of your reactions. Or you stand under the big cross in the back of this church.

Or make the stations of the Cross.

Or check out your home. Where is there a cross hanging? Dust it off. Then kneel before it and say to Jesus, “We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. By your holy cross you have redeemed the world.”

Or take a rosary and starting with the cross and then each bead say one of the four acclamations we say at Mass after the consecration, “Lord, by your cross and resurrection, you have set us free. You are the savior of the world. "

Or say on each bead, the great prayer message of John the Baptist from John 3:30, "I must decrease; you must increase."

Or say the prayer of Teilhard de Chardin [1881-1855] on each bead, "Christ ever greater."

CONCLUSION
The title of my homily is, “Exalting the Cross, Emptying the Self.”



Picture of stained glass window on top from chapel in Malvern Pennsylvania Retreat House.

THE CRUX 

OF  

THE MATTER

Quote for the Day - Feast of the Holy Cross - September 14, 2010


"It is true,
and even tautological,
to say
that the Cross
is the crux of the matter."


G. K. Chesteron [1874-1936] The Everlasting Man (1925)

GET MOVING

Quote for the Day - Feast of St. John Chrysostom - September 13, 2010


"Work is a powerful medicine."


St. John Chrysostom [c. 347-407] From a homily - 4th Century


The picture on top is from an 11th century illuminated manuscript. This page has St. John Chrysostom handing a book of his sermons to Nikephorus Botaneitates [c.1020-1081]. The character on the right is the archangel Michael.

LET’S TALK ABOUT
THE OLDER BROTHER

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Let’s Talk About The Older Brother.”

TODAY’S GOSPEL

Today’s gospel – Luke 15: 1-32 – is a central gospel text for our spiritual life as Christians. It’s long as you noticed. We’re allowed to read the long or short version. For me, no contest. No other choice. I read the long version. How about you? Do you need all three parables?

My take is that the whole chapter has to be heard as one. It needs to be heard, discovered, dug into, mined, remembered and practiced. How do you learn to forgive and be forgiven? Practice! Practice! Practice!

At times for a penance when someone comes to confession, I say, “Read the 15th chapter of the Gospel of Luke.”

I say that because it contains a rich theology of grace. The Catholic theology on Grace is right here. Grace is about cooperation. It’s not one sided. It’s not a free ride. I have things to do and God has things to do.

In the first two stories God does the searching, but the third story is just the opposite. God waits.

Looking at our life, how have we been when it comes to forgiveness? Do we reach out – make the phone calls – or do we wait?

Looking at our life, what has been our experience with God? Has God been searching for us or has God been waiting for us? Or is it both. Or is it: haven’t really thought about this is this way – till today – I hope?

So I have to have the hope that God is looking for me and wants me home with him – in grace with him, in communion with him, but I also have to get off my butt – we all have lots of but’s – up out my messes and come home!

So all 3 parables - all 3 stories are necessary. In the first 2 stories God comes searching for me; in the third story God waits for me to come home to Him.

Today’s gospel has 3 key characters: God, others, me. Spiritual teachers, when asked about how to read the Bible, sometimes say: “Start with the stories or the parables and ask yourself, ‘Which of the characters in this story is me?’”

# 1: looking at today’s gospel, am I the Lost Sheep, Lost Coin or Lost Son?

# 2: looking at today’s gospel, am I the Searching or Waiting God? Am I the Forgiving God? Am I able to have the God within me, forgive me within me? Can this me – become Godlike – and forgive myself – for all that piggy, piggy, pig stuff hidden in the bottom drawer or basement or pig pen in my soul? Everybody has a closet.

# 3: looking at today’s gospel, am I the Pharisee, the Scribe or the Unforgiving Older Brother?

In this homily I’m focusing on this third person: the Pharisee, the Scribe, the Unforgiving Older Brother.

THE PHARISEES AND THE SCRIBES

The gospel begins, “Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’”

The gospel ends with the older brother unwilling to welcome home his lost younger brother – unwilling to come inside and start to eat – start to feast on the fatted lamb with him and his father. Jesus says, “My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.”

The gospel ends without us knowing if the older brother says to his father: “You know, you’re right. I’m wrong. I’m glad you came out here looking for me. I’m going in and sit down and eat with my brother.”

We do know that many of the Pharisees and the scribes did not accept Jesus’ message – of mingling and eating with tax collectors and sinners.

We do know from today’s second reading that Paul – a Pharisee –changed and came home – came into the Christian family. That second reading is very autobiographical. In his case God reached out for him on the road to Damascus – as in today’s first two parables.

THE OLD JOKE

Remember the old joke? We’ve all heard it at least a dozen times. It gets kind of boring in heaven, so St. Peter calls everyone together on a field in this big enormous stadium and says, “Okay, all the women go up into the stands on my right. Next all the men who were not married, go up into the stands on my left. Now all you married men on the field, if you were nagged by your wife go that end of the stadium and if you were never nagged by your wife, go to this end of the stadium. Every man but one goes to that end of the stadium. St. Peter then says to the one guy at this end of the stadium, ‘What are you doing here?’ And he says rather sheepishly, ‘My wife up there pointed to me to come down here.’”

Well if I said, “Everyone stand up. If you’re a Pharisee or a Scribe or like the older brother, meaning, you see yourself as not doing anything wrong, you never sin, you’re educated, you’re trying to do everything right, you stand over there. Now if you see yourself as a disaster – or a sinner, a prostitute, poor, dirty, lazy, a tax collector, meaning, you tax others, you wear them out, your life is a mess, you stand over there.” Where would you stand?

It’s like the old story of the guy who checked out ten different churches. Each church had criteria for belonging. The one he picked was the one where the pastor said, “The only criteria for coming here is that you sin and make mistakes. Then you’ll feel at home.”

Isn’t that the well known secret and the success for A.A., Alcoholic Anonymous, meetings? Should every Mass begin by each of us standing up and saying, “Hello. My name is Andrew. And I’m a sinner.” Isn’t that why every Mass begins with the tip of our fingers taking a dip into the water – and then making the sign of the cross – to remind us of the washing waters of our baptism and then a confession of sin and guilt and a prayer for mercy. “Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy.”

MAJOR, MAJOR MESSAGE

The major, major, major, major message in today’s gospel is Jesus’ message about what God our Father is like.

For some people God the Father is like their own father – or some image some Father So and So preached 50 years ago.

God our Father is like the Good Shepherd in today’s gospel who leaves the 99 sheep in the desert and goes looking for the one lost sheep till he finds it. Then notice he comes home with that lost sheep on his shoulders and calls out to friends and neighbors and says, “Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.”

Imagine all the other sheep saying, “Baa, baa, baa, bad idea. What about us? I’ve been a loyal sheep all my life – and this turkey gets all the celebration and attention. Not fair. Not fair. Not fair.”

Wait till we get to heaven and find out who’s there. Surprise. Surprise. Surprise!

God is like this woman who had ten coins. They think it might be her wedding coins – that women sewed into their head or hat pieces – reminding everyone who sees her: “Look at all the coins I got at my wedding!” – and one coin gets lost and she searches and searches till she finds it – and then throws a party – yelling out, “Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I have lost.”

Then Jesus ends this second story with the same message, “I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Wait till we hear the clapping and screaming and rejoicing when we walk into heaven. “He’s here. She’s here. Wow! Great!”

God is like the Father of two sons. The younger pigs out – ends up in the mud – a homeless starving mess – but comes home – not out of great motive – but to feed his face – and he experiences the love of a wonderful father – who’s hugging and kissing him – with no worry about getting dry pig do do on him. The dancing father is celebrating and yells, “Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fatted calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.”

CONCLUSION: THE QUESTION – THE BIG, BIG QUESTION

The question, the big, big question is this: is this my perception, my image, my understanding of who and how God is?

I can say the Creed right after this homily a thousand times – with ease – but can I say the creed that comes out of this 15th Chapter of Luke. “This is my God. This is my Father.” And feel God hugging me and holding me and inviting me to this banquet – this Mass – this Meal – this church filled with us sinners – where we eat the slaughtered lamb – the Body of Christ – the Bread and Wine together in communion with each other at this banquet.

If not then I’m still outside. I’m still off to side – a Pharisee, a Scribe, the Older brother.

Relax. The Good News is: God doesn’t give up. That’s what Luke 15 is saying. Sometimes God waits for me and sometimes he comes looking for me.

P.S. Suggestion: Hope for the looking and searching God as opposed to the waiting God.

Painting on top: Rembrandt - find the Older Brother

LONG  MEETINGS 

Quote for the Day - September 12, 2010

"The length of the meeting rises with the square of the number of people present."


Attributed to Eileen Shanahan

PEACE MAKING: 
A STEP AT A TIME

Quote for the Day - September 11, 2010


"Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures."


John F. Kennedy [1917-1963] in a speech at the United Naions General Assembly on September 20, 1963.

CALM, COOL,
BLUE SKY FEELINGS

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 23 Saturday in Ordinary Time – September 11th, 2010, is, “Calm, Cool, Blue Sky Feelings.”

When I was growing up in Brooklyn, New York in the 1940's and early 1950's – our subway stop was the 59th Street Station. We lived on 62nd Street between 3rd and 4th Avenues. Two trains stopped there: the 95th Street train – now called the “R Train” – and then the express train which was then called, “The Sea Beach Express” because on Saturdays and Sundays in the summer, it was an express straight to Coney Island – no stops from 59th Street to the Beach. It went something like that – this is a long time ago.

During the week that train – now called the “N Train” became local if you were going in the direction to Coney Island – 10 stops. The first stop after 59th Street was 8th Avenue. It was outdoors. The train came out from being underground right after our stop.

Then my mom and sister and her family moved a bunch of blocks and 8th Avenue became our stop. When the train doors opened you stepped right into the open air and walked to the end of the platform to get to the stairs – and down to the streets.

Next came the Chinese and the Muslims – more Chinese than Muslims – all moving into our neighborhood – buying up some of the Irish, Norwegian, Swedish and Italian houses.

There I am in Ohio – somewhere around 2000 – driving somewhere in a car – and I’m listening to National Public Radio – NPR – and they were doing a piece on the Chinese moving into our old neighborhood – and they said the Chinese called the 8th Avenue Station, “First Blue Sky Stop!”

Now I had seen that station and stop a thousand times – and never, ever got the idea or the imagination to call it, “First Blue Sky Stop!”

Beautiful. Wonderful. Perfect. That’s what it was. We just called it, “8th Avenue” as the sign said.

Sometimes someone from the outside can give us a new perspective – a new way of seeing – something on the inside.

SEPTEMBER 11TH

When we were kids, 8th Avenue was the train stop right near where my aunt, Mary Red, lived. She had red hair and that was the only name I knew her as: Mary Red. Funny lady. She married Ernest Bowman, a Baptist from North Carolina, who became a Catholic – a guy with a neat, dry sense of humor – whom I always knew as my Godfather.

He had 4 sons – who had sons – who had sons one of whom was named Shawn Edward Bowman – whom I never met – and never will meet till Heaven – who was killed that day working at Cantor Fitzgerald – 101st floor – World Trade Center – September 11th, 2001 – with a wife home – pregnant. Those babies were featured last night on ABC News as Persons of the Week.

Now, how do we respond to tragedy and horror and things not going the way we would expect and want things to go?

Do we get red – ignite – burn? Do we become hot headed – furious?

Do we do the very thing that happened that day at the Pentagon, that field in Pennsylvania, and also that day to the Twin Towers – burn - destroy?

Do we burn flags – and people – books – and people in effigy?

Or do we build our lives on Jesus’ words – for example, “You have heard how it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But what I say to you is this: offer the wicked no resistance. On the contrary, if anyone hits you on the right cheek, offer him the other as well.’… You have heard how it was said: ‘You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But what I say this to you; love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; in this way you’ll be children of your Father in heaven….” [Cf. Matthew 5:38-48]

In today’s gospel Jesus says to build our lives on his words. And if you do, you will have a rock solid, strong foundation. [Cf. Luke 6:43-49]

Obviously these are words that would not get good ratings. Rather they are words that will get you crucified – or labeled, “Crazy” or “Stupid” or a “Dreamer”” or what have you – words that have a red spark to them – hot words – burning words. “Hey,” someone might say, “our flag isn’t all blue? It also has red.”

A CONCLUSION: COME TO CHURCH

I would hope people will come to this church when they’re red hot – angry – furious – and I would hope this place with its calm, cool, blue sky ceiling would give folks, “Calm, Cool, Blue Sky Feelings.”

I would hope people will come here to this church and do what Paul advocates in today’s first reading – coming here to eat the bread and drink the cup – and then we calm down – and discover our idolatries. [Cf. 1 Corinthians 10: 14-22]

I would hope that people would then leave this church and go forth and bring forth good fruit – like we heard in today’s gospel. Coming up with figs and offering them to others are better than serving thorns as Jesus tells us in today’s gospel.

By their fruits – you will know them.

Isn’t sharing an apple or watermelon – a pear or some cantaloupe – isn’t that better and much more blue peaceful than burning books – in a red fire – and then screaming and shaking fists and violent words at each other? Amen.

DISILLUSIONMENT

Quote for the Day - September 10, 2010

"Wisdom comes by disillusionment."

George Santayana [1863-1952], The Life of Reason, 1905-1906

PETS  ARE US!

Quote for Today - September 9, 2010

"America will tolerate the taking of human life without giving it a second thought. But don't misuse a household pet."


Dick Gregory [1932- ], The Shadow that Scares Me, 1968

IF MARY CAME TO THE MICROPHONE,
WHAT WOULD SHE SAY?

INTRODUCTION

Today being the birthday, today being one of the several feasts of Mary throughout the Church Year, I thought I’d make a few comments about Mary. This would be entitled, “If Mary Came to the Microphone, What Would She Say?”

I don’t know how to answer that question – other than saying I prefer to go to the gospels – and reflect upon what she says there.

I am aware and have done a bit of research on so called “revelations from Mary” that have appeared down through the centuries. I am aware that some people regard them as gospel truth and others regard them as imaginings and at times hallucinations from different folks.

The Catholic Church has studied and come out with letters about various so called “revelations from Mary” – saying either you don’t have to accept these writings or we reject these writings. Yet that has not stopped people from selling “Revelations from Mary” as Gospel truth. (1)

WHAT MARY SAID IN THE GOSPELS IS SIGNIFICANT
Mary does not say much in the gospels, but what she says and does not say is very significant for growth in the spiritual life – by a Christian.

If I pictured Mary going to the microphone to say something, I would use Luke and John as my sources.

I would pick out these life moments from the gospels:

1) THE ANNUNCIATION MOMENT

Mary would say that the Annunciation moment was the beginning. She would say she was surprised – but she also and questioned. Then she might say, “I said to the Lord, ‘I am your handmaid, your servant, do to me what you want.” (2)

For our spiritual life I would assume the message is to talk and ask questions to God in prayer about life’s experiences – as they come to us – life’s big moments: relationships, marriage, pregnancy, raising kids, seeing kids leaving home, wondering how they are doing, and being there for them – especially in the tough times – as they experience life as well as the way of the cross.

2) VISITATION MOMENTS
When someone could use our presence, be there. Our souls have been created to magnify the Lord.

For a deeper spiritual life, say and pray the Magnificat. (3)

3) EXPERIENCES – PONDERING AND TREASURING THE MOMENTS

In Luke after Mary gives birth to Jesus in the stable, we read that Mary pondered, treasured, reflected, and wondered about the things that were happening. (4)
I see Mary as one who did a lot of deep thinking – more than talking.

“Blessed is the fruit of her womb.” How are we like our parents?

I see Jesus being like Mary – one who did a lot of pondering about life’s moments. When Jesus finally left home and began to speak his sayings and parables, he had thought these things out slowly and deeply. I am not one of those who say, “Oh, he was God and they just popped out his God Mind.” I say he was totally human as well – and it took him time to clarify his mission in life as well as craft his sayings and stories.

Reading the life of Jesus – seeing it unfold – as he made his way to Jerusalem and the cross, Mary knew what was happening as well. Luke says just that – having the angel say to her when Jesus was a kid, “A sword shall pierce your heart – and as a result – the thoughts of many will be revealed.” She knew the cross and life’s sufferings – what it is to lose a child – what it is like to see a son killed. (5)
I would assume this is why both Mary and Jesus have been pictured with their hearts exposed – and sometimes their heart in their hands.

4) DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU

Next I would turn to the gospel of John. Read the story about the Marriage Feast of Cana. Mary says to the waiters at that wedding, “Do whatever he tells you.” (6)

Print those 5 words, “Do whatever he tells you” onto a card and use that card as a marker for your Bible. As you read the 4 gospels, as you ponder the events there and the parables and sayings of Jesus, then look at the words on your Bible marker and then do whatever Jesus tells you to do.

Doing this we’ll see the water of our life – sometimes floods – sometimes tears – become transformed into the wine of life – and we’ll be celebrating the marriage of God to us because of Christ.

5) THE END

Every movie and every life has the words, “The End”.

At the end of the gospels we hear that Mary was under the cross – but she is very much background music. Presence. (7)
I take as a life message to be there at both births and deaths – and be there in support of others in the moments in between.

CONCLUSION

That’s it, but we know that’s not the end of it all.

There is hope and resurrection.

There is new beginnings. Check out The Acts of the Apostles for how Mary is present in new life of the Church. (8)

Next read the gospels and then compare them to Mary’s impact on the Church for 2000 years. She has been pictured as model, mystery and mirror. I look into her icons and see the Story of my life as well.

So life begins with our conception – and then our birth – and Mary’s life tells us that life is so much more. (9)

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Picture on top: Centerpiece of the Moulin's Triptych [1498-99] by the Master of Moulins, Jean Hay, a Flemish Northern Renaissance Painter. In the Moulins Cathedral, Burgundy, France

(1) Catechism of the Catholic Church, cf. # 67 and Paragraph 6, 963-975


(2) Cf. Luke 1: 26-38


(3) Cf. Luke 1: 39-56


(4) Cf. Luke 2:19


(5) Cf. Luke 2: 22-35


(6) Cf. John 2:1-12


(7) Cf. John 19: 25-27


(8) Acts of the Apostles 1:14


(9) I have a whole series of meditations on the mysteries of the Rosary earlier on in this blog [5-30-08].

MAGNIFYING  MARY

Quote for today - traditional day for celebrating the birthday of Mary - September 8, 2010

"The idea of the blessed Virgin

was as it were magnified

in the Church or Rome,

as time went on, -

but so were all the Christian ideas;

as that of the blessed sacrament.
The whole scene of pale, faint,

distant apostolic Christianity

is seen in Rome,

as through a telescope or magnifier.

The harmony of the whole,

however, is of course what it was.

It is unfair then

to take one Roman idea,

that of the Blessed Virgin

out of what may be called its context."

Cardinal John Henry Newman [1801-1890]: Apologia pro Vita Sua, 4, (1865-66).

Icon on top: Our Lady of Vladimir

GOD IS IN THE DETAILS

Quote for the Day - September 7, 2010


"In psychoanalysis as in art,
God rested in the details,
the discovery of which
required enormous patience,
unyielding seriousness,
and the skill of an acrobat -
walking a tightrope
over memory and speculation,
instinct and theory,
feeling and denial."


Judith Rossner, August 1983

JOB! TITLE! SALARY?

Quote for Labor Day - September 6,  2010

"Never allow your sense of self to become associated with your sense of job. If your job vanishes, your self doesn't."

Gordon Van Sauter, Working Woman, 1988

I AM SOME BODY

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 23 Sunday in Ordinary Time is, “I Am Some Body.”

Have you ever answered the question, “Who are you?” by simply saying, “I am somebody!” – like to one of those unsolicited phone call people who call just around supper time? Have you ever asked that person, “Can I ask you a question. ‘Who are you?’”

And if that happened, would they answer, “Oh I’m just somebody!” or “I am really nobody.”

TODAY’S READINGS

I read today’s readings – said my usual prayer, “Come Holy Spirit! Based on these readings, what do people need this weekend? Come Holy Spirit! Based on these readings, what do I need to hear? Come Holy Spirit! What challenges me with these words? Come Holy Spirit!”

I must say that the readings for this Sunday have well over a half dozen themes and possible topics: discipleship, carrying one’s cross, poor planning, stuff or possessions – that might be possessing or stuffing me, family dynamics. That’s 5 and that’s just the gospel.

I found myself coming back a few times to the first reading. It had a strange and very complex sentence that kept intriguing me.

Here’s the sentence: “For the corruptible body burdens the soul and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns.”

I wish some translator would put that into manageable English. Here would be my loose translation: The older we get, aging becomes more and more a burden to our soul; the older we get, this tent, this shelter, this skin I’m in, weighs me down because my mind has many concerns.”

Two words grabbed me: “burdens” and "concerns.”

THIS BODY OF MINE

I was going to entitle this homily, “Burdens and Concerns”.

Then because burdens and concerns impact our bodies, I found myself changing the title of my homily from “Burdens and Concerns” to “I Am Some Body.”

Now that can be articulated and understood in a couple of ways:

· “I am somebody! - as opposed to being just a nobody.
· “I am some BODY!” – as in someone in great shape and looks! A hunk!
· “I am some body” – 4 words – one of these 6 billion bodies moving around on this planet each day.

This morning I’m reflecting on the human body – this heart and lungs and brain and skeleton and hands and legs and feet – covered by skin that I call, “My body!”

How’s your body? How’s your skin? How’s your heart? How’s your lungs? How’s your brain? How’s your memory? How are your knees?

As priest I’ve had the experience of baptizing or anointing a body at the hospital. I’ve held or baptized a tiny baby who was dying – a baby the size of my hand – and I have stood there at the bedside of a body that was dying – sometimes large with body problems relative to their size – sometimes someone with a frail – almost skeleton type body.

There are billions of bodies on this earth. Have you ever been sitting there quietly at the beach or church or airport – and you thought something like, “Who are these bodies? What’s their story? Who are these people? What’s going on in their brains?

We see bodies. We meet bodies. Bodies are driving all those cars that get backed up every weekend as they try to get off Route 50 at the Parole Exit. I’m always happy that I get off at the next exit: 24.

Each of us owns and is operating one of these bodies. Tall, short, young, old, quick, slow, sleek, slumped, wide, thin, different, non-descript. Our bodies are us – our container – our history – our mystery – our gift from our parents. Scars, operations, now more and more tattoos. I am some body. This is me folks. What you see – is who I am.

So this morning I’m thinking and talking about bodies because of the writer or writers of this book called, “Wisdom” which we heard from this morning. It talks about bodies not lasting. We’re corruptible. We have an expiration date – a shelf life. The author adds that our bodies have their burdens and our minds get weighed down with its many concerns.

Scholars think this text from Wisdom comes from sometime around the year 100 B.C. – give or take 50 years either way. It’s not found in the Palestinian Jewish Holy Scriptures. It's in the Jewish Holy Scriptures from Alexandria, Egypt, the Septuagint, where a large Jewish community existed. Because of that scholars assume that the contents of this book show impact from Greek sources in Alexandria.

Greek thinkers thought differently than Jewish thinkers.

Speaking very broadly and generically – and hesitatingly, this is not my specialty, Greek thinkers and philosophers thought about the body–soul connection differently than Jewish thought about the body. On the other hand, Jewish – Hebrew – Semitic thought was more wholistic and more integrated. Greek thought at times could separate the body and soul – and that outlook has impacted some Christian writers. Some Greek and Christian and Western spiritual writers think of humans as all mind and soul – neglecting the body – and end up with an unbalanced attitude towards eating and sexuality and exercise, etc.

What’s your understanding of your body, soul, mind, spirit, you, yourself, the person in your seat? Do you have a healthy and balanced attitude towards your body? How do you see yourself? Do see yourself as “I am some body” or “I’m just a nobody?”

We have in our bodies – and in our minds – a vast library of memories, learnings, thoughts and experiences. So what’s your history, your story? Where have you been? What have your learned? What’s in your library? What’s in your brain? What are your thoughts? What are your memories? How has geography, where you’ve been, where you’ve lived, effected who you are? How has your family life impacted who you are: parents, siblings, family members, how you spent your summers, your Saturdays, your Sundays? How has sports, exercise, schooling, teachers, coaches, the arts impacted your posture – how you stand, how you understand, how your body, your face, your smile, your lack of smile, your determination or lack of determination is? How has your life sculpted your body?

Someone asked me last week out of the blue, “Is there some rule how long a sermon should be?” I sort of asked where that was coming from – and the guy said, “Well, most of these sermons start off okay and then go ‘Woooomp!’ The air sort of goes out of me – and I think everyone around me."

I said to him that I try to go 10 minutes – but if you’re thinking thoughts like that, we preachers blew it. I would hope you don’t notice time – but the thought or theme of the homily.

In this homily I’m hoping you’re reflecting on your body – but I’m aware that here at St. Mary’s these benches are not that form fitting for part of one’s anatomy.

3 QUICK QUESTIONS

Let me close with 3 quick questions about the body – I did have 5 – with the hope 1 question triggers something helpful for your body.

1) HOW’S THE BODY?

Somewhere way back in my life, I took some courses on Spiritual Direction and Pastoral Counseling?

One of the teachers was Father Benedict Groeschel. You can still see him on Mother Angelica. He was a fascinating character – funny – wise. I never forgot one of his most important questions in spiritual direction. Ask the person sitting there, “How’s your body?”

Translation. How’s your health? Are you getting enough exercise? Are you walking? It’s been horribly hot this summer, but once cooler weather comes in – before the winter comes in – walk, walk, walk. We have access to walk in the Naval Academy – a wonderful place to walk. Walk. Those near Quiet Water’s Park have that as another place to walk. Then there are neighborhoods and where have you.

Translation: before talking about the Spiritual Life, let's talk about everyday living.

Am I getting enough sleep? When was the last time I saw a doctor?

Do I floss? I saw the dentist I go to the other day at a funeral. I asked him if he flosses. I always wanted to ask a dentist that question.

Do I eat right? Am I couch potato?

Thinking about spirituality, we better thing about all that stuff.

I am some body!

2) WHAT’S YOUR BAGGAGE?

I once made a retreat or a workshop and the speaker began this way. "Everyone here arrived with bags – but everyone has a different amount of bags. And in those bags are all kinds of stuff. Have you ever been at the air port and you had just one or two bags – one you checked in – and another one you’re carrying on – and in comes someone with a whole big cart of bags."

She then concluded, “When you leave this workshop I hope all have you less baggage than when you arrived here. Every thing we’re carrying weighs us down.”

Obviously the hope of church is to come here and let go of baggage that is wearing you down.

3) WHAT’S YOUR HISTORY?

What’s your story? What's your history like? What were your parents like?

Today’s gospel talks about hating your parents and brothers and sisters. It seems scholars try to say, “It’s not hate – as in hating. It’s priorities. It's putting God first. As a follower of Christ, it's putting Christ the Son first who leads us to Our Father.

Everyone has to become one's own person - letting go of father and mother - growing up and becoming the person God is calling us to be.

Every parent has let go of their kids. That's good parenting. Kids got to get on with their life

It helps to know who our parents really are - so I advocate writing one’s autobiography – as well as reading autobiographies and biographies. It's a great way of knowing and figuring out our parents and our family history. They gave us their body and blood - as in Eucharist - and we say "Thanks!"

Have I learned to accept my body, my age, my genes as well as all that has been so far?

Enough already. After all, how much can a body take?

SOUR GRAPES

Quote for the Day - September 4, 2010

"Bewildered is the fox who lives to find that grapes beyond reach can be really sour."

Dorothy Parker [1893-1967], "Not Even Funny", The New Yorker, March 18, 1933

BE STILL 

AND KNOW 

THAT I AM GOD!

Quote for the Day September 4,  2010

"To my mind the most poignant mystical exhortation ever written is, 'Be Still and know that I am God.'"

Arnold Bennett 1867-1931], Journals, Decenber 1929

The quote "Be still" is from Psalm 46: 10

WHY DON’T THEY?

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 22nd Friday in Ordinary Time is, “Why Don’t They?”

One of the most basic traits of human beings is to see others – and think or say, “Why Don’t They?”

• Why don’t they use their blinker when switching lanes?
• Why don’t they cut their lawn?
• Why don’t they brush their teeth?
• Why don’t they deport all these illegals?
• Why don’t they go to church?
• Why don’t they go on a diet?
• Why don’t they mind their own business?
• Why don’t people think the same way I do?

It could also be the reverse in all these comments, “Why do they?”

• Why do they drive like that?
• Why does he eat so much?
• Why do they make so much noise when they eat?
• Why do they dress like that?
• Why is she so lazy?
• Why is he so crazy?
• Why do people die when it’s so inconvenient for me?
• Why does God allow this?
• Why does God work this way?

TODAY’S READINGS

Today’s gospel – Luke 5: 33-39 – has the same old, same old, Pharisees and Scribes, the ultra religious and the ultra educated in his day, saying to and about Jesus, “Why are his disciples the way they are? Why don’t they fast like John the Baptist and his disciples fasted?”

Why are you going around doing what you’re doing? Why are you going around saying what you’re saying?

And Jesus answers with one of his great answers, “When you’re at a wedding – you eat and drink – and celebrate. So when my friends and disciples are with me, we celebrate. I’m the bridegroom. I’m celebrating my marriage to you. I love you. I see you as one with me. I see you as God’s people. Rejoice. Put a smile on your face. Dress up. Wake up! Wise up. Lift up your hearts!

In today’s first reading from First Corinthians 4: 1-5, Paul talks about judging.

He was a Pharisee – and one of the worst offenders – in judging others and wanting them not to do certain things and to do certain things. And if they don’t, I’m going to get you! Paul was in on Stephen’s stoning (1) – and did you know they are still stoning people today? Why do they do that? Why don’t they hear Jesus’ message: Let the one without sin cast the first stone.” (2)

WHEN I WALK INTO A ROOM

All of us have to ask ourselves, “What do I want people to think, feel, be like, when I walk into a room?”

To be honest I don’t want to be noticed. However here I am a priest – and the priest is up front – so I realize I’m noticed. But when I say Mass – when I preach – I do not want to be noticed. I want two people to be noticed: God and the person who is in your skin and your clothes today. Okay I also hope we all notice our neighbor as well.

When I say Mass, when I preach, I don’t want anyone to say: “Here comes the judge.”

If anyone says that about any one of us here, I would guess that person wouldn’t know that – because you don’t tell judges: “You drive me nuts. Every time you walk into a room, I feel you’re judging me!”

Ugh and fiddlesticks on that life posture.

When I say Mass – I want to celebrate Mass.

Of course I have my collection of, “Why don’t they?” and “Why do they?”

There are still some people who refuse to give the sign of peace. I say to myself, “Why don’t they at least bow, wave, smile, and whisper a ‘Hi’ to the person next to them at Mass – instead of keeping their eyes down and not acknowledging anyone around them?”

Why do people not move in – in the benches at church – instead of stepping out into the aisle – when someone else wants to sit in that bench? I know they might have to go to the bathroom. Or they have claustrophobia and want an aisle seat? Or they want to be able to sneak out right after communion?

Church … driving … politics … meetings … neighbors … kids … grandkids … the kids today … Muslims … the Spanish … the Blacks … the old … the rich … the poor … the president … people who put signs on their lawns … priests …. popes …. bishops … preachers … why don’t they? Why do they?

SUGGESTIONS FOR HOW TO DEAL WITH WHAT YOU DON’T LIKE

Close your eyes. Tickle yourself. Change the subject. Laugh. Become philosophical. Become a stand up comic. Write essays. Look in the mirror. Video tape a recording of yourself – and then watch the video tape of yourself that day. Athletes do it all the time to improve. Write letters to the editor and then rip up the letters….

There are two kinds of people: those who see life as a courtroom and those who see life as a wedding banquet.

CONCLUSION

Today – September 3rd – is the feast of St. Gregory the Great.

Wouldn’t it be interesting if we had a preview of our wake and funeral and all the people there are thinking: Wasn’t she great? Wasn’t she such a nice person? Wasn’t he a great guy?

Wouldn’t it be horrible if they all thought inwardly? What a pain! Why didn’t he or she see life as a great banquet and enjoy the dance of life!

Picture on Top from Town Hall Square in Tallinn, Estonia - summer 2009.

(1) Acts 7: 55 to 8: 3


(2) John 8: 7

ADULT PRAYER TOO

Quote for the Day: September 3, 2010


"A child's prayer: Please make the bad people good, and the good people nice."


Marwood (Devon), Parish Magazine, November 1984

SOMETIMES NOVELS 

GET US TO SEE  

OURSELVES IN THE MIRROR 

OF ITS PAGES. 

September 2, 2010

Quote for the Day - September 2,  2010

"He was nimble in the calling of selling houses for more than people could afford to pay."

Sinclair Lewis [1885-1951] in his book, Babbit, 1923

“FOR GOD ALONE"

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 22nd Tuesday in Ordinary Time is, “For God Alone.”

In today’s first reading from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, we have evidence of a problem that shows up regularly in religious communities and organizations. It’s the problem of rivalry! Jealousy! Factions! Divisions!

Luckily at St. Mary’s you get a variety of priests. It’s my take that people come to Church for Christ – to enter into the Trinity – to enter into the mystery of Christ – to be in communion with Christ and his body – and his body has all kinds of characters (1) – and then to go forth from here – to make this a better world – not coming here for specific priests – but coming here, “For God Alone.”

Of course hospitality, good liturgy, good service, lots of love, all help.

Many parishes are one priest parishes. If the guy is great, if the guy is a servant, wonderful. It the guy is a lemon, people can be stuck for years – unless they make lemonade and come there for God alone.

So as we heard in today’s first reading, in the Corinthian community, there was bickering and bragging. Some said that they follow Apollos and not Paul; others said they follow Paul and not Apollos. We get glimpses of rivalry – factions – and frictions as we read the New Testament – not just in the letters and the Acts of the Apostles, but also in the gospels. (2)

Paul gives the classic comeback to the question of rivalry. I planted. Apollos watered. God gives the growth. (3)

WHAT IF?

If people come to church for the priest, what happens when the priest gets transferred? Or what happens if the priest is discovered to be an abuser or what have you. Uh oh!

I’ve listened to people who went through all this. I’ve heard people talk about the priest who married them – who later left and got married himself or what have you. What if the priest has problems?

SACRAMENTS AND THEIR VALIDITY – BASED ON THE PRIEST

One of the problems that came up several times in the early church was that some held that the validity of baptism depended on the inner life of the priest. (4)

The church in time said, “Nope!”

Imagine the chaos if a community didn’t know the mind set or spirituality of a priest? Am I baptized or not? Are my sins forgiven or not? Is the Mass valid or not?

Of course things go better with better priests – hopefully.

In that comment, I was wondering if I should use the word “holy” instead of “better” as in “better priests” or “holy priests”.

I think “better’ is the better word – because the word “holy” can mean a lot of things and there have been situations where people experienced “holy” priests – where division and stress erupted

Not everyone is everyone’s cup of tea. Yet we come here for God.

I love the story where the old lady in Jersey City, N.J. said, “The five marks of the Church are: it is one, holy, Catholic, apostolic and survives its clergy.”

I’m sure you’ve heard the old story about Cardinal Ercole Consalvi – and what he said to Napoleon Bonaparte when Napoleon threatened to destroy the church. Consalvi said, “If in 1,800 years we clergy have failed to destroy the Church, do you really think that you'll be able to do it?” (5)

If you read the lives of the popes, fortunately or unfortunately, you’ll come away either stronger or weaker in your faith. Please God, stronger. Please God you come to church and you remain in the church because of Christ who is with us all days even to the end of the world.

CONCLUSION
I love these early texts in the gospels – like yesterday and today’s gospels – where demons know who Jesus is – the holy one of God and the people Jesus is reaching out for, don’t really know who he is – including his disciples and apostles.

And Simon Peter whose mother-in-law Jesus heals in today’s gospel, Peter who discovered and once blurted out who Jesus is – and gets praised by Jesus for saying so, ends up saving his own skin by denying Jesus three times. (6)
The theme for religious education in our school and religious education this year is, “For God alone! Soli Deo”. It was one of St. John Neumann favorite short sayings and prayers – St. John Neumann whose anniversaries we celebrate this year. (7)
My message this morning is to avoid rivalry in church life – liberals vs. conservatives, this pope vs. that pope, young vs. old, those who dress up for church vs. those who don’t, this priest vs. that priest – but to be here, “For God alone.” And then for all of us to try not to be a pain you know where.

Statue in picture on top: St. John Neumann, CSSR, in the outside gathering space of St. John Neumann Church - Annapolis, Mary - other church building for St. Mary's Parish.



(1) Cf. St. Paul’s 1st Letter to the Corinthians 12: 4-31


(2) Acts 15:1-12; Acts 15: 36-40; Luke 12: 51-53; Mark 10: 35-45; Matthew 20: 20-28


(3) 1 Corinthians 3: 6


(4) For example, there was the question in the early Church whether baptisms in the heretical churches were valid. Here is a quote from Berthold Altaner’s book, Patrology, Herder and Herder, 1960, pp. 194-195 on Cyprian, “”Like Tertullian before him and like the bishops of Asia Minor, Cyprian thought heretical baptism invalid. Three synods at Carthage over which he presided in 255 and 256 declared themselves in favour of the invalidity of heretical baptism. Though Pope Stephen rejected the opinion of the African Church, Cyprian persisted in his view (EH 257/307). This did not later prevent St. Augustine from emphatically defending and excusing him as a catholicus episcopus and catholicus martyr when the Donatists appealed to his authority.”


(5) Hilaire Belloc [1870-1953] is reported to have said that the Catholic Church is “an institute run with such knavish imbecility that if it were not the work of God it would not last a fortnight.” Source of quote – couldn’t find?


(6) Cf. Luke 9:18-21; Matthew 16: 13-20; Mark 8: 27-30; and then the denial of Christ Luke 22: 54-62; Matthew 26: 69-75; Mark 14: 66-72; John 18: 15-18; John 21: 15-19


(7) “For God alone – Soli Deo” …. Cf. Michael J. Curley, Venerable John Neumann, CSSR: Fourth Bishop of Philadelphia, Washington, Catholic University of America Press, 1952, p. 374

SEEING  THE  SKY 

THROUGH  THE  

NEEDLE'S EYE 

Quote for the Day - September 1,  2010


"For rich people, the sky is just an extra, a gift of nature. The poor, on the other hand, can see it as a gift of infinite grace."


Albert Camus [1913-1960], Notebooks 1935-1942

RELIGION

Quote of the Day - August 31, 2010


"Religion is not an opiate, for religion does not help people to forget, but to remember. It does not dull people. It does not say, Take, but Give."


Bede Jarrett, O.P., [1881-1934], The Catholic Mother, 1956


Perhaps written to respond to Karl Marx [1818-1883] who wrote, "Religion ... is the opium of the people." in Critique of the Hegelian Philosophy of the Right [1844], introduction.


Miguel de Unamuno [1864-1936] wrote, "One of those leaders of what they call the social revolution has said that religion is the opiate of the people. Opium ... opium ... opium, yes. Let us give them opium so that they can sleep and dream." San Manuel Bueno, prologue.