BETRAYAL

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this Tuesday in Holy Week  is, “Betrayal!”

I have a collection of quotes by various people – stating what they think is the greatest sin. The sins include sins of commission and omission – ranging from laziness to lying to pride to self-centeredness – to denial that there is such a thing as sin in the first place – to denial that other people can be different than us.

Question: “Well then, what do I think is the greatest sin?”

Answer: “It all depends!”

Question: Is the greatest sin – being slippery – being cute – being evasive?

Answer: “It all depends!”

TODAY’S GOSPEL

Today’s gospel and the gospels this week certainly make the case for betrayal as the greatest sin. Notice the little short sentence in the English version of today’s gospel. When Jesus hands Judas the morsel of food – Judas takes it. Then the gospel simply says, “And it was night.” The lights went out in Judas mind, heart and soul – and he goes out and sells Jesus out. Yet, the gospel gives hints that Judas had second thoughts when he tossed back the 30 pieces of silver.

And Judas kills himself.

At times suicide was listed as the greatest sin – because it was seen as despair – completely giving up the hope in a God who could save us. Then there are horror stories about people wanting a funeral in church for a loved one who committed suicide – and they were refused a funeral Mass and a Christian burial.

And I’m sure some would see that the refusal was the greatest sin. If ever a family needed support, it could be that moment. As priest I’ve experienced how difficult a funeral is for the family of someone who took their own life.

The gospels could make a great case that abusing children would be the greatest sin – especially based on Jesus’ words that it would be better that a person have a millstone tied around their neck and then they be thrown into the sea – than lead a little one astray.

And the Pharisees are constantly being challenged by Jesus for being filled with inner death – inner judgment about everyone else but themselves – that they have it right and everyone else has it wrong – especially Jesus.

BETRAYAL

Betrayal would certainly be in the running for the greatest sin.

Having sat with a lot of couples preparing for marriage, betrayal, breaking trust, an affair, is usually mentioned as the deal breaker – because the covenant is broken – trust is broken – it’s all over. It’s night. The lights have gone out in the marriage – and they are saying this even before they start.

Dante puts betrayal in the 9th, the bottom, the worst circle of Hell – and in the center of that circle near Judas is Lucifer or Satan – who betrayed God. And there they are frozen, stuck in ice, biting into and then chewing each other’s heads. Messy stuff.

DE PROFUNDIS

Holy Week certainly deals with these big issues.

I’ve always loved it that the Redemptorist motto is taken from Psalm 130 – the De Profundis Psalm, the “Out of the Depths I cry to you, O God,” Psalm. And in that psalm are the words and the Redemptorist motto, “In Him, there is fullness of redemption.”

"Copiosa apud eum redemptio" in Latin.

With Christ there is copious redemptio - fullness of redemption - unending forgivness.

Even if one hits the bottom of the bottom – the deepest pits, and they feel like they are in the 9th circle of hell – totally frozen – there is always hope. Even if one feels like they are in total night, there is a dawn.

That’s what Psalm 130 proclaims – so we Redemptorists hope that you being part of our Redemptorist charism, vision, message and mission, will always trust that God will never give up on you – that God will forgive any and every sin – especially if you feel you’ve committed the greatest sin.

Tough stuff to think about on a Tuesday morning.

I would also assume that’s why the painting of the Good Shepherd is up here in our sanctuary.

So this Good Friday see Jesus on the Cross as our Redeemer.

So this Good Friday hear loud and clear Jesus’ words from the cross, “Father forgive them because they don’t know what they are doing?”

CONCLUSION

I would assume that’s why Father Daniel Francis last week – preaching a Redemptorist Mission here in our parish - told on one of those night talks the story about Jesus getting up from the banquet table of heaven and going to the window hoping to see Judas coming up the road - coming  home.

Daniel has it better than Dante who has Judas almost up to his neck – stuck in ice – in the very bottom of hell.

SIN:  THE FORMULA

Quote for Today - April 19,  2011

"The basic formula of all sin is, frustrated or neglected love."


Franz Werfel

Do you agree with Franz Werfel's comment?

TIME TO SPRING

Did you take the time today

to see – to smell – to touch

the flowers all around you?

Did you take the time today

to look into the eyes of those

around you and say, “Hi in there!”

Did you take the time today

to say a prayer of thanks to God

for one more glorious day of life?

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2011

Tulips on top - just outside

the Adortion chapel

here at St. Mary's Annapolis,

April 18,  2011

JESU,

JOY OF MAN’S DESIRING

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this Monday in Holy Week is, “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.”

BLOG QUOTES

I put a quote for every day on my blog. I have a lot of quote books and look for a quote that is challenging, timely, interesting, and intriguing.

The quote I chose for today is from something Roger Fry said, “Bach almost persuades me to be a Christian.”

It’s a quote found in a something written by Virginia Woolf on Roger Fry [1940 – Chapter 11].

I find it to be an interesting and intriguing quote. It triggered some questions: Do I try to find out more about who Roger Fry or Virginia Woolf were? I heard of them – but I don’t know enough about them. Or do I find some Bach and listen to him – in hopes of hearing why Roger Fry said what he said? “Bach almost persuades me to be a Christian”?

Next, I recalled the wedding I had on Saturday. For the seating of the mothers the music was, “Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring” by Bach.

I’m not good at music – but I know that piece when I hear it.

So I typed into Google, “Bach Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.”

The Internet is great. There were all kinds of YouTube pieces by Bach - including, “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.”

I listened to 3 or 4 of them. Sure enough, I got a glimpse into what Roger Fry was saying, “Bach almost persuades me to be a Christian.”

I wondered when this happened. Was Roger Fry at a concert? Where was it or what was it when he heard Bach and made that statement?

TODAY’S GOSPEL

Then I began to prepare for this homily. I read the readings and the word “perfume” in today’s gospel hit me. I read the gospel again and Judas’ words hit me,

“’Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?’ He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions.” [Cf. John 12:1-11]

I then wondered how much does perfume cost. I’m not good at perfume – just as I’m not good at music.

Surprise! I noticed that there is a bottle of perfume entitled, Clive Christian’s Imperial Majesty. They make 5 bottles of it a year. A 16.9 ounce bottle of this perfume costs $215,000 dollars. It has an 18 carat gold collar and it has on the bottle a 5 carat diamond.

Why wouldn’t a man give a gift card to his wife or girlfriend, especially if the man was a Christian, “In lieu of giving you a $215,000 bottle of Clive Christian’s Imperial Majesty perfume, I made out a check for $215,000 to your favorite charity, St. Mary’s Saint Vincent de Paul Society, for the poor or Annapolis?”

Then I noticed that there were cheaper perfumes. I also noticed that Number 8 in price is listed at $800. It's a one ounce bottle of perfume – entitled, “Joy!”

There's that "joy" word again.

Question: Did Jesus go, “OOOOh nice” when he got a whiff of the expensive perfume Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with?

We know Judas knew his perfumes because he estimates the price of the perfume Mary used to be 300 days’ wages.

John says that Judas’ motive was not the poor but his pocket.

CONCLUSION

The clock was ticking and I had to get out here to St. John Neumann’s for this Mass, so I had to come up with a conclusion for this homily.

So what’s the bottom line?

Is it that perfume is good? Jesus accepted Mary anointing his feet.

Is it that concern for the poor is better? Judas was voicing that - in a backdoor sort of way.

Or is  it that Jesus is best – and he is Joy – the greatest Joy one can experience – as Bach and Mary – the sister of Martha and Lazarus - as well as Roger Fry,  knew?

BACH

Quote for the Day - April 18. 2011

"Bach almost persuades me to be a Christian."

Roger Fry (1866-1934) in Virginia Woolf Roger Fry (1940), Chapter 11.


1748 Haussman painting on top of Bach [1685-1750].

Short Question: When was the last time you listened to a piece by Bach?


Try YouTube Celtic Woman, Jesu Joy of Man's Desire or YouTube Dinu Lipatti plays J.S. Bach - Cantata BWV 147 (1950)

PALMS UP

INTRODUCTION



The title of my reflection for this Palm Sunday is, “Palms Up.”



MEANING OF THE PHRASE: “PALMS UP!”



I looked up the meaning of the phrase, “Palms up” and found that it has many meanings from surrender to I’m here, from acceptance to helplessness, apology to cluelessness, innocence to there you have it, and on and on and on.



Today Palm Sunday I thought of the human hand – palms up and open – as in a way of waving a hello or a greeting. The people in the crowd wanted to wave and celebrate Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem – and so they grabbed what was right there, palm branches – and waved them to celebrate Jesus’ presence.



We have palm branches at hand today, but when we don’t have flags or signs or palm branches, we wave with our open hand – palms up and out. We do this when we see a friend or when we see a famous person going by. “Look there’s the president or pope or Miss Maryland!”



MEANING OF PALM SUNDAY



What does Palm Sunday mean to us? It’s the beginning of Holy Week – the culmination of Lent – the arrival of the 3 big Christian High Holy Days: Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.



These days have so much meaning – that we need a week, a lifetime, the hours of the services this week to ponder the fringe – the edge – and then gradually move into the middle of their meaning.



For this Palm Sunday, for this homily or reflection, what struck me was that Jesus went through what we all go through. We have our own personal Holy Weeks and Horror Weeks. Jesus went through the whole mess for the mass of us.



On Palm Sunday he’s honored, celebrated, waved to, cheered on – but by Friday they are screaming for his blood: “Crucify him. Crucify him.” Their hands have moved from open waves to tight fists.



Then next Sunday we celebrate hope – recovery – renewal – resurrection – the upswing of Jesus into glory. In theology it’s called “The Kenotic Curve.” Kenotic – K E N O T I C – from the Greek verb “kenoo” K E N O O or the adjective “kenos” K E N O S – meaning emptying, absence, the hollowness of everything.



TODAY’S SECOND READING



We find all this in today’s second reading – Philippians 2: 6-11 – which is called “The Great Kenotic Text”. We used to hear in theology all the time: “Know Philippians 2: 5b-11!



We get the message. God is God. Christ Jesus – who is also mysteriously God – lets go of equality with God – empties himself – become human – empties himself even more – takes on the form of a slave – humbles himself even more and becomes obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross.



That’s the first half of The Kenotic Curve – the Downhill Slide.



Then Paul says, "Because Jesus did this – God exalts him – bestowing on him – a name which is above every name. It’s Lord. Jesus Christ is Lord – that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth – so that every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father.



The best scholarship to date puts this text – these words of Paul to the people of the Greek city of Philippi – is between the years 54 to 57. It was written from the city of Ephesus – in modern day Turkey.



It’s before our gospels.



Notice how primitive it is. The early church is trying to put into words how this Jesus of Nazareth is both human and divine. The Early Church is trying to put into words how God is Trinity – and it would struggle with this for a few centuries – till we went through heresies and councils and came up with our creeds.



We are the beneficiaries of these struggles and articulations.



IN THE MEANWHILE



In the meanwhile we get it. We get these texts. We understand the Kenotic Curve. We see it every time we go to visit a loved one in the hospital. There it is: the monitor. We hope it’s going up and down for our loved one – otherwise they’re dead. They flat lined.



We know the ups and downs of life. We know days of glory and days of horror. We know days of fullness and days of emptiness.



The Kenotic Curve tells us that God knows us – because the Son of God became one of us – and went through what we go through. It’s usually the bottom of the curve – the pits – the dark valley at the bottom – when we recognize our need for God. That’s when we pray. That’s why Psalm 23 is so popular – especially at funerals. Though I walk in the dark valley you are with me.



All is darkness and they remain that way till our Bad Fridays move to our Easter Sundays – till we realize resurrection. Then we change the words from "Bad Friday" to "Good Friday".



We see the Kenotic curve every day and every year.



Sometimes we hit a home run; sometimes we strike out. Nobody has hit over 400 since Ted Williams did it in 1941. Red Sox fans will tell you he came within 5 hits of doing it again at the age of 39 in 1957 – when he hit 388.



Sometimes we’re at a beautiful wedding – 150 people – and there is music and dancing, cake and celebration – but then we’re all alone when we get the phone call, “Mom, we’re getting a divorce.”



We celebrate our kid’s baptism, graduations, dance recitals, but it’s lonely when we have to see the police or the principal when our kid messes up.



Sometimes we’re in a brand new car and people stop for a second to admire it – and sometimes we leave the new car sticker on the back side window on the left – just to let folks know, “This is a new car!” and sometimes the car has become a clunker and it won’t start and it’s costing us money on repairs and we don’t have the money to buy a new one.



We know the ups and downs of life. In the marriage vows we even say it, “for better for worse, richer or poor, sickness and health.”



Life is curvy – not that many straight lines – might as well get used to it – and Jesus walked that crooked line from Nazareth to Jerusalem – and he arrived there today – and he’ll be killed next Friday. It’s as bottom line as that.



CONCLUSION – UPTURN - RESURRECTION



But we are a people of hope and people who belief in upturns – and so we’ll also be back next week for Easter Sunday – Alleluia. Alleluia.



So our prayer doesn’t end with, “Christ has died.” We continue and say, “Christ has risen. Christ will come again" - and "again and again and again.”

DREAM  THERAPY

April 17, 2011

Quote for the Day

"All the things one has forgotten scream for help in dreams."



Elias Canetti [1905-1994], Die Provinz der Menschen (The Human Province, 1973), page 269


Drawing on top from Punch magazine.

ARE YOU GOING UP

FOR THE FEAST THIS YEAR?

INTRODUCTION

For a homily on this 5th Saturday of Lent I have two questions.

FIRST QUESTION

The first question would be from today's gospel, “Do you think he will be coming up for the feast this year?”

With people trying to kill Jesus, some wondered if Jesus would have the nerve to make the pilgrimage for the Passover feast this year?

What about us? Are we planning to make the feast of Passover this year? “Do I see as part of the feast this year or is all this old stuff?”

When I look at how I spent Lent this year – I have to be honest with my answer to that same question. At times Lent was so, so. At times I was okay - regarding prayer and fasting. I look at myself and look at Lent and I’d say that I’d give myself a 2 out of a possible 10 on how I made this Lent.

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday. This coming week is Holy Week. It's a last chance dance to make a good Lent. Am I planning to make Holy Week holy? Is there in inner voice in me that asks, “Do you think he is going to make the feast this year?” Will I find some hiding places and times and mediatate deeply on the Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Empty Satuday and Easter Sunday?

SECOND QUESTION

My second question is the question that we have been hearing all through this section of John. What do you think of Christ? Who is he to me? What is my Christology?

I have been saying that the Gospel of John has a high Christology.

Ray Brown in his book, The Community of the Beloved Disciple, points out that there were 5 levels of Christology in John. Which is ours?

Do I see Jesus as "Rabbi" or "Good Teacher" or have I moved towards being with Jesus as "The Anointed One" or "Christos"? Do I hear John telling us that Jesus is the Word from before - who became flesh and lived amongst us?

People who are fundamentalists might have a problem with the Gospel of John. At times it doesn’t seem to coincide with the synoptics. There are 3 or 4 passover feasts in John. And stuff is moved all around.

The scripture people that help me the most are not fundamentalists.

Those who help me are those who help me see Jesus as the community of the beloved disciple saw him. They help me see Jesus as the post-resurrection Christians were asking questions about.

And those questions can be asked right now of me: Do I see Jesus as the one who will lead me through the passover. Is he the sanctuary? Is he the covenant? Do I see him as the one who will bring all people together? Do I see him as the one who died for all so that all can become one? Do I see him as the desire of the nations? Etc.

CONCLUSION

In this homily I'm asking two questions for today: 1) Are you going up for the feast this year? In other words, "What are my plans for Holy Week?" 2) What do you think of Christ? Who is he to you and for you?

ON  NOT FORGETTING 

THE VOICE AND THE VOTE 

OF THE PEOPLE

Quote for Today - April 16,  2011

"A riot is at bottom the language of the unheard."


Martin Luther King Jr. [1929-1968] Where Do We Go From Here? (1967), Chapter 4

Long loaded question: How do those who feel they are picked on, overtaxed, "dissed," rejected - whether they are citizens of this country as well as the world, "illegals," conservatives, liberals, independents, spouses, parishioners, the abused, seniors, children, in-betweens, union members, homosexuals, heterosexuals, the poor, the rich, the middle class, clergy, priests, bishops, deacons, teachers, students, principals, judges, political officials, estranged, "suits,""blue collar workers," Catholics, Muslims, people of any faith or no faith, those who sense they are not being listened to or heard, how do they riot?

APPRECIATION

Quote for Today - April 15,  2011

"I now perceive one immense omission in my Psychology, - the deepest principle of Human Nature is the craving to be appreciated, and I left it out altogether from the book, because I had never had it gratified till now."





William James [1842-1910] in a letter to his class at Radcliffe College, April 6, 1896, in Letters (1920) volume 2, page 33.

ROCK THROWING: WHAT IS

MY WEAPON OF CHOICE?

INTRODUCTION

The title of my reflection for this 5th Thursday in Lent is, “Rock Throwing: What Is My Weapon of Choice?”

At the end of today’s gospel we have the statement, “At that they picked up rocks to throw at Jesus, but he hid himself and slipped out of the temple precincts.” [Cf. John 8:59]

If they killed Jesus that day, would we be wearing rocks around our necks instead of a cross?

Have we ever been so angry we wanted to throw a rock at someone to shut them up?

IN THE SCRIPTURES

If we read the scriptures we find various instances of rock throwing as well as killing people with rocks. How did Cain kill Abel – the first murder mentioned in the Bible? [Genesis 4:8] David killed Goliath with a stone – a smooth one. [1 Samuel 17:40-51] Okay, he also used Goliath’s sword as well.

Years later – when David is king – he was to experience someone – a man name Shimei – cursing and throwing stones at him. [Cf. 2 Samuel 16:5, 13.]

We know from the scriptures one form of capital punishment was stoning a person to death. Blasphemers, fortune tellers, adulterers, the mistake makers, were stoned.

We heard it on Monday with the story of the woman caught in adultery and we’ll hear it at the death of Stephen – the first Christian martyr. [Cf: John 8:1-11; Acts 7:55-60]

MARRIAGE – COMMUNICATION SKILLS

When I meet with couples who are planning to be married, I sometimes ask the question: “What is your weapon of choice?”

Hearing that they look at me with a puzzled face.

I then say, “Is your weapon silence? Is it words to the other’s face? Is it words behind their back? Is it passive aggression?”

What is your weapon of choice?

What do we do when we’re frustrated? How do we manage our anger? What bugs us? What do we get impatient with every time? What are our buttons? How do we solve our relationship issues?

In some parts of the world, they still want to stone people to death?

In other parts of the world, there is divorce and starting again in a new relationship.

In many parts of the world, it’s get all the weapons you can get?

As Bob Dylan’s 1963 song put it, “The answer my friend is blowing in the wind. The answer is blowing in the wind.” [1]

JESUS

The message of Jesus that still blows in the wind is “Peace” – is to put down the rocks and walk away. [Cf. John 20: 19-23; John 8:7.]

I would assume that Christianity also teaches us to come back and sit down and talk and eat with each other. Communion – holy communion – with each other is Jesus’ dream. Use the rocks to build bridges as well as centers for community and community with each other.

CONCLUSION

What is our weapon of choice?

Regarding rock throwing I remember seeing a sculpture in Time magazine many years ago. It was by a Soviet Sculptor. I found it through Google - and I also found a newer take off on the same theme by a Chinese Artist.

So answers to my question, "What is my weapon of choice?" could now not only be rock throwing but sending e-mails, texting and twittering.

On top I put two pictures of works of art. The black and white sculpture is by Ivan Shadr – the pseudonym of Ivan Dmitriyevich Ivanov [1887-1941]. His sculpture is entitled: “Stone As A Weapon of the Protelariat” – 1927. The second picture is by Zhou Yongyang who does Performance Art Work. The red print reads, “Keyboard – Weapon of the Weak in China, 2007.”

What is our weapon of choice?

[1] "Blowin' In The Wind" - Bob Dylan, 1963

BIG PICTURE

Quote for The Day - April 14,  2011

"Nothing is more dangerous than an idea, when you have only one idea."



Alain (Emile-Auguste Chartier) [1868-1951] Propos sur la religion (Remarks on Religion, 1938) no. 74

AND THE TRUTH

WILL SET YOU FREE

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 5th Wednesday in Lent is, “And The Truth Will Set You Free.”

Jesus, in today’s gospel, teaches us a great truth: “The truth will set us free.”

FIRST IT HURTS

I’m sure you heard the addition to that saying: “But first it will hurt.”

Isn’t that why we often don’t want to know the truth. It hurts. It’s too painful.

I’m sure a lot of you saw the movie, “A Few Good Men” where Tom Cruise plays the part of the lawyer, Lt. Daniel Kaffee. And many people remember the scene and lines when Kaffee challenges Col. Nathan R. Jessep, played by Jack Nicholson. Kaffee says to Jessp, “I want the truth.” and Col Jessep fires back, “You can’t handle the truth.”

I see that whole movie as a parable on this saying of Jesus: “And the truth will set you free.” That’s the Good News. The tough news in the movie – is that people have to fall – lose it all – struggle – push – pull – in order to discover the real truth.

Jesus was killed because he told the truth – truths that can set us free. Jesus tells us that sin enslaves us. Isn’t that the truth?

FREEDOM

How many times have parents and teachers and principals and police investigators said to people, “Tell the truth!”? And we know when a person in a court room goes up the stand to testify, he or she puts her hand on the Bible and says, “I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God.”

Freedom and truth are linked. Yet often we need the God’s help to link them.

The person who smokes is killing herself or himself – and who wants to know that truth? However, it will set a person free. So too any addiction.

Who wants to know what really hurts? Yet Jesus tried to bring people through that truth – to the other side of that threshold – that doorway – that eye of the needle – and if they choose to follow him – they find freedom – fresh air – the Promised Land on the other said of that slavery – that Egypt.

CONFESSION

Isn’t that the background – the reason – why people want to go to confession – in Lent? The curtain, the wall, anonymity helps – but we can’t be anonymous to Jesus and ourselves. And when it comes to experiencing forgiveness, it’s my experience as priest to discover that it’s not Jesus who is the problem here. It’s me. It’s my sin of pride. It’s my inability to say, “I did it.”

“Bless me Father, for I have sinned!”

It’s like that moment at an A.A. meeting when someone stands up and says, “I’m Jetro and I’m an alcoholic.”

We all know the text in James 5: 16: “Confess your sins to one another – and pray for one another – and this will cure you!”

“And the truth will set you free.”

THEODORE ROETKE - THE POET

At times I remember a line from the poet, Theodore Roetke: “O the lies I have told my energies.”

When I read that I said to myself, “Isn’t that the truth!”?

I have my list of excuses for not finishing so many things. My sins of omission stare me in my mirror more than things I have done wrong. That’s my way of saying Psalm 51.

Theodore Roetke added, ‘Get down to where your obsessions are! For Christ’s sake shake it loose.” (1)

LENT: A TIME FOR DEEP SEA FISHING

Obviously, Lent is time to get down to where our obsessions are.

Obviously, Lent is 40 days to go into the desert and discover the deserted parts of our soul. Lent is a time to go deep sea fishing – to leave the shallow waters of self.

Lent is a time to hear Jesus says, “Go within.” “Go underneath.”

We don’t. We stay on the surface but start deep sea fishing or digging into other’s depths – judging them – condemning them.

As Shakespeare puts it in Julius Caesar, “The fault dear Brutus is not in the stars but in us.”

We are as T.S. Eliot said straw, stuffed people. “We are the hollow men, We are the stuffed men, Leaning together, Headpieces filled with straw.”

With Jesus there is hope. With Jesus there is fullness of redemption.

As Redemptorists we preach hope. Our motto motivates us in confession and in the pulpit. It’s from Psalm 130 – the De Profundis Psalm – the Out of the Depths I cry to you psalm. Verse 7 proclaims our motto and vision: “Copiosa apud eum redemptio!” “With him there is fullness of redemption.” Notice the word depth. It’s in our depths – in our obsessions - in our oppressions - in our depressions - in those places where we don’t like to go – we can discover the Redeemer.

Isn’t that the truth?

I love it that Jesus was born on straw. I love it that the straw man in The Wizard of Oz in reality was a real person.

CONCLUSION

The title of my homily is, “And The Truth Will Set You Free.”

Isn’t it wonderful we don’t have to do it all on our own – that Jesus is our Redeemer, Savior, Liberator?

Isn’t that the truth? Amen.




NOTES

(1) Cf. Saturday Review, June 29, 1968, “Words for Young Writers - From the Notes of Theodore Roetke” by David Wagoner.

LISTENING 

April 13, 2011

Quote for Today

"The first step to wisdom is silence - the second is listening."

Anonymous

THE CROSS

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME?

INTRODUCTION

The title of my reflection for this 5th Tuesday in Lent is basic: The Cross: What Does It Mean To Me?

The cross: what does it mean to me?

I was in Ahh Coffee! with Bernie Bernsten on Sunday after the 10:30 Mass and I noticed a lady with a tattoo of a cross right here under her Eve’s apple [POINT]. It looked like it was 3 inches long and 1 inch wide. I had the thought it would look interesting in an evening gown.

The cross: what did it mean to her?

On Saturday night I went to see the musical, The Sound of Music, presented by St. Mary’s high school students. It was excellent. There was Maria on stage – kneeling in prayer – having to make a major decision in her life – and she makes the sign of the cross.

The cross: what did it mean for her and for this young lady playing her part in a high school play?

I blessed a couple with the sign of the cross at their wedding on Saturday afternoon here at St. Mary’s and they made the sign of the cross as I blessed them.

The cross: what does the cross mean to them?

I did a baptism on Saturday morning. I asked everyone present – including grandparents and about 5 cousins – as well as other members of family and friends – to make a small sign of the cross on the forehead of the new baby, Anna. Having everyone do that takes about 5 minutes extra – but I think it’s important. I said this is symbol of the good things – like faith – to pass onto this new born baby.

The cross: what does it mean to those who put the cross on this new baby Anna’s forehead at her baptism?

On Friday of next week, Good Friday, Christians around the world will see the cross carried down the main aisle of the church. They see the priest or deacon carrying the large cross – stop 3 times and sing, “This is the wood of the cross on which hung the Savior of the world. Come let us worship.” Then the whole church will be invited to come forward to kiss the cross.

The cross: what will it mean to all of us this coming week at the Good Friday service.

Last night at the parish mission, Father Daniel Francis, who is preaching the Mission, turned and faced the enormous cross at St. John Neumann’s church. I often wonder what strangers think when they see that enormous cross out there. What about the big empty wooden cross there and here? What about the big wooden cross in the back of St. Mary’s Church here on Duke of Gloucester Street? I’ve heard this in sermons, but it finally happened to me about two months ago. After Mass here in St. Mary’s a little kid came up to me and pointed to the big crucifix in the back and said, “What happened?”

The cross: what does it mean to all those who see these crosses?

Today’s first reading has the story in the Book of Numbers where Moses puts a bronze sculpted metal snake on a wooden pole. He tells the people to look at the snake and see that this is what’s killing you and let the Lord save you. Then today’s gospel – John 8: 21- 30 - has Jesus telling us that when the Son of Man is lifted up; we will realize that I AM. John is very aware of the story in Numbers because he refers to it earlier in 3:13

The cross: what does it mean to John in his gospel?

Is the message to look at the cross and realize Jesus is the one who can save us? Is the message to look at Jesus on the cross and see the horror of evil – the things we do to each other. We try to nail down those we don’t want around. We kill those who challenge us. People see Christ as a snake biting and fighting them – and they want him out of the way. Is the message in the scriptures to see the paradox of the snake as well as the paradox of the Cross? Is it the same paradox of all of us having within us the possibility of being the Good Thief or the Bad Thief? Is the message of the gospels that if we take the time to look at the cross – we can be healed – we can hear Jesus say, “I AM!”

The cross: what does it mean to us?

CIVIL  WAR

Quote for the Day - April 12,  2011


"[The Civil War] created in this country what had never existed before - a national consciousness. It was the not salvation of the Union; it was the rebirth of the Union."


Woodrow Wilson [1856-1924] in a Memorial Day address in 1915. The first shot of the United States Civil War happened - 150 years ago - today, April 12, 1861 in Fort Sumter, South Carolina and the last shot took place in June 1865.

ON  BECOMING 

A MORAL PERSON

April 11, 2011

Quote for the Day


"On devient moral des qu'on est malheureux."

"As soon as one becomes unhappy, one becomes moral."

Marcel Proust [1871-1922], A l'ombre des jeunes filles en fleurs [Within a Budding Gove, 1918, translaed 1924 by C.K. Scott-Moncrieff, Vol. 1, p. 290

DEATH & RESURRECTION

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Death and Resurrection.”

Death is a deep reality.

And for most of us, death is the deepest reality – so sometimes we bury the thought of it – down deep in the ground – down deep in our soul.

Then another’s death – or a near accident – or cancer or a news report – or a scripture reading or a homily wakes us up to the reality that we only have so much time and we never know what’s next and if there is a next.

We’ve all see horror movies or Shakespeare’s plays or The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, for example here in Annapolis – plays when death is personified as a character appearing on stage – or in dreams – and Death asks questions. The Grim Reaper – a skeleton in cape – with a scythe in hand – is quite scary. In Hindu scriptures it’s a character named "Yama" who rides a black buffalo - holding a big rope to tie a person up and bring that person back home to his dark place in the underworld.

DRIVE BY

What are our thoughts as we drive by a cemetery? What are our thoughts as we come into town and go by St. Ann’s Cemetery. It’s a bit hidden – but can be seen off Rowe Boulevard. What about going up West Street and going by St. Mary’s Cemetery or the Military Cemetery? What are our thoughts when we’re driving and we spot a row and flow of cars in a funeral procession?

THE LENTEN GOSPEL READINGS

Two Sunday’s ago we heard the gospel story from John about a woman who came to a well for water and she met a man who knew everything she ever did. That’s kind of scary. She met a man who changed her life. That’s good news. She met a man who got her to ask those whom she went and found, “Could he be the Messiah? The Savior? The One we’re all really thirsting for?”

Last week’s gospel story from John was his story of the Blind Man – who brought us face to face with the issue of light. Do I see? Or am I blind? Am I in the dark? Have I discovered Jesus to be the Light of the World? Do I know or am I still walking down nameless streets doing nameless nothings? When am I going to experience a life eye opener?

Lent tries to get us to see where we’re blind, what we’re thirsting for. Have we climbed any mountains this Lent to get the big picture and discover Transfiguration or are we still down in the valley eating forbidden fruit – still dealing with temptations – still back there in the first week of Lent?

So on this 5th week in Lent we have another big issue to reflect upon: death and resurrection. Today’s gospel from John challenges us about Life. It’s one of John’s three key themes – all beginning with the letter "L" in English: Light, Life, and Love.

As you also know this week our parish is offering a Parish Mission – a series of possible eye-openers. Check the bulletin for details.

TODAY’S READINGS

Today’s readings obviously bring us to the question of death. Is death it? The screen says, “The End.” The curtain closes. Or is there life, resurrection, after death? What’s on the other side of the curtain? What’s backstage? What’s on the other side of the Exit door?

Today’s gospel [John 11:1-45] presents on stage the very dramatic story of Lazarus – dead for 4 days. Back in those days people were buried rather immediately. Notice the comment, “Lord by now there will be a stench; he has been dead four days.”

Notice the tears – the weeping – the sadness – not only on the part of Martha and Mary, the sisters of Lazarus, but also by Jesus who considered Lazarus a good friend.

Notice in the first reading from Ezekiel 37: 12-14 that the Lord God says through Ezekiel, “I will open your graves and have you rise from them, and bring you back to the land of Israel.”

Is Ezekiel speaking about people who are buried in graves – or is he talking about the people of Israel who felt dead because they had gone through Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and the deportation of many people into slavery?

Notice in the second reading from Romans 8:8-11 that Paul is talking about death by sin – and that the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us – and can lift us up – resurrect us – as well.

Death and resurrection, here and hereafter; these are big, big themes

THREE KINDS OF PEOPLE

There are 3 kinds of people.

First of all, there are those who see death as, "Well, that's it!" The End. There are no sequels. That’s all there is.

Secondly, there are those who believe in some sort of continuance after death for some or for all – but it’s very mysterious and vague. It could be reincarnation. It could be we’re floating in something somewhere or morphed and amalgamated into a world soul or what have you.

Thirdly, there are those Christians who believe that through and with and in Christ we can rise from the dead and experience new life in a hereafter. There is heaven and hell. There is judgment. There is hope – because of Jesus. Jesus gives images and metaphors to explain this new reality – but the bottom line is St. Paul’s comment: “Eye has not seen. Ear has not heard. Nor has it entered into the human heart what God has prepared for those who love him.”

So we don’t know for sure. All we know is, “I believe in Jesus Christ – the Resurrection and the Life.” Christ is the way, the truth and the life – eternal life.

So today I’m asking: What’s our take on life and death? Do we believe in life after death? Do we really hope for resurrection – and eternal life – after our death? We proclaim it by our mouths in the Creed at each Mass – and by our bodies by being here.

Am I a person of belief, hope, awareness, and acceptance of resurrection or am I the opposite? The position we take has an enormous impact on how we live and see life.

That’s what I hear today’s readings challenging us to face today.

Next Sunday is Palm Sunday – when Jesus begins to face his last week of life – when he walks into Jerusalem – then gets up on a donkey – and by the end of the week he is killed. Would he have gotten on that donkey or would he have walked the other way – if he didn’t believe in his Father’s Plan for eternal life for all?

That’s not a flippant or nonchalant question. In the garden he’s going to struggle with going forward. On the cross he’s going to scream, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

THE END – A CONCLUSION & A SIDEBAR

Lent is a time to walk with deep questions.

This Sunday we are called to reflect upon death – our death and the death of loved ones – as well as the death of each person.

One sidebar. As you might have noticed, this year we commemorate the beginning of the 150th anniversary of our Civil War. This Tuesday and Wednesday - April 12-13 - mark the bombardment of Fort Sumter in South Carolina - on those days in 1861.

What hits many countries hit us: self-destruction from within – by ourselves. In our lifetime we have heard about North and South Vietnam, North and South Korea. Now we’re hearing about the split in Libya and the countries that are in-fighting in the middle east and around our world.

Well, some of the things they are going through, we went through in our own Civil War – the war that took place 150 years ago – 1861.

Annapolis didn’t have any Civil War battles – but it certainly was impacted heavily during the war years. This Tuesday evening there is a presentation at St. John's College Annapolis on the Civil War in Annapolis 1861. Check it out on line - for time and specifics.

Check out on Google: United States Civil War. There is much to learn. If you get a chance watch Ken Burns' Civil War whenever it appears on Public Television.

I hope to drive up Sharpsburg, Maryland on a day off to learn about the September 17th 1862 Battle of Antietam. Sharpsburg, Maryland is only about 2 hours from here. I noticed it's between Frederick and Hagerstown. It's listed as the Bloodiest Day in the Civil War. I expect that it will have an impact like I felt when I went to Gettsburg and other Civil War battle sites.

Check out the 1862 Annapolis National Military Cemetery on West Street and Taylor. I have gone by it 1,000 times – but it wasn’t till yesterday that I did a bit of research about it. It’s listed that there are 2271 known dead buried there and 211 unknowns. So we have our own tombs of unknown soldiers here in Annapolis.

I found out that Annapolis was a hospital center during the Civil War.

I also found out a bit about where soldiers were encamped around Annapolis during the Civil War. I also found out about the fascinating parole system during the civil war. When soldiers were captured, some were paroled and allowed to go home right after a battle or capture. At other times some were brought to places like Annapolis.

The first big parole camp for 3000 captured soldiers was on St. John’s College Green. The date listed was September 1st, 1861.

The second much larger parole camp was for 20,000. It was on a farm on the south side of Forest Drive between Greenbriar Lane and Bywater Road.

Then there was Camp Parole – where Parole Shopping Center is today. It was set up by September 1863. One reason for this last big parole camp was because so many got sick and were freezing to death during the winter of 1862 and 1863 at the Forest Drive camp. Some of these dead are buried in the military cemetery on West Street – that was established in 1862. I think about these men who died far away from home, I think of all those who were killed in the Civil War - America’s bloodiest war – mowed down and left to die and their bodies were buried in mass graves here and there – never to be heard from again.

Thinking about that I hope and pray there is resurrection and new life – forever and ever – in the fields of paradise – because living 18 or 19 years – getting a tiny bit of training and then being sent into battle and killed – seems to be big time unfair. There better be resurrection and new life.

Please God. Yes.

BABIES CRYING 

IN CHURCH 

Quote for the Day - April 10th, 2011

"A church without crying babies is a church that is dying."

Said by Harry Thompson when I said there were lots of crying babies at the 10:30 this morning during the singing.

BAGGAGE

Quote for Today  April 9, 2011

"Once upon a time someone asked a camel whether he preferred going uphill or downhill. The camel answered: 'What is important to me is not the uphill or the downhill - it is the load.'"

Sufi Teaching Anecdote

MATTHEW 5: 46-47

Quote for the Day -  April 9, 2011


"Do something good for someone you like least, today."


St. Anthony of Padua

MATTHEW 7: 1-5

Quote for Today- April  7, 2011



“Nothing so robs us [of grace] and leads so surely to utter destruction than fault-finding, speaking evil and condemning one’s neighbor. To condemn means saying: so and so is a liar, an adulterer, has a bad-temper. Such a person condemns the very state of another’s soul, passes judgment on their whole life … and this is a grievous sin …. God alone has the right to justify or condemn, for God knows the disposition of our soul, our strength, our tendencies and gifts ….”



St. Abba Dorotheus of Gaza [505-565 or 620]

HUMILITY

Quote for Today - April 6,  2011

"St. Bernard, asked to list the four cardinal virtues, answered, "Humility, humility, humility, and humility."

page 185 in The Spirituality of Imperfection, by Ernest Kurtz and Katherine Ketcham, Bantam Books, 2002