PRAYER:

VOICE RECOGNIZING VOICE

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 4th Monday after Easter is, “Prayer: Voice Recognizing Voice.”

Various surveys indicate that people want to hear more on prayer from the pulpit.  And if there is one topic that people buy spiritual books on, it’s prayer.  

What’s your take on prayer?  Do you need to hear more?  Do you have questions about prayer?  What’s the best lesson you have heard about praying?

So when I read today’s readings - including the Psalm - I heard, “Say something on prayer as voice recognition."

So the title of my homily is: “Prayer: Voice Recognizing Voice.”

RECOGNIZING VOICES

Here in today’s gospel - John 10: 1-10 -  Jesus says that sheep recognize the voice of the shepherd.  When the shepherd calls - his sheep recognize his voice. They don’t recognize the voice of a thief.  

Yesterday’s gospel had the hired hand as the alternative to the good shepherd. I guess if the hired hand is a steady sheep sitter as in baby sitter - they might recognize his voice.  The thief?  No.

At what age - at what month -  does a baby recognize the voice of her or his parents and family members. How about hearing voices while in the womb?

This morning I heard on the radio on the way up to the hospital - a story of a little girl who was lost in the outback in Australia - and it was a 17 year old dog who saved the little girl or located the lost girl - and the dog was blind and half deaf - something like that.

We pick up the phone - don’t know the number - and the other side doesn’t give a name and our mind is trying to figure out: “Who’s this?”  And sometimes we say, “I recognize your voice. It’s familiar. But who is this?”

I had a wedding a few years back - and a funny thing happened. The bridegroom’s last name began with W and when he became a local weather man on the radio, he changed his last name to A - as his radio persona. I didn’t know this  till later - when he told me that since he was always called on last in school - because his name began with W - he chose a last name that began with A.  

In the meanwhile I was confused at the wedding rehearsal dinner when his best man, serving as MC,  was calling him by his A last name. 

So later on that's why I asked him about his name. “What’s going on? Why is your best man,  Marty something, [whom I have since seen on TV from Baltimore], is calling you by the wrong name?" It was then that I got the explanation.

For some reason after the wedding - which Ceil Ambrosetti sang at - I told her about the W and A last names.  This was by total chance. She says, “That explains it all.  When I was talking to him on the phone about the music for the wedding, I was saying to myself, 'I know this voice.' But the W last name was not familiar."

She then said, “Oh okay, I listen to him give the weather on the radio every morning on the way into work. Now I know."

I guess musicians have a good ear.

PRAYER

I guess too - if we pray - we gradually get to know the voice of God - the voice of Jesus - better and better.

Beginner’s prayer can be all talk, talk, talk, saying prayers, prayers, prayers.

Long time people who pray learn to listen, to be quiet, and just be with the Lord - as in conversations with the close people in one's life.

I'm sure you heard the story about the old man, who told someone how he prays. "I just sit there. God just sits there. Sometimes we talk and sometimes we listen. Most of the time we just be with each other in the quiet."

I would hope lovers say to each other: “Shut up. Let’s just be in the quiet with each other."

So too God and me. So too  me and God.

I don’t know about you, I go crazy with that “Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins, and on and on and on and on prayer.” It’s a nice prayer for mercy - but I wonder if God ever says, “Enough already, I hear you.”

That’s my voice saying that. Your voice might say different. That might be the way you and God do prayer. I don’t.

Hey we repeat the psalm response a bunch of times - like today’s psalm response, “Athirst is my soul for the living God.”  Why not say that on the rosary beads as an alternative? Or cut it down to just one word. Say to God, “Thirsty… thirsty…. thirsty.” Would God love that one word prayer and laugh at us. I like the TV ad when the dog goes, “Bacon, bacon, bacon.”  So say to God, "Thirsty, thirsty, thirsty"  a few times - and then let God be the living cool water for you. Sip and be satisfied.

I’ve studied a bit about Theravada Buddhism. Sometimes a person just sits there in the quiet for hours and hours straight - breathing in, breathing out, without saying a word.

I know a bit about Quaker Services. One of the rules is to be quiet and not say anything till the Spirit of God of God pushes someone to say something. I’ve been to Quaker Sunday services in which nothing is said in the hour of prayer - and it’s an hour of quiet.  That’s got to drive people who do yakety yak prayers crazy.

And in the quiet, I’d assume that voices recognize voices in the silent music of prayer.

CONCLUSION

The title of my homily is, “Prayer: Voice Recognizing Voice.”

People who are beginners in prayer - sometimes say a lot of words - and they might not be listening to themselves or to God. 

But in time, hopefully listening takes over - quiet takes over - and sometimes we hear God call us by name - or by the name he has for us - and we begin to understand God - and we know his voice - and God knows ours.

If you ever get a chance to be near a field of sheep going "baa, baa, baa" watch and listen - and maybe you'll spot a solo sheep in a shepherd's arms - maybe even a sheep that was hurt - or a sheep that was lost - and study that sheep's face - and maybe see a smile and look of contentment - and maybe see a look of envy in the baaing sheep - all around the pen.

BUMPER  CARS

When we were young we loved to

go to Asbury Park, New Jersey

on summer evenings. Two events

were on our list: miniature golf and

bumper cars. No comparison.

Bumper cars - bump, bump  - the best.

Now, when I’m old I still like miniature

golf - but it’s those bumper cars that

have become the not so nice reality:

regrets, aches, wasted time and

opportunities. I hate those hurts when

they keep bumping around in my memory.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018

 April 23, 2018 

Thought for today:



“Search yourself and you will find God.”

Kurdish proverb.

GOOD  SHEPHERDS  

OF  OUR  EARTH

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Good Shepherds of Our Earth.”

Today - April 22 - is Earth Day - and different religious print and internet websites - as well as various other websites and communication outlets -urge preachers and speakers, bloggers and websiters,  to speak in favor of Earth Day today.

April 22, 2020 will be the 50^th anniversary of this idea.

QUESTIONS

This triggers various questions for me.

If we don’t say something about Earth Day, will some people scream or say they are disappointed?  They wanted to think about the earth today.

If we do say something, will some people scream, write letters, what have you - saying this is a political issue not a sacred issue?

Will some people say, “I came here to Mass to hear about the readings and Jesus Christ - not about the earth.”

If a preacher does decide or feel called to preach about our earth - and good stewardship of Mother Earth - does he use the readings of the day or what?

TODAY’S READINGS

Obviously, by the title of my homily and this preamble - which seems to me to be a way to cover my you know what - I’m going to say some things about our earth and I’m going to use the gospel for today for starters.

The psalm response and the first reading talk about the stone or rock that has been rejected - that it has become the cornerstone.  We can say that some people reject this stone, this rock, we’re living on - earth  - forgetting it’s the cornerstone of our future and out children's children's children's future.

Today’s gospel talks about two types of people who care for sheep: the good shepherd and the hired hand.

If wolves attack the sheep, the Good Shepherd is willing to lay down his life for the sheep. The hired hand will run away and save his own skin.

The person who tries to save endangered species might be praised or might be ridiculed.

The person who tries to push to keep the environment of the Chesapeake Bay clean also will be laughed at or praised or ignored.

The person who tries to make Earth Day and protecting our surroundings a non-political issue will be praised or made fun by someone who proclaims that those in favor of endangered species and trees - are only into politics - and in favor of regulations - regulations.

I remember the first time I drove into Mexico. Cars were spurting out carbon monoxide big time and I realized it’s good that we have to have our cars checked for pollution here in the United States.

SACRIFICE

I would think that the issue at the center of Earth Day and keeping this earth healthy is sacrifice.

Regulations - cutting down on smoke - costs money.

To toss a wrapper on the sidewalk or curb is easier than holding onto it till one sees a garbage can.

The theme for Earth Day 2018 is cutting down on plastic.

It will be an enormous sacrifice to cut down on bottled water - and plastic containers. That whole industry will lose revenues. Everything - all our medicines and a million other products come in plastic bottles, containers or what have you. Plastic wrap has lots of advantages - like for left overs in the refrigerator.

It’s easier to say to the check-out person, “Paper” when she or he says, “Paper or plastic or do you have a bag?”

SUGGESTIONS

Become your own conscience driven person - making your decisions about the environment from what you learned - rather than babble from TV news programs. If you have a computer - which has a plastic keyboard, etc.  type into google “Earth Day” or “Protecting our Environment” - and read the results and watch the videos.

What makes sense for you - for the good of all?

I did last night and got an eyeful. A whale was washed up on a shore in Spain with 65 pounds of plastic in its belly.

What do you think when you read that in bottled water there can be tiny, tiny, tiny particles of plastic?

Over in St. Mary’s High School, they have cold water fountains, that makes it easy to fill a canteen of water - and registers how many plastic bottles for water - one avoids.

I like water. I like bottled water in plastic - especially when I’m thirsty - and I feel thirsty.

There are things we can do.  Someone - somemanys - got to others by saying things like: 2 million single use plastic bags per minute are distributed at store checkout counters across the globe.

Single use - some are used as doggy bags - then there is fertilizer.

Am I right that they don’t use those plastic things on tops of six packs of canned soda anymore.  They have been known to choke birds - so was there a campaign not to have them and the protests worked and they have been  removed.

SACRED

When we are baptized, there is a moment there, when we are anointed on our forehead - just an inch away from our brain.  We are anointed, announced to be prophet, priest and king.  I’m sure someone says somewhere, “prophetess, priestess, and queen.”

I don’t - but I do think - this new baby - or this newly baptized person - is being called to do and to be three roles: “Speak up for fairness, to be a preacher for justice and rights for all.”  That’s the prophet we’re all called to  be.  Secondly “priest” to  consecrate the earth and all the people on it - and all this earth and universe is:  “this is my body, this is my blood, I’m giving my life for you.”  That’s the priest in us. And thirdly king and queen - and to look to Christ - who told us what kind of king we’re called to be: servant kings and queens.

Of course those who want to be served are going to crucify that kind of king or queen.

It’s a sacred moment at each mass, when the priest lifts the host and we feel a sense of reverence. Some people want a bell rung right then and there. And the blood is lifted there. And people say a prayer right then and there and bells are rung right then and there.

When do have those same feelings and thoughts about our earth.

Can we see that this is our body: from this earth comes French fries and apples and salads and Big Macs.  Moos! Oink oink.

Have you been to the Grand Canyon or watched the sun come up out of the ocean in the morning at Rehoboth or go  down at the Big Sur in California at the end of a day. Last night they had a shot of the sunset over Dodger stadium. Beautiful.

In the movie City Slickers, Billy Crystal is with some buddies and someone brings up the moment that a little boy has when he comes through the dark tunnel - up the ramp and sees a big beautiful green baseball field  for the first time. It’s sacred.

Have you been in a plane at night - with a window seat - and looked down at all those tiny lights - and said a prayer for the people down below within all those little houses?

What are your sacred moments?  I love the moment at Sin Fronteras when the waitress or waiter places in front of me a Beef Burrito - $9.95. It includes a nice salad as well.   We might be going there tonight.  When we eat out on Sunday night - it’s date night for us priests. I see eating together as a Mass. The salad, the rice and beans and the beef - plants and cows - had to be killed and processed for me to have my supper.   And I’m surrounded by my brothers in communion and we laugh and talk about our lives.

Do you see eating out or eating in a sacred moment - for family and friends?

Some people drop out of church. They stop going to this meal - this supper - called The Mass.  Does anyone realize the same thing happens in family? People stop going to the family table for regular meals together  - regular communion with each other. They excommunicate themselves from the family - and they end up lessening themselves.

I try to make the connection of “churchy” things with everyday life things.

Earth Day can get us in touch with lots of everyday things.

For example, don’t you hate it when you see someone desecrate a place? Desecrate: meaning taking away the sacredness - the holiness - the wholeness of a place? Anyplace? Don’t you hate it when you see a dirty restroom on the highway or spot on the beach - where someone just dumped their remains on our Mother Earth - without thinking of the next person?

CONCLUSION

There are two kinds of people: those who are good shepherds and those who are just hired hands.

One sees the hotel or motel or rent a car - as a place someone has to clean after me and use after me - so I’ll treat it as my own and there is the other person who  doesn’t care.

There are two people who hear about Earth Day: the one who hears a message for the Common Good and does something about it and those who have eyes that don’t see, ears that don’t hear and a body that is only for itself. 

A TURN  FOR  THE NURSE

As the old “Get Well” card put it,

“After a while he took a turn for the nurse.”

In reality, as every nurse knows, people

get hurt and ask, “What do we do now?”

Then someone says,

“Is there a doctor in the room?”

No hands went up.

Nobody came running.

Then someone asks,

“Is there a nurse in the room?”

And ten people came running.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018
May 6-12 National Nurse
Week in the United States

April 22, 2018

Thought for today:

“As nurses we know suffering. We are fully aware of how precious each moment of life is. We learn to live well.

  

Nurses are grateful people. Some people only learn about these essential spiritual qualities from traditions of worship. We learn compassion, love, peace and more by performing our daily work.

  

Nurses are constantly reminded of the necessity of valuing the dignity and worth of every person. As a result, we become better people. Our souls are healed. We develop communication skills and open hearts which make us more loving members of our own families. We become tolerant, and appreciate the diversity of all of the people on this earth. Perhaps that is the biggest benefit of being nurses. We become more caring, and honorable people.”

Patricia Bratianu, PhD, RN, RH-Ahg
May 6-12, 2018 National Nurse Week 
in the United States

.

ALONG A FEW IRISH   

BACK ROADS 

Roads, rocks, rain - 

glimpses of sunshine -

clouds  in muddy mirror potholes -

wind rushing to dry off the meadows

and push away the gray mist - 

so the tourists can see out the windows

of their big buses - and be nosy 

about who's who in these white washed thatched homes of their great, great grandparents - who had no food 

on their tables as they suffered 

the Great Famine and the troubles - but now these homes are the castle 

and the palace of their rich, mind you, 

rich distant DNA cousins - singing and dancing here on this green - green, - 

rain, rain - everyday island called Ireland.

© Andy Costello, Reflections, 2018

WHAT  AM  I   MISSING?

There’s always a catch ….

What am I missing?

The key seems to be ….

It might be in the bottom drawer

or on the top shelf in the back,

or under the bed or in the attic ….
Is It You, God? Is It You?

So, God - keep giving me hints ….
What am I looking for?

What am I missing?
Is It You, O God? You, O God?

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018

April 21, 2018

Thought for today:

“A car radio blasts,

“Love,  O careless Love ….” I hear

my ill-spirit sob in each blood cell,

as if my hand were at its throat ….

I myself am hell;

nobody’s here.” 

Robert Traill Spence Lowell, [1917-1977], 

Skunk Hour [1959], stanza 5, 6

REVERSED ROLES

Jesus put your hands into my wounds,

into my cuts.  Touch my hurt.  Let me

look into your eyes, so I will know -

you know - what I have gone through -

and both of us will wink at each other -

as we say to the great connector, the

great peace maker,  “What you too?”

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018

Painting: Doubting Thomas 

by Caravaggio
Check out John 20: 19-29

April 20, 2018

Thought for today:

“What is hell? Hell is oneself,

Hell is alone, the other figures in it

Merely projections,” 

Thomas Sterns Eliot [1888-1965]  

The Cocktail Party [1950]

CULMINATIONS

Endings: Sometimes we see 
them coming; sometimes we don't.

It's Friday - we're moving towards 

the last days of a vacation.

The breakup of a marriage.

I had stopped saying, “Thank you.”

The waitress says, “Does anyone

want coffee or dessert or the bill?”

The doctor says, “Sorry,

it doesn’t look good.”

People start moving towards

the exit. The score is 7 to 1.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018

April 19, 2018

Thought for today:

“Me miserable! which way shall I fly

Infinite wrath, and infinite despair?

Which way I fly is hell; myself am hell;

And in the deepest deep a lower deep,

Still threat’ning to devour me, opens wide,

To which the hell I suffer seems a heaven."

John Milton [1608-1674], 

Paradise Lost [1667] IV, line 73

ROSE PARVIS SCHOLARSHIP

[Good Morning: Welcome to the Rose Parvis scholarship ceremony. Today 33 sophmores  entered into the group.  It’s quite an honor. One has to have  a 4 point average - plus a series of other “have to”s - for all 4 years at  St. Mary’s High School.  The key word this morning is “Scholarship.” Last week in the Washington Post and in the New York Times I noticed announcements for this year’s winners of the Pulitzer Prizes for Journalism. Putting both together last night, I wrote this fictional story for this morning's ceremony. It’s called, “Scholarship!”]

SCHOLARSHIP

It was her first Pulitzer Prize.

She stood there on the shiny wooden stage floor - waiting for someone in a suit to finish his introduction of her. He told of her gifts and skills as a newspaper reporter. He spoke a few quotes and quips. He got a few smiles and two laughs - in his introduction to this award to this woman.

She heard nothing.

She was a bit nervous. This was quite an award for any newspaper or news magazine writer and reporter.

She remembered her first ballpoint pen. It could do what the big people could do with a ballpoint pen: make marks and letters on a pad or piece of paper. Her first word was not cat or dog - but owl. OWL - in big capital letters.

Next came hawk and robin and rooster.

In fact - in the second grade - she wrote her first little book: The Rowdy Rooster - who roared and cleared his throat every night at midnight - instead of every morning at dawn.

She stood there remembering writing a paper in Middle School with 2 friends about people who messed up parking lots with dumping paper and wrappers and Styrofoam containers. The 3 became nicknamed "the Neat Nicks" and got made fun of - but some kids heard the message and kept the parking lot and rest rooms neater.

She stood there remembering her paper in H.S. about verbal bullying in the kind of nick names kids gave kids.

She remembered in College writing a paper pushing for better medical benefits for the college maintenance workers.

She stood there thinking she was well prepared for her job as reporter for the Times - Dispatch.

Finally it was her turn to walk to the podium and get her Pulitzer Prize.  All clapped especially her family. She thanked God and her parents - but especially two high school English teachers - who pushed her to write and to use her talents for a better world.

She thanked her editor for pushing her to do her research in nursing homes in the Midwest - and how the county ones - were not doing their job.

That Sunday she stayed in church a few extra minutes to once more thank God and a whole list of teachers in elementary, middle, high school, university and grad school.  She especially remember Mrs. Lopez who loved to say, “Detailed Research and Scholarship - definitely make the difference every time.”

After being handed her Pulitzer Prize award, someone gave her a dozen roses. It was a first. She remembered  envying  the Home Coming Queen in high school getting a dozen roses and all those kids who were handed roses by family after being in a play. Finally! She joined their ranks.  And she raised her roses and her Pulitzer prize high in the air. 

______________________________________
FROM 2017

Top-Notch Students are proving High School is a stepping stone for things to come!

3/29/2017

St. Mary’s Parvis Scholar Program confers recognition and honor upon the most intellectually promising Christian leaders of St. Mary’s High School. 

This program is reserved for select sophomores who demonstrate steadfast commitment to academic excellence and Christian values.

Named in honor of St. Mary’s Teacher of the Year 1991-1992, the Parvis Scholar Program was established to honor the work of Rosemary Annette Parvis, Social Studies department chair and teacher. Following graduation ceremonies on May 23, 1992, the St. Mary’s community suffered the tragic loss of Rose Parvis in an automobile accident. She was an extraordinary woman: a loving wife, a compassionate and caring mother, a consummate academic, a passionate and dedicated teacher. She was a quiet leader and a constant model of the Christian values which she lived each day.

The Parvis Scholar Program is governed by an academic committee which reviews applications and selects students to be named Parvis Scholar nominees. Those students who are selected will receive singular distinction as Parvis Scholars—an honor these students will carry throughout their years at St. Mary’s. Recognized Parvis Scholars, selected on the basis of both merit and potential, as well as academic achievement and Christian leadership ability, will demonstrate the principles which Rose Parvis espoused and which are an inherent part of the philosophy of a St. Mary’s education. Upon graduation, these students will have:

• Sustained a grade point average of 4.0 or above
• Demonstrated Christian commitment over a four-year career at St. Mary’s
• Illustrated service to the St. Mary’s High School community and to the community at large through leadership in co-curricular and social arenas
• Attained acceptance to an institute of higher learning to further pursue a professional career

"Each of our St. Mary's High School Parvis Inductees for 2017 earned a cumulative GPA of 4.0 or above following the first semester of the sophomore year.  Each has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to Gospel values and a dedication to serving others.  These sophomores employ the gifts of faith, scholarship, sensitivity, compassion, and inclusion. They are leaders in their class and in their school." Stated Chris Morgan, Assistant Principal for Academics.  This year we are honored to have 19 sophomore inductees, 14 of which came from our St. Mary’s elementary school.   This is a tremendous compliment of the great work our lower school is doing to advance our students in academic excellence.  This year’s inductees are Eleanor Aherne, Maggie Aumiller, Mary Byrne, Aidan Doud, Alayna Everhart, Elizabeth Gilman, Elizabeth Harris, Peter Lynch, Trevor Martinez, Thomas Mollen, Ashlyn Odenwald, Alyssa Pasta, Bryce Pfundstein, William Rogers, Spira Rosseau, Charles Ruland, Rylei Smith, Jacob Tribull and Robert Daniel Wilson.  

April 18, 2018 

Thought for today:

“A mind not to be changed by place or time.

the mind is its own place, and it itself

Can make a heav’n of hell, a hell of heav’n.” 

John Milton [1608-1674], 

Paradise Lost [1667] 

bb, I, line 253

April 18, 2018

DISSATISFIED

Dissatisfied, in a rut, ready to move,

to migrate, to immigrate both in body,

mind, soul and being - to get a better

job in a far country - a new place.

But where? Then there is family

and advice from fellow passengers -

then there is homesickness - and

be prepared to feel like an outcast.

Stay still or set sail for the new.

Security pleases some - risk too few.

But risk can bring new relationships

a soulmate - and meeting God within.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018 

WHAT  WE  LIVE  ON 

AFTER  WE  HAVE  LIVED 

The old priest told the young woman,

“These are the men who built the

tunnels, the bridges and the highways.”

Then he added, looking around the church

hall at these old  wrinkled  weathered men,

“God only knows what they live on now.”

The young girl stood there studying

the faces - as tears slid down her face,

God only knows what she was thinking.

She was homesick. She was experiencing 
changes. She was adjusting. She was future.
God only knows what she’ll live in a new now.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018