HOW  DOES  GOD  WORK?

  

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 17^th Sunday in  Ordinary Time [Year C]  is, “How  Does  God  Work?”

That question hit me when I read and thought about what happens in today’s first reading from the Book of Genesis 18: 20-32.

It begins with how God thinks about sin and evil in our world. God hears that there is a lot of evil going on in Sodom and Gomorrah. People are screaming to God about it. So God decides to go down and check it out.

Sure enough, it’s horrible in those 2 towns. Then God wonders whether to tell Abraham and his visitors what he’s going to do about it: God is going to destroy those towns.

So God decides to tell Abraham.

Then we have this bargaining with God by Abraham.  If there are 50 innocent people there, would you still destroy those cities?  God says “Far be it for me to destroy - if you can find me 50 innocent people down there.”

Next Abraham  goes for 45. Then 40.  Then 30. Then 20.  Then 10.

Great story telling ….

Would I be one of the 10?

Is that how God works? Is that how God thinks?

I think a lot of people think that way: that  God works that way. 

I  also think people are bargaining with God all the time.  

And whenever there is an earthquake, or hurricane, or vast  forest fires, I hear people saying and thinking God is doing this.

How does God work?

FOR THIS HOMILY

Is that enough for a homily - to just say that people are trying to bargain with God all the time and people think God zaps people - especially when they sin?  I hear people saying things like this when cancer and sickness and struggle and family stuff - comes pouring  into our lives like a storm.

I’m only on the top of page 2 of this homily,  so I assume that I better add a few more comments.

For starters I would assume we ought to look at how we think.

For starters I would also  add that it would be smart  to  ask myself, “What are my thoughts about God? How God operates?

If I were God, would I give people freedom? Then  how would I deal with the consequences of freedom? There is the possibility of evil?  How would I push goodness?

I also would think it would be wise to come up with other ways of thinking - other scenarios - other ways God could be and life could be.

Then to talk to each other about our takes on God - how God works?

Talk to each other about what we have learned about life - and how life works - how God works.

Try the 3 C’s: Compare. Clarify. Communicate.

I would think it would be wise to make lists of what we have learned so far about God and life and myself.

FOR EXAMPLE: PEOPLE THINK AND WORK DIFFERENTLY

It’s obvious, but I think we all need to state that we often think and see and work differently - and we often forget this and this gets us in trouble.

I don’t know about you, but I forget that - lots of times.

50, 45, 40, 30, 20, 10 people all see the same movie  - surprise we all see it differently. 

We’re watching a baseball game.  It was a strike. No the pitch was way outside. It was a ball.  Safe. Out. Fair ball. Foul ball.  Let’s go to the video tape.

I think realizing this - stating this -  will give us a lot more peace with each other.

FOR EXAMPLE: TEACH THY TONGUE TO SAY I DON’T KNOW

Somewhere along the line I learned to say, “Teach thy tongue to say, ‘I don’t know.’”

It’s from the Talmud - a collection of Jewish writings.

“Teach thy tongue to say, “I don’t know.”

We don’t. I think that’s a great wisdom statement - and the older I get, the more I say it.

I think happy people can say, “I don’t know.”

FOR EXAMPLE:  TO REALIZE WE DO DIFFERENTLY

If anyone should know that people think and do differently it’s married folks.

A couple I know have the following scenario every time they go out to eat at a restaurant.  She always asks for different - something different from what’s on the menu.  I’ve seen her do this every time I’ve been with them.

Most of the time the waiter or waitress says, “No problem!” and they jot something down on their pad.

And it works.

Another couple I know do the following.  The wife tells me she found out a long time ago what his favorite part of any meal is. He cuts a piece of meat or fish or something and puts it off to the side and that’s the last thing he eats.

Yum. Yum.

She learned by watching what he’s thinking and doing.

When it comes to God, do we want God to be different? 

Do we want  the menu, the day, the relationship, life, to go differently than it goes?  Do we get our way?  When we don’t,   what happens next?  Are some people satisfied with whatever comes out of the kitchen and are some people different - and some never  satisfied?

Do we have a say? What’s our favorite part of life?  What do we love?  Do we tell each other? Do we thank each other?

CHANGE

Now I better give something better than that in this homily.

I think of Jack Nicholson - as Lt. Colonel Nathan R. Jessup  -  in the movie, “A Few Good Men” as he says  to Tom Cruise - who plays the part of a JAG officer, Daniel Kaffee. “Don’t tell  me that’s all you got?  Don’t tell me you dragged me all the way up here for just this?  Tell me there’s more.”

Many times when giving a homily I wonder if everyone is saying just that: “Don’t tell  me that’s all you got?  Don’t tell me you dragged me all the way up here for just this?  Tell me there’s more.”

There is. We have today’s gospel: Luke 11: 1-13.

Today’s gospel teaches me that we can change our thoughts about how God is and we can also change ourselves. We can also become more like God.

So  that brings us to today’s gospel - where Jesus tells us what God our Father is like.

First of all Jesus  tells us God is Our Father - and then he tells us how a good father works. Isn’t that the title of my homily?

God gives daily bread. Get it. Work for it. Find it. Take and enjoy daily bread.

My sister Mary told me that she often sat down in the afternoon with my mom - after my mom  got home from work. She would watch my mother take a whole loaf of fresh - still warm - rye bread out of a bag from the Neighbor Bakery. That was the bakery’s actual  name. She would  get out of the refrigerator cold butter. She would - cut the bread - it was not pre-sliced. Then on went cold butter. Hot tea was also part of the ritual.

My mom  loved this ritual - late afternoon - but before supper. She and my sister would be enjoying  the daily bread of life together.

So there’s a great message right there on how God works: God wants us to enjoy the daily bread of life.  

At the beginning of each day to say: Our Father help me to enjoy the daily bread of today.

At the end of each day to look back and say, “Thank you for the daily bread of what I ate and experienced today.

Next God is a forgiver.  If we have gripes against each other, we won’t enjoy  breaking bread with each other.

Sounds like the Mass to me?

Sounds like good moments - like eating together - to me.

Next, if you don’t have bread or forgiveness, get off your butt and start asking, knocking, sharing, giving each other what we hope the other can give us.

CONCLUSION

I think that’s enough. 5 pages. 10 minute homily.  Amen.

July  28, 2019 

Thought for today: 

“Each prayer has its own proper meaning and it is therefore the specific key to the door in the Divine Palace, but a broken heart is an axe which opens all doors.”  

Rabbi Israel Baal Shem-Tov 

(1700-1760),  Judaism.

July 28, 2019

13 WAYS  OF  WONDERING  

ABOUT  A  TISSUE  

A dad saw his brother in

a casket that day - and it

was such a sudden death -

and he reached for a tissue.

A mom saw her oldest - whom

she thought was so selfish - give

her youngest - the last piece of cake

and she reached for a tissue.

A family were at the airport

waiting for their grandmother

whom nobody has seen in 25 years

and each reached for a tissue.

A grandfather never cried in 25 years -

but he did cry at his grandson’s one

year anniversary  of sobriety in AA

and he reached for a tissue.

A great grandmother was at the baptism

of her first great-granddaughter and

she didn’t think she’d make it

and she reached for a tissue.

A guy went to confession for the first

time in 38 years and told it all and

the priest was great and he came out

and he reached for a tissue.

A dad was handed the first chocolate

chip cookie his daughter ever made

and it was burnt and horrible

and he reached for a tissue.

A 55 year old man received

a kidney from a total stranger -

but they were a perfect match

and his wife reached for a tissue.

A son gave his dad’s eulogy

and nobody had a clue how much

he loved his dad till then and

everyone reached for a tissue.

A mom and dad who never went

to church - did this time because

their daughter was the reader and they

sat there and each reached for a tissue.

A brother was at church and the gospel

that Sunday was the story of the prodigal

son and he realized he was the older

brother and he reached for a tissue.

A  dad saw his daughter graduate

from Princeton - and she was the first kid

in the family who went to college

and he reached for a tissue.

A garbage man got his first book

of poems published and at the

book signing at Barnes and Noble

his wife reached for a tissue.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2019

July 27, 2019

A  TISSUE

A garbage man, 

yeah, one of those guys 

who pick up trash and toss it in the back 

of a garbage truck picked up a tissue

that fell from a big blue plastic garbage can -

a tissue he was about to ignore and just

leave  on the macadam street - but instead

he picked it up and pocketed it. After all,

isn’t this what garbage men do?

They pick up thrash.

A garbage man,

yeah, one of those guys

who pick up thrash found the

tissue in his pocket when

he got home and was about

to flush it down the toilet - but

instead - his imagination took

over and he wrote a poem

about 13 people who might

have tossed that tissue.

A garbage man,

yeah, one of those guys

who pick up thrash loved

to sit down at night and

write poetry - especially

about what he saw that day.

And he always liked  

Wallace Stevens poem:

Thirteen Ways of Looking

at a Blackbird.

  

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2019

July  27, 2019 

Thought for today: 

“The experience of guilt feelings is of crucial interest  both to psychiatry and religion.”  

Jack Dominian, 

Psychiatry and 

the Christian, 1962

July 26, 2019

ONCE

Once I ran a half-marathon ….

Once I won a spelling bee ….

Once I got a great compliment ….

Once I saved a friend from embarrassment ….

Once I helped grill over 100 hamburgers ….

Once I bowled over 200 ….

Once I told God I thank YOU  for ….

Once I put down everything and ….

Once I released a mosquito into the night ….

Once in a while it’s nice to be positive ….

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2019

July  26, 2019 

Thought for today: 

“No one can find out except by trying whether he needs prayer once an hour, once a week, or less often.”  

Richard Cabot, 

What Men Live By, 1915

SOME QUESTIONS:

DOWN TO THE THIRD

AND FOURTH GENERATION?

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily  is, “Some Questions: Down To The Third and Fourth Generation….” 

The main thrust of this homily will be questions - as opposed to answers. 

When it comes to grandparents and great grandparents,   I have a lot of questions. How about you?

Today’s first reading from Exodus 20: 1-17 talks about punishment on past sins going down to the 3^rd and 4^th generations.  Does that really happen?

Today - July 26^th - we look at and celebrate the feast of St. Anne and St. Joachim - the grandparents of Jesus on his mother Mary’s side.

Their names are not in scriptures - but somewhere along the line - a tradition grew up that Mary’s parents were named Joachim and Anne.

We have their statues here at St. Mary’s - up there on the top  corners  of our old main altar - facing out - facing you.

What are your thoughts about Joachim and Anne?

And St. Anne’s novenas abound - and end today. I did the one at St. Anne’s in Erie, Pa. a few times.

SOME  QUESTIONS

What are your thoughts about your grandparents - and their parents and their parents?

What are your questions?

I like homilies that give me new questions.

What are your questions about your grandparents?

I only met one grandparent - my mom’s mom - but it was only on one occasion. The rest of the time she lived in Ballynahown, County Galway Ireland. She was wrinkled and wore heavy black shoes.

There is a book entitled, It Didn’t Start With You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle.

The author Mark Wolynn is not a psychologist  but he probes this question of how past stuff affects us now.

The asks the question: does past stuff from our grandparents sculpt and shape us.

I only heard someone talking about that book - but it got me thinking. Reviewers say it’s nonsense - but it will get you thinking.

Is there a psychological and emotional type DNA?

Years and years ago, long before this book, I’ve heard people say if you want to change someone you have to change their grandmother.

I’ve always heard that suicide can be intergenerational.

If we read the scriptures we know this question comes up. In the 9^th Chapter of John,   people asked Jesus about a blind man.  Who caused his blindness, his sins or his parents sins or what?  Jesus said to that one, “Neither….”  Then Jesus healed him.

Next I would add the reality of example: good and bad.

We pick up on both.

And I believe reflection on that can get us thinking the following: “I  better be giving good example.”

I believe reflection on that can also get us grateful for all the good example that has been passed on to us.

I believe that is the value of saints: people from the past - who still give us good example.

I believe that is the reason there are statues and biographies and studying history.

I believe that is the value of autobiography

I know my mother’s mother went to Boston as a young lady - made some money - loved it - got manipulated back to Ireland to get married and ended up stuck there for life.  As a result, she made it her dream to get my mother and her 3 sons to America.

So yes, those in the past had some influences on our lives.

I think that’s enough for now:  what are your questions about your past?

PILGRIMS

The title of my homily is, “Pilgrims.”

I thought of this topic on this the feast of St. James - “Santiago”.

Today - July 25^th -  I assume extra pilgrims will arrive at Santiago de Compostela  in Spain.

Each year, for the last 30 years, a couple of hundred thousand pilgrims make their way to the city of Santiago de Compostela in Northwest Spain - the Galalcia region.  There are several ways or routes to take: the Portuguese, the French, the English and the Spanish ways.  Different pilgrims - different routes.

The idea is simply to make the pilgrimage - short, long or medium length - or break it up for different times in one’s life.

Three thoughts.

FIRST: EGO FREE

Reflecting on today’s gospel about wanting to be number 1, a pilgrimage is the opposite of being all ego - or trying to be number one. 

I went to Santiago de Compostela once - but we didn’t do the walking.  We arrived there by bus - which we got on - from our cruise ship.

Close to the city of Santiago de Compostela,  we were looking out the bus window - watching and wondering about these nameless pilgrims. They were carrying heavy back packs as they were arriving at the city. 

We finally arrived at our destination: the big cathedral of St. James. We got out of the bus and headed for Mass where we saw all these nameless folks.

So a first message would be to be nameless, to be ego free, to simply be a pilgrim - a learner, a watcher, a listener - on the journey of life.

When I’m on a tour, the one person I don’t like on our bus or tour  is the show off. They are the type who have to let those with them know that they know all about everything. We use the classic label: the know-it-all.

Translation: use ears and eyes  more than mouth.

When it comes to  Santiago de Compostela, there are about 300,000  pilgrims each year. I sense that such a trip should be an ego free moment. For a week, a month, or even a  50 day hike, one puts one foot in front of the other - head is down as one walks step by step in pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.

 SECOND THOUGHT: CHRIST CENTERED

I assume that those who do a holy pilgrimage should become more Christ centered.

I assume one meets and thinks good stuff - Christ stuff - and they begin to deepen their faith and their following of Christ.

The gospels feature Christ  on the road - many roads - that eventually lead to Jerusalem.

The symbol one receives at the end of the journey to Santiago de Compostela is a shell.

A shell can be a  symbol for  many things.

Here it can symbolize one’s baptism - being dipped into the waters of Christ - as James was called that day near the waters of Galilee. He was called that day - along with his brother - to walk with Jesus - much to the delight of his mom as we heard in today’s gospel [Cf.  Matthew 20: 20-28.]

So that’s my second point: a pilgrimage ought to get us in touch with what we ought to be doing with our life  -  to get us in touch with our callings.

THIRD:  DISCOVERING ONE’S GIFTS AND DIFFERENCES AS APOSTLES

And I assume that one of the experiences and discoveries - when being an anonymous pilgrim, is one discovers who one is by being anonymous.

In  being a  follower of Christ - one slowly compares oneself with fellow walkers - and talkers - along the way - and one sees one’s differences - one’s  uniqueness, one’s gifts.

Traveling together can be a wonderful learning experience.

I think of the difference between the apostles: Peter becomes a  leader - who tends to put one’s foot in one’s mouth. Thomas is seen as a doubter. Andrew brings people to Jesus. Philip brings food to people who are looking for Jesus.  John poetically imagines Christ.

In other words, we start off as a we - as a Christian - but we also become a me - like James.

There is an anonymous - a face in a crowd - aspect to us - but there is also a particular, a unique side to all of us.

CONCLUSION

The title of my homily has been “Pilgrims”.

Think Spain. Think Santiago de Compostela.

Think Rome, Lourdes, Chartres, Fatima and Israel.

TEXTURE

Texture intrigues ….

Where did God come up with 
the idea for the look and feel

of elephant or hippo skin? 

Oak trees? Bananas inside and out? 

A new baby’s fingers and the toes 

of an 88 year old on the elevator 

with me going up to the second
floor in a nursing home? 
Walnut shells? Pearls?

Rocks? Shells? Sea weed? 

The wind and rain on my face 

on a rainy day? Interesting feel? 

Summer rain of course. 
Just walking - not running.
Texture intrigues…. 

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2019

July  25, 2019 - 

Thought for today:

“If we compare our knowledge with that of the ancients, we  appear  very wise.  But we are no nearer  to  solving the riddle of eternal justice than Cain was.”  

Lev Shestov, 

All Things Are 

Possible, 1977

Painting: Cain and Abel
by John Reilly

GRUMBLE,  GRUMBLE,   GRUMBLE 

OR  GRATITUDE, GRATITUDE, GRATITUDE

INTRODUCTION

The title of  my homily is, “Grumble, Grumble, Grumble or Gratitude, Gratitude, Gratitude.”

Which is more me: grumble or gratitude?

I use the word “grumble” three times, because that’s how many times it’s used in today’s first reading.

In this first reading from Exodus, we hear the Israelites complaining about Moses. They are complaining about the one in charge - the leader. They are also grumbling about food. Everyone gets hungry. Lastly they don’t like where they are. They are complaining about  - location, location,  location - the dessert.

So  a challenge for today:  may your gratitude crumble your grumble. May your thankfulness outweigh your grumbleness.

Tonight around 9 PM make a list of what you grumbled about today.  Also make a column at 9:07 PM what you loved and laughed about today.

Which will be more me today: grumble or gratitude?

Which horse wins: grumpy or grattitudy?

A FEW QUOTES:

“Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses.”

Billy Graham said, “Grumbling and gratitude are, for the child of God, in conflict. Be grateful and you won't grumble. Grumble and you won't be grateful."

John Henry Jowett wrote, “Gratitude is a vaccine, an antitoxin, and an antiseptic. This is a most searching and true diagnosis. Gratitude can be a vaccine that can prevent the invasion of a disgruntled attitude. As antitoxins prevent the disastrous effects of certain poisons and diseases, thanksgiving destroys the poison of faultfinding and grumbling. When trouble has smitten us, a spirit of thanksgiving is a soothing antiseptic.

Marlene Dietrich said, "Grumbling is the death of love."

Samuel Logan Brengle  said, “Truly, we have much to thank God for, but if we would be thankful, we must set our hearts to do it with a will. We grumble and complain without thought, but we must think to give thanks.”

CONCLUSION: TODAY

So today quit with the witching; less with the complaining; more with the thanking and the happy face. Amen.

And tonight at 9 PM give yourself a mark on how you did today.

July  24, 2019 -

Thought for today:


“God Himself does not speak prose, but communicates with us by hints, omens, inferences and dark resemblances in objects lying all around us.” 

Ralph Waldo Emerson, 

Poetry and Imagination, 1876

 BOX

Don’t you love boxes?

You’re never sure just what’s inside.

You guess. You hold it. You shake it.

It could be … but then again, it ….

It’s like you and me….

You never know what’s inside.

Present yourself.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2019

July 23, 2019

 ATHEISTS

Come here ….

Huddle with ME in a corner 

or on a park bench …. 

Come here ….
I’m not going to let you 

get off your regular babble …. 

Come here …. 

Feel your pulse. 

Listen to your blood flow …. 

Come here …. 

Don’t tell me you’re an ATHEIST.  

Tell me you’re lazy or want to be alone…. 

Come here …. 

Tell me I’M not on this bench with you 

and I’ll corner you like a 500 pounder. 

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2019

July  23, 2019 -

Thought for today:

“Our prayer ought to be short and pure, unless it happens to be prolonged by inspiration of divine grace.  In community, however,  let prayer  be very  short.” 

St. Benedict, Rule of, c. 530

A  PERSON  OR  A  PLAN? 

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “A Person or a Plan.”

I want to use the word “person” in my title and my theme for today. I’m sure about that. 

However, I’m not sure yet what the other word could be for something I want to get at.

Right now I’m using “plan” - but it could be “program” or “system” or something else like that.

Maybe by doing this sermon - what I’m trying to get at - might become clearer to me. 

However, I’m not sure.

RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY

When it comes to Religion and Spirituality we have both ideas and persons.  

We have lists and we have people who follow those lists of what to do.

When it comes to spirituality we have systems or programs. For example: we have Jesuit, Franciscan, Carmelite, Redemptorist, Quaker, Buddhist, Confucian spiritualities.  Some dovetail each other at different points - but each has unique flavors - specific stresses - particular pushes or nuances.

A RELATIONSHIP WITH A PERSON

Of the two - persons or plans - I like to present persons as central - more than books or spelled out systems.

The call to be Christian is the call to relate, connect, marry, follow a person with the name of Jesus.

Then we have the system of that person.

So we have Jesus - the human and divine person - who gave us teachings and thoughts - parables and beatitudes - beatitudes and woes.

For example, someone or some early Christian Community put together Jesus' so called Sermon on the Mount. It's found in Mathew chapters 5, 6, and 7.  It's a great listing of some great teachings of Jesus.  It was a great teaching method - that Matthew sculpted or tweaked and put it into his gospel. 

Like a catechism it’s a great list of how to be a good Christian.

It's unique to Matthew.  Luke has some of those teachings in the so called, "Sermon on the Plain." [Cf. Luke 6: 17-49.] 

In St. Paul we have both. St Paul gave lists - like what love is - we hear his great listing of what love is at most weddings with the reading of 1st Corinthians 12: 31- 13: 8. 

But Paul also stressed my main point: Christianity is a relationship with Christ. Read:  “I live - now not I - but Christ lives with me.” [Cf. Galatians 2: 26.]

Or take St. Alphonsus whose feast is coming up on August 1st. He wrote over 100 books - but he summed up his main message in one sentence: “The whole sanctity and perfection of a soul consists in loving Jesus Christ, our God, our sovereign good, and our Redeemer.”  That's on the opening page of his book, The Practice of the Love of Jesus Christ."

ANOTHER WAY  OF PUTTING ALL THIS

A person wants to be happy. A person wants to give up an addiction. A person wants to change.

He or she comes up with a plan or a program - like the 12 Step Program called AA or any 12 Step programs.

Now I think - it's my belief - that any spiritual program won’t last until one makes that program personal.

Unless one gets connected with a group or a community - until one starts relating to God as a Higher Power with others - then recovery won't make it or won't last.

For example: in  AA, one has to do one’s 5^th step with others - confessing one’s life to another - bouncing one's life off in a relationship with another.

So what I'm saying here is that I hold that systems won’t change us.  Persons change us.

For example, a person falls in love, marries, and in 10 years he or she is a new person - that is, if it’s a good marriage - a selfless marriage. People change people.  People change in relationship with people.

For example, a couple are self-ish or self-centered. They have a baby - and the baby changes them - gets them out of themselves - when they sacrifice  themselves for their child and their children.  If that doesn’t happen, we have a baby and then a person who goes through life hurt or damaged or complaining - maybe without knowing why  - without knowing or with knowing that their parent didn’t launch or love them enough.

CONCLUSION

I say all this on the feast of St. Mary Magdalene - July 22nd. She met Jesus. She fell in love with him.  She had a relationship with him.

She changed and grew as a human being - because as we hear in today’s readings, she loved Jesus.

I heard all this through the years when people explained the spirituality of St. Alphonsus.

St. Alphonsus said all this when he wrote in his book, The Practice of the Love of Christ: “Whoever loves me, says Jesus Christ himself, shall be loved by my Eternal Father: 'My Father loves you because you have loved Me.' (John 16:27). Some, says St. Francis de Sales, make perfection consist in an austere life; others in prayer; others in frequenting the Sacraments; others in alms-deeds. But they deceive themselves: perfection consists in loving God with our whole heart. The Apostle wrote: “Over all these … put on love, which is the bond of perfection” Colossians 3:14. It is charity which keeps us united and preserves all the virtues that render a man perfect. Hence St. Augustine said: “Love God, and do whatever you please;” because a soul that loves God is taught by that same love never to do anything that will displease him, and to leave nothing undone that may please him.”

Amen.

July 22, 2019

TASTE  AND  SEE

Some prayer or some psalm says,

“Taste and see how good the Lord is!”

Thinking about that, it’s good to see

parents playing  with their  little baby.

Thinking about that, it’s good to sip

through a straw a chocolate milk shake.

Thinking about that, it’s good to see

the sun rise or kids playing catch.

Thinking about that, it’s good to

get an end piece of birthday cake.

Thinking about that, It’s good to be pray,

“Taste and see how good the Lord is!”

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2019

July 22, 2019

July  22, 2019 - 

Thought for today: 

“The primary word I–Thou can be spoken only with the whole being. Concentration and fusion into the whole being can never take place through my agency, nor can it ever take place without me. I become through my relation to the Thou; as I become I, I say Thou.

“All real living is meeting.

“[…]

“No aim, no lust, and no anticipation intervene between I and Thou. Desire itself is transformed as it plunges out of its dream into the appearance. Every means is an obstacle. Only when every means has collapsed does the meeting come about.”  Martin Buber

July 21, 2019

KNOCK,  KNOCK,  ON  MY  DOOR

Every day YOU knock on my door….

Sometimes I hear YOU, O God.

Sometimes I feel the wind ….

Sometimes I catch the fragrance ….

Sometimes I feel the touch ….

Sometimes I hear the word ….

Sometimes YOU become flesh ….

Make it now, O God. Make it now.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2019

July  21, 2019 - 

Thought for today: 

“We cannot go where God is not, and where God is, all  is  well.”

 Anonymous