CHOOSING 

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this First Sunday in Lent  [A]  is, “Choosing.” 

C  H  O  O  S  I  N  G  …. 

The other day I noticed that the first word for this year’s retreat theme is the word “choosing” – as in “Choosing to Live in Peace.” 

Choosing …. 

Our hope was to present ideas – images – hopes – dreams – stories - prayers – talks -  thoughts about peace -  that are in every human heart – to see the benefits of peace - that we choose -  to want peace – to  be peacemakers – to make life sweeter for each other. Obviously, by being here since Friday evening, we hope you said to yourself inwardly a bunch of times,  “That’s just what I want. I want peace for my family. I am going to go home now and try to make peace happen – at home – at work – in my jobs – in my groups – with my neighbors – in my being.”

A homily …. An attempt to bite into the readings for today.

TODAY’S FIRST READING  IS ALL ABOUT CHOOSING

Did you notice today’s first reading is all about choosing?

God says: “First couple – I made you this enormous garden.  I planted some beautiful trees in this garden – with some delicious fruit.”

But there’s the catch. There’s always a catch – in every story and movie and novel  – there is always a catch. That’s not novel. There’s always a catch – in hopes of catching you.

God says, “You can eat from every tree in the garden except this one tree: the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”

There’s always forbidden fruit.

There’s the devil – the cunning serpent – sliding and slithering around – in the garden – whispering in the first couples’ mind and heart and being.

Don’t take. Don’t eat. Don’t swallow everything.

The serpent asks the why question.

Why not? Why can’t you eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the center or the garden?

And the serpent gives answers: You will become like God. You will know what is good and what is evil.

And the woman saw that the fruit looked delicious. It will give wisdom, so she bit and she gave some to her husband – and he ate and it worked. Their eyes were opened – they realized they were naked and sewed fig leaves together and made loin clothes for themselves.

This is one of the  world’s most important stories – one of the world’s most basic stories.

Yes, we learn more from biting into mistakes than we learn from same old, same old, tree called everyday life.

Years ago, Bill Cosby told this same story in his own way – and please God – he learned down deep the lesson he was telling.

Bill Cosby said that when we were kids, we heard our parents telling us we were having guests tomorrow – and they were going out tonight. They told us that they bought 2 cakes. They told us  kids we could  eat of this cake here but not of this cake here. This cake is for our guests who will be here tomorrow evening.

And the obvious happens.

As soon as mom and dad leave, the kids head for the forbidden cake.

They took and age and their eyes were opened.

They were growing up.

They learned from the forbidden sweets.  They learned guilt. They learned blame. They learned lying. They  learned fear.

They learned nakedness.

They learned time: mom and dad will be coming home.

They learned death – their parents are going to kill them.

They learned they were not their parents.

Oh my God, they are home. I can hear the garage door opening.

The tree of life – the center – the steady – the everyday – life –security -  is still there – but once we bite of the wrong- once we bite from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil – all is changed.  The normal – the norms – the regular has been forgotten.  That becomes the central reality of life – and death.

Nakedness is consciousness.

Choices have consequences.

Choices make us blind to the regular tree – the tree of life.

And from now on we remember our sins, mistakes, the dumb – the dumb choices – the regrets of our lives.

So, today’s first reading from Genesis is about choosing – with an ancient primitive story about the forbidden fruit – perhaps an apple -  how we discovered naked evil and how we try to cover over our mistakes with all kinds of different fig leaves.

TODAY’S SECOND READING IS ABOUT CHOOSING

Today’s second reading from Romans continues the conversation.

Because of Adam – and Eve - and Moses and all people -  sin entered our world – and continues in our world.

Today’s second  reading from Paul to the Romans tells us that pattern is still around.  Sin brings death

Today’s second reading from Paul to the Romans  also tells us about the new Adam – Jesus Christ – who by his death on the tree – the cross – the new tree in the middle of our lives – the tree that Bad Friday showed us the naked Christ – the naked us when we sin – when we blame others – when we scream out – Crucify him!

Today’s second reading from Paul talks about grace – acquittal – new life – and we have learned  from this new Adam – this new us – to come to this tree – in this garden – and hear Jesus at every Mass moment – of togetherness with each other – to take and eat of this new fruit and food – the body and blood of Christ and discover hint of resurrection – new life.

We can choose to make that Bad Friday – Good Friday.

TODAY’S GOSPEL IS ALL ABOUT CHOOSING

Today’s gospel is all about choosing.

The devil  - still around – still whispering – whispers 3 big temptations into Christ – the New Adam’s ear.

They are there in today’s gospel   every year as we begin Lent.  Matthew, Mark and Luke – give us their shadings of the story.

Like the Adam and Eve story – we listen and compare them with similar stories and moments in our life.

Knowing the naked self – we know we have to work for our daily bread – for ourselves and each other. Knowing the naked me – we know we have to be the servant of all – and life is not to be served – but to serve each other – to feed and wash each other’s feet. Knowing the naked self – we know that the world in all its magnificence is for all – not just me – and if we open our eyes we will see that’s the way God made it – and gives the world to us each day – it’s  like coming up the aisle and being handed communion – we receive the wheat from the fields and the grapes from our vines.

CONCLUSION

The theme for this year’s retreat was: Choosing to Live in Peace.

Christ is and Christ teaches and Christ calls us into these great messages and realities – called Peace.

Hopefully we all Choose to Live in that Peace – and we go home and go through the walls – of the upper rooms – the minds of all those we know – and bring what Christ did – in every Easter moment: Shalom. Peace!

March  1,  2020

TWO  BLACK  PLASTIC  

GARBAGE BAGS

Two ripped - black plastic garbage bags -

with their guts spilth out onto the sidewalk,

as well as the street, lay there torn open

by the teeth and paws  of a hungry alley dog.

I figured this happened some time last night.

Well, to say the least that’s how both of them

felt this  morning  - as they left their house

silently and in separate cars.

I suppose the trash collectors will scoop up

the contents of the two bags - but will these

two ever take the time to sort out how they

got to be mean alley dogs in the night?

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2020

March  1,  2020

Thought  for   Today

“Do  you  remember that in classical  times when Cicero had finished speaking, the people said, ‘How well he spoke’" but when Demosthenes had finished speaking, they said,  ’Let us march.’”  

JESUS AS THERAPIST

INTRODUCTION

Sometimes people are looking for a therapist.

Someone is depressed – or they feel their life has gone blank for them. They are looking for meaning - so they want someone to turn to - for help – for healing – for a cure – for meaning.

JESUS AS THERAPIST

The title of my homily for this Saturday after Ash Wednesday  is, “Jesus as Therapist.”

The word “therapy” comes from a Latin word, “therapia” and the Greek word, which is identical -  but with a tiny spelling difference: “therapeia” -  meaning the remedy, the treatment, the method of curing someone.

I’m grabbing the word, “therapeia,” for my title. I want to point out that the Greek has several other words for healing in the New Testament – and you know that the New Testament’s original language was Greek.  It has “IAOMAI”– meaning “made whole,” or “healed”. That word is  used more than “THERAPEIA”. It also has “SOZO” meaning “saved” or “healed”. “SOZO” is a very familiar New Testament word.

Those of us who come to Daily Mass and hear the gospels over and over again, we know everyone wants Jesus over and over again – for what?  To be healed – to be cured.

People are always trying to find out where Jesus is. They want to catch him – in the desert – on the road – on a mountain – in a garden – back behind a house – on the other side of the lake.

And what do they want him for?  It’s healing?

So, the title of my homily is, “Jesus as Therapist.”

DS FS Q

Jesus’  Number 1 method of healing consists of an action step. “Do something for the good of another.”

His Number 1 method was to do something for the other quickly.   And he would touch people and they would be healed.

They would say, “Jesus just touch me!” “If I could only touch the hem of  his garment.”

His prescription was simple and direct.  It was a simple prescription: “DSFSQ”. 

And he might add, “30 or 90 doses of DS  FS   Q.”

Which stands for: “Do Something for Someone, Quickly.”

I love those scenes in the gospels where someone who has been healed – then wants to follow Jesus – but he says, “Go back home to your family and be there for them.”

DOCTOR  PATCH  ADAMS

A lady once told me that her  oldest son had dropped out of college and was floundering.  Someone told her to attend a talk in New Orleans given by Doctor Patch Adams.

So, she  went to hear him speak. You might have seen the movie about him: Patch Adams.

Doctor Patch Adams was a depressive at time.  He was suicidal there for a while.

But he got an idea or how to help people around the world. He had a dream to build a 40-bed hospital  - so he went around the world giving his talk – his lecture – sometimes 10 a day – on the road 300 days a year – speaking everywhere – Russia, Cuba, Bosnia, Afghanistan.  He preached humor, wholistic approaches, visiting the sick, doing for others.

He was considered a kook by many.

Well, this lady said she went to hear Patch – who said the following. “If you have a young adult who is lost, floundering, milking you, get him to volunteer with the local rescue squad.”

Well this lady went home and looked up “Local Rescue Squad”, checked it out – and then got her son to try it.  Surprise he loved it. Surprise he was good at it. Surprise he’s becoming a male nurse – with the idea of maybe becoming a PA – a Physician’s assistant and loves it.

THIS IDEA

When I read the first reading for today, there was the same idea.

Isaiah say “If you remove from your midst - oppression, false accusation and malicious speech;  if you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; then light shall rise for you in the darkness and the gloom shall become for you like midday.

Isaiah says if you do for others, your strength will be renewed. You’ll be like a watered garden.  You’ll be like a spring that never fails.  The ancient ruins will be restored.  You’ll be called “Restorer of ruined homesteads..

Read Isaiah’s first reading for today again and you’ll find a there is a lot more in the text.

CONCLUSION

Too many people are like the folks in today’s gospel. They spend their lives complaining about others who are taxing them – instead of being like Levi – who dropped everything and followed     Jesus.

February  29,  2020

IS GOD?

Is God the God

we’re looking for

in the mix

of rain or mist, 

or breeze or sunshine

or snow or storm?

Is God the God

we’re looking for

in the mix

of pain or cancer,

sickness or hurt

of hospital or nursing home?

Is God the God

we’re looking for

in the nothingness

or loneliness or the

empty hole of rejection,

or death or despair.

Is God?

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2020

February  29,  2020

Thought  for  Today

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek."

President Barack Obama

February 28, 2020

 MOTHS

What are they doing 

and where are they - 

all day long and  - and 

all winter long – these 

moths - that silently 

show up searching 

for the light at night? 

Are there moth like
people in every class, 
church, library, and group – 

hoping for light – 

hoping for answers 

to their deep dark 

unanswered questions?

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2020

February  28,  2020

Thought  for  Today

“I  prayed for twenty  years  but received no answer until I prayed with my legs”

Frederick Douglass

CHOOSE  LIFE

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this Thursday after Ash Wednesday is, “Choose Life.”

In Hebrew it’s  “Bacharta Ba’Chayim”.  Choose Life!

It’s a key command from Moses to his people – at a key moment in their lives.

They are standing there ready to cross the Jordan River and finally move  into the Promised Land.

Today’s first reading – from Deuteronomy 30 - is one of the most important Old Testament writings.

Today’s first reading begins this way, “Moses said to the people: ‘Today I have set before you:   life and prosperity, death and doom.’”

Then he spells out what he wants to say,  “If you obey the commandments of the Lord, your God, which I enjoin on you today, loving him, and walking in his ways, and keeping his commandments, statues and   decrees, you will live and grow numerous, and the Lord, your God, will  bless you in the land you are entering to occupy.”

Then he gives the if, the but, the catch, “If you don’t, you won’t have life!”

Then he gives the great statement. “I call heaven and earth today to witness against you: I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life!”

GEORGE  WALD – HARVARD BIOLOGIST  - 1906-1997

Years ago, I was driving along by myself, listening to NPR Radio. George Wald, a famous Harvard biologist was being interviewed.

He was asked one of those questions people sometimes are asked. “If you were all alone, stuck on an abandoned island, in the middle of ocean, and you could have one book, and one book only, what would that book be.”

The New York Times Book Review asks the same question this way, “What books are you reading right now – the ones on your  lamp stand, that little table next to your bed?”

George Wald answered the one book on the abandoned island question with a 2-word answer, “The Bible.”

The interviewer asked back, “Why?”

“Well,”  he answered. “I’m sort of cheating with my answer. The Bible is a whole library of a people – a portable library – with many books, many scrolls – from a long period of time – that contains thoughts that have been written and re-written to help a people with life.”

Then George Wald, I still remember his said, “Just take Deuteronomy 30. There’s a great text, where Moses calls the people together and gives them 2 choices. The stuff that gives you life and the stuff that will kill you. Choose life.”

MARY  OLIVER

A rabbi - in a sermon on Deuteronomy 30 - said  Mary Oliver in her poem, The Summer Day, said the same thing so powerfully.  He says he has a hand written note on his refrigerator door with Mary Oliver’s question which is used every May in hundreds of commencement  addresses: “Tell me, What is it  / you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

IGNATUS OF LOYOLA

All this is the basic message of Ignatius of Loyola. I once took a summer program at Wernersville PA – the Jesuit Retreat house – on Ignatius. The Jesuit Exercises help people make a serious retreat and look at their lives.  They look at what’s giving them life; more. They look at what’s killing them; less.

JESUS CHRIST

Jesus is saying the same thing in today’s gospel – but he says it in paradox and in contradiction.  It’s the message of the cross.  If you want to follow me, you have die to self and rise to new life.

CONCLUSION

This Lent there is the great question.

What are you doing with your one wild and precious life?

What’s killing you? Less.

What’s giving you life? More.

Choose the cross – it looks like a killed – it looks like death – but it brings new life and resurrection.

Choose life.

February 27,  2020

RED LIGHT

Sometimes when I’m driving

and it’s raining and I come to

a red light – I like to give the

windshield wipers a break

and watch the rain for a few

moments – rolling down my

windshield –pausing - just

enjoying the present moment.

There’s something about rain

on a rainy day – the sprinkle

of Holy Water – the whole of

the city being baptized – the

black macadam – washed –

then the lights turn green –

windshield wipers waving,

“Hello!” “Wake up!’ “Move it!”

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2020

February  27,  2020 

Thought  for  Today 

“If  you're  white and you're wrong, then you're wrong; if you're black and you're wrong, you're wrong. People are people. Black, blue, pink, green - God make no rules about color; only society make rules where my people suffer, and that why we must have redemption and redemption now.”

Bob Marley

HIDDEN

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Hidden.”

Part of Jesus’ spirituality is, “The Hidden Life.”

Jesus must have seen too much externalism  and show in the spirituality of the Pharisees. “Hey, world, look at me.”

I’ve seen too much Phariseeism in the Catholic Church, in seminarians and in the clergy etc.

Jesus’ religious life was within life – authentic inner growth life – like the field growing and nobody sees growth happening. It’s slow and not showy.

Go back and read Mark 4: 26-29: "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man throws seed on the land.  Night and day, while he sleeps, when he is awake, the seed is sprouting and growing; how, he does not know,  Of its own accord the land  produces first the shoot,  then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.  And when the crop is ready, he loses no time: he starts to reap because the harvest has come."

THE INSIDE, THE HIDDEN LIFE

Jesus saw and Jesus knew where his Father  was.

Our Father is in our inner room.  It’s nice when it feels like heaven.

As we heard Jesus say in  today’s gospel, “But when you pray, go to your inner room,  close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.  And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.”

I was pumping gas into my car recently. It wasn’t in New Jersey – when you can’t pump your own gas.  I saw a guy – with lots of plastic bags – sitting on the doorstep of the gas station. I figured he was a drifter. As I was paying for my gas – I spotted a 20-dollar bill  in my wallet – with an Andrew Jackson looking right at me. I walked over to the man and handed him a 20 and said, “McDonalds is right across the street.  Get yourself some breakfast and a good cup of coffee.”

He looked at me – sort of strange.  He wasn’t begging. But I was heading home for breakfast and why should I be the only one who might be hungry?

Surprise! My right hand knew what my left hand was doing. 

In today’s gospel Jesus gets at that as well.

That’s tricky – not only hiding our religious stuff from others – but also hiding our stuff from ourselves – as in inner bragging.

Jesus – this is tough stuff – to do.

ASH WEDNESDAY

Ash Wednesday is a funny one.

When we were kids – Ash Wednesday was always on a school day – and we would compare how long ashes would last on our foreheads – throughout the day.

I always laugh at the Ash Wednesday gospel: Matthew 6: 1-6,16-18.  It says when fasting,  don’t look gloomy. Wash your face. Anoint your head.

Does anyone go home on Ash Wednesday and wash their face?

THE  HIDDEN  LIFE

Jesus died when he was around 33.  Much of his life was hidden.

Our lives – in 500 years from now – whether we are cremated or what, we will be gone – hidden in a grave – maybe the stone will be long gone.  We’ll be the long forgotten – hidden dust – or resurrected dust – maybe our dust becomes part of a mosquito or maybe our dust becomes earth and becomes part of a blade of wheat or a grape on  a vine – a while back – all that is hidden from us – but our faith  is this:  we will be alive in Christ in the big inner room of eternity.

CONCLUSION

This world – has been around for over 5 billion years now – who knows what and who – and where we have been – so hear Jesus say to us when we get the ashes today,  “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

February 26, 2020

EASY

I want to be easy 

with you, and you too …. 

Easy with words …. 

Easy when chit chatting …. 

Easy in walks around the lake, 

with you, and you too …. 

Easy with the words 

and sandpaper feelings, 
the what of what  

you’re trying to tell me, 

especially when you’re hurting - 

and you feel there is no one  

to talk to, nobody who 

understands you - in this big - 

whole wide world. 

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2020

February  26, 2020

Thought   for  Today 

“I find in my poetry and prose the rhythms and imagery of the best - I mean, when I'm at my best - of the good Southern black preachers. The lyricism of the spirituals and the directness of gospel songs and the mystery of blues are in my music or in my poetry and prose, or I missed everything.”

Maya Angelou

February 25, 2020

THE TONGUE

He sat there in the empty church 

that afternoon – looking at the red 

vigil lights – tongues of prayer – 

still burning from after Sunday Mass. 

The tongue – that instrument of love 

and hate – but mainly used for life’s 

daily chit chat - spoken in cars, bars, 

and on one billion cell phones each day. 

As the Bible’s Letter of James said 

a long, long  time ago, “How great     

a forest is set ablaze by a small fire.

And the tongue is burning fire.”

And the rabble-rouser cried,

“Burn down the whole town.”

And the crowd went wild and

burned the whole town down.

And the singer sang and moved ten

thousand youth – to wave their arms

in concert, and to buy her records,

with her many songs of love.

And she spent two hours on the phone

each day – with her boy friend.

And her mom spent two hours on

the phone each evening with her mom.

And God said, “Let there be words.”

And the  tongue of God spoke. And the

Word became flesh and Jesus and his

words made their dwelling amongst us.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2020

February  25,  2020

Thought  for  Today

“The price of hating other human beings is loving oneself less.” 

Eldridge Cleaver

February  24,  2020

Reflection

ANCHORS

Most of the time we don’t see anchors. 

They are either under water or hiding 

behind the side of the upper deck. 

Yet there are anchors – those solid 

people  we hold onto tight in port and 

we know they are there in choppy seas. 

 © Andy Costello, Reflections 2020

February   24,   2020

Thought for today

“That little man in black there, he says  women  can't have as much rights as men 'cause Christ wasn't a woman! Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him.”

Sojourner Truth

BECOME A FOOL,

SO AS TO BECOME WISE

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 7^th Sunday in Ordinary Time [A] is, “Become a Fool, So As to Become Wise.”

That’s a wisdom statement from Paul in today’s second reading.

Think about it: “Become a Fool, So As to Become Wise.”

TODAY’S THREE READINGS

Today’s three readings tell us to do some foolish things.

Today’s first reading tells us no hatred, no revenge, and cherish no grudge against any of your people.

Today’s second reading presents the message of this homily, “Become a Fool, So As to Become Wise.”

Today’s gospel tells us if someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other one to them as well.  If someone takes you to court over your  raincoat, give him your umbrella as well.  If somebody pushes you to walk a mile with them, go two miles. If someone wants to borrow something from you, don’t disappear, let them borrow it from you – even if you’re thinking: “Kiss that baby good bye!”  If  someone hates you, love them back.

There’s some dumb counterintuitive behaviors to try right there.

LENT BEGINS THIS COMING WEDNESDAY

Lent begins this week with Ash Wednesday.  

It’s kind of weird – kind of different  -  kind of dumb to have someone smear some ashes on your forehead and wear them that day till they fade away during the day.

Why would anyone do that – or allow that to happen to them?

Lent is 40 days  - to try some spiritual growth stuff.

How about a good spiritual reading book?

How about an extra drop into this church or some church or some sacred spot – like at the ocean. Walk.  We haven’t had snow yet this winter.  It might yet. In the meanwhile,  walk around Takanassee Lake – 20 minutes – or use the Long Branch or Asbury boardwalks – breathing in some fresh air and stretching your legs once or twice a week for these 40 days of Lent.

How about skipping one lunch – put the 10 or 15 bucks in an unmarked envelope and give it to someone anonymous – on the street – or in the mall – and keep moving – not wondering if they are poor or rich or what have you. Surprise folks with random acts of kindness.

Got a paper calendar. Check off three things you’ll try each day of Lent. Make up your own three: compliment one person behind their back; compliment one person to their face; make a comment to a total stranger  each day. Initial in your calendar box for each day of Lent:  BB for a compliment about someone behind their back; FF for a compliment face to face; and HS – a hello to a stranger.

PROVING FOOLISH THINGS WORK – AND BRING WISDOM

Years ago a heart doctor in California or somewhere suggested the next time you’re on line in a bank or any place where there are lines  - pick the longest line – if that’s the way it works in the bank or in the wherever. Then we’re you’re about 2^nd on line, get off the line quietly – and walk to the back and get on the longest line. Do it smoothly – so as not to be noticed.

I thought that was weird when I first read it - but I tried it a bunch of times. The heart specialist – use the time on line – trying to remember say all your classmates in your high school graduating class.  This spiritual exercise can teach you patience – laughter.

It can teach us how to watch. It can teach us how to be calm when stuck in traffic or at long lines in banks, air  ports, movie theaters, etc.

It gave me a high school graduation commencement address which I entitled, “What Ever Happened to What’s His /Her Name?”

CONCLUSION

Lent starts this Wednesday. Do some stupid or foolish things for this Lent and by the time Easter is here you will have risen at least 25%.

And you too will say, “Become a Fool, So As to Become Wise” – smart move.

February  23,  2020

GO FIGURE

Before love,

before caring,

before communication,

before relationships,

before freedom,

comes trust.

Go figure that out.

In fact,

before sin,

before failure,

before mistakes,

before change,

comes trust.

You probably won't figure that out.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2020

February  23, 2020

Thought  for  Today

"Preachers at black churches are the last people left in the English-speaking world who know the schemes and tropes of classical rhetoric: parallelism, antithesis, epistrophe, synecdoche, metonymy, periphrasis, litotes - the whole bag of tricks."

P.J. O’Rourke