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DO YOU OWN THIS TEXT?

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Do You Own This Text?”

I’m referring to today’s gospel text or story, but a lot more.

“Do You Own This Text?”

Let me get to what I’m trying to get at, this way.

FRANK MILES SJ

One of the persons who had a big influence on my life was a Jesuit priest named Father Frank Miles. I met him while making retreats at a Jesuit retreat house in Wernersville, Pennsylvania. He was a really neat guy. He has since died.

Now, for the last couple of years we have been going down to the Jesuit - Loyola Retreat House - in Faulkner, Maryland – for our St. Mary’s High School Kairos retreats. While on one of these retreats, I noticed they were putting up a new statue of St. Ignatius in the circle in the front of the house. Surprise, I find out it’s in memory of Father Frank Miles who was stationed there for years. I also found out that his brother was there for the putting up of the statue. So I went to him and thanked him for having such a wonderful brother – and how much Frank directed me while making retreats up in Pennsylvania.

Anyway. One of the several key things that Frank taught me was, “What scripture texts do you own?” It’s an obvious and a wonderful question: “What scripture texts do you own?”

Eventually, I asked him how many he owned and he paused, thought, and said, “Oh, about 70!”

Amazing. I would think I own about 30 texts more or less. How about you? How many scripture texts or stories or parables do you own?

PAPER AND PEN

Get a paper and pen. Sit down. Jot down scripture texts you own. Don’t open up a Bible? You don’t have to know chapter and verse – or exact exacts. Just jot down texts you know - scripture quotes or stories that come to mind.

You might start jotting texts or stories like the following:

· The Prodigal Son Story.
· David killing Goliath .
· The Good Samaritan Story.
· The Woman Caught in Adultery and they wanted to stone her to death – and then you add, "Jesus said, “Let the person without sin cast the first stone.”
· The Creation of the world and “all is good” stories.
· Love is patient, love is kind, love is never jealous ….
· Turn the other cheek.
· Take the narrow road – not the broad way.

Keep your list open. If you start this project, you’ll find yourself thinking about other texts while driving or during a meeting or while eating or what have you. You’re at the doctors office. A text comes to mind and you pick up a magazine to look for one of those pullouts, so you can jot down a text you thought of while sitting there. Then when you get home you transfer it to your master list. Remember! You don’t have to have any of the words exact.

THEN CROSS OUT

Then after you have your list you can take your Bible and try to find out where your texts are from. If you can’t find them, call the pastor Father Kingsbury or Father Harrison or Father Flynn, and they’ll let you know. They have nothing else to do – and would love to help you.

Then look at the texts and ask the question: “Which of these texts do I really own?” Translated: “What texts do I live by? What texts hit me in some form when I am faced with life’s different situations?”

For example: someone really hurts you and you want to strike back. You hear an inner voice say, “Turn the other cheek.” Then you begin to reflect upon this. You start thinking about the wisdom of non-violence – the wisdom of stopping the chain reaction of violence. You remember a cartoon you saw on TV a hundred years ago when a general yelled at a lieutenant and he went out and yelled at a sergeant and the sergeant yelled at a private who went out and kicked a dog and the dog chased a cat and the cat went after a mouse. So to stop the chain reaction of violence around the world, you turn the other cheek and smile here in Annapolis, Maryland. Doing this, you're meditating. You're reflecting. You just experienced the power of the Word. You own that text. That’s one.

Or for example, you’re at work. Everyone at the coffee break is talking about so and so who was seen with another man. Gossip is flying like rocks thrown at her – and you find yourself thinking, “Let her without sin cast the first stone.” If you say that to yourself, and you don’t throw nasty comments out at that lady, then you own that text. That’s two.

You might have written down, “David and Goliath” - how the little guy beat the big guy with all the odds against him – and then you think. “No, I know the story, but it has no big impact on my life. So that’s not number 3.”

TODAY’S GOSPEL

Now today’s gospel, or any gospel, or the first or second reading from any Sunday can be yours. You can own it.

The preacher hopes that each reading is Good News – that it helps you this week – as well as in this life. (1)

Today’s gospel is the famous Emmaus Story. We have all heard it many, many times. Do you own it?

While giving a high school retreat many, many years ago, I remember in a discussion session, some kids were talking about one of their nun teachers. They had nicknamed her, “Sister Mary Emmaus,” because she talked about the Emmaus story every single Religion class. And all the kids laughed and said, “Yeah, yeah!” I heard this story about this nun long before I had met Father Frank Miles, but I didn’t know about the owning of texts theory. Looking back, this nun with the nickname of “Sister Mary Emmaus” certainly owned this text.

The title of my homily is, “Do you Own This Text?”

This story about the two disciples on their way to Emmaus is worth owning.

The story is simple.

Two disciples of Jesus that Sunday were walking to a village named Emmaus. It was seven miles from Jerusalem. We’ve all seen people walking in two’s.

They were talking about everything that had just happened to Jesus.

We’ve all seen people walking together in the mall or down the street talking with great animation and excitement – hands moving big time.

While talking and walking, Jesus approaches and started to walk with them – but the key line is: “They did not recognize him.” He’s a stranger.

He asks them what they were talking about.

Frustrated at that, they say, “Are you the only resident of Jerusalem who doesn’t know what happened there the past few days?”

And he replies, “What things?”

Great storytelling – like so many stories in the Gospel of Luke.

And they tell him all about Jesus of Nazareth – the whole story – and how they had hoped he was the one who would redeem Israel.

And they even tell him about the women who went to the tomb that morning and found it empty – and how a vision of angels told them that Jesus was alive.

Then Jesus, the Stranger, starts talking. He breaks open for them the words of Moses and the Prophets and how they all point towards Jesus. Jesus owns all these texts. And they are overwhelmed by this stranger – who when they get to the village, seems to be going on. So they urge him, “Stay with us. It’s nearly evening – the day is practically over.”

So he stayed with him.

Now while eating together, Jesus took bread, pronounced the blessing, then broke the bread and gave it to them. Their eyes were opened and they recognized him. At that he vanished.

They said to one another, “Weren’t our hearts burning inside us as he talked to us on the road and when he explained the Scriptures to us?”

Scripture texts that burn us inside – often are texts we own.

They got up immediately and returned the seven miles to Jerusalem to tell the Eleven and the rest of the company their story – only to hear another version of what had just happened to them. “The Lord has been raised. It is true. He has appeared to Simon.”

Then two disciples who were going to Emmaus told what happened to them on the road and how they had come to know Jesus in the breaking of the bread.

You own this text if you have ever had a Jesus experience on a retreat or while traveling on the road or walking the dog or you’re at the beach and you discovered Jesus was with you on all the roads of your life; but and you didn’t know it till he took you all through the scriptures – all through the stories of your life – whether you have written them down or not. (Notice in today’s first reading from Acts that Luke owns Psalm 16:8-11 - when he says, "I saw the Lord ever before me...." Think of that reference in light of the Emmaus story.)

You own this text if you have ever had a gigantic breakthrough – understanding why you were born in Wisconsin or Oregon or the Philippines or wherever you were born – why you had the parents you had or whoever brought you up – as well as your brothers and sisters, friends, experiences, disasters, sufferings, successes, great moments, jobs, failures, why you met the people you met, married the person or persons you married, etc. etc. etc. You own this text when you hear it all broken down for you.

You own this text when you are here at church at Mass and Jesus helps you see all. The readings of the day might trigger some great insight and you laugh inwardly. You wink to Jesus for breaking open the words of your life for you. Then you hear the words of Jesus talking about breaking the bread. That Sunday morning – even if it’s raining outside – for a moment your life becomes as clear as the sunlight breaking through the dark on Easter Sunday morning.

You own this text if you realize this text is an Early Church Eucharistic text. What happened in this story is the hope for every Mass: words are broken and bread is broken. Isn't that the story of every life.

You own this text if you understand hindsight.

Hindsight happens the next day – or week – or year.

Hindsight happens with break – especially broken hearts – and death and sickness. We know a lot more about our parents years after they are dead than when they were living.

Hindsight comes from suffering. I love the quote – and I own it, “Suffering enters the human heart to create there places that never existed before.”

Hindsight brings insight – better – hindsight from hurt brings insight - stuff right in front of us that we were totally blind to.

CONCLUSION

So the title of my homily is, “Do You Own This Text?”

And I have given you some homework. Get out that paper and pen. Looking at your life, what texts have made you who you are – how you think – how you act?

* Statue of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits - at the Jesuit Retreat House in Faulkner, Maryland. The statue was placed there in memory of Father Frank Miles, S.J. Hint. Hint. Take your mouse and tap, tap on the picture and you can read the plaque below the statue.

(1) Check out an excellent article by Father Bernard Cotter, "Homily Truths" in The Tablet (London), March 29, 2008, page 17)

SISTERS

Aware that Vocations Sunday is coming up, I put a few reflective pieces about a vocation to be a Religious Sister in my blog. Obviously, there are many vocational choices in life – and for a Christian there are many that come out of our baptismal calling.

When it comes to promoting ministries and service in our Church, it seems to me, promoting a life choice as a “Sister” or a “Nun” is often missed or forgotten.

This is an “ecological” disaster for our Church.

When I speak as priest to young people I ask at times, “Have any of you young ladies here ever given any thought of becoming a nun?” “Have you ever considered being a Sister.”

I say this because I was taught at OLPH Brooklyn grammar school by the Sisters of St. Joseph, Brentwood, N.Y. I remember Sister Jean Kevin, Sister Teresa Carmel, Sister Anne Marguerite, and so many other gals who have a lasting impact on me because of my 8 years in classrooms and school yards with them.

I say this because the Gray Nuns cooked for us when I was in the seminary – women who came from Germany to serve us future priests. Imagine doing that as a life choice? Amazing!

I say this because my dad had 3 sisters in the Sisters of Mercy – in Portland, Maine.

I say this because my sister Peggy is a nun – a Scranton, IHM - Immaculate Heart of Mary. [Check out a younger picture of her below - which should make her very happy.]

I say this because we Redemptorists are historically connected to a group of contemplative nuns – called the Redemptoristines.

I say this because nuns around the world have started hospitals, colleges, clinics, nursing homes, and countless programs that have helped those needing help – especially the unnoticed and neglected.

I say this because I have given lots of nuns’ retreats before I became a parish priest here at St. Mary’s Annapolis and I didn’t see enough young people in the mix. Walking around the property of many Motherhouses, I spotted large cemeteries. I walked through rows and rows and rows of the deceased. Each stone was the same as they were when they were in their nuns’ habits - each so different as brief biographical names and numbers on etched into the stone. And I wondered, “Why so many then? Why so few now?”

I am aware that many Sisters left their communities after the Second Vatican Council – for all kinds of reasons – many to breathe fresher air – to become more fully alive. Having gone through a pre-Vatican II formation system myself to become a religious and a priest, I know there were various weaknesses – especially when it came to understanding humanity. I am also aware of many sisters who stayed and grew – and became richer human beings. I go crazy when I hear priests comment about nuns and habits – and all that. I learned my lesson early on in life when I bought one of my nieces a Jordache vest for a Christmas gift. She never told me – but I hope someone, somewhere in some Goodwill Store thought it was a good buy. “Can’t beat the price.” I hear priests say: “Well, the communities of sisters getting vocations today all wear the habit.” And if I get sucked into the argument, I add: “Of course uniforms are important – and it gets people in the door. But if they stay, they better stay for the better reasons.” Then I add comments like, “ They better be able to go mufti like we did.” And “We have to learn something from history.” Then I add, “Remember the old saying, ‘The habit doesn’t make the monk.’” Then I say to myself, “Shut up! Let the women talk for the women.”

I am aware of the many single and married women who are giving their life and talents to teaching, nursing, running schools, hospitals, programs and parishes.

My thought in this blog piece is that there is a loss taking place.

Maybe a woman reading this will say, “I never thought of this for a life choice.” Come Holy Spirit.

Obviously, the shortage of priests in the Church in the United States, has challenged me to wonder about that as well as the shortage of religious sisters and nuns.

My personal observational research says a key reason for the decline is that parents are having less kids and want to see grandkids.

I always like to quote Groucho Marx’s words, “If your parents didn’t have any kids, chances are you won’t either.”

It’s been the choice of the Catholic Church in the “West” that priests and religious come from families as gifts to the Church and the world – especially the poor. So I hope couples are blessed with kids and say at times, “Think about giving your life to the people of our world as a sister or a brother or a priest. It means making the sacrifice of your life of being a husband or a wife – and parent – and giving all your love for the parents and children of our world.”

Another observation I make is that we live in what I call, “The Clicker Generation.” If the program on the screen is boring, change the channel or turn it off and go to the computer or e-mails or Google. Or pick up the cell phone. It seems that long term life commitments are not on people’s screen. However, as I say that I think of the many dedicated driven folks – with lifetime commitments - whom I have met in various careers. So I am not sure.

Should there be more ads for becoming a nun or a sister? More promotion? It seems to me that is pouring good money down the drain – but more asking folks to consider such a life is the best promotion.

So let me ask you the reader of this blog – especially women: Did you ever think of being a religious, a sister, a brother, a priest?

© Andy Costello,

Reflections, 2008

A SISTER

A sister,
a dreamer,
one who like Joseph
has many dreams,
many sisters and brothers,
a sister,
one who has discovered through pain
that the plot is always copious redemption,
especially when there has been betrayal and lies,
a sister,
one who has a forever kind of forgiveness,
a sister,
one who wants to make sure
everyone in the family
has at least one coat of many colors,
a sister,
one who is a bread winner,
so that everyone has their daily bread,
a sister
one whose heart is filled with charity,
beating with haste like Mary’s heart,
trying to bring forth new beginnings,
helping people move through a Genesis,
always unfolding, always being created,
through Exodus, towards Revelation,
the Revelation of the Son,
Jesus, the Redeeming One.

© Andy Costello,

Reflections, 2008

A CARMELITE

A Carmelite
always listening for knocks on the door
to move further into The Interior Castle.

A Carmelite
always knowing that in The Dark Night of the Soul
there is always The Living Flame of Love.

A Carmelite
always knowing that God is the one who moves us
from nothing to the all (“nada y todo”).

A Carmelite
always knowing Christ is inviting us
to make The Ascent of Mount Carmel.

A Carmelite
always listening to The Spiritual Canticle
that is our prayer – that is us.

A Carmelite
always knowing Jesus is the Little Way
when moving in The Way of Perfection.

A Carmelite
always knowing God sends the rain
when it’s difficult to water the Garden of the Soul.

© Andy Costello,

Reflections, 2008

A SISTER IN THE FAMILY

A Sister,
deciding to proclaim
with her life, “Jesus still walks this earth
and calls people, “Come follow me!”

A Sister,
deciding to proclaim
with her life, “I am a member
of every family. I am your sister.”

A Sister,
deciding to proclaim
with her life, “God is! God listens!
I am here as one who listens.”

A Sister,
deciding to proclaim
with her life, “All of us down deep
are hungry and thirsty for God.”

A Sister,
deciding to proclaim
with her life, “God is a banquet,
here and hereafter.”

© Andy Costello

Reflections, 2008

SISTER

“Sister” - one of those sacred words
found in so many lives.
Okay, not as powerful as “Mom,”
or “God”,
but all the same, to so many,
so important.
“Sister”.
Friend. Presence. Nun better.

One who cares.
Someone you can count on.
So no wonder all religious women
are blessed by being called by
such a sacred name,
“Sister.”

© Andy Costello,

Reflections, 2008

DOUBTING THOMAS

[This is a story for Doubting Thomas Sunday - March 30, 2008 - for our Kids and Family Mass. The Gospel reading is a bit different in the Children's Lectionary.]

Thomas was a doubter ever since he was a tiny kid. If you knew his background, you’d understand.

Thomas was one of two kids – and a twin at that with his twin sister, Theresa – spelled, “T H E R E S A” not “T E R E S A.”

People misspelling her name at times – was to be the only problem Theresa had in life. Not bad.

Now even though they were twins, Theresa had all the gifts. Theresa was smarter, quicker, better looking. At least that’s what Thomas often heard – when he heard adults talk about him and his twin sister – when mom and dad and an aunt and her husband who lived next door would talk in the other room or on the porch outside their house when the weather was warm and the windows were open and he would be listening. Thomas was not just a doubter. He was also a listener.

And when he went to school, the teachers often said to Thomas, even though Theresa was in the same class, “Why aren’t you like your sister?”

“Ouch,” that hurts.

Now of course, his parents tried not to say that horrible thing that every kid hates to hear: “Why aren’t you like your sister?” Or, “Why aren’t you like your brother?” Yet, they said it at times. And sometimes two times are too many times – especially if the person who hears it repeats it a hundred times inside themselves.

It would get Thomas mad – but he would never say it or show it. But he did think about it – as well as other comments about how great his sister was.

He would sit there at table inside his inner room – that inner room we all have somewhere deep inside our brain – our upper room - where hurts hide and hang out.

The implication always seemed to be disappointment with Thomas.

The hidden message always seemed to be: he, Thomas, wasn’t measuring up to expectations. At least that’s what he thought others were implying over and over again.

Thomas and Theresa, mom and dad, lived in a small town – so everybody knew everybody.

Thomas and Theresa were both in the same class – all through grammar school and high school.

Everybody noticed Teresa.

Nobody noticed Thomas – except for comparisons.

When it came time to graduate from high school, Theresa got several scholarships to good universities for lacrosse, basketball, soccer and academics. Thomas got nothing.

Not being an A student like Theresa – not being a great athlete like Theresa, Thomas decided to do something totally different. Instead of going to college, he decided to become a marine. Nobody in the family had ever been in the marines – so that’s what Thomas decided to do.

He doubted he would make it – but he did.

So it was the Marines – training, then off to war in Iraq.

Thomas, now away from his sister, now called Tommy by his buddies – made it – in fact, he did really well at times. Sergeants and lieutenants praised him for his hard work – but Tommy didn’t know how to take compliments. He would doubt that anyone would praise him for his accomplishments. While growing up, he rarely got them in school or at home. Theresa got them all. So he didn’t take the compliments into his inner room – that place inside each of us -somewhere inside our brain – where we sit and talk with our thoughts and feelings.

One day – one horrible day – when driving down a dusty road not too far from Falluja in Iraq – a road side bomb exploded. It was a notorious I.E.D.: Improvised Explosive Device. This time, thank God, nobody was killed. However, Tommy’s left leg was really mangled and messed up – so messed up that he lost it.

He was flown to Germany first and then to a rehabilitation hospital in Texas – one of the best in the United States.

Obviously, his mom and dad and sister flew to Germany and then to Texas to see him as often as they could.

In time, Tommy’s wounds were healed. He was fitted with an artificial left leg – the latest and best artificial leg one could get. Yet down deep he couldn’t deal with his loss. He faked it when his sister Theresa and his parents came to visit him. Down deep in that secret room inside himself – which many of us keep locked – for fear that another person will say something that will hurt us even more, he had doubts that he would ever get anywhere in his life – now with only 1 leg.

Therapists kept telling his group in Texas that many soldiers who had lost arms or legs or hands were leading good lives. Tommy doubted this.

One Sunday – this Second Sunday after Easter he was in church and the priest said that for the past few years this Sunday has been called “Divine Mercy Sunday” – but for centuries before that it’s also been called, “Doubting Thomas Sunday.”

Hearing his name caught Tommy’s attention. He began listening like he used to listen to his parents on the porch in the summer when the windows were open.

The priest said that Thomas was not there when Jesus came back from the dead – when Jesus came into the Upper Room – even though the doors were locked – because the disciples were filled with fear. Jesus the Risen Lord came back and said to his disciples, “Peace be to you and I want you to bring peace and forgiveness to others.”

The priest said when Thomas came back, the disciples told him the good news that Jesus had risen – that Jesus had come back from the dead. Thomas wouldn’t believe them. Thomas doubted them. He said, “First, I must see the nail scars in his hands and touch them with my finger. I must put my hand where the spear went into his side. I won’t believe unless I do this!”

The priest who was preaching said, “That’s why Thomas is called ‘Doubting Thomas’. That’s why this is called, ‘Doubting Thomas Sunday.’”

The priest also said, “Thomas was a Twin” – and added, “I often wonder if the reason the Gospel tells us Thomas was a twin is because we are his twin. All of us have our doubts. Maybe the story was written down in the gospels, so we doubters could have someone we can relate to.”

Well, when Tommy heard this, he found himself in his Upper Room – somewhere in the deep recesses of his brain. Tommy was sorting out his own thoughts about all this. He knew he was a Doubting Thomas as well.

Then the priest added the rest of the story – how Jesus came back a week later and this time Thomas was present and Jesus called him by name to put his finger into Jesus' cuts and into his side and believe. And Thomas believed. And Jesus said, “You have believed because you have seen. Blessed are those who have not seen – yet they believe.”

Tommy began to feel great peace. Then and there his whole life was opened up for him. He couldn’t wait till Monday morning. He couldn’t wait for rehabilitation exercises.

And he did fabulously – so fabulously that he was asked by his superiors if he would consider doing this kind of work full time – that he become a doctor or a physical therapist or what have you – and be given an assignment to help soldiers – men and women injured in Iraq and Afghanistan – who came back in the pits – not believing they would ever recover.

And that’s what Tommy did – but immediately. He went to school at night to become a physical therapist – but during the day he worked with those who lost limbs and spirit in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Seeing Thomas move so well – speak so well – help train so well, many would recover very well. He had a way of getting deep into inside locked minds and hearts – inside people's upper rooms where we get stuck because of fears and anger and comparisons.

And at least 35 times so far, a soldier who lost a leg or an arm would say to him in anger, “Lieutenant Tom, it’s easy for you to say I can recover and lead a normal life. But I lost my leg in Afghanistan or Iraq and look at you – you’re normal – you’re a full person.”

And Lieutenant Tom would smile – knowing the day would come when he would find the right time, the right moment, to say, “Let me show you something.” And he would sit down on a nearby chair and slowly roll up his left pants leg.

No doubt about it, it always worked.