Jesus Christ! 

Who do you say he is?

Quote of the Day:  February 3, 2010

“Rationalists renounce reason in their attempt to solve the problem of Christ. Either Christ was God or He was mad. The rationalist will not accept the former alternative, he dare not suggest the latter.”

Arnold Lunn [1888-1974], Now I See

Image of Christ at top is a ikon painted on an old piece of wood. My niece Claire and her husband Christian gave it to me as a gift for being the priest at their wedding. They bought it in Spain. It hangs on the wall in front of me - and I look at this image of Christ before putting together a homily or this or that. Is that rational? Is Christ alive? Is Christ both human and divine? Credo ....

NUNC DIMITTIS

Now, Lord, you can let
your servant depart in peace
according to your word,
because my eyes have seen
the One you prepared to bring
salvation to the face of all the people:
a light of revelation for the Gentiles
and glory for your people Israel.
- [Luke 2:29-32]
INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Nunc Dimittis.”

As you know, those are Latin words for, “Now you can dismiss…”

It’s the prayer of Simeon and can be said as a night prayer.

It’s a prayer that can be used for both a night prayer and a life prayer.

It’s in the Gospel text used for today: the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the temple.

As I look at my day, as I look at my life, have I done what I want to do? Am I seeing my dreams come true?

Now that’s a good question!

What makes a good day for me? What makes a good life for me?

THE CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL

Luke tells us that Simeon’s goal in life was to see the consolation of Israel. His prayer says he was looking for the salvation of Israel. Luke is telling us that he is hoping both Gentile and Israel will see the light.

I stopped at the word “consolation” and looked up which Greek word did Luke use in his text that is translated “consolation”. The brief research was very rewarding. Luke uses the Greek word “paraklesis” which can be translated with words such as, "consolation", "comfort", but also "encouragement" and "the call", and "the begging". It’s also the word used for a description of the Holy Spirit – as the Paraclete. The Holy Spirit is consolation, comfort, encouragement, challenge, call, begging us to live life to the full.

Simeon wanted the Messianic salvation – the Messianic Peace – which is that all be right – that the Peaceable Kingdom come.

What are your dreams for this planet? For this world? For this country? For this town? For this parish? For your neighborhood? For your family?

There’s rich theology here: everyone wants peace in the world. Everyone wants Haiti restored. Everyone wants every family to have great family life.

I dream that Haiti gets reforested and restored – and becomes the paradise it can be – along with education, an end to poverty, etc. etc. etc. Will I die before this happens?

We all have these dreams for our family and our world. When we see them happening, we have a glimpse of what Simeon saw – when he saw Jesus.

There’s rich, rich theology here. Luke is using words and images that connect the listener with Isaiah 40 to 56 – which gives the great Messianic dream for Israel.

We have a glimpse of what this is about with Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. He hopes to see some of that dream take place in his lifetime. This is Black History Month – and I thought that would be good to mention. When Barack Obama was elected president I cried tears of joy when I heard many elderly Americans being interviewed on television and saying their Nunc Dimittis – knowing that America has come a long way with Michelle and Barack and their two daughters - Malia Ann and Natasha (Sasha) - heading for the White House.

When parents and grandparents see their kids married and with kids, when parents and grandparents see their kids going to church, when parents and grandparents see their kids marriages and families going well, they sing their own Nunc Dimittis.

When all of us see an end to AIDS and Abortion, an end to poverty and ecological messes, an end to name calling and personal attack, an end to terrorism and the enormous cost that is putting on budgets, and the arrival of the Kingdom, then we sing our inner Nunc Dimittis.

CONCLUSION

I would think two good steps would be: articulate our vision and hope for our life as then we get practical and see ways we can make something happen this day to make that dream come true, then each night we can pray our Nunc Dimittis.

Isn’t that why we present ourselves in this temple each morning – so that by nightfall, we’ve done something to better this world today?

Amen!

Painting on top is the "Presentation at the Temple," c. 1460, by Andrea Mantegna [1431-1506]. It's tempera on wood and can be found in the Staatliche Museum in Berlin. The woman on the edge on one's left might be a portrait of Andrea's wife, Nicoloisa Bellini. The man on the right side of the picture might be a self-portriait by Andrea Mantegna. To enlarge the picture and study the faces up closer, tap tap your mouse.

CANDLEMAS  DAY

Quote for Candlemas Day: - February 2,  2010

"If Candlemas day be sunny and bright,

Winter again will show its might
If Candlemas Day be cloudy and grey,
winter soon will pass away."

Or another variation:

"If Candlemas Day be fair and bright,
winter will have another flight.
If Candlemas Day be shower and rain,
winter is gone and will not come again."

Or a Scottish Variation:

"If Candlemas Day be dry and fair,

Half the winter's to come and mair.

If Candlemas Day be wet and foul,

Half o'winter's gane at Yule."

["mair" means "more"; Yule means "Christmas"]

[Harry Thompson, our musician here at St. Mary's Annapolis, told me about these Candlemas Day poems. I looked them up and found these poems as well as this being a "Scottish Quarter Day" - i.e., the day rents (farms etc.) were paid. So today is not just a feast day people when people went to Mass -notice the word for "Mass" at the end of "Candlemas" - but it's also a "tax" day, as well as a day for poems and superstitions. Some see Groundhog Day in these traditions. Hey it's a long winter!]

COMMENTS THAT CRUSH

INTRODUCTION

The title and theme of my homily is, “Comments That Crush.”

If I asked you, “Have ever heard a comment about you – that crushed or really hurt you?” Would you think for a few minutes and then say, “No!”? Would you then notice that my face showed some surprise? Then as you walk away or talk away, you suddenly stop and say, “Yes! Wait a minute. I’m lying. There was one time when ….”

Has everyone had at least one good or better, bad moment in their life, when someone made a comment that crushed them – that felt one was walking down the street and a piano fell on them from up there as it was being lifted to go into a third floor apartment?

Boom! Crush! Smash! Wipe out!

TODAY’S READINGS

In today’s first reading from 2nd Samuel [2 Samuel 15:13-14, 30: 16: 5-13], David is attacked by a man named Shimei – the Son of Gera – of the same clan as Saul’s family.

Shimei throws stones at David and his officers. He curses David. He yells, “Absalom your son has taken over because you are a murderer.”

David’s officers and soldiers want to cut this guys head off – because of the stones and the cursing, etc. And David says, “No. Maybe the Lord is behind all this. Maybe there will be some benefits from all this cursing.”

In today’s gospel [Mark 5:1-20], Jesus has this crazy man come running up to him and saying, “Why are you meddling with me, Jesus, Son of God Most High.”

And we heard Jesus healing him and sending his voices, his curses, his demons into a heard of pigs who then run down a bluff – a hill –and into the lake.

I remember standing in a boat on the Lake of Galilee looking for possible places where this scene could have taken place – and there they were.

COMMENTS, CRITICISMS, DIGS

Shakespeare in Hamlet has the famous, “To Be or Not To Be” speech. Hamlet talks about “the slings and arrows” – the “whips and scorns” –“the oppressors wrong”, “the proud man’s contumely” the “pangs” “insolence” “spurns” of life.

To be – to be here – to be a human being – is to experience in a lifetime, comments, criticisms, digs, suggestions, stones and arrows – that hit us, kill us or crush us.

Come Holy Spirit. Help us to deal with the outrageous hurts others hurl at us – from time to time.

My niece Patty calls them “Ouches!” Whenever someone says something hurtful to another, she says, “Ouch!” and says it so profoundly.

Jesus certainly models turning the other cheek.

St. Lawrence – we hear every August – dealt with them with humor – when he told those burning him to death – “Turn me over, I’m done on this side.”

How well do I deal with comments that can crush? Let me give 4 first draft possibilities:

FIRST SUGGESTION: AWARENESS

A first step could be is to become aware that people often don’t know what they are saying. Years ago I was stationed with a short stout priest who once told me, “People are always giving me diets. People are always giving us fat people diets. They don’t know that fat people are giving themselves comments and diets – all day long – 7 days a week.” Sure enough I’m down at lunch that day and in walks another priest who puts his hand on this guy’s shoulder and says, “Hey big boy. I saw a great diet for you in the paper this morning.”

Awareness of our comments and other people’s comments can make us aware of the crushing power of comments. Just listen and you’ll hear people often making comments and corrections about other people’s clothes, hair, children, car, trunk, house, lawns, looks, weight, legs, hips, love handles, accent, skin color, political affiliation, etc. etc. etc.

SECOND SUGGESTION: UNDERSTANDING

A second step would be the hope that this can lead us to understanding of insensitivity and the lack of understanding of people towards people.

THIRD SUGGESTION: FORGIVENESS

A third step would be forgiveness – especially to take on Jesus’ prayer from the cross on the day he was being crushed: Good Friday, “Father forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing. "

FOURTH SUGGESTION: KEEP MOVING

In today’s first reading, David said, “Relax. Don’t react by trying to chop this guys head off.” Then notice how today's first reading ends, "David and his men continued on the road." Keep moving!

If presidents read their polls or watch niche political TV programs, they might want to chop heads off or even their own. The better move is to keep moving ahead with a plan and goal in mind.

In today’s gospel, Jesus does what he’s doing all through the gospels, healing people, trying to get their demons, their evil spirits, to spill out of them and then stampede like pigs running down the hill into the lake and are drowned – and that person is healed and goes home a new person. Amen.






P.S. Someone asked about this weekday homily after Mass this noon - so I'm posting it - with the comment that it's first draft stuff -weekday homily stuff - that I don't have enough time to develop, figure out better, etc. Go for it!

GOD  SIGHTINGS

Quote of the Day:  February 1,  2010

“People see God every day, they just don’t recognize him.”

Pearl Bailey [1918-1990], New York Times, November 26, 1967

Picture taken yesterday over Annapolis, Maryland - Spring is coming!






Questions:


Have you ever seen a sunset or a sunrise over the ocean or the full moon and you said, "Oh my God!"?


Have you ever said, "Oh my God" when seeing a beautiful baby or a great catch in football or in fishing?


Okay, when do you say, "Oh my God!"  Would those moments match Pearl Bailey's words above?

REJECTION

INTRODUCTION

The title and theme of my homily is, “Rejection.”

Today’s first reading and today’s gospel deal with this theme.

Jeremiah is told to be aware and prepared for rejection. The Lord says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.” When someone gives you that big a preamble, be aware that there’s going to be a "but" or a “however” coming. The “but” or the “however” is going to be rejection. There are going to be a lot of people against you. Read Jeremiah if you want to hear the rest of the story.

And in today’s gospel story, Jesus is rejected by the folks in his own home town.

On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the highest, how well do I deal with rejection?

Rejection. Being “dissed” – being forgotten, ignored. It happens.

TV SHOWS

How well does TV mirror life?

On Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, every Monday to Friday evening, two out of three people don’t win. How well do those who lose, deal with their loss? Do they get ribbed for the rest of their life? Do they kick themselves for not guessing something they should have known? Or do they think and talk positive and have a bragging point for the rest of their lives? Two years ago I was at a wedding rehearsal dinner and one of the guys in the wedding party was on Jeopardy. He lost but it looked like it was a neat talking point for a thousand parties and conversations. “Wow! I met a guy who was on Jeopardy.”

I haven’t watched American Idol but last year I did see that the YouTube piece from Britain’s Got Talent when Susan Boyle is introduced and it looks like Simon Cowell’s rejects her with a shrug of his shoulders before she even sings. Then surprise she sings her song, “I Dreamed a Dream” and the world celebrates her and her talent. They made the same mistake with Paul Potts – a British cell phone salesman – two years earlier. Maybe apparent rejection is part of the show. And I saw during Thanksgiving week with my nieces the Dancing with the Stars program. People make it; people don’t make it; people are rejected. Is possible rejection the price you have to pay if you want to make it?

On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the highest, how well do I deal with rejection?

I WRITE

I write and if you want to write, you have to be able to deal with the so called “rejection letter”. “Dear Writer, Greetings. We think your work is good, but at this time it does not fit into our plans. Thank you for considering our company. I’m sure someone will like your work. Your's truly.”

On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the highest, how well do I deal with rejection?

BILLY JOEL, THE DA VINCI CODE, ETC.

I love the story of Billy Joel’s song, “The Good Die Young.” It was criticized by some bishop for what he heard as anti-Catholic lyrics. As soon as it was banned or panned, it shot up in the charts. With that knowledge, Billy Joel sent his next album to that bishop and asked him to condemn it.

I thought I heard someone say some bishop or bishops or the Vatican criticized the movie, Avatar. I’m sure Avatar loved the criticism.

It was the same with The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons – books by Dan Brown which then became movies. A commentator wrote, “Back in 2006, Donohue and his Catholic League spearheaded the protests against the cinematic adaptation of author Dan Brown’s conspiracy thriller The Da Vinci Code. The Tom Hanks-starring film went on to gross only $758 million worldwide. Every film should be so contested.”

WHAT ABOUT US?

That’s movies and books. What about us?

How well do we deal with rejection – in marriage – in family – in school – at work – in relationships – in everyday situations.

As priest I’ve heard many stories about the pain that comes with rejection – when a wife or a husband dumps a spouse – or just ignores the other.

As a human being I have looked at my watch or yawned when I was bored.

As a human being when on the phone I sometimes shuffle paper and do something else when the other person doesn’t sound like he or she is going to end the conversation. They can't see me. However, does everyone pick up these signals at least unconsciously – even during a phone call?

Are we all giving signals – many of which are unconscious?

Painful stuff… sending calls for gracious skills.

SKILLS

Do we need rejection skills – on how to reject things and people without hurting them? Obviously the Golden Rule needs to be kept in mind. If this was me, how would I respond to the behavior I’m giving off?

Do we need to work on our sensitivity skills – learning how to cut down on sending to the other those inner “Ouches” or “Uh oh’s”?

Do we need to work on our communication skills?

Do we need to work on our letting go skills?

I’m sure someone said, “There are two kinds of people: those who have work to do and those who have no work to do but find people to bother who have work to do.”

TODAY’S GOSPEL: THE REJECTION OF JESUS

I assume that Luke puts this rejection of Jesus scene here at the beginning of his gospel as a foreshadowing of the end of his gospel – when Jesus is crucified – the big time rejection.

Preachers when talking about this theme are often fond of quoting a poem entitled “Indifference” by a British priest Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy. It’s about Birmingham, England and Modern Times.

INDIFFERENCE

When Jesus came to Golgotha they hanged Him on a tree,
They drove great nails through hands and feet, and made a Calvary;
They crowned Him with a crown of thorns, red were His wounds and deep,
For those were crude and cruel days, and human flesh was cheap.

When Jesus came to Birmingham they simply passed Him by,
They never hurt a hair of Him, they only let Him die;
For men had grown more tender, and they would not give Him pain,
They only just passed down the street, and left Him in the rain.

Still Jesus cried, "Forgive them, for they know not what they do,"
And still it rained the wintry rain that drenched Him through and through;
The crowds went home and left the streets without a soul to see,
And Jesus crouched against a wall and cried for Calvary.

I assume Luke put this story in his gospel and Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy wrote this poem to get us to ask, “What does our relationship with Jesus look like?” Rejection? Ignoring? Accepting?

We have heard Jesus’ stories and sayings – all our lives.

We have received communion thousands and thousands of times.

It’s hard to be passionate all our life about Jesus!

I think that’s why I have found that poem called “Indifference” so real.

Years ago there was a theology of sin that I haven’t heard lately - the theology that my sins today hurt Jesus back then. Each sin drove the nails deeper into him. My sins were part of the crowning with thorns and the beating he received that night and into Good Friday morning.

As I thought about that yesterday while preparing this homily, I had to admit to myself: that theology of sin dropped out of my consciousness a good 40 years ago. Then I had to admit something that I didn’t like to admit: I am not aware enough that my sins today against my brothers and sisters – rejections, ignorings, forgettings, gossip, innuendos - hurt my brothers and sisters today – crowning them with thorns – whip lashing their back and brains – hammering nails to make sure they hang on their crosses – and don’t come off them to bother me.

I began to feel challenged that I have to see their face in their faces - more than the face of Christ in their faces – and maybe that’s why Christ walked this earth – to see our faces better – so we’ll see each other’s face better. I know I wince inwardly a bit when someone says that want to see the face of Christ more in someone that they are ignoring or live or work with that they have problems with – and the reason I wince is because I know they might see Christ more, but they might be missing this specific person they are married to or working with. Something is missing with that other theology – and I haven’t figured it out enough yet.

I know I’m always running. I look into eyes – but I’m not really looking into eyes. I’m seeing my next appointment – my next job – and at my next appointment and my next job – I’m seeing the job after that.

Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. Embarrassment.

These feelings and thoughts are calls for conversion and change.

I have to face these calls and urges to change and conversion – and not reject them.

Sorry to say, it’s hard to start again – be converted again – be enthused again – after so many conversions - so many resolutions to change every January 1st, every Lent, and every once on a surprise Sunday morning or while driving home from work with NPR on, when something heavy hits me.

CONCLUSION: CUT TO THE CHASE

In today’s second reading – Paul is telling us what love really is. He’s saying it’s a good place for renewal and revival. Go for it.

Today’s second reading [1 Corinthians 13:4-13] – which we have heard at 100 weddings – is a good place to start. Paul gives us at least a dozen leads: patience, cut out the jealousy, deflate, don’t be pompous, stop the rude and the crude, don’t rejoice when another falls, Democrat, Republican Independent, priest or athlete, speak the truth, believe, hope, endure, put up with nonsense, and when you fail, try again.

That’s enough. Choose one of those ways to love for this week – reject the others – and then go for it – and see what happens. Hopefully a few good, “Aha’s!” will jump up and down in our brain.

ALWAYS A  MOTHER

Quote of the Day: January 31, 2010

“No matter how old a mother is she watches her middle-aged children for signs of improvement.”

Florida Scott-Maxwell [1883 – 1979] Measure of My Days (1968), p. 16