WHAT IS YOUR RELIGION? 

WHAT ARE YOUR  DOUBTS? 

COME ON. YOU CAN TELL ME.

Quote of the Day: February  25, 2010

“Religion isn’t yours firsthand until you doubt it right down to the ground.”

Francis B. Sayre [1915-2008], quoted in Life magazine, April 2, 1965. He was the dean of the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. for 27 years. He was also the grandson of President Woodrow Wilson.

THE SIGN OF JONAH

INTRODUCTION
The title of my homily is, “The Sign of Jonah.”

In today’s gospel Jesus says, “This generation is seeking a sign, but the only sign they are going to get is, ‘The Sign of Jonah.’”

And in the first reading we have Jonah going through the city of Nineveh – and it takes him 3 days – and he’s announcing, “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed.”

It’s not by accident this reading was picked for Wednesday in the First week of Lent. Lent is 40 days – and the key 3 days are going to be at the end of Lent – when Jesus dies – and is buried in the earth and rises on the 3rd day – Easter.

It’s not by accident today’s gospel is chosen – with the message of Jonah and people looking for signs.

THOMAS MERTON

Every year on this day I think of Thomas Merton and his book, The Sign of Jonas [1953].

I remember reading that book – some 50 ago – and how wonderful it was to read – after reading Merton’s The Seven Storey Mountain [1948].

Merton saw himself as Jonas – having gone the other way like Jonas – yet God pursued him – and here he is in the belly of a monastery – in the dark of Trappist Life – in prayer – during the night – and early morning – hidden from the world he had been in.

It is early Merton – and what he discovered was the message of Lent – that the sign that Christ gave was the Sign of the Cross – but the cross is connected to his death and resurrection – Christ being buried in the belly of the earth for 3 days and then being spilled out on the beach of heaven – alive again – resurrection.

THIS SEASON OF LENT
So Lent is the 40 days and Lent is the 3 days at the End.

And Lent begins with the sign of the Cross “ashed” black on our forehead on Ash Wednesday - broadcasting that to live we must die and be buried to self – and to let others rise – and that Jesus rises out of our us by being grave.

We can do this daily in many ways: small and big – by serving others. Here are few specifics. We must have about 10 good meeting moments each day. Talk or listen! Listen or really listen. Listening can be a great way to get out of self and really hear another human being – and watch them rise and walk away. Someone listened to me today – actually listened to me. They asked me 3 follow up questions on something I said. Amazing. It’s great to be a human being. And each day we come to at least a dozen doors. What a great opportunity to let others to be first and myself to be last church doors, elevator doors – car doors – store doors.

We can die to self daily – by putting God first – hey here we are in church at the beginning of another day.

We do this in our life – but realizing that like Christ – death is at the end of the road – but death is not the end. The casket is not a locked box for all eternity.

That’s the sign Jesus gave us.

CONCLUSION
So listen carefully to the words of the Eucharistic Canon this morning – and notice the Sign of Jonah in the several mentions of the words of "death" and "resurrection".

I know you have to get to work – but I’ll try to slowly and boldly emphasize them this morning. Amen.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Homily for Wednesday, First Week of Lent, February 24, 2010. Readings: Jonah 3:1-10; Luke 11: 29-32

[The 3 paintings on top are by Verne Davis: 1) Jonah and the Whale (Overboard) 2009; 2) Jonah and the Whale - (In the Whale) 2009; 3) Jonah and the Whale (Beached) 2009 - all 3 paintings on line courtesy of Gavin Brown's Enterprise, New York, N.Y..

ANOTHER SECRET 

Quote of the Day:  February 24,  2010

“Respect for the fragility and importance of an individual life is still the mark of the educated man.”

Norman Cousins [1915-1990], Saturday Review, 1965

Statue on top: The Good Samaritan - Photographed August 2009 in St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church in Trafalgar Square, London. Read Luke 10:29-37 and also Luke 16:19-31

MORAL OF THE STORY:
ON BEING UNHAPPY.... 

Quote of the Day - February 23, 2010


“As soon as one is unhappy, one becomes moral.”


Marcel Proust [1871-1922], Remembrance of Things Past: Within a Budding Grove

THE BAA PRAYER

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is “The Baa Prayer.”

As I read today’s readings for the feast of the Chair of St. Peter, February 22, that’s the thought that hit me.

“The Baa Prayer.”

Now you never heard of this before, because I just made this up last night – and I risk the comment, “Now what was that all about?”

However, in the 2000 year history of Christianity – or 4000-3500 years of Israel's history – I’m sure someone came up with “The Baa Prayer”, but I never heard of it.

WHAT IS IT?

It’s simply the cry of the sheep: “Baaaaah!”

It’s the “Baa!” of the sheep when it’s lost.It’s the “Baa!” of the sheep when it’s hungry.

It’s the “Baa!” of the sheep when it’s all alone!

It’s the “Baa” of the sheep to let other sheep know, “Hey, I’m here!”

It’s the “Baaa!” of the sheep when it’s being led to the slaughter.

PRAY 

So when you’re feeling all alone – lost – hungry – or you just want to say to God, “I’m here” or when everything in you life seems be slaughtered, pray “Baa!”, scream “Baa!”, yell, “Baa!” out to God.

That’s “The Baa! Prayer.”

Image taking a rosary and making 59 “Baas” on the beads.

I tried it last night with a timer and a pair or rosary beads. 59 “Baas” took 2 minutes. I was looking at an image, an ikon, of Jesus on my wall while doing it – looking Jesus right in the eye.

Besides saying, “Baa” – I could hear Jesus saying, “What’s wrong with you? What are you doing? What’s this?”

I began thinking that God must hear a million prayers per minute, but this “Baa Prayer” might catch him off guard – and might give us a double listening.

“Baa! Baa!”

But now that I have let the sheep out of the bag, maybe if enough of us do this, maybe it will become old hat for God.

SCRIPTURES

Maybe and maybe not.

One of the most basic images for God in both the Jewish and Christian Scriptures is that of the “Shepherd!” Notice we said Psalm 23 today, “The Lord is my Shepherd.”

In today’s gospel Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” Nobody gives the answer, “The Good Shepherd” not even John – but in his Gospel he does.

And one of the first and most primitive images for Christians of Jesus in wall scratching and art and prayer was that of the Shepherd.

Why? Because that’s what Jesus was – a Good Shepherd. He told several stories – parables – with shepherd and sheep as the central metaphor and message.

And he called Peter to be the chief shepherd – and we see that in today’s first reading from 1st Peter.

CONCLUSION

So today, when you’re alone, when you’re out of ear shot, say, “The Baa Prayer” to God and see what happens.

I also thought maybe I should write a story about “The Baa Prayer” and one of the scenes would be someone coming into the back of church one morning and there are about 25 people sitting there together with rosary in hand moaning, “Baa, Baa, Baa!” for 2 minutes. Wouldn’t that be interesting?

Would the person say, “Baa! What’s this? Am I in the wrong church?”

“Baa! No!”

This was a weekday homily for the feast of "The Chair of Peter, Apostle." Someone after Mass made the astute observation, "Be careful with that word "Baa!" It's very close to the word, 'Baal' - one of the so called 'gods' that Israel's prophets spoke against." Never thought of that!

SMILE 

Quote of the Day:  February  22, 2010


“It takes 73 muscles to frown and only 14 to smile. No wonder grouchy people are always tired.”


Anonymous

FEBRUARY 

Quote of the Day: February 21, 2010

"February: the shortest month in the year ... also the worst."

Italian Proverb