STOPPING TO SEE
THE STARS
INTRODUCTION
The title of my homily is, “Stopping To See The Stars.”
It sounds like a phrase from Wheel of Fortune: “Stopping To See the Stars”. If you picked an “s”, there are 4 “s’s”. If you picked a “t” there are 4 “t’s”. If you’re good at Wheel of Fortune or word puzzles, you might have gotten that in two spins – even without buying a vowel.
“Stopping To See The Stars”.
When was the last time you stopped to see the stars?
Do people rush into the house at night – without stopping to see the stars so they can see, “Wheel of Fortune” or “Dancing with the Stars.”
To see or not to see? TV or not TV?
Does a star filled night still grab you?
SUMMER NIGHT
One of life’s great memories was sitting on a porch one summer night and my niece Patty’s husband George took his son Patrick out on the porch and was showing him the night sky. Patrick is already finished college – but at the time he was a little guy in his father’s arms.
I sat there enjoying one of life’s great scenes – a father showing his child – the beauty of a night sky – and a kid going, “Oooh wow!” as his dad pointed out planets and stars.
Whenever I walk by Alex Haley’s sit down statue in Ego Alley – down town at the Annapolis Harbor – I recall the scene in the movie “Roots” based on the book by Alex Haley – when the father of Kunta Kinte takes his new born son – in his arms – outside into a dark night – a night filled with stars – and he holds his son up – in prayer, in thanksgiving – to God.
How many parents have done that down through the centuries?This is my body. This is my blood. I’m giving my life to you.
I think of this at baptisms of babies as well.
I have two baptisms this afternoon – here at St. Mary’s – and for the past few years I ask the parents – after the baptism – to go around to the front of the altar – where the priest stands at mass – and I ask the parents to put the baby on the altar – holding onto him or her carefully – right where the bread and wine sit – and I ask parents to repeat after me, “This is my body. This is my blood. We’re giving our life for you.”
I always preface this moment with the words, “I’m trying to come up with ways of connecting Baptism with the Mass.” And I point out that at baptism we’re all anointed to become prophets, priests and kings. I also remember those babies that have sat on this altar when I celebrate Mass here at St. Mary’s.
TODAY’S FIRST READING
The title of my homily is, “Stopping to See the Stars.” I got that thought when I read the opening words in today’s first reading from the Book of Genesis, “The Lord God took Abram outside and said, ‘Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can….”
I came into church last night when it was empty and I tried to count the number of stars on our ceiling here. My first guesstimate is, 10,600 – with one moon up there above the choir loft and one special star up front above the sanctuary. I’m figuring that’s the Star of Bethlehem.
Maybe we should have a contest. Does the company who painted this church ceiling know how many stars were painted up there?
Does this church ceiling trigger the thought: maybe I should take the time from time to time – to look at night skies – and count the stars?
I was wondering: did slaves coming to America like Kunta Kinte have a night sky view on their horrible trip from Africa? At what time of the day or the night did Kunta Kinte get off the boat in the Annapolis Harbor?
TODAY’S GOSPEL – THE STORY OF THE TRANSFIGURATION
Today’s gospel tells the story of the Transfiguration – when Jesus went up the mountain and was transfigured before his 3 key disciples: Peter, John and James.
They had a mountain moment. They had a life memory moment.
They heard a voice – a Father saying, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”
If you ever get to Israel on a tour of the Christian sites, everyone goes to the Mount of the Transfiguration.
It’s a moment. I did it in the year 2000 with 22 priests. We drove to a spot a quarter of the way up the mountain in our tour bus – then we had to get into white Mercedes cars – and they drove us up to the top - fast. We had Mass in the big church up there. The gospel chosen – obviously – was today’s gospel. I remember the half circle ceiling above the altar – and our voices echoed beautifully up and out through the church. After Mass we went outside and we had an hour of silence. It was a retreat more than a tour. I went up on a roof of a building there and I could see for miles and miles – as far as the Golan Heights to the East.
I wondered what it would be like at night. Would the stars be brighter up here? I have fond memories of two backpacking vacations in the Rockies – and at night the stars were magnificent – as we camped out each time for 10 days – above 9,000 feet. Neat.
It was daylight on the Mount of Transfiguration when we were there and it sounds like in today’s gospel that it was day time when Jesus was there with his disciples, but we don’t know that for sure.
It sounds like they remembered this moment for the rest of their lives. I know I still remember that moment as if it were yesterday.
Then after the hour of prayer, we walked to a Franciscan monastery up there on the mountain and had a great spaghetti dinner.
Then we went down to our buses – once more in dusty white Mercedes cars.
LIFE – CLOUDS AND STARS
Life.
Sometimes the night is bright and filled with stars.
Sometimes the night is cloudy and no stars can be seen.
Sometimes we’re in a place where we wish it could be like this forever.
Sometimes we’re in a place where we want to escape – and run – and get away from forever.
Life.
In Luke’s gospel, there are two mountains.
Today’s mountain – the Mountain of the Transfiguration – where his key disciples experience Jesus in Glory – and they love it.
Near the end of the Gospel of Luke there is Mount Calvary – where Jesus is crucified. It’s dark for three hours. The sun eclipses. The veil in the temple is ripped right down the middle. The disciples have disappeared, except for a few women.
It’s a very different scene from the first mountain.
CONCLUSION
Hopefully we have Transfiguration Moments: a moment at night looking up at the stars – a quiet early morning moment at the beach – or time on a boat on the Bay – many moments of holding and rocking a baby – a hike up a mountain – stopping to see a great vista and view while driving – because we saw a sign, “Scenic Overview” – coming to Sunday Mass in a beautiful church – time in adoration – visiting the sick or someone in a nursing home – a powerful funeral –– marriage – family moments – a 50th anniversary – a 50th birthday – all kinds of moments when we reconfigure our lives. Life has many transfiguration moments.
Life also has disfiguration Moments – cross moments – tough moments – cancer or a heart attack – divorces and family disasters - Calvary moments.
Lent hopefully puts us in touch with both – because both kinds of moments can be life changing moments. Amen.
