THAT I AM?
INTRODUCTION
The title of my homily is, “Who Do You Say That I Am?”
Every year we listen to this gospel story – with this question: “Who do you say that I am?” – because this scene and this question is in the gospel of Matthew, Mark and today in Luke.
Jesus begins by asking his disciples the question, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” Then they give various answers they have heard from others: “You’re John the Baptist, or Elijah, or one of the ancient prophets who has arisen from the dead.”
Then Jesus changes and clarifies his question from, “Who do the crowds say that I am” to “Who do you say that I am?”
THIS HOMILY: THREE PERSONS
In this homily I’d like to ask that question to and about three persons: myself, others and God.
Yesterday I was up in Pennsylvania and then New Jersey for a family party for two of my niece’s kids: one graduating from grammar school and the other from high school. I hadn’t seen any of them since last year, so it was a nice family get together.
Before we drove to the went the party in New Jersey, I said a home mass with my sister and brother-in-law. It was just the three of us sitting there at a dining room table. When I read this gospel I said, “Tomorrow morning I have to give a homily on these readings. What would you talk about?”
My sister Mary said immediately, “Father’s Day.”
Last night, while driving the four hours back here, I thought about the day as I was working on a homily for today. Thinking about my sister’s comment, I said to myself, “Good …. Say something about Father's Day - but how we think about others, our dads in particular, is tied in with how we think about ourselves and our God – if we’re believers.
FIRST: MYSELF
As I was thinking about this, it seems that the first step would to begin with myself.
At times we wonder about ourselves – what’s going on inside our hearts and minds and feelings. So I would assume the answer to this question about who am I or who others are – begins with self. However, I’m not that sure. I hesitate because we are so interconnected . How we are and how people are, goes back and forth, and in and out – and all around about and then some more.
Like fathers – when we think about our fathers, we also think about our relationship with our dad.
So we could start either way – so let me begin with, “Who am I?”
When I was leaving St. Gerard’s Parish in Lima, Ohio back in 2002 to come here to Annapolis, they had a party for me in the parish hall after the 11 AM Mass. I was stationed at St. Gerard’s for 8 ½ years – but more than half the year I would be on the road preaching all over Ohio – as well as lots of other places around the country.
Some of the people knew who I was and that I was being transferred. So about 100 + people came over to the hall – for cookies and coffee and punch – to say, "Good-bye" and "Thanks!" Different folks got up the microphone to make some comments about me. It was like being at one’s own funeral – when people say only the good things about us.
It was a gift – because I was alive – and it was interesting hearing people’s take on me.
They were supposed to give me the tapes of that celebration – but I never got them. It would be interesting to see and listen to them today in hindsight.
I say that because hindsight is very much all of us. We learn so much afterwards.
So to the question: Who do you say that I am? I would think the first step would be to reflect upon what we’ve learned about ourselves so far – from what we have come up with – and what others have said about us from time to time.
As priests, I have learned that many of us put ourselves down – that is, those of my generation – and perhaps half of those in the generation after me. Then there was a change in society where we started teaching kids to say positive things about oneself. We've all seen baseball tournaments or what have you, when every kid gets some kind of trophy. The old way was certainly cheaper.
I would assume something like that happened in our culture. I don’t know for sure. And I'm not sure which is better to deal with: losing or winning.
I know when I hear little kids first confessions – as well as school confessions, I often add a small question, “Now that you’ve confessed what you’ve done wrong, what are some of the good things you’ve done.” My hope is that they see their pluses and not just their minuses – their positives – and not just their negatives.
Us older folks were brought up never to brag or comment about our good stuff , except when we’re trying to get a job. We were brought up to fear the comment, “Who does she or he think she is: God’s gift to the world?”
My hope for everyone is we all see our gifts, our strengths, and that we are a gift to the world. That’s why we are here!
So that's the first question: How would you describe yourself? Who do you say you are? What have you learned about yourself so far?
SECOND: OTHERS
Secondly, we spend a lot of our lives wondering about others – who they are – especially family members – especially spouse – especially children – and especially after we hit 60, we wonder about our parents.
And on a day like today, we wonder about our dads: who do you say that he is?
I’ve always connected my dad to Father’s Day, because he died in the hospital - Friday, June 26, 1970 – 6 days after seeing him for Father’s Day at home in Brooklyn.
Yesterday at a quiet home mass on a dining room table, I asked my sister, “What did you see was daddy’s # 1 gift?”
My sister said immediately, “Respect! He respected everyone.”
Then my sister added, “And I know a lot more about daddy now – long after he’s gone.”
She then referred to something my god-mother Nan said at Daddy’s funeral, “Your dad was the perfect gentleman.” I added that Nan had said that same thing to me years ago at a family picnic – adding that she said all the girls said my mother was the luckiest woman in the world – because some of these guys were heavy drinkers and not the best choice.
I would say that my dad was very quiet. Yet I have found out wonderful things about him – that I didn’t know – long after his death – thanks to conversations with my two sisters and my brother when he was living.
My dad was always there. He took us to the park every Sunday to give my mom a break and to be with us. He didn’t say much – but he said a lot with his presence and his great smile.
Before he died, I sat down with him and wrote out over 40 pages of notes. I got the details about his coming to America – where he lived – jobs – his 10 years of love letters to my mom – before she finally said “Yes”. What ever happened to those letters? I hold that family scriptures – letters, stories written and stories that should be written – on the personal level are more important than the church scriptures.
Thinking about my dad, I’ve learned to understand the sentence, “Be who you is, because if you be who you ain’t, then you ain’t who you is.”
My dad was who my dad was – who my dad was – who my dad was.
Your dad was or is who your dad is - who your dad is - who your dad is.
Yesterday in a backyard party I'm standing there with my niece Maryna. It was just one of those quick 10 minute catch up conversation. She said to me, “When your mom died, your sister – my mom – was clearing away all kinds of stuff – and she gave me a bunch of books. I was just going through them the other day – and there was your dad’s Bible – and as I was paging through it – there was one card – your ordination card – right there the middle of his Bible.”
That was a nice gift from my niece Maryna – just yesterday. That was one more gift from my dad – because today – June 20th is my ordination anniversary – Father’s Day – 45 years ago. Nice.
While driving home last night I began thinking: how many ways does a father celebrate a daughter or a son? What does a father think about on Father’s Day? How do they see each of their kids?
Answers to that question are just some of the answers to the question we all have about others, “Who do we say they are?”
THIRD: GOD
For those of us with faith, from time to time, hopefully we hear God ask us, “Who do you say that I AM?”
For those of us who are Christians, from time to time, hopefully we hear Jesus ask us, "Who do you say I AM?"
Some quick answers that I would voice: You are God. You are my Meaning. You are my hope. You are my Savior. You are the one I long to receive in communion. You are one I need – love – and hope to bring to others.
I would also add on second thought the following: At times I’ve reflected upon Jesus with the words in a Beatles' Song – I think it’s the Beatles. Jesus you are my “Ticket to Ride”.
We’ve all been on a train – or seen the scene in a movie – when the train conductor comes through the train to collect tickets.
Well, when we die, is that all there is? Or is there a trip – the next – that journey into a new existence? I believe there is. At the age of 70 this is a key creed for me. The trip has been described as a bridge – or a sailing across a lake – and in some gospel songs, there is “a train” and you want to be on it.
I’ve said to Jesus in prayer many times, “You’re my ticket to ride. I’m counting on you – and when I get to heaven I hope to meet YOU and Your people – but I also want to meet my people as well – all those who have gone before me - all those I have a lot of questions to ask - and a lot of thanks to give - especially my dad.
CONCLUSION
Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers here.
To everyone here, your homework for this week is to reflect upon that question: “Who Do You Say That I AM?”
If you’re on a bus or a train or driving – or on vacation – or at home – look at each person and say, “Who is this person?”
If they are family members or good friends, talk to each other.
If your dad is alive, ask him, “What was it like?” That's a good way to get to the, "Who are you question?"
If you’re alive, ask yourself, “Who do you say you are?”
And when you’re praying ask and answer that question with Jesus, “Who Do Say That I AM?
Picture on top of a father and son in a city park near an ice cream stand in Helsinki, Finland, 2009 - who said "Yes" to my taking a picture of them. I don't speak "Finnish" but I gestured with my camera and he shook his head, "Yes."
And an Ooops. I just noticed after I gave this homily or sermon that the 1965 Beatles' Song, "Ticket to Ride", could have overtones other than riding on a train. I'll go with Paul McCartney who said that the inspiration for the song was "a British Railways' ticket to the town of Ryde on the Island of Wight."
