UPGRADE

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this feast of the Ascension is, “Upgrade!”

I was talking with someone the other day and they used the word, “upgrade” – in the context of having to make a decision whether to move towards getting a bigger house.

I don’t remember ever using the word “upgrade” or thinking about it in any context. Then I thought: “I guess I’d use the word “better” or “bigger” or “newer”.

Then the feast of the Ascension comes along and I have to come up with a homily for it. Then came the question: “Could I use the word ‘upgrade’ when talking about the Ascension?

THE FEAST OF THE ASCENSION

I remember reading some 50 years ago or so that the Church and its theologians have to do a lot of work on the theology of the Ascension.

They didn’t use the word “upgrade” but I assume that’s what was being called for.

Every year when this feast of the Ascension comes around, I remember that comment. Every year I remember with guilt I haven't updated myself on this message. It’s an interesting comment – being that the Church has been around for quite a while – heading towards being in existence for 2000 years – in this 21st century.

For starters we believe that God sent his Son into this world, into our lives, so that we could rise to a better way of doing life in this life – ascending to more faith, more hope, more charity.

Next we believe that Jesus Christ was crucified,  died, rose from the dead and then appeared in mysterious ways right after his resurrection, and then 40 days later, ascended into heaven – with the promise of a life after this life for us.

But before Jesus ascended into heaven, he told his disciples to go into the whole world and make disciples of everyone. Jesus said he’d be with us all days – even to the end of the age as we heard in today's gospel.  He also said he would send us the Holy Spirit as we heard loud and clear in today's first reading – to help us in this life – and then help lead us to the next life.

HERE AND HEREAFTER

For the sake of understanding, go figuring, and grasping these big leaps, I would assume that we would think about two states when reflecting on religion and life: the here and the hereafter.

People know there is a here and some believe in a hereafter as well; others just accept there is a here and now – and that’s all there is.

Some people think about one more than the other.

Is it a question of age? The younger think about future life – but here on earth; the ancients among us think about future life – our declining years here and some make jokes about the Golden Years not being so Golden and then there are thoughts about life on the other side of death. Is there a next life?

Is it a question of upbringing and / or faith?

Is it a question of attitude and outlook – optimists and pessimists?

Is it a question of experiences? Translation: if a person has seen a lot of death going on all around him or her, would they be more apt to think a lot about the hereafter more than the here? What’s going on in the minds of those in Syria or Libya or Afghanistan – with the possibility of death around the corner? What’s going on in the minds of those in nursing homes or those who work in funeral homes? What’s going on in the minds of those on treadmills in gyms? What’s going on in the minds of joggers when someone mentions someone age 47 died while running just last week – and his doctor just gave him a good bill of health?

UPGRADE

I was thinking: do we need an upgrade on our thinking about all this?

Can we ascend to a new level?

I have three master’s degrees in theology, but I don’t consider myself a theologian. In fact, there is a big meeting of the largest professional group of Catholic theologians in the world – the CTSA – the Catholic Theological Society of America – meeting at Fairmont Hotel in San Jose, California – this week – June 9 to the 12th. It’s their 66th Annual Meeting and I wasn’t invited. No problem: I’m not a theologian – nor did I pay any dues. But I will check the Catholic papers and magazines to see what happened at the convention.

The theme this year is, “All The Saints.” And one presentation is entitled, “I Want to Be in That Number: Desire, Inclusivity, and the Church” by Paul Lakeland of Fairfield University. Connecticut.

That’s a obvious reference to the song, “I Want to Be in Their Number – when the Saints come marching in” – a song which however, refers to the hereafter – and it looks like the talk will be on the here and now Church – but I don’t know. I haven’t heard or read the talk.

Looking at the titles of the talks and presentations – the arena seems to be more the here than the hereafter.

So if I want to do an upgrade on thoughts about the hereafter, I’d have to look elsewhere - other than attending a convention - even though I've found conventions and conferences great ways for updating or upgrading oneself. There I used the word.

PREPARATION FOR DEATH

Redemtorists were known for bringing up the question of death - and the hereafter -  in their preaching - especially in parish missiions.

We priests here at St. Mary’s are Redemptorists. Our founder wrote over 100 books and one book is entitled, “Preparation for Death.” It has been found on the bedroom lamp table and desks of lots of people – for example, Kierkegaard – the famous Danish theologian – and existentialist philosopher – 1813-1855 – author of such books as Fear and Trembling and The Concept of Anxiety.

I believe St. Alphonsus wrote it after 60. I’ll have to check that out – when I have time.

Would most readers of his book with that title of Preparation for Death be over 60?

I always love the story about W.C. Fields. Someone spotted him paging through a Bible – when he was up there in age – and they said, “W.C. I didn’t know you were a Bible reader.” He answered, “I’m not, but I’m just looking for loopholes – just looking for loopholes.”

Two Redemptorist priests, who were brothers, Maurice and Louis Beque, wrote a whole book on the Last Things. It was entitled, Life after Death. It was written for the Twentieth Century Encyclopedia of Catholicism –1960 - Hawthorn Books. I read it when I was young and don’t remember a sentence or a thought from it – other than it had lots of examples from literature.

Another Redemptorist, Father Francis Xavier Durwell, wrote a classic book on The Resurrection – which came out in around 1960. It had a big impact on theology in the Western Catholic Church. Unlike the Eastern Churches, it seems that Easter was downplayed and Good Friday was up played. Obviously, it’s both – and then some.

Being 71, in my lifetime, I saw the dramatic changes in the end of Holy Week. As kids we celebrated Easter on Easter Sunday. There were flowers and Easter Bonnets and Easter candy - especially chocolate bunnies. However, the Easter celebration had creeped forward into Saturday morning, etc. – so with the changes in the Liturgy with Vatican II,  it was moved to the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday evening as well as Easter Sunday morning.

Getting long winded here – with too many sidebars.... I’m just trying to pull together some thoughts and questions in my mind for a homily on this feast of the Ascension – and to be honest, this sounds very impractical to me. I just hope there are some minds here that like some informational questions – and they will pursue them.

The bottom line  question for this line of thought would be: Where are you? Do you tend to think about the here and now or do you think about death and the hereafter? In the meanwhile, how about a convention of our best theologians considering the theological implications of the Ascension?

CONCLUSION

So in the meanwhile,  thinking about the theme of “Upgrade” – where am I with the here and hereafter questions: “What about my life?” and “What about my death?” "Do I need to do some upgrading in prayer and reflection on both?"

Thinking about the here and now, am I also into “upgrade” of things? Do I tend to want the latest everything. Of course this  helps the economy. How about an “upgrade” in the quality of my everyday life – how I work, how I relate to family, how I am a Christian in everyday life?

Thinking about the hereafter, do I need an “Upgrade” – with regards thoughts and prayers about eternity? What’s the next step, the next ascension, for me? Is there anything recommended to read?

I don't have a specific book to recommend when it comes the theology of the ascension. I do see a need for me to do some homework upgrade on this,

In the meanwhile, I would suggest reading and reflecting upon the great hereafter texts of the Bible – especially the scary ones: the scary stories of Dives and Lazarus in Luke 16 and the last judgment in Matthew 25 – the separation of the sheep and the goats – as well as the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10. They will  scare us into awareness of those in need and action  to help them.

If you feel really guilty when it comes to not helping others and time is running out, read Luke 15 in case you feel the need for  hope and forgiveness. That chapter has  3 parables there of the Lost Coin, Lost Sheep and Lost Son – all of whom are rescued.

Now that was a big upgrade. Amen.

One Sunday morning while driving somewhere I was listening to some minister talking about people making their wills – what they are leaving to this person and that person, but does anyone write out their legacy. Who they were? What they learned? What they were trying to do? What they wanted to pass down? What they hope for after they die – in their lives and the ones they have left behind?

NARROW MINDED

BIG MOUTHED

Quote for Today - June 5,  2011

"A lot of trouble in this world is caused by combining a narrow mind and a wide mouth."

Anonymous

CHALLENGED

Quote for Today  - June 4,  2011

"No statue was ever erected to the memory of a man or woman who thought it was best to let well enough alone."

Anonymous

THE  WEINSBERG 

WIVES

Quote for Today - June 3, 2011

THE  WEINSBERG  WIVES

         The wives who lived within the walls of the Weinsberg Castle in Germany were well aware of the riches the castle held: gold, silver, jewels, and wealth beyond belief.

         Then the day came in 1141 when all their treasure was threatened. An enemy army had surrounded the castle and demanded the fortress, and the lives of the men within. There was nothing to do but surrender.

         Although the conquering commander had set a condition for the safe release of all women and children, the wives of Weinsberg refused to leave without having one of their own conditions met as well: they demanded that they be allowed to fill their arms with as many possessions as they could carry out with them. Knowing that the women couldn't possibly make a dent in the massive fortune, their request was honored.

        When the castle gates opened, the army outside was brought to tears. Each woman had carried out her husband.

         The wives of Weinsberg, indeed, were well aware of the riches the castle held.

____________________________________

The drawing on top was by Hans Baldung Grien (c. 1484-85 to 1545).

I could not find the name of the sculptor of the work at the bottom of the folk tale. I found it on line under, "The Weinsberg Wives."

I found the above story, "The Weinsberg Wives" on page 157 in H. Jackson Brown Jr's book, Highlighted in Yellow - A short course in living wisely and choosing well. It's published by Ruthledge Hill Press, Nashville, Tennessee, 2001 - and is well worth having it on one's desk or coffee table for short reflections.

Now I don't know the truth of the story, but as people often say, "Every story might not be true, but every story has a truth."  On Google, I discovered it's considered a classic folk tale.

I could hear a preacher telling this story in church - and I can hear comments from lots of people coming out of church about their husbands tummies - maybe even patting them. I can also see a few women walking out carrying  their thin husbands in their arms and saying, "Father, Father, look! I could do it. My husband is a real treasure."

GUERNICA

Quote for Today - June 2,  2011

"During World War II Picasso suffered some harassment from the Gestapo in Nazi-occupied Paris. An inquisitive German officer, coming into his apartment, noticed a photograph of Guernica lying on a table. 'Did you do that?' he asked Picasso. 'No, you did,' said Picasso."


From page 451 of The Little,  Brown Book of Anecdotes,  General Editor Clifton Fadiman.


Painting on to: "Guernica" by Pablo Picasso [1881-1973]



To  get a fuller impact of the painting on top, "Tap, tap" the picture itself with your cursor arrow.





Here is the opening comment about the painting from Wikipedia: "Guernica is a painting by Pablo Picasso. It was created in response to the bombing of Guernica, Basque Country, by German and Italian warplanes at the behest of the Spanish Nationalist forces, on 26 April 1937, during the Spanish Civil War. The Spanish Republican government commissioned Picasso to create a large mural for the Spanish display at the Paris International Exposition at the 1937 World's Fair in Paris."

SCENES FROM THE SEASHORE

INTROCUCTION

The title of my reflection is, “Scenes from The Seashore.”

The other day on “All Things Considered” on National Public Radio, the host, Melissa Block, said that they are once more going to offer a feature for the summer season: “Sounds of Summer” or something like that.

I don’t know if it’s going to be weekly or what have you. Well anyway I listened up. The host said they asked different writers to offer their remembrances of sounds of summer from their lives.

I found it very interesting. The four I heard were the clink of beer bottles by 17 year olders, the sound of a skate board, the sound of thunder in a summer camp for kids in Maine. The one that triggered the strongest memory for me from a gal who talked about growing up in the Bronx. In the summer it was no air and pllenty of muggy, hot,  heat . All the windows were obviously open. In came the sound of boom boxes, kids screaming in the streets, basketball games, hydrants opened illegally – and then the wonderful sound of Mr. Softee – the bells from an ice cream truck. It was opera. It was magnificent. It was just perfect.

Driving along I wondered if they would run out of sounds of summer. I wondered if they did this every summer or what have you.

FEAST OF ST. JUSTIN

Today. June 1st,  is the feast of St. Justin the Martyr [c. 100 - 167]. Justin, a philospher, met an old man in Ephesus as he was walking along the seashore. The old man, a Christian, told Justin that he couldn’t come up with knowledge of God without divine revelation – and especially that Jesus was the fulfillment of the prophets. Justin had studied the Stoics, Plato, the Pythagoreans, this and that, but it was by that comment from the old man at the seashore which triggered life changing events for him. He ends up becoming a great Christian philosopher, theologian, speaker and thinker.

SCENES FROM THE SEASHORE

Then it struck me – then I made a connection, “Hey next year or some other year, National Public Radio, could ask folks to come up with scenes from the seashore – scenes from the summer beach – ocean – waves – water – moments that had an impact on one's life.

Throughout history – there have been dramatic life changing scenes in people’s lives – that came from moments of revelation at the seashore or at sea.

I thought of Augustine meeting the little boy at the beach who wa trying to put the ocean in a pail - and Augustine telling him he couldn't do that. The countered that he could do it easier than for Augustine explaining the Trinity. That brought back memories of scenes of hundreds of kids at the beach in the summer with shovel and pail in hand. I thought of Hemingway’s Old Man and The Sea – which won him a Pulitzer Prize for literature. I thought of Moby Dick. I didn’t think of Jaws.

Then I found myself as a kid Coney Island, Brooklyn. It was summer. It was paradise. It was everyday. It was family. It was water and sun and sunburn and blisters on my shoulders and being warned to “Cover up!” It was having a Nathan’s hotdog and their orange drink before the long subway ride home with sand in our sneakers and the feel of salt water still on our skin. It as was the Bay 18 section of Coney Island where “our kind of people settled in”. It was the raised water fonts on the sand – cool, clear, delicious water for us at any time. It was the ropes and 3 red barrels out in the water to protect us in between the rock jetties – and then the wide open sea.

I remembered the story of a man who told me he had no faith till one morning on vacation he was walking the beach. It was way before all his family rose. He saw the sun rising in the east –up out of the ocean – and Christ the Son of God – rose in his life – and all changed.

It remembered reading the book, The Star Thrower (1978) by Loren Eisely about the man who walked the beach every morning tossing star fishes that landed on the beach back out into the ocean to save them.

I began thinking about the reality that for 7 years of my life right, I lived right on the ocean – in a retreat house. The ocean was to be seen every day – at any time – but after my first 6 months stationed there – the ocean began to become unnoticed – triggering thoughts that can the same can happen with a new baby, a marriage, becoming a Catholic, Eucharist – prayer or what have you.

CONCLUSION

Today take some time to think about your sounds of summer and your scenes from the seashores you have walked. Amen.

LIFE!  DID  THAT!

Quote for Today - June 1, 2011

"Time does not become sacred to us until we have lived it, until it has passed over us and taken with it part of ourselves."

John Burroughs, "The Spell of the Past," Literary Values and Other Papers," 1902