FORTUNE COOKIE

I didn’t care about the fortune cookie.
What I wanted was the message tucked inside.
Would it be my fortune? Would it be my luck?
Would it bring me a chuckle or a smile?
Or would it bring me an “Uh oh!”
Would I share it with the others?


I watched the other 5 all around the round table –
wondering when to make my move.
So much chatter – so much talk –
so many comments about the food.


My mind was so elsewhere.
What would be my message?


I slipped the fortune cookie to my lap –
to rip and remove the cellophane.
Then I crumbled the cookie in one hand.
With the other hand I took the tiny
paper message and cupped inside
a closed hand. Then I brought it up
and placed it on the edge of my plate,
making sure not to get soy sauce on it.


I was waiting, waiting, waiting
for the right moment to read my future –
to read my fortune. Hurry. Hurry. Hurry.


In the meanwhile, I took and tasted
the broken and tasteless cookie.


Just then the waitress, without warning,
came over my left shoulder and walked away
with my plate – with my fortune – with my future.


The old lady right across from me – must
have been watching me the whole time – said,
“Here take my fortune cookie. See what it says.
Maybe you’ll have better luck with this one.”

I said, “Oh no – no thanks. You read your’s.”


Then the thought: “Is this my fortune –
is this my luck – is this my lot in life,
to have someone walk away with my future –
when I only have so little left on my plate
and then be handed someone else’s fortune?”

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2011

A MAN ON A MISSION

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 7th Tuesday after Easter  is, “A Man On A Mission.”

That’s the theme that hit me when I noticed a line in today’s first reading. I never noticed it before.

The first reading begins with Paul in Miletus. He had left Ephesus and traveled there by ship. Then he sent for the presbyters of the Church at Ephesus and said to them what he was trying to do. He said that he didn’t shrink from doing his job of preaching and witnessing. Then he finishes his comments with these words: “But now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem.”

Acts had said about a minute earlier that he wanted to get to Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost. [Cf. Acts of the Apostles 20: 16]

I use The Jerusalem Bible a lot – because I found that it has more cross references than any other translation of the Bible. We were taught that the original Bible texts didn’t have numbered chapters and verses. They only came later on. Scripture writers referred to other texts by using similar words and texts from other places in the Bible to show the listener a connection they wanted to make. The Jerusalem Bible points out lots of these connections.

So when I read this text in Acts 20:22, when Paul says he’s heading for Jerusalem, I realized it sounds so much like the text in Luke 9:51 – when Jesus changed his tune and said, “We’re heading for Jerusalem.” That was an “aha” – and Luke wrote both Acts and Luke.

Jesus went there to face his critics – even if it meant death.

Paul went there to face his critics – even if it meant death.

Both were men on a mission.

Surprise Acts 20:22 in The Jerusalem Bible doesn’t put “Luke 9:51” off to the side of the text. So the odds are: I’m wrong.

HOWEVER, THIS RAISED A QUESTION FOR ME

However, even if I’m wrong, it raised for me this question of being on a mission.

Looking at one’s life, do I remember any moments when I was on a mission – moments when nothing could stop me – moments when others said, “Get out of her way – or his way?”

I’ve heard wives say of husbands, “When he’s hungry, he’s a man on a mission. He doesn’t look up. He doesn’t say anything. He’s at his plate and he’s there to eat.”

So here’s some homework: What would be 5 or 10 moments in my life when I was on a mission?

I think that’s a good question. I think that’s good memory harvesting or homework.

The first moment that comes to mind for me was in the seminary when a professor failed me. He gave me a 69 and I was angry. He was being unfair in the questions he gave on the test. It was maybe one of the 3 or 4 times in my life I was angry. I stormed down the corridor in the seminary and went to his room. I knocked on his door and went in for a fight. I lost. Looking back I still think he was wrong. He’s dead. So now he knows he was dead wrong. Smile.

The second experience that put me on a mission was when I played for the Bay Ridge Robbins in baseball. Walter, the manager, put his younger brother in to play first base for every game, for every inning, for the whole season – except for one out. Except for that one out, I sat on the bench. I didn’t realize this till last night when I was putting together this homily, that experience gave me a lifetime mission. All my life I find myself at every game I watch on TV, thinking, coaches and managers ought to put players on the bench into the game – whenever possible. So I sit there thinking coaches and managers are stupid when they are ahead by 30 points or behind by 30 points or runs or what have you and they don’t put in substitutes.

Paul when he was Saul was on a mission to arrest and kill Christians. Saul when he became Paul was on a mission to proclaim Christ – or as he says in this first reading, “I did not shrink from proclaiming to you the entire plan of God.”

Obviously, Paul was one of those persons we’d label: someone who was a mover and a shaker and everyone knew when he came into a room or city.

NOW

Now, where do I go with this? What can I learn from all this? What observations can I make about all this?

This is a weekday homily – and I aim for 2 pages – 14 pica – 3 minutes – and right now I’m on page 3. People have to get to work.

A FEW CONCLUSIONS

A person should be aware of his or her passions – drives – when he or she is on a mission.

A person should step back and do a reality check on one’s missions and “off on’s”. Have I checked it out with anyone? Maybe I’m barking at the wrong tree. Maybe I’m hurting others with my behavior or mannerism.

As I thought about all this, I realize that religion is one of those areas where people can really be on a mission. If we don’t like what they are off on, they are the ones we whisper about and run from.

I know of a father who demands book reports from his two daughters and 1 son all summer – as well as being on their case big time all year long with regards hitting the books. Everyone who knows him – especially his wife – talk about his unreasonableness at times.

Looking at this from reverse, maybe there are some things I ought to be on a mission with.

Do I give up or give in too quickly?

Have I gotten lazy or lackadaisical – especially regards my discoveries what God is calling me to do with my time and talents and life?

Have I given up on my passions and dreams?

What’s my Jerusalem – that place, that state, that situation where God is calling me to set my sails for?

ON BEING

SELF CENTERED

Quote for Today - June 7, 2011

"A well informed person is someone who has opinions just like mine."

Anonymous

PICK  ONE

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 7th Monday after Easter is, “Pick One!”

Right now it’s 12:15 lunch time and people are standing on line at McDonald’s, Burger King, Subway and Wendy’s. The menu is up there on the wall above the front counter and cash registers. They have pictures and numbers for the pickings and the possibilities. People are inwardly thinking of the people in front of them at the counter: “Pick One! Pick a number. Get moving. This is a fast food line. I gotta get back to work. Hurry!”

The title of my homily is, “Pick One!”

PENTECOST

Next Sunday is Pentecost. The old tradition is to prepare for Pentecost this week by praying to the Holy Spirit during these 9 days leading up to the great feast of Pentecost. Pray to the Holy Spirit for the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

In the scriptures and in our catechisms there are lists – numbers of gifts of the Holy Spirit. For example, 7. There are fruits of the Holy Spirit, for example 12.

My suggestion: Pick One – just one!

Pray for one gift of the Spirit – pick one fruit off the tree of the Spirit and pray for it.

Do you need patience, pray for it? Do you need courage? Pray for it. Do you need fortitude? Pray for it.

What do you need?

THE JESUIT METHOD

The Jesuit method is to name the grace you want. Be specific. Be clear. Then ask in prayer with the hope that you will receive. Knock on God’s door and it will be opened to you.

The Church has been around for the long time, so we have the gifts of lists of gifts to pray for.

The tradition 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit which can be found in Isaiah 11: 1-2 are, wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord. [Cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1831.

The 12 fruits of the Holy Spirit can be found in Galatians 5: 22-23: “charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity.” That’s how are listed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church # 1832 – from one translation of that text from Paul.

Everyone who has taught CCD or religion to kids – especially in preparation for Confirmation are very grateful for such lists.

I’m suggesting here, “Pick One!”

UNDERSTANDING

The one I pick is understanding.

That’s the one gift I’d love to have more of – understanding others.

I love the story of Solomon in First Kings, Chapter 3. He has a dream and God says to him, “Ask what you would like from me and I will give it to you?”

And Solomon asks for an understanding heart. [Verse 3:9] He figures that’s the key gift he’ll need as leader and king of his people.

And God says, “Because you didn’t ask for a long life or riches or the lives of your enemies, I will give you a wise heart – as well as riches – and glory as no other king ever had.

Well, we’ve all heard of the wisdom of Solomon. That’s the background story for his wisdom. Check it out.

Pick understanding.

I don’t know about you, but I scratch my head when it comes to trying to understand what makes others tick – why they do what they do.

We’ve all heard a dozen times the quote from Atticus Finch in the movie, To Kill a Mockingbird, where Atticus says to Scout, “If you just learn a single trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”

It’s the same message as the Native American sayings,  “Never criticize a person until you’ve walked a mile in their moccasins.” Or there is also the similar saying,  “Don’t judge anyone till you’ve walked two moons in their moccasins.”

I like to add that Jesus walked many miles in our sins.

I also like the saying in the Talmud, “Teach thy tongue to say, ‘I do not know.’”

I don’t know. I don’t understand. I misunderstand others. I haven’t walked in their steps. Their story is different than my story. I don’t understand their sins – so why do I want to throw rocks at times?

The first step is to listen – to observe – to watch.

The next step or a simultaneous step is to pray for the gift of understanding.

CONCLUSION

The title of my homily is, “Pick One!”

During this time of preparation and prayer for the feast of Pentecost, pick one gift of the Spirit that you need.

Pray for it – then work receiving it and putting it into practice and action. Amen.

D-DAY

Quote for Today - June 6, 2011

"People of Western Europe: A landing was made this morning on the coast of France by troops of he Allied Expeditionary Force. This landing is part of the concerted United Nations plan for the liberation of Europe, made in conjunction with our great Russian allies ... I call upon all who love freedom to stand with us now. Together we shall achieve victory."

Dwight David Eisenhower [1890-1969], Broadcast on D-Day - June 6,  1944

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