IMPACT:
THAT MAN IS YOU

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 3rd Saturday in Ordinary Time is, “Impact: That Man Is You!”

Last night after reading the readings for today the theme of “Impact” hit me.

Last night I reflected upon the question: “What have been the things that impacted me - those moments and memories, experiences and peoples who have impacted my life - changed me - got me to reconsider realities?”

It’s a good question. It’s worth reflecting upon. Answers will come - but not all the answers. There are things that had an impact upon us - but we forgot all about them

Then sometimes, something triggers a recall. Then we say, “Oh that’s where I got that thought or idea from. How many times has that hit us?

TODAY’S FIRST READING: 2 SAMUEL 12: 1-7, 10-17

The title of my homily is, “Impact: That Man Is You?”

The second part of that statement is what hit me last night, namely, “That Man Is You!” It’s a statement made by Nathan to David in today’s first reading. That’s the translation I was used to. The New American Bible as you heard today put it this way, “You are the man!”

It’s the title of a book by Louis Evely that came out in 1964 - and it had a great impact on people’s lives. I noticed in doing some research on this book last night - that his book is on many lists of people’s best books.

In one issue of U.S. Catholic magazine, people were asked to respond to this question: “What book had the greatest spiritual influence on your life?” Some people said it was, “That Man Is You,” by Louis Evely.

I also noticed a request sent in to another magazine: “What book would you recommend and why for my younger sister who now has interest in religion in her life?” Some recommended, “That Man Is You” by Louis Evely,

You know the whole story - part of which is in today’s first reading. David steals another man’s wife - Bathsheba. Nathan comes to him and tells him a parable. A poor man had nothing - nothing but a tiny little sheep. His neighbor was a rich man - who had a guest coming - so instead of taking from his own flock to come up with a meal for his visitor - he steals the poor man’s sheep.

David takes the bite. He says, “Who is this man who did such a thing? It’s not fair.”

Nathan the Prophet says, “That man is you.”

That statement - that story - taught me the power of parables and stories, movies and plays, as well as the power of books.

Impact.

Thinking about that last night - I realized that book taught me the great message: every story in the Bible has me in mind. Every story is about me. That man is you. That woman is you. That story is your story!”

I am the Magi and the Shepherds. I am all the characters in the Good Samaritan story. I’m the Good Thief and the Bad Thief. I’m the lost coin and the lost sheep. I’m Adam and Eve. I’m Moses and David. It am the Woman at the Well. I’m a disciple of Jesus - in the boat - as we heard in today’s gospel - and I’m trying to get to the other side and I’m facing a storm - and I need faith.

I’m doubting Thomas and I’m Thomas Aquinas - whose feast day is today - January 28th.

This message of seeing ourselves in every story is exactly what Shakespeare and the great movie makers knew. I’m Bogart and Bergman in Casablanca. I’m Jimmy Stewart in It’s A Wonderful Life.

I am the person on the bridge in the famous 1893 painting by Edvard Munch - called “The Scream”. Everyone has deep screams inside their being. What are they?

Then I remembered an article I wrote for Priest magazine - a long, long time ago. The article was on my favorite 10 books. I wondered if I had Louis Evely’s book on my list. Yep, it was # 9.

THE LONG LINE

Surprise I noticed in the things I was reading last night mention of a story by a French playwright, Jean Anouilh. He told the story about the line of folks on their way up to the Pearly Gates. As I read that I said, “Oh no!” I was humbled because I realized where I got my idea for a sermon on just that - a sermon that I enjoyed giving. Surprise, it wasn’t my idea in the first place.

CONCLUSION

Realizing that I’m someone who has picked up stuff from all over, it’s no wonder I like the line in Ulysses, the poem by Tennyson, “I am part of all that I have met.”

This humbles me. It also leads to gratitude for all those who impacted my life.

JOY  TO  THE  WORLD

January  28,  2012

Quote for Today

"We are the strings in the concert of God's joy."

Jakob Boehme [1575-1624] German Mystic

ON  BEING  APPRECIATED 

January  27, 2012

Quote for Today

"The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated."

William James [1842-1910]

Question: By midnight tonight, who are the 3 people you'll tell or show signs that you appreciate them?

CONVERSION

Quote for Today - January  26,  2012

"Conversion may occur in an instant,  but the process of coming from sinfulness into a new life can be a long and arduous journey."

Charles Colson

Painting on Top: The Conversion of St. Paul [1600-1601] by Caravaggio (1571-1610) - which like Caravaggio's other painting of Paul's conversion can be found in Rome - this one in the Odescalchi Balbi Collectionl

DIFFERENT  SCHOOLS 

OF  THOUGHT

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Different Schools of Thought.”

SOME QUESTIONS

I would think that all of us would take time - from time to time - to ask questions like the following, “Where am I coming from?” “Why do I think the way I think?” “Why do people think differently than the way I think? and vice versa?”

OUR HISTORY

I would think that all of us would take time - from time to time - to look at our own history - to write our autobiography - to tell our story to each other - to see our time line - how we have grown - how we have decayed - how we have recovered - how we are different from the way we were. [1]

I would think that all of us would take time - from time to time - to ponder who formed us - who got us to think the way we think?

I would think that all of us would take time - from time to time - to look at moments in our life - where we changed our opinions - the way we think, etc. Was it people who changed us? If we changed, was it gradual, unnoticed, unconscious, or what have you?

I would think that all of us would take time - from time to time - to look at moments in our life - where we changed because we heard an opinion or an understanding - and we said to ourselves, “I don’t agree with that.” How many takes on issues have we figured out on our own - based on our reasoning - and listening - our inner development of thought - based on perceived consequences - even when we see that our opinion is in the minority?

I would think that all of us would take time - from time to time - and recall the times we fell flat on our face - fell off our high horse - hit bottom - and realized we were deaf, dumb and blind - and we needed to get on to get ourselves straightened out - to get on the Straight and Narrow - so we can see further and wider - than the way we are seeing now.

I would think we all need or have had Paul like conversions.

TODAY’S FIRST READING

Today is the feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul - January 25th.

The first reading tells us of the dramatic change in the life of Saul - moving from being someone who persecuted Christians - to being a follower of Christ. [Cf. Acts of the Apostles 22: 3-16]

It was an eye closing experience - to an eye opening experience.

We find Paul’s change being described in his letters as well as Luke’s Acts of the Apostles. [2]

PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT

If we read the scriptures, we discover that King Saul was different that King David. If we read the scriptures we find out that Paul was different than Peter - and Thomas different than Peter - and the same person, Saul was different than the person he became - Paul.

If we read the scriptures carefully, we can see that Mathew, Mark, Luke and John were all different - and some say that they are 4 schools of thought.

Today’s first reading mentions a character named Gamaliel - that Paul was trained by him - and Gamaliel was from the School of Hillel which was milder than the School of Shammai. Yet Paul (when he was Saul) was very strict - when it comes to the Law.

VATICAN II

I was lucky to be trained before, during and after Vatican II. It gave our class at times an understanding of those older and those younger than us.

I was lucky to have parents who were immigrants - as well as reflectively quiet - especially my dad. I often saw my dad quietly reading and praying. My sister Mary - in our Sunday afternoon - weekly phone call - has often said my mom was ahead of her times. Did I get a liberal streak from her? I don’t know.

There are questions we all have about our parents - our teachers - our experiences - as well as our background.

While studying theology in our major seminary from 1962-1966 our text books presented a theological dogma or teaching. Then it gave various opinions and schools of thought on various dogmas and issues.

We heard the great teaching of Vatican II - that a person’s conscience is king and queen of that person - but they need to have an informed conscience. [3]

I have read from time to time that Pope Benedict had a different background and take on different things than John Paul II - and John Paul I was different than John Paul II, etc. etc. etc.

Well, isn’t that true for all of us? Do people who grew up in a parish that had Franciscans have a different take on spirituality and thought than someone who grew up in a parish that had Jesuits or Benedictines? If someone went to church that had diocesan priests - would the place where those priests went to the major seminary - end up giving them different attitudes on preaching content and style?

As priest I think about the individual professors we had - what they were off on - how they saw life and God - having an impact on me.

Once upon a time I was asked to go with a group of people on a four hour bus ride to a spiritual retreat center for a weekend. The priest who was supposed to go with the group couldn’t make it. One of the leaders - as soon as we got started - asked if she could put a CD of Father John Corapi on the VCR. People agreed. I had heard of him - but never listened to him. He preached a long sermon - or talk. Then the lady asked if she could put another talk on - then a third talk. As I sat there listening I realized how different he was to other priests I had heard - as well as myself. He was clear and strong - but when I got to the retreat house I felt like I was in a room and the person in the next room had loud music on for 3 ½ hours - or hammering or drilling. On the way back - after getting into the bus - after a weekend of prayer, quiet, walking, some talks - the same lady asked if she could put Father John Corapi on the VCR - for the ride back - people said, “No!”

That experience and a zillion other experiences reaffirmed the obvious to me: we are different! We are all different people.

I keep in mind the saying, “The greatest sin is our inability to accept the otherness of other people.”

I watched the State of the Union last evening and the guy with the clicker or remote or was switching back and forth between Fox and CNBC and CNN - and all three channels had commentators giving their take on President Barak Obama’s talk. Once more I saw the great differences in perceptions - agendas - takes.

I jokingly thought to myself, “Did they all hear and watch the same talk?”

CONCLUSION

The title of my homily was, “Different Schools of Thought.”

I love it that the Christian God is a Trinity of Persons - 3 divine persons.

I love it that Jesus chose a variety of persons - and as we heard in today’s gospel - he sent the 11 into the world to proclaim he Good News to all.

+++***+++

Painting on top: The Conversion of St. Paul on the Road to Damasascus, 1601. It can be found in the church of Santa Maria Del Popolo, Rome.

[1] Cf. Paul Tournier, The Person Reborn, Harper and Row, Publishers, Translated by Edwin Hudson, 1966; Jack Mezirow and Associates, Fostering Critical Reflection in Adulthood, A Guide to Transformative and Emancipatory Learning, Jossey-Bas Publishers, San Francisco, Oxford, 1990

[2] We find autobiography and biography of Paul in 2 Corinthians 11 to 13: 10; 1 Corinthians 9: 1-27; Acts of the Apostles 9: 1-22; and in lots of other places in the New Testament

[3] Cf. Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, Gaudium et Spes, Chapter 4, 41. Catechism of the Catholic Church, Part 3, Article 6, Moral Conscience.

GRUDGES

Quote for Today - January 25, 2013

"Concealed grudges are dangerous in friendships."

Anonymous

KEEP CALM!

THE EXAMPLE

OF ST. FRANCIS DE SALES

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Keep Calm! The Example of St. Francis De Sales.”

Today, January 24, is the feast of St. Francis de Sales [1567-1622].

FREDDY PRENATT

A priest I used to talk to for Spiritual Direction while in our major seminary, Father Freddy Prenatt, liked St. Francis de Sales.

He stressed the virtue and practice of “Keep calm!” He liked to say that St. Francis de Sales stressed “Con calme!” - doing life with calmness. “Con calme!” He would add that St. Francis de Sales stressed, “Omnia suave”. Translation: “All things sweetly!” “Do all things sweetly.”

I could end right there. That’s a good sermon idea: work on keeping calm. Work on doing all things sweetly. Nice and easy!

TWO PAGES

I aim for two pages - 14 pica - in these homilies for weekday masses - so let me flesh this out a tiny bit more?

Is keeping calm - being calm - a virtue? Is it something one can work on? Are some people more calm and some people more volatile - simply by nature. Can you watch a child and see a whole life?

Someone with passion is valuable at times. Someone who is calm is valuable at times.

Does the person who is calm - better too calm - need a little more passion in their life? Doesn’t Yeats - William Butler Yeats- in his poem, The Second Coming say something about all this - when we writes about the world falling apart - because the center cannot hold? Then he says, “The best lack all conviction, while the worst / Are full of passionate intensity.”

ST. FRANCIS DE SALES

I read a bit last night about St. Francis de Sales.

It was interesting to read that this man who pushed for keeping calm - and doing all things sweetly - had a fierce temper - and had big struggles with anger. He admitted that it took him 20 years to overcome his temper.

This surprised people - but it seems that his solution was to zip his mouth - step back - hold off a responses - let things sit - give things time. If one does that, one can learn patience.

He got to know St. Vincent de Paul who said that he never met a kinder main in his life.

Is it where we are in the birth order - what are parents are like - that makes us what we’re like and become. He was the oldest of 12. He had a very definite - a very strong father. His father had big plans for him - including the woman he was to marry. His father got very angry with him when he announced he was going to go for the priesthood.

Was that the reason St. Alphonsus liked his writings - because he too was the oldest in his family - and his father was furious with his decision to stop being a lawyer to become a priest?

Both he and Alphonsus went through a serious depression. For Francis it was the fear of dying and going to hell. For Alphonsus it was that at times - he could be scrupulous - but it was also the loss of a big law case.

CONCLUSION

That’s enough. This morning I’m suggesting that we look at the issue of keeping calm - taking one’s time - building one’s life - not on fear - but on the love of God. I noticed that Alphonsus spotted that in Francis de Sales writings - and both said to build one’s life on just that - loving and being loved - God and each other.