SIGNS

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 6th Monday in Ordinary time is, “Signs.”

We know about signs.

We use signs. We need signs. We give signs. We understand signs. We misunderstand signs.

Confusing signs get us angry. Misinterpreted signs get us angry. Lack of signs get us angry. We want signs. We get lost without signs.

TODAY’S GOSPEL

We hear about signs in today’s gospel.

Let me read the whole of today’s gospel once more - Mark  8: 11-13 - because if you’re like me, sometimes we don’t hear. We’re somewhere else, or we’ve been here before - or all this is déjà vu - and we're watching another movie.

            The Pharisees came forward
            and began to argue with Jesus,
            seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him.
            He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said,
           "Why does this generation seek a sign?
           Amen, I say to you,
           no sign will be given to this generation."
           Then he left them, got into the boat again,
            and went off to the other shore.

To mix or mess up a metaphor or image, many people feel they are in the same boat as the Pharisees in today’s Gospel. They feel unsure because Jesus headed in another boat for another shore - leaving those on this sure or unsure or shore without any sign where he was going.

Huh!?

Having heard that I’m talking about signs in this homily,  do you hear this gospel in a different light - this second time around?

TOMORROW IS ST. VALENTINE’S DAY

Tomorrow is St. Valentine’s Day - and people will be receiving signs of love. Many will be looking for signs of love and appreciation and recognition - and acknowledgement - wanting to hear from significant others, “I know you’re here in my life and I love and appreciate you.”

Say it with flowers, jewelry, a card, a word, a dinner, chocolates - preferably in the shape of a heart.

"Don't talk about love. Show me!"

So tomorrow is sign in day! However, on the other 364 days of the year - 365 this year - we the people will still be looking for signs of love.

THIS MORNING

This morning I’m heading out to the doctor’s office at 6:40 AM and a lady in the parking lot is coming towards St. Mary’s Church. I figure she’s heading for the 6:45 AM Mass. Nope. She says she’s from Mobile, Alabama and is looking for the kindergarten to meet some teachers. I’m not sure which building she’s really looking for. I bring her to the school and I meet Chuck Jr. and I say, “Which way to the Kindergarten?” He says, “Which one. They are in 4 different places.”

She was looking for a sign at 6:40 in the morning.

Aren't we all?

SIGNS FROM GOD

If you read the scriptures one discovers people want signs from God.

Is this is why people read the horoscopes?

Is this why we have various books of revelations - that keep appearing?

Is this why various people have left organized religion?

They aren't getting answers. Or the answers they get, they don't like. They want something else.

People want signs.

If you listen to the Gospel of Mark carefully, you’ll discover that Mark features this problem.

You'll hear about people wanting signs or they never get past the signs they are getting.

When signs don’t come - or the answer they want doesn't come - they go, “So long, God.”

CONCLUSION

If you know anything about Christ and Christianity, you know it's a religion of faith. It’s a religion of trust. It's a relationship - and a walking with others - sometimes in the dark.

If you know anything about other people, relationships are all about faith and trust.

Okay sometimes there are flowers from another - and sometimes one is overwhelmed by a field of flowers - or the birds of the air, and we know, "There is a God!"

Okay sometimes there are words - and sometimes one is overwhelmed with Jesus - the Word made flesh.

But most of the time it’s faith time. Most of the time it’s about trust - acts of trust that the Other is with us and loves us.

DREAMS

February  13,  2012

Quote for Today - Thirteenth Day in Black History Month
   
                              "Hold fast to dreams
                        For if dreams die
                        Life is a broken-winged bird
                        That cannot fly."

Langston Hughes [1902-1967]

DOCTOR

GEORGE  KINDERNISKOWSKI

[This is a story I wrote for today’s Family Mass in Marian Hall - the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time B. I took a theme from today’s second reading from 1st Corinthians 10:31-11:1 where Paul talks about imitation - that one’s own life might benefit many. Then I took the example of Christ healing someone with leprosy. After finishing the story last night it hit me that this story might be over little kids heads. There wasn't enough time for another story so ....  However,  there are many parents at the Mass and the Religious Ed teachers after Mass might explain the story as an example if desirable. Amen.]


Once upon a time there was a medical doctor named Doctor George. He never went by his last name, because those who knew him were never that sure on just how to pronounce his last name: Kinderniskowski. [Spell out: K I N D E R N I S K O W S K I and then say, “Kinderniskowski.”]

When George was about eight years old his father was in a horrible accident. His dad was a welder of cars - turning regular limousines into stretch limousines. The company he worked for would take a regular big car - cut it in half - just behind the front seat - and then put in a middle section - and then weld the metal of the middle section to back and front of the car. In other words he helped make big cars become even bigger.

We see limousines at weddings and funerals and prom night - so George’s dad was one of the people who helped make them.

Well, one time someone put the gas tank from a car off to the side and it was full. Someone hit it or somehow it had a gas leak. Next the flame from his dad’s welding torch hit the gas that was leaking and there was a fairly big explosion in the garage where he was working. His dad got burnt badly. 911 was called immediately. Praise God, nobody was killed - but George’s dad was burnt badly.

Luckily there was a burn unit in a hospital about 25 miles away and they got his dad there in time. But his dad needed a lot of healing and a lot of plastic surgery on his skin.

Sometimes accidents bring about nice surprises and sometimes surprises take a long time to happen.

Seeing his dad going through many skin operations on his face and arms and legs - healing that took a long time - hearing all about plastic surgeons - doctors who care for people with all kinds of skin and other problems - George slowly took on the dream of wanting to become a plastic surgeon himself when he grew up.

His dad recovered - getting back to the work he loved. His dad was glad every time he heard his son, George, say when old people asked him, “What are you going to be when you grow up, George?”

“I’m going to be a plastic surgeon doctor,” he’d answer.

George did it. He finished college - got into medical school - finished that - and then went on to become a plastic surgeon. His dad and mom lived to see all his graduations.

His father thought at times, “My son is doing the same thing as I’m doing. I’m working with cars and he’s working with people’s bodies.”

Fast forward 50 years and Doctor George Kinderniskowski - simply called by everyone, “Doctor George” was retiring. His mom and dad had died several years earlier.

There he was in a big hospital dining room at a retirement party - with his wife and four kids.

Doctor George thought it was going to be a nice small dinner - with about 25 people. Nope the room was filled with over 100 people - many of whom Doctor George had helped - especially 20 soldiers who had been burnt while serving in the military.

There were 3 speakers - and like the military people in the room - they were also complete surprises in being there - and they would give a speech thanking Doctor George for what he did for them.

Not everyone experiences such a moment. Teachers, waiters, waitresses, even moms and dads, sometimes wonder and worry about the big life question: “What have I done with my life?”

Doctor George found out that his life choice was a good life choice and that he made a difference in people’s lives.

The first speaker was a beautiful young woman of 32. She was a TV anchor woman on national TV. You’d see her sometimes on the Evening News.

She told everyone that when she was in the girl scouts they were at a camp and she was attacked, bitten and mauled by a bear. She told everyone that she found out later on that they weren’t sure she would live. She lived, recovered, but needed massive amounts of plastic surgery on her arms, her legs, her back and her face. Yes her face.

Everyone was looking carefully at that face - and couldn’t see a scar.

“This doctor is good,” she said.

She told everyone Doctor George not only fixed her up - but he wouldn’t let up till he had her perfect. It took years. It took a whole series of operations - but “Oooh la la,” she said - with a great twinkle in her eye, “he made me what I am today - with a TV camera on me all the time.”

The second person was a blind person - who was obviously born with serious bodily malformations. He also had Down Syndrome. He was a neat person. He had everyone laughing. He talked very childlike. He said, “Obviously I have never seen Doctor George - but I got to know him through his care for me - for his easy voice and kind words to me and got me all better.

This second speaker was short and sweet - and swept the people up off their feet to give him a standing ovation at this retirement party for Doctor George.

The third person was also a doctor - and also a plastic surgeon. His story was fascinating - because he said, “Doctor George worked on my hands for the longest time.” I had claws for hands. I was a birth defect. I was a mess. Kids bullied me. Kids made fun of me - calling me “Lobster boy!”

He continued, “Doctor George got me to be able to bowl and play lacrosse - in fact all sports. Doctor George inspired me to become a plastic surgeon just like he was.

Then he said, “I found out every year Doctor George would take a month off to go to Latin America or Africa or India to do work for free - especially for children - who were handicapped. They would round up - people who needed help - kids with cleft mouth - or kids having other facial defects. - and with permission of their families or guardians - George worked miracles on them.

He concluded, “I’ve been doing this myself with Doctor George now for the past 6 years because of Doctor George. He taught me to give back from what you got.”

Doctor George retired - but really didn’t retire. He spent the rest of his life still trying to help others - in any way he could.

***************

This story is fiction. The only semblance of truth would be that I have met some people who have volunteered their medical expertise in Third World countries.

THE  SECRET

February  12, 2012

Quote for Today - Twelfth Day of Black History Month


"If you want to lift yourself up , lift up someone else "



 
 
Booker T . Washington [1856-1915], Author, Educator, Civil Rights Leader

LOUIS  ARMSTRONG 

February  11,  2012

Quote of the Day - Eleventh Day of Black History Month

"If you don't like Louis Armstrong, you don't know how to love."

Mahalia Jackson [1911-1974]

Photograph of Mahalia Jackson by Carl  Van  Vechten  [1880-1964]

“EPHPHATHA!”

“BE OPENED!”

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 5th Friday in Ordinary Time is, “Ephphatha! Be Opened!”

We have here in Mark 7: 31-37 a wonderful healing story by Jesus - healing someone’s hearing as well as one’s speaking.

The obvious message is to use those words for prayer.

How about keeping  that scene in mind each morning and pray those words. Hear those words from Jesus to help us to hear well this day - to speak well this day.

“Ephphatha! Be Opened!”

“Ephphatha!” is one of those dozen or so Aramaic words - the language Jesus spoke - that can be found in the New Testament [1]

Suggestion: take your hand and touch your ear in gesture prayer, “Ephphatha! Be Opened!” Then touch the other ear praying, “Ephphatha! Be Opened!” Then touch one’s tongue. Touch it and say, “Ephphatha! Be Opened!”

EARS AND TONGUE

I would assume it’s significance in this story is that it includes both ear and tongue - listening and speaking. Both ….

I would assume that the openness includes not just the mouth but the ears as well - and not just one’s ears and one’s mouth - but to open one’s mind and heart and hands.

AN AESOP FABLE

In preparing this homily last night I found a quote and an anecdote.

You might have heard this from Father Mahoney - because I got his room and some of his books.

Aesop the famous creator and gatherer of Fables and Anecdotes was asked what was the most useful thing in the world. He answered, “The tongue.” Then when asked what was the most harmful thing in the world, he gave the same answer: “The tongue.”

Then the book I found this in told Aesop's fable about the 3 bulls who were always together. A big lion kept watching them from a distance - hoping they would stray from each other and he’d have one, two or three great meals.

The 3 bulls never separated. What to do? What next? Somehow, it’s sort of contradictory in the story, the lion whispered into the ears of each bull some gossip and bad stories about the other 2. It worked. Jealousy and anger got them to avoid each other and sure enough it was easy pickings for the lion. He had 3 great meals - and that’s a lot of bull.

A community, a family, a group, a marriage, can fall apart when gossip or jealousy starts with little stories and the rest is history. Gossip and jealousy, whisper and whining - need a tongue and at least 4 ears. Gossip and jealousy separate people from people.

CONCLUSION: TODAY

Today: today - right now - we’re at the beginning of a new day and we’re using our tongues to pray to God and our ears to listen to God.

Today’s first reading - 1 Kings 11:29-32 - continues telling us of the breakup of the 12 tribes of Israel - when the whole tribal federation of North and South broke apart. They divorced and separated.

The key message in today’s Psalm 81 is to “hear the word of God” and not be “hard of heart”. When folks stop listening to God and listening to each other - when folks stop working and talking with each other - they do this because they have started to listen to false gods and selfish alternatives and individuals, families, tribes and nations fall apart.

Today’s gospel tells us to hear  and then ponder or meditate on the story of the person Jesus healed of hearing and speaking problems. Stop and think. Realize! It could be me!

So once more my suggestion: take one hand and touch one of my ears in gesture prayer, “Ephphatha! Be Opened!” Then  touch the other ear and pray, “Ephphatha! Be Opened!” Then one’s tongue. Touch it and say, “Ephphatha! Be Opened!”

*******       *******     *******

Picture on top: "The Deaf Man of the Decapolis,"  Mark 7: 31-37, Robert T. Barrett - Notice the "do!"

[1] Maranatha, abba, raca, ephphatha, mammon, Eli, eli, lama sabactani, Rabbuni, hosanna, korban, jot, title, sikera, Boanerges, Cephas, Tabitha, Bethesda, Golgotha, Gabbatha, Gethsemani. 

TAKE  ANOTHER 

LOOK  IN THE MIRROR 

February  10,  2012

Quote for Today - Tenth Day of Black History Month


“We look into mirrors but we only see the effects of our times on us - not our effects on others."


Pearl  Bailey   [1899-1974]