THE MOST LONELY PERSON 

IN THE WORLD

Quote for Today - December 12, 2012

"There is no lonelier person than the one who lives with a spouse with whom he or she cannot communicate."


Margaret Mead

LOST SHEEP: 

THE LITTLE ONES 

ON THE PLANET

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 2^nd Tuesday in Advent  is, “Lost Sheep: The Little Ones on the Planet.”

ADVENT READING

One of the recommendations for Advent is that we do some Advent Spiritual Reading. So we have those blue books in the back of church the past few years and some other Advent pamphlets. People take them and people give feedback saying they appreciate them.

Just at the beginning of Advent, I noticed an Advent Sourcebook - from Liturgy Training publications in Chicago. It gives lots of prayers and some interesting quotes from all over. This week I’m reading the material for the Second Week, entitled, “Wealth of the Poor”.  

Last night I spotted a piece by Eduardo Galeano - a Uruguayan journalist and writer. I had never heard of him - and I know nothing about Uruguay - except that its capital is Montevideo. He’s around my age. I’m born in 1939. He’s born in 1940. He wanted to be a soccer player. He says every boy in Uruguay wanted to be a soccer player. He becomes a journalist and a writer.

HE WRITES ABOUT THE LITTLE GUY AND LITTLE GAL

I looked up on line last night just who this Eduardo Galeano is. He writes about the poor of the earth - especially the unnoticed - the nobodies of our world. This does not go down well at times with the big guys.

In 1973 there was a military coup in Uruguay and Eduardo Galeano is arrested and his book, Open Veins of Latin America is banned in that country - as well as Chile and Argentina. He escapes and settles in Argentina - till there is a military coup there a short time after he gets there. His name is on the list of those to be killed. So he goes to Spain. He returns to Uruguay and Montevideo in 1985 - when the country has elections and goes the opposite direction.

Here’s the quote and the story that I found in the Advent Book.

The Uruguayan political prisoners may not talk without permission, or whistle, smile, sing, walk fast, or greet other prisoners; nor may they make or receive drawings of pregnant women, couples, butterflies, stars or birds.

One Sunday, Didsasko Perez, school teacher, tortured and jailed “for having ideological ideas,” is visited by his daughter Milay, aged five. She brings him a drawing of birds. The guards destroy it at the entrance of the jail.

On the following Sunday, Milay brings him a drawing of trees. Trees are not forbidden, and the drawings get through. Didasko praises her work and asks about the colored circles scattered in the treetops, many small circles half-hidden among the branches: “Are they oranges? What fruit is it?”  The child puts her fingers to her mouth: “Ssssshhh.”

And she whispers in his ear: “Silly. Don’t you see they’re eyes? They’re the eyes of the birds that I smuggled in for you.”

That’s the story. Till I read up on the life of Eduardo Galeano I didn’t really get the story - other than it being interesting and puzzling.

TODAY’S READINGS

Combining it with today’s readings I got this out of it.

Today’s first reading is from Isaiah 40: 1-11. It’s the beginning of Second Isaiah. The Israelites are in exile - in the prison of Babylon - and Second Isaiah draws pictures of hope in words for this people. Right now we’re in a wasteland - but the Lord is going to lead us out by a brand new road - lowering the mountains and filling up the valleys to get us home. It’s a picture of hope. He’s saying, “Enough already. See the way out of this. Open your eyes to a better future.”

Today’s gospel from Matthew 18: 12-14 has Jesus telling us he cares for the little ones. He paints a picture in words of a  lost sheep - and see how he leaves the 99 to find the little one. He doesn’t worry about the 99 who are doing okay.

CONCLUSION

The message is to open up our eyes and see and then care for the lost ones - for those who feel like they are in exile - for those in prison - for those in nursing homes - for the children - especially the poor who are neglected and hurting. We need to be like that little girl and draw pictures for those who need  eyes to see how to escape from their littleness - and their poverty.

I plan to check out more about Eduardo Galeano - because I picked up on the little research I did on him last night. I see that he’s labeled a “Leftist”. I see that he challenges the First World foreign policies - including the United States - since the 1970’s - and before that. I see that he gets people thinking outside of their boxes - especially if they are narrow. He doesn’t like borders. He sees us as citizens of the earth. Caesar Chavez at a meeting of the countries of the Americas publicly handed Barack Obama Eduardo Galeano’s book, Open Veins of Latin America - which made it a best seller. In his writings about the poor of the planet - the lost sheep - people like the Somali Pirates and those in prison, I picked up that he upset lots of folks - and challenges lots of folks.

I  assume that the writers of the Advent book I picked up think that  is something we need for Advent - as Christians - to understand why Christ came in the first place - and why he drew us the picture of him looking for that 100^th sheep that was lost - and let’s hope we do as well - noticing each other - especially when we’re lost.

OPEN VS. CLOSED MIND

Quote for Today - December 11, 2012

"My mind is made up. Don't confuse me with the facts."


Many people

SEEING THE DESERT BLOOM

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 2 Monday of Advent is, “Seeing the Desert Bloom.”

DESERT HOUSE OF PRAYER: TUCSON, ARIZONA

The Redemptorists of our Denver Province have a retreat house just outside of Tucson, Arizona - along with a place called, “The Desert House of Prayer.”

A bunch of years ago I was asked to do two weeks of talks out there. My hope each day was that it would rain. I’ve always heard it's one of life’s most beautiful sights: desert rain and then to see what happens to the earth right after it. The desert comes to life big time.

It didn’t rain - so that’s one of life’s disappointments. It's still on my bucket list.

BUT - LOTS OF BUTS

But I did see an empty lot on the Lower East Side of New York City go from being dump  - containing rusting shopping carts, tossed  toilet bowls, thrown away mattresses, etc. etc. etc. - becoming a tiny park - with benches - shade trees - a small community vegetable garden - some cement chess and card tables - and people sitting there enjoying a quiet nook in the middle of a busy neighborhood.

But I have seen family members and priests recover from alcoholism and getting into AA 12 Step Programs for their recovery.

But I have seen a junky, dilapidated house become a beautiful home where a family lives - in both New Orleans and Philadelphia.

But I’ve seen many a road go from one with pot holes and bumps to a brand new road - black topped - new white lines and it flowed.

But I’ve seen people walking well with new knees and new hips.

But I’ve seen people recover from a gambling addiction.

But I repaired and rebuilt a boardwalk by the ocean that was totally destroyed by a Nor’easter.

But I read about Grandma Moses - Anna Mary Robertson - mother of 10 children - 5 of whom died in childbirth -  started painting in her late 70’s and did some 1600 paintings till her death at 101. She sold her first paintings - small ones 2 dollars - large ones 3 dollars. In November of 2006, her 1943 painting, Sugaring Off sold for 1.2 million.

But I’ve seen old folks dancing up a storm at many a wedding.

But I’ve seen people recover from stuttering, Bell’s Palsy, a stroke and what have you.

TODAY’S READINGS

Recovering, renewal, beginning again, new life, roads finished, safety, flowers blooming, healing, redemption - are all themes in today’s two readings.

In the first reading from Isaiah  35: 1-10, we hear that the desert and the parched land will exult, The earth will bloom with beautiful flowers. Everyone is singing. Sore hands and knees will be strengthened. Hearts that are frightened will stop being afraid. The blind will see. The deaf will hear. The lame will leap. Those who can’t speak, will speak out.

In today’s gospel from Luke 5: 17-26, the man who is paralyzed by sickness and sin is forgiven and healed - and stands up praising Jesus - saying, “We have seen incredible things today.”

CONCLUSION: TODAY

Today - it’s been raining. It’s kind of dreary. Remember the old saying, "Bloom where you're planted." A question then: What can I do to make life bloom around us today?" Amen.

OOOOOO

Painting on top: Blooming Cactus by Amy H. Whitehouse

HIDING GO  SEEK

Quote for Today - December 10,  2012

"Suppose someone is hiding and he stirs, he shows his whereabouts thereby; and God does the same. No one could ever have found God; God gives himself away."

Meister Eckhart [1260-1327], Meister Eckhart

LANDSCAPE:

INNER AND OUTER

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Landscape: Inner and Outer.”

TODAY’S READINGS

Today’s readings - for this Second Sunday in Advent - talk about landscape - inner and outer - more outer than inner - however.

The first reading from the prophet Baruch talks about the heights of Jerusalem - where people came to visit on a regular basis - to see the big city - from the east and the west. Then Baruch talks about the leveling of landscape - mountains being lowered and gorges being filled in. He also talks about every kind of tree lending both shade and fragrance for those on the road to the city. Then at the end of today’s first reading Baruch goes within: how God is leading the people of Israel in joy  - by the light of his glory - so that they will travel this life with mercy and justice.

Today’s gospel has Luke’s way of beginning the coming out of Jesus as an adult. He locates Jesus in history. He tells us who was emperor at the time - Tiberius Caesar - who was governor - Pontius Pilate - who was tetrarch of Galilee - Herod - and then he gives a few more names - as well as the names of Annas and Caiaphas - who were high priests at the time.  Next he tells us of John the Baptist who came to proclaim a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. John quotes the prophet Isaiah. It’s the same message that we heard from Baruch: roads and paths are to be made straight - valleys are to be filled in - with the mountains and hills being lowered - and winding roads are to be made straight and rough ways made smooth. Then the closing message is about changes in our inner landscape - redemption and salvation coming to us from our God.

The title of my homily is: “Landscape: Inner and Outer.”

HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION AHEAD.

We’ve all been on the roads of life and we’ve all seen signs indicating, “Highway Construction Ahead.”

I had the front seat of a bus with our high school seniors last Friday coming back from a 4 day retreat at Malvern Retreat House in Pennsylvania. I had looked at the readings for today just before I left - so as to think about a homily for today on the bus. I saw landscape in the readings. I saw landscape out the front window of the bus. I saw hills - no mountains - but hills and slopes - dips and twists and turns. I saw road construction here and there on the way - especially on 95 north of Baltimore. When is that going to be finished?

Maybe like airports, construction, revamping, always goes on.

I couldn’t help but think a retreat is a good thing for folks to attend from time to time. Retreat houses are usually located where there is beautiful landscape. I suspect the motive is for folks to go within: to check out their inner landscape.

What does it look like inside me - in my invisible side? What am I like? If someone could walk around inside me - what would they see?

Do I have rough roads - that need repair? Where do I need to be inner beautified? Where are my potholes - that bother me and others all the time? Where do I have to plant inner trees and dig for water?

As I sat on the bus thinking about all this - I thought: “That’s one of  the purposes of Advent - to look at our inner landscape - and make our paths to God better - and better for God to travel to us.”

I think of the Christmas story of Mary and Joseph coming south on a donkey - heading for Bethlehem - the place where Jesus is born.

CONCLUSION

I laugh. I celebrate - after all this talk about beautiful landscape - Jesus is born in a stable with the stink of animals. So he’ll come to us - however we are - but I guess it would be better, if we were better. 

CONTROL  FREAK 

Quote for Today - December 9, 2012

"One of the marks of a certain type of bad man is that he can't give up a thing without wanting everyone else to give it up. That isn't the Christian way."

C.S. Lewis, Christian Behavior, 1944



Now about that fish on Friday............