STORIES

Quote for the Day - May 13, 2013

"The universe is made of stories - not atoms."

Muriel Ruykeyser

Comment:

How about both and a lot more?

ASCENSION! 

A DIFFERENT 

MOTHER’S DAY STORY

They didn’t think she would walk again - let alone climb the 13 steep steps in their house to the second floor. She did both. It took time, but she did it - with a little help from her friends.

The accident happened two Novembers ago  - after dropping her son Christopher off - a sophomore in high school - their surprise baby -   at a Friday night football game. He hadn’t made the varsity team yet. It wasn’t a drunken driver - but it was a teenager in a rush - trying to do too much -  trying to get somewhere on a Friday evening. She was in a hurry.  The teen age girl didn’t get hurt - but Terri did. Their car was totaled - and her legs were somewhat crushed.

At first they didn’t think she would walk again. She did.

It took a lot of rehab - a lot of courage - stubbornness - surgeries on both legs - a wheel chair - a walker -  time - a cane - lots of time - and lots of sacrifice by her husband Tom and their last son, Christopher.

There two other sons were both married. One was in the military and the other got a great job in San Francisco.

At times Terri felt like a hundred year old woman. She was only 55.

After getting out of the hospital and then the rehab center, Terri finally got home. A big decision had been made: upstairs or downstairs?

Tom told his son, Christopher, “13 steps are a lot steps.”

Christopher said, “I can carry her up and down - she’s not that heavy. She’s my mother.” 

Both smiled at that.

Terri was only 128 pounds.

She liked to tell folks she was never over 130 pounds in her life. She liked to run. She liked to walk. She liked to exercise. Good thing she was athletic.

Terri was not in on this decision of: “Upstairs or downstairs.”

Tom said to Christopher,  “You won’t always be home. We have a bathroom down here - and we could put a bed in the living room. And what happens if my back goes out?” 

“Dad,” said Christopher, “there is no shower or tub down here. Would you want that if this was you?”

Pause….

“You’re right,” said his dad.

Terri went along with the decision - but she felt guilty at times -  especially when her husband had to carry her up or down those 13 steps to or from the second floor. 

With Christopher it was different. In fact,  she felt great - having her son - her surprise baby - her secret favorite - her football player - carrying her up and down those 13 steps.  

With Tom at times it was the opposite. After a long day - seeing him hold his right hip at times after the climb - and then seeing him wince and give a slight sniff with his left nostril - she wanted to get better - and better fast.  Wives know their husbands body language - especially when it’s frustration. She could hear him thinking: “We should have chosen the first floor.”

Step by step - life moves forward.

They were doing this as a family.

The conversations - between Tom and Terri - on the steps - were always about the steps and the tough of it. 

“I always wanted to know what it would be like to climb Mount Everest.” That was a comment by Tom. 

“And I wanted to climb the rest of the Presidential Range in New Hampshire.” That was a comment by Terri. She used to go backpacking while in college in Boston.

“Your mom,” said Terri - “used to say, ‘Once you hit 45 - always buy a house that has only one floor - if possible. You never know what’s going to happen in the future.’ Next house will be one floor.... Right?”

The conversations on the steps between Terri and Christopher were always about  their lives.

Christopher would talk about something that happened in the classroom that day - as well as going to college next year - where he might be going - and all that.

Terri would tell Chris, “I’m dying to get walking and driving again - to get back to work again. I miss teaching. I miss the kids. Thank God we have good medical coverage. Thank God for that. Thank God for you and dad.”

Then the day came. Actually it was just two weeks ago. After lots and lots of one step at a time - as well as lots of physical therapy - the day came -  when Terri was able to climb those 13 steps on her own. Okay - along with a sturdy banister. Tom and Christopher - were behind her all the way. She did it. That day she did it. She climbed those 13 steps on her own. Both of her men in her life were there for the celebration. Both clapped and clapped, “You made it to the top!”

“Phew” all three said at the same time!

It was like the sound a mom and dad and their kid  make when they blow out his second birthday cake - all together.

“Phew!”

You should have seen the smile on her face.

After that it was a piece of cake. The walker and wheelchair and the cane were put in the garage off to the side. They will be reminders at times - of what she went through - and then they will just sit there - that stuff that stays in garages forever - till someone has a yard sale - or needs a walker or wheelchair or a cane or they move.

That Mother’s Day her two sons and their wives and kids made it home to be with mom and dad and their brother Christopher.

All went to Mass - Mothers’ Day  - together in two cars.

Nobody but Terri got it when the priest said with a smile, “It’s rare when Ascension Thursday falls on  Mother’s Day - a Sunday -  but this year - that’s the story.”

The priest continued, “And I have no clue on how to connect the two. However, as we learned in the seminary - ‘Whenever it’s Mother’s Day, no matter what the readings are - even if there is no connection - you better say something about Mother’s Day - otherwise you’re toast  - well with at least half the congregation - and probably the whole congregation - because everyone has a mother.”

He then proceeded to talk on and on about something - while Terri made her connection....

Ascension - those were her 13 steps up those stairs.

Ascension - she was thinking about this past Lent - when Tom took Terri to church with the help of her walker - on Friday evenings for the Stations of the Cross. This was the first time either of them had done that since they were kids.

Terri wanted to go every Friday evening in Lent because she told Tom  she was making the connection between her recovery and Jesus stepping those 14 Stations of the Cross - as well as those 13 steps up to the second floor at home.

She added, “If Jesus made it, even though he fell 3 times, I can make it to top of those steps - and to the rest of the Presidential range of mountains in New Hampshire next summer.”

She made that last comment with a wink in her voice….

Then she concluded, “And I hope to rest of my life.”  

MOTHER'S DAY

Quote for Today - May 12, 2013 - Mother's Day 2013

"Mother's Day is when everybody waits on mother and she pretends she doesn't mind the extra work."

Someone

Questions:

What do you make of this quote? How do you observe it?

CLIQUES 

CRUSH COMMUNITY

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily  for this 6^th Saturday after Easter is, “Cliques Crush Community.”

I recently preached on how comparisons can crush           us. This morning: here is a brief homily on the issue of cliques - and how they can crush community.

SEMINARY

When I was in the seminary we were warned from time to time to avoid cliques. At first I had no clue what the word meant - and what cliques were.  All I knew for starters that they were a “no no!”

Slowly I discovered what everyone in every school, team, work place, neighborhood, and group learns. Cliques are a bummer. When sub-groups  or small groups within the larger group or community start to be snippy, snotty, snobby, the select few - then Houston we have problems.

I would see cliques from time to time - and saw from time to time how they can crush community.

TODAY’S FIRST READING FROM ACTS

This theme hit me from today’s first reading from Acts 18:23-28.

During these days after Easter we have been blessed with all these readings from the Acts of the Apostles. They are a blessing because they give details, history. They are very specific with names of people  and places - even though some of them are hard to pronounce.  To me they are totally opposite from these readings from the Gospel of John which we have after Easter. John can be very poetic, vague, and unclear. That’s not just my opinion. Various scholars like Ray Brown point that out.

In today’s first reading we hear about Apollos - a Jew from Alexandria - who is a scholar of the scriptures. He had become a follower of John the Baptist.  Thanks to Priscilla and Aquila - he hears about Jesus -  as we heard in today’s first reading. He then becomes a follower of Jesus Christ and becomes well know in the different early Christian communities where he preached. Like good preachers people start to become his fans and followers.

Looking up anything about Apollos - I found myself in  the first chapter of Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. Check it out!

It’s in the church of Corinth where this issue of cliques shows up. Some say they are following Apollos; some say they are following Paul. Some say they following  Cephas or Peter. This is the language of cliques. Paul challenges the Corinthians. The different groups as we hear in the 1^st Letter to the Corinthians attack back at Paul. Paul responds, “Has Christ been parceled out? Was it Paul that was crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?”

HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

Part of  the  history of the Catholic Church is a history of cliques and conflicts and comparisons and sub-groupings - leading to divisions and splits.

From time to time groups break off - and form their own churches.

We Redemptorists here in the United States split on the issue of reaching out to the English speaking Americans - so we have the Paulists begun by ex-Redemptorists.

If you see Father Benedict Groeschel on EWTN - you know his group broke off from the Capuchins which had broke off from the Franciscans - each group started for the purpose of renewal.

When I was novice master we would got to meetings of  students from various religious communities. At times I would hear groups comparing and criticizing other groups. It’s the stuff people often do when they are dealing with identity issues.

I know I have to be careful of not only verbal criticisms and digs, but also inner sniping. Being a slob who  prefers  the informal, I make fun of in my mind those I call the “Suits”.  Who am I to say that Jesus wouldn’t wear French cuffs and those elaborate expensive clerical   collars that some wear?

Cliques - groups - organizations use uniforms - hats - medals - badges - markers to say, “We’re special!” Then comes my question - and assumption at times, “You’re not!”

Every once and a while we all need to look at Jesus in that loin cloth on the cross - and make the stations of the cross with him.

In the meanwhile, we need to read the gospels - not these esoteric books that give private revelations. To me that kind of material can move people towards being Gnostics. To me their main underneath position is: “I know stuff you don’t know. Therefore I’m better than you.”  Underneath that is another of my uncharitable thoughts: “Therefore I’m not so bad after all.”

We all need to carefully read Jesus’ words about humility and simplicity - and his experiences with the Pharisees.

CONCLUSION

Jesus reached out to everyone - not just to his small group. It took Peter a while to get that message. Paul got it by conflict. Christ brings together people from the North, South, East, West - as the 4 points of the cross point out towards. 

BUILDING 

ROADS OR WALLS?

Quote for Today - May 11, 2013

"Great roads the Romans built 
          that men may meet,
And walls to keep strong men apart, 
          secure.
Now centuries are gone, 
          and in defeat
The walls are fallen, 
          but the roads endure."

Ethelyn Miller Hartwich, What Shall Endure?

Questions: 

Looking at my life of my parents, what has endured?

Looking at my life, what has endured?

Looking at my life, what do I want to endure?

THE OTHER 

PERSON'S PRAYERS

Quote for Today - May 10,  2013

"If we could all hear one another's prayers, God might be relieved of some of his burden."

Ashleigh Brilliant [1933- ]

UNANSWERED PRAYERS

Quote for Today - May 9, 2013

"More tears are shed over answered prayers than unanswered ones."

St. Teresa of Avila  [1515-1582]