HAPPINESS

Quote for Today - October 3, 2013

“Happiness is an imaginary condition, formerly often attributed by the living to the dead, now usually attributed by adults to children, and by children to adults.”

Thomas Szasz  [1920-2012 ]  The Second Sin [1973] “Emotions”

ANGELS:

MESSAGES AND  MESSENGERS

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this feast of The Holy Guardian Angels is, “Angels: Messages and Messengers.”

This morning I would  like to preach about angels. I don’t take them lightly - in spite of G. K. Chesterton’s cute remark: “Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly.” [Orthodoxy (1908) Chapter 7]

I like the nuance in Alan Watts comment better: “We do not realize that, as Chesterton reminded us, angels fly because they take themselves so lightly.” [The Way of Liberation, 1983]

Our church teaching - coming out of our scriptures - and our traditions -  is that God sends his angels as messengers as well as to watch over us - to guard and guide us.

Today’s feast proclaims that God sends each of us a guardian angel to guide us.

Angels are not a topic we hear about that often. We have trouble enough - to get people to believe in God.

Once more the title of my homily is, “Angels: Messages and Messengers.”

BASIC MEANING OF ANGELS

The most basic meaning of what an angel is, is, “A Messenger.”

In the Bible, in our scriptures, angels bring messages.

The Bible has various stories about angels who show up to help people in trouble - in difficult times - people in need help to solve a problem - as well as angels who show up to give people a call - a vocation - a mission.

Angels are invisible - therefore maybe millions of them can sit on the head of pin. Angels in the Bible are given names: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael. Notice the EL at the end of those names - EL a Hebrew word for “God”.

The Bible tells us about two types of angels: good angels and bad angels. The Devil is the Prince of the Bad Angels. They are also called “Demons” at times.

EAR BUDS

This is a thing called “ear buds”. You plug it a receiver of various sorts - and one hears - messages of sorts - through these ear phones.

I was just down in Philadelphia for the past two days to see one of my sisters who is dying. I drove to my other sister and the two of us took the train Monday and then yesterday, Tuesday, to the University of Penn hospital.

I began noticing on the train - and on the stations - and in the hospital - one million people with these in their ears - or they had cell phones or their equivalents - in hand - everywhere.

It seems that everyone is reading, listening, texting messages - all day long.

The obvious message that hit me is this: the air is filled with messages and messengers.

If we look out our eyes and if tune up our ears - we still can’t see or hear the many cell phone voices and invisible inaudible sounds and messages that  are shooting through our air - could a million of these messages sit on the head of a pin? -  but stick one of these ear buds in one’s ears and one hears all kinds of sounds and songs - or open up one’s iPhones or Droid or cell phone and surprise - there are lots of messages flying through our space.

Keep that in mind - when thinking of the world and atmosphere of angels and devils, spirits and demons.

Up till Modern Times - up till the Enlightenment - people thought of the world filled with spirits - voices. They were often called, “Angels and Demons.”  Isn’t that the title of a book by Dan Brown?

When you are in college, take a course in anthropology.  Learn about the mind set of  Aborigine People - or ancient peoples. They will tell a student how some people see the world filled with voices - spirits - demons.

Has this changed? In a way yes and in a way, no.

Listen to folks and you’ll discover that people today - are unconsciously aware of positive and negative forces, energies, voices, strengths and weaknesses.

You’ve heard, I’m sure, the Native American story of the two dogs.

Every person has inside of them two dogs: the good dog and the bad dog. The good dog is a “nice dog”. Everyone loves a nice dog. Pet him or her. She or he is nice to have around. They guard us. They protect us. The bad dog is the one who growls - is a b….. - bites and annoys us. And the Native American teacher - teaches the young one about those 2 dogs. And the teacher tells the kids that they are always fighting. And a kid asks, “Which one wins?” And the teacher loves to give the moral of the story: “The one we feed.”

LISTEN TO YOUR VOICES

In this homily I’d stress take off your ear buds and listen to the voices inside your head.

What are your voices this morning.  Are you saying, “What am I doing here?” Or, “How long is this going to last?”  “What’s happening?” Or, “Will my dad find a job?” Or “What’s for lunch?” Or “Cool!”

What are your voices?

Which voices are the loudest?

Which voices are winning?

We can be perfectly quiet and drums are beating loudly into our brains - by iTunes.

Today I would stress listening to your angels. Listen to your Guardian Angel - telling you, yelling to you, voicing to you - messages of care, hope, love.

What do you sound like inside your ears - inside your brain?

I was sitting on two train platforms the last 2 days - and various trains - and I could hear people talking to other people. I could hear voices. I couldn’t see what people were texting.

A major message from this homily is to listen to your voices.

Are those voices good angels or bad angels - good messages or bad messages - good messenger or bad messengers.

CLINT HURDLE - PITTSBURGH PIRATES

I was reading in the paper about the Pittsburgh Pirates getting into the baseball playoffs. I was reading that Clint Hurdle - the manager of the Pirates - was sick and tired of the Loser Culture in the Pittsburgh Pirates mind set. Think Win. Each day Clint Hurdle voiced positive messages. He called in team leaders and urged that they voice positive leadership messages.

What are you telling yourself each day?

What have your parents - teachers - been saying of you - all these years?  If they are negative messages, if they are negative messengers, change the messages and change the messengers.

I want to thank you for the prayers for my sister Peggy - who is quite sick. She told me in the hospital that a doctor in Scranton said directly and indirectly, “Call hospice. You’re going to die.”  She screamed, “I want a second opinion.”

She got out of that system - away from that doctor - and got into a teaching hospital - down to the University of Penn Hospital and they are trying to make a profound diagnosis - so they can come up with a prognosis to giver her more life. It looks like she’s going to need to take oxygen for the rest of her life - but as for time - more - more - more life.

BACKPACKING IN  THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS

I remember the first time we went backpacking in the Rocky Mountains. 4 of us drove across the country to Colorado from New York City. I was driving and one of the guys in the back seat was reading out loud stuff to keep in mind with backpacking and camping. One of the things he read out loud was this: “Keep in mind the # 1 rule for backpacking in the wilderness is: Don’t panic!”

I asked out loud, “Number 1?”

Back came the answer a second time: “Yes - # 1 rule - Don’t panic.”

Well a few days later I’m going across a tree trunk to get to the other side of a mountain stream. The water below me is flowing really loud and deep. I started to slip and I caught myself saying to myself: “Don’t panic!” It worked. I braced myself - caught my almost falling - breathed - stopped - and then slowly and calmly walked to the other side.

That voice - that message - was installed in my brain - in that car - and I called upon it - while on that tree trunk - going over that flowing mountain stream.

Angels give those kinds of voices.

Just as voices urge us to make fun of others - be nasty with a put down about others - to others, so messages - like the theme for this year, “Every Person Matters” - challenge us to hear that message and put it into practice.

CONCLUSION

The title of my homily is, “Angels: Messages and Messengers”

I’ve been saying that there are positive and negative messages and messengers in the air and in the ear - listen to  - and incorporate - make flesh - make them your own - the positive messages and messengers - and dis the negative.

This is St. Mary’s Church - and the great message about Mary is that an angel came to her and said, “Hail full of grace, the Lord is with you.”

Each time to come to church - each time you start a day - hear your guardian angel say to you, “The Lord be with you!” and voice back to him or her, “And with your spirit. Amen.”

ANGELS 

Quote for Today - October 2, 2013 - Feast of the Guardian Angels

"It's easy to be an angel when nobody ruffles our feathers."

Anonymous

GENIUS 

INSPIRATION 

AND PERSPIRATION

Quote for Today - October 1, 2013

"Genius is one per cent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration."

Thomas Alva Edison, Life

GENIUS

Quote for the Day - Monday September 30, 2013

"A genius is the one who has two great ideas."

Jacob Bronowski, The Ascent of Man

Question: Well what are your two great ideas?

HE DESCENDED  INTO  HELL

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 26 Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, is, “He Descended Into Hell.”

A PHONE CALL

Someone recently called the rectory. I was on duty and they asked, “What does it mean in the Apostles Creed when it says about Jesus, “He descended into hell.”

I gave the Caller the Catechism answer that it means that Jesus after he died - descended into the place of the dead - the state of the dead - the abode of the dead - the below, the under the earth, Sheol in Hebrew, Hades in Greek, Hell in English for some -  and Jesus then proclaimed to those there - who longed for God - longed for a, or the, Redeemer, the Good News of Salvation. The Catechism of the Catholic Church words it carefully this way -“to free the just who went before him.” [page 164]  Basically it’s saying that Christ went to the dead who had lead a good life and died before him - and lead them to paradise.

I don’t know whether that answer satisfied that Caller. Probably not.

In the Nicene Creed it doesn’t say that he descended into hell. It says, “He suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day.”

We’ve been saying the Nicene Creed at Sunday Masses most of our lives - so lately - I’ve been saying the Apostles Creed - page 10 in our Missalette. The changes in the Liturgy of 2 years ago  said we can do that. The Apostles Creed is the one we begin the rosary with.

If we say the Nicene creed we hear the complaint that they used the word “consubstantial” as the new English replacement for the words we were used to saying,  “one in being with the Father.”

“One in being with the Father” - “consubstantial” - as if we could understand or grasp the Trinity. “Hell” or “was buried” - as if we grasped the mystery of Salvation, Redemption, and what happens to us after we die.

So whatever we use - the Nicene Creed or the Apostles Creed  in the Sunday Liturgy,  people wonder about the words we use - and the words we say.

If that is true, that’s good. If that’s true,  then what’s your take on today’s gospel - this powerful story about a Rich Man and a Poor Man - and what happens to them after they die?  One descended - one ascended.

THE GREAT DIVIDE - ABRAHAM’S BOSOM AS OPPOSED TO  THE NETHERWORLD OR UNDERWORLD OR BURIAL GROUNDS

Today’s gospel talks about the great divide after death.

I don’t know about you, but it scares, I hope, the hell out of me.

Jesus, here in Luke, tells us the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus.

Meow, meow! Woof. Woof. In this life the Rich Man is a fat cat - “Meow. Meow!” and the Poor Man has dogs “Woof. Woof!” coming to lick his sores - while like a dog he longs for scraps that fall from the Rich Man’s table.

In the next life, tables are reversed. The Rich Man sees Lazarus - now he knows his name - in the bosom of Abraham - the dream of every Jew. The Rich Man screams out in torment, “Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.”

Father Abraham tells the Rich Man, “Sorry! You had it good when you were on earth and Lazarus had it bad. Sorry! Now there’s this great divide - this great chasm - and you can’t switch sides.”

I see hope for the Rich Man in the next part of the parable. He thinks about others - his 5 brothers - and asks Father Abraham to send Lazarus to warn them about not ending up like me.”

And Abraham says, “Sorry.”  “They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them!”

And the Rich Man - perhaps realizing he himself didn’t listen to the prophets  - but maybe his brothers would listen to someone who came back from the dead.

And Abraham replies with the harsh conclusion to today’s gospel, “If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.”

LUKE’S CHURCH AND OUR CHURCH

If there is one thing I learned from the New Testament it’s this: Luke’s Church and Paul’s Churches aren’t that different from our churches.

Down through the years, what happened in the Christian communities in Antioch and Corinth, Thessalonica and Ephesus, also happen in Annapolis and Indianapolis, Rome, New York and Rome, Italy.

People are people. There are millions and millions of Bibles with the Prophet’s warnings in them - in hotel rooms and bedrooms and living room book shelves around the world. And people around the world in churches this Sunday heard the prophet Amos talking about people just like the Rich Man and the Poor Man in today’s gospel. Who listens?  And Jesus rose from the dead. Is anyone listening to him - the One who came back from the dead?

Will anyone who goes to church this weekend change as a result of the readings for this Sunday?  The readings we heard are being spoken not only in Catholic Churches - but many Protestant Churches as well.

The Pope and his new Super 8 Group of Cardinals - the “Ad Hoc Group” - will be meeting in Rome this week to take a look at and discuss our Church. Will anyone mention this Sunday’s readings - as a call to our church to make sure we’re not in the same position as the Rich Man - and there is this gigantic chasm between us and so many people in our world?

The title of my homily is: “He Descended Into Hell.”

HELL - HERE AND NOW

What’s your take on that part of the Apostles Creed?

What’s your take on today’s first reading from Amos about Fat Cats eating lambs and partying and listening to music while others starve and are gypped - as well as your take on today’s gospel about the Rich Man and Lazarus?

Using today’s gospel,  what scares me is not only the after death scare of what’s going to happen, but the here and now of hell in our midst.  Why wait till eternity to be scared?

I see the Gospel of Luke as one very scary gospel - and if we ate it - chewed on it - we would find some of it very hard to accept and digest.  Luke is the gospel for this year - Cycle C. It’s the gospel of the poor - and for the poor - and we all know that’s a button pusher.

I live in a very comfortable house on Duke of Gloucester Street in downtown Annapolis - over looking Spa Creek. We have plenty of food. Last Monday night and last Wednesday afternoon the rectory corridor was crowded with the poor at our door - and I want to publically say I’m moved by those men and women in our parish who work listening, screening, and trying to help the poor of Annapolis. I want to thank everyone who gives to the poor box - serve at the Light House - and help big time with the Thanksgiving and Christmas meals - for which lots and lots and lots of folks were signing up for at St. Mary’s this past week. The economy is not doing well for lots of folks - so thank you for your sacrifices and your generosity.

IN THE MEANWHILE

In the meanwhile - today’s gospel triggers for me - the reality that hell is also now. There are great chasms separating people from people. I’ve never been to India - where they still have the Caste System - but I’m reading that its walls between people are slowly crumbling.

The United States is still seen by many as “The Great Melting Pot.”  I lived in New York City - and saw what that meant  - especially on the Subway. I’ve been to Toronto - and saw the blending of people and colors - even more. Hang around till 2213 - and you’ll see surprise.

I see Jesus as the one who knocked on doors and tried to knock down walls that separate people from people.

But why not look right into our everyday lives right now! Are we living in heaven or hell?  Do we ascend into heaven every day or descend into hell every day?

There are people in our lives - right in our own families - right at our own desk or doorstep - maybe in our own bed - whom we ignore - don’t see - and don’t want to see. The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus can be happening at our doorstep or gate each day.

Haven’t we experienced descending into hell. Haven’t we experienced being ignored or not noticed. Haven’t we all started to say something - and another cuts us off - as if we don’t exist - and it feels like hell? Aren’t their old people in nursing homes - and children in our homes and our schools and our playgrounds - who long for scraps of affection that fall from our tables? Aren’t there people in our lives whose opinion we never ask - or we just assume they are dumb - and unimportant?

I’ll be dead before the Catholic Church finally sees today’s parable also applies to the people in our parishes - to all our women - to the unnoticed - to those who have dropped out of coming to church - for various reasons - one of which they feel unnoticed and unheard or they are hurting - or feel we have divorced them and not allowed them to eat at our table.

I don’t know about you - but I know I label people - put people in boxes - thinking they have no clue of what I know. I’m the rich one - the smart one. They are the poor slobs - the dumb ones.  

CONCLUSION

So when I hear the phrase, “He descended into hell” - I think of myself and all people who descend into hell each day - and I thank God the Father for sending Jesus who descended into my hell to reach out for me - and challenge me - and love me into wanting to rise from my deadness - and hell and ascend into heaven each day - and be with all the people I don’t seem to noticed - each modern Lazarus. Amen.  

HEAVEN! 

THE BOTTOM LINE

Quote for Today - September 29, 2013

"The bottom line is in heaven."

Edwin Herbert Land, Shareholders' Meeting, Polaroid Corporation, April 26, 1979