I HEAR YOU 

Poem for Today - March 2, 2014
March - National Poetry Month

Silent, But ...

I may be silent, but

I’m thinking.

I may not talk, but

Don’t mistake me for a wall

                   - Tsuboi Shigeji 

Shigeji Tsuboi: ‘Silent, but ...’ from The Penguin Book of Japanese Verse, trans. Geoffrey Bownas and Anthony Thwaite (Penguin Books, 1964). trans. © Geoffrey Bownas and Anthony Twaite, 1964, p. 191. Reprinted by permission of Penguin Books. Ltd. 

WHAT’S IMPORTANT? 

THIS IS A TEST!

[Self test # 8]

The title of my homily for this Eight Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A - is, “What’s Important? This Is A Test.” 

Here are 25 questions or statements. The first 10 come out of today’s readings. The other 15 come out of afterthoughts from today’s Biblical readings.

If you want to use these questions or statements for a husband and wife or family discussion, I’ll put these 25 questions on my blog.

Answer [A] for Agree or [D] for Disagree or [U] for Undecided.

Undecided can mean “undecided” or “It all depends” or “I have to think about this.”

If one of these 25 questions grabs you or gets you thinking, or challenges you to consider changing your mind or attitude about something,  this test is a success.  Agree [   ]  Disagree [   ]  Undecided [    ]

1) Even though today’s first reading says, “Even if a mother forgets her infant, God never forgets us",  well I think God has forgotten me.  Agree [   ]  Disagree [   ]  Undecided [    ]

2) In the long run “Only in God is my soul at rest” as today’s psalm - Psalm 62 puts it. Agree [   ]  Disagree  [   ]  Undecided [    ]

3) God - as today’s Psalm puts it, is my rock. Agree [   ]  Disagree [   ]  Undecided [    ]

4) Only God - as today’s second reading puts it - knows the motives of the human heart - including my heart as well. Agree [   ]  Disagree  [   ]  Undecided [    ]

5) Forgiveness is more important than being right. Agree [   ]  Disagree  [   ]  Undecided [    ]

6) Being a servant - as Paul puts it in today’s second reading  - or as Jesus puts it - being served is being in the more important position, but here I am in your midst as your servant - so you might do as well. Agree [   ]  Disagree  [   ]  Undecided [    ]

7) “No one can serve two masters", two Gods, as Jesus put it in today’s gospel  or as the Russian proverb goes: “Chase two wolves, you won’t catch either.” Agree [   ]  Disagree  [   ]  Undecided [    ]

8) Life as today’s gospel puts it, is more important than food and drinking. Agree [   ]  Disagree [   ]  Undecided [    ]

9) It’s not spring yet, but the flowers - which sometimes only last a few days - are dressed  better than the kings and queens of fashion. Agree [   ]  Disagree  [   ]  Undecided 

10) There’s nothing wrong with wearing socks that are of different colors or what have you.  Agree [   ]  Disagree [   ]  Undecided [    ]

11) I have learned lots of other lessons from nature - from creation - like  watching the birds of the air  - they don’t worry - about where their next meal is coming from. They find food to eat - in Ego Alley from little kids tossing pieces of bread to them - as well as from people with bird feeders or near the edge of dumpsters - or they swoop down into fields along the road. Agree [   ]  Disagree [   ]  Undecided [    ]

12) Having another child is more important than having more stuff. Agree [   ]  Disagree [   ]  Undecided [    ]

13) One’s legacy - what one did and tried to do with one’s life - is more important than the will - the money and/or property one leaves to those who come after us. Agree [   ]  Disagree [   ]  Undecided [    ]

14) We vote more with our feet, our eyes and our time, and where we put our energy - than we do with our mouth and our words. Agree [   ]  Disagree [   ]  Undecided [    ]

15) At the end of the day, at the end of the week, at the end of one’s life, what is important is the giving of one’s time and life to others. Agree [   ]  Disagree [   ]  Undecided [    ]

16) When we’re young we’re into different issues and goals than when we are near the end of our life. Agree [   ]  Disagree [   ]  Undecided [    ]

17) Reading to our kids and grand kids is more important than complaining that our kids or grand kids don’t go to Mass. Agree [   ]  Disagree [   ]  Undecided [    ]

18) Respect is more important than recognition. Agree [   ]  Disagree  [   ]  Undecided [    ]

19) A beautiful heart is more important than a beautiful face.  Agree   [   ]  Disagree [   ]  Undecided [    ]

20) I watch the Oscars to see the outfits - more than seeing which movie wins what. Agree [   ]  Disagree [   ]  Undecided [    ]

21) A meal without cell phones is more important than a meal with cell phones. Agree [   ]  Disagree [   ]  Undecided [    ]

22) Having a picture or a painting of a beautiful sunset is more important than stopping to watch a sunset - without photographing it. Agree [   ]  Disagree [   ]  Undecided [    ]

23) Watching NCIS together is more important than sitting at table eating and drinking and talking to each other - long after the meal is finished. Agree [   ]  Disagree [   ]  Undecided [    ]

24) The hand and heart behind the meal is more important than the meal itself. Agree [   ]  Disagree [   ]  Undecided [    ]

25)  “Don’t worry about tomorrow,” as today’s gospel puts it, “tomorrow will take care of itself.” Agree [   ]  Disagree [   ]  Undecided [    ]  But what about the weather report?

BEAUTY IS 

IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER

Poem for Today - March 1, 2014

THE BEAUTIFUL

Three things there are more beautiful

Than any man could wish to see:
The first, it is a full-rigged ship

Sailing with all her sails set free;

The second, when the wind and sun

Are playing in a field of corn;

The third, a woman, young and fair,

Showing her child before it is born.

© W.H. Davies

Painting on top: 
"The Artist's Wife"
by Laurits Anderson Ring 
- 1897. This is L.A. ring's
portrait of his 22 year old
wife - Sigrid Kahler. 
He was 42 and this
was a year after
their marriage.  

SAILING 

ST. MARY'S MARYLAND

Poem for Today - February 28, 2014

Black History Month 

blessing the boats

(at St. Mary's)

may the tide

that is entering even now

the lip of our understanding

carry you out

beyond the face of fear

may you kiss

the wind then turn from it

certain that it will

love your back may you

open your eyes to water

water waving forever

and may you in your innocence

sail through this to that

  ©   Lucille Clifton     

GOD PAINTS THE GROUND 

WITH BOTH SNOW AND GRASS 

Poem for Today -  February 27, 2014
Black History Month

Quatrains

1

Brushes and paints are all I have

To speak the music in my soul—

While silently there laughs at me

A copper jar beside a pale green bowl.

2

How strange that grass should sing—

Grass is so still a thing ...

And strange the swift surprise of snow

So soft it falls and slow.

© Gwendolyn Bennett

LIBRARIANS

Poem for Today -  February 26, 2014

Black  History Month Continued

My First Memory

(of Librarians)

This is my first memory:

A big room with heavy wooden tables that sat on a creaky

       wood floor

A line of green shades—bankers’ lights—down the center

Heavy oak chairs that were too low or maybe I was simply

       too short

              For me to sit in and read

So my first book was always big

In the foyer up four steps a semi-circle desk presided

To the left side the card catalogue

On the right newspapers draped over what looked like

       a quilt rack

Magazines face out from the wall

The welcoming smile of my librarian

The anticipation in my heart

All those books—another world—just waiting

At my fingertips.

© Nikki Giovanni

CONFLICT RESOLUTION 

FOR DUMMIES 

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 7^th Tuesday in Ordinary Time is, “Conflict Resolution For Dummies.”

TODAY’S READINGS

Today’s two readings - the first reading from James - chapter 4:1-10 and today’s gospel -  Mark 9:30-37 - provide - clear  - concise - simple - basic - reasons  - why there is conflict and how to resolve it.

Today’s two readings  - even a dummy can get what they are pointing out.

This talk can be cut into two parts:

Part One:  Conflict  - the why - the reasons why there are conflicts - as found in today’s first reading.

Part Two: Resolution - How the differences can be resolved - as found  in today’s gospel.

PART ONE: CONFLICTS

We begin today’s first reading with a where question? Where do wars and where do conflicts come from?  Answer: from our passions which make war within us. It’s an inside job.

Then James spells it out even more clearly. We see this happening in every situation where there are kids - as well as adults - when and where there is only a limited amount of different toys.

The circumference of the pie is only so big - and everyone wants a piece of the pie. Some want the biggest piece; some want a fair share; some say, “I’m watching how you’re slicing the pie and I want more than just crumbs.”

“I want what I want when I want it. Then when we want it now - there is conflict, family fights, war.

My will be done on earth and if I get it, then I’ll think I’m in heaven.

Read James carefully. When we don’t  get what we want, our passions erupt. They are at war within us. It’s that simple. We know this. We’re not dummies.

It can be over who has the dial on the car radio or who has the TV clicker. It could be over time or money - politics or religion. Who puts the garbage out; who brings the cans back to the house?

When I sit with couples preparing for marriage, not being married, I say in the mix of my mumblings: “The three biggest problems in marriage are: Money, Sex and In-laws.” I tell them I read that back in 1967 in the Inquiring Photographer section of the New York Daily News. Then I  say: “In time, you’ll find out what your list looks like - especially your top 3.” 

Then I guarantee there will be ups and downs, conflicts and contention - agita and agitation.

I can say that because James says that. I can say that because down through the years I’ve lived in various Redemptorist communities of men - many of whom were a very interesting cast of characters. I say that because I hear my own family stuff and I hear your family stuff - as well as individual stuff.

We envy. We want. We’re jealous. We don’t know how to talk to each other - so eruptions erupt.  We don’t know how to ask. James says that loud and clear. So that’s Part One: There Will Be Conflicts.

PART TWO: RESOLUTION

Jesus says: Hey dummies, there’s always going to be conflicts. [1] 

And there's always going to be crucifixions if you try to stop conflicts my way - turning the other cheek, etc. However, if you die trying to bring about a solution using my non-violent way - there will be resolution and resurrection. It might happen in 3 days - or it might take forever - but my WAY works. [Cf. Mark 9:31]

Then Jesus tells all: "Here’s how to resolve and how to stop conflicts." Stop trying to be the greatest. Stop always trying to be right. Stop trying to be the first out of the parking lot or the first in life - in family - in a conversation - in an argument.

Jesus says that loud and clear when he asks his disciples what they were fighting about. They must have turned red with shame as they said: We were arguing about  - who was the greatest?

Well, it’s the person who serves the rest.

That’s when Jesus adds to his one lines on how to end the conflict.

Resolve to be a like a little child.  Resolve to be last - not first.

Ooops Jesus - you’re making these little kids perfect. Didn’t you tell us that we can be like little kids in the market place - arguing. Didn’t you ever notice little kids: Sometimes like adults, they can’t adjust, compromise, put the other person in the driver’s set.

Ooops, double ooops  Jesus, maybe that’s where they learned it from in the first place.

CONCLUSION

The title of my homily is, “Conflict Resolution for Dummies.”

Pinch yourself to see if you’re alive. Today we’re blessed with one more day of life, one more chance to bring peace and not conflict to the situations we'll find ourselves in today.

O-O-O-O-O-O-O

NOTES

Painting on top:: Guernica - by Pablo Picasso

[1] “The whole history of the progress of human liberty shows that all concessions yet made to her august claims have been born of earnest struggle ….  If there is no struggle, there is no progress.  Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground, they want rain without thunder and lightning.  They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters.”  Frederick Douglas [c. 1817-1895]