WANTING PEACE

Poem for Today - March 24, 2014

THE PEACE OF WILD THINGS

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and 
my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down when the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, 
and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

(c) Wendell Berry,

page 69 in Collected

Poems, 1957-1982

Pictures - a 
wood drake
on top - on water 
below that a 
blue heron
picture  from

National Geographic

on Line. Thanks.

A MOST INTERESTING LETTER 

FROM THE POPE

[Instead of a homily for this 3rd Sunday in Lent, Year A, I decided to write a story - coming out of today's gospel - especially - but today's first reading also mentions water.]

It was a most interesting letter from the Pope.

It was clear, simple, short and to the point.

Such a letter had never been sent to the whole church, the whole family of Catholics, around the whole world before.

The pope was asking that every church – every church in the Catholic Church – around the whole world – if possible - to have a water fountain available for anyone and everyone who wanted to have a cold drink of water.

And he gave specific details in his letter: “If  possible have steps – or a lower fountain – so little kids can reach the water fountain – in case they don’t have with them an older brother or sister – mom or dad – grandmother or grandfather -  to lift them up – so that everyone  can have a drink of cold water – especially on a hot day."

He even said, “If possible have bowls of cold water near the fountain for dogs.” And the Pope added: “It’s good to be nice to each other and all of God’s creations and creatures.”

People scratched their heads when they heard about this in the newspapers or on TV. “Strange they thought. Very strange. Why would the pope be bothering with words about water fountains?   Holy Water Fountains – yes – but regular fountains - when there are so many other problems in the world – and in the church – going on.... Why, why, why? Why talk about having water fountains at churches.”

Others said, “Very smart. Before words should come charity and awareness of the basics for everyone.”

Plumbers loved it. It meant more work. Pipe sellers and water fountain sellers loved it – because it meant more business.

But this was not all. The pope also wrote: “The churches should be open as well – so people can come in and sit down for a while – and get out of the sun – if it’s hot outside – after they have had a nice drink of cold water.”

And this is not all. The Pope also gave one more very specific suggestion. He said, “A copy of the 4^th Chapter of the Gospel of St. John should be left sitting there – right inside the church – for people to read.”

He said that’s the Gospel Story about the moment – at noontime – when one day Jesus met  the Woman at the Well – in the town of Samaria – in the Holy Land.  It’s the story – the Pope wrote – about how everyone is thirsty for water, for love, and for God – and it takes time for each of us to figure that out – sometimes very slowly.

And that was the letter the pope sent out. Just one page. Just one short letter. Just 202 words.

Well, most letters from popes get forgotten in time – or another letter – some of them 8,202 words long – get placed on top of  an earlier letter – and not too much happens as a result of these letters from a Pope.

But this letter – this 202 word letter – had a great impact – all around the world.

It gave a lot of people – Catholics, Protestants, Jewish, Muslim, non-Church going folks - a chance to get a taste of nice cold water – especially on hot days – and also dogs – Catholic and non Catholic dogs - got a chance to get a nice drink of water – because churches that didn’t have water fountains in the corridors or near the church – had them put in.

And after a nice drink of water people went into church – who hadn’t gone to church for years.

And it also got a whole new group of men and women volunteering at many of the local churches. Some of these groups were called the CWV’s  or the Cold Water Volunteers or the WUG'S – the Weekday Ushers Group - or what have you.

And more and more people started talking to each other outside of churches – but in the shade if possible – and more smiles appeared on faces than were on them before the Pope’s 202 word letter.

And people started sitting in afternoon churches – some snoring – some  relaxing – just for 15 minutes or for a half hour of prayer. 

Some people found out some people couldn’t read – so they couldn’t read that 4^th Chapter of John – so some people volunteered to read that chapter for anyone who needed it. So there were volunteers who did that.

And some churches then – it wasn’t in the Pope’s letter – but the Pope’s letter triggered the idea – they made the 6^th Chapter of John available as well. That 6^th  chapter is a whole chapter on Jesus feeding people with bread – teaching everyone that everyone is hungry for bread, for Spiritual Bread, Eucharist - for Jesus – for the promise that if one eats this bread, one will live forever.

And surprise all around the world that one short 202 word letter got a lot more people back to Church – back to Mass – because they got it – that we’re all hungry and thirsty not just for water and bread, but also for each other, for company and community, and for God who gave promises on how to live forever and forever.

And the Pope – with great smile - said he learned something from his 202 word letter: Short is better.

WATER

Poem for Today - March 23, 2014

WATER

I was born in a drouth year. That summer

my mother waited in the house, enclosed

in the sun and the dry ceaseless wind,

for the men to come back in the evenings,

bringing water from a distant spring.

veins of leaves ran dry, roots shrank.

And all my life I have dreaded the return

of that year, sure that it still is

somewhere, like a dead enemys soul. 

Fear of dust in my mouth is always with me,

and I am the faithful husband of the rain,

I love the water of wells and springs

and the taste of roofs in the water of cisterns.

I am a dry man whose thirst is praise

of clouds, and whose mind is something of a cup.

My sweetness is to wake in the night

after days of dry heat, hearing the rain.

(c) Wendell  Berry

RECOVERY

Poem for Today - March 22, 2014

VESSEL OF WHOLENESS

Fractured
cracked
held together
in wholeness
completeness
by the air of the Spirit
the putty of trust
the glue of friendship
the cement of Scripture.
Serving a purpose
Beautifying the world
Testifying
to the power,
strength,
and possibilities
of limitations embraced.

(c)  Imelda Cooper

Painting, "The Pitcher"

by Brad McLean

ENVY KILLS

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Envy Kills.”

Envy itches the skin of our arms and our chest. 

Catch yourself when you are feeling envious. See if you scratch your arms and the back of your hands or your chest – just under your heart – or if your a lefty, on your right side.  I don’t know if that’s true,

but it’s something I wonder about. Check it out.

CAPITAL SIN

Envy is one of the capital sins. It’s a biggie. It means coveting. It means wanting. It means desiring – what others have and we don’t have.

Envy causes resentments – loss of skin – loss of soul – loss of energy – loss of time – loss of inner peace.

The title of my homily is, “Envy kills.”

Envy is often interchanged with the word “jealousy”. It happens so often that the argument that jealousy has to do with fear of losing what we have and envy is wanting what others have – doesn’t hold.

Yet I still like that distinction between envy and jealous.

TODAY’S FIRST READING

Today’s first reading from Genesis puts the issue of envy up front and personal. [Cf. Genesis 37: 3-4, 12-13a, 17b -28a]

Parents, teachers, grandparents always tell us that they don’t have any favorites. 

Let me tell you: they are lying.

Today’s first reading begins with the flat out statement that Jacob loved Joseph best of all his sons. His dad even makes a special coat just for him – the so called “coat of many colors”.

How’s that for a topper.

Joseph was smart later on in life – but when he was a teenager – he let his brothers know he knew he was daddy’s favorite. He told his brothers his dreams and in his dreams he’s #1.

He let them know he was top dog – the Hot Dog!

No wonder they wanted to kill him.

Envy kills.

And Joseph is almost killed.

Instead he’s sold into Egypt for 20 pieces of silver.

Hint, hint, the price of living has gone up by the time Jesus rolls around – when he’s sold for 30 pieces of silver.

TODAY’S GOSPEL

Today’s gospel from Matthew gets right into one of the main motives for killing Jesus. It’s envy. And Envy Kills. [Cf. Matthew 21: 33-43, 45-46.]

Jesus was drawing the crowds.

Jesus was giving insights, wisdom, “Aha Statements”.

Jesus was giving religion of the heart – inside stories, inside stuff, and the chief priests knew down deep they didn’t have it.

Killing Jesus, removing Jesus, would remove these terrible feelings of envy – eating at their insides.  If they could kill Jesus, the heir, the favorite Son, they would have the whole Vineyard for themselves.

Envy kills.

PRIESTS

I’ve heard a few times the comment, “Envy is a priest’s disease.” 

It is. But it’s also an everybody’s disease.

The other person has better skin, is in better shape. The other person gets better recognition.  The other person has a better car and a better looking car, spouse, children.  The other person has a better wedding, funeral, front lawn. You name it and I’m envious of it, because I don’t have it.

Name your poison.

Name your desire.

Name your envy.

LITTLE GIRL STORY

I had a neat experience a few Sunday’s ago.

It was the baptism of the second child – another beautiful little girl.

Well, we’re standing there after the baptism and the newly baptized baby is in her daddy’s arms – just after getting all that attention.

Her older sister – 2 years old – sees her sister in daddy’s arms and wants to be held by daddy.

I don’t know if this is what’s going on – but this was what I was seeing.

She starts whining – loudish whining – wanting to be in daddy’s arms.

He’s just looking at his youngest.  Well, the 2 year old turns and sees me and comes over and wraps her arms around me.

It was a nice moment – never having kids.

Snap. Snap. Picture. Picture.

And I picked her up into my arms to mirror her daddy with his youngest daughter in his arms.

And she turns to face her daddy with a great look.

Hey guy. Look at me. Eat your heart out.

Snap. Snap. Picture. Picture.

Was this a picture of what goes on for much of our lives?

CONCLUSION

The title of my homily is, “Envy Kills.”

What’s a woman or a man to do?

Here are 3 solutions for now – first draft thoughts. I picked 3 words beginning with A - and tomorrow I could pick B's or at least C's.

First of all: Acceptance.  It behooves us to learn how to accept our age – our realities – our lives – as is – at any given moment – especially when envy itches us – and learn to laugh at ourselves.

Secondly: Appearance. It behooves us to remember that appearances are tricky. The grass is always greener in the other person’s yard. Or as they said years ago: “The grass is always greener over the other persons septic tank.”

Thirdly: Affirm others. It behooves us to affirm others about the stuff we envy in them or about them. This is part of how virtues grow - going against its opposite - the vice. Say, “Hey you have great skin.” “I love you car!” “Now that was the best wedding I’ve been at in years.”  "That's an interesting tie." “That’s a beautiful dress. Where did you buy it? Best dress at the wedding.” 

OOOOOOOOOO

Painting on top: Envy by Eva Hoffmann

BLESSED ARE 

THE POOR IN SPIRIT

Poem for Today - March 21, 2014

OH, TO BE SO  POOR

She lived life out of a wheelchair.
Barely hearing. Almost blind.
At worship today
Christ's Supper was offered to her,
but she thought the plate of broken bread
was the offering plate.
Bewildered, she said a bit too loud,
"I don't have anything to give."
Poor woman, they all thought.
Not so.
Through any disorientation, we have everything
in the Christ who gives his life for us.
Through our deafness, he hears for us.
Through our blindness, he sees for us.
Through our trembling hands, he will take
the bread and cup for us.
We hear Christ's words:
            Let not your heart be troubled.
            I will hold it.
            I will feed you.
            I will drink the cup for you.
            I will fill you.
            I will be your world.
Oh, to be so poor.

(c) Robert W. Guffey, Jr.

SOMETIMES - SOME 

THINGS COME IN THREES

Poem for Today - March 20, 2014

THREES

I was a boy when I heard three red words

a thousand Frenchmen died in the streets

for: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity – I asked

why men die for words.

I was older; men with mustaches, sideburns,

lilacs, told me the high golden words are:

Mother, Home, and Heaven – other older men

with face decorations said: God, Duty, Immortality

- they sang these threes slow from deep lungs.

Years ticked off their say-so on the great clocks

of doom and damnation, soup and nuts: meteors flashed

their say-so: and out of great Russia came three

dusky syllables workmen took guns and went out to die

for: Bread, Peace, Land.

And I met a marine of the U.S.A., a leatherneck 

              with a girl on

his knee for a memory in ports circling the earth 

              and he said:

Tell me how to say three things and I’ll always 

              get by – gimme

a plate of ham and eggs – how much? – and – 

              do you love me,
kid?

 ©  Carl Sandberg,

Harvest Poems,

1910-1960,

pages 61-62