WILFRED  OWEN 

STRANGE  MEETING  YOU.  

Poem for Today, Thursday, June 19, 2014

STRANGE MEETING

It seemed that out of battle I escaped

Down some profound dull tunnel, long since scooped

Through granites which titanic wars had groined.

Yet also there encumbered sleepers groaned,

Too fast in thought or death to be bestirred.

Then, as I probed them, one sprang up, and stared

With piteous recognition in fixed eyes,

Lifting distressful hands, as if to bless.

And by his smile, I knew that sullen hall,— 

By his dead smile I knew we stood in Hell.

With a thousand fears that vision's face was grained;

Yet no blood reached there from the upper ground,

And no guns thumped, or down the flues made moan.

“Strange friend,” I said, “here is no cause to mourn.” 

“None,” said that other, “save the undone years,

The hopelessness. Whatever hope is yours,

Was my life also; I went hunting wild

After the wildest beauty in the world,

Which lies not calm in eyes, or braided hair,

But mocks the steady running of the hour,

And if it grieves, grieves richlier than here.

For by my glee might many men have laughed,

And of my weeping something had been left,

Which must die now. I mean the truth untold,

The pity of war, the pity war distilled.

Now men will go content with what we spoiled.

Or, discontent, boil bloody, and be spilled.

They will be swift with swiftness of the tigress. 

None will break ranks, though nations trek from progress.

Courage was mine, and I had mystery;

Wisdom was mine, and I had mastery: 

To miss the march of this retreating world

Into vain citadels that are not walled.

Then, when much blood had clogged their chariot-wheels, 

I would go up and wash them from sweet wells,

Even with truths that lie too deep for taint.

I would have poured my spirit without stint

But not through wounds; not on the cess of war.

Foreheads of men have bled where no wounds were.

“I am the enemy you killed, my friend.

I knew you in this dark: for so you frowned

Yesterday through me as you jabbed and killed.

I parried; but my hands were loath and cold.

Let us sleep now. . . .”

© Wilfred Owen

(1893-1918)

EPITAPH!
WHAT DO I WANT 

AS MY EPITAPH?

Poem for Today - Wednesday June 18, 2014

EPITAPH FOR AN OLD WOMAN

They buried her in the family tomb

and in the depths the dust

of what was once her husband

trembled:

joy for the living

is sorrow for the dead.

© Octavio Paz

Pages 190-191

The Collected Poems

Of Octavio Paz,

1957-1987

EPITAFIO DE UNA VIEJA

La enterraron en la tumba familiar

y en las profundidades temblo el polvo

del que fue su marido:

la alegria

de los vivos

es la pena de los muertos.

REPERCUSSIONS

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 11^th Tuesday in Ordinary Time is, “Repercussions.”

The gist of my homily would be that this message would have repercussions. For starters: to realize there are repercussions.  Next: that we might pause and then stop  before we do or say something that has negative consequences.

Doing that could be the pause that saves our bacon.

Doing that could be the pause that refreshes us.

Doing that could be the pause that has repercussions in us for good.

AN EXAMPLE OF REPERCUSSIONS

During the flu season - a while back - they put in churches these squeezie germ killer fluids in small bottles up here in the sanctuary. That move had repercussions.

I’ve heard and read: not smart.

I’ve heard and read: smart.

I’ve wondered whether will someone scream if we stop doing this.

I joke: will they will be part of the Mass by the year 3014? This is not so far-fetched question.  The priest still washes his hands just after the offertory of the Mass.  Supposedly that goes back to the time people brought food up to priest at the altar and he received  it for the poor.  Well,  that ended back in the early church – but receiving cash started somewhere along the line.

So everything has repercussions – consequences – offshoots – many of which we don’t see at the time a change happens.

REPERCUSSIONS

Repercussions are what happens when we do or not do or say something.

Repercussions are reverberations.

Repercussions are consequences.

Repercussions are backlash.

Repercussions are triggers.

One nasty negative put down can echo down deep in and through the caverns of a person’s psyche for 20 years.

Motorcycles wake people up at 4 in the morning.

Coughs, slammed doors, falling kneelers on a wooden floor, affect our sleep – sometimes during Mass.

Coming to Mass has repercussions.

TODAY’S FIRST READING

Today’s first reading from 1 Kings 21: 17-29 – continues the story of King Ahab and his Queen – the famous Jezebel.

As we heard in yesterday’s first reading, Jezebel  plans, plots and delivers on the wiping out of a man named Naboth. His only two problems were: he owned a vineyard right next to King Ahab’s house and he said “no” when Ahab wanted to buy it from him.

Elijah the prophet starts shouting out loud the repercussions of their killing of Naboth. Both Ahab and his wife Jezebel will be wiped out as well – and dogs will lick their blood in the streets. Messy message. Messy repercussion. I was wondering about the repercussions to Naboth’s family. Whatever happened to them?

Usually, all we hear about are the rich and the famous. So as to Ahab and Jezebel, stay tuned. Keep reading the 1^st Book of Kings to find out what happens next.

CONCLUSION

In today’s gospel - a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount - Jesus urges us to be perfect.

Difficult – but if we do – if we love each other – and greet everyone - including enemies – or the tough to love people in our life – there will be consequences – repercussions.

So too compliments, praise, affirmations, good deeds.

Everything has repercussions – like how we treat one another this day – as we move around and through each other’s vineyard.

WAIT A MINUTE.
DON'T FORGET
WE'RE DIFFERENT.

Poem for Today - Tuesday, June 17, 2014

WIND,  WATER, STONE

Water hollows stone,

wind scatters water,

stone stops the wind.

Water, wind, stone.

Wind carves stone,

stone’s a cup of water,

water escapes and is wind.
Stone, wind, water.

Wind sings in its whirling,

water murmurs going by,

unmoving stone keeps still.

Wind, water, stone.

Each is another and no other:

crossing and vanishing

through their empty names:

Water, stone, wind.

© Octavio Paz

For Rober Caillois

Pages 504-505 in

The Collected Poems

of Octavio Paz

1957-1987

VIENTO, AQUA, PIEDRA

El agua horada la piedra,

el viento dispersa el agua,

la piedra detiene al viento.

Agua, viento, piedra.

El viento esculpe la piedra,

la piedra e scopa del agua,

el agua escapa y es viento.

Piedra, viento, agua.

El viento en sus giros canta,

el agua al andar murmura,

la piedra inmovil se calla.

Viento, agua, piedra.

Uno es otro y es niguno:

entre sus nombres vacios

pasan y se desvanecen

agua, piedra, viento.

I  WANT  WHAT  I  WANT, 

WHEN  I  WANT  IT! 

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 11 Monday in Ordinary Time  is, “I Want What I Want,  When I Want It!”

Is that me?

That’s one of life’s most important realities.

That’s the thought – and the question - that hit me when I read today’s two readings.

I want what I want, when I want it.

FIRST READING

In today’s first reading from 1^st Kings 21: 1-16, we hear the story how King Ahab of Samaria, wanted a vineyard that belonged to someone else.

It was right next to Ahab’s house – and he thought it would be a great spot for a vegetable garden.

The owner of the vineyard – a man named Naboth – said to the king, “No!”

Ahab offered Naboth a better vineyard – or money if he preferred.

The answer was still, “No!”

Naboth said his vineyard  was part of his ancestral heritage.

Ahab became angry - very angry.

Next came depression.  He hid himself under the blankets in his bed.

Anger and Depression often are bedfellows.

Ahab’s wife, the infamous Jezebel,  then cut him down further – saying, “A fine ruler over Israel you are.” 

Can’t you picture her saying that as she stood  over him in his king sized bed?

Then to add insult to insult – she said, “I’ll take care of this one.”

She then basically planned Naboth’s death – by stones – coming up with some false accusations against him.

Today’s first reading ends with Ahab out of bed and headed down the road to take over the property.

TODAY’S GOSPEL

In today’s gospel – a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount – Matthew 5: 38-42 -  we run into this same issue of confrontation: what to do when someone wants something when they want something?

Jesus tries a different approach – telling us to say, “Yes!” – and not, “No!”

In fact, Jesus says take the slap on the left cheek  - after we get slapped on the right cheek. Walk the mile the other wants us to walk and then top the person by going the extra mile. When someone wants our tunic, give him our cloak as well. If someone wants to borrow something from us, give it to them.

Then, watch what happens - in the long run - to our heart and mind – when we try this approach.

CONCLUSION: TITLE OF MY HOMILY ONCE AGAIN

The title of my homily is, “I Want What I Want, When I Want It.”

Does this apply to parenting: when the kid sees a toy, or a game or McDonald’s – and wants what she or he wants when they want it?

What’s it like to be in a full parking lot – and we’re driving around looking for a spot? Surprise! We see someone’s car back lights go on. Looks like they are about to back out. We stop and wait for that driver to pull out – but they pull out their cell phone first and start talking. We’re waiting – and waiting – and waiting – and waiting-  and then they finally back out  towards us – sort of blocking us. Suddenly someone else shoots into that spot ahead of us.

What’s it like to be at a restaurant – and we see the maître d’ giving  a table to a party who just came in – without reservations. It looks like they know each other. And we’ve  been there waiting forever?

Is life lots of not getting what we want?

Is getting our skills in this area a key to serenity?

Is this what kids are for – along with traffic and picking the slowest check-out counter every time in the supermarket - to teach us – we can’t run the universe?

We can't always get what we want - especially when we want it.

Did God learn this one, a long time, starting from that evening – when God asked in his mind about Adam and Eve, “Where are they? Are they hiding? Did they do what I told them not to?” Does God then say, “I guess I’m not going to get what I want when it comes to these two?”

Note:

Painting on top: 

Woman Crying 

by Pablo Picasso

IS GOD LONELY?

Poem for Today - Monday - June 16, 2014

THEY ASK:

IS GOD, TOO, LONELY

When God scooped up a handful of dust,

And spit on it, and molded the shape of man,

And blew a breath into it and told it to walk –

That was a great day.

And did God do this because He was lonely?

Did God say to Himself he must have company

And therefore He would make man to walk the earth

And set apart churches for speech and song with               God?

These are questions.
They are scrawled in old caves.
They are painted in tall cathedrals.
There are men and women so lonely they believe

God, too, is lonely.

© Carl Sandburg,

Harvest Poems

1910-1860

Painting on top:
Planting by
Rex Goreleigh

AS  A  FATHER

INTRODUCTION

The title of my words for today is, “As A Father”.

Instead of a homily for today - Father's Day - it hit me yesterday -  to present a list of  hopes and prayers - for what I would hope and pray - a Christian Father would see – hope for – pray for – be - and do.

Today is also the feast of the Most Holy Trinity – and I would state – that how we see God, how we experience God – stems very much  - from how we see and experience our father who art on earth – our dad. That is scary. That is profound. That is quite a responsibility and honor - for any father and mother – grandfather and grandmother – teacher or guardian. We learn from the visible before we grasp the invisibles. We go from the known to the unknown. We experience our parents – family – others – the other kids in the playground and school and park – and parties -  before we experience our God – who we Christians believe -  is a Trinity – 3 persons – who are 1 – because of their deepest love and union with each other.

If we grow up with rigid rules – stone commandments – severe condemnations – and punishments -  perhaps that’s how we’ll see God and how we’ll do life. If that was our experience, perhaps too, we won’t get the new commandments of love – coming from Jesus – who told us he was telling us what he was getting from his Father – our God – who as we heard in today’s gospel – is a God who so loved the world that he gave his only son – so that everyone who believes in God might not perish but might have eternal life.

So I would urge all the fathers here to make a list of what their hopes and prayers are for – for their children and all the children of our world.

Being someone called “father”,  I thought I can do this too. In fact,  I better do this first – to make a list – to do that homework - in hopes that the fathers here – would follow my example. Hopefully that would make today - Father’s Day – not just a day to hear “Thank you!” as a father  – but that it might be a day of renewal for all fathers as well.

A WISH LIST

So here’s my list:

As a father, I hope and pray - there will be no father – who will not hear from someone one today, “Happy Father’s Day!”

As a father, I hope and pray – for more – much more than that - that all fathers get new bow ties, conversation starters at that,  brunch, lunch, cards, phone calls if they are at a distance – and they hear in their children’s voices – the wonderful tones that can be heard in a rich, “Thank you, dad.”

As a father, I hope and pray all fathers today renew their role as fathers – concern and care for the next generation.

As a father,  I hope and pray a prayer of thanksgiving for all fathers this day – especially my own dad – and that you do the same. If you’re  sitting here, you have a dad. I love to quote Groucho Marx in this context – when he said, “If your parents didn’t have any kids, chances are you won’t too.” My dad was quite a guy – and a quiet guy. He died – Friday - June 26, 1970 – emphysema – a week after Father’s Day. Thank you God, for letting me and all our family  be there in Moses Maimonides Hospital,  Brooklyn, New York that afternoon at 2 PM. Thank you for letting me  spot a couple in the lobby – leaving the hospital at the same time as us – with their new born baby

As a father, I hope and pray that all of you have neat photographs of  your dad – in a prominent place in your home – as well as pictures of you with your dad. I cherish several black and white photographs.  There I am a tiny little two year old in my dad’s arms – Bliss Park – Brooklyn, N. Y. I smile that they were still taking pictures even though I was the fourth and last kid.

As a father, I hope and pray – all of us grab some time today – to pinch ourselves – to marvel at all the circumstances, events, zillions and zillions and zillions of them – like dominos falling – that had to happen to make us happen – our father being most significant – the moment we were conceived in our mother’s womb. I often think of Carl Sagan’s comment in this regard: “If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.”  So too each of us.

As a father, I hope and pray Christian fathers will see and will be what the Trinity is: relationships. It’s all about relationships – connections – we’re made in the image and likeness of God. It’s not good to be or go it alone. We are because of our parents. We are fathers because of others – spouses, children, those we care and serve.

As a father, I hope and pray we do some deep thinking today about our own fathers – part of the duo who brought us forth – if there is any need for deeper conversations, comment, talk and listening – if they are alive – do it. If they are dead – let them know our thoughts and feelings in prayer today. If possible, tape and write down history. Watch an older person’s face light up, when we give them undivided attention – and ask, “What was it like when…?”

As a father, I hope and pray we care with mothers and others - for the earth –  our home for generations to come.

As a father, I hope and prayer these girls in Africa are found – and returned home safe and sound.

As a father, I hope and pray that churches and schools, groups and organization, get it together for more watchdog vigilance and concern to stop abuse of children and minors.

As a father, I hope and pray  - that - if there is any need for forgiveness – unless bringing up the past  causes eruptions and family earthquakes – that forgiveness be given and forgiveness be received. Many weekends – when I have a wedding – I see families where there was a divorce – handle the rehearsal and the wedding – with care and concern for each other – especially the couple getting married. Mistakes – disasters – crashes and clashes happen. Sometimes, “I forgive you!” is a thousand times more important than “I love you.”

CONLUSION

Hope everyone – especially dads – have a Happy Father’s Day.

Note:

Picture on top 

taken in Helsinki, Finland