OTHERNESS:
LEARNING TO LIVE WITH OTHERNESS
The title of my homily is, “Otherness: Learning to Live
With Otherness.”
Today is the feast of St. Benedict – and looking at his
life – as well as today’s readings – there are various comments and various
themes and issues one can talk about and think about.
The theme that hit me last night was a theme that I spend a lot of
time thinking about and learning about – and you do too.
It’s the question, the issue, the theme, the reality of otherness.
Other people are different from me. It's their otherness that intrigues - surprises - irritates - and enlightens me.
Other people are different from me. It's their otherness that intrigues - surprises - irritates - and enlightens me.
I consider talking about other people to be the # 1 topic of
conversation for all people – most of which takes place under one’s own hood.
Yes we talk about weather and sports – but nothing compares with those ongoing questions
and conversations we have with them and most of the time they don't know it. They all have going on inside our brains all the time.
I'm saying: most of the time we’re talking to ourselves about someone
else – about their motives – about their behaviors – about their comments.
It’s their otherness that pushes our buttons - and energy flows and flies.
If we sit down in a seat in the mall and watch people going by – we’ll see a lot of different faces, mannerisms, costumes, jewelry
– tattoos, shoes, cellphones – so many people different than ourselves.
There are over 7 billion people on the planet – and we’re
all different.
We’re all other with our otherness from each other.
FOR STARTERS
Today’s gospel is from Matthew. Mathew is different from Mark, Luke and John.
Today’s first reading is from Hosea. He is different from the prophet Amos whom we had last week – and both are other than all the other prophets.
Today is the feast of St. Benedict. He is different from
other saints – like St. Alphonsus or St. John Neumann or Saint Gemma Galgani or
St. Rose of Lima or St. Francis of Assisi.
Our present pope chose the name Francis. Our last pope –
who is still alive – chose the name Benedict.
Both popes are different – very different from each other.
For example, take their shoes. You’ve never seen Francis wearing red leather papal shoes. Paul Vallely in his book, Pope Francis, Untying the Knots, makes some comments about his shoes. They are only anecdotes – but they are telling stories. Jorge Mario Bergoglio arrived in Rome from Buenos Aires wearing “an extremely shabby pair of plain black shoes….” Just before he left, some friends chipped in some money to get him a new pair. Nope! The ones he had were fine. [Cf. page 149; 170.)
For example, take their shoes. You’ve never seen Francis wearing red leather papal shoes. Paul Vallely in his book, Pope Francis, Untying the Knots, makes some comments about his shoes. They are only anecdotes – but they are telling stories. Jorge Mario Bergoglio arrived in Rome from Buenos Aires wearing “an extremely shabby pair of plain black shoes….” Just before he left, some friends chipped in some money to get him a new pair. Nope! The ones he had were fine. [Cf. page 149; 170.)
Different shoes are, different faces, different takes on life....
This homily is different. I'm simply bringing up the human reality of otherness - so as to trigger your thoughts and experiences on how well you are dealing with others and their otherness.
This homily is different. I'm simply bringing up the human reality of otherness - so as to trigger your thoughts and experiences on how well you are dealing with others and their otherness.
CONCLUSION: A
SHORT QUESTIONNAIRE ON OTHERNESS?
Besides listening - besides patience - what are 5 life skills needed for dealing with others?
On a scale of 1 to 10 - 10 being the best - how good are my life’s skills in dealing with others and their otherness.
On a scale of 1 to 10 - 10 being the best - how good are my life’s skills in dealing with others and their otherness.
Can I accept that another sees differently than I see –
like everything?
In fact, do I realize if I think another is seeing the
scene I’m seeing the same way I’m seeing it, I’m being self-centered?
As today's gospel puts it, some people are wolves in sheep clothing; some people are
sheep in wolves clothing. Can I tell the difference? Who
decides?
As today's gospel puts it, some people are shrewd as serpents and some folks are as simple as doves. Thinking about people you know, name some people who fit those labels.
As today's gospel puts it, some people are shrewd as serpents and some folks are as simple as doves. Thinking about people you know, name some people who fit those labels.
Can I laugh at our differences? Male/female, neat/sloppy,
logical/intuitive, liberal/conservative, always late/always early, control
freak/a secure person, dreamers/doers, back benchers/front benchers,
formal/informal, tall/short, fat/thin, givers/takers, cheap/lavish,
conventional/casual, right brain/left brain, young/old, stuck in the past/stuck in the
future, planners/seat of the pantsers, and on and on and on?
Can I ask others what they are seeing or thinking or
perceiving? Then how well do I listen to others?
Do I celebrate otherness – knowing it can lead to better
teamwork, new discoveries?
Or am I stuck on myself or in myself?
