ST. CLARE

Poem for Today - August 11, 2014

A VISION OF ST. CLARE

Girl for whom the job came as a crack in rockface, the sudden

tomb-slip turned all door.

So that when she saw the lily spell itself there, seraphed on the wall

of her father’s house, she knelt

down for the rapture, the rupture, and started to dig. Wall through

          which the dead in those days

were carried for burial, delivered into, they prayed. His secrets

held deeper than dirt.
On the night of the rock loosening beneath her fingers to gravel,

to seconds falling ordinary

an hourglass, the little sands cinch-waisted, Palm Sunday, in Assisi,

in the family house,

1212 A. D.., she listened to the mice scurry and flirt in the hallway,

then to the one dove’s sound

of silken pebbles tumbling in its throat. Turns out later they asked,

for what, the mother and father,

getting up for the scream, running to find her there in rubble, blood

          rivering steep down her arms

by then, instant the wall fell, and first light entered, and she stepped

clean through.

 OOOOO

Pimone Triplett, from The Price of Light, Copyright © 2005, page 465 in Language for a New Century, edited by Tina Chang, Nathalie Handal and Ravi Shankar, W.W. Norton Company, New York, London, 2008

FAITHIE

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 19^th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)  is, “Faithie.”  [Spell it out]  F A I T H I E. “Faithie”.

You’ve heard the word, “selfie” – meaning a picture one takes of oneself – usually at arm’s length - usually with one’s cell phone camera. Then it’s sent around one’s world.

I had a wedding a few months back. For weddings I ask couples to fill out answers to 15 questions. It helps me with the homily for the wedding. Well, this one bride described her guy as a “bestie” - as in best friend.

However,  I thought she wrote “beastie” and I’m using that word “beastie” in my homily – and getting a few laughs - till the bride finally yells across the sanctuary to me – it’s “bestie” as in, you’re being a “jerky”.  Then she elbowed her about-to-be-husband and yelled out, “He’s my bestie.”  She gave the “bestie” sermon.

So I said, “Ooops, I’m sorry. Dumb!” and then added, “Never heard the word ‘bestie’ before.”

Well, upon hearing these two new words, “selfie” and “bestie,” I wondered to myself, “What would be a good word to describe someone who believes – someone with faith?”

How about a “believie” or a “beliefie”?  Do I use the noun or the verb – using “f” or “v” – as in belief or believe.

I checked on line to see if anyone has used those words.  I actually found words like “believie” and “beliefie” – but they weren’t anywhere near  with what I was trying to come up with.

Then I thought: how about a “faithie” – a person with faith? I did find that word on Google – as the familiar name for someone whose first name is “Faith”.

So I decided that the title of my homily is, “Faithie” – a person with faith.

Maybe by using this possible new made up word – I could be the one who gave birth to a new word that  makes its way all around our  world?

Hey you never know….

I’ll put it on my blog and see if I can get it rolling.

I tried to get the wave going at a ball game once. It didn’t take. It didn’t succeed. So I sat down disappointed.  Yet, I tried …. So think about it: a “faithie” is a person with faith – a person who believes. Spread the word.

QUESTIONS

Ask someone at work this week: “Are you a faithie?”

I assume all of us here at Mass are “faithies.”

Question: Do you identify yourself as a person of faith?

Question: Do people at work or neighbors see you as a person of faith?

How about Catholic - one who practices her or his faith?

And what would that mean for them and for you?  Does having faith – practicing one’s faith – being a Catholic – make a difference in how you act and are in life?

For the sake of transparency, I did notice on line the word, “faithiest” as opposed to “atheist”.

What does it mean to be a faitheist or a “faithie”?

CARD CARRYING CATHOLIC

Back in 2005 in Ireland a lady named Marian Mulhall came up with the idea of a “Catholic identity Card.”

I noticed this in John Allen’s book on The Future Church – in a chapter on Evangelical Catholicism. [1]

In that chapter he lines up 3 types of Christians – and he says you can find all 3 in Catholicism: Mainline Liberalism – Evangelicalism and Pentecostalism.  

Those 3 labels might be a bit clumsy or technical and maybe “gick” up or sidetrack my sermon.

Let me say this much about those terms – to flesh out a few ideas a bit – on what it means to be a faithie.

I have seen what John Allen means in parish life. All 3 are found in Catholics – and sometimes it seems each expression of faith can make the other a bit uneasy – as if people have sandpaper skin on that day. We can rub each other the wrong way.

John Allen talks about these 3 attitudes and outlooks  and stresses this way.

In Mainline Liberalism church and culture are a two-way street. Let’s work together to help this world and its peoples work.  The new doesn’t have to clash with the old. This was what we heard loud and clear in late 60’s to the mid-1980’s – after Vatican II.

For those with stress Evangelicalism, the goal is to make a bold proclamation of timeless truths with nerve. The goal is to try to convert the world and what’s happening in it. With John Paul II Catholicism became more evangelical. Modern culture – society - and politics are challenged more than accommodating to it.

In Pentecostalism there is a stress on spiritual experience rather than doctrine. The goal is to  set the world on fire – with the Spirit of Christ.

If you see yourself as a faithie, which of the 3 would be more you?

Margaret Mulhall – whom I mentioned above as someone who is pushing Catholic Identity cards is  described as a communications executive in Ireland. She would  be more evangelical. She’s a Catholic – like most of Ireland – but the numbers are slipping. She figured  her card idea could be a moneymaker as well as a challenge. The card  would  cost $45.  It would be plastic – the size of a credit card – with one’s name on it. It would have a picture of the pope on it – as well as a holographic icon showing a priest’s hands breaking the Eucharistic Bread.  It would state, “I am a Catholic. In the event of an accident or emergency, please contact a priest.”

Please call the other priests here at St. Mary’s. Smile.

If anyone here is as old as I am, you’ll remember we had cardboard calling cards like that years ago – for free – no charge. And I remember the jokes as well – maybe even from George Carlin: “I am a very important Catholic, in case of an accident, please call a monsignor.”

The title of my homily is “Faithie”. It describes someone with faith, someone who believes.

What does having faith mean? 

It would mean one believes in God. If one is a Catholic it would mean one grasps and says the Creed – either the Apostles Creed or the Nicean Creed.

It would mean one tries on a daily basis – and not just on Sunday – to practice the great commandment to love the Lord our God with our whole heart, mind, soul and spirit and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

At weddings and funerals – I often run into people who have dropped out of church – but seeing a priest, they often say, “I’m spiritual.”

I assume telling a priest this – they are saying all sorts of things – like I used to go to church – or I feel guilty right now – being in a church for this wedding or funeral – but I pray at times – or I believe in God – but I sort of slackened off - but I still consider myself sort of a Christian or a faith person.

I feel good when people tell me this – because it means something. I assume they are feeling faithie, churchie, spiritualie, guilty, or something in one of these areas – and the wedding or funeral triggered religious feelings and faith stuff.

TODAY’S READINGS

Todays 3 readings trigger faith stuff.

The first reading from 1 Kings 19 talks about Elijah – who’s on the run – being hunted down the king and queen -  Ahab and  Jezebel – who want to kill him for challenging them – with God messages.

And Elijah has a God experience on a mountain – standing there near a cave. He experiences God not as a heavy wind, an earthquake or a fire, but as a tiny whispering sound.

Many people have God screams when they are hit with hurricanes, earthquakes, fires. You can hear them saying, “Oh my God. Oh no. Oh my God. Help!”

Some people experience God in faith caves.

Another question: do you have a faith place. You’ve heard of man caves – do you have a “faithie cave”?

I used to see my dad praying quietly down in our cellar. A friend of mine changed his garage into a small chapel – and neighbors used to ask to use it. People come here to the Eucharistic chapel. It’s their “faithie cave”. Down through the years I’ve seen people in many dark churches – quietly praying – and I assume they are hearing what Elijah heard: the tiny whispering sound of God.  I remember a guy who used to come on retreat every year when I was stationed in a retreat house in the Poconos. He had been a professional football player – so I knew who he was.  He once said to me, “I supposed you’ve seen me sitting all alone in the back bench of the chapel.” I said, “No I didn’t.” I lied. Then he said, “I do that because that’s where my mom sat in our parish church. She’d sit in that back bench every afternoon and say a prayer for me – and she prayed me back to church after I was away for twenty years of so.

What are your God experiences? Where are your “faithie” caves?

Today’s second reading from Romans 9: 1-5 begins with conscience questions – and many people experience the need and the inner scream for God in those moments. “Come Holy Spirit! Help me. Help me. Help me.”

That could be deep faith challenges for oneself – or about one’s family or one’s kids – when others drop out of what we believe in very strongly. We’ve worshipped with them. We had them baptized into the covenant – as Paul puts it. We brought or bought Catholic education for them – but – it all but disappeared.

Today’s gospel from Matthew 14: 22-33 - talks about Jesus going to his prayer cave in the mountains – while his disciples are making their way across the lake – and a storm hits them. What now? What next?

The 4 gospels have variations on this scene – and you’ve heard jokes and comments about Jesus walking on the water – you just have to know where the stones are – but it’s not a joke – it’s the church in every age. There are times when we have to make lake crossings and there are times when there are storms – and we need the Lord in our boat – especially in the big storm – going across the waters of life – from this shore – to the other unsure sure – is there life after death.

The obvious message is that we need to scream out at those times like Peter, “Lord save me!” and even if Jesus says to us, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt” – still scream it out. And then say the great act of faith, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”

CONCLUSION

This is not the “bestie” of my sermons – but it is an attempt at some reflections on what it is to be a “faithie”.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

NOTES:

[1] John Allen, The Future Church, How Ten Trends Are Revolutionizing The Catholic Church, Doubleday, 2009.

Here are the 10 Trends and 10 Chapters:

Trend One: A World Church

Trend Two: Evangelical Catholicism

Trend Three: Islam

Trend Four:  The New Demography

Trend Five: Expanding Lay Roles

Trend Six: The Biotech Revolution

Trend Seven: Globilization

Trend Eight: Ecology

Trend Nine: Multipolarism

Trend Ten Pentecostalism

Trends that Aren't Catholicism in the Twenty-First Century

THE HOW OF 

OF FRIENDSHIPS

Poem for Today - August 10, 2014

FOR FRIENDS

I bless you with the gentle word

that makes many friends.

I bless you with the agreeable tongue

that calls forth gracious replies.

I bless you with a seeing eye

that knows a faithful friend.

I bless you with a friend at table

who is steadfast in adversity.

I bless you with a secure refuge

in the company of your friend.

I bless you with a rich treasure

that is a trusted friend.

I bless you with the priceless gift,

a friend without price.

I bless you with a sense of God,

for as you are so will Your friends be.

© Anna Burke,

Based on Sirach 6: 5-17

From page 60 in
Where Blessings Flow,
Words of Glory and Thanks

Veritas, Dublin, Ireland

LIFE # 102

Poem for Today - August 9, 2014

RICHARD CORY

Whenever Richard Cory went down town,
We people on the pavement looked at him:
He was a gentleman from sole to crown,
Clean favored, and imperially slim.

And he was always quietly arrayed,
And he was always human when he talked;
But still he fluttered pulses when he said,
'Good-morning,' and he glittered when he walked.

And he was rich - yes, richer than a king -
And admirably schooled in every grace:
In fine, we thought that he was everything
To make us wish that we were in his place.

So on we worked, and waited for the light,
And went without the meat, and cursed the bread;
And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,
Went home and put a bullet through his head. 

© Edwin Arlington Robinson
Song by Simon and Garfunkel

LIFE  #101

Poem for Today - August 8, 2014

THE GAMBLER 

On a warm summer's eve
On a train bound for nowhere
I met up with the gambler
We were both too tired to sleep
So we took turns a-starin'
Out the window at the darkness
The boredom overtook us, he began to speak

He said, "Son, I've made a life
Out of readin' people's faces
Knowin' what the cards were
By the way they held their eyes
So if you don't mind me sayin'
I can see you're out of aces
For a taste of your whiskey
I'll give you some advice"

So I handed him my bottle
And he drank down my last swallow
Then he bummed a cigarette
And asked me for a light
And the night got deathly quiet
And his faced lost all expression
He said, "If you're gonna play the game, boy
You gotta learn to play it right

You've got to know when to hold 'em
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away
Know when to run
You never count your money
When you're sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin'
When the dealin's done

Every gambler knows
That the secret to survivin'
Is knowin' what to throw away
And knowin' what to keep
'Cause every hand's a winner
And every hand's a loser
And the best that you can hope for
Is to die in your sleep"

And when he finished speakin'
He turned back toward the window
Crushed out his cigarette
And faded off to sleep
And somewhere in the darkness
The gambler he broke even
And in his final words
I found an ace that I could keep

You've got to know when to hold 'em
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away
And know when to run
You never count your money
When you're sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin'
When the dealin's done

You've got to know when to hold 'em
(When to hold 'em)
Know when to fold 'em
(When to fold 'em)
Know when to walk away
And know when to run
You never count your money
When you're sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin'
When the dealin's done

You've got to know when to hold 'em
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away
And know when to run
You never count your money
When you're sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin'
When the dealin's done

© Song written 

by Don Schlitz and 

sung by Kenny Rogers

YOU DON'T ALWAYS 

GET WHAT YOU WANT! 

Poem for Today - August 7, 2014

THE BUG

Well it's a strange old game you learn it slow
One step forward and it's back you go
You're standing on the throttle
You're standing on the brake
In the groove 'til you make a mistake

Sometimes you're the windshield
Sometimes you're the bug
Sometimes it all comes together baby
Sometimes you're just a fool in love
Sometimes you're the Louisville Slugger
Sometimes you're the ball
Sometimes it all comes together
Sometimes you're gonna lose it all

You gotta know happy - you gotta know glad
Because you're gonna know lonely
And you're gonna know sad
When you're rippin' and you're ridin'
And you're coming on strong
You start slippin' and slidin'
And it all goes wrong because

Sometimes you're the windshield
Sometimes you're the bug
Sometimes it all comes together baby
Sometimes you're just a fool in love
Sometimes you're the Louisville Slugger
Sometimes you're the ball
Sometimes it all comes together
Sometimes you're gonna lose it all

One day you got the glory and then you got none
One day you're a diamond and then you're a stone
Everything can change in the blink of an eye
So let the good times roll before we say goodbye because

Sometimes you're the windshield
Sometimes you're the bug
Sometimes it all comes together baby
Sometimes you're just a fool in love
Sometimes you're the Louisville Slugger
Sometimes you're the ball
Sometimes it all comes together
Sometimes you're gonna lose it all

Sometimes you're the windshield
Sometimes you're the bug
Sometimes it all comes together baby
Sometimes you're just a fool in love

Sometimes you're the windshield
Sometimes you're the bug
Sometimes it all comes together baby
Sometimes you're just a fool in love

© Written by Mark Knopfler,

Sung by Mary Chapin Carpenter 

TRANSFIGURATION

Poem for Today - August 6, 2014

THE TRANSFIGURATION

So from the ground we felt that virtue branch
Through all our veins till we were whole, our wrists
As fresh and pure as water from a well,
Our hands made new to handle holy things,
The source of all our seeing rinsed and cleansed
Till earth and light and water entering there
Gave back to us the clear unfallen world.
We would have thrown our clothes away for lightness,
But that even they, though sour and travel stained,
Seemed, like our flesh, made of immortal substance,
And the soiled flax and wool lay light upon us
Like friendly wonders, flower and flock entwined
As in a morning field. Was it a vision?
Or did we see that day the unseeable
One glory of the everlasting world
Perpetually at work, though never seen
Since Eden locked the gate that’s everywhere
And nowhere? Was the change in us alone,
And the enormous earth still left forlorn,
An exile or a prisoner? Yet the world
We saw that day made this unreal, for all
Was in its place. The painted animals
Assembled there in gentle congregations,
Or sought apart their leafy oratories,
Or walked in peace, the wild and tame together,
As if, also for them, the day had come.
The shepherds’ hovels shone, for underneath
The soot we saw the stone clean at the heart
As on the starting-day. The refuse heaps
Were grained with that fine dust that made the world;
For he had said, ‘To the pure all things are pure.’
And when we went into the town, he with us,
The lurkers under doorways, murderers,
With rags tied round their feet for silence, came
Out of themselves to us and were with us,
And those who hide within the labyrinth
Of their own loneliness and greatness came,
And those entangled in their own devices,
The silent and the garrulous liars, all
Stepped out of their dungeons and were free.
Reality or vision, this we have seen.
If it had lasted but another moment
It might have held for ever! But the world
Rolled back into its place, and we are here,
And all that radiant kingdom lies forlorn,
As if it had never stirred; no human voice
Is heard among its meadows, but it speaks
To itself alone, alone it flowers and shines
And blossoms for itself while time runs on.


But he will come again, it’s said, though not
Unwanted and unsummoned; for all things,
Beasts of the field, and woods, and rocks, and seas,
And all mankind from end to end of the earth
Will call him with one voice. In our own time,
Some say, or at a time when time is ripe.
Then he will come, Christ the uncrucified,
Christ the discrucified, his death undone,
His agony unmade, his cross dismantled—
Glad to be so—and the tormented wood
Will cure its hurt and grow into a tree
In a green springing corner of young Eden,
And Judas damned take his long journey backward
From darkness into light and be a child
Beside his mother’s knee, and the betrayal
Be quite undone and never more be done.

© Edwin Muir [1887-1959] -
poem, The Transfiguration [1949]

Painting on top:

Transfiguration,

{[1518-20]

last major painting

by Raphael,