The title, topic, and theme of my homily for this 22 Friday in Ordinary Time is,
“Comparisons.”
A life skill we all need is, “How To Deal With
Comparisons.”
It’s a life skill we need as little kids – when a brother
or sister or another gets a bigger piece of cake – or a corner piece of cake
with more frosting.
It’s a life skill we all need as little old people when
we’re shrinking or have more wrinkles or health problems than others.
It’s a life skill we need when others are talking about
their wonderful kids or grandkids – their successes, their salaries, their
status in life – and our kids – well, a few of them we consider unmentionable.
Comparisons…. Comparisons …. Comparisons ….
And then there’s death…. Sometimes they are a blessing
compared to other’s; sometimes they feel like a curse.
God help me learn to deal with comparisons.
TODAY’S GOSPEL
Today’s gospel- Luke 5: 33-39 - has the scribes – they’re the ones with
the education – and the Pharisees – they’re the picky, picky religious perfect
ones. Today they are about to nit pick on Jesus. They are comparing John the Baptist’s
disciples and their disciples to his disciples. They are sliding in the innuendo
that Jesus disciples are having too good a time in life – and they don’t fast
and pray enough.
Comparisons…. Comparisons …. Comparisons….
So Jesus throws them a comparison right back into their talk and thinking patterns, “Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?”
Translation: Lighten up turkeys. Lighten up! Celebrate!
Then he says, “Okay there will be days when it’s time to
fast – when the bridegroom is gone – but not now, turkeys.”
Picture a sweet wedding celebration on a Saturday in September. Then picture people showing up with Ash
Wednesday ashes on. It doesn't compute.
Then Jesus compares old cloth and new cloth – old wine
and new wine – old wine skins and new wine skins.
The new is the new and the old is the old. Sometimes one is better than the other. Think turkeys, think.
Comparisons …. Comparisons …. Comparison ….
I once heard a series of talks by a well-known Catholic
speaker. He kept saying in talk after talk after talk that life is a
battle. Every day we got to wake up and enter the battlefield.
I finally raised my hand. I asked him, “Do you really see
every day as a battle?”
He answered, “Everyday!”
So I said, “I don’t agree with you. I don’t agree
with your metaphor, your comparison - and how you see life.”
I think of Father Al Rush – an old priest I used to work
with – who often said, “Andy, I don’t think God wants life to be as tough, tough,
tough – rough, rough, rough – as some people make it.”
COMPARISONS CAN
CRUSH
Comparisons can crush. Comparisons can cut. Comparisons can also be creative.
The house next door can have a great lawn – and a good
paint job – and some nice Japanese Maple Trees and hedges and flowers – and my
place can be a mess. If my neighbor’s property gets me to do some yard work –
getting me and my lawns - front and back – in better shape – along with my tummy –
great.
If it gets me complaining – tearing him or her or them
down – then not so great.
Comparisons can crush. Comparisons can cut. A priest once told me that
he was standing in the back of the church – ready to proceed down the aisle for
the Mass. The Cantor and Singer welcomes everyone. Then she asked everyone to
silence all electronic devices. Then she said, “Our celebrant is __________” At that,
hearing the priest’s name, someone said rather loud, “Oh no!”
How’s that for a comparison that cut and crushed.
LAST NIGHT –
PEACE
Last night at St. John Neumann there was a service for
peace.
Some lady afterwards said, “Where was everybody? How come
the kids weren’t here? How come their parents weren’t here?”
I said, “Jesus said, ‘Feed the sheep. Don’t count the
sheep!'”
I didn’t go much further in our at the back on the way
out of church conversation – but I wondered if that was her life – always comparing what
is with what isn’t. Does this cause her regular agita of the soul.
Envy is wanting what the other person has: looks, car,
kids, spouse, beautiful skin, clothes, property, you name it. Underneath envy
is comparisons. Comparing myself to what
another has. I want that.
It’s at the underneath of war – and world problems.
It’s at the underneath of why there is a lack of peace.
Jealousy is wanting to hold on to, protect, what I have
and not wanting to lose it to another.
At the bottom of that is also comparisons.
Envy and jealousy and comparisons – all have to be put on
the table for discussion when it comes to war and peace.
CONCLUSION
Comparisons can crush and they can be creative.
In the meanwhile: the question – Am I a happy camper?
I think that’s a key life question: “Am I a happy camper?”
Be who you is, because if you be who you ain't, then you ain't
who you is.
Be where you is, because if you be where you’re not, then
you’re not where you is.
And one last great
secret of happiness from Thornton Wilder.
Haven’t we gone out to supper with others, who don’t
enjoy their meal because our meal – on our plate looks better.
Well a character in Thornton Wilder’s play, The
Skin of our Teeth, 1942, Act 1, says a line I love, “My advice to you is
not to inquire why or whither, but just enjoy your ice cream while it’s on your
plate that’s my philosophy.”
It’s also my theology.
HELP!
Poem For Today - September 5, 2014
HELP
Help, I need somebody, Help, not just anybody, Help, you know I need someone, Help!
When I was younger
so much younger than today
I never needed
anybody's help in any way
But now these days are gone.
I'm not so self-assured
Now I find I've changed my mind
and opened up the doors
Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being 'round.
Help me get my feet back on the ground,
Won't you please, please help me?
And now my life has changed in oh so many ways
My independence seems to vanish in the haze
But every now and then I feel so insecure
I know that I just need you like I've never done before
When I was younger, so much younger than today, I never needed anybody's help in anyway. But now these days are gone, I'm not so self assured, Now I find I've changed my mind, I've opened up
the doors.
Help me if you can, I'm feeling down And I do appreciate you being 'round. Help me get my feet back on the ground, Won't you please, please help me? Help me, Help me, Ooooooo.
"Help!"
The title of my reflection for this evening "Prayer Service for Peace" is, “Having
An Impulse for Peace.”
My take on this evening is that we are here to take an
hour to be peaceful – to be with each other and pray – to sing – to hope - for
peace.
I’m assuming all peacemaking – like all politics – remembering what Tip O’Neill famously said: “All politics is local politics” – I want
to say, “All peacemaking is local peacemaking.”
That means working to be peaceful with family, neighbors, and the folks one is with in local traffic and one’s own workplace. Better: I’ll go a step further and say, “All local peacemaking is inner self
peace making.” As the song we’re going to sing at the end of our service
tonight goes, “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.”
I’m also assuming that the impulse for this evening is that the world –
right now - seems rather antsy and angry
– with too much agita and aggression.
Antsy – angry – agitated – aggressive – all words
beginning with A.
I’m sure we could also move to words beginning with the letter
B: belligerence - bullying – battles - bombs – and we could move to C and D and all
the way to Z.
I don’t know about you – but I’m nervous around zealots.
The Letter “P ”also has it’s words: peace, prayer, pause,
presence.
We’re assuming that tonight we’re not the only ones in
sacred places – being peaceful and praying for peace in our world – aware of
each other.
Ferguson – Ukraine – Iraq – Syria – Lybia – Somalia - déjà vu and déjà vu after déjà vu – over and
over again.
It’s 2014. We're 100 years after the start of World War I – in
which 10 million military people and 7 million civilians were killed – and the
seeds for World War II were planted.
It’s 2014. 200 years ago – in December - the day before Christmas - of that year - the
War of 1812 ended – after 2 ½ years of fighting. And unfortunately – the
Battle of New Orleans was fought in January of 1815 – because news of the Treaty of Ghent had not reached the British in the Gulf of Mexico and Louisiana nor Andrew Jackson yet.
It’s 2014 – 150 years after the 4th year of
the United States Civil War.
That’s world news – that’s old news….
I’m sitting there watching the 10 o’clock evening news
out of Philadelphia with my sister, my brother-in-law and their son Gerard. At
10 PM Gerard says, “What are watching this for?”
I’m sure he wanted a baseball game instead.
He went on, “Why are we watching this? The first three
stories are going to be 3 murders in Philadelphia and Camden, then a fire, and
then another murder or a robbery.”
Sure enough. That night it was 4 murders and 2 fires.
I never forgot that observation by my nephew Gerard.
It must be the easy way to do the evening news: because
it seems that’s the same formula for the 10 o’clock evening news out of
Baltimore each night as well.
I have never watched the 10 PM news in Miami, Atlanta, Chicago,
Dallas or L.A. – yet I assume that’s the evening news there too.
What’s it like to watch the local evening news in Bogota or
Barcelona, Mumbai or Moscow?
Do those who watch World News have the same “uh!” and “Oh
no!” feelings all over the world?
Lately the lead stories on the 6:30 or 7 PM World News –
seem to have more news about
non-peaceful moments – and so we gather here tonight.
THE COMMITTEE
The committee that met to pray and prepare for this
meeting tonight provided some talking points
about peace – and gave them to me. Thank you. May every group and organization
do the same.
THE TITLE OF MY
THOUGHTS
The title of my thoughts for this evening is: “The
Impulse for Peace.”
I noticed on the program that one of the action steps for
after this meeting – after this get together – is that people make a One Minute
Prayer for Peace Every Day at Noon.
That’s doable. I’ll try that.
That’s workable. I’ll practice that.
I know somewhere along the line – amongst other things –
in the morning after I wake up – and get out of bed – I pull the blinds in my room –
look out to see what kind of a day it is – and I do 74 – extended arm lifting exercises. 74 is my
age. I started doing that when I was 33 or 34 – with 33 arm things – and each
year on my birthday I add one more. It works. It has become second nature.
Somewhere along the line I also found myself standing
there in the dark before getting into bed at night – stretching out my arms. I then say the Our Father out loud. Then I do 3 genuflections – one to the Father, one
to the Son, and one to the Holy Spirit. I thank them for a good day.
That’s been going on for some 40 years or so. [Gesture showing muscles] If you too want muscles like I have, there's the secret.
Years and years ago an old man – on the Tennessee Border
- probably younger than I am now – told
me that every morning – when he wakes up – he keeps his eyes closed – and wiggles his toes. If they wiggle, he told me, he says to God, “Thank You God
for another day of life.”
So now tonight – September 4, 2014 – someone is going to
suggest every day at noon from now on to say a One Minute Prayer for Peace. Who
knows, maybe 50 years from now – all of you – well some of us – will still be
doing that – starting tomorrow at noon?
Since the title of my thoughts for this evening is: “The
Impulse for Peace”, may I suggest beginning this way: take your pulse. [Gesture] Catch
your pulse – pulsing – pulsing – pulsing. Thank God you’re alive. That’s one of
things they check when it looks like we’re leaving this life.
Then after saying, “Thank You God that I’m alive” or
however you want to word it, ask the Lord for impulses for peace.
Each noon time monitor what your day has been like so
far? What have been your impulses: antsy
– anger – agitation – aggression.
Or peace, prayer, pause, presence to the people we’re
with?
THREE TYPES OF
PEOPLE
I noticed in the “Talking Points About Peace” that the
committee came up with – there is mention of 3
Types of People.”
I always like People Typing Tests – because they get me to
think. Which one am I? Jesus offered at least 7 people typing in his parables.[1]
This 3 Types of People When It Comes to Peace labels them this way: Peace-Breakers, Peace-Fakers, and Peace-Makers.
Right now put your thumb on your pulse and listen to your
heart: which of these three impulses is more you?
The Peace-Breakers confront, cause agita, division,
disagreements. They are manipulative, witch hunt, gossip, slander, are
opinionated, and judgmental. They tear down – cause friction, and are mouthy.
Thank God none of us here tonight are like that. I love that old saying, “There are two types
of people, ‘Those who cause happiness wherever they go and those who cause
happiness whenever they go.”
The Peace-Fakers want harmony, peace at all costs, no violence,
no hostility, but avoid allowing interpersonal or international relationships.
They won’t or don’t want to deal with justice issues – the deeper issues – and so
they come up with a counterfeit peace. I was trying to remember the peace
diagram I heard in some talk – some years ago. For peace, everyone needs to be
in on a piece of the action, get a piece of the pie, so as to have peace of
mind. I think there were two more pieces to that – but I only remember 2 pieces: the giving everyone a piece
of the pie and everyone a piece of the action. In other words, if we don’t get
everything out on the table – we’ll end up having a nice peaceful looking pond
– but lurking in that water are lots of sharks and alligators.
The Peace Makers are the good gals and good guys. They
are the peace makers that Jesus said they are blessed. The info the committee game
me said that they respect, think before they speak, and don’t have the outcome
all figured out before we begin to be with each other. They also experience the cross – the great
symbol here in this church. We all want it this way – and surprise someone
right there across from us at the table – wants it another way. Life is loaded with cross purposes. Sometimes
peace makers are crucified. Look at Christ. Case in point.
So when we take our pulse each day – at noon – take also
a pulse on what our predominating impulses are flowing through our blood that
day – that moment. Then pause and pray.
Some days – let’s be honest – we’re peace breakers. Some
days we are peace fakers. To be honest, some days I just don’t have the time
right now – to sit down and talk with so and so – and some days – hopefully –
most days – we can be blessed peace makers.
CONCLUSION
And in that one minute at noon each day – to smile –
because we’re not in this alone. We’re with each other as we are tonight. Amen.
+++++++++
[This was a talk I gave last night - at a Prayer Service for Peace - September 4, 2014 at St. John Neumann Church, Annapolis, Maryland.] NOTES [1] Let me see how many I can find:
Fasting: Gloomy or Clean Faced Matthew 6:16-18;
Narrow Gate or Wide Gate? Matthew 7:13-14
House on Rock or House on Sand? Matthew 7:24-27;
Good Tree - Bad Tree Matthew 12:33-37;
Parable of Sower - 4 types? Matthew 13: 1-9
Wheat or Weed? Matthew 13: 24-30-Matthew 13: 36-43;
Workers in the Vineyard? Different Hours? Matthew 20: 1-16
Two Sons - Yes or No? Matthew 21: 28-28-32;
Faithful or Unfaithful Servant? Matthew 24: 45-51;
Wise Virgin or Foolish Virgin? Matthew 25: 1-13;
Three Servants Given Talents According to Ability - Matthew 25: 14-30;
Sheep or Goat? Matthew 25: 31-46;
Good Samaritan? Which of the 4 Characters am I? Luke 10:29-37;
Martha or Mary? Luke 10: 38-42;
Regular Sheep or Lost Sheep? Luke 15: 1-7;
Prodigal Son, Older Brother or Father Luke 15: 11-32;
Rich Man or Lazarus? Luke 16: 19-31;
10 Men Healed of Leprosy? Luke 17: 11-19;
Pharisee or Tax Collector? Luke 18: 9-14;
Thursday, September 4, 2014
ME AND YOU!
ENLIGHTEN ME!
Poem - September 4, 2014
SUBURBAN WIFE'S SONG
When you
are gone, I lie upon your bed
And you
are there, dark as the light of stars,
Closer
than measurements of heart, and loud
With the
silences of all our daily years;
And then
the door key, lights in the living room,
The slamming wood, the briefcase on the floor,
The title of my homily for this 22 Tuesday in Ordinary Time is, “Having the
Mind of Christ.”
A FEW BIG QUESTIONS
Today’s 2 readings present a few good questions –
starting with the one we heard at the end of today’s first reading from 1st
Corinthians 2: 10b-16. Paul asks: “Who has known
the mind of the Lord, so as to counsel him?”
Listen carefully to people.
People are telling God what to do all the time. They are screaming and
streaming to God counsel – and they get angry with God - when God doesn’t
follow their advice – in war and in peace.
Listen carefully to people –
especially ourselves. I have a question: is the most basic inner scream, “My
will be done – on earth as it is in heaven?”
I sense we say the Our Father
a zillion times – but still say inwardly – and down deep: “My will be done! The
way I see things is the way things ought to be.”
Today’s gospel – Luke 4:
31-37 - has as its main character - a
strange screaming man in a synagogue in Capernaum. Luke describes him as a man
with the spirit of any unclean demon. He
asks Jesus two questions – both of which ask: “Why are you here?” He asks that question this way: “What have you
to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?’
Then he yells, “I know who
you are – the Holy One of God!”
Today’s readings are asking
life’s basic questions: who, what and why?
KNOWING
We all want to know whom
another is – especially those around us.
At times we want to know who
God is.
At times we say, “I don’t
even know who I am at times.”
Paul is saying in the first
reading that there are two types of people: the pneuma people – those who live
by the Spirit – and those who live only by the psuche – those who live just by
natural life – as does anything that is alive, dogs, cats, gnats and hippos.
So we have a choice: to live
a low life or to live a high life.
That scares me – because at
times I am eating too many pretzels – being too lazy – thinking only of myself
– hiding from work and others.
I know I have to pray: “Come
Holy Spirit.”
I know I have to say that
more than my inner sounds, inner complaints, inner gossip, inner gripe
sessions.
Too often I’m muttering
grumbling sounds: “Uummmm!” Or “Aaarg!” Or “Crud” or “Crap” or worse whining’s.
Not enough…. I have to listen to Christ. Not enough…. I
have to have the Clean Spirit of God wake up in me and I have to say what this
man in today’s gospel says, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?” Then he says
something we often forget because we’re living a low level of life. He says, “I
know who you are–the Holy One of God!”
CONCLUSION:
Paul – at the end of today’s
first reading answers his own question about who knows the mind of God. It’s
us. “But we have the mind of Christ.”
I don’t know about you, but as already indicated in this
sermon, I hesitate saying that – or praying for that.
I do pray that I be like this strange ranger in today’s
gospel – who said, “I know who you are – the Holy One of God.”
I want to know that Jesus is the holy one of God.
Luke said this character in that synagogue in Capernaum
was filled with an unclean spirit.
So I suspect - when our unclean spirits mutter inner
complaints and sometimes obscenities about life and others and sometimes
ourselves – they can lead me to say, “At least my rumblings and grumblings know
I need You Oh God and I need Your
Spirit, so that I can lead a higher life having the mind of Christ.”
