SOMETIMES,
IT ALL DEPENDS
ON HOW WE
SAY IT!
INTRODUCTION
The title of my homily for this Tuesday in the Second
Week in Lent is, “Sometimes, It All Depends on How We Say It!”
Many times when I read the scriptures, I find myself
wincing.
For example, in today’s first reading from Isaiah 1:20,
Isaiah has God saying, “But if you refuse and resist, the sword shall consume
you….”
To me – evidently not to Isaiah – and others - God is
going destroy, earthquake, zap people. I had the same experience when reading
the Koran – there God is going to burn, burn, burn.
I wish the author would say his words – with blue cheese
or soft melted butter – instead of with peppers and hot sauce – swords and
stones.
I try to keep in mind the old saying, “A spoonful of honey
will catch more flies than a barrel of vinegar.
OLD JOKE
When I hear some people communicating with those around
them, at times I hope they would get the message from the old story about the
two brothers and the cat.
Once upon time there were two bachelor brothers. One
brother lived with mom who was bedridden
and he did everything for her. The other brother was a salesman. At least once
a month – he’d be on the road – so he would bring his cat over to the house of
his brother – the one who lived with mom in her old age –and this other brother
would take care of the cat. – while his brother was away.
Every night – whenever he was away – he’d call his
brother and ask how the cat and how mom were doing.
So on the first night of his trip from Maryland to Los
Angeles he calls and says to his brother,
“How’s my cat doing?”
The brother in
Maryland says, “The cat died.”
Big pause.
Then the brother in Los Angeles says, “You don’t say it like that.”
“Oh! How should I
say it?”
The brother in Los Angeles said, “Well, the first night
and the first call you say, ‘The cat went up on the roof.’”
Pause.
Then the brother in Los Angeles continues, “Then the next
night I call you, you say that the cat fell.” Then the next night I call you
say, “The cat is not doing that well. Then the next night I call you say, ‘The
cat is struggling.’ Then the next night
when I call you calmly say, ‘The cat has passed away. Sorry!’”
“Oh,” says the brother in Maryland.”
Then the brother in Los Angeles says, “By the way, how’s
mom?”
The brother in Maryland pauses a bit and then says,
“Mom’s up on the roof.”
CONCLUSION
There’s different ways of saying what we want to say.
Wouldn’t it be great if we spoke with better respect and
kindness to each other?
We’ve all noticed folks who are grouchers or complainers
or downright abrasive when it come to how they talk to waiters or waitresses,
Wouldn’t it be nice if a husband and wife were having a
conversation on the way to church – and one says to the other, “I was wondering
about our kids. Maybe when they come next month – we don’t nag them about going
to Church or what have you. Maybe we buy great bagels and make them a super
breakfast and say nothing about going to church. Maybe they pick up the beauty of the Mass
from us. Amen
