PERSONAL  STATIONS 

OF  THE  CROSS 

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this Good Friday is, “Personal Stations of the Cross.”

I wonder how many people noticed on page 118 in the missalette the following comment: “After the reading of the Passion, there may be a brief homily. Following the homily, the faithful may be invited to spend a brief period in prayer.”

A similar message in the Missalette about being brief appeared last Sunday – Palm Sunday – and I think my homily was 8 minutes.

I assume the key word is “brief”. I assume there is so much to meditate and reflect upon this Holy Week – and we need space and time – to deeply reflect upon the key ingredients and themes of Holy Week.

I have often asked people: “What are your key moments of Holy Week?”

[PAUSE] What are yours? 

On Holy Thursday, in a brief morning homily, I mentioned that a lady told me her key moment is Holy Thursday night’s washing of the feet.

Another person told me that Holy Saturday night’s liturgy is long, at least 2 hours long, but he loves the moment when people come into the Catholic Church after making the long R.C.I.A. program.

So what is your favorite – or most moving moment - of Holy Week?

FOR SOME,  IT’S GOOD FRIDAY’S STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Last Sunday after Mass, a young  couple I had married at St. Mary’s a few years ago, told me they were going to be in Rome to celebrate Holy Week. The guy told me that his favorite moment will be praying the Stations of the Cross with Pope Francis in the Coliseum. He said he lived in Italy for a while and  he went to that ceremony in Rome every Good Friday.

That triggered this homily and these thoughts.

WHEN VISITING CHURCHES - VISIT THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Some people when they travel, like to stop into Catholic Churches and check them out.  I see lots of folks visiting St. Mary’s in downtown Annapolis.

Suggestion: check out the stations of the cross in every Catholic church you visit. Check out the variety and the art. Make them – slowly or quickly – a moment of prayer. Let your kids see you do that on vacation or here in St. Mary’s Parish.  What are your falls? What are your crosses – or your main cross?  Where do you feel nailed down? What are your deaths? When have you been falsely accused of something? Who’s there to help you?

Or as someone – somewhere along line -  once told me: discover  your key station of the cross – the one that says the most to you. Then in every church you visit  - go to just that station.  The lady who told me this said she sits there at the 4^th station only: Jesus Meets His Sorrowful Mother.

I’ve noticed in various churches a set of stations that have a hidden face in every one of the 14 stations. Check out the ones here in St. John Neumann Church.

VISIT GOOGLE AND TYPE IN “STATIONS OF THE CROSS.”

If you check out  Stations of the Cross on Google, you'll find out that they have a long history. The comment you’ll notice the most is this: it’s a substitute for going to the Holy Land to visit the places on the  way to the cross. The Stations go from where Jesus is condemned by Pontius Pilate till he dies on the cross and is buried.

You’ll also find out from Google that St. Francis of Assisi and then the Franciscans get a lot of credit from medieval times and onwards for promoting this spiritual practice.

You’ll also find out,  that there were various methods and numbers of Stations before that time – as well as in modern times. You’ll find out some stations are biblical and some aren’t. How many times Jesus fell, we don’t know.  That he fell probably – but we don’t know for sure.  It’s not in the Bible. That Simon of Cyrene was forced into helping Jesus. That’s in the Bible. That a woman named Veronica wiped the face of Jesus “No.”  That there were women along the way to Calvary weeping and crying, yes – that’s in the Bible.

Just as there are many different types of art work - for  the Stations of the Cross - hanging in our churches, so too there are many different booklets written by all kinds of people – giving prayers and reflections – for the Stations of the Cross. Pope John Paul 2 has one. I’m sure Pope Francis will have one.

We Redemptorists are very aware that the most popular booklet for the stations of the cross was done by our founder St. Alphonsus de Liguori.

A priest who left the priesthood – Richard Furey - who was stationed here at St. Mary’s Parish wrote a popular stations of the cross back in 1984. It still sells. It’s entitled, “Mary’s Way of the Cross”. I noticed on line that it’s listed for $1.95. I also noticed in small print, “Used .69 cents. New .36 cents.” Interesting…. Why I know about that Stations of the Cross is that when Rick wrote it, he sent it to me for suggestions. I thought it needed an Introduction so I wrote a  brief first draft introduction  in about a  half hour or so and suggested he write an introduction like this himself.  Years later someone said they saw my name on a stations of the cross. I said I had written one, but it never got  published – like a lot of my stuff. So I wondered how it had gotten out. Surprise it wasn’t mine – but  Rick Furey's – with my name as doing the Introduction

THIRD AND LAST SUGGESTION

Third and last suggestion: jot down or come up with your own stations of the cross.

Down through the centuries various folks made the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ personal to their town or their lives. Every 10 years they do the Passion Play in that place in Germany that nobody knows how to pronounce. At least I don’t.

I noticed on Google working on this homily today that in Jersey City, New Jersey, a half dozen or so Christian Churches are marching through their streets and are making the stations of the cross at 14 different places. They are places where there was violence, a shooting, or what have you. In each place the cross the crowd is moving along with a big wooden cross.  At each spot mention is made what happened here. Then a big nail is banged into the wood. Hopefully Annapolis would not have that many violent crimes to merit such a procession. However, watch the evening news from Baltimore and many a big city and you’ll notice that the first 5 stories every night are about a shooting or a fire or what have you.

So my 3^rd point is - besides visiting churches and checking out the stations of the cross on the walls – or your key station -  besides checking out the history of the stations of the cross, come up with your own 14 spots or situations where you have experienced your Way of the Cross.

There’s a spot on 6^th avenue and 59^th Street in Brooklyn that generates all kinds of sad sorrowful energy for me. When I ride over  that  black macadam spot, the memory that hits me is this: this was where my mom was killed by a hit and run driver while walking to church. Another place I feel a similar sad energy is when I go by the hospital where my dad died. Then there is spot on the Gowanas Parkway. It’s below another hospital where my nephew Michael died of cancer – very suddenly – at the age of 15.

I mention these spots – these stations – these places -  not to get self-attention but to call attention to the reality we all have our 14 moments – memories – or what have you – that are our stations of the cross.

You know yours. Deaths …. Cancer …. Marriage disasters – or kids dropping out of the faith – or drifting into drugs – or what have you.

CONCLUSION

The title of my homily is, “Personal Stations of the Cross.”  The missalette says we can make a brief homily and then spend a brief period in prayer.  I suggest that you take the time to make the Stations of the Cross. Make many brief periods of quiet prayer. If married,  share with your spouse what you come up – making your personal stations of the cross together.

April 3, 2015

RELICS OF THE TRUE CROSS  

I’ve often heard the cynical comment

that if all the relics of the true cross

around the world were glued together,

we would have a forest. Not true.

I say that because I also heard that

someone measured how many tiny

splinters of wood we could get

from a wooden cross – and we could

get enough splinters for all the churches

around the world. Interesting comment.

Now for the interesting numbers.

Could we measure how many people

have relics of the true cross in their

mind and heart, soul and spirit?

There’s that crushing comment a

parent or priest or school principal

made at us 26 years ago – or that

that time we were nailed to a cross

of a family problem – taking care

of a parent when all our brothers

and sisters disappeared – or a family

situation when nobody would talk to us.

Talk about relics of the true cross!

© Andy Costello, Reflections, 2015

April 2, 2015

THE FACE OF CHRIST

I’ve seen his face in ten thousand faces - in malls

and in tenement halls – in art museums – in paintings

on walls – and outside art museums - in the hungry

and those without -  especially in those without –

without food or clothing or a place to stay. I’ve see
his face in ten thousand face to face sightings of

each other as everyone walks their way of the cross.

I’ve seen his face on ten thousand crosses – ten

thousands pieces of bread – ten thousand sips of wine -

in his body and in his blood, in Eucharist and in detests

of one another – as we walk the way of the cross with

or without each other. I’ve seen his face in ten thousand

mirrors – in ten thousand sightings of you in me and me
in you, here, there and everywhere around the world.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2015

FOOT  WASHING 

His wife, Janice, finally asked him, “Every night – well almost every night - after supper you soak your dad’s feet in that tan plastic bucket – during the evening news. Then you dry them with a towel. Nice. A question that hit me is this:  Is there a story behind all this?”

This triggered in Jack a memory. It was the night he asked Janice, “What would it be like if we invited my dad to move in with us?”

His mom had died. His dad was all alone. Jack and Janice’s kids had moved out. One was still in college. The other 4 kids had finished college – were working – and two were married.

So to the question about asking dad if he wanted to move in with them – Janice said, “Great! It will give you and our 3 grandkids a wonderful experience to be with each other even more.” 

Janice loved her grandkids – day caring for them 4 days a week – and dad was still rather healthy – and he could help take the kids to the park or the zoo or what have you.

Jack, her husband, was still working. He was a mechanic  - at the local school bus garage.

After asking that first question, Janice said, “I know all that, but why do you have that great smile on your face as you put your dad’s feet into the tan plastic bucket and pour just the right temperature hot water on his feet?”

“Janice,” Jack said, “sometimes when I was a kid, my dad would take me over at least two nights a week to see grandpa and grandma – and grandpa would always be soaking his feet when we were there. Grandpa’s feet had gone bad early. So I would see my dad getting hot water for his father’s feet – and pouring in Epsom Salts. My dad’s dad had been a cop and was on his feet all day – walking his beat.  Nowadays, most cops are in patrol cars. Well,  his feet hurt – often hurt.”

“Oh,” said Janice. “Nice.”

“So,” Jack continued…. “I guess with dad living with us and getting him hot water and Epsom Salts,  I’m just keeping up an old family tradition.”

Then he said, “I always liked the silky feel of Epsom Salts in hot water. I love to see my dad’s face when I dry off his feet and rub his toes dry.”

Janice and Jack were quiet for a while.

Then Jack continued. “As I looked back on my dad – I realized all he did for the 5 of us when we were growing up. So the least I could do for him was to help him soak his feet.”

“And ooops,” Jack said, “I better tell you the best reason. My dad once told me that he was doing his father’s feet one evening. It was Good Friday. We were all at Mass for Holy Thursday the day before. My dad said,  ‘This is just what Jesus did at the Last Supper to his disciples. He talked a lot about love at the Last Supper – but washing feet was love without words.’”

Janice was glad she asked Jack – because he was a man of few words. He was mostly about doing.

Then Jack continued. “My dad had said that it was Mary Magdalen and then at another time some other lady who washed and dried, and then anointed Jesus’ feet." 

Jack paused and then said, "My dad added, 'So I guess at the last supper Jesus washed his disciples’ feet and then dried them, because he had seen it done. That’s love. That’s service and I found out it does work.' So Janice that’s basically the story why doing my father's feet puts a smile on my face.”

Quiet.

“And Janice, do you want me to wash your feet?”

“Nope, but I’d love you to wash the dishes. They're in the sink and I’m dead tired right now and I need resurrection.”

“Gladly,” said Jim. “Gladly. And by the way, I saw some nice bread in the bread box – and there’s some great wine in the cabinet over there. How about two pieces of bread – some cheese – or some peanut butter - and some wine.”

April 1, 2015

I’M  NO  FOOL

God, I'm no fool.

I know there’s a me.

I know that when I’m talking to another

and they ask me a question about what

I just said – and I give them an answer.
I know there's a me when I’m hurting from something as small as a canker sore 
on my lower lip – or when I have an itch.

So God, I know there’s a me.

God, I’m no fool.

I know there’s a You

because I'm know we're all too small 
to touch a star, but there they are. 
I know there's a Creator because none of us
came up with the idea of creating and making a hippo or a mosquito but there they are. They exist.

So when I come up with questions like:

Who made that? Who dreamed up moths?

Who made you and you and you?

And what in world am I doing being here?

So God, it's then I know there’s a You.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2015

IT  WAS  NIGHT

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this Tuesday in Holy Week  is, “It Was Night.”

Until recently the Greek, “En de nux” – was translated in the New American Bible, “It was night.”

Then someone or the team that made changes in the latest New American Bible translation added the word “and.” So we heard this morning, “And it was night.” [John 13:30]

This might sound picky, picky, but I wished they didn’t put that “and” in there.

I say that because our best English teacher in the seminary told us about the gift Ernest Hemingway gave to American writing.  Give short  - exclamation point like sentences. So, “It was night” is perfect. I consider  whoever changed this was not into good dramatic English or how this would sound in church. I assume they were into trying to come up with a good translation of the Greek.

It was also pointed out to us when studying New Testament Greek and the Gospels, that the Gospels in Greek had many, many, many  long sentences with the Greek word “kai” – “and” in them. Surprise! John 13:30 does bit have a “kai” in it.

So I don’t know the mind or methods of the translators of this text.

That’s life. Be prepared not to get one’s way.

THE THEME

John presents a powerful message in this part of the Gospel of John.

Jesus is at supper for his last supper. Judas has already planned on having Jesus arrested and killed for money.

Jesus, at supper, that night, is about to enter into the dark – into evil – into night. He’ll be arrested – kissed with a betrayers lips – beaten – whipped – mortified – made fun of – crowned with thorns.

Night means – people have left the light. Night means darkness and sin.

We’ll find this all through Paul’s thoughts. People do the sneaky things in the dark – in the night. [Cf. Romans 1;21; 11: 8-10; 13:12.]

Dante in his Inferno – Hell  - considers hell as darkness – in the dark… Hell is going “Into the eternal darkness, into fire and into ice.”

Luke calls this period near the end of Jesus’ life: ‘This is the hour of darkness.”  [Luke 22:53]

We hear on every Good Friday – that it got very dark that afternoon – when Jesus died on the cross.

The metaphor of hell is not just fire. The metaphor of hell is very much darkness.

The sinner is often pictured as being sneaky – slipping around in the dark - stealing – sinning – not wanting to be seen.

How many men – who are addicted to porn – are sneaking and surfing around in the Internet – in the night – not wanting to be caught – and sometimes the light goes on and they are caught.

Break-ins, happen in the night.

People who steal – try to keep others in the dark.

Robert Frost’s poems can often get into dark stuff.  He uses this metaphor a lot. He writes, “And fire and ice within me fight / Beneath the suffocating night.”  In his 1928  poem, “Acquainted with the Night,” he writes, “I have been acquainted with the night.”

CONCLUSION

These are a few words to reflect upon. We are all acquainted with hiding our sins and sinning in the hide – in the night.

Christianity is all about coming out of the dark, Jesus coming out of the cave and the shadows, and experiencing the dawn.

As John says in his prologue to Jesus: “The light shines in the darkness , for the darkness does not overcome it.”

This week, this coming Thursday and Friday and Saturday are all about darkness – as we wait for the arrival of Easter – and Jesus rising from the dark of sin and death. Amen.

March 31, 2015

                 HEAVEN AND HELL

From time to time people call our church

and ask to talk to a priest.

An appointment is made to meet with them

in one of three small meeting rooms

in the corridor just outside our parish church.

Well, this guy came in and after a few comments,

some chit chat – and all that – he uncovered – 
he showed me – he told me - the question 
he had in his fist – in his craw – on a piece of paper – on a piece of his mind:“Father I don’t believe in hell”   - and then he added, “And actually, I don’t believe in heaven as well.”

I paused.

I wondered.

Well that was short and sad – 
and short and bleak.

I said, “I’ve heard of the non-belief in hell – 
a lot – especially – on high school retreats – 
but the non-belief in heaven – well, that’s rare.”

“Well,” he added, “Is that all right to think this way?”

“Well, hell, what do you think?” I questioned back

to his question.

Silence. 

I knew, hey, I’m old, that one of the best tricks

of the trade in listening is questions is to

answer questions with questions. That’s 
an old time rabbi and Buddhist master’s trick.

Silence.

Then – so as not to be funny or cute or a SA

or use my degrees, I said,  “I don’t know!”

“You don’t know?”

“Right,” I repeated myself, “I don’t know.”

He said, “That’s all you’re going to say –

that you don’t know?”

“Correct and I’m not dying to find out.”

He said, “Is there any other priest I could talk to.”

I said, “Okay, but I’ll have to ask around and get back to you.”

He backtracked a bit, “You’re a priest”  and then he added,

“You have to believe in heaven and hell?”

I said, “Look the Bible quote I keep in mind is this one: ‘Eye has not seen; ear has not heard;

nor has it entered the human heart,  

what God has prepared for those 
who that love Him.”

Pause….

Then I continued, “I love God, so I’ll let him 
surprise me – what’s after all this.”

Silence….

Then I said, “Let me ask you a question,

‘Do you believe there is a heaven 
and  a hell here on earth?”

Silence….

Then he pulled the back to back question 
trick on me. “Do you?”

I said, “I do!”

“Ooooh,” he said.

Then I told him “That’s my answer 
to your question in the first place.”

He said, “It is?”

“Yep,” I said, “Once you start to figure out 
the existence of heaven and hell in the here 
and now – you might start believing 
in the reality of presence of hell in the hereafter.”

Then he said, “I guess I have to make an offer

to myself to think about all this.”

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2015