May 29, 2016

PARADOXICAL  ATHEIST

I noticed you like to drop the God bomb,

from time to time, “Oh, I don’t believe in

God. I don’t believe in that stuff anymore.”

And sitting there watching your face, I

wonder if your eyes and mind really mean

it. I wonder if you say it for the effect.

Yet you let slip, “Oh my God!”

Or, “Jesus Christ - why did

she die from cancer so young?”

I can’t say it yet - but you’re

the one person I notice who

stops to notice the stars of night.

You seem intrigued with a dog

flying through the air to catch

an orange Frisbee in flight.

For the sake of transparency, I believe

in God - and I really wonder about

whether you really wonder about God.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2016

COMMUNION: 

MAKING  THE CONNECTIONS

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Communion: Making the Connections.”

Today we’re celebrating, “The Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ: Corpus Christi.”

Today we’re making -  not our first communion - but perhaps our 3000^th - more or less communion.

Communion: receiving the body of Christ into our body: Amen.

Communion - connection - making the connection with God - coming down the aisle - in this church - and in the churches of our lives - and at some point - for some of us in a nursing home - or a sick bed -  to receive the Lord Jesus into our hands - into our mouth - into our bodies - into our being - into our lives. Amen.

And we’re receiving communion not just with Jesus and me - but Jesus and his whole body - with the whole Church - the whole body of Christ - here and now - here in this church and all churches - here and hereafter.

The title of my homily is, “Communion: Making the Connections.”

THE THEOLOGY OF THE BODY

Saint Paul discovered somewhere along the line,  the theology - as well as the mystery - as well as glimpses of what Jesus was all about - when he gave us this great sacrament - called “communion” - the Mass - the Meal - the Supper - the Eucharist - the Bread.

Many say this happened to Paul on the Road to Damascus - when Christ told him he was hurting - killing him - killing him the Christ - when he Paul was trying to kill the members of the Body of Christ.

Are we hurting? Are we hurting each other?

Communion - connection - sharing life - and bread with each other…. do we get this?

Isn’t this what’s killing us - and our world - when we stop going to communion with each other.

All of us have members of our family - as well as friends - who have dropped away from the Body of Christ. They have stopped going to Mass. They have given up on weekly - Sunday - Sabbath - eating the sacred bread - communion with Christ - and we feel their absence - and if we feel their absence - that’s a good sign. We got what communion is about.

And many people have told me - especially parents - that this hits them when they come to Sunday Mass.

And in my 51 years as a priest, I have heard X number of people come back to Church - because this is what they missed: communion - the sacred bread, the sacred Body of Christ - being and praying and eating with others in Christ.

Being at Mass - with the mass of humanity - even when the music and the sermon and the words aren’t mixing well.

They miss the connection. They have got in touch with their disconnect from Christ - especially to be in communion with him and each other.

The title of my homily is, “Communion: Making the Connections.”

MOMENTS OF DISCONNECT

We all know about moments of disconnect.

The phone goes out. The signal shuts down. We go through a dead zone - and communication stops. “Are you there?”  “Are you still there?” “Can you hear me?”

We know what it’s like to be cut off - excommunicated from others.

We’ve seen on the evening news, news about people caught in an airport - and they miss their flight because of long TSA lines - and they are disconnected from the people in other airports - in other places - home - till they get on another flight - and get back or to where they are headed.

We’ve all experienced family members who get divorced or disappear or drop out - from the family. Tough disconnects.

We’ve all known moments when another just stops listening to us. They take  looks at their watch - or the clock on their cell phone - and they leave us - actually or virtually.  They disconnect ….

We’ve all lost loved ones - who have died - and we feel their presence - and their lack of presence - as we move around their former spaces and places.  Communion with them in our homes - beds, kitchen chairs, sofas and lazy boy chairs - is missing.

We know about disconnect.

MOMENTS OF CONNECTION

We also know about connection.

We see zillions of people on their cell phones - connecting, connecting, connecting.  “Are you still there?”

We’ve sat at enough meals - at enough tables - breakfast, lunch, supper - at home - in restaurants - cafeterias - picnics - with family, friends, others.

We know about communion.

We know what it is to eat - and to be at a great meal with each other - with spouse, family, at weddings, wakes, anniversaries, Thanksgiving Dinners or simply at simple meals. Give us this day our daily bread.

We know the difference between finishing a dinner as  fast as possible and the beauty of sitting around long after a meal is over - and talking, and talking and listening and laughing and telling the old stories - over and over again.

We know about moments of connect and disconnect.

TODAY’S READINGS

Today’s readings for the feast of the Body of Christ - obviously connect us with this theme.

The first reading from Genesis mentions Melchizedek - the King of Salem - bringing out bread and wine for a celebration.

The second reading from St. Paul’s First Reading to the Corinthians brings us right into the Last Supper - one last breaking of bread - on that Passover Night - our Holy Thursday - when Jesus knew he was about to leave his friends - his disciples - and go out into the night.  He needed to pray and he cried when his disciples couldn’t even stay awake and connect for an hour with him.

The gospel story for today from Luke brings us right into one of those several  moments in the gospels when Jesus fed the hungry - the starving - the 5000 - and that was just the men - with just 5 loaves and 2 fish.

CONNECTION

Each time we come to Mass - we begin by pondering how well is the connection - the communion between us and God our Father? Lord have mercy. We wonder how well is the connection with us and the Christ? Christ have mercy. We wonder about the Holy Spirit surrounding us - like the air we breathe and how well is our communion with our brothers and sisters. Lord have mercy.

At the offertory, we remember Jesus’ message,  if we come here to the meal to make our offering and we remember any disconnect with our brother or sister- first go and reconnect - and then come and make our offering.

I love Michelangelo’s painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel - when God  reaches out his finger towards Adam the first human - and Adam reaches out his finger to connect with God.

I love those scenes in the gospels when people reach out - their hand - their finger - just to touch the tassel of Jesus cloak to be healed.

I know the call to say to Jesus - touch me or let me touch you - I’m blind, I’m deaf, I’m out of sync with you or so and so.

I love the moments in the supermarket or the mall or a store when a little baby  reaches out his God or Michaelangelo finger and points at me.

It’s the call to connection - human beings to human beings.

It’s the call to communion.

We need to sit down at this table - weekly - and wonder about our connections with God and each other as well as ourselves.

We get the Great Commandment: to love the Lord our God with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

We get that. We know that. We need a weekly reminder of that.

We laugh - at least I do - about building this big wall - between each other - and we try to make the other pay for it.

We all know the words in Edwin Markham’s poem, Outwitted,

He drew a circle that shut me out -

Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But love and I had the wit to win:

We drew a circle that took him in.

CONCLUSION

The title of my homily is, “Communion: Making the Connections.”

This week I challenge you to connect eye ball to eye ball - to be in communion with every person you see - or talk to - to text or e-mail.

This week receive communion  with every one your on line with - car to next  car.  I love that moment at a red light - to Michelangelo that other driver - with a mini-high sign - index finger to index finger - that finger - communion.

So too in elevators, escalators, entering and leaving rooms, doctor’s offices, work places.

This week receive communion with all our brothers and sisters all around our world.

Body of Christ. Amen.

May 28, 2016

THE  MUSIC  STORE

Guitars, drums, violins, flutes,

trumpets, a tuba, keyboards,

a whole shelf of harmonicas,

saxophones, synthesizers,

sheets and sheets of music, but

all we were silent - as I walked

into the Music Store - just to

peek in on what was inside.

Oh no!  Uh oh! I could hear

every instrument screaming,

“Look at me!” “Check me out.”

“Buy me.” “Learn me” “Play me.”

Sorry! I have a tin ear and have no

feel for music - but I did try the

trombone and lasted at it for

2 weeks when I was in high school.

Then when I left the music store, 

I saw a homeless man just sitting 

there and I heard him screaming 

silently,  “Understand me!”

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2016

May 27, 2016

AS IS….

You meet me 
and ask, "How are you?"

I don't know at times....

And you? How are you today?

I come as is….

Good move because

when I try to be 
more

or less 
or different than I am …. 
Well, then - 

you’re not really being

with who I am ….

Me?  I’m just this me who I am. 

Wait a second I’m talking gibberish. 

Let me try to explain. 

Okay. This is me - 
the normal me
and the sort of out of sorts me - 
at times.

And some days I am unable to

to explain who I am that day.

Tomorrow, let me try again - 
and then there is always next week?

Okay?  See you then.

Wait, if you ask me,
these comments seem
kind of strange or stupid -
or at least confusing - 
- but then again - 
what are you really asking me?

Do you know? Do I know?

Sometimes I just don't know.

How about you?

                                                                   © Andy Costello, Reflections 2016

THE  EMPTY  FIG  TREE

  

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 8^th Friday in Ordinary Time is, “The Empty Fig Tree.”

We all know the story of the Fig Tree in the gospels.

It’s not producing.

In Matthew and Mark Jesus curses the fig tree, because he wanted some figs and there aren’t any.  The tree dies. The next day Jesus’ disciples see the withered, the cursed fig tree, and remember Jesus reaction to it.

In Luke, the story changes. Did some preacher find the Matthew and Mark version of the story too tough?  Luke gives the tree a second chance. Luke gives the fig tree another year to prove itself. Matthew and Mark don’t.

Which one is Jesus? Do we have a second chance when we are not producing or are we fired?

THE EXPERIENCE

We’ve all had the experience of opening the refrigerator door and there is nothing inside. It’s empty. Uuuuuh!

Remember the old telephone booths - before cell phones. Someone goes to a phone and it’s broken. It has no dial tone. Or the wires have been cut.

Empty. Broken. Useless. Disappointed.

MESSAGE

Today’s gospel  has the message of Mark. It’s tough stuff. It’s filled with tough love.

No figs - no use letting it take up the ground - no use letting it just taking up space - just being an empty suit.  How’s that for a mixed metaphor.

The message might be the same as Jeremiah’s - in his oracle  in Chapters 7 and 8. He finds the temple empty - he finds people treating others unfairly - he finds people exploiting the stranger - the orphans and the widows. He finds false worship.

In Jeremiah 8: 13, we read, “Those who do not find the Lord, ‘There shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade.’” 

Here in Mark 11 - we find the same scene. Jesus enters the temple of Jerusalem and doesn’t like what he sees. The next day he spots the empty fig tree and curses it. Then he goes to the temple and cleans house - overturning tables and yelling at those who were selling doves.

He proclaims what was written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. But you have made it a den of thieves.”

At this the chief priests and the scribes wanted to come up with a way to kill Jesus.

CONCLUSION

The messages in today’s gospel - as well as today’s first reading from 1^st Peter 4: 7-13 - which I hardly mentioned - are obvious - especially the image and he issue of being an empty or shallow soul.

In that first reading we heard, “Whoever preaches, let it be with the words of God.” Some priests - some preachers - apply the image of being an empty fig tree or  temple or empty vestments -  without the presence of God - to themselves. I know I do. I wonder, I ask myself, if my sermons are hot air, popcorn, lacking substance, not having any fruit or nourishment.

When I heard the statement in today’s first reading, “As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” I heard the gospel text, “Give an accounting of your stewardship” - your figtreeness - your templeness.

Some Christian churches don’t allow any fund raisers at its doors.

Hopefully all Christians will apply these words in Mark, Matthew, Luke and Jeremiah about the fig tree and the temple to themselves as human. beings. Hopefully, we all go inwards and look at ourselves as a tree or as the temple of God - and ask if I’m empty or full.

What’s going on within?  Is there any fruit on my tree?

Can God say of us - what Elizabeth said of Mary, “Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.”

May 26, 2016

ENTANGLED

Romans 7: 14 - 25

Why do cords and cables, wires

and rosaries get tangled up - every

time. Mind you: every time.  Ugh.

And every time I reach for the right

cable or cord to re-charge a gadget,

I have to untangle the wires? Why?

My rosary too. Do they do it on purpose

while in my travel bag or catch-all box?

Answer?  I don’t know, but it happens.

It happens every time. I guess it’s life.

I guess I get sloppy. I get entangled

while looking for something else in my 

bag or box and then when I want my 

rosary or I  need the cable for the recharger, 

I discover once more I entangled myself

with myself. Why do I do this all the time?

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2016

3

INTRODUCTION

Congratulations to our graduates - but also to parents, guardians, step-parents, grandparents, teachers, administration, coaches - everyone that got you to this moment.

The title of my homily - better the title of my sermon - is, “3”.

I was thinking while I was with the juniors - on their retreat - this week - as they are about to take your place - what I would say to you today - in this opportunity to say some parting words from this pulpit.

There are 3 readings for this Mass. They have 3 messages: Jeremiah told us through Teresa, “The Lord says I have plans for you.” Paul told us through Patrick: "The Lord is our strength.” Jesus tells us through the gospel of Matthew: "You are the salt of the earth - you are the light of the world": be that.

3’s….

Okay, now what?

I continued to jot down 3’s:  3 quotes, 3 this, 3 that, and it hit me to give you a couple more  3’s. So the title of my sermon is, “3”.

Doctor Michael Clemmens  - our commencement address speaker today, will give you some clearer and well defined goals - hopes - dreams - challenges. Anne Heyburn will do as well in her Valedictory Talk.

So I decided to I simply pitch 3 poems I wrote for today - with the theme of graduation in mind. They will be what I call, "Story Poems."

Then I want to give 3 prayers - 3 short prayers - to keep in mind for each day as well as for life.

And I'm going to suggest - as I like to - to use your rosary for these short prayers. Each is just a one short word prayer - so it takes just a minute to say the rosary with each or any of these 3 prayers. I like to say that rosaries are not just for Hail Mary’s. These will excellent Hail Mary passes as you’ll see when I get to them - after my 3 poems.

Then I’ll give 3 wisdom statements.

I hope....

That’s all. That's it:  3 Poems, 3 prayers and 3 wisdom statements.

                       -O-O-O-

FIRST THE POEMS - WITH THE THEME OF GRADUATION IN MIND.

First story poem. This poem is entitled, “Graduation from Clumsy.” I wrote this last Sunday and put it on my blog, because a lot of people are graduating at this time.

GRADUATION  FROM  CLUMSY 

Yes, he tripped a bit more than

other kids - he spilled his milk -

dropped his books - and he didn’t

do too well when playing catch 
with his dad in the backyard.

But, if his dad was disappointed,

he didn’t show it, so his son

didn’t know it - that is, till he got

into school - and that’s where he

got the nickname: “Clumsy!”

Yes, he hated it. He hated being

called, “Clumsy!” and it followed

him all through ES, MS and HS.

Bummer. Bummer. Bummer!

Who’d like to be called, “Clumsy”?

So when he graduated - no, he didn’t

trip on his way up to receive his HS

diploma - but yes, he chose a small,

small college, far, far away - with hopes

nobody would know him - as “Clumsy”!  

-O-O-O-

Second story poem....

This one is called: "The ABC Student."

THE    ABC  STUDENT

She got A’s, B’s, and C’s -

all depending on a lot of things:

cold weather indoors, warm weather

outdoors, time, gifts and skill sets -

teachers - no she didn’t tend to blame 
teachers nor did she tend to say, 
“It’s not fair!”  if and when she got a C.

Should we add to her letters that she gets 
an “S” for struggle and  a “J” for jobs. 

Her mom was a single mom - 
and to help her mom with the bills - 
she had to have a job - in fact,  
several jobs - weekends and 
three weeknights  - babysitting ….

but she got it done -

she was graduating - finally and happily.

Her mom pinched herself sitting

there here and now at her daughter’s

graduation from high school.

She pinched herself again because

it was this same year her daughter

convinced her to get her high school

GED - and that evening they would

both be celebrating their HS graduation.

And her daughter thinks she got her

mom the funniest graduation card and

her mom thinks she got her daughter

the funniest graduation card - but 
what both don’t and won't know 
till tonight: it’s the same card.

                 -O-O-O-

The third poem is entitled: "Overheard at Their 25^th High School Graduation: 2041"

OVERHEARD AT THEIR 25th

HIGH SCHOOL GRADATION: 2041

“She married him.”

“You’re kidding.”

“I kid you not.”

“They had triplets and then twins.”
“Now,  I know you’re kidding.”

“Nope, I’m not.  Check it out.”

“I’ve been asking around the hall.
We have 2 novelists, 11 teachers,

4 accountants, 23 engineers,

no veterinarians, a neurosurgeon,

a newspaper reporter, a major

league lacrosse TV announcer,

a Protestant Minister, a priest....

You heard so and so became a priest?

“Who?”

“You’re kidding. The class atheist 
became a priest. I gotta tell my priest that.”

“By the way, who’s that over there

with the big belly and no hair?”

“That’s so and so.... What’s his name again?

He was the best athlete in our class?"

"You’re kidding."

"Hey, who’s the pastor here at St. Mary’s?"

“It’s Father Tizio. They made him Pastor for life.”

"And the dog? That’s not Wilbur, is it?”

No, no, no. That’s Metsi, he's Wilbur’s replacement?

"In a wheelchair? A dog in a wheelchair."

"Hey,  it’s 2041 you know.

                    -O-O-O-

PART TWO: THREE PRAYERS

Here at my three prayers:

Help…. Sorry …. Thanks.

Learn to say each of them each day - and to God as well as to ourselves - each night. 

They are profound words …,
They are important words …. 
And some people find them 
difficult words to say,
difficult words to pray.

In fact, if you can't say them,
sorry to tell you, you need help.

And once you realize that you'll
thank me or anyone who tells you.

Help…. Sorry  …. Thanks.

In fact, the more you say those 3 words,
and the more you mean what you're
saying when you say those 3 words, 
the more you'll be a well put together
person. You'll be better with God, self and others.

A rosary helps as a reminder.

A rosary of “Help’s” takes a minute, 
so too, “Sorry”, so too “Thanks”.

Try it!
                    -O-O-O-

PART THREE: 3 WISDOM STATEMENTS

# 1 Don’t forget who fed you: your mom, your dad, teachers, writers, poets, song writers, and that Salvadoran chef in the kitchen behind closed doors who is working his butt off - to give you a good meal - and to make money to feed his family.

# 2 It’s not all about you. Okay it is today. It’s your graduation. But the day after that, it's not about you.

# 3  There are time limits when it comes to how many heart beats we have. We can eat smart and exercise to have a stronger heart - but our heart only has so many heart beats, so use them well.

                     -O-O-O-

CONCLUSION

Thank you…. Congratulations!

The Lord has plans for you.

The Lord is your strength.

The Lord calls you to be salt and light for our world. Amen.