MARY  MAGDALENE:

PI - POLITICALLY INCORRECT

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this July 22^nd Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene is, “Mary Magdalene: Pi - Politically Incorrect.”

If I have it correct, when it comes to mentioning stories, incidents and interactions of Jesus with women, the gospel is revolutionary.

EQUAL RIGHTS

In the last 100 years or so,  things have improved for women in the world. We see this in wages, being allowed to vote, getting elected to political offices, etc. etc. etc. The so called “glass ceiling” takes hits with rocks from time to time.

There is still a long way to go in the middle east - and various other places in the world. Many are still often treated as second class citizens. It’s an attitude that is passed down from generation to generation.

I was visiting a woman from the parish up in Shepherd Pratt recently. The accommodations for visitors were not visitor friendly. I was in a smallish room with other visitors.  Right next to us was a Jewish family.  I assumed that because the patient’s father was  wearing a yamaka.  I found out he was a rabbi. They were - sort of - right next to us. Two or three times we connected in some comments.  When the clock hit 8 PM, we had to leave. I was saying good bye to the lady I visited - plus some the others.  I shook  the hand of the rabbi - saying, “Safe travels home.” I then reached my hand out to  his wife and he pushed my hand away big time. I said, “Ooops, I’m sorry.”

I was clueless to that point.

I should have been quicker - because of past experiences - with people from cultures I was not privy to. I had also read the book, The Bookseller of Kabul. That  was an eye opener for me about daily life amongst Muslim men and women in the capital of Afghanistan, Kabul. I assumed it was a lot tougher for women in rural areas.

WIDENING THE CIRCLE

I also remember a moment when I was with a group of men and women in a private house in Hazleton, Pa. around 1980. The men were all captains of our retreat house groups.  Lunch was served and I was completely surprised that there were only men around the table. Without thinking, I asked, “But where are the women?” And some guy said, “They are in the kitchen.” Then he added,  “They like it that way.”

So women’s roles and situations vary - all over the world - and expectations vary.

PEOPLE DIFFERENT FROM US

As Robert Frost puts it: we build walls - walling people in and walling people out.

There’s something in us that doesn’t like a wall - and there is something in us that gets us to try to be in a better situation than others.

We the United States don’t have the caste system that one still finds in India - but we need to step back and look at walls and ceilings.

Take the example of gay people.

We have seen dramatic changes in this country in the last 5 years or so on how people treat gay and lesbian people. Commentators were surprised with the events last night at the Republican National Convention along these lines. There are changes - at least in language.

MARY MAGDALENE

In fact seeing how people reacted to gay people in the past, we can get an inkling into what people felt when Jesus interacted with women.

Men did not talk to women in public. There were different sections for the men in the synagogue. 

I don’t know if we catch this when we read the scriptures - because we sit together - at least in the body of the church.

So there was Mary Magdalene and other women hobnobbing with Jesus.

I think the position of Mary in Catholic Church and in the scriptures is a big loud comment for all of us to hear.

We know the story of Jesus saving a woman from being stoned to death.

We know the story of the woman who came into a house and cried onto Jesus feet and dried her tears on his feet with her hair. Then she  anointed his feet with oil.

And Mary Magdalene was a prostitute in one tradition. And as we heard in today’s gospel, she goes to the tomb that early Easter Morning and is key to announcing that Jesus rose from the dead. Then after Peter and John leave, Mary meets Jesus. At first she thinks he’s gardener. Then realizing he’s Jesus, she  ends up holding and hugging Jesus.

There is heavy significance in this story - and still more to be discovered.

CONCLUSION

I think this reality should be stressed when people go bananas when hearing some of St. Paul’s comments about women’s place in the community in some of his letters.

In the meanwhile,  we should look at whom we exclude - whom we try to wall in and wall out.

Let me close with Edwin Markham’s famous 4 line poem. It’s called, “Outwitted.”

OUTWITTED

He drew a circled 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.” 

Notes: 

Mary Magdalene painting on top by Pietro Perugino - c. 1500.

July 21, 2016

TABLE  TALK

Sometimes it's not the right time to
talk: the food, the crowd, the noise,
the whole table gets in the way. 

Sometimes it's not the right time to
listen: the conversation becomes like a plate of sea food - too, too complicated. 

Sometimes it's the right time to just
enjoy: not to wonder whether so and
so is a clam, a lobster or a hot potato.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2016

July 20, 2016

ACCEPTING  JESUS 
AS MY  SAVIOR

Every time I come to Mass,

I’m accepting You, Jesus, as my Savior.

Every time we say the “Glory to God

in the highest prayer” at Mass,

I’m accepting You, Jesus,  as my Savior.

Every time I read or hear the gospels

and I say “Glory to You, O Lord”

at the beginning of Your Gospel and

“Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ”

at the end of the listening,
I’m accepting You, Jesus, as my Savior.

Every time I’m praying the Creed,

Apostles’ or Nicene,

I’m accepting You,  Jesus as my Savior.

Every time I receive Communion,

Your Body and Blood of Jesus Christ,

I’m accepting You, Jesus, as my Savior.

Every time I walk with You
in Your the Stations of the Cross, 
I’m accepting You, Jesus,  as my Savior.

Every time I visit You Jesus Christ

in the Blessed Sacrament

I’m accepting You, Jesus as my Savior.

Every time I visit the sick and feed the

hungry and help the poor and the hurting

in Your Body of Christ,

I’m accepting You, Jesus, as my Savior.

Every time I begin or end anything

by making the sign of the Cross,

I’m accepting You, Jesus as my Savior.

Every time I’m reciting this litany,

I’m accepting  You,  Jesus as my Savior.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2016
Painting on top:
Doubting Thomas by Caravagio

SHEPHERD’S  STINK

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 16^th Tuesday in Ordinary Time is, “Shepherd’s Stink.”

As soon as I heard the first word from today’s first reading, “Shepherd”,  I immediately thought about Pope Francis’ comment to priests - bishops - cardinals, 1,600 of them - at the Holy Thursday service in Rome in  2013.

He looked up from his prepared script and ad-libbed the following comment, “Be shepherds and live with the smell of the sheep.”

We usually don’t remember sermons - or stuff that popes say - but we priests heard that call from our pope. I’ve heard different priests joke about it.

VISITING THE SHEEP

I remember - I celebrate - I have always been grateful  - for the first sentence my first pastor said to me the day I arrived at my first assignment:  Most Holy Redeemer - 173 East 3^rd Street, New York City - February 1^st, 1967.  “Andrew,” he said, pointing to the floor of the rectory, “this is not the parish.” And then pointing out the window he said, “It’s out there.”

I had joined the Redemptorists to go to Brazil - but got the Lower East Side of Manhattan instead. Bummer. But I soon discovered the reality of life in the sweat and the stink of life in the inner city.

It was right at the moment of the Hippie Revolution - Flower Children Time - in both the East Village - New York City and Haight Ashbury, San Francisco.

I found myself in many a tenement apartment with many mattresses on the floors - lots of flies on half eaten food on all the tables and floors - and in my hand a piece of paper from a phone call from a parent in the Kansas or Nebraska or Ohio - looking for their runaway kid. The places stunk.

On East 4th Street - The Rat - was published. It was an underground newspaper - featuring all things hippie, drugs, radical and revolutionary. I remembered it had instructions and maps on how to disrupt and protest at the Democratic Convention in Chicago.  I remember seeing posters and meeting Louis Abolafia - who was running for president on "The I Got Nothing To Hide Party."  His posters had him standing there naked holding a derby in a key place. I remember the nuns in our school asking me to go into The Rat and asking them to take that poster down from their front window - because of the kids going up the street.

Who said, "May you live in exciting times."

I found myself down in the high rise apartments near Avenue D and the East River - visiting parishioners. If they lived on the upper floors I had to go up in urine smelling elevators.

I’m sure the places were nothing like the 20 or so barrios with their villas of misery that Bergoglio - now Pope Francis - visited when he was Cardinal of Buenos Aires in Argentina.  Yet maybe - some places were close to that.

It was an eye opener - as well as a wonderful exciting time in my life.

HORSES

When I was in the Major Seminary - I had a volunteer job for 6 years - of taking care of our horses for one week every month. Right next to the 4 horse stalls was a barn for about 20 cows. It was a chance for me - a city boy to learn the difference between the smells of horses versus cows.  Their poop was very different as well.

They weren’t sheep, but I understood what the pope is asking of the priests of our church.

Get out of the rectory - or as Pope Francis puts it - get out of the sacristy.

GUILT

When I read what Bergoglio - now Pope Francis the First - said about getting with the poor - I feel guilty. Rarely have I gotten into any houses on Clay Street - or any hidden poor places of Annapolis. I read that Pope Francis likes to slip out of the Vatican in the evening and visit the poor of Rome.

I know that there are times I hide out - I’m tired or lazy - but I hear the pope’s call to get on my horse and get out there and find the lost sheep  - and get stinky in the process.

I know that there are folks who think their life stinks and they need to sit and thrash that out with a priest or anyone. I do that - but I still feel guilt when it comes to time with the poor.

I even feel guilty in living in this beautiful place on the water- wondering how we too might downsize our reality like the Pope did when it comes to his housing in the Vatican.

Last night they had a goodly bunch of poor folks in the rectory corridor asking for help with their lives and the Saint Vincent de Paul folks are there to listen to them and to help them. I was waiting there for a couple at 7 PM who were coming in for marriage preparation stuff - and this little girl was going back and forth - with a good load in her pampers - and I realized her mother has a much tougher time that me - and here I am with a sleek young couple and here are the St. Vincent de Paul folks being with people whose lives are stinky in all sorts of ways. Bummer.

Francis is calling our church to get closer to each other and to the people.

CONCLUSION

The title of my homily is, "Shepherd’s Stink".

The first word in the first reading from Micah is Shepherd - God’s call to shepherd his people Israel. [Cf. Micah 7:14-15, 18-20]

And today’s gospel from Matthew tells us that we are all mother and father and brother and sister to each other. Amen. [Cf. Matthew12: 46-50]

July 19, 2016

EVAPORATION

Rain drops glistened

in the morning light -

like glass lady bugs - resting

there one by one -

on the long green stems

pointing to me as I headed

through our garden

for the parking lot.

When I came back

from shopping

they were all gone.

They disappeared,

like all the faces I saw today -

walking by them in the Mall.

Better say “Hello” and “Hi”

before we all evaporate.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2016

July 18, 2016

CATCHING THE WORD

The water keeps flowing….

The wind keeps blowing ….

The mind keeps talking ….

My pail grabs some water….
My sails catch some wind ….

My mind is flowing and blowing too fast ....

Stop the water, the wind, 

the mind. I need to hear just

one word, one hope, one at a time....

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2016

ST.  CAMILLUS  DE  LELLIS: 

PATRON  SAINT  OF ____ 

YOUR  CHOICE 

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “St. Camillus de Lellis: Patron Saint of ____ Your Choice.”

St. Camillus de Lellis - great name - sounds poetic. Words with “L” and “M” in them are supposed to be key to good musical or poetic sounding words

Some folks don’t get the Catholic thing about saints. There is the standard comment that we make them God. One hears this most when talking about our take on Mary. And Catholics respond: we don’t see them as God - we’re simply asking them for help, inspiration, and to talk to God for us. We also see them as models - heroes - and good examples on how to be a good Christian.

One of the priests here always talks about “Saints” as having friends in high places.  

Camillus de Lellis’ dates are 1550 to his death in Rome on July 14, 1614.

So St. Camillus de Lellis’ feast day is July 14 - but because of the Saint Kateri Tekakwitha - he was bounced from that day here in North America - to this day - July 18^t.. Why he was kept in public - with another day - might say something about this very interesting saint.

That’s intriguing - but the more I got to know St. Camillus de Lellis I could see why.

When I was a kid, I remember being at a St. Patrick’s Day parade in Manhattan, New York City, and some folks from St. Camillus de Lellis Parish - in Long Island or somewhere went marching by. Seeing their banner I remember saying, “Who the heck was St. Camillus de Lellis?”

So I read his life and various takes on him through the years.

PATRON SAINT OF?

When I read his life when I was 20 years old, I found out why he was such a fascinating character.

I also know from being a Catholic that to become really famous as a Saint, it helps to be named  the Patron Saint of some need.

For example St. Jude is the Patron Saint of hopeless cases and St. Anthony is the saint to pray to when we have lost something. Recently I’ve heard people say, “St. Gertrude is better than St. Anthony.” How’s that for being P.C. correct and give women their due.

So what can we make St. Camillus de Lellis the Patron Saint of?

Here is my list:

Patron Saint of Nurses

Patron Saint of Hospital Workers

Patron Saint of Gamblers

Patron Saint of Soldiers

Patron Saint of Those with cuts that won’t heal

Patron Saint of a Happy Death

Patron Saint of those with Absentee Dads

Patron Saint of those who lose their moms when they are young

Patron Saint of the Rejected

Patron Saint of the Clumsy

Patron Saint of those with Violent Tempers

Patron Saint of those who don’t like to study

MORE SPECIFIC

Now to be a bit more specific, but I don’t have that much time.

Patron Saint of the Rejected: He was kicked out of hospitals, several religious orders, the army, etc. etc. etc.

Patron Saint of those with a Gambling Addiction: He had a long time gambling problem - with cards - like his dad. He would recover over and over again and then recover again and again - causing problems every time.

Patron Saint for Those Whose Dad Is Absent: All through his childhood up to his 20’s his dad was absent. His dad was a soldier - always off fighting some war somewhere far away. This was all that Camillus knew. He disliked books and studies of any kind. Being a big guy he was able to get employed as a soldier - fighting for several armies - even the Turks.

Patron Saint of the Clumsy:  once he was making a sick call and as he leaded over to bless a guy who was dying, Camillus knocked the bed post off the bed and it hit the dying man on the head and caused bleeding.  Once he was in church preaching and he stepped on the edge of his Alb, tripped and fell into some people sitting in the front benches of the church.

Patron Saint for a Happy Death: all his life he can be found caring for the sick and the dying. He started a religious order called the Brothers of a Happy Death. So he worked a lot with the dying in helping them to receive the sacraments especially during various plagues.

Patron Saint for Cuts on One’s Legs or Feet: He had horrible feet - and sores - all through the years - that didn’t heal. He had to crawl along floors to get to the sick.

Patron Saint of Nurses: He was a nurse. They were mostly male in his time. He also swept the corridors and the rooms. He changed bandages. He stayed with those who were sick.  

CONCLUSION

So that’s a few comments and thoughts about St. Camillus de Lellis. I’m sure each of us can make him a Patron Saint of  at least one of our needs.