May 12, 2017

COMING INTO THE THEATER

Coming into the theater for a movie, concert

or play, there are those dark maroon

soft - low chairs. If it’s a movie, people

are talking quietly. If it’s a concert or a play,

the talking is a bit louder - but not big loud.

There’s also more lights and a sloping floor.

If it’s a movie,  the theater  has more stairs

or steps. Anticipation and expectation are 

in the air. These feelings - these thoughts - 

are like the semi-dark rugs on the floor.

We know the décor. We know the lights

will start to get lower. We know all this

comes with the knowing - that we’re in for

an evening different than most evenings.

And everything is always better because

we’re in this together with each other.

Open the curtains. Start the music. Begin the 
movie. The lion roars. The show must go on.

© Andy Costello, Reflections  2017

PRAYER TO MARY

Hail Mary,

full of grace,

since the Lord is with you

teach me how to pray,

teach me how to ponder

God’s inner words to me,

teach me how to say,

“Be it done to me

according to your word,”

teach me how to see others

especially those who are empty

and those who are in need,

teach me how to be present to those 

who feel they are walking

their way of the cross all alone

and to be there for them

now and at the hour

of their death. Amen.

© Andrew Costello
Painting by Moulins

MARY’S  MORNING PRAYER

Each day my whole being

proclaims the mysteries of the Lord.

Each day my whole being is a calling:

to bring Jesus into our world,

to bring Jesus to others.

Yes, swords pierce hearts.

Yes, life has its sorrowful mysteries.

Yet, each day is also filled with

life’s joyful and glorious mysteries:

rushing in haste into the hill country of others

to be present with them in their needs;

to find and to help others

when they run out of the wine of life,

when all that is left is

emptiness, blood and water.

Yes, there are agonies 

in the garden of the soul.

Yes, there is the carrying 

of the cross to Calvary.

Yet each day my whole being

proclaims the mystery of Jesus’ presence

in our world: Resurrection, Ascension, Pentecost,

then the Lifting Up and the Crowning

in the Kingdom of Heaven.

© Andrew Costello

MOTHER’S DAY

BLESSING

May God, the Creator of all life, pour down choicest blessings on the woman who brought us into this world: our own mom. Amen.

May God, the Sustainer of all life, strengthen all mothers: young moms, not so young moms, single moms, grandmas, stay at home moms, out-to-work moms, each and every mom. Amen.

May God, the Protector of all life, direct all those who stand in and serve as moms: teachers, principals, school secretaries, lunch room staff, nurses, guidance counselors, day care workers, baby sitters. Amen.

May God, the Giver of Eternal Life, bring all of us into the Kingdom of Everlasting Life, starting with Mary, the Mother of Life, and all the Saints, and all those who have gone before us, forever and ever. Amen.

And may Almighty God bless us, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

©  Andrew Costello

May 11, 2017

BRIDGES

They are everywhere - bridges ….

When I have the time - not all the time -

I love to pause at the edge of the river

and know that both sides have their stories.

They are everywhere - bridges ….

Once upon a time I crossed a bridge -

when I came to it - but it was too soon - too

much - and I knew I had to get back home.

They are everywhere - bridges ….

Then there was that bridge - and the other

side  had all those lights - and I knew I had

to cross it -  and I’d never really go home again.

They are everywhere - bridges ….

© Andy Costello, Reflections  2017

Painting on top by Leonid Afremon

May 10, 2017

FORGOTTEN

Not a feeling one would like to have ….

To be forgotten - to be neglected,

to not being asked one’s thoughts

on what we ought to do in this

situation…. And then, someone

new - comes waltzing into the room

and they ask her for suggestions

on how to solve the problem. Grrrrr….

Not a feeling one would like to have ….

Without knowing, without remembering,

it was like those days when we were in

the high chair and everyone else was sitting

at the kitchen table - laughing and talking -

so we started banging our spoon - but

nobody turned their head - so this time we

started screaming and that didn’t work either.

Not a feeling one would like to have  ….

© Andy Costello, Reflections  2017

May 9, 2017

HITTING  77

Hitting 77 - now being seen - at times just 

as a shadow on off white - grey white walls - 

looking around - wondering if anyone is ever

really interested in anything I have to say -

in the evening, in the dark night of life.
Well …. God ….

Hitting 77 - waking up the next morning -
noticing that others - are more than shadows -

walking on tile  floors - coffee cups and cell

phones in hand - words - words. Is anyone

listening to what anybody else wants to say?

Well .... God .... 

© Andy Costello, Reflections  2017