December 10, 2017

THE TRUTH

As Jesus said,

“Know the truth,

and the truth will set you free.”

As they say

in Alcoholics Anonymous,

“The truth will set you free,

but first it will hurt.”

But

how far, how deep,

how difficult it is,

to really know the truth,

so we can be set free.

So

the question is,

“Who knows

why we do what we do?”

Answer: when what we do

sets us free.

Or 
will the moment of truth,
be the moment we die?
Is that the moment
when we finally see the truth?
Is that the moment
we will finally be set free?

© Andy Costello, Reflections  2017

THE  TIPPING  POINT 

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this Second Sunday in Advent [B] is, “The Tipping Point.”

That’s the title of a book by Malcolm Gladwell from back in the early 2000’s.

The image  is simple. We’ve all built things with dominoes or pickup sticks or blocks or cards as kids and at some point it tips over and all falls down.

So too political changes and moral changes and cultural changes.

We might be seeing something dramatic going on right now with this “Me Too” movement - with people coming out about people who abused them.

The name of Gladwell’s book was: The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference.

The tipping point according to Malcolm Gladwell, is "the moment of critical mass or the threshold or the boiling point.”

I do a lot of weddings and I’ve noticed at a lot of weddings that men are wearing brown shoes big time. When did this start? Was it deliberate? How did they come up with enough shoes to sell?

It Gladwell’s book it’s hush puppies - a shoe that made a surprise return.

How many times have we heard: Save your flannel shirts and your suits  and your outfits - the style will return?

I’ve never changed styles of haircut or clothes - and it worked.  Well at least I have thought so.

TODAY’S READINGS

Today’s readings triggered  thoughts I had when I read Malcolm Gladwell’s book: The Tipping Point.

The first reading from Isaiah 40 talks about the moment that the Jews in exile in Babylon began getting the first wind - the first words - of a possible return from Babylon to Jerusalem. Many were dragged into exile by the Babylonians with the fall of Jerusalem in 587 and were allowed to start  returning by the Persians in 537.

A voice cried out that the way out will be a straight highway through the desert, Valleys will be filled in - mountains and hills will be leveled - the rough land will be made smooth - and all will be well - again - that is when we get home again.

When I go up to see my sister in Doylestown, Pennsylvania I like going over the Bay Bridge - taking 50 / 301 and for this past year around the  60 mile mark in Delaware I’ve been noticing big yellow bulldozers making a few bigger and better highways.

Today’s second reading from the Second Letter of St. Peter talks about a day is coming. The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, The second reading is all about a tipping point - when all kinds of changes will take place. The second reading talks about time - God’s time - it’s not ordinary time. A day is like a 1000 years and a thousand years is like one day. God does not wear a watch or have a clock on his wall.

And today’s gospel - the beginning of the gospel of Mark - our Gospel for this church year - is all about the tipping point - in the mindset of a lot of people - who hear about John the Baptist - in the desert - who is pointing out a high way - a straight path to our God - and then John the Baptist will tip people’s lives even more - when he says I’m not the one you are looking for. One mightier than I is coming. And I’m not even worthy to tie the sandals on his feet.

TIPPING POINTS IN OUR LIFE

As you know life is not a straight line.

Sometimes life is a scribble; sometimes it’s spaghetti.

Of course we want straight lines. We want a clear 3 lane highway to God, to success, to happiness, to heaven.

Sorry that’s only in the mouth and the words of poets and the imagination of our prophets.

We have Advent and Lent - Christmas and Easter - with the hope that these special points will tip people back to God.

I don’t get angry too often, but I remember telling a priest, “Are you crazy saying to Catholics on Ash Wednesday, ‘If this is the only time you come to church - well okay on Christmas and Easter, then don’t come at all.’”

I rather work an extra hour or two on my sermon for those three days - Ash Wednesday, Easter and Christmas - and throw in a prayer - besides - that this be a tipping point for a few people present.

I like to say on the Sunday before Easter and Christmas - give your seat up to a stranger next Sunday.

Today’s first reading begins with Isaiah saying, “Comfort, give comfort to my people.”  Let’s hope this Christmas someone who shows up for Christmas Mass here at St. John’s will notice the new cushy seat cushions - without the buttons - and say, “Nice!”  Maybe I’ll come back….”

 Hey you never know when tipping points happen.  Hopefully, they won’t go to St. Mary’s. They have, I’m told, the most uncomfortable benches in any church in the United States. They are hard. They are narrow. They are not easy on the cush.

WEDDINGS, WAKES AND FUNERALS

Down through the years,  weddings, wakes and funerals have been the tipping point for various people who told me one to one - that is what brought them back.

Have you noticed that a lot more people come to baptisms than in the past? So too confirmations.  My prayer is that seeing - being - in the moment - that this moment will be a tipping point for people wanting communion again - wanting to be in communion again.

If you are asked to be the eulogist at a funeral, tell those present that the deceased went to church - if the deceased went to church. Tell about how they were Christian - how they were good to their families and their neighbors and the broken and hurting.  If they were, make sure you accentuate the positive about people.

In Tipping Point theory, they like to talk about the straw that broke the camel’s back or the feather that broke the horse or the donkey’s back. In other words be one straw, be one domino, be one good example, that is placed on the back of the life of another.

CONCLUSION

We die at a moment, but a lot of quiet decay or cancer or heart problems brings us down slowly.

So too marriages - so too buildings - so too car problems.

I hope thinking about the image of the Tipping Point - tips all of us more and more towards God and living life more and more in keeping the Great Commandment - to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength - and our neighbor as ourselves.

LET IT SNOW, 

LET IT SNOW 

Charles  Carroll   House 

Annapolis,  Maryland  

December  9th,  2017

THE LOOK

Does anyone cultivate a look?

The Look: Cool? Passionate?

Smart? Aloof? Comedian?

Up Close? Christian? Clever?
Intellectual? Sophisticated?
Pious? Professional? The Pro?

If one did, how does one do it?

© Andy Costello, Reflections  2017

December 8, 2017

IMMACULATE

How would God clean off a counter,

if God was a waiter or waitress?

How would God sweep the steps,

if God was a mom or a janitor?

How would God draw with crayons

if God was in kindergarten?

How would God clean a kids's cut knee,

if God was a loving Father?

How would God create a mother,

when God was creating Mary?

  

© Andy Costello, Reflections  2017

WHERE ARE YOU?

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is a question: “Where Are You?”

I don’t remember homilies or sermons.  Do you? I never remember what was said. Do you? Does anyone remember sermons? I’ve asked people that question.  People usually pause when asked that question.  Then sometimes, someone mentions one or two homilies.

That used to give me pause. That used to get me to ask another question: Then why preach.”

Then I realized I don’t even remember the ones that I preach.

ANDY CUSACK SERMON

Thinking back,  I do remember a sermon I heard some 40  years ago by a priest named Andy Cusack. Then every time I hear today’s first reading from Genesis - for this feast of Mary’s Immaculate Conception, I remember that sermon by Andy Cussack.

Now I don’t remember the whole sermon or what was the occasion -- whether it was the feast of the Immaculate Conception or what, -- but I distinctly remember his main point - “Where are you?”

He preached on the key question in tonight’s first reading from Genesis, “Where are you?”

“Where are you?”

After that I don’t know what he said, but that question was enough.

Where are you?

Isn’t that a great question.

And for the last 25 years on and off I have remembered that question in that sermon. Moreover, I have found myself answering that question on and off.

AT ST. MARY’S ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND

Where are you?

You could answer that you’re here at St. Mary’s Church, Annapolis, Maryland and it’s December 8, 2017.

Adam doesn’t answer, “In the garden….”  He says, “I heard you in the garden, but I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.”

Then Adam unravels…. and we find out that Adam has changed.

He has moved from innocence to shame - then blame….

He - along with Eve - find themselves in a new place.

THERE ARE MANY WAYS OF HEARING THAT QUESTION    

Now we can  answer the question - “Where are you?” in various ways.  We can answer where our soul is -- where our heart is -- where we are in your life.

“Where am I?

We could say, “Well, actually, I’m in a good place.

We could say, “In fact, I’m in a better place than I was 10 years ago.

“I’m more patient.

“I’m more understanding.

“I’m certainly more humble. I guess making a lot of mistakes helps one be just that. Humble

“I’m more at peace with myself and with those I live with.”

Where are you?

Or we might answer just the opposite.

“Where am I?

“I’m not so hot lately.

“I’m edgy. People are getting on my nerves a lot more than usual.

“To be honest, I guess I’m being over sensitive. Things that never use to bother me are bothering me now.

“I’m not praying enough and I’m not trusting in God enough.

“I’m lazy or I’m too tired lately.

“I’m being difficult with those I live and work with.

Where am I?

Or we might answer, “I don’t know. I haven’t really thought about that.

“Let me become quiet and let me think about that. It’s a good question.”

WHERE AM I? USING THE READINGS

Where am I?

To be naked, to be honest,  I’m sort of like Adam and Eve in this reading tonight.

I’m blaming others.

I’m hiding from God.

I’m not being honest.

I’m running.”

Where am I?

Or I might be like Mary in tonight’s gospel.  At this stage of my life I want to ask God questions. Unlike Mary, who asked questions early on, I’ve put off my questions to this stage in my life.

Where am I?

Or I might say, “Well, to be honest, I’m very grateful to God for the good things that have been happening in my life.

“God is very good to me.

“He’s giving me lots of graces.

“Now I’m not full of grace like Mary here, but I have been given some grace.

“God is very present.

“My prayer life is much better than it has been in the past.

“I’m no longer just saying prayers. I am able to question God like Mary does here. Praise God.

“And when I do pray, God seems to send me to those who need my gifts. So like Mary here I’ve been more aware of those in need.

“Now I’m not saying that I’m like Mary and I’m without sin in my life. There has been enough of that in my life, but right now I’m getting there. I’m being blessed.

CONCLUSION

Where are you?

Each of us has to answer that question.

It’s the first question in the Bible and it’s a good one.

I suggest you take the next 40 years and every once and a while ask your self that question or better as in today’s first reading, hear God asking you the question, Where are you?

December 7, 2017

HOPING

Sitting, just sitting, just talking,

just coffee at McDonald's or

the Diner from 9 till 11 and

then making their way home

to an empty kitchen table.

Sitting, just sitting, just watching,

just waiting on a couch near the

nursing home front door - hoping

today a kid will show - but not today,

so the slow crawl back to an empty bed.

© Andy Costello, Reflections  2017