Sunday, May 19, 2019


THREE  VOICES

INTRODUCTION

The  title  of my homily for this 5th Sunday after Easter is: "Three  Voices."

We all have two voices within us. One voice says we can do it and the other voice says we can’t.

One voice says we can make it and the other voice says we can’t make it.

One voice says, “You’re a winner.” The other voice says, “You’re a loser.”

One voice says, “Yes!” The other voice says, “No way!”

One voice says, “You’ll never change!” and the other voice says, “You can change. You can improve.”

And sometimes we can track down these voices to our earlier days. We might have had a coach or a teacher or a friend who encouraged us or we might have had people who discouraged us.

Maybe even a brother or a sister or some classmate who put us down.

Of course, we have all heard the saying, “No one can put you down without your permission.” But sometimes negative stuff from others or even from ourselves, and then reinforced by ourselves, can lead to lots of discouragement or not giving it our best.

A key thing to keep in mind is that in time, we are the speaker of either of these two voices.

THIRD VOICE

So we need a 3rd voice that says, “Behold I make all things new.” It’s in today’s second reading.

We all need a 3rd voice that says, “With the Lord’s help I can do it.” Or, “I can do all things in Him who strengthens me.” Or, “I’ll try and with the help of God and good friends, I will do my best.”

MOREOVER: HOW GOD SPEAKS TO US

This third voice is the voice of God. It comes in various ways – if we listen.

We all remember hearing the story about the man in the flood. I heard it at least 10 times from different preachers. It was good and to the point.

The river rises. The police come around the neighborhood and announce move to higher grounds. Everything is about to flood.

This man says, “Well I ain’t moving. God will help.”

The flood rises to the front porch. The police come by row boat. “Everybody must leave their homes.”

Once more the man says, “I ain’t leaving. I’m praying to God for help.”

He’s now on his chimney and the water is at his feet. A helicopter spots him and lowers a rope ladder. The water is going to get higher. Get on the rope ladder.”

Once more he says, “I ain’t leaving. I’m praying to God for help.”

Well, you know the punch line. He dies and meets God and complains, “Where were you when I called for help.”

And God says, “I sent you a police car, a row boat and a helicopter with a rope ladder.”

Moral of the story: God is the third voice that speaks to us all the time, but we need to listen.

EXAMPLES

I was checking around for some examples on this and found these three that hit me. They are from King Duncan’s sermons - who provides plenty of examples for preachers who are stuck for examples.

ROSSINI

The first example is from Italy.

For many summers a composer named Gioacchino Rossini would go out to some small village in Italy – one which could not afford an opera – and he would write an opera which the people of that village could perform. One summer, he auditioned all of the talent in this small village, and the only woman who could possibly be the leading lady was limited to only one good note! It was middle B-flat.         

Rossini was not discouraged; he went right ahead and wrote the opera in which the leading lady had only one note to sing. BUT, he surrounded that middle B-flat with such beautiful harmony that when she sang her one note, it was like an angel from heaven.         

 CARUSSO

The second example is from Dale Carnegie’s book How To Win Friends and Influence People. He tells an interesting story about a famous musician

Many years ago a boy of ten was working in a factory in Naples, Italy. He longed to be a singer, but his first teacher discouraged him. “You can't sing,” he said. “You haven't any voice at all. It sounds like the wind in the shutter.” 

But his mother, a poor peasant woman, put her arms about him and praised him and told him she knew he could sing, she could already see the improvement, and she went barefoot in order to save money to pay for music lessons. 

The peasant mother's praise and encouragement, her sacrifices, changed the boy's life. His name was Enrico Caruso, and he became the greatest and most famous opera singer of his age.         

A LITTLE GIRL NAMED RACHEL

The 3rd example is about a teacher.

Educator Jeffery Holland tells about a pre-school teacher who faced what she thought was “burn-out.” She was a committed teacher whose heart particularly went out to the so-called “disadvantaged child.”

She had begun to despair over some of the children who seemed so lost, so limited - and in some cases, so neglected at home.

In her growing frustration she vacillated between the feeling that there was something wrong with her, or that there was something wrong with “this current crop of pre-schoolers. They just don't respond like they used to.”

Then her mother died. It was necessary for her to take a week off from her teaching duties to attend her mother's funeral. She was very close to her mother.

Following the funeral she needed some time alone to deal with her feelings. Her frustrations at the pre-school seemed like an even heavier burden at this point in her life. After a weekend of aimless shopping, puttering in the garden and watching TV, she realized she must return to her classroom. She felt more like a soldier going into battle than a teacher of pre-schoolers.

The first day back was about what she expected. Her hurt and despair produced resentment which she kept carefully hidden. She went through the paces like the competent professional she was. She smiled at the right times and was admirably patient considering the environment and her raw feelings.        

But then it happened. She had come around the corner to discover Rachel picking the last chrysanthemum from the pot in the hall. Rachel, by the way, was the most distant, most disruptive child in the class. In a stern, trembling voice the teacher demanded, “Rachel, what are you doing?”        

Rachel held out in her little hand the flowers she had already picked. “Mrs. Terrell,” she said, “You used to be like a mother. Would these flowers help you to be like a mother again? I know you are fussed in your mind. Wouldn't you like some flowers?”       

Mrs. Terrell thought, “fussed in my mind? You mean it shows? To a five-year-old?”

So she asked,  “Rachel, what is a mother like?”        

“A mother is like you used to be,” Rachel said. “A mother likes being with children.”        

“But Rachel,” said Mrs. Terrell, “I like being with children. I've just...well, I've been...well, Rachel, my mother...passed away, and...”

Rachel meekly interrupted, “You mean she died?”

“Yes, Rachel,” said her teacher sadly, “She died.”        

Rachel looked up at her teacher and asked, “Did she live until she died?”        

Mrs. Terrell thought, “What kind of question is that?”

“Well, honey, of course,” she said, “All people live until they die; they...”        

Rachel interrupted her again. “Oh, no they don't, Mrs. Terrell. Some people seem to die while they are still walking around. They stop being what they used to be. Mrs. Terrell, don't die just because your mother did. Be alive while you are alive.”   

CONCLUSION

We need three voices – and especially the third voice. It’s the voice of encouragement. It might come from a mom or a helicopter pilot or a teacher or a stranger or a little kid.

Down deep, I have to believe,  this is the way God speaks!


May    19, 2019 

Thought for today: 

“In a hierarchy, every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence ; the cream rises until it sours.” 

Laurence J. Peter, 
The Peter Principle
Morrow 1969

Friday, May 17, 2019


CONSIDERATE


Now that’s one word I wouldn’t 
mind hearing as I lay in my casket. 
That I was aware of people who 
were stuck  - and needed a buck - 
that I sensed who was confused 
or lost when it came to where the 
bathroom was or they obviously 
walked in the wrong door of the 
wrong church or hospital floor. 
And I would hope everyone knew 
I got that from my mom and dad. 


© Andy Costello, Reflections 2019


May    18, 2019 

Thought for today: 


“It takes great faith in Easter, particularly faith in the gift of the Holy Spirit, to be honest with our people that we have not a clue to the meaning of some biblical passage, or that we have no sense of a satisfying ending for a sermon, or that we are unsure of precisely what the congregation ought to do after hearing a given text. The most ethically dangerous time within a sermon is toward the end of the sermon, when we move from proclamation to application and act as if we know more than God. 133”  


William H. Willimon, 
Calling and Character: 
Virtures of the Ordained Life.


DIRTY

The word “dirty” feels dirty.
Doesn’t it?
Did it get that feeling before
or after it became the word
for all things dirty: the floor
around the toilet; the bottom
of garbage cans; the ground
in the garbage dump; nasty
comments that hurt another;
unfair ways people steal
from or cheat others?

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2019


May    17, 2019 

Thought for today:  

“The most spiritual people I’ve ever met were not ‘givers’ they were communicators. You don’t give people crumbs. You give them the whole piece of bread when that is what they are asking for, in order to be healed. Christ was never about hiding behind a Facebook page, an email, a prayer circle, a bible, or a church. He was about talking, listening and healing -- face to face. He walked among sinners and ate with them. He devoted his time to people that were brokenhearted, difficult to like and fake as the religious beliefs they clung to. So, why is it that so many people profess to believe in Christ, yet they have forgotten what real love is -- communicating?”  


Shannon L. Alder

Thursday, May 16, 2019


FEET

INTRODUCTION

Today is the 4th Thursday after Easter.  Today’s readings are Acts 13: 13 - 25 and John 13: 16-20.

I noticed the mention of feet in today’s first reading - as well as today’s gospel, so I wondered if I could come up with a short reflection on feet.

I’ll try.  I don’t remember doing anything on feet before - but maybe …. So here goes.

FIRST READING

Today’s first reading ends with a quote from John the Baptist: “Behold, one is coming after me; I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.”

The reading mentions the travels of Paul and his companions  - starting by sailing - then came the walking.  It also mentions the travels of the people in the desert for 40 years.  If they had Fitbit - how many steps would they have taken each day.  It was a different time - most travel was by foot.

Am I grateful for my feet - for all they have done for me in this life. I remember the old saying.  “I thought I was really hurting when my foot was sore, till I met someone without legs.”

TODAY’S GOSPEL

Today’s gospel  begins with mention of Jesus washing his disciples feet.

That’s a great Gospel message: the Christian life is all about service and foot washing.  I’ve heard some scripture scholars speculating on whether it was an early Christian sacrament.

That would be nice - a sacrament that Christians could give each other - especially after a long day on one’s feet.  I have happy memories of getting hot water and putting Epson Salts in a plastic bucket for my dad - after he got home from work.

JESUS AND FEET

We see in the gospel a few texts about feet - as well as hands.

Let me start with hands and then get to feet. Hands and feet are quite similar - 26 bones in our feet - and 27 bones in each hand.

Jesus said,  “If your hands or your feet  cause you to sin, cut it off.” Metaphor of course. [Matthew 18: 8]

Jesus reached out and touched lots of people  - and healed them. “He touched a woman who was sick and the fever left her.” [Matthew 8:15] 

He healed the man with the shriveled hand [Matthew 12:10-12].

With Judas present, he said, “The one who dips his hand into the dish will betray me.” Matthew 26:23.

In  Mark 1:31, Jesus grasped a woman by the hand and lifted her up as he healed her. 

Took Jairus daughter by the hand and said Tailita Cumi  Mark 5: 41

He said to Thomas “Put your hand into my hand and into my side and believe.[John 20:25, 27]    The Pharisees were off on externals like washing  hands [Matthew 15:2]  Check John 24:29.

Then there are feet. They laid the sick at his feet and he healed them Matthew 15:30. They laid the sick at his feet and pleaded with him Mark 3:11 and  5:22.

Two times women touched Jesus’ feet. He goes to the house of a Pharisee, who is only interested in criticizing  him - so he does not provide Jesus with water to wash his feet after a dusty road. Then a woman comes in and washes his feet with water and her tears and dries them with her hair and kissed them. [Luke 7:44]  Another woman - in John 11: 2 - perfumed and dried with tears.  Men and women were not supposed to associate with each. Touch and hair were out.

Then in John 13 Jesus washed his disciples’ feet and kissed them 

THE JOURNEY

The great-grandfather in the nursing meets his great-grandson.  He’s in a wheelchair. They place little Toby in his arms. He smiles. Toby smiles. He reaches for Toby’s left foot - and rubs it and Toby likes it.
He thinks of his feet and ponders how many steps Toby will take before he’s a great-great grandfather.

He thanks God for the gift of feet - all the steps he took - once he learned to walk - especially because of the gift of his father helping him to take his first steps.

He thinks about podiatrists and foot doctors - and surgeons who work on ankles and broken toes and feet - and thanks God for them.

He thinks about those who practice reflexology and the good they can do for the whole body. Check out their maps.

The mysterious communion of life and touch.

FEET

Let me close with a moment in my life. 

I once met an old man - who said, “Every morning when my alarm goes off, I keep my eyes closed as I shut off my alarm. Then I wiggle my toes and if they wiggle, then I thank God for the gift of a new day of life.

From that I learned the “Wiggle your toes prayer.”  We can wiggle our toes any time of the day or the night and say, “Thank you God for the gift of life and for all the stairs I climbed and all the roads I have walked and all the people I have met on my journeys. Amen.

We can wiggle our toes anytime - at boring meetings, red lights - but be careful - and long sermons. Amen