Monday, September 2, 2019



FIRST  CHILD

The first child gets to say 
for the rest of her life, 
“Well, I was the first child.” 

She might be the only or 
she might be the first of 
four or more - or “No more!” 

That first child has advantages 
and disadvantages - but only
time will explain this and that.

Time will tell parents about
nature versus nurture - about
God and mystery and history.

Time will tell how all this fits into
the story of our lives - in giving,
in receiving and a lot, lot more.

Time will tell that every child is a gift,
first, last, middle or only - and each of
us gets to name and describe that gift.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2019


September  2, 2019 

Thought for today: 

“Work is a powerful medicine.” 


St. John Chrysostom
[c. 347-407] 
in a Homily.

Sunday, September 1, 2019


37  SECOND  HOMILY


The following is a  37  second homily for this 22 Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C.

When I read today’s gospel - Luke 14: 1, 7-14 - I often feel guilty. It tells the parable of not taking the top seats at the dinner table - as well as inviting the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind to one’s dinner table. I can do the table placements, but I don’t do the inviting of the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind, into dinner in my house.

Then it hit me, “Dummy. You’re it. You’re blind - lame - poor - crippled and Jesus has  invited you to his dinner table.

Enjoy the meal.  Enjoy his love of you. Oh.

Painting on top: Christ 
at the House of Simon
the Pharisee, by Pierre 
Subleyras, c.  1737    

READING,  WRITING AND ARITHMETIC


Everyone around the world ought to be taught a bit of reading, writing and arithmetic.  How were you taught? How were your thinkers. 

I found this teacher on line.

I want to use my blog to tag and study these two talks and lessons.










THE  NEXT  STEP 

A twig snapped - as I walked
the forest floor - telling me
how fragile my future might
be. You never know what’s
next - what might be about
to happen with my second
step or the one just after that.

If we lived our life worried
about our next step - then
we might not take that step.
We might stutter and stammer
our speech and our steps and
never get out of sight - of our
front steps or of our front door.


© Andy Costello, Reflections 2019


September  1, 2019 

Thought for today: 


“Inflation is like sin; every government  denounces it and every government practices it.” 

Sir Frederick Leith-Ross, 
Observer,  June 30, 1957

Saturday, August 31, 2019

August 31, 2019 
ACHE

She saw his ache …. It was in his face ….
Mothers often spot their child’s pain.
They know when something’s not
going right in their life. They know
when something is going wrong in
their marriage - like lately ….
She has watched her daughter-in-law’s
eyes scanning - another man - his
shoulders - his car - his house - his wallet ….
What’s wrong with my son? Have you
forgotten your vows and your dreams?
What about the impact of divorce
and division on my grandkids?
Have your forgotten  the old wisdom
about the color of grass in another’s yard?

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2019