December 23, 2019 

Thought for today: 

“We don’t  see  things as they are.  We see things as we are.”  

Talmud

December 22,  2019

LIGHT   IN  THE  WINDOW

If we’re not self-centered, 

if we’re a bit nosy, we 

wonder what's  going on 

in that house with the light on. 

If we’re not self-centered,

if we’re distracted in prayer,

we wonder what that old man

lighting a candle is praying about.

If we’re not self-centered,

if we got a heart, we’ll stop to

talk to the beggar outside of

Church and give him a 5 or a 20.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2019

December 22, 2019 

Thought for today: 

“Liberty  is  rendered  even  more  precious by the  recollection  of  servitude.”  

Cicero

VISITATION

INTRODUCTION

The  title of my reflection for today - December 21st - is “Visitation”.

That’s a theme in today’s two readings: Song of Songs 2 8-14; Luke 1: 39-45

Visitation.

Question: What do you reflect upon when you say the second joyful mystery of the rosary – which is: The Visitation.

TO UNDERSTAND THAT QUESTION

To understand what I mean by that question, let me go this way.

When John Paul II came up with his push for 5 more mysteries of the Rosary, I said to myself, “Oh no!”

Then in time I got used to how to handle these 5 new mysteries to reflect upon while saying the rosary.

I see the rosary the same as Muslims see a prayer rug. I take it out to tell myself  - and others – that I am now going to pray.

5 LIGHT BEARING MYSTERIES

When I say the 5 light bearing mysteries I go the following way some times.

For the first mystery: the baptism of Jesus I’ll think of 10 people whom I baptized  - one for each  Hail Mary – saying a prayer for them.

For the second mystery, Cana, I think of 10 people I married.

For the third mystery: preaching or proclamation I say prayers for 10 preachers that day -  at weddings, funerals, daily Mass, etc. for places – churches and retreat houses, etc.

So too that all people like Jesus move more and more towards Transfiguration – that 4^th Luminous Mystery.

And the 5^th Mystery – The Eucharist – that Jesus feeds us all with his being – and all Christians move back to the true presence of Christ – in the Bread – especially family members by name that they come back to Mass.

THE VISITATION

Okay, so that’s how I do the rosary – for all 20 mysteries.

I move it back and forth from Jesus and Mary to us – to me – and in that way the rosary becomes real for me.

So, for this second joyful mystery – the Visitation – the theme in today’s gospel, I’ll think of 10 great visits in my life – or 10 important visits people have or I’ve seen.

People getting home for Christmas.

People visiting neighbor in the hospital, the nursing home, the funeral home.

Lovers meeting  - rushing to be with each other as we hear in today’s first reading – from The Song of Songs – read at many a wedding.  It’s not always 1^st Corinthians Love is patient, love is kind ….

Or praying people will come back home to each other  - that family members will visit each other - talk to each other…. phones, skype, in person, e-mail, text….  Visits …. Visitation.

CONCLUSION

Life is mystery – mysteries – joyful, sorrowful, glorious, light giving - but not always.

December 21,  2019

OH NO,  NOT  AGAIN

Yes, it happens, over and over again.

No work … out of work … sorry ….

So,  we move on to the places where

there are “Help Wanted” signs in fields

and factories. And we get the jobs – we

get the money – we build the roads and

we build the buildings – we make the beds

and we wash the dishes – and then we

move on till the next place. Some of us

make it; some of us don’t. So, we drift

into shame and stereotypes and sadness.

Bullies and politicians – make fun of us –

get their votes and make us their jokes.

And few us remember this was our story

way back when – when we were young  

and when someone helped us up the ladder.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2019

December 21, 2019 

Thought for today: 

“My very  chains  and I grew friends, / So much a long communion tends / To make us what we are.” 

In Sam Keen’s book, 

To A Dancing God, [1970]

December 20, 2019

FEELING  AT  HOME

Feeling at home - 

having a sense of home - 

can only be known - in the heart – 

at Christmas time – or when we 

come home for a funeral or for 

a wedding or after a divorce 

or a deep inner hurt – felt when 

sitting in a soft chair - or around 

the kitchen table in t-shirts  - 

or seeing a black and white photo – 

or a diploma on the wall - or 

when walking around the old 

neighborhood. We pause. We stop.

We know.  We breathe. We realize 

we’re comfortable as we suck

in a breath of old air.

We’ve been here before.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2019
Painting: Early Sunday Morning
by Edward Hopper