Thought for Today
“Every reformation must have its victims. You can’t expect the fatted calf to show the enthusiasm of the angels over the prodigal’s return.”
Saki, Reginald
and the Academy
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
2 SENTENCES
INTRODUCTION
The title of my thoughts for this 21st Tuesday in Ordinary Time is “Two Sentences.”
The first sentence is from today’s first reading and the
second sentence is from the gospel.
FIRST SENTENCE
The first sentence is Paul’s statement: “Let no one deceive
you in any way.” [2 Thessalonians 2:3]
I read today’s first reading a few times last night –
seeing what might hit me for a homily. The first sentence that hit me was the one I just mentioned: “Let no
one deceive you in any way.”
Woo! Wow! That is
a tough assignment – and a bit sand papery. It could rub our ability to relate
and communicate and be with each other in everyday life and every day
interactions.
How to be really honest – honest honesty - that takes
time and work and tact.
How to do that takes good judgment.
How to do that takes living with each other – working
with each other – being with each other and sometimes learning the hard way – that the
other is a B. ESer – or incompetent – or not skilled – or not good in certain
areas – or lazy - or a non-listener –or a non-learner – a person who has stopped
growing or what have you.
It means to be alert. There is that old joke bouncing off that word “alert”
– that the world needs more “lerts”.
But it could actually mean that the world needs more
people to be alert – to pay attention – to oil the machines – protect each
other from viruses –to be kind to one another - to be exact in newspaper articles –in speech -
to do the research – etc. etc. etc.
To go deeper when it comes to honesty – to pay attention
to ourselves being honest with ourselves.
I remember a statement. It might have been by Kurt Vonnegut:
“Oh the lies I have told to my energies.”
And I noticed in The New York Times for yesterday
mention of a novel coming out September with the title, The Lying Life of
Adults by Eleana Ferrante. It praises Ann Goldstein as a wonderful
translator from the Italian. Will that book get readers to look themselves in
the mirror for their honesty as adults?
So once more: the first sentence for today is from St.
Paul: “Let no one deceive you.”
SECOND SENTENCE
The second sentence is from Matthew’s gospel: “Woe to you
if you pay forward your energies for the
tiny stuff and you neglect the weightier things of the law: Judgment and mercy
and fidelity.”
Jesus is pretty strong here in the 23rd chapter
of Matthew with his woes. He talks quite clearly about the human condition. He
says something we all know. We clean the
outside of cup and bowl and neglect the inside of who we really are.
We can be superficial. We can strain out the gnats. We
can also swallow the camel.
I’m sloppy - so I
might be dishonest when I say that I wonder at times about people being neat
and tidy about some things – and then they get caught for moral messy inner
rooms in their life – that spills out into actual messy crimes.
CONCLUSION
This morning my homily is 2 sentences to think about:
honesty and not avoiding the big issues by fixation on the small stuff.
August 25, 2020
FLICKER OF A FLAME
The flicker of the flame
of fire in a red vigil light
is writing something in
the air. Is it: “I am here”?
Is it: “Be still and slow
down”? Is it: “The
dark
will never win. So trust
me”? Is it: “Be still and
know that I am God”?
That's Psalm 46: 10.
That's Psalm 46: 10.
© Andy Costello, Reflections 2020
Monday, August 24, 2020
August 24, 2020
DUST COMING AND GOING
It was early afternoon - just resting
in a comfy bed – taking a siesta –
the sun sliding through the venetian
blinds – and I was looking at dust
coming and going – dust floating in
the air like astronauts
– in my bedroom.
Was I seeing what was part of Jason
down the street or grandma next door –
dust coming or going – dandruff or dried
skin from their right arm or left ankle?
Would some of this dust become
part of the tomato patch next door?
Is this how some guru from the Ganges
came up with the idea of reincarnation
or was it because he lost his friend
from down the street or his grandma
next door – who died quietly on an
afternoon – on a day just like today.
© Andy Costello, Reflections 2020
Drawing :You're Never Alone
in a Dusty Apartment,
The New York Times
Drawing :You're Never Alone
in a Dusty Apartment,
The New York Times
Sunday, August 23, 2020
August 23, 2020
MIXING IT UP
Mix, O Lord, a mixture of
compassion and mercy
in this bowl called “Me”.
Blend Your best flow –
intermingle – agitate my
soul – again and again.
For good, better, best -
of course, so that those
who come into contact
with me - come away with
better ways of being in Holy
Communion with each other.
© Andy Costello, Reflections 2020
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