November 24, 2020

 BAPTISM

  

Many of us were babies when
we were baptized, so its effects
were felt more by our families.
 
Some Christian groups put
baptism off till we can make
that a more conscious choice.
 
Early Christians like Augustine had
their  baptism put off till they were
adults  so as to get its full benefits
 
What we might miss are the thousands
of baths and showers and trips to the
ocean that can impact our lives.
 
So too the renewal of our baptismal
vows every Easter and Sundays when
we can begin a Mass with a Baptismal renewal.
 
So too the taking of Holy Water when we
walk into and leave a church service in the
name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
 

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2020

 

 

 November  23,  2020

THE  NIGHT  BEFORE  YOU  DIE

 

Wouldn’t it be great 

if you too knew the 

meaning of life on the
night before you died –

like Jesus - at your last supper?
 
Be seed. Get planted.
Grow. Become wheat.
Become the harvest.
Become flour.
Become bread.
 
Become part of the vine.
Grow. Become grapes.
Get picked.
Get crushed.
Become wine.
 
Then say to the world.
Take me. Eat me.
Become me.
Become you.
Become life for the world.

 

 © Andy Costello, Reflections 2020

November  23, 2020

 

Thought for Today

“Confess your sins, not your neighbor’s.”

HOW  TO  FEEL  FREE

 
Zip your lip: No SA comments.
Walk: Do a lot of walking.
Follow your conscience.
Watch birds – unless you’re driving.
Thank. Do a lot of thanking –
    of God and others.
Respect others.
Say what you want to say,
    but timing is everything.
Know what you know,
    but say, “I don’t know!”
    when you don’t know.
You are. God is,
    but you’re not God.
Eat. Taste. Enjoy,
    but don’t overeat.
Work what you’re worth.
Today is today,
    tomorrow is tomorrow,
    yesterday was yesterday.
You got gifts, use them;
    others got gifts, respect them
Sing – even if others say you can’t,
    but  you want to.
Remember and practice  Jesus’ big three:
    “Love one another.”
    "Fear not!" or “Do not be afraid.”
    “The truth will set you free.”

 

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2020

November 22, 2020

Thought for Today

“There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so,…”

 

Shakespeare, Hamlet

Ponder that for the rest

of your nights

Painting: The Son of Man 

by Rene Magritte.

November 21, 2020

 PRESENTATION

 

The 8 year old girl walked out with
a plate of her first chocolate chip cookies ….
 
Presentation ….
 
He made a wooden ramp for the wheelchair
of the lady next door – after she had a stroke.
It was his Eagle Scout project ….
 
Presentation ….
 
Her dad walked her down the aisle
of the church on her wedding day ….
 
Presentation ….
 
Because of the pandemic, they could only
wheel him down to the first floor  glass door
in the nursing home for all to wave to ….
 
Presentation ….
 
God chose Mary to be the mother
of her Bethlehem born son, Jesus….
 
Presentation ….

November 21, 2020

 
Thought for Today
 

Painting by Tissot:  Egyptians admiring Sarah's beauty.

“And it came to pass, that when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld …”  [Genesis 12: 14].
 
[Only Abram is mentioned as having come into Egypt] – where was Sarah? 
 
Abram put her in a box and locked her in it so that the Egyptians should not see her.
 
When Abram reached the portals of Egypt, the customs people  asked, “What are you carrying in this  box?” 
 
He replied, “Barley.” 
 
Said they, “You are carrying [something more valuable] wheat.”
 
“Very well,” he replied, charge me the duty on wheat.” 
 
“You are carrying pepper,”
 
“Charge me the duty on pepper.”
 
“You are carrying gold.” 
 
“Charge me the duty on gold.”
 
“You are carrying silks.”
 
“Charge me the duty on silks.”
 
“You are carrying precious stones.”
 
“Charge me the duty on precious stones.” 
 
They figured: If he did not have something of extraordinary worth in his possession, he would not have agreed to whatever duty was asked of him. So they said to him, “You will not stir from here until you open the box and show us what is inside.”
 
When he opened the box, all of Egypt was illuminated by the radiance of Sarah’s beauty.
 

From the Hebrew

Tanhuma, Lekh Lekha