The title of my homily is, “Five Understandings.” Today’s gospel has Jesus asking a question two times: “Do
You Understand.” If we read the gospels with the question: “Do you
understand?” – we are connecting to this desire of Jesus to be understood. We who preach have the same desire: to be understood. We certainly hear Jesus’ frustration – The disciples
don’t seem to get it – They seem to have eyes that don’t see – and ears that
don’t hear. The disciples don’t get Jesus enough. The disciples don’t
learn. The same thing keeps
happening. They are eating up the Pharisees
behavior and their leven is levening them. Jesus wants his bread – his way of
doing life – to get into the disciples. Understanding can be a slow process.
I like lists – so my homework for this homily is: Come up with 5
understandings Jesus want us to get.
Here’s my 5. Tomorrow I’ll
probably have others.
If we make lists, we can come up with a few
understandings.
First: There is richness and poverty – but not everyone has the
same ones.
Second: There is good Leven and bad Leven. Beware of the Leven of the Pharisees and
Herod. That’s bad Leven.
Third: There is a God. God is our Father and Jesus will teach us
about him.
Fourth: There are temptations in life and they can destroy us
and others – and we better not blame them on anyone but yourself.
Fifth: See the birds of the air, trees, flowers, water, bread,
mountains and fish.
Tuesday, February 15, 2022
February 15, 2022
Reflection
February 15, 2022
“Nobody gets to live life backward. Look ahead, that is
where your future lies.”
Ann Landers
Monday, February 14, 2022
February 14, 2022
IN A MOMENT
How many times do we say in a lifetime: "I'll be there in a moment." Or, "I'll be with you in just a moment."
How true? So true.
Oh God – we do say that at times. “In a moment ….” Everything happens in a moment … in moments … in the
moments of our life. Moments walking, moments in an elevator, moments in
traffic, moments waiting for someone who said, “I’ll be there in a moment.” Moments … our life is slipping away …. It’s disintegrating
by moments – time that will never be here again. The clock is ticking. Our life is limited. Our life moves forward towards its end moment by moment. It’s like the waves washing away a sandcastle on the shore. Each new wave washes away more till there is
no more – no more – no more…. What is now – was once – a not yet - and then it was – and next – it will become a
never more. Amen. I don’t want to say that “Amen.” Yet that’s the truth – and that truth sets us free, At times I want the illusion that I can stop time – stop the
world – stop the moment – and then just be with still photos – non-moving movies. Yet I know all is moving moment by moment. I can’t stop time. I guess I just have to learn how to be in the moment –
and calmly go with it.
“Love: An agreement on the part of two people to
overestimate each other.”
E. M. Cioran
Sunday, February 13, 2022
February 13, 2022
Reflection
February 13, 2022
Thought for Today
“Are you looking for me? I am in the next seat. My shoulder is against yours. You will not find me in stuppas, nor in cathedrals: not in masses, nor kirtans, not in legs winding around your own neck, nor in eating nothing but vegetables. When you really look for me, you will see me instantly – You will find me in the tiniest house of time Kabir says: student tell me, what is God? He is the breath inside the breath.”
