April 22, 2022

Reflection

LIVING  LEGACY

Who, what, when, where, the why of  my life....

Do I add, "How?"

WHO?

The people in my life?

The key people?

Family?

Surprise people I met?

Those who educated me?

Those I worked with?

The communities I was in?

Neighbors?

What ever happened to what's his/her name?

WHAT?

The moments of my life?

Key moments?

Sea Changes?

Conversions?

Relationships in my life?

History?

Mysteries?

Disasters?

Deaths?

Resurrections?

Splendors

Failures?

Successes?

Tests?

The story of my life?

WHEN?

Time line of my life?

"I remember when ...."

Autobiographies I have read?

5 top moments in my life?

Where was I when?

WHERE?

Born when?

Lived where

Vacations?

Moves?

Main places?

WHY?

I/Why?

You/Who?

Motives?

Unravelings?

Mistakes?

 April 22, 2022

Thought for Today

 

“If you think dogs can’t count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then giving Fido only two of them.”

Phil Pastoret

 April 21, 2022

Reflection

CHEERIOS IN CHURCH,

KIDS ARE US

 A church that has Cheerios on the floor - especially in the front row - is a welcoming church.

Kids are us.

Parents aren't stupid.  When their kid starts crying - screaming - 97%  out of 100 times,  they get up and walk out to the back of the church and head for the nearest exit with their screaming kid.

Yet, they want their kids up front - so they can see it all - to provide eachng moments - hopefully for some good "Show and tell" moments.

Crying rooms are super - sometimes.

However, I see the whole church as a crying room.

Now that could be another meditation like this one.

April 21, 2022

Thought for Today

 

“What is morally wrong cannot be politically right.”

 

William Gladstone

 

NICKNAMES

 

The title of my homily is “Nicknames.”
 
The subtitle would be “Descriptions of the Other Person.”
 
When I read today’s two readings what hit me are two wonderful nicknames from the scriptures of other people. They are not called nicknames, but that’s what I call them.
 
From today’s first reading from Acts 3 we hear mention of The Beautiful Gate. From what I read last night I heard the commentators say they are not really that sure just what gate into Jerusalem was The Beautiful Gate.
 
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be the gate to healing – the gate where people meet Jesus and they are healed.
 
In this building what would be the place of greatest care and healing and joy.  In one place I was stationed. It was in Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania.  In the kitchen there was a booth -  that had a table – with a light brown vinyl couch on both sides.  It was the place where we sat every night around 10 PM – for about a half hour – had a cup or two of tea – and good cookies – talked and told stories.
 
Looking back that was the best moment of the day. It was a beautiful gate into peace and laughter – joy and fun.
 
Wouldn’t it be nice to have  as a member of the community someone who was a beautiful gate to God – to each other  - to wonderful moments of life.
I would call people like that “The Beautiful Gate.”
 
In today’s first reading from Acts 3, it’s Peter who in the name of Jesus heals a crippled man who begs at the beautiful gate every day.
 
In today’s gospel it’s the story of Emmaus – Luke 24:13-35. I was giving a retreat once and a nun told us about a member of their community.  She never stopped talking  about the Emmaus story. She did it so often to every class of kids she  taught – that the kids nick named her, “Sister Mary Emmaus.”
 
Imagine going through life and telling everyone that we need to recognize God every time we break bread together.  Imagine knowing the scriptures so well that we help others see their life in the breaking of the words – and the breaking of their lives.
 
So my homily is about two nicknames: The Beautiful Gate and Emmaus. Wouldn’t it be neat to get one of those nicknames?

April 20, 2022

Reflection

DRIVING  AND  SAYING  MASS

He drives his car the way he says Mass.

At least he's consistent.

He turns pages as if he was ripping the page out of the big prayer book on the alr]tar.

He comes to STOP signs - or up behind people - braking fast - heavy and jerkey like ....

He drives fast - very fast - and when he says the Gloria or the Creed, hel'sloud and ahead of evefreyone - not giving anyone a chance to breathe.

I once read a woman author writing  that the priest should say Mass as if he were making love.

She had me there - but I guess we priests say Mass as some men make love. "Slam  bam - Thank you Mam."

Since being a male, since being in the presence of more women than men at Mass, since I wouldn't want to be criticized how I would make love to a wife, since reading that comment, I have tried to say Mass more gently.

Now as it comes to my driving - since driving with speedsters, I have tried to drive more smoothly as well

Gentle ....

Slow down ....

Enjoy the ride ....

Be present ....

So it's a good move for us to look at  how we are when driving, when praying, when eating, when we are doing life - ever so gentle ....

 April 20,  2022

Thought for Today

 

“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”

Mark Twain