May 5, 2022

Reflection 

 

REJECTION:

I  WILL NOT  REJECT ANYONE

WHO  COMES TO ME

 

 

The title of my homily for this 3rd Wednesday after Easter
is,  “Rejection: I Will Not Reject Anyone Who Comes to Me.”

That’s quite a statement – quite a promise – quite a belief – quite a hope.

It’s the second part of John 6: 37 – a sentence in today’s gospel

I believe this idea of  rejection – not being rejected - is the central  message of the gospel of John.

The key Greek word here is EXBALLO – the Greek word is translated:  “cast out, thrust out, rejected.” – or all around.  The word and the sound  “BALL” – has much the same meaning in many languages -  a round sphere that is thrown or rolling to or from.

Every Catholic should read Chapter 6 of John over and over again.

It’s the long Eucharistic text – 71 verses long.  It’s all about the bread  being the flesh of Christ. The big question: “Do you accept this text, this message or do you reject it?  Do you catch it or reject it?”

You’ll hear Jesus saying in this 6^th chapter of John that he Jesus knows people are going to walk away – reject him the Christ.  Listen to John 6: 66: “After this many of his disciples left him and stopped going with him.

That’s rejection – especially after Jesus says in 6: 58,  “But anyone who eats this bread will live forever.”

 We who come to Mass  - especially not just on Sunday – but also during the week – need to eat, digest, become these words of John 6.   The Word needs to become us – become our flesh – and walk within us.

Amen. Catch the ball.

 May 4, 2022

Reflection

 May  4, 2022

Thought for Today

"Nature cannot tell lies,  but human beings can and do ... our ability to tell lies is perhaps our most striking human characteristic."

W. Somerset  Maugham

The Constant Wife 1926

May  3,  2022

 

Thought for Today

 

“Love is what you’ve been through with someone.”

 

 James Thurber

Life Magazine

 May 3, 2022

Reflection

 

THE BEST MOMENT

OF THE WEEK

 

The title of my homily is, “The Best Moment of the Week.”

4 guys – roughly the same age – in their early 40’s – and in and about the same situation – sort of go to work together – every morning – Monday to Friday. Jack, Bill, Nelson, and Thomas have been doing this for about 6 years now.

They get on the 6:45 A.M. Blue Bus - from near their suburban, Maryland homes – heading for their Washington D.C. government jobs.  They move to the back of the bus – last two rows – and always – well almost always  - get those back seats.

About five years ago – well into their “Blue Bus Morning Moment” – as they ended up calling it – they began what they called - their “Monday Morning Question”.

 The trip took just under an hour.

 It was interrupted big time during the Corona Virus 19 – but they are back to the Good Old Times again – the Blue Bus Morning Moment.

 After the Morning greeting – and after the “How was your weekend?” question, - someone would say, “Okay – any suggestions for this week’s Monday Morning Question?”

 Through the years the questions were many – and different – sometimes surprising:  “Greatest Movie, Greatest Joke, Where I grew up, Favorite Book, Biggest Almost, Toughest Death, A Character from High School, Most Remembered Vacation, Ice Cream Moments,” Those were just a few of the Blue Bus Moments and Questions.

By doing this – hey  you never know what might come up. And some good surprises did come up.

One week the question – the topic – the wondering for the week was: “The Best Moment of the Week.”

At first, that was a sort of vague – sort of misty – sort of “I wonder where this will go” question.

On Thursday morning Jack said, “I didn’t know this till we started thinking about this – what the Best Moment of the week – was for me.

“Now I know. Every Wednesday evening we babysit for our one and only grandkid: Jason.  Half-a-year old. My daughter-in-law and my son go to an AA meeting – every Wednesday evening – and we baby-sit Jason.”

He continued, “Wow! What a difference between having a son and having a grandson. What a difference.

“I missed so much for the first time – going through this experience.

 “Now my wife and I are thinking and talking about our son and when we were raising him.

“So …. Wednesday evening baby-sitting is  certainly the best moment of the week – for me – for us.

Friday morning – Bill said, “I kept wondering all week – what the best moment of my week was for me.

“Thank you Tom for your story about your son and grandson.

“I got my answer last night on the bus coming  home by myself.

 “Yes. Yes. Yes."

Bill said, “I’m a Catholic and every Sunday I go to the 8 AM Sunday Morning Mass. The best moment of the week for me is about the 3 minutes after I receive communion.  I used to sit in almost back bench of our church on the right – but a few years ago I moved up to the second row front.  This gave me 2 extra moments after I receive communion. I get back to my bench – half kneel and half sit – and close my eyes – and listen.

The other guys said, “I didn’t know you were Catholic. Tell me more”

One of the guys said, “I was born Catholic, but we never went to church.’

Bill – the communion guy – said, “I was wondering  if I should say this – but now I’m okay.”

Then Bill said, “I talk to Jesus -  tell him everything – 3 minutes is never enough – so coming home at night on this bus – has become good prayer – and good thinking time – for me.

A month later Nelson said one Monday morning. I have been thinking about what Bill said.  As I said I was born a Catholic – but never really tried it. So I went to church yesterday.

Dennis said, “I’m a Baptist – but don’t go to Church. So what happened?

Nelson said, “I’m going back next Sunday – so I’ll let you know.

Then he said, “By the way, you other two guys, what’s the best moment of the week for you?”

Conclusion, right now it’s Monday afternoon – what’s the best moment of the week for you?