JUST ONE QUICK MOMENT

 

The title of my homily for this 23rd Tuesday in Ordinary Time  is, “Just One Quick Moment.”

 

“Just One Quick Moment.”

 

Sometimes it only takes a moment – just one quick moment – to get in touch with God – to get in touch  with another person – to get in touch with  myself – pinching myself for who I am – right here – right now. Hi!

 

I got that thought when I read the last sentence in today’s gospel: “Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all.”

 

If Jesus walked down the main aisle of this chapel – this chapel would be crowded – and everyone would be hanging out  of the benches - in the center aisle  – leaning out to touch Jesus.

 

BOBBY KENNEDY

 

I love to tell the story of the moment I touched Bobby Kennedy  – who was with his brother - John F. Kennedy who became president. I was down to Washington D.C. I think it was in 1958. My brother said, “Let’s go to the Congressional Hearings – in which they were questioning union leaders -  for foul play.

 

We got standing room only spaces – in the back.  I had no idea what was happening – but they called a lunch break – and everyone headed to the edge of the center aisle – to possibly reach out and touch the Kennedy brothers as they were leaving the room.

 

I touched Bobby Kennedy’s right arm – his right sleeve – in the crowd. That’s all.

 

I’ve often asked people did they ever touch the arm or hand of anyone famous?

 

It’s a unique moment. People tell of touching the pope of some famous athlete or actor or actress.

 

Father Grohe mentioned at supper last night that he was in our church – St. Peter’s – in Philadelphia – when the Pope – John Paul II - was there. Well, Gene reached out this hand when the Pope was going by.  And as Gene tells the story, “His hand was almost chopped off by a secret service agent.” “It hurt!” he said as he gestured about this with his left hand.

 

It was just a moment – just one quick moment – the title of my homily for today.

 

Every day we have many – just one quick moments – to reach out to others  - to say, “Hi!” or “Thank you!” or “I hope you have a good day!” or “It’s good to see you.” Or just to touch them – if it’s just their sleeve

 

I have in my Breviary – my priest prayer book – a tiny little card – I think I mentioned this in a homily once before. It says, “Each day, at least once, return the gaze of God.”  Then the card mentions the author, “Richard Rohr.”

 

I do that  - every day – I read it – and pause. Thank you, Richard Rohr

 

I touch God in that moment. Power comes out from God – from Jesus - in that quick moment.

 

By doing that – it has made the moment I receive communion – better. I touch God for just one quick moment.

 

I also do that when I see – other people – who are receiving Holy Communion. I like to watch people receiving communion. We’re all the Body of Christ. We’re all in this together. This is our moment together.

 

We are and we do this in one quick moment.

 

Surprise – just by looking at that tiny card – in my prayer book - and saying Richard Rohr’s words - communion has become much better for me.

 

Surprise – I also have  lots of “Death Cards – in my prayer book  - I call it my portable cemetery – and I like to just go through a few of them from time to time  - and touch that person who touched my life – and I got power from them – back then  - and now again – for “just one quick moment” – the title of my homily.

 September 6, 2022

Reflection

RECOGNITION

I hear on a regular basis, the importance of recognition.

People don't want to always be hiding. They like it when they are recognized.

Walt Whitman liked to recognize strangers - fellow passengers - on the stagecoach of life - as well as the road of life.

"Hello!"

"Nice meeting you!"

"How's it going?"

"Haven't seen you in a while."

"Do you want to drop in some place for a cup of coffee?"

At dinner, 100 people are sitting there, and the master of ceremonies says, "Before our main speaker comes to the microphone, I'd like to recognize a few people."

And 5 important people are mentioned by name. They stand up and sometimes people clap for them.

The 95 others are not recognized.

Yet, before the dinner, people spotted people they know and recognize - people they went to for a "Hello" and a chat.  That's the purpose of the cocktails and donuts before the talk or presentation begins.

Sometimes, some people don't want to be recognized.  They go outside for different reasons - not specifically to be recognized.

"I just wanted to step outside to get the paper."

"I didn't get a chance to save or brush my teeth - or put on some clean clothes."

Recognition. 

Peter didn't want to recognize Jesus - or he himself to be recognized as one of his disciples,

Jesus recognized the presence, the real presence, of every person - especially the inner child and the star within.

Amen.

 September 6, 2022

Thought for Today

"Those not present are always wrong."

Destouches (Philippe Nericault)

[1680-1718]

L'Obstacle Imprevu [1717]

Act 1, sc. vi

 September 5, 2022

Reflection

THEY  CAME  TO  CODORA

Just watched the movie, "They Came to Cordora."

It was a western that tells a story within a story. The place is New Mexico and Mexico - in 1916. - with Gary Cooper and Rita Hayworth.

Pancho Villa sent soldiers to attack the town of Columbus, New Mexico. They killed a dozen Americans - wounded others and destroyed propeerty. The President of the United States sent an army to retaliate - especially to capture Pancho Villa.

It was not a great movie.  

It was too talky, talky.

It seemed implausible - impossible  - and stupid.

Yet I stayed up with William Guri to watch it to "The End".

Gary Cooper plays the part of a soldier - an officer - whose job it is to watch a battle and then to recommend battle honors to those he thought deserved them. He won't give any honors to a guy who leads a charge on Ojos. It is badly planned.  They don't make any reconnoitering - other than just charging the town of Ojos.

The Mexicans lose the fight because they don't have rapid fire rifles.

The United States officer does it for ego and recognition and honors - so he will get an award and retire at 60.

Gary Cooper won't make any recommendations for honors.  In an earlier fight he was in a battle.  and got scared.  His position was being hit with bullets flying by his face he jumps into a ditch to survive. He's labeled a coward for avoiding battle.

And here he is an Army major trying to capture what is courage.

Four or 5 soldiers are sent as heroes back for honors.  Throw into the story, Rita Hayworth, an American, who was very friendly with the Mexicans and is sent back to the U.S, forces.

As I thought, the movie is horrible.

Gary Cooper is trying to get the thoughts of the soldiers. He spends time writing down notes.

"All 5 are little wounded children." That's how he described them in his notes - which they take from him when he is almost dead.

Yet he has to courage to bring them to Cordura.  They are trying to kill him. They don't want to be labeled heroes. They see the implications gaining that recognition - one of them is wanted.

That was the movie - an exploration of courage and cowardice.

Motive! We try to figure them out in court rooms, crimes, and movies.

 September 5, 2022

Thought for Today

"Every man's work, whether it be literature or music or pictures or architecture or anything else, is always as portrait of himself."

Samuel Butler [1835-1902]

The Way  of All Flesh [1903[

Chapter 14

 September 4, 2022

Reflection

THE  CRY  FOR  MYSELF

"What about me?"

"What about my needs?"

"What about my hungers? And thirsts? And desires?"

"Fair!"

"Foul!"

"Unfair!"

"Oh oh!"

Human cries.

Listen to the human cries.

Turn on the TV - open up the newspaper. You'll see, you'll hear, you'll notice some kind of protest somewhere around the world.

Catholic Social Teachings are wordy documents. Yet they are asking folks, "What about babies? The poor? The worker? The married? The people on the edge, the margin? The migrantss? The ones being shot at or terrorized?"

I look at the statue called, "The Thinker." Is he silent? Is he about to go back to sleep? Or is he screaming about his stupidity for the right to life? Or about the night before? Is he shouting? Is he shoulding on himself?

I cry.

I scream.

I am scared.

I am nervous.

I'm tired.

I'm overwhelmed.

I need to escape.

I need to stop and sort out my life.

I scream.

 September 4, 2022

Thought for Today

"I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it."

Alice Walker

The Color Purple