After an argument, hopefully, there is also charity - but here I'm talking about clarity.
How many times have we figured out what we should have said - or not said - but we're on our way home - after the argument.
If we are going to see the person or persons we were arguing with again - or if we are in the same home - bedroom - family table - workplace - club - as us - then we can say, "Oh I was thinking about the fight we had the other night, and it hit me afterwards, "I was wrong!" or "What I was trying to say was ...." or "My button was pushed and I apologize for losing it' or "I never did listen to your point."
After the argument there is clarity.
The fog lifts after the battle.
There is such a thing as Monday morning quarter-backing"
If - is a powerful concept.
Second thoughts are often better thoughts.
Yesterday, some ladies were pushing for doing more Divine Mercy stuff. It's not my cup of tea. They were pushing for the Divine Mercy rosary. They were complaining that some churches didn't have statues. Some churches did not have the tabernacle behind the altar. Some people were not praying. Complaints. Complaints. Complaints.
Should I respond or remain quiet.
I blew it. I said something.
But on the way home I saw that I should have shut up.
It was then that I saw what I could have or should have said.
After the argument comes clarity.
September 8, 2022
Thought for Today
"Look into any man's heart you please, and you will always find, in every one, at least one black spot which he has to keep concealed."
Henrik Ibsen
Pillars of Society [1877] Act 3
Wednesday, September 7, 2022
September 7, 2022
Reflection
SIBLINGS
If someone used the word "sibling" when I was a kid in the 1940's, I would have had no clue what it meant. I'd probably think it was someone's last name.
Today it's used. Is it because there are less kids in families? It seems to me that kids know and like that word "sibling".
I had 3 siblings: a brother and 2 sisters.
Our siblings are with us for a lifetime. And it sometimes takes us a lifetime to figure our what's with our brothers and sisters.
In listening to people talk about their life, I hear expectations they have about their brothers and sisters - their siblings.
In listening to people talk about their siblings, I hear them say they have not told different siblings their expectations of them.
In listening to people talk about their siblings, I sometimes hear them say they are still living in the shadow of a brother or a sister.
In listening to people talk about their siblings, I sometimes hear about the absence - or distancing - they experienced from one or their siblings.
Sometimes it's just the opposite.
Jesus was an only child - yet he often talks about brothers - and there is mention in his life of his visits to Martha and Mary and their brother Lazarus.
Jesus called brothers: James and John, Peter and Andrew.
And Christianity talks about all of us being siblings to each other - but they don't use the word "sibling".
Interesting ....
Yet blood is thicker than thoughts and words - so we drink the precious blood from the family table - so that we become family and siblings to each other.
September 7, 2022
Thought for Today
"Man's nature, his passions and anxieties, are a cultural product; as a matter of fact, man himself is the most important creation and achievement of the continuous human effort, the record of what we call history."
Erich Fromm [1900-1980]
Escape from Freedom [1941]
Tuesday, September 6, 2022
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.
