October 6, 2022

Reflection

PERCEPTION

Is perception reality?

Or is reality only a perception?

Is perception a deception at times - because everyone filters everything through their own  personal unique filters?

When I say, "ice cream" or "baseball" or "church" - don't I picture them with my experiences of ice cream, baseball and church?

Beware! Deception sits there like a lion at the doors of perception - ready to devour communication and communion and a possible conversation with another.

How long does it take for true reception of another's perceptions?

How long does it take for me to become aware of my perceptions?

How long does it take me to accurately  communicate my perceptions?

The Gospels are attempts by individuals to express their perceptions of Jesus' perceptions.

How long does it take an individual to grasp what he or she thinks are Jesus' perceptions?

How long does it take an individual  to grasp contrasts, differences, nuances, between his or her perception of what love is, what the will of the Father is?

Perception brings us to walk on bridges, take paths, come to doors, or walls or swamps.

Perception brings us to tables - to others - to communion - sometimes First Holy Communion with another.

Perception sometimes brings us to confession - to the sacrament of reconciliation with another.

Then we can begin to discover a third and a fourth and lots of other people.

 October 6, 2022

Thought for Today

"To work hard, to live hard, to die hard, and then go to hell after: all would be too damned hard."

Carl Sandburg, 

The People, Yes, 1936

 Homily for  27 Wednesday OT

DO YOU HAVE  A  SENSE OF HUMOR?

The title of my homily is, "Do you have a sense of humor?"

I want to preach on the importance of having a sense of humor.

To be human is to able to laugh and see the funny sides of being a human being. It's also important to have a sense of kindness, a sense of mercy, a sense of justice, a sense of charity - and a lot more.

Today: to reflect upon having a sense of humor. 

Last week we had a lady here on retreat - who was not a happy camper. She entered our chapel and complained there was no crucifix - above the altar or at the altar. One of the guys pointed at the large statue of the Risen Christ - hanging there in the center of the chapel - above the main altar.

She screamed back, "But there is no crucifix!"

The next day a visiting bishop walked into our gift store. He was off to the side - very much in the background. A lady at the check out counter spotted a picture of the Smiling or Laughing Jesus. She said, "That's not Christ. He never smiled. He never laughed."

We found out it was the same lady.  

Today, October 5th, is the feast day of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos.  He died on October 4th, but that is the feast of St. Francis of Assissi. He was around from 1819 - 1867.  He was born in a family of 12 kids in Fussen, Germany. He died at the age of 48 - after visiting Yellow Fever people - as a Redemptorist priest in New Orleans.

Relevant to my topic for today - humor - he started in various parishes and places where he worked - Comedy Groups.  People would meet and tell jokes.  Neat in my opinion.

He was stationed in St. Mary's Parish in Annapolis, Maryland.

I was happy to read about his time there and in various other places. 

I noticed while being stationed there a marble memorial tablet telling anyone who noticed it the name of the first pastor in that parish. His name was Michael Mueller. He didn't like Francis Seelos. Michael was rigid and he was what I would call a grouch and an againster.

In the garden outside the church there is a metal bench with a sitting bronze statue of Seelos.  Two people can sit on that bench with Seelos. He has a great smile.

Every day - several times a day - I would see people sitting there on the Seelos Bench. I would often say, while walking by, "You know he still hears confessions."

And folks would always smile and laugh at that comment.

The title of my sermon for today is, "Do you have a sense of humor?"

Do you? 

 October 5, 2022

Reflection

MECHANICAL  VS.  PERSONAL

Somewhere along the line, the thought it me: "Don't become mechanical."

I remember those early moment here in Annapolis as a parish priest - while driving to the hospital.

The phone call came in: "____ is dying,  They are in Room 336."  Or they were n the emergency room and their family has gathered.

I remember 4 years later  - the call - the driving - the thinking, "I'm going to someone who is dying."

I remember thinking, "I've done this before."  I remember  talking to myself, "I've done this before." 

Then I would add, "Don't become mechanical,  Don't become impersonal."

I remember thinking, "Good! The funeral won't be at St. Mary's" - when someone said, "The person who was dying was a member of Our Lady of the Field's Parish."

We were just covering the local hospital.

When going through a toll booth I try to be personal to the toll collector. "Hi. How's it going? How long before you finish your shift."

That's been lost with E-ZPass.

The toll collector has to face 1000 people.  The gal who does my teeth might  have 9 customers per day. The doctor might see 15 people per day.

Hearing confessions .... Giving out communion .... Answering the phone .... At what point do we slip into being mechanical?  When does the other become an object and stop being a subject?

Teeth - gall bladders - hearts - are parts of the body - but the realization that this person is a person is something I don't want to forget.

This couple I'm with is not just one more marriage. This baby is not just one more baptism.  This dead body is not just one more funeral.  This group of people here for a Mass and communion and a sermon and prayers are not just like a group at a movie.

To be personal - is much more difficult - than to be mechanical.

God - when I pray - when I am with You - help me to be with You - and vice versa.  Amen.

October  5, 2022

Thought for Today

"To be a hero, one must give an order to oneself."

Simone Weil,

Notebooks

 

 October 4, 2022

Reflection

BLOG

I have a BLOG - short for Web Log.

It's  given me a chance to gather some of my thoughts as well as the thoughts of others.

I started this on June 1st, 2007  and I've come up with 9,241 pieces so far.

However, there are times I lose the ability to get into my blog  - to add new pieces - because of computer problems or work load.

My dream is that it will look like a piece per moment - and at least one item per day.

We'll see.

I've tried to put in poems, quotes, homilies and short essays.

It would be nice to put in some photos and pictures as well.

We'll see.

I can't sing - so that eliminates coming up with some original songs.

I can't draw or paint - so that eliminates that gift.

My nephew, my sister, my mom could draw - but sorry to say, they didn't do it enough.

 October 4, 2022

Thought for Today

"He who hesitates is sometimes saved."

James Thurber

The Thurber Carnival,

The Grass in the Field,  1945