October 31, 2022

Reflection 

QUESTIONS

I went out to dinner last night with a couple whose marriage I did.

During the dinner the guy says, "I have a question...."

Thinking about that this morning, I wondered, "Does everyone have a question?"

Meaning, "Here's a priest.... Here's a chance to ask a question that I've always wanted to ask."

I have questions I'd like to ask the pope, the president, God for that matter.

For example, "Bishop, when you're at the National Bishops' Conference, is there anyone there who raises their hand and ask about asking Rome to change the annulment process - or who's behind this or what have you? Is there time for questions?"

So yes, I guess people sit there in church and something a priest says triggers something else and we have a question.

I think of Clement Jedrzejewski. He was off on the  articulation of one's questions - refining one's questions - getting to all of one's questions.

He was off on saying, "There are no stupid questions - only stupid answers.

So last night someone asked, "What is the Purgatorian Society?  Is it a group of people?"

Jokingly I said, "Yes. And they wear capes."

Questions?   They are hooks.  We use them to go fishing.

 October 31,  2022

Thought for Today

"What else is there to say but everything?"

Gwendolyn Brooks,

In the Mecca (1968), Stanza 16

 October  30,  2022

Reflections

IT'S  OKAY

Its okay not to like spinach.

Spinach is good - but it's okay if you don't like it.

In my sermon yesterday for the Feast of Christ the King - 2007 - I mentioned  a saying about priests and pastors that I had heard: "1/3 of the people like you; 1/3 don't like you; and 1/3 don't care."

Then I talked about religious art and I mentioned the big cross at St. John Neuman Church.

Well after that Mass, a little old lady stopped to say, "Good bye" to me. Then she added,  "Thank you for saying it's okay not to like the big cross up there in our church."

I didn't exactly say that.  That was not my aim.

Yet she was thanking me for helping her to think about something she didn't like - and it was okay to do that.

The plate is passed around the table and we don't have to take Aunt Martha's leek soup.

Buffet style food gathering places are wonderful for those who like variety - for those with likes and dislikes.

What happens in a family of vegetarians if one kid likes meat?

What happens when "have to's" are forced on those who don't have "want to's"?

I've noticed forced - or attempted have to's - on the part of religious leaders - popes - and church leaders. It's part of wanting uniformity, control, a united front, etc.

Parents must have extra stress when the other parent is too severe or too strict on one of their kids - and it drives the other crazy.

What were the parents like  in the story of priests and nuns who join very uniform driven religious communities?  Were those parents too severe or too lax?

Is it okay to say, "It's okay!"

It's okay.

There I said it.

 October  30,  2022

Thought for Today

"Those who want to write good poems should be reading good poetry, not how to books.  Indeed, every fine poem is a how to manual."

Billy Collins, 

Poets and Writers,

Macrh, April, 1995

 

October 29,  2022

Thought for Today

"There is one important thing to say about poetry: you don't need to know a lot of it for it to have value and meaning in your life or the life of your society.  Two or three poems,  even two or three bits of poems, known by heart and genuinely cherished can stand everybody in good stead."

Seamus Heaney,

Friends of classics online, January 13, 2004

 

October  20,, 2022

Reflection

RIGID

Rigid is good in armaments, fortresses, walls, tanks, shields and shore lines.

Flexibility is better.  At least that's my position.  I better not be too rigid about that - otherwise I'm contradicting myself.

Bendability - that's another word and characteristic to consider.

When talking about seminarians or priests or politicians or journalists who might be conservative,  I found myself searching for language. The word conservative is not the right word.  There must be a better word to use.

I am looking for a word that touches on some of the negatives that I want to avoid. The only word I came up with so far is the word "rigid".

That word doesn't sound right - so I have to keep looking - for the word that describes what I'm looking for.

Rigid, frigid, cold, iron jawed, all mind. steel, immovable, unable to compromise ....

In other words, I like it when there is more allowance for variety,  differing opinions, colors rainbows like creation.

The sky is different every evening.

No two snowflakes are alike.

Imagine if every woman at the wedding had the same dress.

The team all had the same uniform.  So too the army and the altar servers.

The religious order had everyone in the same outfit.

Wat's with this - when everyone has the same face - and it isn't smiling.

Sometimes those in the same group - but with different outfits - wear a pin or an emblem - to show that these folks are all the same group.

Smile.  You're different.

Glory in it.

Okay, the Rockettes are dressed alike - wearing the same outfit - but are dancing in the same pattern and the whole audience is clapping for their uniformity.

 October  28, 2022

Thought to Think About 

"Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon."

Doug Larson

United Feature Syndicate