February 2, 2023
GROUND HOG
DAY
Some of the same things
happen to us every day.
We are repeat performances.
We all have our same shadows -
whether we notice them or not.
We repeat ourselves.
We deceive ourselves.
We meet ourselves on
the back staircase trying
to avoid what’s happening
on the front staircase.
Humility is being honest
to ourselves about ourselves.
Better: to laugh at ourselves.
Now that’s a key to get.
February 1, 2023
LOST KEYS
Unknown and unmarked keys
hang around much longer than
the keys on our key ring. We
know the keys we use every day.
In the meanwhile, we find these
unknown keys in desk drawers –
on medicine cabinet shelves –
tool boxes and in dishes. We
have no clue what they are for.
In the meanwhile, we lose
our known keys. They are somewhere –
so I guess that’s a key to how life
works – lost and found -
the known and the unknown.
© Reflections,
Andy Costello
PRO OR CON COMMENTS ON THE NUMBER OF CATHOLICS
The title of my
comments is, “Pro or Con Comments on the Number of Catholics.”
25 years from now – I’ll be dead – but I’d like to know
what the comments will be about Catholic Church numbers around the year 2050.
We all have heard about Catholics who have dropped out of
our church because of the priest abuse cases. I think we need some more
distance to be able to make clearer statements about that. Obviously lots of
horror stories.
Then there are the dropouts because of the Corona Virus.
Time will tell some answers about that as well. Once the
obligation of having to go to Mass was announced to prevent the spread of the
virus we lost membership. People are coming back now. Are they coming back
because they want communion – and community and they want to worship with congregation? Zoom Masses are neat – probably better
homilies – because and you can click your remote around till you find a great
church and preacher in Colorado or Atlanta or where have you.
In the meanwhile I would suggest making pro comments about the church.
We are called to be evangelists. So instead of just listening to family
members and others tell us about why they dropped out of church – with good
reasons – the bad stuff they see in our church – mention good things.
For example, talk about Catholic schools and their gift to
the world and to the nations. Villanova, Boston College, Bishop McDevitt, Regis
High School where Doctor Fauci went in New York City, Red Bank Catholic, CBA, and
Our Lady of Sorrows and a thousand other Catholic grammar schools.
How about mentioning Catholic hospitals, St. Jude’s, St.
Rita’s, St. Joseph Hospital and Medical System in Phoenix. Then there are hospitals and health care
systems run by the Mercy Sisters, the Daughters of Charity, the Sisters of
Providence, etc. etc.
How about mentioning food pantries, work for the poor,
counseling places, retreat houses, spiritual direction ministry?
How about finding out about great parishes?
How about doing funerals, visiting nursing homes?
Today’s First Reading begins by saying we are surrounded by
a great cloud of witnesses.
Today’s gospel talks about Jesus healing the daughter of
Jairus and the woman who touches his garments and is healed of her bloods
problems.
Today we celebrate the feast of St. John Bosco who did all
kinds of education work for kids in Italy. At a time - 1855 – 331 houses
affecting 4540 religious – were closes.
He figured on ways of working around the government – so boys - especially the homeless could get an
education and training.
Talk about the good stuff our churches do!
January 31, 2023
JANUARY
I love it when January comes to its end -
like today, January thirty-first - finally.
It has its holidays - good - but it's over.
February is so much shorter, January
comes from the name of Janus, the
Roman god meaning a new beginning.
It has new beginnings - but it's over.
February means we’re heading towards
March – which was once the first month.
February is the shortest month. We’ll
probably get some snow and some cold –
but Spring will be on its wing. I’d never
want to live in Florida or warm places.
I want 4 seasons – weather reports –
and the variety in the unexpected.
What does February the 1st look like?
© Reflections, Andy Costello
