February 3,  2023

THE MOON A-RISING

 

The moon doesn’t ask. It never does.

She just comes up out of deep black

of the ocean – up into the night sky –

bigger than an 18 wheeler – rolling

down the highway of night. What a

neat blessing to live on the edge of

the Atlantic – and watch this happen

most months. Sometimes it’s cloudy

or rainy and the show is called off

that night – but then the orange moon

nights – make up for the rain outs.

Sometimes I wish you’d get the

message: I wish you’d be like that.

 

© Reflections, Andy Costello

 

 February 3, 2023

Quote for Today

'If the devil doesn't exist, but man has created him, he has created him in his own image and likeness."

Fedor Mikhailovich Dostoevski [1821-1881]

The Brothers Karamazov  [1879-1880]

 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.

(c) Reflections, Andy Costello

 February 2, 2023

Quote for Today

"Ten years after your death

I meet on a page of your journal,  as never before,

The shock of your joy."

Ted Hughes [1938-1998]

Visit, [1998]

 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

 

 

 FEBRUARY 1, 2023

Quote for Today

"There is no greater love than this   - than to lay down one's life for one's friend."

Jesus, John 15: 13

 

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!