PROVOCATIVE MEMORIES CAN GIVE US

A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE BIBLE

 

The title of my homily is,  “Provocative Memories Can Give Us A Greater Understanding of the Bible.”

 

Provacative moments can give us provocative memories.

 

Provacative memories can give us a greater understanding of the Bible.

 

Today I just want to look at today’s first reading: Genesis 1:20 to 2:4a.

 

Using just the first chapter of today’s first reading from Genesis can point this out.

 

Just 100 plus yards from here – out there in the Atlantic Ocean – we get the first sentence in today’s first reading,  “Let the water teem with an abundance of living creatures, and on the earth let birds fly beneath the dome of the sky.”

 

We have birds – just pause at our boardwalk  or parking lot – and look – but today let’s just stick with the creatures of the sea.

 

Out there we have today’s first reading.  Be amazed at all the swimming creatures out there in the ocean – and be amazed at God the Creator.

 

Today’s first reading is from the priestly author – which goes back to about 550 BC.

 

Be amazed at what’s right here before us.

 

Say what the author says - that John Collins quoted yesterday, “It is good!”

 

Sometimes we forget. We stop being amazed at what is right in front of us.

 

Live here near the ocean long enough and we can stop being amazed. So I try to catch visitors and retreatant’s amazement when they come here to San Alfonso.

 

As I was reading today’s first reading last night I got the title of my homily, “Provocative Memories Can Give Us A Greater Understanding of the Bible.”

 

I’ve been to the aquarium in Boston, Baltimore, Virginia Beach and Coney Island. 

 

I have a major provocative moment and memory that hit me at the Coney Island Aquarium.

 

I’m standing there silent looking into this gigantic fish tank filled with fish of all kinds.

 

The door behind us barges open in this big room with this major fish tank.  In come 200 grade school black kids – and they rush to the tank – yelling, screaming, pointing out just what the author of today’s first reading is pointing out and they telling each other, “Look at that one!  Wow. Look at that one. Look. Look. Look!”

 

So that’s my homily thought for today.

 

“Provocative Memories Can Give Us a Greater Understanding of the Bible.”

 February 7, 2023

JOY

 

I had some money in my wallet –

in the money part of the leather.

I decided to buy some joy.

A chocolate milk shake was my

first choice. Good move. But what

else? I walked next door to a drug

store. I walked up and down all aisles.

What will bring me joy? That was

my exact question. For starters - perfect

question - for anyone looking for joy.

I spotted it on the next to the bottom

shelf – in the last aisle. It was a medium

blue wooden yo-yo – only $2.99.

I went outside to the cement sidewalk.

Amazing. I could till feel joy in my face

and hands and in my inner being.

I could still do “Walk the Dog” and

“Around the World” and “Rock the

Cradle” and then bring the yo-yo

back home to it roost after each trick.

It must be at least 66 years – since I was

last doing that as a kid in a school yard – 

OLPH Brooklyn. Today three kids 

standing there went, "Wow! Wow!"

And with joy I gave the youngest kid 

my yo-yo. I guess I always wanted to do 

that – to have some kid give me such joy.

 

© Reflections, Andy Costello

 February 7, 2023

Quote for Today

"A great many people have come up to me and asked me how I manage  to get so much work done and still keep looking so dissipated. My answer is, "Don't you wish you knew?"

Robert Charles Benchley [1889-1945]

How to Get Things Done

February 6, 2023

 

FRED FISCHER

 

Fred died.

Years earlier, he must have had some money,

so he went to a funeral parlor [great name] –

and put down money for his funeral  - 2 days -

afternoon and night – a church service and

a burial.  Paid for all in full. Back around 1950.

Fred outlived everyone in his family – everyone

he knew on the Lower East Side of Manhattan –

and everyone he worked with way back when.

At his funeral there were only 4 people: two nuns

who used to visit him – clean his apartment –

do his shopping – and two priests who use

to visit him.  I was one of the two priests.

Easy visit. Nice visit. I’ve done hundreds

of funerals – but Fred’s back around 1968 -

I remember the most. Why?

 

© Reflections Andy Costello

February 6,  2023

Quote for Today

"In every house of marriage 

there's room for an interpreter."

Stanley Kunitz [1905-2006]

 February 5, 2023

CEMETERY

 

Ten years after I die I wonder what

you will say as you stand at my grave.

I rather you’d say that now while

I’m standing here in a moment

of time with you – but no that’s

another occasion. That’s another

type of moment.  Whatever!

I just hope there is a “Thank you!”

in the mix of your remembering.

I hope I'm still in the bricks of the

places where we walked and in the 

waters under the ferry boats as we

crossed the Narrows below Bliss Park.

© Reflections, Andy Costello

 February 5, 2023

"Mostly I just don't understand poetry. I admit it's not the first thing I reach for when I pick up something to read."  

Raymond Carver [1939-1988]

Cathedral [1983]