September 1, 2023
Quote for Today
"There are only two roads that lead to something like human happiness. They are marked by the words ... love and achievement .... In order to be happy oneself it is necessary to make at least one other person happy .... The secret of human happiness is not in self-seeking but in self-forgetting.
Theodor Reik
August 31, 2023
Reflection
LITTLE WORDS
There are a dozen little words
that can make for a better conversation:
or, but, yes, no, help, thanks, sorry,
please, why, how, what, when?
Some short sentences are also good:
"But you didn't ask!";
"You could have said....";
"Maybe there is a better way."
Then again, there is the old saying:
"Teach thy tongue say, 'I don't know!'"
August 29, 2023
I DID IT
The title of this homily is, “I Did It.”
Right now, this week, here at San Alfonso, about 50 people
are making a directed retreat.
A director works with a person for a week. One of the tricks used is to give the person
they are directing a scripture text – for example a parable or a story – and
ask them to try being each character in the story.
Today’s gospel – Mark 9:17-29 – the gospel for today’s Mass
– on the feast of the Passion of St. John the Baptist – is perfect for this
method of Bible prayer and reflection.
See oneself as part of the crowd at Herod’s birthday
banquet. Look around the room. See the scene. Picture all the characters in
the room.
See oneself as Herod shooting off his mouth – promising the
world to a dancing girl – because of lust or drink or the need to look good.
Have we ever done that?
Have we ever been cut down by another?
Have we ever been like Herodias and
cut someone down because we are holding a grudge against them for years
– because of something they said.
We’re at a dinner table and here is our chance to get back
at them – because we’re just like Herodias – asking for John the Baptist’s head
on a platter. So we say what we say – using a story or a secret or whatever to
cut that person down.
Then we have to live with that mistake or cruel comment –
like the grudge against them we’ve been carrying for years.
Human beings harbor a lot of stuff.
So in prayer and reflection – we look at our life – and our
sins – and we say, “I did it.”
August 29, 2023
BROKEN HEARTS
We all have a heart and
we all have a story -
sometimes many stories.
Some are better - some are worse -
some are moments when our hearts
have been broken - dashed "damn it!"
It's then - when - it seems we can't
come up with a, "Now what?" or a "Next"
or someone to turn to for "Help".
(c) Reflections, Andy Costello
