August 27, 2017

PARK   BENCH

A tree, well planks of a tree,

met two other parts of itself

that were separated some 87

years ago. All three were

washed ashore - resting

almost on top of each other -

on a rocky beach covered

with seaweed and brine.

What are the odds of that happening?

“Hey, I thought that was you -

and you too after all these years.

Where have we been all this time?

I’ve often wondered what

happened to the rest of us.”

“Me too!”

“Me too!”

“Oh,” said the bench plank. “I’m sure

I had the most interesting life. I’m sure

I heard the most there is to hear -

about how life has been for so many

people. Park benches hear the best

of stories. I guarantee you that.”

“Nope,” said this solid piece of

dark, dark stained wood. I guarantee

both of you that I have heard the

best of stories. I was part of a bar.”

The third piece of wood remained

very quiet - till finally the other two

pieces demanded to know what it

did with his life.

“I can’t tell you.”

“Why?”

“Well, if I could tell you, I’m sure

you’d both agree I heard the best

of stories - with tears as well.”

“What do you mean, you can’t

tell us anything? That’s a cop out.”

“Well, I guess neither of you are
Catholic, because then you

would have heard of the seal

of confession - confession boxes -

and that they are made of wood.”

© Andy Costello, Reflections  2017

SERMONS

HINT, HINT!

CARTOON IN TODAY'S

WASHINGTON POST

August 26, 2017

AT  THE  EDGE

How many times a day

do we stand at the edge

of saying what we ought

to say to another?

But we don’t.

They might take us off

the edge of the cliff into

the abyss and we don’t

want to go there.

So we don’t.

Yet tomorrow and the day

after that we’ll be at the edge

of that same speech we ought

to be saying to another.

But we won't.

Is it because we know
there is too much scary
down there at the bottom of

the edge of that cliff?

 © Andy Costello, Reflections  2017

August 25, 2017

HELLO

Sometimes a picture is worth more

than a thousand words. Sometimes

words just don’t do the trick. Sometimes

action speaks louder than words.

Sometimes we need to trick the other -

because we don’t know how to put

into words what we want to say
and how we want to say it.

 © Andy Costello, Reflections  2017

August 24, 2017

TIP

Tip for the day….

Today ….

Surprise someone with a great tip.
That's the tip for today....

Why not?

Make another's day….

Tip. Do this and you’ll remember

their face for the rest of your life.

Virtue is it’s own reward.

Or do it anonymously - 
because you’re doing it for another.
Right?

Make someone’s day, today.

© Andy Costello, Reflections  2017

August 23, 2017

TRIPLE AAA

A battery, an Auto Club,

but I also have my AAA:

Acceptance, Ambiguity,

and Autobiography.

If I do enough pondering

with paper or pen or computer,

I can get to know my own story -

my autobiography - my quirks

and quests and questions….

If I listen to you enough

and get to know your story,

your autobiography,

then I can come up with

two key life skills: accepting

others and others otherness,

in other words, ambiguity.

It’s then I can really grow

in wisdom, age and grace

before God, self and others.[1]

 © Andy Costello, Reflections  2017

[1] Luke 2:52; Matthew 13: 53-58.

CALLED  AND  SENT 

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily  is, “Called and Sent.”

Today is a feast of Mary: the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

A theme to reflect upon could be: Called and Sent.

TWO READINGS

The two readings for this Mass are: Judges 6:11-24 and Luke 1:26-36.

The first reading is the first reading for this 20th Tuesday in Ordinary Time and the gospel is from the Feast of the Queenship of Mary.

It is significant both these two readings are sort of side by side by accident - as I indicate in a few moments.

WE KNOW THE DYNAMIC

The title of my homily is, “Called and Sent!”

Called and sent is a regular dynamic.

Someone calls us up and asks, “Can you do me a favor?”

God calls someone and says, “Can you do me a favor?

We find this dynamic in the scriptures.

It goes something like this: There is an introduction and a greeting. Next comes a conflict or some problem. That’s why they called. We need you to have a baby - even though you’re close to being 100 years old. Don’t laugh. We need you to have a baby - even though you do not know a man.

We see these ingredients in today’s readings. We also see them in the Birth of Isaac and the Birth of Samson. We see them in the stories of Gideon and Mary.

After the introduction - the greeting - after the problem - someone  usually speaks up. How is this possible?

Then the problem is resolved a bit and then there is the being sent.

Other names for this dynamic is Annunciation and Commissioning.

GIDEON AND MARY

I still remember our scripture professors talking about reading the Gideon story and then the Annunciation story.

Re-read today’s first reading with the Annunciation account in mind - and compare them with each other.

“For example, We read in the book of Judges, “The Lord is with you, O champion.”  We read in the gospel of Luke, “Hail full of grace, the Lord is with you.” Then the problem is presented. Then Gideon asks questions. Then Mary asks questions. Then Gideon is told he will see signs. Then Mary is told about her cousin Elizabeth being pregnant in her old age.

US

Each day God sends angels, messages to us.

The Lord is with us.

Do not be afraid.

Each day  is full of grace, if we open ourselves up to God.

Each day we have our babies to take care of.

Each day the Most High overshadows us - if we take the time to see that God does not wants to eclipse us - but to see the person right in front of us.

Today - see the person God sends us to see them.

Today, pray Mary’s prayer: “Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me according you your word.