IS BOREDOM 

A SIN?

Quote for Today - July 16, 2011

"Boredom is a vital problem for the moralist, since at least half the sins of mankind are caused by fear of it."

Bertrand Russell [1872-1970], Life magazine, February 13, 1970

Photo on top: Bertrand Russell

IGNORANCE  AND  WISDOM 

Quote for Today - July 15, 2011

"He doesn't know what he means, and doesn't know he doesn't know."

F. R. Leavis [1895-1978], Two Cultures? The Significance of C.P. Snow, Pantheon, 1963

Picture on top: F. R. Leavis - British Literary Critic

CHAUFFEURS 

AND  

PRINCESSES

Quote for Today - July 14, 2011

"I've always had a dread of becoming a passenger in life."

Princess Margarethe of Denmark when speaking about the necessity of independent achievement, Life magazine, January 12, 1968

YOU’RE  STANDING

ON  HOLY  GROUND

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily  for this 15 Wednesday in Ordinary Time is, “You’re Standing on Holy Ground.”

Today’s first reading has this famous scene from the Book of Exodus - [3:1-6, 9-12] - when Moses has a God Experience. He’s on a mountain - Mount Horeb. He’s by himself - better he’s a shepherd with his flock - and God appears to him as fire flaming out of a bush.

It’s the famous scene of God calling Moses! It’s a pivotal moment in his life - as well as the history of our faith - the Jewish Faith - out of which comes Jesus - who will be called the New Moses - as well as the Good Shepherd.

I’m sure we’ve all sung and heard the wonderful hymn that comes out of today’s text from Exodus. The name of the hymn is: “Holy Ground”. I can’t sing, but the following words might trigger the sound and the feel of the hymn in case you heard it:

This is holy ground
We’re standing on holy ground
For the Lord is here, and where He is, is holy
These are holy hands

We’re lifting up holy hands
For the Lord is here, and where He is, is holy

QUESTION

As I thought about today’s first reading and that scene where Moses experiences God - and realizes he’s standing on Holy Ground - and he took off his shoes, a twist of thought hit me - a question that I thought was thought provoking. I don’t know if it would interest you - or would hit you - but here it comes.

A question….

Have you ever been in a sacred place and you experienced God in a special way? That’s the simple question.

ANSWERS

I asked myself, about places where I have been - places where I felt something special was here - something sacred was here - something different was here - compared to other places.

A variation of the question could be the reaction we’ve all had at times in our lives when we blurted out the opposite: “Isn’t anything sacred anymore?”

We might have said that when something sacred was violated - even as recent as these revelations in England of people hacking into other people’s phone lines. Isn’t anything sacred?

Then I began jotting down my responses to places that felt special - different - and somewhat sacred.

I think about entering St. Peter’s in Rome, Chartres Cathedral about an hour outside of Paris in France, Sacre-Coeur - the basilica on the hill -Monmartre - overlooking the whole of Paris, the waters of Lourdes, the World Trade Center, but only looking back afterwards, but it had a feel to it even before September 11, 2001.

I think about climbing up inside the Statue of Liberty, climbing Mount Alice in the Rocky Mountains - coming to the top of the continental divide. I think about walking down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, going into the inner center of Zion National Park in Utah, standing at the Lake of Galilee in Israel, plus the synagogue in Capernaum, climbing the possible Mount of the Transfiguration, as well as the possible place of the Agony in the Garden - these past few places in Israel.

I think of being in a few places that had great wooden floors.

I think of being in a couple of famous restaurants: Commander’s Palace in New Orleans, Jackie’s in Chicago, Hausner’s in Baltimore, Mama Leone’s in New York City, etc.

I think of the first time - age 7 - walking with my dad through the dark tunnel and then into the inside of Ebbets green baseball field in Brooklyn as a kid - 7 years old.

I think of the many churches I’ve been in and I thank God for whoever told me that you’re supposed to make 3 wishes when you walk into any church you’ve never been in before.

I think of the first time I dived off the high board at the deep pool Sunset Park in Brooklyn as a kid.

I think of walking into various hospital rooms where someone was dying - as well as and especially the NICU in Anne Arundel Medical Center.

CONCLUSION

Lastly, I need to finish this, because some of you have to get to work.

So let me make mention three last sacred places:

1) The Body - check out the stress on the Theology of the Body by Pope John Paul II;

2) The home - the family table, the marriage bed, a favorite chair, etc.;

3) The church. We can take a moment today to think of the holy places in this holy place. The Holy Pictures places, the tabernacle, the altar, the sanctuary. We know from Scriptures about the inner section of the temple - the Holy of Holies. It was the place where the High Priest could go once a year.However,  I wonder about that.  Was anyone sent in there to clean. After all cleanliness is next to Godliness (but I hope no one ever gets to see my room).  I think of the place of the altar. Some of us have seen in our lifetime the switch in practices regarding the altar area. We've seen the removal of the Communion Rail. People still clamor for bells - even though the priest now faces the people. People want a return to what they saw as sacred and it was removed. Talk to each other about all this - not as a gripe session - but as a moment to get in touch with what was sacred as well as what is sacred to you. Some don't give recognition to those designated with a title at Mass:  Lector, Eucharistic Minister.  There are different takes by folks on all this. I for one see as a very sacred moment folks after Mass talking to each other here in church - while for others this is a "No No!" I see the Body of Christ in communion with other members of the Body of Christ - connecting in communion with each other within the tabernacle of our bodies. I believe by reflecting on the sacred places here in St. John Neumann Church - the place where folks receive communion - the walking up the steps into the sanctuary - as coming up to holy ground. You are standing on Holy Ground.

ADMITTING GOD 

INTO ONE'S LIFE

Quote for Today - July 13,  2011

"I gave in, and admitted that God was God."

C.S. Lewis in 1929 when he admitted God was God at the age of 31 and gave up being an atheist. This is mentioned in William Griffin's book, Clive Staples Lewis, Harper and Row, 1986

DIVINE MERCY
21 GLIMPSES

The sun rising up out of the ocean - up over
waves, up over mountains, sending rays of light
out - shouting - through the green trees of summer -
through the red and orange leaves of autumn
and through the barren black trees of winter
lifting their arms - branching out in prayer
in thanksgiving for one more day of life
for you and for me. Thank You God.


My morning shower, Niagara falls
flowing down in my shower. Wow.
Cascading water on my back piped
in - showers from the skies - from
a thousand lakes, rainy nights -
melting snow - running into rivers,
flowing, flowing, flowing, flowing,
non-stop, non-stop, non-stop - present
as I turn up the faucet handle.
The Atlantic, the Pacific, the Indian
oceans are hitting my shores - and I
never ever thanked a plumber and
God the Creator - who with imagination
and skill bring all this water to me.
Thank You God! Thank You God!


The beautiful scream and song
of a child in the middle of a boring Mass
or Jeopardy or a baseball game - just
letting us know, they are here with us,
just like You, O God, the mostly Silent One.


Coming to a halt at a red light
on my way to work - watching
two ladies in running shorts -
with dogs on leases stopping
to talk - but both keep running in
place - in space. They laugh -
they check their watches. They
start running again before the light
turns green and I start moving
again as well - on my way to work.

A lector pausing after reading the scriptures
and then saying, “The Word of the Lord!”
and all know this was the Word of the Lord -
by the simple and sacred way she spoke.


A little kid collecting her parents money
envelopes to put all into the collection basket.


The sign of peace at Mass - a moment
of communion with the Body of Christ
before communion with the Bread of Life.


Practically all alone in the aquarium
till a door opens up and in comes running
at least 78 kids who show me how
to look and make “Woo!” and “Wow!”
sounds at fish through water colored glass.


Being at McDonalds and seeing a family in
prayer at that table over there, bowing
before eating and saying to myself, “Oh my
God I’m seeing a Norman Rockwell painting.”


A kid offering some of her jelly beans
to a person just behind her mother
on the long, long line in the bank.


A teacher - Mrs. Everyday - leading 22 second
grade inner city kids up the stairs
into the local library where she’s going
to read to them some children’s stories
and then show them how to get their own
library card and take out their first three books.


A nurse seeing the long line in the emergency
section of the hospital - grabs a bag of lolly
pops and walks around handing out pops
and smiles and “Hang in there’s” because
there’s a lot more folks here today than expected.


Sending the elevator down to the first floor
after getting off at the 55th floor and nobody
is getting on - yet I know for sure,
someone down below would love it -
just coming in off the street - coming to
an elevator, pushing the button, and surprise
then the elevator opens just then for them.


A soldier has another soldier in his gun sight
but he can’t pull the trigger - thinking to
himself - this guy could kill me - but he
too might have a wife and 3 kids waiting
at home - and he thinks about that moment
for the next 46 years. What ever happened
to that guy? What ever happened to him?


She visits two different nursing homes every
week - seeing about 7 people in each. She came
and asked, “Who doesn’t get visitors?” She had
noticed that some people do not get visitors
during the two years her mom was in a nursing
home before mom died January a year ago.


A caddy who never plays golf himself -
but loves bringing his three kids
to play miniature golf - letting them
win every time - and he refuses to give
them advice on how to play their game.


Husband and wife - holding hands - walking
through the mall - smiling because at their
age, everyone thinking, “Obviously a second
marriage!” but nope it’s their first - but today
it’s their 43rd anniversary and they are taking
the day off to do nothing but enjoy each other.


A father pushing the swings in the park
for four different kids - one is his - so three
mothers can talk and chat and relax - and the
kids are laughing and giggling - and holding
on as they swing - surging up there towards
the great big blue sky above all of us today.


Watching light creep across a rust
colored rug - just sitting here, quietly,
with plenty of peace surrounding me,
and I don’t even have to get up to look
out the window to see the afternoon sun.
Thank You God. Thank You God.


A whole family walking down Main Street
each licking and laughing with leaking ice
cream cones on a hot, humid, summer night.


Falling asleep - trusting - letting go -
thanking God for experiencing Loving Kindness -
Divine Mercy at least 21 times today.
Thank You God. Amen. Amen. Amen.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2011

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Painting on top: Thomas Cole [1801-1848]
"Distant View of Niagara Falls" 1830

DIVINE MERCY
22 GLIMPSES

Christmas - for starters - every year,
or every day if one is awake….
The Wise seeing a star ….
The shepherds hearing a song ….
A baby is born in a stable -
surrounded by Joseph and Mary -
animals, shepherds and kings -
while out front - inside the Inn
there are people who just missed out
on the biggest thing that ever happened
in that town - better: in our world.


Standing in the Jordan River,
there’s John the Baptist baptizing.
Oh that’s where he got his name.
He’s urging, he’s challenging -
he’s calling people to change -
to stop overtaxing each other -
to end brutality to one another -
to put the axe to the roots of one’s personality -
so that good fruit can be found on one’s table
and in one’s heart and soul and hands.


The scene is a beach. It’s early morning.
Fishermen are chatting - cleaning - mending nets -
connecting to each other as family and friends.
Their nets are empty after a night of nothing -
that is, till Jesus walks into their lives
at daybreak - calling them to leave all
and begin filling their nets with people -
who will be as surprised to meet Jesus -
as they were. Jesus who often just shows up
after a night of nothing but empty nets.


To see differently, to be transfigured,
to come out of the desert and to come
down from the mountain, now seeing
the hurt and the hungry on the road,
snakes and scorpions losing their
power, crushed, as well as seeing
the poor at one’s door step.


Children running across a field -
receiving a big embrace from
Jesus who says, “Let the little children
come running into your life -
because when you do, you’re inviting
the possibility of discovering the
Kingdom of God in your life as well.”


Meeting Jesus in the marketplace,
being challenged to start measuring
out one’s life in new generous ways
till we find it’s overflowing from our
hands, our garments, our deepest soul.
Then we too are able to say with the Best
of us: This is my body. This is my blood.
I’m giving myself to you. Take and eat!
Take and drink. Then do the same
to each other in memory of me.


Climb high mountains, trek into dry deserts,
spend time in temples and inner rooms and
you’ll see Jesus there transfigured, struggling,
and you’ll hear him say, “I am with you every day.”
And you’ll  also say, “It is good for us to be here.”


Jesus announcing that celebrating life is
all about being lost and becoming found -
just like a woman who lost a coin,
found it again and because she had
told so many friends how lost she felt
without it and how found she found when
she found it - and she sewed it back onto
her wedding crown and then invited
everyone into her home for one big celebration.


Or déjà vu - according to Jesus - life
is being like a lost sheep - whom
a shepherd realized was lost after counting
his flock 5 times and kept on getting 99
each time. So he left those 99 secure
in a pen and went searching everywhere
till he found that lost sheep stuck in the
brambles - run out of “Baaah’s!” and
he brought him home on his shoulders
and everyone could see that
Shepherd’s smile for at least a mile?


Or déjà vu - doubled and then some
more again, did you hear the story
about the lost son - the younger of
two brothers - a story Jesus
never got tired of telling? Well, this
younger son left inflated and came home
deflated, stinking of pig stuff - expecting
only food and reprimand and “I told you so!”
but no, he finds himself in his Father’s Arms,
a father who is hugging him - and he is
clinging to his Father’s arms - eyes closed -
tears flowing - while the family servants
went looking for a ring, sandals, an older brother,
and a kid goat for a giant cook out - and Jesus
never told them - that the story was really
about the lost older brother - and sometimes
some older brothers - the safe and secure - get it.


Scattered rocks - dropped to the ground
instead of crushing my skin because
of my sin. Finally I met a man
who truly loved me. This last Man became
the first man who ever treated me like this.


5000 folks feasting on bread,
laughing and talking to each other
because Jesus didn’t want them
to feel the growls of an empty tummy.
Then the Practical Jesus saying,
“Gather up the fragments. There are
also others who are hungry!”


A rich young man keeps wondering
if he should try to fit through the eye
of a needle - sitting a stone’s throw away
from a man who wonders if he could
really be reborn at his age. Jesus,
certainly could get people thinking
and some of them changed!
Divine Mercy is very intriguing
as well as very inviting.


A disciple who steps back,
to let another disciple come first;
while another disciples gives
the shirt off his back to a man
without a shirt; while another
disciple turns his other cheek.
Looks like the Kingdom is coming.


A short man - a taxing character,
climbs a tree to avoid the crowd
who can’t stand him - but Jesus
sees him and invites him down from
the tree and invites himself into
that man’s house for dinner tonight.


A blind man sees, a deaf man hears,
a person with rejected skin discovers
Jesus gives him brand new baby skin.


Jesus said at the table, “Take and eat,
take and drink. This is my body and
this is my blood - and don’t forget,
I’ll never hesitate to wash your feet.


A voice from a cross that says,
“Father forgive them for they don’t
know what they are doing.”


A voice from a cross says to a thief,
“Today you’ll be with me in paradise.”


People come to a tomb only to discover
it’s empty - on a Sunday morning


Walls start shaking - walls open,
Christ comes bursting into a room
filled with fear and simply says,
“Peace! Whose sins you forgive,
those sins are forgiven - those sins
you hold onto - they’ll hold onto you.”


Once more after a night of empty nets
Jesus appears on the edge of our lives
and tells us where to lower our nets
and then invites us to share our
results with him - with love, with recognition,
with the call to go and do likewise
with each other. It’s called, “I love you!”
“I love you!” “I love you!”

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2011

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Picture on top: Sea of Tiberias from
earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=40147