FINAL JUDGMENT

Poem for Today - October 22, 2014

TWO EPITAPHS

Everyman

Preacher of lecher,  saint or sot,

What he was once he now is not.

Preacher

He called on God to smite the foe.

Missing his aim, God laid him low.

© Robert Francis,

From Epitaphs,
Picture on top:
from "Don't Get
Caught Out In
Heavy Rain' 
Concept Art - Kataku.

WALLS:

SOMETIMES  WE  LIKE THEM;

SOMETIMES  WE  DON’T

INTRODUCTION

Hi. The title of my homily is, “Walls: Sometimes We Like Them; Sometimes We Don’t.”

BOOK BY MARCUS BARTH

Years ago I read a book with a great title, The Broken Wall: A Study of the Epistle to the Ephesians by Marcus Barth.  He’s the son of the famous Protestant theologian, Karl Barth.

That title and theme – The Broken Wall – is the key to today’s first reading.

Paul says to all of us, “Once we were aliens – outside the community, outside the covenant, without the promise, without hope and without God in this world.”

Then Paul preaches the Good News: “But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far off have become near by the Blood of Christ.”

Then Paul says Christ is our peace. Christ broke down the wall that divides us – and makes all of us one.

Christ makes us part of the temple sacred to the Lord. We are being built – becoming part of - that  temple day by day.

What a great message. What a great invitation. What a great way of seeing ourselves: we’re connected to each other – we’re connected to the Lord. 

Everyone who sees St. Mary’s says, “What a beautiful church!” Do they mean the building or do they mean us?

Yesterday a bus with 50 people from an assisted living place near Baltimore visited our gardens – this church and then St. John Neumann for Mass at 12:10 and then lunch at Seelos Hall out there. Last night did they bring good news with a smile to the others there – that they were in a wonderful parish yesterday in Annapolis. Did they say, “What a beautiful church”? Besides our two buildings, did they mean us – at least those of us whom they met?

RELIGIONS

Religions – like every organization - seem to like walls, steps, dividers, titles, hierarchies, lowerarchies, places of honor and levels of recognition.

Paul discovered that his religion Judaism – put up lots of walls – walls that separated people:  the saved from the unsaved – the savory and the unsavory - the chosen people and the people God didn’t chose.

Check out in the back of Bibles – the divisions – sections – courts within the temple – from the room called the Holy of Holies – to the court of the Gentiles. Then there was the section for the men – and the section for the women.

Paul discovered he didn’t like that wall – and that’s what he wanted removed – torn down. We catch glimpses of that idea and that vision in Isaiah – but many didn’t get it.

And then Christian communities – as we see in Paul  - and in his letters and in the Acts of the Apostles – ended up putting up walls.  The gospels were written after the year 55 till around 100. The messages in there were not about the scribes and Pharisees Jesus dealt with – but the Christian scribes and Pharisees folks were dealing with in local Christian communities.

People put up walls. Some people like walls; some don’t.

HEDGES IN ANNAPOLIS

Recently I was at a Baptismal Party in a house here in Annapolis.

We were standing in the kitchen – looking out the window – into a nice big backyard – and then there were the hedges. High – tall – hedges – that prevented a view of next house.

The owner of the house – the grandmother of the baby – told me her father in law came to the house from the mid-west and asked, “What’s with the hedges? You can’t see your neighbors and they can’t see you. Why don’t you cut them down?” Her father-in-law came from a mid-west city where you could talk to your neighbor window to window – porch to porch – backyard to backyard.

“Walls: Sometimes We Like Them; Sometimes We Don’t.”

ROBERT FROST

Robert Frost the poet says just that in his poem, The Mending Wall.

It begins, “Something there is that doesn’t love a wall….”

The poem tells of two neighbors meeting together every spring to mend the wall between them. It’s a New England boulder wall – that  fell apart in places during the winter. One asks about the need for the wall in the first place. “He is all pine and I am an apple orchard. My apple trees will never get across and eat the cones under his pines” He tells his neighbor and, “He only says, ‘Good fences make good neighbors.”

There it is, “Walls: Sometimes We Like Them; Sometimes We Don’t.”

CATHOLICISM

One of the metaphors for laws in Hebrew thought was, “The law is a hedge.” Yes a group needs some guidelines, schedules, this and that – but the message of Christ – is resurrection – the breaking of the walls of death and division – when they do harm or sinful separation or apartheid 2014 style.

Remember the old message – when people yelled for Latin: “You could go into any Catholic Church in the world and you knew you were home – because we all spoke the same language?

Remember the new message – which is the old message – when people said, “You could go into any Catholic Church in the world and you knew you were home – because we all spoke different languages – had different costumes and cultures – different skin colors – and eyes – and we were welcomed.”

At this synod in Rome that just finished – it was refreshing to read the call was to be more and more an inclusive church – more than an exclusive church.

To put those walls up – is the tendency and temptation of every religion – and chop the heads off of those who differed

The Catholic Church can says, “Been there, done that – still trying to silence and put in the corner those who think differently, pray differently live differently – and we still look around and sing, “All are welcome all are welcome in this place,”

CONCLUSION:

So yes, we like our privacy, our gates, our fences, our walls. They keep us comfy – but hopefully – when we stop seeing, being with the other guy and gal – hopefully we become Catholic – which means we are one with the whole catalogue of people on the planet. Amen.

WORK 

FROM DAWN TO DUSK 

Poem for Today - Tuesday - October 21, 2014

THE MULE

Row after row

Com leaves broke their spines

On my shoulders.

I leaned my life

Against harness.

I drew it through

Fields, down trails,

In timbered darkness.

The corn leaves

Then turned brown.

I dragged the logs away

On washed-out roads,

And I became afraid.

I tried the ground for failure

With my feet.

I did not trust

The very earth

Which kept me from falling.

I found no treachery,

No pitfall; just  sun, time,

Dust, and at last the night.

© Boynton Merrill, Jr.

PAUL OF THE CROSS, 

ST. PAUL  ON  THE CROSS 

INTRODUCTION

The title of my sermon is, “St. Paul of the Cross and St. Paul on the Cross.”

This is a sermon more than a homily – a homily being reflections on the readings of the day. A sermon is a conversation – thoughts – on the saint of the day or what have you.

TODAY OCTOBER 20^TH

Today, October 20^th, we celebrate the feast of St. Paul of the Cross.

His name was Paul Danei.

He was born in Ovada – which is near Genoa – now Italy.

His dates were 1693 – 1775.

He died October 18, 1775. October 18 is the feast of St. Luke – so they moved his feast to today.

He founded the Bassoonists – priests and brothers – and then later on – near the end of his life, the Passionist Nuns.

St. Paul of the Cross.

LIKE REDEMPTORISTS

The religious who staff this parish of St. Mary’s, Annapolis are Redemptorists.  We were brought up hearing about the similarities of the Passionists and the Redemptorists. Both we founded roughly at the same time in Italy – one in the north – and the other in the south. Both ended up doing roughly the same work: preaching parish missions, doing retreats in retreat houses, and here the U.S. doing some parish work.

THE CROSS

Paul of the Cross is called just that by many sermons and writings on the cross.

Like many statues of saints, Paul is often pictured with a cross in his hands.

You can read his writings and hear over and over again his messages about the cross in our lives  - connecting our sufferings with the sufferings of Jesus Christ.

Like St. Alphonsus he stands there with the cross in his hands.

St. Alphonsus is famous for pushing the Stations of the Cross – to help us when are walking the tough roads, ways, paths of life.

THEOLOGY OF THE CROSS

If you do enough spiritual reading, you’ll pick up that different writers, different sayings, different people stress different this and that's.

TAKE SUFFERING

Saint Paul, the Saint Paul of today’s first reading – often talks about suffering.

Listen to this message from Colossians 1: 24-25, “It makes me happy to suffer for you, as I am suffering now, and in my own body to do what I can to make up for all that has to be undergone by Christ for the sake of his body, the Church.”

St. Paul has various comments about suffering – as I’m sure he was trying to figure out the mystery of pain, struggle, sufferings, sickness in his life.

Obviously, when talking about suffering he reflected on the sufferings of Christ and he made some sense of the mystery of life and its crosses in, through, and with Christ.

What has been your story, your take on your sufferings so far in life?

How have you changed, grown, this and that, about the cross.

This church here, St. John Neumann, church didn’t have this big cross up front right away.  Only afterwards did they put up this enormous big cross, central for reflection by people facing it while in church.

St. Mary’s, our other church downtown Annapolis, features Mary – much more than the cross.

St. Francis of Assisi for centuries had St. Francis standing there holding a cross.  Then there were all those images of Francis with a bird in his hand.

It was a change in emphasis: how to deal with sufferings – how to experience nature and creation.

In my work in Spirituality I’ve seen a vast change in thoughts about the cross, suffering.

One major change is to call folks away from hurting themselves, wanting to suffer, and ask God for more and more suffering – to be a victim soul.

Take St. Rose of Lima as someone who cut and disfigured herself to sufferer more for others.

I think we have taken on a healthier spirituality – when it comes to suffering.

Each person has enough suffering, the crosses from family, ageing, each other, addiction, abuse.

CONCLUSION

What’s your thoughts and prayers about the Cross?

How have you grown through the years understanding the meaning and meanings of carrying your cross.

Do you see life as more than the Sorrowful Mysteries of life? What about the Joyful, Glorious, and Light Giving moments and mysteries of life?

DRINKING  LIFE 

Poem for Today - October 20, 2014

WHAT  LIGHT  DESTROYS

Today I'm thinking of St. Paul—St. Paul

who orders us, Be perfect. He could have said,

Touch your elbow to your ears, except

that if you broke your arm, then snapped your neck,

You might could manage it. The death inside

the flawed hard currency of what we touch

bamboozles us, existing only for that flaw,

that deathward plunge that's locked inside all form,

till what seems solid floats away, dissolves,

and these poor bastard things, no longer things,

drift back to pure idea. And when, at last,

we let them go we start to pity them,

attend their needs: I almost have to think

to keep my own heart beating through the night.

I have a wife and four pink boys. I spin

on all this stupid metaphysic now

because last afternoon we visited

some friends in town. After the pecan pie,

I drank until my forehead smacked the table,

and woke to find my shirt crusted with blood.

When Mary didn't yell at me, I knew

she finally understood that I was gone,

dissolving back. As we rode home, I tried

to say, I'm sorry, Hon. The carriage bucked

 across the mud-dried ruts and I shut up.

And she, in August heat, just sat, head cocked

as if for chills hidden in the hot, damp breeze,

as if they were a sound, time merely distance.

0 Death, I know exactly where it is

your sting. And Grave, I know your victory.

That night, around the tents, the boys caught fireflies,

pinched them in half, and smeared them on their nails,

then ran through pine-dark woods, waving their hands.

All I could hear was laughter, shouts. And all

that I could see for each one of my sons

were ten blurs of faint, artificial light,

never too far apart, and trembling.

Like fairies, magic, sprites, they ran and shouted.

"I'm not real! I'm not real!"  The whole world fell

away from me—perhaps I was still drunk -

as on the night Titania told dazed Bottom,

"Put off your human grossness so, and like

an airy spirit go." But even then

the night could not hold long against the light,

and light destroys roots, fog, lies, orchids, night,

dawn stars, the moon, delusions, and most magic.

And light sends into hiding owls, fireflies,

and bats, whom for their unerring blunder, I

adore the most of all night fliers. But owls,

hid in a hickory, will hoot all day,

and even the moon persists, like my hangover,

some days till almost noon, drifting above

the harsh, bright, murderous morning light—so blue,

so valuable, so much like currency

that if the moon were my blue coin, I'd never spend it.

© Andrew Hudgins

In Upholding Mystery,

An Anthology of

Contermporary Poetry,

Edited by David Impastato,

Oxford University Press,

1997, pages 72-74

photo by William Abranowicz

IS  LIFE  A  QUESTION 

AND ANSWER  PERIOD? 

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 29 Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A, is, “Is Life a Question and Answer Period?”

That’s a question.

That’s one of my life questions?

I don’t know about you, but I spend a lot of my time figuring – questioning – wondering about a lot of stuff. 

Does everyone do that?

Is that why people check out the news, read the papers, and ask, “What’s new?” “What’s happening?” “What’s up?”

Why do people – who pick up the papers – pick up the papers?

This is a test:  if you pick up the papers in the morning - what is the first section you check out: comic strips, obits, sports section, local news, world news, crossword puzzle, horoscope, stock market? Sales? Employment – Help Wanted?

What does our answer tell us about ourselves?

If people don’t read the papers – are they doing any of that – any other way?

That’s a lot of questions?

What’s normal? What’s healthy? What’s everyone?  Oops, more questions.

“Is Life a Question and Answer Period?”

TODAY’S GOSPEL

Today’s gospel - Matthew 22: 15-21 -  triggered this topic for me.

The Pharisees and the Herodians question Jesus about religion and politics – today using the question of taxes.

The Pharisees and the Herodians argued with each other a lot – over lots of issues – but in today’s gospel both joined up with each other to try to trap Jesus into an argument.

The Pharisees were ultra-religious and they didn’t want any images on their coins. The Herodians were in league with Herod and the Romans and the powers that be and they didn’t disagree with Caesar’s image on their coins.

Jesus doesn’t get into their argument. Notice, however, he does in other gospel scenes. At times Jesus starts arguments. He questions the Pharisees as well as the Scribes  - those who could write, those with the education. 

How do you see the gospels? 

How do you see Jesus?

What does what we spot - tell us about ourselves?

Is a relationship with God a question and answer period – or is it a banquet – a meal – good bread – good wine?

Is life an argument with God – or a love affair with God?

Is life an argument with others – you’re wrong – I’m right – or a love affair with each other?

Is life a debate or a discernment?

How do we see life?

In a given day – how many questions do we ask?

Are some people more questions? Are some people all answers? Are some people somewhere else?

What are your thoughts and experiences about questions and answers - arguments and arguing?

How do you see life?

TYPES OF PEOPLE

Are there people who ask too many questions?

Is this sermon PITA stuff?

Is there anything wrong with the Rabbi – who when asked, “How come you are always asking questions?” – answered by asking, “Why not?”

Then there are people who seem to be arguing an awful lot – and it’s awful.

Are there two types of people: those who argue a lot and those who avoid arguments?

And do those who avoid arguments avoid those who argue a lot?

Are there two types of people: those who need to be right – and those who see nuances – other points of view – and allow others to see things differently than the way they see?

How well does a marriage between an arguer and a non-arguer work?

How well does a marriage between two arguers work?

How well does a marriage between two people who never argue work?

Why do some people argue more than other people?

Do some people think they won an argument because the other person has become silent?

HOW DO YOU SEE THEOLOGY AND RELIGION?

There has been a lot of press on the Synod in Rome.

There have been points and counterpoints.

I’m reading that the pope and others say the Church needs to take on a listening mode.

Is the church healthier – different – better – worse – if the stress is on love and mercy – more than truth – and being right?

Is the church called to be the teaching Church – more than the serving, loving church - listening?

Is the church’s job to correct nuns and women who are theologians – or men who are theologians – or is the job to say, “Nice going. Thanks for exploring – helping us to get our hearts and minds on what life is all about a little bit more?"

I remember attending a series of theology talks once – in which the speaker – saw everyday life as a battle.  One can find that image, that metaphor, in the scriptures. And those are the texts he chose for his talks.

As I listened to him – I realized this was not me.

As I listened to him – I realized people are different than me. They see differently. They think differently. They do a lot more arguing than me.

There is a difference between sand paper and tissue paper.

What’s your take on the saying: “You catch more flies with a spoonful of honey than with a barrel of vinegar”?

Is the purpose of life to catch others and move them over to our side of the board?

Is the purpose of Church truth or love? Do differences happen if one stresses one over the other?

Is God more ear and eye than mouth?

Is the pope, church, parents called to be teachers or to be shepherds?

Is the present pope more into listening than giving answers? Is that what he said when he called this latest synod – this big meeting in Rome? Did he see this meeting as a family gathering around a table. Do others see it as a boxing ring or courtroom or legislation session?

If one answers these questions – does one fall into the argument trap?

Is this whole sermon an argument against arguing?

Do you agree with Gracie Allen’s message: “Never put a period where God has put a comma?”

CONCLUSION

Several times in the gospel – like today’s gospel – Jesus avoids the trap question.

Is that a good idea for all of us -  sometimes to just listen.

In the late 1960’s I was at a power breakfast in a big New York Hotel. The topic was the question of youth drug problems in New York State.  Nelson Rockefeller gave a big speech. I don’t remember a word he said. What I remembered the most was the question and answer period. Someone stood up and asked him a question. And he said, “Are you crazy? I’m not going to answer that.” Then he said, “Next question?”

All laughed.

From that I learned to do just that in lots and lots of question and answer periods that I was in with groups and one to one’s in my life?

How about you?

Are you all questions? Are questions enough for you? Do you want answers? Are you mainly a listener? 

Or are you somewhere else – because you don’t see life as a Question and Answer period.

WAKING  UP

Poem for Today - Sunday - October 19, 2014

I  WAKE AND FEEL 

THE FELL OF DARK 

I wake and feel the fell of dark, not day.

What hours, O what black hours we have spent

This night! what sights you, heart, saw; ways you went!

And more must, in yet longer light's delay.

With witness I speak this. But where I say

Hours I mean years, mean life. And my lament

Is cries countless, cries like dead letters sent

To dearest him that lives alas! away.

I am gall, I am heartburn. God's most deep decree

Bitter would have me taste: my taste was me;

Bones built in me, flesh filled, blood brimmed the curse.

Selfyeast of spirit a dull dough sours. I see

The lost are like this, and their scourge to be

As I am mine, their sweating selves; but worse.

© Gerard Manley Hopkins,

In Hopkins, The Mystic Poets,

Preface by Rev. Thomas Ryan,

Page 58