Monday, April 27, 2015

April 27, 2015

SINK

All of us need sinks
          with faucets
          and soap,
          and water,
          and space,
          to wash away
          the hurts,
          the mistakes
          of everyday

All of us stand there
          in the morning,
          in the evening,
          during the day,
          behind closed doors,
          and every once
          in awhile
          we really look
          into that mirror
          above the sink
          and really look
          at the me
          I am.

All of us need that time
          at our sinks,
          to turn over
          a bar of soap
          in our hands,
          time to turn
          over a remark,
          or a wondering,
          or a relationship,
          in this place backstage,
          to think.

And then we can step back
          from the sink,
          dry off our hands
          and our face,
          and then adjust
          our masks,
          as we open the door
          and head back

          towards the stage. 

Sunday, April 26, 2015


SOMETIMES  SHEEP, 
SOMETIMES  SHEPHERD. 

The title of my homily - better reflection - for this 4th Sunday after Easter B, is, “Sometimes Sheep, Sometimes Shepherd.”

Sometimes I feel like a sheep - just one of the flock - just one of the crowd  - a nobody in the midst of a nameless flock.

Ever feel that way?

Sometimes I get lost on purpose - or do something dumb - so as to get some recognition in life - to get a good hug - to be held and told I worth while - or even to get yelled at. Doing that - at least I’m noticed and get some attention - even if this way is negative.

Sometimes I feel like a shepherd. All the responsibilities are up to me. 

Just when all is settled down after a long day on the road - or in the field -  in the sun and dust and the dirt - just when I’m ready to go to sleep for the night - I discover - when I do the pen count - one sheep is missing. I mutter a sad  “Uh oh” or a mad “Oh no!” 

The pen count is 99 - not 100.

One sheep is lost. One sheep is missing.

I think this is what it must be like for parents when their kids are out and they don’t know where they are. Lots of “uh oh’s” - lots of  possible “Oh no’s!” -  lots of “I wonder if.”

This is what it must be like when a wife or a husband is wondering where the other is in the night.

Then as shepherd I start shouting out in the dark - yelling into the dark,  “Where are you? Where are you?”

Then when I find my lost sheep, I  see the blood and cuts from hillside brambles  - along with dry blood - on my lost sheep' light brown wool.

Then when I get back home to the pen, I can hear the whining tones of “Baa, baa, baa" - from the 99 who didn't mess up.”

The Good Shepherd has seen this same thing happen in his own family when a brother or a sister is lost - and everyone is upset till the lost sheep is found  He thinks every family - every flock - must go through these moments of tension. “Oh no, not again.”

We have a niece who dropped out of the family - and we all have felt the pain that comes to a lost family.

If they ever return, the Good Shepherd can see how sheepish a lost sheep can be.

Then there is the hired hand syndrome. People who rent or borrow - can be guilty of this one. A shepherd has a problem. Sometimes something comes up. There is a death, a funeral, or a wedding comes up. This means he has to come up with a hired hand.

The sheep don’t recognize his voice. He’s just not the same as their shepherd.  Things are not as personal.

Ever notice how nervous sheep are with strangers?

Okay, you've never been hired to be a shepherd. Well, you might be familiar with the following situation. You're walking along and you see a little kid standing there or in their carriage. You're a stranger. You stop to say, "Hi." You wave to this little kid. The kid immediately turns to their parents eye or runs to their parents reach for their parents arm or leg for support. They immediately try to connect with their parent. They immediately nudge their way to someone they know much more than a stranger.

Ever notice this?  Did this ever happen to you?


Ever notice how some babysitters are very personal. The kid or kids they are waiting for after school to babysit can’t wait to see their face. This babysitter is so nice that they love it when their parents are going to a wedding - for a weekend. This babysitter plays with them. This babysitter loves her job. She's doing it for money - but she also loves kids.

So kids - like sheep - know whether the hired babysitter or shepherd of substitute parent really cares about them. Little kids and babies know whether granny or grandpa is happy to be with them - or whether they are being used by their parents and resentment is rampant. They feel stuck with the kids AGAIN.

Unconsciously they know motives about teachers, coaches, doctors, nurses, clergy, whoever is caring for them at the moment.

How do we see ourselves and how to we treat those in our care?

Good shepherd or hired hand?

Cute sheep or dumb animal?

Let's add: sheep or wolf? Sheep or goat?

So this comes down to how we see life - what our attitudes are - who we are - how we think?

Sometimes a shepherd is all heart - knowing he's about to sell 100 sheep to a butcher to sell in the marketplace. 

Sometimes a shepherd is a philosopher - seeing all of life in his life. Sacrifice is front and center for the life of a sheep and shepherd. These sheep are here to give wool and these sheep are going to sheared - and nights can be cold in the fields without their wool coats. These sheep are going to give not only the skin off their backs - but their bodies to feed a family.

Sometimes a shepherd is a preacher - and a prophet - knowing the bible texts - about who the good shepherds are - and who the selfish and non-caring are.

The title of my homily is, "Sometimes Sheep,  Sometimes Shepherds."

Hopefully never wolf or hired hand.

Hopefully cornerstone or sometimes one of the stones that build up the home - but that's another metaphor and another sermon - for another day. Amen.


April 26, 2015


THREE ON A TRAIN

He’s pecking away on his laptop.
She’s knitting something blue.
Is one pregnant with a novel?
Is one pregnant with a baby boy?
I’m sitting there with no one - all alone -
on a train from Brussels to Brugge.
We’re sitting here - knitting together -
our story, It’s naughty. It’s nice.
Is there anyone around who wants to read
the novel we’re knitting of our lives?


© Andy Costello, Reflections 2015

Saturday, April 25, 2015

April  25, 2015

THE RAFT

Somewhere out there in the deep waters
          is a raft
          called Love,
          called God.

And everybody knows it’s there,
          somewhere,
          as we all swim
          around in this ocean
          of words and stuff,
          trying to find the raft
          called Love,
          knowing that Love
          is the answer,
          as all the songs sing it,
          as all the prophets tell us.

And it’s hard work swimming and struggling
          and trying to find that raft
          called Love,
          called God.

And suddenly some of us
          spot the raft
          off there in the distance
          and as we swim closer
          we see it’s almost sinking
          with people.

Then God reaches out with his hands
          and pulls us up
          out of the water
          and onto the wood,
          and just then
          God suddenly laughs
          watching us trying
          to lug our wet possessions
          on board, too.

But then God starts to clap
          and slaps somebody
          on the back,
          who just then saw our stupidity
          and threw his stuff overboard,
          and once more
          there is just enough room,
          just enough space,
          on the raft
          called Love,
          called God. 

(c) Andy Costello

Friday, April 24, 2015

April 24, 2015


WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

The teen-ager couldn’t wait for summer,
couldn’t wait for all those summer mornings
he and his grandfather
went fishing, went talking.

“Grandpa, what’s important?”

(LONG PAUSE)

“Well, you’ll have to sit back and listen to people
for the answer to that one.

“Or better, you’ll have to watch people.
Watch their hands, their faces,
but especially watch their eyes.
People always tell you
what’s important with their eyes.

“Why I once had a man tell me that his wife
was dead 3 years and 44 days
and he was still counting,
and his eyes were still crying

“Or listen to your grandma next time you take
her shopping. Listen to the things
she brings up -- the things she talks about
when she meets her friends.
I know you always find shopping
with her boring, but watch her
as she takes out her pictures of you
and all her other grandchildren
to show them to her friends.

“Watch people watch their watches.
They’re telling you an awful lot.
And yawns . . . Notice yawns.
They’re always a dead give away.

“Listen to the sounds behind words, behind voices . . .
what people get angry at,
when they get mad.
Then you’ll know when someone is stepping on somebody’s values or somebody’s nerves.
Then you’ll know that someone is going beyond
somebody’s ‘No trespassing. Private property’ sign.

“And don’t worry too much about people’s answers.
Listen to their questions.
Questions always tell you a lot more.”

(LONG PAUSE)


“By the way, why did you ask that question?” 

(c) Andy Costello

Thursday, April 23, 2015

April 23, 2015

PRESENCE

Let’s be honest.
We all know about presence,
whether a person wants to be with us
or whether they feel trapped,
like a prisoner in our presence.

The baby knows.
She knows even when she’s sleeping
whether her parents want her or not.

The old people know.
They know which of their children
are only a phone call
or a visit away.

The team knows whether the cheer leaders
have to cheer or want to cheer.
They know when the crowd
is with them or not.
They know. They can sense it.

The people in the church know
whether the preacher
wants to be in the pulpit or not.

The wife -- the husband -- they both know
whether their marriage
has become a trap -- people living,
people dying in separate prison cells,
or whether their marriage
is an ever expanding universe,
an ever expanding move towards God.

I am.

God is present and we know it.

Presence:
we know these truths about presence
even when we deny them.

And all is touching.
All the cells of the universe
are touching each other,
present to each other,
cheering each other on.

All is present to all.
All is circular.
Everything is present to everything.
Everyone is present to everyone.
Everyone is present to God.

God is  present to everyone and everything.
The universe is a sign
of the ever expanding presence of God,
like the baby to the parents.

My life is touching your life
Life is touching life.
Life is touching God.

Yet some people feel trapped.
They feel like they are dying,
in a closed prison cell,
unable to open up to the presence of another person,
to the presence of God.

And the truth will set you free.

And all cells will be opened. 

(c) Andy Costello

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

April 22, 2015

COULD BE BETTER….

The weather, could be better ….
My health, could be better….
My spouse, could be better ….
My life, could be better….
My faith, could be better ….


The weather, could be worse ….

My health, could be worse ….
My spouse, could be worse….
My life, could be worse ….
My faith, could be worse …

Me - you tell me - am I better
or worse than expected....