INTRODUCTION The title of my homily for this Feast of the Immaculate Conception is, "Do Not Be Afraid." It's one of life's big messages. Parents and coaches and teachers tell kids that every day. "Don't be afraid." Don't be afraid. I won't be too long. Some of you got to get back to work. I got to pack - do a bunch of things - and catch the bus with some of our kids for a 4 day high school Kairos Retreat. LOTS OF FEAR If there is any message in the Bible - both Old and New Testaments, it's this: Don't be afraid." Many stories seem to have angels who appear and say to various folks: "Don't be afraid." It's a great message found in today's gospel from Luke. In his very first chapter, the angel Gabriel says, "Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God." Today is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception - the Patronal Feast of the United States for us Catholics.
So Mary hears in today's gospel, "Don't be afraid." WHAT ARE YOUR FEARS? We all have fears. Lately, if I am hearing folks - they have lots of fears. Right now it's terrorism. Tomorrow it will be something else. I was thinking, if you think you're afraid of Muslims, think about how afraid they are right now - both here and around the world. We have a good family friend. His family is from Iraq. After September 11, he dressed in a poncho and he walked around making comments in Spanish. He went to M.I.T. and is an astrophysicist - but he was scared.
JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH Mary had fears. Joseph had fears. It seems Jesus had fears in the desert - in the garden - and on the cross. Jesus was one of us in all things but sins. I feel a tiny fear by saying Jesus had his fears. Could I be turned in by someone for saying such a thing? Just a tiny fear. Sometimes fears help - don't go down dangerous streets and alleys in the dark of night. Sometimes fears cripple us - for getting out of our comfort zones and make it to a better way of doing life. Fears like snakes lurk, slide and slither through the jungle of our unconscious. We feel them in our minds with our headaches - our sweaty palms and foreheads. When afraid, we put our hand to our heart - and sometimes we scratch the skin above our heart.
Today Pope Francis walked through the front door of St. Peter's - followed by Pope Benedict with cane in hand - perhaps with some fears - but hopefully with plenty of hope, they began a year of mercy. CONCLUSION: TWP SUGGESTIONS ABOUT FEARS First ask questions. Secondly, walk with God. Pray.
December 8, 2015
CONCEPTION
Who knows where and when and all that
goes into a conception - whether it’s in us
or a little baby girl in a town called Nazareth?
Who knows how God and love and night
and day - dreams and hopes for the future
flow and fly through space and eternity? You got to ask questions and trust in God.
The title of my homily for this Second Monday in Advent is,
“There is ugly.”
FIRST THE UGLY
DUCKING FAIRY TALE
Hans Christian Andersen [1805-1875] wrote fairy tales -
over there in Denmark. The one tale many people remember is the story of the
Ugly Duckling - which he dreamed up in 1842. Later on in life he said it was
the story of his life.
I spotted this in Wikepedia, “In reviewing Hans
Christian Andersen: A New Life by biographer Jens Andersen, British journalist
Anne Chisholm writes ‘Andersen himself was a tall, ugly boy with a big nose and
big feet, and when he grew up with a beautiful singing voice and a passion for
the theater he was cruelly teased and mocked by other children’. The ugly
duckling is the child of a swan whose egg accidentally rolled into a duck's
nest.”
The little duckking is born and all the other animals in
the barn yard called it “Ugly” - so it stayed alone - and tried to stay clear
from the bullying in the barnyard.
It escaped and had to deal with winter and aloneness. One
day she saw a flock of swans - but she was too small, too young, to fly away
with them.
A farmer took the ugly duckling in - but the kids were
too noisy and too rough so the Ugly
duckling wandered away again - till she saw a flock of swans.
By now the Ugly Duckling had grown and matured and she’s
in a pond and she sees herself in her reflection. She is beautiful. With that she joins the community of swans.
TODAYS READINGS
In today’s readings we have this story in another
translation.
In the first reading it’s the earth - which was a desert
- which is ugly. That is till it bloomed - till it flowered - till it
blossomed.
In the first reading it’s the desert that is ugly, till
its dry river beds start to flow. Pools are filled with water. The dangerous
jackals, and lions disappear. Joy and gladness are heard - sorrow and morning
flee.
In the first reading it’s Israel that is ugly - that is
till the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame leap like a stag, the mute sing.
In the gospel we hear the story of the Ugly Duckling in
the story of the paralyzed man. His friends carry him to Jesus. They run into a
wall of people around the house Jesus is in. So they go up on a roof - remove
the tiles - and lower him down by a stretcher right into the middle of the room.
There he is on the floor looking up at Jesus.
Despite some bullies who are after Jesus, Jesus heals
this paralyzed man and forgives him his sins - and the man goes home
celebrating - his new found legs and freedom.
In the meanwhile bullies still exist.
APPLICATION
Today’s readings can become us.
The Ugly duckling story can become us.
Our world can change. Our surroundings can change.
The Bad and the Ugly can become the Good.
When I was on the Lower East Side as a young priest, I
used to walk by an ugly lot. An apartment used to be there - but it fell in and
was removed. Next came garbage, toilet bowls, shopping carts, mattresses and
tons of junk. The only thing growing there were weeds.
Well, a group of people decided to clean it up. They got
permits and permissions. Then they brought in trucks and they removed the junk.
They planted grass and trees and flowers. They put in some benches. They put in
a neat garden. It was no longer an ugly eye sore.
Well the obvious message is we can do this with our
homes, our lives, our neighborhood, our world.
CONCLUSION
The title of my homily was, “There Is Ugly.”
I was going to add, “There Is Beautiful Too.”
Then when I was reading about Hans Christian Andersen, I found out that he was
going to title his story, “The Young Swans” - but no, he called it, “The Ugly
Duckling” - for surprise and for suspense.
December 7, 2015
COLD
FEET
Yes, they are cold - and the blankets
weren’t working - so I couldn’t sleep
till somehow I warmed these feet. So I
got out of bed, called you up, and said,
“I’m sorry!” Got back to bed. It worked.
What I was scared to do for 3 months
and 3 days, I did and warmed up my
feet in the walking to the phone and
hearing you say, “Thank you!” And I
woke up this morning with the peace
I hadn’t felt in 3 months and 3 days.
