SEEING  THE  STUMP 

OR 

SEEING  THE  SHOOT? 

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Seeing the Stump or Seeing the Shoot?”

Did you hear the opening sentence in today’s first reading for this Tuesday in the First Week of Advent, “On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom”?  [Cf. Isaiah 11: 1-10.]

Say that 10 times and say it fast….

It’s the optimist - pessimist question: seeing the glass half empty or seeing the glass half full.

We’re walking through the woods.  We spot  a stump. It must have been at least a 3 feet  thick tree.  It’s gone. It’s been cut down. And all that is left is the stump. The rough, varying, circles tell us that the tree must have been around 100 years old. If we look at and study the concentric circles in the stump long enough, it tells us the good years and the bad years - thick and thin years.

What do we see when we see a stump?

Do we see and feel an “Ooooh!” or an “Aah!” Do we sense an emptiness? A stately tree was here and now it’s gone. Does the stump feel like a tombstone made of wood? Or are we more a romantic - and picture the wood from this tree is now a chair or a table or part of a house - maybe even a church bench or two?

ISAIAH THE DREAMER

Or do we see what Isaiah saw?  He saw a shoot  sprouting from the stump.  He saw the cut down tree as a symbol of Israel. We had our losses  - our failures - our bad days - but we have hope for new days -  a new life - a new future - a new hope.  He saw a future.

He saw the Spirit of the Lord rest upon stump - that was still alive - still sprouting a shoot - of new life.

He sensed the Spirit - the presence of God - giving off  a spirit of wisdom and understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord.

Isaiah saw that stump - with its shoot and its new life.

He saw a new way to judge - not by appearance -  but by justice - fairness - what is right.

He saw creation - in the  great scenes of nature - all around him - in a new way. The wolf will be the guest of the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the young lion will browse together - and a little child will guide them. He saw The Peaceable Kingdom - just as Edward Hicks [1780-1849] would see it in his time: the cow and the bear shall be neighbors - the little child shall play by the cobra’s den.

What do you see when you see a tree stump? Do you see the dead stump of death or do you see the tiny green shoot sprouting off the dead stump?

Today’s gospel gives us another beatitude: “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see…."
[Cf.  Luke 10: 21-24.]

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

Sometimes if someone sees they are dead, finished, just a stump, then they stay as is.

Sometimes when someone sees something small and good sprouting new life in another. they experience  hope. Then if they express that wonderful surprise they see in another to that person, the other starts to sprout wings and they fly.

A grandmother gives a great compliment to a granddaughter - whose mother and father are disgusted with her - and never encourage her -  and the granddaughter wakes up - she loves doing craft art and she who has dropped out of high school - gets her GED - and gets a job in a co-op that    not only puts out great work - but also allows for apprentices to learn crafts and skills that the old folks know and teach.

A 45 year old welder loses his job - and thanks to a friend who knew he did great work - he started a new job - with a third more pay - and better benefits - and he starts turning out even better work.

A 25 year older dropped out of the family’s religion for centuries - being a Catholic - didn’t think our religion makes sense - etc. etc. etc. - stays with his grandfather for a year - because Nana had died - and starts to see in his grandfather that some religious practices  and God make sense.

A couple are on drugs - get married, get pregnant, and get serious. The thought of having a new baby - wakes them both up - big time - and their parents can’t believe the change.

CONCLUSION

The title of my homily for today was, “Seeing the Stump or Seeing the Shoot?”

New life can sprout from what was thought to be dead stumps.

Advent is a season of these kinds of hopes.   It’s a time to see how Jesus sees.

November 29, 2016

COMEDY OF ERRORS

Sometime there - when we’re audience -

when we’re watching life from our

playpen or high chair or even the floor -

we start to learn that life is a comedy:

a pork chop falls off a platter  - our mom

grabs it from the floor - washes it off, fast,

throws it on the frying pan for a moment -

puts it back on the platter as she heads

for the crowd at the dining room table.

Or we see a dog grab a hot dog right

out of a bun at a picnic and nobody sees

it but us. So too an uncle sneaking some

bourbon or our mom looking at everyone’s

cards when someone’s answering a phone

call - and everyone else heads for the

bathroom or for some chips and it’s her

chance at the card table to see what cards

the others have. Hey whatever it takes….

Life: a comedy of errors - spilled pork -

cheating at cards - a secret sip of bourbon -

a stolen hot dog - mistakes, sins, laughter.

I hope. I hope. I hope. Hey God sees it all.

Isn’t that what the nuns taught us? And

did they ever go to the bathroom? And

did they have hair under those bonnets?

And God’s creations have volcanic eruptions.

Hippos in mud. God, is this how - it all works?

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2016

LORD, I  AM NOT WORTHY 

THAT YOU SHOULD ENTER 

UNDER MY ROOF….

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this First Monday in Advent comes from today’s Gospel, “Lord, I Am Not Worthy That You Should Enter Under My Roof….”

They put that formula in those words back into our Mass a few years back - so when we come to that moment before Communion today, let’s say it with strong gusto.

TODAY’S GOSPEL SCENE

A centurion - a military man - in charge of 100 soldiers - has a paralyzed servant. He hears about Jesus the Healer. He finds Jesus. He approaches Jesus and asks him to cure his servant - from a distance - from right there - right now.

Jesus says, “I will come and cure him.”

The centurion says he knows about authority - giving orders - snapping fingers - and things happen  - so why can’t you simply do it now - from here - and save your steps from going to my house? Besides that, I’m not worthy that someone like you should enter under my roof.

Jesus is amazed at these comments. He  sees that this man has faith - about how things work - so Jesus heals the man’s servant from a distance.

Don’t we ask God from a distance to cure us - to save us - to help us?

THE UNWORTHINESS

The thing that hits me in this whole story is  the feeling of unworthiness. It’s right there as part of the story - part of the conversation - part of the communication with Jesus.

There is something in us - sometimes  - when we feel unworthy - out of place - out of sorts - with certain scenes and situations and persons.

We show up at a dinner - and everyone is dressed up - and we’re not. “Uh oh!”

People are on the road…. It’s Sunday morning. They find out where a Catholic Church is. They go to Mass in jeans and a Ravens jersey - and everyone in this small Southern Town - is wearing suits and dresses to Sunday Mass. The strangers get a feeling of “Uh oh!” or “Oh no!” They feel out of place and out of sorts.

Years ago,  a priest I know,  told me he was preaching one Sunday - in  the Cathedral church in Trenton, New Jersey, the state capital. In his sermon he spoke out against Capital punishment which was a hot topic in the papers at the time.

There he was after Mass - on the sidewalk - shaking hands with folks as they left church that morning. A man in a suit comes up to him - and says, “Thanks a lot, Father  with your comments against Capital Punishment.” 

The priest says, “What do you mean? Who are you?” 

He says, “I’m the governor and this was one gruesome murder case - that people on both sides are protesting about. Evidently, you’re very aware of it.”

Then the governor says, “You also mentioned the football Giants in your sermon this morning, do you want to go to the game next Sunday?”

“Sure,” the priest says.

“Good,” the governor says “Be at my house next Sunday at 11:00 AM for brunch and we’ll drive to the game after that.” 

He shows up next Sunday at the governor’s house in his Giants jacket and jeans. Everyone is in gowns and suits for the brunch. He told me that he felt really  stupid or out of place in his attire.

Then after brunch they get into stretch limos in the same outfits and  head for Giants’ Stadium.

Nobody changed clothes.  They wore gowns and suits as they watched the game from  the governor’s box. He said he felt dumb all day long.

There’s something about this feeling of unworthiness  - that we experience from time to time.  Have we ever had a similar experience?

OF COURSE

Of course, we have. It’s part of being human.

Of course this is all about inner worthiness….

Of course this is all about inner dirtiness.

Of course this is about sinfulness - and it’s used at every Mass when preparing for receiving communion at Mass.

As you know there is a fight going on now with some Cardinals and the Pope about receiving communion when someone is divorced and remarried etc. etc. etc. and how we can be more pastoral for folks who have had disasters in their lives?

The pope wants more study and discussion on these questions.

If you read Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation, The Joy of Love, Amoris Laetitia, you know about the controversial Chapter 8.

Where are you on this question?

I’m more on the so called “liberal” side with all this.

However, I personally think it’s good for people to hesitate before coming up to receive Holy Communion - perhaps because we’re in the middle of a family feud and we won’t forgive a brother or a sister about something.  I sense that’s the background of Jesus’ comment in the Gospel of Matthew when Jesus says, “If you are bringing your offering to the altar and there remember your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first, and then come back and present your offering.” [Matthew 5:23-24]

That’s from Matthew - and having read the gospels over and over again down through the years, it’s been my sense that Matthew is stricter than Luke.

It’s my sense that some people are stricter than other people.

I see this in struggles people have with Pope Francis.

Some want more cleanliness….

Some want a smaller - a more neater - more cleaner Catholic Church.

Some are more understanding of sinners - than others.

Pharisees are not just in the gospels.

Where are you on all this?

A GREAT EXAMPLE: THE PARABLE OF THE WEDDING BANQUET

A great example is the difference between Matthew and Luke when it comes to telling the story of the wedding banquet.

A king plans a great banquet for the wedding of his son - but the invited don’t show. So the king sends out his servants to invite everyone you find - to the banquet - people by the roadside or people in the back alleys.

In Matthew a guy shows up after being invited to the banquet - out of the blue - but the king has him tossed out into the street - and he grinds his teeth - because he didn’t go get better clothes for the banquet. [Cf. Matthew 22: 1-14.]

When Luke has Jesus telling the parable, it’s about a man inviting lots of people to a banquet - and the invited don’t show - so the man tells his servants to go out to the streets and alleys - and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame - and fill my banquet hall.  There is no mention of how they dress and how they look. [Cf. Luke 14: 15-24]

So that’s why I say Luke seems more lenient.

When he describes the prodigal son coming home and being hugged by his father - even though he’s dirty and smelly - hey he was working in a pig pen -  but there the father says, “Clean him up - and get him some better sandals and robes.”

CONCLUSION

So that’s some semi-baked thoughts about this question of unworthiness - and here we are in God’s House - this church - at this banquet.

It’s worth pondering - for both now and for hereafter.

At the age of 77 I’m thinking of the next life - more than when I was 55.

When we die, will there be a purgatory - a cleansing - of course that’s our Catholic teaching - but what will it be like?  

I’m hoping I’ll be in paradise that very day I die. I want to be like the Good Thief - sweaty, blood, messy, but loved enough to hear Jesus say, “Today you’ll be with me in paradise.”

And by the way that scene is in Luke as well - Luke 23: 43. It’s not in Matthew 27: 38 - nor Mark 15: 27.

And when I come into paradise, I’m hoping Jesus will add, “Good move, Good thief.” 

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Painting on top: Paolo Veronese, Healing of the Centurion's Servant, 16th Century

WOMEN PREACHERS:
LISTEN TO THEM

I noticed in America Magazine - for November 14th, 2016 -  mention of a new web site: Catholic Women Preach. Check it out.

http://www.catholicwomenpreach.org/

In case you can't get it on Google - check it out on YouTube.

Here are the first three of the series:

November 28, 2016

ALZHEIMER’S

He was nasty, nasty, all his life,

but she still married him. She

still loved him - but there were

times .... There were times. But

having kids kept her tethered to the

family - the family table - the family home.

The kids left - first chance - two into

college - two into the military - and  

they never moved back after college

or the service - back home into that

hell. How many times did they say to

their mom, “It’s okay if you leave him”?

But she never left him. She stayed

with him and then cared for him

constantly - especially when Alzheimer’s

took over. She had heard that Alzheimer’s

could make someone nasty. Surprise!

He became mellow. Hey! You never know.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2016

November 27, 2016

WAITRESS

She always thought she’d finish college,

but she dropped out too soon, too early.

She always thought she’d finish community

college, but money, a break up, ended that.

By degrees, marriage, four kids, lots of reading 

and now her waitress job, she learned a lot.

She learned about people, bosses, customers,

tips, who wants what, enough for a life’s Ph.D.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2016

YOU  KNOW  THE  TIME; 

IT IS NOW  THE  HOUR 

FOR YOU TO AWAKE FROM SLEEP 

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “You Know The Time; It Is Now The Hour  For You To Awake From Sleep.”

Those are the opening words of today’s second reading from Romans - Chapter 13, Verse 11.  Paul says, “Brothers and sisters: You know the time; it is now the hour for you to awake from sleep.”

It’s a very appropriate challenge as we begin another church year - this First Sunday - that begins the Season of Advent.

THE HAND WAVE

How many times has someone taken their hand and waved it [HAND GESTURE]  in front of our eyes. We were elsewhere and someone spotted us. Or how many times have we wanted to do that to someone else - who seemed to be somewhere else?

Hello! Wake up in there!

Standing up here in the pulpit, I often see people elsewhere. Smile.

I heard of a priest in Buffalo who shot a gun off in the pulpit. He used blanks of course. I wonder if anyone slept through that.

I assume that the readings are to get people off on something and then they don’t hear a word the preacher is saying. They only hear Isaiah or Paul or Jesus - and hopefully themselves.

I assume that the readings and a good sermon put people into another space and place - to ponder - to be challenged - to wake up to a new way of doing life.

I assume this happens - sometimes very dramatically - as in hearing a gunshot - but most of the time conversion - change - comes slowly.

How do people wake up? 

The rooster crows.

The alarm clock rings.

Some people jump out of bed and get rolling. Some slowly reach over their hand to hit the snooze button on their  alarm clock for another 10 minutes of sleep - 10 or 20 years of same old, same old.

Conversions? Changes? 

Some happen slowly; some happen quickly - without us having any clue of about what is happening.

What wakes us up?

A sudden death…. the need for an emergency operation …. the discovery of having cancer …. a loss of a job …. a divorce in the family …. a mistake …. an accident …. 

Sometimes one of those screams can be a wake up call.

Wake up!   [WAVE HAND!]

MOUNTAIN MOMENTS

Today’s first reading from Isaiah uses the image or the metaphor of climbing a mountain - as important for our spiritual life. [Cf. Isaiah 2:1-5]

A mountain can do that….  So too an airplane ride - window seat - can do that as well. So too stopping a car at a scenic overlook. Or getting to the observation deck of a tall building like the Sears Tower in Chicago - or I have - maybe you have to -  the memory of taking the elevator to the top of the World Trade Center in New York City before September 11, 2001. I’m glad I got the chance to do that 2 times. 

On a clear day one can see forever.

It’s important at times to draw a line on a piece of paper and put on one end today’s date and on the other end our birthday - and then fill in the blank spaces.   What happened? What did we learn? Where have we come from? Where are we going to? Or draw the line to the edge of the page - guessing on how many years we think we have left.

Our story is worth looking at. Our story is worth writing - but especially being read by us.

Isaiah in today’s first reading says, “Come, let us climb the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.”

I assume that’s the purpose of coming to church on the Sabbath - to come up the steps into God’s house -  to look at our week - to look at our life - to look at how we did as a kid, or a brother or a sister, as a husband or a wife, as a mom or a dad,  or as a grandparent or as a worker. How am I doing?

Mountain moments are big picture moments.

GARDEN MOMENTS

Today’s second reading as I already said begins with the comment:  it’s time to wake from sleep. [Cf. Romans 13: 11-14.]

It’s the famous text from Romans that Augustine picked up and read when he was in a garden in Milan, Italy. He heard a little kid saying, “Take. Read!” “Tolle! Lege” in Latin. [Cf. Confessions Book 8.]

He picked up the words of Paul the Apostle - who was converted - by being knocked to the ground - and thrown into darkness - into blindness.

And he wasn’t able to see for a few days.

When he woke up he saw how blind - how dark he had become.

Later reflecting on that moment Augustine wrote in his Confessions:

“Late have I loved You, O Lord.

Behold, You were within

and I was without, 
and there I sought You.
You were with me 
when I was not with You.
You called. You cried. 
You burst my deafness.
You did gleam, and glow, 
and dispel my blindness.
You did touch me, 
and I burned for Your peace.
You have made us for Yourself
Our hearts are restless 
till they find their rest in You.
Late have I loved You,

Beauty ever old and ever new.”

TODAY’S GOSPEL

Isaiah takes us up a mountain. Paul takes us to a road to Damascus. Augustine takes us into a garden.

In today’s gospel from Matthew, Jesus takes us to the image of Noah - how everyone was blind when the flood was about to come. [Cf. Matthew 24: 37-44.]

Jesus also presents images of sudden disasters when people are killed by sudden storms: two men are at work out in a field, one is killed, the other is spared;  two women are working at the mill - one is killed, the other is not harmed. 

Or Jesus talks about house robberies. If we knew when a thief was coming we would be ready - even if it means we stay awake all night.

CONCLUSION: ADVENT

The Advent Season begins this Sunday.

It can be missed with the Christmas season already started.

I’m not going to rant about that.

We have to figure out ways to see Advent in the midst of Christmas rush.

One way would be to think about or reflect upon darkness.

Listen to Simon and Garfunkel's song, “Hello darkness my old friend.”

When we closed down Daylight Savings time and shorter days are upon us, darkness has appeared in front of us in our front windshield in afternoon car drives. 

Listen to the songs of Leonard Cohen who just died at the age of 82. His last Album was “You Want It Darker.”

I read a few of the obituaries about Leonard Cohen and commentators said he was off on religion - aloneness - darkness - sin - being cracked - broken - and that’s the way the Light shines in - through the cracks - through the hurts and sufferings and broken relationships of life.

Maybe this Advent to pause to see the Darkness of December - and see all the Lights shining in that darkness - and seeing Jesus - not the baby Jesus - but the Adult Christ - the Light of the World in the darkness - the I Don’t Know parts of our life.

Okay, enough for starters, light starts small - like a Baby - and babies reach for the Light.

So too us. Amen.