WHAT  WE  LIVE  ON 

AFTER  WE  HAVE  LIVED 

The old priest told the young woman,

“These are the men who built the

tunnels, the bridges and the highways.”

Then he added, looking around the church

hall at these old  wrinkled  weathered men,

“God only knows what they live on now.”

The young girl stood there studying

the faces - as tears slid down her face,

God only knows what she was thinking.

She was homesick. She was experiencing 
changes. She was adjusting. She was future.
God only knows what she’ll live in a new now.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018

WHAT’S   YOUR  TAKE 

ON  ANGER?

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter is, “What’s Your Take On Anger.”

I got that  question and issue to think about from today’s first reading. [Cf. Acts 7: 51 to 8: 1a]

The crowd gets infuriated when Stephen tells them off.

He says, “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always oppose the Holy Spirit, you are just like your ancestors.”

Hearing this they throw him out of town and begin to stone him to death.

HOW MANY TIMES IN OUR LIFE HAVE WE SEEN THAT SCENE

How many times have we seen that same scene?

Saul - who becomes Paul - saw it and wow did he take a lot out of it, but it took him time.

My earliest  memory of anger was as a little boy walking along 4^th Avenue in Brooklyn. We were going  by a gas station and two mechanics are screaming at each other - and one guy throws a metal tire wrench - the solid one piece ones - in the shape of a plus sign or a cross - at the other guy and misses him.  I can still hear the clang of that sound on macadam or cement all these years - and my shoulders still jerk back and up when I remember that moment.

Little kids hear anger and screaming and it effects and affects them.

I never could get affect and effect correct - and cheat and say, “It’s often both.”

We have all seen couples, parents, kids, angry, screaming and yelling at each other.

What’s your take on anger?

What are your memories of anger?

What are the angry scenes - on stage - in the auditorium of your mind and memory?

TYPES OF ANGER

We don’t have to define anger or look the word up in the dictionary. We know what anger is.

But I think it’s smart to think of types of anger.

There’s good anger and there’s bad anger.

Everyone who comes to church has heard that Jesus got angry at the money changers in the temple - and threw a tantrum at the crowd.

So sometimes anger is good and justified. We should get angry at those who abuse children - or anyone.

Do you get angry at those who dump on the earth or empty out  their car garbage onto the parking lot or gas station floor - especially when there’s a big plastic can a few feet away.  A couple of times I’ve said, “Hey you just dropped this.”  It could  be a McDonald’s  wrapper of a Burger King big chocolate shake cup.   If they don’t go back and pick it up - that means I have to do that.”

I remember reading about a sociological study and experiment in New Orleans or Nashville or somewhere. During the night for a week - including a weekend -  they cleaned a street totally and then measured and weighed the amount of wrappers and garbage that night. Then then they planted garbage on the street and measured the amount that night. Lesson: clean streets, parks, rest rooms, stay cleaner, the cleaner they are.

I dislike - have a calm low degree of anger - when I’m at a ballgame and everyone just dumps all their garbage on the ground - under their seats - or when I see the dugout by the 7^th inning.

What bothers you? What bugs you? What annoys you? What angers you? What does your anger list look like?

So there’s good anger and bad anger and so so anger.

There’s also revelatory anger. That’s anger that tells the person who is angry their values. If you get angry at dumpers and slobs - that should tell you that you like neat. 

For example, some people get angry at talkers in church - before and after mass.  Other people think it’s great to see neighbors and friends greeting each other in church before and after Mass. 

For example, some people go crazy with mismanagement - stupidity - like at the post office - when three counter people are just standing there off to the side talking and laughing and the line is 15 deep - and finally someone of the 3 finish a story and go over to their spot on the counter and yell, “Next!” Good management, good service, flow in a parking lot, etc. etc. etc. are at stake here.  Then there was the heart specialist in California - who said to his heart patients.  When you go into a bank, always pick the longest line. When you’re 2^nd in line - get off - and go to the back of the longest line. While standing there try to recall the names of everyone in your high school graduating class. I’ve tried that. I’ve tried that. It works.  But I don’t have an E-ZPass and I always pick the longest toll booth.

CONCLUSION

Some people get angry at long sermons - they gotta get to work - or they know that someone could say the same thing in 10 words or less.

For example: “Hey turkey, don’t you realize, you’re   getting angry too much.: That’s 10 words.

For example, “In the end, Stephen forgives.” That’ 5 words.

April 17, 2018 

Thought for today  

“The heart of man is the place the devils  dwell in: I feel sometimes a hell within myself.” 

Sir Thomas Browne [1605-1682], 

Religio Medici [1642]  pt. 51

JOHN 6

  

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this Monday in the Third Week of Easter is John 6.

We have a section of that chapter for our gospel reading today. [Cf. John 6: 22-29]

John 6 is the bread chapter in John.

John 6 is the Eucharistic chapter in John.

All those who go to Mass - and / or visit the adoration chapel a lot should read John 6 a lot. It has 71 verses. It’s long - and is usually broken up.

A STARTING IMAGE

Let me begin with a cute and interesting image.

A small company with about 15 folks in the business operations division got a new CEO.  At the first staff meeting for these 15 folks, this CEO said he would like to have dinner with all the families of the folks working there. He thought it would be very important not just to know those he’s working with - but also their families.

This was new. This was different. 

It was this one guy’s night for the dinner. He said to his wife. You’ll  sit next to the president. We’ll have our 5 little kids at the table as well - and I’ll serve the meal. That should impress him.

The meal began and this guy’s wife asked the CEO if he wanted pot roast. “Yes” - then mashed potatoes, “Yes” - then broccoli, “Yes”. And then his wife filled the boss’ plate. Then she started cutting the CEO’s meat - till she caught herself and got totally embarrassed and red in the face.

Well, that’s a way of tackling this 6^th chapter of John.

I would like to cut it up into 12 pieces and then do the same for today’s small part of the 6^th chapter - cutting that into 3 parts. That’s my sort of a sermon.

It’s a method of reading scripture. Just isolate, cut out one part, and then chew on that text.

12 THEMES - 12 PIECES OF JOHN 6 TO CHEW ON AND DIGEST

First theme or piece: The Passover. It’s mentioned here in John 6:4, “Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near.” It would be wise to reflect on the Passover - the Jews passing over, escaping from Egypt into the desert and heading for the Promised Land. Christ leads us out of slavery. It’s called the New Exodus. It’s called redemption. It’s called salvation. His blood be upon us - our homes - our new lives.

Second theme or piece: Give What You Can Give. You can’t give it all or do it all - or have it all.  I heard Father Matt Allman preach on this theme just last Friday to our high school kids.

Third Theme: Step In and Step Up.  Andrew, the most important apostle in the gospels steps up from time to time and saves everything.

Fourth Step: Remember the Fish. When you read the New Testament, look for mention of the fish.  Christ is symbolized by the fish. It’s ICHXTHUS -  I stands for Jesus.

Fifth Piece: Gather up the fragments.  After all are fed, Jesus says to gather up the fragments.  We store Jesus in the tabernacle.

Sixth Piece: The New Moses - Jesus is the Prophet. He’s the new Moses.

Seventh Piece: The Crossing - Life is a cross the sea or the desert.

Eight Piece: What Are You Looking For?  This question appears several time in the gospels What are we looking for?  Jesus asked the crowd: what are you looking for?

Ninth Piece: Jesus is the Bread of Life. What are you hungering for - Regular Bread and the Eternal Bread of life.

Tenth Piece: God is Our Father - Jesus is here to lead us to the Father.

Eleventh Piece: Want to live forever?  Jesus is the food for eternal life. Eat him and you’ll live forever.

Twelfth:  The Eucharist is a Test.  Many walked away.

PART TWO: TODAY’S GOSPEL - THREE PIECES

First Piece: Two Types of Bread: regular bread and eternal life bread.  We need both.

Second Piece: We are all searchers -- Looking for, searching for, wanting.

Third Piece: We are all looking for Signs.

LIKE  HOME

Home, we’re all longing for home ….

To keep moving till homesickness

like an iceberg is well behind us.

It didn’t sink us. We have arrived.

This is me. This is my place.

We take off our shoes. We’re laughing.

We’re in a favorite chair, Alone or with

others - we’re with each other. We know:

this is it. In the meanwhile we fake it.

We look like we know. Then a moment

happens. It’s then we know. We know

we are at home. We will endure.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018 

April 16, 2018 

Thought for today: 

“Hell  is -  other  people!” 

Jean Paul Sartre [1905 - 1980], 

Huis-Clos (No Exit) [1944]

WHAT’S  YOUR  TAKE  
ON  SIN?

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 3rd Sunday of Easter  is, “What’s Your Take on Sin?”

Today’s second reading from the 1^st Letter of St. John  begins this way: “My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin.”

Isn’t that one of the top concerns for parents - that worry about their kids - not to get messed up in sin -  the bad and the ugly - and miss out on the good?

ONE OF THE 5 TOP QUESTIONS PEOPLE ASK PRIESTS

One of the 5 top questions people ask priests is this: “Father, did I commit a sin?”

When I’m asked that question,  I want to say, “I don’t know. Did you?”  I want to throw the ball back into their court - which is going to be a take in this homily about sin.”

If I have time and it’s the right situation or moment, I might say something like, “Tell me more.”  And then add, “Come Holy Spirit.”

To some questions - I’m tempted to say what Jesus said when asked by someone in  a crowd: “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.”  Jesus said, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” [Luke 12: 13-14]

That’s kind of an “Ouchy” response,  but there’s some truth sitting there in that response by Jesus.

Now I don’t know if there is a list somewhere of top questions people ask priests, but I know that, “Father, did I commit a sin?” has to be one of them.

However, I know another question people ask priests and it’s definitely the # 1 question: “Father, does this count for Sunday Mass?”

We’re asked that at weddings - not in church - but at the reception - after an afternoon wedding Mass.  And somewhere in the attic or cellar of that question is the worry about sin.

BACK TO THE TITLE OF MY HOMILY: WHAT’S YOUR TAKE ON SIN?

I’ll begin by saying that sometimes people think they are committing sins - when they are not.

Then I’d say a lot of people are committing sins - and they don’t realize it - especially sins of omission - like  neglecting affirmation and affection for the people around them.

I’d also say that if someone thinks something that is not sinful is sinful then they don’t sin - even though they think it’s sinful.

However, having said that, I think that’s also an, “It all depends.”

So one of my takes on sin is:  “Sin is tricky stuff.”

What’s your take on sin?

Does every person have to go into the desert for 40 days - for example Lent every year - or 40 years and do their own homework and heart work and mind work on the reality of sin? By that I mean this: Is growing up, is forming our own conscience, all about becoming one’s own priest - one’s own deacon [that is, servant of one’s soul] -  one’s own judge - one’s own decider whether something is a sin or not?

I say 40 years - because I read something some 40 years ago that went something like this: “The greatest sin is the inability to accept  the otherness of the other person.”

I’ve been thinking about that statement for some 40 years now. It comes up when I’m dealing with someone - usually a priest - [I live with priests] - when they don’t think the way I think.

So is that the greatest sin?  I don’t know.

The Bible talks about an unforgivable sin. Mark 3: 28-30 and  Matthew 12:31-32 are quoted. Jesus seems to be saying, If someone refuses the Holy Spirit when there is a question of forgiveness going on - then they are refusing the Holy Spirit who forgives - so they are not forgiven. It’s their own choice - done by their own free will. So it’s not God who won’t forgive, but themselves who won’t accept forgiveness - for our own mistakes  or mistakes and sins or trespasses against us.

Now that’s my take on that issue of whether or not there are unforgiveable sins.  There are many other takes on that issue. It’s one of those mysterious God and self-questions.

Here’s another issue when it comes to sin.  Some 50 years ago - someone - I don’t know who the person was - told me that they don’t bring God into the picture when they are thinking about sin - when they are thinking about right and wrong. They said that they simply ask: is what I am doing here or thinking here making things better or worse for how I am doing life or how I am doing life with others.

She added - it was a woman - but I don’t  remember who: “Too many people think sin hurts God and they don’t pay attention to how sin hurts themselves and/or others. They seem to leave themselves out of the effects of sin.

Now that’s numbness. Now that’s dumbness. 

Now I think that’s something right there that I need to think about a lot more.

MESSES THINGS UP

How do you define sin?

How do you describe sin?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says the following. It's somewhat different to what that someone told me 50 years ago.

“Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity. It has been defined as ‘an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law.’” That's # 1849 in  the New Catechism 

# 1850 is also very different and much more official: “Sin is an offense against God: ‘Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight.’ Sin sets itself against God's love for us and turns our hearts away from it. Like the first sin, it is disobedience, a revolt against God through the will to become ‘like gods,’ knowing and determining good and evil. Sin is thus ‘love of oneself even to contempt of God.’ In this proud self- exaltation, sin is diametrically opposed to the obedience of Jesus, which achieves our salvation.^”

So is sin that and a list of things in The Baltimore Catechism which many of us were brought up with and were taught - and then become our way of seeing and thinking - that are wrong?

Yes. 

Like, “Thou shall not steal.”

Like, “Make sure you take care of your kids when they are young and your parents when they are old.”

Like, “Keep your married vows!” Better, “Love one another as I have loved you.”

Like, “Keep the Golden Rule” - don’t be doing things to others that you hate happen to you.”

I like to call sin: the mess!

A gal I know, Patricia Livingston, wrote a whole book called:  This Blessed Mess. It's an excellent read.

But when sin happens,  it doesn’t feel like a blessing.

It takes time to learn from our sins and our messes.

So sin is what messes things up  - or keeps things messy - when beauty and unity and love should  be going on.

Go back to that comment I heard some 40 years ago: “The greatest sin is the inability to accept  the otherness of the other person.”

If we spend our time at work not accepting the personality of a boss or co-worker or person we’re hired to serve - then our personality can get filled with agita - and we might become nasty or a person others can’t accept and we then bring that itchy agita onto the road or home.

Sin messes things up and messes us up.

That’s what hits God - seeing us messed up.

I think that’s part of the background Jesus saw and thought about and cried about from the cross.  Here are all these people who yelled and spat at him.

Those nasties can anesthetizes us from being nice and decent to each other.

How did the person who nailed Jesus to the cross treat his kids at supper that night?  Was he moody, silent, nasty or what?

Is that why Jesus said, “Father forgive them for they don’t know what the heck they are doing.”

CONCLUSION

We come to church - we take walks - we think while we’re driving - and hopefully in our adult relationships - we talk to each other about sin - what works, what doesn’t work.

These are just a few ideas about my take on sin - then there are all those other thoughts - like sins of omission - like how we treat our earth - our front yards  and back yards - like how we treat our bodies - health wise - like parking in the far end of the parking lot to get some extra walking in - and making parking easier for others - maybe older than us - like  becoming the person whom God and others hope we become to make life on this planet that much sweeter for each other.