October 19. 2018

BOXES

Looking out my car window

I spotted four  boxes, 1,2,3,4,

then I noticed about six more

boxes, 5,6,7,8,9,10 boxes ….

They were in trucks, on dollies,

being delivered, being carried,

being wheeled on sidewalks,

tan colored cardboard boxes.

Boxes - the mystery of wondering

what’s inside - what’s hidden -

sort of like the mystery of people -

walking up and down the streets.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018

October 19, 2018 

Thought for today:  

“Life has taught me  that it is not for our faults that we are disliked and even hated, but for our  qualities.” 

Bernard Berenson [1865-1959]

October 18, 2018

FEAR

Sometimes you see it in their eyes ….

Sometimes it’s on their face ….

Sometimes it’s on a leash as they walk down the street ....

Sometimes it’s over their right shoulder as they twitch ....

Sometimes it’s on their finger tips as they bite their nails ....

Sometimes it’s in their fingers as they say their worry beads ....

Sometimes it’s in their breathing as they lock the door ....

Sometimes it’s in the pulpit or the pub ….

Sometimes God screams, “Stop making me fear!”

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018

October 18, 2018

Thought for today: 

“From childhood on I have had the dream of life lived as a sacrament... the dream implied taking life ritually as something holy.”  

Bernard Berenson [1865-1959]

October 17, 2018

OCTOBER

Intriguing interesting month ….

It’s either Spring or Fall ….

buds appearing or leaves dying -

death and resurrection

depending which hemisphere

we’re in, cool but not too hot,

warm but not too cold….

It’s in between time and season -

time before the slow of Winter

or the slow of Summer.

October! Check your calendar.

Everyone makes October

the month to meet and to do.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018

October 17, 2018 

Thought for today: 

“Life starts  all  over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” 

F. Scott Fitzgerald

ST.  GERARD:

PATRON SAINT OF?

  

INTRODUCTION

Today - October 16 - is the feast day of St. Gerard Majella - a Redemptorist brother from way back in the time of Saint Alphonsus.

For a homily my thoughts and my title would be, “St. Gerard: Patron Saint of?

Let me give 5 possible patron saint “of-fers” for St. Gerard.

First of all:  he’s already known as the patron saint of mothers  - or those wanting babies.  This is a total surprise - a young celibate Religious Brother - named the Patron Saint of Mothers.  Yet,  in Italy especially - but also  in Redemptorist Parishes all around the world,  this title  became a push - because he was prayed to for a woman having trouble in child birth and she and the baby survived.

Second of all: he’s the patron saint of those who are bullied. Peers, fellow workers, a bishop, and several others really bullied him.  One bishop he went to work for had the reputation of hiring workers who only last 3 days. St. Gerard last three years.

Third: he’s the patron saint of being underestimated.  He was rejected by the Capuchins - and then rejected by the Redemptorists - after asking to join them after they preached a mission in his town. He ran after them. When he caught up with them he nagged a  Redemptorist priest to give him a try out as a brother and wow did he surprise everyone.

Fourth: he’s the patron saint of those falsely accused and he kept his mouth shut - till the girl who accused him of messing with this other girl  wrote a letter to St. Alphonsus saying she lied.

Fifth and last he’s the patron saint of those dying young. He died at 29.

CONCLUSION

Let me end this short sermon this way: if I was named a saint after my death, what would I be the Patron Saint of?