Thought for today:
“Don’t panic.”
Colin Powell
Friday, December 21, 2018
Thursday, December 20, 2018
December 20, 2018
SCROOGE
Scrooge appears on stage
at this time of the year - for
each of us - I guess - not
to appear as a scrooge at
this or any time of the year.
Mean, cheap, lacking the giving
instinct - not tossing
some green
in the pot at the guy or gal with the
bell on the sidewalk at the bottom
of Main Street or at the mall.
And every year - and every time -
we see the play - we celebrate
that I can change, people can
change - once we explain our story
- so that happy endings happen.
© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
STORIES
TRIGGER STORIES
INTRODUCTION
The title of my homily is, “Stories Trigger Stories.”
As we all know stories trigger stories.
I tell you a story about a blue rock and you begin thinking
about a blue car you once had or a rock band or a rock you once tripped on and
you hurt your left shoulder.
Stories trigger stories.
TODAY’S READINGS
Today’s first reading from Judges tells the story of Samson
- which triggers the story of John the Baptist in our gospel.
Obviously Luke - today’s gospel - has the story in Judges
in mind.
Notice the connections - no strong wine or drink - an
angel of the Lord comes and makes an announcement - consecration to the Lord - barren
no children - then a son.
Stories trigger stories.
The Bible - the scriptures - the Old Testament and then
the New Testament - have many interconnecting stories. If you ever spot the
Jerusalem Bible sitting around - just page through it - and notice all the
interconnecting cross references.
Jesus is the New Moses. That’s a constant theme -
especially in the gospel of John. Moses left Egypt - Matthew has to get Jesus
to Egypt - so he can head for the Promised Land.
Jesus is the new Gideon - a savior - who will help the
people.
When Jesus came they ask and they wonder if he is Elijah
or one of the prophets.
WE DO THE SAME THING
We do the same thing - all the time.
I tell a story and it reminds you of something that
happened to you - and first chance you get, you cut me off and you tell your
story.
This happens all the time.
It happens with jokes as well.
Listening exercises are given to people - and they are
trained to hear what the others are saying - and not cut in with our story.
A person was telling me recently that a parish in the Midwest
trained a team of about 12 people to go
around the parish in 2’s - to knock on doors and see if they could talk to Catholics
who had dropped out of church. The
parish numbers had gone down big time. Their job was to ask dropouts their
story. They were not allowed to tell the
persons they were listening to their story. They were just to listen. Then at
the end to say, “Thanks for telling us your story. We’re from St. Mary’s and
you’re always welcome back.”
It worked.
CONCLUSION
Stories trigger stories - but they didn’t let their
stories - to stop them from listening to other people’s stories.
Today ask someone to tell you their story - without you
telling your story. Watch what happens.
December 19, 2018
BODY PARTS
© Andy Costello, Reflections
2018
BODY PARTS
If you’re happy,
tell your face and give
the world a great smile
If you’re sad,
get what’s bothering you
off your chest.
If you’re lonely,
move your feet and
knock on a friend’s door.
If you’re all talk,
shut up and visit a shut in -
and listen to them.
If you’re wondering
why you’re here,
reach out and help someone.
If you’re doubting God,
open your eyes to all
the beauty surrounding you.
If you’re grouchy,
move your mouth and praise
someone for something quick.
If you’re lazy,
get off your butt and do
something sweet for someone else.
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
December 18, 2018
TABLE
Who came up with the first table?
Was it a rock or a board placed
on two rocks? At
some point did
some carpenter put together a
wooden structure - so that we
didn’t have to eat on the ground
or off a blanket or an animal hide?
Did that lead to the idea of an altar?
Who made the first altar? Did the
first altar, did the first table move
our consciousness, a few degrees
closer to the importance of eating
together, praying together with
each other and with our God?
© Andy Costello, Reflections
2018
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