Friday, February 1, 2019

February   1, 2019 





Black History Month Thought for Today: 

I could fall in love with a sumo  wrestler  if he told stories and made me laugh. Obviously, it would be easier if someone was African-American and lived next door and went to the same church. Because then I wouldn't have to translate." 


Maya Angelou

Thursday, January 31, 2019



THE COLOR GREEN

In 1947,  I saw my  first major
league baseball game - aged 7 - 
with my dad and my brother.

Coming up out of the dark tunnel
at Ebbets Field - underneath the 
seats - I saw Dodger Blue - but

the main color was green -
a much brighter green than
our PAL*  baseball field green.

And looking back - I realize
now - I didn’t see black - I
only saw Number - 42 - Jackie.


© Andy Costello, Reflections 2019

Today - January 31, 2019
is the l00th Birthday of
the baseball  player -
Jackie Robinson.

*PAL - Police Athletic League.
Brooklyn  Police Officers got us
bats and balls and umped our games.


January  31, 2019


Thought for today:  

“Jackie’s  character  was much more important than his batting average.” 

Hank Aaron, Hall of Fame 
outfielder,  on Jackie Robinson

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

January 30, 2019



CHOOSE  ME


Time after time, we’re like little children.
Choose me. Pick me. Don’t dis me!

I have found my song. I have found my voice.
This is me from inside of me at this time in my life.

We want to be - not all the time - but from
time to time - we want to be on the stage of life.

Choose me. Pick me. Know me. Love me.
Don’t miss me - because this is who I am.

Hear my song. Hear my eyes. Hear my heart.
Here me from time to time - like right now.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2019


January  30, 2019 


Thought for today: 

“It is good if we can bring about that God sings within us.” 


Rabbi Elimelekh

Tuesday, January 29, 2019


ANOTHER TAKE ON TAKING AWAY SINS 
FROM THE HUMAN HEART 
AND THE MEMORY 

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 3rd Tuesday in Ordinary Time is, “Another Take on Taking Away Sins from the Human Heart and the Memory.”

As priest I know that people remember their sins - more than their good things - and many for the rest of their lives.

Even though they have gone to confession - people remember their past - especially their past sins.  When someone tells that  past sins keep returning to their memory - I say - “Of course:  we remember our mistakes. The opposite is dementia.”

FROM TODAY’S FIRST READING

I get this thought and this question from today’s first reading from Hebrews 10: 1-10.

Today’s first reading says that people make sacrifices  year after year to feel cleansed of sins - to remove the consciousness - the remembrance of their sins.

The Letter to the Hebrews says a lot about the why of worship and making sacrifices. It talks especially about the sacrifice of Christ . It talks about Old Testament sacrifice of animals.  Doing this is part of what human beings do to try to get rid of our memories of our  sins.

Human beings who have cheated on their spouses can tell you they keep on giving gifts to the other - to make up for our sins.

Was it Irma Bombeck who said, “Guilt: the gift that keeps on giving.”

SUNDAY EVENING

The title of my homily is, “Another Take on Taking Away Sins from the Human Heart and the Memory.”

Last Sunday evening I sat in the benches here at St. John Neumann when Father Ronnie Bonneau  was giving some remarks to the RCIC -  Becoming a Catholic as a kid - and he was talking  about going to confession for the first time - or any time.

He said that God’s motive for forgiving us is love. God loves us. God wants us to say we’re sorry and to move on.

Well as I listened I found myself thinking the following: “Maybe we can’t accept that God forgives us, because we can’t forgive those who hurt us.”

Said in another way, “If we learn to actually forgive someone who hurt us, then we might learn to realize God forgives us and others can forgive us.”

Again, if we can really forgive another then we might realize, “Well, if I can do this, God can do this.”

CONCLUSION

That grabbed me.  I don’t know how well that grabs you. Just as I began thinking about forgiveness in my own way - when listening to another - maybe you have your own insights.

Forgiving and being forgiven is a lifetime question - wondering - struggle.

January 29,  2019


JESUS TAKES 10 VERBAL SELFIES


“Oooh. Lucky for this lady that they dropped
those rocks and just walked away  -
one by one - beginning with the oldest.”

“Mom…. I hope you don’t do this
every time now - when people are stuck.”

“I knew someone was pulling
on the tassel of my cloak.”

“Thomas,  oooh! So many doubts."

“Peter. Promises. Promises - 
and having so much promise.”

“Andrew - always so reliable.”

“So much bread and fish left over.
Okay, we can do without the fish.”

“No. Not again. I can hear them now.
I just wanted a half hour nap - okay
an hour - to catch up with some sleep.”

“They didn’t get that parable. I know it.”

“That cross we passed on the road….
I sense it’s an “Uh oh! and an “Oh no!”


© Andy Costello, Reflections 2019