September 9,  2022

Reflection

RAIN

It's raining.

Beads and bubbles of rain sitting on a newly washed and waked car.

The sound rain makes on street from tires going by this house.

Rain - the sound on sills and windows after the cars have disappeared.

Rain - nice if needed - not wanted this day because of this wedding this afternoon.

Rain - rare in Arizona - plentiful this day - in Maryland - this late March.

Rain - a bit damp - a bit cold - a bit uncomfortable - but we don't appreciate the coolness of rain - unless we want coolness and rain.

Rain - why this word - why the sound in this word.

"It's raining!"

"We need rain!"

"My roof is leaking. Enough with this rain."

Kids - little girls - boys sometimes too - loving rain - so they want to go outdoor with yellow plastic boots on and a chance to love the rain.

Window shield wipers getting a chance to show their necessity.

Rain ....

The rain of God - rhyming with "the reign of God". Is there any connection.

The two times - a week each time - I was in Arizona - hearing, "You have to be when it rains. The desert blooms when the rain falls."

It didn't happen when I was there.

Rain....

It's sunny today, March 19th, 2007.  Spring will be with us - in two days - and hopefully, busy April showers. as well.

Rain ....

September 9, 2022

Thought for Today 

"Someone's boring me, and I think it's me."

Attibuted to Dylan Thomas

BBC Radio, Quote Unquote June 21, 1980

 September 8, 2022

Reflection

THE  AFTERMATH OF CLARITY

After an argument there is clarity.

After an argument, hopefully, there is also charity - but here I'm talking about clarity.

How many times have we figured out what we should have said - or not said - but we're on our way home - after the argument.

If we are going to see the person or persons we were arguing with again - or if we are in the same home - bedroom - family table - workplace - club - as us - then we can say, "Oh I was thinking about the fight we had the other night, and it hit me afterwards, "I was wrong!" or "What I was trying to say was ...." or "My button was pushed and I apologize for losing it' or "I never did listen to your point."

After the argument there is clarity.

The fog lifts after the battle.

There is such a thing as Monday morning quarter-backing"

If - is a powerful concept.

Second thoughts are often better thoughts.

Yesterday, some ladies were pushing for doing more Divine Mercy stuff. It's not my cup of tea. They were pushing for the Divine Mercy rosary.  They were complaining that some churches didn't have statues. Some churches did not have the tabernacle behind the altar. Some people were not praying. Complaints. Complaints. Complaints.

Should I respond or remain quiet.

I blew it. I said something.

But on the way home I saw that I should have shut up.

It was then that I saw what I could have or should have said.

After the argument comes clarity.

 September 8, 2022

Thought for Today

"Look into any man's heart you please, and you will always find, in every one, at least one black spot which he has to keep concealed."

Henrik Ibsen

Pillars of Society [1877] Act 3

 September 7, 2022

Reflection

SIBLINGS

If someone used the word "sibling" when I was a kid in the 1940's, I would have had no clue what it meant. I'd probably think it was someone's last name.

Today it's used. Is it because there are less kids in families? It seems to me that kids know and like that word "sibling".

I had 3 siblings: a brother and 2 sisters.

Our siblings are with us for a lifetime. And it sometimes takes us a lifetime to figure our what's with our brothers and sisters.

In listening to people talk about their life, I hear expectations they have about their brothers and sisters - their siblings.

In listening to people talk about their siblings, I hear them say they have not told different siblings their expectations of them. 

In listening to people talk about their siblings, I sometimes hear them say they are still living in the shadow of a brother or a sister.

In listening to people talk about their siblings, I sometimes hear about the absence - or distancing - they experienced from one or their siblings.

Sometimes it's just the opposite.

Jesus was an only child - yet he often talks about brothers - and there is mention in his life of his visits to Martha and Mary and their brother Lazarus.

Jesus called brothers: James and John, Peter and Andrew.

And Christianity talks about all of us being siblings to each other - but they don't use the word "sibling". 

Interesting ....

Yet blood is thicker than thoughts and words - so we drink the precious blood from the family table - so that we become family and siblings to each other.

 September 7,  2022

Thought for Today

"Man's  nature, his passions and anxieties, are a cultural product; as a matter of fact, man himself is the most important creation and achievement of the continuous human effort, the record of what we call history."

Erich Fromm [1900-1980]

Escape from Freedom [1941]

 

JUST ONE QUICK MOMENT

 

The title of my homily for this 23rd Tuesday in Ordinary Time  is, “Just One Quick Moment.”

 

“Just One Quick Moment.”

 

Sometimes it only takes a moment – just one quick moment – to get in touch with God – to get in touch  with another person – to get in touch with  myself – pinching myself for who I am – right here – right now. Hi!

 

I got that thought when I read the last sentence in today’s gospel: “Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all.”

 

If Jesus walked down the main aisle of this chapel – this chapel would be crowded – and everyone would be hanging out  of the benches - in the center aisle  – leaning out to touch Jesus.

 

BOBBY KENNEDY

 

I love to tell the story of the moment I touched Bobby Kennedy  – who was with his brother - John F. Kennedy who became president. I was down to Washington D.C. I think it was in 1958. My brother said, “Let’s go to the Congressional Hearings – in which they were questioning union leaders -  for foul play.

 

We got standing room only spaces – in the back.  I had no idea what was happening – but they called a lunch break – and everyone headed to the edge of the center aisle – to possibly reach out and touch the Kennedy brothers as they were leaving the room.

 

I touched Bobby Kennedy’s right arm – his right sleeve – in the crowd. That’s all.

 

I’ve often asked people did they ever touch the arm or hand of anyone famous?

 

It’s a unique moment. People tell of touching the pope of some famous athlete or actor or actress.

 

Father Grohe mentioned at supper last night that he was in our church – St. Peter’s – in Philadelphia – when the Pope – John Paul II - was there. Well, Gene reached out this hand when the Pope was going by.  And as Gene tells the story, “His hand was almost chopped off by a secret service agent.” “It hurt!” he said as he gestured about this with his left hand.

 

It was just a moment – just one quick moment – the title of my homily for today.

 

Every day we have many – just one quick moments – to reach out to others  - to say, “Hi!” or “Thank you!” or “I hope you have a good day!” or “It’s good to see you.” Or just to touch them – if it’s just their sleeve

 

I have in my Breviary – my priest prayer book – a tiny little card – I think I mentioned this in a homily once before. It says, “Each day, at least once, return the gaze of God.”  Then the card mentions the author, “Richard Rohr.”

 

I do that  - every day – I read it – and pause. Thank you, Richard Rohr

 

I touch God in that moment. Power comes out from God – from Jesus - in that quick moment.

 

By doing that – it has made the moment I receive communion – better. I touch God for just one quick moment.

 

I also do that when I see – other people – who are receiving Holy Communion. I like to watch people receiving communion. We’re all the Body of Christ. We’re all in this together. This is our moment together.

 

We are and we do this in one quick moment.

 

Surprise – just by looking at that tiny card – in my prayer book - and saying Richard Rohr’s words - communion has become much better for me.

 

Surprise – I also have  lots of “Death Cards – in my prayer book  - I call it my portable cemetery – and I like to just go through a few of them from time to time  - and touch that person who touched my life – and I got power from them – back then  - and now again – for “just one quick moment” – the title of my homily.