ROCKS  AND  RELICS,

REMAINS AND REMINDERS

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 14^th Monday in Ordinary Time is, “Rocks and Relics - Remains and Reminders.”

Today’s two readings trigger thoughts about rocks and relics - and those two words triggered thoughts of two other “R” words: remains and reminders.

STONES: THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT STONES - OR ROCKS

There’s something about stones that gets us to hold onto them.

Here’s Jacob going to a shrine - near Haran. The world, the Middle East, is filled with shrines.  They are sacred places. They are stairways to heaven.

I grew up hearing that in Brooklyn there is either a bar or a church on every corner. That’s an exaggeration. Bars yes. Churches no.

In today’s Bible story from Genesis 28: 10 to 22a, Jacob does something everyone does: he picked up a specific stone - because he was in a special place. It was a shrine. It was that stone he laid his head on for the night. With his head on that rock he had his famous stairway or ladder dream. In that dream he meets God, the God of Abraham and Isaac. He is told that this land will be your land - and you’ll have many descendants here.

Question: check your house, your shelves, your keepsakes, your boxes,  for rocks from places you’ve visited.

Here are two rocks. 

This one is from Galway, Ireland from where my mom and dad are from.  Ireland has lots and lots of rocks. They could make a fortune by selling them. Rocks last. They are not plastic or cloth or paper. 

And here’s another rock. It’s from the Sea of Galilea - which I picked up and pocketed in January of 2000 - and I wrote where it is from with a thin pointed pen.

When we visit a place that impresses us - impacts us - we like to hold onto the place - with something from the place, a souvenir, a rock, a relic, a matchbook…. Isn’t that why people take pictures, zillions and zillions of pictures - besides sending the picture with an e-mail or Facebook to others - to share their sacred - their special - place and experience with family and friends. Cheaper than postcards - but postcards are nice as well.

In today’s first reading Jacob takes the stone he slept on - poured some oil on it - and set it up as a memorial stone. He called the place, “Bethel.”

Beth - is the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet - meaning house - and that’s its shape b - is like a single family house. Capital B is like a two story house.  We know the word “Beth” from the place listed as where Jesus was born: Bethlehem.  “Lehem” is the word for bread - or more: food. So Bethlehem is the House of Bread - House of Food - home. Home is where we eat and sleep and rest.

So Bethel - means “house of El”  Once more Beth means.  “El” is the word for God.  That’s the Semitic and then Arabic and Middle East name for God. El, Al, Allah, as found in the names Rachel, Nathaniel, Michael, Daniel, Noel, Angel.

So that’s a few words about rocks and sacred places - so rocks can be sacred and special.

Let me jump now to  today’s gospel and deal with the second word in my homily title. I used the word “relic.”

Well this lady in today’s gospel is suffering from hemorrhages for 12 years. She reaches out to touch the tassel of Jesus’ cloak.  She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be healed.”

What ever happened to Jesus’ cloak?

How many did he have - if had more than one.  He stressed having very little. What ever happened to his robe - the one gambled for at Calvary.

Is the Shroud of Turin Jesus’ burial cloth?

If it is, how much is it worth?

If you go into historical museums, you find clothes from famous people.

Marilyn Monroe’s dress which she wore when she sang “Happy Birthday Mr. President - to John F. Kennedy in May of 1962 - sold for $1.25 million at a Christie’s auction in 1999 and for $4.8 million on November 19, 2016.

Would we touch it - if we could touch it - with a sense of awe?

How about the woman’s thought as she touched Jesus’ garment and she was cured?  

I have two jackets that my brother wore - and my sister in law gave them to me after my brother died. When I wear either of them in  my nieces sight - they are amazing reminders of my brother. And we looked somewhat alike - the poor fellow.

People who have lost a spouse or a parent or a child - keep - keepsakes for the sake of the person who is gone.

CONCLUSION

Enough already.  I just wanted to skip these thoughts - like a kid skipping stones on a lake.

Remember the temptation Jesus had in the desert - in beginning of his ministry -  to change rocks into bread to feed the hungry. And Jesus says “No!”  And at the end he takes bread and tells us to take and eat - this is my body, this is my blood - do this in memory of me.

And wonderfully the bread dissolves - becomes us - as we digest Jesus - and we become forever in Christ.

Not as rocks - but as fleshy, sentimental, tear stained human beings.