DON’T CROAK 

BECAUSE OTHERS 

WILL TELL YOU TO GO  CROAK 

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Don’t Croak, Because Others Will Tell You to ‘Go Croak.’”

I wasn’t sure just what to preach on today.  The first reading talks about Ezekiel losing his wife. She died. I had 2 funerals last week of husbands losing their wives. So that is on my mind - so maybe address that reality. Today’s gospel talks about the rich young man who couldn’t let go of his possessions. Evidently they possessed him.  I’ve thought at times about preaching how possessions can possess us - how stuff can stuff us.

However when I was reading up about St. Bernard, whose feast is today, I noticed a great anecdote - and I decided to underline thoughts that triggered.

As I read the life of Bernard, I began reading how he was often asked to help the church in lots of areas: in disputes with Abelard, with disputes about 2 popes being voted for at the same time, in disputes with the Benedictines vs. the Cistercians, with organizing the Second Crusade against the Muslims - and various other key issues of the time.

In the meanwhile he was trying to be a Cistercian Monk and to practice quiet and contemplation.

Then in the midst of all this the Pope asked a cardinal named Harmeiric to write a letter to silence Bernard.

So that’s when and where I get the title of my homily, “Don’t Croak, Because Others Will Tell You to Go Croak.”

Rome and people in Rome complained about Bernard basically being a busy body. He was described as as meddlesome monk. “Cardinal Harmeric, on behalf of the pope, wrote Bernard a sharp letter of remonstrance stating, ‘It is not fitting that noisy and troublesome frogs should come out of their marshes to trouble the Holy See and the cardinals.’”

“CROAK! CROAK!” 

That’s my attempt at imitating a frog. I know I have to work on it.

Well, upon receiving a letter of complaint, Bernard wrote back that he was dragged by force to help at the council. He wrote, “Now illustrious Harmeric if you so wished, who would have been more capable of freeing me from the necessity of assisting at the council than yourself? Forbid those noisy troublesome frogs to come out of their holes, to leave their marshes ... Then your friend will no longer be exposed to the accusations of pride and presumption.”

Rome - the Pope - and Cardinal Harmeric were impressed with Bernard’s comments. [Cf. Marie Gildas [1907]  in "St. Bernard of Clairvaux" in Charles Herberman, Catholic Encyclopedia, 2, New York: Robert Appleton. 

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

That example hit me.

How many times in life have family asked us our opinion about family?  How many times have someone asked us about politics?

Then when we give our opinion we have the same experience as Bernard: we attacked.  We described as being worse than a frog.

CONCLUSION

It’s then our move - to bite the bullet or to speak up.

Either way, don’t croak!