Monday, June 30, 2014

REMEMBER THIS,
YOU WHO NEVER THINK OF GOD!



INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 13th Monday in Ordinary Time is today’s Psalm Response, “Remember This, You Who Never Think of God.”

I thought that would be a good thought for today.

ONE OF MY SPIRITUAL PRACTICES

A spiritual practice that I like to stress over and over again is that of using one’s rosary for all kinds of prayers.

Today’s push would be to take your rosary and say on the 59 beads, “Think of God!”

I tried doing that this morning and it took me 1 minute and 15 seconds – to do just that - without rushing – but also without stopping to think.

“Think of God.”

Would that be enough of a tattoo to make that proposal stick to the skin of our soul?

“Think of God.”

Once more, today’s psalm response was, “Remember This, You Who Never Think of God.”

We said that 5 times when we went through today’s psalm, Psalm 50.

Question: “Did anyone here think about that plea? I didn’t.

Today’s Psalm Response “Remember This, You Who Never Think of God.”

I cut those 8 words down to 3 words: “Think of God.”

The question I’m asking and thinking about is: “Would anyone think of God – simply by saying – ‘Think of God.’”

If someone was going out to work or vacation or on a trip, and someone said to a person they love who is leaving or to the person who is staying, “Think of me!” would that person think more of that person that day or during that  trip because of that request?

I don’t know the answer to that question.

Each of us would have to answer that from our own experience.

As I thought about that, my answer would be: “They wouldn’t think about that person they love  - because of the request. I think they might think about the person they love – who is not there – when they need that person to lift something or get something or to share an experience with or a song comes on the radio or they see a couple walking down the street holding hands.”

THE PSALM RESPONSE

Next, I want to make a few comments about the Psalm Response itself.

The Psalm Response and Psalm –  is a part of every Mass – sitting there between the two readings . 

Have you ever thought about the Psalm Response? Has a preacher ever made reference to it?

I think it gets lost in the shuffle most of the time.

I think the words are throw away words – and our minds discard them pretty quickly.

If they are over 10 syllables – and especially if they are over 10 words, I think many of us miss or mess them up or don’t get them.

It think those who use the missalette to see the words are helped with knowing what the Psalm Response is. By doing that I assume they sometimes get something out of it -  because they don’t have to spend energy on trying to hear just what it is before remembering what they just heard the lector say them.

Next, I think Psalm Responses are for singing – and we don’t sing them during the week in most parishes. When sung on Sundays, I look out and I see some people’s lips moving – singing the Psalm Response after the Cantor sings it. I also see some faces praying it – sometimes with eyes closed and apparently pleading with God the contents of the Psalm Response. 

[I couldn't find on YouTube Psalm 50: 16-17, 18-19, 20-21, 22-23 - today's Psalm - so I put at the beginning of this blog piece Psalm 41 - as an example of a sung psalm and psalm response.]

So my conclusion from my experience has been: when sung, much better. When spoken, much chaos.

As to the spoken Psalm Response, I heard a priest say: “In my last parish, we used two or three of the same responses on weekdays for the whole year – ones the people get used to.”  I’ve heard other priests say: “Instead of those long Psalm responses – which are often confusing – we simply say, ‘The response today is, “Alleluia!”’”

BACK TO TODAY’S PSALM RESPONSE

Enough of that ….

Once more today’s Psalms Response is: “Remember This, You Who Never Think of God.”

Looking at the 4 psalm verses the Lector reads out in between that Psalm response I came up with these 4 questions:

Is the song writer saying: “When you forget God, when you don’t think of God, you’ll hate discipline and you won’t be keeping God’s covenant, statutes and commandments.”

Is the song writer saying: “If you forget God you’ll be a thief, an adulterer, and your mouth will be mouthing evil and deceit – lies?”

Is the song writer saying: “If you forget God you’ll speak against your family members, you’ll be spreading rumors, you’ll be thinking God really doesn’t care what you do – and you’ll be thinking less and less of God.”

Is the song writer saying: “If you forget God you’ll forget that God can rescue you and save you in tough situations.”

CONCLUSION

So obviously, all this is one more reason why we come to Mass – come to church – take time to pray. When here we’re less apt to forget God. We’re more apt to remember God.

When we remember God, we’re better people. When we don’t forget God – we’re better people with our mouth, with our behavior, with our attitudes, with our inner conversations.



When we remember God, we’ll be less apt to be like the folks in today’s first reading whom Amos  2:6-10, 13-16 is saying they are not treating one another right – and we’ll be more apt to follow Christ as he is calling these two people in today’s gospel - Matthew 8: 18-22.
STUMBLING  BLOCK 
OR 
STEPPING  STONE? 

Poem for June 30, 2014


BAG OF TOOLS

Isn't it strange how princes and kings,
and clowns that caper in sawdust rings,
and common people, like you and me,
are builders for eternity?

Each is given a list of rules;
a shapeless mass; a bag of tools.
And each must fashion, ere life is flown,
A stumbling block, or a Stepping-Stone.

© RL Sharpe

Sunday, June 29, 2014

THE  GDCZUKESIS  BROTHERS 

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “The Gdczukesis Brothers.”

Gdczukesiks – spelled “G D C Z U K E S I S” - Gdczukesiks .

Don’t worry about the spelling – nobody ever got it right – probably starting with U.S. Customs Agents at Ellis Island, New York City - when they met the first Gdczukesis – two brothers - arriving by boat from Eastern Europe way back in 1895.

Don’t worry – you probably won’t be able to pronounce their last name either. Just say, “One of the Gooks.” Yes, that often became their and their descendent’s nickname in every generation – and most laughed – once they became used to people being unable to pronounce their intriguing last name.

THE BANQUET

There must have been about 3,500 hundred people at the big banquet – in a big downtown – big city hotel. It was the 100th anniversary of a men’s big Catholic retreat house just on the edge of the city.

The banquet hall was filled with mostly men – middle aged to old men – most with suits and ties on. Hey it was the 100th anniversary. And yes, some of the men were there with their wives – but it was mostly men.

It was banquet food – chicken for everyone. There were probably a few vegetarians in the group – but nobody was P.C. correct. Okay, there were string beans – good – sprinkled with peanuts – with no worry for anyone with peanut allergies.  The men – many with rather large bellies - asked for seconds on the bread – at almost every table. Men do that – and as the waitress went for more bread - they shouted an extra comment: “And bring plenty of those tiny packets of butter  - cold butter, please!”

There were lots of speeches at the banquet. There was lots of history spoken. 100 years is a 100 years. The keynote address – was good – but just good – not excellent – giving lots of names from the past.

Then came the moment - the fascinating moment. One of the sub speakers – got to the microphone – and said, “I was thinking as I looked around the banquet hall this evening – that many of us would not be here today - if it wasn’t for the Gdczukesis’ brothers – Peter and Paul Gdczukesis – of happy memory.”

The speaker continued, “Way, way back, they came on a weekend retreat. They enjoyed it so much - that on the following Monday morning – they talked about how good it was – that other men said, 'Next year if you go on that retreat, let us know.'”

Sure enough – next year – a good contingent of men from Peter and Paul Gdczukesiks’ parish – and some from work - went on a weekend religious retreat – and as the years flowed by, the numbers kept increasing – all because of these two brothers.

As the sub speaker was saying this – men around the room started standing up spontaneously. Men would signal to other men – “Hey stand up – you’re part of this!” They were indicating, “You’re here,  because if you traced it back – you went on a weekend retreat – because of Peter or Paul Gdczukesis.”

Surprise about 500 men out of the 3,500 people in the room stood up.

The sub speaker – stopped in amazement – reached down – and picked up a glass of water from his table spot on the dais – and said into the microphone, “To Peter and Paul – the first Gooks – who got us to make a weekend retreat.”

All cheered. All smiled. All laughed. All celebrated.

PRIEST IN CHICAGO

The other day I noticed in The National Catholic Reporter a homily for this feast of St. Peter and Paul. I read it, because I was wondering what I would preach on this Sunday.

This next part of my sermon has no connection with my first part – my story about “The Gdczukesis Brothers” – other than their name being Peter and Paul.

The priest, the author of a homily entitled, “Christ Is Alive” is a Father Roger Vermalen Karban – pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Renault, Illinois. He begins his homily this way, “Someone once said that a connoisseur of classical music is someone who can listen to Rossini’s ‘William Tell Overture’ and not think of ‘The Lone Ranger.’”

I’m not a connoisseur of classical music – but I got that insight – and I think of the Lone Ranger every time I hear that musical piece.

Then this preacher and pastor from Renault, Illinois said that a real connoisseur of Scripture is one who can listen to today’s gospel and not think of the Papacy of today.

I did think of our modern popes – so I’m not a connoisseur of Scripture either. However, his comment hit me and I found it worthy of reflection for this feast day.

Father Karban stresses  - yes Peter is the Rock – but what was key to Peter’s life – was that the rock had been moved away and Christ  had risen from the dead – and lives amongst us.

Hence his sermon theme and title: “Christ is Alive.”

Then he stresses not the Papacy and trappings – but the call of the church is to discover Christ alive in our everyday life.

That’s what Peter and Paul did.

IF PETER AND PAUL WENT ON A TRIP

Next, as I thought about all this and that,  I began thinking what would Peter and Paul see in our Church today?

If Peter and Paul went on a trip – what would they see and think about what happened to our Church down through the centuries?

If they came into our parish – what would be their comments?

If they sat down at our table or on our couch in our home – what would be their impressions?

If we sat down with them – what would be our questions?

I don’t know what Peter and Paul would see – but I do know a few questions that I would ask.

I’d ask both what was their most important message? Would I find that message in the 2 Letters of Peter – attributed to him - in the New Testament – and the 14 Letters of Paul in the New Testament – 7 of them surely attributed to him – and the other 7 - attributed to him at times and associated with him most of the time?

I’d ask both of them: “What was the most important moment of their life? Was it the day they met Christ – Peter at the lakeside in Galilee – Paul on the road to Damascus?”  I’d ask both if their mistakes dominated their lives – Paul being in on the death of Christians like Stephen – and Peter in denying Jesus on the night of his arrest – after the Last Supper?

In other words: what would be most important part of their life, Christ, or their Call or Conversion to Christ? Or are both linked?

Would they ask me: what do you see is your call in life? Would they ask: what have been my conversion moments?

Would Paul ask me: Have I ever fallen on my face – being so blind – that I couldn’t see that I was hurting others?

Would Peter ask me: Have I ever put my foot in my mouth like he did – and lived to get over it – but with more understanding of myself and others because of my mistakes?

If I had some more moments with them, I’d ask them if they knew about the wooden statues here in St. Mary’s – in our old communion rail – Peter with a book in his hands and the keys to the kingdom in the other hand – and Paul with a sword in his hand – indicating the tradition that he was beheaded – and he too has a book in  his hands. 




If I had some more time and they had some more time on their trip, I’d ask them if they knew about Santa Maria del Popolo Church in Rome.



I figure that would catch their attention – being so specific. And when they asked what I was talking about, I’d tell them that way back in 1099 in Rome, Pope Pascal II had a walnut tree in Rome chopped down. It was always populated by scary black crows.  The people in that area of Rome were saying that area was haunted by the Ghost of Nero – and then I’d add, “I heard both of you were killed by Nero in Rome in the 60’s.”

If they asked, “Where did you hear that?” I’d say, “That’s what Eusebius of Caesarea said in the 4th century.”

If they then said, “Okay, but tell us about this church of Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome?”

I’d say that the church was a chapel at first then added onto  – then totally rebuilt – and many of the biggies were in on its decorations – and rebuilds -  names like Della Rovere and Raphael and Bernini.  Then I’d appeal to their vanity and say: “There are 2 Caravaggio’s in that church – one of you Peter and one of you Paul.”

I’d expect both to perk up at that and say, “I hear they are worth millions.”

Then I’d expect them to ask: “How did this fellow Caravaggio picture us.”




I’d tell Paul that you’re on the ground in armor – having fallen off your horse – on your way to arrest and kill Christians. Then I’d add – it’s a perfect picture for Caravaggio – because he loved light – and Luke in the Acts of the Apostles says you saw the light that day.



I’d tell Peter that he’s being crucified upside down – as I heard you requested. Unlike Paul in his armor – you’re like Jesus in a loin cloth – and it seems like you’re looking elsewhere – even though there is this horrible looking nail – right through your hand – into the cross.

I’d wonder what they would think about all these things.

CONCLUSION

I also wonder what you think about Peter and Paul. This weekend we celebrate their place in our faith life. Take a trip in your mind – and see what questions come up – questions you have for them – and questions they have for you. In the year 65 or so - when they were killed - they certainly had no idea what would happen to our world with Christ in it - till the end of the world.

I also wonder about the Gdczukesis’ Brothers – Peter and Paul Gdczukesis. Like Peter and Paul they had no idea what the future would bring. They had had no idea – when they made that first retreat - what would happen in the future of so many as a result.

I think of the generations of Catholics to come – how many of them will stand up in the banquet of heaven and toast us – because – because of us – their faith in Jesus Christ became real.

Amen.



FOOTPRINTS 

Poem for Today - Sunday - June 29, 2014



A  PSALM  OF  LIFE

What The Heart Of The Young Man Said To The Psalmist.
Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
   Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
   And things are not what they seem.

Life is real! Life is earnest!
   And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
   Was not spoken of the soul.

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
   Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
   Find us farther than to-day.

Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
   And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
   Funeral marches to the grave.

In the world’s broad field of battle,
   In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
   Be a hero in the strife!

Trust no Future, howe’er pleasant!
   Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act,— act in the living Present!
   Heart within, and God o’erhead!

Lives of great men all remind us
   We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
   Footprints on the sands of time;

Footprints, that perhaps another,
   Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
   Seeing, shall take heart again.

Let us, then, be up and doing,
   With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
   Learn to labor and to wait.


© Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Saturday, June 28, 2014

THE  SET  OF  A  SOUL 

Poem for Today - June 28, 2014





THE WINDS OF FATE

One ship drives east and another drives west
With the selfsame winds that blow.
Tis the set of the sails
And not the gales
Which tells us the way to go. 

Like the winds of the seas are the ways of fate,
As we voyage along through life:
Tis the set of a soul
That decides its goal,
And not the calm or the strife.


© Ella Wheeler Wilcox 

Friday, June 27, 2014

MAYA ANGELOU

Poem for Today - Friday - June 27, 2014




PHENOMENAL  WOMAN

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me. 

© Maya Angelou




Thursday, June 26, 2014

RUMI  
CIRCLES 


Poem for Today - June 26, 2014





Inside water a water wheel turns,
The star circulates with the Moon,
We live in a night ocean wondering:
What are these lights?
You have said what you are -
I am what I am.
Your actions in my head,
My head here and my hands
With something circling inside-
I have no name for what circles so perfectly

© Rumi, translation
by Coleman Barks
Published on July 11, 2012