January 26, 2003
3d Sunday in Ordinary Time Mark 1:14-20
Background:
Mark's gospel is often referred to as the Kingdon gospel, because it flows from the initial Kingdom proclamation found in today's reading. We, like the listeners in Galilee, are invited to reform and believe. Immediately following this invitation, we have two examples of what the invitation requires. The first fishermen immediately abandon their nets, and the sons of Zebedee not only abandon their nets, they also abandon their father. Neither our possessions nor our families must stand in the way of our following the path that will be set forth in the remainder of Mark's gospel.
Story:
We can go to Ireland for the summer, a mother and father announced to their children at this time of the year not so long ago. The response was underwhelming. The older teen said the Irish are creepy people, they talk all the time and they talk funny. Besides I want to spend summer with my friends, their a lot neater than Irish kids. It's a great offer, the parents said. All the kids are free both on planes and in the cottage we'll rent in Ireland. Cottage said the younger teen. I don't want to live in any cottage. Is it air-conditioned in Ireland? Besides I have early football practice. You don't need air conditioning in Ireland, said the parents and cottage is really a nice house and theirs a town near by where they sing all the old Irish songs. I don't want to sing Irish songs, said the older grammar school kid. I want to hear rock and roll music (which, by the way is all you hear in Ireland these days too). You'll have a grand time when you get to know Irish kids your age. I don't want to meet any Irish kids my age said the younger. I like my friends in America. They're a lot more fun. A crazy waste of opportunity, you say? How many opportunities have we wasted in life for reason that are pretty similar.
May 12, 2002
7th Sunday of Easter or Celebration of the Ascension of the Lord.
Background:
We are offered the possibility of using either the 7th Sunday Gospel (John 17:1-11a) or, if we celebrate the feast of the Ascension on this Sunday, the Ascension Thursday Gospel (Matthew 28:16-20). Since this Sunday is the celebration of the great American Cultural feast of Mother�s Day, the day which reminds us of the shared human experience of having been, and in most cases continuing to be, mothered. For this reason we are using the 1st reading from the Ascension of the Lord for our reflection (Acts 1:1-11).
NB Any reflections on the Feast of Mother�s Day should bear in mind that there are people in the congregation that are not mothers -- all the men and those women who for various reasons -- some painful -- are not mothers.
Acts 1:1-11 Even after his resurrection and many appearances to his apostles during the forty days following that event, they did not really "get it". They were still waiting for Jesus to restore his kingdom in their midst. Nor did they understand what his promised of the Holy Spirit would mean to them. Imagine their consternation as they watched him lifted up and then lost sight of him in the clouds. The two men in white garments (angels?) ask them the critical question for them and for us. Why are we looking up to Heaven for answers when Jesus has made it clear that the kingdom is already here?
Story: Once upon a time, not so very long ago, a woman spoke about her conviction that Mother�s Day is the one cultural event that makes us most conscious of our common human experience. She reminded us that every human being has a mother -- has experienced being mothered. Even though we are separated by cultures and generations, this day reminds us that we share an experience with every other human being �including those long dead and those to come � (even the Lord Jesus). And, as Georges Bernanos reminds us at the conclusion of the Diary of a Country Priest: All is grace, we do not need to look to the sky for signs and wonders. We can reflect on our unity with every other human being. Even Jesus needed a mother to fulfill his grace-filled mission. The speaker urged us to act on this understanding, having concern for all with whom we share this world. Then when pictures of humans suffering from war and poverty and flooding and despotic leadership lead us to empathize with those who suffer, we will begin to work to bring the promise of the angels to fruition.
The speaker ended urging us to pray on Mother�s Day this year for all the children (adult and young) who are suffering and for their mothers.
January 7th, 2001 A.D.
Feast of the Epiphany Matthew 2:1-12
Background:
In this year's readings the whole story of the Epiphany is told. Next week we read the story of the second manifestation of the Divinity of Jesus at his Baptism and the following Sunday - "Cana Sunday" we witness the third manifestation at the Marriage Feast in Cana. Today we hear about the first manifestation to the "Magi" or "kings" who were more likely astrologers. They tell us a story of Jesus coming for all humankind, a story with richer and deeper implications today than at the time of the Gospels. Despite our tradition of Caspar, Beltassar, and Melchior, the Greeks and the Russians hold that there were twelve kings. Since there were twelve tribes of Israel and twelve apostles, they argue that there had to be twelve kings. Our tradition of three is based on the fact that three gifts were mentioned. No matter how many of them there were, they were men who, as the carol says, had the courage to follow their star.
Story:
Once upon a time, there were three young women, best friends since their early school days. They were bright, imaginative and very creative young women who in the eyes of their peers seemed a "bit different." In their high school days, their peers considered this difference a sign of weirdness, and thus an excuse for excluding them from all the cool things that the "in crowd" did. Some wondered why they wanted to spend so much time studying or doing volunteer things or reading or, God forbid, going to the symphony instead of rock concerts. At times, the three friends were hurt by the words and actions of their peers. But, being women who dreamed great dreams, they couldn�t give up the things that challenged them to want something more, even when they weren�t sure what that more was. Imagine the surprise of their peers when at their ten year reunion, the three were the most successful members of their class, had traveled widely, had charming escorts and were up and coming stars in their carrers.
May 7th, 2000
3d Sunday in Easter Lk 24/35-48
Background:
There is a link in the story between Jesus bringing peace to his apostles (which sounds something like the Thomas story told in another variant of the tradition) and the power to forgive sins. Precisely because Jesus represents God's forgiving love which he passes on to the Church there should be peace among us. God is, as St. Therese said, nothing but mercy and love. The resurrection of Jesus and the implicit promise of the resurrection to us guarantees and validates that mercy and love. Easter therefore is a time above all others that we should feel at peace because we are loved. Like all the other Easter stories this tale has thick theological and spiritual overlays.
Story:
Once upon a time the girls softball team of Mother Mary High School traveled across town to play the girls from St. Nicholas High School. Molly Whuppy, of course, was Captain of the team and starting pitcher. Her record for three seasons was 105 and 2 and the two times she lost were when she was a freshman. Well, her mom and dad went to all the games and this time Molly permitted them to drive her to the game instead of going on the bus. YOU KNOW what happened. Her Dad's Mercedes had a flat tire and it took FOREVER to replace. Meanwhile at St. Nicholas, the team fell apart. The home team was not very good but since Mother Party went into TOTAL panic and dropped pop-ups and threw easy grounders ten feet over the first baseman. Without Molly, they wailed, we'll lose. At the last of the fourth inning they were losing 8 to 0 and girls softball games go only seven innings. St. Nick's had the bases loaded and no outs. FINALLY, the Whuppy car appeared and Molly sauntered out, figuring that the coach and the kids would be furious at her. Flat tire, she tried to explain. Then she realized that they were like totally panicked. Cool it guys, she ordered. We're not going to lose to these geeks. So she struck out three batters in a row. No runs, no hits, no one left on base. Mother Mary got three runs back in the fifth, three in the sixth and three in the seventh. They cooled out and played like champs. Molly? WELL, she struck out the side in next three innings. Geeks, she said to her parents on the way home. They could have won without me.
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