There are a few sayings that help us get through life that we should remind ourselves of from time to time.
Sayings like: “charity begins at home.” And “Honesty is the best policy.” And of course, the Golden Rule: “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” These all express good principles and values for us to live by. Here are a couple more that maybe you haven’t heard but are just as important: Take care of your thoughts when you are alone. And take care of your words when you are with people. We form our thoughts – and our thoughts shape our words – and our words have an impact and affect those around us: our words either lift people up - or tear them down. So we have to watch what we do or say. Especially when children are around. Children have been on Jesus’ mind last week and this one. Last week as he held a child in his arms Jesus said: “whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.” And as we just heard, perhaps as he still held that child since it is a direct continuation of the Gospel of last week: “whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better if a great millstone were put around their neck and thrown into the sea.” Jesus says these things because he knows how vulnerable children are. And he reminds us many times in the Gospels that the kingdom of God belongs to the child-like: those who are able to place their trust and hope and find their dreams in God. It is often truthfully said that children are the world’s most valuable resource and the best hope for the future. That’s why we pour so many of our parish resources into them – in our school, and through our youth group, and with our help to students in El Salvador. And everyday, we make deposits in the memory banks of our children. They are like sponges – soaking up what we do and say – and their thoughts and characters are being shaped and formed by these experiences. So when children talk back and argue with us – who did they learn that from? Or when they start shouting in an argument, was it because they heard us shouting at others –maybe even shouting at them? We also tend to complain and criticize and blame others for what has gone wrong that caused us inconveniences. So when they hear us venting – aren’t they learning something about not taking personal responsibility? Our world and our lives are like a fire burning with frustrations, disruptions, disappointments and maybe even depression. We can easily give into complaining, criticizing, blaming, and avoiding. But Jesus calls us to be like a cup of water for a thirsty and heated world. And just as water cleanses and refreshes, we often need to see situations and problems with clean and fresh eyes. No doubt circumstances in our world cause us anxiety and worry. But doesn’t past experience tell us that nothing ever last forever? So even if there is nothing in our present circumstances that tells us that there is beauty and goodness to come – doesn’t always eventually come?? So let’s give each other that cup of water – that spark of hope - that will all need: avoiding the gloom and doom. Let’s resolve to be resilient and to be united in charity – so as to look forward in hope for beauty, justice and peace. May these be our thoughts and our prayers – and our example to the little ones – may the Lord help us to be that cup of water for a very thirsty world.
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At the recent Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Catholic speaker Paul Kim began his talk to teenagers with what he said-- were the worst pick up lines for Catholic men to use, when trying to get a date. They included:
Hi, I was reading the Book of Numbers in the Old Testament and I couldn't find yours. . . can I have it? He continued: I'm a Catholic and we pray the rosary. . . I want to be your Joyful Mystery for the next 5 decades. . . And finally: My name is peace. Can I be with you?? Kim concluded any man who uses such lines is going to stay single for a long time! While far from a pick-up line - as he already had many followers -- and more like a reality check to make sure he was connecting with those who were following him -- Jesus asks: WHO DO PEOPLE SAY THAT I AM. And the disciples told him some of things they picked up from the crowds: John the Baptist: because, like John, they had heard Jesus call them to repentance. Others said Elijah: for like Elijah, they had heard Jesus call them to stop following after false gods and return to the one true God. And still others - one of the prophets -- maybe like Isaiah - because they had seen Jesus set himself like flint against all the false things the scribes and Pharisees were saying about him. After hearing the results of this 1st century Gallop Poll -- Jesus must have thought, okay, I am connecting with the broader crowd -- they know that I am sent by God -- they may not follow me to the bitter end -- but at least they are listening. BUT wanting to carry the reality check to another level -- Jesus wanted to make sure he was connecting with his closest followers -- and so he dares to ask the disciples -- but who do you say that I am? And good ole Peter, who was known to put his foot in his mouth more than once -- blurts out the bold statement: You are the Christ! Good answer Peter, Jesus must have thought -- but do you really know all that entails? So he proceeded to tell them -- being the Christ, being the Messiah -- means first suffering and death -- but then resurrection. And this is something Peter can't take -- and obviously the others can't take either -- because all of them will scatter when the suffering begins. At our Baptism -- this question is answered for us by our parents and godparents: who do we say Jesus is? We say we believe that Jesus Christ is God’s only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father. We make that proclamation of faith every Sunday-- whether we use the Nicene Creed or the Apostles Creed. And we often sing of this commitment to following Christ in song – as we will today at Communion when the very words we use are : I will choose Christ, I will choose love, I choose to serve. I give my heart, I give my life, I give my all to you. So the question is-- do we? Do we give our hearts, our lives, our all to Jesus Christ? And if we were to do a reality check among our family and friends – and ask them – who do you say that I am -- would they readily admit that they know us as a follower of Jesus Christ? Because . . . they see that we readily give to those who need the necessities of the body – as St. James challenges us? Do they know we are a follower of Christ because . . . they so easily see how we can deny our own wants, needs, and desires – in order to take up our cross and follow Jesus? Would our friends and family readily identify us as a follower of Christ because. . . they know we live according to Gospel values – and that we are willing to lose our lives for the sake of the Gospel? The prophet Isaiah begins our reading today by saying “The Lord God opens my ears that I may hear.” Leo, our guest speaker of last week (unless you were here at the 11:00 Mass and our speaker was Bishop Johnston) reminded us that the greatest tragedy in life is not to be born deaf – but to have ears and refuse to listen. . . We have heard the word of God today. We have heard the call to become more and more like Christ in our words and actions. We have heard that we must take up our cross and follow after Christ – but hearing and listening are not enough – we must now put all this into practice. And if we do the best we can – and rely on the grace of God to build on our human efforts – then others will readily know that we have chosen to give our heart, our life, and our all to Christ. And that being followers of Jesus Christ is not just something we talk about or sing about – it’s something we actually do -- So - maybe the song we used to sing back when I was growing up – and actually sang at the school mass this week-- will ring true – they will know we are Christians by our love. So mild-mannered Fr. Mike Clary got you eased back into St. Mark’s Gospel last week – and here we will remain until the beginning of Advent – with just one more Sunday of St. John between now and then.
Not wanting to jump back into preaching very quickly – I sought out a guest speaker for today. . My name is Leo: short for Lay-Leo - which means deaf in Greek – because that’s what I was: completely deaf, deprived of so much that others take for granted. I could not hear the shouts of children at play, the singing of the birds, the sound of the wind in the trees. . . When was the last time you took the time to listen to such things?? I could not hear words of comfort, encouragement, or advice. And when was the last time you spoke these things to those you love? Few people try to communicate with the deaf. They find us tedious. Which make us feel terribly isolated. The fact that I was practically dumb, unable to speak – added to my sense of deprivation and isolation. I could not explain myself. I could not express my feelings. Insensitive people laughed at my stammerings – as they often do at anyone who is different than them. I had no opportunity to contribute anything to the community. Consequently, I felt useless and in the way. People even hesitated to touch me. Never underestimate what a reassuring hand on a shoulder or a pat on the back can do for a person. Having any disability marks you as different. And when you’re different – people tend to be afraid of you. And so they avoid you. They also often see a disability as a punishment from God – you, or one of your ancestors must have done something to tick God off - and the disability is pay back. . . or so they think. I was full of self-pity. I craved compassion. I was convinced there wasn’t a single person who understood or felt any type of emotion toward me. That was until one day I heard of this man Jesus. Even though he was a Jew, and I was a Gentile - that is a non-Jew – I wanted to see him and seek his help. What an experience I had!! The first thing he did was take me aside from the crowd and gave me his undivided attention. For the first time in my life - I felt important in someone else’s eyes. But it served a practical purpose too – it saved me from the curiosity of the gawkers in the crowd. Jesus did not speak to me as it would have been a waste of words. Instead he touched me – he made me feel what I could not hear. There was nothing rough or hurried about his touch. It was tender, patient, and loving. The type of touch I had longed for all of my life. Then he put his fingers into my ears – the man really does like making physical contact with those he loves. . . Then he put his finger into his mouth – took some of his spittle – and put it on my tongue. Next he raised his eyes to heaven to show me that it was all coming from God – this help that was coming my way. Then, with a great sigh he said: be opened! And suddenly my ears were opened and my speech was normal. I was cured! How amazing! Jesus told me not to broadcast what he had done for me – probably out of fear he would be overwhelmed by those who needed something. But I certainly could not be silent! There was so much bottled up inside me after all those years of silence – that at first I talked non-stop! I could not pass someone on the street with saying - hello. I could not remain silent in the presence of someone in pain if I felt a kind word would help. I could not bear to see an injustice done without calling it out. But, I soon realized I was over-talking – and not listening. In that way, I was NOT being completely open to people – because relationships are two-way – you have to both speak AND listen. So I made it a point of trying to really listen to people, which meant that I had to stop talking. And so I listened – to the sounds of nature, to music, to laughter, to crying. But most of all – I listened to people’s stories - of their joys, their pains, the triumphs, their sorrows, their losses, their achievements – stories about their children and grandchildren. Did you know EVERYONE has a story inside of them just waiting to be told – if only someone cared enough just – to – LISTEN. I discovered some interesting things during those early months after my cure. I discovered that everybody has certain impediments that prevent them from making full use of the great gift of speech – shyness – insensitivity – apathy – And everyone has impediments that keep them from hearing well: prejudice, inattention, plain refusal to listen. . . Why am I telling you all of this?? It is to save you from the fate of those who have ears but cannot hear — and tongues but cannot speak. What I discovered from my experience is this: the greatest tragedy is not to be born deaf or dumb – but to have ears and choose not to hear; and to have tongues and choose to fail to speak. Hearing and speech are such great gifts. But without a heart that is able to feel compassion - we will never be able to use them well. It is only with the heart that one can listen attentively, and it’s only with the heart that we can speak rightly. Jesus, the man who touched my ears and my tongue – also touched my heart. It was that above all that made me new – made me whole - made me complete. AND THAT was the real miracle. May hope is that you experience the same. Let Jesus touch your heart and make you whole. When you do – I promise you — it will be truly amazing |
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