Gospel, Homily and Coffee

The other day I was walking around Virginia Lake and a family was getting out of the car. They had a 2 to 3 year old child. She wanted something, and she apparently wanted it NOW. And was throwing a tantrum. I smiled as I walked by. Haven’t we all witnessed that before. Children throwing fits, displays of anger because the situation does not go the way they expect. Of course, we adults never do that. I am a Monty Python fan. I have been since I was a teen. One of my favorite scenes from their movies is from “Search for the Holy Grail”. The Knights, when confronted by danger such as a rabbit with big nasty teeth, yell “Run Away! Run Away!” But also imagine they are not on horses, but imaginary horses. is tenacity? It is that quality of sticking with a situation when it is difficult so as to resolve it or comprehend it. It is not stubbornness, that is more egotistical. Tenacity seeks fulfillment, completion and understanding. Tenacity has a long view of the w...

A woman born into late 19th century New York lives a bohemian lifestyle: full of vigor and energy, restless. When pregnant for the 2nd time, she begins to grasp the Catholic Faith, and begins to see her life in a new way. She later worked during the depression to support the many persons who were unemployed and founded the Catholic Worker Movement.  A bishop was selected to become an Archbishop. Considered bookish, an intellectual, he would be thought as a placeholder until a “real” Archbishop could be found. He began to see life differently. He saw how the poor were treated horribly by the powerful families of his country. He saw how corruption had tainted those high up, both in government and church. He chose a better path, and spoke out for the rights of the poor and of all. The rich and powerful had him shot while serving mass. How many other stories are there. How many real life stories of people who saw or were given a different path and walked it.  How many...

Tonight, traditionally, the Pastor washes the feet of 12 people. This year because of “Social distancing” this is not permitted. We are not permitted to be physically close. In every Sacramental celebration touch or physical nearness is essential, it is part of the ritual. We don’t do these rituals from afar, because at the heart they are always about the person, always for the lifting up of a person.   In Baptism parents hold their child and the celebrant places the water over the head. It is an intimate ritual. Just as bathing is. In Confirmation and Ordinations, Bishops touch the person with oil on the foreheads or the hands to confer the sacrament. He looks them in the eye. Reconciliation and Anointing of sick need that closeness as well.  Marriages are sealed with a kiss; not by the priest or deacon, but the new wife and husband. Touching and proximity remind us that real people are involved. Life and salvation involves people. Not in an abstra...

Fear, an emotional response to a perceived threat.  Fear, we all experience it, and I would say a good many of us are experiencing it now. Our way of being in this world, threatened.  Our way of being church in this world, threatened.(?)  How can we interact with others we love when we are told to keep away?  How can we stay healthy? Keep our kids safe? Fear, as one famous set of books writes, is the mind killer.  Fear, if not worked through, truly isolates us. We get swallowed up in our own perceived losses. We start to see only threats, darkness, conspiracy... Love conquers all fear. Jesus experiences fear.  There are very real existential threats to him. There is betrayal, physical abuse, personal attacks, and there will be the cross. I don’t know about you, but for me that scene in the Garden is pivotal.  Jesus understands what is about to take place. He is scared. What does he do? He prays.  Read how he prays. He d...