TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
20 September 2020 This is another one of those stories about and from Jesus that people find hard to take. If you remember, late this summer there was the story of Jesus and the “unbelieving woman?” She asked for healing of demonic powers for her daughter– And Jesus tried to ignore her and then was kind of snotty to her. When I was at Newman we had students who were assistant ministers. One year when we had the reading of the unbelieving woman, the assistant minister Said to me after Mass: “Well, that’s a Jesus I don’t...
Read MoreTWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
6 September 2020 In the second reading today Paul says a very interesting thing. He says that the only debt any of us have is the promise to love one another. Another man, Merrit Malloy, writing about death suggests this for all of us living in a poem called “Epitaph” When I die give what’s left of me away To children and old men that wait to die. And if you need to cry, Cry for your brother walking the street beside you. And when you need me, put your arms around anyone And give them what you need to give me. I want to leave you something, Something better than words or sounds. Look for me...
Read MoreTWENTY –SECOND SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
30 August 2020 After I had been at Newman for about 20 years my mother called one morning. As most of you know I grew up in Hatley. My parents lived right across the street from the parish complex— School, convent, rectory, church, cemetery. So my mother calls and says: “Oh, you’re still there.” “Yesssss,” I said. “And why wouldn’t I still be here?” “Well,” she said, “I heard from someone that you’d been moved.” “Really?” I said. “And just when did you hear that?” “Oh, about a week ago?” she said. And just who did you hear that from?” “Oh, I don’t remember,” she...
Read MoreTWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
Exactly 50 years ago this weekend I left my parent’s home, more or less for good. I went away to college–St. John’s University at the edge of the Minnesota prairie. I didn’t know a soul at St. John’s. I didn’t go for orientation and I picked my classes for that first semester rather thoughtlessly: Logic–at 8 am taught by an old monk who taught only this class And then went off to the abbey woods to log for the rest of the day. Introduction to Sociology, taught by a monk who chain-smoked during class. Interpersonal Communications–taught by Karen Garvin who became my...
Read MoreTWENTIETH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
16 August 2020 I’ve never really had to beg for anything. Well once when I was maybe in fifth grade, I got it into my head that I wanted a bow and arrow. I begged and begged and begged I’m sure I got very annoying. I couldn’t tell you today why I was so obsessed with having a bow and arrow, but I was. Finally, my mother gave in. We were in Wausau, and I pointed out the sporting goods store where they could be obtained. We went inside. We went up to the display case where they were kept. I could almost feel them in my hands when my mother grabbed my arm and ushered me out of the...
Read MoreEIGHTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
2 August 2020 My mother’s only sibling, my aunt, was emotionally and mentally challenged all of her life. She was institutionalized when I was in grade school and then under the great reforms of Richard Nixon was “mainstreamed.” Mainstreaming for her has meant a dingy studio apartment in a bad section of the city in which she lived. The most notable thing about her was that she has a deep, perjuring anger/hostility towards all the members of her family. She would not let us get close to her, help her in any way. ...
Read MoreSEVENTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
26 July 2020 Rachel Naomi Remen is a Physician who has written a book: My Grandfather’s Blessings: Stories of Strength, Refuge and Belonging. Her grandfather was an Orthodox Rabbi and scholar. Once when she was four, he grandfather brought her a paper cup. She expected to find something special inside. It was full of dirt. Her grandfather filled a jug with water, took her and the cup and the jug of water to the window sill. Then he said: “If you promise to put some water in this cup every day, Just a little mind you, but do it every day, something may happen.” She promised, “Every day,”...
Read MoreSIXTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
19 July 2020 Fr. Tom Krieg was one of my associates at Newman. Tom was and is a rare character. In many ways he was just plain “holy,” He was also a bit odd but when then hasn’t a truly holy person been odd. He lives simply–never a fashion plate. He lives without consuming a lot of the world’s goods. He has simple pleasures....
Read More