Reversal of Fortunes

Today, as I think about our Sunday gospel of the story of the rich man and Lazarus, I am reminded of how easy it is to take people, gifts, blessings, opportunities and things for granted. The rich man took poor Lazarus for granted. He passed him by every day at the gate to his house. Lazarus became part of the scenery and the rich man was too busy, too preoccupied to notice, to care.
It reminds me of an old saying that says, " Never take someone for granted. Hold every person close to your heart because you might wake up one day to find that you lost a diamond while you were too busy collecting stones.”

It's hard to be humble!

Today's (Sunday readings) remind us of the need for humility. they remind me of some pithy sayings. A.A. says, "humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less."  We are good at comparing ourselves with others. we were trained well as children when we heard messages like, "Why aren't you like.... " Usually, we compare ourselves with people not as fortunate as ourselves; not as smart as ourselves, not as wise as ourselves, not as accomplished as ourselves, Obviously, we win such a comparison with ease. 
The greatest act of humility was Jesus becoming one of us; embracing, not only our humanity, but embracing those on the fringes of society. As someone once said, "Knowing God makes us humble. Knowing oujrselves keeps us humble."

Moving house!

This morning, I saw this slow, methodic, moving experience on my driveway in Ireland. I hoped that he finally made it safely across without being crushed by a car tire or a person's careless footstep.

Mountainside Mass at Grotto

I had the opportunity yesterday evening of celebrating Mass at the shrine in Glenmask mountains. Around 100 people showed up on a wonderful sunny evening to pray and celebrate.  May Tuffey, a native of the area, now 100 years old, came from Chicago to participate as well. Here are some pictures:

A view from the mountainside grotto.

 

A view of the grotto

 

 

Horse sense

Even horses know how to enjoy a nice, sunny morning in Ireland
 

A Last phone call

He was just 23 years old and had his whole life ahead of him. He made his last phone call to his mother - her only son. His message was clear cut. He was doing it. he said goodbye and he did it.

Hundreds came to his home all day Sunday to sympathize with his parents. Hundreds more gathered today in the church where he served Mass as a teenager to say their own silent "goodbyes." Words failed everyone. People's presence tried to fill the vacuum for the family. Songs were sung that tried to be uplifting but nothing could cure the pain etched on his parents faces and that of his sister. A life ended. A light snuffed out. A great chasm left in its place.

(more later in one  of my columns for "Gulf Pine Catholic" newspaper)

Mass among the dead

Today, I had the privilege of celebrating Mass in our local cemetery, among our deceased loved ones. A great crowd gathered to remember, to pause, to pray, to give thanks, to celebrate lives well-lived and rewarded. Even among the dead, the sounds of nature resounded, reminding us of the ongoing cycle of birth and death, or life constantly changed and renewed.

Watching loved ones stand by the graves of family and friends as we approached to bless their loved ones graves, I could not help but think of all the thoughts that went through their minds. Gone, but not forgotten, formed and shaped by those gone before as they shape those yet to come. The cycle continues. Words are inadequate; example is powerful; remembrance is necessary; gratefulness is expected. Life is a mystery to be continued.