Dear Family,
In the Jesuit world, this is the Feast of St. Ignatius, the founder of the Society of Jesus. Today is the final day of the Ignatian Year, remembering the 500th Anniversary of Ignatius' being struck by a cannon ball, and beginning his conversion.
I found myself wondering if I had a ‘cannon ball” moment. I think maybe it has been rather, a series of little “BBs” that hit just enough to get my attention.
Then I began to wonder just how many of those little “BBs” I could remember. That’s not a particularly brilliant thing to try to do when you are couple of weeks short of 81. Remembering doesn’t seem to be at the top of my list of sparkling talents.
BUT... I have been able to think of some, and it has been very nice. A common element in each of them so far, is other people. Most of those encounters have been good. There are a few that weren’t but still offered something that maybe gave me new and better ways of looking at someone or something.
Before I start writing these Twitches each week, I usually look at the scriptures assigned for the weekend and they often give me a little background music. Today, one line is the famous “Vanity of vanities... All things are vanities.” The prophet Qoheleth makes a plaintive comment about all things earthly.
By the time I get to this weekend’s homilies and you hear them, I hope I will have come to the point where I am pretty sure all my “BBs” weren’t vain encounters. Even as I write, I know that’s not the case.
Still, how do we keep our encounters from being fruitless? Paul helps me when he says, “If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above.” In other words, have all my little ‘BBs” been ways of seeking what is above? Have I put the Lord in the middle of my day-to-day life? I know I haven’t. You know I haven’t, and you know you haven’t.
Nevertheless, Paul tells the Colossians - and us, “ (in baptism) have put on the new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator.”
Even though we can fail, our new “self” can help us see the truth of what Christ has done for us. He has made us recyclable. I’m glad to know I’m going out in the blue bin and not the black one.
I want to apologize for forgetting Grandparents Day last Sunday. I know a couple of weeks ago I had every intention of noting the day. So much for good inten¬tions.
Since we probably are a parish with more than an average number of grandparents, I regret my omission even more.
Speaking of grandparents, here’s a riddle for you: What do grandparents and grandchildren have in common? ...A Common Enemy.
Many thanks for the kind well-wishes those of you who do daily Mass offered me last week. You were the ones who knew I was out for a couple of days with a stomachache. (At my age I don’t think I have a tummy anymore.) You’ll be happy to know it wasn’t COVID. I know some of you have experienced COVID and from your experiences it sure looks like the vaccines made life better. Don’t stop praying for each other. One never knows about those monkeys in the trees...
With my prayers for you,
In Jesus,
