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●● 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14 ● ● Psalm 17 ● ● 2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5 ● ● + Luke 20:27-38
[__01__] When I tell someone, “hey you are brave
or courageous“, I sometimes wonder if the person has really heard me. At times,
I receive such praise and I tend to dismiss it myself.
Why? I myself associate courage with
extraordinary achievement or piety, such as the eventual results for Bernadette
of Lourdes whose witness led to a great shrine and basilica and devotion.
Courage is one of those concepts we don’t
“say” much about but we know it when we see it.
[__02__] We
often abbreviate the name of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish “Lourdes” to connect us to the shrine and apparitions in
France where our Blessed Mother appeared to Bernadette. Bernadette showed courage against skeptics
who rejected such a poor and simple young girl having a profound religious
experience.
Bernadette demonstrated courage in
southwestern France to those who did not yet believe. We are called to the
same, for those have not crossed the threshold or walked up our steps in West
Orange.
You do this – I will testify – not only to
give comfort but also to speak the truth honestly. It takes courage, to say
something that someone does not want to hear and with love rather than
frustration/anger.
In facing up to evil and sin, Jesus did not
overthrow the government, but laid down his life giving us a peaceful model and
way of the Cross. It takes courage to be
a peaceful and merciful witness
So, one way to see courage in yourself is to
recognize the need to FORGET yourself ….or put aside your own needs for
another.
[__03_] This early November Sunday is the
anniversary season of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, founded on November 8, 1914 –
so happy [early] 108th Founder’s Day, everyone. We remember the brave souls, women and men,
the religious Sisters of Charity, deacons and priests, the faithful parishioners / people by whom our parish was
founded, financed and served. This continues today in your
efforts
to care for our CHURCH as a building, to
teach our CHILDREN as our future, and to give CHARITABLY as a witness to
others.
I’d like to connect this idea of COURAGE to
COMPASSION and to COMPANIONSHIP. We do
not have to go it alone.
[__04 _] To make the connection between courage and compassion, I would like to recall Pierre Toussaint – a candidate for sainthood in the Church. Pierre Toussaint was born in the French Caribbean colony of Saint-Domingue which is now Haiti, in 1766. He was born into slavery.
At age 20, the plantation owner/family he
left the colony with the family who were escaping the revolution against
colonial rule and slavery. Pierre was
taken to the U.S., to NYC where – of course – slavery was still legal.
The eventual end of slavery in Haiti
meant bankruptcy for the family went completely bankrupt, financially. Meanwhile, Toussaint’s prestige and skill in
his profession earned him money in NYC.
Toussaint could have left them as a free man, but rather contributed his
earnings to the family well-being. This was quite a reversal of roles!
[__05__] All the while, Pierre endured
discrimination both as a freed slave and Catholic. Anti-Catholicism was strong in New York at
the time. This did not stop him – a daily churchgoer, devoted to Rosary, an
articulate teacher of Catholic faith.
In charity, Pierre, he supported widows,
orphans – essentially founding “Catholic Charities of New York” on his
own. He gave toward the original/old St.
Patrick’s Cathedral on Mulberry Street. Arriving at Mass for that church’s
“founding day”, Pierre was turned away because he was Black though his money
had substantially built it. Fortunately another usher recognized him and
brought him to a seat of honor. In
church as in heaven, the last shall be first!
His death and burial were remarkable.
He is the only lay person buried at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, 5th
Avenue, NYC – in a crypt / mausoleum normally reserved for archbishops /
cardinals.
In Pierre Toussaint, we see courage --
compassion – and companionship.
[__06_] COMPANIONSHIP / MY EXAMPLE.
When I started seriously thinking
about becoming a priest, I seem to recall hearing something about this being a
“courageous” move. But, I did not feel myself to be – either then or now – a
courageous person. I also do not wish to
use the word “courage” too lightly.
I try to do what is right, but courage
seems such a tall order. Also, I often associate ”courage” with being a lone
ranger or going it alone.
At the time, I lived - in my perception –comfortably and resisted
the a change to seminary studies. In one
conversation, I remember saying – out loud and immaturely – but I really like
how things are right now. Not a good reason!
So, I was anxious about all these
changes, wondering if they were worthwhile or if friendships I had then would
continue. I have certainly been blessed with friends from before and during my
time as priest. Of course, if I had not
become a priest, I would not know each of you.
You are a blessing to me, to teach me about the virtues and Christian
sacrifice.
At times, I have thought that my
courage – or my choice – was always going to be about leaving behind what I had
and going forward and leaving and old life behind. Of course, that is true…
An event over the summer showed me
that it was not that simple.
I was visiting family in the state of Rhode
Island. I never have lived in Rhode Island. I was just visiting my sister and
her family there.
And I was able to celebrate mass in a totally
new place at parish in Westerly, Rhode Island. I introduced myself, I said I'm
from New Jersey, Our Lady of Lourdes West Orange.
Someone spoke to me afterwards, asking me
more specifically about my location. And he was from Rhode Island but his wife
was from New Jersey and they lived in Hoboken here in Hudson County, Hudson
County Hoboken from 1990 until 2010. I told him that I had lived in Hoboken as
well around the same time. It turned out we were neighbors on the same street.
And he told me that he remembered me walking on the street back in the 1990s or
up to around 2000.
He was also on some kind of neighborhood
watch anti Crime Watch. I'm wondering if that's why he was noticed to me. I
don't think I did anything that required a 911 call. But anyway, he said that
he remembered me. I thought this was unlikely but insisted that he remembered
me.
My conversation with him reminded me where I
had come from. It also reminded me that I had certain changes to make to hear
God's call by the way I have not totally made all these changes. I could still grow in courage…
compassion. As one preacher once said,
I'm not what I want to be, but I’m not what I used to be. I have to accept my
losses to move forward.
The episode also reminded me of a new
connection and companion I had made, not just someone from the here and new,
but also actually someone from my past history.
It is a reminder that when we think – e.g., -
of heaven ..it is a place of communion and companionship – with Him and each
other, where the “old neighborhood” is made new.
It is my hope that our parish will also be a
place where we can experience support for the virtue of courage and compassion,
knowing we have been saved not as isolated individuals but as His beloved
sisters and brothers.
Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for Us. [__end__]
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