Deaths in 2020

Every so often I take a look at the Worldometer.com website, just to see how the world is progressing, statistically speaking. It's really a remarkable website in that it keeps running totals of all sorts of data throughout the world, including population, government, economics, media, environment, food, water, energy, health, and, of course, coronavirus. Because of the way data is presented, spending more than a minute or so on the site would likely induce insanity, but just taking a quick look seems to have few lasting negative effects. 

How accurate is the information presented by Worldometer? I haven't a clue, but it seems to be held in some esteem by a wide range of folks who worry about such things. I suspect many of the numbers are driven by algorithms based on data pulled from other sources, but this is only a guess since I'm completely ignorant concerning the site's methodology.

Anyway, as I said, the data is presented as a series of continually running totals for the year; so, having no New Year's Eve party to attend, I checked it out late on December 31 to get the final totals for 2020. I was particularly interested in the death totals, not out of morbid curiosity, but simply to compare various causes of death. I especially wanted to know how many worldwide deaths resulted from the pesky virus given to us by our communist friends in China, compared to other causes. Here are the results:

2020 Worldwide Causes of Death
Deaths/Illnesses	No. Deaths
Deaths: Mothers during birth	309,631
Deaths: Malaria	395,032
Deaths: Seasonal Influenza	490,923
Deaths: Suicides	1,074,231
Deaths: Road Accidents	1,352,267
Deaths: HIV/AIDS	1,684,015
Deaths: Coronavirus (COVID-19)	1,808,041
Deaths: Caused by Alcohol	2,505,485
Deaths: Caused by Smoking	5,007,810
Deaths: Children under 5	7,614,399
Deaths: Cancer	8,227,342
Deaths: Communicable Diseases	13,004,509
Abortions	42,655,372

Yes, indeed, abortion remains the #1 killer of human beings and far exceeds other causes of death. The data on Worldometer does not include deaths by such non-communicable causes as heart disease, diabetes, and, presumably, old age, but that really makes little difference. The most alarming figure is the number of abortions worldwide. Hiding from each other in fear, the people of the world wring their collective hands over the 1.8 million coronavirus deaths, and yet ignore the intentional killing of innocents on a scale 20 times greater. 

I actually suspect the abortion data is probably under-reported, but that's a topic for another time. I've since noticed that several pro-life websites also took note of the Worldometer data for 2020. This is good. Get the word out, and let the world know what we are doing to our unborn children.

Death comes to every one of us...eventually. But how disheartening that so many beautiful lives, created by a loving God, should be snuffed out in the womb before they take even their first breath. Today, as we continue to celebrate the Holy Family during this Christmas Season, let us ask our Blessed Mother and St. Joseph to join with these heavenly children of the Father and intercede for our world that has seemingly embraced a culture of death.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, pray for us.

Homily: Monday 5th Week of Lent

Once again, a recorded video of this homily for Monday, March 30 -- indeed of the entire Mass -- can be found on our parish website.

https://sumtercatholic.org/homilies/

These video recordings will continue as we cope with the requirements mandated by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The text of my homily follows:
____________________

Readings:  Dan 13:41c-62; Ps 23; Jn 8:1-11

Have you ever done something, that looking back on it, you realize was unjust? I think of my own past – and the present too -- lack of charity, selfishness, displaced anger… I wish I had a more selective memory because the sins of the past can overwhelm us if we let them.

On a retreat some years ago I spent time with the retreat master, a Benedictine monk. He knew I had past issues to discuss, so he simply said, “Let’s make this a confession where you just go through your life and air all those ancient things that trouble you.” I suppose we spoke for an hour or more.

After giving me absolution, he said, “All those failings, all those sins are gone. God not only forgives them, He forgets them. 

“He wants you to be God-like and forget them too. They’re gone. Stop dwelling on them. But don’t forget your story, how God has moved you closer to the person He calls you to be.”

As I rose to leave, he added, “You know all those people who’ve hurt you? Many of them experience the same regrets. But even if they don’t, you must forgive them as well.”

Yes, a most liberating experience, one of reconciliation and conversion.

This is nothing new. God has called us to conversion from the start, from Eden to the Incarnation and beyond. In our reading, we see Susanna falsely accused by…well, by two dirty old men. But the prophet Daniel came to her defense, proving the false witness of the accusers. As a result, they suffered the sentence they tried to inflict on the innocent Susanna.

Susanna ands the Two Elders

Of course, as Christians we might object that they, too, should be forgiven. But remember, God was leading His chosen people, step by painful step, from darkness to the fulness of Truth revealed by Jesus Christ. Jesus will fulfill the Law, revealing the depth of divine love that motivates it, and teaching them and us to live it in its fulness; for God desires our conversion, not our punishment. 

How did He express it to Ezekiel? Listen again to the words of our Gospel acclamation.

“I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live…” [Ez 33:11]

God told His chosen ones it was their sins, their stubbornness and disobedience, that would send them into exile. But still He remains with them, and speaking through His prophet Isaiah, led them to what shall be:

“Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see, I am doing something new!” [Is 43:18-19]

God wanted them to trust Him, to look forward not backward, to put their sins, their idolatry behind them and to serve the Living God. They remain His Chosen People, for through them He would bring salvation to the world.

St. Paul, too, reminded of his own past sins, calls us to repentance and conversion: 

“One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus. [Phil 3:13-14]

Yes, Paul tried to forget his sins, while remembering all that God had done for him through the gift of faith. For Paul to forget his story would be to forget his God.

The same is true of the woman caught in adultery. For her, for all of us, the danger lay in living in the past, wallowing in our guilt, unsure of forgiveness, unable even to forgive ourselves. But then she encountered Jesus.

“Has no one condemned you?”…Neither do I condemn you.” [Jn 8:10-11]

Her sin was forgiven, and that forgiveness became a part of her life, her story. Like Paul, she would not forget her story, and neither should we. Because her story is your story and my story. Indeed, she’s really all of us, everyone from Adam until judgment day, all of us in need of a Savior, in need of forgiveness.

"Has no one condemned you?"

Hers is the story of salvation, of sin and mercy, of sin committed and sin forgiven. With forgiveness she’s called to begin a new life: “Go and sin no more,” Jesus tells her and us. Know and love the God who refuses to condemn. Learn to accept His forgiveness.

So many don’t, but go through life, wallowing in guilt, afraid of hell, tormented by their pasts, unable to make peace with their brokenness and human frailty.

This isn’t why God became man. This isn’t why He died that horrible death on that dark Friday afternoon.

The current crisis can tempt us to look back to happier, more stable times; but as Christians we are called to confront the present and look to the future.

We see a building with locked doors and can fall prey to the temptations of the evil one: “Where is my Church? Where is my God?”

Brothers and sisters, God’s Church is not a building. It is His community of salvation. It is you and I, joined together with all members of the living Body of Christ. It is the universal Church, intimately united in the Communion of Saints.

God acts in His Church always, even when the doors of the buildings are locked; for God acts in and through His People, wherever they are.

For the true disciple of Jesus Christ, tomorrow is always better than yesterday. Each day is a new creation in the presence of a loving God.

Confront today’s crisis with faith and prudence but look forward to the hope of tomorrow.

Pray, then, for tomorrow’s hope and for those working tirelessly, with God’s help, to bring it about. Pray too for a rebirth of self-giving, a new birth of love.

Only two weeks of Lent remain. As we all hope to rise with Christ, let us repeat the song He sings to us:

“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth” [Is 42:19].

Come to think of it, as Christians, we are the new thing. Why not spring forth, filled with hope?

Walking with Maddie

Dear Diane has been sleeping in the guest room for a while because of her shoulder replacement surgery and its aftereffects. Unfortunately she awakens often during the night, because she either slept on the wrong side or used her right arm a bit too much the day before. Either way it results in pain. So she sits up and reads or watches TV until the pain subsides. In her kindness she thought this would disturb my sleep. (She was right about that.) She decided, therefore, to sleep in the guest room, leaving me in the king size bed with Maddie, our 12-year-old Bichon Frise.

Now, I'm sure many of your will chastise us for letting our dog sleep in our bed. But when we "rescued" Maddie she was already five years old and pretty set in her ways. She had also been mistreated and was a bit of a psychological wreck. In fact, the rescue vet had put her on a doggie version of Prozac. Although we got her off her meds quickly, she still needed lots of loving attention. Given her age and condition, we thought it would be difficult, perhaps even a bit cruel, to attempt to crate train her. The result? She sleeps in our bed. You must also understand that she's a Bichon, and is a perfect example of this stubborn, self-centered breed.

Because the bed is large and she's a small dog, you'd think I wouldn't even know if she were there. But every morning, long before sunrise, usually between 5 and 6 a.m., Maddie snuggles up against my back and leans into me. She'll keep this up for a half-hour or so, increasing the pressure, hoping I'll decide to get up. When I resist, as I did today, she begins to whine softly, letting me know she's ready to begin her day and expects me to join her, first by preparing her breakfast and then taking her on a long walk.

Maddie on Her Morning Walk

This morning Maddie woke me a bit later than usual, and the whining didn't begin until after 6:30. Within 30 minutes she had eaten, I was dressed, and we opened the front door to greet another of God's gifts: a beautiful day in The Villages -- Sunny and 64 F this morning, but a warm 88 F this afternoon. 

Although sunrise was still 15 or 20 minutes away, the eastern sky was already aglow. Indeed, by this time I could see only a few of the sky's brightest objects. Toward the southeast only Jupiter stood out, as befits the god of the sky. Neighboring Mars and Saturn were still visible but barely. Vega could be seen near the zenith, but the other stars were fading quickly. 

As I looked heavenward, Maddie of course looked earthward, continuing her life's work of sniffing everything that passes under her remarkable nose. And so we walked, slowly to accommodate her sniffing and in whatever direction Maddie chose. 

Today's walk followed a rather long (about two miles) circuitous route through several nearby neighborhoods. Because of so many businesses are closed, we encountered very little car and golf cart traffic. This, of course, is good since dogs and those walking them seem to be invisible to many drivers. But even more surprising was the increase in walkers and runners. Most mornings, especially in the pre-dawn darkness, I may see only one or two people. But today lots of folks, both individuals and couples, were out walking. It was nice to see so many people enjoying the morning. I suppose for many it was a cure for cabin fever, offering a temporary respite from voluntary home confinement.

But then there was that one oddity. Maddie and I had been walking for only a few minutes when we turned onto a side street and noticed about a dozen people, well spaced out to enforce social distancing, but all walking in our direction. Without a sidewalk and almost no traffic, they had filled the street. Like all of us who live here, they were elderly. None moved very quickly and some limped along trying to keep up. Now, it was still early, and with the almost risen sun behind them, they were all shadows and silhouettes. If you can picture the scene, you might understand why my strange mind suddenly announced: Zombie Apocalypse! I'm sorry but I felt as if I had fallen into a scene from one of those wacko zombie movies. Of course, as we passed, everyone smiled and greeted us, a few petted Maddie, and no one tried to eat my brains.

Except for the rare zombie scare, I truly enjoy these daily walks. Today we spotted a gator in one of the many neighborhood ponds: not a very big one, but big enough for me to keep my distance. We witnessed some early morning repositioning flights of water birds, and followed a large flock of white ibises as they flew from one pond to another. A large blue heron passed right over us, so low we could feel the effect of his wings. We watched a kingfisher as he hovered  anxiously, then plummeted into the water and grabbed his breakfast. That same peaceful, healthy, virus-free air was filled with the greetings of mockingbirds, cardinals, red-wing blackbirds, and countless other songbirds. From stars and planets to birds and gators, it was all a wonderful display of God's creative power. Even Maddie glanced up on occasion and seemed to savor the day.

Lots of Ibises

I feel sorry for those unable to get out and take even a short walk, but I especially pity those who walk or run daily, but do so without noticing the beauty that surrounds them. They look so grim as they strain forward to reach their 10,000 steps, eyes glued to the road before them, while the noise in their earbuds blocks the greetings of passersby and the sounds of nature. Life is just too short to ignore the wonders that surround us.

Maddie with her Reward

When we returned home Maddie and I decided she deserved a special treat, one of those milk bones for large dogs. You see, she doesn't realize she's little.

God's peace, friends, and stay healthy.

A Little Crisis Humor

When things aren't going so well, it's easy to become a bit down and, yes, even grumpy. Imagine that! 

Given the restrictive nature of our lives right now, real loneliness can afflict those who live alone. Confined families, unused to spending so much time together, can experience more than a little testiness. And all of us, unable to spend time with friends and do many of the things we most enjoy doing, life can seem grim. For many of us, being deprived of the sacraments and attendance at Mass is even worse, a deprivation we never expected to experience.

But in the midst of it all, we sometimes need to smile, even laugh, and realize that God is in charge and will turn all things to good for those who love Him [Rm 8:28]. Laughter is a wonderful sign of hope, and hope moves us to faith.

An old friend -- actually an old high school classmate -- obviously has way too much time on his hands. Every day or so he sends me the odd cartoon, some bad jokes, and other stupid little things, just to get a laugh out of his friends. I have to admit, for me it usually works. Of course, some of what he sends cannot be posted on my blog, but most of it is simply funny. 

Anyway, I thought I'd share just a few of these smile-makers with you all. 

First, a few really bad jokes:
______________

They said that a mask and gloves were all you needed to go to the drug store.

They lied.

Everyone else had clothes on.

______________

I just read a book on marriage that recommended treating your wife as you treated her on your first date.

So after dinner tonight I'm dropping her off at her parents' house.

______________

For those of you who don't want Alexa listening in on your conversations, Amazon is making a male version.

It doesn't listen to anything.

______________

And now some cartoons...first, about our furry friends.

...and the family...Hmmm...I wonder which one I was...

Plus a little local humor...grandkids in The Villages.

We can't ignore politics, not today...

And finally, one on the origin of Man Buns...

Okay, that's enough. I hope these generated a few smiles, perhaps even a laugh or two. Just remember, like all the wonder in our lives and everything else that's good about us, our sense of humor came from God Himself. After all, we were created in His image and likeness, and He is a loving, joyful God, not a grump. So be Godlike and realize you were created to be happy, not only eternally, but also here in this good life.

This evening, as you climb into bed, thank God that you have a bed. Thank Him for His gift of humor, His gift of life, and for all He has done for you today.

Continue to pray for our world and our nation, for those who are ill, for those close to death, and for all those doctors and nurses who care for them. 

Pray for the scientists, researchers, engineers, and technicians who work tirelessly to bring an end to this global pandemic. 

Pray for our political leadership, that their decisions reflect God's will for our nation.

Pray, too, for our pope, our bishops, our priests, and, yes, for our deacons, that they also do God's will, and only God's will, as they lead the Church through this crisis. 

The world needs our prayers, so fill up some of that unexpected free time with prayer today. And take some time to live your faith by reaching our to others, especially the lonely. Share God's love with them and bring some cheer into their lives.

And fear not! God is with us always.

Hand Washing Catholic Style

I don't know about you, but I've never before washed my hands quite so much. I suppose those who've worked as professional dishwashers, might disagree, but for the rest of us...

This morning, browsing on the web, I came across the website, ChurchPop.com, and encountered something that made real sense. As I'm sure you have heard, we have been told to wash our hands frequently for 20 seconds, recommending that we sing (the melodically challenged may recite) the words to the song, Happy Birthday. Well, the Diocese of Dallas has come up with a far better recommendation: as you wash your hands, pray the Our Father. Hail Mary, and Glory Be. The process takes a bit longer -- about 45 seconds -- which I suppose is even better health-wise. 

But there are other benefits. As my mother used to tell my brother and me as she encouraged us to wash up: "Cleanliness is next to Godliness." Heaven knows, after 45 seconds of hand washing and praying, we should be a lot closer to our Lord. But even better, this revised hand-washing protocol also sends many more prayers heavenward. As you wash up, pray for those working tirelessly to protect us from this virus. Pray for those infected by the virus. Pray for those who are so fearful. Pray for those who, unlike us retired folks, can't stay home and must work to keep our society functioning. And pray for our nation and our world. Remember, too, the Lord told us repeatedly, "Fear not!" Faith and fear cannot coexist in the human heart, for fear is the enemy of faith. 

Thanks to the Diocese of Dallas, I've included below a pictorial version of this prayerful way of handwashing. You can also find it here: Catholic Handwashing.

And while I'm at it, our diocesan diaconate director included this prayer by St. Augustine in a recent email. Given the circumstances, I thought it appropriate:

Prayer for the Sick
(St. Augustine)

Watch, O Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight, and give your angels charge over those who sleep.

Tend your sick ones, O Lord Christ.
Rest your weary ones.
Bless your dying ones.
Soothe your suffering ones.
Pity your afflicted ones.
Shield your joyous ones.
And for all your love's sake.
Amen.

Wisdom in the Midst of Panic

The attack of the Coronavirus has generated some very odd behavior. Of course, the mainstream media absolutely love it. It gives them a perfect, long-term, catastrophic story, one they'll milk for months. And it provides a wonderful opportunity to blame it all on the primary object of their hatred: President Trump. Encouraging panic and pessimism has become their goal and they just can't help themselves. Judging by the behavior of many Americans, it would seem they have been successful.

On Friday I stopped by a local Winn Dixie supermarket here in The Villages, just to pick up a few items. The parking lot was jammed and I had to park 100 yards from the front entrance. I couldn't believe the crowds. The store, too, was jammed. The aisles were filled with people stuffing their shopping carts with anything and everything -- lots of toilet paper, paper towels, detergent, bottled water, zip locks, frozen foods, canned goods... I've never seen anything like it, even before a hurricane. It was all very odd. 

Stockpiling in a Box Store

Fortunately, my shopping list was short -- milk, crackers, cheese, and cheap wine -- so I moved straight to the express checkout line. Although there were about ten people in front of me, the line moved quickly. 

As I neared the checkout counter I noticed the woman standing in line directly behind me. A bleached blonde, she was elderly (older than me anyway) and was shaking her head as she looked at all the shoppers. She then turned to me, laughed aloud, and said, with a bit of a brogue, "Bunch of fools, buying all that toilet paper. In Ireland we couldn't afford it and had to use newspaper and it worked quite well. People in America act like little rich children."

I thought this demanded some kind of response, so I said, "Over here the country folk used to put the huge Sears-Roebuck catalog in the outhouse where I suppose it served the same purpose as your Irish newspapers. Of course in these days of online shopping and empty shopping malls, the old Sears catalog is long gone." Then, as I began to place my few items on the checkout counter, I heard her say, "Too damned bad. You've become a nation of spoiled brats."

Although I certainly appreciate the availability of low-cost toilet paper, I also appreciate her sentiment. We have indeed become a wee bit spoiled and the possibility of doing without any one of our modern conveniences has led many to raid the local supermarkets and box stores. I'd like to think that as a people we could learn from this viral pandemic and draw together as we face a common foe, but it seems we would rather fight each other for the last package of toilet paper. It's all very sad, and doesn't bode well for the future.