October 11, 2004

“Sign, sign, everywhere a sign, blocking out the scenery, breaking my mind” sang the infamous Five Man Electrical Band in the early 70’s. Apparently their only top-40 hit has a timeless message since a re-mix of this song was done in the late 90’s. It is certainly true in New York where one necessarily learns to have selective sight and hearing. Times Square is particularly assaulting to the senses with its giant television screens that take up entire buildings. Perhaps it should be re-named “Signs Square!” Yet human beings who frequent the area have an amazing gift of tuning out even those signs that almost reach out and grab you. It is interesting for me to hear guests at the friary talk about car alarms and other sounds and to realize that I stopped “hearing” them long ago.

Sometimes we may wonder why God doesn’t reveal Himself to us with a bit more flash and power. He doesn’t seem to be into self-advertisement at all. The Psalms raise the question in their own way, and believers in every age have asked why God doesn’t force Himself upon us. I suppose that as out Creator He knows how capable we are of tuning out signs that we don’t want to see no matter how catchy or even beautiful they may be. Our spiritual senses have become even more “selective.”

Often a personal touch will get out attention and break through the barriers we set up. Instead of calling the world to repentance with a show of cosmic fireworks He became a baby in a barn and endured an agonizing death for us. I imagine that if I were kidnapped (not much reason to kidnap a friar, but let’s pretend anyway) and the CEO of a large company offered his life in ransom for my own, I think I would henceforth be interested in his product. How is it then that we can ignore the sign of the Cross, to our own loss?

Truly, truly He says to us, “Those who have ears, let them hear!”

Fr. Richard Roemer, CFR (community vicar, residing at St. Joseph Friary in Harlem)

P.S. Our community could put up a catchy advertisement if we were ever to sell something: “C-F-R product is better than yours!” (Get it?)
________________________________________________________________________________

Go To Page 2

FastCounter by bCentral