The Rambler

THE SOLEMNITY OF ST. PETER & ST. PAUL The 13th Sunday of Ordinary Time gets superseded this year because it coincides with the June 29th Feast Day commemorating Saints Peter & Paul. We certainly want to give these saints their due recognition. And perhaps, as part of your observance, you might choose to treat yourself to a Mounds candy bar—or possibly an Almond Joy. Why? Is there a connection? It happens that the Mounds bar and the Almond Joy bar were each introduced to us through a company called “Peter-Paul.”  The company, established in 1919, was named for an Armenian immigrant: Peter Paul Halijan. Later, the company would be bought out by Cadbury (1978), and then Cadbury would be absorbed by the Hershey Company (1988).  As for the two prominent Peter-Paul products, Mounds & Almond Joy, they are still being sold, across the nation. They were popular at the time of their original release, and they remain popular in this day and age. They have been promoted in var...

CORPUS CHRISTI [C] Back in 1966, movie-goers were being taken on a “ Fantastic Voyage .”  What makes it so fantastic? It’s all about becoming small—microscopically small. The assignment? Traveling by way of the human bloodstream, you will seek out and neutralize a clot that has formed on the brain of a comatose patient. Who is this patient? He happens to be a high ranking scientist who has chosen to defect. This will potentially create a balance-of-power issue between the United States and the U.S.S.R.  The Soviets would rather assassinate this scientist than have him working for the Americans. The attempt comes very close to being a successful attempt. The man is in a coma and will likely die, unless the clot can be dissolved.  The good news, according to the script, is that an actual technology exists through which people and objects can in fact be miniaturized. It is a technology shared by both of the superpowers. The bad news is that the effect lasts for only one hour...

  TRINITY SUNDAY [C] We are prepared to observe Trinity Sunday. But are we prepared to go that extra step? Are we prepared to actually celebrate the Trinity? It’s expected of us. But it’s not easy, getting excited about the Trinity. It’s not just a doctrine; it’s something dense; it’s a profound mystery. How do you penetrate the mystery of one God being revealed in a Trinity of three Persons? Perhaps we should begin by picking up a Bible.  Now that your Bible is open, you find yourself being introduced to our God; you’re being introduced to him in the Book of Genesis. You will notice right away that he is a rather busy God. Busy in what way? He’s being an artist. He’s doing what artists typically do: he’s creating. He stands back, he admires his creation, and he pronounces it as “good” (Gen. 1:31). This episode doesn’t resolve all of your questions, but at least it’s a start.  Later on in the Bible, we will arrive at a particular juncture. St. Paul refers to it as “the ...

  FEAST OF PENTECOST [C] Do you recognize the name of Charlie Brown? Of course you do. He’s everybody’s favorite “blockhead.” He’s the one who would have you believe that there is such a thing as “good” grief. How did it all begin for him? He was introduced to us through the newspapers. He has been showing up daily, ever since 1950, as the central figure of the Peanuts comic strip. But he has since evolved into another medium. By the time we reach 1960, Charlie Brown finds himself branching out, extending himself into the world of television.  How and when does such a transition take place? It happens through a process called animation. As for when ?, we’re focusing on the year 1959. Charles Schulz, as the creator of Peanuts, comes into contact with Bill Melendez, a former employee of Walt Disney. They are being called upon to collaborate on a television commercial, promoting the 1959 Ford Falcon.  They start off small; producing a thirty second commercial. Three more com...