I watch as an adult robin picks a spot in the turf to begin its search for worms.  As soon as he digs for a worm, gray-colored offspring with spotted breasts join the robin from the trees, hoping for it to share the worm with one of them.  They are old enough to dig for themselves, but have not yet been weaned.  The adult robin makes its attempt at weaning them by hopping away.

Who instilled these instincts, or developed them over the eons? As we know from physics, there is no movement without a push, or impulse.  Where do these robins come from?  Sure, I can see them court and sometimes nest, but are you satisfied with that answer?  Can you think beyond?

One of the functions of the brain is to quash much of the new information so it can make sense out of what is coming in.  Brain life has to have a humdrum so it can predict and expect what is coming next.  According to neuroscientist Karl Friston, too many surprises can kill you, as he says in an article by Brian Gallagher (Nautilus).

We are constantly bombarded by new information, and it is little wonder that people want to dispel the fake news (biased) that even the New York Times readily dispenses.  There are some truths that are not new but eternal.

As for me, I assimilate as much of the news about Covid-19 and the protests as I can tolerate.  I sympathize with the families of those harmed or killed by police mistake, and pray for those who made the mistake.  Any of those could be my brother.

Today, Sunday, used to be known as Corpus Christi (Body of Christ) Sunday, but today is called the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ.  It commemorates the sacrifice of an Only Son, the only son of God.  I once had three sons, but now have a memorable only son.

The “only Son” of the New Testament, though he has a competitor in the Old Testament known as Isaac, is the one who took it on himself to carry out the predictions of the Messiah, especially as foretold by Isaiah, the prophet.  He was truly the Son of God, and Catholics and Anglicans and other Christians remember this on this Sunday.

I also have an only granddaughter.  She’s an active child and memorable, too.  However, I am grateful the only sacrifice I need make is give her that pie I had cherished.

When I was in high school I followed a custom I’d learned in elementary school: I entered the oratorical contests.  Now in high school we had the Marist Brothers as teachers, and one year Bro. Kieran offered me “Spartacus’ Speech to the Gladiators”.  I memorized it immediately; it inspired rebellion.

That speech taught me that men and women think differently, and vive la difference.  I got up on the stage and did what I had never done before – I spat out the harsh words of a Roman gladiator and slave.  I gloried in the role.  And I didn’t even get an honorable mention.  Now I had won oratorical contests before.  I was no upstart in public speaking.  But I found out later who the judges were, and I accepted the results.

The Brothers had no representatives on the judges’ panel, as I recall.  The good sisters, who had encouraged me in elementary school (The Schools of St. Mary) were the majority of five, and that speech just didn’t appeal to the fair sex.  I was doomed by the good women who’d brought me this far.

Of my two brothers and me, I am the only one who’s not divorced.  It was a good thing Covid -19 is keeping us from church, because in this Sunday’s gospel Christ has some sharp things to say about divorce.  I’m with him and his impetuous ways – that quote about plucking out your eye – He knew we weren’t going to do that.  I, too, have contemplated divorce, but I can’t see treating Loretta in such a brutal manner.  Christ was right.  Except in cases of abuse, the divorce does more harm than good.

Human ingenuity at solving marital problems is better than what we credit it.  Sometimes a prolonged separation works, where one or both have to reach a higher plane of thought.  I have seen this work many years after separation.  Trying to make it alone in a rash judging world can do a lot.

If only you could see the wonderful transformations time makes in a self-involved human being.  You’d agree with Christ: better to cut it off than spend an eternity in Gehenna.  Divorce usually destroys.