hooptedoodle

Romans 1:16-25; Psalm 19 The heavens proclaim the glory of God; Luke 11:37-41

What is hooptedoodle?

Inflammation of a story caused by infectious or toxic writing that gets in the way of the story's making progress. It is wordy, unnecessary, space-taking, and typically should be edited out.


We have all read articles or novels or other books where we thought to ourself that what this story really needed was an editor. How often are too many words used? How often does words just seem filler and it hinders the story and we readers wind up just skipping those parts anyway.

What a waste! What a waste of a beautifully laid out page. What a waste of our time!

I wonder how often the story of our lives as we live them is filled with hooptedoodle? There are many things we do that really get in the way of the story's making progress.

How often too much of our life is spent on too little of importance!

Perhaps this is what Jesus was getting at in the gospel for today.

Here is a tidbit of the gospel.

"Jesus entered and reclined at table to eat. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal. The Lord said to him, "Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. YOu fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you"

In other words, eliminate the hooptedoodle and behold clarity shall be yours.

Give alms: simply put give mercy, give your life, make your life a benefit for others; be a benefactor for those around you.

Thus, eliminate the hooptedoodle.

Words from Blessed Pope John XXIII whose feast is today

"We must open our hearts and empty them of the malice with which at times the spirit of error and evil seeks to infect them, and thus purified, we must lift them up confident of receiving heaven's blessing as also prosperity in the things of this earth."

Blessed John XXIII on the Precious Blood: Click here for the Litany of the Precious Blood

"The Blood of the new and eternal covenant especially deserves this worship of latria when it is elevated during the sacrifice of the Mass. But such worship achieves its normal fulfilment in sacramental communion with the same Blood, indissolubly united with Christ's eucharistic Body. In intimate association with the celebrant the faithful can then truly make his sentiments at communion their own: "I will take the chalice of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord. . . The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve my soul for everlasting life. Amen." Thus as often as they come worthily to this holy table they will receive more abundant fruits of the redemption and resurrection and eternal life won for all men by the Blood Christ shed "through the Holy Spirit."13 Nourished by his Body and Blood, sharing the divine strength that has sustained count less martyrs, they will stand up to the slings and arrows of each day's fortunes — even if need be to martyrdom itself for the sake of Christian virtue and the kingdom of God. Theirs will be the experience of that burning love which made St. John Chrysostom cry out:

Let us, then, come back from that table like lions breathing out fire, thus becoming terrifying to the Devil, and remaining mindful of our Head and of the love he has shown for us. . . This Blood, when worthily received, drives away demons and puts them at a distance from us, and even summons to us angels and the Lord of angels. . . This Blood, poured out in abundance, has washed the whole world clean. . . This is the price of the world; by it Christ purchased the Church... This thought will check in us unruly passions. How long, in truth, shall we be attached to present things? How long shall we remain asleep? How long shall we not take thought for our own salvation? Let us remember what privileges God has bestowed on us, let us give thanks, let us glorify him, not only by faith, but also by our very works. 14