Sunday Homily, July 15, 2007, 15th of the Year

Readings: Deuteronomy 30, 10-14; Psalm 69; Colossians 1, 15-20; LUKE 10, 25-37, The Good Samaritan.

Deuteronomy: the scene is the desert outside the promised land.  Moses is talking to the people about all that has happened to them since he led them out of Israel and through the desert for many years.  Now, as they prepare to enter, and Moses is dying, he is simply exhorting them to love Yahweh and obey his laws.

Moses talks about a command, but never mentions exactly what it is.  Watch for the answer in today’s gospel.  The Great Command.

The Good Samaritan

I am going to do an explication of text today. 

Initially this parable looks like simply an encouragement to help others. Actually there is a second meaning, perhaps much more profound, especially for the Jews who are listening. It has to do with prejudice.

Leon_phoebe_2The setting. A Jewish lawyer is asking a question about his justification. Where does one draw the line in helping a person. Who is my neighbor? Some observations.

First, the road from Jerusalem to Jericho was notoriously dangerous and plagued with thieves. That this man was alone is significant.  People would travel in groups for safety. Was he an outcast?  Friendless?  Not too intelligent or innocent?

Second, the man was stripped. For the lawyer this would signify that the man was without identity, of no identifiable class. In other words, he might not be a lawyer or intellectual or even a Jew. He was Every Person.  A human being.

The priest & the Levite. The lawyer would know why they did not stop to help. The Law. They could have been on the way to the temple and they could not cause themselves to be ritually impure. In the temple they had to be pure, no contact with dirty people orthey could not offer their sacrifice. Obviously organized religion still follows this practice. 

Along comes a Samaritan. To the Jewish lawyer & the Jewish listeners Samaritans were considered demon possessed.  Samaritans intermarried with pagans, i.e., people who did not recognize Yahweh as the name of their God. They would defile the temple just by entering. In sum, they were vile and dirty, certainly not capable of performing an act of love. Greg_graham_isabel 

But, to the surprise of the lawyer & the audience, it is the Samaritan who performs the act of love.  He even risks his own life by rescuing the man. Jesus further twists the knife by showing how the Samaritan goes beyond the call by setting the man up in an inn and promising to cover all his expenses.

The composer of the parable goes further and plays with two elements used in the temple sacrifice: oil and water.  He employs these elements to clean (purify?) the victim.  The author knows what he is suggesting in using these items.

Jesus is responding to the lawyer’s question, "Who is my neighbor," by saying "Everybody."  No prejudice.

Who is the number one neighbor you are taking care of today?

Audio: http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2007-07-15.mp3

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  • Ascension of the Lord, June 1, 2025

    Acts 1:  . . . for John baptized with water,  but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

    Ephesians 1: May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, . . . 

    Luke 24:  “. . . And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”



    IMG_3236

    Mary Jane reading from the Acts of the Apostles

     

     

    Thanks…     

    Music,   Ben & Shonda

    Readers,  Mary Jane & John

    Homily,   John Cade

    Eucharistic Prayer A & B,  John Stack & John Cade

    The Magic Zoom makers,  Hue & Richard

    Final Blessing,  Rosemary

     

     

    IMG_3241
    John reading from Ephesians

     

     

    Remember these special people:

    For our new Pope, Leo XIV;  For John Stack;    For Shonda's Grandmother;   For Adam, that the doctors may find a remedy for his seizures; For Meredith ;   For Tom  Quinn;   For Frank Esparza; For Lambrini, John Cade's wife, who is dealing with cancer ;  For Allen Stryker;   For Mike and Judy Carrell ; For Hue; For Jackie;   For Mary Hall's family and friend Cadence still suffering from a serious medical condition;   For Sir Charlie;  For Ron ;  For Teresa Quinn's niece, Maddie who has a brain tumor;  

                                           

     

    Jackie's sister, & friend, Lynn;  For Rick Turner searching for a kidney donor, Type O neg.;   For Jean & Cliff Wright;    from Barbara, a little baby boy named Ford recuperating from an operation,  the families of Annie and Michael and her neighbor, Marie and the family;    for the medical staffs, teachers, and coaches in our public & private schools.

     

     

    IMG_3250
     
    The Kiss of Peace

     

    Birthdays:   Shonda Mashburn 6/3,  Mabel Ekes 6/5

    Anniversaries:   

     

    Expenses: 1,140.00

    Outreach: $   230.00   

    Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

     

     

    IMG_3263 2

    Shonda gets a cookie for her birthday

     

     

    Rosemary's Blessing:

    Christ has no body now on earth but yours,

         no hands but yours,

         no feet but yours,

    Yours are the eyes through which Christ’s

         compassion is to look out to the world,

    Yours are the feet with which Christ is to

         go about doing good,

    Yours are the hands, with which Christ is to 

         bless all people now.

    From a prayer by Teresa of Avila (1515–1582)

     
     
     
     
    John Stack Ministries meets on Sunday for Mass at 9:30 at The ArtCentre of Plano, 902 E. 16th St, Plano, Texas.
     

     

    JSM Mission-Faith Statement  

     Help create a Catholic Community that welcomes all God’s People, provides for & challenges spiritual & total growth.   Reaches out to help people who are disadvantaged & make the world we live in a better place to live.

  • Sunday Homily, October 20, 2013, 29th Ordinary Time C

     

    Mike 10-20-13

    Mike helping us with the persistent widow.

    Readings: 

    Exodus 17, 8-13  Joshua mowed down Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

    Psalm 121,  Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

    2 Timothy 3, 14-4, 2,  Remain faithful to what you have learned.

    Luke 18, 1-8, Because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her.  

     

    Grace 10-20-13

    Grace enters, sans bike.

     

    Introduction to Exodus:

     Recall that the Book
    of Genesis ends with the Israelites still in Egypt.  When the Book of Exodus begins, a new Pharaoh
    ordered that all newly born Hebrew males were to be thrown into the Nile River
    to die, for he feared the sheer number of the Israelites. The Egyptian men
    would continue to take their young women and use them as slaves, the older
    would die, and the Israelites would vanish from the face of the
    earth—genocide.  


    Cole 10-20-13

    Cole ready to take off.

    The inspired writers tell us that God had something else in
    mind.  He used Moses, who had been hidden
    at birth, to have Pharaoh change his mind and set the Israelites free.  The ensuing journey of the Israelites to
    receive the Law, a covenant with God, and finally their own land is presented
    in the rest of the first five books of the Bible.

     

    That journey would take forty
    years.   Our First Reading from the Book
    of Exodus is from the first month of that journey.  

    The reading from Second Timothy is also part
    of today’s theme of having faith in God.

     

    Georgie 10-20-13

    Georgie ready for service.

     

    Homily

     Jesus presented a
    parable to his disciples to teach them to pray always. Widows, along with the
    orphans, are the poorest of the poor.  The
    widow who had been ripped off in our gospel was from apparently a very small
    village.   The judge is her worst
    nightmare!  He does not respect God or
    neighbor. He’s unwilling to even listen to her.

     However, we are told
    that she doesn’t lose heart.   Why?  Because Jesus’ words have taught her that
    women do have rights and power, and that ‘one with God is a majority.’  In faith she perseveres; and her prayer is
    answered.  


    Cupcake A 10-20-13

    Cupcakes of The Week to Bill and CC (on opposite edges of the age spectrum).

     

    I visualize her using a walking stick as she comes to the
    gate of the village where this judge arrogantly resides for business.  Each day she stands a little closer to him as
    she speaks; and each day, to the judge, the size and appearance of her walking
    stick becomes a little larger and more ominous. 
    Finally, standing very close to him one day, he decides that he will
    deliver her a just decision so that she will not strike him! 


    Cupcake B 10-20-13

    Harper accepting Cathy's Cupcake of the Week.

    Jesus states that his Father will bring justice to those who
    put their faith in him.  But today’s
    parable story ends with the question, ‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory
    will he find faith on earth. 


    Offertory 10-20-13

    Offertory, Brent and Meredith.

    The answer was given by the poor widow of the parable.  His faithful bride, who prays without ceasing,
    who listens to, and obeys his words, will be waiting for him when he comes in
    glory.


    Harper 10-20-13

    Harper happy with that Cupcake.

    Today, as always, we have come together to be united in
    prayer. We have come to pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks,
    for that is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus.’  


    Robyn-Brian 10-20-13

    Robyn and Brian .

     

    This Liturgy is the Prayer of the People of God, and it
    joins us at this moment with people celebrating it all over this world as we
    ask the Spirit to come upon us through the Gospel and the Bread about to be
    blessed and broken. 


    Leo W 10-20-13

    Mr. Leo, the photogenic.

     

    We are Christ’s body
    especially when we join our hands and raise them toward God in prayer with the
    words that Christ taught us
    to bring about his kingdom by forgiving others,
    like the unjust judge, as we have been forgiven.

     

    Ro 10-20-13

    Rosemary with her blessing.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Sunday Homily, July 26, 2015, 17th Ordinary Time, B

    Readings:

     2 Kings 4, 42-44,  “They not only ate, but had leftovers.”  

    Psalm 145,    The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.

    Ephesians 4, 1-6,   “Pour yourselves out in acts of love; and be quick to mend fences.”

    Alleluia – “A great prophet has risen in our midst.”

    John 6:1-15 (also in Matt 14:13-21, Mark 6:31-44, Luke 9:10-17) – “Jesus took the bread, and having given thanks, gave it to them.”

     

     

      Genevieve & Mary 2

     

                       Genevieve says, "Hi, Everybody, Welcome."

    Introduction to the readings:

    The Jewish people wanted to have a king like other nations had.  Wasn’t God’s idea; the people kept demanding a king; he let them have a king.  The idea was that the kings, starting with Solomon, would represent the sovereignty of God by being good kings. 

    For 500 years there were 40 or so kings, and of course they were mostly rather pitiful, a few were pretty good.  Today’s reading is from the second book of kings, so during the time when kings ruled the Jewish people, starting with Saul about 1000 years before Jesus, and ending about 500 years later with the Babylonian captivity (555). 

     

    Leo & Shonda

     

           Leo & Shonda, too, say, "Good Morning, Folks, Welcome."

     

     There were prophets and holy men before there were kings.  They are the ones who kept tabs on the kings and represented God’s take on issues. 

    Today’s reading introduces Elisha, a holy man respected by Joram, king of Israel and Jehoshaphat, king of Judah.  This little story of Elisha feeding a crowd of 100 with 20 loaves of bread was chosen to connect with the story of the multiplication of loaves in the today’s Gospel story. And the letter to the Ephesians teaches what sharing in the meal should signify and bring about in one’s behavior.

      Emma & Friend 1

    Emma, too, says that she and her buddy welcome everyone.

     

    HOMILY:

    We have heard many times the reading about the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and the fish.  This is the only miracle story repeated in all four Gospels. 

    How appropriate that feeding those needing food was the best miracle story known; it could be told today with equal impact.  I forget the stats, but it’s millions of people, including children, who are hungry every day and without food (who knows the number or percent). 

     

    Harper 1

                      Harper says she thinks it is fun being here.

     

    Also in each of these four repetitions of the story, there is a formula or ritual stated: “Jesus raised his face to heaven in prayer, blessed, broke, and gave the bread to his disciples.”

    So first, the story is a story about Jesus performing a miracle, which is how writers in those days made someone ‘famously big’ or a ‘god to be reckoned with’. 

    Secondly, this story was well known, since all four Gospel writers or compilers used it. 

    And thirdly, one line in the story became part of the shared meal starting with early Christians all the way down to today. 

     

    Tori & Mom

                Victoria having just too much fun with her mom.

     

    The reading from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, liturgically, seems to teach what flows from sharing in this ritual meal.  And his answer is unity, recognizing that we are called to be one body, united in love.  Paul describes our call from God as pouring yourself out for each other in acts of love, accepting other’s differences and being quick to forgive.

     Three questions to mull over: 

    In your family (at home, here, friends group) how do you see acts of love being shared, and differences accepted?  

    How quick are you to mend fences and forgive one another? 

    Do you make the connection between sharing bread here at Mass, and experiencing connection and oneness with others in your everyday life?

            

      Genevieve asleep

    Genevieve, who has learned already from previous Sundays how to turn it off, says, "Wake me up when the fun begins."

     

  • Sunday Homily, August 21, 21st Sunday Ordinary, C

    Readings:

    Isaiah  66, 18-21,  I know their works and their thoughts.  (This is the last chapter of the book of Isaiah.)

    Psalm 117,  Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

    Hebrews 12, 5-7, 11-13,    He scourges every son he acknowledges.

    Luke 13, 22-30,  Strive to enter through the narrow gate.

     

    Gen-Leo 2

    Leo and Genevieve say, "Welcome in, Everybody."

     


    Isaiah 66 observations:

    Author: Isaiah III.  The book of Isaiah is one of my favorites.  Some beautiful passages.  Remember, 3 primary authors are responsible for the 66 chapters, and we are reading the very last.  Isaiah 1 covers chapters 1-39.  This book is one of the Big 3 O.T. prophets, along with Jeremiah and Ezekiel.  This is because the works are the longest.  There are 12 minor prophets.

    Time: ca. 700, before the Assyrians annihilate the northern Jewish kingdom, called Israel, vs the southern kingdom called Judah, where Jerusalem is.  10 tribes were lost in this destruction, the 10 Lost Tribes of Israel. 

     

     

    Leo-John

     

    Leo and his buddy, John, also say, "Come on in, Folks." 


     

     

    Remember, there were 12 tribes.  Why?  Because of the 12 sons of Jacob, who was one of the 3 great patriarchs or founders of the tribe, Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob, who was also called Israel. 

     Message of Isaiah III: Mostly consolation after the catastrophe.   What is the basic activity of a prophet?  1.  criticism, 2. prediction of dire payment, 3. consolation.

    Today’s message: this being the last chapter of the whole work, you might guess.  Yes, consolation and future unity.

     

     

    Buddy-Candles

    Buddy, our Candle Lighter of The Week, at work.


     

     

    Psalm  117:  The best line in the whole bunch of readings.  Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

    Hebrews observation:

     The best thing about today's selection: we have to read Hebrews only one more week.  Awful reading today.

     

     

    Gen dancing

    Genevieve says, "Like my new dance step?" 

     

     

    It is all Good News

    You will never guess where I was this past Friday morning at 6:00.  Yep, you know me too well.   I was beginning spin class at the Jewish Community Center.  I have a special story about something that happened at that class.

    Normally we have 10 to 16 or so people for the classes.  But Friday morning we had only about 7-8.  Plus we had a substitute teacher or directress of the orchestra, a lady named Alesia, whose style I like, a bit more laid back.

     

     

    Goods

    Becky and Tom, good friends. 

     

     

    So, just as Alesia was instructing us to get started, I stepped away from my bike and made a sign to her that I would like to talk.  So she gave me the welcome sign. 

    I stepped forward, turned a bit to include the class, and said that a very special person was celebrating her birthday that day, Haya.   I went over to her and gave her a gift of a little package of cookies called BelVita. 

     

     

    Harper 2

    Harper says, "Hi, Everybody." 

     

     

    Haya is an older woman, which makes her special to me.  She is about 5‘1”, is a little hunchbacked, has a vertical scar on the back of her right shoulder, is very quiet and shy, speaks English with a foreign accent, and drives a gold Prius (as I say frequently, “Anybody who drives a gold Prius has got to be special). 

    We finish the class, sing Happy Birthday, start drying off, stretching, and preparing to leave.  I feel a tap on my back.  Haya.  She thanks me for remembering her.  Then she says, “This is the happiest day of my life.”

     

     

    Leals

    Grace and Richard, more good friends. 

     

     

     I cannot believe what I just heard.  I am so touched.  On the one hand, I am touched that such a small gesture can mean so much to her.  On the other, does this say something about her life?  Could she be a victim of the Holocaust?  I discover that we are the same age, 76.  What has she seen in life that I have never seen? 

    Why talk about her this morning?  Two reasons.   Because she is Good News.  The Psalm says, “Go out and tell the Good News.”  People are Good News.   I want to know her story.

     

     

    Music 2

     

    The Best Music, Shonda, Bethany (guess who is expecting?), and Ray.

     

     

    Secondly, I want also to contextualize the negativity of Hebrews and Luke. 

    There was a strong belief in these times that God was definitely a conditional love God.  Why did the Babylonian Captivity take place?  The Israelites were bad.  Jeremiah says it, the Isaiahs say it.   And so it was written.  In fact, God scourges those who are his special people.

     

     

    Offertory

     

    Offertory with Mike & Judy, and Mary.

     

    Pretty much this opinion of God has been discarded.  But, remember Katrina?  Happened because New Orleans was bad.  So would you believe that God this past spring was punishing Garland, Blue Mound, and other Dallas suburbs when the hail and rain wrecked people’s houses?  Is sickness a penance for a sinful, bad life?

    Me?  I believe and propose that people are The Good News, that you are The Good News.

     

     

    Play station

     

    Play station Number 1. 

     

     

    And you?   A God who scourges and demands penance or a God who proclaims that people are The Good News?

     

  • Pentecost Sunday, May 31, 2020 & last day of May

    Rosemary's Blessing

    Let us approach the feast of the Holy Spirit with the confidence and conviction that the Spirit of God who has brought us this far is always ahead of us, calling us forward and offering us what we need.

     

    Let us ask for the Spirit’s Gifts of:

    Wonder and Amazement at God’s faithful, steady, unconditional love for us in all the planned and unplanned times in our lives

    Compassion for those who are suffering, isolated, hungry or unemployed

    Deep Peace and Calm when we are in the midst of anxiety, worry or loss

    Courage in conflictual situations that call us to speak the truth with love

    Trust and Confidence that God is with us as God beckons us forward in ways unknown.

     

    Come, Holy Spirit, fill us with your Spirit that we may do our part in healing and transforming our world into the realm of God ~ A place of inclusive love, unity, reconciliation, justice and peace.

     

    Adapted from a Prayer and Refection by Sister Jean Amore, CSJ, Sacred Heart Academy, Hempstead, New York

     

     

    Thanks to the Team

    Music, Shonda & Ben

    Readers, Tom & Denni,  & Buddy, the candle blessing

    Eucharistic Prayer & Gospel, John Cade

    The Magic Zoom makers, Mike & Ben & Becky 

    Final Blessing for last day of May, Rosemary

     

     

    Readings:

    Acts of the Apostles, 2, 1-11, They were all together in one place.

    Psalm 104, Lord, send out your spirit and renew the face of the earth

    1 Corinthians  12, 3-7, 12-13, There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same spirit

    John 20, 19-23, Jesus said to them, "Peace be with you." 

     

    Please Remember these special people:

    For all the medical personnel struggling to treat the tsunami of sick people, in particular, locally, Cindy's staff at Presby, Dallas and at Frisco Presby, the mother of Harper and Betsy, Kendle, working in labor & delivery;   For Joe Hogan with cancer;  For Loretta's aunt Alicia;   For Ryan, Rosemary's nephew, who had surgery; For Bill Hammond,    For Sydney;  & For Sir Charlie;  Shonda's mom;   For Gilberto:  for Michelle;  For a friend, a neighbor, & a doctor, Karen, with brain cancer; For Rick Turner searching for a kidney donor, Type O neg; For Meredith, cancer free.;    For Hue;  For John O'Donnell;    For Dee, and for her daughter, Lisa; For John Schanot's continued health;  For Anthony & Sabrina;    For a young man who is suffering from depression;  John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli and Lambrini;  Virginia Mattingly

     

    SPECIAL NEWS:  I have a good friend who has joined us at Romeos a couple of times over the years.    His dad is 93 years old.  His dad was diagnosed with The Virus.  He was hospitalized.   Recently he was discharged and declared healthy!  Amen!

     

     

    Birthdays: Ray (80), Christi Occhipinti (45), Zaile Ekes, Shonda, Brent (13, AA), & Mabel (88!)

     

     

    Community Finances, May 31, 2020

    Expenses: $2000.00

    Outreach:  $150.00  (often for Souls Harbor, Legacy, etc.)

    Thanks, Folks, for doing what you can.

     

    Reading 1

    A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

            When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.  Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—and no one could tell where it came from.  It filled the whole building.  Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them. 

    There were many Jews staying in Jerusalem just then, devout pilgrims from all over the world.  When they heard the sound, they came on the run.  Then when they heard, their own mother tongues being spoken, they were thunderstruck.  They couldn’t for the life of them figure out what was going on, and kept saying, “Aren’t these all Galileans?  How come we’re hearing them talk in our various mother tongues? 

            “Parthians, Medes, and Elamites;

            Visitors from Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia,

            Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,

            Egypt and parts of Libya;

            Immigrants from Rome, both Jews and proselytes;

            Even Cretans and Arabs!

    “They’re speaking our languages, describing God’s mighty works.”

    Our word for today.

     

     

    Reading 2

     A Reading from the first Letter of Paul to the Corinthians

            Sisters and brothers:  No one would say “Jesus is Master!” without the insight of the Holy Spirit.  God’s various gifts are given out everywhere, and are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit.  God’s various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God is behind it all.  Each person is given something to do that shows who God is:  Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. 

            You can easily enough see how this kind of thing works by looking no further than your own body.  Your body has many parts—limbs, organs, cells—but no matter how many parts you can name, you’re still one body.  It’s exactly the same with Christ.       By means of his one Spirit, we all said good-bye to our partial and piecemeal lives.  We each used to independently call our own shots, but then we entered into a large and integrated life in which he has the final say.  Each of us is now a part of his resurrection body, refreshed and sustained at one fountain—his Spirit—where we all come to drink.  The old labels we once used to identify ourselves—labels like Jew or Greek, slave or free—are no longer useful.

    Our word for today.

     

     

     

    The Lord be with you.       A Reading from the Gospel of John

              Later on that first day of the week, the disciples had gathered together. Fearful of the Jews, they had locked all the doors in the house.  Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.”  Then he showed them his hands and side. 

    The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were exuberant.  Jesus repeated his greeting: “Peace to you.  Just as the Father sent me, I send you.”

            Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them.  “Receive the Holy Spirit,” he said.  “If you forgive someone’s sins, they are gone for good.  If you don’t forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?”

    The Good News of John.

     

     

    Pentecost Homily by Stack

    We are celebrating The Spirit this Sunday and I have a question.  When was the last time you saw The Spirit?  Knowing you folks as well as I do, I would surmise that you have seen The Spirit often, but you may not recognize what you are looking at.  Let me tell you about 3 visits of The Spirit that I have seen.  See what you think.

    First, say you are a girl about 10 years old.  May is your birthday month and with your mom’s help you always have had a party.  This year??  Your mom gets inspired.  All the girls you want to get invited will get invited to an afternoon party.  Each girl will come in the family car with her mom or dad or both.   Park on both sides of the street in front of the house.  

     

    Birthday 1

     

    A street birthday for an eleven year old girl.

     

    Instead  of coming into the house, each girl will sit in the car window or lean out of the sun roof or sit on the roof.  The birthday girl will walk up and down the lane talking with the girls on their perches.

    I saw it, folks, really, while walking Aviana with Rosemary one afternoon.  For real.  There must have been 10-12 girls perched on their family cars and the birthday girl was walking up and down the lane.  I felt privileged to walk that lane.  Since then I have heard about other street parties in our Preston Hollow neighborhood.   Recognize The Spirit?

     

     

    The Spirit also surprised me one other morning when I was walking Aviana.  I noticed that some yellow yard signs with red script  had sprung up. 

    For instance.

    Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.  (yes, that's Aviana blessing the property)

     

    IMG_1744

     

    I can complain because rose bushes have thorns or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.

     

     

    Sign 3

     

    I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness because it shows me the stars.

     

    Sign 2

    Catch the spirit?

     

     

    My third example of the presence of The Spirit.  My parents have lived in this house in this Preston Hollow neighborhood since ’75.  Rosemary & I have lived here since 2005.  Never in this time have I seen so many families walking with dogs and little kids.  I’ve seen lots of little kids practicing to ride their learning wheel loaded bikes.  Rosemary knew personally most of the people who walk their dogs.   Now days, after the tornado destruction and the Virus, there are so many new dogs & dog walkers that we are overwhelmed.  Overwhelmed with delight!

    Where is The Spirit in your life?

     

     

    IMG_1742

     

     

    A Note from Becky: Song books will be available in the front office of the school in case anyone would like to come by and pick one up so they can sing along.

     

     

  • Sunday Homily, September 13, 24th Ordinary Time

    Readings:

    Isaiah 50, 4-9, I gave my back to those who beat me.

    Psalm 116,    I will walk before the Lord in the Land of the Living.

    James 2, 1-5, 14-18,  What good is it if someone says he has faith but does not have works?

    Mark 8, 27-35, Take up your cross.

     

    Genevieve & Mom 2

    Genevieve and her mom, Mary, say, "Welcome in, Everybody."

     

    Isaiah:  observations

    What is it about: 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Isaiah?

    1st Isaiah, Chapters 1-39: predict doom for the Hebrews because they have not been faithful to their one god.  

    2nd Isaiah, Chapters 40-55:  this & the remaining chapters are called The Book of Consolation.  They try to assure the people who are now in exile that God will restore them to their former glory & peace.  In fact, in chapter 45 the composer even mentions the name of Cyrus, the king of the Persians who defeats Babylon & sends the Hebrews back to Jerusalem.  So the composer knew of Cyrus and a date can be narrowed down.

     

    Sienna 1

               Sienna, too, and her dolly, welcome everybody.

     

    This 2nd  Isaiah section presents 4 suffering servant songs, #3 being our selection today.  Jews see the servant to be the Hebrew people/nation.  Christians see the servant to be Christ. 

    Isaiah 2 is considered maybe the most influential O.T. book.  On Isaiah 2 Mark built much of his gospel, especially the story of the crucifixion.

    Handel's Messiah uses 2nd Isaiah for its lyrics.

    3rd Isaiah, Chapter 56-66: more assurances of a return to peace & glory.

     

    Tori 2

    Victoria would like everyone to know that she and her pet frog are also happy to see everybody.

     

     Mark: observation

    I do not like the line in Mark where he says we have to take up our cross.  I have seen the negative result of this.  Which is not to imply that we do not have to struggle to reach goals, like, say, 175 lbs.  

     

    Tori 1

     

                               Happiness is Victoria and her frog.

     

    The 3 Beauties

    This morning I would like to talk with you about 3 beauties I encountered the past ten days in Yosemite. 

    The first beauty has to do with the spectacular scenery we walk through, up, and down.  We are ranging from, say, 7 thousand feet up to and beyond tree line, which is 10 thousand feet.  The Lodgepole Pines, the grassy meadows, the streams, the vistas from three 10 thousand foot passes, all take my breath away. 

     

    Zoe 1

                     Zoe says, "How about this Sigler, pretty nice."

     

    This beauty is what brings me back time and again to the mountains, and especially to the Matterhorn Canyon trail that I discovered with the Jesuits maybe 20 years ago.

    The second beauty is the memories I have of camping in the same places six, eight, or ten times in my life.  At two places I was actually moved to tears. 

     

    Emma & Sienna

          Emma and Sienna are experts at nurturing little critters.

     

    At the foot of Matterhorn Canyon there is a gorgeous campsite.  You cross a shallow stream and on the left of the trail there is a pretty grove of trees and a grassy meadow in front of the grove. 

    I probably camped here 3-4 times, until we realized we wanted to get higher up the Canyon so we had less climbing to cross over Burrow Pass.  I walked through the campsite with Mike and I could remember where I had put my tent one below freezing night.  I could remember our fire ring and a tussle the group had once over one guy eating all the group’s peanut butter.

     

    Harper

                        "Harper, it does not get prettier than this."

     

    I remembered a night the first time I camped there with a Jesuit friend who taught at Berkeley.  We had eaten dinner and were sitting around a campfire when a female deer came up behind me and put her head on my right shoulder.  I was stunned, but not scared.  Don Gelpi, my friend, had watched it all without saying a word.  Don Gelpi is now dead and I missed him there.

    Another campsite, my most favorite of all my campsites in the world, Piute Creek, just after coming over the Burrow Pass.  It has the required creek.  But it is spacious and off the trail enough so that people cannot even see the spot.  It is grassy and shady.

     

    Brancond & Leo

                       Brandon and Leo at serious attention.

     

    I camped in the same place where 6 years ago Tom & Lynda Fleming put up their tent, with Daniel’s tent just in front.  I remembered all sorts of people there, Poncik, Gene Cooley, Larry Pigeon, Beth & Rob, Ryan Malphurs, Paul Fulce, and Ron Kovatis, as well as the Jesuits.    I could see Fulce and Kovatis smoking cigars in a natural pool in the stream.  These memories touch me to tears. 

     

      Music

     

                     Music at Sigler Elementary, beautiful as ever.

     

    The third beauty: the people I was with.  You may find it hard to see beauty in people like Ray and Mike, but Beth was there.  The beauty was the consideration each person showed for others.  Ray was always up first in the morning ca. 6:00.  He would fire up our little camp stove and heat water for coffee and oat meal.  Many a morning I got up, got my cup, my Starbuck’s instant coffee, and my MooMoo milks, and had my first cup of coffee of the day.  Ray also called the time for happy hour and cooked the evening meal prepared ahead of time by Rose Banzhaf.

     

    Genevieve 3

                Genevieve, "Is that old geezer finished talking yet?"

     

    As an aside, we ate exceptionally well.  Rose fixes casseroles and cobblers, freeze dries them, puts them in sealed packages, and we break out one set each evening.  Plus, I must confess, we have a half pound of cheese, maybe a piece of dark chocolate, and a pint of Jack Daniels. 

    Mike & Andy, because they both have nimble feet, often helped me across slippery streams.  No way do I want to fall and mess up one of my special hips. 

     

    Emma asleep
     

                 "Emma, please tell me that you too are not sleeping                             when I talk."

     

    Three priceless beauties, nature, memories, and companions. 

    Your priceless beauties?