Sunday Homily, February 3, 4th in Ordinary Time

 

 

The Marriage Cat awaits Jud & Erica, Saturday evening, Georgetown, TX.

 

 

Readings:  (for Palm Sunday)

Entrance procession: Mark 11, 1-10,  Entry with palms

 Isaiah 50, 4-7, I gave my back to those who beat me.

Psalm 22,  My God, my God, why have you abandoned me.

 Philippians 2, 6-11,  He emptied himself.

Mark  14 & 15, The Passion

 

 

 

 

Jud with his long time admirer.

 

 

We had no homily nor Creed today because of the length of the service.

 

 

 

Erica with her dad, Don.

 

 

 

 

Jud & Erica composed their own vows and shared them with each other, very nice.

 

 

 

Jud & Erica are originally from Dallas.  They met in Seattle, where they both worked, Erica in nursing.  They now live & work in Honolulu.

Readings:

Sirach 35, 12-14, 16-18,   The Lord hears the cry of the oppressed.

 Psalm 34,  The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

2 Timothy  4, 6-8, 16-18, I have finished the race.

 Luke 18, 9-14,   The Pharisee and the tax collector.

 

Says Liam, "Welcome in, Everybody.  Thanks for coming to my party."

 

 

Sirach observations:

What: Again we take up one of the books of the Apocrypha, the 12 books written in Greek and not originally considered part of the Bible.  This book is basically a collection of Jewish wisdom statements and teachings, like, "A father who loves his son will whip him often, so that he can be proud of him later." 30, 1

Who:  Joshua, who was translated from Hebrew into Greek by his grandson.

Date:  ca. 200 years before Christ.

Our selection in chapter 35 talks about the nature of god and what happens to the person who serves god.  It sets up Luke's parable about the pharisee & the tax collector in the temple.

 

 

 

Kevin, too, says, "Hi, Folks, Come in."

 

 

Casey’s Convenience Store

In Iowa there is a chain of convenience stores.  Everywhere in the towns.  These little stores are like our 7-11’s, but they don’t sell gas.   They are called Casey's.

It took me my first year riding RAGBRAI to discover how helpful these little places could be.  I found out, for instance, that for $1.10  I could get a large coffee in the morning.  Plus, they had all the typical foods that convenience stores carry.

So, one morning on this past summer’s week long ride, I woke up right around dawn, put my wet tent in a plastic bag, rolled up my sleeping bag and thermarest air mattress, stuffed them in my foot locker, and placed the locker next to our bus. 

 

 

Cole, our semi-pro Candle Lighter, at work.

 

The other 25 members of our group were just getting up when I pulled away from the curb and headed to the nearby Casey’s for my coffee.  I pulled in and was surprised that only a few bikers were outside drinking their coffee.  Usually these little places are mobbed for coffee.  But our campsite was 4 miles from the center of this little town.  It was the third morning, I think.

I walk in and, feeling terrific about the fun of the day ahead, I said “Good Morning” to the young girl at the cash register.  She barely looked up and perhaps only grunted a response. 

 

Welcome back, Diane & Norm.  So good to see you two.

 

 

I am sort of disappointed because I myself feel so great.  I am feeling, also, somewhat negative toward the girl.  To further turn me off of her was that I noticed she had tattoos on her arms.  Sorry, folks, this is a weakness of mine.  But, at that moment, I felt pretty critical.

I get my coffee and approach the girl to check out. We are the only two in the store.  I decide to take one more shot, so I ask her, “How you doing?” 

She starts crying!

 

Kevin & Georgie, you got to let Buddy know that he needs to look like he is at least fascinated by whatever nonsense that old guy is saying.

 

Suddenly, I am no longer in my superior, critical mode.  I begin to listen.  Turns out her mother is home dying of cancer, she had a tough night, and the girl has to work to keep making money to live on.  She had even tried to get a substitute for a couple of hours.  No one was available. 

Know that, after being so critical of that girl, I was ready to volunteer to work at that Casey’s for a couple of hours to let her go home, plus give her the hourly wage.  I probably would not have done it, but I mentioned it to her and she said I would have to be a registered employee.

 

 

Welcome to Lindsay, Ontario and to the  spectacular fall color display from last week.  

 

So, after relating to the girl like that pharisee in the parable, I left quite humbled and disappointed in myself.  Next time, please don’t be so arrogant.

With whom do you relate as did the Pharisee? 

 

 

Last Tuesday we had this color display.  Wednesday & Thursday, rain.  

 

 

 

 

Welcome in, Dearest Harper.  I wish I could have been with you this morning, but next week for sure.

 

Readings: 

1 Samuel 1, 20-22, 24-28, In those days Hannah bore a son

Psalm 84,  Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord.   

1 John 3, 1-2, 21-24, See what love the Father has bestowed upon us.  

Luke 2,  41-52,  When he was 12 years old they went up according to the festival custom.

 

 

Thanks for your beautiful welcome Cindy & Dee.

 

HOMILY     

Since the Church has always taught that Jesus was truly human, I like it when the Scripture gives an example of the family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus as an actual, real human family.

 

 

Rick, you make an excellent candle lighter.  Thanks for your help.

 

 

Today’s Gospel gives such an example. Luke’s story hints at a family conflict caused by Jesus’ behavior. Luke gives us just a glimpse of the conflict, but I can imagine it going something like his mom, Mary saying, “How could you do this to us? Not telling us where you were all this time. This was hurtful to your father and me. We’ve been looking for you since last night; and were worried to death all this time! Don’t you know how disrespected we feel? We taught you better than this”…(and perhaps, both concerned parents, either Joseph or Mary said)…“Do not do this to us again!”

 

 

 

 

Thanks so much for your company yesterday, Mike.  You sure helped me to wait patiently while my surgeon got delayed for almost 4 hours.  We actually had fun in that OR waiting room.  Like with the lady who was wanting nothing but a coffee while she waited.

 

As for Jesus, I can imagine his side too. Some claim Jesus had brothers and/or sisters. Whether he had siblings or not, he was twelve, equal to a teenager today, a time kids are practicing behaviors that are rebellious or just plain independent. Working with your Dad learning carpentry isn’t bad, but Jesus may have begun to experience it’s limitations. And being in the big city for the first time as a 12-year old probably exposed Jesus to opportunities he hadn’t considered before—like a chance to talk about the Scriptures with temple scholars.

 

 

 

Hi, Jan, Where is that crazy guy you hang out with, like you know, that Sir Charlie?

 

Luke had his own goal in mind, building up Jesus’ credentials as a kid wise beyond his years and already showing an advanced knowledge of the Scriptures. So we don’t get the whole story here, of Joseph and Mary and Jesus, being a working class Jewish family living all those years in a small town.

 

 

The Best Music with Shonda, Ben (where is your hat), and David.

 

Though just a glimpse, in this story Luke gives us a hint of the holy family being like a regular family I can identify with. How about you? Can you imagine from Luke’s story how the family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus acted and lived—and had conflicts—much like your own family?

 

 

John sharing another of his insightful homilies to end the year of 2018.

Welcome to our marvelous community, Clare & Joe, from Hilton Head.   Clare is Rosemary's sister (but not her twin sister).  

 

Readings:                          

Zechariah   12,  10-11, 13, 1, I pour out on the house of David a spirit of grace.

Psalm 63,  My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

Galatians 3, 26-29,     Through faith you are all children of God

Luke 9, 18-24,  If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily.

 

 

Genevieve, too, not to be outdone in hospitality, says, "Hi, Joe & Clare.  Welcome.  And Welcome, Everybody."

 

Zecheria observations : 

Who:  
one of the 12 minor prophets.  Why?  Small work.  Only 14 little chapters.  Vs the Big 3, who have chapters numbering into the 60’s.  Zecharia is really the author of this work.

Time:  
post Babylonian Captivity, therefore, after 555 before Christ.  How do we know?  Reference is made to Darius, the king of the Persians.

Content:  
part 1 involves visions about the restoration of Jerusalem.  Part 2, our part, talks about future prosperity.  Maybe a slightly forgetable book.  I have not one line highlighted in my bible.

Sources: Good News Bible, Wikipedia

 

 

Kevin, also, says, "Welcome in, Joe & Clare, and Welcome, Everybody?

 

 

Deny Myself and Take up a Cross Daily

This morning I would like to talk about this notion of taking up my cross daily.   Every time I hear this it creeps me out.  It is so depressing and gloomy.  I have known people who have followed this scrupulously and they were not happy.  In fact, I could describe them as psychologically infirm.

I think there was some of this in my original decision to enter the Jesuits to be a priest in 1958.

 

 

 

Our Professional Candle Lighter of The Week, Brandon.

 

Certainly in those early years of Jesuit training, we practiced this.  We took up the cross daily.  We lived in silence most of the time, worked hard on the beautiful Jesuit farm at Grand Coteau, and we never went back to our original homes, even for Christmas or weddings.   A really regimented monastic life, up at 5:00, lights out at 10:00, every day, month after month, year after year.

Times have certainly changed since Vatican II and I have obviously changed.  I think there is a healthy way to understand taking up one's cross.  I have three positive comments.

 

 

 

Buddy, Is that a little mouse admiring you?

 

First, it can be a invitation or a challenge to  self-improvement.  I see a lot of this every morning I go to work out at the Jewish Community Center.  These people are healthy and not depressed.

Secondly, the self-improvement involves obvious things, like the big three:

          Healthy eating, that is, watch out for salt, sugar, and fat or butter, the major seducer ingredients of fast food places, like McDonald’s.

 

 

 

Hannah, who is that loving up on you?

 

          Exercise, that is, keep moving.  2 a days are coming for high school football players.  You want to see self discipline?  27 days from now I will join 15 thousand other wakos to ride across Iowa in a week, about 500 miles.  I’m exercising, getting in shape.  

I know a couple here who will remain nameless, who when the husband was discovered to have the beginning of Diabetes 2, he decided to eat healthy and exercise.  He did it, lost a good bit of extra weight, and controlled his diagnosis.   Following his example, his wife joined him and she, too, lost weight and got into shape.  

 

 

Folks, that seems to be Victoria who loves Hannah.

 

 

          Thirdly, taking breaks, days off, vacation periods.  A day off a week
or 3 once a month.   Contemplate and reflect during the breaks.  Contemplate what?  My blessings & gifts & joys.  Number one, number two, and on.

The final comment, the goal of all this discipline & self-improvement?     Be fully alive.  This is what it means to take up a cross in a healthy way. 

Where are you being invited by God to become more fully alive?

 

Sez Genevieve, "Is it not my turn to play that guitar?"

 

 

 

 

 

With the exception of John, in Jennings, LA to visit his sister, the whole gang is back, yeah.

 

Readings:

Genesis  18, 1-10,  Sarah will have a son (at 90!)

Psalm 15,  He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord

Colossians 1, 24-28,  I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake.

Luke 10, 38-42, "Lord, do you not care that my sister…

 

 

 

A great sister act.

 

Observation on Genesis:

I would laugh at the editor who selected this passage about Abraham and Sarah, his wife.  He leaves out the punch line, a most relevant fact coloring this passage.  Namely, Sarah is 90 and Abraham 100.  Why was this not mentioned?

Genesis, by the way is the first book of the bible and a fun read, especially if you can appreciate it as fable & not factual history.  Don't go looking for the Ark, like you read about periodically.

 

 

 

Buddy  reading the Summer Blessing of the Candles.

 

Observation on Paul writing to the Colossians:

This version of Paul makes me want to pull out the violins and weep for the poor man.  Which, I guess, is the intention Paul is working with.  A poor me presentation.  The goal: get the readers to get up off their behind and get to work, like Paul is doing.

 

 

 

Shonda & Ben, The Best, minus David riding RAGBRAI with Dana, his daughter.

 

Ragbrai Spirit : People are Good

It’s Ragbrai (Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa)  week, Folks.  At this moment bikers (including David & Dana) are arriving at Council Bluffs on the MO River prepared to set out this morning, heading ultimately next Saturday to Keokuk, where Mike &  Judy grew up on the MS River.  I should be there.

 

 

What kind of trouble are these 4 up to??

 

Along the way the bikers will walk (too crowded to ride) through achingly beautiful little towns with glorious Victorian houses, tree lined streets, delightful town parks, and welcoming people.  Plus a gazillion vendors. 

Let me give you two vignettes that reflect the spirit of Ragbrai. 

One early afternoon I am riding over some medium level hills.  They were a work out.  At one point starting to climb I run up behind a tricycle, one wheel in front of two & a bench.  Seated on the bench was an elderly guy and a young woman.  The woman is pumping them up the hill. 

I think to myself, This hill is going to really discourage that woman.  So I ride to the top, drop my bike, and run back down to find two other young guys with the same idea .  We all three joined in and pushed that woman and her father right up to the top.

 

Cody, I have not seen Ben in a couple of summer months and when he came in this morning I did not recognize him.  He's grown a foot.

 

 

I hopped on my bike and as I went down the hill I realized another hill was coming up.  To this day I can only hope other people stopped to push that lady & her dad up what turned out to be a series of serious hills.  I would expect they did help.

I have already mentioned here that my most favorite vendor was the home made pie & ice cream stop, always on the right hand shoulder, always in the afternoon (at least for me).  I mentioned how once when I forgot my money, Hanc, a good kid I would see every year, he served me anyway.

On another occasion I was in line at the pie selections tables when a lady behind me realized she did not have enough.  Naturally I staked her and told her to forget it. 

 

 

 

And the same with your pretty daughter Olivia.  She has so grown up this Summer.

 

A day or two later I am sitting on a park bench in a beautiful park.  I am looking at a band stand, the bikers’ road, and a gorgeous river.   Behind me is the whole rest of the park with bikers everywhere.   Everybody is just enjoying the beauty.

Suddenly a tap on my shoulder.  The lady from the Amish pie & ice cream stand hands me the money I loaned or really gave her.  She said thanks and disappeared in the throng of people lying around.   To say the least I was stunned and touched, and reminded again of how good people are. 

This year I will not join the 20 to 30 thousand riders doing the 500 more or less miles.  The people spirit stays with me.

 

 

Today' Communion team, Cheryl, Patricia, Mike, & Claire.

Genesis 18:  One of them said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah will then have a son."

Colossians 1:  It is he whom we proclaim, admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

Luke 10:  "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.  There is need of only one thing.  Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her."

 

John Cade's Homily:    Download 07-20-25 Homily -16th Sunday in Ordinary Time                     

Paul reading from Genesis
 

Thanks…     

Music,   Ben 

Carrie reading from St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians

John sharing his homily

 

Outreach: $   320.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

 

David and Donna get a cookie for their anniversary

 

 

Rosemary's Blessing: