Sunday Homily 8-24-08, 21st, Ordinary Time

Readings: Acts of the Apostles 1, 12-14 (post Ascension, Wednesday), Psalm 27  (good), I believe that I shall see the Good Things of the Lord in the Land of the Living;

also verse 4, One thing I ask of the Lord, to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, that I may gaze on the loveliness of the Lord and contemplate his temple.  

1 Peter 4, 13-16; John 17, 1-11

 

Acts:

Observations & a final review—(Author, Date, Place, Subject)

 Author: This is Luke, the physician, the companion of Paul, the Gentile writing for Gentile Christians, and the same Luke who wrote the Gospel of Luke.

 Date: Around 65 years after Christ.  Probably just before the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple (70 C.E., a big date in Jewish history), or Luke would have probably mentioned it. 

Place: probably Ephesus, today a ruin on the west coast of Turkey south of Constantinople.  Once this town was a major Christian center.

 Subject: the material works like in concentric, expanding circles, beginning in Jerusalem and ending in Rome after touching Judea, Syria, Ephesus, & Europe.  It treats activities in the early Christian community, some of which may describe they way they wished things were.

Today's selection in chapter 1 takes place just after the Ascension of Jesus, which was officially celebrated this past Thursday.   

 Sources: Good News Bible, New Interpreter’s Study Bible, St. Louis U. Jesuits’ Liturgical web

 

That I may gaze on the loveliness of the Lord

 It may have been a year ago when I talked about Rosemary having a breakdown on her bike riding around White Rock Lake.  To refresh your memory, she had ridden around about half of the lake.  She is down at the south end near the dam.  Her chain fell off and she did not know how to fix it. 

 So she starts walking it in.  She may have phoned me, but I did not answer because I was riding.  People go by.  She walks.  Finally a guy asks if she needs help.  She says yes, he stops, and he puts her chain back on.  Simple.  But significant.

 I was so touched by this guy’s action, that I had decided that I would always ask people if they need help when I see them stuck beside the road.  I talked about it here and somebody special in our community actually assisted a woman whose car had broken down.

 This stopping can be hard, folks, especially for us obsessive compulsive bike riders.  I got to maintain my 16 or 17 or 18 miles per hour average.  Or I have to finish up and run home.  Whatever, for the past year I have pretty faithfully checked with people as I pass, often hoping they don’t need help.  And they did not.

 
 

Until this past Wednesday morning about 7:00.  We had already gone around the lake and were heading north on the White Rock Trail, which runs from the Lake all the way up to Valley View and Hillcrest.  I was passing just north of the Greenville Avenue bridge, going behind a building on Royal Lane, when I come around a bend and see a guy working on his bike in the grass. 

 I yell out, “Need any help?”  And he responds, “You got any air?”

Yes, I did have my emergency air pump and I knew how to work it.  So I stopped. 

 He had repaired a front flat tire with a new tube, but had no air pump.  So we pumped it up.  I took off the pump.   The tire went back down.  Whoa, bad news.  I think he pinched his tube when he put it and the tire back on the rim of the wheel.  The tubes are so skinny & fragile. 

 So I had to leave him.  He said he could call his wife and she would pick him up.  His car was at Valley View & Hillcrest.

 Folks, even though my efforts did not get the guy going again, I was so happy I had had enough resolution to stop.

 I talk about this because of the line in Psalm 27, which says, “One thing I ask of the Lord, to dwell in his house all the days of my life, to gaze on the loveliness of the Lord, and to contemplate his temple.

 
 

Two comments:

          1.  To be aware that we are dwelling in the house of the Lord, we are challenged to do what is mentioned in the last line, contemplate.  We are invited to be contemplative people, that is, to reflect, to stop and look, to appreciate.  I think this is what I was doing when I appreciated what the guy did for Rosemary.

 Contemplation focuses on the loveliness of people as well as the loveliness of the lake, the mountain, the flower. 

          2.  Secondly, when I was a Jesuit we were educated to be contemplatives in action, that is, appreciating the loveliness of the Lord and helping others to do likewise.  Comptemplation of my blessings leads to gratitude.  Gratitude leads to sharing.

 We are invited to appreciate the beauty of the lake and the bike ride, and to help others do the same.  It may mean simply stopping to fix a chain or pump up an inner tube.  

 

 When was the last time you contemplated the beauty of the Lord?  And helped someone do likewise? 

Picture 1:   Beginning, with Leo in Jackie McGrath's arms, Shonda & Ray

 Picture 2:   Offertory, Tom & Lynda

 Picture 3:   Leo joining the music team

 Picture 4:   Tom & Theresa Quinn with their daughter, Colleen & her kids, Quinn and Shannon

 Picture 5:   Alison is back!  With her husband John and Cliff

         

 

 

 

Readings:

Sirach 15, 15-20,   If you trust in God, you too shall live.   

 Psalm 119,  Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord.

 1 Corinthians 2, 6-10,   What eye has not seen…

 Matthew 5, 17-37,    If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away.

 

 

Hi, Genevieve, Better watch out that some of the women around here don't swipe you red shoes.

 

Observations:  on Sirach—

What:  This is one of those 12 odd books in between the Old and the New Testament.

 Author: a Jewish teacher called Joshua.  The only identified author in the whole Old Testament.  He tells us who he is, that he is a teacher, lived in Jerusalem, and traveled a lot.  It seems he put his work together while running a school in Alexandria, Egypt.

 His grandson translated the Hebrew work into Greek.  This Hebrew text was lost for centuries until the 19^th century, when 2/3 of it was found in Cairo.  Then other portions were found in Qumran and Masada, as late as 1964.

 

 

Welcome back, Dee, you look so terrific with your brand new hip.  Did I not warn you that you would love it?

 

 Date: composed around 175 years before Christ.  About 90 years before Christ the Jews put together their official bible, but excluded Sirach because they could not find the Hebrew version, only the Greek. 

 Christians accepted the book as part of their bible in the 2^nd century after Christ.  The Council of Trent (keep 1555 in mind as a date) officially accepted it, making it part of that extra 12 books called the Apocrypha or Deuterocanonical.  Martin Luther rejected the book & so do many Protestant congregations today.

 Subject Matter: practical ethics, duties.  Beware of the either / or spirituality presented.  Also, what about unconditional love??

 

 

Welcome back Christine, and welcome to your first day out of the hospital. 

 

Subject today: you may choose good or bad.  Beware of the either / or spirituality presented in the reading.    All is either good or bad.  No in between or both, which is more what we all are, both good and bad.  

It can be simplistic & Pelagian, that is, it is all up to you and you have all the strength needed to choose good.  Pelagians thought that you had to EARN your salvation.  Therefore, the more religious stuff you did, like the more Masses, the more pilgrimages to the church & shrines, the more novenas & rosaries,  the more merit you win for yourself.

 

Psalm 119: the longest of all the psalms.  A focus on observance of the laws, decrees, and statutes.

 

 

The terrific sister Candle Lighting  Team of The Week, Zoe & Tori with help from big sister Georgie.

 

 

Matthew 5:  a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount. Note the figures of speech called “antitheses,” namely, “You have heard it said, but, I say to you.”  4 even 5 times.  Matthew is trying to establish the authority & authenticity of Jesus.

See if you can find any unconditional love in this passage?  

Sources: Good New Bible; New Interpreter's Bible.,  Reginal Fuller, S.J., David Westberg, S.J., & Larry Gillick, S.J., St. Louis U. Liturgies, on line; Wikipedia;

 

 

Leo and his buddy, John.

 

Wako Spirituality

We have been here before, Folks.  In fact, at Romeos Friday Mike sits down and says to me, “So, are you going to start with that same story again?”  Yes, Everybody, we begin with that same story.  Just a quick reminder.  Here we go.

When I was studying theology in Toronto years ago, like maybe 1970, an article came out in the local newspaper.  Some guy had read the passage saying that if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away.  He did it, folks. 

 

 

 

Play Station Numero Uno with the beautiful Zoe and the beautiful Victoria.

 

 In this passage from Matthew there are five pieces of advice to the early Christians which taken literally can get a person all messed up.  Is there a positive as well as a negative to each? 

Two observations before I touch the five.  I have mentioned this so often that I hope you are not worn out.   First, infinite demand and infinite acceptance.  Watch out here for a lot of infinite demand.  I’ll give a positive & a negative for each.  Secondly, God, unconditional love.

 

 

Beginnings…

 

Matthew’s five pieces of advice are 1. breaking the least commandment,  2. getting angry,  3. looking at a woman, 4. divorce, and  5. swearing.  Here goes.

1. Matthew says that if you break the smallest commandment you will be the least in the kingdom.  Moreover, unless you are better than the Pharisees, you will not even get into the kingdom.  The positive here is that the bar is set high.  The negative is that all, all of us sinners will be kept out. It creates scruples and obsessive compulsive behavior.  
2. Secondly, if you get mad at me and call me a fool, you are going to Hell.  I love it.  The positive here is the call to anger management.  I am challenged to know that all feelings are okay and need to be controlled.  The negative is that it gives me the idea that anger is not allowed, so stuff it.  Trouble is, it does not stuff well.  Not like a sleeping bag or tent.  It pops up in unexpected places.

 

 

The Offertory Team, Sandra and Nina, Kerry and Mary.

 

3. Looking at a woman with lust.  The positive here is teaching respect for all people.  This advice, written by men for men, was attempting to gain some respect for women who were looked upon as property.  I found this in Tanzania & Kenya.  Rosemary read me an article about some guy who cut off his wife’s ears and nose for reporting him for abuse.   The negative is that it teaches us that feelings are sinful.  In the old days, we thought we looked at a girl and we were going to hell.  This is doubly sad because I don’t think there is a hell anyway.
4. Divorce is adultery.  The positive is that it reinforces the unity of marriage.  The negative is that people stay in abusive or addictive marriages long after it may even be safe.  Divorce is failure and we all fail sometimes even in tragic ways.  In order to escape using the word divorce the Catholic Church comes up with the more convoluted word Annulment.

 

 

The Best, Ray and David.

 

5. Swearing.  The positive is that it involves politeness and respect for others.  Even if I am okay with my anger I do not swear at someone.  The negative is that it tightens us up.  We forget the therapeutic value of cussing, maybe a healthy & fun way of releasing anger.  The healthy Jesuits I lived with certainly partook of this therapy. 

 

 

Anybody due soon, Bethany?  Like in two weeks?  Wow!  Cannot Wait.

 

 The overall danger in these pieces of advice is that we really get messed up, forgetting two things.  First they are presenting infinite demand and they make no mention of infinite acceptance.

Secondly, where is the God of unconditional love?

 The poor guy in Toronto who blinded himself is an example of how we can mess ourselves up with goofy religion. 

 

 

 

Please don't cry John.  I promise not to try singing again, maybe.  

 

 Where are you with these ideas?

 

 

Help, Everybody.  She is taking over.  

Readings: From the Midnight Mass, the best–Isaiah 9, 1-6; Psalm 96, Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord; Titus 2, 11-14; Luke 2, 1-14.

Isaiah: author, date, subject–

  Author: Isaiah is one of the three great OT prophets along with Jeremiah & Ezekiel.  This is partly because of the size of the work, 66 chapters, but even more so because Isaiah is so beautiful and influential in the Christian story. 

There are really three Isaiahs, chapters 1-39, 40-55, & 56-66.  How do we know?  Simple.  Different styles of writing, different vocabularies, different slants to the message.

  

Date: 1 Isaiah, our selection is put together ca. 700 BCE.  2  Isaiah, ca. 500 BCE; 3 Isaiah, ca. 400 BCE.

  

Subject: As always, there has been predictions of doom & destruction.  This passage, however, is the flip of this.  Listen for words like rejoicing, making merry, joy, peace, a God-hero Child is born.

Source: Bishop John Shelby Spong

Where is the God-Hero Child?

This past fall Gloria Eshelbrenner got married in Seattle.  She is Richard & Carol's daughter.  Rosemary & I got invited to perform the ceremony, beautifully located over water at a yacht club.

Rosemary & I went on the Monday before the wedding so that we could visit the city, which was the first time for both of us in Seattle.  A great city.  Just do not look at the weather forecast today and for the past 4 weeks.  

One morning we walked down hill into the center of town and went into a Starbucks, what else, just across the street from the Pike St. Market.  It was a marvelous old corner location with a high ceiling, mirrors on the walls, and wood paneling.  Must have once been a bar.

We got our lattes and went looking for a place to sit.  There were the usual tables & chairs and also groups of four leather easy chairs squared before wooden topped coffee tables.  All were more or less occupied. 

One square, fortunately had only one person, a late middle aged woman.  The woman wore bulky clothes without much color, a shawl over her shoulders, a stocking cap on her head, a coffee on the table in front of her, she was slouched and she was asleep.  I thought she must be a street person come in to take a nap & a coffee. 

There was no other place, so we decided we would give it a try, as long as she did not smell.  

We sat and began to enjoy the lattes when the woman, now on my left side, stirred and reached for her coffee.  I said something like, "Good Morning," and we began to talk.  

Turned out she was far from being a street person.  She was just getting off of work at an animal shelter, where she was the nighttime attendant.  We had not chatted for more that a few minutes when out from under her shawl and coat a little head emerged.  It was a little Chihuahua dog, very friendly and sleepy.  We spent probably a delightful half an hour talking with this Seattle lady and her little dog.  

I had done it again, folks, judged the book by the cover.  Whatever I thought she was in the beginning, she turned out to be a special blessing and gift to me & us. 

Where do you find these people blessings, these god-hero people?

Picture 1:  Christmas Eve, 2009

Picture 2:  Mass begins with Kevin helping

Picture 3:  The Nativity Drama

Picture 4:  The McGraths, Terry & Joy, Morgan & Tyler

Picture 5:  The Community Rectory in Snow, Christmas

 

 

 

 

  

Readings:

Wisdom 12, 13, 16-19,   You judge with clemency

Psalm 86,   Lord, you are good and forgiving.

1 Corinthians 3, 6-8,  the one who plants and the one who waters each have one purpose.  

Matthew 13, 1-23,  Kingdom Parables

  

Homily by Mike

Recall the Responsorial response that we sang together last Sunday, ‘The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest."  Of course, the sower of the seed is the Lord who sows the Word of God.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit that seed becomes alive within our hearts.  So, we are likened to the fertile soil that receives the seed to be shared with others by word and example.

I commend you for doing just that, for we have gathered here today to be fertile soil with and for one another.  Led by the Spirit we have come to nourish one another with hymns, sacred psalms and prayer with a meal of fish and bread: The Liturgy of the Word and Eucharist.

 

 

When we entered through those open doors, we were greeted by; a stanza of psalm and the tuning of guitar; those being chosen to present the Scriptures; bite sized bread being made ready for the meal, along with grape juice that is a metaphor for the Holy Spirit being poured out for all; early pictures being taken for the blog; the altar being covered with table cloth and candles, sweet bread and coffee being placed on the back tables for fellowship after Mass; and hugs given to John and Ro and to those who have not taken seat yet.

 

 

The opening hymn announced the coming of the procession of those assigned to the Table, both young and old.  We sit to reflect on where we are and why.  John welcomes everyone, visitors by name first…which he has written on a small piece of paper, if necessary.  We become aware of the status of those who have or are about to have surgery; those who we will visit; or send a card; or bring dinner.

 

And we will join our hands and hearts as fertile soil to live the Lord’s prayer to bring about the kingdom of God here and now and grant one another with a sign of Christ’s peace in the unity to which we have been called.  Children are invited to the Table, visitors as well, all are invited for God has no favorites. ‘ We love each person here as Christ has and does love each of us.’  We are brothers and sisters. 

 

 

We are anointed with the sacred oil, for together, we are the fertile soil, who forgives others as God has forgiven us.   We smile, one and all, granting young and old happy birthday or anniversary with a simple small cut of cake.  Alleluia, Deacon Mike

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 1:  For what profit comes to man from all the toil and anxiety of heart with which he has labored under the sun?

Colossians 3:  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.    When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.

Luke 12:  “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

                     

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

 

Thanks…     

Music,   Ben  & Shonda

The Kiss of Peace

 

Outreach: $   130.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

 

Steve, back from his travels

 

 

Rosemary's Blessing:

 

Sez Shonda, "Welcome in, Everybody."

 

Readings:

2 Samuel 5, 1-3, David anointed king of Israel 

Psalm 122,  Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord

Colossians 1, 12-20,  Let us give thanks to the Father.

Luke 23, 35-43,  This is the king of the Jews.  

 

 

Likewise say Connie & John, "Come on  in, Folks"

 

Homily by John Cade

Every Sunday we “do” the Mass. ‘Eucharist’ is the Greek word for “giving thanks”. Following the theme Stack and Mike and I set for these three weeks, I will share my gratitude for four of the many blessings I received this year.

 

 

Welcome Home, Gil.  It has been a long recuperation and it is delightful to see you.

 

On Jan. 1 Lambrini retired. We are grateful together for her having this good job for 21 years, achieving many career goals, and, in the process, earning the respect of her coworkers. Of course, even a good job includes work stress—like its duties and demands and sometimes its environment. And you know, if your partner is stressed, you are stressed. Retirement is when we both get to say goodbye to those stresses, and catch up on our bucket list.

 

 

Thanks, Sophia, for lighting our candles.

 

In terms of health, Lambrini had severe A-fib symptoms; they were debilitating. A blessing I shared with her was her ablation surgery that reduced the worst of her A-fib symptoms, Alleluia! On my personal health blessings: I had an echocardiogram and a stress test this summer, after which my cardiologist said, “See you next year!”—always what we want to hear. My Urologist said the same just this past week.

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving, Brent.  This $1000 check is for the Souls Harbor enterprise.  I only wish it could be our $2000.

 

Another blessing was celebrating with Lambrini our 25^th wedding anniversary. It’s not just all these years together; it’s also deepening our devotion and gratitude for each other and working to better accept our differences.  Speaking of weddings, I was blessed getting to preside over the wedding of a young couple. Doing weddings is a gift; they are such happy occasions, intimate and full of promise and fun.

 

 

Bill, even with chemo treatment, you still challenge our community to do more, like the Love for Kids Picnic coming up this month.  Thanks.

 

Finally a big blessing, this year and every year, is being part of this community. An example of what a blessing this community is was how this community stood with Rich and Carol as they ‘walked their walk’ right in our midst. We got to see their steadfast loyalty and courage.

 

 

Says Marilyn, " Sign up for the Juliets Christmas luncheon coming up soon."

 

I give thanks for the loving support this community provides. We all experience losses. My gratitude is for the way this community helps me and all of us feel safe enough to share them, and courageous enough to accept them, and get on to the next step of our journey.

How will you remember and give thanks for the blessings of this year, individually and together?

 

 

 

Communion for All.