Sunday Homily 2-22-09, 7th Ordinary Time

1 Kings, Elijah went a day's journey into the desert.

Psalm 34, Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Ephesians 4, Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another.

John 6, I am the bread of life.

 

 

Connie reading from Kings.

 

Thanks……

Music,    Ben & Shonda

Readers,  Connie, John, & Buddy, our candle blesser 

Gospel,     John Cade

Homily,   John Stack

Eucharistic Prayer A & B,  John Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,     Richard, Hue, & Mike

Final Blessing, Rosemary

For hosting us at Legacy for all these years & will miss you enormously, Becky

 

 

John reading from Corinthians.

 

Readings:

Download Readings 19th Ordinary Time 8-8-21

 

Homily by John Stack

Download Homily by Stack 8-8-2021

 

 

The team.

 

Kings:  a review–

Subject: The kings of Israel.  The Big 3 kings were Saul, David, & his son Solomon.  The 2 Books of kings follows the 2 Books of Samuel, which describe the lives of the the kings up to the death of the Great King David, my favorite.  1 & 2 Kings takes up the life of Solomon, David's son, his building of the temple, his death, and the fate of the kingdom following his death, that is, it divides and is conquered. 

Time Period:  from ca. 900 – 555 before Christ, or from Solomon to Nebuchadnezzar & Cyrus.

 Authors: a compilation of many sources that was put together at the end of the Babylonian Captivity, ca. 555 before Christ. 

Our Selection: focus is on one man, the prophet Elijah.  The kingdom has already been split.  Our story takes place in the northern state, Israel.  Time of severe drought.  The king is Ahab; his queen, the famous Jezebel.  The prophet Elijah has scolded them for turning to false gods to end the drought.  

  There has been a contest in chapter 18: Elijah vs the 450 prophets of Baal, ultimately to see which side would be more effective in bringing rain.  2 bulls were slaughtered.  Naturally, Elijah wins when Yahweh answers his prayer, sends down fire, and consumes the bull Elijah has slaughtered.  When he wins, he slaughters the 450 prophets of Baal.   

We enter at a point where Jezebel is furious with Elijah for killing her favorite prophets and aims to kill Elijah.  He is going to run away all depressed.   

 

 

Peace, Everybody.

 

Remember these special people:

For John & Karen Anderlick's unborn grandson;  For Alan Stryker;   For Candice Taht, friend of Mary Hall;   For Rosemary's great niece, Rylie ;  For Richard's grand daughter, Madeleine;   For Esparza's new great grandson baby, son of Monique, & Frank with shingles;  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, and for Hue & Linda's daughter, Doctor Rosemary Beavers;   For Mary & Dave Hall's g-daughter Allison Keller working at St. Lukes, The Woodlands,   For Sir Charlie & Jan;  Shonda's mom & Cody &  Leo & all of Shonda's dear family; For Ursuline Sr. Mary Troy,   for John Simari

 

Peace for you, Marsha.

 

Jackie's mom, sister, & friend, Lynn;  For Rick Turner searching for a kidney donor, Type O neg.; For Meredith, cancer free & John Schanot;    For John O'Donnell & Jean;   For Jean & Cliff Wright;  For Dee, and for her daughters, Lisa & Lauren  ;  For Anthony & Sabrina;    For a young man who is suffering from depression;  John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli and Lambrini, plus John's daughter, Joey, with cancer; from Barbara, a little 10 month old baby boy named Ford recuperating from an operation; for David McKeon's brother, Hugh; For Beth's friends & brother;   for the medical staffs, teachers, and coaches in our public & private schools.

 

Birthdays: Linda Beavers & Rose Banzhaf & Carrie Bieda.

Anniversaries:  Souls Harbor (1956),

Hugh & Linda, 46, 

Mike & Judy, 57

Mary Hall & Dave

 

Community Finances,   August 8, 2021

Expenses: $1615.00

Outreach: $325

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

 

Rosemary & her Blessing of the Week.

 

 

Rosemary's Blessing:

Come, O Dancing God,

Spirit of Life and Love,

of Beauty and Diversity,

stir up my soul,

bathe me in your light,

and unleash my own spirit

that I may dance with you

and be light for those around me

and reflect your love to all that I meet this week.

 

Edited and adapted from a blessing by Fr. Andrew M. Greeley

 

 

Richard with communion for Cathy.

 

 

 

Readings: Isaiah 35, 4-7; Psalm 146, Praise the Lord, my Soul; James 2, 1-5; Mark 7, 31-37.  Today's celebrant: Tony O'Donovan

Isaiah:   The book of Isaiah is one of those very long 66 chapters and interesting books of the Old Testament.  The book is really two books, written by very different people and at very different times.  Isaiah himself is most likely thought to be the author of the first section, to chapter 39.  It was written at a troubling time for Judah, the southern kingdom. 

 

 

The Assyrians had over-run the northern kingdom of Israel and were making noises about invasion of the southern kingdom of Judah.  The four different kings who ruled at the time of writing the first part of Isaiah had all made deals with the Assyrians in an attempt to placate them into leaving  Jerusalem alone.  The people were living with an interesting kind of philosophy.  God will forgive whatever we do, so lets do whatever!!  The theme of the whole book is one of ‘Judgment and Promise’.  Judgment of the people because they are not following God’s Law, and Promise, such as we hear in today’s reading, of better times.

 

Letter of James.

As I mentioned last week, for five Sundays, starting last week, we are going to be reading the Letter of James as our second reading.  The author, James was probably the head of the church in Jerusalem, and at times is referred to as the brother of Jesus.  He is not one of the twelve apostles James; there were two of them!  The letter is not a typical “letter” in the same sense as Paul’s Letters, in that there is a very brief greeting, not the typical extended greeting, no information about the sender and nothing of the usual formulaic ending of letters of that time.

The letter was probably written before 62CE when James was stoned to death.  It is addressed to the “twelve tribes of the Diaspora”, which refers back to the Diaspora when the tribes were scattered following the Babylonian and Assyrian invasions.  In this case it is addressed to those churches outside of Jerusalem, made up of Jewish converts to Christianity.

The contents are a collection of moral observations and instructions and today’s reading is clearly that. Don’t judge others by what they wear.  James is stressing something which Jesus practiced in his public life, taking special care of the poor, the ignored in society. 

 

The Gospel today focuses on Jesus healing.  Mark’s Gospel is the shortest and earliest written of the four Gospels in the New Testament.  It is only 16 Chapters and has nothing about the birth of Jesus.  Mark begins his gospel with the statement “The beginning of the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God”.  A very clear purpose statement, and for the rest of the gospel he carefully builds up supporting evidence to back that statement.  The first half of the gospel is primarily a series of parables and miracles, designed to have us asking, “who could this be?”  And exactly half way through the gospel, Jesus turns to Peter and does ask that very question “and who do you say I am?”.  And of course we have Peter’s famous response “you are the Christ, the Son of the living God”.  The whole tone of the Gospel immediately shifts towards Jerusalem and the passion/death.  Today’s Gospel reading from Mark is from the first half of the gospel; it is a miracle, the healing of a deaf man.  Yet I think that there is more to it.  Remember, when this was written, sickness was closely associated with sin.  It was widely believed that if someone was afflicted in some way, then they or their parents must have sinned.  And in the gospels remember the Jews used to get upset with Jesus healing and forgiving.  I think for many at the time, the two were closely linked.

Of course if we jump to today, we find that the two are still closely associated, “you are as sick as the secrets you keep”.  With the demise of the confessional, the question comes up of how do we get forgiveness. 

A couple of points to keep in mind:  God is always ready to forgive.  Remember the story of the Prodigal Son.  There was the father not just willing to forgive the wayward son, he was actually waiting, looking to see if he would come home again.  Running out to greet the kid.  Something which we can easily overlook, the son’s “sin” was not just that he blew all the money, but remember what he had originally asked for – his share of the estate, something he would normally only get when his father died.  What he is saying is “dad, you are dead”.  This too was what the father was forgiving him.  The point, God is always ready to forgive us, everything.  The question for today, are we able to forgive ourselves. 

Remember, at mass we have several times when we acknowledge our sins, and ask forgiveness.  At the Rite of Penance as we begin mass.  At the “Lamb of God”, and most especially right before communion when say, “Lord I am not worthy to receive you,  but say but the word and I will be healed.” 

 

As we continue with our liturgy, lets pause and reflect:  What have I not asked forgiveness for, and what have I not forgiven myself for?  Life is too short to be carrying around our mistakes from the past. Lets leave them here at the altar for God to take care of.

 

Picture 1:  Tony O'Donovan celebrating our Mass in the patio of Wilson Middle School.  Vines was closed for the weekend while renovations took place.

Picture 2:  Tony & the choir, Wendy, Shonda, Ray, & Celeste

Picture 3:  Tree shaded patio of Wilson Middle School.

Picture 4:  Tony & Kevin

 

Genesis 22, 1-2, 9-13, 15-18, Take your son Isaac.  You shall offer him up as a holocaust; Psalm 116, I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living; Romans 8, 31-34; Mark 9, 2-10, He was transfigured before them.

Introduction to Genesis 22

 The concept of a covenant between God and His people is one of the central themes of the Bible. The First Reading last week was the covenant God made with Noah. This week it is the covenant God made with Abraham, and next week it is the covenant God made with Moses.  Of course, as Christians, our belief is that we have a covenant with God through Jesus Christ. 

God, with infinite love for us brings salvation to the Table in the covenant won for us by Christ.  What are we to bring?  We are to live the spoken Word in our lives with gratitude!

 Before Bill Poncik gives the first reading, I want to share a story he emailed me a couple of weeks ago.  The mother of a young boy knowing that he had a terminal disease and only a few weeks to live asked him what he wanted to do that day. He replied that he would like to go to the Fire station for maybe he would have been a fireman.  She called the neighborhood fire station in Phoenix where they lived, told the chief there the situation and asked if her son could come for a visit. The chief asked for his height and weight and told her to bring him at 9:00 AM and plan to stay awhile. They were greeted by the morning shift of 16 men who made him a fellow fireman for a day, gave him a fitting safety helmet, yellow protective coat and boots. He and his mother began a wonderful tour; but he was told that if he heard the bell ringing that one of the 16 firemen would escort him to one of the trucks. Three times that day the young boy lived his dream.  A few weeks later his mother called the station once again to tell them that the angels would be coming for her son, that he was still awake but not for long. She was told to open the window of his bedroom when she heard the siren. That day 16 firemen climbed the ladder and entered his window fully dressed in their yellow and red. They were there, when the boy left them, dressed like the angels who had come to carry him to paradise.  16 men were living Christ’s words with gratitude in answer to God’s gift of salvation.

 

Homily from Mark 9:2-10

 

 Again, to better understand a reading, one must consider the context in which it has been placed.  So, in the teaching that precedes this transfiguration event, a man is seeking to be in a covenant relationship with God through Christ.  In this process of coming to faith he observes those around Jesus to be ‘like trees that are walking.’ 

What does this mean?  Christ’s disciples have to commit themselves to Christ’s words. The seed has been planted; but they have no roots, no foundation. They have failed to understand that he is the Messiah. That teaching does end with Peter coming to the realization that the Messiah has come to them; however, he misunderstands Christ’s mission and the disciples’ responsibility in response to God’s plan of salvation.

 

 Secondly, let’s look at the purpose of Christ’s mission in the very first verses of this Mark gospel realizing that since they are in the summary of the gospel we will find them somewhere in the later text of the Mark gospel.  When the Mark gospel begins we find that when Jesus comes forth from the waters where John was baptizing, the Holy Spirit comes upon him with the voice from heaven saying, ‘This is my son the beloved.’  These words are present twice in the Mark gospel. Here in the beginning of the summary of the Mark gospel—the second time, of course, is in today’s gospel. 

 Thirdly, we need to look at the very beginning of the Bible in the covenant God made with Abraham in the Book of the Law.  When Moses came up from the waters of the Red Sea leading the Israelites to freedom the Spirit came upon him.  Later, when Moses went up the mountain, by himself, the second time to receive the 10 commandments, Moses face continued to give off some light for he had been close to the radiance of God when the covenant had been made with him.

 

  In today’s reading, Jesus takes his inner circle of Peter, James and John up the mountain where Christ’s divinity is revealed to them. Streams of light come forth Him, for he was dazzling bright. When Moses and Elijah appear Peter is still in the dark, for he wants Jesus to abide in the presence of Moses and Elijah.  It is then we hear, with Peter, the voice from heaven, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, Listen to Him!’ (Exclamation point) No one is there but Jesus. The words of Moses and Elijah are to be understood as an expectation of the Law and the Prophets for the coming of the Messiah. When one listens to, and puts into practice, the words of Christ with all their mind and heart and soul, they enter into the new covenant with God through Christ through grace.  The words of Christ fulfill the covenants that required circumcision and obedience to the Mosaic Law.

 

 Some might be saying, ‘Well, yes, I understand; but be more specific about that to which we are to listen.”  Well, now we know why the inspired writers of the Matthew Gospel have a Sermon on the Mount! That sermon is to enlighten us. Not only is it a summary of how we are to live our lives; but it informs us that it is how we are to illuminate others to come to glorify God. During Lent I would recommend that we all reread it. It begins at Matthew’s Chapter 5.  How are you going to remember where it is in the Matthew gospel? Just look at one of your hands—five fingers—Chapter five.

 If you read the Letter of James written to the Jewish Christians its inspired writers tell us that in the New Covenant there is one perfect law.  Since in that letter there are many references to the John gospel, it’s not hard to realize what those inspired writers meant.  In the John gospel Jesus presents his disciples with one commandment.   We are to love one another as Christ loves us!  When we do that we are truly living the entirety of Christ’s words—the perfect response to the covenant God has made with us in Christ Jesus.

 

 Reflect for a moment on something you plan to do this coming week. How will you illuminate those moments to those who around you by your words and actions?  Remember, we show our gratitude to God only to the degree we show our love toward others!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome in, Sydney & Hugh, you are early enough to find seats.

 

 

Readings: 

Isaiah 6, 1- 2,  3-8,   Whom shall I send? Here I am, send me..

Psalm 138,  In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.  (Good one)

1 Corinthians 15, 1-11,    I am the least of all the apostles

Luke 5,  1-11,  Today this passage is fulfilled in your hearing.

 

 

"Welcome in," says Ben, "we are ready to warm You up."

 

Observations:   Isaiah (I) 

This is The Great One.  The Prophet.  My favorite.  In general, this work has three parts put together by three different people.  It is time dependent: before, during, and after the, you guessed it, the Babylonian Captivity.  Keep 555 before Christ in mind as an easy date.  You can guess that this is Isaiah I, being chapter 6 (of 66 chapters)

Last week we heard the story of the prophet Jeremiah’s call by Yahweh.  This week we have Isaiah’s call. 

 

 

 

Cindy, too, says, "Welcome in, Everybody.  It is warmer in here than out there in that cold rain."

 

Psalm 138

Want to hear something beautiful?  Listen to today’s psalm.  Another of my favorites. Thanks, thanks, and more thanks.

1 Corinthians 15

In last week’s Corinthians’ reading Paul described his vision of love.  Today he continues talking to the people of his church in Corinth, focusing on how he was called by God.

So, today we have a theme of call & gratitude.  Even the gospel has a sub-theme of call.  Pretty neat.

 

 

Jim & John solving all our problems in life.

 

Sunday Homily

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with all my heart

We have been blessed the past few weeks because of so many good readings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and now Psalm 138, one of my favorites.   I can still remember when and where it was that I became aware of its beauty.   I was in Nairobi making a private retreat near an arboretum.  My subject today, therefore, is another of my favorite activities,  giving thanks.

 

 

Jan, our official greeter as everyone comes in, readies the home made communion bread and the grape juice.

 

About two weeks ago I got an Email from a young woman who wanted me to perform her wedding in October here in Dallas.  I have backed off of doing weddings almost every weekend.  Just too exhausting & I don’t have the old energy.

I do not remember this girl, but she wrote something that really hooked me.  She said that she used to attend St. Marks Cafetorium Masses and loved my homilies.  Naturally,  of course, I accepted her invitation, and was grateful that here is one person who has with me fond memories of some good times.

 

 

"Where is that crazy mike button?"

 

The second reason I gave thanks this week tied in with this girl who is called Kathleen.   Remember the monster kid who came to our Mass last Sunday?  Noah and his mom.  The kid whom I knew when he was just a little guy who helped me  as an Altar server in the cafetorium.  Within a couple of weeks I have remembered with gratitude the good times I had at St. Marks.

The thirst reason why I am giving thanks to the Lord with all my heart today is because  of the spinal surgeon who took away all my pain with his operation.   Thursday, exactly six weeks since the operation, he gave me a complete and total discharge.

 

 

Emma, you are so good, I think you could light those candles in your sleep.

 

I may ride my bike & return to the 6 A.M. spin classes at the Jewish Community Center.  I don’t even have to have a physical therapist.  According to him I am old enough and experienced enough to manage my continuing rehab.

 

 

Buddy, you have a gift for reading and you are developing a terrific stage presence.

 

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with all my heart.  

For what are you giving thanks this morning?

 

 

I give thanks, Sir Charlie, that you have not pulled a fast one on me in the last 5 minutes, or so I think, maybe, I hope.

Readings: Wisdom 7, 7-11; Psalm 90, Fill Us with your Love, O Lord, and We will Sing for Joy;  Hebrews 4, 12-13; Mark 10, 17-30

Wisdom:

Date of Composition: 100-200 BCE, which is why it is considered significant.  It provides a glimpse into the cultural & social milieu which prevailed just before & during the time of Christ..

 

Place of Composition: Alexandria, Egypt.

  

The Composer: a Jew who wrote educated Greek.

  

Unique Quality: Wisdom is one of a set of 12 (or 14) books written in Greek considered not part of the original 39 books of the Hebrew Bible, the O.T.  This blew up around 350 CE when St. Jerome, one of the Fathers of the Early Church, i.e., a church leader who influenced a lot of church dogma, said the books were not genuine.   He was opposed by St. Augustine.  It was the Council of Trent (ca. 1550), that declared the 12 books okay.  Another person doubting the validity of the books was Martin Luther. 

   

You will hear these books called Apocrypha and deuterocanonical vs protocanonical (meaning declared canonical or okay after rather than before).  A bit complicated. 

   

Our Selection in Chapter 7: the book of Wisdom generally says that good guys get rewarded by God, bad guys don’t.  This selection personifies the virtue of wisdom, using the feminine pronoun she, and praises her as above all other values & pleasures.  I loved her even more than health or beauty, the composer declares.

 

Sources: The Good News Bible, Got Bible Questions on line.

 

To LIVE

 

Just about a century ago, in 1910, a little baby was born who was named Agnes.  Born into a comfortable, middle class family, Agnes was the last of 5 children.  They lived in what is today called Macedonia, just north of Greece, a country that used to be part of Yugoslovia. 

 

Agnes was an ordinary little girl and at the age of 18 she decided to leave home and join the Sisters of Loretto of Dublin.  She went to Dublin for her formation, had to learn to speak the English in the Irish brogue, and actually never saw her mother again.  In those days it was customary that religious did not come home for visits. 

 

After her training of about 3 years, Agnes was sent to teach at St. Mary's High School in Calcutta, India.  There she taught for a good 15 or more years.  She was considered a good, not exceptional teacher. 

 

While she worked in the school with the girls, who were mostly from the upper classes, Agnes looked out her windows.  There she saw another kind of child, a street child, dirty, undernourished, and neglected.  You can picture her watching these kids and reflecting upon what she was doing, which was good in itself.

 

At the age of 38 in 1948, Agnes decided to leave the Loretto Sisters and to go out into the streets.  Initially she did what she knew.  She taught the kids in the open air, using the dirt as a black board.  She had no funds, rented out a delapidated shack, and began to care for the sick people who were all around her.  She even went to school to learn nursing. 

 

Despite the fact that she started out with little idea of where she was going, it was like she had uncorked a cold drink or a bottle of champagne.  People in Calcutta heard about her, probably at least through St. Mary's High School, and aid & help began to pour forth.  People came to help her, food began to be donated. 

 

After two years of working the streets, Agnes decided she needed to organize a community, the Sisters of Charity.  The community focused on two things, personal spirituality and care for the most needy, the street people, the AIDS victims, the addicts, and the abandoned.  This little community has now grown enormously and has houses in Africa, where I knew them, Asia, Latin America, and Dallas, specifically South Dallas.  We used to take our food drives to them until the pastor of the parish said he did not want our food.  

 

In 1997, after winning numerous international prizes, including, coincidentally, the Nobel Peace Prize, Mother Teresa died.   In 2003 John Paul II beatified her.  This means she is one step (i.e., one miracle) short of being declared a saint.

 

I talk about Mother Teresa because, despite some criticism she & eventually her sisters received, she tried to live what we are talking about today.  In order to live, give it up and serve the disadvantaged.  

 

Two thoughts.

 

1.  We have here more of what Mark has offered us the past 2-3 weeks, an ideal, a challenge, an infinite demand.  Check out Scott Burns' column in this morning's Dallas Morning News.

 

2.  Remember the infinite acceptance.  How can I give it up and serve the disadvantaged in my state?  Parents, teachers, nurses, doctors, almost all are already engaged in helping.  CCAC is our avenue to help the disadvantaged.  As well as food drives, blood drives.  This may only nibble away at the need, but enough nibbling can make a difference.

 

How are you giving it up & serving the disadvantaged–to LIVE?

 

Sources: on-line biographies of Mother Teresa, The Good News Bible, Got Bible Questions?

Picture 1:  Mass with Sabrina, Georgie, & Richard

Picture 2:  Sabrina

Picture 3:  Birthdays, Angela, Georgie, Richard, Lacee & her mom, Lisa

Picture 4:  Communion, Hunter & Kailee

Readings:

Isaiah, 63, 16-19, 64, 2-7,  You are our father, we are the clay and you the potter.

 Psalm 80,    Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

1 Corinthians 1, 3-9   I give thanks to my God always on your account.

Mark 13, 33-37,   Be watchful, be alert.  You do not know when the time will come.

 

 

Isaiah observations and reminders–

Who: Guess which of the 3 composers put this section together.  A clue: chapter number.  Like, chapter 63.  A pretty high number, yes, Isaiah number 3. 

Where is he: if the author is number 3, he is back with the people in Jerusalem, a Jerusalem totally destroyed by the Babylonians. 

Today’s message: because he is back in Jerusalem, you would expect happiness.  On the contrary, he is bemoaning the state of affairs and is blaming himself and everybody’s sinfulness for the destruction.  But in the end he reminds Yahweh that they are his special people.  So…?

 

 

Advent Special

I would like to talk this morning about how to make our time from now to Christmas a special time.  Some of these ideas I have touched upon before, but they stand repeating occasionally.

When I returned to the States in the late 80's and began to work full time as a spiritual director & psychotherapist, I was struck every fall by an anxiety that I found in people.  They were nervous about the coming Christmas season. 

 

 

I remember people bringing this up as early as the beginning of the school year in September.  Certainly by October and most certainly by Halloween.  People were tense and anxious because of memories of bad Christmas seasons. 

Because of this and because we are just beginning the season of Advent, the season of preparation for Christmas, I would like to review some ways to prepare ourselves for a marvelous Christmas.  I have 5 observations.

 

 

 

1.  First, beware of fear and depression.  I read Mark's story about the man traveling abroad and I can  get spooked into thinking God is going to grab me when I'm not looking.  Nonsense.

Depression seems to surface more during the Christmas season, because of at least one reason.  Expectations.  We expect more out of the Christmas season, peace, love, warm relationships, gifts.  When the reality comes in below the expectation I have, I get disappointed and maybe depressed.  Memories of disappointing Christmases can depress me. 

 

 

 

 2.  Unlike Mark's warning about sleeping, I would propose that we need more rest at this darker time of the year.  Our ancestors used to sleep when it went dark.  Today we force ourselves to stay awake and lights keep us awake.  Doctors are saying we need more sleep in the dark days of winter and are recommending, get this, 9 hours.  Maybe try an extra hour.  Try a siesta.

3.  Along with more sleep, try a little more exercise.  My internist tells me that he wants me to exercise every day.  I do.  Walk through the neighborhood.  Ride a bike.  Along the way look at the colors of the red oaks and Bradford Pear trees. 

 

 

    4.  Have you got anything special you do every year for Christmas, during Advent?  Something to get you into a Christmas spirit?  If not, what about finding something? 

Two things I have got to do every year: take in a performance of Handel's Messiah and take in the Dallas Symphony Christmas concert.  I may get in an extra one or two of these, but I find this so touches my spirit.

 

 

 I know a few families who tour Christmas lights.  Here in Plano is Deer Park.  One of the best is Highland Park, Beverly Drive and Armstrong Parkway, both east and west of Preston.   In Deer Park, you may walk around.  In Highland Park there are horse drawn carriages. 

    5.  Finally, in line with Mark's gospel, watch, but positively, watch for the daily miracles and blessings.  Review your year for the biggest blessings, like I mentioned before Thanksgiving. 

 

 

 

I hope you are not anxious about or nervous about the coming of Christmas.  If you are, even more relevent is my question,

 'What are you doing to make  Christmas this year a beauty?'