Sunday Homily 3-21-10, Lent 5

Readings: 

 Amos 6, 1, 4-7,   Woe to the complacent.

Psalm 146,  Praise the Lord, my sould.

1 Timothy 6, 11-16,  Pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love.

Luke 16, 19-31,  The rich man and Lazarus.

 

 

Amos observations :  (from last week's Mass)

What :  One of the 12 minor prophets, only 9 chapters.

Who: 
the book presents the thoughts and observations of Amos, who was a sheep herder
and a fig farmer.  He was born in the southern kingdom of Judah in a
little town south of Jerusalem, but he is condemning the people, especially the
rich, of the northern kingdom, Israel.

Time: 
Amos was active around 755 before Christ, but his words and message were
revised and edited down through the years, especially during the Babylonian
Captivity, around 555 before Christ.  He lives just before the Syrians
destroy the northern kingdom of Israel, around 700 before Christ.

Message: 
Prayer and sacrifice don’t make up for social injustice and oppression of the
poor by the rich. 

 Today: 
God will punish you rich and prosperous for your abuse of the poor.  Amos
may have seen the threat coming from the Syrians. 

Sources:  Good News Bible, New Interpreter’s Study
Bible, Wikipedia

 

 

Some of Francis’ points in his homily this morning:

1.  The first sin
   of the rich man is that he is blind.  He
   came and went every day and did not even see Lazarus at his doorstep.  Wealth can blind us, too.
2. The second sin of the rich man is that even in Hades
   he still thinks he is significant enough to tell Abraham to order Lazarus to
   warn his 5 brothers.  His self image is
   inflated and blinds him to this character flaw.  Entitlement?
3. The rich man is condemned not because of his wealth in
   itself, but that because of it he feels self righteous.  The trap of wealth, I am better than that one.
4. There may be a parallel in Luke’s mind between Lazarus
   and Jesus, which comes out in the talk between the rich man and Abraham.  Jesus was poor, died, and returned to
   life.  Were Lazarus to die and return to
   life, neither would he be believed, any more than Jesus was believed.
5. There is a play on words with Lazarus.  In ancient languages the name Lazarus could
   be equivalent to Abraham.  Therefore,
   Luke rubs it in: Lazarus may be a personification of Abraham himself, lying on the
   doorstep of the rich man who never sees him.

 The lesson: Who is the Lazarus, who is the poor
person at your own doorstep?

Source:   The Liberating Stories of Jesus, Francis Vanderwall

 

 

Readings: Sirach 3, 17-29; Psalm 68; Hebrews 12, 18-24; Luke 14, 1-14

Sirach: this book was written after Jesus died.  It is basically a compilation of traditional Jewish wisdom material.  Our reading focuses on being humble and wise.

Humility a Side Effect?

A good friend of mine told me recently about a trip he made to Central Market. It was a week day, so the store was not so crowded. He went to the deli counter and there about a half a dozen people waiting.  Normally, when it is more crowded, customers take a number and wait to get the number called to get served. 

Because of the small number of customers this afternoon, people were not taking numbers. My friend said that often in a case like this people might try to jump ahead or get the sales person’s attention before it went to another customer. However, on this occasion people actually told the sales person, "No. It is not my turn. He is ahead of me." And everyone was doing this. No jumping the line. Waiting with patience and courtesy.

In Luke today he talks about taking the first place.  In fact, it is suggested that you take the second or last place so that you may be called up to the front of the line.  Some observations about this.

First, when I was going through the 2 year Jesuit novitiate emphasis was put on being humble.  Folks, I never felt comfortable with this.  Today I would rather focus on healthy humility being self acceptance.  Humility is really a side effect of self acceptance.  Self acceptance says, "Who cares whether I am first or last."

Second, I would even propose that if I have to be last or first, that need could be a symptom of something else, like a low self image or a sense of inferiority.  Maybe religious scruples or a religion addiction.

Thirdly, I would suggest that if I am choosinjg the last place or acting humbly so I will win esteem, whoa.  As the (famous?) poet David Budbill says,

I want to famous so I can be humble about being famous.                                                              What good is this humility when I am stuck in this obscurity?

Fourth, about inviting the guests to dinner. Rosemary says that the reason I get invited to so many dinners is because I fulfill all the requirements: poor, crippled, lame, and blind. 

Not to beat the acceptance idea to death, but I think a possible healthy approach is through acceptance of others as well as myself.  Ultimately, it is irrelevant whether you or I are rich or poor.  We are all rich and poor.  If I only focus on the materially rich or white or being from Plano Senior High or whatever, then maybe I got a problem and this may be the leading symptom.  Remember low self image?

Those folks in Central Market seem to have had some level of humility or acceptance. 

So, how are you doing accepting, yourself & others?

Megan, our September bread baker:

AUDIO: http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2007-09-02.mp3

Take this profile to find out your possible length of life: http://www.poodwaddle.com/realage.swf                                                                                           I will let you know my results next Sunday. 

Deuteronomy 4, Moses said to the people.

Psalm 33, Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own. 

Romans 8, Those who are lead by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Matthew 28, The disciples went to Galilee to the mountain.

 

 

 

Thanks……

Music,  Ben & Shonda

Readers, Jackie & John Simari & Buddy, our candle blesser

Gospel, Deacon Mike Carrell

Homily,  John Cade

Eucharistic Prayer A & B,  John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,    Richard and Mike and Hue and David

Final Blessing, Rosemary

For hosting us at Legacy, Becky

 

 

 

Jackie reading from Deuteronomy.

 

Readings for Trinity Sunday

Download Readings Trinity Sunday 5-30-2021

 

Homily for Trinity Sunday

Download Homily by Cade 5-30-2021

 

 

 

John Simari reading from Romans.

 

Remember these special people:

For Alan Stryker;  For Joe Hogan;    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 Loretta's aunt Alicia;  For Sir Charlie & Jan;  Shonda's mom & Cody &  Leo & all of Shonda's dear family; For Ursuline Sr. Mary Troy, Mike Carol's wife. Judy 

 

Mike Carol reading The Gospel from Matthew

 

Jackie's mom, sister, & friend, Lynn;  For Rick Turner searching for a kidney donor, Type O neg & gall bladder op.; For Meredith, cancer free & John Schanot;    For John O'Donnell & Jean;   For Jean & Cliff Wright;  For Dee, and for her daughter, Lisa;  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 4 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.

 

Today's celebrants, John & Mike.

 

Birthdays:   Shonda and Mabel Ekes

Anniversaries:

Community Finances,   May 30, 2021

Expenses: $1,295.00

Outreach: $700.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

 

Rosemary's Blessing

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks still bravely singing fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead: Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved: and now we lie
In Flanders fields!

Taken from IN FLANDERS FIELDS
By Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae

 

Composed at the battlefront on May 3, 1915 
during the second battle of Ypres, Belgium

 

 

Rosemary sharing her blessing.

 

 

 

Amos 7,  The lord took me.

Psalm 85, Lord, let us see your kindness and grant us your salvation 

Ephesians 1, Blessed be God who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing.

Mark 6, He began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits.

 

 

Who let these Juliettes out in public!

 

Thanks……

Music,    Shonda 

Readers,  Mary Hall & Sandra Pratt, & Buddy, our candle blesser 

Gospel,     John Cade

Homily,   John Stack

Eucharistic Prayer A & B,  John Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,     Richard

Final Blessing, Rosemary

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

Mary arrives ready to read from Amos.

 

Readings:

Download Readings 15th Ordinary 07-11-21

 

Homily by John Stack

Download Homily by Stack 7-11-2021 15th Sunday of Ordinary time

 

 

Sandra reading from Ephesians.

 

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 Loretta's aunt Alicia;  For Sir Charlie & Jan;  Shonda's mom & Cody &  Leo & all of Shonda's dear family; For Ursuline Sr. Mary Troy, 

 

The Team, John & John.

 

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 4 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.

 

 

Peace, Everyone.

 

Birthdays:  John Schanot & Caroline Grattifiori 

Anniversaries:  Ron & Marilyn, 68th

 

Happy 58th Anniversary, Ron & Marilyn.

 

Community Finances,   July 11, 2021

Expenses: $560.00  

Outreach: $210.00  

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 
   
                                                                                                                           

Welcome home, Monique.                                                                                                                                      

Rosemary's Blessing:

I just finished a marvelous book, The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan.  It is the story of a young couple and 2 young sons making their way from the Ukraine westward at the end of WWII.

At the end of the mother’s life many years later when she was 80+ years old a friend asked the woman, Adeline to describe the most important things she learned over the course of her long and remarkable life.

Adeline thought about that for a little while before saying, “Don’t chew on the bad things that happen to you, dear.  Try to see the beauty in every cruelty. It sets you free.  Forgive hurt if you want to heal a broken heart.  Try to be grateful for every setback or tragedy, because by living through them, you become stronger.  I see the hand of God in that.”

 

Readings:

Habakkuk, 1, 2-3, 2, 2-4 , I cry for help, but you do not listen. 

Psalm 95,  If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

21 Timothy 1, 6-8, 13-14, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God.

Luke 16, 19-31,   Faith the size of a mustard seed. 

 

Says Charlotte with her big sister, Chloe, "Welcome in, Everybody."

 

 

Observations on Habakkuk

Who:  one of the Minor Prophets.  His book, 3 chapters.

When:  555 before Christ.  Clear from the text, because he mention the evil Babylon.

 

 

Peighton, too, says, "Hi, Folks, Come in."   Notice Peighton already has his running shoes on.  

 

Message:

    I am watching the wicked triumph, ruin & violence evereywhere.

    Curses on the oppressor, Babylon.

    God will win in the end

Our Message:

1/2 I see ruin and violence everywhere.

1/2 God says the just will live.

 

 

 

And Genevieve, who has never met a stranger, says, "Wow, it is so nice to see everybody at my party."

 

 

Unprofitable Servants?  Faith the size of a Mustard Seed?  

Wow!  What do you think when you hear this reading?  How do you feel?   Got faith enough to remove a mulberry tree?  I need the faith to remove an overgrown Live Oak tree out of our back yard.  I, for one, don’t get good vibes off of this reading.  And many of the other readings we have had this year from Luke.

Therefore, I would like to dispute with Luke.  From my psychology experience, am I seeing a man with a slightly split personality? 

 

 

 

Hi, Nora, You look very pretty this morning.

 

While Luke has the touching Nativity narrative and the magnificent story of the Prodigal Son, and, even, the lost coin and lost sheep, look what else.  

We have had the master and his debtors, leave your parents and take up your cross, the narrow gate that only a few get in.  Likewise, be ready because he comes like a thief when you are not ready and guess what happens—you go straight to hell!

You know my bias.  I believe in a God who is unconditional, unconditional in his love for us.  Forget about hell. 

 

 

Hi, Harper, you may tell your grandmother that we can repeat the homily for her any time, since she missed part of it.  And we know she hates to do that.

 

As another alternative to this discouraging passage I would propose a simple, favorite line of mine from the Old Testament and from one of the Minor Prophets, Micah, only 7 little chapters.   

Says Micah in chapter 6 verse 8, “The Lord has told us what is good.  What he requires is this: to do what is right, to love unconditionally, and to live in humble fellowship with God.” 

Initially this may sound pretty easy.  However, is it always easy to do what is right?  Like to stand up for peace when everyone wants war?

 

 

The Magic, Leo and John

 

Easy to show constant love?  To troublemakers, to other races, to other religions, to the political candides in this fall’s elections?

To walk in humble fellowship with our God?  Can this fellowship eliminate fear, fear that I am headed for hell? 

How do you do what is right, love unconditionally, and live in humble fellowship with our unconditionally loving God?

 

 

 

Happy 16th Birthday, Kara.

Readings: Isaiah 49, 3-6; Psalm 40; 1 Corinthians 1, 1-3; John 1, 29-34.

Isaiah: Again we have one of Isaiah’s consoling messages.  This message focuses more on being called.  Remember, the writers of this book lived about 800 years before Christ.

I want to talk about Yahweh’s promise, "I will make you a light to the nations."

A Light to the Nations?  Me?

As many of you have noticed, after Mass & coffee a good percentage of our community reconvenes over at Costco on Central.  Where else can you get such a great free lunch?

When I am not watering trees after Mass, I normally drop Rosemary at the entrance, go fill the car with gas, and then wait for her in the parking lot while listening to Prairie Home Companion.  I love that program and almost always find myself laughing my head off.

Last Sunday Rosemary and I had gone to do our weekly shopping as usual.  I had filled the car with gas and was sitting in the parking lot.  At some point I noticed that an elderly man was wandering around the south side parking lot where I was sitting.  He had passed me already three or four times.  He would walk by me heading toward the Central side of the lot, then return.  Shortly he would do it again.  He had a couple of bags in his arms.  I’m watching him, thinking he must be confused, but I’m not doing anything.

Finally Rosemary arrives, I start up the car, and while we are pulling away I point out to her the man wandering around the parking lot.  I tell her I wonder if he is lost, confused, or suffering from dementia or worse. 

What does she say?  "Let me see if he needs some help."  So we turn around and she gets out.   They talk and together begin to walk around the parking lot.  I wait some more and finally she comes back.  She had helped him look for his car, which he said was a white Infinity.  Since together they still could not find the car, she informed the Cosco staff, who said they would help him.

This is it.  This is what Yahweh is talking about when he says, "I will make you a light to the nations."  It does not mean  lightning is going to strike.  It does not mean the other guy.   When I grew up the Christophers were a Catholic group that intended to light one candle instead of cursing the darkness.  Light one little candle was the theme.  I remember as a kid going with my dad to a rally in the Cotton Bowl, of all places.  It was evening, the lights were turned off, and everyone lit a candle.  I can still remember how beautiful it was.

Lighting the candle does at least two things.

1.  It touches the spirit of the person who receives the light.  That elderly man must have been touched when he saw Rosemary come across the parking lot to help him.  I was. 

2.  The effect is contagious.  When the person’s spirit is touched, he becomes a light and touches someone else.  So instead of the elderly man being angry and frustrated, he is peaceful and gracious.

I was rather confounded that I never thought about getting out and helping the elderly gentleman, but I was delighted that Rosemary immediately suggested she help him when she heard my thoughts. 

How are you a light to the nations?   

    AUDIO:  http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2008-01-20.mp3