Sunday Homily 3-7-10, Lent 3

Readings: Joshua 5, 9-12; Psalm 34, Taste and see the goodness of the Lord; 2 Corinthians 5, 17-21; Luke 15, 1-32

 

 

The Fourth Sunday in Lent – Reflection on the Readings

The first reading today is from the Book of Joshua.  Just to put this book in the context of the Old Testament, it comes immediately after the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament.  It is the account of how the Israelites took possession of the “Promised Land”.  It would be similar I suppose to the landings of the early pilgrims and how we celebrate that event with Thanksgiving.

 

 

  

The book has been edited by the same folks who worked on the Pentateuch, namely those folks whom we know as J, E, P and D.  Our reading today comes just before the famous battle to take Jericho.  The Israelites are making their transition from being feed with Manna to harvesting food from the land.  One continuing concern, which comes up time and again, is the influence of the Canaanites on the relationship of the Israelites with their God. 

 

 

The Fourth Sunday in Lent – Homily

The gospel is a very familiar one.  I know that we have traditionally looked at it from the point of view of forgiveness, but today I want to continue with the topic of selfishness and see how much of that is in this familiar story. 

 

I have said this before, but it bears repeating.  The entire might of Madison Avenue is focused on telling us that if we buy some product we will be happy, in other words the focus is on me doing something for me, when my experience is that when I shift that focus from me to you, only then am I truly happy!  I want to repeat this, when I shift the focus of my attention from me to you, then I am truly happy. 

 

 

Let’s take a look at the story.  The younger son wants out of the place, wants his share of the inheritance and heads off to greener pastures!  The money goes and before we know it he is feeding pigs.  Remember the Jewish view of pigs, unclean.  He could not have ended up in a worse state and he sure is feeling sorry for himself, so he makes up a plan.  Focus is on himself and how to get out of the fix he is in.  He rehearses his story and heads off home.

The older brother goes nuts when he finds out what happens.  No joy that the brother is home, in fact he uses the phrase “your son” not “my brother” and throws in some additional details on how he believes his brother has been sinning.  Then he gives the whole game away when he says “I have slaved all these years”, this is how he has viewed his life at home with dad.  He is the “good boy”  “I never once disobeyed your orders”  Can you imagine how nice it must have been to have him around the house.  His whole attitude was focused on how tough it was for him, and also thinking about the younger brother and what he must have been up to.

   

Certainly the focus has always been on the generosity of the father, but can you imagine how he must have felt.  His youngest son leaves home and goes off to a foreign land, and they never hear from him again.  The older son just sulks around the place and from the sound of him, was not fun to have around.  No wonder the father spent his days looking for the younger son to return.  No wonder he was happy to see him!

 

The story is told along with two other stories about things lost and found; the lost sheep and the lost coin.  There is much rejoicing when each is found, as there is when the lost son returns home. 

 

 

The Dutch priest Henri Nouwen wrote a wonderful little book on a painting of the prodigal son by Rembrandt in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg in Russia.  In the book he buts himself in each of the characters places and reflects on what they saw and how they felt, including the servant.  As a parent, it is easy for me to understand how the father reacted.  But for the Pharisees and scribes, they were too bound by the rules.  How would you react?

  

On the second reading from Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians we have that amazing phrase which Paul uses to say we are “ambassadors for Christ”.  Remember that an ambassador represents the one who has sent them.  Christ’s focus was always on the underprivileged, the poor and the outcasts of society. 

 

Picture 1:  The Mass begins at Wilson Middle School

 

Picture 2:  Bob & John, Marilyn and her guest from Germany, Richard

 

Picture 3:  The patio at Wilson with Loretta & Gayle

 

Picture 4:  The Donut Shoppe, Rosemary & Ray

 

 

 

 

Happy 1st Easter, Dear Atlas, so nice to see  you.  Know that you have a terrific mommy.  Congratulations, Dearest Wendy

 

 

 

Readings:  (Easter Sunday)

 Acts of the Apostles 10, 34, 37-43 , Peter proceeded to speak

Psalm 118,  This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad.

 1 Corinthians 5, 6-8,  A little yeast leavens all the dough.

John  20, 1-95,  Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning.

 

 

 

Congratulations, Brandon.  What a neat little boy you have.

 

 

Acts of the Apostles 

 

This work is basically the story of the development & growth of the Christian community after the death of Jesus up to Paul's arrival in Rome.

 

It is considered more idealistic than factual.

 

The author seems to be Luke, the same who wrote the Gospel.

 

 

 

Thanks, Dearest Emma, for being our Candle Lighter of The Week

 

 

A Random Act of Kindness

Mary Ellen has a friend named Diane.  They met in their book club probably many years ago.  Diane was a significant help with the move of Mary Ellen from her nice condo to Prestonwood Assisted Living.

A couple of weeks ago Diane and another friend of hers decided to go out for lunch.  They chose Napoli’s Italian, which I think is on Independence & McDermott.  Do our Juliettes not know this place already?  

 

 

 

 

Offertory.  Happy Easter Dearest Cameron, Trey, Brady, & Reid, and also to your crazy dad, my beloved friend.

 

 

So they have their lunch, chat, and finally ask the waiter for their bill.   Instead of giving them their bill, the waiter says that another lady who had been eating in the restaurant had paid for them and left. 

Another Random Act of Kindness.

And You?  Performed any Random Acts of Kindness lately?

 

 

 

 

Special thanks to our Special Easter Team, Georgie and Buddy, along with John and Mike.

 

 

Happy Easter

(P.S.  Incidentally, Rosemary suggested to me that maybe we ought to have lunch once in a while at this Napoli’s.)

 

 

 

 

I think this must be Christmas or Easter.  So many old & dear friends.

 

 

 

Watch out, My Dear Leo.  A big rabbit is just about ready to snatch you.

Readings:   (A couple of good readings today)

Genesis  18,  1-10,  I will return next year and Sarah will have a son.  She laughs.

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,  The story of Martha & Mary.

 

 

Old buddies, John & Leo, say, "Welcome in, Everybody."

 

Genesis observations:

What :   This is the first book in the whole bible, a good read.  It begins with the 2 versions of creation, Adam & Eve, the apple, Cain & Abel, the Ark and the flood with Noah (see the picture of the huge ark somebody has built?), Abraham & the almost sacrifice of his son, and others. 

When put together:  Babylonian Captivity, ca. 555 before Christ.

 

 

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

 

 

Today’s story: An amusing little story, though you don't know it because the editor snipped off the end.   Abraham is hospitable to three travelers.  This results in the men, messengers from Yahweh,  saying that a year from now Sarah will have a son.  Sarah is 99 years old and never had a child.  She is behind a tent flap, hears the promise, and she laughs.  Amusingly Yahweh hears her laugh, asks her why, and she lies, saying she did not laugh.  

 

 

Offertory with Tom & Teresa & Sandra, and, of course, Leo.

 

 

Martha & Mary, who is better?

This morning I would like to talk about who is better, Martha or Mary?  Before I even begin I must acknowledge that Rosemary has a strong opinion on this subject.  You can guess it.  She thinks that Martha is getting a bad deal. 

It must be also admitted that Rosemary has a bit of the Martha complex.   She tells me often how she feels like Martha because she is so over worked. 

 

 

Want to see one happy kid today?  

 

So, being a good husband and trying to lessen the load, I will tell you what I do.  This is also my way of finding meaning to this either/or story.  Maybe it is not either/or? 

It happens on Tuesday evenings when the sun is going down and I am in the shade that I mow our lawn.  I not only mow, but I edge, trim the bushes, use the weed eater, and blow it all.  Just mowing the grass takes me 90 minutes.  I enjoy doing it.  It is like an art form.  I am imitating Rosemary, the artist.  Plus, it is good exercise.

 

 

The Wedding, Lisa Anderlick and Mark Cheek, Saturday evening, Suncreek United Methodist, Allen.

 

When I am mowing I get into a pretty swift rhythm.   I can push the lawn mower faster than the mower ordinarily goes.  My little 88 year old neighbor lady who lives across the street, Joyce,  says I look like I am running behind the lawn mower. 

One evening recently when I was zooming back & forth across our front yard, a neighbor couple, Barbra & Bud, and their white sort of poodle dog, all came walking by.   This happens occasionally in front of our house and in front of their house when we are walking Aviana.  The dogs have a relationship that consists of all of about a two minute mutual check out.  I love these people and they are the couple who introduced me to the “J,” the Jewish Community Center.

 

 

"I take you, Lisa, in Marriage.  I promise to be true to you in good times & bad, in sickness and in health.   I will love and cherish you all the days of my life."

 

 

So I see Bud & Barbra & Patty.  I wave but do not lessen my rhythm.  I keep chasing that lawn mower.  And then….I feel guilty. 

I have just again chosen Project over People, one of my most favorite activities.  I think to myself, ‘What if I just stopped and chatted for 5 minutes?’  ‘Would it make the slightest difference in when I finish?’

 

I have known Lisa Anderlick since the time she was a little girl.  Now she has not only grown up beautifully, but she is an MD.  In fact, she and two of her brides maids all became MD's together.  

 

 

5 minutes later here they come back the other way toward their house.  So, what do you think I did?  Yep, I kept right on chasing that lawn mower.  And they passed me by and went home.  I still cannot believe I did it.  I have yet to apologize to them.  As Rosemary is happy to observe, I get OCD about projects & work.  Obsessive, compulsive, that is. 

Sound familiar?  You got a similar obsession?  Maybe you don’t.  If so you are blessed. 

 

The first steps on the road to a New Life.

 

 

Maybe in our Martha-Mary story Martha gets obsessive, compulsive and needs to be more like Mary?   At least I do.  Mary, who knows?  Maybe she needs to be more sensitive to the job to be done?

For me, the story is a challenge to be both, focused on the work, and focused on the person.  In fact, I believe the person always takes priority despite my behavior.

How do you balance the Martha-Mary dynamic in your life? 

 

Long time and dear friends, Lisa's parents, Karen & John Anderlick.

 

 

Readings: Isaiah 60, 1-6; Psalm 72, Lord, Every Nation on Earth will adore You; Ephesians 3, 2-6; Matthew 2, 1-12.

 

Isaiah 60: author, date, subject

 

Author: 3 Isaiah (responsible for chapters 55-66)

 

Date: ca. 400, after the Babylonian Captivity, ended ca. 550

 

Subject: lines such as, Rise up in splendor, the glory of the Lord shines, people from the east will come with gold & frankincense.

 

source: John Shelby Spong

 

 

The Great Debate: Myth vs Fact

 

I have just had an epiphany event in my life.  I was visited by an old friend, a wise friend, maybe a wise guy friend.  He says, "Stack, you are a fraud."  You folks have known this all along.  He says that the homily I gave before Christmas on the Partridge in a Pear Tree was not true.  Sorry to have to tell you this.  The history was wako, did not happen.  As you can imagine, I was quite deflated, but figured he was right because he is more of a researcher than I. 

 

So, folks, the old geezer fraud fesses up this morning.  I confess that I did not do any research on the subject.  Somebody sent it to me a few years ago, and I did not even save the name of the sender. 

 

 

So, using my friend's research and my own, I discovered that maybe the symbols were connected to the old Christmas carol ca. 1990.  Apparently nobody knows.  It was pointed out that these symbols did not need to be secret because of persecution.  The Elizabethan protestants shared most of the same symbols.  No secret needed.  Plus the carol may have come from France.  So, everyone, erase that homily and the history I gave you.  I blew that one. 

 

It struck me in the midst of this, could we be witnessing the creation of a myth?  100 years from now how many people will believe the version that I presented?  Could this be an example of what took place in the bible?  You have certainly heard that biblical scholars have determined that the nativity stories are the result of literary liberties taken by Luke & Matthew, not factual history.  I can give you two simple examples.

 

 

First, Bethlehem.  It is thought that Jesus was really born in Nazareth.  But Luke & Matthew, the only writers dealing with the nativity, wanted to connect Jesus with King David.  David was born in Bethlehem.  It is pointed out that it is a long way from Nazareth to Bethlehem, it was winter, and Mary was pregnant.  A woman researcher commented, "Only a man would imagine such a journey possible for a pregnant woman."

 

 

Why were people going to Bethlehem?  To be counted in a census of all the descendents of David.  David lived a 1000 years earlier, had many wives and mistresses.  His offspring would have numbered in at least the thousands.  No wonder there was no room.  And imagine how skitzy Herod would be with these thousands of potentially hostile subjects just a few miles from Jerusalem.

 

Why did the writers use such literary liberties?  They want to show that Jesus was special, he was the figure 1 Isaiah predicted, the God-hero, the wonder worker, the Prince of Peace.  They had heard so much about the adult Jesus that they wanted to make his birth a God-hero event.  So, connect him with the Great King David.

 

Finally, secondly, there is one small but significant mistranslation.  In Isaiah 7, 14, it is said, "A young woman will have a child."  Matthew, most likely intentionally to craft his point, mistranslates the word young woman as virgin, and says 'a virgin will become pregnant' (1, 23).  And so it has come down. 

   

There are three ways to respond to these studies.  One is to say, "No problem, God can do all that stuff.  He's all powerful."   The trouble with this is that the evidence is becoming overwhelming.  Like still saying the earth is flat.

 

Or I can simply toss out the whole and stay home.

 

A middle ground could be to recognize that literary liberties have been used.  And still celebrate the event.  The event, the Prince of Peace gives me peace and gives me a longing to share the peace. 

 

 

 

I goofed up by not researching the Partridge in a Pear Tree.  Sorry about that.  What we may be seeing here is a myth process similar to the biblical stories.  Myth or fact?  How can I be an educated, intelligent Christian?

 

What do you think about all this?  What do you feel about it?

 

Sources: John Shelby Spong; Harvey Cox, Future of Faith; Catholic Encyclopedia on line; Snopes

 

 

Picture 1:  Epiphany Celebration begins

 

Picture 2:  Mass with Kevin helping

 

Picture 3:  35th Anniversary, Carol & Richard 

 

Picture 4:  Chloe dances (see video)

 

 

 

Readings:  Jeremiah 20, 7-9; Psalm 63; Romans 12, 1-2; Matthew 16, 21-27

Jeremiah: One of the 3 great prophets, called the "broken hearted prophet,' because he had a heart rending life predicting punishment of death and destruction for the Hebrews for their sinful ways. 

He wrote from Jerusalem ca. 600 B.C. and his predictions came true when Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem in 588 B.C., defeated the Hebrews, and took them off to Babylon-Baghdad as prisoners.  Jeremiah wore a wooden yoke as a visual aid to his message.  He may have been ultimately killed by the Hebrews.

Deny Yourself, Take up Your Cross, and Follow Me

This simple little line from Matthew can be very tricky.  It can be approached healthily or in a less than healthy way.  I can witness to the latter in my own life.  I have already described how as a young Jesuit I was expected to do penance and deny myself in various ways, like the practice of using little whips to scourge our backs and little chains with points to wear around our thighs.  This was supposed to bring me closer to God.

I can laugh at this now, but I am humbled at how easily I can be programed.  When I read this line and others like it in the Bible and remember my experiences with such spirituality, I pick up the scent of an ancient philosophy that still influences a lot of religious activity which is not spiritually so sane.  The philosophy: dualism. 

The idea is simple.  Reality comes in pairs, hot & cold, rich & poor, order & chaos, and, in particular for this discussion, body & soul or flesh & spirit or mind & matter.  So far so good. 

The trouble enters with a judgment about the flesh & spirit.  Specifically, flesh is bad, spirit is superior.  Consequently, so that my spirit may reach an elevated plane of purity & perfection, and ultimately closer union with God, I attempt to control the flesh by disregarding the body's existence & appetites, ultimately aiming to live without it.  How about that!

There is a healthy, in fact, a rich approach to the line.  But first a couple of facts.  Dualism is identified as far back as 1000 years B.C. and came out of Zoroastrianism, a religion that worshiped one god and believed in an afterlife.  Did it come from Egypt as so much did at that time?  No, from  Persia, the area we call Iran today.  Zoroastrianism was widespread until Muhammad arrived on the scene around 650 and established Islam.  Through the ages lots of people picked up on dualism, for example, Plato, Augustine, Descartes.

I have two stories about people who healthily acted out self denial.

First, a girl I know who when she was 11 years old thought that she would like to join a swimming team here in Plano. She tried out, more than once, failing each time.  Undaunted, she practiced.  When she was 12 she not only got on the team, but she won the state championship in her age bracket. 

She continued to swim through grade school and into high school, practicing 2 hours early in the morning before class and two hours after school.  She even went to Providence College on a swim scholarship.  This girl, Megan, whom I love tremendously could have slept in two more hours every morning when she was in high school, she could have come home after school and watched TV.  It would have been easier.  This is healthy self denial and because of it she is a girl more alive, more whole, more fully alive with a vibrant spirit.  She is now the mother of Liam, who was our Baby Jesus in the Christmas drama, and the daughter of Rob & Beth.

Saturday we celebrated with a parade in Parker another girl like Megan, Nastia, home from the Olympics.

The second person is Thomas McGowan, 50 years old.  You might have read about him in the paper a few weeks ago.  He was just released from prison after spending half of his life there for a crime he did not commit.  The Innocence Project obtained permission to run a DNA match & he was exonerated. 

I came to know more about him through an old friend and classmate of mine, Tony Levatino, who in his retirement works at the Holy Trinity Center, the outreach arm of Holy Trinity Parish, just like ours.  Tony got familiar with him because his sister works at Holy Trinity and happened to talk with her.  Turns out he could not find a job.  Tony had a connection with the Anatole Hotel and got him hired.

Besides being moved by what Tony was able to accomplish, I was also moved whenTony said Thomas was an excellent man, cheerful, without anger, not wanting to blame anyone.  He accepted his fate while hoping for exoneration.  He was peaceful.  Thomas was a man who denied himself and took up a cross.

These two people have both denied themselves.   Megan strove to achieve, Thomas accepted.

How & why do you deny yourself?

AUDIO:  http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2008-08-31.mp3

 

Greetings from Yosemite, Hoover Wilderness, and Matterhorn Canyon.   Departure Moment.   All say "Hi" and "Welcome," Beth, Andy, Rose, Tom, an Old Geezer, Paul & Carrie, Matt & Ray, son & dad.

 

 

Readings:

Sirach,   27, 30-28, 7    Wrath & anger are hateful things

Psalm 103,   The Lord is gracious and merciful, never gets angry, and is abounding in love. (that marvelous line again!)

Romans 14, 7-9,  None of us lives for oneself.

Matthew 18, 21-35,  The gracious king and the abusive servant.

 

 

 

Tori says, "Welcome Home, all you Campers."

 

Observations on Sirach

What: a collection of wisdom statements or ethics, like 'do unto others as you would have them do unto you.'   Lengthy, 51 chapters.

Who:  composed by a Jewish scribe in Hebrew and translated into Greek by his grandson, probably in Alexandria, Egypt.

When:  ca. 200 yours before Christ.

Subject today: Beware of hatred & Anger.

 

 

 

Harper says, "May I go the next time you go camping?"

 

 

Cura Personalis or caring for another

I would like to talk this morning about an old ethical concept we were trained up on as Jesuits, cura personalis, in Latin, which means taking care of the other in my life. 

For years I have been trying to take care of my fellow campers on our voyages to Yosemite and elsewhere.  This past trip my fellow campers took care of me.

 

 

 

Trey & Brady, our Candle Lighters of The Week.

 

 

For example, we had a new guy this year, Matt Occhipinti.  Yes, Ray & Claire’s son.  For me he was a wild card, an unknown, consequently, scary.  Like can he do the hike or will he melt down.  And then what?

Well, not only did Matt not melt down he was a great camper, hiker, and especially a helper around the camp sites.  Like I saw him frequently hauling water up from the river or lake to fill our water purification bladder.  I thank him.

 

 

 

So what do you do when you finally arrive at the 11k plus Burrow Pass to find that the trail going steeply down the other side is covered by a huge mass of left over snow?   Yes, Harper, you slide.

 

I also thank Ray, not only for bringing Matt, but also for being our evening dinner cook and our morning hot water maker.   It is so nice to crawl out of my sleeping bag in 38 degree temp to find hot water prepared for coffee or oat meal.  Thanks again, Ray.

Cura personalis also came from Paul & Carrie, not only for each other, but even for me!  They watched my back and helped me up some big boulder steps. They saved me a tent site and helped me set up my tent one evening when I arrived pretty exhausted. I watched them, too, folks, and can let you know, as I told them, their relationship is made in heaven and they have many happy days ahead of them because they care for each other so well, especially by listening to each other.  Thanks, Paul & Carrie.

 

 

 

Buddy & Georgie, would you like to go for a slide on the snow?

 

Then I was so touched by two monster helpers, our Tom Fleming and Andy Sokoloski.  One day, believe it or not, Beth, Rose, and myself took a spur trail and got lost for about an hour.  We have walkie talkies and radioed ahead.  Next thing, Tom and Andy come striding to our rescue.  Tom even takes my back pack until we catch the others who were waiting for us.  Thanks, Tom.

Andy also saved me numerous times with his stream crossing sandals.   The past years the streams have always been low.  So I don’t bring my sandals.  Stupid!   I borrowed Andy’s sandals 8-10 times.  Thanks, Andy.

 

 

 

Want to take a snow slide with me, Cory & Shonda?  

 

 

And then there is Beth.  First of all, as always she comes out of her tent in the cold morning before sun is up all smiles and cheer.  What a joy.  But she also did something for me that I reflected had never happened in all the many years I have camped in Tanzania & Kenya, with the Jesuits, and now with our people. 

As I walked into camp late one afternoon, Beth, asks me if I would like help putting up my tent.  I was so touched.  Sure thing, I accepted.  She even did it twice and probably set an example such that Paul & Carrie made the same offer our last night in the wilderness.  I also know you carried some of my food stuff.  Thanks, Beth.

 

 

 

Hey, Buddy, how do you do that with your legs?  Wow, if I tried that, it would take surgery to get me out, or a mortician.

 

And Rose.  Every year I have always carried two bear canisters so that folks who have a hard time with the weight of the dinner or cheese or Jack Daniels, they would not have to worry.  This year I started out as usual.  Guess what.  I just did not have this year my usual energy and push.

Rose saw this the first day and what does she do behind my back.  She asks everybody in the camp the first night to help me out.   So one minute I have two full canisters.  The next the canisters are almost empty.  If she & everybody had not done that, I would have had a tough time.  As it was, I was always the last person into the evening camp and into the trail head on the last day.  And guess who was always there giving me cura personalis, personal care!  Thanks so much, Rose Banzhaf. 

 

 

 

Is poor Beth trying to hide?  While I tell stories about her?

 

 

Who gives you personal care?

To whom do you give personal care?

 

 Anybody claim these derelicts?  Like Paul & Carrie, Rose & Beth & Andy,  Ray & Matt & Tom & an Old Geezer?  Looking north up Matterhorn Canyon.