A new community member?  Almost like former times.

 

Readings:

Isaiah 7, 10-14, Ask for a sign from the Lord.

Psalm 24,  Let the  Lord enter, he is king of glory

Romans 1, 1-7,  Grace to you and peace.

Matthew 1, 18-24,  This how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.

 

 

Buddy reading The Candle Blessing for the 4th Sunday.

 

Homily for December 22 by Mike

The Matthew and Luke gospels begin with what Biblical scholars call infancy narratives because the child Jesus is in both of them. You might remember from earlier homilies that the shepherds, who lived in the fields and who took turns watching over their flocks during the night, were a metaphor for the Lord’s apostles. The angel of the Lord, Mary, the manger, the flocks, the swaddling clothes, the birth place of Bethlehem, all these and many others are metaphors.

 

 

Our Sister Act lighting the 4 candles for the 4th week of Advent

 

It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that Mary has given birth in both the Matthew and Luke gospels; but not to a child. She has given birth to the written Good News of Jesus Christ. It is there that Mary’s wildest dreams are fulfilled…and ours, too.

 

 

 

Mike sharing his homily ideas.

 

 

The Prophet Isaiah has been in anticipation of the written Good news all through Advent. Today he identifies Christ as Emmanuel,  “God is with us.”  Recall that in the Luke gospel Isaiah identifies the Lord’s journey with us this way:  The spirit of the Lord has anointed us to take the Good News to the poor, to proclaim liberty to the captive, to give sight to the blind, to set the downtrodden free, and to proclaim this year to be the Lord’s year of favor.

 

 

 

Thanks to all of you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Readings: Note that these readings are for Sunday rather than All Saints.  Much better readings.

Wisdom 11, 22-12, 2, You love all things that are.

Psalm 145,  I will praise your name forever, my king and my God.  Also, check out the marvelous second stanza, my favorite.  What a portrait of our God.

2 Thessalonians 1, 11-22  We always pray for you.  Good old Paul, two long sentences.

Luke 19, 1-10, The beloved Zacchaeus in his tree.

 

 

Wisdom (of Solomon) observations:

Author: Not Solomon, but a compilation by numerous
people.

Date:  around 200 years before Christ.

Subject: Wise statements like

          "Righteous people are
protected by God and will never suffer torment." 3, 1

          "Is it good to have riches
in this life?  Nothing can make you
richer than wisdom."  8, 5

Today:  Nice reading, especially for All Saints.  Note the beautiful line, “You love all things
that are.” Line 24

 

 

Psalm 145 observation:

Can you spot my favorite line?  Someone
has composed a beautiful portrait of God.

Sources, Good News Bible, The New Interpreter's Study Bible, Wikipedia.

 

 

Saints?  Ever met One? 
Never met One?

I would like to talk today about saints. 
Ever met one?  Never, you
say.  I would say, on the contrary, I
have known many, and I know many.  Let me
spell out a bit what this saint person is or does from my perspective.

First I would suggest the saint is fully alive or trying to be fully
alive.

Secondly, I think this person shows me that Our God is what the Psalm writer
says.  Namely, using my translation, Our
God is gracious and merciful, never gets angry and is abounding in love.

Zacchaeus exemplifies these two qualities.  He shows me this portrait of God and he is so
alive that he climbs a tree to compensate for his shortness.  A terrific model.

 

I have another.  This person came
into my life around fifth grade at Christ the King.  He was a young guy in his twenties, out of
the navy where he had been wounded. 
He was our all sports coach, scout master, teacher, and mentor.  

His name was Frank and at least twice in his life he showed me God. 

 

The first time it happened started after I had entered the Boy Scouts
and we went off to camp Texoma. I don’t think Frank was there this year.  I immediately did not like this, was homesick,
and scared that some of the big guys, the eighth grade boys, who were going to
initiate me, it being my first time out.

So I pretended to be sick, cried a bit, and eventually got taken
home.  I remember coming home.  It was mid-summer and hot.  We had no a/c, of course.  I think my parents were embarrassed.  That event was one of the most humiliating
times in my life.

My dad & some of the other dads had gotten involved with the Scouts
at this time and, therefore, I stuck around. 
Summer came again, camp came, and I did not want to go.  But my dad had volunteered to do an
overnight.  Each night a dad stayed with
the troop. 

 

I did not want to go, but figured I had better go along with my
dad. 

I’ll never forget arriving in that campsite at twilight.  They used the old canvas, walled tents on
platforms.  Each tent had 4 cots.  When we arrived, we went straight to Frank’s
tent and he was seated on his cot.

When I  entered the tent rather queasy, Frank was so warm in his
greeting and so accepting that I immediately felt at ease and at home.  I think Frank’s support of me that night
helped me turn a big corner in my life.

 

Could this have significantly helped me to enter the Jesuits in ’58?  Despite the fact that I knew I would be
coming home for nothing, and despite the times I felt homesick, like especially
around Thanksgiving and Christmas, I never returned home.

The second time Frank showed me Our God was when we planted trees on Marsh
Lane from LBJ to Love Field, probably around 1993-4.  We had so many trees that we used two Sundays
in October-November. 

Frank owned a restaurant just north of LBJ west off of Marsh.  When he heard about what we had done the
first Sunday, he invited all the planters to eat dinner at his restaurant after
the second planting. 

We did and those trees are still there. 
Moreover, for some years Frank’s oldest son, likewise, Frank, whom I
taught at Jesuit in the 60’s, and who owns Back Country Bar-b-que on Greenville
Ave., Frank Jr. catered a lunch for all the tree planters.

Frank Sr. is retired and living at Tremont, and he is one of my saints.  He is fully alive and he has shown me that Our
God is merciful and gracious, never gets angry, and is abounding in love.

Who are your saints?   For whom
are you a saint?  

 

 

 

Readings:  Sirach 3, 17-29; Psalm 68, God, in Your Goodness, You have made a Home for the Poor;  Hebrews 12, 18-24; Luke 14, 1-14

 

 

Introduction to the Readings

 

 

 

The first reading today is from the Book Sirach, which used to be better known as Ecclesiasticus.  It was written about the year 180 BCE by Jesus, son of Elcazar, son of Sira, and later translated by his grandson into Greek.

 

 

Sirach was a highly respected scribe and teacher, a person who traveled quite a bit, may even have been a diplomat to foreign courts.  Later in his life he started a school in Jerusalem where he tried to pass on to the young people the great love he had of the Scriptures combined with what he had learned from his own experiences about life. 

 

 

 

The book is part of the Wisdom literature and the reason for its older title, Ecclesiasticus is that in the past it was one of the most used and quoted books by the Church!   Our reading today fits well with the topic in the gospels, humility.

 

 

 

The second reading is from the Letter to the Hebrews.  The author is unknown, although for a long period of time it was assumed to be Paul.  But today most scholars agree that the style is too different and the Greek used is the best in the New Testament. 

 

 

 

The overall message of the letter is one of encouragement to hang in and not get too complacent with the faith.  Probably written late in the first century, the main theme is the priesthood and sacrifice of Jesus.  This is the letter where we come across the many references to Jesus as the High Priest. 

 

 

 

I sometimes wonder if this focus was due to the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem (ca. 70 C.E.) and the end of the priesthood as the Jewish people would have known it, and so to fill the void the author holds up Jesus and his sacrifice as the one true sacrifice. 

 

 

 

Another important theme is the pilgrimage of the people of God to the heavenly Jerusalem, and it is on this topic that our reading is taken from for today.

 

 

Homily

 

 

The theme of the readings today is humility.   From a careful reading of the gospel, I am left a little confused because it seems to me that the main point Jesus could be making is how to get more recognition by being humble.  That said, since I have nothing good to say about it, I want instead to take advantage of the fact that today we are going to be baptizing Emma and welcoming her into our community, and so would like to offer some thoughts about baptism. 

 

 

 

If we go right back to the earliest days of Christianity, we find baptism!  Early in Mark’s gospel Jesus is baptized by John in the Jordan.  In Matthew’s gospel the apostles are instructed by Jesus just before his ascension to “go teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit”.   And through out the Acts of the Apostles it becomes clear that baptism was the way to join this community. 

 

 

 

It was the Rite of Entry!  And all of the people who were being baptized did so after hearing the message or the teaching as Matthew puts it.  If kids were baptized, it was only because the family was joining. 

 

 

 

It wasn’t until the fifth century when St. Augustine stated that only the baptized could get into heaven that the focus and practice shifted.  This of course created a huge pastoral problem for those who died before being baptized.  It was only in the 12^th century that Peter Abelard came up with the notion of Limbo, for those who had died unbaptized. 

 

 

 

One of the consequences of all of this was that religion was taught to kids, and not to adults!!  When was the last time any of you were at a formal class or session on your faith, outside of mass?  Think about it! 

The catholic faith as most of us have it was given at a kid level.  This might have been fine at a time when most adults were not educated beyond the 6^th grade, if even that, but today most adults have at least completed high school and a large number even college. 

 

 

 

Let me be clear, when I take about “faith” I am specifically referring to our personal response to God, our relationship with God.  Our acceptance of the invitation from God, to love God.  The information stuff, the doctrines, etc., are secondary.  When we were baptized as infants, someone else made that decision for us.  Today while Emma is being baptized, can we take a moment to reflect on the decision made for us, and make it for ourselves!  What does it mean in your life today, that you are baptized?

 

 

Picture 1:   Emma's welcome into the community baptism

 

Picture 2:   Emma's family, godparents Bobby & Tanya, parents Tom & Beth

 

Picture 3:   Sisters, Megan & Emely Kite.  Megan off to teach in Spain for a year.

 

Picture 4:  Chloe

 

Picture 5:  Jackie & Cathy accepting from Mike our monthly $2000 donation to the CCAC

 

 

 

Welcome in, Everybody.  Abrasos for todos.

 

 

Readings:

Genesis 9, 8-15,  Never again shall all creatures be destroyed by the waters of a flood.

Psalm 147,  Your way, Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.

 1 Peter 3, 18-22,  God patiently waited in the days of Noah.

Mark 1, 12-15, The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert.

 

 

 

Hi, Harper.  How many Girl Scout cookies you going to sell us today?  (Lots!)

 

 

Genesis:  observations–

What:  First book of the Bible, starts with creation & ends with the Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob (Israel).  Any reading from this book should start with Once upon a time.   Why?  Because we have here a literary genre that is like myth or a fairy tale in our language.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for bringing up the bread & grape juice, Joe & Brent & Cheryl.
 

 

 

Author: Not Moses as was thought for centuries before people began to study the work.  At least 3 sources: 

• a Y (or J) source for the group that addressed God as Yahweh;
• an E for the group who addressed God as Elohim (Like two historians calling NYC The Big Apple or New York City, or Denver by its name or Mile High City);
• and a P group that focused on the priestly class, activities, & customs, the Levite tribe.

Time: compiled and put together from 950 to 500 BCE.

Today's Selection: the flood has just receded and Noah is receiving a promise (called covenant) from Yahweh that never again will people be wiped out by a flood.  Guess what the sign of the promise is.

 

 

 

Hey, You People, did not your mommas tell you not to go out on a cold and rainy morning?!

 

 

A Happy Lent

I want to talk this morning about having a happy Lent.  Why?  Because God created us to be happy. 

I admit again that this is my least favorite season of the year.  I always look for something positive to do and am never really satisfied with what I come up with.

 

 

 

 

Getting bored?  Join the kids in the playroom.

 

 

Some years ago Diane McMahon recommended to me a facebook article by a lady named Karen Ehrman.  She says, “For this Lent don’t give something up, take something up.”  She has 4 positive suggestions for taking something up.  I add a 5^th.   I like her suggestions.

 

 

Get your Wednesday ashes at Marlene's comfy house.

 

 

1.       Take up note writing to people with whom you don’t communicate that often, but who are friends.  She says she buys 40 cards, envelopes, and stamps.  Each morning she sends one out to a friend, just saying that she likes the person.

2.       Take up the phone and call someone every day or once a week and tell them you are calling just to tell them thanks for being a good friend.  

 

 

 

People come from the north.

 

3.       Take up a simple gift for a friend or family member.  Like bring flowers to someone, bring a Starbucks, offer to wash the dishes, or clean or dust the house, mow the grass (welcome to Tulip Lane).  Invite someone to lunch.  This is a once a week or occasional take up.

 

 

 

People come from the South. 

 

4.       Take up a simple gift for a stranger.  Like the recycle men, the garbage men, the checkers at the grocery.  Compliment the checker on her finger nails, give $10 to each of the garbage men (watch out for their over the top gratitude). 

5.       Take up visiting someone in retirement or in a hospital.  (This is my addition, not Karen’s)  We got lots of people you may choose from.

 

 

 

Ashes for Debbie & Bobby.

 

 

As you can see, some of these suggestions are occasional or once a week ideas.  Plus, what we have here are only seeds.  Even while you were listening to the five I put forward, you may be been thinking about other possibilities.

How can you have a happy Lent?

Source: Karen Ehman, on line.

 

 

 

 

Ashes for Cindy.  A good Ash Wednesday gathering.

Readings:

Isaiah 8, 23 – 9, 3,   The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.

 Psalm 27,  The Lord is my light and my salvation.

 1 Corinthians 1, 01-13, 17,   I urge you that there be no divisions among you.

 Matthew 4, 12-23,    Come after me and I will make you fishers of others.

 

 

Welcome in, Everybody!

 

Isaiah reminders, again—

 Author: This is Isaiah #1, the composer of chapters 1-39.  Even though Isaiah #1 lives before the Babylonian Captivity, he still sees that a great, bright day will come to the Jewish people, despite Babylon. 

 Date:  Ca. 555 before Christ, the composition.  The Jewish people of Jerusalem are about to be defeated and carried off into slavery.

 

 

Welcome in from me, too," sez Genevieve.

 

Subject:  A great day will come for you Jews.  A special leader will be born.  You will be a beacon to others, glorious, and a light to nations everywhere.  You might easily recognize parts of this reading.  From where?  The Nativity readings and Handel's Messiah, a favorite of mine.  

This is the last week we will have these Isaiah readings which I love.  I will miss them.  Until next Advent.

 

Welcome to you, Jean, and especially to you, Marge, all the way here from Vermont.

 

The people who have lived in darkness have seen a great light

I would like to talk again this morning on the same theme we touched upon last week, being a light.  I have a story, some of which you might have heard.  Here we go.

When I was in the 6^th grade at Christ the King, I joined the Boy Scouts in the Spring.  Because my birthday comes in late January, I suddenly became eligible.  So I start going to weekly meetings in the evening. 

 

There is a rumor around here that somebody is 77 and it looks like a party, for sure.

 

I was kind of interested in camping out, but nothing was scheduled that Spring.  Turns out that the first outing was to a Scout camp at Lake Texoma.  For a whole week.  Now I had never been away from home and Texoma seemed like another country.  Certainly the road there was not like today’s Central Expressway.  It was more like taking Tulip Lane to Texoma.

About 3-4 of my classmates had joined up because they became old enough.  So, off we went. 

 

 

Says Donna, "Happy Birthday to whomever that old geezer is."

 

It was not just my classmates on this trip, but also 7^th & 8^th grade guys.  We get there and, probably because I was bigger than my classmates, I was informed quietly that I was going to be initiated into the Scout troop in a special way. 

My self confidence in 6^th grade was pretty weak, so the threats of these 8^th grade boys scared the pooh out of me.  So, what did I do?  I faked being sick and was back home in Dallas Monday afternoon. 

 

 

Yippee, I love birthday parties!

 

Success, Yes?  Nope, I was ashamed, humiliated, and my self confidence totally vanished. 

At this point two lights came into my life.  First, my dad seemed to intuit that I needed extra care.  Secondly, a new coach, teacher, and Scout Master was hired by Christ the King.  This guy, Frank Hart, was especially non-judgmental and positive. 

 

 

"So when does the party start?, says Harper.

 

Slowly during the year and being coached and encouraged by Frank, I got enough self-confidence to go to the next summer’s Scout camp at Texoma, not for the whole week, but from about Tuesday night on.   

Why Tuesday night?  My dad had volunteered to be an adult extra for Frank at the camp and I went with my dad.  I can still remember walking into the camp that Tuesday evening.  It was dark, Coleman lanterns were on, and Frank and my classmates all seemed delighted to see me. 

 

 

Harper, Just this music alone is a party, and it is every week.

 

Frank is still alive.  He lives in a retirement house on the corner of Hillcrest and Northhaven.  He is mostly in bed all the time and  may not even recognize me when I visit him each Friday after Romeos.  

How did he help me?  He just seemed to appreciate me as I was.  He was a light of acceptance.  I felt accepted and that acceptance helped me build  self-confidence.

 

 

And the Offertory Team, Judy and Karen, John and Dick.

 

My dad helped me.  Frank was a special light in my life. 

Who is a light in your life?  

For whom are you a light?

 

 

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

 

 

Readings:  (for Palm Sunday)

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

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

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

 Philippians 2, 6-11,  He emptied himself.

Mark  14 & 15, The Passion

 

 

 

 

Jud with his long time admirer.

 

 

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

 

 

 

Erica with her dad, Don.

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

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