Homilies

Sunday Homily 7-3-11, 14th Ordinary Time

ByRosemary July 3, 2011

Readings: Zecharia 9, 9-10;

Psalm 145, I will praise Your Name forever, My King and My God (Plus the great line, 8-9, The Lord is Gracious & Merciful, slow to Anger & abounding in Love);

Romans 8, 9-13;

Matthew 11, 25-30.

Zechariah: Zechariah is the 11th of the 12 Minor Prophets and lived just when the Hebrews were released from the 70 year long Babylonian Captivity, in other words around 535-520 B.C. In Jerusalem he encouraged the people to rebuild the temple.

He is called a minor prophet only because his little work has simply 14 chapters, unlike the Big 3, Isaiah, Jeremiah, & Ezekiel, who have many chapters.

He was a favorite of the N.T. writers because he is rich in messiah predictions. Today we have one of those visions. You might picture how this message is coming across. The people have been crushed, they have been slaves in Babylon, and the Jerusalem they have returned to is nothing but a mess.

Psalm 145, 8-9: here it is again, The Terrific line: "The Lord is gracious & merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness."

July 4, Independence Day

July 4, 1776, Declaration of Independence signed.

50^th anniversary, July 4, 1826: two signers of the Declaration died, the only 2 to serve as presidents, mutual friends, Thomas Jefferson & John Adams (excellent source, David McCullough’s John Adams).

You Call This Burden Light?

It was a Sunday morning a couple of weeks ago, a beautiful day. Rosemary & I left the house about 8:30 to come to Vines. We drove down Royal Lane to Central. As always at that corner, we caught the red light. A guy drives up behind us in a silver or gray Mercedes.

The light turned green and we drove left up the on ramp to the northbound lane of Central. The Mercedes is behind me, right behind me, like I can see the color of his eyes in my rear view mirror.

I get up on the freeway and move to the left to get into the first lane. The Mercedes guy whips to the right as I move left, he floors it, and with a roar and a friendly hand sign he races by us and up Central.

How did I react? Actually, I feel fortunate because I didn’t. I even felt a bit sorry for the guy. A beautiful Sunday morning, no traffic and he has already lost it. Who knows? Maybe it was somebody from the community in a hurry to get here.

This poor guy exemplifies what is not being talked about in today’s readings. Unfortunately, he exemplifies the obsessive behavior of a lot of people, especially on weekdays and probably especially on Central.

These folks are not rejoicing or shouting for joy, they are not peaceful or restful, and certainly they don’t seem to have a light burden even if they are driving a Mercedes.

I grant, maybe he is unemployed now for six months or a year, like people we know. Maybe he’s like the 30 year old divorced mother of a 10 year old boy, a mother in Medical City right now taking heavy doses of chemo because of the bad kind of leukemia. Maybe he is the father of the 15 year old boy who hung himself this past week.

Are these burdens light? I must respectfully disagree with you, Jesus, not all your burdens are light! Some pain and some stress can be unbearable.

So how do I handle this in the light of the observation? Do I pray and it all goes away? Not according to my experience. So what would I do? I can offer only two ideas to people with great pain or suffering, and at the time the ideas can seem pretty lame.

First, the biggie, acceptance. This is not the acceptance of give up. If I am unemployed, for instance, I continue to muster up the courage each day to make contacts and search. This acceptance is surrender to the state of things in my life, ultimately the surrender to death, my own death and the other deaths that take place in my life.

Secondly, contemplation. Contemplation of the beauty, the physical beauty, the people beauty, the Spirit-God beauty. The psalm line that says so much to me might touch you, gracious, merciful, never angry, abounding in love.

I don’t know what pain or stress was pushing the man in the Mercedes. Obviously he was not peaceful. What might help him?

How do you handle pain & stress?

Picture 1: Leo with Wendy & Shonda & Ray

Picture 2: Offertory with Sir Charlie & Cliff

Picture 3: Alesia with some of her grand kids

Community Bulletin Board | Homilies

Sunday Homily, August 28, 22nd Sunday Ordinary, C
ByRosemary August 28, 2016

Readings:

Sirach 3, 17-18, 20 28-29,  My child, conduct your affairs with humility.

Psalm 68,  God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor.

Hebrews 12, 5-7, 18-19,    You have approached Mount Zion

Luke 14, 13-18, When you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, & the blind.

Buddy says, "Hi, Folks, Welcome in."

Sirach observations

Author : The author is Sirach or Joshua, a Jewish scribe. The book of 51 chapters is one of the “in between books,” more or less 12 of them. In other words, their genuiness is questioned. The Catholic Church accepts them; the Protestants don’t.

Date: about 200 years before Christ.

Tori, too, says, "Good Morning, Everybody, Come in."

Subject:   Ethics, norms for good Jewish living. For example, “Do not compliment a person on his good looks,” (11, 2), or “Never abandon an old friend; you will never find a new one who can take his place,” (9, 10), or “Friendship is like wine, it gets better as it gets older,” (9, 10), or Don’t prevent the poor from making a living, or keep them waiting in their need,” (4,1).

Today’s subject: Humility.

Sources: Good News Bible

Hebrews: The last week for this work, hooray!

Anybody want to go for a nice 100 mile bike ride?

Invite the poor, the crippled, and the lame.

Rosemary asked me Friday afternoon how come I so look forward to riding 100 miles in the Hotter ‘N Hell Hundred. At the time we were driving to Wichita Falls to grab a place on the floor on one of 5 racquet ball courts of the YMCA. For $30 you can put your air mattress anywhere in the building and in the morning a simple breakfast is provided.

I thought about why I so look forward to this even and came up with 3 big reasons. Here they are.

Want a bike? Over 500 to choose from. These bike are being stored for the night on the 4th floor gym of the Wichita Falls YMCA. The owners are skattered all around the building on the floor on their air mattresses. A deal for $30.

First, motivation to get into good shape. I eat healthily, we ride around White Rock together, I do spin classes, and I get my weight where I would like it to stay all year. Events like this energize me.

In fact, now that the event has passed, I feel like a good friend has departed. I wonder what next will energize me. Actually, I do look forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas, but these events do not energize me to eat healthy and work out extra.

Mile 30 rest stop. My favorite. The women volunteers bake dozens of about 5 varieties of cookies and hand them out. Their hospitality is over the edge.

Secondly, there is an esprit about the 100 miles. I spent more time this year at the rest stops. There are about 10 of them on the 100 miles. Everything is free, water, gatoraide, varieties of cut up fruit, and cookies. And over the top hospitality.

I was talking with one of the lady volunteers at mile 40. She was walking around among a couple hundred riders holding a tray of cookies and handing them out. She told me that all the workers are volunteers and that she, as one of the volunteer coordinators, has to turn volunteers away, so many want to help out. These are people from Wichita Falls, older folks, middle agers, lots of high school kids, and even some small kids. She said, too, that people look forward to the August event all year long.

Mile 40 rest stop. Not to be outdone by their neighbor volunteers, these ladies for the first year also provided home made cookies. It is really hard on us riders. The women walk around with trays of cookies. Also, at this rest stop volunteers stand on the edge of the road and offer to hold your bike while you visit the port-o-potty and eat cookies. More over the edge hospitality.

Finally, in line with the gospel about inviting everybody to your party, this party has them all. Young and old. I saw some very young kids riding. And I may have been one of the oldest at 76. There are men, there are women. There are whites, blacks, and in betweens. For me it is beautiful example of the American experience of unity among many.

What experiences do you have that energize you?

Mile 78 rest stop. My second favorite, not because of a lack of hospitality, but because of the shade from a large grove of pecan trees. You see a lot of gassed riders at this rest stop. For them cots and cold, wet towels are provided, along with all the other fruits, Clif bars, shot blocks, and foods. At mile 50 this year even hot dogs were provided with all the fixings. You pay $35, and all this is for the rider. Everybody is welcome to this party.

Read More Sunday Homily, August 28, 22nd Sunday Ordinary, C
Homilies

Sunday Homily 2-7-10, 5th Ordinary Time
ByRosemary February 7, 2010

Readings: Isaiah 6, 1-8; Psalm 138, In the Sight of the Angels I will Sing Your Praises, Lord; 1 Corinthians 15,1-11; Luke 5, 1-11.

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Reflections on the Readings

A brief few words about our first reading from Chapter 6 of Isaiah. This reading could in fact easily begin the book of Isaiah. It gives us the call of Isaiah. King Uzziah has died after reigning for over 40 years, 40 years of great security and prosperity.



We are told of a vision, which the prophet sees of God, and notice the threefold repeating of the word Holy. Only God is holy, all holiness. The prophet proclaims that he is doomed because mere humans cannot look at God.

In our second reading, from Paul, he reminds us that he too saw the Risen Lord, and his response, like Peter’s in our gospel reading, it is the same, unworthiness.



The readings all show up the same response from humans when faced with God. And in each case God is able to reach thru the response and draw the person into a relationship of discipleship.

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Homily



What happens when we come face to face with God? In each of our three readings today this is what we hear about. For Isaiah it is a vision of God who is Holy, holy holy! And Isaiah’s reaction is similar to Peter’s and later to Paul’s, one of unworthiness in the face of God’s goodness. But God is able to reach thru that tendency to turn away and invite all three into a relationship of discipleship.

Our presence here today also comes from some kind of encounter with God, maybe not as Isaiah’s vision of God surrounded with angels, or Peter’s encounter thru the miraculous catch of fish, or Paul’s vision of Light, but in some way God has reached into our lives, whether thru the action of our parents having us baptized, or thru an encounter with someone as an adult, which caused us to want to be here, we each got up this morning and among all of the options available to us, we chose to be here!



And as we celebrate our Liturgy together we too will acknowledge our own unworthiness, several times. We start with our penitential rite, in the Our Father we ask God to forgive us, in the Lamb of God we sing “Have mercy on us” and before communion we say “I am not worthy”. But God has managed to reach thru to us, which is why we are here.

But now the question we need to start answering is “what does it mean to be a disciple?” God enters my life, so what?



Let’s take a simple example. When two people become friends, their lives are different as a result, and depending on the kind of friendship, so too the effect on their lives. When Gayle and I met, I was single and living in an apartment in Carrollton, and she was single and living in her home in Highland Village. When we decided to be married, we both left the comfort of our previous lives and set off for California. This had a big impact not just on our lives but also on the lives of our kids!! I am sure each one of you can tell stories of how your lives were changed as a result of different relationships you entered into.

So too with our relationship with God. What is the change? What does God want in a relationship? For Isaiah, it was to be a prophet to the people of Judah, for Peter it was to become a “fisher of men” and for Paul, it was to tell the whole world, or as much of it as he could get to in those days, about God.

Our instructions are equally clear, Love God and love one another. How am I doing in that area?



In every relationship, one thing that has to happen is that we have to get to know each other. Anna in the musical “The King and I” sings that lovely song “getting to know you”, and we too need to continue to ‘get to know God’. We do so thru our presence here, by listening to his Word. In any relationship, we will also go out for a meal. And thru sharing food, we get to know each other better.



And so we are here today celebrating a Memorial Meal with God. We are reminded during the Eucharistic Prayer to “Do this in Memory of me”. It is another way of our staying in touch with God. As a people, we have heard the Church Bell, and responded by coming together as a People, to Listen to God’s Word and to “remember Jesus’ Last Meal with His disciples.



What does all this mean for us today We are called to be a people of Hope, of Love and Forgiveness, a kind of light of Joy to the World.

In the words of St Francis:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

Picture 1: Mass beginning with Tony & Kevin

Picture 2: Sean

Picture 3: Gilbert with Georgie & Zoe in his lap

Picture 4: Jo with Hunter, Audrey, and Dillon

Read More Sunday Homily 2-7-10, 5th Ordinary Time
Homilies

3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, January 24, 2021
ByRosemary January 24, 2021

Jonah 3, 1-5, 10, Jonah set out for the great city of Nineveh. (An amusing story)

Psalm 25, Teach me your ways, O Lord..

1 Corinthians 7, 29-31, The world in its present form is passing away.

Mark 1, 14-20, Come after me & I will make you fishers of men & women.

Staying at home?

Thanks to the Team

Music, Ben

Readers, Denni & Tom, and Buddy, the candle blesser

Gospel, John Cade

Homily, John Stack

Eucharistic Prayer A & B, Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers, Hue & Richard & Mike

Final Blessing, Rosemary

For hosting us at Legacy, Becky

The Zoom Team.

Readings for this Sunday

Download Reading 3rd Sunday 1-24 2021

Homily by John Stack

Download John Stack homily 1-24-2021

Please Remember these special people:

For Carrie's ex, Larry; For Alan Stryker; For Joe Sullivan; For Rosemary's great niece, Rylie ; For Richard's grand daughter, Madeleine & Carol's dad who passed this week; For Sheila Schultz Alverez hospitalized with Corona; For Esparza's new great grandson baby, son of Monique; 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 Louis Schneider hospitalized with gall bladder problem (our rep. from Open Window)

Ben, Our Life Giver.

Jackie's mom, sister, & friend, Lynn; For both Jean & Cliff Wright; For Rick Turner searching for a kidney donor, Type O neg; For Meredith, cancer free; For John O'Donnell & Jean & their daughter, Molly; For Dee, and for her daughter, Lisa; For John Schanot's continued health; 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 boy undergoing an operation & for Rollie with Corona; for the medical staffs, teachers, and coaches in our public & private schools.

Also, remembering the family of Geri Moran's friend, Elsa Billman, who passed this past week.

Remembering….Kevin, Georgie, & Buddy (and Sir Charlie!)

Birthdays:  Kevin, David Ekes, Sir Charlie, Miguel, Mary Hall

Anniversary:

Community Finances, January 24, 2021

Expenses: $300.00

Outreach $50.00 (often for Souls Harbor, Legacy, etc.)

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

Mike, the Initiator of this Enterprise.

Rosemary's Blessing:

I was regretting the past

And fearing the future.

Suddenly my Lord was speaking

“My name is I AM.”

He paused. I waited

He continued,

“When you live in the past

With its mistakes and regrets,

It is hard. I am not there.

My name is not I WAS.

“When you live in the future,

With its problems and fears,

It is hard. I am not there.

My name is not I WILL BE.

“When you live in this moment,

It is not hard. I am here.

My name is I AM.”

I Am by Helen Mallicoat

Read More 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, January 24, 2021
Homilies

15th Sunday, Ordinary time, 7-11-2021
ByRosemary July 11, 2021

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.”

Welcome Home, Kevin.

JSM Mission-Faith Statement

      Help create a Catholic Community that welcomes all God’s People, provides for & challenges spiritual & total growth.

      Reaches out to help people who are disadvantaged & make the world we live in a better place to live.

John Stack Ministries, 7017 Helsem Way, Dallas, Texas 75230

Happy Birthday Cindy.

Read More 15th Sunday, Ordinary time, 7-11-2021
Homilies

Sunday Homily May 5, 2013, 6th Easter C
ByRosemary May 5, 2013

Readings:

Acts 15, 1-2, 22-29, Unless you are circumcised, you cannot be saved.

Psalm 67, Oh, God, let all the nations praise you

Revelation 21, 10-14, 22-23, The angel took me in spirit to a great, high mountain.

John 14, 23-29, Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you.

John Cade celebrates.

WHAT: Acts

WHO: same as author of Gospel of Luke

WHEN: late 60’s, before 70

WHY: To further Paul’s desire to make “The Way” of Jesus’ followers acceptable to people in the Greco-Roman world of his time.

Today’s reading from Chapter 15 of Acts gives us another example of how the followers of Jesus at that time were originally Jewish. We have no documents from the 20 years following Jesus’ death. Scholars conjecture that there were writings from that time that became sources for the authors of the gospels of Matthew and Luke.

Chloe.

Whether or not there were such documents, the focus of the Jesus movement was on the “kingdom of God.” The movement gathered around the belief that Jesus preached with urgency and intensity the need to establish God’s reign on earth. The movement was a way of life and was radical in its embrace of Jesus’ preaching.

It is highly likely that in this 20 year period Jesus was considered by members of the movement to be a Jewish prophetical figure. The movement’s concern was to change this world. The focus was on Jesus’ preaching a way of life that would express the Divine Presence in human living and loving.

Buddy with his momma, Michelle.

It is also important to acknowledge that this was a Jewish movement rather than a new religion. There is no evidence to suggest that any members of the Jesus movement thought they were part of a new religion.

Then, beginning mid-century with Paul’s writings and culminating in John’s Gospel at the end of the century, a monumental shift in thinking occurred. The short answer is that Paul, himself a Jew, embraced the idea that Jesus’ preaching and message was intended for Jews and Gentiles alike. So, in his letters, Paul wrote about Jesus in a way that could be heard and would be acceptable to the Greco-Roman world of his time.

This raises many other questions for us, for another time.

Torri with her granddad, Gil.

Homily:

When Lambrini left for Baton Rouge 2 weeks ago for a week of business training, I thought my home job would be watching after and preparing meals for my mother-in-law, Kalliopi. That changes when we discovered on Wednesday morning she had some serious bleeding. I took her to the ER. Eventually she was transferred to a room in the hospital, given 2 units of blood by transfusion, and several tests ordered.

Cupcake of the Week, Patricia.

A colonoscopy indicated that diverticulosis was the likely culprit. Kalliopi was in hospital till Friday, still in a lot of pain from the broken arm. I was moved by the peace with which she accepted all the questioning and poking and testing she endured along with the pain of her broken arm. She shared her gratitude for the treatment she received from the doctors and nurses and techs. She did not whine or demand special treatment.

Cole getting ready to be…

When Kalliopi was moved from the ER to the room I met her roommate, Margaret. I spoke with Margaret off and on and actually asked about her story. About 5 years ago Margaret was bitten by a dog in the abdomen and she developed sepsis, a dangerous blood infection that is often fatal. In her case it led to the amputation of both legs and about half of her right hand. Her lungs were seriously affected. She is on oxygen all the time. Before we left Margaret told me she was to have a rib removed to facilitate being able to treat her lungs that need drainage and other treatment.

Cupcake of the Week, Cole.

In talking with Margaret I observed how calm she seemed to be and how she did not complain about being in the hospital again for more surgery. The only time she complained was when we met her. She had been taken for tests and had not been given a meal. I offered to get food for her down on the 1^st floor, but she kept asking nurse at station for a meal and eventually got it. When they brought her food, it wasn’t great. When she heard me say I was going down to eat, she asked me for a favor, to bring her a Hershey bar with almonds, which I did.

Emma Checking out the altar.

Eventually I asked Margaret how she was able to have peace in the midst of all her trauma. Margaret replied, “I pray a lot.” She added that when she woke each morning, she gave thanks for her life. I told her she was an inspiration to me in the way she accepted her life just as it came to her, and in the way she received peace and shared that peace with others.

Emma with her mom, Beth, and her favorite train.

This past Sunday Lambrini and I were at Joey’s home for the 70^th birthday celebration of my former wife, Kay. Joey, as a surprise gift for her mom, had flown Kay’s granddaughter, Chyna, and Chyna’s 10 month old daughter, Catrina, from Florida for the weekend.

Buddies, Emma and Cowboy Cole.

I mention this because I got to experience again the peace that Chyna, the new mother in our family, has. I won’t go into details, but Chyna has had plenty of trauma in her young life. Yet she displays so much peace in her life, in her mothering and in her relationships.

Sienna and her mom, Erin.

A few words about peace, inner peace. Although some people may live in a more-or-less constant state of peace, most of us experience moments of peace in our lives. For me it is most often close contact with nature and in special relationships that I experience peace. Sometimes we are surrounded by nature (trips to mountains or oceans eg) and sometimes we are struck by nature in our urban lives (sunset, cloud formation eg). Peace received in relationships sometimes comes with those we are closest to, and sometimes it is a chance moment like my meeting Margaret.

Offertory, Donna, Jim, Sydney and Hue.

My question is how do you receive and experience peace? And how do you share this peace with others?

Read More Sunday Homily May 5, 2013, 6th Easter C
Homilies

Sunday Homily 2-15-09, 6th Ordinary Time
ByRosemary February 15, 2009
Readings: Leviticus 13, 1-2, 44-46; Psalm 32; 1 Corinthians 10, 31-11, 1; Mark 1, 40-45

Leviticus: The book of the Levite tribe, the priestly tribe, one of the 12 tribes of Israel (from the 12 sons of Jacob–The Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob).

Author: a collection of many sources, but not Moses (impossible).

Date: some laws go back 1400 BCE., others from ca. 450 BCE.

Note: an interesting example of how academics better understand these texts. They noted that both Leviticus 11 & Deuteronomy 14 have similar lists of clean and unclean animals for eating. Deuteronomy 14, however, has 11 additional critters which are not mentioned in Leviticus 11. These 11 dwell only in the Arabian desert, not in Egypt or the land of Canaan (Holy Land).   From this it can be deduced that the person (s) writing the laws in Leviticus had not wandered the desert and was writing before the Exodus. The writer (s) of Deuteronomy, however, had wandered the desert. Source: The Book of Leviticus; Believe: Religious Information Source, Canon Tristam

Subject matter: laws for better living with Yahweh. For instance in chapter 11, one may not eat pigs, camels, or rabbits, no animal with a divided hoof. All winged insects are unclean, except those that hop. In chapter 12, women are ritually unclean after giving birth, 7 days for boys, 14 days for girls. Chapter 19, "love one another as one's self." This morning's selection deals with how people with leprosy are to be treated. Leprosy, of course, was considered a punishment for sin & disobedience.

Exclusion vs Inclusion

When I first lived in Kenya & Tanzania in the late 70's I spent time working on my Swahili in a Jesuit parish that was in a town called Tabora, Tanzania. The town is in the middle of Tanzania with no paved roads leading to it. Only a few roads in the town itself are paved. The parish had about 3 Jesuit priests in those days, if I remember correctly, a French Canadian, an Irish, and an Indian.    Today the Jesuits have departed and handed it over to the diocese because of not enough Jesuit priests.

In those days the parish had 21 outstations, some of which even had other outstations further out. These were located in small villages where little mud walled churches had been put up. Occasionally I found a rather large cement block church left over from times when priests were more abundant.   Each Sunday we would all head out on motorcycles to the outstations.

On the edge of Tabora there was a special community. A community of men & women who had leprosy. The exclusion of these lepers was similar to what we read in Leviticus, though they received better care. Our parish used to help them a lot and I went to say Mass for them and spent time talking with them often individually, sometimes in a group. Despite the effectiveness of modern medicine, many had significant scarring and were without hands or feet. I remember being touched mostly by the quality of their spirits and sense of acceptance.

I am reminded of this leper community when I read about the lepers in today's readings. Leviticus lays down the directives, exclusion. Mark has Jesus dealing with a leper, including him in the community.   I've already discussed Leviticus. Let me mention 3 points relevant to Mark & his account.

First, Mark's aim. Mark wants to convince Christians of Jewish & mostly Gentile background that Jesus is the Messiah. This community probably lived in Galilee, that is, around the Sea of Galilee or in Syria. How do today's students of the bible know this? Because they analyzed the text and noted that Mark used Greek rather than Aramaic. Moreover, Mark describes some Jewish customs. Both points indicated that he talks to a community made up more of Gentile Christians than Jewish Christians. They could not speak Aramaic and they did not know Jewish customs. Also, it is thought that the community was dwellingng around Galilee because Mark describes the geography of those places rather than around Jerusalem.

Secondly, Mark's means, how does he accomplish his end? He uses two literary techniques, the somewhat famous Messianic Secret technique and miracle stories.

When Mark has Jesus tell the leper, "See that you tell no one anything," Mark is using the Messianic Secret technique. People were saying that they lived at the time of Jesus, but never saw or heard about any of these miracle events. Mark is saying that they did not hear about them because Jesus tried to hide his powers. The secret is only supposed to be revealed at the end, at the death & resurrection.  Nevertheless, as part of his technique Mark allows it to leak out by writing that the man "began to publicize the whole matter."

Thirdly, how Mark carefully crafts his writing. It is noted that in this chapter 1, Mark has 8 points he is using to convince people. For example, he built community by calling the apostles, he showed power by running off an unclean spirit, he gives life to Peter's mother, and so on. The miracle he describes today is number 8 and aims at inclusion of rejects in the community.

Instead of excluding the leper like Leviticus instructs, Jesus welcomes him. In fact, he does something that broke the law and the people would be astounded. He touched the leper. This was after Mark has the leper break the law by approaching Jesus. People around are saying, "Wow!", when they read this.

This might be today's lesson for us. Inclusion. Like it was for me in Tabora, Tanzania, it may be easier for us to think of including a leper, because we know the virus is not that contagious and can be effectively treated. But HIV? What about other races, colors, religions, students from other schools?

Whom do I have trouble including in my community?

References:
- Austin Cline, Audience of Mark's Gospel (on line), for the 11 extra critters
- Carmelite website, Homilies, for the 8 points Mark makes in chapter 1
AUDIO: http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2009-02-15.mp3

Picture 1: Mass with Sabrina helping

Picture 2: Hunter & Dillon, Kim, Ken, & Cindy

Picture 3: at the Coffiee Island, Maureen, Greg, & Angelo

Picture 4: Hunter
Read More Sunday Homily 2-15-09, 6th Ordinary Time

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