Sunday Homily, September 23, 2012, 25th Ordinary Time B

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

 Readings:

1 Samuel 1, 20-28, Hannah conceived and bore a son whom she called Samuel.

Psalm 84, Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord.

1 John 3, 1-2, 21-24, We are God’s children.

Luke 2, 41-52, After 3 days they found him in the temple. 

Candles lit, Mass begins

Samuel observations: who, when, what, our passage with a story

Who:

          –about whom: Samuel, the last judge ruler of the Israelites and the first of the Big Three, that is, Samuel, Saul, and The Great King David, a fascinating Old Testament character. 

          –by whom: not written by Samuel, but a compilation of numerous sources.

When:  The Samuel figure lived around  1000 years before Christ.  As far as being put together into a unit, being familiar as you are with the Big Three Prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, when they did their prophet job,  and the influence of the Babylonian Captivity, around 600-550, yes, you are right if you guess that the work apparently was assembled at this same time.  The Jewish leaders were attempting to preserve their community as a tribe-nation.  

What:  a Jewish history lesson, fantasized greatly, and attempting to give a divinely chosen character to the Israelites’ heredity.  Originally there were two books, Samuel and Kings.  Now there are 4.  How come?  A simple answer.

Originally, it seems, Samuel was one scroll written in Hebrew.  It was translated into Greek.  Hebrew has no vowels and therefore takes up less space.  Greek has vowels.  Therefore, two scrolls were needed to write out the book of Samuel and thus it became Samuel I and II.   Sort of amusingly simple.

Our Emma

The Story: (chapter 1)

          The 4 characters: Samuel’s mom, Hannah; her husband Elkanah; Elkanah’s second wife, Peninnah; & the temple priest, Eli.

          There was this man, Elkanah, who lived with his two wives in Ramah.  He loved them both.  Over the years Peninnah had numerous children, but Hannah had none.  Despite this, Elkanah had a special love for Hannah.

Peninnah used to laugh at and mock Hannah, who became depressed, often would not eat, and cried a lot.

One day Hannah was in the temple crying over her inability to have children.  At one point she promised that if she had a son, she would dedicate him to God’s service.  She continued to pray, mouthing her prayer silently.

Eli, the priest, was sitting in the back of the temple watching Hannah.  He thinks she is drunk and scolds her, “Stop making a drunken spectacle of yourself.  Stop your drinking and sober up.”

Hannah, of course, is mortified and defends herself, saying she has no children and is miserable.  Eli believes her and tells her to go in peace and may God give you what you ask.

Guess what happens….

Sources: Good News Bible, New Interpreter's Study Bible, Bible Gateway.com, Wikipedia

Our Harper

The Family

This morning I would like to say a few words about the family, especially in connection with what happened in Newtown, CT. 

When the news first hit me, like millions of others, I think I was in denial, then angry, then in tears.  As time went on I would occasionally hear or see some snippet of news asking the question why this boy went off like he did.   Everyone seemed perplexed by this.

John & Karen

When I thought more, taking into my experience as a priest and with psychology, I kept thinking, this is not difficult.  I see three factors: nurture, nature, and environment.  And maybe all three together.  This is how it touches us.  Let me explain each one.

Nurture.  I immediately asked myself, what did he not get that he needed to grow up balanced.  What basic needs were not met?  What did I need, what did you need growing up?  I would propose 4 things, affection, acceptance, encouragement, and training.  I would include time here, too, though it is assumed with the first three. 

What happens when I do not have these needs attended to, the result?  I am hurt.  How does hurt often manifest?  Anger.

Cupcake of the Week to Tom & Teresa for 45 years

Nature.   This is a tough one.  Psychological disorder.  I have seen young kids who probably were getting nurture, but were out of control, impulsive, even violent.  The result: anger. 

Modern medication can certainly help a young person with such a disorder.  Sometimes it just does not work.

Environment.  This obviously involves the home atmosphere.  But it includes extended family, school, and neighborhood.  A lot of abuse can take place at school.  Bullying.   Result: hurt.  Manifestation: anger.

Cupcake of The Week #2 to Meredith on her birthday

Also under environment I would include what is offered on TV, electronic games, and news from other tragedies.  Who right now are the young people out there who want to emulate Newtown or Columbine?  The example is contagious for a kid. 

What has this got to do with you and me?  It has this to do with you and me: we are family.  We can nurture, whether we are parents, grandparents, teachers, mentors, coaches, scout leaders. 

One of the people who nurtured me in 7^th & 8^th grade was Frank Hart, my old coach, scout leader, and teacher.  We are still close friends.

Shonda and Ben

We as a Catholic spiritual community have the honor and privilege of nurturing all the marvelous kids who join with us on Sunday mornings.  May they take away a positive image of themselves from their time here.  May they take with them an image of an affectionate and accepting God. 

Affection, acceptance, encouragement, training.  For whom are you doing this today?

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.

Ecclesiastes 1:  For what profit comes to man from all the toil and anxiety of heart with which he has labored under the sun?

Colossians 3:  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.    When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.

Luke 12:  “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

Cody reading from St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians

Thanks…     

Music,   Ben  & Shonda

The Kiss of Peace

Outreach: $   130.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

Steve, back from his travels

Rosemary's Blessing:

Readings:

Sirach  15, 15-20,  Before man are life and death, good and evil.

Psalm 119,  Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord.

1 Corinthians 2,  6-10,  We speak a wisdom to those who are mature.

Matthew  5, 17-37, If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away.

Batman Leo says, "Come on in, Everybody; I'll protect you from all the bad guys."

Observations: on Psalm 119, on Matthew 5, and, first, on Sirach—

What:  This is one of those 12 odd books in between the Old and the New Testament.

 Author: a Jewish teacher called Joshua.  The only identified author in the whole Old Testament.  He tells us who he is, that he is a teacher, lived in Jerusalem, and traveled a lot.  It seems he put his work together while running a school in Alexandria, Egypt.

 His grandson translated the Hebrew work into Greek.  This Hebrew text was lost for centuries until the 19^th century, when 2/3 of it was found in Cairo.  Then other portions were found in Qumran and Masada, as late as 1964.

Cowboy Cole on a mission.

 Date: composed around 175 years before Christ.  About 90 years before Christ the Jews put together their official bible, but excluded Sirach because they could not find the Hebrew version, only the Greek. 

 Christians accepted the book as part of their bible in the 2^nd century after Christ.  The Council of Trent (keep 1555 in mind as a date) officially accepted it, making it part of that extra 12 books called the Apocrypha or Deuterocanonical.  Martin Luther rejected the book & so do many Protestant congregations today.

 Subject Matter: practical ethics, duties.  Beware of the either / or spirituality presented.

 Subject today: you may choose good or bad.  Beware of the either / or spirituality presented in the reading.    All is either good or bad.  No in between or both, which is more what we all are, both good and bad.  

It can be simplistic & Pelagian, that is, it is all up to you and you have all the strength needed to choose good.  Pelagians thought that you had to EARN your salvation.  Therefore, the more religious stuff you did, like the more Masses, the more pilgrimages to the church & shrines, the more novenas & rosaries,  the more merit you win for yourself.

Zoe and Leo waiting for those cupcakes.

Psalm 119: the longest of all the psalms.  A focus on observance of the laws, decrees, and statutes.

Matthew 5:  a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount. Note the figures of speech called “antitheses,” namely, “You have heard it said, but, I say to you.”  4 even 5 times.  Matthew is trying to establish the authority & authenticity of Jesus.

Sources: Good New Bible; New Interpreter's Bible., Wikipedia; Reginal Fuller, S.J., David Westberg, S.J., & Larry Gillick, S.J., St. Louis U. Liturgies, on line.

Cupcakes of The Week to John, Dick, Rosemary (17th), Nina, and subbing for Ray, guess whom?, Leo!

Tear It Out & Throw It Away, My Right Eye?  You Crazy?!

 I have mentioned a lot of this once before, but it bears repeating because it is so relevant. 

 When I was studying theology in Toronto years ago, an article came out in the local newspaper.  Some guy had read the passage saying that if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away.  He did it, folks. 

 In this passage from Matthew there are five pieces of advice to the early Christians which taken literally can get a person all messed up.  Is there a positive as well as a negative to each? 

Offertory, the Ekes, Marlene, Cindy, Zaile, and Billy.

 One observation before I touch the five.  I have mentioned this so often that I hope you are not worn out.   Infinite demand and infinite acceptance.  Watch out here for a lot of infinite demand.  I’ll give a positive & a negative for each.

 Matthew’s five pieces of advice are 1. breaking the least commandment,  2. getting angry,  3. looking at a woman, 4. divorce, and  5. swearing.  Here goes.

Bethany, Shonda, and Ray.

1.  Matthew says that if you break the smallest commandment you will be the least in the kingdom.  Moreover, unless you are better than the Pharisees, you will not even get into the kingdom.  The positive here is that the bar is set high.  The negative is that all, all of us sinners will be kept out. It creates scruples and obsessive compulsive behavior.  

 2.  Secondly, if you get mad at me and call me a fool, you are going to Gehenna.  I love it.  The positive here is the call to anger management.  I am challenged to know that all feelings are okay and need to be controlled.  The negative is that it gives me the idea that anger is not allowed, so stuff it.  Trouble is, it does not stuff well.  Not like a sleeping bag or tent.  It pops up in unexpected places.

Cowboy Cole taking care of business.

3.  Looking at a woman with lust.  The positive here is teaching respect for all people.  This advice, written by men for men, was attempting to gain some respect for women who were looked upon as property.  I found this in Tanzania & Kenya.  Rosemary read me an article about some Muslim who cut off his wife’s ears and nose for reporting him for abuse.   The negative is that it teaches us that feelings are sinful.  In the old days, we thought we looked at a girl and we were going to hell.  This is doubly sad because I don’t think there is a hell anyway.

 4.  Divorce is adultery.  The positive is that it reinforces the unity of marriage.  The negative is that people stay in abusive or addictive marriages long after it may even be safe.  Divorce is failure and we all fail sometimes even in tragic ways.  In order to escape using the word divorce the Catholic Church comes up with the more convoluted word Annulment.

The Team begins the 6th Sunday of Ordinary Time.

 5.  Swearing.  The positive is that it involves politeness and respect for others.  Even if I am okay with my anger I do not swear at someone.  The negative is that it tightens us up.  We forget the therapeutic value of cussing, maybe a healthy & fun way of releasing anger.  The healthy Jesuits I lived with certainly partook of this therapy. 

 The overall danger in these pieces of advice is that we really get messed up, forgetting two things.  First they are presenting infinite demand.  Secondly, they make no mention of infinite acceptance.

 The poor guy in Toronto who blinded himself is an example of how we can mess ourselves up with goofy religion. 

 What do you think about these ideas?

Rosemary does her blessing.

Readings:

Numbers  11, 25-29, Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets.

 Psalm 19,    The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

James 5, 1-6, Come now, You Rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries.  

Mark 9, 38-48, If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.

                                  Says Harper, "Hi Folks, Welcome in."

Numbers:  observation 

In this reading, from the Torah, the Book of Moses, we are given a wonderful example of the expectation of the OT for the coming of the Messiah. It will be fulfilled by Christ, upon whom the Spirit rests, when he and his Father bestow the gift of the Spirit upon all who welcome, live, and proclaim the good news.

Genevieve, too, says, "Good Morning, Everybody, Welcome in."

Homily by Mike

In our gospel reading, John and other of the disciples had been building a barrier between themselves and the flock without realizing it, for they assumed that the Spirit was only going to rest upon them to bring forgiveness to others.  Jesus corrects them. 

All have a responsibility to sow the seed of the good news by word and example. Jesus continually taught those who were following him not to form barriers that would keep them from being one body.

                     Cole, The Candle Man of the Week, at work.

Recall Paul’s letter to the Galatian church, ‘There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female for all are one in Christ Jesus.  Recall that in Advent and Lent we, each of us, live out our gift and responsibility to bring forgiveness to one another; for we are the body of Christ.

The Jewish dietary laws were a barrier between Jew and gentile. It kept them from eating together. So Jesus said to the Jews, ‘Its not what goes into the mouth that defiles; it’s what comes out of the mouth that defiles. In so doing he made all food clean.  When does he tear down this barrier in the Gospel?  Right before he invites both Jew and gentile to eat together at the table of the Lord.

Say the twins, Buddy & Victoria, "Happiness is a cupcake on my birthday, yippee."

All the early followers of Christ were Jews, and they did not even talk to Samaritans.  Early in the John gospel Jesus’ disciples go into town for food and leave him at a well in Samaria. There is a barrier between Jews and Samaritans.  They didn’t talk to one another. 

When the disciples return, they see him sharing his good news to a Samaritan woman.   Jesus lives the truth that God has no favorites. Jesus simply says to his disciples that they must be about sowing the seed of his word and reaping where he has already sown.  Immediately the Samaritan woman begins to give witness in the town that Jesus is a prophet.  And, maybe, he is the Messiah. 

Cupcakes of the Week to Cole and Brent for special services.

Recall the tax collector who climbs the tree in his interest to see Jesus come into Jericho. Jesus looks up and invites Zacchaeus to come down so that he can eat at his house that day.  The seed sown during lunch brought another into the flock.

Jesus’ disciples were Jews who saw the Romans as beasts.  There are several stories in the Gospel about Jesus befriending a Roman Centurion.  In each of them, Jesus tore down the barriers between them by sowing kindness, and goodness and forgiveness.  

                                   Georgie helping out.

Recall the story about the man who had committed serious sin in the Mark gospel.  So much so, that the Jews would not forgive him, rather they expel him from their community.  He comes to Jesus saying, ‘If you want to, you can make me clean.’ Jesus took his hand and replied, ‘Of course I want to, be made clean.”  He again tears down barriers; and he expects us to do the same. 

                                 
The Team at the elevation.

Whenever we isolate ourselves from others, we deny them the opportunity to become one with us.  Take the opportunity this week to welcome or become closer to your neighbors this week, especially the newer ones.  They were meant to be your brothers and sisters.

     Says Genevieve, "May I have that mike, I would like to talk."