Homilies

Sunday Homily, August 11, 2013, 19th Ordinary Time C

ByRosemary August 11, 2013

Readings:

Wisdom 18, 6-9, Your people awaited the salvation of the just.

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

Hebrews 11, 1-2, 8-19, Descendents as numerous as the stars in the sky.

Luke 12, 32-48, Do not be afraid any longer.

Sophia.

To be afraid or to not to be afraid

I would like to talk this morning about fear. It is certainly mentioned all through the readings. The idea is that you got to be on guard. The master will come when you are not watching and you will get beaten or worse.

Leo.

At the beginning of the gospel, however, it says, “Do not be afraid any longer, little flock.” So which is it? The whole Bible is full of messages about fear and punishment. God’s love seems totally conditional.

Emma.

I would propose, however, that the core message is do not fear and that God’s acceptance of us is unconditional. We are challenged, nevertheless, to be aware and to be vigilant. To what? To all the ways his love touches us in life.

I have a little story that exemplifies what I am talking about.

Bethany and Shonda with Ben.

A while back I was out at the big airport to pick up somebody, I don’t even remember whom. On this occasion I had parked and come in to the waiting area. I am hanging around and somehow got talking with a guy even older than you know whom.

Offertory with John & Jean, Mary Jane and John.

He lives in Dallas and is waiting for a guy about his age coming in from Germany. They are old buddies. How did they get to know each other? It was during the Second World War. The man waiting next to me was a guard in a prison camp in the U.S. for captured Germans.

Cupcake of The Week to John and Jean for 55 years.

During the man’s time as a prison camp guard, he got to know one of the German prisoners. They found out they had a lot in common. For one thing, the German spoke English. Time passed, the war ended, and the German prepared to return home. It came up that they both would like to keep in touch.

Communion helpers ready with Beth & Rob having too good a time.

Over the past years this is exactly what they have done, one visiting the other and vice-versa. The families of both men have gotten to know each other, the kids included.

As I watched, the German came out and the two men hugged. They may both be widowers, but they still have a friendship they discovered and developed in a prison camp.

Tom handing over the community's July $2000 to Brent for Soul's Harbor.

When the Bible talks about being on guard and being vigilant, I would
propose that we can take that to mean being on guard to spot that ray of God’s love. It may be a friendship that blossoms in a prison camp, it may be the beauty of nature, it may be simply the joy of being alive. These two old guys were on guard more than figuratively, and they found something special for the rest of their lives.

What about forgetting fear and being on guard for the special sign of God's love in your life? Today.

John breaking into the Pastry Shoppe.

Homilies

Sunday Homily, October 4, 2015, 27th Ordinary Time
ByRosemary October 4, 2015

Genesis Chap 1 “God spoke: Let us make human beings in our image.”

Genesis Chap 2 “And Man came alive—a living soul!”

Responsorial Psalm – May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.

Alleluia – If we love one another, God remains in us and his love is in us.

Mark 7:31-37 – “Children are at the very center of life in the kingdom.”

Introduction to the readings:

Genesis and the first 5 books of Bible, according to modern Scripture experts, were not written 10 or 20 thousand years ago after humans began to populate the earth and form tribes. Rather, they were probably written in 5^th or 6^th century before Jesus (probably during or right after Babylonian captivity 555).

They were written to give the Israelites a beginning and a common history. That made them a special people with noteworthy ancestors and their own extensive rules to live by. This set the Israelites apart and helped hold them together. (Remember the ten tribes of Judah weren’t able to stick together, and disappeared, absorbed into the DNA of their captors.)

And so we have the stories of Genesis and of the books that followed; such as the stories as story of Adam and Eve, of Cain and Abel and Seth (who replaced Abel), and later of Noah, and later still of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, and later still of Moses and so on and on.

The first creation story in Ch 1 of Genesis has a more cosmic style, placing human beings at the pinnacle of creation to give everything a name, and to rule over and take care of the earth and of all living creatures.

The second creation story in Ch 2 of Genesis is used in today’s Mass as the back-story for the Gospel reading from Mark about Jesus expanding the ideal of marriage and his recognizing the beginnings of the equality of men and women in marriage.

In Jesus’ time men could, on a whim, just fill out a certificate of dismissal to divorce his wife. A woman had no such right. Unbelievable at that time, Jesus mentioned that women could also divorce their husbands. He also raised the ideal, explaining that a husband and wife have like responsibilities to each other.

Jesus gave marriage the higher ideal of ‘lasting fidelity and lasting connection.’ The Church, though allowing ‘catholic divorce’ or annulment, has traditionally interpreted the words in the Gospel literally—and has not acknowledged divorce or remarriage, if the Church doesn’t have a hand in it through the annulment process.

Bishops and others are being called to Rome this very month by Pope Francis to make pastoral decisions concerning family issues. Many say this update may acknowledge Christian Marriage as a Christian ideal, while acknowledging that we imperfect humans are often unable to achieve the ideal. From a pastoral perspective this could allow for Catholic communities to accept and welcome people who are divorced or remarried (as we do in this community without reservation).

Readings 1, 2, and Gospel

HOMILY:

I want to say just a few words about simplicity in children. First, I am thankful that Stack and this community stand strong for welcoming and accepting children.

This gives us a unique opportunity to observe what Jesus meant by accepting the kingdom, “in the simplicity of a child”, and we can continue to watch and learn how to live that in that simplicity. What I associate with the simplicity of a child, if they are allowed their natural, instinctive inclinations, are: they tend to be more into connecting than making distance, more accepting than rejecting, more curious than judgmental, more naturally free than fearful, more open than defensive, and more giving than withholding.

Examples of Pope Francis in visit to our country: Seeks/welcomes children to hold/touch; simplicity of dress; little Fiat; words & gestures…Our children: say what think/feel; open; natural freedom; share; give…

Ask yourself: How do I live in the simplicity of a child in my life and relationships?

Read More Sunday Homily, October 4, 2015, 27th Ordinary Time
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

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 16, 2020
ByRosemary August 16, 2020

Readings:

Isaiah, 56, 1, 6-7,  My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples

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

Romans 11, 13-15, 29-32, The gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.

Matthew 15, 21-28, Woman, great is our faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.

The Netherlands

Thanks to the Team

Music, Ben & Shonda

Readers, Hue & Georgie , & Buddy, the candle blesser

Gospel & Homily, John Cade

Eucharistic Prayer A & B, Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers, Mike (on vacation) & Richard, Tom, Ben & Hue

Final Blessing, Rosemary

Please Remember these special people:

For our Bill & his family, For Becky's dad discovered with the virus; For Cindy recuperating at home, finally!; For Esparzas, Frank & Mary, 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; For Mary & Dave Hall's g-daughter Allison Keller working at St. Lukes, Woodlands, For Joe Hogan with cancer; For Loretta's aunt Alicia; For Sydney; & For Sir Charlie & Jan; Shonda's mom & Cody & Ben & all of Shonda's dear family; for Michelle; for Bill Ekes' longtime buddy, Bobby Duncan, who just passed to the other side.

For Jackie's mom; For a friend, a neighbor, & a doctor, Karen, with brain cancer; For Rick Turner searching for a kidney donor, Type O neg; For Meredith, cancer free; For Hue; For John O'Donnell; 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

Look carefully, you may see Mike. Buena Vista, Cascade Falls

Download Readings Week 8-16

Homily 08/16/20, 20^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Two things:

First, Readings 1 and 2 speak the same truth, that, whether you are an insider or an outsider, you are welcome as God’s people. Second, in the Gospel story, even if you are an outsider, you and your sorrow, your pain, are fully understood.

The first two readings speak about insiders and outsiders. First reading is from Isaiah Ch 56. [Recall what

John Stack has said about the 3 authors of Isaiah Ch 1-39, 40-55, 56-64.] Here Isaiah says, whether you are one of the chosen Jewish people (an insider), or a non-Jewish foreigner (an outsider), is not the point; it’s what you do, how you live your life, that identifies you as God’s people, “for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”

In Romans, Paul says: Neither the non-Jewish Gentiles converting to Christianity (outsiders), nor the Jewish people, including Jewish followers of Jesus (insiders)—neither had an advantage over the other. God welcomes all. It’s not where you come from but what you do, how you live your life, that identifies you as God’s people.

The second amazing Good News is in Matthew’s story of Jesus and the Canaanite woman (Canaanite, yep, that would make her an outsider).   It wasn’t so much what Matthew said about the disciples being such unhelpful dorks…is Matthew using sarcasm here? (See Gospel language). This story is embedded in a whole string of stories about Jesus caring for people in need, in pain. E.g. in the same Chapter Matthew says Jesus “was very deeply moved by the sick among them”, that he saw the hungry and fed them, that he saw the disciples’ fear in a storm and calmed them.

And immediately after today’s story of the Canaanite woman, Matthew tells how the crowds brought the lame, the blind, the mute; and Jesus said, “My heart goes out to them.” Matthew strings all these stories together as one, to say God gets it, God gets you and me, understands our needs and pain. God’s Spirit is with us in our fear, our sorrow, our pain.

Recently, I experienced some of what the Canaanite woman was going through. We have a daughter, Joey (age 46), who gave her consent to speak about it. She told us this past week that she has breast cancer and the initial treatment will be major surgery. My family and I are in shock and pain. I know from today’s readings that my part is not to be strong or aloof, but to be accepting, understanding and caring; most of all, to be present.

Remember ……

All three Bible stories today have similar messages: First, whoever we are and wherever we come from, we are God’s people—totally accepted, come-on-in accepted.

And second, whoever we are and wherever we come from, we are understood, cared for and loved unconditionally. God is present with us. Every one of us.

My question: When did you last see and know that you are accepted, understood, loved unconditionally? And when did you last accept, understand, love another unconditionally?

A note from John Cade:

In the summer of 1956, when still in the seminary, I spent a week at the Trappist monastery north of Atlanta, outside Conyers Georgia. I got to experience how Trappist monks end every single day, expressing their devotion to Mary, Jesus’ mother—a hundred men standing together and chanting in Latin, Salve Regina, Hail Holy Queen. August 15^th is one of the days we have traditionally honored Mary. I will chant this hymn in her honor at the end of Sunday Mass.

Birthdays:   Last Week, Carrie Bieda, 62; Stephen Farmer, 30; Marlene; Richard has a new grandbaby, Madeline, & Mom is Cary

This Week. Haya from the JCC , 6:00 A.M. Spin Class, 82, Rose Banzhaf

Anniversaries:

Last Week. Mary Hall & Dave, 60 years; John & Jean O'Donnell, 62nd; Ryan McClurg & Grace, 7th,

This Week: Bernadette & Gilbert

From mountain stream to desert rock.

Community Finances, August 16, 2020

Expenses: $600.00

Outreach $100.00 (often for Souls Harbor, Legacy, etc.)

Thanks, Folks, for doing what you can.

As of September 1, Rosemary & I will have a new address, 7017 Helsem Way, Dallas 75230. This enclave has TREES, unlike our poor, dear, tornado battered Preston Hollow neighborhood.

Cindy Cramer is home! Hooray!

On Thursday, August 13, 2020, 12:52:06 PM CDT, Cathy Cramer <catcramer@gmail.com> wrote:

Great news, everyone — my mom is home!

She's tired and still has some recovery ahead of her. She asked that you hold phone calls for a few days until she gets back into some semblance of a routine.

This will be my last email to y'all. Thanks again so much for all your love, support, and prayers!

Love,

Cathy

Rosemary's Blessing:

To laugh often and much;

To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;

To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;

To appreciate beauty;

To find the best in others;

To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;

To know even one life has breathed easier because you lived.

This is to have succeeded.

Success – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Read More 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 16, 2020
Homilies

Sunday Homily, February 5, 2017, 5th Ordinary Time
ByRosemary February 5, 2017

Readings:

Isaiah 58, 7-10,   If you bestow your bread on the hungry, then light shall rise for you in the darkness.

Psalm 112,  The Just Person is a light in darkness to the upright.

1 Corinthians 2, 1-5,   God chose the foolish of the world.

Matthew 5, 13-16, You are the light of the world.

Kristin and Everett say, "Welcome in, Everybody. " And we say to you, Everett, "Welcome into our world."

Isaiah reminders, again—(I lied again, Folks. I thought we were finished with Isaiah, my favorite, until next Advent. Nope. Not really sorry, though. We have him again Feb. 26, last Sunday before Lent.)

Author: This is Isaiah #3, the composer of chapters 56-66. Isaiah #3 lives after the Israelites have returned to the ruined city of Jerusalem. It is a very depressing experience after the exuberance of being allowed to depart from slavery in Babylon. Like returning to your shattered home after a tornado, hurricane, or forest fire.

Hi, Leo, good to see you.

Date:  Ca. 555 before Christ, the composition. The Jewish people of Jerusalem are home again.

Subject: A great day will come for you Jews. You will be a bright light at dawn and your wound will be healed (of your defeat and slavery), if you take care of your neighbor, providing food, clothing, and shelter. The corporal works of mercy.

Welcome to our marvelous community, Michael Tuck. It is so nice to have you and you are welcome any time Ray cannot make it. Or even if he can.

Your Light must shine before Others

This is the fourth or fifth Sunday we have dealt with delightful readings that involve light, either receiving light or giving light. Guess what. I want to talk again about 3 people who are lights for me.

I have talked before about a guy whom I greatly admire, Jim Mahar, a professor of something like economics at St. Bonaventure University near Buffalo, NY. This guy just continues to amaze and humble me.

Hi, Harper. Welcome to the Queen of Girl Scout Cookies.

I first met Jim through Bill Hammond. He, I, and Bob McGrath, all went down to Galveston to help with the clean up and repair of the city after the hurricane Ike in 2008. It seems to me like yesterday and, yet, incredibly long ago.

There were 20-25 of us, mostly students probably on spring break. We stayed in a very hospitable Protestant church. The pastor himself was most friendly and accommodating. The kids had bunk beds on the left & right of the church. We old guys bedded down in a rectangular room with about 20 Baptist Men volunteers. I could talk about those guys all day, they are so good. The only problem that time: one guy in our dorm snored like a bear.

Buddy, our Candle Man of The Week. Thanks, Buddy.

These guys had an 18 wheeler trailer that they had rigged up with a number of showers. The people in the church community fed us 3 meals a day.

This was the first time I worked with Jim Maher. I also went to Moore, OK, a suburb of OK City to help with a tornado that passed through. And now just a week or so ago I get a facebook note from Jim, working with a bunch of St. Bonaventure kids in maybe the Bahamas.

Offertory, Cindy, Bill, and Marlene.

Jim is a bright light in my life. In fact, his light is blinding. I am exhausted just following him from one disaster to another.   He and some kids even came to help in Rowlett last year. I did not get to help out, but Bill Hammond was there.

Secondly, I have told you about another light of mine, Coach Frank Hart, mostly bed ridden in a home for elders. I have been visiting Frank almost every Friday afternoon for some years.

Ready or not, here we go.

When I first started entering this house, I noticed the particular accent with which three black caretakers ladies spoke English. I immediately recognized from where that accent comes, East Africa. They were marvelous caretakers.

So one afternoon, I took a minute to speak with one of the girls who bubbled over with personality. I addressed her in Swahili, which I totally still remember.

Anybody know who these characters are??

Folks, I thought she was going to faint, drop her teeth, and go crazy. She yelled to her 2 girl friends and we had a marvelous time. They were from Kenya. Very caring, very courageous girls. Lights to me for their courage in making a better life for themselves and others, like Coach Frank.

The third group: our kids. They don’t have to do anything and I love them. I am so delighted with their presence, which brings light to our celebrations.

The "Juliets," just us ladies into eating together."

I have always welcomed little kids at the Masses I celebrate, and for sure, at St. Marks. I would normally invite them up around me during the Eucharistic prayer. One time a little boy knocked over the standing candles and another time a little baby barfed on my shoulder while I was welcoming her for maybe the first time.

Is this not a pretty tough group?! Hi, Carol. Love the hair.

Guess what, everybody was so timid and cowed they did not even stop me to let me know the baby had thrown up on my shoulder until after the Mass, when even I was beginning to wonder about where that smell was coming from. These events both took place in the big church, not the 10:30 cafetorium. That 10:30 crowd would have spoken up, probably laughing at me.

And another play station.

Again the questions:

Who gives you light?

To whom do you give light?

Read More Sunday Homily, February 5, 2017, 5th Ordinary Time
Homilies

Sunday Homily 4-29-12, 4th Easter
ByRosemary April 29, 2012

Readings:

Acts 4, 8-12, In his name this man stands before you healed;

Psalm 118, The stone rejected by the builders has become the corner stone;

1 John 3, 1-2, See what love the Father has bestowed on us;

John 10, 11-18, I am the good shepherd.

Ryan lighting the Easter Candle

Acts: A review–

Date: ca. 70-100 A.D.

Author: Luke, who wrote both the Gospel and Acts

Setting: Just like the last 2 Sundays, Peter & John have just healed a lame man outside of the temple gate. The people rush to question them. They say it happened because of God's power and that Jesus was raised from the dead. The high priests hear about this and have them arrested. After telling them to stop saying Jesus was raised from the dead, the two are released.

Our Selection: last week we read Peter's discourse to the local believers in a room. The week before we read about the quality of life of the local believers, communal. Today's account is Peter talking to the high priests and elders of the high court. They are on trial.

Leo with John

John:

Date of Gospel: A.D. 85-95

Author: scholars have doubts that the Apostle John is the writer of the 3 works attributed to John, the Gospel, 3 letters, & Revelation. Doubts exist even that one writer composed all the works.

CC with her sister & grandmother

Who is my Shepherd?

This morning I want to talk with you about being a shepherd. In some ways this is easy to talk about. I have numerous shepherds who guided me through life. On the other hand, who was most significant, whom do I leave out? I have four little vignettes.

First, Charles Colson.   I do not know this man personally. He died at 80 a week ago Saturday. I read about him in an editorial in the Dallas Morning News, Tuesday, April 24.

CC's sister Kayla

Colson had two lives. His fame comes from his first life. He was Nixon’s top political consultant and he was convicted and sent to prison for his role in the Watergate scandal, around ’72-’74, the year Nixon resigned. In this life he was a win at all cost political advisor. He once said that he would walk over his grandmother to get Nixon elected.

It was in his second life of 35 years that Colson became a shepherd. After his conviction he apparently experienced a conversion. He went to prison, spent almost a year there, became attached to his fellow prisoners, and never left them.

Bethany & Ray

In ’76 he founded Prison Fellowship. The Fellowship set up in prison job training, provided support for prisoners & their families, helped rehabilitate prisoners coming out, and tried to change laws that treated violent & non-violent offenders with the same severity.

Every Easter Colson spent with inmates in prison, which he called the darkest place in American life. Colson became a shepherd for prisoners & their families.

Anniversary Party Scene

Which leads me to my second shepherd. You know him. My friend & companion since grade school at Christ the King, Eddie. He has talked here twice about AA. A week ago Friday evening we were having our usual get together, the 5 of us guys from high school, plus wives.

Eddie mentioned in passing that for 19 years every Wednesday evening he has run an AA program for prisoners in one of the downtown jails. With fondness he talked about how good & intelligent these men were.

The Pole Barn or Party Barn

Which leads to my third shepherd. Tomorrow morning I have been invited to Jesuit to help host a fellow classmate from our ’58 graduating class, Charlie Edmond. Charlie was the first black student to enter a white high school in Dallas. The year, 1955, the year after the Supreme Court decision. In my sophomore class Charlie sat in the seat right in front of me.

The shepherds were the Jesuits.

Finally, I cannot close without mentioning the parents I had the privilege to meet at the Love for Kids picnic the last Saturday of March. The care & tenderness showed by these parents to their handicapped children humbled me and touched me to tears.

Two individuals, some teachers, and some parents, all different types of good shepherds.

Joan & Jerry, Our Trophy Couple at 55 Years

Who were, who are the Shepherds in your life?

For whom are you a shepherd?

Source: Dallas Morning News, April 24, 2012

Video: Jan & Sir Charles renew vows at 50 years. (1 min.)

Read More Sunday Homily 4-29-12, 4th Easter
Homilies

Sunday Homily, September 29, 2013, 26th Ordinary Time C
ByRosemary September 29, 2013
Readings:

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

Psalm 146, Praise the Lord, my sould.

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

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

Francis and Gloria Vanderwall.

Amos observations : (from last week's Mass)

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

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

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

Francis speaking to the people at Open Window's Saturday seminar.

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

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

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

Cupcakes of The Week to Patricia and Fred (3 years), John (52 years ordained), Torri and Buddy (3 years).

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

Source: The Liberating Stories of Jesus, Francis Vanderwall

Emma with her mom, Beth, another Cupcake winner.
Read More Sunday Homily, September 29, 2013, 26th Ordinary Time C

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