Readings:
Wisdom 9, 13-18, 28-29, Who can know God’s counsel?
Psalm 90, In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Philemon 1, 9-10, 12-17, I, Paul, an old man…
Luke 14, 25-33, If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother.
Sorry no Homily today.
We had a Communion Service and discussion of the readings today. Thanks to all who attended and contributed to our discussion.
Readings:
Isaiah 49, 1-6, I will make you a light to the nations.
Psalm 139, I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.
Acts, 13, 22-26, To us this word of salvation has been sent.
Luke 1, 57-66, 80, John is his name.
Isaiah observations:
What: Remember last week we had Ezekiel, one of the Big 3 Prophets. This week we have The Big Prophet, Isaiah. Because of its 66 chapters this work is a long one. And a rich one. Remember, also, that at least 3 writers contributed to the book.
The first 39 chapters, Isaiah 1, present a strong criticism of the rampant corruption of the ruling class with their oppression of the ordinary people. This Isaiah lives around 750 years before Christ. He knows how the Assyrians destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel. He predicts the same for the southern kingdom, Judah.
Our selection: Isaiah 2 begins at chapter 40 and is called The Book of Comfort. You will see why. Picture the people now enslaved by the Babylonians. Isaiah 2 consoles the people with visions of a second Exodus & a return to Jerusalem
Isaiah 3 speaks to the people now resettled in Jerusalem in chapters 55-66. Emphasis is on justice, Sabbath observance, sacrifice, and prayer. In other words, behave now that God has resettled you.
Resources: Good News Bible
John the Baptist Figures
After five weeks, folks, of extraordinary events, I expected that for a while Rosemary & I would have a period of relative quiet, less emotional activity. Not so.
Yesterday she, John Cade, and myself, we went to the Corpus annual meeting. Corpus is the national organization of married priests. Corpus in this context means body and, in particular, we are the body. We married priests are still the body of Christ. The conference took place at the American Airlines Training Center, an excellent venue.
Three observations.
First, these married priests and their wives are John the Baptist figures. That is, like, John, they are pointing the way to the Lord. They are pointing to a better way. If Jesus was living today, I could easily see him being a member of Corpus.
Secondly, these men and the wives have spent time in the desert. This is at least because they have been rejected and not allowed to share their charism as priests. Folks, these are beautiful people. They make marvelous priests, but they cannot officially share their gifts.
These men & their wives are also walking in the desert today. The last time I met with these people was two years ago and there was optimism and hope everywhere in the people. Both John & I sensed less optimism about the Catholic Church this year. It was brought up now & then.
One of the great men of this group is Anthony Padovano and he, an eternal optimist, constantly affirms that in the reform of Catholicism history is on our side. Many of us who were at the conference see the reform and the principles of Vatican II going nowhere if not backwards.
Thirdly, want to know where these people tell me they find hope and optimism? You will never guess. In You! You who make up this community. You who come every Sunday to a cafetorium instead of a pretty church, you who are so generous, you who support so many outreach projects. Look at your Habitat involvement these weeks. You are a John the Baptist symbol for these priests and their wives.
I even had a married priest from Ontario, Canada come across the room to me and say what inspiration he takes from you.
How does it feel to be considered an inspiration and a John the Baptist symbol?
How are you doing it?
Readings:
Isaiah 55, 10-12, Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down…
Psalm 65, The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.
Romans 8, 18-23, The sufferings of this present time are as nothing…
Matthew 13, 1-23, The parable of the sower.
Emma and her mom, Beth, say, "Welcome in, Everybody."
Isaiah, The Great One, observations—
Who: One of the Big 3 prophets, the greatest in my estimation. Jeremiah and Ezekiel are the other two. Actually, the book includes the work of 3 prophets. Our selection is the last chapter written by Isaiah 2.
Time: Isaiah 2 was living during the Babylonian Captivity, ca. 555. Isaiah 1 writes before the Captivity, maybe 150 years. Isaiah 3 writes after the return to Jerusalem.
Subject today: better times will come. I am expanding today’s passage by a third line, because it is so good.
Isaiah 2 has some of the most beautiful passages, many of which are seen as foretelling the coming of the Savior. His readings are used all through the Advent & Christmas readings, as well as in Lent. Handel uses Isaiah 2 in his marvelous work, The Messiah.
Both the Isaiah reading and Psalm 65 are beautiful.
David and Donna, our hearts and our complete condolences go out to you on the loss of your 1 year old little Yorkie, Dixie Belle. On a sunny morning this past week in the Canyon Creek neighborhood, David was taking his coffee on the patio of their fenced in back yard and Dixie was playing, when a bobcat climbed over the fence, grabbed Dixie by the neck, and climbed back over the fence with her. David, yelling, climbed over the fence in pursuit. With the help of a neighbor Dixie was rescued. But it was too late. She died later that day. A year ago February the same thing happened to another of their little Yorkies. So sorry!
And My Seed Landed Where?
This morning I would like to talk about how Jesus is said to describe how the farmer’s seed is scattered on four different types of ground, the path, the rocks, the thorns, and the fertile. Where did your seed fall? Where did my seed fall? I’m sure a lot of volunteers would be happy to let me know where my seed fell.
If you are a sinful gambler poker player you would look at this explanation and notice the bad odds, one out of four. I would propose, however, that we all landed on fertile soil. Let me offer some examples.
Hi, Tori.
I’ve shared this example once before, so you might remember it, but probably not.
When I was a little kid about 5 years old, I was playing in the driveway of our house in University Park. There were no fences and the drive went from the street, through the space between our house and the neighbor’s, and to the back up against the alley.
The neighbor was Sam Berger, who owned a hat store in downtown Dallas. He was Jewish and lived next to us all during the Holocaust. I was oblivious to it all. He & his wife had a big black lady who not only worked in the house, but lived in the back in an apartment attached to the garage, the servant quarters. This black lady was not nice to me.
Our Candle Lighter of The Week at work.
So this day as I am playing in the driveway, the lady steps out of the kitchen door & stands on the steps. Without thinking, I say, “You are a big fat elephant.”
To the lady’s credit, she marches right across the drive and tells my mom. My mom comes out of the house, drags me in, and spanks me. Thinking back, I am impressed that my mom respected the lady. The spanking, however, and her treatment of me confirmed my suspicions that my seed had fallen at least on the path or rocks, if not right on the thorns. I definitely grew up with the belief that I was a bad kid.
Best buddies, Mary, Judy, and Mike.
Despite the fact that you folks might agree with that assessment, I would propose that I was just a normal little boy doing silly things.
This habit of doing silly, not bad things, can continue into adult years. I know a guy who gets on his bike and rides off for an hour leaving the driver’s door of his car wide upon.
The Best, Shonda and Ben
I know a lady who last week let her Lincoln run out of gas in rush hour traffic. Her husband, a bit nettled, brought gas, but then could not start the car. It had to be towed.
I know a dear friend who drove into her garage with a canoe strapped to the top of her car.
Wake up, Buddy, we are almost through.
You do this stuff and you begin to believe the bad news, ‘I am a loser, I am bad, my seed obviously landed in the ditch.”
And then there are the malicious acts. You know where I come in on this. Kids hurt and abused grow up to hurt and abuse. They are not bad. They are damaged.
So, who landed on fertile soil? All of us. God don’t make bad seed.
So, what do you think about all this?
Beware Angela! Cathy may be treating you all nice, but she's probably trying to sell you that mint condition Edsel that her husband brought home. I bet she told you Bill, your son in law would love it.
Readings: Isaiah 45, 1-6, Who is Cyrus?; Psalm 96, Give the Lord glory and honor; 1 Thessalonians 1, 1-5; Matthew 22, 15-21, Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar.
Isaiah observations: This selection comes from what is considered Isaiah 2, the author of the Book of Consolations, written after the first 39 chapters and during the Babylonian captivity. Isaiah speaks from Yahweh's perspective and He is calling someone by name.
So, who is Cyrus? Cyrus the Great of Persia, modern Iran, built the first great empire, which extended as far as Athens in Greece. He was a benevolent emperor of his people and the people he conquered, for instance, the Israelites.
Isaiah 2 is championing Cyrus because he hears of Cyrus coming and hopes Cyrus will defeat the Babylonians and set the Israelites free to return to Jerusalem. This is exactly what Cyrus does. Where is Babylon? Try 50 miles south of Baghdad on the Euphrates River. What is left? Rubble.
Thessalonians:
Resources: The New Interpreters Study Bible; St. Louis U. Liturgical @ Liturgical.slu.edu
Matthew observation: Render to Caesar
Matthew lifts this story right out of Mark. The story is a game that was popular among the intellectuals in Jesus time, like a game of verbal chess. The object was to confound your opponent so that choosing either one of two answers springs a trap.
Watch the smarmy language of the Pharisees and you can almost see them salivating at the impending kill.
The trap: do you think it lawful to pay the tax to Caesar or not? Jesus confounds them by choosing both. Jesus wins the game.
Why do Mark & Matthew use this story? To show how Jesus is superior. He is worthy of being followed and listened to.
Me, a Light in the World?
I want to talk about the alleluia verse, “Shine like lights in the world.”
After getting ordained at old St. Rita’s in June of 1971, I was sent to Miami to work as a chaplain in the big medical complex known as Jackson Memorial. It was like Parkland and Southwestern Medical.
The Jesuits of my southern province had a big parish right in the middle of downtown Miami, and part of the team worked the hospitals. I was a summer helper and loved it.
One day after I had been there about a week, a little blond girl of 10 or 11 was brought into the burn ward. Ever been in a burn ward, a children’s burn ward? Tough places. I spent a lot of time in these wards.
The girl, Anna, had been with her family on a sail boat. Somewhere along their trip the boat had passed under a bridge. Anna was standing on the edge of the boat with her back leaning against one of the guy wires.
As the boat went under the bridge, the mast touched an electrical line. The electricity went down the mast and the guy wire. Anna was electrocuted and burned. Fortunately, she was hurled into the cool water which helped to stop her burns.
However, her back and the insides of her thighs and legs were seriously burned. She would stay in Jackson for 2 to 3 months, even after I had to move on.
I got really close to Anna & her family. I visited her first & last every day and I was privileged to be allowed by the doctors to hold her hand when her bandages had to be changed. Her parents had to leave the room. You know how this is such a high tension time. It used to leave me shaken.
I talk about this because the alleluia verse tells us to be lights in the world. I think this is what it means. I was privileged to be with that little girl & her family in such a horrible experience. It is reciprocal: she was a light in my world.
The good news is that Anna finally did leave the hospital all healed up. I never had the opportunity to see the family again, but I corresponded for years with the mom. Somewhere during my time in Africa, the connection got broken. I know that maybe 15 years later her mom wrote me that Anna had married and had a little kid.
In whose world are you a light today?
Picture 1: Mass Begins
Picture 2: Bethany
Picture 3: Miguel
Picture 4: Delgado Corner with Fred
Picture 5: Justin
Picture 6: Emma
Readings: Exodus 22, 20-26, I am compassionate; Psalm 18, I love you, Lord, my strength; 1 Thessalonians 1, 5-10; Matthew 22, 34-40, Love the Lord and love your neighbor.
Exodus:
What: One of the great books of the Bible, the second book of the O.T. A good read. The name means 'departure' and refers to one of the most important events in Israel's history, the departure of the people of Israel from Egypt where they had become slaves after going there to escape drought in their own land.
Author: not Moses, but a bunch of people putting together the story most likely after the Babylonian Captivity, therefore around 500 B.C.E.
Our selection: comes from the "Book of the Covenant," that is, the law or commandments.
The materials in the book are akin to many legal codes of the ancient Near East, the most famous of which is the Code of Hammurabi, 20th Century B.C.E.
Today's reading comes from a section of the code dealing with the laws of social conduct. They inculcate a social ethic based upon compassion. Abstract justice is not enough, especially for the underprivileged. The lesson was obviously chosen to go with the summary of the Law that forms the gospel reading.
Watch how at the end Yahweh (that is, the person writing in Yahweh's name) says he is compassionate just after declaring he will kill certain types of people if they are not compassionate.
Matthew:
What: another example of the cultural game of "gotcha," challenge & reposte.
Background: The Pharasees identified 613 commandments in the Torah (first 5 books of the O.T.) 248 were positive ("thou shalt"), and 365 were negative ("thou shalt not"). How could anyone remember all of them? Were some more important than others? See where we are going? Our Gospel, "the Greatest Commandment?"
Some teachers distinguished between "heavy" and "light" commandments. The "Ten" are examples of the heavies. An example of a light commandment is in Deut. 22, 6-7, which stipulates that a person who finds a bird's nest with a mother sitting on eggs or with young may take the young but must let the mother go. The reason for observing all these commandments: "That it may go well with you, and that you may live long." (Deut. 5, 16; 22, 7)
Resources: The New Interpreters Study Bible; St. Louis U. Liturgical @ Liturgical.slu.edu
The 3 Great Commandments
A priest in Chicago who is a psychologist and whom I admire, Andrew Greeley, tells the story of a woman who had three or four kids. As she was bringing up the family she noticed that so many of the children around her were rebellious, disrespectful, lazy, and without discipline. She determined that her kids would be respectful, active, and disciplined.
She demanded they assume responsibility in the house for various chores, they had strict curfews and limits, and they were disciplined when they failed or were disobedient. Time outs, privileges taken away, groundings, no TV, no cell phones, and so forth. All were used to maintain discipline.
The kids grew up, were successful, and all moved away. Seldom did Mom hear from them. One day when she was talking with her youngest, a girl, who was celebrating her birthday, the mom asked her why she and the others never kept in touch. Had she not trained them all well for life and taught them discipline and integrity? "Yes, Mom," the girl replied. "But I never felt you loved us. I was a project."
Matthew in today's gospel explains what the two greatest commandments are, love God & love your neighbor as yourself. Over the years I have taken a psychological approach to these two, noting that there really are three. The third command is implicit, love yourself. My observation is that, first, loving myself is often the hardest, and second, it is the foundation of the other two. Can't love God or anybody else very well if I hate myself.
Today, however, I would like to make some observations about two groups of people, the Pharisees and the neighbor. This will give you an idea why the question of the Pharisees is important and a trap.
About the Pharisees, a rather crazy group of people not even absent from our own times. The word means 'separate.' The Pharisees saw themselves as separate and so did the people. They were separate because they obsessively and rigidly observed the law.
Their goal was to win Yahweh's favor by being perfect and at the same time act as an example of righteousness to the people. Their road map was the law. Guess what the law meant for the Jew of this time. Yes, like I mentioned, over 600 commandments, some heavy, some light.
The Pharisees studied and meditated on these laws. The poor people, the people who had to work could never hope to focus on all these laws, which is why the Pharisees were mostly rich and, therefore, separate from the people.
A question these pharisees struggled with was are all laws equal because they all come from Yahweh, or are some more important that others. This was how the pharisees were trying to trap Jesus, make him choose one of these 600 laws. He sidesteps the trap and pronounces the two laws which sum up all the laws.
The sad side of the pharisees' life style is that they are obsessed. Religious obsession can be as harmful to your health as drugging, drinking, or smoking. Love is minimal here. In fact, fear is probably the motivator. Whatever, the relationship between God and the law observer is not the standard that Jesus is suggesting.
Which leads to the neighbor, the person I am challenged to love as I love myself. Two observations.
First, there are two groups of my neighbors, immediate and remote. The immediate neighbor is my family members, my village neighbor, the people I encounter daily or regularly. The remote neighbor is the alien mentioned in the the Exodus reading, the kid being made to be a soldier in Darfur, the mother in Guatemala, our mother & daughter in Cuernavaca, Mexico, the sick who come to CCAC. I would even suggest that the pharisee is my neighbor.
Secondly, while Jesus says that I am challenged to love my neighbor as myself in this setting, in another place he raises the stakes. He says to love my neighbor as "I have loved you." Pretty lofty demand. Infinite demand, infinite acceptance, again.
I am convinced that loving a god we cannot see or touch, if that is possible, is built on loving others, which is built on loving myself, something the sad, obsessed pharisee cannot do. Thank God that none of you are pharisees, or you would not be here.
As we head into a marvelous time of our year, Thanksgiving, Advent, Christmas, we begin with Halloween this week.
Give me one way you are showing or telling your love for somebody.
Picture 1: Frank & Mary Esparza with Frank's sister (celebrating 84 years from CA), Grace & her husband John Campos
Picture 2: On their 7th Anniversary, Christine & Ed with their son, Sean, and Cara, also today, 3 years old
Picture 3: Zoe
Picture 4: Torri with her daddy, Randolph
Picture 5: The Girls, Connie, Joan, & Charlotte
Readings: Isaiah 63, 16-19, 64, 2-7, We are the clay, you the potter; Psalm 80, Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved; 1 Corinthians 1, 3-9, I give thanks to my God always on your account; Mark 13, 33-37, Be alert, you do not know when the time will come.
Isaiah: One of the big 3 Prophets, mostly because of the size of the book. At least 3 writers put this book together and this is number 3.
Thanksgiving History: Everyone knows about the first Thanksgiving in 1602 with the Pilgrims and the Indians eating together, the Mayflower, and Plymouth Rock. Here are 5 facts that people do not hear about usually.
1. When did Thanksgiving begin? Our ancestors have celebrated end of harvest feasts of gratitude for centuries. Lincoln first focused on a national feast; FDR established the national holiday in 1941.
2. The pilgrims did not know they were pilgrims. They called themselves saints, and strangers were called non-saints. The word pilgrim came along in the 18 hundreds, 2 centuries later. They were not even Puritans, but separatists. They split off from the Church of England, old Henry VIII's church, and the Puritans did not split off.
3. The Separatists did not come to establish religious freedom. They came for religious freedom for their religion and only their religion.
4. The Mayflower returned to England, was torn apart, and its beams were used to build a barn in Buckinghamshire (just north of London & east of Oxford).
5. How did the Indians & Separatists communicate? The Indians were Algonquians & one of them, Squanto had actually lived in England some years. He returned to his tribe and taught his friend, Samoset English. It was Samoset who communicated with the Separatists, & the Indians taught them to raise corn, to fish, and to hunt. In the first winter half of the 100 Separatists died before the Indians taught them how to survive.
How Prepare for a Marvelous Christmas
When I returned to the States in the late 80's and began to work full time as a spiritual director & psychotherapist, I was struck every fall by a tension that I found in some people. They were nervous about the coming Christmas season.
I remember people bringing this up as early as the beginning of the school year in September. Certainly by October and most certainly by Halloween. People were tense and anxious because of memories of bad Christmas seasons.
Because of this and because we are just beginning the season of Advent, the season of preparation for Christmas, I would like to review some ways to prepare ourselves for a marvelous Christmas. I have 5 observations.
1. First, beware of fear and depression. I read Mark's story about the man traveling abroad and I can get spooked into thinking God is going to grab me when I'm not looking. Nonsense.
Depression seems to surface more during the Christmas season, because of at least one reason. Expectations. We expect more out of the Christmas season, peace, love, warm relationships, gifts. When the reality comes in below the expectation I have, I get disappointed and maybe depressed. Memories of disappointing Christmases can also depress me.
2. Unlike Mark's warning about sleeping, I would propose that we need more rest at this darker time of the year. Our ancestors used to sleep when it went dark. Today we force ourselves to stay awake and lights keep us awake. Doctors are saying we need more sleep in the dark days of winter and are recommending, get this, 9 hours. Maybe try an extra hour. Try a siesta.
3. Along with more sleep, try a little more exercise. My internist tells me that he wants me to exercise every day. I do. Walk through the neighborhood. Ride a bike. Along the way look at the colors of the red oaks and Bradford Pear trees.
4. Have you got anything special you do every year for Christmas, during Advent? Something to get you into a Christmas spirit? If not, what about finding something? Two things I have got to do every year: take in a performance of Handel's Messiah and take in the Dallas Symphony Christmas concert. I may get in an extra one or two of these, but I find this so touches my spirit.
I know a few families who tour Christmas lights. Here in Plano is Deer Park. One of the best is Highland Park, Beverly Drive and Armstrong Parkway, both east and west of Preston. In Deer Park, you may walk around. In Highland Park there are horse drawn carriages.
5. Finally, in line with Mark's gospel, watch, watch for the daily miracles and blessings. Review your year for the biggest blessings, like I mentioned before Thanksgiving.
I hope you are not anxious about or nervous about the coming of Christmas. If you are, even more relevent is my question, 'What are you doing to make Christmas this year a beauty?'
Picture 1: 1st Sunday of Advent begins
Picture 2: Mary & Nikki
Picture 3: Advent candle lighting
Picture 4: Barb & Ron after their 40th
Picture 5: Norm
Picture 6: Leo on the move
From John & Connie, "Welcome in, Everybody."
Readings:
Deuteronomy 26, 4-10, He brought us out of Egypt.
Psalm 91, Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.
Romans 10, 8-13, No one who believes in him will be put to shame.
Luke 4, 1-23, Jesus in the desert for forty days.
Likewise from Jackie, "Come on in, Folks, & welcome to Day- light Savings Time."
Sunday Homily, Mike Carrell, 3-10-19
Lent is preparation for Easter, so the words spoken over those who desire ashes are more appropriately the choice given by the Church from the Mark gospel, ‘The time is fulfilled; the Kingdom of God is at hand; Repent and Believe in the Good News.’
Welcome, Ana-Patricia & Alicia, from the old 10:30 cafetorium Mass at St. Marks.
Last Sunday, led by our musicians, we responded together from the Psalm 92, ‘It is good to give thanks to the Lord.’ That psalm reminds us to begin and end each day saying, ‘Thank you Lord for being with us, here and now. Thank you Lord for the seed that you have sown into our hearts along with a the desire bear good fruit. Let us be led by your Spirit to be Love in this world.
And while we are at it today, welcome to more 10:30 cafetorium Mass goers, Cathy, her daughter, Katy, and Katy's marvelous fiance' Enza from Uganda, no less. But he does not speak Swahili!
Here and now, in every moment of the day, we are the body of Christ in the world. Our mindset should constantly be that we are meant to be Love, in everything we say and do. So,‘In everything give thanks for that is God’s will for us in Christ, Jesus.’
Not to long ago, I was in a waiting room while Judy was being seen by a doctor. There were a hand full of children’s books among the magazines on a table there. They usually have a good intended meaning, so, I took the liberty of choosing Aunt Grace and her nephew about to give birth to a garden. I smiled, and said to myself, ‘With a name like ‘Aunt Grace,’ this is got to be good.
Hi, David, Hi, Caroline.
Before they took a step into what would be their garden, they started with a prayer. Then they began to remove the weeds, cans, bottles, sticks and rocks. When that was done, they broke open the soil and used a wheelbarrow to cover it with an abundance of new mulch, to provide the garden with good soil.
The Most Reliable Jan making sure everyone can go to communion.
This sounds a lot like Lent doesn’t it; with each of us refreshing our garden, and why John has a Sunday each year when we grant God’s loving forgiveness to each other. Lent is a time to be more aware of the people we meet everyday. With goodness and kindness, we can smile more; say thank you more; and you are welcome, more.
The Bona Responds Team on site in Wilmington, NC, to help people with recovery from the Hurricane Michael last Fall.
We can do lots of little things like letting the car and its occupant get in front of us without honking at them. Let’s be aware of the mother with small children. We can help her put her groceries in her car, and to push her cart back for them. Let’s have a neighbor or two, or three over for coffee. Practice makes perfect.
From our community, Connie & John Bresson, David Dinsmore, and, of course, Bill Hammond. From St. Bonaventure University, the man behind all the recovery work so many in our community have volunteered for over the years, Jim Mahar.
So, what was it that Aunt Grace and her nephew sowed in their garden? Of all things, Potatoes. She taught her nephew how cut up potatoes that were covered with eyes into pieces, so that the eye of each piece could and would be placed in an upright position within the good soil, looking up to the heavens with faith that this would bring forth a bountiful harvest, that they could share with their neighbors.
Our journey through Lent has just begun. Who might you invite to journey with you?
What a Team!