Readings:
Ezekiel 33, 7-9, You duped me, Lord, and I let myself be duped.
Psalm 95, If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Romans, 13, 8-10, Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another.
Matthew 18, 15-20, Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I.
Sorry, no homily today.
Readings: Amos 61-7; Psalm 146, Praise the Lord My Soul; 1 Timothy 6, 11-16; Luke 16, 19-31.
Intro to
I want to talk about our first reading in a bit more detail than normal. The Book of the Prophet Amos is extremely interesting in so many ways, yet we only have readings from it this year today and last Sunday, and on only one Sunday last year and none next year!!
The book falls into the grouping referred to as the minor prophets, not due to their importance but more to the length of the books. There are twelve books in this grouping, contrasting with the major prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. The book was originally put together around the year 750 BCE and its main message is that the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah are in trouble because they have neglected the poor.
Both Kingdoms are doing very well. Both kingdoms have had peace and stable rule, but only some of the people are very wealthy. Most are very poor. One interesting aspect of the book is that it introduces the concept that all of the nations, not just the Jews, are under YHWH’s jurisdiction, and all will suffer because they have not followed God’s laws.
Amos himself was a shepherd and his work is mainly a social commentary on the current injustices he sees in society. He anticipates what we know will happen in 721, the invasion and destruction of the northern kingdom by the Assyrians. Our reading today fits perfectly with the message in the gospel.
Twenty sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Homily
I remember when the church changed the words of the “I confess” and added “and what I have failed to do”. It added a new level to my understanding of sin. It used to be that I sinned by doing something and now I was being told that I could also sin by NOT doing something!
This is exactly what happens to the rich man in today’s gospel reading from Luke. By all accounts he was a success- he did very well for himself by the world’s standards- he had very nice clothes and ate the finest foods every day! There was only one problem – he didn’t do anything about the poor man parked outside his door. Oh, he knew he was there, he even knew his nam. He just failed to do anything about him.
The rich man saw himself as far superior to Lazarus. Even in the afterlife he thought he could have Lazarus do his bidding. He failed to see that all men are created equal and that we are all brothers and sisters in God’s eyes.
It is worth noting that even though the rich man appears to have everything, he doesn’t have a name, whereas we do know the poor man’s name, Lazarus. To further highlight the difference between the rich man and Lazarus, Luke gives us the detail about the dogs, which were considered unclean animals, licking Lazarus’ sores.
The story is aimed at the Pharisees, who thought of themselves as careful followers of the Law of Moses. They were also wealthy. Luke has two agendas running through the parable.
One is the danger we fall into when we think we are doing things according to the law. As Catholics our tradition could very easily lead us to fall into a similar trap. If we obey all the rules, get all the boxes checked; so to speak, then we will end up in heaven. It has a tendency to create a kind of mechanical process to our faith! Plus we run the risk of then deciding that anyone who doesn’t follow those rules just won’t make it. This was the whole problem, which so many of the Jews had with the whole message of Jesus. They were scandalized by his behavior. He ate with tax collectors and sinners!!
The second item on Luke’s agenda was the challenge of the resurrection! The rich man thinks that if Lazarus would only reappear from the dead, then his brothers would change their behavior. Belief in the resurrection isn’t as simple as seeing someone come back from the dead!
The message for us today: make sure we are not mechanically just following a formula in our lives, and what does the resurrection mean to me today?
Picture 1: Mass Beginning
Picture 2: Communion
Picture 3: Bobby handing over our check to CCAC
Picture 4: Jackie receiving our $2000 monthly donation to the Collin County Adult Clinic
Readings:
Acts 3, 13-15, 17-19, God raised him from the dead.
Psalm 4, Lord, let you face shine on us.
1 John 2, 1-5, He is expiation for our sins.
Luke 24, 35-48, Peace be with you.
The Readings: Stack has introduced you to the author of Luke and Acts being the same person or compiler. They were probably written between 70 and 85 AD so a couple of generations after Jesus. We don’t know the author of John’s Gospel and letters, but they were written at least another generation later.
Homily 3rd Sunday of Easter 04/19/15, John Cade
I’ve been looking for a chance to share with you an editorial in the Dallas Morning News from New Year’s Eve. The topic is gratitude. So that’s where I’m at, and that’s what I want to share with you.
In Stack’s blog this Thursday he quotes from Winnie the Pooh. Pooh asks, “What day is it?” “It’s today,” answers Piglet. And Pooh responds, “My favorite day.”
The New Year’s Eve editorial refers to a multi-year research project at the University of California, titled “Expanding the Science and Practice of Gratitude.” This research turned up many benefits that grow out of gratitude, such as: a stronger immune system; fewer illnesses and aches and pains; better sleep; greater resilience; reduced anxiety and depression; and more joy, optimism and happiness. The editorial also speaks to how we develop gratitude. I made copies; there should be enough for each family unit to take one and there may be extras.
The last two weeks Stack talked about Easter events in our lives, events that give new life, fuller life, and joy of spirit. Gratitude naturally flows from Easter events and from all the blessings we can count every day. I do not believe there is anyone on this planet who has not experienced an Easter event. We know that noticing an Easter event, and accepting its offer of new life and joy, can be difficult. I’ve caught myself not noticing such events or not being fully grateful for these blessings and gifts.
Recently my daughter Joey came by with my grandson, Leo (age 6). A couple of years ago Joey took a part time job and had been experiencing a desire to go beyond what it offered her in income, and especially in satisfaction. Without making a formal job search, she was contacted by a company in Austin wanting her to head up a planned expansion to Dallas.
They eventually offered her a percentage of the company if she took the job. Another company in Richardson also found her and offered her a position. When she approached her current employer and told him she had offers and was planning to take one of them, he begged her to stay and go full time.
Joey’s Easter event, her experience of new life, was the realization that her fears about job security were unfounded and she could choose from among the three positions. This meant more security as a mom and more confidence and satisfaction as an employee.
Leo, while still in the developmental stage that includes magical thinking, is developing his sense of competence. He loves playing all kinds of games and he makes them competitive. In the short time they were at our house, Leo initiated several games with me: first, racing cars on the floor, then Black Jack which helps him learn to count, then Shoots and Ladders, then Parcheesi.
It was a delight to see his face light up over his competence at these games. He clearly was experiencing new life and joy in experiencing his competence, and his gratitude and joy showed all over his face.
One of my Easter events was in 2008 when I was in hospital for heart surgery. Lambrini and I had hired a construction team to convert an area of our home into an office for my therapy practice. At one point the guys were not doing the work properly.
An architect friend, hearing about this problem and knowing I was in hospital, simply went over to our home and took charge of the project, telling them what to do over. When Lambrini told me what he had done, I was so moved by this I was crying with her.
A nurse must have seen me crying, since they started an anti-depressant and I had the most horrible nightmares I had ever had. I asked them to please stop this treatment, that I was not depressed, I was emotional and crying because of my immense gratitude.
Something we now know is that we can train our brains in the habit of noticing and accepting Easter events and in having gratitude.
Pooh said “today …is… my favorite day.”
My question is how are you practicing the habit of noticing Easter events and the joy of gratitude?
Readings: Isaiah 49, 14-15; Psalm 62, Rest in God alone, my Soul; 1 Corinthians 4, 1-5; Matthew 6, 24-34.
Isaiah reminders—
Author: This is Isaiah #2, the composer of chapters 40-55. January 6 we had a first reading from this same chapter 49, verses 4-5, talking about Yahweh’s people being a servant and light to the nations. I talked about the taxi driver whose son had been killed for his pickup truck in Cuernavaca.
Date: Ca. 575 before Christ. The Jewish people of Jerusalem are defeated, crushed, & in the Babylonian Captivity. Isaiah #3, chapters 56-66, is writing after the Babylonian Captivity.
Today’s Message: Even though life is bad, Yahweh says he will never forget his people, somewhat similar to the reading from January 6.
Sources: Good News Bible
Don’ Worry About Tomorrow?
Yesterday afternoon I did a funeral celebration for a lady named Rebecca Sides. It took place at Turrentine Funeral Home on Ridgeview. She died of cancer at 58.
I did not ever know Rebecca personally. I knew her through Jean Atwood’s son Sean, who married one of Rebecca’s three daughters, Terra. Rebecca was the payroll supervisor for the city of Plano, so there were numerous Plano City people there, including her supervisor and an assistance police chief, both of whom gave excellent talks.
Of all the things I heard about Rebecca the quality that struck me the most was the way she had her priorities in order. Her number one priority was her family. She seemed like the family matriarch, a magnetic force that brought members together, especially her 4 grand kids.
I talk about her because she exemplified what Matthew’s two lessons are trying to teach us today and what he has been trying to teach us all during this sermon on the mount. Namely, getting our priorities in order.
I want to say a word about each of Matthew’s points, serving two masters and not worrying about tomorrow. One preliminary reminder.
Matthew is again using exaggeration, hyperbole, and infinite demand to convey his message. Do you not want to say, ‘Are you nuts, are you crazy?’ There is another half, infinite acceptance, like the line, “The Lord is gracious and merciful, never gets angry, and is abounding in love.” Psalm 103 & other places.
First, ‘Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, your body, what you will wear. All these things will be given to you.’ Everyone can see this is like crazy. And this is the negative aspect. So it all gets dismissed.
The positive is the word ‘worry’ repeated four times and the reference to the birds and flowers. We can have our priorities and goals without worry. We can emulate the birds and flowers to a point. Worry leads to anxiety, to high blood pressure, and to strokes.
Secondly, the idea that we cannot serve two masters. The negative part of this lesson is that it is either/or, black or white, God or mammon. More exaggeration.
More positively, do we not serve a number of masters in our life? God may be an ultimate master. Do we not have numerous sub-masters? Could it be possible I am my own master? I wonder.
All these lessons seem to be telling us to get our priorities in order. From what I heard, Rebecca had hers in order.
What are your 3 biggest priorities in life?
Picture 1: Leo with his baby sitter, Lynda
Picture 2: Marlene & Cindy
Picture 3: Penny
Picture 4: Zoe
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 1st 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.
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.
This past Sunday Lambrini and I were at Joey’s home for the 70th 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.
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.
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.
My question is how do you receive and experience peace? And how do you share this peace with others?
Readings: Amos 8, 4-7; Psalm 113, Praise the Lord who lifts up the Poor; 1 Timothy 2, 1-8; Luke 16, 1-13
Luke’s Gospel, 3 observations:
1. The Story. The rich man and his steward. The steward is squandering the rich man’s property. The rich man tells the steward that he is going to be fired after he prepares the accounts.
The steward figures he will make friends with the debtors by cutting their debts to the rich man. He cuts bills as much as 50%.
The rich man, instead of berating the steward, praises him for his strategy.
2. What is going on here? Looks like the steward is stealing from the rich man. In fact, he is cutting out his commission, not stealing anything. The Jews reading this parable would know this immediately. The steward made his living by charging a service fee.
3. Any lessons here for us?
a. One of Luke’s favorite messages: Our God is merciful. See the Prodigal Son & Good Samaritan. The rich man praises the steward for being ingenious.
b. We are challenged to be equally ingenious. Use our talents.
Extra point: watch out for taking a hit from the sayings at the end, trustworthiness, dishonesty in little things, 2 masters. There might be a trap here: either/or spirituality.
Sources:
Francis Vanderwall, The Liberating Stories of Jesus, chapter 4;
New Interpreter's Study Bible;
New American Bible, on line;
St. Louis U., The Center for Liturgy, on line
We Need a Mediator to Ransom Us?
Many of you know that this old geezer loves to dance. In fact, it was through dancing that Rosemary & I met. I was looking for the best dancer.
For the past year or more I have not been able to dance because I could not swing my hips or swivel. For the past month or at least since I finished the Hotter ‘N Hell Hundred, I have had it in mind that I would like to return to dancing, probably at some special event.
The event took place last weekend at the wedding we did in
We returned to the hotel and what they call The Great Hall, the big stone lobby. Playing dance music was a 3 piece group and a lady singer. I had thought the wedding reception would be the fitting place to make our dancing debut. But suddenly that Great Hall, the presence of others from the wedding, and the mood of the place made it the moment.
We danced. I could do it. It was exhilarating. Like getting back on a bicycle after a long lay off. To top it off, the lady singing even complimented us by saying, “Good dancing.” I was quite touched.
I talk about this event because I want to tie it into a line in Timothy that says more or less, “There is one mediator who gave himself as ransom for all.”
My Question: Do we need someone to ransom us? Ransom us from what? Did Emma need to be ransomed when we baptized her? What about Chloe or Zoe or Georgie or Sam or Sean?
Many of us have been trained to think that we come into this life stained, imperfect, in fact, sinful, not because of anything we did. But because some distant ancestors, Adam & Eve, sinned and we all inherit it. If the baby was not baptized and the sin removed, it would go to where? Not
hell, not heaven. Limbo.
Folks, what if there is no limbo? The Catholic Church now says it was just a concept, not a reality. Go further. What if we don’t need to be ransomed from anything? What if there really is no original sin? That when we see a little baby and think how good it is, our perception is 100% accurate.
Biblical scholars and students of the history of religion are now suggesting that, just like Limbo, original sin is a concept thought up to explain imperfect behavior. If this is so, could it be that none of us is in need of some kind of ransom?
That lady singer complimenting us on our dancing in The Great Hall was another glimpse into the goodness of people. The wedding was overflowing with the goodness. Parents, the marvelous couple, little kids, and even some old geezers. No need for ransom there.
And if we don’t need to be ransomed, where does that leave us?
Picture 1: Beginning of Mass
Picture 2: Emily with her mom, Julie
Picture 3: Communion preparation
Readings: Malachi 3, 19-20; Psalm 98; 2 Thessalonians 3, 7-12; Luke 21, 5-19
Observations on Malachi:
Interesting notes:
1. This is the last book of the Old Testament. Fitting for the last Sunday of the church calendar year. Next week, Christ the King, then Advent and a new church calendar year begins.
2. A little book, only 4 chapters.
3. Last of the 12 minor prophets (because of their small content)
Author: Malachi means “my messenger” in Hebrew. The writer’s real name is unknown.
Date: 400-500 years before Christ. This is deduced from the emphasis on the temple and the priesthood, and the word “governor” used one time. Governors ruled after the Bbylonian Exile, ca. 590-550, kings before.
The temple was rebuilt ca. 520 after the Israelites came back ca. 550 from the Babylonian Exile. The Persian ruler Cyrus let them return & rebuild the old walls & temple.
Message: Beware, you priests and people, because you are lax, corrupt, and cheating god of his rightful offerings
Today’s Message:
1. a day is coming when the bad guys will get it.
2. fear my name and find healing.
Sources: Good News Bible; New Interpreter’s Study Bible; The Minor Prophets by Al Maxey (on line); & Wikipedia
Fear
Tuesday we celebrate the anniversary of an event that took place in 1989, 21 years ago.
It happened in the middle of the night on the campus of UCA, the University of Central America. All was quiet. 6 Jesuit priests were either asleep or close to it in their residence. Their housekeeper & her daughter were in the apartment in the rear. The university is a Jesuit university, like the U. of San Francisco, Georgetown, Fordham, and others in the States.
About midnight witnesses heard a great commotion at the door of the residence, yelling and banging. Outside were 40-50 soldiers dressed in camophlage. They broke the door and stormed in. Going room to room, they busted down doors, smashed windows, and dragged the 6 Jesuits and their housekeeper & daughter into the inner patio.
The banging and breaking and yelling continued for about an hour. Around 1:00 people outside began to hear shots. One by one the 8 people were shot in the head from behind.
9 years before this, on March 24, 1980, a similar event had happened in the same country, El Salvador. Archbishop Oscar Romero was shot by a single assassin in the middle of his Mass in a chapel at a hospital in San Salvador.
I talk about this this morning because, first, it still moves me and, secondly, according to the readings, especially good old Luke, this is exactly what is going to happen to you, to us.
So what is our response? Two observations.
First, Malachi and the prophets of the O.T. declare that the bad things that happen in our lives are because we have been bad, lax, unfaithful, mean, greedy. God will punish us. And if we are good, God will reward us. Today this thinking is called the gospel of wealth, In fact, if you just send money to our church God will multiply your donation & you will be rich.
It does not take much experience to know this just does not happen. I just heard about a 3 year old girl with cancer. God is not punishing her, or her parents.
Secondly, I remind you of an idea I have talked about before, the three fundamental motives, fear, hope for reward, & love and gratitude.
We can walk through life fearful of everything and never savor the beauty. My old time Catholic religious training used fear a lot. You have a date, you mess around, you get killed on the way home, you go straight to hell. Not quite.
Better than fear is the motive of reward. High school football playoffs are in full swing right now. In August these kids were going through hell, working like crazy to win a championship or even a place on a team.
And then there is doing it because of love. We build houses with Habitat because we love to help the less fortunate and are so grateful for what we have. Because I love people I visit them when they are sick, having a hard time, or struggling with life.
So how do we respond when we read about all these bad things coming our way? We don’t fear they will happen to us. Fr. Jack Deeves lived all those 80 plus years without such bad things. Like Jack & the other 6 Jesuits in San Salvador, we love life and people.
What is your response?
Picture 1: Begining Mass with Kevin
Picture 2: Offertory with Ray, Dawn, & Loretta
Picture 3: Emma
Picture 4: Sienna with Robyn