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.
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!
Readings: Isaiah 66, 18-21; Psalm 117; Hebrews 12, 5-13; Luke 13, 22-30
Isaiah: this book is written by probably three authors ca. 800 years before Christ and later. The book covers the time before, during, and after the Babylonian captivity. Our selection today comes from the part of the book written before the captivity.
The Good News Dream
I just returned last night from doing a wedding Friday afternoon for a couple who had a special dream. The boy is from Dallas and I have known him since he was little. The girl is from Scotland.Their dream was to marry at St. Columba’s monastery on the island of Iona, off the west coast of Scotland.
St. Columba came over from Ireland about 560 and established the monastery which was a center of learning and religious enthusiasm all during the Dark Ages, when the learning and culture established by Rome came crashing down. In 810 Vikings raided the monastery and killed about 70 monks.The monastery finally came to an end during the Protestant Reformation and the time of Oliver Cromwell ca. 1650. Since the 1940’s it has been revived and is an ecumenical community today. It has been and is today a sort of mini-shrine.
To realize their dream the couple knew it would cause difficulty to their families & friends. It is not easy to get there. I was blessed to have Katie Gray carry me all around. She is Bob & Jackie McGrath’s daughter and is living in Edinburg with her Scottish husband, Derrick. Even with Katie’s help, it took us a day to drive from Edinburg in the east all the way across the country to the west coast, where we put the car on a ferry to the island of Mull. On Mull we traveled another 40 miles on a, I kid you not, one lane road to another people only ferry to the little 3 mile by 1 & 1/2 mile island of Iona. Iona, folks, is not the Ritz Carlton. It is very simple with two small hotels & a number of bed & breakfast farm houses.The island is small and the little community is tiny. But hosptable.
We celebrated the wedding out of doors in the middle of what used to be the Nunnery, an old Augustinian convent from the 13th century that has not been revived. After Thursday & Friday morning having drizzle and clouds down to the ocean, we had a window of 40 minutes when it brightened up.
In the center of the monastery is an elevated square piece of land that is grass covered with flowering bushes on all four sides. We used the corner of the square for the wedd
ing. John, the groom, and all the men wore kilts.They looked terrific. I wore the white alb & a stole. A ferry load of tourists arrived during the ceremony and they went ape over the event. We should have charged a pound a person for pictures. They took tons.
The psalm today talks about taking the Good News to all the world. On that little island of Iona John & Zarah realized a dream and shared the Good News of their love with the whole world.
What is your Good News Dream?
AUDIO: http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2007-08-26.mp3
Readings: Exodus 17, 8-13; Psalm 121, Our help is from the Lord, who made Heaven & Earth; 2 Timothy 3, 14-4, 2; Luke 18, 1-8
Exodus
Author: Not Moses. 3 sources identified by literary style, points of view, use of Yahweh or Elohim.
Date: the sources have different possible dates, but 700 & 800 BCE seem to have some foundation. The Egyptian period itself is thought to be ca. 1250 BCE, during the time of Rameses II.
Subject: Moses leads the Jewish people out of slavery in Egypt. Remember how they got there? The story of Isaac & his 12 sons, his youngest sold to camel drivers by the brothers, etc.
Our Selection: scene, the desert; the event, the Amalekites attack the Jews. Yahweh orders Joshua to mow them down with Moses’ supporting him with arms outstretched in blessing. Not much connection with the Gospel.
Sources: New Interpreter’s Bibl;, Good News Bibl;, Wikipedia; St. Louis U. Liturgy & Reginald Fuller.
Why do You Pray?
There is a subdivision in North Dallas called Northwood Hills. You go north from LBJ up Hillcrest to Belt Line and the subdivision is on both sides of Hillcrest.
A few years before I departed the Jesuits some residents of Northwood Hills approached me about planting trees in their neighborhood. I really did not want to go north of LBJ with my 800 gallon trailer. They persisted and bit by bit, after a trip or two hosted by 2 or 3 couples, I finally agreed.
We eventually planted ca. 400 trees along Hillcrest & Belt Line, in Fretz Park, and at a couple of elementary schools. I watered those trees as often as twice a week for 2-3 years. Ride by there now and the results are beautiful. I am delighted I did it.
Does this experience of mine and the parable of the gruff judge and the widow exemplify our relationship with God? Who knows? Each of us has our relationship and our expectations of the relationship. For me, I have my doubts. Three observations, one like and two dislikes.
First, I like the lesson in asking for what we want, even from a judge at city hall. The father of my best buddy when I was a kid used to tell me, “John, you can’t fight city hall.” Maybe not, maybe so. But you can certainly ask for what you want—in this life.
Secondly, what I don’t like: the comparison of God with this grumpy judge who accedes to the widow’s request just so he won’t be bothered. I have a different, more benevolent image.
Thirdly, what I don’t like: a false expectation contained in the parable that I can wear down God by my persistence. I remember my mom’s 9 day novenas. Probably to save me from hell. Then I joined the Jesuits and left home and she probably told God that was not quite what she intended.
I find it helpful to make that infamous God distinction of mine, the macro-managing God and the micro-managing God. I don’t see God doing the latter.
If God is a micro-manager, I don’t get it at all. For every person apparently saved, how many thousands, millions have been lost, often with painful, agonizing deaths. Take for example the Holocaust. Did those people not beg Yahweh to be saved? The slaves beaten to death. Even here is Texas these days, the black men falsely accused and spending decades in prison until DNA proves their innocence. My friend Tony works with maybe a dozen of these guys at Holy Trinity.
So, why pray for people like we do? Our people. You know them.
My observation: I hope some cosmic kinetic energy flows out to make more gentle the life of the person I pray for. 2-3 praying together emanate hopefully more energy.
The Northwood Hills folks pestered me until I granted their request, a lesson for all of us in our daily lives. This may not be a model for our relationship with God.
Why do you pray? With what results?
Picture 1: Leo welcoming the Community
Picture 2: Leo's Mom & Dad, Shonda & Ray
Picture 3: Anthony & his dad, John
Picture 4: The Coffee Shoppe, Bob & Judy
You ready to read, Buddy?
Readings:
Jeremiah 31, 7-9, The Lord has delivered his people.
Psalm 126, The Lord has done great things for us, we are filled with joy
Hebrews 5, 1-6, Every high priest is taken from among the people.
Mark 10, 46-52, Bartimaeus, the blind man.
While Emma lights the candles, Buddy reads the Blessing of The Candles, a first time ever for Buddy.
Jeremiah observations:
Who: one of the Big 3 Prophets, 52 chapters, the “broken hearted prophet,” because he hated being so unpopular and having to condemn so much.
Baruch, Jeremiah’s scribe seems to be who put down the prophet’s message. Jeremiah probably died in Egypt.
When: put together before & during the B.C., Babylonian Captivity, say 555 before Christ (reminder, Babylon is near present day Bagdad, Iraq).
Remember, too, that time before Christ is counting downward or backwards.
Our Belief.
Interesting Side Note: (another reminder) can you guess when the Genesis story of creation in 7 days was composed? Biblical research reveals that the creation story was put together during the Captivity, this same time, i.e. ca. 555.
Why? The priests & prophets (e.g., Ezekiel) of the Jews in captivity determined that the people would not be assimilated into the local gene pool as their cousins in the northern kingdom had done when made to live with the Assyrians. They decided they would establish customs & religious practices that would make the Jews so different they would not intermarry. Three special laws were established: 1. male circumcision; 2. dietary laws and laws about not touching menstruating women; and 3. the Sabbath.
The Healing Touch
The priests put together the 7 day creation story to suggest that Yahweh approved of their Sabbath law. They had Yahweh rest on the 7th day to bolster their demand that all Jews take a day off every 7 days. Before the Babylonian Captivity there was no legislated Sabbath and no myth of Yahweh creating the world in 7 days with the 7th being a day of rest. So, now you know when the story was created & by whom, the priests, and why, to keep the Jews united vs the Babylonians. It worked, even down to today.
Subject of the work: the usual prophet message—condemn, pay, peace.
Today's subject: Beautiful message of peace and consolation. It is coming.
Sources: Bishop John Shelby Spong, The sins of Scripture; Wikipedia
The Healing Touch for Emma.
Homily:
Readings:
Amos, 7, 12-15, The Lord took me from following the flock, and said to me, “Go, prophesy to my people Israel. (Expanding the reading)
Psalm 85, Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
Ephesians 1, 3-14 In love he destined us for adoption to himself.
Mark 6, 7-13, Take nothing for the journey but a walking stick, no food, no sack, no money.
Amos:
Author: Amos or his scribe. He was a shepherd of sheep & tended sycamore trees. One of the 12 minor prophets of the OT, minor because of smallness of the works. Amos has only 9 chapters. Usual pattern of prophets: 1. condemnation of the people’s behavior; 2. predictions of severe punishment for the behavior; 3. promises of better times in the future.
Date: Ca. 777 (a memory help), after the kingships of David & Solomon, time of King Jeroboam of the northern kingdom, called Israel vs the southern kingdom, called Judah (where Jerusalem is).
Geography: Note the two kingdoms, Judah in the south, Israel in the north. Amos tended sheep in a little town called Tekoa, 10 miles south of Jerusalem, in Judah, the south. He is sent by Yahweh to Bethel, a small but important town in the northern kingdom, 10 miles north of Jerusalem, to warn the people of Israel & their king Jeroboam that Yahweh was mad at them. The wicked high priest of Bethel, Amaziah condemns Amos for his interference.
The Setting: a time of prosperity. But Yahweh is mad at the greed of the wealthy and their oppression of the poor (which ties into our gospel talking about walking lightly through life). We know the people of this kingdom of Israel are headed for annihilation by the Assyrian nation. And they will disappear as a significant body, around 700 before Christ.
Our Selection, chapter 7: (reading all of chapter 7) Amos describes three visions or dreams he has. Amaziah gives it to him for spreading these visions around. Then, Amos responds and socks it to Amaziah with a hammer.
Mark: a couple of reminders–
1. Mark is the first of the 4 gospels written, ca 70 C.E. Note: Jerusalem & the Temple were smashed by the Romans in 70, after a Jewish rebellion. In 73 the famous Masada battle took place. More about this event another day. Just think, from this date until 1948 a Jewish state did not exist.
2. The first written documents were by Paul, his letters.
Sources: Grace Institute of Biblical Leadership; Catholic Encyclopedia; Wikipedia
Want to be free? Travel lightly.
Ever been to The Bridge? Know what it is? The Bridge is one of the homeless shelters in downtown Dallas, just south of City Hall. It was built by the City. It serves 3 meals a day and houses about 350 people overnight.
Rosemary & I have been there about 6 times this year to help serve meals. My favorite job is the tray collector. What I do is stand in a corner near the exit and a window into the dish washing area. As each person finishes they walk up, give me their tray, and exit. I empty into trash bins leftover food, pour leftover water down a sink, send the utensils through the window, and, this is why it is my favorite, I chat up each person, thanking them for coming in and wishing them a good afternoon or night.
Frequently as the people depart they pick up bundles they leave by the door. These bundles contain their earthly possessions. I often ask them what they got inside. Extra clothing, extra pair of shoes, toilet articles, maybe a momento. That’s it.
I thought about these men and women when I read the instruction to take nothing for the journey. Wow. I can feel guilty. I certainly cannot fit all I have into a bundle, let alone take nothing for the journey.
I’ve touched upon some of this before, but let me remind you. Three observations.
First, we have here another example of the spirituality of infinite demand vs. infinite acceptance. This is hyperbole. It is not meant to be taken literally. We don't have to live like the people in The Bridge, one bundle with all our belongings
Secondly, having said this, there comes along the danger to discount the principle. Spiritual & physical freedom is involved here.
I confess I normally do not have much trouble with this principle. By nature and by Jesuit training I do not like too much stuff in my life. I can drive Rosemary crazy. If I don’t use something for a year, clothes or book, whatever, I want to hand it over to charity. Not always provident.
There is the cynical statement going around that he wins who ends up with the most toys. Delusion. This reminds me of the monkey & banana story. The monkey is holding on to a banana in a cage. He cannot get his hand out without letting loose of the banana. He won’t let loose. He is trapped. We can be trapped by our stuff.
Thirdly, the journey mentioned by Jesus is a metaphor. It is not a journey like riding a bike across Iowa, which Rosemary & I will do next Sunday. It is the journey of life.
The challenge: travel lightly the journey of life.
What do you need to toss overboard to lighten your journey of life?
Readings:
Genesis 18, 20-32, What if there are ten there? For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.
Psalm 138, Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
Colossians 2, 12-14, You were buried with him in baptism.
Luke 11, 1-13, Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find.
Observations on the readings:
The first reading from Genesis is a familiar story about God’s mercy and forgiveness, how it is all encompassing and present to all. More in my homily about this.
The second reading from Paul’s letter to the Colossians is his letter to the Christian community at Colossae (in present day Turkey), telling them to remember that, as followers of Jesus, they are made new and are called to forgive one another, called to peace and thankfulness. Remember, I said last week I was choosing a more inspirational part of this letter for us to hear (Chapter 3, 12-15)
In the Gospel reading from Luke we will hear about prayer. The prayer Jesus
taught that we are familiar with, and say in Mass, is in Matthew, Chapter 6.
Today’s version in Luke is shortened. Jesus’ parable of knocking on a friend’s
door is about God’s constant mercy.
Homily
From the reading in Genesis, I want to talk today about mercy and forgiveness. In particular I want to talk about what I think makes it possible for us to forgive one another. Forgiveness requires first that I put away self-justification where I put myself above another, where I collect points that make me ‘look better’ than another, especially one whom I judge has offended me, hurt me (‘I am right; I am justified in my hurt’). In order to forgive, I give up the quest ‘to be right’. [This is
where that saying fits, ‘you can be right’ or ‘you can have love in your life.’]
If I need to ‘look better’ or ‘be right’ (self-justified, self-righteous),
forgiveness becomes difficult, even unlikely.
The second requirement for sharing forgiveness is accepting what I take as an offense, a hurt, as possible in the universe of my life. This means in the whole universe of possible happenings, I accept that this hurt, this offense, is possible, this can happen to me. If I treat an offense or hurt as unthinkable or unacceptable to me in my universe, I disallow it as possible and keep it at a distance, away
from me, therefore not forgivable.
The third requirement to forgive another is mercy. Mercy is the quality attributed to God in today’s reading from Genesis about God and the people of Sodom. The quality or spirit of mercy makes forgiveness possible, even predictable. As we listened to the story about God and the people of Sodom, didn’t we predict as each question was asked by Abraham, that God’s response would be mercy?
We are called to have mercy and to forgive, even giving up the safety of waiting to first be forgiven by another (when there is mutual hurt). We are called to forgive. On the other hand we are totally accepted wherever we are in the process of learning mercy and forgiveness in our relationships. Sometimes it may seem easier to forgive another than to ask for forgiveness from the other. Maybe that’s because giving forgiveness seems to put us in the ‘good guy’ role. Asking for forgiveness can put us in a more vulnerable position, not knowing if we will receive mercy and forgiveness from the other.
So, my questions today are:
Am I ready to forgive hurts by another,
especially from those close to me?
Am I ready to accept myself, even if I am not
yet fully capable of forgiving?
Am I able to ask for
forgiveness from another?
