Sunday Homily, August 16, 20th Ordinary Time
Readings:
Proverbs 9, 1-6, Wisdom has built her house.
Psalm 34, Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Ephesians 5, 15-20, Watch carefully how you live.
John 6, 51-58, I am the living bread.
Says Victoria, "Hi, Everybody, Welcome in."
Proverbs:
What are they: a collection of moral & religious teachings in the form of pithy sayings. For example: "Better to eat a dry crust of bread with peace of mind than to have a banquet in a house full of trouble" (17, 1); "Being cheerful always keeps you healthy" (17, 22).
Some a bit tough: "Don't hesitate to discipline a child. A good beating won't kill him" (23, 12).
Some amusing: "A nagging wife is like water going drip-drip-drip" (27, 15); "Better to live on the roof than to share the house with a nagging wife" (25, 24).
Author: Maybe Solomon is behind chapters 1-29. Most likely a compilation.
Date: Ca. 300 BCE is considered a possibility with material coming from as far back as 900, during the time of Solomon.
Georgie, too, says, "Welcome, Folks."
Taking Care of the House Wisdom Built
In honor of it being mid-August and summer vacation time, even though it is rapidly coming to an end, I have homily light this morning. Just a simple lesson I learned, again, this week.
When was the last time you had no running water in your house? Or even no a/c?
This past week Rosemary & I had no running water in our house for one day and two nights, which seemed like an eternity.
And, of course, Genevieve says, "Hi Everybody, thanks for coming to see me. Nice to be here."
A month ago or, even, maybe 6 weeks ago, I thought I was hearing water running in our house. I could only hear it in the bathroom I use when I get up, like 4:00 in the morning. It is so quiet at that hour that I can easily hear unusual sounds. I checked the toilet stoppers in the other two bathrooms. No noise. During the day I could not hear the noise because of other noises. With the a/c blower running, I could not hear the noise except maybe just a tiny bit.
I told Rosemary I wanted to check the water meter at the street one time when we both were riding around White Rock Lake. I would see if the meter moved. I set up the read, then forgot when we came home and we used the sinks.
Can't drink wine? No problem. Jan has you covered, grape juice.
Then, I sort of forgot the noise. But I continued to hear it.
Then one morning, I went to the water heater closet. The noise was much stronger. So I finally did the water meter check and the dial had moved in a two hour period when we were away. So I told Rosemary that we have a water leak and it may be the water heater.
Cupcakes of The Week, John & Jean (57th) and Bern and Gilbert (50th)
We call Levy, the company we have used for year. A guy comes the next day, turns off the water heater, and tells me it is not the water heater. Which means it is under the floor. “Are you on pier & beam or slab,” he asks me. Pier & beam, thanks.
So he has to call for another guy to go through the small door in the floor. The guy does, says there is a lake down there, and he cannot get to the leak which is right under the water heater, but in a place too small for him to get to. “We’ll send Junior tomorrow, because he can get in these narrow places. Meanwhile, turn off the water at the street.”
A Work of Art, Mary, Bethany, and Ray.
Unfortunately, Junior cannot come the next day, Tuesday. He is booked. We have to wait until Wednesday morning, 8:00 A.M.
So, yes, we have no running water from Monday afternoon, through Tuesday night, and into Wednesday. I filled some buckets before I turned the water off. But, How did our ancestors live without running water. Sinks, showers, and toilets.
From Chris, the anything at all to get out of going to Yosemite, a torn tendon in his foot. 6-9 months recovery.
We finally got water, but not until Wednesday afternoon. I was ready to hug Junior, who was not so small, but agile. I wanted to thank the running water gods on my knees.
I really learned a lesson. Gratitude for the conveniences I take for granted every day. Water, a/c, electricity, to name just three.
Could Zoe be studying Swahili? Will let you know.
And you, what gifts are you not grateful for? Happy Summer.
Here they come, The Gang, Buddy, Zoe, and Victoria.