Sunday Homily, October 25, 2015, 30th Ordinary Time
Readings:
Jeremiah 31, 7-9, Shout for joy, 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 people.
Mark 10, 46-52, Bartimaeus, a blind man, sat by the road begging.
Grace says, "Welcome in, Everybody, Good to see you."
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.
And, of course, Genevieve says, "Hi, Everybody."
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.
There he is, our most proficient camera man, usually just inside the entrance, Rick.
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
We caught you, Shonda, hugging our pet gorilla. He loves it.
What, Shout for Joy ?
The consoling readings today are summed up in that first line from Jeremiah, ‘Shout for Joy.’ Unless you are blind as Brartamaeus or as I am so often, you can get behind this shouting pretty easily.
Let me propose 4 reasons why I shout for joy today and see if you can spot some of your own.
First, the rain. We just endured 3 months or more of drought. The ground was dust. I was sitting on our back porch Thursday night when it started. At first I thought we were really going to get missed, despite all the weather reports to the contrary.
The Best, Shonda (doing Air Force today), Bethany, & Ray.
However, we got 3 ½ inches that night. Then 3 more on Friday and 3 again on Friday night, total 9 ½.
The only negative for Rosemary & me was that an old roof leak that comes into our kitchen showed up again, even with the work we put into fixing it in the May rains. Nevertheless, I shout for joy over the rain.
Secondly, Romeos on Friday. Actually, a week ago I had a most interesting lunch. None of the bums showed up. I was alone. ‘Out of town,’ they all said. However this past Friday, wow, Mike and Bill and Ray all showed up. Don’t tell them, but I was shouting for joy.
The Team says, "We miss you, Georgie (at a swim meet).
Thirdly, I see every Sunday a bunch of no fear kids. I love it when Leo or Emma or Harper walk around up here. Let these kids know they have a cupcake waiting up here for them, and they come running, or dancing, as in the case of Leo.
Yes, I’ve been told that when I put on the white alb, the kids think I am God. My hope is that because I will not get mad at them and will welcome them, they will know that God does not get mad at them and welcomes them. This was not the message that I and many of you got when we were little kids going to church.
I shout for joy that these kids are here with us.
"Hi, Tori, Keeping busy?"
Finally, picking up on the message in Hebrews about the priest, I shout for joy that I have lived the majority of my life as a priest. I have always felt called to this vocation and I love it. For me it has not been prestige but opportunity, like to do what we do here with the kids.
I shout doubly because just when I might have had to put the opportunity on the shelf, you people invited me to carry on, what we have done together now for 11 years this Thanksgiving.
Ace candle lighter, Cole.
There is so much I love, like doing weddings. For example, the big, fun Lebanese wedding last Saturday. It is a privilege to visit people who are sick and to give some peace to people getting ready to move to the other side, like Joan & Rita, Chuck & Curtis, and Fred.
For this I shout for joy.
Fall has arrived in Dallas.
And You? If you are not shouting for joy, are you deaf, or blind like Bartamaeus or me?
For what do you shout for joy?