Sunday Homily, November 15, 2015, 33rd Ordinary Time
Readings:
Daniel 12, 1-3, The wise shall shine brightly.
Psalm 16, You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Hebrews 10, 11-14, 18, Every priest stands daily at his ministry.
Mark 13, 24-32, This generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.
Leo and Brandon say, "Hi, Folks, Welcome in." Along with Mary, too.
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 non-saints were called strangers. 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.
"Hi, Paul & Carrie."
3. The Separatists did not come to establish religious freedom. They came for religious freedom for their religion and only their religion. Like the Catholic Church, the Separatists demanded everyone belong to their program. Failure to conform could result in execution, ala inquisition.
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).
"Welcome back, Miss Genevieve, Good to see you."
5. How did the Indians & Separatists communicate? The Indians were Algonquians & one of them, Squanto had actually lived in Briton 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.
"Oh, Folks, Watch out. The girl walks!"
Thanksgiving
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, my most favorite celebration, I would like to talk about blessings. Excuse me for the personal focus. It is my annual assessment. Rosemary & I do this together more toward the end of the year, but initially I put together my own list.
I have already told you that in life I am grateful for three big blessings, my Jesuit experience, my African experience, and my marriage.
As an aside, this Tuesday we celebrate the 26th anniversary of the 6 Jesuits killed in the patio of their residence of their university, UCA, University of Central America, El Salvador.
Zoe, our candle lighter of the week.
I was just back in the States from East Africa and was quite moved by these men. I was ready to go there myself.
This year I can perceive again three big blessings, marriage, health, and my role as priest/psychotherapist. Let me explain each of these a little.
The landscape of my marriage this year included, first of all, our Viking cruise on the Rhine River. Just watching and listening to the river was special, but that was only the beginning. Delightful people, quaint places, homey environment, and more.
"Hi, Georgie, Suit up time. Just the two of us this morning."
Our Mondays, dancing also has been a blessing. We even took a class Friday night in what is called West Coast Swing. I was getting to a point that I wanted to learn a few new steps or routines, like when we used to dance a lot of years ago. West Coast Swing we knew some from the old days, but we had forgotten a lot. Friday was a great help.
Because of our marriage I also have the privilege of spending Thanksgiving most years with Rosemary’s sister & brother in law in Hilton Head. I can rest and unload the pressure more there than almost anywhere else in the world.
Cupcake of the year to John on his birthday.
A final blessing connected with our marriage is just our time together. We have breakfast together most mornings, lunch 3-5 times a week, and I just enjoy being together. Maybe we are reading on the couch together in the evening before I check out at 9:00, to comments like, “Party Pooper.”
The second big blessing is health and, in particular, my super hips. I have already called my hip specialist, like I do every Thanksgiving, to let him know how grateful I am and to list what I have done.
Cupcake of The Week to Frank on his birthday.
Like riding 500 miles across the beautiful, rolling hills of Iowa for a whole week.
Like riding the HHH, Hotter N’ Hell Hundred the last Saturday of August out of Wichita Falls. Hundred like in miles and temp.
Like spending 9 nine days in Yosemite with 8 good friends, when on the 2009 hike I thought I would never be able to hike there again.
Cupcake of The Week to John & Connie on their 29th.
Finally, I would like to mention the privilege and honor I feel in being a priest and psychotherapist. I love doing the marriages, the memorials, and the visits, all of which Rosemary & I do together.
And this community. What a joy to come here each Sunday to see all of you and to watch the kids grow healthy and peaceful.
What are your 2 or 3 biggest blessings of the year that you are grateful for? Happy Thanksgiving.
Cupcake of The Week to Mary Ellen on her birthday.