Sunday, 12-26-10, Holy Family: Sirach 3, 2-14; Psalm 128, Blessed are Those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways; Colossians 3, 12-21; Matthew 2, 13-23.

Intro to readings

 We could easily believe that political correctness is a recent development, but I want to show you how it existed in the first century of the Church. 

 Our second reading today from the letter to the Colossians is a great example of “spin”.  Lets take a moment to consider the setting. 

 There are 13 letters which have Paul’s name associated with them.  Modern scripture scholarship has determined that seven are indeed written by Paul, there are three, which he definitely did not write, and there are three where there is doubt about his authorship. 

 Understand that when Paul wrote for instance to the Romans, he was writing to a small Christian community within Rome, something not unlike our little community here.  Society in the Roman Empire at that time was strongly patriarchal, namely it all centered on the man! Women, children and slaves were considered similar to possessions, namely they had no rights! 

 Now the extraordinary thing about Paul’s preaching was that he saw all people, by virtue of their baptism being equal, all belonging to the body of Christ.  Recall one of his familiar lines: “in Christ all are equal, there is no male or female, no slave or free”.  

 In the first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 7 we meet the “radicalism of Christianity”, – just as Jesus shocked the authorities by dining with sinners, Paul sees all as God’s children and equal.  So in his letter to the Corinthians he says husbands and wives are equal.  He is very careful to make sure that both have the same rights – they are equal! 

 Now take a look at the extended section of today’s second reading and we will see the spin put there by someone after Paul’s death.  In an attempt to make Christianity “fit” better into Roman society we have the phrase ‘wives be submissive to your husbands’.  Paul would have never said such a thing!  Yet he gets the blame for it today!! 

Feast of the Holy Family – Homily

 Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family, that of Joseph and Mary and the child Jesus, whose birth we celebrated yesterday.  I would like to reflect a little on the images we have of the Holy Family and how we are part of that family by our Baptism. 

 In the gospel we read today, this family experienced what many families today have to go through, namely living in a strange land.  Matthew doesn’t tell us how things were for them in Egypt, but at least they stayed there a few years, they were not killed.  When they returned, it was to settle in a different region, to Nazareth.

 Thanks to a global economy, unlawful governments, wars, or the plague of drugs, many people today are forced to move, either within their own country or to foreign lands.  They come as strangers into our midst.  But we don’t have to be from somewhere else to feel like a stranger.  Sometimes due to misunderstandings, or fear or hurts we can just as easily feel like a stranger in our own family.

 The Feast of the Holy Family gives us time to reflect on our actions.  By our baptism we are part of that Holy Family.  Jesus is our brother. 

 The challenge, which the gospel puts before us today as Christians, is how well do we welcome our brothers and sisters.  Remember the words of Jesus, when I was hungry, or lonely or sick, you did it to me.  Out of fear we too quickly can build walls to keep others out, either out of our country, or out of our lives.

 At St Vines, we do reach out.  Over the past year we certainly have helped the sick, through our participation both by volunteering and financial aid to the CCAC.  We have served meals at Thanksgiving; we have helped build the houses with Habitat for Humanity, given toys to kids who might otherwise not have them, and food to the Food Pantry.  These are great things and we need to continue to do them.  But we can too easily miss opportunities to tear down walls within our own family.

 As we begin a New Year, a time when we make all kinds of resolutions to do better, lets not forget to see how we may become more conscious of the Family of God and those who are lonely, from another place, struggling. 

Picture 1:    Jack

Picture 2:    Ryan with cookie

Picture 3:    The Reads, Teresa, Taylor, Doug, & Zack

Picture 4:    Emma, one of the 5 Bambini

 Picture 5:    Santa arrives

Picture 6:    All the Good Kids awaiting Santa 

 Readings:    

Numbers  11, 25-29,  Would that the Lord might bestow his spirit on them all.

 Psalm 19,   The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart

 James 5, 1-6,   Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries.

Mark 9, 38-43, 45, 47-48,  If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.

Harper thanking everyone.

INTRODUCTION:

 Our First reading is from the book of Numbers.  The words of Moses spoken to Joshua are in expectation for the words of Christ in today’s gospel reading that were given to the disciple, John.

 For the past five weeks our second reading has been from the Letter of James.  The letter was addressed to all of the Jews who became Christians across the Greek-Roman world. It is the first of what we call the universal letters, followed by two letters from Peter, three letters from John, and the letter from Jude. 

 I will be giving you an insight that today’s Church has failed to recognize until now.  Today’s reading from the Letter of James is a reprimand to those who have stored up a worldly [instead of heavenly] treasure in their hearts.

Harper's grandmother, Cathy.

HOMILY:

 Remember that the inspired writers of the gospels do use Jesus’ words to address what’s happening in the early Church. Jesus has just given his disciples time to reflect on their arrogance when John, seeking to show their more favorable side, reveals, instead, their arrogance again.

 Someone who they do not know has been proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. When his words were welcomed, this Spirit filled man baptized him; forgave the man his sins, in the name of Christ.  John told Jesus that he and the other disciples put an end to that, for the Spirit filled man was not of the Church. What did Christ do? He does not say, ‘Well done, I’m glad you denounced him.’ Rather, ‘Are you out of you mind? Those who are not against us are for us!’ 

Cole

 In the Matthew gospel the disciples are told, ‘You are not to call yourself teacher, you have one teacher [Christ].  Jesus has nothing positive to say about human tradition either, ‘You count leaves of herbs for your tithe; but you ignore justice, mercy and truth!’ 

 Last week, I returned with Judy from my 55^th High School Reunion.  I went with an apology to give to two classmates.  One was for Art; one for Jim my best friend in High School. Art’s twin brother died from a heart defect when we were in 12^th grade. Two girls, friends, had died the year before in a car accident. One was dating my best friend.  I didn’t go to any of the funerals. I wanted to be there; I needed to be there. But I was not allowed to go! 

Mike homilizing

 It was prior to Vatican II, and a practicing Catholic was required to believe that the Catholic Church was the only way to salvation; Such arrogance! At that time a Catholic was not allowed to follow his conscience if it disagreed with a teaching of the magisterium; More arrogance. A Catholic was not allowed to enter the doors of a protestant church, for the Church taught that they were not part of the body of Christ; Mea culpa, mea culpa! 

Chloe dances again

 I was in Graduate School when John the 23^rd opened its doors to the Holy Spirit. It was another 20 plus years before the Church presented the finished documents of Vatican II. The very first congress of leaders within the Church included Peter, James and Paul to address a faction of Jewish Christians who were teaching that gentile converts to Christianity needed to become Jews first.

Preparing to distribute communion.

 We read in Luke Acts that both Paul and Peter replied that the gentiles received the Holy Spirit at Baptism, not Circumcision. Its doors were to remain open to the gentiles; a letter with this decision was taken to them. Were the Jewish Christians who had previously given the teaching excommunicated? No!  However, in the middle of the Letter to James is the following parable.

Leo and pillow.

 It begins with James telling them that few are to be teachers. Why; because everyone can make mistakes, and such teachers will be judged with strictness.  [Since this sets the stage for the rest of the parable, it will address the grave mistake they have made.] James describes himself with two metaphors.

 He is the rider of a horse, with a big mouth, [those who are teaching that gentile converts need to be circumcised]. James, the rider, controls their big mouth by using a bit [this parable, personally explained to them]. 

Buddy and Leo with their birthday cupcakes.

 Second there is a ship being tossed about by the wind and waves. James is the rudder seeking to control of the Church during this schism. Their teaching is like a fire that could engulf the whole forest, the Church.  He describes them as someone who from the same mouth blesses God and curses those who have been made in the image of God [the newly baptized gentiles] ‘This ought not be so!’ 

Torri with her birthday cupcake.

 The living waters [good news] and bitter waters do not flow from the same source [mouth]. Therefore you who are wise and understanding [of the mistake you have made], show goodness.  In like manner this is our prayer to the magisterium, ‘Be wise Shepherds; ‘Those who are not against us, are for us!’ 

Georgie with Elizabeth and Emma.

Harper says, "Welcome in, Everybody."

Readings:  

 Wisdom 2, 12, 17-20,  The wicked say.

Psalm 54,  The Lord upholds my life.

 James 3, 16-4 3, Where jealousy & selfish ambition exist, there is disorder.

Mark 9, 30-35,  Whoever receives one child.

Our Candle Lighter of The Week, Victoria.

 Wisdom observations:  

What:One of the 14-15 books of the deutero-canonical books of the bible.  Not OT nor NT, but in between and the subject of controversy over the centuries.  The “in between books.”  Were they really part of the bible or not?  How do you know?  Catholic church accepts the books.

Subject matter: the book makes use of traditional Jewish material, as well as ideas borrowed from Greek philosophy, in order to teach that God rewards those who are faithful to him.

Georgie reads the Blessing of the Autumn Candles.

Author: not Solomon, but a Jew living in Alexandria, Egypt who wrote and spoke excellent Greek.  The book is sometimes called “The Wisdom of Solomon.”

Date: ca. 100-200 before Christ.  How do we know these facts?  Because of text analysis.  For example, while the author wrote in Greek, he uses phrases and expressions that have a Hebrew flavor.  Also, he mentions rulers and places that reveal date and locale. 

Our Selection: what a wicked person thinks should be done with a good person–beat & kill.  This links up with the suffering servant poem from 2 Isaiah last week.  Jews think the good person getting beaten is the Jewish race/nation.  Christians think the person is Christ.

James:  presents a pretty negative image of people.  What would be a compassionate image? 

The Best Music, Ben at his Best.

Says the child, “Numero uno or last??”

This morning I would like to talk about receiving the child. In particular, I would like to focus on the inner child, the child inside all of us, even in old geezers like myself.  

I also want to say a word about the notion of being  first or last.

What did you do, Gil?  You got Gene, Bern, and Loretta all laughing.
 

To exemplify the points, a story.    I have used the story before.  It is too good to bury.   The story, the musical play Most Happy Fella.

The play is about a guy named Tony, middle aged Italian American, successful wine maker from Nappa Valley, and a bachelor.

He eats in a restaurant one evening in, say, Chicago.  He likes the waitress and leaves her a note with his tip, despite his shyness.   They begin a long distance correspondence and start to get close.  Both are looking for partners.

The Offertory Team (all characters!): Jan & Sir Charlie, Teresa & Tom (who lost all their checked luggage before they began their cruise.)

 They decide to exchange photos.  Tony, who has been taking a lot of risk because he is so shy, is afraid to show her his picture.  He thinks he is too old & too ugly.  So he sends her the photo of his handsome young farm foreman.  The foreman has already told Tony he is planning on moving on anyway.

So Tony and his girl decide to wed at the farm.  On the day of her arrival and the big wedding, Tony discovers that the foreman decided to hang around for the wedding & party.  Tony loses it.  He goes out, rolls his pickup, and almost kills himself. 

Is this not a Full Service Community?  Even to a play room.

Meanwhile, the girl arrives and thinks the nice foreman is the groom.  In fact, they get rather enamored of each other.  Then Tony is brought in on a stretcher.  Guess what happens then.  I’ll tell you at the end.

Let me make 2 observations about Tony. 

A tremendous team when one has parkinsons.

First, Tony might have had ambitions about being numero uno, but he really thought he was the last, a loser, ugly, and old.  His challenge: get away from thinking best or worst.  Both are traps.  Just accept Tony as okay.

Secondly, when Tony let himself leave the note for the waitress, he was letting his inner child out for a minute.  In his correspondence he was letting that child play.  The child wants to be loved and to play.  Trouble was, the child was not used to getting out and was afraid.   So he tries the picture trick.

Happy Birthday to our Dearest Twins.

I can resemble Tony.  Thinking I am first, numero uno in anything, or last, both are traps.  I would propose it is irrelevant.  I am okay just as I am.

Like Tony I have an inner child.  Want to know what the child wants?  Just watch our kids here.  To be loved and to play.  I think this is what I am doing when I ride my bike across Iowa or in the Hotter N' Hell Hundred, and when I hike around  Yosemite.  These are great times for my inner spirit, that is, my inner child. 

Happy Birthday, Dearest Georgie.  I remember when you were just a cute little girl.  Now look how pretty you are.  What happened??   Whatever happened, you are a terrific young girl.

So, two questions today:

First, where do you think of yourself, first, last, or just okay?

Secondly, how do you let your own inner child out to play? 

What happened to Tony?  He eventually became a most happily married fella.  

Happy Birthday, Jackie, and thanks so much for all you do for the community.

Readings:

Exodus, 17, 8-13,  Joshua mowed down Amelak and his people.  

 Psalm 121,  Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

2 Timothy  3, 14-4, 2,  Remain faithful to what you learned.

 Luke 18, 1–8,   The poor widow who pestered the judge.

Harper says, "Welcome, Everybody."  And what could I be seeing on your cheeks, Harper?  

Exodus  observations:

What: A very readable story about the Israelites departing their slavery in Egypt.  Moses is their reluctant leader and his struggle in getting old Pharoah to allow the people to depart is classic.   The story, mostly fable, continues through the people's journey through the Sinai Desert for 40 years and their entrance into the Caananite land, a land promised to them by Yahweh. 

 When put together:  Two collections were recorded as early as the time of Solomon, about 1000 ears before Christ.  Other collections were added and the definitive & final form took place around the Babylonian Captivity, i.e., 555 before Christ.  

Our Selection: The people are in the desert.  They get attacked by the Amelekites.  How Moses saves the day is amusing.  The finale is not so amusing, but typical for the time.

Sources:  The New Jerusalem Bible, Good News Bible. 

Victoria, too, says, "Hi, Folks, Come in."

What We Ask For

A few years ago I had three elderly people from the subdivision of Northwood Hills contact me about planting trees in their neighborhood.  Two were a couple and there was a third guy, all probably about my age right now.  I really did not want to do this project because they were north of LBJ and I thought it was too far to drag the water trailer full of water from Jesuit, where I was living then.

Welcome in to you, My Dearest Vivian.  So nice to see you.  Thanks to your special mommy.

So I put them off.  Maybe even for a year.  Eventually, however, because of their persistence I went to see their project, which consisted of Fretz Park, Hillcrest from LBJ to Beltline, Beltline from Preston to Coit, and a neighborhood elementary school, about 350 plus trees.

Despite not being eager to tackle the distance, two things pulled down my resistance.  First, they were willing to kick in a good portion of the cost of the trees.  Secondly, they were so gracious and eager to improve their own neighborhood.  I could not tell them no after all they were willing to put out, and all their pleading. 

Genevieve says, "Where now is that Vivian?  She has disappeared."

You know the rest.  We planted one of our bigger projects and the trees are thriving.   I was especially touched because they gave me a recognition of gratitude at one of their large community meetings.

When I hear Luke's story about the widow & the judge I always think about Northwood Hills.  With gratitude. 

With confusion also, because I have difficulty with the main point of the story.  Namely, that God will answer persistent prayer, without even being slow about it, as Luke says.  Do you believe that God answers our prayers, and even more swiftly if we are persistent as the widow?  My mom thought that a nine day novena with special prayers got her every request, though my memory tells me otherwise.

Entrance of Lauren Lucas and her dad, Jim.  Friday night wedding at Ana Villa in The Colony.  

I need to make a distinction and an observation to make sense of this for me.  I have talked with numerous people about this discomfort I have.   The distinction is between a macro-managing God and a micro-managing God.

The macro-managing God I can handle.  This god is behind the big stuff, the sky, creation, the stars, life, the balance of the universe.  I see this god as like a person bowling.  He gets the ball going and it travels on its own.

The Unity Candle, Lauren & Dylan.

The micro-managing god, however, is responsible for my sickness.  He makes good things happen & bad things.  He can change each.  If I pester this god enough he will find my lost wedding ring or car keys.  He will cure the sick, make me rich, fix the lottery so I win it, and so forth.  This god I don't see in my experience.

Then why do I pray for people?  Like at our prayers of the faithful.  This is the observation. I pray first because I think, I hope, our God hears and is personal.  Secondly, I pray because I imagine that my spirit sends forth some kind of emotional energy to that God that says, "Please take special care of this person I love."  When we do this as a group, the emotional energy has a little more punch. 

Exit and beginning of a New Life for Lauren and Dylan Mosley.  

I also pray for people because it sensitizes me to the suffering & difficulty other people are experiencing.

So where does this leave us?  Don't pray for people?  Don't pray persistently like the little widow or the people from Northwood Hills?  No. It may mean I lower my expectations. Maybe it helps to make the distinction about the macro vs micro-managing god.  I still remember people in prayer. 

Ultimately, what is your belief about praying for special intentions?

Is there anything you cannot do, Leo?  This is terrific.  Move over, Ray & Mary.  

 Readings: (for Christmas Eve, 4:00, Midnight Mass readings)

Isaiah 9, 1-6, The People who have walked in darkness have seen a great light.

Psalm 96, Today is born our savior, Christ the Lord.

Titus 2, 11-14, The grace of God has appeared.

Luke 2, 1-14, In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus….

Our Bambino, Emmit

 Isaiah: author, date, subject, today’s selection–

   Author: This is probably my most favorite book in the Old Testament.  Isaiah is one of the Big Three OT prophets along with Jeremiah & Ezekiel.  This is because of the size of the work, 66 chapters, but even more so because Isaiah is so beautiful and influential in the Christian story. 

There are really three Isaiahs, chapters 1-39, 40-55, & 56-66.  How do we know?  Simple.  Different styles of writing, different vocabularies, different slants to the message.

   Date: 1 Isaiah, our selection is put together ca. 700 BCE.  2  Isaiah, ca. 500 BCE; 3 Isaiah, ca. 400 BCE.

Cole lighting 5 candles with his parents, Chuck and Erin

 Subject: As always, there have been predictions of doom & destruction because of the badness of the people. 

Today’s selection: This passage, however, is the flip of this.  Listen for words like rejoicing, making merry, joy, peace, a God-hero Child is born.

Source:  Good News Bible, Bishop John Shelby Spong

The Gerwer gang making their stage debut.

A Christmas Story

I have a Christmas story I would like to tell you this Christmas Eve afternoon. 

It seems that a short while back there was a young man named Hayden.  He is about 25 years old, married, and a father of a couple of kids.

Cupcake of The Week to Rosemary Beavers, 20 today.

He is driving along one day and gets stopped by a cop.  The cop says that his inspection sticker is out of date. 

Hayden says he has no excuse why he has not taken care of it.  He had to make a decision recently.  It was get the car inspection or pay his due bills and in particular feed his family.  His salary did not cover everything this month. 

More Cupcakes of The Week to Ashley and Jeremy Ekes, 25 the 23rd, Sunday

The cop said he still had to give him a ticket.  He wrote it out, folded it,  gave it to Hayden, and drove away. 

Sadly Hayden took the ticket, put it on the seat, and then opened it.

Santa and his Elf appear.

Inside was a hundred dollar bill.

Hayden broke down and cried. 

Santa and his kids.

A couple of observations.

First, the cop was Plano Police, one from our very own Plano, our very back yard. 

Jake with his granddad, Jack.

Secondly, he also wants no publicity.  Hayden’s grandfather told the police department about their caring officer, so they knew.  The officer, however, wanted no pictures and no name. Apparently he has done this before.

Soul's Harbor, Dicers and dish dryers with Barry, The Dish Washer

Thirdly, I found the story in the editorial section of The Dallas Morning News Friday morning, December 14.  Know what else happened that day?  Newtown, CT. 

There may be tragedy in our world.  Still God visits us in special ways.

I could  ask you now how have you been visited recently or this year.  A good question.   However, I want to ask this:

When did you last give someone $100?

When will you do it next?

Jim and other volunteers prepared to serve Christmas dinner to the 50 plus men residing at Soul's Harbor.

Source: The Dallas Morning, News, December 14, 2012

Readings:

Genesis  18,  20-32,  The story of Sodom & Gomorrah.

Psalm 138,  Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

Colossians 2, 12-14,     He has forgiven us all our transgressions.

Luke 11, 1-13,  Ask and you will receive.

 

Kevin, John, and Buddy

Book of Genesis, Ch 18 

— Probably written during the Babylonian captivity (6^th century BCE) to help solidify Jewish people in their identity as the people of God. 

Letter of Paul to church in Colossae: Ch 2 

— Colossae was a small community in Asia Minor, east of Ephesus.  This letter is written during Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome. 

Gospel of Luke: Ch 11

It’s in the letter to the Colossians that we learn Luke was a physician, the only mention of that fact.  Luke was probably Greek and the only non-Jewish writer in the New Testament, and accounts for almost a third of the New Testament (with Gospel and then Acts). This Gospel probably written between 80-100 AD, 3 or more generations after Jesus.  It was still being edited after 100 AD.   

 

Mike and Carol

Homily on 17^th Sunday in Ordinary Time – July 24, 2016

Each week of the year the Church selects readings from Scripture to teach us about God, to feed us with words that give life and comfort and challenge, and that remind us that we are one with God and one with each other. 

Today we learn again about God as merciful, as generous, as giving of the Spirit. 

These teachings about God’s goodness and mercy and generosity were tested for my family a couple of weeks ago when our friend Alex Folz died suddenly in his sleep at age 48.  Alex’ wife Leslie, her grown children Sarah, Mary, Liz and Peter, Alex’ parents Libby and Gene, his 3 sisters, Ali, Amy and Annie, Lambrini and her Mom, Kalliopi, and myself, and so many friends, work mates and acquaintances have been in shock and grief over his passing so suddenly from our lives. 

 

Celeste back from Albania for a couple of weeks

Lambrini met Alex as a co-worker at the Louisiana Department of Revenue 19 years ago.  Lambrini and Alex hit it off and became ‘best buddies’.  Before long Lambrini and me and Kalliopi were treating Alex as part of our family.  For years, several days a week, he would join us for meals.  He helped Kalliopi with her garden, plowing and digging.  He worked at learning enough Greek to be able to communicate with Kalliopi, which she loved about him.  Alex watched over our house and cared for our dog, Coco, whenever we were away.  Coco loved Alex and ran to greet him whenever she saw his car drive up.  We shared tools and vehicles and did all the things good friends and family do with each other.  Alex was a big OU Sooners fan.  He and I watched football games together and he and Mama and I would go eat meat together.

A few years ago he travelled with us on one of our trips to Greece.  Lambrini has always missed her 2 brothers, George in Greece, and John in Massachusetts who died over 10 years ago.  And Alex became her ‘best buddy’.  It was a rare day they didn’t speak, in person or by phone. 

Alex was very close to his parents and sisters.  He spoke with his parents every day and to his sisters frequently.  He loved his nephews and nieces and talked about them all the time.  Alex had friendships he maintained from his college years at OU in Norman, especially his good friend Shawn.  He had tennis buddies who met weekly to play together.  He joined a singles’ group, and that’s where he met Leslie.  In talking about their families, Alex and Leslie discovered that when they were little, their families had lived close to each other in the same area of Indiana, and some even knew each other.  Leslie’s grown kids showed had real caring for Alex, and were so happy that their mom had found love in her life again.  Alex and Leslie married last July at the Catholic Cathedral downtown.  What a happy day that was. 

Alex and Leslie were on a trip for Alex’ annual visit with his family for the 4^th of July weekend, and then they drove on to Chicago for a few days’ relaxation before Leslie’s daughter’s graduation from grad school that Saturday.  On Thursday Alex did not awaken and I got the call from Leslie.  Lambrini flew up to represent our family at his funeral in Indiana.  

We are taught and know that God is merciful, and generous and gives us the Spirit of life.  And we are tested when bad things happen to good people.  As the shock of Alex’ passing has gradually become a little softer, we have begun to see who Alex was to us; how he too was merciful and generous and giving of the Spirit to those around him; how his life made our lives better and more full; and much more fun—we laughed loud a lot with Alex.  As we grieve over this loss, we have realized that Alex was a presence of God in our lives.  Remember John Stack’s question to the parents and Godparents whenever he performs a Baptism: when is the last time you saw God?  Alex showed God’s Spirit over and over in a way that stays with me and gives me joy.  It has also been amazing to see his parents, in their grief, show such concern and caring for all of us feeling the loss of Alex.  And Leslie, dealing with her lost dreams and their lost plans for the future; and yet reaching out to give care and love for others who share the pain of loss.  It really helps that we are all in this together and that Alex’ life has left a lasting mark on all who were connected with him. 

We know from the Book of Job that there is no perfect answer for such losses.  For Lambrini and her mom and me it’s been other people who care and just connect with us that has made a difference.  So many family and friends have reached out to us just to be connected at this time.  I want you to know that I have definitely experienced and appreciated your support.  You listened; you didn’t try to define my grief or give it a meaning or take it away; you have showed me you are present to me and you are with me.  You are a part of the mercy and generosity and Spirit of God in my life.  Thank you for that.

My question today is:  How do you find comfort and the Spirit when you are tested?  And how are you part of that comfort and Spirit for others?