Sunday Homily, January 3, 2016, Epiphany
Readings:
Isaiah 60, 1-6, Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem, Your light has come.
Psalm 72, Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Ephesians 3, 2-6, The Gentiles are coheirs.
Matthew 2, 1-12, Magi from the east arrived.
Emma says, "Hi, Everybody, Welcome in."
Isaiah, a review
Here is another of those passages which make me love Isaiah so much. I have mentioned this before. He is my favorite.
Today we have Isaiah III talking to the Jews who have returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian Captivity, about 555 years before Christ. It helps to picture the mood of these people.
"Hi, Folks, Welcome in, they are going to win today," says Cole, our Cowboy fan. Sorry, Cole. It has been a tough year.
Are you a Cowboy Fan? How do you feel at about this year? Multiply this by 10 and you have how the Jewish people felt after 50 years of slavery and their town destroyed like New Orleans or parts of NY & NJ.
When he says Jerusalem or Zion, he is talking to these beaten down people. Later centuries church leaders began to make these words have two meanings, the city and us Christians. Jerusalem, then, applies to us.
Sources: Good News Bible, The New Interpreter’s Bible
Does the Lord not shine on this little girl?
Upon you the Lord shines, because of 3 Magi
This morning I would like to propose that we have Magi in our lives and because of them the Lord shines on us, like it says in Isaiah.
I want to limit the selection to 3, like the guys in Matthew’s story. This was a bit difficult, because I see lots of Magi in my life. Magi for me are the wise ones, the good ones, the compassionate ones. I could start right here with you people in the community. I could easily mention Rosemary.
Ugh Oh, She has learned how to motor, like crawl. Beware, Everybody.
However, I chose 3 guys who are not quite as present in my life, but are wise, good, and compassionate. Here they are.
The first guy is Harold. I don’t even know his last name. I do know that he is going to be 90 shortly. I see him most mornings, Monday through Friday. He is in the shower change room when I come into the J (Jewish Community Center) ca. 5:30 to do spin class.
So, the questions is, 'Where is she going? To help with the singing (see podiums) or to help with the Mass?" Tune in next week for the answer.
He is quiet and understated. Despite working out 5 days a week, he is pretty plump. What he is, is friendly and congenial. He knows Rosemary & I go dancing Monday nights. He always asks if we are going and Tuesday he asks how dancing was.
The second person is my old coach & Scout Master from Christ the King, Frank Hart. Frank is 90. Notice how these 90 year olds are getting my attention. Rosemary & I visit Frank every Sunday after we leave Sigler. He lives in a house with about 8 other elderly people, all of them women except Frank. The house is on Northhaven near Hillcrest.
Emma and Zoe solving our world problems.
If I get to Frank before their lunch at 1:00, I usually find him in bed and asleep. He has his clothes on. He just sleeps a lot. I wake him up and despite his memory not being too good, he certainly remembers us and makes a big deal out of us coming by.
Frank was one of the more significant persons in my life as a grade school kid. He helped me get over being home sick when I went to Boy Scout camp, a story I've told here more than once.
Hi, Buddy, are you a frog today?
While Frank touched me when I was in grade school, the third guy touched me when he was in grade school and I was at Jesuit. His mother came by one day with her son and basically said, “Help!” This is Michael, about whom you have heard me talk before.
After doing a zillion Masses together at St. Marks in the cafetorium, an old friend, David has joined us in Sigler. Welcome David!
Last Saturday he came by to visit Rosemary & me. He has his gorgeous wife, Lydia, and now two neat kids, Barrett and Abby. Michael is in the Air Force and I think the last time we met was in Aviano, Italy, when Beth & Rob were with us. He flies these little F-16 jets.
Genevieve, See these cool kids. Someday you will grow up to be as marvelous as they. The Gerwers.
Michael touches me because he overcame a number of blocks to, first, get into Jesuit, and then to have a great career at Tech after failing to get into A & M.
Remember our old friendly venue, Vines? With the Nativity drama and 300 folks, we will return to reminisce maybe twice a year.
What are the gifts they give me? Wisdom, goodness, and compassion.
Who are the 3 magi in your life & what gifts do they give you?