Sunday Homily, December 18, 2016, 3rd Advent, Cycle A

Genesis Chap 1 “God spoke: Let us make human beings in our image.”

Genesis Chap 2 “And Man came alive—a living soul!”

Responsorial Psalm – May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.

Alleluia – If we love one another, God remains in us and his love is in us.

Mark 7:31-37 – “Children are at the very center of life in the kingdom.”

Introduction to the readings:

Genesis and the first 5 books of Bible, according to modern Scripture experts, were not written 10 or 20 thousand years ago after humans began to populate the earth and form tribes.  Rather, they were probably written in 5^th or 6^th century before Jesus (probably during or right after Babylonian captivity 555). 

They were written to give the Israelites a beginning and a common history.  That made them a special people with noteworthy ancestors and their own extensive rules to live by.  This set the Israelites apart and helped hold them together.  (Remember the ten tribes of Judah weren’t able to stick together, and disappeared, absorbed into the DNA of their captors.)

And so we have the stories of Genesis and of the books that followed; such as the stories as story of Adam and Eve, of Cain and Abel and Seth (who replaced Abel), and later of Noah, and later still of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, and later still of Moses and so on and on. 

The first creation story in Ch 1 of Genesis has a more cosmic style, placing human beings at the pinnacle of creation to give everything a name, and to rule over and take care of the earth and of all living creatures.

The second creation story in Ch 2 of Genesis is used in today’s Mass as the back-story for the Gospel reading from Mark about Jesus expanding the ideal of marriage and his recognizing the beginnings of the equality of men and women in marriage.

In Jesus’ time men could, on a whim, just fill out a certificate of dismissal to divorce his wife.  A woman had no such right.  Unbelievable at that time, Jesus mentioned that women could also divorce their husbands.  He also raised the ideal, explaining that a husband and wife have like responsibilities to each other. 

Jesus gave marriage the higher ideal of ‘lasting fidelity and lasting connection.’  The Church, though allowing ‘catholic divorce’ or annulment, has traditionally interpreted the words in the Gospel literally—and has not acknowledged divorce or remarriage, if the Church doesn’t have a hand in it through the annulment process. 

Bishops and others are being called to Rome this very month by Pope Francis to make pastoral decisions concerning family issues.  Many say this update may acknowledge Christian Marriage as a Christian ideal, while acknowledging that we imperfect humans are often unable to achieve the ideal.  From a pastoral perspective this could allow for Catholic communities to accept and welcome people who are divorced or remarried (as we do in this community without reservation). 

Readings 1, 2, and Gospel

HOMILY:

I want to say just a few words about simplicity in children.  First, I am thankful that Stack and this community stand strong for welcoming and accepting children. 

This gives us a unique opportunity to observe what Jesus meant by accepting the kingdom, “in the simplicity of a child”, and we can continue to watch and learn how to live that in that simplicity.   What I associate with the simplicity of a child, if they are allowed their natural, instinctive inclinations, are:  they tend to be more into connecting than making distance, more accepting than rejecting, more curious than judgmental, more naturally free than fearful, more open than defensive, and more giving than withholding. 

Examples of Pope Francis in visit to our country:  Seeks/welcomes children to hold/touch; simplicity of dress; little Fiat; words & gestures…Our children: say what think/feel; open; natural freedom; share; give… 

Ask yourself:  How do I live in the simplicity of a child in my life and relationships? 

Exodus 16, The whole community grumbled against Moses & Aaron.       

Psalm 78, The Lord gave them bread, bread from heaven.

Ephesians 6, You should put away the old self of your former way of life

John 6, My father gives you the true bread from heaven.

Today's Team,  John & John

Thanks……

Music,    Ben & Shonda

Readers,  Carrie & Paul, & Buddy, our candle blesser 

Gospel,     John Cade

Homily,   John Cade

Eucharistic Prayer A & B,  John Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,     Richard, Hue, & Mike

Final Blessing, Rosemary

For hosting us at Legacy for all these years & will miss you enormously, Becky

Paul reading from Exodus.

Readings:

Download Readings 18th Ordinary Time 8-1-21

Homily by John Cade

Download Homily John Cade 08-01-21

Carrie reading from Ephesians

Remember these special people:

For John & Karen Anderlick's unborn grandson;  For Alan Stryker;   For Candice Taht, friend of Mary Hall;   For Rosemary's great niece, Rylie ;  For Richard's grand daughter, Madeleine;   For Esparza's new great grandson baby, son of Monique, & Frank with shingles;  For all the medical personnel struggling to treat the tsunami of sick people, in particular, locally, Cindy's staff at Presby, Dallas, and at Frisco Presby, the mother of Harper and Betsy, Kendle, working in labor & delivery, and for Hue & Linda's daughter, Doctor Rosemary Beavers;   For Mary & Dave Hall's g-daughter Allison Keller working at St. Lukes, The Woodlands,   For Loretta's aunt Alicia;  For Sir Charlie & Jan;  Shonda's mom & Cody &  Leo & all of Shonda's dear family; For Ursuline Sr. Mary Troy, 

Richard with communion for Barb.

Jackie's mom, sister, & friend, Lynn;  For Rick Turner searching for a kidney donor, Type O neg.; For Meredith, cancer free & John Schanot;    For John O'Donnell & Jean;   For Jean & Cliff Wright;  For Dee, and for her daughters, Lisa & Lauren  ;  For Anthony & Sabrina;    For a young man who is suffering from depression;  John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli and Lambrini, plus John's daughter, Joey, with cancer; from Barbara, a little 4 month old baby boy named Ford recuperating from an operation; for David McKeon's brother, Hugh; For Beth's friends & brother;   for the medical staffs, teachers, and coaches in our public & private schools.

A special sister celebration, Marlene with retirement & Cindy with her birthday.

Birthdays:    Cindy Ekes & Linda Beavers

Anniversaries:  Souls Harbor (1956)

Joe & Marsha, Peace & Happiness on your move to North Carolina.

Community Finances,   August 1, 2021

Expenses: $1010.00

Outreach: $455.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

Rosemary sharing her special Blessing of The Week.

Rosemary's Blessing:

People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

Mother Teresa

Happy Birthday, Dearest Beth.

Yes, John, that red '55 Studebaker is still for sale.   I make you a good deal.  Better grab it before Rob grabs it for Beth.

Readings: 

Sirach 27, 4-7,   Tribulation is the test of the just.  

Psalm 92,  Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.  (The Beauty of Today, Stanza 1)

1 Corinthians 15, 54-58,    Where, O Death, is your sting?

Luke 6,  39-45, A good person produces good.

Spousal abuse!   No way!  You know the truth, Mike, you were there.

Sirach Observations

Who : an educated scribe living and writing in Jerusalem ca. 180 before Christ.  His work was translated from the original Hebrew into Greek by Ben Sira’s grandson in 132.

The Work: The chief loves of Ben Sira’s life were The law and the Temple rituals.  Consequently, his work falls into the Wisdom genre of writings. 

Lots of maxims, for example on fear, 

The fear of the Lord is glory & pride,                                                             

The fear of the Lord gladdens the heart,                                                       

For those who fear the Lord , all will end well.  (p. 809, New Jerusalem Bible)

Two great Jesuit alumni, Bob & Mike Bulger.   Only missing Ray.

Some amusing maxims:                                                                                     

Do not compliment a person, 11/2,                                                                   

Be careful about the kind of person you bring home, 11/29,                           

A father who loves his son will whip him often, 30/1,                                   

A woman has to take any man as a husband, but a man must choose his wife carefully, 36/21

Others focus on patience, uprightness, humility, and duties toward parents.  It is a large book with 51 chapters.

Jan takes care of everybody who walks in the door.

Sunday Homily, 3-3-19, 5 Ways to have a Happy Lent

If there is anything that every year makes me want to say ‘yuk,’ it is the beginning of Lent with its focus on sin.  Guess where we are, Folks, Ash Wednesday this week.  Instead of it being a downer focused on how bad I am and how I need to do penance, I would like to propose 5 ways to have a Happy Lent.

"Patricia, would you not like to take him home with you?"  sez Jan.

First, attitude.   You are not a sinner going to hell.  There is no hell, as I continually repeat.  Why do I say this: data free analysis to prove its reality.  Moreover, we have a God about whom Psalm 92 talks,

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praise, to proclaim your kindness at dawn and your faithfulness throughout the night.

Emma, How come you look so pretty this morning?

Secondly, unclutter your environment.  Becky suggested this.  Have a box or bag.  Every week or every day put something into the bag, a shirt, a book, an old decoration.  Maybe Becky can use some of the stuff.

I must admit that I just put into the box headed for Half Price Books all my French books.  That was hard.  My memory is not as strong and I just don’t see me using the language enough.  I’ve  loved  languages.

Here they come, the offertory team, Lynda & Tom, Geri & Mike.

Thirdly, a good deed day.  Say ‘Good Morning’ to a stranger at Starbucks or at Central Market.  Call somebody whom you have not talked with in a while and say you are just calling to see how they are.  Take somebody to Romeos or Juliette’s.  Help out here at Legacy.  

Fourth.  Sorry, Folks.  Work out.  Exercise 4, 5 days a week.  Walk through the neighborhood.  Make it fun.   Enough of that. 
Try it, you will like it.

Mabel & her admirers, 

Fifth.  My favorite.  Gratitude.  Like Psalm 92 says,  It is good to give thanks.  Before you go to bed what is your blessing of the day?  Want to bet there is always something.

So, how are you going to have a Happy Lent?

Team Legacy Charter.  The Best.

Readings:

Numbers  21, 4-9,  Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert.

 Psalm 78,   Do not forget the works of the Lord.

Philippians 2, 6-11,  God greatly exalted him.

John 3, 13-17,  Nicodemus.

Kevin says, "Welcome in, Everybody.."

The Introduction is a brief summary of today’s readings

Before you hear the first reading from the Book of Numbers, I want you to realize that this is part of a parable.  The people were complaining against God and Moses in the desert because of lack of water and food; and because of this complaining we are told that God has punished them with poisonous serpents. ‘Moses, ask God to take away the serpents!’ 

Moses replies that the Lord wants them to make a bronze replica of the serpent and put it on the top of a pole.  If someone has been bitten and looks upon it [has faith in my words and quits complaining] they will live. 

When we look upon the cross that has been lifted up [which means exalted] we no longer think of it in terms of punishment; but rather one of triumph. It has become a sign of our Faith.

Mike sharing his thoughts on our readings.

Homily

To continue the theme of the past few weeks, I suggest to you that the Scripture verse, ‘My yoke is easy and my burden is light,’ encompasses, ‘Take up your cross and follow me.’  

John spoke to us two weeks ago about a mother who asked for his advice about one of her children, an overly active boy. Learning didn’t come easily for the boy.  The boy had his own, unique, cross to carry.  John didn’t carry the boy’s cross for him. Instead, he encouraged the boy to welcome his cross, to derive strength from it.

Who is that crawling around on the floor? Why, that's Cathy. What next?

Sometimes we encounter someone with a cross that would seem to be too heavy and too burdensome to be carried…and yet that person’s faith is so strong that they can say ‘thank you’ to it.  When that happens it should also bring us to our knees to say, Alleluia.

No matter what our cross, we are to give thanksgiving, and it will be given back pressed down and over flowing.

My dad never talked to my older brother or to me about college.  We had always worked in the summer, and each of us had saved some money.  We knew that when we left home we could be self sufficient.  After getting our class schedules my older brother got a job at a bar in Iowa City working a few hours every night to pay for his food during college. 

What next? Harper.

The yoke was easy, the burden light.  I followed the example he had given me a couple of years later, however the food that I ate was better and more plentiful. All through college I worked lunch and dinner at a sorority house a few blocks from the campus with three other guys. One of them was Tony Lazos—I realized after college that he had become my best friend. 

I lost touch with Tony after college. He did a couple of tours in Vietnam and afterwards he started a couple of small companies. When he found out that I was working in Dallas he called to visit on his way through.  Time passed and we lost touch with him again.  About a year ago Judy found a story about him on the internet that was three years old. 

Cupcakes of The week to Mike & Geri, Mary Jane, Rob & Beth, and Tom & Lynda, plus others.

He had eaten some tainted chicken and had caught a disease that left him a quadriplegic and on a respirator.   I tried to reach from the email location Judy had found; but three year had past and I received no reply from my emails. Four weeks ago I received an email the subject of which was Chi Omega Waiter.  It was from Tony.  He is still a quadriplegic; but he’s off the respirator.

 This is his testimony, ‘Faith in our Lord, Jesus Christ is my foundation, my strength.’ He had built his foundation on rock.  Some friends of his in California had gotten him a voice activated computer, and he had found me in Dallas a second time.  We have been conversing with one another by email 3 or 4 times a week this past month.  

Others, like Holly.

Sometimes I send him a photo; other times we share a remembrance. Tony remembers washing dishes this way, ‘Since we had to run across campus to make it to the Chi O house for the noon mean, we made darn sure that washing dishes was fun.’ 

I’d like to send him another picture this week, and I need your help. I’ve brought with me some cards to spell out, ‘We love you, Tony Lazos!’  And I was hoping that before we sing our final song this morning that you will join with me to hold up the letters that spell out this message to him.  Please, someone remember to take a picture and send it to my email address.

And others, like Dana.

Sez Harper, "Welcome in, Everybody, I still have some Girl Scout cookies"

Readings:

Isaiah 8, 23-9, 3,  The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.

Psalm 27,  The Lord is my light and my salvation

! Corinthians, 1, 10-13,  That you be united…

Matthew 4, 12-23, Come after me and I will make you fishers of men (people).

"Welcome in, Everybody," say Hue & Linda.

Isaiah reminders, again—

 Author: This is Isaiah #1, the composer of chapters 1-39.  Even though Isaiah #1 lives before the Babylonian Captivity, he still sees that a great, bright day will come to the Jewish people, despite Babylon. 

Isaiah 2: Chapters 40-55;

Isaiah 3: Chapters 56-66

 Date:  Ca. 555 before Christ, the composition.  The Jewish people of Jerusalem are about to be defeated and carried off into slavery.

The famous Sisters' Candle Team in action.

 Subject:  A great day will come for you Jews.  A special leader will be born.  You will be a beacon to others, glorious, and a light to nations everywhere.  You might easily recognize parts of this reading.  From where?  The Nativity readings and Handel's Messiah, a favorite of mine. 

This is the last week we will have these Isaiah readings which I love.  I will miss them.  Until next Advent.

Today's team in action.

80 Years of Blessings

When Isaiah says that a people who walked in darkness have seen a great light, I hear him speaking to me.  There are dozens of ways I see this in my life, all blessings & gifts.  I’ll mention 5, at least 3 of which you have heard me mention previously.

Today's Offertory Team, Sandra, Susan, & Tom,

First, the fact that I joined the Jesuits when I was 18.  Granted I joined up because I thought I was such a bad kid that I was obviously headed to hell.  I got that idea from the monsieur who was pastor at Christ the King.  When he told the congregation that if your friends are going to hell, you will go too.    Obviously my best buddy, Pete was going to hell along with my other friends.  That fear fell away when I was a Jesuit and life turned out to be an adventure.

The minor elevation.

The second blessing was my decision to accept an invitation to work in East Africa.  There was loneliness, but it was an adventure.  How else could I have scaled Kilimanjaro 5-6 times?  How else would I have ridden my motorcycle back & forth across Tanzania.  I discovered that I had a gift for languages and became fluent in Swahili.

Today's Communion Team, Patricia & Denni, Geri & Mike & Grace.

The third blessing was and is my marriage with Rosemary.  Did you people know that she waited 15 years to get formally married?  When I asked her to get married I asked her to wait until I was 65 and would have Medicare.  As a Jesuit I had platinum coverage.  As soon as I would depart, nothing.  I knew guys who married, had an accident, and ended up with an enormous debt.  This cinco de mayo is our 15^th and it has been for me (at least.  I won’t speak for her!) an unimaginable & enchanted time.

Happy Birthday, Mike.

The fourth blessing is the tree hobby project.   That project started with maybe 5-6 trees planted on the Jesuit campus where I was living.   Then it got bigger & bigger.  A guy who owns a construction company gave me a 800 gallon water tank & a 4 wheel trailer.  The community of St. Marks gave me the money to buy a pickup.  Mike Doran gave me the truck for 15K.  The last big project we did was Plano Senior High.  We planted in an hour 400 trees one sunny October Sunday.  

Welcome home, My Dear Carrie, or should I say My Dear Doctor Carrie.   Proud of You.

The fifth but not the last of the blessings is our community here. Do you realize that along with our 15^th anniversary of marriage, I am celebrating 15 marvelous & humbling years participating in our community?

I am most grateful.

What are your five biggest blessings in life?

One cupcake to you, Monique, for being such a good mamma.

Readings:

Genesis  22, 1-18,  God put Abraham to the test.

Psalm 116,    I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

Romans, 8, 31-34,   If God is with us who can be against us?

 Mark 9, 2-10,   The Transfiguration.

Brandon, our official Cub Scout Greeter, says, "Hi, Everybody, Welcome in out of the cold & rain."

Genesis observations:

Today’s Selection: To figure out what is going on in Genesis this morning, I want to tell you a story, the story of Abraham and his wife, Sarah.

But first, a few brief reminders.  Genesis is the first book of the Bible, a fascinating look at our ancestors trying to answer the universal questions, like where did we come from and how did we get to be the way we are.  Last week we heard God tell Noah that floods would no longer kill everybody, and the signature of this agreement, the rainbow.

Cathy, too, says, "Welcome in, Everybody."

This morning we are watching Abraham, the great father of the Jewish nation.  Abraham is being asked by God to sacrifice his son.  To appreciate even more the power of this, a little story.  We are reading chapter 22.  Chapter 18 sets the stage for the story in chapter 22.

One day, Abraham was sitting in front of his tent at the hottest part of the day.  Suddenly he looked up and saw 3 men.  Without thinking, Abraham rushed to welcome them and offer them refreshment.  They accept and Abraham personally serves them his best food under a shade tree. 

They asked him where was his wife, Sarah.  Both Sarah and Abraham were old, like in their 100’s.  Abraham says Sarah was in the tent.  One of the men said that in 9 months they would return and Sarah would have a son. 

Sarah, who was listening behind the tent flap heard the man and laughed.  ‘What a preposterous idea,’ she thought.

Harper, like her grandmother, says, "Hi, Everybody."

God hears her and God asks Abraham why Sarah laughed.  “Do you think I cannot do this,” he asks Sarah.  Because she was scared she said to God, “I did not laugh.”  And God said, “Yes, you did.” 

Guess what happens 9 months later.

The reading today in chapter 22 assumes you know all this and that you know Sarah had her baby, which she named Isaac.  In the story today Isaac, the beloved son, is a boy of about 10-12.  See what God wants.  Remember that this is tribal oral tradition passed down for centuries, not history. 

Mark 0bservation:

The story in Mark today is the transfiguration.  I want to talk about transfiguration events in our lives.  For example, how about Fred's Memorial a couple of weeks ago?

Cole, a Transfiguration Event just as he is.

Transfiguration Events

Like I mentioned I would like to say a few words about our transfiguration events.  What makes an event a transfiguration event?  When something takes place and I come away with greater faith, greater hope, and greater love, greater faith in people, hope in people, and love for people, and, perhaps, all the above about myself. 

Three examples.

First, our dear friend Beth one day is heading to the Tom Landry Center to work out so she can beat me on a real bicycle.  She is late.  She gets out her iPhone to check the parking garage connected to the Landry Center.  It is full.  Curses.  She then checks the pay parking spots on the street.  She pulls in.  It takes quarters & she does not have enough.  More curses.

Cupcakes of The Week to Sandra and Randolph (for his wife, Michelle)

As she stands there looking in her pockets for quarters, a black guy, somewhat shabby looking, maybe homeless, comes up and all friendly says, “Hi, Looking for change?”  “He is looking for a handout,” thinks Beth immediately.  Remember Beth and Rob now live in the marvelous new melting pot of downtown Dallas. 

So, what does the guy say next?  “Would you like some quarters?  I have some extras.”  “Yes, I really would, thanks so much.”  And the guy pays for her parking. 

Transfiguration event?  I think so.  Even for me when she told me the story.   Greater faith in people, hope for people, and love for people.

Emma caring for her little friends.

The second story comes from the Thursday Dallas Morning News, Metro section.  Seems there is a guy named Ted Washington.  He came from Arkansas and spent 20 years in the Navy.   Since 2005, a good year for Rosemary and me, Ted became a mail man.  He loves it.  He says it is a job that is peaceful and gives him time to reflect on life.

This past week he has faced rain, sleet, and snow, and faced them with good humor.  He delivers the mail in the Lakewood section of Dallas, on the east side of White Rock Lake.  Is this Mary’s mailman?

Leo & Brandon solving world problems.

Ted says he will continue to deliver mail as long as he can, hoping to make the world a better place.  He also is a black man.  The article closes with him saying, “I am a simple man. I don’t have extravagant needs and wants.  When I am carrying mail, my goal is to just help people have a good day.”

Ted Washington, you are a transfiguration person for me.  Thanks.

Toy World with Buddy and Zoe, Emma and Victoria, and Cole with Beth looking on.

The third event was, hang on, the all day snowfall we had Friday.  It was beautiful.  I forgot how beautiful first snow can be.  Everything is clean and quiet.  Nobody was moving around our neighborhood.  Aviana loves it and goes hopping around like a white rabbit, sticking her nose and face into it and tossing her head. 

I hope none of you were caught in that 15 car pileup on 75 & Melissa or in the back up.  I was blessed because I could not go out and do any yard work or housework.  Instead I sat in front of our bay window with Rosemary and Aviana and watched our neighborhood turn magic. 

Leo in action.

Schools all let out at 1:00.  In Saturday’s paper there was a picture of kids and folks sliding down Flag Pole Hill.  For those of you who don’t know that hill it is on NWST Highway just where Buckner Blvd. begins and heads south toward the Casa Linda area.

When I was a kid our family used to have picnics on Flag Pole Hill, sometimes with just our family, often with other families.  I love the place and still see it when Rosemary & I ride our bikes around White Rock in milder weather. 

The snowfall was a transfiguration event for me.  The world was transformed and I had more faith in people, hope for people, and greater love. 

What is your latest Transfiguration event?

Helpers come enthusiastically to help dad with his job of accepting a Cupcake, Buddy and Zoe.