Sunday Homily, February 19, 2017, 7th Ordinary Time

 

Says Emma, Hi, Folks, Welcome in.  

 

Readings:

Malachi 1, 14-2, 2, 8-10,   A great king am I, says the Lord

Psalm 131,  In you, O Lord, I have found my Peace

Thessalonians 2, 7-9, 13 ,  We were gentle with you.

Matthew 23, 1-12,  Do not be like the Pharisees.

 

 

Likewise, Zoe, says, "Good Morning, Everybody, Come in."

 

 

Observations on Malachi:

 Interesting notes, a review:

                   1.  This is the last book of the Old Testament.    

                   2.  A little book, only 4 chapters.

                   3.  Last of the 12 minor prophets ( minor because of their small content )

 

 Author: Malachi means “my messenger.”  The writer’s real name is unknown.

 

 

 

Offertory with Sydney & Hugh, Nina & Kerry.

 

 

 Date:   555 years before Christ.  This is deduced from the emphasis on the temple and the priesthood, and the word “governor” used one time.  Governors ruled after the Babylonian Exile, ca. 590-550, kings before.    

 The temple was rebuilt ca. 520 after the Israelites came back ca. 550 from the Babylonian Exile.  The Persian ruler Cyrus let them return & rebuild the old walls & temple. 

 Message:  Beware, you priests and people, because you are lax, corrupt, and cheating God of his rightful offerings.   Again, the prophet act: 1. condemn behavior, 2. promise punishment, 3. offer consolation after reform.

 

 

 

Sophia, our Candle Lighter of The Week, in action.

 

 

Today’s Message:

                   1.  Yahweh is speaking, actually to the priests, though in the official reading this reference is edited out.   

                   2.  You priests, I will curse you if you do not honor my name.

                    3.  I have made you contemptable because you don't follow my ways.  Again, note the Prophet's message: 1. condemn behavior, 2. promise punishment, 3. consolation after the conversion.

                   Sources:  Good News Bible; New Interpreter’s Study Bible; The Minor Prophets by Al Maxey (on line); & Wikipedia

 

 

 

So, Georgie, how is it being 16?   Know you are The Best.

 

Gratitude for Blessings 2017-11-04

Rosemary & I have an end of year exercise we go through, what are the Blessings of the Year.  We write them down.  It is a process of numerous days, beginning with Thanksgiving and ending only around New Years. 

So, when I told Rosemary I wanted to give a Thanksgiving homily this Sunday, she says, “Okay, but don’t get off on your Big 3.  People have heard them often enough.”  “But people forget,” I say to little avail.  So I won’t, with nothing more than their mention.  Namely, 1. My years as a Jesuit.   2. My years in East Africa.  3.  My years with Rosemary.

 

 

 

Study Hall for Tori & Zoe. 

 

The following are five 2017 gifts or blessings.

1. The Jewish Community Center.  I know only a small slice of the Community’s day, from about 5:30 to 7:00 every weekday morning, always in the spin class room or in the gym. 

The peopIe I have come to know and love are so normal and loving.  Plus they all work at keeping themselves in some kind of good shape.  I look at these good people and I think that it is my religion, Catholicism and Christianity that has caused this community to be hounded, hunted, persecuted, and killed for centuries, ever since Matthew wrote the Blood Curse, Let his blood be upon us and our children.”   Matthew 27.   I am humbled they accept me.

 

 

 

All Our Saints for All Saints.
 

 

2. Rob, Beth, Rosemary, & I rode the 20 mile Dallas Bikes rally yesterday and it was glorious. It was a blessing and reminded me of two other special summer blessings look forward to and I take part in every year, Ragbrai (ride across Iowa for a week, 500 miles) and the Matterhorn Canyon back packing trip. 

 

 

 

All Saints Prep with Karen and Denni.

 

2. A third blessing this year has been, don’t laugh, you ladies, Romeos!  I look forward to this get together with the guys all week and it is always fun. 
3. For a number of years a classmate and good friend of mine from the days we spent together at Jesuit has made a significant financial monthly donation to our community. It, together with everybody else’s generosity, enables us to help so many deserving people.
4. Finally and most obvious to me so often, the unbelievable blessing of you, our Sunday community. It is a clear sign you all must be crazy.

 

 

 

 

All Saints prep with Geri and Sandra.
 

 

What are your Blessings of The Year 2017?

 

 

 

Our Saints. 

Readings:

Isaiah 58, 7-10,   If you bestow your bread on the hungry, then light shall rise for you in the darkness.   

 Psalm 112,  The Just Person is a light in darkness to the upright.

 1 Corinthians 2, 1-5,   God chose the foolish of the world.

 Matthew 5, 13-16,    You are the light of the world.

 

 

 

Kristin and Everett say, "Welcome in, Everybody. "  And we say to you, Everett, "Welcome into our world."

 

Isaiah reminders, again—(I lied again, Folks.  I thought we were finished with Isaiah, my favorite, until next Advent.  Nope.  Not really sorry, though.  We have him again Feb. 26, last Sunday before Lent.)

 Author: This is Isaiah #3, the composer of chapters 56-66.  Isaiah #3 lives after the Israelites have returned to the ruined city of Jerusalem.  It is a very depressing experience after the exuberance of being allowed to depart from slavery in Babylon.  Like returning to your shattered home after a tornado, hurricane, or forest fire.

 

Hi, Leo, good to see you.

 

 Date:  Ca. 555 before Christ, the composition.  The Jewish people of Jerusalem are home again.

Subject:  A great day will come for you Jews.  You will be a bright light at dawn and your wound will be healed (of your defeat and slavery), if you take care of your neighbor, providing food, clothing, and shelter.  The corporal works of mercy.

 

 Welcome to our marvelous community, Michael Tuck.  It is so nice to have you and you are welcome any time Ray cannot make it.  Or even if he can.

 

Your Light must shine before Others

This is the fourth or fifth Sunday we have dealt with delightful readings that involve light, either receiving light or giving light.  Guess what.  I want to talk again about 3 people who are lights for me.

I have talked before about a guy whom I greatly admire, Jim Mahar, a professor of something like economics at St. Bonaventure University near Buffalo, NY.  This guy just continues to amaze and humble me. 

 

 

 

Hi, Harper.  Welcome to the Queen of Girl Scout Cookies.

 

I first met Jim through Bill Hammond.  He, I, and Bob McGrath,  all went down to Galveston to help with the clean up and repair of the city after the hurricane Ike in 2008.  It seems to me like yesterday and, yet, incredibly long ago.

There were 20-25 of us, mostly students probably on spring break.  We stayed in a very hospitable Protestant church.  The pastor himself was most friendly and accommodating.  The kids had bunk beds on the left & right of the church.  We old guys bedded down in a rectangular room with about 20 Baptist Men volunteers.  I could talk about those guys all day, they are so good.  The only problem that time: one guy in our dorm snored like a bear. 

 

 

Buddy, our Candle Man of The Week.  Thanks, Buddy.

 

These guys had an 18 wheeler trailer that they had rigged up with a number of showers.  The people in the church community fed us 3 meals a day. 

This was the first time I worked with Jim Maher.  I also went to Moore, OK, a suburb of OK City to help with a tornado that passed through.  And now just a week or so ago I get a facebook note from Jim, working with a bunch of St. Bonaventure kids in maybe the Bahamas.

 

 

Offertory, Cindy, Bill, and Marlene.

 

Jim is a bright light in my life.  In fact, his light is blinding.  I am exhausted just following him from one disaster to another.   He and some kids even came to help in Rowlett last year.  I did not get to help out, but Bill Hammond was there. 

Secondly, I have told you about another light of mine, Coach Frank Hart, mostly bed ridden in a home for elders.  I have been visiting Frank almost every Friday afternoon for some years. 

 

 Ready or not, here we go.

 

When I first started entering this house, I noticed the particular accent with which three black caretakers ladies spoke English.  I immediately recognized from where that accent comes, East Africa.  They were marvelous caretakers. 

So one afternoon, I took a minute to speak with one of the girls who bubbled over with personality.  I addressed her in Swahili, which I totally still remember.

 

 

Anybody know who these characters are??

 

Folks, I thought she was going to faint, drop her teeth, and go crazy.  She yelled to her 2 girl friends and we had a marvelous time.  They were from Kenya.  Very caring, very courageous girls.  Lights to me for their courage in making a better life for themselves and others, like Coach Frank. 

The third group: our kids.  They don’t have to do anything and I love them.  I am so delighted with their presence, which brings light to our celebrations.

 

 

The "Juliets," just us ladies into eating together."

 

I have always welcomed little kids at the Masses I celebrate, and for sure, at St. Marks.  I would normally invite them up around me during the Eucharistic prayer.  One time a little boy knocked over the standing candles and another time a little baby barfed on my shoulder while I was welcoming her for maybe the first time. 

 

 

Is this not a pretty tough group?!  Hi, Carol.  Love the hair.

 

Guess what, everybody was so timid and cowed they did not even stop me to let me know the baby had thrown up on my shoulder until after the Mass, when even I was beginning to wonder about where that smell was coming from.  These events both took place in the big church, not the 10:30 cafetorium.   That 10:30 crowd would have spoken up, probably laughing at me.

 

 

And another play station.

 

Again the questions:

Who gives you light?

To whom do you give light?

 

 

 Readings:

Matthew 21, 1-11, Jesus enters Jerusalem

Isaiah 50, 4-7,   I gave my back to those who beat me.

Psalm 22,  My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?

Philippians  2, 6-11,  Because of this God greatly exalted him.

Matthew  27,, 11-54,  The passion & death.

 

Sorry, Everybody, because of the extraordinary length of so many readings, especially the Matthew Passion, we don't have a homily.  Tune in for a good one this Sunday, Easter.  Welcome, also.  You might find an Easter Bunny attending.

 

 

Readings:

Ezekiel  18, 25-28,  Is it my way that is not fair?

 Psalm 25,   Remember your mercies, Oh Lord.

Philippians 2, 1-11,  God greatly exalted him.

Matthew 20, 1-16,  The man who had two sons. 

 

Homily by John Cade

Homily:  I want to focus today on Jesus’ teaching that God is now and was always with us, and how we can see God. There’s that Bible verse in today’s Responsorial Psalm 86 vs.5 that says “You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness.” Stack has said it’s his favorite line in the Bible.  I decided to google this verse and found the same words in multiple places in the Bible.  Psalm 145: vs. 8-9 has exactly the same lines. And Psalm 103 vs. 8 has the same.  And it’s not just in the Psalms.  The Book of Exodus Ch. 34, verse 6 reads, “The Lord is a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness.” The Book of Joel Ch. 2, verse 13 has exactly the same line. And the Book of Jonah Ch. 4, verse 2 has the same.

 

The take-away from those verses that describe God as “gracious and merciful, slow to anger and rich in kindness,” could be that whenever we see those traits and those behaviors, we are seeing God.  Jesus’ said the kingdom of God is here, and is experienced when we share mercy and kindness with one another.

On July 4^th I joined a group of family and friends for the Fair Park fireworks display. At the end of the evening Leo & Freddie, seeing fireworks for the first time, said, “This was the coolest ever.”

Later I remembered some of what I saw and experienced about being gracious and showing kindness.

1. I got to Fair Park early and walked around, then sat on a bench eating a corn dog slathered with mustard. I saw a woman walking with 2 children and an infant in a stroller. The little one dropped a stuffed toy to the ground. Another woman saw it and, noticing the mother hadn’t seen it happen, called out to her and pointed to it.  They made eye contact and I saw them connect with a smile as the mother picked up the toy. This was a brief but gracious human contact.
2. At one point after our group got together at the lagoon, my nephew Merik, offered to take Leo and Freddie on a walk around the lagoon. He entertained them for 30 or 40 minutes, and his act of kindness allowed the other adults time to visit.
3. Gina, a close friend of my daughters Joey and Sam, came with her husband and 2 daughters, who are a little older than my grandsons. Gina thought about the 4 kids who would be there and brought snacks for all of them and also light sticks to make necklaces or bracelets or, like Freddie, just to wave around. The kids loved it and I took note of her thoughtful kindness.
4. Most of the group had gotten snow cones while walking around. So I decided to get in line for a snow cone for myself (I was told that there were sugar free ones) and for Gina’s daughter who had missed out on one. It was a really long line of more than 30 people. After a while I struck up a conversation with a woman in line. Later another woman, also in line, joined in the conversation. At one point the latter woman, who was sort of ahead of me and the first women (line not straight but uneven), offered that we both go ahead of her. Of course by this point we had all been in line a long time and had tired feet. That was another act of kindness and mercy.

My question: when have you seen God lately?  And when do others see God in you?

 

Readings:

Isaiah  56, 1-7,  I will bring them to my holy mountain.

 Psalm 67,   Oh, God, Let all the nations praise you.

Romans1, 13-15, 29-32  I am speaking to you Gentiles.

Matthew  15, 21-28,  It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.

 

Isaiah 56 observations:

As soon as you see Isaiah, chapter 56, you know some things, if you are into the study of the Bible and especially  of Isaiah, my favorite.

1.  Isaiah 56 is Isaiah 3, chapter 56-66, the end of the book of Isaiah.
2.  Isaiah 3 is put together after the Babylonian Captivity, that is, around 555 before Christ.
3.  The Israelites have returned to Jerusalem, a totally destroyed, depressed city.
4. Therefore, it is plausible to expect Isaiah 3 to be trying to lift up the spirits of the people.  This he does, consoling the people with promises of a better time.   Note: the better days are conditional on good behavior.  Ever think of how our whole redemption story is conditional? Not much unconditional love.   In other words, if you want my love and favor, behave.

Matthew:

I think I will pass on commenting on this gospel.  I don't like it.  I only partially understand the culture Matthew was dealing with in the story.  And most of the commentaries simply try to explain away how harsh the story is. 

 

Them I will bring to my holy mountain

Of all the lines in the readings this morning, the line that touches me the most talks about bringing the people to the holy mountain.  I am touched for two reasons.

First, you know how much I love to go camping in the mountains, and especially the mountains of Yosemite and the Sierras.  In fact, on the 2^nd of September about 8 of us are headed to Kings Canyon, one of two parks just south of Yosemite, to do our annual 10 day back packing trip.

Secondly, the mountain is a metaphor for the state of peace. 

I would like to suggest two observations about going to the mountain of peace.

First, we get there easier and with greater happiness with others.

Secondly, sometimes the mountain is not what we expect or remember from a previous visit.

 

Three little stories of the week. 

Probably July of 2004, as usual, I took a group of 8 guys to my favorite hike in Yosemite.  I call it the Matterhorn Canyon trip. On about the 4^th day we have to hike over Burro Pass, about 11 K feet.  There are three passes on this trip.  Two are called Burro and this one is in the middle.  Matterhorn Canyon is precisely where we camped out for the night. 

We get up and go up the canyon and then up switch backs non-stop for a few hours. It is hard on everyone.  On this trip it is especially hard on one guy.  He is out of shape and gasping for breath.  I am afraid he is not going to make it.

So I get to the pass, dump my pack, return down the switch backs, take his pack, and up we go together.  We make it.  Over the pass and below is my most favorite campsite in the whole world.  We set off and get there, too.

Sitting around the fire that evening, I had a strong sense of accomplishment, contentment, and peace.  I was able to help someone to the top who might not have made it otherwise. This is on top of the fact that I am in heaven.

The second story takes place on the same favorite hike, Matterhorn Canyon, but in 2009.  This time guess who is having the rough time, not because of being out of shape.  The hips are shot.

That year I could go up, but just walking was rough and going down was really rough.  I had to borrow two ski poles.  Rose Banzhaf loaned me the poles and walked with me.  Mike Moran helped me get across streams and watched out for me.

The last morning after an 8 mile hike out, everyone has already been at the little restaurant at the trail head and I am just hobbling along, Rose sticking with me.  At about a mile out, I surrender and Rose calls for help from a car.  Tom & Daniel Fleming come to the rescue.  I will always remember the sight of Daniel coming toward me to take my backpack.

I had made it to the peace of the mountain.  I just needed help to get down.  Still peaceful.  Then, the decision was easy.  I got new hips within 5 months.  And last year we visited my favorite Matterhorn Canyon for the first time.  Talk about gratitude and peace.

The third little story comes from the Matterhorn trip last year.  I was longing to return to that favorite campsite after coming over Burro Pass.  We got there and I am saying, “This can’t be it.”  The campsite, which I have used perhaps 6 times, was a wreck, trees all knocked down, the stream following a different course.  It was the campsite.  60 mile an hour straight line winds had passed through and seemed to hit just that spot especially hard.

We camped there even though I was bummed.  I could see the places where I could remember some of our people camping in previous years.  But it was a mess. 

We spent a whole day there and with time I discovered that across the creek was a really nice level campsite.  That will be for next time.

Two thoughts. 

It is so nice to climb the mountain of peace with company, and even to come down.

The mountain may not be what I expected.  But peace can still be found by searching around.

Where is your mountain and who are your companions on the climb?

 

 

 

Readings:    

Jeremiah  31, 7-9,   Shout with joy.

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 men and made their representative before God.

Mark 10, 46-52,  Bartimaeus, a blind man, sat by the road begging. 

 

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 575 before Christ  (reminder, Babylon is near present day Bagdad, Iraq).

Remember, too,  that time before Christ is counting downward or backwards.

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. 575.

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.

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: the usual prophet message—condemn, pay, peace.

Today: Beautiful message of peace and consolation.  It is coming.

Sources: Bishop John Shelby Spong, The sins of Scripture; Wikipedia

Leo and Cole

 She Danced through Life

Rosemary & I had the privilege and the honor Thursday to attend the funeral of another noble woman & friend, like Joan, Colleen Romero. 

I calculate that Rosemary & I have known Colleen and her husband for ten years.  We certainly knew them for a couple of years before we got married in 05/05/05.   You will never guess how we met them.  Dancing.

 Somewhere along the line, a group of us noticed that Plano Parks provided a whole variety of adult classes, among them dancing.  So Rosemary & I, Gilberto & Bernadette, Beth & Rob , and some others, we all decided, “Let’s go learn to dance.”  And so we met Colleen and Fred.

They were our teachers.  They were elegant, charming, and fun.  I danced with Colleen a number of times.  I would ask Fred how I was learning some special dance.  He would laugh.  Then Colleen would guide me to a point where I got it.

 This is the first thing I see when I remember Colleen.  She danced through life, charming, elegant, smiling, and having fun.  She and Fred were even running dance classes at St. Gabriel parish for adults who had Parkinson’s or coordination problems. 

A  second aspect to Colleen I saw recently.  It was a few weeks back when I got a notice that Colleen was not doing well and was in the hospital.   We had not seen her and Fred for months, maybe a year.  She had been struggling with various joint problems for some time, but this was supposed to be serious.

So, I called her straight up.  She answered.  She sounded groggy and stressed.  In fact, she was experiencing nausea.  So I made it quick, saying I loved her and sent her all my support.  She said this may be her time and that she was okay about it.

A few more days go by and I get another note saying that the word is this really is it.  This time we get in the car and go visit her at Medical City Plano. 

I walk in and find her looking and sounding great.  However, she says this is truly her time, that she wants no special treatment, and that she is totally ready.  She was in that acceptance stage we talk about in stages of dying, the stage of peace.  

Colleen was not like Mark’s Bartimaeus today.  She was not blind.  She could see.  She danced her way through life and when her time approached, she accepted it. 

Like I asked with Joan, how have you been blessed by people like Colleen?