Sunday Homily, April 9, 2017, Palm Sunday

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Says Our Dear Harper, "Welcome in, Everybody."

 

Readings:

Matthew 21, 1-11, Jesus enters Jerusalem, (the entrance)

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

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

Philippians 2, 6-11,   He emptied himself

 Matthew 26 & 27,    The Passion.

 

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Palm Sunday procession beginning.

 

Sorry, we have no homily today.  Long readings. 

 

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The Wedding of Scott and Giana at The Windsor at Hebron Park.

 

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Frank Costanza ring bearer.  Of all the weddings I have had the privilege of performing, Frank at 93 is the prettiest ring bearer I have ever seen.

 

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Mr. & Mrs. Giana and Scott Booth.

 

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The beginning of a new life.

Similar Posts

  • Sunday Homily August 5, 2012, 18th Ordinary Time B

    Special Mass today celebrating Our Joan Gleason

    Readings:  

     Exodus, 16, 2-4 & 12-15, I will rain down bread from heaven for you.

     Psalm 78, The Lord gave them bread from heaven

    Ephesians 4, 17, 20-24, You should put away the old self of your former way of life.

    John 6, 24-35, Sir, give us this bread always. 

    Joan A 8-5-12

    Joan with her pastry

     

    Exodus observations:

    What:

     Exodus is a fun book and a good read.  It comes after Genesis & it has three main sections.

     One – the struggle between stubborn old Pharoah vs Moses & Yahweh.  Pharoah loses.  You can imagine the Passover had a significant impact. 

    Two – the time of wandering in the Sinai desert and the covenant, that is, the 10 Commandments

    Three – the coming into the Promised Land. 

    This all took around 40 years, and so we have stories in-between.  Today’s is one of these, showing Yahweh feeding his grumbling people.

    Ending 8-5-12

    Joan with us

    When written:

    Toward the end of the Babylonian Captivity, around 550 before Christ

    Who wrote it:

    Not Moses, but people who lived centuries after this mythical character.  How much of this is historical is a question.  The story greatly encouraged the Jewish people enslaved in Babylon.

    The Gleasons 8-5-12

    The Gleasons

    Our selection:

    An amusing account of the Jewish people grumbling against Moses.  They say they would prefer to be back in Egypt than in this infernal desert where they are wandering in the heat & sand.  We can sympathize with them in these days of 100’s.  They did not have a/c.   So Yahweh feeds them.  See how.

    The Brunch 8-5-12

    One of Joan's favorites, The Brunch

     

    Joan

    I would like to say a few words this morning about Joan.

    When we started our little community almost 8 years ago, I had 3 dreams. 

    First, I wanted the community to be totally inclusive.

    Secondly, I did not want to take up collections during our celebrations.

    Thirdly, I wanted to provide coffee & donuts & juice free to the community.  I figured coffee & donuts invited people to hang around and chat.  We had no other Mass starting.   Why not hang out?

    Curtis A 8-5-12

    Curtis is 83 Today!

    For a year, maybe two, we provided coffee & donuts & juice every Sunday.  It was delightful.   At some point I noticed that a cake was showing up every week.  I asked Rosemary had she noticed.  She had noticed, but did not know who was doing it. 

    Curtis B 8-5-12

    With a sung happy birthday from the community, Curtis receives a birthday cup cake.

    Guess who it was.  Yes, Joan.  Without anyone asking her, she just started feeding the community.   How appropriate are the two readings today that talk about God feeding his people.   This is so Joan, feeding us, feeding God’s people. 

    This was just one way Joan touched my heart and our hearts.  Another way came through her marvelous spirit.  One Sunday a couple of weeks before she died, Rosemary & I came to visit.  Joan was sitting up in a recliner chair, looked great, and was pert as ever.  As we departed I blessed her and touched her head, or more accurately, her hair.   “Don’t mess my hair,” she cracks.  I had to laugh.  “Joan,” I said, “I can see, there is nothing wrong with you.”    Well, there was.  She just did not show it, even though she was approaching the bridge. 

    IMG_1697

    See how far we have come on our Habitat House

    Another side to her spirit was the manner in which she dealt with her condition and the approach of that bridge.  There were only 36 days between the day the doctors discovered her cancer and the day she died.  What did she decide to do with the three treatment plans?  She said she did not want any treatment.  Everybody has their day, she told me, and she was ready for hers. 

    IMG_1708

    Tom, our Habitat Man, with day laborer

    I asked her how she felt about dying.  “Fine,” she said.  No hesitation, “Fine.”  She had moved through the psychological stages of dying in a lightening flash, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and arrived at acceptance.  I am privileged to walk the last mile with a lot of people.  Seldom am I so touched by such marvelous acceptance.

    IMG_1707

    Would you trust your house to this laborer?

    After Joan had told me she felt fine about her approaching death, she told me she had one wish.  That her family remain family.  She repeated this the night we all got together so everyone who wanted to could talk about what was going on.

    Joan gifted us all with this family, Jerry, Maureen & Bill, Debbie & Tom, T.J. & Sean, and all the other grand kids.  Thanks for being a gift to me and to our community, All of You.

    IMG_1709

    Hospitality and Lunch area with Carol and Rosemary. Special thanks to Tom and Lynda for coordinating lunch for everyone.

    I would like now to read the neat little prayer Joan has on her card.  It is so Joan.

              To Those I Love & Those Who Love Me

    When I am gone, release me, let me go.  I have so many things to see and do.  You mustn’t tie yourself to me with tears, be happy that we had so many years.  I gave you my love and you can only guess how much you gave me in happiness.  I thank you for the love you have each shown, but now it is time I traveled on alone.  So grieve awhile for me, if grieve you must, then let your grief be comforted by trust.  It’s only for awhile that we must part, so bless the memories within your heart.  I won’t be far away, for life goes on. So, if you need me, call and I will come.  Though you can’t see or touch me, I’ll be near, and if you listen with your heart, you’ll hear all my love around you soft and clear. And then, when you must come this way alone, I’ll greet you with a smile and say, “Welcome Home.”

    What is the greatest gift Joan has given you?

     

     

     

     

  • Sunday Homily 11-20-11, Christ the King

    Readings:   Ezekiel, 34, 11-17,  I will look after and tend my sheep; Psalm 23, The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want; 1 Corinthians 15, 20-28, Christ has been raised from the dead; Matthew 25, 31-46, The last judgement, He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

    Ezekiel:  I've mentioned how Ezekiel is one of the Big 3 Prophets, #3 after Isaiah & Jeremiah.  I also mentioned e how he lived smack dab in the middle of one of the two or three biggest tragedies of the Jewish people, the Babylonian captivity, from say 600 to 550 BCE.  He was there.

    Mass Begins 11-20-11

    In American history we can look back and identify special presidential leaders, Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt.  They came forward in crisis times. 

    Ezekiel was this type of leader in Jewish history.  He saw what had happened to other Jews of the the northern province of Israel (Jerusalem is in the southern province of Judah) after they had been carted off as slaves after a defeat by the Assyrians.  They intermarried and simply disappeared in the DNA of the middle east.

    Ezekiel is in Babylon and is determined that his community would not lose its identity.  He did three things to help maintain the spirit of the community: he emphasized  1. observance of the Sabbath, 2. kosher diet, and 3. circumcision.

    Music Machine 11-20-11

    Eventually after ca. 50 years the community still was a cohesive unit and it returned to rebuild Jerusalem, at least most of them.  The Jews are one of the few peoples to be defeated and scattered, and still return to their original homeland.  They remained there until the Romans defeated them in 70 C.E., returning when?  1948, after the Holocaust.

    Today's reading comes to us from an Ezekiel captive in Babylon, and has Ezekiel promising the people a return, a brighter day after the captivity.  He uses the figure of speach, I will.  But I is Yahweh. 

     Froebes 11-20-11

    Giving Thanks & Giving Back

    Occasionally we have a story that is so good it deserves to be repeated, like the Christmas story.  This event took place 2 or 3 years ago.  Some of you will remember it, but it is a lesson worth remembering.

    It happened like this. 

    The community had adopted a family for Advent, a mother with 3 little kids and a baby on the way.  Beth Robinson had coordinated our adoption of the family and we were collecting clothing, food, and money.  It was our response to Thanksgiving and Christmas, as well as our response to how blessed we are and have been this year.  

    After the Mass everyone was standing around having coffee and pastries.  Beth was there when a young boy, 6 or 7 years old,  came up and said he would like to help the family.  All he had was a dollar and he would like to give it to the family.  Beth accepted it graciously.

    Butterlies 11-20-11

    The boy is one of ours.  You know who it is?  Dillon.  The son of Bobbi Whitley, and Tony & Jo’s grandson.  The brother of Hunter & Audrey.   He is not with us this morning because he is a Boy Scout on a weekend camping trip.  He will be back & he knows I am telling the story. 

    Dillon is a model for me and he exemplifies the two themes I would like to touch this morning, what we have to be thankful for and how we respond to the Matthew story about feeding the hungry and giving drink to the thirsty.   

    My belief is that the greatest prayer is gratitude.  I am grateful that living in our country we have this feast, my favorite.  It pulls me back over the past year and gets me questioning, ‘What is my greatest blessing or joy or gift?’  Rosemary & I even make a list.

    Buddy 11-20-11

    Our response is easy, try to give back.  This is why we renovated Rita’s house a week ago.  It is why we have put together for the community a simple plan for Advent, call it A Gift a Sunday.  I will explain the idea at the end of Mass and welcome any helpful ideas.

    Two observations about our gospel about the sheep & goats.  Actually, lefties like myself & goats don't do well here.

        1.  Beware of either/or spirituality.  We are both.  The temptation, of course: I am a goat & lost.  We are all goats.

        2.  Beware of letting fear enter your spirit and trying to do it all, feed, give drink, clothe, visit the imprisoned, and on & on.  Try moderation seasoned with gratitude.

    Brooklyn 11-20-11

    What is your blessing of the year?  How are you giving back? 

    Picture 1:    Mass begins

    Picture 2:    John working out with Ray & Jon 

    Picture 3:   Froebes, Richard & Morgan & Monica  

    Picture 4:    Butterlies, Jim & Denise, Kara & James III   

    Picture 5:    Buddy with his dad, Randolph 

    Picture 6:    Brooklyn thanks everyone for welcoming her and accepts her baptism tree

     

  • Sunday Homily,June 5, 2016, 10th Sunday Ordinary Time C

    Readings:                          

    1 Kings   17,  17-24, See, your son is alive.

    Psalm 30,  I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

    Galatians 1, 11-19,    The gospel preached by me is not of human origin.

    Luke 7, 11-17,  The dead man sat up and began to speak.

     

    Vivian 1

     

    Welcome, Vivian.  It is so nice to see you.  You are gorgeous.

     

    1 Kings observations:

    What 1 Kings is the third book in a 4 book semi-historical history of the early tribe of Israelites.  The books, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings.  The story goes from Samuel, the last of the judges, to Saul, the first of the kings, to King David (with Goliath, Jonathan, Mikah and dancing, Bathsheba & Solomon).

    The two books of Kings focus on Solomon and his building of the temple and, finally, the split into two states, Israel in the north, Juda in the south with Jerusalem.  Ultimately, the story tells the defeat of the state of Israel by Syria and the disappearance of those northern 10 tribes. 

     

    Harper 1

     

    Harper, too, says, "Welcome, Vivian, and welcome, Everybody."

     

     

    When composed:   during the Babylonian Captivity, ca. 555 before Christ.  Why at this time?  Same reason why so much was composed at this time, to explain why the Captivity, to keep the tribal identity, and to provide hope for a brighter future.

    Who composed:   Tradition said Jeremiah the prophet, but contemporary studies show at least 3 writers.

    Today's selection:  the prophet Elijah raises the dead son of a widow.

    Sources: New Jerusalem Bible, Wikipedia

     

    Tori 1

     

    And sez Victoria, "Hi, Everybody, it is nice to be back." 

     

     

    Giving Life

    This morning we have two stories of people giving life.  First, Elijah brings back to life the son of a poor widow.  Similarly, Jesus brings back to life the son of another poor widow.  Of course, we all think, ‘Well, that does not apply to me.  I cannot bring people back to life.’

    Two observations. 

     

    Cathy 1

    She is back, Folks.  Welcome home, Cathy, from Turkey.

     

     

    First, it was common currency for the people to give to their leaders, whether religious or political leaders, the power to give people life.  You were not much of a leader if you could not bring people back from the dead.

    Secondly, I would propose that, despite what you are thinking, you and I all have the gift to bring people back to life.  One example. 

     

    Team 1

     

    The Team with special help from Buddy.

     

    Fr. Duffy.  I never had the opportunity to memorialize Duffy or attend his memorial because Rosemary & I were out of town.  Here is how Duffy gave life to me and to the people of St. Marks. 

    Before Duffy arrived at St. Marks I had worked for some years saying the 9:00 A.M. Mass in Spanish in the cafetorium or the English Mass in the church and, of course, the 10:30 cafetorium Mass.  Only once in those years did I ever enter the rectory.  That was because the bishop came to dinner one evening.

     

    Dinsmores 1

     

    College is out.  Welcome home Dana and Dawson.  Your mom is happy.

     

     

    When Duffy settled in, guess what.  The rectory was wide open.  Welcome, everybody.  I remember when I would finish the two Masses I was exhausted.  I would cross the patio and head to the rectory.  I would go upstairs to take a 20 minute nap in an empty guest bedroom. 

    Then I would come down to the kitchen where Rita had made chocolate chip cookies big as dinner plates and homemade vanilla ice cream. Yes, you know it.  Wow!   I had a cookie and ice cream seated at the big dining room table where Duffy held court.  This continued even after he had his medical problems and did not say Masses.  He welcomed everybody.  It was like a train station in there.

     

    Music 1

     

    The Best Music, Shonda, Bethany, David, and, of course, Vivian.

     

    Before he got sick he totally turned on the people of St. Marks.  He welcomed.  He, also, had an amazing gift for the comic and camaraderie.   

    Remember the first communion Masses we used to have on Saturdays?  Remember the two special ones?

     

    Offertory

    Offertory, Mary & Frank, Grace and Cheryl.

     

     

    Duffy used to ask the kids who was Jesus’ mom, and his dad.  You got the answer, you got a dollar.  Then, who is the holiest priest in St. Marks for five dollars?   Who was it?  Duffy, of course.  No way.  Duffy calls a little girl.  She whispers, “Fr. Stack!   This, of course, brought down the house and Duffy, of course, put on a dance. 

    This happened two years in a row.  The second year I was concelebrating.  When another little girl said Fr. Stack and Duffy started dancing around, I came down from the altar platform and gave the girl $5. 

     

    Cade 1

     

    "Oh, No," sez John, "I forgot to pick up the coffee."

     

    Life at St. Marks with Duffy was so much fun, full of life, and always, “welcome, everybody!”   Duffy gave me life.  Duffy gave us life.  Duffy gave the people life. 

    Who has given you life?  Who gives you life?

    To whom do you give life and how? 

  • Sunday Homily 11-13-11, 33rd Ordinary Time & Last of the Year

    Readings:  Proverbs 31, 10-31, When one finds a worthy wife…; Psalm 128, Blessed are those who fear the Lord; 1 Thessalonians 5, 1-6, You are not in darkness; Matthew 25, 14-30, The parable of the talents.

    Proverbs:

    Author: Not Solomon, the wise king, but, as usual, a compilation of sources.

    Date of Composition: ca. 300 B.C.  It is recognized from the text that it is post exile, that is, after the Babylonian Exile, around 600 to 550 before Christ. 

    Content: a collection of moral & religious teachings which  mostly deal with practical matters.   We have some of this folk wisdom, like the saying, 'early to bed, early to rise makes a person healthy, wealthy, and wise.   Let me give you six examples:

    Beginning 11-13-11

        1.  (Chapter 1, verse 7),  'Pay attention to what your father & mother tell you, my son.'

        2.  (13, 24),  'If you don't punish your son, you don't love him.'

        3.  (22, 15),  'Children naturally do silly things, but a good beating will teach them.'

        4.  (17, 22),  'Being cheerful keeps you healthy.'

        5.  (18, 6),  'When some fool starts an argument, he is asking for a beating.'

        6.  (25, 24), guys' favorite,  'Better to live on the roof than share the house with a nagging wife.'

    Hloe 11-13-11

    Today's Selection: This chapter 31 is the last and most beautiful chapter.  A tribute to wives.  The editors of the lectionary have broken the piece up, but I have printed off the whole section.  Very nice. 

    Notice anything especially obvious about the proverbs, even from the few I chose?  What do you think?  Written by men for men?

    1Thessalonians

    We have read this work for a bunch of Sundays.  You might remember one thing about it.  It is the first written document in the New Testament.

    Sources: The New Interpreter's Study Bible, The Good News Bible.

     

     Cole 11-13-11

    The Parable of the Talents

    I have to talk about something this morning.  I would call it a Thanksgiving event, an event that makes a difference.  Was yesterday not beautiful?  Even more beautiful was what about 20 members of our little community did at the house of Rita Dore. 

    I am sorry the rest of you did not make it, but you can be proud of your community members, as I am. 

    Ryan 11-13-11

     We started about 8:00.  We had to scrape & paint three large walls and touch up the front wall, which Frank Reyes, a buddy of his, and I had painted in the summer.  There must have been twelve people scraping for two hours.  This is the painful part of a painting project.  By 10:30 we were rolling and painting vertical cracks.  By 12:30 we were 99% finished, and Jenny, Melissa, and Diane brought the pizza.  

    Beth took off the handle & lock of the front door and painted it gloss white.  Jim McCabe & Ryan rigged up a block & tackle arrangement from a tree to each of the dead holly bushes and pulled them out one by one.  We even were able to buy and plant 8 Texas Sage bushes along the front of the house where the holly had been.  More drought tolerant.

    Folks, later after everyone had left & I had finished cleaning up, Rita said she was overwhelmed with joy. 

    Rob & Mike 11-13-11

    I talk about this event because we are less than two weeks from Thanksgiving and because the event leads into the Parable of the Talents.  This is a crazy parable and commentaries by academics are not too helpful. One Jesuit at St. Louis U. mentioned, “Okay, what is the moral?”  I would like to touch upon 3 morals to the parable. 

    The first moral.  Fr. John Foley, S.J. says the moral of the parable is obvious, ‘Make the most of what you got.  On the positive side, the moral can be a positive influence in my life.  On the negative side, it might influence me to take too many risks, like with drugs, like with motorcycles, like with money.  The first two servants are lucky they did not invest their talents with Bernie Madoff. 

    The second moral.  You fear, you lose.  Observation: it is okay to be afraid.  It is a normal feeling.  It may lead to prudence, which is what the third servant may be praised for.  Or it may lead to paralysis if I let it run loose.  

    The third moral.  Watch out for that mean God.  The property owner is obviously a symbol for God or Christ.  What about Matthew?  Could he have been criticizing the religious authorities, who were afraid of anything new, in this case, Jesus & his message? 

    Ultimately, I would propose that the symbol for God is over drawn.  It goes contrary to where we are today with our image of God, namely, my favorite line,”He is gracious and merciful; he never gets angry and is abounding in love.” 

    Hammond 11-13-11

    Renovating Rita’s house was a Thanksgiving event where a lot of talents were put to good use.  How are you sensitizing yourself and preparing for Thanksgiving? 

    Sources: Fr. John Foley, S.J., St. Louis U. Liturgies.

    Picture 1:    Mass Begins

    Picture 2:    Chloe

    Picture 3:    Cole

    Picture 4:    Ryan helping scrape Rita's house with his dad, Jim

    Picture 5:    Rob & Mike on Rita's house

    Picture 6:    Bill Hammond replacing the dead hollies with Texas Sage, which are more drought resistant   

     

     

     

     

  • Reminder for Sunday, February 2, 2020, Presentation

     

    Special Thanks edition for Sunday's celebration and birthday brunch.

     

    Community 2

     

    A colorful community for a colorful room at Legacy

     

     

    Welcome this Sunday: Catholic Mass with coffee & juice, and pastries, some bought, some home-made. 

    Time: 9:30; Celebrate with the Community  & John Cade, Mike Carrell,  &  Stack  

    Place: Legacy Charter School,  601 Accent Drive, Plano, TX 75075

     

    Brunch 1

     

    WOW!  Where to begin.

     

    We have heard that people discover that the Blog has stopped coming.  Typepad tends to drop people for no reason.  So if this happens to you, just sign up again by going to www.johnstackministries.com

     

    Brunch 2

     

    I would like one of each, please.

     

    Readings:

    Malachi, 1-4,  I am sending my messenger to prepare the way.

    Psalm 24.  Who is this king of glory?  It is the Lord.

    Hebrews 2, 14-18,  He was able to help.

    Luke 2, 22-40, The Presentation

     

    Cake 1

     

    Thanks, Jackie, for The Best Cake.

     

    Activities:  

    ROMEO MEET: Friday, January 31, 2020,   Jason's Deli, Collin Creek Mall, west side of Central, 1:00.  Welcome all wakos, you will fit right in.  

     

    Line 2

     

    Better hurry up before it is all gone!

     

    JULIETS

    Lunch with the Juliets

    Hi Ladies

    We all are looking forward to a great Valentines Luncheon Friday, February 7th at 12:30.  We will meet at Cafe Amoire 600 N. Coit Road Richardson (Coit and Arapaho) It is a BYOB.  

    Please let me know who will be joining us. Looking forward to celebrating Valentines Day.  Per the owner, reservations are required.

    Have a good day,  Marilyn

    972-491-7068

     

    Feast 3

     

    Anything left?

     

    True?

    60 MIGHT BE THE NEW 40, BUT 9:00 IS THE NEW MIDNIGHT…   (and 80??)

     

    Feast 1

     

    Kenny, did you eat all the guacamole?

     

    What's up in Ye Old Catholic Church?  Like…

    Francis is dragging the Church into the new century,

    https://international.la-croix.com/news/francis-is-dragging-the-church-kicking-and-screaming-into-the-20th-century/11521

     

     

    Trouble 1

     

    Here comes trouble!

     

    Swap Sunday, February 16th, "It's still good, but I don't want it, you can have it".  Gather all your good stuff that you can't use anymore and bring it with you on 2/16.  Everything's free.  

     

    See you Sunday, J.S.

    214-783-0443

     

    Mike-Geri 1

     

    Anybody know these characters?

     

    JSM Mission-Faith Statement: 

     Help create a Catholic Community that welcomes all God’s People, provides for and challenges spiritual and total growth.

    Reaches out to help people who are disadvantaged and make the world we live in a better place to live.

     

    AGED 1

    And the banner says, Aged to Perfection.  No laughter, please.

  • Sunday Homily, January 27, 2013, 3rd Ordinary Time C

    Readings:

    Nehemiah 8, 2-10,  Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks.

    Psalm 19,  Your words, Lord, are spirit and life.

    1 Corinthians 12, 4-11, Now, the body is not a single part, but many.

    John 2, 1-11, He has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor and liberty to captives.

     

    Mass begins 1-27-13

    Ready to begin.

     For those who don’t have a decent Bible or a book of the readings, here are two links that I use, The Bible at Your Fingertips (http://st-luke-church.org/bible-at-finger-tips.php) and USCCB, The New American Bible (http://www.usccb.org/).  

    The difference?  The first is Protestant more or less, and the second is officially Catholic and has the 12 little books in between the O.T. & N.T., called Deuterocanonical or Apocrypha. 

    Both are good translations.  

    Cupcakes 1-27-13

    Cupcakes of The Week, Mike, John, Sir Charlie, Rick, and Michelle and Torri standing in for Randolph.

    Nehemiah

     The book of Nehemiah takes place at the end of the Babylonian captivity.  Three main characters play roles, though the first two are not mentioned in today’s reading.  Cyrus is the benevolent ruler who defeated the Babylonians.  Then he gives the Jews permission to return to their homeland and Jerusalem.

     Nehemiah is the Jew Cyrus puts in charge of restoring the city of Jerusalem and the temple.  It was Cyrus who appointed Nehemiah the governor of the new Jerusalem.  Nehemiah was not a prophet, but a governor. 

     Ezra, the central character of today’s reading, is a priest & law scholar. 

    We arrive on the scene after Nehemiah has established Jerusalem.  The people have assembled in the town center and asked Ezra to read to them the law that orders their new lives.  We hear part of the reading, a part that emphasizes rejoicing.

     This the only time in the 3 year church cycle of readings that we have a selection from Nehemiah.  Did he do something wrong? 

     

    Meredith 1-27-13

    Meredith

    1 Corinthinians 12

     During the time of Paul, the Greek city of Corinth was almost as significant as Athens.  Paul had established a community there and in his letter he is offering his advice to the people. 

     Chapter 13 is Paul’s famous letter about love being kind & patient.  Chapter 12, our reading today, offers an almost amusing analogy of the community to a body.  We are parts of the body and consequently we are important, making our unique contributions.  

     Sources: Good News Bible

     

    IMG_2255

    Kate Banzhaf, age 26

    Life isn’t about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain

    Rose Banzhaf and the family put a note on Kate’s bulletin that says, “Life isn’t about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.”  I would like to talk about this in relation to events I saw at Kate’s funeral.   While the events were tragic and tearful, on at least five occasions I saw dancing in the rain.  These are the occasions.

    Emil 1-27-13

    Emil talking about Kate.

    At the viewing on the Wednesday afternoon before the Thursday funeral, I was standing at the door of the funeral home, opening the door, and welcoming the people arriving.

    At one point, I see Emil and his two oldest children, two boys about 6 and 4.  He also has a little girl and another son on the way in March.  Emil was leading his boys up the aisle to visit Kate.  I followed them up, put my hand on Emil’s back, and heard something like the following.

    Kate's Kids 1-27-13

    Emil invites Kate's 3rd grade class to sit around Kate.

    “My sons, we have here the body of Kate.  Her spirit is not here because it is with God in his house.  Kate is happy in God’s house.  Without doubt she misses the opportunity to play with you two.  She is also delighted that someday your spirits and all those of the family will be with her.  She says you may touch her, if you would like.  Her body is cool, because her spirit is now at God’s house.  Thanks for coming to visit me.  I love you.”  A jewel of an event.

    Kids 1-27-13

    The kids were beautiful.

    All of us can fear death, even from our childhood.  Emil was normalizing death for his sons and letting them know they don’t have to fear it.

    Also at the viewing, I witnessed George not only sharing his own tears, but consoling his older son, Simon, who was grieving intensely for his aunt Kate.  Instead of telling Simon to shut up and be a man, George encouraged Simon and embraced him.  Another jewel of an event.

    George 1-27-13

    George saying he will dance if they will smile at him. They did and he did. Emil holds Charlotte, his youngest of 3 for the moment.

    The next day at the funeral all four of the Banzhaf siblings spoke together.  Pete shared beautifully at the start when Emil could not begin because of his tears.

    When Emil began he invited all the 3rd grade kids in Kate’s class to come up and sit on the floor around Kate.  Then he read the St. Francis Prayer that starts out, “Make me a channel of your peace.”  Another jewel of an event.  Will those kids not remember that moment forever!

    George-Simon 1-27-13

    George holds Simon.

    Then George talked and picked up on a habit Kate had of dancing for her kids when a kid had a good answer or did something that delighted her.  Even the kids were invited to dance occasionally.  Guess what George did through his tears.  Yep, you guessed it.

     

    0148Dancing 1-27-13

    In honor of Kate's memory of dancing for her kids, Kim invites the whole crowd to stand and dance for 30 seconds. Emil is caught in the act.

    He invited all the teachers from Kate’s school to stand up.  About 30 were there.  The kids were still sitting around Kate.  George says to them, if you smile at me, I’ll dance for you.  They did and he did.  Another jewel.

    Pete 1-27-13

    Pete with Emil, the oldest and youngest sons.

    Then, to top it off, Kim.  After a delightful sharing of her feelings and life with Kate, her twin sister, guess what.   Yep, Kim says, “In honor of Kate, who was really not a great dancer but had great passion in her dancing, Everybody stand up and let’s dance for 30 seconds.”  And they did. 

    How do you dance in the rain?

    Rose-Wally 1-27-13

    Rose and Wally with Charlotte.