Sunday Homily, July 23, 2017,16th Ordinary Time A

Leo says, "Welcome as long as you know the password" (e.g. You are The Best, Leo).

Readings:  

 Isaiah 50, 4-9,  The Lord opens my ear that I may hear.

Psalm 116,  I will walk before, in the land of the Living

 James 2, 14-18, What good is it if someone says he has faith but does not have works?

Mark 8, 27-35,  Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself

Special Welcome to Barbara's sister from Germany, Gita.
 

Isaiah:  observations

What is it about: 1^st, 2^nd, & 3^rd Isaiah?

1^st Isaiah, Chapters 1-39: predict doom for the Hebrews because they have not been faithful to their one god.  

2^nd Isaiah, Chapters 40-55:  this & the remaining chapters are called The Book of Consolation.  They try to assure the people who are now in exile that God will restore them to their former glory & peace.  In fact, in chapter 45 the composer even mentions the name of Cyrus, the king of the Persians who defeats Babylon & sends the Hebrews back to Jerusalem.  So the composer knew of Cyrus and a date can be narrowed down.

Emma at work on here specialty, Lighting the Candles.

This 2^nd  Isaiah section presents 4 suffering servant songs, #2 being our selection today.  Jews see the servant to be the Hebrew people/nation.  Christians see the servant to be Christ. 

Isaiah 2 is considered maybe the most influential O.T. book.  On Isaiah 2 Mark built much of his gospel, especially the story of the crucifixion.

Handel's Messiah uses 2nd Isaiah for its lyrics.

3^rd Isaiah, Chapter 56-66: more assurances of a return to peace & glory.

Georgie backing up the Candle Lighting ritual with The Blessing.

 Mark: observation

I do not like the line in Mark where he says we have to take up our cross.  I have seen the negative result of this.  Which is not to imply that we do not have to struggle to reach goals, like, say, 175 lbs.  

Welcome in, Ron.  Thanks for bringing Gita. 

Faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead

This morning I would like to pick up on the line, faith without works is dead. 

First of all, to me the statement is simplistic & silly.  I know people who are unable to do anything for others, but they have faith, maybe in God, maybe in people, or in themselves.

Actually, we, I can look around and have greater faith in people because I see so many doing so many good things for others.  Actually, talking about this subject I feel like a fraud and that I am preaching to the choir, I see you people in our community doing so much.  Let me give you about 8 examples of people who inspire me.

A high level meeting of The Board.  A Brunch or not next week.

1^st, ever hear of the Cajun Navy?  Or the Baptist Men?  They are both over in the Carolinas doing rescue & recovery work right now.  On NPR yesterday morning, I heard the “Cajun Admiral” or “Captain” say he expected 1000 volunteers by Saturday afternoon.  They come with their fishing boats.  They were everywhere in Houston last year this time.

I’ve worked with the Baptist Men in Galveston and they come prepared with generators, a big kitchen, and showers installed in 18 wheelers.  I slept with about 20 of them in a dormitory in a church.  I wish I could be there.  Just have not got the stamina any more.

Georgie & Buddy, The Board has voted too double your stipends.

How could I ever forget Jim Mahar of St. Bonaventure, one of my patron saints, along with his local buddy, Bill Hammond.  The two of them have gotten me into so many projects.  It must even be close to the time Bill will be putting his sign up sheet out for the Love of the Kids Fall picnic.

Fifth, I am reminded that these first weekends of October are the weekends we used to plant trees.  How many did we have for our last big plant at Plano Senior High?,  I don’t know.  I do know, however, that we planted in an hour 400 trees.  Go see.

And another high level board meeting, this with dad & daughter.

Then, closer to home & me there is Brent with his marvelous work as director of Souls Harbor.  There  is Hue.  Do you realize that from 2005, when we started, Hue has been our sound man, Sunday after Sunday.  Then there is Jan, our faithful hostess.

And finally the picture takers like Rick, Connie, Mike, and even Rosemary on occasion.  Without everybody’s patience our blog without pictures would be pretty boring.

So, Leo, you are telling me that all these people knew today's password.  

So, even if you are like me and cannot do all the works you would like, who gives you inspiration and faith in the goodness of others?

Welcome back home, Dearest Harper.  It has been no fun without you while you were sick

Readings:

Isaiah 25, 6-8,   On Mt. Zion the Lord will prepare a banquet. (special)

Psalm 63,  My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

Thessalonians 4, 13-18 ,  The Lord will come down from heaven.

Matthew 25, 1-13,  The kingdom of heaven will be like the 10 virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

Along with Claire, Rose, the whole community and I say, "Welcome home.  It is so nice to have you here."

Introduction

What we call Chapter 25 of the Matthew gospel is composed of three parables,

the first of which is about a Wedding Banquet, the Father’s gift of salvation.  The Bridegroom of this parable is the Lord, Jesus who is coming for his Bride, the Church, those who have welcomed and are living the Good News. 

Good Morning, Dearest Tori, Welcome.  It is so nice to see you.

The First Reading, [a substitution, Isaiah 25:6-8] is from the Prophet Isaiah. It describes the Wedding Banquet for those who seek to do the will of the Lord; what unites us together is good food, aged wine, and forgiveness.

Our Responsorial Psalm, ‘My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God,’ addresses our yearning for a spiritual banquet with the Lord. 

Emma, our Dearest Candle Lighter of The Week, in action.

Our Second reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Thessalonians addresses the mystical body of Christ rising together as one Body, for the Wedding Banquet at the end of time.

Our spiritual gift, of course, is that the Lord comes to us here and now in our banquet of the Liturgy of the Word and Eucharist, the fish and the bread.

Mike, conjuring up his neat little homily touch, namely Emma leading the community in singing, This Little Light of Mine.

The Holy Gospel according to Matthew: the parable of the Ten Bridesmaids.

I say to you that something is terribly wrong in the way we understand this parable:  We sense it in the failure of the wise bridesmaids to share some of their oil with the foolish bridesmaids whose lamps were going out.  Obviously, there must be an answer to this dilemma, and you will be surprised to find where I found it?

Want to go to Communion?  Jan & Bern will help you. 

Most of you can remember singing along with the children, as they held up their little paper or cardboard lamps, “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine….” You probably don’t recall that its meaning is purposely given in Matthew’s ‘Sermon on the mount.

Here they are, Folks, better than ever (as they say on Mike & Mike, A.M. sports radio).

You are the light of the world….let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” The oil that was brought by the wise bridesmaids for their lamps in this parable, is a metaphor.  It represents the good works they have done by loving others as Christ has loved them. When the wise bridesmaids, who are the Light of the World, trim their lamps with oil to go out to meet the Bridegroom, they are of course lighting the way for others as Christ escorts them to the Wedding Banquet.

This Little Light of Mine, will always be special because of you singing it for us, Emma.

The foolish, however, have no oil. Without good works it is impossible for them to trim their lamps, so the wise tell them to go to the marketplace for that’s where they can to do good works by becoming the Light of the World for others, the oil that gives glory to God.  It is where they can choose to use their God given talents for the good of all, to be the Light of the World in their encounters with the poor, the lonely, the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the sick. 

Acts 5:   So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.

Revelation 5:  "To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor, glory and might, forever and ever."

John 21:  So he said to them, "Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something."  So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish.

John Cade and John Stack start Mass

Thanks…     

Music,   Ben & Shonda

Outreach: $    250.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

Connie and John help with Communion

Rosemary's Blessing:

Walk softly upon the earth.
May its beauty forever surround you,
its wonders forever astound you.

May its wisdom delight you,
its music invite you
to dance and to play and to sing.

May you love and be loved by all that you meet;
may you know and practice compassion.

Rejoice in the earth and in all of creation.
Rejoice in life.

a parting blessing – alfred v. fedak – 2008

Introduction: While reflecting on our blessings of the week-

• We are blessed to be alive today, just as those who landed in the Hudson;

• We are blessed to be alive to witness Tuesday the inauguration of a black man where slaves once constructed the buildings.  Our people have grown.

Readings:  1 Samuel 3, 3-19; Psalm 40; 1 Corinthians 6, 13-20; John 1, 35-42   

1 Samuel: This is book one of two books.  The series is 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings; the characters being Samuel, the last of the Judge leaders of Israel-Judah; Saul, the first king; and King David. 

Authors:  Traditionally it was thought that 3 people wrote the book, Samuel, Gad, & Nathan.  Samuel, chapters 1-25; Gad was King David's historian, & Nathan was an editor.  Contemporary biblical experts think this unlikely & say that the works were put together at least 50 years after the time of the events.

Time:  The events take place ca. 1100-1000 BCE.  The compilation & recording of the events takes place ca. 950 BCE. 

Today's Selection: Yahweh is calling Samuel in a dream.  This ties in with the Gospel where three future apostles are called.  Samuel's parents were Elkanah & Hannah, and Hannah is famous because of a touching story about how she came to have Samuel.  She had been barren for years and even Elkanah's other wife ridiculed her.  One day the prophet Eli heard her crying and praying in the temple.  At first he accused her of being drunk.  Then when he talked with her, he promised that she would have a son. 

Hannah had promised Yahweh that she would dedicate to the temple her son, if she got one.  Consequently, our selection finds Samuel residing in the temple with Eli the prophet.  He would be about 12 years old.

Be aware that while these marvelous stories about Samuel are mythological, the writer is attempting to convey to a simple people lessons in trust in Yahweh.

What are You Looking for?

The theme of our readings this morning is obviously call & response.  Over the years you have heard repeatedly my 3 personal calls, the priest-Jesuit call, East Africa, and marriage.  You have reason to be tired of hearing the same stories.  Consequently, I looked around for sub-themes in the readings, and in my various sources a number of sub-themes came up.  The sub-theme that I want to talk about is stated by Jesus to the two future apostles, Matthew and (maybe) John, "What are you looking for?"  This is certainly relevant to what is taking place this week.  But first three other minor observations.

First, the verb stay is used three times.  The two ask Jesus where is he staying or dwelling.  They find where he is staying.  Then they stayed with him.  Significant to the writer?  So many times the writers have a special agenda in their use of a word.

Secondly, the verb see or looked intently at is used 5 times.  John the Baptist watched Jesus walk by, but really what is said is that he looked intently at.  Then Jesus saw the two.  Jesus tells them they will see.  The two saw where Jesus stayed.  Then when Peter came before Jesus, Jesus looked at him, really looked intently at him. 

Third, 4 o'clock in the afternoon.  In the original language it says 10 o'clock.  This is the eastern way of keeping time, the way I learned in East Africa.  There is another whole time calculation than the Greenwich Mean Time.  In fact, I find it more logical.  What is usually the first hour of daylight or the first hour of darkness?   7 o'clock in our time.  In the east the first hour of daylight & the first hour of darkness is 1 o'clock.  Our 7:00 A.M. & 7:00 P.M. is 1 o'clock of the day or 1 o'clock of the night.

Finally, "What are you looking for?"  Who knows, who cares?  Well, we know.  And we can care because what those two are looking for is basically what we are looking for.  So did they find it?

I would propose that we can say, 'yes, I know what they were looking for."  We are blessed because we have people who have gone before us who have mapped out what we people are looking for.  You may have run into this in psychology 101 or elementary psychology in high school, but it is useful to remind ourselves.  The person who for me mapped it out best is the famous psychologist, Abraham Maslow.  He has five stages of human need or what we are looking for.

Stage 1:  Imagine a pyramid and we are starting at the bottom with the most elemental.  What we are looking for at this stage is biological and physiological.  Namely, food & drink, air, shelter,warmth, sleep.  Our ancestors lived on this stage, but most of us today have this stage under control.

Stage 2:  Safety & security.  I may have shelter, food, and drink, but need a secure place to shelter, eat, and drink.  You may think this applies simply to robbers or security from getting bombed like is going on in Gaza right now, but how many little kids do not find this need stage satisfied.

Stage 3: Love & belonging needs.  I am part of.  A family, a group of peers or friends, a community.  I find acceptance, affection, and love.

Stage 4:  Esteem.  I have achieved, attained status, have reputation & recognition.

Stage 5:  Self actualization.  Self acceptance, acceptance of others and my world, inner peace, more fully alive.

I would observe that all of us in this community have stages 1 & 2 under control and probably also the other three stages in varying degrees.  I suggest that self actualization involves me giving back to others esteem, love, and a sense of belonging.  I also suggest that the usual obstacle to my greater self actualization is my addiction, whatever that may be, alcohol, drugs, food, TV, etc.

There is a little 5 question quickie self assessment that you may take.  I will put a link to it on the blog this evening.  Check it out.

What are you looking for?  Where are you?

AUDIO: http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2009-01-18.mp3

SELF ASSESSMENT: Download Quick self assessment

Picture 1:  Choir–Wendy, Shonda & Ray, & Celeste

Picture 2:  Birthday & Anniversary–Charlie, Claire & Ray

Picture 3:  Birthdays–David & Alexandra, dad & daughter

Readings:

Acts 1,  15—17, 20-26,  They proposed two, Judas, called Barsabbas, and Matthias.

Psalm 103,    The Lord has set his throne in heaven.

1 John 4, 11-16,   If God so loved us, we also must love one another.

 John 17, 11-19, So that they may be one.

Levi & Rich say, "Hi, Folks, Welcome in."

Acts: a review–

Author:  Luke, the author of The Acts & The Gospel

Date: ca. 50 years after the death of Jesus

Our Selection: Believe it or not, on this the last Sunday we read from Acts, we are now back to chapter 1 after getting as far as chapters 9 & 10.  What is going on is this.  The chapter opens with an introduction and then a description of the Ascension, Jesus going up in the sky.  Apparently the event took place about a half mile outside Jerusalem on the Mt. of Olives. 

Afterward, all the community come together in the room they had been hiding in. About 120 are present and Peter gets up to speak.  We read Peter's words. 

Victoria, also, says, "Come in, Folks."

John's letter: There is a great line in this selection.  See if you can spot it when you hear it.  I'll tell you after the reading, but a hint, it is the last line.

Sources: Good News Bible; The New Interpreter's Study Bible

And Annabelle says, "Guess where I came from, Everybody. I came from Seattle to see where my mommy grew up."

Our World, Good or Bad?

I like the line in 1 John which says that God is love.  This seems to go contrary to what our ancestors believed because they present a vision of a god who is certainly not into unconditional love.   I would like to believe God is loving.

However, there is another line in John’s gospel that I want to talk about this morning, the line that says we do not belong to this world.  Like, is the world bad?  What do you think?  Is the world bad or good and do we belong or not?

John, The Baby Whisperer, working his magic on Genevieve.

I propose that we do belong and that the world is good.  We make it better because we belong.  A story.

One morning recently I walked into the J (Jewish Community Center) at 5:30 to do my spin class.  As I walk in, another rider whom I like, Mike, comes in and we walk together down a long hallway to the room with the 25 stationary bikes. 

Somehow we get talking about his dad.  Mike is one of 12 kids and the family has done well.  The family came from Europe during the time of Hitler.  

When you live in Seattle, you know how to light candles, Annabelle & Oscar, Gloria and Eric.

At one point he tells me that during the holocaust his dad lost 70 to 80 first cousins.

I am stunned and shocked.  I have never known a person who has this experience in their family.  In fact, I have never known in my life so many Jewish people.  It is privilege and a pleasure. 

Mike’s story gave me two thoughts.  First, I was reminded of how horrible a time it was during the reign of Hitler and the 3^rd Reich.  A person living then, especially a Jewish person, could easily see the world as bad.

When you swim and dance, you can do anything. Georgie is ready.

My second thought was that Mike was an amazement, not bitter, not seeking revenge, but a person who presents himself as peaceful, friendly, and accepting of the events that took place in his family.  You know me, I actually got choked up with him when we talked a bit more after the spin class.  Mike chooses to see the world as good. 

Despite all the evidence to the contrary, I propose that the world is good, is beautiful, because of three phenomena, people, nature, and events.

Cole, What are you doing up here this morning? Oh, yes, it is cupcake time for birthday boys.

Mike makes the world good, Romeos make the world good (sometimes, maybe), you people make the world good and beautiful.  The people I go camping with in Yosemite also make the world good and beautiful, at least some of them.

Nature?  I find the beauty of Yosemite so overwhelming I have to go back every year.  I can find a beautiful world sitting in a rocking chair on our back porch having a cup of coffee early in the morning, while I gaze at the grass & trees in our yard.

Cupcakes of The Week line-up, Lily & Scot, Cowboy Cole, Gloria, and Maureen.

Events?  What about the marvel of our Sunday get togethers?  I go crazy over the beauty of Ragbrai, that bike ride I make the end of July west to east across Iowa, along with 15 thousand other crazies.  Talk about a people event.

What do you think?  Bad or good?  If good, what is your data? 

The Special Community Blessing for Oscar and Annabelle and the family.

Readings: Acts 13, 43-52; Psalm 100; Revelations 7, 9-17; John 10, 27-30

Acts – More on the travels of Paul and Barnabas.

How do I know I’m hearing the "Voice?"

Nine days ago there was a small article in The Dallas Morning News, Friday, April 20, that noted that "Pope Benedict XV has reversed centuries of Roman Catholic teaching on limbo."

What I was taught as a child was that unbaptized babies went to limbo if they died. So now what?

Infant baptism was all important. I should even baptize a baby without the parents’ knowledge if I was in a hospital and a baby was dying. Limbo was not heaven, but it sure was not hell, sort of an in between.

I was reminded by the first reading and the gospel of another belief I was trained in as a child: if you are not Catholic you are going to hell. I remember thinking how sad it was that so many of my parents’ friends, all protestant, were not going to heaven. It seemed weird.

Paul & Barnabas say that because the Jews rejected Jesus’ word, they condemn themselves as unworthy of eternal life. Likewise, they say that those destined for eternal life came to believe.

In the gospel Jesus says his sheep hear his voice and he gives them eternal life. Not that I want to be a sheep. Sheep are scared of everything.

These are two items of belief that I was trained on and they are no longer credible. 50 years from now what other beliefs will end up in the dust bin of history? No meat on Friday ruled my parents’ lives. Where is it? Yes, coming back, I know.

If there is no limbo, how does this affect the idea of original sin? Is there an original sin? What about the statement that God the Father sent his Son to die for our sins? Is this true?

Which leads me to ask, how do I know? In the gospel Jesus says, "My sheep hear my voice." How do I know among so many messages and voices that I am hearing the voice? I thought I was hearing the voice as a kid when I believed in limbo and the fact that only Catholics were going to heaven. Was the voice I heard divine or just some person who thought he or she knew? But didn’t. I do not want to be a sheep like I was in my youth, and follow anyone who thinks they know.

A couple of thoughts about discerning the voice.

First, I think the real voice gives my spirit peace. The other voices bring violence and turmoil.

I may not like what the voice whispers in my spirit, but ultimately I am peaceful. I may be dying. The voice says accept.      

Secondly, the voice gives me self-confidence. The false voices create doubts and lack of a sense of harmony. Like for years I doubted the limbo idea. Some well intentioned soul thought they knew. St. Augustine thought only Catholics go to heaven.

Like a sheep I could run from the questions. As a person listening to the voice I’ll face my questions.

Which brings us to The Question: What do you believe in; what are 5 things you believe in?

Download the homily as an mp3 file.