Sunday Homily, March 10, 2019, 1st Lent
From John & Connie, "Welcome in, Everybody."
Readings:
Deuteronomy 26, 4-10, He brought us out of Egypt.
Psalm 91, Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.
Romans 10, 8-13, No one who believes in him will be put to shame.
Luke 4, 1-23, Jesus in the desert for forty days.
Likewise from Jackie, "Come on in, Folks, & welcome to Day- light Savings Time."
Sunday Homily, Mike Carrell, 3-10-19
Lent is preparation for Easter, so the words spoken over those who desire ashes are more appropriately the choice given by the Church from the Mark gospel, ‘The time is fulfilled; the Kingdom of God is at hand; Repent and Believe in the Good News.’
Welcome, Ana-Patricia & Alicia, from the old 10:30 cafetorium Mass at St. Marks.
Last Sunday, led by our musicians, we responded together from the Psalm 92, ‘It is good to give thanks to the Lord.’ That psalm reminds us to begin and end each day saying, ‘Thank you Lord for being with us, here and now. Thank you Lord for the seed that you have sown into our hearts along with a the desire bear good fruit. Let us be led by your Spirit to be Love in this world.
And while we are at it today, welcome to more 10:30 cafetorium Mass goers, Cathy, her daughter, Katy, and Katy's marvelous fiance' Enza from Uganda, no less. But he does not speak Swahili!
Here and now, in every moment of the day, we are the body of Christ in the world. Our mindset should constantly be that we are meant to be Love, in everything we say and do. So,‘In everything give thanks for that is God’s will for us in Christ, Jesus.’
Not to long ago, I was in a waiting room while Judy was being seen by a doctor. There were a hand full of children’s books among the magazines on a table there. They usually have a good intended meaning, so, I took the liberty of choosing Aunt Grace and her nephew about to give birth to a garden. I smiled, and said to myself, ‘With a name like ‘Aunt Grace,’ this is got to be good.
Hi, David, Hi, Caroline.
Before they took a step into what would be their garden, they started with a prayer. Then they began to remove the weeds, cans, bottles, sticks and rocks. When that was done, they broke open the soil and used a wheelbarrow to cover it with an abundance of new mulch, to provide the garden with good soil.
The Most Reliable Jan making sure everyone can go to communion.
This sounds a lot like Lent doesn’t it; with each of us refreshing our garden, and why John has a Sunday each year when we grant God’s loving forgiveness to each other. Lent is a time to be more aware of the people we meet everyday. With goodness and kindness, we can smile more; say thank you more; and you are welcome, more.
The Bona Responds Team on site in Wilmington, NC, to help people with recovery from the Hurricane Michael last Fall.
We can do lots of little things like letting the car and its occupant get in front of us without honking at them. Let’s be aware of the mother with small children. We can help her put her groceries in her car, and to push her cart back for them. Let’s have a neighbor or two, or three over for coffee. Practice makes perfect.
From our community, Connie & John Bresson, David Dinsmore, and, of course, Bill Hammond. From St. Bonaventure University, the man behind all the recovery work so many in our community have volunteered for over the years, Jim Mahar.
So, what was it that Aunt Grace and her nephew sowed in their garden? Of all things, Potatoes. She taught her nephew how cut up potatoes that were covered with eyes into pieces, so that the eye of each piece could and would be placed in an upright position within the good soil, looking up to the heavens with faith that this would bring forth a bountiful harvest, that they could share with their neighbors.
Our journey through Lent has just begun. Who might you invite to journey with you?
What a Team!