Reminder for Sunday, August 11, 2019, 19th Ordinary Time

Readings: 2 Kings 5, 14-17; Psalm 98; 2 Timothy 2, 8-13; Luke 17, 11-19.

2 Kings:

• Time of the events: 900 B.C.
• Time when written: 550 B.C., during the Babylonian captivity
• Subject of 1 Kings: This book continues the history of the kings taking up with the death of King David and continuing through the story of David & Bathsheba’s son Solomon.  He builds the famous Temple of Solomon.  After his death the nation divides into the northern & southern states, Israel in the north, Judah in the south (including Jerusalem; remember by the "J’s").
• Subject of 2 Kings: This book continues the history of the decline of the two states until Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeats the people. 
• Subject of our chapter 5 (read it all, it is delightful): one of the leaders of the Syrian-Babylonian army goes to visit the prophet of the day, Elisha.  Naaman, the general, has leprosy.  Note the twist of the story at the end.  Thanks is a theme of this selection and it sets the stage for Luke’s story about gratitude.

Gratitude

Last Sunday after our Mass, after Rosemary had counted the income, and had put it on spread sheets, we got in the car to go out for the evening.  I dropped her off at the Royal Lane & Preston Tom Thumb to buy something, she gave me some letters to mail at the corner, and she gave me the two envelopes to deposit in the bank on the same corner.  We always deposit that money right away.

I drove through the parking lot to the mail box and dumped in all the envelopes. All the envelopes.  Namely, her letters and the two bank deposit envelopes.

I knew almost immediately what I had done and, in fact, wanted to reach down into the mail box to retrieve the deposits.  However, I realized I could go to jail for that.  So we typed up a special note with our phone number and put it in the mailbox and figured we would make contact with the Royal Lane post office early the next day before pick up.  Guess what Monday was: Columbus Day, a postal holiday. 

Tuesday morning I got a call from the main post office that they had one of our deposit envelopes and I could pick it up.  When I met the guy I confessed that I was embarrassed to admit that I was the person who put the deposits in the mail box.  He says to me that as a matter of fact it happens a lot on that corner and that a woman had actually put in 10 thousand dollars in cash. 

So we have gotten back the running expenses deposit and still are waiting for the outreach envelope, which he seems optimistic will show up.  The thing that touched me, however, was how this postal supervisor treated my brain dead behavior with such a light touch.  I thanked him for both, for getting the envelope and for making light of it all.  I was really grateful.

The two stories we have in today’s readings are all about gratitude. A few observations.

First.  The temptation is to think I am one of the nine who did not return to thank Jesus. Yes & No.  I would suggest again: we are both.  Lots of times we forget to thank.  Lots of times we thank. 

Second.  There could be symbolism in the nine and one.  Perhaps I am nine tenths ungrateful and one tenth grateful.  This is a pretty normal proportion. A lot of times, however, I am not so much ungrateful as just insensitive, totally unaware.  Perhaps the lepers who did not return just figured they were lucky and went on their way.  The other guy realized he had been given a gift by that stranger and wanted to respond.

Jesus  tells him his faith has saved him.  I would suggest that his gratitude transformed him.

Third.  How is it possible to rearrange the percentages?  Rosemary & I have a favorite little practice that we do every night.  I’ve mentioned it before. We ask each other what were the blessings of the day.  I recommend this. I even recommend it for sitting alone, while savoring the first cup of coffee in the morning, driving or riding the DART to work & back, getting ready to go to school.  Simple question: what were my blessings yesterday or this week?

In that main post office I could have focused on how dumb I was or that I did not get the second deposit back.  Fortunately I could appreciate the supervisor’s light touch and that I had gotten back one envelope, the larger.

You may start now: what were your three biggest blessings this week?

AUDIO: http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2007-10-14.mp3

Readings:

1 Kings  17, 17-24,  The life breath returned to the body of the child.

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 9, 11-17,  Young man, I tell you, arise.

Emma with her arm back in a sling. She was getting a bit sporting before the collar bone had completely healed.

 Observations on the readings: 

1 Kings 17:17-24

The young man’s mother recognizes that the word of the Lord
truly comes from Elijah’s mouth.  He
breaths forth life into her son in this parable.

Second reading: Galatians 1:11-19

Our Gospel is the proclamation of good news, where good news, is a noun. Paul is preaching good news that came to him
through a revelation of Jesus Christ, where preaching
good news is a verb.  The Gospel
hadn’t been written, yet.

Leo has found a new toy.

Gospel:  Luke 7:11-17

Paul uses the word ‘flesh’ at least 100 times in his
letters, once in our short reading from Galatians. 

 I want
you to understand a verse from John’s gospel. 
‘What is born of flesh is flesh; what is born of Spirit is spirit.  To be born only of flesh means that when a
decision needs to be made that person relies only on his mind…and the mind
seeks to have the flesh satisfied. 

Celeste.

Everything
God created is good; the flesh is good. For example; if you work hard all
morning your stomach lets your mind know that your body wants some food.  So, if you are home, you use your mind and go
to the refrigerator to find something to eat. 
Your mind will seek to satisfy the flesh when you open that door.  Anything is fair game. 

Cupcakes of the Week, Mike, Diane, and John (really for Alison).

But, what is born of Spirit is spirit, where
the Spirit has a [capital S].  The Spirit
enhances the flesh!  Instead of a desire
to satisfy your flesh your desire is to put your spouse first, even if he or
she is not there. What is born of Spirit is spirit. 

Offertory, Jean, Doug, Cliff, and John.

A great way to hone in on Spirit-living
begins with, ‘in everything give thanks.’ 
If you go to the refrigerator only to find it empty, give thanks. Your
desire to satisfy just the flesh will begin to fade away.  Pick up the list of things on the counter
that you and your spouse make to replenish the empty refrigerator.  Give thanks when the parking place is further
away from the store than you had hoped. The exercise will be good. 

Harper.

Someone left a cart in a good parking place.
Give thanks that someone will find it a good place as soon as you push it
toward the store doors. 

Number 2. Affirm
your spouse for the great things that he or she put on the grocery list.   Affirm the stocker who has just filled up
the shelf, ‘looks great.’ 

Delgado Corner with Bernadette and Gilberto sitting with Emma, who has come to see where all her playmates are today. They are on vacation.

3, Be a good
listener at home, and enjoy looking into your spouse’s eyes and touching his or
her shoulder or hand. 

Last of all always
forgive your spouse; it is in giving that you receive.  Remember, forgiveness is the message of the
good news of Jesus Christ.  Recall for a
moment our communal services in Lent and Advent.  You listen, you look into each other’s eyes,
you ask to be forgiven, you forgive others; you embrace; you affirm; you give
thanks. 

Little Axe, OK, scene of the first of 3 tornadoes around & in OK City. Notice how the wind has bent the two steel I beams which had been the foundation for a large mobile home.

In today’s gospel, a young man
is seeking forgiveness. The assembly ritually carries him.  He’s not heavy; he’s their brother. The
assembly mourns along with his mother for all of times that they have not shown
love.  They are professing their faith with
him.

Little Axe, we made 3 piles on the edge of the road, metals, wood, and trash. This is mostly wood. A trailer truck with a set of large jaws was picking this up and placing it into trash trucks.  This pile has been pushed up to the road by a bulldozer.

In this parable Jesus is there to grant forgiveness to this young
man.  He will rise to be set free, unbound from whatever had enslaved him.  In faith, through the power of the Holy Spirit
we can say those words to someone; and we have during Lent and Advent.             

Is there someone you know who needs
to be forgiven.   Give thanks that you
have the time to heal yourself and them this week. 

Little Axe, upside down pickup with a trailer dumped on top. Chaos everywhere. More about the trip this coming Sunday.

Readings:

 Isaiah 35, 4-7, The eyes of the blind will be opened.

Psalm 146,    Praise the Lord, my soul.

James 2, 1-5, 21-22, 27,  Show no partiality

Mark 7, 31-37, Jesus heals the deaf & mute man.

John sharing his homily.

Homily:

Last Sunday Stack reminded us about how Moses told the people of Israel that they would have their own land promised by Yahweh.  And how after Moses’ death Joshua and others wiped out the Cannanite tribes who resided there, and just moved in. 

Leo

The theme today is that of healing.  During the week I was touched by two visuals of a lack of healing for people.  The first was the visual of a dead child lying on a beach in Turkey, whose family were trying to get from Syria to safety in Europe.  His family was one of thousands escaping from war torn Syria, escaping death by the King’s military, or by the rebel fighters, or by ISIS jihadists.  Newspeople often refer to them as ‘immigrants’–-yet their country is in civil war and there is hardly a safe place for anyone on any side.  They are refugees.  They leave everything behind.  They cross the Mediterranean in rubberized boats or rafts.  Many don’t even make it to the first stop in Turkey.  These thousands of refugees are leaving their homes, leaving their land, in search of a safe place for their families, for their children. 

Allison and Genevieve

The second visual that struck me this week was from a series of articles in the National Catholic Reporter on the ‘Doctrine of Discovery’ and its impact on people over centuries.  The ‘Doctrine of Discovery’ is found in papal bulls beginning in 1436; that’s almost 600 years ago.  One example is a papal bull from 1493, after Columbus’ ‘discovery’ of the Americas.  This papal bull gave Ferdinand and Isabella “full and free power, authority and jurisdiction of every kind” over almost all of the Americas, except for part of modern-day Brazil and a few islands.  Some say this was the beginning of international law as each succeeding papal bull would quote or reference those that came before.  When, in the late 1400’s discoverers were finding lands far away from Christian Europe, they found these lands occupied with non-Christian peoples, tribes and civilizations.  The papal bulls gave Christian discoverers full power and authority over all non-Christian peoples in these lands.  This meant the land could be claimed by the Christian discoverer (like for Spain or for France, etc.) and the non-Christian people could be enslaved, made to become Christian, even killed if they resisted.

Shonda and Ray

Fast forward to 1823.  This Doctrine of Discovery was legitimized in a ruling by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall.  His ruling maintained that Native Americans had the right to ‘occupy’ land, but not have full ownership, and that tribes were dependent on the federal government.

Emma and her friend

So the two visuals that touched me this week were the thousands of refugees fleeing Syria, especially the little boy lying dead on the beach; and the millions of peoples in the Americas, Africa, the Pacific islands, etc., dispossessed of their lands, culture and religion, to a large extent due to a series of papal bulls and the Doctrine of Discovery. 

The Offertory. Warren, Barbara, Mary, and Frank

What would healing look like for the people of Syria fleeing war and devastation?  What would healing look like for the offspring of the indigenous peoples of North and South America? of Africa? of  the pacific islands?   

Harper

And how do I individually, or as a member of this Christian community, promote healing in my own world?

Readings:

Isaiah  55, 6-9,  Our God who is generous in forgiving.

Psalm 145,   The Lord is near to all who call upon him

Philippians 1, 20-27,  Christ will be magnified in my body.

Matthew 20, 1-16,  The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard.

Leo says, "Hi, Everybody, Welcome in. It is so fun."

Isaiah 55  observations—

Who:  My favorite prophet.  In fact , Isaiah 2 is my favorite of the 3 composers of the Book of Isaiah, and our selection today is the very last chapter of Isaiah 2.

When: remember these 3 writers wrote more or less before, during, and after the Great Babylonian Captivity, ca. 555 before Christ.  So, we can guess that today’s selection from Isaiah 2 comes from the time during the Captivity.

What:  Isaiah 2 has some of the best and most beautifully consoling passages. Check out The Messiah. Unfortunately, our little selection today talks about scoundrels and the wicked, in other words, about us.   Maybe these people are mentioned in connection with the people who grumble in the Gospel today.  See what you think.  I am cheating a bit with the reading.  I've added about 4 more lines that are more typical of Isaiah 2.

Y Alesia dice, "Bienvenidos, Todos. Descansense aqui.

This is not Fair!

This morning, Folks, I would like to talk about these workers hired by the vineyard owner.  We hear how the workers who worked all day got the same wages as those who worked one hour and we want to yell, “This is not fair!” 

Want to know what this parable is basically saying?  First, it is all gift.  Everything is gift.  Secondly, comparison is poison.  “How come he got this and I did not?”  “How come I got sick and he did not?”  Our lives are all gift.  Comparing myself with others poisons my spirit.

A story of the week to illustrate.  Guess from where I got it.  From our Yosemite trip.

The Bridge.

There was a man I met on the trail.  It is the second half of our 8 night adventure and the second day of rest, nights 6 & 7.  It is a gorgeous day after a rainy day.   I am standing on a suspension bridge over Woods Creek, just contemplating the beauty all around me.  A great sense of gratitude at being there at that moment.

We are in a valley.  The bridge is about 40 yards long and about 40 feet above a rushing stream.  The bridge sways and rocks when you walk on it.  There are two long cables going over two wooden towers.  There are vertical cables holding up the walkway.  We have a beautiful campsite just off the upper end of the bridge and just above the stream.

The Bridge looking toward our campsite on the left in the trees. Somebody is coming.

An elderly man comes onto the far end of the bridge.  As he approaches my back, I say over my shoulder, “Good afternoon, how are you doing?”, like I do all the time with people I meet on the trail and even at White Rock Lake.   No response.  Thinking he may not have heard me because of the roar of the stream, as he passes my right shoulder, I say, “You okay?” 

He grumbles, “Surviving.” 

His wife is following, so I enquire a bit more.  Turns out they are hiking the John Muir Trail for about a month and they are maybe in a little bit over their depth.  Both are elderly, though not probably as much as my 74 years, but not in good shape.

Contemplating the beauty looking south & east.

The John Muir trail is one of two famous trails going north-south through Yosemite.  The other is the Pacific Crest Trail.  The John Muir runs south from Yosemite Valley to Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the continental U.S.  People hike the whole thing in 3-4 weeks, depending upon food supplies stationed along the way. This year we saw an unusually high number of these John Muir hikers.   For part of our trip we were on the trail for a few miles.  

This couple touched me and I talked later that evening around the campfire with our group.  I mentioned how sad.  I have been overwhelmed all day with the gift of being where we are.  I am so grateful that I can still hike to these beautiful places.  And this hiker is grumpy.  Does he not see the gift?  

It is all gift.  Health or no health, rich or poor, life.   

What is your gift today?

Contemplating, looking west & north. Going right on this bridge we headed down the trail to Lower Paradise Campsite, our last campsite of the 8 nights.

Welcome in, Dearest Harper.  I wish I could have been with you this morning, but next week for sure.

Readings: 

1 Samuel 1, 20-22, 24-28, In those days Hannah bore a son

Psalm 84,  Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord.   

1 John 3, 1-2, 21-24, See what love the Father has bestowed upon us.  

Luke 2,  41-52,  When he was 12 years old they went up according to the festival custom.

Thanks for your beautiful welcome Cindy & Dee.

HOMILY     

Since the Church has always taught that Jesus was truly human, I like it when the Scripture gives an example of the family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus as an actual, real human family.

Rick, you make an excellent candle lighter.  Thanks for your help.

Today’s Gospel gives such an example. Luke’s story hints at a family conflict caused by Jesus’ behavior. Luke gives us just a glimpse of the conflict, but I can imagine it going something like his mom, Mary saying, “How could you do this to us? Not telling us where you were all this time. This was hurtful to your father and me. We’ve been looking for you since last night; and were worried to death all this time! Don’t you know how disrespected we feel? We taught you better than this”…(and perhaps, both concerned parents, either Joseph or Mary said)…“Do not do this to us again!”

Thanks so much for your company yesterday, Mike.  You sure helped me to wait patiently while my surgeon got delayed for almost 4 hours.  We actually had fun in that OR waiting room.  Like with the lady who was wanting nothing but a coffee while she waited.

As for Jesus, I can imagine his side too. Some claim Jesus had brothers and/or sisters. Whether he had siblings or not, he was twelve, equal to a teenager today, a time kids are practicing behaviors that are rebellious or just plain independent. Working with your Dad learning carpentry isn’t bad, but Jesus may have begun to experience it’s limitations. And being in the big city for the first time as a 12-year old probably exposed Jesus to opportunities he hadn’t considered before—like a chance to talk about the Scriptures with temple scholars.

Hi, Jan, Where is that crazy guy you hang out with, like you know, that Sir Charlie?

Luke had his own goal in mind, building up Jesus’ credentials as a kid wise beyond his years and already showing an advanced knowledge of the Scriptures. So we don’t get the whole story here, of Joseph and Mary and Jesus, being a working class Jewish family living all those years in a small town.

The Best Music with Shonda, Ben (where is your hat), and David.

Though just a glimpse, in this story Luke gives us a hint of the holy family being like a regular family I can identify with. How about you? Can you imagine from Luke’s story how the family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus acted and lived—and had conflicts—much like your own family?

John sharing another of his insightful homilies to end the year of 2018.

"Welcome in" says Georgie.

Readings:  

 Deuteronomy 6, 2-6,  You shall love your God.

 Psalm 18,  I love you Lord, my strength

 Hebrews 7, 23-28,  The law appoints men subject to weakness to be priests.

 Mark 12, 28-34,   Which is the first of all the commandments?

Jan our special hostess at her welcome to communion table.

Deuteronomy observations:

1.  The work is the last of the 5 books of the Pentateuch, following Genesis,  Exodus, Leviticus, & Numbers.

2.  The work is organized as a series of addresses given by Moses to the people of Israel in the land of Moab, where they had stopped at the end of the long wilderness journey and were about to enter and occupy the land of the Canaanites.

3.  The theme of the book is that God has saved and blessed his chosen people, whom he loves.  They are to remember this, and love and obey him.

4. Joshua is commissioned as the next leader of the people, i.e., God's (Yahweh's) people 

Buddy reads our Blessing of The Candles.

Pittsburgh

Jerry Rabinowitz, 66, worked as a primary care physician, was deeply active with HIV victims especially when it started, infamous for his bow ties.

Cecil Rosenthal, 59, and his brother David, 54.  Cecil was outgoing & gregarious while David was more self contained.

Richard Gottfried, 65 neighborhood dentist, married with a Catholic wife.

While her brother reads The Blessing, Zoe lights our candles.

Irving Youger, 69, when you walked into the synagogue, Irving was the first person who would welcome you and help you find your seat.  He had been a little league coach and a real estate agent.

Daniel Stein, 71, and retired.

Joyce Fienberg, 75, a research specialist at the U. of Pittsburgh, petite with huge personality.

The Offertory Team, Marlene, Bill, & Cindy, all Ekes family.

Bernice Simon, 84, and her husband Sylvan, 86, considered the sweetest couple who, 62 years ago, wedded in this same synagogue.

Melvin Wax, 88, full of jokes, a passionate Pittsburgh Pirates fan, was always in a good mood.

Sez Leo, "Welcome in, Folks."

Rose Mallinger, 97, spry, vibrant, full of life, sharpest wit, with her family being everything in her life.

Judah Samet, 80, Hungarian, was in the parking lot, saw the shooter.  He survived the Nazi holocaust as a child of 6.

 Even with the massacre of Pittsburgh, we will give thanks this month.