Sunday Homily, October, 6, 2019, 27th Ordinary Time
The Brain Trust.
Readings:
Habakkuk, 1, 2-3, 2,2-4, I cry for help, but you do not listen
Psalm 95, If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
2 Timothy 1, 6-8, 13-14, Stir into flame the gift of God.
Luke 17, 5-10, We are unprofitable servants.
You see this Buddy! He has the whole Blessing of The Candles memorized!
Where is the spirit these days?
I never know from where or why suddenly something or someone will really touch me.
On floor #1 on board the Viking Sea there is a grouping of 2 small & one larger room with workout equipment. 6 to 7 every morning I used to work out. Get this, even Rosemary joined me. Then at 7:00 we would head down to the atrium on the same floor where there is a small bar that serves the best lattes on the ship.
The Candle Lighting Girls, Tori & Zoe.
About the third morning out I am working out on a stand up elliptical when I hear the clear and friendly voice of a guy on a treadmill behind me. It seems like he enjoys talking with everyone.
The room has three elliptical & 4 stationary bikes in one line and a second line of maybe 6-7 treadmills, all facing the big windows outside of which the sea is going wild.
The Offertory Team, Bill, Fred, and Martha.
I chat up the guy when he finishes and we are both drying off. This goes on maybe 4 more days when one morning we all 3 get talking at the water fountain in the corner. In answer to his question, whatever it was, Rosemary & I share the story of our marriage. He goes crazy. I tell him he is welcome to share it with others and he does.
Maybe 2-3 days later I realize the guy is working out twice a day. I am impressed and see why he looks to be in such good shape, being in his late 50’ or 60’s.
Tara, where did you get that megawatt smile??!!
We go on for another 2-3 days until we arrive at L’Ance au Meadow in Newfoundland, a fairly recently discovered area where a Viking village existed some hundreds of year ago. To get from the village where the ship moored to the former Viking village Viking Cruises had to requisition 10 or more buses, school buses no less.
Lo and behold, at the Viking village we meet up with our new friend and get talking. It was a delightful sunny day, mild temperature. We asked him more about his life. We already knew he was a university professor.
Fred & Martha, So good to see you both in town and with us.
Turns out he had to watch both of his parents slowly deteriorate one from Alzheimer's & one from Parkinson's. Because of this he tries to stay in the best shape possible. This news really stunned me. Just that he shared it meant a lot. No wonder he works out so faithfully, something I certainly appreciate and emulate.
When was the last time your spirit was touched?
(What about Izzi’s baptism last Sunday!)
The Best Music with Shonda, Ben, & David