Sunday Homily, November 24, 2019, Christ the King

Sez our dear Harper "Welcome in, Everybody."

Isaiah, a review

Here is another of those passages which make me love Isaiah so much.  I have mentioned this before.  He is my favorite.  

Today we have Isaiah III talking to the Jews who have returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian Captivity, about 555 years before Christ.  It helps to picture the mood of these people. 

Away we go!

Are you a Cowboy Fan?  How do you feel about this year?  Multiply this by 10 and you have how the Jewish people felt after 50 years of slavery and  their town destroyed like New Orleans or parts of Preston Hollow. 

When he says Jerusalem or Zion, he is talking to these beaten down people.  Later centuries church leaders began to make these words have two meanings, the city and we Christians.  Jerusalem, then, applies to us.

Sources: Good News Bible, The New Interpreter’s Bible

Takes Zoe to really light a candle.

Readings:

Isaiah 60, 1-6,  The glory of the Lord shines upon you. (nice)

Psalm 72,  Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Ephesians 3, 2-3, 5-6, God's grace was given to me.

Matthew 2, 1-12,  Where is the newborn king of the Jew?.

And to really get  it lit, it takes Victoria.

The Epiphany, a Cornucopia of Symbols:

2 observations–

Where to begin, folks.  There is so much symbolism in this liturgy, in Matthew, for sure, and in the combination of Matthew with Isaiah and Psalm 72.  Matthew carefully crafted this story to appeal to both his fellow Jews and the Gentile population.   I'll touch 2 points, each with 3 subdivisions..         

And to really get it all right, it takes Buddy to read the Blessing of the Candles.

The Wise Men have a double & triple significance because they are

1. Gentiles
2. They come from the east, considered the source of wisdom in the world of that time.  Where does the sun rise?  Where do stars rise?  A new son has been born and like the sun in the east or a star he will bring new light. 
3. They are searchers & symbolize every man’s search for meaning in life.    Remember Matthew speaks to two audiences, his fellow Israelites, whom he is chastising for not searching, and the Gentiles. 

And then backing it all up is Leo singing.

2. The 3 gifts. 
3. Gold is given because it signifies royalty. 
4. Frankincense, or incense, signifies divinity. 
5. Myrra signifies medicine.  Myrra is for the human.  It comes from a bush like tree that has a yellow, sticky sap on its bark.  The sap was good for skin infections and acne, asthma, colds, and flu, and even herpes.  It is found in Saudi Arabia & Somalia.

Bringing the gifts Bernadette, her daughter Michelle, and Grace.

 A post script.  People in Europe used to write an inscription over their doors, e.g. 20+C+M+B+17.  The numbers are our year.  The letters are Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, supposedly the kings' names.   Christians made it say, “Christ & you 3 kings bless our house or Maison the year listed."

And trouble with Richard, Cody, & Ben.

 Another post script.  In New Orleans Epiphany starts Carnival season, which leads up to Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday before Ash Wednesday.  The parades start, folks.  Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler.

 Sources: Reginal Fuller, St. Louis U. Liturgy; Biblical & Theological Resources, the Voice Institute, on line; Wikipedia; and other sources.

The communion team with Patricia, Claire, Geri, Grace, & Denni.   Thanks, You All.

An Epiphany Story

Rosemary & I once went to the exposition of some paintings of about six or eight artists. Among the artists and the reason we were there was my childhood buddy, Ed Lamberty, who gave the homily here on alcoholism & AA some years ago.  He was presenting some of his works.

 As we were wandering around we ran into another couple who are old friends.  We ask what brought them to this exposition.  They pointed across the room to a middle aged, middle class, blondish woman who was standing by some of her works.

Hi, Marlene, Mabel, & Cindy.  So good to see you.

 Here is the story the wife told me.

The couple we know are both academics on the university level.  Some years ago the wife had been teaching and came to know one of her students.  The student was a mother with a son about 8 years old.  At some point in time the father had abandoned them and left them with nothing.  They were living in the mother’s car.

Thanks, Rick, for all the good pictures.

My friend says to me that this so shocked her and she thought this cannot continue.  An Epiphany moment.  She described the situation to her husband and two sons who were about 10 & 12.  Guess what they did.

They invited the mother & son to live with them until they got on their feet.  The two sons moved into one bedroom and the mother & her son took the other.  Here they lived for almost a year until the husband found the woman a job. 

Peace, Everybody.

The woman now is successful and is developing as an artist, selling her works for big sums.  The son graduated from Jesuit, graduated from college, and now is married with a couple of his own kids. 

 Obvious from the fact that they were at the art exposition, my friends are still quite close with the mother & her son. 

Peace for 2020.

I would propose that this is what epiphany is, a light shines on a presence.  The presence is a challenge and, perhaps, involves care for others.   The presence may be the example of another person.

 Who is an epiphany for you?

 For whom are you an epiphany?

Readings:

Jeremiah 33, 14-16, In those days Jerusalem shall dwell secure.

Psalm 25, To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

1 Thessalonians 3, 12- 4, 2, May the Lord make you increase and abound in love.

Luke 21, 25-28, 34-36, Be vigilant at all times.

Wendy is Back! At least for this Sunday, and her buddy, Leo

Jeremiah observations:

Who:            One of the Big 3 prophets, 52, chapters.  Called the sorrowful prophet because he did not want to condemn his people.  He had to and as a result was beaten, put in stocks, thrown in a cistern, threatened with death, and imprisoned.  In fact, Nebuchadnezzar released him and admired him.  He also wrote Lamentation, Jeremiah grieving over the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, and the slavery of the people.

When:  as a convenient date, use 600 before Christ.  Jeremiah knew how the Assyrians had destroyed the northern province of Israel and taken off the 10 tribes living there.  Jeremiah saw the badness of the Jews in Judah and he saw the Babylonians threatening.  He finally saw what he foretold, the Babylonian Captivity.

Alison coordinating communion.

Subject: like all prophets, condemn behavior, foretell punishment, envision recovery and peace.  Jeremiah does it all.

Today:  parallelism.  This is the key.  It ties Jeremiah’s vision of release to Luke’s of redemption.  God saves his people from slavery; Gods saves us, his people, from slavery. 

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

Georgie making her debut as an Altar helper, with Kevin

 Vigilance!

I want to talk today about the advice to be vigilant.  To lead into the topic I have another biking story.

This took place recently in, I think, the Greenville bike rally.  I was at a rest stop.  I usually stop every 10 miles and drink a lot of liquid so that I am ready to visit the portapotty at the next 10 mile stop.  The stop was not my first, maybe my 3^rd or 4^th. 

The Cupcake of The Week going to Emma, 3 years old yesterday, Saturday.

I had just eaten a banana and was talking with people around me.  I threw the banana peel at a trash can and missed.  So I went over, picked it up along with a few other things, and threw them into the can.

Mabel and Curtis with Marlene

 A lady behind me says, “Hey, thanks, I really appreciate you picking up.”  She was one of the volunteers running the rest stop.  I thanked her in return and said I appreciated her mentioning it.  I talked with her a few more minutes, then rode on.

Zoe, believe it or not, with Buddy

As I rode I reflected back on the event and how touched I had been by her simple thanks.  Which leads me to our subject, vigilance.

First, I want to say the real vigilance is not watching out that something bad is about to happen.  I am not about to be caught in a trap.  There is no cosmic assault.

Meredith

Rather, especially at this time of year of Advent, I am looking for the small ways God taps me on the shoulder.  He/she is saying, “Thanks, you are okay, peace.” 

The flip of this is true, also.  I look for the ways I can touch someone, complimenting them, even just saying thanks. 

Meredith and her dad, Joe

So, I would propose that vigilance during this waiting period for Christmas means being aware of all the many, many ways I am blessed & touched by God each day, just as we mention at the beginning of all our Masses. 

Meredith and Brent sharing vows.

 The lady in Greenville probably has no idea she was God’s touch to me.  Moreover, she has no idea we are talking about her.  A simple blessing.

So, go be vigilant!

Readings: 

Romans 1, 1-7,  Grace to you and peace.

Matthew  1, 18-24, She was found with child through the Holy Spirit.

Georgie arriving ready.

 Christmas observations:

1.  Celebration of Christmas was banned in Boston up until ca. 200 years ago.  The Puritan influence.  They had seen the corruption of Rome and the inquisition.  They feared and hated Rome and Catholics.
2. Rome had a feast of Saturnalia, which was connected with the Winter Solstice.  It was a feast of the harvest and of light, light returning in the northern hemisphere.  For centuries Roman Catholicism refused to honor the feast, but eventually adopted it as a date for Christ’s birth.
3. The winter solstice had been celebrated for 10,000 years, back when humans started farming.
4. Christmas Eve, Kinshasa, Zaire, 1977.  I was in Kinshasa, Zaire (now, The Congo), Christmas, 1977 and attended a Christmas Eve Mass that was marvelous, singing that went on forever and dancing on the part of the African priest in a very colorful set of vestments.  Having a good set of kidneys helps because the celebration goes on  2 ½ hours.  

Emma saying, "Welcome, Everybody."

Seen The Spirit Lately?

Ever get the feeling that the world is just getting worse every year, more wars, more killing, more kids being hurt, everything worse?  Where is the spirit of peace and caring?

I would like to propose the spirit is here.  Good things are taking place.  Let me give you 4 examples that have just taken place.

Buddy lighting the 4 Advent Candles.

The first I heard about took place during the ice storm the week after Thanksgiving.  I35 going north through Denton became a parking lot when 18 wheelers got stuck and blocked the highway.  This happened that Friday afternoon and the highway was probably down for the night. 

The pastor of some church in the area heard about the people on the highway.  He gathered a bunch of his community and out they went to the highway with food, hot drinks, and blankets for those who needed them.  Some people were even invited into people’s homes.

You folks would do this.

For all your work with the candles, Buddy, you get a cupcake of the week.

At the same time that afternoon our neighbors called to invite us to lunch on the grill because our electricity was off.  They had a gas grill.  The lady across the street offered to let us stay at her house.  She had electricity.  We were on the second of our two day return drive from Thanksgiving at Rosemary’s sister’s house in Hilton Head.

Secondly, you remember that I worked in Oklahoma after the tornado.  I heard of a lady who is making special Christmas ornaments for people who have lost all their precious ornaments.  I thought about those people whose houses I helped to clear out and thought what a nice idea.

Aiden arriving with hoodies for Soul's Harbor.

Thirdly, three celebs, two sports stars and one singer.

Ever hear of Andre Johnson of the Houston Texans, a wide receiver.  For the 7^th year in a row he took 12 underprivileged kids on a shopping trip at Kids R Us.  They had 80 seconds, his number, to grab what they wanted.  He even chipped in an Xbox 360 for each kid.  17 thousand bucks.  Sounds like Love for the Kids.

Leo baby sitting Claire.

Also, Damien Lillard, 23, a hot new player for Portland.  He took a whole bus load of kids on a shopping trip.

Then, the singer Beyonce went into a Wal-mart, bought 750 $50 gift cards for everyone that moment in the Wal-Mart. 

Cathy & Connie accepting Cupcakes of the Week for their birthdays.

Fourth.   Out of bad stuff, good stuff.  A grandmother was caring for 9 young kids somewhere here in Dallas.  She had bought their presents and had them hidden in her apartment.  Yes, you guessed it, they all go stolen.  The story got out and she received more presents than she could ever have afforded. 

Where are you seeing The Spirit of peace and caring this Christmas?  How are you contributing to it?

Can we trust this guy? Accepting Meredith's cupcake because she is sick.

 Readings:

Isaiah 43,16-21, In the desert I make a way.

Psalm 126,  The Lord has done great things for us, we are filled with joy. 

Philippians 3, 8-14,  For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things.

John 8, 1-11,  They brought a woman who had been caught in adultery

Think it is hard to get Leo to Mass on Sunday?

Emma, too.

 Isaiah Observations:

The scene: the Jewish people are captives in Babylon ca. 550 years before Christ.  Isaiah the great prophet had warned the people that their bad ways were going to lead to this. 

In this chapter 43 Yahweh reminds them of how much he has done for them in the past and lets them know that they are still his people.  Their lives will get better.   The writer is Isaiah 2.  There are at least 3.

The first 5 verses of this chapter are some of the best in the Bible, telling the people to not be afraid because he is with them. It goes— 

Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you.  I have called you by your name.  You are mine.  When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you…  When you pass through fire, you will not be burnt. 

Soul's Harbor truck which the community filled. Patrick shared his marvelous history of recovery with us, which is why we have no homily today. Patrick is going through drug recovery at Soul's Harbor, which we support.

Philippians

Philippi was the first church Paul set up on European soil.  He is in prison.  He is basically saying that for him nothing has any importance beyond his relationship with Jesus.

Guess who this is.

Cole with his dad, Chuck.

Video: Cupcakes of the Week, Ken, John, and Brooklyn (2, today; 30 sec.)

Readings:

Isaiah   53, 10-11,  The Lord was pleased to crush him.

Psalm 33,    Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you

Hebrews  4, 14-16, Let us approach the throne of grace.

Mark 10, 35-45,  Whoever wishes to be great will be your servant.  

                     Victoria says, "Hi, Everybody, Welcome in."

Isaiah:

A review:  

Authors: at least 3 because there are 3 distinct parts to Isaiah the book.    Today's author is number 2.

Time of Composition: near the end of the Babylonian Captivity, i.e., ca. 555 Before Christ.

 Subject Matter: part 1 up to chapter 39, warnings about impending doom because of the badness of the people.  The remaining two parts are called the Book of Consolation, letting the people know that a more peaceful &:prosperous time is coming.     

One exception: 4 Suffering Servant passages in writer number 2, plus today's passage.  

Emma and her buddy, too, say, "Good Morning, Folks."

Today’s Selection:   Isaiah number 2.  Pretty nasty treatment being dealt to someone.    4 observations—         

          A. This chapter in 2 Isaiah is not included as one of the 4 Suffering Servant Songs, even though it presents the same theme.           

          B. The he, the servant that is talked about is

                    –for the Hebrews, the Jewish nation/people;

                    –for Christians, Christ.         

          C.  False Belief number 1?  The Jews thought Yahweh demanded suffering or sacrifice of valuable items ( e.g., sacrificial lamb, scape goat ) as payment for badness or for favors.   

          D.  False Belief number 2?  The early Jews & Christians believed that an original great sin had been committed by our ancestors & that sin could only be paid for by a human-divine hero, Jesus.  He had to be sacrificed to this god.  Or as the first line of our official reading says, “The lord was pleased to crush him with infirmity.”  

Do you think God crushes people with infirmity?   Was there really an original sin?   Contemporary theology says no.

       And not to be left out, Buddy says, "Welcome, Everybody."

If I don’t want to be 1^st, do I have to be a slave?

I want to talk today about being first and being a servant or slave.   Or if I don’t want to be first, do I have to be a slave?  I am uncomfortable with the either or.  I have seen good people get obsessed with serving.  Can there be a healthy middle ground?  I would say, yes, and it is self acceptance of myself as I am.   A story. 

You all know that Rosemary & I love to ride our bikes around White Rock Lake.  We go south on the White Rock Creek Trail from Royal Lane.  The second bridge we go under is the bridge where David Stephens was killed Monday Mmorning, 7:45.   Then circle the lake clockwise with a break at the boat house at the south end, near the dam.  All together about 20 miles.

                                     Zoe, the Candle Lighter

Homeward bound from the boat house we use West Lawther Drive, a beautiful little lane running between the lake and gorgeous mansions. Lots of bikers use this road and walkers and runners use the path meandering along closer to the lake.

There can be mini, spur of the moment competitions on this road among northbound riders like we are.

One day I am cruising along Lawther, when I am passed by 4 young kids about 13 years old, 3 boys & a girl.  “Whoa,” I think, “How can these kids

                      Genevieve says, "It is nice to be baptized."

do this to me?”   “I am going to pace these kids.”  

 I discover that these kids are well coached by somebody.  They are drafting and they are changing leader every mile or so.  Plus, they are flying.  I don’t draft, but I stay behind enough.

We fly under the bridge that is Nwst. Hwy and race up the White Rock Creek Trail.  I keep up with them, but don’t like it.  They are going too fast, especially on curves, doubly especially on curves that involve shaded tunnels under bridges, a bit like Walnut Hill.

Finally, about half way up the trail to Royal Lane, I Iet them go.  I never see them again.

                           Is it Hug Your Gorilla Sunday today?

I decide two things:

1. I will not race with people on the White Rock Creek Path.  Too dangerous.  Both West and East Lawther Drives, okay.
2. Give up trying to be a great biker or first.  I am a B level biker.  I am a B level athlete and a B level intellectual.  In fact, one of the therapeutic values of biking is that, just after I think I am hot stuff because I have passed some young dude in all his fine bike clothes, along comes someone, like a girl, who passes me like I am waiting at the DART station.

 Anybody not want to be first once in a while?  Be best in something?  Absolutely normal.  Look at sports, academics, appearance.  So does that mean I have to be a slave or servant?  Very tricky statement psychologically. 

                          The Team, Georgie & Kevin.

2 Observations:

1.  It is normal and okay to want to be first. I hope so.   Certainly I know kids at 75 who have it.
2. When Mark says “servant” and “slave,” do you see Mark’s hyperbole, his exaggeration, and his use of infinite demand?   This is his literary tool to make a point. 
3. From my experience, the danger is…  A person who is religiously obsessed, poorly trained, spiritually & psychologically insecure, or scrupulous, this poor person can take the servant idea to an extreme.  The motto is, “Always better to give than to receive.”  No way.

                      The best music, Mary, Bethany, & Ray.

I have known & worked with people with this mentality.  We had them in the Jesuits.  The person cannot allow anyone to do anything for them.  Sometimes it is called scrupulosity.

For that matter, I have some of that stuff.  I don’t always like to be on the receiving end.  Giving and serving can be quite comforting.

                   Rosemary reading her Blessing of The Week.

Spiritual health avoids extremes.  It helps me to accept myself as I am.  It also challenges me to make a difference in our world.

On the one hand, how do you handle not being number one?  On the other, how do you help others healthily? 

Two of The Best, Cindy & Dee.

Readings:

2 Malachi 3, 19-20, Lo, the day is coming that will set them on fire. 

Psalm 98,  The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.

2 Thessalonians 3, 7-12,   Anyone unwilling to work should not eat.

Luke 21, 5-19,  The days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another.

The best of Teams.

Thanksgiving, 2019-11-15

Guess what, Everybody.  Two Sundays and we celebrate my most favorite holiday, Thanksgiving.  To get us into the spirit I want to describe my three biggest blessings of the year.

The Candle Lighting Ritual.

Blessing 1 is my health.  My whole life I simply assumed that I would always be healthy. 

Trouble started last Thanksgiving when Rosemary, Aviana, & I made our annual visit to Rosemary’s sister’s in Hilton Head.  I could hardly walk, even with a cane.  My routine doctor sent me to an orthopedist.  I’ll never forget the visit.   He pointed to his computer screen, said, “I can fix this.”  He even said he had one opening before the New Year.  Did I want it? 

Wow, did I want it!  I had lumbar stenosis, a pinched nerve in my lower back. 

Buddy reading The Blessing of the Candles (not memorized yet).

While I was dealing with this my parkinson decided to get more active.  My neurologist said exercise, box, work out on ellipticals, anything to get my arms swinging.  He gave me a pill to take 3 times a day. 

We had a May cruise in the North Atlantic & I was pretty nervous, even just with the trans-Atlantic flight.  I took a cane.  I never used it.  Everything improved.  No dizziness, better coordination of my legs and arms. 

Which brings me to today and Thanksgiving.  I am grateful.

The Offertory with Tom & Susan & Bill.

Second blessing  of the year: you people, our community.   The generous spirit of everyone, the eagerness to support & pray for our people who need special care, and the way everyone pitches in.  Buddy & Georgie, John & Mike, Ben & David & Shonda, Jackie & Connie, all plus many others who make our Sunday celebrations so touching.  I am humbled and blessed by all of you people.

The Communion Team.

The final blessing of 2019: Rosemary, my blessing for 15 years & more.

Your blessings of 2019?

Twins??  The Best.