1st Sunday of Advent, November 28, 2021

Readings:

Deuteronomy 26, 4-10     You shall bow down in his presence.

Psalm 91,  Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.

Romans 10, 8–13,   The word is near you.

Luke 4, 1-13,   Jesus was led into the desert to be tempted by the devil.

 

 

Says Genevieve, "Welcome in, Folks.  Happy Valentine"s Day.

 

Deuteronomy 

The scene: The Israelites have escaped from Egypt and have been wandering in the desert for years.  They are just about to enter The Land.  They are assembled.  Moses is addressing them and reminding them of all Yahweh has done for them over the years of wandering.   

 

              

Cole, also, with Erin & Diane his mom & Grandmom, says, "Hi, Everybody, Come on in". 

 

In our chapter he is telling them that when they have settled in their new land, where he will not accompany them, they must take a basket full of a portion of their first harvest, present it to the rabbi, and offer it as a sacrifice of thanksgiving.   

Who: Though about Moses, Deuteronomy is a compilation of numerous sources. 

Guess when: post Babylonian Captivity, say 555.  Easy to remember.

 

Bethany, Can we trust you to get that cupcake to Vivian!

 

Having a happy, healthy, positive Lent?

Last week I talked with you about having a happy, healthy, and positive Lent.  How’s it going?   I have an example that may expand your possibilities. 

I have already mentioned a little bit of this story last week, but would like to get more into it.

 

David, Happy Birthday to Drew.

 

At the Jewish Community Center, where I arrive at 5:30 for a spin class, there is a guy named Michael at the entrance counter.  He is from Nigeria and new since the beginning of the year.  There was a lady on the counter for years, but she retired.  Nice, but nothing special.  Michael is special.

First off, he seems to have memorized every person’s name and usually what they want when they check in.  We introduced ourselves my first time to see him.  The second time he knew my name, knew I wanted only one large towel instead of two, and that I like a locker around the number 30.  He had it all.  There are hundreds of people who check in at this counter every morning.  I hear him call them by name.

 

Happy 22nd Anniversary, John, to you and Lambrini.

 

We chat a bit both when I come in and when I leave.  So, as I mentioned last week, I told him that our Friday spin teacher was having a birthday, that I was going to get the class to sing, and that I was going to give her a Cliff Bar (instead of a cupcake.  Good figure). 

So, Friday morning I mention to him I am going to celebrate Jennifer, and he says he will do something.  What I don’t know.  Like I said last week, what he does is he runs in as we are singing at the beginning of the class and sticks a big sheet of poster paper on the glass wall. The poster says, “Happy Birthday, Jennifer.”  I was surprised and delighted.

 

Happy Birthday, Dick.

 

Then at the end of the 45 minute class, Michael rushes in with a basket of 20 or so cold rolled face towels.   Again I was surprised, totally, and delighted.  Never before had any staff person done this. 

Michael is special.  He has a pretty insignificant job in the Center and he has used it as a platform to make a marvelous, positive difference.  He helps us all to start off the day with delight.  He makes it a joy to walk in the door, even on a cold morning in the dark.

 

Thanks, Cole for being a super candle lighter.

 

Do this and you make for a happy, healthy, and positive Lent.

So, how are you doing?

 

 

 Rosemary reading her Blessing of The Week.

                                               

Readings: 1 Kings 3, 5-12; Psalm 119; Romans 8, 28-30; Matthew 13, 44-52 (beautiful section)

1 Kings:

• Author & date of composition: a compiler who seems to have lived ca. 550, during the Babylonian captivity.
• Subject Matter: King Solomon, David’s son. 1 Kings was once considered part 3 of a 4 part series, 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings, all of which was called the Book of the Kingdom because the books all talk about the kings of the Hebrews after the rule of the judges.
• Sources of the Compiler: many, but in particular The Court History of David and The Acts of Solomon.
• Time Span of Kings: 450 years, from 9th century to 5th century B.C., King Solomon & the Temple to Nebuchadnezzar & the Babylonian Captivity, one of the great Hebrew catastrophes along with the Holocaust.
• Today’s selection shows Solomon is so wise, as he is given a choice by Yahweh.

A Man Who was a Treasure: Tom Collerain

Last Sunday, you may remember, we had a touching Mass and a fun brunch.  And seated right up there behind Ken & Cindy, Kim & Lance was Tom Collerain for the first time in about a month.  Rosemary & I had missed him, wondered how he was doing, and called him the week before.  He said he and Alice had just returned from a cruise on the Rhine, which was why we had not seen him, and that he was looking forward to Sunday and seeing everyone again.  As usual, Tom was there with his warm, marvelous smile.

That evening he had dinner at 6:00 with Alice, was cleaning up, and went out with the garbage.  Alice wondered what was taking him so long.  She went out and found him lying in the flower bed.  He had gone to the other side. 

Again this Sunday we hear more humble metaphors of what the kingdom is like, like a fishing net, like a pearl, like a treasure.  Folks, Tom Collerain was a treasure.  For at least three reasons.

First, because he was fully alive.  He received the gift or treasure of life and fully experienced it.  On the Myers-Briggs personality indicator, he probably was a judging or type A personality.  He lived with order, working out every day at 9:00, eating at 12:00 & 6:00, nap at 1:00, and probably on time for everything.  That was his gift. 

He also celebrated life, for example traveling with Alice after his retirement.  In fact, they had just returned from the Rhine.  To celebrate even more, he had the joker in him.  For example, he could have given me the one about the couple who were 60 years old and celebrating their 40th anniversary.  They were in a nice restaurant.  Suddenly a little fairy appears on their table and says that because they were such a good & loving couple, they could each have one wish.  Like Solomon.

The wife, with the wisdom of Solomon when she had a choice, asked that she and her darling husband be given a cruise trip around the world.  The fairy said yes, and, poof, two cruise tickets appeared on the table. 

When the fairy asked the husband, he said that he had a wish which was not intended to hurt his wife, but he would like a new wife 30 years younger.  The fairy & the wife look and each other, roll their eyes, the fairy says, “Okay,” and, poof, the husband becomes 90 years old. 

Secondly, Tom was a treasure because he was, as Alice describes him, a gentle man.  He was a gentle man because he was at peace, at peace with his numerous friends, so many of which showed their appreciation of him Wednesday at his funeral service.  He was at peace with his terrific family, with himself, and with his God.  He was likewise at peace with animals, so many of which he welcomed under his roof.  His favorite golden retriever, Rowdy, even reflected his peace.  When a litter of abandoned baby kittens from the neighborhood were brought in, it was Rowdy who would pick the little kittens up in his mouth and carry them around. 

Thirdly, Tom was a treasure because he considered himself a roof keeper.  He took care, he watched over.  In fact, once he retired he developed a talent for cooking he had put on the shelf when he was working.  It is amusing to note that Tom gave Alice one of her first cooking lessons.

Before they got married and were living in Houston, Tom brought Alice a gift of fresh corn on the cob.  She put it away.  A while later Tom returned, saw the corn, and suggested that she cook it up.  “I don’t know how,” she responded.  Tom taught her how to boil corn on the cob. 

It also seemed so symbolic to me that Tom’s last act was taking the garbage out.  How symbolic of how he spent time making his world a better place in which to live. 

I can see Tom this morning walking beside his favorite dog Rowdy, like he did so many times.  Rowdy is introducing him to all the new neighbors, for whom the gentle man Tom will act as a roof keeper. 

We have only so much time, folks.   How are you appreciating the treasure?

AUDIO:   http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2008-07-27.mp3

 

 

From Cindy & Ken, Bill & Cindy, "Welcome in, Everybody."
 

 

Welcome: Catholic Mass with coffee & juice, and pastries, some bought, some home-made.

Time: 9:30; Celebrate with the Community & Stack. & Mike homilizing

Place: Sigler Elementary, 1400 Janwood Drive, Plano, TX 75075

 

 

Hi, Vivian.

 

Readings:

Genesis 2, 7-9; 3, 1-7,  Eating the apple.   

 Psalm 51,  Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned

 Romans 5, 12-19   Then everyone will receive praise from God.

 Matthew 4, 1-11,    Temptation in the desert.

 

 

The Girls, Patricia, Cathy, & Sandra.

 

Community Activities:  

ROMEO MEET: Friday, March 3, Jason's Deli, Collin Creek Mall, west side of Central, 1:00.  Welcome all wakos,  you will fit right in.  

JULIET LUNCHEON, (aka.,just us ladies into eating together),      

Juliet’s Luncheon Ladies will meet Friday, March 3 at 1:00 P.M. at Ocean Seafood and Grill.  For all who have not been there the food is very good and reasonable.  It is a BYOB.  I thought this would be a good choice because it will be Lent and some of us do not eat meat on Fridays during Lent.  Ocean is at 3829 W. Spring Creek Pkwy., Plano, behind Chic-Fil-A which is on Coit Rd. (Spring Creek and Coit).  Please let me know if you can join us.  They do have other choices besides seafood.   Ron & Marilyn Ackerman [rmackerman5@gmail.com]

 

Love for the Kids, April 8, Welcome

 

 Healing for Rob.
 

What is going on in Our Catholic World

1. Big Doctrine Divisions in Rome, The Tablet,   2/23, 747 words,   Download DOCTRINE DIVISION 4-2-17
2. Big Loss for Abuse Commission in Rome, National Catholic Reporter, 3-1-17, 888 words,   Download ABUSE COMMISSION LOSS 3-2-17

 

Our Father with Buddy.

 

True?

Men hate those to whom they have to lie.

• Victor Hugo

 

 

Our Father with Hugh, Tom, Becky, and John.

 

See you Sunday.

J.S., 214-783-0443

Communion for Buddy. 

 

JSM Mission-Faith Statement

Help create a Catholic Community that welcomes all God’s People, provides for and challenges spiritual and total growth.

Reaches out to help people who are disadvantaged and make the world we live in a better place to live.

 

 Peace.

Isaiah 35:  Springs of water will burst out in the wilderness, streams flow in the desert.   Hot sands will become a cool oasis, thirsty ground a splashing fountain. 

James 2: Listen, dear friends. Isn't it clear by now that God operates quite differently? He chose the world's down-and-out as the kingdom's first citizens, with full rights and privileges. This kingdom is promised to anyone who loves God.

Mark 7:  He took the man off by himself, put his fingers in the man's ears and some spit on the man's tongue.  Then Jesus looked up in prayer, groaned mightily, and commanded, "Ephphatha! – Open up!" And it happened. The man's hearing was clear and his speech plain – just like that.

 

 

Another Reminder for 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 8, 2024

Music,   Ben 

Donna sharing a Thank You card from the men at Soul's Harbor for the sweatshirts and hoodies.

Expenses: $   2024   900.00           

                    2025   390.00

Outreach: $   2024   600.00           

                    2025   130.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

 

Lynda sharing a Thank You note  from the Plano Wellness Center for Older Adults for the gifts we gave them at Christmas

 

 

Rosemary's Blessing:

When the decorations of Christmas have been packed away then the work of Christmas begins:

Lord, help us

to find the lost,
to heal those broken in spirit,
to feed the hungry,
to release the oppressed,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among all peoples,
and to make a little music with the heart…

Adapted from Work of Christmas Begins by Howard Thurman

 

 

 

Baruch 5:  Wrapped in the mantle of justice from God, place on your head the diadem of the glory of the Eternal One.

Philippians 1: So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well.

Luke 3:  … John, Zachariah's son, out in the desert at the time, received a message from God.

John Cade's Homily from last Sunday:  Download 12-01-24 Homily- 1st Sunday of Advent

 

 

Mike celebrating his birthday at the Crab Shack with a tin foil crab on his head

 

 

Another Reminder for the 2nd Sunday of Advent, December 8, 2024