1st Sunday of Advent, November 28, 2021

Readings:

Numbers 67, 22-27,  The Lord bless you and keep you.

 Psalm 67,  May God bless us in his mercy

 Galatians 4, 4-7,  God sent the spirit of his son into our hearts.

Luke 2, 16-21,   The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God.

 

 

Genevieve, are you the little girl in the red dress who stole the whole show at our Christmas Eve celebration??

 

First reading: God blesses people in countless ways.  Today’s reading from the Book of Numbers is a priestly blessing given first to Moses by words that come to him from the Lord.

Second reading, Galatians 4:4-7: God sent his Son to redeem us so that we can become God’s adopted sons.

 

 

 

Brandon says, "Welcome in, Everybody.  Yep, she is the girl in the red dress."

 

Gospel reading, Matthew 25: 31-46:

John gave me permission to switch gospel readings. What you are missing is a small part of a metaphorical story about Mary, an angel, shepherds and the baby Jesus.

You might recall 15 or 20 years ago that the Liturgy of the Word, for each of the A, B, and C cycles on New Year’s Day, had as its gospel Matthew’s parable of The Last Judgment.  I imagine that its purpose was to encourage parishioners to incorporate some of its teaching into their New Year’s resolutions.

 

 

Alison, you know that the kids all love your home made communion bread and want more than one.

 

But I want you for a moment to think about where we live.  When we go shopping, to work, or to a movie or local restaurant, to Whole Foods or Target, it isn’t really clear to us if there is, for example, an orphan or a widow in our midst who needs our help.  

Simply put, we choose to support with taxes and contributions, governmental agencies and nonprofits, to provide food and drink to the hungry and thirsty and stranger twenty miles south of us. The fact is, whether we realize it or not, we distance ourselves from the needy.

 

 

Clear the way, Folks, here come Mike the Coffee Man.  

 

The meaning to today’s parable is this: When we distance ourselves from the needy, we distance ourselves from God.

I placed myself in the following scenario: I was in one of the poorer parts of South Dallas, around seven in the evening, in front of a drug store where I had gone to pick up some cough medicine.

 

 

Aiden with his grandparents, John & Jean O'Donnell.

 

When I got out of the car and pushed the button to lock all of its doors, I immediately noticed, about two yards from the entrance of the store a stranger, at least to me. He was homeless, for he was wearing too many clothes, unshaven, had dark hair and complexion, and he was finishing the last drink of water that he would get from a small plastic bottle.

 

 

Learning:  Big brother teaching little sister how to work a water fountain.

 

He was looking right at me, and I at him. As I approached him he addressed me in a language I did not know or understand.  Searching his face I sought his eyes and noticed a bit of a smile as he ran his fingers through his hair.  He reached to open the door for me.  What should I do? 

 

Mike ready to share his ideas in his homily.

 

In a split second I heard the question from the unrighteous in today’s parable, ‘When was it that we saw you a stranger and did not welcome you?’

 

 

Offertory, Cheryl, Carrie, & Paul.

 

Would I have responded with a joyful smile?  Would I have embraced him with his perfume of sweat?  Would I have kissed him on his forehead, taking hold of his arm to have him enter with me?  Would I have asked the people in the store if anyone knew his language so that I could find out why he was there and what he needed?  Would I have invited him to my home, offered him the opportunity to take a shower, laid out something for him to wear as I washed his clothes and prepared something for him to eat?   

 

 

Brandon, our Candle Lighter of The Week.

 

Jesus, an itinerant preacher, had a dark complexion and nowhere to rest his head.  Was he present to me here and now? The Lord in our parable was hungry, thirsty, a stranger longing for a visit.   Yes, every encounter we have with another is meant to be a holy encounter.  

 

Our School gorilla (know any other school with a pet gorilla at the door to the cafeteria?) says he is happy to see us back in the cafeteria after being in the gym for Christmas Eve.

 

When we name the other person God, we name ourselves.  We verify our name, the body of Christ in the world.

 

 

 

Sirach 27:  Forgive your neighbor's injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven.

Romans 14: For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; …

Matthew 18:  Peter approached Jesus and asked him, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often  must I forgive?  As many as seven times?"  Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy -seven times."

 

The rain is coming

Mary commenting on the homily

Community Finances:   

  Expenses: $  330.00

  Outreach: $   

 

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

John and Connie

 

 

Rosemary's Blessing:

Loving God, through the gift of our fathers,

you reveal your wisdom, love and care.

 

Continue to bless and guide these holy men

you have given to us in our lives.

 

Support them in their call

to lead holy lives of faithfulness, respect and integrity.

 

May their witness of faith and love

shine from them and on their children and families

giving hope and encouragement to all.

 

Bless them for all the ways they lift their children to achieve their dreams.

Bless them for their sacrifice, their forgiveness and their guidance.

 

Bless grandfathers, uncles, brothers, cousins, teachers and coaches

who have shown us love and support.

 

For those fathers who have lost a child or spouse,

give them your loving touch of healing

consoling them with your gentle care.

 

For those fathers who have gone before us,

bring them to your eternal banquet of joy and peace;

bring them the fullness of union with you

and communion with us as we remember their love for us. Amen.

 

(Adapted from Fr. John Thomas Lane, SSS)

 

 

Happy Father’s Day

In the spirit of Holy Week, here is a copy of a contemporary  Stations of the Cross which we have used in past years.  You may like to read them as a family and meditate on them.

 

If you would like to download and print the stations here is a link Download Stations of the Cross-Covid 2020.

 

Stations of the Cross -  Good Friday   Station Focus Application 1 Jesus is condemned to death For all those who have been condemned to die Innocent people have been condemned to die.  We are blessed in this community – we have health care and food when we need it.  Many people die because they do not have access to doctors, nurses, clean water.  Let us pray for those in need of these most basic resources.  Let us pray for those who are suffering from Covid-19.  Let us also pray for those unjustly condemned to die or spend their life imprisoned.  Let us pray to the Lord.  Lord hear our prayer. 2 Jesus is given his cross For all of us that we may bear our cross with acceptance We all have our crosses – physical, emotional, economic. We deal with the pot holes in our journey  as best we can and with the help of our family and friends.  Right now we are dealing with staying home and being isolated.  Let us pray that we can help others who need our friendship to help them to carry their cross.  Let us pray to the Lord.  Lord hear our prayer. 3 Jesus falls the first time For all of us who have failed We all fall down along the way.  Sometimes we fail because of things out of our control and sometimes because of things within our control.   Let us pray for peace during our current staying at home.  Let us pray for patience with ourselves as well as a renewed conviction to try again.  Let us pray to the Lord.  Lord, hear our prayer. 4 Jesus meets his mother For our mothers and other significant women in our lives Mothers hold a special place in our life's journey.  We ask a lot from them and have great expectations of them.  Let us pray for the mothers of the world that they have the strength and love to do what is needed for their children and that they are loved in return.  Let us pray for all those who have lost their mothers.  Let us pray to the Lord.  Lord, hear our prayer. 5 Simon of Cyrene carries the cross For people who help us when we are in need We all need help at one time or another.  We are also given the opportunity to help others.  Let us pray for the humility to accept help when we need it.  Let us also pray that we may see where we can help.  Maybe a phone call is exactly what someone needs these days.   Let us pray to the Lord.  Lord, hear our prayer. 6 Veronica wipes the face of Jesus For all the care givers Care giving can be rewarding and also exhausting.  May those who care take with love the elderly, the infirmed, the young, the poor, relatives and strangers know that they are appreciated for their care giving.  May we be grateful for our doctors, nurses and front line health care people especially at this time.  Let us pray to the Lord.  Lord, hear our prayer. 7 Jesus falls the second time For people who are hard on themselves We can be harder on ourselves than anyone else.  We expect a lot from ourselves.  May those who are never satisfied with themselves, know that  they are lovable, learn to accept being imperfect as we all are, and also learn to laugh at their mistakes.  Also, may we be there to give them a positive word.  Let us pray to the Lord.  Lord, hear our prayer. 8 Jesus meets the daughters of Jerusalem For people we meet on our life's journey We meet many people on our life's journey.  Some are important.  Some are almost invisible.  Some are rich and some are poor. May we see the gift that they are to us and likewise that we may be a gift to them.   Let us pray to the Lord.  Lord, hear our prayer. 9 Jesus falls the third time For people who have addictions and keep falling Addictions come in all sizes and styles.  Food, control, smoking, alcohol,  drugs, deviant behavior.   We pray for those people who are fighting addictions and we also ask your help to renew our pledge to do better each time we fall again.  Let us pray to the Lord.  Lord, hear our prayer. 10 Jesus is stripped of his garments For people who have been stripped of their dignity in one form or another The poor, the homeless, the unemployed, the disabled have all been stripped of some dignity.  May we treat each person with the respect and honor with which we would want to be treated ourselves.  Help us to reach out at this most difficult time, in whatever way we can to help the most needy.  Let us pray to the Lord.  Lord, hear our prayer. 11 Jesus is nailed to the cross For all the nails we use on occasion – sharp words, prejudgement, impatience It is so easy to do and it can be so hurtful.  Help us to grow in patience,  acceptance and positive words for others.  Help us to smile, say hello and wish others a good day.  Let us pray to the Lord.  Lord, hear our prayer. 12 Jesus dies on the cross For all those dying or near death We all will die.  May we pass in peace and among those we love and who love us.  At this time, we pray for all those who have died and are dying from Covid-19.  Let us pray to the Lord.  Lord, hear our prayer. 13 Jesus' body is taken down from the cross For all those who have experienced the death of someone significant in their lives Everyone has lost someone perhaps a parent, a spouse, a child, a relative, a friend, a dog, a cat.  It hurts.  May we be there to comfort those who are suffering from losing someone special. Let us remember those who have lost a loved one from Covid-19.   Let us pray to the Lord.  Lord, hear our prayer.

 

 

Acts of the Apostles 1:   Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the eleven apostles.

1 John 4:  God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.

John 17:  Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth.  As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world.  And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.”

John Cade's Homily from 5/5/24:  Download 05-05-24 Homily -6th Sunday of Easter

 

 

Ladies' Luncheon

 

 

Welcome in Everybody, and welcome to Advent.

 

Readings:  

Jeremiah  33, 14-16, “The days are coming”, says the Lord, “when I will fulfill the promise I made.”

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

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

Like 21,  25-28, 34-36, There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars.  

 

 

 

Welcome from today's Offertory Team, Michelle & Gil, Carol & Rich

 

 

One Day on a Walker   

For a New Appreciation of People, Try a Walker

This morning I would like to talk about how I came to see again how genuinely good ordinary people can be.  Want a quickie answer to that?  Try lumbar stenosis which leads to lower back pain which leads to life on a walker.

 

 

Another Day on the walker.

 

Two examples.

Just after the doctor put me on a walker I had an 8:00 A.M. appointment with my skin doctor.  It was freezing dark, cold, windy, and I had to park in one of those ground level parking areas, like about ½ a mile from the double glass entrance doors. 

As I hobbled up to the doors, a guy and a woman jumped ahead of me and held the doors open for me.  I was most touched.

 

 

Leo the Candle Man in Action.

 

The same thing happened when I departed the buildings.

Other similar events happened all the time we were in Hilton Head.   But a special one took place at an Alabama highway welcome facility just departing Georgia. 

We stopped in the visitor space to visit the facilities.  As I approached the one story building I noticed that the host of the facility this particular morning was a black guy about 60.  He saw me and was immediately heading toward the entrance doors.

 

 

Buddy reading the Blessing of The Advent Candle.

 

We arrived about the same moment and I reached out to pull outward the right hand door.  Trouble was, I was coming at it from the left.  I was awkwardly pulling the door with my right hand when the guy opened the door and stepped out to help me. 

Lucky me, because I was planning on using the door handle with my right hand to balance.  Suddenly the door was open, the handle out of reach, and I am falling over—right into the arms of the welcoming station.  Yes, he caught me and graciously got me righted.

 

 

Yes, Harper, you look really pretty with your new shorter hair.

 

Then, even at the restroom door, truckers were holding it so I could enter and depart.

I have been most touched, folks, and feel privileged.

Any of you seen these people around lately? 

And the question I would ask normally, I don’t ask now because it is irrelevant.  You do this kind of activity every day.

 

 

Could it be that Leo's most favorite time of our Sunday Mass is the Cupcake of the Week time.