The Baptism of the Lord, January 9, 2022

Genesis 9:  “I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. . . . "

1 Peter 3:  Put to death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the Spirit.

Mark 1: "This is the time of fulfillment.  The kingdom of God is at hand.  Repent and believe in the gospel."

 

 

 

 

Readings:

Samuel 3, 3-10, 19,   The call of Samuel by Yahweh.

Psalm402,  Here I am, Lord, I come to do your will.

1 Corinthians 6, 13-15, 17-20,  Your bodies are members of Christ.

John 1, 35-42,  What are you looking for?    

 

 

 

 

Thanks, John, for celebrating this week while Rosemary & I had a wedding for her youngest sister's son, Sean, in Mount, Laurel, NJ, just east of Philadelphia.

 

 

The reading from First Samuel tells a story of Samuel’s call by God and how difficult it was to hear it. The Gospel reading tells a story of the call of Peter and Nathaniel by Jesus. These stories are both dramatic in their details and their telling.

 

But even kids seem to hear a call on some level—they seem to identify with things bigger than themselves. I remember my grandson Leo, at about age 3, saying: “I want to be a scientist”, or “I want to go to ‘space university’”. At that same age, we heard how strongly he identified with something bigger than himself. Joey would tell Leo that he was going to go to Texas U.(her college), and Daniel would say that he was going to Oklahoma State (his college).

 

 

 

Sir Charlie, I don't trust you so close.

 

 

Leo’s speech was still rudimentary then and when we said, “Leo, when you grow up, you’re going to Texas U.”, Leo would say with great determination, “No, I’m going to ‘okeenokee steak’. Without even knowing what it meant, Leo, so young, had listened, heard a call, and strongly identified with a parent’s alma mater. He became a follower.

 

In the olden days, today’s readings about a call from God would be used to talk up vocations to the priesthood and the religious life. Though the church still suffers from a clerical culture and a vertical patriarchy, we know all are called to priesthood, to minister—to serve and care for one another. So some calls are special, some are dramatic, like Samuel’s and like Peter’s and Nathaniel’s.

 

 

 

Hi, Beth, Hi, Emma.  So nice to see you.

 

 

I echo Stack in that the call to serve, to care, to follow—is most often a small voice, usually inaudible. We have to be listening for it. Problem: having a ‘habit of ‘listening’ is not automatic. We’re not born with it. But we can all learn to ‘listen’ and, by practicing listening, we all can develop it into a habit.

 

So, when we ‘listen’ daily to what we read or to what others say, or become attentive to random daily situations, we are developing the habit of listening. Our practice at the beginning of Mass to pause and ‘listen’ can be the beginning of developing the habit of listening.

 

 

Hi Tori, Hi, Zoe, So nice to see you girls, too.

 

 

There was the story on TV this week of a man who saved a stranger’s life by pushing her away from an oncoming car which then hit and killed him. This man and this woman had both stopped to help out another driver whose car was stalled. Like Samuel’s and John’s stories, this is a dramatic and amazing example of someone hearing a call, it’s a hero story—difficult, if not impossible, to identify with.

 

What the newscast doesn’t tell us is the back story, how this man and this woman likely lived their lives—my guess is they had a habit of listening for the many small daily calls to care about others in small ways, in ways we all can. This is within the reach of all of us: to develop a habit of listening for those small everyday calls to serve and to care for others.

 

 

 

 The Girls, Cheryl & Marilyn

 

 The question: Can you hear those small daily calls? And have you developed the habit of listening?

 

 

 

 

THE CUPCAKE!!   Here I thought I would get to raz John & Connie for eating the cupcake I entrusted to them to take on the plane to visit Bill Hammond in Pagosa Springs.   I knew they would waste no time in eating it.  Wrong.  I got snookered!

 

 

Readings:

Deuteronomy  30, 10-14, If  only you would heed the voice of the Lord.

Psalm 69,  Turn to the Lord in your need and you will live

Colossians 1, 15-20,  Christ is the first born of all creation.

Luke 10, 27-37, What must I do to inherit eternal life

 

Welcome home from teaching in Beirut, Lebanon, Our Dearest Celeste.   Nice to have your daughter home, Filipita.

 

 

The Good Samaritan

This morning I would like to talk about two subjects, being a good Samaritan and and an old Red Sox fan who thought he was going to hell.

When Rosemary & I return to Northwood Park from riding the White Rock Creek trail, we get on west bound Royal Lane and usually catch the red light at Central.  Almost always, summer or winter, at the base of the light is a guy & sometimes a woman, frequently young, holding a sign asking for help.  I find this uncomfortable, especially is they come over to my window, me in air conditioned comfort.

 

 

They are home, Folks, Buddy, Tori, Zoe, and Georgie.  It is so much more fun when you all are here.

 

 

The problem is that I know they can get aid, food, and shelter at numerous places in downtown Dallas, especially like The Bridge.  In the company of a girl from Hockaday, a next door neighbor I have served dinner at the Bridge numerous times.   And you know what I am told often?  Don’t give handouts to those begging at stop lights.  I know, the word is that some don’t like sleeping in dormitories.

 

 

Patricia, too, says Welcome Home!

 

So how do I handle m discomfort?  First, I can help at The Bridge and I was donating platelets at Carter Blood once a month until I got rejected for low iron.  But equally important for me is the support I give and our community gives to the Food Pantry and, the best of all, Souls Harbor.  Brent & his team are doing it, not just with food and shelter, but also with guidance, education, and AA programs.  Souls Harbor is a harbor for me & my guilt.

 

Thanks, Connie, for your pix.

 

The summer of 69 or 70 I spent 3 months working as an intern priest chaplain.  I loved it.  One afternoon I walked into a room of a Red Sox fan.  Despite that he was a really good guy,probably younger than I am now, like in his early 70”s.  He had the Boston lingo.  And I teased him about it.

After a visit or two the old guy let me know that he knew he was dying,  it was coming fairly soon, and he was okay about it.  Kids?  None.  Wife?  Yep.  Still alive?  Nope.   Next, I do not know how it happened.  Maybe I said, “Well you will see your wife pretty soon.”   His response was that he was going to hell. 

What??  I almost croaked.

 

Says Sir Charlie, "John, see this note?  It is a special message, John, from the Pope to you.

 

Turns out he married once when he was like 19.  It lasted a while, then they separated.  A few years later he met his second wife and they had a happy 40 or more years together, until she died fairly recently.

You know what doubly blew me away.  He was peaceful about his imagined fate.  He loved his real wife.

 

 

Leo, you are growing up to be one great Kid.

 

Well, you know what I said to him.  Even 30 or more years ago I knew that there was no hell.  It was a concept created by the Jewish elders to keep the troops in line.  And we inherited it.

Can you believe it?   There is no hell, no conditional love.

 

 

The Best Music with Shonda, Ben, & David.

 

 

1 Samuel 16:  There – anoint him, for this is the one!  Then Samuel , with the horn of oil in his hand, anointed David in the presence of his brothers;

Ephesians 5:  Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.

John 4:  As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth.  He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and said to him, "Go wash in the Pool of Siloam"

 

There will be a Celebration of Life for Ron Senter on April 1st at 2:00 PM at Restland.

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Stack Ministries now meets at:  The ArtCentre of Plano, 902 E. 16th St, Plano

 

 

 

 

2 Kings 5:  Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel.

2 Timothy 2:  Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, together with eternal glory.

Luke 17:  Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine?

 

 

John about to begin Mass

                                                  

 

Thanks…      

Music,    Ben & Shonda

Readers,  Mary & Frank

Gospel,   John Cade

Homily,  John Stack

Eucharistic Prayer A & B,  John Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,      Hue & Richard & Kevin

Final Blessing, Rosemary

         

                                                   

Frank reading from 2 Kings
       

 

                                                                  

Readings:  Download 10-09-22- Readings – 28th Sunday Ord

Homily:   

 

 

Remember these special people:

For Jan; For Sandra who has been diagnosed with Large B Cell Lymphoma;   For Lambrini, John Cade's wife, who is dealing with cancer and Kaliope, John Cade's Mother-in-law;  For Donna and the Dinsmore Family after her brother, Dennis died  from pancreatic cancer;   For Hue; For Jackie;  For John's sister, Kathey recovering from a fall;    For Tom Good;  For a young man, 19 struggling with a brain tumor and cancer;     For Mary Hall's friend Cadence still suffering from a serious medical condition;   For Sir Charlie & Jan; 

                                                                     

Mary reading from Paul's Letter to Timothy       

 

 

 

 

Jackie's mom, sister, & friend, Lynn;  For Rick Turner searching for a kidney donor, Type O neg.;   For Jean & Cliff Wright;  For Dee, and for her daughters, Lisa & Lauren;     For a young man who is suffering from depression;  John Cade's daughter, Joey, with cancer; from Barbara, a little baby boy named Ford recuperating from an operation & friends, Annie, a mom of 3 kids and Michael ;    for the medical staffs, teachers, and coaches in our public & private schools.

 

 

 

Jan and Charlie are here    

 

 

Birthdays:   

Anniversaries:   

      

Community Finances:   

Expenses: $   590.00

Outreach: $  355.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

                 

Connie telling us about Bona Responds and everyone's memories of Bill

 

 

Rosemary's Blessing:  

May you be blessed with the gift of humility

To know who you are,

To appreciate your strengths and talents,

To be aware of your shortcomings and limitations,

And most especially…

To be grateful each day for life

Unknown

Isaiah 35:  Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing.

James 5:  Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is a hand.

Matthew 11:  Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.

     

Christmas Eve Mass will be on Saturday, December 24th at 4:30 P.M.  There will not be a Mass on Christmas Day. 

 

 

Mary reading from Isaiah

 

 

Thanks…     

Music,    Ben & Shonda

Readers,  Mary and Tom

Gospel,   John Cade

Homily,  John Cade

Eucharistic Prayer A & B,  John Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,   Hue & Richard & Kevin

Final Blessing, Rosemary

         

                         

Tom reading from James

 

               

                                                                  

Readings:  Download 12-11-22- Readings – 3rd Sunday of Advent

Homily:  

 

 

 

Sweatshirts and hoodies collected for the men at Soul's Harbor

 

 

 

Remember these special people:

For Jan;  For Tom  Quinn who is having back surgery on November 21st;  For Sandra who has been diagnosed with Large B Cell Lymphoma;   For Lambrini, John Cade's wife, who is dealing with cancer and Kaliope, John Cade's Mother-in-law;  For Madeleine, Richard Eshelbrenner's granddaughter;  For Hue; For Jackie;  For John's sister, Kathey recovering from a fall;    For Tom Good;  For a young man, 19 struggling with a brain tumor and cancer;     For Mary Hall's friend Cadence still suffering from a serious medical condition;   For Sir Charlie & Jan; 

       

Jackie's mom, sister, & friend, Lynn;  For Rick Turner searching for a kidney donor, Type O neg.;   For Jean & Cliff Wright;  For Dee, and for her daughters, Lisa & Lauren;     For a young man who is suffering from depression;  John Cade's daughter, Joey, with cancer; from Barbara, a little baby boy named Ford recuperating from an operation & friends, Annie, a mom of 3 kids and Michael ;    for the medical staffs, teachers, and coaches in our public & private schools.

 

 

Brent is ready to take the sweatshirts back to the men

 

 

Birthdays:  Loretta Williams (12/12), Tom Good (12/14), Allen Stryker (12/17)

Anniversaries:   

Community Finances:   

Expenses: $  685.00

Outreach: $   

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

                 

 

 

Rosemary's Blessing:  

May an abundance of gratitude burst forth in our minds and hearts as we remember all the blessings in our life.
 

May we slow our hurried pace these days so we can be aware of, and enjoy, what we can too easily take for granted.
 

May we always be open, willing and ready to share our blessings with others and never forget the God who loves us lavishly and unconditionally.
 

And  may we remember that our thanksgiving is incomplete until we pay it forward by doing for others what they cannot do for themselves.
 

Amen.

 

From a prayer by Sr. Jean Amore CSJ,  Sacred Heart Academy,  Hempstead, N.Y.