6th Sunday of Easter May 22, 2020

 

 

 

Our brother – sister act, beautiful

 

 

Readings:  

 Acts of the Apostles 3, 13-5, 17-19,  Peter speaks again.

Psalm 4,  Lord, Let you face shine on us.

 1 John 2, 1-5,  Whoever keeps his word, the word of God is perfected in him.

John  24, 35-48,  Jesus appears in the upper room. 

 

 

 

 

Trying out for the choir Buddy?

 

Acts: A review–

Author:  Luke, the author of both The Gospel and Acts.  Today we get Luke twice, in the first reading with Acts and in the last reading, today's Gospel. 

While we are on the subject, Luke's gospel story today is a compliment to last week's gospel story by John.  Both John & Luke find the apostles in a locked room, Jesus appears, and he says, "Peace."  Both focus on the physical, last week on Thomas demanding to see the wounds, this week Jesus eating.  What does he eat?   Why so much focus on the physical? 

Date:  written about 40-60 years after Jesus death, i.e., ca. 70-100 A.D.

 

 

 

 

Suited up and ready to go!

 

 

Subject: Two parts.  Part one covers chapters 1-8, which focus on the resurrection, ascension, and Pentecost, plus their effect on the community.  The rest of the book, i.e., chapters 9-28, the focus is on Paul, his conversion & travels.  

Today's Selection:  

The scene is this, just like last week.   Peter & John have just healed a lame man at the door of the temple.  The people come rushing to see.  Peter & John say, "Hey, we did not do it."  In fact, Jesus did it and he has been raised from the dead.  This caught the attention of the priests and authorities who had the two arrested and put before the council.  They are released the next day after a warning not to talk about this Jesus.  Then they return to the local community of believers. 

 Today we go back to the time just after the healing of the lame man.  The people have rushed to see the phenomenon and ask Peter & John to explain.  Today's reading is their explanation.

 

 

 

 

 

Love for Kids Picnic & our team under the patronage of St.Bonaventure U., NY

 

 

Let Your Face Shine Upon Us

I want to talk about how the Lord’s face shone upon me this week.  Two stories.

First, Thursday afternoon Rosemary & I finally went for a bike ride down & back on the White Rock Creek Trail.  I’ve already mentioned often what a jewel this path is.   With the forest and the birds singing, is this Dallas?

As usual we stopped for a break on the bridge overlooking the doggie park swimming hole.  It is always a joy watching the dogs jumping into the water & playing.  Thursday there was one lab especially joyous and full of energy.

 

 

 

 

Good Morning, My Dearest Zoe.

 

 

The lady who was his owner would toss a stick as far as she could into the water.  She and the dog were on the third level of the terraced bank, all paved.  That dog would race down the two levels and then launch himself (or herself) a good ten feet above the water. 

That dog was the Lord’s face shining upon us.

The second story has to do with that beloved and cursed Love for the Kids picnic, cursed because it always takes place on a Saturday, when I am pretty busy getting ready for you know what.

 

 

 

 

The Offertory Team, Beth & Emma, Allan & Aggie.

 

 

So, I am driving north on I35 sort of grousing at that Hammond who keeps inviting me to events like this and at the same time aware that I always return home richer and more humbled.  I then realize that Bill is also inviting me to Dickenson again and to a CO backpacking trip.  And I am saying no to everything.  This even goes to L’Alliance Francais, where I am getting invited more and more to plug back in after about a half a year dropping out.

It hit me, am I getting to be some kind of old stay at home?  Some old monk?  I confess I just love staying at home hanging around with Rosemary & Aviana.

 

 

 

 

You think I'm going to trust that right hand of yours, Sir Charlie?  No way!
 

 

 As I drive along, L’Alliance Francais came to my mind.  Monday evening I have a two hour class with a group of voyajeurs, travelers to France.  5:00 P.M. I wish I did not have to go.   I go. And return full of joy.  

All this went through my mind as I drive north on I35 to Love for Kids.  I realized I do not want to only stay at home.  As I walk around the picnic grounds I know I want to go to L’Alliance and to Dickinson and to CO.  Sign me up, Bill.

This Love for Kids Picnic is dangerous, Folks.

These are two ways the Lord’s face shone on me this week.

And You?

 

 

 

Good Morning, Beth, Sir Charlie is awaiting you.  Does he have a deal for you, like a motor enhanced bike.  Oh, I forget.  You already have one.

 

 

 

Some of the hikers.  Rose, John, Paul, Carrie and Andy on the first high pass.

 

Readings:

Ezekiel  33, 7-9,    You have been appointed watchman for the house of Israel

Psalm 95,   If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts

Romans 13, 8-10,  Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another

Matthew 18, 15-20,  Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am.  

 

Ready to start.  Georgie, Buddy, John and Leo.

 

Homily:

Last week Stack spoke about Matthew’s saying, “take up your cross, and follow me.” Stack gave his take on this demand. He gave as an example a younger friend who had struggles with school, with getting into Jesuit, with getting into the Air Force, and how he did not let his personal struggles defeat him. This friend faced his struggles straight on (he took up his cross) loving himself enough to not let his struggles defeat him.

 

The musicians, Shonda and Ben.

 

 In the reading from Romans today, Paul summarizes God’s commandments in one saying, “Love one another as you love yourself.” This is where I focus my thoughts today.  

I have been moved by the many stories of people’s loving actions for those caught up in Hurricane Harvey, dramatic rescues in boats, grabbing a hand to keep someone afloat, donating supplies or giving financial assistance out of love. Our lead choir singer, Shonda, of Texas National Guard fame, spent a couple of weeks in southeast Texas helping with Hurricane Harvey rescue operations. She agreed to tell some of her story. [Shonda spoke of what she and others in her ‘pod’ did for victims of Harvey and what immense gratitude the survivors had.]

Thanks for your service Shonda.

 

The Offertory Procession. Mike, Geri, Carol and Richard.

 

Now I ask you to remember times you reached out in love to help—times you helped build a house with Habitat, or volunteered to help with the Love for Kids, or helped with the counting of the homeless, or helped tornado victims in Oklahoma, or supported organizations such as Soul’s Harbor or the food drive today, or DARCC, or loved Mother Earth by planting trees, or helped nurture this community’s children during Mass, or helped in so many ways to make our Mass a special time each Sunday. Add to this the many loving actions you perform for others in your family, in your neighborhood or in the community at large. You, in so many ways, are living out the greatest command: “Love one another.”

 

Just beginning the Mass.  Hue checking the sound and Leo, John, Georgie and Buddy at the altar.

 

One question is: Where does our impulse and ability to love come from? Richard Rohr, a great Catholic spiritual guide, gives one answer to that question in his book The Divine Dance:

    “Love is not just something you do; love is someone you are. Love is where you came from and love is where you’re going. It’s     not something you can buy or attain. It is the presence of God within you, called the Holy Spirit.

    You can’t make God love you one ounce more than God already loves you right now. You can’t. You can go to church every     day for the rest of your life. God isn’t going to love you any more than God loves you right now.

    You cannot make God love you any less, either—not an ounce less. Do the most terrible thing and God wouldn’t love you less.     The flow of God’s love is constant and total.

    You have nothing to be afraid of. God is on your side, honestly more than you are on your own. We cannot diminish God’s     love. What we can do, is learn how to believe it, receive it, trust it, allow it, and celebrate it.”

 

Ben and his Dad, Cody.

 

This love is what we gather here to remember and to celebrate. Think about it. This is the Good News. God’s all-accepting love is in us and flows outward, accepting and loving others.

 

Zoe, Michelle, Tori and Harper in an important discussion.

Jeremiah 20:  I say to myself, I will not mention him, I will speak in his name no more. But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; …

Romans 12: … that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and  perfect.

Matthew 16:  For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

 

 

John reading from Jeremiah

 

 

Thanks…     

Music,    Shonda & Ben 

Readers,  Connie & John

Homily,   John Cade

Eucharistic Prayer A & B,  John Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,   Hue & Kevin

Final Blessing, Rosemary

                                      

Connie reading from Paul's Letter to the Romans

 

 

 

Readings:  Download 09-03-23 Readings -22nd Ordinary

Homily:  Download 09-03-23 Homily -22nd Ordinary

 

 

John starting Mass

 

 

Remember these special people:

For the family of Ron Senter;   For Meredith  whose cancer has come back;  For Tom Good;  For Tom  Quinn who had back surgery on November 21st; For Lambrini, John Cade's wife, who is dealing with cancer ;  For Madeleine, Richard Eshelbrenner's granddaughter;  For Hue; For Jackie;  For John's sister, Kathey recovering from a fall;   For Tom Good;   For Mary Hall's friend Cadence still suffering from a serious medical condition;   For Sir Charlie;  For Ron ;  For Teresa Quinn's niece, Maddie who has a brain tumor;

                                                                                                 

 

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 & the families of Annie and Michael ;    for the medical staffs, teachers, and coaches in our public & private schools.

 

 

The Kiss of Peace

                                          

Birthdays:  Aggie Stryker

Anniversaries:  Beth & Rob Robinson 9/7, Aggie & Allen Stryker

                 

Community Finances:   

Expenses: $  880.00

Outreach: $  250.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

       

 

 

Dearest Community Members,

Happy Saturday Evening.  I am disappointed to tell you that we have not been able to put together a live stream for tomorrow's Mass.

Becky has worked tirelessly on this project and Mike Moran has also put in many hours on the project.  As of now we are hoping to get a You Tube presentation together of the Mass tomorrow at 9:30 at Legacy.  If we succeed we will put it out on the Blog tomorrow and you should be able to click on the link and see a presentation of the Mass.  We hope to put the link in around noon.  You will not get an email about the Blog until Monday BUT if you go to www.johnstackministries.com about 1:00 it should be out there

In the meantime you have the readings and John Cade's excellent homily so that you can reflect as a family on what you read.

 

Have a peaceful and healthy week.

 

 

Jeremiah 20:  I say to myself, I will not mention him, I will speak in his name no more. But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; …

Romans 12: … that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and  perfect.

Matthew 16:  For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

 

 

Community Finances:   

  Expenses: $  710.00

  Outreach: $   50.00

 

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

 

Brent gets a check for Soul's Harbor

 

Rosemary's Blessing: