Special Announcement

Nehemiah 8:  Then Ezra praised God, the great God, and all the people responded, "Oh Yes! Yes!" with hands raised high. And then they fell to their knees in worship of God, their faces to the ground.

1 Corinthians 12:  You are Christ's body – that's who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your "part" mean anything.

John 2:  God's Spirit is on me; he's chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor, Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, To set the burdened and battered free,  to announce, "This is God's year to act!"

Another Reminder for the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, January 26, 2025

Readings:

Genesis 15, 5-12,  17-18, To your descendents I give this land.

Psalm 27,  The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Philippians 3, 17 -4, 1,  Therefore, stand firm in the Lord

Luke 9, 28-36, Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain.

INTRODUCTION

You probably have heard the figure of speech, ‘They cut a deal.’  The origin of the Hebrew word for covenant was the Hebrew word cut.  As you listen to our First Reading from the Book of Genesis it will become apparent that God and Abraham have entered into a covenant.  A covenant was accompanied by sacrifices that were cut, halved.  [They were ultimately fulfilled for us by the Lamb of God.]

Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, encourages this early church to continue to be guided by the words of Christ, the Lamb of God.

Brandon with Leo looking over the edge.

HOMILY with Mike

Instead of Sarah being barren, the Luke gospel begins with the barren Elizabeth and her husband Zachariah.  They too are symbols, to teach the gentiles, the audience of the Luke gospel, about Judaism in what we call Luke’s Infancy Narrative.  [Recall that later she gave birth to John the Baptist, who prepares the way for the Lamb of God.]

Ray and Ben on music and on the stage this week because of a school play.

The Levite and priest, were the ruling classes of Judaism. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, both pass by the man who has been beaten, robbed and left to die along side the road. Zachariah, who is a priest, symbolizes the priest.

Elizabeth is a descendant of Aaron from the tribe of the Levites, symbolizes the Levite.  The story teaches us why Judaism is barren. Remember the Jewish law, ‘you must love your neighbor as yourself.’  Within Judaism, the word neighbor referred only to one’s fellow Jew.  The Religious leaders of Judaism could claim that they were still righteous [God-like], for they had not broken their law, when they passed by the gentile who had been left to die. 

Cowboy Cole arriving.

The words of Christ are not barren; they pour forth the Holy Spirit, the grace given by God to those who live Christ’s words. The voice from heaven to Peter, James and John in today’s transfiguration event is for them to live Christ’s words. 

Mike homilizing.

Immediately following the transfiguration there is a story in Matthew, Mark and Luke of a Father who brings his Son to Jesus to be healed from a sickness that has existed since the boy’s infancy.  The sickness began to take root with the father’s lack of faith in Christ’s words when he chose instead to have his son circumcised after his birth.  The father and his son are to live the words of Christ that do not abolish but fulfill the Law and Prophets.  What is it that we can take away from today’s gospel?  As parents or grandparents we are to teach our children and grandchildren to live the words of Christ by the way we live them.  Young children can do wonders when they receive a little guidance and encouragement. 

Emma arriving.

I shared a fond memory about our youngest child, who will be 40 this summer, with Judy a few weeks ago.   Judy had been assigned to take communion to a small nursing home when our youngest son was somewhere around the age of seven or eight.   The older children would often find reasons for not joining Paul when we went to the nursing home with Judy late Sunday mornings.

Cowboy Cole safeguarding The Cupcake of the Week for his grandmother, Diane.

At that time there were six Catholics for her to visit and give communion.  One was an elderly man who certainly seemed depressed about being there, and he didn’t look forward to us, or anyone else, coming to visit.  One day Paul, who loved to go fishing with his older brother and me, noticed a small picture on a bulletin board in his room.  I saw him looking at it. The two men, one younger than the other, had poles in hand and had definitely been fishing.

Brent, Soul's Harbor director, accepting from Tom the Community's support.

I gave Paul a little push and he asked the man about the picture.  A short time later Paul told him about an aquarium that was in the hallway at the entrance of the nursing home. The next week when Judy came to bring communion, we were surprised to find the man in a wheel chair waiting for us. From then on after receiving communion, Paul would push him down to the aquarium where they would talk about fishing.  The word of the Lord.

Communion Preparation, the individual cups.

One Great Granddad with Torri and Zoe.

Malachi 3: Look! I'm sending my messenger on ahead to clear the way for me. Suddenly, out of the blue, the Leader you've been looking for will enter his Temple – yes, the Messenger of the Covenant, the one you've been waiting for.

Hebrews 2:  That's why he had to enter into every detail of human life. Then, when he came before God as high priest to get rid of the people's sins,  he would have already experienced it all himself – all the pain, all the testing – and would be able to help where help was needed.

Luke 2:  Then when the days stipulated by Moses for purification were complete, they took him up to Jerusalem to offer him to God  as commanded in God's Law: "Every male who opens the womb shall be a holy offering to God,"

John Cade's Homily: Download 02-02-25 Homily – Presentaton of the Lord

Harrison came to visit today and he brought his Mom

Music,   Ben & Shonda

Expenses: $   1,340.00

Outreach: $    360.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

Richard helping with Communion

Rosemary's Blessing:

What good did it do when you frowned?  Let me ask:

Did it help you at all to accomplish your task?

Did it lighten your burden or help you along?

Did the frown that you wore make a right out of wrong?

What good did it do to be grouchy today?

Did your surliness drive any trouble away?

Did you cover more ground than you usually do?

Because of the grouch that you carried with you?

If not, what’s the use of a grouch or a frown?

If it won’t smooth a path or a grim trouble down?

If it doesn’t assist you, it isn’t worth while:

Your work may be hard, but just do it and smile.

Anonymous

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.

Rosemary's Blessing of  The Week: next week

Special Thanks to these special people:

•    For  the Readings:  
•    For hosting us Thursday & Friday, Marlene  
•    For The Team:   Buddy & Georgie & Kevin
•    For the Communion Bread:   Alison
•    For the Special Communion Cups:  Jan
•    For the Pictures:   Rick & Connie, Mike & Beth
•    For the coffee and extras:   next week 
•    For the altar & sound:  Jackie & Hue
•    For the Music:   Ray and David and Shonda
•    For all who helped with Communion 

Birthdays:   David Dinsmore (Thursday)

Anniversaries:

 John & Alison (23^rd, Sunday, today)

Randolf & Michelle (20^th Tuesday)

Please Remember these special people:

 For Connie Bresson's mom;  For Rose Banzhaf who broke some bones in a skiing accident;  For Ron Ackerman with cellulitis;   For Carol's recuperation;   For Tom Good;     For Dee and her daughter, Lisa;    For John Schanot's continued recuperation;   For Nadia's recuperation;   For a young man who is suffering from depression;    For Claire's mom;   For Grace's mom and brother in Alberta ;       For Cliff & Jean;    For Laura's sister Claudia;   For Dawn;   John Simari’s friend, Ron;    For Anthony;   For John & Jean's son John Louis;   For our good friend Kay in Ontario;    For Jackie Urbanzyk's continued recovery; Connie Bresson's mom & friend struggling with cancer;

For Rosemary's sister, Patty and her husband, Lou;  For Cathy's uncle, Jim Wright at 92;   For Connie's nephew, Fred; For Mary Jane Stevenson's son Philip, 34, sick & don't know why;    The Quinn’s granddaughter, Mikayla;   For Maureen’s daughter, Kathleen, with cancer;      For Jackie's friend, Barbara, plus Angela & her mom;    For Sr. Patricia Otillio, a nun I worked with for years in Grand Coteau;   John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli;    for Franks brother with advanced Parkinsons;     Diane McClurg's mom in Fort Dodge;   For Steve Barrett, Rose, & Katie;

Dick Thompson's daughter, Teri Jill, and Judy's aging parents & daughter of her best friend, Mekala plus her baby, and Stephanie, and Barbara;  Barb & Warren's grandbabies, Leighton Elizabeth and Warren Phillip and Ethan Michel, & their friend Chris, plus Barb's dad & niece & Annie & Kyler & Kaitlen;

Tom and Teresa Quinn's niece, Chawna, with cancer, plus Neva Flynn, Angel, and Diane Kreeitzer;   Connie Doherty's mom and her sister, plus Kevin's cousin, Peter; for Mary Ellen & her Margaret, Jim, & Christopher;  For a number of David McKeon's family who are having a rough time with health issues; for our friends, sons, and daughters in the military, including Ryan McClurg and Chebino; cure for autism from Laura Chollick; for our President.

Your Finances, April 23, 2017

Expenses:   $ two Sundays from now.

Outreach:   $

Thanks for your Generosity, Everybody.

Have a Great Week, J.S

(214-783-0443)

JSM Mission-Faith Statement  

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

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

Isaiah 40:  Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care.

2 Peter 3:  But according to his promise we await new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Mark 1:  Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way.  A voice of one crying out in the desert: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths."

Here are the links for Sunday:

For Zoom   ( the video conference, same as last week )

 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7428208829?pwd=VERncTBxaWdkaFpkTUZKL3RROW81UT09

 

 

 

A beautiful red maple

 

 

 

John Stack Ministries meets on Sunday for Mass at 9:30 at The ArtCentre of Plano, 902 E. 16th St, Plano, Texas.

 

 

 

JSM Mission-Faith Statement  

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

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