Reminder for the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, February 4, 2024

Readings: Nehemiah 8, 2-10; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 12, 12-30; Luke 1, 1-21

Nehemiah – The book of Nehemiah takes place during the Babylonian captivity. Three main characters play roles, though the first two are not mentioned in today’s reading. Cyrus is the benevolent ruler of Babylon. Nehemiah is the Jew Cyrus puts in charge of restoring the city of Jerusalem and the temple. Ezra, the central character of today’s reading, is a priest & law scholar.

We arrive on the scene after Nehemiah has established Jerusalem. The people have assembled in the town center and asked Ezra to read to them the law that orders their new lives. We hear part of the reading, a part that emphasizes rejoicing.

1 Corinthinians – During the time of Paul the Greek city of Corinth was almost as significant as Athens. Paul had established a community there and in his letter he is offering his advice to the people.

Chapter 13 is Paul’s famous letter about love being kind & patient. Chapter 12, our reading today, offers an almost amusing analogy of the community to a body. We are parts of the body and consequently we are important, making our unique contributions.

Liberty to Captives and Sight to the Blind – It was 21 years ago that the Jesuit superior in Nairobi told me in a letter that I should go back to the States for good. I was shocked and downcast by the news. It took me some years to get over it.

This spring Rosemary, Mary Ellen, & I will return for my first visit. Something I had hoped I would do, but never knew for sure.

In my 10 years there, I did two basic things. First, I helped establish a spiritual center-retreat house on the edge of Nairobi, Kenya. We bought 39 acres with two houses on the edge of a stream across from the Nairobi game park. In fact one night coming in late, another Jesuit & I (Louie Lambert) saw a giraffe crossing our front lawn.

The second thing I did was to help create spiritual growth & human maturity seminars, which we gave to priests, nuns, and bishops in Tanzania, the country just south of Kenya. I coordinated a mobile team of 2-3 priests and a Dutch nun.

These seminars were residential and lasted 1, 2, or 4 weeks. They were marvelous events with all races and men & women. We even gave a number of the seminars in Uganda during the days of Idi Amin.

All during my time in Kenya & Tanzania, I used to reflect upon what I was doing over there. I did not want to be considered a missionary, because I saw the negative effects of the cultural imperialism that came with the missionaries. For instance, drums were forbidden at Masses some places because they were considered pagan.

What did motivate me was the line in today’s gospel, "I come to give sight to the blind and liberty to captives." This still motivates me. I take the line metaphorically, not literally. For instance, this is why I talk often about the fundamental option instead of mortal-venial sin. I know my spirituality has moved from blindness to better sight, from prison to greater liberty. Otherwise, I would not have had the courage to get married.

I suggest that we, too, are challenged to help others see better. We do it with little kids. We do it with senior citizens. What a gift to help a person see that they are good and not bad.

This is what Jesus says in the gospel that he is doing. It is what I hoped I was doing in Kenya & Tanzania. It is what we are all challenged to do today.

Name one person you can touch into better sight, greater liberty.

Download the homily as an mp3 file (8751.1K).

Special Thanks:
For reading, Alexandra & Mary Ellen
For the Altar Bread, Linda Fleming
For Serving, Carmen & Ashley
For the Altar & cake, Margie Dugan & David & Alexandra
For the Books & Communion Cups, Roy & Carol Strom, Beth  & Rob Robinson
For ushering & all sorts of jobs, Cliff Wright
For the music, Ray & Wendy & Hue

Wisdom 12: And you taught your people,  by these deeds, that those who are just must be kind;

Romans 8:  Brothers and sisters: The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought,  …

Matthew 13:  The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field.

 

 

Carrie reading from Wisdom

 

Thanks…     

Music,    Ben 

Readers,  Carrie & Paul

Homily,   John Cade

Eucharistic Prayer A & B,  John Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,   Hue & Kevin

Final Blessing, Rosemary

                                 

Paul reading from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans

 

                      

 

Readings: Download 07-23-23 Readings -16th Ordinary

Homily:  Download 07-23-23 Homily -16th Ordinary

 

 

The Kiss of Peace

 

                                                                                     

 

Remember these special people:

For Jan Keszler's Family; For Sandra Pratt's family;  For Cindy Cramer's family;  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.

 

Barbara and Mary
                                          

Birthdays: 

Anniversaries:  David & Donna Dinsmore 7/26

 

                         

Claire and Ray

 

         

Community Finances:   

Expenses: $  310.00

Outreach: $  50.00 

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

       

 

Acts of the Apostles 10:  To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.

Colossians 3:  When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.

John 20:  They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they put him.

 

 

 

Thanks…     

Music,    Ben

Readers,  Mary, Frank and Mary

Gospel,   

Homily,   John Stack

Eucharistic Prayer A & B,  John Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,   Hue & Kevin

Final Blessing, Rosemary

 

       

Frank reading from the Acts of the Apostles

 

Readings:  Download 04-09-23 Readings – Easter Sunday

Homily: 

 

                                                                                                                                                                    

Mary reading from Paul's Letter to the Colossians

 

 

There will be a Funeral Service  for Cindy Cramer on April 15, 2023 at Restland (Wildwood Chapel) at 10:00 in the morning

 

 

Remember these special people:

For Cindy Cramer's family;  For the family of Ron Senter;  For Frank Esparza;  For Jan;  For Tom  Quinn who had 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 ;  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; 

       

Hue, our Number 1 Zoom Man

 

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.

 

 

Kevin, our Number 2 Zoom Man

                                          

Birthdays:  Tom Zurchin 4/11

Anniversaries:

 

Community Finances:   

Expenses: $  1,100.00

Outreach: $  50.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

       

Buddy gets a cookie for his reading of the Prayer for the Lighting of the Candles

Good Morning Everyone.   Welcome to our celebration of life, peace and friendship.  Happy Valentine's Day.

You people are so lucky this morning.  It is freezing outside and you can join the Community celebration from your living room.  We also celebrate the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Guess what this Wednesday is?  Yep, Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.  The most unpleasant season of the Church calendar.  I grew up thinking I was bad and Lent's emphasis on my sinfulness did not do me good.

I have a February wish.  That we will all get the vaccine this month.

To start our Sunday celebration, I invite you to go inside, listen to your heart, and listen to your breathing.  What is your blessing this morning, the blessing of your week?  Take a moment to reflect.

Share Blessings.

 

Leviticus 13, 1-2, 44-46, If the man is leprous and unclean…

Psalm 32, I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble.

1 Corinthians 10, 31-11, 1, Do everything for the glory of God.

Mark  1, 40-45,  A leper came to Jesus.

 

 

 

Thanks……

Music,  Ben & Shonda

Readers,   , and Buddy, the candle blesser

Gospel,  Mike Carrell

Homily,  John Stack

Eucharistic Prayer A & B, Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,   Hue & Richard & Mike 

Final Blessing, Rosemary

For hosting us at Legacy, Becky

 

 

Sunday Readings:

Download Reading 6th Sunday 2-14-2021

 

Homily by John Stack

Download Sunday Homily 6th Ordinary 2-14-21

 

 

Please Remember these special people:

For Carrie's ex, Larry;  For Alan Stryker;  For Joe Sullivan;    For Rosemary's great niece, Rylie ;  For Richard's grand daughter, Madeleine;   For Esparza's new great grandson baby, son of Monique;  For all the medical personnel struggling to treat the tsunami of sick people, in particular, locally, Cindy's staff at Presby, Dallas, and at Frisco Presby, the mother of Harper and Betsy, Kendle, working in labor & delivery, and for Hue & Linda's daughter, Doctor Rosemary Beavers;   For Mary & Dave Hall's g-daughter Allison Keller working at St. Lukes, The Woodlands,   For Loretta's aunt Alicia;  For Sir Charlie & Jan;  Shonda's mom & Cody &  Leo & all of Shonda's dear family, For Ursuline Sr. Mary Troy 

The Brain Trust–including Aviana.

 

Jackie's mom, sister, & friend, Lynn;  For both Jean & Cliff Wright;  For Rick Turner searching for a kidney donor, Type O neg; For Meredith, cancer free;    For John O'Donnell & Jean;   For Dee, and for her daughter, Lisa; For John Schanot's continued health;  For Anthony & Sabrina;    For a young man who is suffering from depression;  John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli and Lambrini, plus John's daughter, Joey, with cancer; from Barbara, a little 4 month old boy undergoing an operation & for Rollie with Corona; for David McKeon's brother, Hugh; for the medical staffs, teachers, and coaches in our public & private schools.

 

 

Birthdays:        Dana Dinsmore

Anniversary:  John & Allison, 28th

                              John & Lambrini, 15th

 

 

Community Finances, February 14, 2021

Expenses: $ 

Outreach   $   (often for Souls Harbor, Legacy, etc.)

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

Finances will be in next week's blog.

 

Rosemary's Blessing:

 

Readings:

Isaiah 5, 1-7, My friend had a vineyard on a fertile hillside.

Psalm 80, The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.

Philippians  4, 6-9, Have no anxiety at all.

Matthew 21, 33-43, There was a landowner who planted a vineyard.

 

 

Rosemary got a call from Sydney Bivona's daughter that Sydney has passed.  There will be a joint service for Sydney and Hugh (who passed in March).  Here are the details:

Saturday, October 3, 2020, 9:00 – 10:00 AM

Milestone Church, 201 Mount Gilead Rd, Keller, Texas 76248

Early lunch to follow at Wade and Venicia Carroll's home

12245 Hulson Trail, Haslet, Texas 76052

 

 

ROMEOS, Friday, October 2, 1:00,  as usual.    Welcome!

ROMEOs' Virtual Jason's Deli BYOB lunch
This is a recurring meeting, Friday, 1:00 pm
Link :
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85798571623?pwd=NmFSTW1ocVMzRGdIc0QzUGxKdHM3dz09

Meeting ID: 857 9857 1623
Password: saladbar

 

John Cade presenting his Sunday Homily

 

Reminder for 27th Sunday Ordinary Time, October 4, 2020

Here are the links for Sunday:

 

What's up in Ye Old Catholic Church

1.  A Cardinal refuses, https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/vaticans-cardinal-becciu-renounces-cardinalate-shock-move  

2.  Pope Francis on gay children, https://corpus-blog.blogspot.com/2020/09/gay-children-are-children-of-god-pope.html