Reminder for the 1st Sunday in Lent, February 18, 2024

Isaiah 6: …for my house shall be called a house of prayer for  all peoples.

Romans 11: For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.

Matthew 15:  Then Jesus said to her in reply, "O woman, great is your faith!  Let it be done for you as you wish."

 

Summer flowers

Readings: Deuteronomy 4, 1-8; Psalm 15, The One who does Justice will Live in the Presence of the Lord; James 1 17-27; Mark 7, 1-23.

Deuteronomy:  

The fifth book of the Old Testament.  The last book of what we refer to as the Pentateuch, namely five books.  These five books, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy were made up of five scrolls, which is how it got its Greek title, Pentateuch.  The Jewish people referred to them at the Torah or Law.  Interestingly, the books themselves got their titles from the Greeks as a way to describe what the content of each book was about.  They cover a period from the very beginning of time down to the arrival of the Jewish people into the Promised Land.

Deuteronomy is mainly made of laws, and the bulk of the book is composed of a series of addresses by Moses and also a long collection of laws, which covered just about every facet of life for the “devout Jew”.

The book was probably composed sometime either during or shortly after the Babylonian Captivity, namly around the sixth century before Christ.

In today’s reading we hear Moses first of all explaining that there is no need for anything beyond the laws he is giving and also selling them on how lucky they are to have such laws!

 

Letter of James

 

For five Sundays, starting this week, we are going to be reading the Letter of James as our second reading.  The author, James was probably the head of the church in Jerusalem, and at times is referred to as the brother of Jesus.  He is not one of the twelve apostle James, there were two of them!  The letter is not a typical “letter” in the same sense as Paul’s Letters, in that there is a very brief greeting, not the typical extended greeting, no information about the sender and nothing of the usual formulaic ending of letters of that time.

The letter was probably written before 62CE when James was stoned to death.  It is addressed to the “twelve tribes of the diaspora”, which refers back to the diaspora when the tribes were scattered following the Babylonian and Assyrian invasions.  In this case it is thought to be addressed to those churches outside of  Jerusalem made up of Jewish converts to Christianity.

The contents are a collection of moral observations and instructions, our reading today from Chapter One fits perfectly with the whole theme of todays Gospel, namely the need to interiorize what it means to follow Christ rather than to go through the motions.

 

 

Why am I here

I blame Vatican II.  Up until that time, the early 1960s we knew exactly what was a sin and what wasn’t a sin.  In fact George Carlin had great fun with his album Class Clown.  But after Vatican Council 2 everything seems to have changed and all the certainties we had before are gone.  You knew clearly that it was a sin to eat meat on Friday!  You knew that you had to fast from Midnight before receiving communion.  It was the kind of environment we find Jesus dealing with today.  The rules became everything.  I can remember in the early 70’s getting that phone call when a holy day fell on a Saturday.  “Father, if I go to mass on Saturday evening will that cover for the Holy day obligation and also the Sunday.”  It was the same as asking “what is the least I have to do to remain in a relationship with you?”

 

 

 

 

Before Vatican II the pathway was clear, follow the rules and you will get into heaven, or at least purgatory.  After the council, it seems that the ball was passed to each one of us.  We were responsible for our own relationship with God.  Catholics certainly began to take responsibility, aided greatly by the encyclical on Birth Control. 

The gospel today focus’ on rules for meals…but if we step back and really take a closer look at what is going on it is the way the rules are used by Jesus, versus the Pharisees.  They are going by the literal interpretation of the rules, kind of like slavishly following a recipe, where as Jesus is looking at the “intention” behind the actions.

 

 

 

We might well apply this discussion to our selves.  Why are you here today?  Is it because your parents made you come??? Is it because you will go to hell if you don’t come here?  Probably a more basic question could well be: What is the purpose of being here today?  Am I here just because of habit, or does what we do here each week have an impact on my life outside this “getting together”?

 

Picture 1:  Mass with Kevin & Sabrina

Picture 2:  Mass helpers, an Old Geezer, Kevin, and Sabrina

Picture 3:  Birthdays, Melissa, Maureen, & Carl

Picture 4:  Birthdays, Jo & Jackie

Readings:

Wisdom, 6, 12-16, Resplendent and unfading is wisdom.

Psalm 6, my soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

1 Thessalonians  4, 13-18, We shall always be with the Lord

Matthew 25, 1-13, The kingdom of heaven will be like 10 virgins, 5 wise, 5 foolish.  Stay awake (not for fear of being kicked out, but to catch the blessing.  No one is kicked out!)

 

 

 

 

Thanks to the Team

Music,  Ben & Shonda's  

Readers,  Beth & Rob & Buddy, the candle blesser

Gospel,  Deacon Mike 

Homily,  John Cade 

Eucharistic Prayer A & B, Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,  Richard & Hue & Mike

Final Blessing, Rosemary

For hosting us at Legacy, Becky

 

 

Download Readings Week 32

 

 (A personal comment on the acclamation and the Matthew reading on the 10 virgins, 5 wise, 5 foolish.

I really hate fear based spirituality.  This is a fear focused story about girls being girls.   Are we all not foolish in our lives, maybe even daily?  Is God waiting to catch us so that we all end up in hell?  On the contrary, Our God loves and treasures each of us.  Could the Jewish leaders & rabbis been attempting to scare the people into conforming & behaving.)

 

Homily by John Stack

Well, Folks, I think that because of the stress this week it is time for a Stack homily light.   I know.  I can hear Hammond saying, “What do you mean, John, all your homilies are light homilies.”  See, Folks, I can get away with this because Bill is not here to defend himself.   Yes, I know.  You just watch.  I’ll get an ear ache before I finish.  Hang on, here we go.

Last Sunday we celebrated the Feast of All Saints, one of my favorite feasts.  Remember how we used to put together a picture gallery of family saints, mothers, fathers, grand mothers, grand fathers, and special friends?  May we do it again next year.

 

The Brain Trust

 

Mike, in his homily had one line that struck me.  “The feast of All Saints teaches that holiness comes in all sizes and shapes.”  Almost immediately I began to think of numerous people who teach me or have taught me to be more whole, more appreciative, and more accepting of peoples’ uniqueness.   That does not apply to you, Ben (our dear guitar player).  Want to guess my top five 2020 winners?  Here they are.

Yep, Hammond is numero uno, the guy who introduced me to biking after I had to get new hips because of all the running I did, like especially the years in East Africa.  I think Bill tried to kill me because I first got on a bike (his son’s bike) to ride the Hotter ‘N Hell 100, like in 100 miles and 100 degree temp.   I think Bill almost fainted when I crossed that finish line.   We went on to do so much more together, biking, camping, charity & relief work.  So it is Saint Bill for me.

 

Shonda & Ben, The Best!

 

During the last 30 days, more or less, there has been call for an enormous number of volunteers to man a gazillion voting stations.  These places were open 7 to 7.  Rosemary & I ran into a bunch of these volunteers at our Fretz Park voting station.  They were so charming and so efficient.  For me our volunteer is now called Saint Richard.  Carol, your man did great work.

Folks, we also have in our midst almost every Sunday another saint in my estimation, Saint Becky.  Becky not only guides this marvelous charter school with all of its creativity. But she also guides another even larger school east of Dallas.  She has been broadcasting on Sunday mornings a program on education in this time of corona.  On top of all that, St. Becky hosts every Sunday morning our delightful community.

Yesterday Rosemary & I got invited to a birthday by Jackie Turner.  It was my first since the beginning of the covid.  I wanted to go just to see some of our good friends from the community.  But, I was also scared.  I asked Jackie how she was going to keep us all safe and germ free, and knowing Jackie she had everything well arranged.  For example, only about 7 of us would come together and we would all be spread out in the front yard, 6 feet apart, the whole business.   St. Jackie did a great job and it was delightful to see friends we have not seen in months.

 

The Birthday Party.

 

Finally, there was a quote in the newspaper that said, “Hey, kids have only so many years when they can appreciate the magic of Halloween.  It is too sad to make them miss one of these special years.”   I agree and am touched at how this resonated with me and how the person managed to have Halloween at her house.   It involved a length of pvc tubing.  I guess the candy was slipped into the tube at the top of the steps into the house.  It then came out below to the waiting little hands of the kids.  I also miss St. Cathy’s dramatic Sunday arrivals in costume bringing along her grandkids, Harper & Betsy.

 

 

The Great Halloween Tube

 

Those are my 5 special people who give me life.  Who are the special people in your life?

 

 

 

Please Remember these special people:

For Alan Stryker;  For John Doherty recuperating from an operation for his back pain;   For David Dinsmore's bad shoulder from a biking accident;  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;   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 & Ben & Leo & all of Shonda's dear family;  

For 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;   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,  For the students, teachers, and coaches in our public & private schools.

 

 

Birthdays: David McKeon & Rosemary 

Anniversary:   John & Connie Bresson

  

 

Community Finances, November 8, 2020

Expenses: $2360.00

Outreach   $180.00    (often for Souls Harbor, Legacy, etc.)

Thanks, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

One more marvelous baby of the Braun family to baptize.

 

Rosemary's Blessing:

 

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks still bravely singing fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead: Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved: and now we lie
In Flanders fields!

 

Taken from IN FLANDERS FIELDS
By Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae

Composed at the battlefront on May 3, 1915 
during the second battle of Ypres, Belgium

Acts of the Apostles 2:  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

1 Corinthians 12:  There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there  are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.

John 20:  Peace be with you.  As the Father has sent me, so I send you.

           

                 

 

 

Thanks…     

Music,    Shonda & Ben 

Readers,  Denni & Tom

Homily,   John Cade

Eucharistic Prayer A & B,  John Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,   Hue & Kevin

Final Blessing, Rosemary

                                                                              

 

Denni reading from The Acts of the Apostles

 

 

Readings:  Download 05-28-23 Readings – Pentecost

Homily:  Download 05-28-23 Homily – Pentecost

 

 

 

Tom  reading from Paul's Letter to the Corinthians

 

Remember these special people:

For Sandra Pratt's family;  For Cindy Cramer's family;  For the family of Ron Senter;   For Meredith  whose cancer has come back;  For Jan;  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 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.

 

Shonda gets a cookie for her birthday

 

 

                                          

Birthdays:  Shonda Mashburn

Anniversaries:  

                                                              

Community Finances:   

Expenses: $  1,130.00

Outreach: $  

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

       

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 from the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time: Download 01-19-25 Homily 2nd Sunday Ordinary Time

 

 

Another Reminder for the Presentation of the Lord, February 2, 2025

The holidays are upon us.  To celebrate Christmas we would like to offer some opportunities for you to share your joy, gifts and blessings.

 

Following are some ideas of how you can help that we would like to pass on to you.

 

Soul’s Harbor. As in years past we are collecting sweatshirts and hoodies for the guys at Soul’s Harbor. Please drop them off at Lynda Fleming’s house by 12/17/20.  (5 Vista Cliff Place, Richardson, TX 75080).

 

We will have opportunities to share the Christmas spirit but I have not as yet coordinated this with Becky.  So information will follow.

 

Lynda Fleming is involved with a company called Caring Transitions which helps coordinate a Senior Holiday Wish Program. After reviewing the details below, please send an email to fleming23@gmail.comif you are interested in helping out.    Most seniors need items that range from $25-50, but if you can cover the cost of a larger item, please let Lynda know  your budget. Gifts MUST be collected by Tuesday, December 2^ndso please reach out by Tuesday, November 24^th.  Please bring all gifts to Lynda’s house (5 Vista Cliff Place, Richardson, TX 75080).                                                                              

In addition to the above need, here are two more opportunities: 

Collin County Meals on Wheels – desperately in need of meal supplement drinks such as Boost, Ensure Glucerna, Equate or Kirkland brand.   

Pajamas for Seniors – another desperate need in our community is pajamas size XL- 7X.                             

The deadline for this is also Tuesday, December 2^nd.

 

*** Lynda will have a bin on the front porch for contactless drop off.