Reminder for 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 20, 2024

  

Community Finances:   

  Expenses: $  330.00

  Outreach: $  60.00

  Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

 

Linda and Barbara

 

                                 

Readings: Sirach 35, 12-18; Psalm 34, The Lord hears the Cry of the Poor; 2 Timothy 4, 6-8, 16-18; Luke 18 9-14.

Introduction to the Readings 

A brief word about our first reading.  We have heard from Sirach eight weeks ago on the twenty second Sunday of Ordinary Time.  At that time I had told you that this book was written by Sirach, it is part of the Wisdom literature, and probably written around the year 180 BCE.  The writing is also known at Ecclesiasticus, because early in the life of the church it was one of the most used of the Old Testament books.  I love that contrast between the statement in the first two lines “The LORD is a God of justice, who knows no favorites” with what then follows, namely how God hears the cry of the poor, the widows, the orphans, the oppressed. 

 

Our second reading is the final one from Paul’s Letters to Timothy.  We have been reading from these two letters for the past six weeks.  The letter is perhaps the last one written by Paul from prison in Rome before he is executed.  The two letters to Timothy and the letter to Titus, form what is known as the Pastoral Letters.  The style is very different from Paul’s other letters.  He is writing to these two to encourage them as leaders in communities that Paul had set up.  Remember, Timothy, who is mentioned in Luke’s Acts Chapter 16, was a companion to Paul.  Our reading today is the conclusion of the second letter and sounds like Paul’s farewell.

 

 Homily

 Main Point – A simple parable, humility trumps pride, especially when we pray.  I could stop there but won’t because there is a second layer to this simple parable.  We need to understand the setting for the story.  The two men going into the temple were not like two men going into church here any afternoon. 

 First of all, they were going into the Temple in Jerusalem.  They were going into a “Prayer of Atonement” service held each afternoon in the Temple.  The Pharisee would have naturally joined with the other Pharisees at the front and the tax collector would have hung around inside the door.  In the eyes of the Law, or Torah, the Pharisee was a very good person, and what he declared went even beyond the Law. 

 Where he failed, was realizing that everything about his “holiness” was due to his own efforts and nothing came from God.  The tax collector on the other hand was all too well aware of his shortcomings and acknowledges that he is totally dependant on God and His mercy.

 

 Our catholic tradition has always given me the impression that if I was good, went to Mass every Sunday, obeyed the commandments, fasted at the appropriate time etc. then I was all set for heaven.  It would seem that God had very little to do in it.  And of course this was the whole crux that caused the Reformation. 

 One would think we could have learned from our mistakes.  At that time Martin Luther was appalled at the practice of selling indulgences, as if folks could purchase their way into heaven.  His position was: “Salvation by faith alone” and the church preferred to add that “good works” were also important. 

 But back to the two in the temple.  There are several interesting little hints given which tell us a whole lot more.  The Pharisee stands apart, he does not seem to belong to the gathered community.  When the tax collector prays “have mercy on me a sinner” the word he uses in the original Greek is not the common word “eleison” which we use when we say Lord have mercy, or Kyrie Eleison, but a very different word connecting to the liturgy which he was part of that afternoon. 

 In other words the tax collector saw himself as part of a community, and absolutely in need of God’s forgiveness, the Pharisee saw only himself!!  It was being part of a community and recognizing his total need for God, which allowed for him to go home justified. 

 
 

 The message:  we must be aware that even though we are here each Sunday, this should not lead us down the same path of the Pharisee. 

Picture 1:  Mass with Tony

Picture 2:  Tom, Lynda, & Nina packing up food for this Saturday at the Habitat House

Picture 3:  Maggie with her dad & granddad, Tom & Bob

Picture 4:  Sienna with her mom & dad, Erin & Payton

 

Community Finances:   

  Expenses: $   340.00

  Outreach: $   110.00

 

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

 

Paul gets a cookie for his birthday

Rosemary's Blessing:

 

Lord Jesus Christ,

who are called the Prince of Peace,

who are yourself our peace and reconciliation,

who so often said, “Peace to you,”

grant us peace.

Make all men and women witnesses of

truth, justice, and brotherly love.

Banish from their hearts whatever might endanger peace.

Enlighten our rulers that they may guarantee

and defend the great gift of peace.

May all peoples of the earth become as brothers and sisters.

May longed-for peace blossom forth

and reign always over us all.

Amen.

Prayer for Peace– by St. John XXIII

 

 

Invitation to pray with Sandra Pratt

 

The Sophia Inclusive Catholic Community, a virtual faith community started in Northwest New Jersey in 2008, is inviting the members of John Stack Ministries to join us,  Sandra and other friends of Sandra Pratt for a Zoom service of blessings, readings and songs honoring Sandra on Saturday morning, May 13.  The start time has not been finalized.  We will probably begin at 11 am Central time (noon Eastern time).  The service will be about 30 minutes.

 

We will send the Zoom invitation email to Rosemary with two attachments (the worship guide and Highlights of Sandra Pratt’s Amazing Life) on Wednesday  5/10.  Rosemary will forward that information to the members of John Stack Ministries.

 

 

A message from Richard Eshelbrenner

 

This is to let you know that a person attending Mass last Sunday has just been diagnosed with the Covid virus.  Everyone was masked.  This is just to keep you informed.

Isaiah 8:  The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shown.

Corinthians 1:  Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with the wisdom of human eloquence, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning.

Matthew 4:  …Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has risen.

 

John and Rosemary will be out of town next week.  Mass for 1/29/23 will be on Zoom with  John Cade.

 

 

John reading from Isaiah

 

 

Thanks…     

Music,    Ben 

Readers,  John and Connie

Gospel,   John Stack

Homily, John Stack

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 Corinthians

                                                               

 

Readings:  Download 01-22-23 Readings – 3rd Ordinary

Homily:  

 

 

 

Connie and John sharing their experience with Bona Responds in Florida

 

 

 

Remember these special people:

For Frank Esparza who has been diagnosed with cancer;  For Jan;  For John Simari's mother who is not feeling well;  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; 

       

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.

 

 

Connie and John presenting John with a new Bona Responds t-shirt

 

 

 

Birthdays:  Kevin Doherty 1/24, Charlie Keszler 1/28, Miguel 1/28, Mary Hall 1/29,

Randolph Brown 2/1, Rick Turner 2/2, Gilberto Delgado 2/4

Anniversaries:  Occhipinti 1/23

 

Community Finances:   

Expenses: $  610.00

Outreach: $  175.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

         

Linda presenting John with a tribute for his birthday

 

 

Rosemary's Blessing: 

 

Oh God of humor enable us to laugh at your mischievous plans. 

Life can become serious during these cold winter months, and our hearts can become heavy and burdened with responsibilities, decisions and trying to keep everyone happy. 

Let us look for the funny things that happen, the unexpected surprise that catches us off-guard, along with the incongruences that we encounter. 

Smile, snicker, giggle, give a belly laugh, and spontaneously guffaw. 

You will be amazed at how God works through laughter.

 

Sr. Mary Elizabeth Schweiger