32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, November 10, 2024

Acts of the Apostles 2:  They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all the people.

1 Peter 1:  Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him,…

John 20:  Have  you come to believe because you have seen me?  Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.

 

 

John  reading from the Acts  of the Apostles

 

 

Thanks…     

Music,    Ben

Readers,  Connie and John

Gospel,   John Cade

Homily,   John Stack

Eucharistic Prayer A & B,  John Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,   Hue & Kevin

Final Blessing, Rosemary

 

       

Connie reading from the First Letter of Peter

 

Readings:  Download 04-16-23 Readings – 2nd Easter

Homily: 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                    

Shonda and Ben, the music makers

 

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; 

       

Connie helping with communion

 

 

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.

 

 

John and Connie get a cookie  for their anniversary

                                          

Birthdays:  

Anniversaries:  Connie & John Doherty 4/21

Community Finances:   

Expenses: $  450.00

Outreach: $  125.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

       

 

 

Music,   Ben & Shonda

Some of the birthday and anniversary folks – Cathy, Shonda, Brent, Denni and Tom

 

Expenses: $   3,575.00

Outreach: $   130.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

 

Rosemary's Blessing:

Prayer for Good Humor
by St. Thomas More

Grant me, O Lord, good digestion, and also something to digest.
Grant me a healthy body, and the necessary good humor to maintain it.
Grant me a simple soul that knows to treasure all that is good
and that doesn’t frighten easily at the sight of evil,
but rather finds the means to put things back in their place.
Give me a soul that knows not boredom, grumblings, sighs and laments,
nor excess of stress, because of that obstructing thing called “I.”
Grant me, O Lord, a sense of good humor.
Allow me the grace to be able to take a joke to discover in life a bit of joy,
and to be able to share it with others.

 

Reading to prepare for Homily on the “Suffering Servant” in Isaiah this Sunday.

 

The Suffering Servant in Isaiah

Translation from original languages: Eugene Peterson, 2013

Poem 4   (Ch. 52:13-15)        See, my servant shall prosper, he shall be raised high and greatly exalted.  Even as many were amazed at him—so marred was his look beyond that of man, and his appearance beyond that of mortals.

So shall he startle many nations, because of him kings shall stand speechless; for those who have not been told shall see, those who have not heard shall ponder it.

Poem 4 cont.   (Ch. 53:1-12)   He grew up like a sapling, like a shoot from the parched earth; there was in him no stately bearing to make us look at him, nor appearance that would attract us to him. 

He was spurned and avoided by men, a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity, one of those from whom men hide their faces, spurned, and we held him in no esteem.

Yet it was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured, while we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted. 

But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins; upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed.

We had all gone astray like sheep, each following our own way; but the Lord laid upon him the guilt of us all.

Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth; like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, he was silent and opened not his mouth.

Oppressed and condemned, he was taken away, and who would have thought any more of his destiny?  He was cut off from the land of the living, and smitten for the sin of his people.

A grave was assigned him among the wicked and a burial place with evildoers, though he had done no wrong nor spoken any falsehood.

If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the Lord shall be accomplished through him.

Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days; through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear.

Therefore I will give him his portion among the great, and he shall divide the spoils with the mighty, because he surrendered himself to death and was counted among the wicked; and he shall take away the sins of many and win forgiveness for their offenses.

The Suffering Servant in Isaiah                                                         Translation from original languages: Catholic Association of America, 1970                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Poem 1   (Isaiah Ch. 42:1-4)   

       Take a good look at my servant.  I’m backing him to the hilt.  He’s the one I chose, and I couldn’t be more pleased with him.  I’ve bathed him with my Spirit, my life.  He’ll set everything right among the nations.  He won’t call attention to what he does, with loud speeches or gaudy parades.  He won’t brush aside the bruised and the hurt, and he won’t disregard the small and insignificant, but he’ll steadily and firmly set things right.  He won’t tire out and quit.  He won’t be stopped until he’s finished his work—to set things right on earth. 

Poem 2   (Isaiah Ch. 49: 1-6)

       Listen, far-flung islands, pay attention, faraway people: God put me to work from the day I was born.  The moment I entered the world he named me.  He gave me speech that would cut and penetrate.  He kept his hand on me to protect me.  He made me his straight arrow and hid me in his quiver.  He said to me, “You’re my dear servant, through whom I’ll shine.”

But I said, “I’ve worked for nothing.  I’ve nothing to show for a life of hard work.  Nevertheless, I’ll let God have the last word.  I’ll let him pronounce his verdict.”

God speaks, this God who took me in hand from the moment of birth to be his servant, to bring Jacob back home to him, to set a reunion for Israel—what an honor for me in God’s eyes!  That God should be my strength!  God speaks, “But that’s not a big enough job for my servant—just to recover the tribes of Israel.  I’m setting you up as a light for the nations so that my salvation becomes global!” 

Poem 3   (Isaiah Ch. 50:4-11)

The Master, God, has given me a well-taught tongue, so I know how to encourage tired people.  God wakes me up in the morning, God opens my ears to listen as one ready to take orders.  The Master, God, opened my ears, and I didn’t go back to sleep, didn’t pull the covers back over my head.  I followed orders, stood there and took it while they beat me, held steady while they pulled out my beard, didn’t dodge their insults, faced them as they spit in my face.  And the Master, God, stays right there and helps me, so I’m not disgraced.  Therefore, I set my face like flint, confident that I’ll never regret this.  My champion is right here.  Let’s take our stand together!  Who dares bring suit against me?  Let him try!  The Master, God, is right here.  Who would dare call me guilty?  Who out there actually listens to the voice of God’s servant?  For anyone out there who doesn’t know where you’re going, anyone groping in the dark, here’s what:  Trust in God.  Lean on your God! 

 

Says Ben, "Welcome in, Everybody."
 

 

Readings:

Isaiah 56, 1, 6-7,   A house of prayer for all peoples.

Psalm 67,   Oh God, let all the nations praise you.

Roman s 11, 13-15, 29-32,  I am speaking to you Gentiles

Matthew 15, 21-28,  My daughter is tormented by a demon.  

 

 

 

Likewise, Sydney & Hugh say, "Come right in, Folks."

 

 

Isaiah 56 observations:

As soon as you see Isaiah, chapter 56, you know some things, if you are into the study of the Bible and especially  of Isaiah, my favorite.

1. Isaiah 56 is Isaiah 3, chapter 56-66, the end of the book of Isaiah.
2. Isaiah 3 is put together after the Babylonian Captivity, that is, around 555 before Christ.
3. The Israelites have returned to Jerusalem, a totally destroyed, depressed city.
4. Therefore, it is plausible to expect Isaiah 3 to be trying to lift up the spirits of the people.  This he does, consoling the people with promises of a better time.   Note: the better days are conditional on good behavior.  Ever think of how our whole redemption story is conditional? Not much unconditional love.   In other words, if you want my love and favor, behave.

 

 

 

Sez Leo, "I am ready, let's go!"

 

 

Goofy Myths

This morning I would like to talk about myths, wako beliefs, and superstitions.   Myths are human efforts to explain the unexplainable, like what happens to me after death, how did the world begin, and when or how is the world going to end.

There could be no better time to talk about myths, because guess what we have tomorrow.  An eclipse of the sun.  Today we understand what is happening because we have telescopes and an understanding of how objects are moving in space.

 

 

 

 

It don't get better than this.   The Gerwers are here.  Brady, Cameron, Casey, Trey, and Reid.

 

 

However, long ago the Greeks, to take one example, believed the myth that the eclipse was a sign that the gods were mad and that disaster was about to take place, even the end.  The ancient myths held that the eclipse was demon caused and that the eclipse was an evil omen. 

Today it still may be believed that the eclipse is a danger to an unborn child and even to the mother.  The wisdom, therefore, says ‘don’t get pregnant before an eclipse. 

 

 

Long time Best Buddies, John & Leo.

 

The truth in all these myths is that the eclipse is not caused by angry gods, is not a bad omen, disaster is not about to take place, and there is no effect on an unborn child or the mother. 

The only truth is that the sun, even a sliver of it, will burn your eyes if you look at it and you will go blind.

 

 

 

 

Our Candle Man of The Week, Ben.

 

 

There are food myths, too, folks.  For example, raw carrots are better for you than cooked carrots.  Vitamin C wards off colds.  Coconut oil is good for your health.   Not so to all.

And, of course,  the great myth that regular consumption of Blue Bell will cause weight gain.  Oops, come to think about it, maybe it is true.  Just wishful thinking.

 

 

 

Two more long time Best Buddies, Zoe with her grandfather, Gil

 

All of this I mention as a way of setting up what I would finally like to touch, the subject of Matthew’s story, the little girl possessed by a demon.  For centuries there has been the myth that people, adults and even children, have been possessed by demons.  The belief still lives.  Despite the movie The Exorcist, this is not true.  People are not possessed by demons. 

There is a psychological explanation for a person showing these symptoms.   There are two ways to explain the situation, disassociation and multiple personality.  I have only worked with adults who present symptoms which are really odd behaviors.   This is because the person, who has been severely abused as a child presents multiple personalities.  One personality may present like a demon, another as a 10 year old child, another as  a talented corporate executive.  

 

 

 

 

Two more long time Best Buddies, Mary & Mike.

 

 

Apparently I have the ability when I am being hurt to go to an out of body place where I am not hurt.  This can lock itself in place.  

The people I worked with who had this diagnosis, if they had been told they were demon possessed, awful.  And maybe some uneducated priest tried to do an exorcism. This did not help them at all.  In fact, they were sure they were condemned.  Victimized again.   

 

 

 

 

From Best Buddies to The Best Music, Shonda, Ben, & David.

 

 

Therefore, my position is that there is no possession by devils.  In fact, there are no devils.

Rosemary says to me, "Why do you want to talk about this subject?  My answer, 'To take away or lessen fear.'

We have a God of unconditional love.  Believe it?

 

 

 

The Elevation.

 

 

Thanks…     

Music,   Ben 

 

  Expenses: $    790.00

  Outreach: $   260.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

 

The Godfather (Steve) and Godmother (Frida) hold Harrison as he is baptised

 

 

 

Rosemary's Blessing:

 

 

Mass:  Plus coffee & donuts & specials on the house.  Welcome!

 

Place: Vines High School, Plano, 15th between Custer & Independence, west of Central Expressway.

Time: 9:30

 

Readings: Isaiah 60, 1-6; Psalm 72, Lord, Every Nation on Earth will adore You; Ephesians 3, 2-6; Matthew 2, 1-12

Santa visited the Christmas Eve Community:

 

Community Bulletin Board: 

Heritage Farm renovation:  On hold for a while

   

 

True?

One kind word can warm three winter months.
— Japanese Proverb 
 
 

 Picture 1:  Santa arrives

Picture 2:  Vivian's brother

Picture 3:  Vivian's sister

Picture 4:  Wendy, Shonda, Ray, & Celeste

   
   

  

  HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

     

See you Sunday, January 3  

 J.S.   (214-783-0443)