Reminder for the 2nd Sunday of Advent, December 8, 2024

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.

Dearest Community Members,

Happy Saturday Evening.  I am disappointed to tell you that we have not been able to put together a live stream for tomorrow's Mass.

Becky has worked tirelessly on this project and Mike Moran has also put in many hours on the project.  As of now we are hoping to get a You Tube presentation together of the Mass tomorrow at 9:30 at Legacy.  If we succeed we will put it out on the Blog tomorrow and you should be able to click on the link and see a presentation of the Mass.  We hope to put the link in around noon.  You will not get an email about the Blog until Monday BUT if you go to www.johnstackministries.com about 1:00 it should be out there

In the meantime you have the readings and John Cade's excellent homily so that you can reflect as a family on what you read.

Have a peaceful and healthy week.

Shonda led the singing a cappella today.  She did a great job.

Music,   Shonda

Expenses: $   340.00

Outreach: $    80.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

Rosemary's Blessing:

Let us pray to our God     

To the God of Mary and Joseph,

To the God of Abraham and Sarah.

May our spirit fill the world with beauty and wonder.

May our mind seek truth with humility and openness.

May our hearts forgive without limit.

May our love for friend, enemy and outcast be without measure.

May our needs be few and my living simple.

Taken and adapted from a prayer by Mary Lou Kownacki, OSB for Pax Christi USA in commemoration of the United Nations International Decade for the Culture of Peace and Nonviolence for the Children of the World.

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.

John Stack Ministries now meets at:  The ArtCentre of Plano, 902 E. 16th St, Plano

Here are the arrangements for Sandra Pratt:

Celebration of Life:  Thursday, 5/25,  6:30 PM to 8:00 PM

All Saints Catholic Church, Dallas, Fellowship Hall

5231 Meadowcreek Drive, Dallas, TX

LIVESTREAM INFORMATION for the Celebration of Life

The livestream will start about 5-10 minutes before it begins, and that is when the livestream will appear at the below links.

The livestream can be accessed at https://www.allsaintsdallas.org/livestream.  If you click on that link right now it will show that the next event is tomorrow’s 9 AM Mass (or today’s mass may still be on)… but that is the spot all livestreams can be found.

We simulcast to Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/asccdallas) and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@asccdallas).

Christ the King Catholic Church, 

8017 Preston Road, Dallas, TX

The streaming info for the funeral Mass is not available yet.

Isaiah 50:  The Lord God is my help, therefore I am not disgraced;

Philippians 3:   … and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

Luke:  The Passion of the Lord

Hue reading from Luke 

Thanks…

Music,    Ben 

Readers,  Hue, Claire, Tom, Lynda, The Crowd (Rob, Beth, John, Connie, Kevin and Geri)

Gospel,     

Homily,  

Eucharistic Prayer A & B,  John Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,      Mike & Hue & Richard

Final Blessing, Rosemary

Claire, the Narrator, for the reading of the Passion of the Lord

Lynda, the Voice, and Tom, Christ, for the reading of the Passion of the Lord

Readings: Download 04-10-22 – Readings – Palm Sunday

Homily:  

The Crowd (Rob, Beth, Connie, John, Kevin and Geri), for the reading of the Passion of the Lord

Remember these special people:

For John Stack having a hard time right now with a bad back;  For Sandra who has been diagnosed with Large B Cell Lymphoma;   For Lambrini, John Cade's wife who is dealing with cancer;  For Richard's grand daughter, Madeleine;    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 and for a friend Cadence still suffering from a serious medical condition;   For Sir Charlie & Jan;  All of Shonda's dear family;

The Kiss of Peace

Jackie's mom, sister, & friend, Lynn;  For Rick Turner searching for a kidney donor, Type O neg.; For Meredith, cancer free & John Schanot;    For John O'Donnell & Jean;   For Jean & Cliff Wright;  For Dee, and for her daughters, Lisa & Lauren;     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 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.

The Kiss of Peace
                   

Birthdays:   Tom Zurchin 4/11

Anniversaries:   

Community Finances:   

Expenses: $  580.00

Outreach: $  

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

Barb receiving a cupcake

Rosemary's Blessing:  

Gethsemane            by Mary Oliver

The grass never sleeps.
Or the roses.
Nor does the lily have a secret eye that shuts until morning.
Jesus said, wait with me. But the disciples slept.
The cricket has such splendid fringe on its feet,
and it sings, have you noticed, with its whole body,
and heaven knows if it ever sleeps.
Jesus said, wait with me. And maybe the stars did, maybe the wind wound itself
into a silver tree, and didn't move, maybe
the lake far away, where once he walked as on a
blue pavement,
lay still and waited, wild awake.
Oh the dear bodies, slumped and eye-shut, that could not
keep that vigil, how they must have wept,
so utterly human, knowing this too
must be a part of the story.

From Cindy & Ken, Bill & Cindy, "Welcome in, Everybody."
 

Welcome: Catholic Mass with coffee & juice, and pastries, some bought, some home-made.

Time: 9:30; Celebrate with the Community & Stack. & Mike homilizing

Place: Sigler Elementary, 1400 Janwood Drive, Plano, TX 75075

Hi, Vivian.

Readings:

Genesis 2, 7-9; 3, 1-7,  Eating the apple.   

 Psalm 51,  Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned

 Romans 5, 12-19   Then everyone will receive praise from God.

 Matthew 4, 1-11,    Temptation in the desert.

The Girls, Patricia, Cathy, & Sandra.

Community Activities:  

ROMEO MEET: Friday, March 3, Jason's Deli, Collin Creek Mall, west side of Central, 1:00.  Welcome all wakos,  you will fit right in.  

JULIET LUNCHEON, (aka.,just us ladies into eating together),      

Juliet’s Luncheon Ladies will meet Friday, March 3 at 1:00 P.M. at Ocean Seafood and Grill.  For all who have not been there the food is very good and reasonable.  It is a BYOB.  I thought this would be a good choice because it will be Lent and some of us do not eat meat on Fridays during Lent.  Ocean is at 3829 W. Spring Creek Pkwy., Plano, behind Chic-Fil-A which is on Coit Rd. (Spring Creek and Coit).  Please let me know if you can join us.  They do have other choices besides seafood.   Ron & Marilyn Ackerman [rmackerman5@gmail.com]

Love for the Kids, April 8, Welcome

 Healing for Rob.
 

What is going on in Our Catholic World

1. Big Doctrine Divisions in Rome, The Tablet,   2/23, 747 words,   Download DOCTRINE DIVISION 4-2-17
2. Big Loss for Abuse Commission in Rome, National Catholic Reporter, 3-1-17, 888 words,   Download ABUSE COMMISSION LOSS 3-2-17

Our Father with Buddy.

True?

Men hate those to whom they have to lie.

• Victor Hugo

Our Father with Hugh, Tom, Becky, and John.

See you Sunday.

J.S., 214-783-0443

Communion for Buddy. 

JSM Mission-Faith Statement

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

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

 Peace.