6th Sunday of Easter, May 25, 2025

Readings:  Numbers 6, 22-27, The Lord Bless You and Keep You; Psalm 67, May God bless us in his new mercy; Galatians 4, 4-7, So you are no longer a slave; Luke, 2, 16-21, The Shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem.

The book of Numbers:

        1.  What: the 4^th book of the first 5 books of the Bible, the Pentateuch or Torah.

        2.  Date of composition: around 5 centuries before Christ, but was a compilation of years.

        3.  Theme: The people are "numbered" or counted at Mt. Sinai and preparations are made for resuming their march through the desert.  The Israelites begin the journey, but immediately they "murmur" & complain at the hardships along the way. They arrive at the borders of Canaan and send spies into the land, but on hearing the spies' report the Israelites refuse to take possession of Canaan and God condemns them to death in the wilderness until a new generation can grow up and carry out the task. The book ends with the new generation of Israelites in the plain of Moab ready for the crossing of the Jordan River.

        4.  Our selection: God tells Moses to have Aaron & his sons bless the people using this special blessing.

References: Good News Bible, Wikipedia

 

What Kind of a Shepherd am I? 

    Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to help serve the evening meal at The Bridge in downtown Dallas.  The Bridge is a marvelous facility.  Basically it is the homeless shelter for the greater Dallas area.  

    It has space for approximately 250 overnighters.  That was the number of people whom we served dinner for the Friday night I was there.  For breakfast & lunch up to 800 people are served.  

    Three things struck me. 

    First, the spirit of the people I was serving.  There are about twenty round tables with, say, 8 places.  I was serving water along with about 6 other guys.  These people were bundled up because it was cold outside.  Everyone I served was super grateful.  I joked and played with lots of the people, men & women.  They had an amazingly up-beat spirit.

    Secondly, I was struck by three folks, two women & one guy.  They presented themselves as more middle class.  They had a more refined way of speaking, they seemed peaceful.  Except the guy.  He was nice looking with black hair & slender.  But he was more to himself.  He was younger than the two women, probably in his 30’s while the women were maybe in their late 50’s or early 60’s.  They were not together, but at different tables.  The women were talking with people at their tables, but the guy was not.  

    What is their story?  What events brought them to The Bridge? 

    The three are still vivid in my memory.

    The third thing that struck me was how I got to The Bridge that Friday night.  I got there because the 16 year old girl who lives next door to Rosemary & me invited me. 

  

    I knew Sydney volunteered at The Bridge and I told her I would go as her adult whenever her dad or mom could not accompany her.  She invited me.  

    This was the last day of school before the Christmas break and I am sure lots of kids were out having fun.  Sydney might have done so later, but from 6:00 to 7:00 that night she spent time helping the homeless.  She was like one of those shepherds in Luke story. 

    What kind of a shepherd are you? 

 

     I am going to help you answer that at the end of our Mass.  Just you wait!

Picture 1:    Mass Begins

Picture 2:    Celeste & Nina

Picture 3:    Bethany, Shonda, & Ray   

Picture 4:    Ray & Jon

Picture 5:    Jan, John, Patricia, & Rich   

Picture 6:    John, Mary Jane, & Jan, all communion helpers.

 Enclosed is the link to City House.  Help an old geezer celebrate his 72nd birthday, January 26.  Volunteer to help take a census of the Plano homeless.  We aim at a couple of teams: Download Volunteers needed, City House 1-1-12

 

Introduction: While reflecting on our blessings of the week-

• We are blessed to be alive today, just as those who landed in the Hudson;

• We are blessed to be alive to witness Tuesday the inauguration of a black man where slaves once constructed the buildings.  Our people have grown.

Readings:  1 Samuel 3, 3-19; Psalm 40; 1 Corinthians 6, 13-20; John 1, 35-42   

1 Samuel: This is book one of two books.  The series is 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings; the characters being Samuel, the last of the Judge leaders of Israel-Judah; Saul, the first king; and King David. 

Authors:  Traditionally it was thought that 3 people wrote the book, Samuel, Gad, & Nathan.  Samuel, chapters 1-25; Gad was King David's historian, & Nathan was an editor.  Contemporary biblical experts think this unlikely & say that the works were put together at least 50 years after the time of the events.

Time:  The events take place ca. 1100-1000 BCE.  The compilation & recording of the events takes place ca. 950 BCE. 

Today's Selection: Yahweh is calling Samuel in a dream.  This ties in with the Gospel where three future apostles are called.  Samuel's parents were Elkanah & Hannah, and Hannah is famous because of a touching story about how she came to have Samuel.  She had been barren for years and even Elkanah's other wife ridiculed her.  One day the prophet Eli heard her crying and praying in the temple.  At first he accused her of being drunk.  Then when he talked with her, he promised that she would have a son. 

Hannah had promised Yahweh that she would dedicate to the temple her son, if she got one.  Consequently, our selection finds Samuel residing in the temple with Eli the prophet.  He would be about 12 years old.

Be aware that while these marvelous stories about Samuel are mythological, the writer is attempting to convey to a simple people lessons in trust in Yahweh.

What are You Looking for?

The theme of our readings this morning is obviously call & response.  Over the years you have heard repeatedly my 3 personal calls, the priest-Jesuit call, East Africa, and marriage.  You have reason to be tired of hearing the same stories.  Consequently, I looked around for sub-themes in the readings, and in my various sources a number of sub-themes came up.  The sub-theme that I want to talk about is stated by Jesus to the two future apostles, Matthew and (maybe) John, "What are you looking for?"  This is certainly relevant to what is taking place this week.  But first three other minor observations.

First, the verb stay is used three times.  The two ask Jesus where is he staying or dwelling.  They find where he is staying.  Then they stayed with him.  Significant to the writer?  So many times the writers have a special agenda in their use of a word.

Secondly, the verb see or looked intently at is used 5 times.  John the Baptist watched Jesus walk by, but really what is said is that he looked intently at.  Then Jesus saw the two.  Jesus tells them they will see.  The two saw where Jesus stayed.  Then when Peter came before Jesus, Jesus looked at him, really looked intently at him. 

Third, 4 o'clock in the afternoon.  In the original language it says 10 o'clock.  This is the eastern way of keeping time, the way I learned in East Africa.  There is another whole time calculation than the Greenwich Mean Time.  In fact, I find it more logical.  What is usually the first hour of daylight or the first hour of darkness?   7 o'clock in our time.  In the east the first hour of daylight & the first hour of darkness is 1 o'clock.  Our 7:00 A.M. & 7:00 P.M. is 1 o'clock of the day or 1 o'clock of the night.

Finally, "What are you looking for?"  Who knows, who cares?  Well, we know.  And we can care because what those two are looking for is basically what we are looking for.  So did they find it?

I would propose that we can say, 'yes, I know what they were looking for."  We are blessed because we have people who have gone before us who have mapped out what we people are looking for.  You may have run into this in psychology 101 or elementary psychology in high school, but it is useful to remind ourselves.  The person who for me mapped it out best is the famous psychologist, Abraham Maslow.  He has five stages of human need or what we are looking for.

Stage 1:  Imagine a pyramid and we are starting at the bottom with the most elemental.  What we are looking for at this stage is biological and physiological.  Namely, food & drink, air, shelter,warmth, sleep.  Our ancestors lived on this stage, but most of us today have this stage under control.

Stage 2:  Safety & security.  I may have shelter, food, and drink, but need a secure place to shelter, eat, and drink.  You may think this applies simply to robbers or security from getting bombed like is going on in Gaza right now, but how many little kids do not find this need stage satisfied.

Stage 3: Love & belonging needs.  I am part of.  A family, a group of peers or friends, a community.  I find acceptance, affection, and love.

Stage 4:  Esteem.  I have achieved, attained status, have reputation & recognition.

Stage 5:  Self actualization.  Self acceptance, acceptance of others and my world, inner peace, more fully alive.

I would observe that all of us in this community have stages 1 & 2 under control and probably also the other three stages in varying degrees.  I suggest that self actualization involves me giving back to others esteem, love, and a sense of belonging.  I also suggest that the usual obstacle to my greater self actualization is my addiction, whatever that may be, alcohol, drugs, food, TV, etc.

There is a little 5 question quickie self assessment that you may take.  I will put a link to it on the blog this evening.  Check it out.

What are you looking for?  Where are you?

AUDIO: http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2009-01-18.mp3

SELF ASSESSMENT: Download Quick self assessment

Picture 1:  Choir–Wendy, Shonda & Ray, & Celeste

Picture 2:  Birthday & Anniversary–Charlie, Claire & Ray

Picture 3:  Birthdays–David & Alexandra, dad & daughter

 

Readings: Acts 2, 1-11; Psalm 104; 1 Corinthians 12, 3-13, John 20,19-23, Pentecost.

Mothers’ Day Notes:

• The idea originated, ca. 1870, with 3 women who had worked in hospitals during the Civil War. 
• Julia Ward Howe (Battle Hymn), Anna Maria Reeves Jarvis, & her daughter, Anna Jarvis wanted a Mothers’ Day of Peace because of the horrors they had seen in the military hospitals.
• Woodrow Wilson, 1914, established the national holiday.

Pentecost Notes:

• The word signifies 50, in this case, 50 days (or 7 weeks).
• O.T.: the Hebrews celebrated the 50th day after the Passover (Egypt, first born sons killed by angel, Jewish sons spared, to threaten Pharaoh into letting the Hebrews depart Egypt).  The celebration eventually focused on agriculture & thanksgiving for the first fruits of the spring, and finally Thanksgiving for the Torah.
• N.T.: Christians tied this occasion to the spiritual fruits of redemption, the Spirit, 50 days (or 7 Sundays/weeks) after the Resurrection.
• Question: a 1 time only event or repeatable (e.g., Pentecostals)?

Mothers’ Day

In Thursday’s USA Today there is an article by Paul Aronsohn about two women, his mother & his sister, Margot & Patti.

When Patti was ca. 25 years old she was diagnosed with a rare disease that eventually would take her life, a disease that resembles M.S., but which does not seem to have a name or be very common.  This happened in ’89, almost 20 years ago.

As the years have passed Patti slowly went down.  Originally active athletically & intellectually, she first had to walk with a cane.  Then she took up a walker, then moved into a wheel chair.  Finally, a few years ago, she became bed ridden.  To eat she has to use a feeding tube, into which something like Ensure is poured, yuk.

During the years her three sibling and friends have helped her.  But the person who has helped her the most was her mother who was herself about 50 when the diagnosis was given. 

Today Patti is about 45, totally bed bound, fed through a tube, can talk a bit, is conscious, and is awaiting the end.  Her mother, Margot, is mid-70’s, takes care of Patti full time in Florida where they moved because of the milder weather than New Jersey.  During the day Margot has help, but at night she sleeps beside Patti’s bed in case Patti needs anything.

What kind of love is this!!  Remember Jackie Ritter’s story about landing in Holland instead of Italy?

Whom do you love this much?

AUDIO:  http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2008-05-11.mp3

Readings:  Isaiah 40, 1-11, Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God; Psalm 85, Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation;  2 Peter 3, 8-14, The Lord does not delay his promise;  Mark 1, 1-8, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way.

Mass for Second Sunday of Advent, 12-4-11, John Cade Celebrating

 Opening Prayer   Let us pray: O God, we gather together in this season when we celebrate and experience anew your coming in the Christmas mystery. We acknowledge that you are not far away, but with us wherever we are, calling us to live in unity and love. We ask for increased sensitivity to your presence with us and we give you thanks both now and forever and ever…   Amen.   

 
         

A few words about the readings today, from the prophet Isaiah, the second letter of Peter, and the Gospel of Mark.

     The first reading is from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, Ch 40:1-5, 9-11. The fact that this reading is from Chapter 40 tells us that the prophet is now turning from chiding the people for their failings to prophesying better times to come and giving words of comfort.

    The words we hear from Isaiah today probably relate to the journey home from captivity in Babylon. Isaiah appears to use this passage symbolically to describe a moral cleansing and renewal by the Jewish people prior to their returning to Jerusalem.

     Georg Freideric Handel is one of the most famous composers in the Baroque period. He was born in Germany, but spent most of his adult life in England and is best known as the composer of the Messiah in 1741. In place of reading the passage from Isaiah, we will listen to the words put to music in Part I of the Messiah. You may wish to sing or hum along. Or you may just want to soak in the power of Isaiah’s words.

     The second reading is from the Second Letter of Peter, Ch 3 (8-14).  This reading also refers to a coming of Jesus, not at Christmas, but at the end of time. It repeats the theme of last week’s reading from Mark to “Be watchful.”  And in the Gospel reading, the author of Mark has John the Baptist introduce Jesus as the Messiah to the people of Mark’s time.

 

                                                              

 Gospel of Mark, Chapter 1 (1-8).            

     The beginning   of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: Behold I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way. A voice of one crying out in the desert: Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

     People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.

     John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He fed on locusts and wild honey. And this is what he proclaimed: One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs on his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.       

 

  HOMILY:

     All three readings today refer to the coming of Jesus. First, the prophecy of Isaiah is interpreted by the author of Mark as referring to the Messiah to come. Second, Peter’s reference to the final coming of Jesus at the end of time. And third, Mark’s use of John the Baptist to introduce Jesus as the real thing coming after John.

     In Isaiah Ch 40, and in the first words of Mark’s Gospel, there are pronouncements that something big is happening. Like: “Get ready!”, “Come see!”, “He is coming!”, “Here He is!”

     Well, if you don’t yet know, Lambrini and I are totally enthralled with our grandsons, Leo and Freddie. Recently we have noticed how Leo (almost 3) greets us when we go to his home or he comes to ours. His greeting is some sort of pronouncement, like: “Come see what I did! I did it!!” (pointing to Xmas tree,hands out gesture), -or- “Come see!! I have stuff to show you!!” –or- “YiaYia! Look!! YiaYia’s here!!” – or, last time he came to our home for a visit, “I’m back!”  

     What enthusiasm he expresses for life as it comes to him day by day. What sensitivity to people and events of every day, that we grownups take for granted, or have little wonder or excitement about.

     It seems to me that the use of the pronouncements by Isaiah, and Peter, and Mark, and John the Baptist are intended to evoke in us wonder and awe in the here and now, for what is always coming into our lives, the wonder and excitement children express naturally. ‘Out of the mouths of babes’ we are instructed in how to welcome the Good News that Christmas is coming, Jesus is coming, and that Christmas and Jesus are always coming.

     If you don’t have a 3 or 4 year old in your life, to experience their dramatic pronouncements about daily events and about people, think back to when you did, or a family member did, or a friend or a neighbor did. Listen with your ears and with your heart for the wonder and the enthusiasm they express about all that is new for them every day.

     The question I leave you with is: how do you respond to your everyday Christmas events? How are you preparing for the coming of God who is always here with us?

Picture 1:    Mass Begins

Picture 2:    Candle Ritual, Diane & Jenny

Picture 3:    Jenny lighting the candles

Picture 4:    Bethany & Shonda

Picture 5:    Leo & Rosemary

Picture 6:    John's daughter Joey with Freddie

Picture 7:    Freddie with his granddad  

Amos 7,  The lord took me.

Psalm 85, Lord, let us see your kindness and grant us your salvation 

Ephesians 1, Blessed be God who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing.

Mark 6, He began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits.

 

 

Who let these Juliettes out in public!

 

Thanks……

Music,    Shonda 

Readers,  Mary Hall & Sandra Pratt, & Buddy, our candle blesser 

Gospel,     John Cade

Homily,   John Stack

Eucharistic Prayer A & B,  John Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,     Richard

Final Blessing, Rosemary

For hosting us at Legacy for all these years & will miss you enormously, Becky

Mary arrives ready to read from Amos.

 

Readings:

Download Readings 15th Ordinary 07-11-21

 

Homily by John Stack

Download Homily by Stack 7-11-2021 15th Sunday of Ordinary time

 

 

Sandra reading from Ephesians.

 

Remember these special people:

For John & Karen Anderlick's unborn grandson;  For Alan Stryker;   For Candice Taht, friend of Mary Hall;   For Rosemary's great niece, Rylie ;  For Richard's grand daughter, Madeleine;   For Esparza's new great grandson baby, son of Monique, & Frank with shingles;  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 Team, John & John.

 

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 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 baby boy named Ford recuperating from an operation; for David McKeon's brother, Hugh; For Beth's friends & brother;   for the medical staffs, teachers, and coaches in our public & private schools.

 

 

Peace, Everyone.

 

Birthdays:  John Schanot & Caroline Grattifiori 

Anniversaries:  Ron & Marilyn, 68th

 

Happy 58th Anniversary, Ron & Marilyn.

 

Community Finances,   July 11, 2021

Expenses: $560.00  

Outreach: $210.00  

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 
   
                                                                                                                           

Welcome home, Monique.                                                                                                                                      

Rosemary's Blessing:

I just finished a marvelous book, The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan.  It is the story of a young couple and 2 young sons making their way from the Ukraine westward at the end of WWII.

At the end of the mother’s life many years later when she was 80+ years old a friend asked the woman, Adeline to describe the most important things she learned over the course of her long and remarkable life.

Adeline thought about that for a little while before saying, “Don’t chew on the bad things that happen to you, dear.  Try to see the beauty in every cruelty. It sets you free.  Forgive hurt if you want to heal a broken heart.  Try to be grateful for every setback or tragedy, because by living through them, you become stronger.  I see the hand of God in that.”