Readings: Exodus 16, 2-15; Psalm 78, The Lord gave them bread from heaven; Ephesians 4, 17-24; John 6, 24-35

Exodus

Over the past several weeks John, (Stack) has been telling us about the real starting point of the history of the Jewish people.  Starting with the death of Solomon the kingdom is divided, and then follows invasion after invasion.  First the northern kingdom, Israel, is wiped out by the Assyrians, and never recovers, around the year 732.  Then the southern kingdom of Judah falls to the Babylonians, and the people are taken away into captivity, the city and more importantly the temple is destroyed!  We find the beginnings of the written Old Testament at this time.  The story of the Exodus, when the people were enslaved, rang true for the people, had a big impact.  This offered them hope in Babylon. 

The book of Exodus has three main sections.  One – the stubbornness of the Pharaoh is overcome when Yahweh hears the cry of the slaves.  Two – the Sinai event, the covenant and finally, Three – the coming into the Promised Land.  This all took 40 years, and so we need to have stories in-between.  Today’s is one of these, showing Yahweh feeding his people, who are into some serious grumbling!

Ephesians

An interesting letter, attributed to Paul, but we know better.  Probably written after Paul’s death in Rome .  Not too clear that in fact it was written for the folk in Ephesus or was more a letter, which could have gone to anyone.  There are no issues, which are being addressed going on in a local community.  But there are some interesting items in this letter.  This is the letter where we are told that wives need to be submissive to their husbands, children obey their parent, and slaves be obedient to their masters.  Parts of this letter could easily be parts of very early liturgies.

Homily for Sunday August 2, 2009

I think the topic for consideration today has to be connected with food— or by extension nourishment!  We are in John’s Gospel.  Last week we had the feeding of the 5,000 or if you prefer, the feeding of John Stack on a stopped train somewhere in the middle of nowhere in Africa.  Food figures very frequently in the stories we have about Jesus, culminating with the Last Supper.  Jesus uses meals to really get people thinking again about their lives.  He dines with sinners, eats on the Sabbath, feeds the multitudes a couple of times, goes to wedding feasts and probably gets everyone drunk!  And finally adds a whole new layer of meaning to the Passover Meal.

But I want to suggest another form of nourishment, which we find frequent reference to, and that is ”spiritual nourishment”.  We have many, many examples of Jesus going off by himself into the hills to pray.   In this country we are more than blessed with the physical nourishment, we are “super-sized”, and unfortunately life seems so busy that the “Spiritual Nourishment” can too easily be forgotten.  I find that my prayers are the same ones I learned as a child, and I now try to find new ways to pray.  Part of the challenge is that I needed to update my images of God too.  The childish ones have had to go.  There is no tall bearded man up in the sky!  I am challenged to replace this god, my creation, with one more in keeping with our better understanding of the universe.  Plus, recall, the minute I have God figured out, I am probably in heresy!!!!

Our community, getting together each week is a huge help.  I have a chance to sit and listen to the Scriptures, reflect on their meanings as they apply to my life.  I have a chance to interact with others in a different way than I do with people I meet thru work.  Sometimes prayer is just sitting and listening to God, and sometimes it is God listening to me.  Then there can be other times when we can both just sit and be!  The silence, which happens when two people are very comfortable together.

Picture 1: Mass with Tony, Kevin and T.J.

Picture 2: Wendy, Shonda and Ray

Picture 3: Charley Keszler, Diamond (Gayle & Tony's niece), Gayle and Tony

Picture 4: Jane and Paul Drake

Readings:

 Joshua 24, 1-2, 15-18, Far be it from us to forsake the Lord.

Psalm 34,    Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Ephesians 5, 21-32,   Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.

John 6, 60-69, There are some of you who do not believe.

"Good Morning, Dear Vivian, and welcome to your community that loves you."  Vivian makes her debut.

Joshua:

Who is Joshua and what is this booklet about:  Joshua was Moses' assistant, his lieutenant when the the Israelites wandered in the desert.  The booklet is the story of the Israelite invasion of Canaan under Joshua's leadership. 

Author: somewhat amusingly, the fundamentalists say that Joshua wrote most of the booklet.  More scientific scholars say the work is a compilation of a number of sources.

Genevieve says, "Welcome, Everybody, Nice to be seeing you all.

Date of composition: again fundamentalists state that the booklet was composed 1400-1370, i.e., while Joshua lived.  Scholars of a broader vision suggest that even if a Joshua existed the work was put together 800-700 BCE. 

The work combines a number of traditions about battles & destruction of cities to create a nationalistic narrative that justifies the Israelites' taking another peoples' land for their own.

Ethical Question: genocide.  This is a bloody book.  Yahweh commands that the Israelites exterminate every breathing thing, including women & children & livestock. 

Sienna, too, says, "Hi, Folks, it is fun to be back and see you."

The battle of Jericho is characteristic.  For 6 days the Israelites marched around the city, blowing horns and menacing the people.  On day 7 they marched around 7 times and the walls came tumbling down, as in the spiritual.  Then every person except one woman & her family were slaughtered.  Lots of debate and rationalization over these events.

Our Selection: The last chapter of the booklet.  Joshua, who is dying, calls the people together at a place called Sechem and puts it to them.  Stick with Yahweh who has done all these things for you (which are mentioned in the text but are long & tedious) or choose another path of your own.

Sources: Good News Bible, Got Questions.org, Wikipedia

Brooklyn says, "This is super, I'm not the youngest around here anymore.  Where are those two little girls?"

Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord

Sounds good to me, Folks.   However, when I bring this up to Rosemary, what do I get?  “Want to start sleeping in the back yard dog kennel tonight?  Even my mom was not impressed with this little statement of Paul.  Just ask my poor dad. 

And guess what: I married my mom.  So much for the joy of being a married priest.

"Anybody planning a race over here?"  "No thank you.  We would rather sleep while that old geezer goes on talking."

Some years ago while I was waiting in a line to ride the roller coaster at 6 Flags I overheard a husband telling his wife to obey him because of this passage, he was the head of the house and the Bible says it.  I almost dropped my teeth. 

The family, mom, dad, and two young girls were trying to decide something.  Finally, even the wife says to the girls that they have to obey the man.  He is the head.

So, how do we handle this, especially when we are repelled by the idea?

Teamwork.  Vivian's mommy, Bethany taking care of Genevieve.  Does it get any more beautiful?

Perspective!   Traditionally there are three types of family relationships.  This is fairly simple.

    1.  Matriarchal: the woman/wife is the head of the family.  Culturally this has been established occasionally and in some places.

    2.  Patriarchal: the husband is the head. 

    3.  Equality: both are partners, husband and wife. 

         Brandon, the Ace Candle Lighter with his mom, Mary.

Paul's place:  guess which paradigm Paul comes from?  Paul lives in a culture which considered women & children little more than domestic animals.  In Tanzania I found the same paradigm among the ordinary people.  This paradigm has been followed more probably  because men are physically stronger and don’t hesitate to maintain control with physical violence.

Even though today Paul can sound wako & chauvanistic, what he says about husbands loving their wives as they love their own bodies, this was pretty radical.

           Cupcake of The Week Time: Payton and The Girls.

Today: all three of the paradigms are valid.  Among most educated people, however, equality between husband & wife, men & women is the more healthy.    Besides, as we know, women just won’t let us guys get away with it. 

Certainly with education for both men and women, there is equality.  And just this week, two women passed the Army Ranger training program. 

"Zoe, You look even prettier without those teeth."

So, again, beware of taking the Bible literally.  Check our blog from last Thursday to find some other interesting biblical statements.   Like beating your kids.

What paradigm do you prefer???

          And keeping us all together, Mary, Bethany, and Ray.

Readings: Acts of the Apostles 6, 1-7; Psalm 33, Lord, let your Mercy be upon Us, as we place our Trust in You; 1 Peter 2, 4-9; John 14, 1-12 

Acts observations & review—(Author, Date, Place, Subject) a repeat from Easter

 Author: This is Luke, the physician, the companion of Paul, the Gentile writing for Gentile Christians, and the same Luke who wrote the Gospel of Luke.

 Date: Around 65 years after Christ.  Probably just before the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple (70 C.E., a big date in Jewish history), or Luke would have probably mentioned it. 

Place: probably Ephesus, today a ruin on the west coast of Turkey south of Constantinople.  Once this town was a major Christian center.

 Subject: the material works like in concentric, expanding circles, beginning in Jerusalem and ending in Rome after touching Judea, Syria, Ephesus, & Europe.  It treats activities in the early Christian community, some of which may describe they way they wished things were. 

 Sources: Good News Bible, New Interpreter’s Study Bible, St. Louis U. Jesuits’ Liturgical web

Homily

 This past week four of our community, Bill Hammond, Bob McGrath, Charlotte Gelineau Katner & her husband, Harry, all went to Tuscaloosa, AL to help with the tornado clean up. 

Bill took the homily time to share how he was touched by the students from St. Bonaventure College in Buffalo, NY, by their faculty moderator, and by the people of Tuscaloosa. 

The fifteen boys and fourteen girls who made the trip from Buffalo worked tirelessly cleaning up people's property, sawing up fallen trees, and consoling the victims of the tornado.

One of the kids even found the lost wedding ring of a lady.  It was found under a piece of trashed wall board.

Everyone spent nights on the floor of the all purpose center of the Methodist Church in Tuscaloosa.  The community housed all the volunteers and fed the whole group. 

Bill said he returned with sense overload and a marvel at the good will & generosity of so many people.

Picture 1:   Mass begins

Picture 2:   Bill Hammond talking about Tuscaloosa

Picture 3:   Offertory, Melissa, Jenny, & their mom Diane Holcomb 

  
Picture 4:   Chloe & Emma

Picture 5:   Leo joins the music with his dad, Ray, and Wendy.

Readings: Genesis 15, 5-18; Psalm 27, The Lord is My Light and My Salvation; Philippians 3, 17-4,1; Luke 9, 28-36
 

Introduction to the Readings

Our three readings today are each very interesting in themselves.  Our first reading, from the book of Genesis is from Chapter 15.  We hear about Abram and one of many times we are told about the descendants of Abram.  Genesis is very interesting reading from Chapter 12 on for several chapters. We hear about the call of Abram, his leaving his homeland with all is possessions including his wife and nephew Lot, their time in Egypt and then the split with Lot, and their dividing up the land.  Then we read about the rescue of Lot and all of the people by Abram.  As a reward, Abram is offered whatever he wants by the kings and he basically says that he wants nothing.  Then we have our reading today, where again we have this promise by God to Abram of many descendants.  One item of interest is towards the end of today’s reading we are told that a “trance fell on Abram”, basically he fell asleep.  In our gospel, the disciples also fall asleep, before a strange vision. 

The second reading is from Paul’s Letter to the Philippians.  This is a very short letter, only four chapters, and something we might consider reading in its entirety during the coming week.  http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/philippians/intro.htm

More about the Gospel later in the homily.

Second Sunday of Lent – Homily

“This is my chosen one, listen to Him” The last time Luke’s Gospel records words from God the Father is right after Jesus’ Baptism, when we hear “You are my Son, the Beloved, my favor rests on you”. 

This gospel passage we have just heard is very interesting.  I want to look back for a moment to last week’s gospel reading about the temptation account.  If you had all been good Jews very familiar with the Old Testament, when I read that account and said that Jesus was lead into the desert for 40 days you would all have immediately thought about Moses spending 40 days up the mountain (Ex 34:26) before receiving the Ten Commandments, the sign of the covenant between God and his people, and also remembered Elijah’s 40 days in the desert (1Kings 19:8) after his great confrontation with the false prophets, and of course (Deut 8:2) the forty years of wandering in the desert after the escape from Egypt.

Today’s reading, often referred to as the Transfiguration, has much to tell us.  Once again we are going up a mountain.  It seems to be where many important things happen in the God relationship.  Whenever Jesus goes off to a quiet place to pray, most of the time it seems to be up a mountain.  This time he takes Peter, James and John, and just as later in the garden of Gethsemane, they promptly fall asleep!  I take this as a source of encouragement, to keep trying.  And to follow with the link you all made with last Sundays 40 days reference, Jesus meets up with the two great prophets of the Old Testament, Moses of the Law and Elijah, THE PROPHET.  Luke wants us initially to view Jesus as Prophet. 

In a section of Luke’s Gospel just before today’s reading Jesus has just told his disciples about his being rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the scribes and being put to death and rising after three days.  In this transfiguration account, that is exactly what Jesus is talking about with Moses and Elijah!  Of course the apostles are mostly asleep during this conversation, and when they wake up, again we have poor Peter putting his foot in it by wanting to erect three tents.  There are a couple of problems with Peter’s suggestion.  The idea that God can be captured and put in a certain place, like a tent, or even a church!  And secondly, that Jesus is far greater than any prophet, which is why the voice comes out of the cloud and tells them the important thing is “to listen”. 

If we carefully read the gospels to try and get a sense of what Jesus was saying, he really didn’t say too much, he mostly did.  And I think that if we listen carefully to the Gospel the message we must come away with as followers of Jesus is not a set of beliefs or creeds but the command to action, to love one another.  To take care of the poor and the sick, to feed the hungry and to clothe the naked, to visit those in prison.  Because “as often as you did it to these you did it to me”. 

At least that is what I hear when I listen, what do you hear?

Sarah says, "Hi, Everybody, Welcome."

Readings:

Isaiah  8, 23-9, 3,  The people who have walked in darkness have seen a great light.

Psalm 27,  The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?

1 Corinthians 1,  10-13,  I urge you that there be no divisions among you.

John  1, 29-34, The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light.

Leo says, "Come in, Folks, there's cupcakes."

Isaiah reminders, again—

 Author: This is Isaiah #1, the composer of chapters 1-39.  Even though Isaiah #1 lives before the Babylonian Captivity, he still sees that a great day a bright day will come to the Jewish people.  

 Date:  Ca. 555 before Christ, the composition.  The Jewish people of Jerusalem are about to be defeated and carried off into slavery

Subject:  A great day will come for you Jews.  A special leader will be born.  You will be a beacon to others, glorious, and a light to nations everywhere.  You might easily recognize parts of this reading.  From where?  The Nativity readings.  

This is the last week we will have these Isaiah readings which I love.  I will miss them.  Until next Advent.

Chuck and Sandra.

Serenity Prayer

Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.   In honor of Chuck Pratt

The People who have walked in Darkness have seen a Great Light

I would like to talk this morning about our old friend, Chuck Pratt, who moved to the other side December 8.  I would like to tie up my thoughts with two gorgeous lines from our readings.  The first is from my beloved Isaiah, the second from the Psalm, 27.  Namely, The people who have walked in darkness have seen a great light.  Recognize the line?  It’s from the Christmas liturgy.  Secondly, from the Psalm, The Lord is my light, whom should I fear? 

Chuck at 5, ca. 1943

I would propose that Chuck was and is a light.  Let me offer four reasons.

First, look at the family.  With the gorgeous Sandra (how did he ever win you?  Must have tricked you.), we now have with us Chip and Pam and Chris, all lights, reflecting Chuck and Sandra, and in their own right.   And that is only the beginning.  Chip has Kathy, Pam has Mark, and Chris has Cecily.  And we have the little lights, equally bright, Maddie (TCU) and Alex, Olivia and Amelia.  With lights like these what have we to fear?

Chuck and his girls, Maddie (TCU), Olivia, and Amelia.

Secondly, beyond the family Chuck had his AA community.  Chuck had over 25 years of sobriety.  I stand in awe of people who have done this.    My sister, Kathey, has been in AA for years and I am so proud of her.  Chuck and she were friends.  At Chuck’s 75^th birthday party last October I was humbled to be in the same room with so many special lights from AA.

Free Advice, White Rock Lake, W. Lawther Drive, a scene Chuck would have loved.

Thirdly, I was amused and touched that Chuck died Sunday, December 8.  Know what date that is?  The Immaculate Conception.  Know what it is?  It means Mary was conceived without Original Sin.  God especially intervened to have her born sinless.  She was born normal.  I would suggest Chuck was born similarly, just like all babies.  Like I’ve said before, what if there is no original sin? 

Fourth.  Rosemary & I were riding around White Rock Lake two weeks ago and I noticed these people with the sign, free advice.  I’ve seen them before on Sundays when we were driving.  Never when biking.

Sisters, Tori and Zoe.

I was 100 yards down West Lawther Drive when I thought to myself, I want to take their picture and see what is up.  I told Rosemary to go on to the car and doubled back. 

There were maybe three guys and two girls, middle aged, very friendly, and amusing.  Suddenly it hit me.  Chuck Pratt would have loved this little slice of Americana.  Free Advice, wow.  I could see him not only talking with these folks, but sitting down and joining their team.  He had plenty of advice to offer.

I was a person walking in some darkness before Chuck came along and lightened my life with his friendship—and advice.  How can I be afraid with a friend like Chuck? 

How was Chuck a light for you?

Recognize? That's Buddy!

Readings: Zephaniah 2, 3; 3, 12-13; Psalm 146; 1 Corinthians 1, 26-31; Matthew 5, 1-12.

Zephaniah: The three chapters of the little book of Zephaniah were composed some 6 centuries B.C.  The theme is a common prophetic line: doom is the lot of the people because of their evil ways and eventually Yahweh will restore his people to his favor.  Note that the Babylonian defeat & captivity will come in another half century or so.

Preparation for a Great Lent: 7 Secrets of Marriage

I do not know how many times I have mentioned in here that because of being married I know I am a better, more integrated, and more peaceful person, priest, and psychotherapist.  As a way of making Lent different and more positive this year, I was thinking I would like to run a series of homilies on marriage.  I feel like a novice in this enterprise and like to tap the wisdom of some of you couples who have 30, 40, 50, and 60 years of marriage, like we witnessed last cinco de mayo when we had our annual anniversary party at Fairview Farm. 

However, in doing some reading on this subject, as well as considering my own experience married and likewise as a marriage counselor, I have put together Seven Secrets of Marriage.  We may run past Lent, but it really does not matter. 

Today’s Secret is: Divorce?  Never!  Murder?  Lots!

The first part of this is serious.  The second, play.  Marriage is entered into with the determination that it is forever.  I know lots of couple who started out with this determination, but did not carry through because the commitment wavered.   Commitment to make it work, which involves communication and murder, lots of it.

Murder is what I want to do when I don’t get my way or get hurt.  The temptation is to go passive aggressive or just plain aggressive.  What about to say instead, "I want to murder you."  I say this before I get too angry & too hurt.  It is a joke & used as a signal to let the other person know I have a problem.  It builds and is built on an atmosphere of play. 

Any reason for divorce?  Yes.  The three A’s: abuse, addiction, adultery.  A comment about each one because they are seldom black-white.

There are different shades of abuse, for example, verbal and physical.  Physical abuse is a blow or slap & is never tolerated.  One blow, out of there.  One blow always leads to others.  Once started and the poison is planted.  The temptation: this was a one time event because of stress.  The rule is clear: one blow is one too many.  Get out, get help.  Verbal abuse is tougher to deal with because it can range from cynical put down jokes to screams and temper tantrums.  It kills relationship & friendship.  When the yelling is accompanied by breaking things.  Watch out.  Dangerous.

Addictions, too, are hard to determine.  First of all, almost all addicts deny they are addicts. Secondly, what are the deadly addictions?  Alcohol and drug addiction are considered deadly.  However, what if my spouse only gets drunk or high on week ends?  Is one or two bottles of wine, or a six pack alcoholism?  What about addictions like work, or smoking, or TV, or exercise?  One thing for sure: treated & dealt with early reduces later family dysfunction. 

Adultery is often considered a black-white issue.  It happens, I’m gone.  Healthy.  What happens when the person gets into recovery, regrets and reforms?  And wants the marriage to be reestablished?  How does forgiveness and acceptance figure in here?

Of the three A’s, physical abuse is the most toxic and the easiest to respond to.  Out.  I have worked with couples who have dealt with the other forms of the A’s and because of their determination to avoid divorce, they have gotten into recovery and lived healthy lives. They might even have gotten to a point where they could play at murdering each other. 

How is you marriage going?

AUDIO:  http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2008-02-03.mp3