Readings: Genesis 18, 1-10; Psalm 15, He who does Justice will live in the Presence of the Lord; Colossians 1, 24-28; Luke 10, 38-42
Genesis: a summary—
The first book of the whole bible, Genesis has 7 great fables about how people got here and how we got to the messes we are in.
1. The Creation stories, two of them.
2. The origin of sin, the apple tree, Eve, the snake.
3. Cain kills Abel, his brother.
4. Noah & the flood—still looking for the Ark.
5. Tower of Babel.
6. The great founders, patriarchs of Judaism, Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob.
7. Joseph, the 12th son of Jacob, goes to Egypt.
Our story: Abraham & Sarah, childless, old. Note the eastern hospitality. Still present in East Africa. Difficult often. Read all of chapter 18 & note the amusing last paragraph not included in the lectionary.
Luke & Martha and Mary: 2 observations—
1. A favorite story about 2 women. I won’t talk more about the story, because I have another idea for the homily.
2. A simple way to understand the story comes from ordinary, contemporary psychology. To simplify, we have two types of people here, type A and type B. Type A, the efficient, prompt, project focused person who gets things done. Type B, the laid back, easy going, appreciative person who listens well.
I would beg to disagree with Jesus on this one. Both are good & beautiful. Both are needed. For maturity we are challenged to be more like our opposite.
To Have a Dream
Last Saturday Rosemary & I had the privilege of officiating at a couple’s afternoon wedding on the shore of Otter Lake, near Georgian Bay & Parry Sound, Province of Ontario, Canada.
The wedding especially touched me because I have known the Reddick family of the bride, Siobhan (pronounced Chivon’), for over 40 years, since the ‘60’s. Before Siobhan was even born I knew her dad, Rick, who is a doctor.
Siobhan & her husband Matt Lindsay impressed me for a couple of big reasons. They had two dreams.
One dream obviously was their wedding. Everybody dreams about what kind of wedding they want, especially the brides, I suppose. Trouble is, expenses come to the surface and the wedding gets modified.
Siobhan & Matt wanted to invite all their best friends & all their families, almost 200 people. So they put on a destination wedding. Everyone went to the Kellerman Resort on Otter Lake near Parry Sound. The resort was totally reserved from Friday to Sunday. Some people even stayed in nearby Parry Sound.
What about the expense? According to Kay, Siobhan’s grandmother, they earned enough to cover it. Rick, Siobhan’s dad, a doctor who has done well over the years and is generous, surely helped them. But they lived their dream.
Their second dream has been to see other cultures around the world, not in a superficial, tourist way, but as a resident. Last year and this year they are teaching in an international school in Monterrey, Mexico. They have also taught in France and in China.
In fact, the little white dog I am holding in the Friday blog pictures was rescued off the street in China. She was the ring bearer. Memories of Naomi in ‘05.
Which brings me to a person dear to me and all of us, who likewise has had a dream. She has dreamed for some years of getting a job in France teaching music like she has been doing here in PISD.
This coming month Celeste will follow her dream and move to Europe. She will teach music, not quite in France, her first choice, but in Switzerland. Not a bad second choice.
Celeste, I am proud of you, I admire you for following your dream, and I celebrate you for your courage. I will dearly miss you here each Sunday, but I wish you Bon Voyage et Bon Chance.
What is your dream?
Picture 1: Maddie & Celeste
Picture 2: Linda & Rick Cardenas, The Brisket Man
Picture 3: Georgie & Natalie
Picture 4: Siobhan & Matt, Otter Lake, Ontario
Picture 5: Emma with her grandmother Margie & dad & mom, Tom & Beth
The Readers for Christmas Eve Mass