18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 3, 2025

Ecclesiastes 1:  For what profit comes to man from all the toil and anxiety of heart with which he has labored under the sun?

Colossians 3:  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.    When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.

Luke 12:  “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

                     

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Cody reading from St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians

 

Thanks…     

Music,   Ben  & Shonda

Readers,  Becky & Cody

Homily,   John Cade

Eucharistic Prayer A & B,  John Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,  Hue & Kevin

Final Blessing,  Rosemary

 

 

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John Cade sharing his homily

 

 

Remember these special people:

For all the people affected by the floods;  For our new Pope, Leo XIV;  For John Stack;    For Adam, that the doctors may find a remedy for his seizures; For Meredith ;   For Tom  Quinn;   For Warren Wittek; For Becky and Tom Good; For Lambrini, John Cade's wife, who is dealing with cancer ;  For Allen Stryker;   For Mike and Judy Carrell ; For Hue; For Jackie;   For Mary Hall's family and friend Cadence still suffering from a serious medical condition;   For Sir Charlie;  For Ron ;  For Teresa Quinn's niece, Maddie who has a brain tumor;  

                                       

 

Jackie's sister, & friend, Lynn;  For Rick Turner searching for a kidney donor, Type O neg.;   For Jean & Cliff Wright;    from Barbara, a little baby boy named Ford recuperating from an operation,  the families of Annie and Michael and her neighbor, Marie and the family;    for the medical staffs, teachers, and coaches in our public & private schools.

 

 

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The Kiss of Peace

 

 

Birthdays:    Linda Beavers 8/4, Lynda Fleming 8/8, Carrie Bieda 8/9

Anniversaries:    Linda and Hue Beavers 8/8

 

 

Expenses: 990.00

Outreach: $   130.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

 

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Steve, back from his travels

 

 

Rosemary's Blessing:

 

People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.

If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.

It was never between you and them anyway.

Mother Teresa

 
 
 
John Stack Ministries meets on Sunday for Mass at 9:30 at The ArtCentre of Plano,
902 E. 16th St, Plano, Texas.
 

 

JSM Mission-Faith Statement  

 Help create a Catholic Community that welcomes all God’s People, provides for & challenges spiritual & total growth.   Reaches out to help people who are disadvantaged & make the world we live in a better place to live.

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  • Sunday Homily 12-4-11, 2nd Advent

    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.   

     Mass Begins 12-4-11
             

    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.

    Diane 12-4-11

         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.

     Jenny 12-4-11

                                                                  

     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.       

     B. & S. 12-4-11

      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!”

    Leo 12-4-11

         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.

    Joey 12-4-11

         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.

    Freddie 12-4-11

         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  

  • Sunday Homily 12-13-09, 3rd Advent

    Readings: Zephaniah 3, 14-18; Psalm, Isaiah 12, Cry out with Joy and Gladness for among You is the Great and Holy One of Israel; Philippians 4, 4-7; Luke 3, 10-18

     

    Zephaniah: date, author, subject, & our selection

     

        Date: two possibilities–ca. 650 BCE, before Babylon & contemporary with Jeremiah.  Or ca. 200 BCE.

     

    Mass 12-13-09

      

    Author: probably not Zephaniah himself, but someone recording what he said.  He is one of the 12 minor prophets, simply because his work is small, only 3 chapters.

     

       Subject: like all prophets, Zephaniah predicts doom and destruction to Jerusalem because the people are not good.  His purpose: alter behavior, especially the religious behavior, of his fellow citizens of Jerusalem.  A rather jealous and punishing god is presented.

     

       Our selection: last lines of the last chapter, a song of joy and rejoicing.  This is the only positive note in the 3 chapters.  Consequently, scholars think it may have been added to the original work.  This is the only time in the 3 year cycle that we have a reading from Zephaniah.  Take a good look.

     

    Andy 12-13-09

    Candle liturgy

    Tony: We have lit the first two candles, one for hope and one for peace. Today we light the third candle, the candle of joy. This should be the easy one, because joy is all around us—in the children, the lights, the music, the gathering together. But how often do we let our preparations—or our memories—push joy to the side? Joy is like an underground spring that wells up within us, but joy is also a choice, an attitude. Like a muscle, it needs to be exercised. So today we open ourselves to joy, trusting that God has already planted it in us. All we need to do is give it care and offer it to share.

    Three candles are lit

     All Sing

    O come, O come, Emmanuel,
    and ransom captive Israel,
    that mourns in lonely exile here
    until the Son of God appear.
    Refrain:
    Rejoice! Rejoice!
    Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

    All: Loving God, we open ourselves to you,
    trusting that this is how you made us:
    you created us for joy-filled hearts and lives.
    Show us the creative power of hope.
    Teach us the peace that comes from justice.
    Fill us with the kind of joy that cannot be contained, but must be shared.
    Prepare our hearts to be transformed by you,
    That we may walk in the light of Christ. Amen.

    Tony: Rejoice in God always, and again I say, rejoice
    For God has created you with the capacity for joy.

    All: We will find what makes us joyful,
    And make that our gift to the world.


    Tony:  Trust in God’s good will for all of creation
    and open yourself to God’s gentle, transforming love. 

    All:  We will welcome new possibilities in our lives.
    We will offer ourselves to God’s goodness.
    We will go forth in hope, and peace, and joy.

     

     

    Margie 12-13-09

     

    A Christmas Story 

     

    I have a Christmas story for you this morning.  It took place the first Christmas I was in Africa, 1977. 

     

    The African continent is shaped vaguely like a heart.  I spent most of my time on the east side, Tanzania, Kenya, & Uganda.  But my first Christmas I spent on the left side of the continent, the west.  The country I spent Christmas in was called Zaire in those days for ca. 30 years, now called the Republic of Congo, since ca. 2000.

     

    The ruler at the time was a guy named Mobuto Seseseko and he was corrupt.  He took for himself all the money gained by selling off the country's considerable natural wealth. 

     

    The capitol of the country is called Kinshasa and I was in a town near there called Kimwenza.  I had been giving seminars & retreats in Nigeria and ended up in Zaire at Christmas, how, I do not remember.

     

    Three special memories remain with me from that Christmas.

     

    First, I remember a midnight Mass.  It took place in a big but simple church on the edge of town.  There was probably a thousand black Zaire folks there and one white guy sitting up front on the left side with his eyes bugging out.

     

    My eyes were bugging out because of at least two things.  First, the priest, a local young black Zaire man, he spent a lot of time dancing with a tall, cone shaped hat.  He danced marching in with the drums and the shakers going at it, he danced during the ceremony, and he danced on the way out.  In fact, he did not walk during the ceremony, he danced. 

     

    The other thing memorable was when he finally danced out.  It was probably more than 3 hours since he had danced in.  And nobody was leaving early.  In fact, I discovered that Africans want to celebrate for at least a couple of hours when they come to Mass.  Consequently, a lot of music. 

     

    The second memory I have is the incongruity I felt celebrating Christmas in a tropical environment, like celebrating Christmas in the summer.  Kinshasa has tons of flowers and they bloom all year because it is summer all year.  The bougainvillea, the frangipanni, and the jacaranda with their purple flowers making like snow on the ground, all were flowering along with their cousins.

     

    Tony & David 12-13-09

     

    Thirdly, I remember that Mobutu was mad at the Catholic church for some reason and he decreed that Christmas could not be celebrated on Christmas day.  It was a week day and businesses and schools were all open.  He did not ban the Masses, but people had to pretend to be working and going to school.  I remember walking around the town Christmas day thinking how odd the whole experience was, summer time and the government banning the celebration of Christmas day. 

     

    Fortunately, the government did not get nasty about the celebrating that took place, many of the city folks were Catholic.  In a goofy twist, Seseseko's own sons even went to the Jesuit college in Kimwenza.   Oddly I appreciated more the freedom I had to celebrate that Christmas Mass, and the people seemed to celebrate with even more zest. 

     

    This year here in Dallas we have the freedom to make Christmas a spiritual festival.  

     

    How are you doing it? 

     

    Picture 1:  Mass begins

     

    Picture 2:  Andy Vrabel, one of our own comes home

     

    Picture 3:  Tony with Margie

     

    Picture 4:  Tony with David Hoover 

     

     

     

     

  • Sunday Homily, April 14, 2013, 3rd Easter C

    Readings:

    Acts 5, 27-32 & 40-41,   We must obey God rather than men

    Psalm 30,  I will praise you Lord, for you have rescued me.

    Revelation  5, 11-14,  Blessing and honor, glory and might forever and ever.

    John 21, 1-19,  Put your finger here and see my hands.

     

    Mike 4-14-13

    Mike sharing his ideas.

    Homily by Mike

    I have an app that makes me aware on my iPhone when there is an important news event. This happened some weeks ago when white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel.   After I looked at it, I turned my sound to off.

    Georgie 4-14-13

    Georgie ready to serve.

    What was going though my mind was, ‘How did the conclave decide so quickly.’  I was apprehensive, and didn’t want to know who had been chosen. 

    When I did turn it back on later that day, I had a number of phone calls to return.  All but one came from friends who were not Catholic [however, who are one with us through the power of the Holy Spirit].  

    Emma 4-14-13

    Our Emma.

    One thing each of them spoke about with joy was the name our new Pope had chosen, Francis.  The name had been immediately identified to the universal prayer of St. Francis, which seeks to have us become sowers of the good news.  It helps us to recognize that all of us are part of the papacy of Francis! Together we are one body; our name has become Francis, too. 

    Leo 4-14-13

    Leo on a roll.

     

    For the last decade I have spent a great deal of time studying the structure spiritual writings: all of which have been composed with some type of structure.  

    Look at the copy that I have made for you. The bold print is a mini summary of the Gospel, where we are to be sowers of the good news!  What is not in bold print in the first section are those who have not received or not allowed the seed to take root, to whom we seek to console, understand,  and love. Notice that we address God in both the bold and un-bold

    Grace 4-14-13

    Grace arriving.

    Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. 

    Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

    Where there is injury, pardon. 

    Where there is doubt, faith.

    Where there is despair, hope.

    Where there is darkness, light.

    Where there is sadness, joy.

     

    O Divine Master,

    Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;

    to be understood, as to understand;

    to be loved, as to love.

    For it is in giving that we receive.

    It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

    And it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

    Amen.

    3 kids 4-14-13

    What's it there? Buddy and Emma and Zoe search.

     Today’s gospel reading begins after the Lord has witnessed his Peter, a good man, being the buffoon: going fishing for gentiles in darkness, without casting out the net [composed of his good news] to the gentile side of the lake.   

    Cupcakes 4-14-13

    Cupcakes of The Week, Michael, Jerry, Claire, Olivia, and Maureen and Fred.

    Our Lord had chosen a motley group of sinners, and had led them to forgiveness. Today he comes to Peter, whom he had chosen to lead the church, to reinforce within Peter his responsibility to feed his flock!  How? In the light of day in this celebration of Word and Sacred Meal.  The New Covenant meal fulfills not only all of the Jewish feasts; but their Sabbath Scripture study as well.

    IMG_0407Olivia 4-14-13

    Olivia at 5 years old.

    Recently I saw a film that made me think about Peter, our first pope. It was entitled, An Afternoon with Marguerite.   

    It is about a man about 5o who meets Marguerite, 95, in a park. She is a holy, and very educated woman, never married, whose mission has been to serve those in need. She currently resides in an assisted living facility. 

    Pratt Family 4-14-13

    Olivia with her sister, Emelia, her grandmom, Sandra, grandfather, Chuck, and her dad, Chris

     He is a large man. He had been severely abused as a child by his mother, whatever man was living with her, and by his teacher at school.  He never went back.  He had lived all these years essentially illiterate tending his garden and doing odd jobs.  He meets Marguerite. He reaches in his pocket and sows some seed to the 19 pigeons that he knows by name.  He is known by some as a good man, by others as a buffoon. 

    Torri 4-14-13

    Torri with her good granddad, Gil.

    She sees the goodness within him and begins to sow words.  She always has a book with her, and asks if she can read to him aloud. A friendship has begun. She reads and asks him questions, day after day; and her words enlighten him. She leaves a book with him, later a dictionary.   

    At first he is frustrated; later, for she is going blind, he reads to her.  Her nephew sensing that she has a very short time to live, stops paying her monthly rent and sends her to a public facility to spend the rest if her life.   

    Harper 4-14-13

    Harper with her grandmom, Cathy. Where's the hat?

    [       ] searches for her, finds her, and steals her away from her dismal surroundings.  The film ends with him driving her to his home where he will take care of her.  

    These are some of the words we hear coming forth from his heart as they drive away laughing, talking to one another and sharing a sandwich: ‘This is not a typical love affair; but love and tenderness are there. Named after a daisy she lives among the words surrounded by adjectives in green fields of verbs. 

    Music 4-14-13

    Bethany , Shonda, and Ray with Leo around somewhere.

    Not always are love stories just made of love, sometimes love is not named, but it is love all the same. Don’t die now; just wait, it’s not the hour, my little flower. Not always are love stories made of love; love is not named, but it is love all the same. 

    Tape this prayer of St. Francis on your bathroom mirror at home.    Try to become aware of those who seek to be consoled, understood or loved…for it is giving that we receive; it is in pardoning….

     

     

     

  • Sunday Homily 3-7-10, Lent 3

    Readings: Exodus 3, 1-15; Psalm 103, The Lord is kind and merciful; 1 Corinthians 10, 1-12; Luke 13, 1-9

     Tony 3-7-10
      

    Third Sunday in Lent – Introduction to the Readings

    Our readings today are definitely a reminder that there is a cultural influence in our readings, which was alive and well at the time of Jesus and unfortunately is still very much alive today.  Namely, if bad stuff happens to you, you must have deserved it and God is getting back at you!  In the gospel we will hear Jesus explain that the tower fell on the 18 people, but that didn’t mean they were bad.  That the people Pilate had put to death were not bad people.  But Jesus ends each of these examples with a scary warning – worse will happen to you if you don’t behave!!

       

    In our second reading from Paul to the Corinthians we find Paul remembering the fate of the Jews who had escaped from Egypt with Moses and saying that God was not pleased with most of them and so they never made it out of the desert!!

       

    It is readings like these that are bad PR for God.  They represent the view of the punishing God.  And yet a careful reading of Luke’s Gospel will show that when Jesus is asked about those who were killed and whether they were greater sinners than the rest, he is quite clear in his response “By no means” God does not operate that way.

      

    The first reading I am saving to comment on in the homily.

     John 3-7-10
      

    Third Sunday in Lent – Homily

    “Take off your shoes, you are standing on Holy Ground!”

    Most of the time we are not really aware that we are standing on holy ground.  I do remember a few years ago, when Gayle and I were living in California we did a bit of camping.  In the early days of the camping we slept in the back of the Volvo wagon we had.  On one of our trips we had driven down Hwy 1 to San Simeon and pulled off the road just next to some sand hills.  We cooked our meal and as the sky darkened I suddenly became aware that we were on holy ground.  There was a full moon overhead, in the distance we could see the lights of Hearst Castle, the sounds of the waves came in over the sandhills from the Pacific Ocean.  I had a little transistor radio that my parents had given me for my 21st birthday, and I was able to get the BBC World Service broadcasting  the Last Night of the Prom Concerts!  It was glorious.

       

    I think, occasionally we have moments like this when we are suddenly aware of God’s Creation, but sadly most of the time we are too busy to notice our surroundings.  Moses, in today’s first reading was reminded.

       

    In the Gospel, we had an incident where 18 people had been killed by a falling tower.  Big News.  Last month we had 250,000 people killed in Haiti, old news.  We get too much news and we have become insensitive to so much around us.  There is too much demand on our time.  We come here each Sunday to try and take a bit of time out.  To listen to God’s Word and to remember that not only are we standing on Holy Ground, but that each person around us, not just today, but everyday, is representing God to us, and also an opportunity for us to represent God to them.

     Mary & Frank 3-7-10

  • Sunday Homily, March 30, 2008, 2nd, Easter

    Readings: Acts 2, 42-47; Psalm 118; 1 Peter 1, 3-9; John 20, 19-31.

    Acts: This book basically tells the story of the early Christian community.  Biblical scholarship considers the book idealistic in great part.  It was what they hoped the community would look like rather than what it was.

    Jan

    Do Not be Unbelieving, But Believe 

    It dawned upon me a day or so ago that 2008 is a 50 year anniversary for me.  August 15, 1958, I entered the Jesuits at Grand Coteau, LA.  This, coupled with meeting up with David Cardenas last week, another guy who entered the Jesuits, though a few years after me, all has had me reflecting on our lives as young Jesuits before Vatican II.  Three thoughts.

    First, there was a neat spirit among the 25 or so guys I entered with, as well as in the whole Jesuit identity.  There were a couple of odd clerical guys, but I was impressed with how typical my classmates were. 

    Secondly, we lived a rigorous monastic life.  Silence, formal prayer times, work, study, and three recreation afternoons, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.  We wore a black cassock & cincture or we wore long sleeved shirts and long pants, even to play touch football & baseball in 100 degree heat & Gulf Coast humidity.

    The two hardest physical labors I ever experienced: riding a tractor on a cold day and harvesting corn silage in August heat.  There were three silage jobs, picking up the cut corn stalks, shoving it into the grinder, or walking around inside the silo while the silage rained down on you from the hole in the roof. 

    The third thing I remember which amuses and embarrasses me is the penitential practices we were expected to use, especially in Lent & Advent.  There were a variety of practices, but two stand out.  One was the scourge.  We had these little light rope whips which we used on ourselves before going to bed like on Friday nights.  Since we lived in large dorms in cubicles it was amusing, of course, to hear just before lights out at 10:00 the scourges being used. 

    Secondly, we were given little wire chains with the wire ends poking out on one side.  You put that around your thigh with the ends poking in.  You put it on when you woke up and wore it until after breakfast.  I’ll tell you, it was amusing to see your buddies discomfort, all in silence. 

    The rationale for the penance was based on the old philosophy of dualism: flesh bad, spirit good.  In order the keep the flesh from bringing down the spirit, discipline it, make it hurt.  Then the spirit will grow and strengthen.  What got me through was the light spirit of amusement of my classmates, the fantastic 3 hot  meals every day, and because I believed.

    The overall training made me grow up quickly.  I look back now, however, am somewhat embarrassed, and ask myself how could I believe in some of those practices.  And I know.  It was believe, believe in the process, in the company, in those who have gone through this before me, and look at them, how successful they are.

    Mary_ellen

    Doubting Thomas, the subject of our Gospel today, is a hero of mine.  I think I would like to have been more like Thomas in those early years.  Which would have been impossible at the time, I know.  In fact, I think the training itself ultimately gave me the self-confidence and intellectual curiosity to enable me to have doubts & questions.  For example, I have doubts about the emphasis on penance, to say nothing about the philosophy behind the penance.

    The danger with the "do not be unbelieving, but believe" statement is that it may be a "do not think" statement.  I become a sheep following the footsteps of whoever is in front of me with a feeling of security.  Doubts can be scary, questions confusing.  However, they are normal and healthy.  Without them I am less than healthy.  Thomas can be a model for us.  "Show me the evidence."

    Like Thomas what are your doubts & questions?  And how do you feel about them?

    AUDIO:  http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2008-03-30.mp3

  • Sunday Homily, June 14, 2015, 11th Ordinary Time, B

    Readings:

    Ezekiel  17,  22-24.  Nope, actually a change this Sunday to 1 Corinthians 13.  Bet you cannot guess which great passage this it.

    Psalm 92,    Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.

    2 Corinthians 5, 6-10,   We are always courageous.

    Mark  4, 26-34,  On its own accord, the land yields fruit.

     

    Wedding

    The Wedding in Mechanicsburg, PA with Sarah & Beth, and the United Church of Christ ministers, Karin and John.


     

    Love is patient, Love is kind, Love is accepting

    This morning I would like to talk about some things that struck me about the wedding we performed last week in Mechanicsburg, PA.  As I’ve mentioned, the wedding was between two women.

    About 14 years ago I performed the wedding of Beth to a neat guy named Doug, a stocky Greek.  They had only been married 6 months when Doug died of a heart attack.  Beth is Rosemary’s niece, the daughter of Joe & Claire, who live in Hilton Head, where Rosemary & I love to go for Thanksgiving. 

    3 sisters.

     

                       The 3 Sisters, Rosemary, Patty, and Claire.
     

    Beth decided to stay in the house she and Doug owned and stay in her job.  During the next few years she got involved with a very open United Church of Christ.  Sarah played the organ.  They got together and developed a warm friendship.  Eventually this lead to their marriage last Saturday. 

    I don’t know how you all feel about same sex marriages.  I personally would have loved to sit down with Beth and have her tell me how it all came about, first marrying a guy, now marrying her best friend.  Whatever, I did not have the chance.  However, I am convinced from all my years of experience with gay people as a priest and a psychotherapist that no gay person really chooses this path.  I have worked with so many who agonized over coming out.  It involves hatred and abuse, even from family members.

     

    Georgie
     

    Cupcake of The Week to Georgie for the do.  "I may tease you, Georgie, about the do, but I admire your spirit of exploration. Keep it up.  Keep dancing.  And keep swimming

     

    The first thing that struck me at the wedding.  Did you recognize the 1 Corinthians passage?  I confess that after performing so many weddings where I heard the passage read, I eventually was put off by it.  Until a few years ago.  I suddenly realized it is helpful for me to be reminded of what love really is. 

    At the wedding I heard Beth’s sister read the passage with such feeling and tears that I and lots more of the 200 more or less people there, we were all in tears.  Kristine herself took 30 minutes because she was in tears.   I was so touched and so struck.

      The Team

                                                          What a team.

     

    The second thing that struck me was the cordiality and warmth of the present pastor, John, and the previous interim pastor, Karin.  I thanked them and told them how I sensed a kinship of spirit among us. 

    Karin was the one who suggested we go bare footed as a sign of respect for the sanctuary where we were performing the wedding.   It was a first for me.  Should I do the same here?

      Zoe-Buddy

                      Zoe & Buddy say, "Hey, don't forget about us."

     

    The final thing that struck me was the whole hearted acceptance of Beth on the part of, not only her parents, but all the McGinn Clan.  Rosemary had 3 brothers and two sisters.  One brother died a few years ago.  All these siblings have kids and all of them were there, most of them with their kids.  Their support was total. 

    Kristine’s reading about love being patient & kind, the pastors John & Karin, and the total McGinn family acceptance of Beth.  A powerful, moving weekend. 

    Where are you on the whole phenomenon of same sex marriages?