Reminder for Sunday, December 11, 2016, 3rd Advent, Cycle A

Readings: 1 Kings 3, 5-12; Psalm 119; Romans 8, 28-30; Matthew 13, 44-52 (beautiful section)

1 Kings:

• Author & date of composition: a compiler who seems to have lived ca. 550, during the Babylonian captivity.
• Subject Matter: King Solomon, David’s son. 1 Kings was once considered part 3 of a 4 part series, 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings, all of which was called the Book of the Kingdom because the books all talk about the kings of the Hebrews after the rule of the judges.
• Sources of the Compiler: many, but in particular The Court History of David and The Acts of Solomon.
• Time Span of Kings: 450 years, from 9th century to 5th century B.C., King Solomon & the Temple to Nebuchadnezzar & the Babylonian Captivity, one of the great Hebrew catastrophes along with the Holocaust.
• Today’s selection shows Solomon is so wise, as he is given a choice by Yahweh.

A Man Who was a Treasure: Tom Collerain

Last Sunday, you may remember, we had a touching Mass and a fun brunch.  And seated right up there behind Ken & Cindy, Kim & Lance was Tom Collerain for the first time in about a month.  Rosemary & I had missed him, wondered how he was doing, and called him the week before.  He said he and Alice had just returned from a cruise on the Rhine, which was why we had not seen him, and that he was looking forward to Sunday and seeing everyone again.  As usual, Tom was there with his warm, marvelous smile.

That evening he had dinner at 6:00 with Alice, was cleaning up, and went out with the garbage.  Alice wondered what was taking him so long.  She went out and found him lying in the flower bed.  He had gone to the other side. 

Again this Sunday we hear more humble metaphors of what the kingdom is like, like a fishing net, like a pearl, like a treasure.  Folks, Tom Collerain was a treasure.  For at least three reasons.

First, because he was fully alive.  He received the gift or treasure of life and fully experienced it.  On the Myers-Briggs personality indicator, he probably was a judging or type A personality.  He lived with order, working out every day at 9:00, eating at 12:00 & 6:00, nap at 1:00, and probably on time for everything.  That was his gift. 

He also celebrated life, for example traveling with Alice after his retirement.  In fact, they had just returned from the Rhine.  To celebrate even more, he had the joker in him.  For example, he could have given me the one about the couple who were 60 years old and celebrating their 40th anniversary.  They were in a nice restaurant.  Suddenly a little fairy appears on their table and says that because they were such a good & loving couple, they could each have one wish.  Like Solomon.

The wife, with the wisdom of Solomon when she had a choice, asked that she and her darling husband be given a cruise trip around the world.  The fairy said yes, and, poof, two cruise tickets appeared on the table. 

When the fairy asked the husband, he said that he had a wish which was not intended to hurt his wife, but he would like a new wife 30 years younger.  The fairy & the wife look and each other, roll their eyes, the fairy says, “Okay,” and, poof, the husband becomes 90 years old. 

Secondly, Tom was a treasure because he was, as Alice describes him, a gentle man.  He was a gentle man because he was at peace, at peace with his numerous friends, so many of which showed their appreciation of him Wednesday at his funeral service.  He was at peace with his terrific family, with himself, and with his God.  He was likewise at peace with animals, so many of which he welcomed under his roof.  His favorite golden retriever, Rowdy, even reflected his peace.  When a litter of abandoned baby kittens from the neighborhood were brought in, it was Rowdy who would pick the little kittens up in his mouth and carry them around. 

Thirdly, Tom was a treasure because he considered himself a roof keeper.  He took care, he watched over.  In fact, once he retired he developed a talent for cooking he had put on the shelf when he was working.  It is amusing to note that Tom gave Alice one of her first cooking lessons.

Before they got married and were living in Houston, Tom brought Alice a gift of fresh corn on the cob.  She put it away.  A while later Tom returned, saw the corn, and suggested that she cook it up.  “I don’t know how,” she responded.  Tom taught her how to boil corn on the cob. 

It also seemed so symbolic to me that Tom’s last act was taking the garbage out.  How symbolic of how he spent time making his world a better place in which to live. 

I can see Tom this morning walking beside his favorite dog Rowdy, like he did so many times.  Rowdy is introducing him to all the new neighbors, for whom the gentle man Tom will act as a roof keeper. 

We have only so much time, folks.   How are you appreciating the treasure?

AUDIO:   http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2008-07-27.mp3

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.

Correction the JULIET LUNCHEON, (aka.,just us ladies into eating together):  is scheduled for Friday, August 5, 2016.

www.residenttaqueria.com  

Wisdom 1, God did not make death

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

2 Corinthians 8, You excel in every respect

Mark 5, Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well.

Welcome to the Ekes girls, Marlene, Mabel, & Cindy.

Romeos, Welcome!    Jason's Deli, 1:00, Friday. June 25.  

All of you who attended Mass on line this past Sunday are welcomed this Sunday.  We are circa 35 people.   

Happy Fathers' Day!

Another Reminder for Sunday, June 27, 2021.

Here are the links for Sunday:

 

For Youtube    

 

1. in your browser, go to   youtube.com

2. search for "john stack ministries"

 

 

 

 

 

Peace, Everyone.

 

 

What is happening in Ye Olde Catholic Church 

 

1.   What are The American bishops doing, https://www.ncronline.org/news/people/defiance-vatican-us-bishops-vote-advance-communion-document

 

 

 

 

And Peace again.

Isaiah 43: I am doing something new!  Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?  In the desert I make a way,  in the wasteland, rivers.

Philippians 3:  Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus.

John 8: “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

Another Reminder for the 5th Sunday in Lent, April 6, 2025

Guess who has arrived, Everybody!   Welcome into Our World, Vivian Grace.  You are beautiful and perfect.  Tell your mommy & daddy, "Congratulations."  Arrival was Tuesday, 8 lbs.

Welcome: Catholic Mass with coffee and juice and pastries, both bought and home-made, after Mass.

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

Place: Vines High School, Plano, 15th between Custer & Independence.

Genevieve, too, says, "Hi, Vivian, Welcome.  But, guess what, I got more hair than you."

Readings:

Ruth 1,  15—17, 20-26,  The story of Naomi and Ruth

Psalm 104,    Lord, send out our Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.

1 Corinthians 12, 3-13,   There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same spirit.

 John 15, 26-27 & 16, 12-15, When he comes, he will guide you to all truth.

 And Annabelle says, "Hey, don't forget me.  And I am older than you two.  A little respect, please."

Community Activities:        

1.      ROMEO MEET: Friday, May, The Twenty Second, Jason's Deli, Collin Creek Mall, west side of Central, 1:00.   We also welcome the Working Classes, especially if you pick up the tab for the Old Guys.

 2.      LADIES' LUNCHEON,  June 4, Thursday, Papadeaux, 725 S. Center (East side, the side the sun comes up), 1:00.  It was heard that Cathy is covering set ups. 

Everyone, please forward to anyone you think would be interested.  If you let me know I will add their email to the list. 

Carol 

It won't be long, you little girls, until you will be joining at the play station these big kids, Buddy, Emma, Zoe, and Victoria.

What is going on in our Catholic World:

1.       Get rid of megaparishes,  National Catholic Reporter,  Mat 13,  727 words,       Download Megaparishes 5-21-15

2.     Francis and Bishop Romero of El Salvador,  National Catholic Reporter, May 19, 1555 words,    Download Francis & Bishop Romero 5-21-15    

                   Eshelbrenner Clan with Richard leading the parade.

 True?  

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.

Steve Jobs (Who?)

                         Welcome Back, Kim and Travis

See you Sunday, May 24, 2015, Pentecost,  Cycle B

J.S., 214-783-0443

 Offertory with Mary Ellen (just moved back to Dallas from CT), Grace, Alison and John.

 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.

 May you be blessed, too, along with Annabelle, Oscar, Gloria, and Eric.