Sunday Homily, August 30, 22nd Ordinary Time
Readings:
Deuteronomy 4, 1-2, 6-8, The commandments to Moses
Psalm 15, The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
James 1, 17-18, 21-22, 27, Every perfect gift is from above.
Mark 7, 1-8, 14-15, 21-23, All these evils come from within.
Zoe says, "Welcome in, Everybody."
Observations on Deuteronomy
What is it about: Moses is addressing the people just before they are to enter into the Promised Land, the land of the Canaanites. They have escaped from Egypt and have been wandering around in the desert for about 40 years. Moses is dying and knows he will not go into Canaan.
The theme of the staged talk is that God has saved and blessed his beloved people. To help them live better he has given them the 10 commandments and a whole bunch of other laws. This is a book on the laws.
Buddy says, "Last day here? Dunno, I like it here."
This is the 5th book of the original bible and the fifth of the Big 5, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, & Deuteronomy
Authors: Inferring from the work, it is obvious that the judges and teachers of the people compiled the material.
Time composed: as with so much else, after the Babylonian Captivity, around 500 before Christ.
"Hi, Tori, Want to see how you like Sigler?"
Observations on James
- We have James for 5 Sundays
- James was not an apostle, but head of the community after Jesus. He gets stoned in 62.
Sources: The New Interpreter’s Bible Study; The Good News Bible
3. Ever hear the story of Santiago de Compostella? There is a large, ancient basilica in the Spanish province of Galicia, which, even up to today, has been a pilgrimage site for centuries, one of the big 3 sites in the world. The other 2? Jerusalem & Rome.
The tale? Briefly.
Genevieve says, "Well, it is all new to me. Let's try it."
The Apostle James supposedly went from Jerusalem to the North West province of Galicia in Spain to convert the people. He baptized with a sea shell which is his symbol on the pilgrimage route.
He went back to Jerusalem, was killed, and buried. The angels transported his body to Galicia and buried it there.
One day a little shepherd boy was in the fields and a light shone from heaven on a spot. A voice told him to tell the bishop to dig there for St. James' bones. He did, the bishop dug up the bones, and he built a chapel over the site.
Leo says, "I like this place and I'll have fun at Sigler, too."
This was about the year 700, just after the time the Moors had crossed into Spain from Africa and swept all the way up into France. From this time until 1492 when Queen Isabella finally kicked them back to Africa, the Moors lived a lifestyle and culture that was far superior to Spain and Europe in those times.
Meanwhile, James became the patron of the effort to remove the Moor. He was called the Matamoros, killer of the moors.
Over the years the chapel gave way to bigger and bigger until this large basilica was built. It was a great economic boon, because thousands of pilgrims came. Cures were apparently taking place.
After 32 years working at TI, John is retiring. Give that man a cupcake.
The basilica is famous for its huge thurible, which is swung at the end of most Masses from side to side in the apse, not the nave. This was supposedly to lessen the aroma of the unwashed pilgrims who were allowed to shelter in the balconies around the basilica.
Rosemary & I & even Mary Ellen have visited Santiago de Compostella. Moreover, a former Jesuit classmate of mine from Washington State is this day making the pilgrimage which goes from Europe, like from Paris, over the Pyrenees, and along the northern part of Spain to Galicia.
Harper says, "What is that man talking about now?"
Grateful Reminiscing
Seeing that this morning we are doing our last regular Mass in our old home, I would like to do a little grateful reminiscing. This started out pretty simple, then it got overwhelming, and finally I have narrowed it down to 4 main points.
First, remember the first time we celebrated Mass here, Thanksgiving weekend 10 years ago? I can remember it clearly. It had been about 5 months since I had seen most of you and certainly all those people who poured in that Sunday. I was at the entrance greeting everybody with tears rolling down my cheeks.
Leo the Candle Lighter.
There used to be a middle aisle here. Remember? That Sunday I walked down the aisle, turned around, and then could not say anything for probably half an hour.
That was one of the special events in this room and one of the special events in my life.
Secondly, three special events.
- Christmas Eve celebrations with the little kids presenting the nativity. Remember some of those days when we had a whole bunch of baby Jesus, both boys & girls?
Offertory, John & Jean, Louis, Judy & Mike
Connected with that is the way the community has welcomed the kids each Sunday, and the babies, like Genevieve and last week, Vivian. Those kids give me so much spirit to my life.
- Another special event was Fred’s memorial. One of our best buddies.
- Then there is our music, with Ray and Shonda pulling it all together. I get so high on what we sing I can dance all week.
- After all this, thirdly, I have been touched by three special people who give me life, Mike, John, and Tony O’Donovan.
The Best, Shonda, Bethany, & Ray.
I remember that it was at Sigler one Sunday when his son Paul brought Mike to the community.
Without John & his open spirit, I would really feel tied down. You two help keep the community together.
With regard to Tony, do you realize that we would have been in a bind if he had not stepped forward before I was out some months with my new hips?
The final event I am grateful for is you folks, you people. I am both touched that you keep coming back, week after week, and because of your presence I begin the week on a high, full of joy and sacred memories.
Thanks for the 10 years of marvelous memories.
Genevieve says, "Wake me up, please, when he is finished talking.