Says Harper, "Welcome in, Everybody."

Readings:

Zacheriah 9, 9-10,   He shall proclaim peace to the nations.

 Psalm 145,   I will praise your name forever, my king and my God.  

Here it is again, The Terrific Line: "The Lord is gracious & merciful, slow to anger and abounding in love."  Watch for it.

Romans 8,  9, 11-13,  You are not in the flesh, you are in the spirit.  (?)

 Matthew 11, 25-30,  All creation is groaning in labor pains.

Likewise, Gil, too, says, "Come on in, Folks."

Zechariah:  Zechariah is the 11th of the 12 Minor Prophets and lived just when the Hebrews were released from the 70 year long Babylonian Captivity, in other words around 555 B.C. He is in Jerusalem and encourages the people to rebuild the temple.

He is called a minor prophet only because his little work has simply 14 chapters, unlike the Big 3, Isaiah, Jeremiah, & Ezekiel, who have many chapters, in fact 66 for Isaiah.

He was a favorite of the N.T. writers because he is rich in messiah predictions.  Today we have one of those visions.   You might picture how this message is coming across.  The people have been crushed, they have been slaves in Babylon, and the Jerusalem they have returned to is nothing but disaster. 

Tori, what happened to your tooth?  Are you a rich girl now?

The Lord is Gracious and Merciful, never gets Angry, and is abounding in Love

I was asking myself, how did this line come to say so much to me about the nature of our God.  Here is what I found.

I can tell you the time of day it first hit me, a sunny morning.  I can tell you exactly where I was, Nairobi, Kenya, in the little chapel of a house run by a small group of American religious teaching brothers.    

Zoe, did you snatch Tori's tooth?  You got beautiful teeth.

It was my second year working in East Africa.  I was taking a day off at this American brothers’ place because it was just around the corner from a really nice arboretum and because they were Americans.  The Jesuits in Nairobi were mostly Indians with a few Quebecois.  I liked to hang out once in a while with fellow Americans. 

So why at this time and place?  Two reasons.

Emma, just seeing you & your mom here today makes my day.

One, education and Jesuit formation.  I had some good, progressive professors when I studied theology in Toronto, like David Michael Stanley in New Testament.

Secondly, people who showed me compassion and sensitivity, intellectual curiosity and acceptance, like the novice master, Tony Mangiaracina, about whom I talked once.  He is the priest I told you I saw cigarette smoke coming out of his desk drawer when I went in to get permission to drink water for that month.

The Offertory Gang, Paul & Carrie & Diane.

Another priest I never have talked about is the assistant novice master, Bobby Rimes, another of the numerous New Orleans guys who made up our province.

Three reasons why Bobby influenced me to perceive the significance of the line, The Lord is gracious and merciful, never gets angry, and is abounding in love.

Where did you get that megawatt smile, Olivia?   It lights up the room.

First, he was disappointed but accepting of his assignment to be assistance novice master.  Bobby really wanted to be a missionary like Francis Xavier.  He wanted to be The Best.  Assistance novice master was not very romantic.  He did not ever complain, but simply shared he would prefer to be in the missions. 

And here I, never dreamed of going to the missions, I end up in East Africa.  I did not yearn to work in the missions because I did not like the cultural imperialism I read about, which played a role in my getting asked to leave.

You, too, Ben, your personality warms the whole room.

Secondly, Bobby was an excellent athlete and probably could have been a pitcher in the big leagues.  Wow, could he pitch.  I got to know this athleticism up close & personal because the second 3 years I spent in Grand Coteau, the noviciate, I spent many afternoons in titanic 2 on 2 handball games.  I never won a game, though we came oh so close  numerous times. 

I had a partner who was quite strong.  He was one of those who did 10 one armed pushups.  He was Mexican from Juarez.  Bobby,  he probably could have asked one of the nuns from the Sacred Heart Academy down the street.  We never won a game in three years, but it was so fun and moving.

So good to have you back, Leo.  The place is not right without you.

Thirdly, Bobby was always a friend, supportive and accepting.  He had every gift, not only a great athlete, but really a nice looking guy.  

Because of the influence of Bobby Rimes, somehow or other, I suddenly saw that  The Lord is gracious and merciful, never gets angry, and is abounding in love.

How does the line strike you?

 Readings:    

Numbers  11, 25-29,  Would that the Lord might bestow his spirit on them all.

 Psalm 19,   The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart

 James 5, 1-6,   Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries.

Mark 9, 38-43, 45, 47-48,  If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.

Harper thanking everyone.

INTRODUCTION:

 Our First reading is from the book of Numbers.  The words of Moses spoken to Joshua are in expectation for the words of Christ in today’s gospel reading that were given to the disciple, John.

 For the past five weeks our second reading has been from the Letter of James.  The letter was addressed to all of the Jews who became Christians across the Greek-Roman world. It is the first of what we call the universal letters, followed by two letters from Peter, three letters from John, and the letter from Jude. 

 I will be giving you an insight that today’s Church has failed to recognize until now.  Today’s reading from the Letter of James is a reprimand to those who have stored up a worldly [instead of heavenly] treasure in their hearts.

Harper's grandmother, Cathy.

HOMILY:

 Remember that the inspired writers of the gospels do use Jesus’ words to address what’s happening in the early Church. Jesus has just given his disciples time to reflect on their arrogance when John, seeking to show their more favorable side, reveals, instead, their arrogance again.

 Someone who they do not know has been proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. When his words were welcomed, this Spirit filled man baptized him; forgave the man his sins, in the name of Christ.  John told Jesus that he and the other disciples put an end to that, for the Spirit filled man was not of the Church. What did Christ do? He does not say, ‘Well done, I’m glad you denounced him.’ Rather, ‘Are you out of you mind? Those who are not against us are for us!’ 

Cole

 In the Matthew gospel the disciples are told, ‘You are not to call yourself teacher, you have one teacher [Christ].  Jesus has nothing positive to say about human tradition either, ‘You count leaves of herbs for your tithe; but you ignore justice, mercy and truth!’ 

 Last week, I returned with Judy from my 55^th High School Reunion.  I went with an apology to give to two classmates.  One was for Art; one for Jim my best friend in High School. Art’s twin brother died from a heart defect when we were in 12^th grade. Two girls, friends, had died the year before in a car accident. One was dating my best friend.  I didn’t go to any of the funerals. I wanted to be there; I needed to be there. But I was not allowed to go! 

Mike homilizing

 It was prior to Vatican II, and a practicing Catholic was required to believe that the Catholic Church was the only way to salvation; Such arrogance! At that time a Catholic was not allowed to follow his conscience if it disagreed with a teaching of the magisterium; More arrogance. A Catholic was not allowed to enter the doors of a protestant church, for the Church taught that they were not part of the body of Christ; Mea culpa, mea culpa! 

Chloe dances again

 I was in Graduate School when John the 23^rd opened its doors to the Holy Spirit. It was another 20 plus years before the Church presented the finished documents of Vatican II. The very first congress of leaders within the Church included Peter, James and Paul to address a faction of Jewish Christians who were teaching that gentile converts to Christianity needed to become Jews first.

Preparing to distribute communion.

 We read in Luke Acts that both Paul and Peter replied that the gentiles received the Holy Spirit at Baptism, not Circumcision. Its doors were to remain open to the gentiles; a letter with this decision was taken to them. Were the Jewish Christians who had previously given the teaching excommunicated? No!  However, in the middle of the Letter to James is the following parable.

Leo and pillow.

 It begins with James telling them that few are to be teachers. Why; because everyone can make mistakes, and such teachers will be judged with strictness.  [Since this sets the stage for the rest of the parable, it will address the grave mistake they have made.] James describes himself with two metaphors.

 He is the rider of a horse, with a big mouth, [those who are teaching that gentile converts need to be circumcised]. James, the rider, controls their big mouth by using a bit [this parable, personally explained to them]. 

Buddy and Leo with their birthday cupcakes.

 Second there is a ship being tossed about by the wind and waves. James is the rudder seeking to control of the Church during this schism. Their teaching is like a fire that could engulf the whole forest, the Church.  He describes them as someone who from the same mouth blesses God and curses those who have been made in the image of God [the newly baptized gentiles] ‘This ought not be so!’ 

Torri with her birthday cupcake.

 The living waters [good news] and bitter waters do not flow from the same source [mouth]. Therefore you who are wise and understanding [of the mistake you have made], show goodness.  In like manner this is our prayer to the magisterium, ‘Be wise Shepherds; ‘Those who are not against us, are for us!’ 

Georgie with Elizabeth and Emma.

Readings:

Numbers  11, 25-29, Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets.

 Psalm 19,    The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

James 5, 1-6, Come now, You Rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries.  

Mark 9, 38-48, If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.

                                  Says Harper, "Hi Folks, Welcome in."

Numbers:  observation 

In this reading, from the Torah, the Book of Moses, we are given a wonderful example of the expectation of the OT for the coming of the Messiah. It will be fulfilled by Christ, upon whom the Spirit rests, when he and his Father bestow the gift of the Spirit upon all who welcome, live, and proclaim the good news.

Genevieve, too, says, "Good Morning, Everybody, Welcome in."

Homily by Mike

In our gospel reading, John and other of the disciples had been building a barrier between themselves and the flock without realizing it, for they assumed that the Spirit was only going to rest upon them to bring forgiveness to others.  Jesus corrects them. 

All have a responsibility to sow the seed of the good news by word and example. Jesus continually taught those who were following him not to form barriers that would keep them from being one body.

                     Cole, The Candle Man of the Week, at work.

Recall Paul’s letter to the Galatian church, ‘There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female for all are one in Christ Jesus.  Recall that in Advent and Lent we, each of us, live out our gift and responsibility to bring forgiveness to one another; for we are the body of Christ.

The Jewish dietary laws were a barrier between Jew and gentile. It kept them from eating together. So Jesus said to the Jews, ‘Its not what goes into the mouth that defiles; it’s what comes out of the mouth that defiles. In so doing he made all food clean.  When does he tear down this barrier in the Gospel?  Right before he invites both Jew and gentile to eat together at the table of the Lord.

Say the twins, Buddy & Victoria, "Happiness is a cupcake on my birthday, yippee."

All the early followers of Christ were Jews, and they did not even talk to Samaritans.  Early in the John gospel Jesus’ disciples go into town for food and leave him at a well in Samaria. There is a barrier between Jews and Samaritans.  They didn’t talk to one another. 

When the disciples return, they see him sharing his good news to a Samaritan woman.   Jesus lives the truth that God has no favorites. Jesus simply says to his disciples that they must be about sowing the seed of his word and reaping where he has already sown.  Immediately the Samaritan woman begins to give witness in the town that Jesus is a prophet.  And, maybe, he is the Messiah. 

Cupcakes of the Week to Cole and Brent for special services.

Recall the tax collector who climbs the tree in his interest to see Jesus come into Jericho. Jesus looks up and invites Zacchaeus to come down so that he can eat at his house that day.  The seed sown during lunch brought another into the flock.

Jesus’ disciples were Jews who saw the Romans as beasts.  There are several stories in the Gospel about Jesus befriending a Roman Centurion.  In each of them, Jesus tore down the barriers between them by sowing kindness, and goodness and forgiveness.  

                                   Georgie helping out.

Recall the story about the man who had committed serious sin in the Mark gospel.  So much so, that the Jews would not forgive him, rather they expel him from their community.  He comes to Jesus saying, ‘If you want to, you can make me clean.’ Jesus took his hand and replied, ‘Of course I want to, be made clean.”  He again tears down barriers; and he expects us to do the same. 

                                 
The Team at the elevation.

Whenever we isolate ourselves from others, we deny them the opportunity to become one with us.  Take the opportunity this week to welcome or become closer to your neighbors this week, especially the newer ones.  They were meant to be your brothers and sisters.

     Says Genevieve, "May I have that mike, I would like to talk."

Readings: Acts 2, 1-11; Psalm 104; 1 Corinthians 12, 3-13; John 20, 19-23

Breaking Out

We had been traveling all night and all the next day to reach Nairobi recently. I was dead, we were all dead when we got off the plane about nine in the evening.

This is the airport that witnessed a lion walk in one night and lie down right in the lobby. In the 80’s. The airport borders the Nairobi game park. It used to be wide open, but now is glassed into sections, probably for security, if not lions. 

I remember when I got off of the plane, I said to myself, "Okay, Stack, it is time to try your Swahili." So as I walked down a corridor I saw a cleaning lady, a little, middle aged Kenya woman, and I put together a simple question, "Where is the bathroom?"  (Choo kiko wapi?) Granted, I could even see the bathroom down the corridor a bit. But I wanted to break out. 

After I asked this simple question, the little lady looks at me and says, "WHAT??!!" in this loud impatient voice. Talk about being deflated! I was ready to chuck the whole language. I was embarrassed.  It was like no more Swahili for me. English. 

However, as I got beyond her and the comment, I remembered that Kenyans are not as good with Swahili as Tanzanians. I was using Tanzanian quality. Maybe she, too, was just tired and worn out with rich tourists. 

Whatever it was, I renewed my intention and started talking with the immigration & security people.  There I got a pretty good receptions. And then our driver from the Lutheran Guest House went crazy.  That was consoling. 

I talk about this because what I had with that little lady was a type of a pentecost experience. I was scared like those people in the room. Scared even before I talked with the lady.  Then I was more scared and discouraged. Fortunately, because I knew I used to have the language well enough, I broke out again and it worked. In fact, finally I realized it felt like getting back on a bicycle after 20 years.  I just took off. 

This pentecost experience pits risk vs fear. We are all like those fellows in the upper room. We can be scared of so many things. Even scared of standing up here and reading. Scared of speaking out, of leaving a job I don’t like, of taking a new job, or hundreds of other scares. Getting married!

Growth involves risking to break out of the trap of fear. When I break out, even if I fail, consolation results.

What risk are you afraid of today?

Download the homily as an mp3 file

The Feast of the Holy Family, Fr. Tony

The Church for the Feast of the Holy Family is generous in offering us several readings to choose from.  I have selected for our First ReadingFirst Samuel 1:20-22, 24-28, and the Letter to the Colossians 3: 12-17 as our Second Reading, the Gospel is from Luke 2: 41-52.

The story in our first reading about the birth of Samuel to Hannah and her presentation of the boy Samuel to the priest Eli happens at a time of great change for the Israelites.  The time is around the year 1000 BCE. 

Remember that after the People had been lead from slavery in Egypt, passing thru the desert with Moses and then coming to the Promised Land, they had basically invaded the place under Joshua.  After this they had continued their worship of Yahweh as a loose Confederation of Twelve Tribes.  They would meet each year at Shiloh, which we shall hear referred to in our reading today.  But external forces were beginning to invade. 

At this time they were under pressure from the Philistines and also the Ammonites.  The Tribal Federation was not proving effective in defending them.  In this period the People were ruled by a series of Judges and our boy Samuel turns out to be the last of these Judges.  He is the one who anoints Saul as the First King, and of course King David immediately follows Saul.  

And so the People move from this Tribal Confederation to a Monarchy.  One which was to split after the death of Solomon into the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah.

Homily for the Feast of the Holy Family

The gospel reading today from Luke tells of an incident in the early life of Jesus.  It serves as a bridge between the Infancy stories of the Birth of Jesus and the beginning of His public ministry with His baptism by John at the Jordan.

The reading itself is interesting.  If we were to put it into today’s world, it would be like taking a trip from Dallas to San Francisco by bus.  Imagine the scene.  A couple, with their 12 year old, going all that distance in say a caravan of buses.  They spend a few days in San Francisco and then are heading back. The first overnight stop on the way back is in Salt Lake City.  The parents have been in separate buses and figure the kid is with the other!  To their consternation, he is still in San Francisco.  Imagine the dialogue as they try get back to the City. Imagine three frantic days of searching for a 12 year old!  And then in desperation going to the Cathedral of the day and finding him there.  I am not too sure my dialogue would have been as gentle as Mary’s, and I certainly wouldn’t have appreciated the comment about being about my Father’s business!! 

All families are different!  But they seem to have a common purpose.  A safe place for humans!  At least that would seem to be the current intended purpose.  I suspect in earlier times the purpose had much more practical terms, namely making kids who could become helpers in the fields so that we could produce more crops. 

I want to turn to the second reading though as a kind of recipe for a successful family.  In Paul’s time it was for a successful community, which indeed I feel a family is also.  I would like to think that our community here is an extended family, where we can care for each other and support, encourage, and share in success or cry with loss and failure.  Paul talks about putting on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, and then over all these put on Love.  What kind of a family would you have if we could follow this advise! 

As we begin another year, a time when we take stock of our lives, perhaps we can try to implement this behavior.  Imagine what it would be like.

Picture 1:  Tony Begins the Mass of the Holy Family

Picture 2:  Vivian Miller's baptism

Picture 3:  Vivian's family

Picture 4:  The Beautiful Zoe

: Great clip on the Nativity Drama (if pressing the arrow does not start the video, move the red dot)