Sunday Homily, April 13, 2014, Palm Sunday, Cycle A

Emma

Emma says, "Hi, Everybody, from my bunny, welcome."

 

 Readings:

Matthew 21, 1-11, Jesus enters Jerusalem

Isaiah 50, 4-7,   I gave my back to those who beat me.

Psalm 22,  My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?

Philippians  2, 6-11,  Because of this God greatly exalted him.

Matthew  27,, 11-54,  The passion & death.

Harper welcome

Harper says, "Yes, welcome from me too. It is fun here and they have cupcakes."

 

Sorry, Everybody, because of the extraordinary length of so many readings, especially the Matthew Passion, we don't have a homily.  Tune in for a good one this Sunday, Easter.  Welcome, also.  You might find an Easter Bunny attending.

Tom

Tom.

 

Lynda

And Lynda.

 

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  • 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 6, 2025

    Isaiah 66:  Lo, I will spread prosperity over Jerusalem like a river,  and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing torrent.   As nurslings, you shall be carried in her arms,  and fondled in her lap;  as a mother comforts her child,  so will I comfort you;

    Galatians 6:  May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

    Luke 10: Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, 'The kingdom of God is at hand for you.'

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    Connie reading from Isaiah
     

     

    Thanks…     

    Music,   Ben & Shonda

    Readers,  Connie & John

    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 reading from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians

     

     

    Remember these special people:

    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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    John sharing his homily

     

     

    Birthdays:    Brent Burmaster 7/6, Paul Bieda 7/8

    Anniversaries:   

     

     

    Expenses: 620.00

    Outreach: $   130.00

    Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

     

     

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    Carrie reading the Blessing

     

     

    Rosemary's Blessing:

     

    THE GUEST HOUSE

    This being human is a guesthouse.

    Every morning a new arrival.

     

    A joy, a depression, a meanness,

    some momentary awareness comes

    as an unexpected visitor.

     

    Welcome and entertain them all!

    Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,

    who violently sweep your house

    empty of its furniture,

    still, treat each guest honorably.

    He may be clearing you out

    for some new delight.

     

    The dark thought, the shame, the malice,

    meet them at the door laughing,

    and invite them in.

     

     be grateful for whoever comes,

    because each has been sent

    as a guide from beyond.

     

    Rumi, The Essential Rumi

    Translated by Coleman Barks and John Moyne.

     
     
     
    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.

  • Sunday Homily, March 22, 2015, 5th Lent, B

    Readings:

    Jeremiah 31, 31-34 ,  I will make a new covenant.

    Psalm 51,    Create a clean heart in me, O God.

    Hebrews 5, 7-9,   He became the source of Salvation.

     John  12,  20-33,   Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies.

     

    Emma

    Emma says, "Hi, Everybody, Welcome in."

     

    Jeremiah observations: 

    What:  We have not seen Jeremiah for a long time, since before Thanksgiving.  Remember that he is one of the Big 3 Prophets (because of the size of the work, e.g. 52 chapters in Jeremiah), who are Isaiah, Jeremiah, & Ezekiel.   I love Jeremiah, he is such an attractive and transparent character.  

    Author:  most of the work is put together by Jeremiah’s scribe Baruch.  Jeremiah is described as the broken hearted prophet because of his heart rending life spent warning the people & kings that their behavior was going to be punished.  The people hated him for this.   

    Time:  ca. 555 before Christ, as an easy date to remember.   Jeremiah speaks before and during the Babylonian Captivity.  Like all prophets, he condemns before, and he consoles during the Captivity.  This event is monumental in the life of the tribe and in the life of Jeremiah.

     

     

    Harper

    Harper, too, says, "Hi, Everybody."

     

    The Scene:  Remember that the Holy Land had a north & a south, Israel & Judah.  First, the northern kingdom, Israel, was defeated by the Assyrians, 622 BCE.  These Hebrew tribes vanish into the DNA of the region, “The Lost Tribes of Israel.”  Next, the Babylonians & Nebuchadnezzar defeat the Assyrians and threaten the southern kingdom, Judah, with the capital Jerusalem.  Jeremiah is watching this and seeing it as Yahweh's punishment.  In 600, more or less, the Babylonians do destroy Jerusalem and cart the Hebrews into slavery.

    Today's selection, chapter 31.  Jeremiah is consoling the people who are now in captivity.  He suggests that God wants to make a new deal or, as it is called, a covenant.  Yahweh is promising to forgive the people and treasure them.  Jeremiah addresses the people right off using first person singular, I, meaning God.

    Sources: Fr. Reginald Fuller, St. Louis U., Wikipedia; Answers.com; Encyclopedia of Judaism

     

    Cole

    Cole says, "Who is trying to put me on?"

     

    Hate My Life?

    I have a story this morning which I have told twice, once at St. Mark's, over 8 years ago and here about 4 years ago.  Pardon me if you've heard it. Some of the best stories I tell over & over, they are so poignant.  The story speaks to my point today, hate my life?  I had permission for the story.

    It happened many years ago when I was working full time as a psychotherapist out of an office at Jesuit.  I think it was the first Monday morning of May.   I know it was a beautiful morning.  A boy came to see me who had been in my office on and off for about six years.  He had just graduated from high school and enlisted in the Air Force.  He had struggled since grade school with bouts of depression, and that morning seemed to be in great shape.  We did not even spend more than 30 minutes together, his mood was so up beat and care free.

     

     

    Georgie-Kevin

    The Best Helpers, Georgie and Kevin.

     

    He left.  Maybe two or three hours later a call came in.  The boy had left Jesuit, crossed Inwood to the Lincoln Center complex at LBJ, drove up to the top of the four floor garage, parked his car, headed to the edge of the garage, and walked over the side.  He landed on the cement street four floors below, face down flat.

    Passerby saw it, called 911, and in a second the paramedics from just around the corner were on the scene.  He was in Parkland in a flash.  He lived.

     

    Music girls

    A break for the Music Girls.

     

    It was not for about 3 weeks until I got to visit him.  He apologized.  I admit I was mad.  I loved this kid.  He fooled me.  He said that he had been in a zone, happy because he knew he was out of there, meaning he was ready to go to the other side.  He wanted to escape the pain of life and go to heaven.  He said he had no fear in walking off that fourth floor, none of the hesitation you feel before you jump off the high diving board the first time. 

    You may guess why I tell this story.  It exemplifies what happens when you take literally "whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life."  This little piece of advice, taken the wrong way, can be so dangerous. This boy hated his life.

     

     

    Offertory

    The offertory team, Hugh and Sydney, Lily and Scott.

     

    I would suggest there is a negative and a positive way to hate my life. 

    The negative is exemplified by this kid's story.  This is often what is happening when you hear of someone cutting on themselves.  If I hate my life and hate myself, I will want to punish myself.  I am bad.  So I cut myself.  Or I may think that I am such a loser that no one will pay me any attention if I do not do something dramatic like spill my blood. 

     

     

    Ray-Leo

    Like father, like son, Ray & Leo.

     

    Even without such dramatic examples, I do not want to encourage someone who hates their body, hates their job, hates their family, hates their school, hates.  Just thinking about this I recoil.   There may be reason for the hatred.  However, "There is a better way," I want to say and I would say it.   I believe in talk therapy.   Feelings are all okay.  I just don’t want some to stay around. 

    You know someone depressed like this?  Ask them if they are suicidal.

    On the positive side, I would suggest two things.

    First, the word hate can be considered as hyperbolic, a big word meaning exaggeration.  It is like Rosemary telling me, "You get me up at 4:00 tomorrow morning for spin class & it is divorce!”   Think she is exaggerating?  I hope.   

     

     

    Tori

    Victoria at work with the next tech invention.

     

    Secondly, I would suggest that this all has to do with being more alive now, in this life. The grain of wheat falling to the ground and dying fits in with this.  For example: look at March Madness.  Many of these players have died to themselves to achieve & to be better players.  How many hours in the gym have they spent practicing free throws?  When they could be hanging out, sleeping in, text messaging?  And they love their lives.  I’ve seen boys do this at Jesuit. 

    Goofy, but I hate my life to love my life.  I don't want to get up early.  I could sleep in to 11:00.  However, I, get up and head over to the Jewish Community Center, 6:00 A.M. spin class.  The result, I love life.  

     

     

    Zoe & Dad

    Zoe & dad, Randolph.

     

    The boy who jumped is now okay, amazingly.  It took him years of physical recovery.  Two things did not happen that blessed him.  He did not damage his brain and did not damage his spine.  Every other bone, plus his teeth, were broken.  Once he got strong enough he went to medical technical school, got his certificates, and now has good jobs in various hospitals in the city.  I don't think he hates his life anymore.  In fact, he loves it. 

    How do you love your life?

    Sources:  The Center for Liturgy, St. Louis U.; St. Raymond Catholic Church, Dublin, CA; Carmelite Order Web; Homilias Domincales.

     

  • Sunday Homily, October 26, 2014, 30th Ordinary Time

    Readings:

    Exodus  22, 20-26,  You shall not molest or oppress an alien.

    Psalm 18,   I love you Lord, My Strength

    1 Thessalonians 1, 5-10,  You know what sort of people we were among you.

    Matthew 22, 34-40,  The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.

     

    Zoe  & Mom

    Zoe & Michelle say, "Hi, Everybody, Welcome."

     

    Exodus observations–

    What: One of the great books of the Bible, the second book of the O.T.  A good read.  The name  means 'departure' and refers to one of the most important events in Israel's history, the departure of the people of Israel from Egypt where they had become slaves after going there to escape drought in their own land.

    Author: not Moses, but a bunch of people putting together the story most likely after the Babylonian Captivity, therefore around 555 before Christ.

    Our selection:   comes from the "Book of the Covenant," that is, the law or commandments.

    The materials in the book are akin to many legal codes of the ancient Near East, the most famous of which is the Code of Hammurabi, 20th Century before Christ.

    Today's reading comes from a section of the code dealing with the laws of social conduct.  They inculcate a social ethic based upon compassion.  Abstract justice is not enough, especially for the underprivileged.  The lesson was obviously chosen to go with the summary of the Law that forms the gospel reading. 

    Watch how Yahweh (that is, the person writing in Yahweh's name) says he is compassionate just after declaring he will kill certain types of people if they are not compassionate.

     

    Zoe

    Cupcake of The Week to Zoe on her 6th birthday today.

     

    Matthew observations–

    What:  another example of the cultural game of "gotcha," a set up.  How this works you got to know the background…

    Background:  The Pharasees identified 613 commandments in the Torah (first 5 books of the O.T.)  248 were positive ("thou shalt"), and 365 were negative ("thou shalt not").  How could anyone remember all of them?  Were some more important than others?  If you choose one, what about another??

    See where we are going?   Our Gospel, "the Greatest Commandment?"  Matthew has the the Pharasees ask this question to put Jesus into a bind.  But again, Jesus slips their trap.  

     

    Zaile & Billy

    Cupcake of The Week to Zaile & Billy on their anniversary.

     

    Some teachers distinguished between "heavy" and "light" commandments.  The "Ten" are examples of the heavies.  An example of a light commandment is in Deut. 22, 6-7, which stipulates that a person who finds a bird's nest with a mother sitting on eggs or with young may take the young but must let the mother go.  The reason for observing all these commandments: "That it may go well with you, and that you may live long."  (Deut. 5, 16; 22, 7)

    Resources: The New Interpreters Study Bible; St. Louis U. Liturgical @ Liturgical.slu.edu

     

    Shirley

    Cupcake of The Week to Shirley for putting up with Jerry and Poncic.

     

    Love Myself ?   I’m okay, you’re okay?

    I hate it when I get these ideas.  I composed a homily yesterday evening and was all ready to go this morning when I woke up.  At 8:00 A.M., 30 minutes before Rosemary & I depart for Vines, I change my mind.  I want to talk about an event that took place Saturday evening. 

    I want also to tie it with the great commandment.  I have said it maybe a hundred times, there are 3 commandments here, love God, love my neighbor as myself, and love myself.  Loving myself, from my own experience and my experience in psychology, is the most difficult and the foundation of the first two.  I don’t love myself, I don’t love anybody else.

    A  little dictum that sums it up for me is, “I’m okay and you are okay.”  It does not have to get dramatic, just simple.

     

    Greg

    Cupcake to Greg to console him for getting stung on his right eyelid at the house project yesterday.

    Here is what happened last evening and exemplifies some of this.

    At about 6:30 I told Rosemary I was going to walk across the street to the Chase bank on the corner of Preston & Royal.  It was a gorgeous Saturday night and I thought, ‘I’ll just walk over to the bank and make a deposit of a check.’  We live maybe 300 yards from this corner.

    So I walk to the bank, I make the deposit, and am ready to return, crossing back across Preston at the light.  But what do I see?  A man is lying on the cement on his right side, his right hand under his head, and he is asleep.  He is in the corner parking slot in the small Chase parking lot. 

     

    Mary & Frank

    Mary and Frank with a cupcake for Nikki & Cameron on their birthday.

    I think, ‘Is he alive, does he need help?  He is in a bizarre spot, tons of Saturday evening traffic, out of sight tucked into the parking nook, and looking like a homeless person, old, gray pants and t-shirt.’  He also has a sunburn high water mark on his left arm, a sign he is outside a lot.

    ‘Should I go check on him?  What if he pulls a gun or knife and kills me?’  I feel like the Pharisee in the parable of the Good Samaritan.  So I call 911.  At least something.  The lady says the police will swing by right away.

    I walk away a bit, not toward the corner, but toward the drug store so I can see him.   I’m curious.  I stop and wait.  I wait maybe 15-20 minutes, hoping to see the cops check on the guy.

     

    Sandra, Jerry, & Grace

    Offertory, Sandra, Jerry, and Grace.

    Finally I say to myself, ‘Stop being such a wimp.  Go check on him.  The cops are taking too much time.  I’ve worked with lots of guys like this.   He won’t hurt me.  I’m bigger and in better shape anyway.’

    So I walk over to him, look down, and say, “How you doing, man?”  It wakes him and he looks at me with light blue eyes which are like out of focus.  He wonders where he is.  This young man is on something.  That is obvious. 

    The first thing he says is, “Thanks for checking on me.”  Does that ever touch me.  We talk a bit and finally he asks me if I have a cigarette.  I said I don’t smoke, but I wished I had a cigarette, if that was all he wanted for a little pleasure. 

     

    The Team

    The Team.

    I admit that if he wanted money for food, I would have walked him right over to McDonnell’s on the opposite corner.  I also admit that I did not want spend the evening carrying him down to The Bridge, if he asked me for a place to stay.  And I certainly knew Rosemary would toss me out if I brought him home.  He did neither.

    So I asked him if he was okay and he said yes.  I walked away again toward Dougherty’s drug store.  I looked back one time and he was still just sitting there on the cement looking around and looking at the people driving up to use the ATM machine, which probably made them nervous.

     

     

    Bethany & Ray

    Bethany and Ray.

     

    The guy is in my spirit right now.  I wonder.  How did he get to where he is?  Where is he?  When did he get addicted?  Does he love himself, enough to love his neighbors?  Can he say, ‘I’m okay and you are okay.’

    What do you need to do to say, ‘I’m okay and you are okay,’ if you can’t say it this morning?

     

     

  • Sunday Homily August 26, 2012, 21st Ordinary Time B

     Readings:  

     Joshua, 24,1-2, 15-17,  We will serve the Lord, for he is our God.

     Psalm 34, Taste & See the Goodnesss of the Lord (3rd week)

    Ephesians, 5, 21-32, Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.  For the husband is head of his wife.

    John, 6, 60-69, Master, to whom shall we go?

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    Ken and Cindy celebrating 50 years

    Joshua:

    Who is Joshua and what is this booklet about:  Joshua was Moses' assistant, his lieutenant when the the Israelites wandered in the desert.  The booklet is the story of the Israelite invasion of Canaan under Joshua's leadership. 

    Author: somewhat amusingly, the fundamentalists say that Joshua wrote most of the booklet.  More scientific scholars say the work is a compilation of a number of sources.

    Georgie 8-26-12

    The Beautiful Georgie

    Date of composition: again fundamentalists state that the booklet was composed 1400-1370, i.e., while Joshua lived.  Scholars of a broader vision suggest that even if a Joshua existed the work was put together 800-700 BCE. 

    The work combines a number of traditions about battles & destruction of cities to create a nationalistic narrative that justifies the Israelites' taking another peoples' land for their own.

    Ethical Question: genocide.  This is a bloody book.  Yahweh commands that the Israelites exterminate every breathing thing, including women & children & livestock. 

    Cara 8-26-12

    Cara at 12 years

     The battle of Jericho is characteristic.  For 6 days the Israelites marched around the city, blowing horns and menacing the people.  On day 7 they marched around 7 times and the walls came tumbling down, as in the spiritual.  Then every person except one woman & her family were slaughtered.  Lots of debate and rationalization over these events.

    Our Selection: The last chapter of the booklet.  Joshua, who is dying, calls the people together at a place called Sechem and puts it to them.  Stick with Yahweh who has done all these things for you (which are mentioned in the text but are long & tedious) or choose another path of your own.

    Sources: Good News Bible, Got Questions.org, Wikipedia

    Jim's 8-26-12

    Special pastries ready for Jim's birthday party

     Rosemary be Subservient to Me as to the Lord?

    A crazy thing happened to me some time ago that I will never forget.  I was standing in a line.  Around me were families with kids.  At one point a nice looking family with two or three young kids got into a small disagreement over something involving the kids.  The wife wanted to do one thing, the husband another.

    At a point the husband says to the wife, “you are to be subservient to me because the Bible says so.”

    Harper 8-26-12

    Harper

    I almost dropped my teeth.  I could not believe what I was hearing.  I even think the wife let him get away with this justification.  Can you imagine me getting away with this with Rosemary?

    I love this passage because it exemplifies the danger of taking the Bible literally.  The passage is so easy to explain in terms of contemporary psychology and the value of a human person, male or female. Here is how we see it today.

    Blakeley 8-26-12

    Blakely

    Three models of family interaction.

    1.   The patriarchal.  This model considers the male the superior, like in Paul’s instruction.  It is based on an old belief that females were  inferior.  This model certainly exists today. 

    When I was in East Africa the men considered themselves the master of the household.  Muslim examples abound these days, even to horrible stories of disobedient women being beaten, starved, and locked in underground rooms.

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    The HHH team of crazies at dawn along with 15,000 other crazies, An old geezer, Rosemary, George, Dwayne, Tom, Greg, John

    2.  The matriarchal.  In this example the wife or mother is considered the head of the household.  There are many amusing examples of families where the male thought he was the head, while everyone knew the household was ruled and organized by the wife.

    3.   The equality model.  Both husband and wife are seen as equal and complimentary.  Today this model is more common in many societies, though not all.  Today both the husband and the wife have graduate degrees and professional careers.  The model is teamwork rather than dictatorship.

    Sag 8-26-12

    Sag Wagon, what you don't want to need, but are happy to see if you have a bike problem or are sick. Usually pretty busy the last 25 miles of the 100 mile distance.

    Paul sounds pretty archaic and chauvenistic today, but actually at that time he was trying to elevate men’s treatment of women.  Treating a wife with respect was pretty radical for Paul’s time. 

    Whatever the model chosen, it comes down to a choice by the couple.  Even this involves equality and mutual input.  Today equality is so taken for granted that a husband saying to his wife that she must obey him because the Bible says so sounds ridiculous. 

    IMG_1859

    HHH riders passing through Shepherd A.F. Base. Touching, a lot of cheering.

    Obviously the one couple I was watching took it literally.  I wonder where they are today.

    Which of the three models do you choose?

  • 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 12, 2020

    Rosemary's Blessing

     

    Good Morning!

    This is God.

    I will be handling all your problems today.

    I do not need your help.

    So have a good day!

    Author Unknown

     

    Communion 2

    Remembering….

     

    Readings:

    Isaiah 55, 10-11, Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down.

    Psalm 65,  The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest

    Romans  8, 18-23,  The sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us,

    Matthew 13, 25-30,  A sower went out to sow.

     

    Download Reading Week 7-12

     

    Thanks to the Team

    Music,  Ben & Shonda

    Readers,  Mary & Sandra & Buddy, the candle blesser

    Gospel & Homily, Deacon Mike

    Eucharistic Prayer, John Cade

    The Magic Zoom makers, Mike & Richard & Tom

    Final Blessing, Rosemary

     

    CB1

     

    Please Remember these special people:

    For Cindy who faced a procedure Monday morning;   For our Bill;  For Carrie Bieda's son;   For Esparzas, Frank & Mary, who lost their son Jim to sepsis;   For all the medical personnel struggling to treat the tsunami of sick people, in particular, locally, Cindy's staff at Presby, Dallas, and at Frisco Presby, the mother of Harper and Betsy, Kendle, working in labor & delivery;   For Joe Hogan with cancer;  For Loretta's aunt Alicia;    For Sydney;  & For Sir Charlie & Jan;  Shonda's mom;   for Michelle;  

    For Jackie's mom;  For a friend, a neighbor, & a doctor, Karen, with brain cancer; For Rick Turner searching for a kidney donor, Type O neg; For Meredith, cancer free.;    For Hue;  For John O'Donnell;    For Dee, and for her daughter, Lisa; For John Schanot's continued health;  For Anthony & Sabrina;    For a young man who is suffering from depression;  John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli and Lambrini;  for Virginia Mattingly.

     

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    Magicians at work, Tom, Richard, & Mike.

     

    Homily for July 12: The name given by the artist to the picture behind me today is Rhapsody. It has always hung on the wall in front of me, and I’ve enjoyed seeing it every day.  It could have been called Rapture, or a Taste of Paradise.

    The picture moved me then and it still does now. I purchased it at a special evening auction given by the marriage partner of Richard Delong a few months after Richard’s death. The proceeds from the auction of Richard’s Art Collection was then given by his marriage partner toward continued research of the Human immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS.

    The two woman in the picture are in ecstasy, euphoria, elation.  If you could look at it closely, you would see that they are part the celebration of our sacred liturgy.

     

    IMG_0842

     

    Are Ben & Shonda not The Best!

     

     

    In our first reading from today’s liturgy, Isaiah the Prophet gives us a wonderful teaching from God to us his children: You will be filled with joy and led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and the trees of the field will clap their hands.

    Today’s words from our liturgy continue with a psalm of gratitude to God who prepares us for an expectation of a fruitful harvest of Words.

    The second reading is the eager expectation from the Letter to the Romans revealing to us that those who have welcomed and are living to Good News, are the children of God, who have joyfully received the Holy Spirit.

    Our gospel reading seeks for us to bear fruit; 100, or 60, or 30 times greater than what was sown for us in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

     

     

    Birthdays:  John Schanot & Caroline Grattifiori

    Anniversaries:   Ron & Marilyn Ackerman, 57th

     

    IMG_0843

     

    A temporary Altar while adjustments are made.

     

    Community Finances, July 12, 2020

    Expenses: $810.00 

    Outreach   $425.00,   (often for Souls Harbor, Legacy, etc.)

    Thanks, Folks, for doing what you can.

     

     

    We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.


    Winston Churchill

  • Sunday Homily 12-5-10, 2nd Advent

    Readings: Isaiah 11, 1-10 (a beauty); Psalm 72, Justice shall Flourish in His Time, and Fulness of Peace Forever; Romans 15, 4-9; Matthew 3, 1-12. 

    Isaiah 11 observations:

    Author: Isaiah 1.  Remember, 3 primary authors are responsible for the 66 chapters.  Isaiah 1 covers chapters 1-39.  This book is one of the Big 3 O.T. prophets, along with Jeremiah and Ezekiel.  This is because the works are the longest.  There are 12 minor prophets.

    Time: ca. 700, before the Assyrians annihilate the northern Jewish kingdom, called Israel, vs the southern kingdom called Judah, where Jerusalem is.  10 tribes were lost in this destruction, the 10 Lost Tribes of Israel. 

    Remember there were 12 tribes.  Why?  Because of the 12 sons of Jacob, who was one of the 3 great patriarchs or founders of the tribe, Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob, who was also called Israel. 

    Hunter 12-5-10 

    Message of Isaiah 1: condemnation of the corruption of the ruling class & oppression of the poor.  Because of this, destruction is coming.  He foresaw the coming of the Assyrians, not a difficult thing to do.  The profile of the prophet was usually 1. criticism, 2. prediction of dire payment, 3. consolation.

    Today’s message: consolation.  Two parts.  In part one, a special person will come. And because of him, part two, watch what will happen.  A dream most touching.

    Beginning 12-5-10 
     

    Advent Wreaths: This little liturgical practice came to the Catholic liturgy, believe it or not, from the German Lutherans in the 1500's, the time of Martin Luther.  It was more than just decoration.  The circle symbolized eternity.  The greens Christian life in a dead time of the year.  The candles represent each of the 4 weeks of Advent, each candle symbolizing the greater light brought by Christ.  Their color purple symbolized penance and purification for the Coming.  The Rose candle says, 'We are almost there!'

     

    Beautiful Dreams Can Happen

     The Isaiah reading this morning has special meaning for me in two ways. 

     First of all, the beauty of the writer’s dream touches me.  He dreams that the world will have such peace and harmony that even the animals will live without fear of each other.  Wow. 

    Esparza 12-5-10 
     

    Secondly, I have a story connected with the dream.  It happened in Toronto the Advent at the end of the year I was ordained, 1971.

     The Jesuits have a theology college in Toronto and I spent four years there, ’68-’72.  The fall of my second year a class of about 35 guys entered from all over.  Among them was a Jesuit brother. 

     Brothers were Jesuits, members of the fraternity, but they focused on living religious life in a community with its 3 vows of poverty, chastity, & obedience.  They did not feel a call to be priests.  They worked in all sorts of occupations, treasurer, house administrator, grounds keepers, you name it.

     The Jesuit brother who entered that fall had been a brother for a half a dozen years & now wanted to become a priest.  Trouble was he was blind.  His name was Larry. 

     Larry had not come to this idea solely on his own.  Many people had encouraged him.  For some years he had worked & taught at a Wisconsin Jesuit boarding high school called Prairie du Chien, now closed unfortunately. Here the idea really grew.

     He went to the Wisconsin Jesuit provincial and he agreed to see what could be done.  The provincial went to Rome to get permission for a blind person to be ordained.  Rome said, “No, and don’t bother to ask again.” 

     So the provincial sent Larry to Toronto to do the normal theology studies leading up to priesthood.  Just to see how he would make out. 

     He made out splendidly.  In fact, we all pitched in to help him.  We recorded classes, we read to him, we recorded assigned readings, and we studied with him.  I, in fact, lived next door to him on the third floor. 

     The end of the first year came and the provincial returned to Rome to ask again.  Rome said, “No, and don’t ask again.”

     The end of Larry’s third year the provincial asked again.  This time Rome said, “He may be ordained a deacon.”  Folks, the excitement and gratitude in our house was tactile.  You could feel it, touch it.  We knew that once a deacon, he could easily move to priesthood.

    Cici 12-5-10 
     

    Larry was now in his 3rd year and it was in Advent of the 3rd year when the men were ordained deacons, the priesthood coming in the following spring. 

     It was the second Sunday of Advent, cycle A like this year, in the college chapel full, about 35 guys getting ordained deacons preliminary to being ordained priests 6 month later.  The reading was Isaiah 11.  In Braille Larry read Isaiah’s dream.  There was not a dry eye, not a sound but Larry’s voice. 

     Today Larry Gillick is ordained and works as part of a team working out of St. Louis U. 

     Beautiful dreams can happen.  We can influence their happening.  How? 

    Picture 1:   Hunter lighting the candles

    Picture 2:   Mass begins

    Picture 3:   Mary & Frank with the offertory

    Picture 4:   C C at the donut shoppe