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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  • Sunday Homily 4-17-11, Palm Sunday

    Readings: Entry Reading, Matthew 21, 1-11; Isaiah 50, 4-7; Psalm 22, My God, My God, why have You abandoned me?; Philippians 2, 6-11; Passion, Matthew 26. 

    Passion 4-17-11 

    Palm Sunday/Passion Sunday 2011    

    Intro to the Readings

     Today we will be celebrating both Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday – two extremes – the one an occasion of great joy and celebration with the palms, when Jesus comes riding into Jerusalem being hailed as King, the other is our reading of the Passion of Jesus from Matthew’s Gospel.  Each of the evangelists gives us an account of Jesus’ last days.  It might help to put it into perspective by considering, particularly for those of you who were alive and can remember the assassination of President John Kennedy, the time lapse between the event and the writing of the gospel narratives.  Our views of president Kennedy have been affected by time.  So too the account of Jesus’ death is influenced by the events taking place when these accounts were written.

     Kiddos 4-17-11

     In brief, Matthew and Mark are very similar and present a Jesus who has been abandoned by all!  The disciples do not come off too well, they fall asleep on him three times, Peter denies him three times, and Jesus’ last words from the cross are “My God, why have you abandoned me. 

    For Luke, Jesus is not abandoned, the disciples appear in a much more sympathetic light.   The people are not against Jesus, three times Pilate declares Jesus innocent, and in Luke, Jesus heals the soldier whose ear is cut off.  He prays for the women of Jerusalem, he forgives those who persecute him, promising the good thief heaven and finally prays, ”Into your hands I commend my spirit”. 

     John has a Jesus who is able to declare “I lay down my life and I take it up again, no one takes it from me”.  On the cross his royalty is proclaimed in three languages, Pilate declares him King of the Jews, his Mother and beloved disciple are with him at the foot of the cross, and his final words are “it is finished”. 

     How are we to understand these different presentations?  Not as contradictions but as different sides of a diamond, because we will need Jesus differently in our different circumstances, at different times in our lives.  Sometimes we will feel abandoned, sometimes in need of comfort and other times assured of God’s infinite power.

     Offertory 4-17-11

     Homily

    I want to use this time for the homily, very briefly.  A question I would have you consider as we listen to the gospel reading today – who are you in those readings? 

    Are you one of the crowd on Palm Sunday cheering wildly as Jesus rides into Jerusalem?  Are you one of the disciples who abandoned Jesus when things got tough, or Peter who denied him three times, or Judas who betrayed him?  Are you Pilate, who declares his own innocence by washing his hands of the whole thing? 

    C.helpers1, 4-17-11 
    This may seem a bit of an extreme question, but remember, the way the gospel story is presented by each of the evangelists is colored by the circumstances in which their account has been written.

    Picture 1:   The Passion with Claire Occhipinti helping

    Picture 2:   The Kiddos, Georgie, Natalie, J.E., and Kendall

    Picture 3:   Offertory, Tom & Teresa Quinn

    Picture 4:   Communion helpers, Rob & Beth Robinson and Mike Carrell

    Picture 5:   Communion helpers, Joanne, Tom & Lynda Fleming 

    C.helpers 2, 4-17-11 

     

  • Sunday Homily, 1-20-19, 2nd Ordinary Time, cycle C

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    Welcome in, Everybody, from Cindy & Dee.

     

    Readings: 

    Isaiah 62, 1-5,    The Lord delights in you (a good one)

    Psalm 96,  Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.

    1 Corinthians 12, 4-11,  There are different kinds of spiritual gifts. 

    John 2, 1-11,  The wedding at Cana.

     

     

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    Also from Ken and the two crazies behind him, Cindy & Marlene,    Welcome in, Everybody.

     

      Mary Ellen Munzell

    As a way to honor Mary Ellen, I would like to tell you 4 stories that show why she was a special friend and  dear to me.

    The first time that Mary Ellen came to my attention in a special way was the first time we gathered a group for a two week trip to Italy.  We had about 8 people.

     

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    And not to be outdone by the previous characters, Grace, too, says, "Welcome to our special Memorial for our dear Mary Ellen."  It was Grace who packed her up so she could move back home to Connecticut, where she stayed one winter and returned immediately back to Dallas.

     

    Mary Ellen asked me if she could go over about 3-4 days early and be picked up in the area around Lake Guarda, Italy.  I was a little nervous, but thought okay.  Mary Ellen wanted to visit Trieste before meeting up with us.

    Why Trieste?  Because her deceased husband, Chris, had been born there to a military family.  Mary Ellen wanted to leave some of his ashes, which she did.

     

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    The A Team.

     

    Just in case you are not familiar with how Mary Ellen & Chris met, it was at the American Embassy in Buenos Aires where she was working as a secretary and Chris was a Marine guard.

    It was when Chris died that Mary Ellen took on the goal of scattering his ashes on golf courses on which they had played, especially in southern CA, where they had resided for some years.   Which brought her to Trieste.

     

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    It takes a Grandmother!

     

    I can still remember approaching Verona.  It was sunny & mild. Verona was quaint & colorful.  The plan was to meet Mary Ellen in front of the train station.  She had taken the train from Trieste to Verona. 

    As we approached the small station on our right I saw ahead of us a traffic circle with a lot of flowers, and there was Mary Ellen.  I was so relieved and impressed with Mary Ellen and touched by her gesture.

     

     

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    Are our musicians crazy or what??

     

    The second event caused me to love Mary Ellen’s adventurous spirit.  I took her and Rosemary to the best game parks in East Africa for a visit with the lions, elephants, and giraffes.  This had been my home for about ten years.  I had lots of connections.

    We hired a driver & helper, rented a Land Rover, and headed to the mystical Ngorongoro Crater and the magnificent Serengetti.   We visited all the animals and, in fact, late one morning a lion walked up and plopped down in the shade of our Land Rover. 

     

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    It takes a Dad, too.  Cody, a great one, and Olivia, his daughter.

     

    Picture this.  The Land Rover’s roof lifts up and locks into place so you may stand.  We were standing  while the lion took a morning siesta.   If we had leaned out, we could have touched that lion.  We didn’t.

     

    I was especially touched by Mary Ellen on this trip.  The ride was rough, we tented, and one afternoon we drove though a scrub area with Tsetse Flies, which could keep up with the Land Rover.  We had to shoo them away for about 30 minutes.

     

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    Nothing better than meeting up again with good old friends, like Bob & Jackie McGrath and Joanne Languell.

     

    The third story.   Mary Ellen had a small private swimming pool in her back yard, as many of you know.  What you may not have heard is that ME liked to skinny dip in her pool, until one afternoon she spied two young neighbor boys peeking over the roof line of her neighbor’s house.

    Finally, as you had to know, ME was an avid supporter of U Conn’s women’s basket ball team.  She loved to watch them play and then she and her sisters would discuss the game. U Conn had a record of 111 victories the day before ME died.  The very next day, U Conn lost. 

     

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    And more good old friends, like Cathy, Jackie, Alice.

     

    Thanks, Mary Ellen, for being a special person and a special friend

     

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    And still more good friends, Grace, Camille, and Diane..

  • Sunday Homily, November 5, 2017, 31st Ordinary Time

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    Says Emma, Hi, Folks, Welcome in.  

     

    Readings:

    Malachi 1, 14-2, 2, 8-10,   A great king am I, says the Lord

    Psalm 131,  In you, O Lord, I have found my Peace

    Thessalonians 2, 7-9, 13 ,  We were gentle with you.

    Matthew 23, 1-12,  Do not be like the Pharisees.

     

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    Likewise, Zoe, says, "Good Morning, Everybody, Come in."

     

     

    Observations on Malachi:

     Interesting notes, a review:

                       1.  This is the last book of the Old Testament.    

                       2.  A little book, only 4 chapters.

                       3.  Last of the 12 minor prophets ( minor because of their small content )

     

     Author: Malachi means “my messenger.”  The writer’s real name is unknown.

     

     

    Offertory

     

    Offertory with Sydney & Hugh, Nina & Kerry.

     

     

     Date:   555 years before Christ.  This is deduced from the emphasis on the temple and the priesthood, and the word “governor” used one time.  Governors ruled after the Babylonian Exile, ca. 590-550, kings before.    

     The temple was rebuilt ca. 520 after the Israelites came back ca. 550 from the Babylonian Exile.  The Persian ruler Cyrus let them return & rebuild the old walls & temple. 

     Message:  Beware, you priests and people, because you are lax, corrupt, and cheating God of his rightful offerings.   Again, the prophet act: 1. condemn behavior, 2. promise punishment, 3. offer consolation after reform.

     

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    Sophia, our Candle Lighter of The Week, in action.

     

     

    Today’s Message:

                       1.  Yahweh is speaking, actually to the priests, though in the official reading this reference is edited out.   

                       2.  You priests, I will curse you if you do not honor my name.

                        3.  I have made you contemptable because you don't follow my ways.  Again, note the Prophet's message: 1. condemn behavior, 2. promise punishment, 3. consolation after the conversion.

                       Sources:  Good News Bible; New Interpreter’s Study Bible; The Minor Prophets by Al Maxey (on line); & Wikipedia

     

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    So, Georgie, how is it being 16?   Know you are The Best.

     

    Gratitude for Blessings 2017-11-04

    Rosemary & I have an end of year exercise we go through, what are the Blessings of the Year.  We write them down.  It is a process of numerous days, beginning with Thanksgiving and ending only around New Years. 

    So, when I told Rosemary I wanted to give a Thanksgiving homily this Sunday, she says, “Okay, but don’t get off on your Big 3.  People have heard them often enough.”  “But people forget,” I say to little avail.  So I won’t, with nothing more than their mention.  Namely, 1. My years as a Jesuit.   2. My years in East Africa.  3.  My years with Rosemary.

     

     

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    Study Hall for Tori & Zoe. 

     

    The following are five 2017 gifts or blessings.

    1. The Jewish Community Center.  I know only a small slice of the Community’s day, from about 5:30 to 7:00 every weekday morning, always in the spin class room or in the gym. 

    The peopIe I have come to know and love are so normal and loving.  Plus they all work at keeping themselves in some kind of good shape.  I look at these good people and I think that it is my religion, Catholicism and Christianity that has caused this community to be hounded, hunted, persecuted, and killed for centuries, ever since Matthew wrote the Blood Curse, Let his blood be upon us and our children.”   Matthew 27.   I am humbled they accept me.

     

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    All Our Saints for All Saints.
     

     

    1. Rob, Beth, Rosemary, & I rode the 20 mile Dallas Bikes rally yesterday and it was glorious. It was a blessing and reminded me of two other special summer blessings look forward to and I take part in every year, Ragbrai (ride across Iowa for a week, 500 miles) and the Matterhorn Canyon back packing trip. 

     

     

    Sainsts 2

     

    All Saints Prep with Karen and Denni.

     

    1. A third blessing this year has been, don’t laugh, you ladies, Romeos!  I look forward to this get together with the guys all week and it is always fun. 
    2. For a number of years a classmate and good friend of mine from the days we spent together at Jesuit has made a significant financial monthly donation to our community. It, together with everybody else’s generosity, enables us to help so many deserving people.
    3. Finally and most obvious to me so often, the unbelievable blessing of you, our Sunday community. It is a clear sign you all must be crazy.

     

     

    Saints 3

     

     

    All Saints prep with Geri and Sandra.
     

     

    What are your Blessings of The Year 2017?

     

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    Our Saints. 

  • Sunday Homily, January 17, 2016, 2nd Ordinary Time

    Readings:

    Isaiah  62, 1-5,     The Lord delights in you. (another excellent reading, this time from Isaiah III)

    Psalm 96,  Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.

     1 Corinthians 12, 4-11,  There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same spirit, different forms of service, but the same Lord.   (a good selection)

    John 2, 1-11, There was a wedding at Cana.  ( a good story)

     

    Harper

    Harper says, "Hi, Everybody, Welcome in.  It is so nice to be back after a long absence."

     

    Isaiah observations:

    When you see that today's selection is from the 62nd chapter, you may pretty easily guess  that this is Isaiah III.   The last 10 chapters of the work are from Isaiah III, that is, chapters 56-66.  

    Remember that Isaiah III talks consolation and comfort for the people, most of whom have now returned from the Babylonian Captivity to a destroyed Jerusalem.

     

    Cathy

    "Yep, Welcome Back, Cathy."

     

    What is your gift?

    Want to take a trip to East Africa this morning, to my beloved Tanzania?  I want to talk a moment about our gifts and forms of service like are mentioned in 1 Corinthians.   To exemplify my thinking, I want to tell you a Christmas story that took place ca. 1980.   I was tempted to tell you about a wedding I did on the slope of Kilimanjaro, but this is just as good and we have only finished with Christmas a few weeks back.

    So, buckle your seat belts and let’s take off.

     

    Tori and Buddy

    "Hi, Victoria, Hi, Buddy."

     

    There is a town smack in the middle of Tanzania called Tabora.  It was on the east west railroad from Dar es Salaam, the capital, to Lake Tanganyika.   The Jesuits staffed a church in Tabora, not large, but with lots of people.  It also had about 20 spokes out from the main church, outstation churches built when more expatriate priests were around to man them. 

    I was at one of these outstations for Advent and Christmas around 1980 to work on my Swahili.   Two Maltese Jesuits interns were with me (from the island of Malta, off the island of Sicily).  They were what were called scholastics, i.e., learning to be Jesuit priests.  Good guys,  Joe Xerri and Joe Pulicino. 

     

    Music

    Want to hear The Best?  Shonda, Bethany, Ray, & David.

     

    Later I visited Xerri at his home, not on Malta itself, but the island of Gozo, just off of Malta.  He eventually left the Jesuits.  Pulicino, got ordained, returned to TZ, worked with refugees, got captured by some Sudanese, and eventually was released.

    So we three Jesuits are at this outstation, which was a fairly large, cinder block, rectangular building with a bell, a bell tower, and a corrugated tin roof.  I often thought about the priests who built the church and then had to leave it empty somewhere along the way.  It must have hurt.

     

    Kids 4

     Zoe & Cole at work on our major life problems.

     

    The little town where this church was situated was tiny, just a few houses with tin roofs, maybe even mud walls.  The church itself had an outstation, another little village even smaller.  I did a funeral in this tiny village and fell into the grave.  That scared everybody really good.

    The people around the main church had not had a Christmas Mass in ages.  They wanted a midnight Mass and we offered to put together a Nativity pageant.  They jumped at it and we had a cast of dozens. 

     

    Kids 1

    And More Problems being solved.

     

    So the night comes.  You got to picture the scene.  No electricity.  We had a few of the old kerosene lanterns.  I spent many an evening with those kerosene lanterns.  There was no heat other than campfires.   Christmas in TZ comes in the middle of the warm & dry season, just opposite to us in the northern regions.

    We rang the bell.  People were literally camped out all over the place because many had walked for miles.  The church filled up.   There was plenty of music, basically drumming and shakers, and, of course,  great rhythm. 

     

    Georgie (2)

    A Cupcake of The Week to Georgie for being a Great Helper.

     

    The one thing I never expected was the wave of June bugs.  The church walls were not totally closed, but had sections where cinder blocks with holes were used.  With the light in the church in the totally dark night, bugs came from everywhere.  Nobody seemed to be bothered in the least.

    The Mass lasted probably 2 hours.  The Nativity pageant was super.   Nobody wanted it to end.

     

    Becky

     Happy Birthday, Becky.

     

    Why talk about this?  Gifts.  We had a gift and we shared it with everybody.  They had gifts of music and excitement and gratitude.  The kids pitched in with the pageant. 

    You can say that Jesus had a gift and he shared it.  Mary, too, had a gift and she shared it, her son.

    What gift do you have and how do you share it?

     

    Cole (2)

    Cupcake of The Week to Cole for being The Candle Lighter of The Week.

     

  • Sunday Homily, July 17, 2016, 16th Sunday Ordinary Time

    Readings:   (A couple of good readings today)

    Genesis  18,  1-10,  I will return next year and Sarah will have a son.  She laughs.

    Psalm 15,  He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

    Colossians 1, 24-28,     I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake.

    Luke 10, 38-42,  The story of Martha & Mary.

     

    John & Leo 1

     

    Old buddies, John & Leo, say, "Welcome in, Everybody."

     

    Genesis observations:

    What :   This is the first book in the whole bible, a good read.  It begins with the 2 versions of creation, Adam & Eve, the apple, Cain & Abel, the Ark and the flood with Noah (see the picture of the huge ark somebody has built?), Abraham & the almost sacrifice of his son, and others. 

    When put together:  Babylonian Captivity, ca. 555 before Christ.

     

    Kevin 1

     

    Kevin, too, says, "Come on in, Folks."

     

     

    Today’s story: An amusing little story, though you don't know it because the editor snipped off the end.   Abraham is hospitable to three travelers.  This results in the men, messengers from Yahweh,  saying that a year from now Sarah will have a son.  Sarah is 99 years old and never had a child.  She is behind a tent flap, hears the promise, and she laughs.  Amusingly Yahweh hears her laugh, asks her why, and she lies, saying she did not laugh.  

     

    Offertory 1

     

    Offertory with Tom & Teresa & Sandra, and, of course, Leo.

     

     

    Martha & Mary, who is better?

    This morning I would like to talk about who is better, Martha or Mary?  Before I even begin I must acknowledge that Rosemary has a strong opinion on this subject.  You can guess it.  She thinks that Martha is getting a bad deal. 

    It must be also admitted that Rosemary has a bit of the Martha complex.   She tells me often how she feels like Martha because she is so over worked. 

     

    Leo 1

     

    Want to see one happy kid today?  

     

    So, being a good husband and trying to lessen the load, I will tell you what I do.  This is also my way of finding meaning to this either/or story.  Maybe it is not either/or? 

    It happens on Tuesday evenings when the sun is going down and I am in the shade that I mow our lawn.  I not only mow, but I edge, trim the bushes, use the weed eater, and blow it all.  Just mowing the grass takes me 90 minutes.  I enjoy doing it.  It is like an art form.  I am imitating Rosemary, the artist.  Plus, it is good exercise.

     

    The wedding party

     

    The Wedding, Lisa Anderlick and Mark Cheek, Saturday evening, Suncreek United Methodist, Allen.

     

    When I am mowing I get into a pretty swift rhythm.   I can push the lawn mower faster than the mower ordinarily goes.  My little 88 year old neighbor lady who lives across the street, Joyce,  says I look like I am running behind the lawn mower. 

    One evening recently when I was zooming back & forth across our front yard, a neighbor couple, Barbra & Bud, and their white sort of poodle dog, all came walking by.   This happens occasionally in front of our house and in front of their house when we are walking Aviana.  The dogs have a relationship that consists of all of about a two minute mutual check out.  I love these people and they are the couple who introduced me to the “J,” the Jewish Community Center.

     

    Vows 1

     

    "I take you, Lisa, in Marriage.  I promise to be true to you in good times & bad, in sickness and in health.   I will love and cherish you all the days of my life."

     

     

    So I see Bud & Barbra & Patty.  I wave but do not lessen my rhythm.  I keep chasing that lawn mower.  And then….I feel guilty. 

    I have just again chosen Project over People, one of my most favorite activities.  I think to myself, ‘What if I just stopped and chatted for 5 minutes?’  ‘Would it make the slightest difference in when I finish?’

     

    Lisa & Mark 2

    I have known Lisa Anderlick since the time she was a little girl.  Now she has not only grown up beautifully, but she is an MD.  In fact, she and two of her brides maids all became MD's together.  

     

     

    5 minutes later here they come back the other way toward their house.  So, what do you think I did?  Yep, I kept right on chasing that lawn mower.  And they passed me by and went home.  I still cannot believe I did it.  I have yet to apologize to them.  As Rosemary is happy to observe, I get OCD about projects & work.  Obsessive, compulsive, that is. 

    Sound familiar?  You got a similar obsession?  Maybe you don’t.  If so you are blessed. 

     

    Lisa & Mark 1

    The first steps on the road to a New Life.

     

     

    Maybe in our Martha-Mary story Martha gets obsessive, compulsive and needs to be more like Mary?   At least I do.  Mary, who knows?  Maybe she needs to be more sensitive to the job to be done?

    For me, the story is a challenge to be both, focused on the work, and focused on the person.  In fact, I believe the person always takes priority despite my behavior.

    How do you balance the Martha-Mary dynamic in your life? 

     

    Karen & John 1

    Long time and dear friends, Lisa's parents, Karen & John Anderlick.

     

     

  • Sunday Homily, August 2, 18th Ordinary Time

    Readings:

     Exodus 16, 2-4, 12-15,   You had to lead us into this desert to make the whole community die of famine.

    Psalm 78,    The Lord gave them bread from heaven.

    Ephesians 4, 17-24,   You must no longer live as the Gentiles do.

    John 6, 24-35 I am the bread of life. 

     

    Georgie 1
    Georgie says, "Welcome in, Everybody.  Beware, The Old Geezer is back." 

     

    Exodus observations:

    What:

     Exodus is a fun book and a good read.  It comes after Genesis & it has three main sections.

     One – the struggle between stubborn old Pharoah vs Moses & Yahweh.  Pharoah loses.  You can imagine the Passover had a significant impact. 

    Two – the time of wandering in the Sinai desert and the covenant, that is, the 10 Commandments

    Three – the coming into the Promised Land. 

    This all took around 40 years, and so we have stories in-between.  Today’s is one of these, showing Yahweh feeding his grumbling people.

     

    Celeste

    Welcome Home, Celeste.  Celeste, who has played in our music section, has just come in from a year teaching in Hungary, and is departing to spend a year teaching in Albania.  Does the girl love adventure?  

     

    When written:

    Toward the end of the Babylonian Captivity, around 550 before Christ

    Who wrote it:

    Not Moses, but people who lived centuries after this mythical character.  How much of this is historical is a question.  The story greatly encouraged the Jewish people enslaved in Babylon.

     

     

    Sabrina 2


    And welcome home to you, Sabrina.  You did everything for us for years.   Sabrina is returning to the Illinois Institute of Technology for her junior & senior years.

     

     

    Our selection:

    An amusing account of the Jewish people grumbling against Moses.  They say they would prefer to be back in Egypt than in this infernal desert where they are wandering in the heat & sand.  We can sympathize with them in these days of 100’s.  They did not have a/c.   So Yahweh feeds them.  See how.

     

    Morgan

                                 Hi, Morgan, Welcome to you, too.

     

    Kilimanjaro Events and Ragbrai

    This morning I would like to talk about Kilimanjaro events in our lives. Kilimanjaro events give life in ways similar to what John is talking about in the gospel, spirit life.  They are peak events. 

    I choose the word Kilimanjaro because I had the privilege of climbing that mountain in Tanzania 5 times when I lived there.  Each was literally and figuratively a peak event. 

     

    Genevieve 1

       Genevieve says, "I bet you I don't weigh 6 pounds anymore."

     

    A week ago I had another Kilimanjaro event, the week long, 500 mile bike ride across Iowa from the Missouri River to the Mississippi River, with about 15 thousand others.  Iowa or Ragbrai was such a peak experience, full of spiritual life moments.  Let me talk about 3 of them.

    One of my most favorite places to eat dinner in the evening and to get coffee and 4 bananas in the morning was a supermarket called Hy-Vee, the Iowa equivalent to Central Market or Whole Foods.  They had  carbo dinners for Ragbrai.

     

    Payton 2

     

    And Welcome to You, too, Mr. Peighton.  Delightful to have you with us.

     

    When I would ride up to one of these markets, you would not believe what I would see.  Not just hundreds of bikes.  But hundreds of bikes with absolutely no locks or security.  Bikes everywhere, even inside the entrance ways.   The majority of these bikes would start at a $1000 and go up as high as $10,000.  Lots of beauties.

    Trust, folks, this was trust.  I don’t think anybody was afraid of being robbed anywhere, all along the ride and in the villages and towns.    I found this atmosphere of trust so moving.

     

    Payton

    Mr. Peighton, obviously a quick learner, says, "Wake me up when that Old Geezer stops yakking.  Thank you."

     

     

    Secondly, I was moved by the spirit of congeniality among everyone, for example.

    I have a favorite concession where I would stop every afternoon on the road.  Concessions were all along the road, which was dedicated to us.  The concession I love and the only one I regularly stopp at is the Amish homemade pie and ice cream stop, always on the right shoulder of the road and always on the second half of the day’s journey.

     

    Sabrina & candle

    This is way below Sabrina's talent level.  But in honor of all the years she did everything around here, today she gets to light the candles.

     

    On Wednesday I rode up and asked for credit from Henry, the Amish kid who collected the $3 for pie and the $2 for ice cream.  I had forgotten my money that morning.  I knew the only place I needed $5 on the road was the Amish.

    There was a line of people behind me waiting to pay Henry.  As he said yes, the lady behind me popped in and said, “Oh, I can pay for you.  No problem.”  I was most touched, but told her that I would probably never see her again, so I could not pay her back, while I would see Henry the next day.  And Henry chimes in, “Yes, he is here every day, so it is okay.”  The next day, Thursday, I chipped in about $10 as a token of gratitude. 

    This lady touched me with her spirit.

     

    Cupcakes

    2 cupcakes here this morning.  Cathy generously is standing in for her son, Brian, who is celebrating 10 years married.  Mike and Judy are celebrating 51 years married.  And they are from Kiokuk, Iowa.

     

     

    During the homily I added this little memory, which, in fact, made me forget the final point of the homily.  I remembered and shared it after communion.

    In the context of congeniality I talked about what was a group of maybe 20 Air Force bikers.  They not only rode, but they stopped whenever they saw someone down with a flat or a slipped chain.  At one point I rode up and along side of them.  I mentioned 2 things.  I was jealous of their beautiful blue & white bike wear with the white wings on the back & shoulders.  

    I also told them how touched I was at seeing them helping people along the road.  They were super appreciative and called me "Sir" a dozen times.  (Chebino, do you belong to the A.F. Bike Unit?) 

     

      Dawson

     

                               Watch out, Folks, Dawson is 18 years old.

     

    The third Kilimanjaro event.  Friday here in Dallas, on a routine visit to my dermatologist, she asked me what was the biggest event, the most special.  As usual, I even got a bit choked up in telling her. 

    It was just the joy, the exhilaration I experienced in riding, riding with so many congenial people, riding over beautiful green farm lands, passing through achingly beautiful little villages, and all at age 75. 

    What more can a kid look forward to in the summer than to get up, ride his bike all day, and then camp out in his tent at night with friends? 

     

      Cole, Emma, Zoe

             Watch out, Cole, Emma, and Zoe, TI is hiring Whiz Kids.

     

    What is you latest Kilimajaro event? 

    What is your next one? 

    I can tell you my next 2, the Hotter N’ Hell Hundred the last Saturday of August and taking about 10 close friends to Yosemite the first week of September.  Summer is so good.

    You people in this community are a Kilimajaro Event.

    So, your next Kilimanjaro event?

     

    Brent

    Brent, you are a Kilimajaro Event, and we are privileged to be able to support the work you do with Souls Harbor.