Sunday Homily, January 26, 2014, 3rd Ordinary, Time, Cycle A

 

Readings:

Isaiah  60, 1-6, Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem,  Your light has come.

Psalm 72,  Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Ephesians  3, 2-6, The Gentiles are coheirs.

Matthew 2, 1-12, Magi from the east arrived.

 

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

 

Isaiah, a review 

Here is another of those passages which make me love Isaiah so much.  I have mentioned this before.  He is my favorite.  

Today we have Isaiah III talking to the Jews who have returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian Captivity, about 555 years before Christ.  It helps to picture the mood of these people. 

 

"Hi, Folks, Welcome in, they are going to win today," says Cole, our Cowboy fan.   Sorry, Cole.  It has been a tough year.

 

Are you a Cowboy Fan?  How do you feel at about this year?  Multiply this by 10 and you have how the Jewish people felt after 50 years of slavery and  their town destroyed like New Orleans or parts of NY & NJ. 

When he says Jerusalem or Zion, he is talking to these beaten down people.  Later centuries church leaders began to make these words have two meanings, the city and us Christians.  Jerusalem, then, applies to us.

Sources: Good News Bible, The New Interpreter’s Bible

 

 

Does the Lord not shine on this little girl?

 

Upon you the Lord shines, because of 3 Magi

This morning I would like to propose that we have Magi in our lives and because of them the Lord shines on us, like it says in Isaiah.  

I want to limit the selection to 3, like the guys in Matthew’s story.  This was a bit difficult, because I see lots of Magi in my life.  Magi for me are the wise ones, the good ones, the compassionate ones.  I could start right here with you people in the community.  I could easily mention Rosemary. 

 

Ugh Oh, She has learned how to motor, like crawl.  Beware, Everybody.

 

However, I chose 3 guys who are not quite as present in my life, but are wise, good, and compassionate.  Here they are. 

The first guy is Harold.  I don’t even know his last name.  I do know that he is going to be 90 shortly.  I see him most mornings, Monday through Friday.  He is in the shower change room when I come into the J (Jewish Community Center) ca. 5:30 to do spin class. 

 

So, the questions is, 'Where is she going?  To help with the singing (see podiums) or to help with the Mass?"  Tune in next week for the answer.

 

He is quiet and understated.  Despite working out 5 days a week, he is pretty plump.  What he is, is friendly and congenial.  He knows Rosemary & I go dancing Monday nights.  He always asks if we are going and Tuesday he asks how dancing was. 

The second person is my old coach & Scout Master from Christ the King, Frank Hart.  Frank is 90.  Notice how these 90 year olds are getting my attention.  Rosemary & I visit Frank every Sunday after we leave Sigler.  He lives in a house with about 8 other elderly people, all of them women except Frank.   The house is on Northhaven near Hillcrest.

 

Emma and Zoe solving our world problems.

 

If I get to Frank before their lunch at 1:00, I usually find him in bed and asleep.  He has his clothes on.  He just sleeps a lot.  I wake him up and  despite his memory not being too good, he certainly remembers us and makes a big deal out of us coming by. 

Frank was one of the more significant persons in my life as a grade school kid.  He helped me get over being home sick when I went to Boy Scout camp, a story I've told here more than once. 

 

 Hi, Buddy, are you a frog today?

 

While Frank touched me when I was in grade school, the third guy touched me when he was in grade school and I was at Jesuit.  His mother came by one day with her son and basically said, “Help!”  This is Michael, about whom you have heard me talk before.

 

After doing a zillion Masses together at St. Marks in the cafetorium, an old friend, David has joined us in Sigler.  Welcome David!

 

Last Saturday he came by to visit Rosemary & me.  He has his gorgeous wife, Lydia, and now two neat kids, Barrett and Abby.  Michael is in the Air Force and I think the last time we met was in Aviano, Italy, when Beth & Rob were with us.  He flies these little F-16 jets.  

 

 

 

Genevieve, See these cool kids.  Someday you will grow up to be as marvelous as they.  The Gerwers.

 

Michael touches me because he overcame a number of blocks to, first, get into Jesuit, and then to have a great career at Tech after failing to get into A & M.  

 

Remember our old friendly venue, Vines?  With the Nativity drama and 300 folks, we will return to reminisce maybe twice a year.

 

What are the gifts they give me?  Wisdom, goodness, and compassion.  

Who are the 3 magi in your life & what gifts do they give you?

Readings:

Ezekiel  17,  22-24.  Nope, actually a change this Sunday to 1 Corinthians 13.  Bet you cannot guess which great passage this it.

Psalm 92,    Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.

2 Corinthians 5, 6-10,   We are always courageous.

Mark  4, 26-34,  On its own accord, the land yields fruit.

 

The Wedding in Mechanicsburg, PA with Sarah & Beth, and the United Church of Christ ministers, Karin and John.

 

Love is patient, Love is kind, Love is accepting

This morning I would like to talk about some things that struck me about the wedding we performed last week in Mechanicsburg, PA.  As I’ve mentioned, the wedding was between two women.

About 14 years ago I performed the wedding of Beth to a neat guy named Doug, a stocky Greek.  They had only been married 6 months when Doug died of a heart attack.  Beth is Rosemary’s niece, the daughter of Joe & Claire, who live in Hilton Head, where Rosemary & I love to go for Thanksgiving. 

 

                   The 3 Sisters, Rosemary, Patty, and Claire.
 

Beth decided to stay in the house she and Doug owned and stay in her job.  During the next few years she got involved with a very open United Church of Christ.  Sarah played the organ.  They got together and developed a warm friendship.  Eventually this lead to their marriage last Saturday. 

I don’t know how you all feel about same sex marriages.  I personally would have loved to sit down with Beth and have her tell me how it all came about, first marrying a guy, now marrying her best friend.  Whatever, I did not have the chance.  However, I am convinced from all my years of experience with gay people as a priest and a psychotherapist that no gay person really chooses this path.  I have worked with so many who agonized over coming out.  It involves hatred and abuse, even from family members.

 

 

Cupcake of The Week to Georgie for the do.  "I may tease you, Georgie, about the do, but I admire your spirit of exploration. Keep it up.  Keep dancing.  And keep swimming

 

The first thing that struck me at the wedding.  Did you recognize the 1 Corinthians passage?  I confess that after performing so many weddings where I heard the passage read, I eventually was put off by it.  Until a few years ago.  I suddenly realized it is helpful for me to be reminded of what love really is. 

At the wedding I heard Beth’s sister read the passage with such feeling and tears that I and lots more of the 200 more or less people there, we were all in tears.  Kristine herself took 30 minutes because she was in tears.   I was so touched and so struck.

 

                                                      What a team.

 

The second thing that struck me was the cordiality and warmth of the present pastor, John, and the previous interim pastor, Karin.  I thanked them and told them how I sensed a kinship of spirit among us. 

Karin was the one who suggested we go bare footed as a sign of respect for the sanctuary where we were performing the wedding.   It was a first for me.  Should I do the same here?

 

                  Zoe & Buddy say, "Hey, don't forget about us."

 

The final thing that struck me was the whole hearted acceptance of Beth on the part of, not only her parents, but all the McGinn Clan.  Rosemary had 3 brothers and two sisters.  One brother died a few years ago.  All these siblings have kids and all of them were there, most of them with their kids.  Their support was total. 

Kristine’s reading about love being patient & kind, the pastors John & Karin, and the total McGinn family acceptance of Beth.  A powerful, moving weekend. 

Where are you on the whole phenomenon of same sex marriages?

 

 

Sorry for the delay.  We thought we had sent this out. 

Welcome Home Special Sunday for Mary Ellen

Readings:

Acts 9,  26-31,  The Church was at peace.

Psalm 22,    I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.

1 John 3, 18-24,   Let us love not in word or speech, but in deed and truth.

 John  15, 1-8,  I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.  A metaphor, the vine and the branches.

 

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

Acts reminders:

Author: Luke, the same who wrote the gospel.  He was an educated, urbane Jew.

Date: the years 75-80 

Subject: This is a travel log, detailing the spread of Christianity from Jerusalem to Rome and the Mediterranean in between.

Today: Paul is the subject of this week's selection.  It describes how the community in Jerusalem was initially scared of Paul.

 

            Genevieve says, "Hello, Everybody, Nice to see you again.  I gained 1                             pound since last Sunday, now 7 pounds."

 

Love not in word or speech?

The line in today’s readings that caught my attention was in the letter from John.  Let us love not in word or speech, but in deed and truth.  I have no problem with showing love in deed.  But I have a problem with discounting the impact of words of appreciation and love. 

An example.

It was probably 1988-89.  My mom was still living in the house on Tulip Lane, where Rosemary & I now live.  My sister had not yet moved in to be with my mom.  I was just back from East Africa for about a year and a half.  I was living at Jesuit & working on Lemmon Avenue at the Pastoral Counseling Center.   My mom would die in 2-3 years.  

 

                    Our Candle Lighters, Emma and Genevieve.

My mom and I are in the car. I am driving.  Mom has an appointment at Dedman Hospital, LBJ around Marsh on the north side.   I don’t know what for, but she was going to spend a night or two.

I am driving west on LBJ.  At some point, my mom pats me on the right leg and says to me, “I’m proud of you.” 

 

                                    Sisters, Sienna and Brooklyn

 

Folks, I am about 48, almost 50 years old.  I have spent 30 years in the Jesuits living all over the place.  I have even just spent 10 years in East Africa and survived quite well.  That spoken compliment from my mom really moved me.  I can see the scene and feel the emotion just as strongly today as ever. 

Spoken compliments, spoken words of thanks, spoken “I love you’s” are so powerful.  They give life and they give inner peace. 

 

        Anybody around here have a Kentucky Derby Bonnet?  Harper says,                                     "Check out my Grandmother."

When was the last time you thanked somebody, complimented them, or told them you love them?

 

                             The Team, Mom (Michelle), Georgie, and Buddy.

Readings:

Isaiah 55, 10-12,   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…

Matthew 13, 1-23,  The parable of the sower.

 

Emma and her mom, Beth, say, "Welcome in, Everybody."

 

Isaiah, The Great One, observations—

Who:  One of the Big 3 prophets, the greatest in my estimation.  Jeremiah and Ezekiel are the other two.  Actually, the book includes the work of 3 prophets.   Our selection is the last chapter written by Isaiah 2.

Time:  Isaiah 2 was living during the Babylonian Captivity, ca. 555.  Isaiah 1 writes before the Captivity, maybe 150 years.  Isaiah 3 writes after the return to Jerusalem. 

Subject today: better times will come.  I am expanding today’s passage by a third line, because it is so good.

Isaiah 2 has some of the most beautiful passages, many of which are seen as foretelling the coming of the Savior.  His readings are used all through the Advent & Christmas readings, as well as in Lent.  Handel uses Isaiah 2 in his marvelous work, The Messiah.

Both the Isaiah reading and Psalm 65 are beautiful.

 

 

 

David and Donna, our hearts and our complete condolences go out to you on the loss of your 1 year old little Yorkie, Dixie Belle.  On a sunny morning this past week in the Canyon Creek neighborhood, David was taking his coffee on the patio of their fenced in back yard and Dixie was playing, when a bobcat climbed over the fence,  grabbed Dixie by the neck, and climbed back over the fence with her.   David, yelling, climbed over the fence in pursuit.  With the help of a neighbor Dixie was rescued.  But it was too late.  She died later that day.  A year ago February the same thing happened to another of their little Yorkies.  So sorry!

 

And My Seed Landed Where?

This morning I would like to talk about how Jesus is said to describe how the farmer’s seed is scattered on four different types of ground, the path, the rocks, the thorns, and the fertile.  Where did your seed fall?  Where did my seed fall?  I’m sure a lot of volunteers would be happy to let me know where my seed fell.

If you are a sinful gambler poker player you would look at this explanation and notice the bad odds, one out of four.  I would propose, however, that we all landed on fertile soil.  Let me offer some examples.

 

 

Hi, Tori.

 

I’ve shared this example once before, so you might remember it, but probably not.  

When I was a little kid about 5 years old, I was playing in the driveway of our house in University Park.  There were no fences and the drive went from the street, through the space between our house and the neighbor’s, and to the back up against the alley. 

The neighbor was Sam Berger, who owned a hat store in downtown Dallas.  He was Jewish and lived next to us all during the Holocaust.  I was oblivious to it all.  He & his wife had a big black lady who not only worked in the house, but lived in the back in an apartment attached to the garage, the servant quarters.  This black lady was not nice to me. 

 

 

Our Candle Lighter of The Week at work.

 

So this day as I am playing in the driveway, the lady steps out of the kitchen door & stands on the steps.  Without thinking, I say, “You are a big fat elephant.”

To the lady’s credit, she marches right across the drive and tells my mom.  My mom comes out of the house, drags me in, and spanks me.  Thinking back, I am impressed that my mom respected the lady.  The spanking, however, and her treatment of me confirmed my suspicions that my seed had fallen at least on the path or rocks, if not right on the thorns.   I definitely grew up with the belief that I was a bad kid. 

 

 

 

Best buddies, Mary, Judy, and Mike.

 

Despite the fact that you folks might agree with that assessment, I would propose that I was just a normal little boy doing silly things. 

This habit of doing silly, not bad things, can continue into adult years.  I know a guy who gets on his bike and rides off for an hour leaving the driver’s door of his car wide upon. 

 

 

The Best, Shonda and Ben

 

I know a lady who last week let her Lincoln run out of gas in rush hour traffic.  Her husband, a bit nettled, brought gas, but then could not start the car.  It had to be towed.

I know a dear friend who drove into her garage with a canoe strapped to the top of her car. 

 

 

Wake up, Buddy, we are almost through. 
 

 

You do this stuff and you begin to believe the bad news, ‘I am a loser, I am bad, my seed obviously landed in the ditch.” 

And then there are the malicious acts.  You know where I come in on this.  Kids hurt and abused grow up to hurt and abuse.  They are not bad.  They are damaged. 

So, who landed on fertile soil?  All of us.  God don’t make bad seed.

So, what do you think about all this?

 

 

 

Beware Angela!  Cathy may be treating you all nice, but she's probably trying to sell you that mint condition Edsel that her husband brought home.  I bet she told you Bill, your son in law would love it.

 

 

 

 

"Welcome in, Everybody," says our dear Michelle, The Great Mom.

 

 

Readings:

Isaiah 40, 1-5, 9-11,   Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God

Psalm 85,  Lord, let us see you kindness and grant us your salvation.

2 Peter 3, 8-14,  One day with the Lord is like a thousand years.

Mark, 1, 1-,  He will prepare your way.

 

Christmas Eve Mass, 12/24/17 at 4:00.

 

 

Our Dearest Candle Lighter, Emma, at work bringing us light.

 

Observations on Isaiah

Who: number 2 Isaiah, my favorite and a bringer of peace and consolation.  This is despite the fact that Isaiah 2 is composing during the time of the Babylonian Captivity.

If you are familiar with Handel’s Messiah, you will recognize lines he took directly from this passage.  

 

Watch out for a line in the letter of Peter, where God is compared to a thief who will come unexpectedly and send you to a bad place.

 

 

 

Thanks for the help with the Offertory, Teresa & Tom, and Leo in the back.

 

 

The Day of the Lord will come like a thief

In the spirit of Advent I want to tell you three stories about how the thief came to me in the past week.  This is my kind of thief, one who brings peace and consolation.

 

 

 

The Best Music with Shonda, Ben, & David.
 

 

 

There is a person who lives in a suburb not far from our community gathering place here at Sigler Elementary.  In this neighborhood the Dallas Morning News is delivered every morning at 6:10.  The paper is thrown into the lawn from a passing car or pick-up (not like in my days as a paper boy when I walked and took pride in placing the paper right at the front door).  In the neighborhood the first person to fetch the paper walks around and delivers everyone’s paper to their doorstep.  Pretty cool.

This past Friday morning this person was ready to do the paper delivery, stepped out, and behold, his paper had already been delivered by a neighbor.  This is getting merit by intention, an old Catholic grade school teaching of the Ursuline nuns.  The person?  Our Mike Carroll, a thief who regularly brings peace and consolation to all.

 

 

 

Communion ready, Claire & Sandra, Geri & Mike & Patricia.

 

 

 

The name of second thief is unknown.  Andy Sokolowski, one of our stalwart backpackers, told me this.  He & his wife were in their RV looking for a special park in Arizona.  They cannot find it, are sitting at the edge of the road looking at their map, and up comes a black guy who asks if they are lost. 

Yes!  The guy explains how to get to the park, which involves about half a dozen turns on little roads.  A couple of miles down their road, they are lost again. 

 

 

 

The real thieves at the Love for Kids picnic bringing peace and consolation.

 

 

But, behind them comes the thief bringing peace and consolation.  He offers to personally lead them to the park.  The thief of peace and consolation has struck again.

The third even took place yesterday, yes, the Great Love for Kids picnic at the large ranch west of Flower Mound.  The picnic invites kids from DISD and other school districts.  The schools are mostly from low income neighborhoods.

 

 

 

Those thieves were everywhere.   This young teacher is lacing up the shoe of one of her little charges.

 

Saturday 30 plus buses delivered a thousand pumped kids to a whole swarm of activities.  I watched those kids come into the big rectangular pavilion.  They were so excited.   Immediately they were welcomed with music and special middle school kids who sang and invited the kids to dance.  One the stage was even a Downs Syndrome girl who could really dance.

Waiting for them were bags of pop corn, kool-ade, face painting and tatoos, horse back rides, and  lunch.  Plus more music and dancing.  Every kid got a new winter coat and they were not all alike.  When the kids got back on their buses, guess what they found. A package of goodies had been put on every seat in every bus.

 

 

 

 

Welcome, All You Kids.

 

Who made this all possible and did all the work?  A whole big gang of volunteers , among them a big bunch from our community.  They struck again, those thieves of peace and consolation.

To whom are you a thief bringing peace and consolation?

 

 

These kids looked like middle school level, but could they all sing and dance, and get everyone else dancing.

 

 

 Readings:  

 Proverbs, 9, 1-6, Wisdom had built her house

 Psalm 34, Taste & See the Goodnesss of the Lord (2^nd week)

 Ephesians, Giving thanks always and for everything

 John, 6, 51-58,  I am the living bread that came down from heaven.

Proverbs:

What are they: a collection of moral & religious teachings in the form of pithy sayings.  For example: "Better to eat a dry crust of bread with peace of mind than to have a banquet in a house full of trouble" (17, 1); "Being cheerful always keeps you healthy" (17, 22).

Some a bit tough: "Don't hesitate to discipline a child.  A good beating won't kill him" (23, 12).

Some amusing: "A nagging wife is like water going drip-drip-drip" (27, 15); "Better to live on the roof than to share the house with a nagging wife" (25, 24). 

Author: Maybe Solomon is behind chapters 1-29.  Most likely a compilation.

Date: Ca. 300 BCE is considered a possibility with material coming from as far back as 900, during the time of Solomon.

Our Selection: Wisdom is personified and she is preparing a feast or banquet to which the simple people are invited.

Sources: Religious Information Service & Wikipedia

 

One year ago married, Katie Urbanczyk & Sean Baker

Taste & See the Goodness of the Lord, part 2

Our story this morning takes place some days ago at White Rock Lake.  It is early morning, sunrise.  Rosemary & I have been riding our bikes down the White Rock Creek Trail from Royal Lane. 

We cross Northwest Hwy. and begin circling the lake in a clockwise direction.  I get ahead of her & we plan on meeting at the far end of the lake, the south end, at a boat house for skinny boats used by college and high school crews. 

Somewhere along the path, Rosemary passes an elderly guy.  99% of the time both of us yell, “Passing on your left,” as we approach people.  This particular time Rosemary does not say anything.  Mistake.

The guy yells at her, “Why don’t you warn people when you are going by?” 

Rosemary responds, “Because you got those big ear phones on.”

To which he yells, “I can still hear.”

Sounded to me like a little road rage on the bike path.

I confess that I have been in that guy’s place.  I am usually passing people & saying, “On your left.”  I am so fast!

Occasionally some young guy in his designer, color coordinated outfit will zoom by me without a word.  This sometimes startles me despite my little rear view mirror on my helmet.  And I get annoyed.   So I say something like that man, or “Speak up.”

But every time I said something, I felt yucky.  Why?

Because I was no longer tasting the beauty of this jewel of a lake because I was emotionally hooked.

Also because I was no longer seeing the goodness of all the people walking, running, and riding around the lake with me.

Ultimately, I was not peaceful, which is one big reason why I am out there in the first place.

I talked about this with Rosemary and I decided I would not say anything anymore.  Let people be.  Surrender to the reality.  Accept.  And I have.  Mostly. 

The result. 

I consciously taste and see the beauty of the lake each morning we ride.  In fact, so as to counter my obsessive approach to speed and to take time to smell the flowers along the way, Rosemary & I stop at the bridges on both the north & south ends of the lake and just contemplate for 2-3 minutes. 

I also appreciate the people, saying good morning to people I am passing.  Bit by bit, some of the people I see regularly respond, bikers, walkers, and even joggers.   

Finally, I feel peaceful. 

Rosemary saw the same man again and this time warned him.  As she rode by he said, “Thanks for speaking.  You are one of about 5% of the bikers who warn people.”  Does not sound like he is more peaceful.

Do you have any road rage moments on your bike ride through the day that eliminate tasting & seeing the goodness?  What are you doing about it?