Readings:
Wisdom 9, 13-18, 28-29, Who can know God’s counsel?
Psalm 90, In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Philemon 1, 9-10, 12-17, I, Paul, an old man…
Luke 14, 25-33, If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother.
Sorry no Homily today.
We had a Communion Service and discussion of the readings today. Thanks to all who attended and contributed to our discussion.
A new community member? Almost like former times.
Readings:
Isaiah 7, 10-14, Ask for a sign from the Lord.
Psalm 24, Let the Lord enter, he is king of glory
Romans 1, 1-7, Grace to you and peace.
Matthew 1, 18-24, This how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
Buddy reading The Candle Blessing for the 4th Sunday.
Homily for December 22 by Mike
The Matthew and Luke gospels begin with what Biblical scholars call infancy narratives because the child Jesus is in both of them. You might remember from earlier homilies that the shepherds, who lived in the fields and who took turns watching over their flocks during the night, were a metaphor for the Lord’s apostles. The angel of the Lord, Mary, the manger, the flocks, the swaddling clothes, the birth place of Bethlehem, all these and many others are metaphors.
Our Sister Act lighting the 4 candles for the 4th week of Advent
It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that Mary has given birth in both the Matthew and Luke gospels; but not to a child. She has given birth to the written Good News of Jesus Christ. It is there that Mary’s wildest dreams are fulfilled…and ours, too.
Mike sharing his homily ideas.
The Prophet Isaiah has been in anticipation of the written Good news all through Advent. Today he identifies Christ as Emmanuel, “God is with us.” Recall that in the Luke gospel Isaiah identifies the Lord’s journey with us this way: The spirit of the Lord has anointed us to take the Good News to the poor, to proclaim liberty to the captive, to give sight to the blind, to set the downtrodden free, and to proclaim this year to be the Lord’s year of favor.
Thanks to all of you.
Readings: Wisdom 6, 12-16, Resplendent and unfading is wisdom; Psalm 63, My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord My God; 1 Thessalonians 4, 13-18, Console one another; Matthew 25, 1-13, The 10 virgins at the wedding.
The first reading (Wisdom 6:12-16) informs us that when we lovingly yearn for and seek God’s wisdom we will not be disappointed. This reading is an expectation for the good news of Jesus Christ that we will receive today.
(prior to reading the gospel)
Picture the following plausible scenario: A father and mother determined two years earlier that their first son was in need of a wife, and they have been following closely the daughters that have come of age in their extended family when they gather in Jerusalem for the feasts each year. Together they have chosen one. The father sends a warm message to the girl’s father, who he knows relatively well, and asks the price he has in mind for his daughter. They agree on one and set a date for the betrothal.
The father and his son arrive and are greeted warmly by her father. In front of the young couple, who have probably never had a conversation with each other, the fathers play their game of coming to the previously agree price—ten cows and a barrel of good wine, some of which the two fathers are now drinking.
Once the contract is signed they hand the groom a cup of wine taken specifically from the bottom of the wine the fathers have been drinking. It contains the particles that have settled…from the bitter skin of the grape. The groom takes a drink from the top of the cup and hands the cup to the young woman. She has practiced what she now does. She downs the rest of the cup as a sign that she agrees to be his wife in good times and in bitter times.
The groom now returns to prepare a place for her. Meanwhile the girl’s bridesmaids prepare her to be ready for his coming. When they hear the cry that he is coming, they go out to meet him with the bride and her belongings and are led to his father’s house.
(the gospel reading from Matthew 25:1-3)
Chapter 25 is formed from three parables. This is the first. Their purpose is to give meaning to a teaching that ends Chapter 24 where Christ is teaching that his servants that he has put over other servants have the responsibility to remain wise (righteous) by always being alert to his words. Each of the three parables gives a different facet of what this means. Since we are told again in this parable that Christ is the bridegroom. We are the bride, for which he paid a great price. His servants have the responsibility to prepare us for Christ’s coming by word and example.
The dilemma of this parable is that only the wise have taken oil for their lamps. The wisdom of the parable is that only those who are prepared for Christ’s coming have entered the wedding banquet. Very briefly, why does the Lord say that he does not know the foolish (unrighteous) bridesmaids who have arrived to the wedding banquet after the door was closed? In the third parable we are told that the Lord has divided humanity into two groups, the lambs and the goats, the foolish and the wise, those who have lived Christ’s words and those who haven’t.
The lambs (those who hear his words and follow them) are the wise who are prepared for his coming. He says to them, ‘I was hungry and thirsty, and you gave me food and drink. I was alone, sick and in prison and you came to visit me.’ And the wise will say, ‘When did we see you hungry and thirsty and fed you, or alone, sick and in prison and visited you.’ The Lord said to them, ‘Whenever you did this to the least among you, you did it to me.’
Of course he says to the foolish, ‘Whenever you did not care for the least among you, you did not care for me.’ (Symbolically: ‘You don’t know me, so how can I know you?’) The oil possessed by the wise symbolizes the presence of the Spirit that enlightens the wise, ‘to love one another as Christ loves them.’
So today, appropriately, we will be anointing the child of Erin and Payton twice during the baptism ritual with the oils of the Church praying that the Spirit always abides with her. And I now invite them to bring this child forward with Godparents and other family to stand before the community with their request.
Mike:
Erin and Payton, what name have you given to this Child? (Brooklyn)
What do you ask this community for Brooklyn? (To have her baptized)
You have asked to have your child baptized. In doing so you are accepting the responsibility to bring her up by word and example to live the perfect commandment, ‘To love one another as Christ loves us.’ Therefore, will you accept the responsibility to be one of the wise bridesmaids in today’s gospel reading. (Yes)
Likewise, (Godparents) __________ and __________, will you by word and example give witness to your faith in Christ? (Yes)
Brooklyn, the Christian community welcomes you with great joy. In its name I claim you for Christ our Lord by the sign of the cross. (+) I now trace this cross on Brooklyn’s forehead and invite the parents and Godparents to do the same.
John:
Brooklyn, we anoint you with the oil of salvation in the name of Christ our Savior, may he strengthen you with his power, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. (+ with oil on the bare chest)
(+ bless the water) We ask you Father, with your Son, to send the Holy Spirit upon this water. As you are buried with Christ in the death of baptism, rise also with him to newness of life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
(address the community) Let us stand and join with the parents and Godparents in the profession of faith of the Apostles Creed on page 81 of the missal.)
Erin and Payton, is it your will that Brooklyn be baptized in the faith of the Church which we have professed with you? (yes)
(baptize the child) Brooklyn, I baptize you….
(Lead the community in applause)
Mike: Have parents and Godparents return to their seats
After the Great Amen
Mike: I want to invite the parents to bring the newly baptized Brooklyn before us before we say the Lord’s prayer together.
Brooklyn, you are now anointed with the chrism of salvation (+ crown of the head) to be priest, prophet and king.
(have a Godparent place the garment over her) You have clothed yourself in Christ. See in this white garment the sign of your Christian dignity. With family, Godparents, and friends bring that dignity unstained to everlasting life.
(have a God parent light the candle from the candle lit on the altar) Brooklyn, receive the light of Christ. Parents and Godparents, this candle is entrusted to you to keep burning brightly. See to it by word and example that she walks always as a child of the light.
John: Invite them to join hands and join with the community in the Lord’s Prayer.
Mike: Send them back to their seats during the Sign of Peace
Picture 1: Leo with his momma, Shonda, Bethany, & Ben
Picture 2: Mike offering the homily
Picture 3: Brooklyn
Picture 4: Baptism of Brooklyn
Picture 5: Baptism with Mike
Picture 6: Sienna with Brian
Readings:
2 Kings 4, 42-44, “They not only ate, but had leftovers.”
Psalm 145, The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
Ephesians 4, 1-6, “Pour yourselves out in acts of love; and be quick to mend fences.”
Alleluia – “A great prophet has risen in our midst.”
John 6:1-15 (also in Matt 14:13-21, Mark 6:31-44, Luke 9:10-17) – “Jesus took the bread, and having given thanks, gave it to them.”
Genevieve says, "Hi, Everybody, Welcome."
Introduction to the readings:
The Jewish people wanted to have a king like other nations had. Wasn’t God’s idea; the people kept demanding a king; he let them have a king. The idea was that the kings, starting with Solomon, would represent the sovereignty of God by being good kings.
For 500 years there were 40 or so kings, and of course they were mostly rather pitiful, a few were pretty good. Today’s reading is from the second book of kings, so during the time when kings ruled the Jewish people, starting with Saul about 1000 years before Jesus, and ending about 500 years later with the Babylonian captivity (555).
Leo & Shonda, too, say, "Good Morning, Folks, Welcome."
There were prophets and holy men before there were kings. They are the ones who kept tabs on the kings and represented God’s take on issues.
Today’s reading introduces Elisha, a holy man respected by Joram, king of Israel and Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. This little story of Elisha feeding a crowd of 100 with 20 loaves of bread was chosen to connect with the story of the multiplication of loaves in the today’s Gospel story. And the letter to the Ephesians teaches what sharing in the meal should signify and bring about in one’s behavior.
Emma, too, says that she and her buddy welcome everyone.
HOMILY:
We have heard many times the reading about the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and the fish. This is the only miracle story repeated in all four Gospels.
How appropriate that feeding those needing food was the best miracle story known; it could be told today with equal impact. I forget the stats, but it’s millions of people, including children, who are hungry every day and without food (who knows the number or percent).
Harper says she thinks it is fun being here.
Also in each of these four repetitions of the story, there is a formula or ritual stated: “Jesus raised his face to heaven in prayer, blessed, broke, and gave the bread to his disciples.”
So first, the story is a story about Jesus performing a miracle, which is how writers in those days made someone ‘famously big’ or a ‘god to be reckoned with’.
Secondly, this story was well known, since all four Gospel writers or compilers used it.
And thirdly, one line in the story became part of the shared meal starting with early Christians all the way down to today.
Victoria having just too much fun with her mom.
The reading from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, liturgically, seems to teach what flows from sharing in this ritual meal. And his answer is unity, recognizing that we are called to be one body, united in love. Paul describes our call from God as pouring yourself out for each other in acts of love, accepting other’s differences and being quick to forgive.
Three questions to mull over:
In your family (at home, here, friends group) how do you see acts of love being shared, and differences accepted?
How quick are you to mend fences and forgive one another?
Do you make the connection between sharing bread here at Mass, and experiencing connection and oneness with others in your everyday life?
Genevieve, who has learned already from previous Sundays how to turn it off, says, "Wake me up when the fun begins."
Readings: Isaiah 25, 6-10 (fun reading about the next life); Psalm 23, I shall live in the House of the Lord all the days of my life (Psalm of consolation); Philippians 4, 12-20; Matthew 22, 1-14, The king throws a wedding feast.
Isaiah: This is Isaiah I, a great reading.
Psalm 23:
Number of Psalms: There are 150 psalms, which are religious songs.
Authorship: Jews, Muslims and Christians for centuries considered King David to be the author. 73 psalms use his name. Today, however, scripture scholars know numerous authors composed the psalms and they were passed down ca. 500 years in an oral, sung form before they began to be written down ca. 600 B.C.E. King David lived ca. 1000 B.C.E.
Life is a Banquet
I had a Jesuit friend named Tom Barbarito who was in the class behind me. Italian. About 5 feet 5, like 5 by 5. Quite rotund in his early years. No way athletic. In fact would shudder at the prospect of exercise or physical work. Intelligent and very amusing mostly at his own expense. He was pastor of St. Rita for many years.
Our selection from Isaiah 1 about the banquet was his favorite reading of all time. He loved to eat. We used to have what were called first class feasts in the early years of my Jesuit life. These were special meals on Christmas, Easter, and church holidays. The meals were excellent Cajun cuisine put together by our cajun cooks from southwest LA, Opelousas & Lafayette. And Tom was from New Orleans, as were many in the classes those days. We got to talk in the refectory on the occasion of these meals, all 150 of us.
I can still picture Tom squaring off for one of these meals, his white cloth napkin tucked into the collar of his cassock European style, getting elbow room, and proclaiming that he was ready. He used to declare that he could not wait for the heavenly banquet referred to here in Isaiah. Today Tom is enjoying that banquet because he died maybe ten years ago with a brain tumor. And he died skinny, so he now may eat all his favorite foods without guilt.
I think of Tom whenever this reading comes up. Our readings today are so Tom Barbarito, eating, feasting, enjoying the cup running over. Besides that, we got the king throwing a wedding banquet and getting mad because the invited did not come. Then one guy gets kicked out for not having a wedding garment on. What is going on? Three observations.
First, remember for whom Matthew is writing. He has an agenda when he puts parables into his work. Initially he writes to warn the Jewish people about how they are losing it in not recognizing Jesus. But equally he is addressing the Gentiles, letting them know that Jesus welcomes them also.
As in all parables, check out the symbolism of the gospel. Obviously the king is Yahweh. Who else? Who are the invited to the wedding feast? The Jews? Who are the good & bad street people?
Second observation, we are invited. There is a banquet out there, a feast on a mountain top, a feast of rich food and choice wine. Tex Mex & Blue Bell? We are invited, despite the fact that we are the street people. In fact, I would propose that we are all street people, bad and good, Gentile and Jew.
The third observation is that the banquet on the mountain top, the marriage feast is taking place today. I can be tempted to think the feast takes place in the next life. In fact, I think a lot of poor people and slaves were fed this nonsense so they would not try to fight back against oppression. Everyday is a banquet.
A final post script: what about the poor guy without the wedding garment? He gets treated pretty harshly, especially so after the king invites all the street people in, both good and bad.
To attempt an understanding, I think we go back to the symbolism which is the currency of parables. What could he symbolize? What is the wedding garment symbolizing? Gratitude? Or cynicism? Maybe he was not grateful, but was critical and cynical, thinking he was entitled to all this, the attitude that seems to be so prevalent in our contemporary culture. Consequently, the man was not thrown out. His ingratitude never allows him in. We can be the man without the wedding garment.
My friend Tom Barberito I am sure is enjoying his wedding banquet in the next life. We are invited to enjoy the banquet today with gratitude.
On the 1 to 10 scale, where is your gratitude, where is your cynicism?
Picture 1: Mass begins
Picture 2: Lorynne & Lacee with their grandmother, Marilyn
Picture 3: Sienna
Picture 4: Robyn & Erin
Picture 5: Wendy
Picture 6: Jean & Jack, Wendy's parents
Guess who is saying, "Welcome in, Everybody." Would you believe, Zoe & Tori & Harper.
Readings:
Deuteronomy 8, 2-3, 14-16, Do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.
Psalm 147, Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
1 Corinthians 10, 16-17, We, though many, are one body.
John 6, 51-58, Eucharist
Likewise, Kevin is ready and says, "Come in, Folks."
Father’s Day History:
Four steps:
Even Buddy, roped up and ready to go says, "Hi, Everybody."
Father’s Day
This morning I would like to talk about Father’s Day, especially from the perspective of one of those special events that happens every now and then. One of those events took place last night.
What happened was that a class I had been a part of at Jesuit as a teacher had a 50th class reunion at one of the guy’s houses. About 4 other teachers were invited, one of which was a Jesuit friend who likewise had departed and married 37 years ago, as he told Rosemary & me.
Hi, Cody, Hi, Ben. Great to see you, as always.
I loved these guys and I was doubly touched because one of the guys that organized the reunion and who personally invited me was a guy named Frank Hart. I have been like part of his family since I was in 7th & 8th grade at Christ the King.
I have mentioned often enough how Frank Sr. was such a positive influence in my last two years at Christ the King, like ’52, ’53, & ’54. He was not just a coach, teacher, and Scout Master. He was a second father.
Here they are, Everybody, Ben's beautiful family, Jack, Sophia, and Camille.
Frank is still alive and Friday afternoons I visit him at a convalescent home where he is just waiting to move to the other side. He sleeps mostly and does not even know me.
Some of you may remember when we planted trees on Marsh Lane from Northwest Hwy. to LBJ, Frank Sr. had a restaurant and invited the whole team to eat at his place after the planting, free.
Would you buy a used car from either of these two characters, Sir Charlie & Gilberto? Like, how about an Edsel? Mint condition?
Some of you also may remember when we finished tree planting on numerous other streets the next few years, the picnic was always catered by a restaurant called Back Country Bar-B-Que. That was Frank, Jr. the son and the former student who invited me & Rosemary to the reunion. 20 years ago or more I performed the marriage between Frank and his wife, Martha.
Just to show those kids I am still an idiot, I had to borrow 5 bucks from Frank to pay the valet parking. We were at the home of Mike McKool, 5 minutes from our house, and neither Rosemary nor I took any money.
Shonda & Ben bringing The Magic.
Rosemary & I heard lots of personal stories. One kid’s experiences in Viet Nam really touched me.
I am not a real father. But I have had the privilege of being nurtured by some good fathers and have tried to nurture some other young guys. Last night some of those once young boys really touched me.
How have you been nurtured by the father figures in your life?
And how have you passed on the nurturing?
Says Sandra, "Happy Father's Day all you guys."
Readings:
Isaiah 55, 1-11, All you who are thirsty, come to the water.
Psalm, Isaiah 12, You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
1 John 5, 1-9, Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God.
Mark 1, 7-11, The baptism of Jesus.
Isaiah observations:
Who: Can you guess, Isaiah 1, 2, or 3. Actually, we have two selections from Isaiah, Isaiah 12 for the psalm and Isaiah 55. Isaiah 12 is easy. That is first Isaiah. Isaiah 55 is in the middle of all the 66 chapters, and, yes, it is second Isaiah. They write before and during the Babylonian Captivity. Both passages are comfort passages.
Today’s passages: despite the different time each writer wrote, both are trying to encourage the people and let them know that their God is with them. The first reading, Isaiah 55, is especially rich. It contains beautiful images of food and drink, rain and snow on the earth.
You are Beloved
Yesterday afternoon Rosemary and I had the privilege and the joy of baptizing a little 5 month old girl. Her name is Renee Elisabeth. She is the daughter & second child of Colleen and Carl Huval. Colleen is the daughter of our John and Jean O’Donnell.
I love baptisms and when I can and the little kid permits it, I love to carry her or him around and talk. Renee Elisabeth was so peaceful and accepting. At Saint Marks I used to pick these little kids up at the beginning of Mass and I would introduce them and have them welcome everyone.
One Sunday I did this in the main church at the 9:00 Mass. I had the little boy in my arms for maybe 10 minutes and gave him back to his momma. After the Mass I am outside saying good-bye to everybody and I noticed I had a sour smell about me. That little boy had barfed on my left shoulder and nobody told me. I had to laugh and I really gave it to those people the next week for not telling me.
When I did Renee Elisabeth’s baptism yesterday I did the two things I love to do. First, I invite people to discuss when they last saw God and also where do they most find the presence and peace of God. This brings in some really nice answers. Of course, Renee Elisabeth was the place where many said they saw God.
After the baptism I like to talk with the little kids. I told Renee Elisabeth that this baptism was her official welcome into the marvel of her new life. And I told her that I had three things I wanted her to remember.
First, I want you to know, Renee, that you are like Mark says about Jesus, You are my Beloved. In fact, you are beloved, you are beautiful, you are good, and you are perfect just as you are.
Secondly, you are being officially welcomed into a marvelous family that also thinks you are beautiful, good, perfect, and beloved.
Thirdly, you are being officially welcomed into a marvelous community (your numerous grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, at least), who also hold you dear, consider you beautiful and perfect. She seemed to accept this.
One of the reasons I love to have our kids present with us at Mass is that they may know that they are part of us, that we appreciate them, and that we and God loves them.
People have told me that their kids see me in the white robes and they think this creature is God. When I was a little boy I probably thought the same thing, but that god figure did not like little boys, or at least me, and instilled in me a belief that I was bad.
This is why I will always welcome our kids. I want them to know that God loves them, that they are good and beloved.
Of course, I have tried to inform Rosemary that God does not do yard work and does not do dishes. No luck with that. In fact, God received for Christmas a new vacuum cleaner. God had worn out the old one.
How do you know that you are beloved? Blessed?