Sunday Homily, February 17, 2013, 1st Lent C

Emma lighting the candles.

 

Readings:  

 Jeremiah 23, 1-6,  Woe to the shepherds who mislead the flock.

 Psalm 23,   The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.   (a good one!)

 Ephesians 2, 13-18, He is our peace.

Mark 6, 30-34,  They were like sheep without a shepherd.

 

The Offertory with Cindy, Bill and Marlene.

 

 

Homily:

 

I was asked by my older brother’s extended family to lead them in a Memorial Service at the National Cemetery in Keokuk, Iowa this past week.   It was special; binding us together from coast to coast.

                                                                          

John at the Consecration.

 

In last Sunday’s gospel reading, when Jesus gave his apostles power over unclean spirits, he sent them forth. They were to stay with those who welcomed the Good News, preaching to them to repent and receive the Holy Spirit.  Those who chose to be led by the Holy Spirit were anointed with oil receiving forgiveness from their transgressions.

 

The Eucharistic Ministers, Patricia, Jan, Claire, Lynda, Tom and Geri.

 

Recall that the twelve were told to take nothing with them on their journey, except for one thing. Do you remember what it was? I propose to you that it was obviously a tradition of the Early Church which still exists. For example, if our Bishop Edward Burns would have come to our community, this morning, his purpose would have been made known to us by the fact that he carried a staff on his journey here; It signified that he came as the Good Shepherd, who would spread this table before us, with the fish and bread, the Liturgy of Word and Eucharist.  

                                                                                                                            

Mike sharing his Homily with us.

 

At the end of the celebration, he would have also anointed each of us with oil, to become Christ in the world, to be the Anointed One, who not only receives; but bestows spiritual healing, to those in need. The spiritual health we grant to one another with the anointing at the end of Mass engenders a faith to be healed not only spiritually but physically, too.

                                                                                                                   

Communion.

 

I encourage you to take a few minutes to read and think about the very short story between last week’s reading from the Mark Gospel and this week’s reading.  The story gives an example of the worldly power that made John the Baptist collateral damage.

                                                                                                                                       

 

 

 

The Our Father.

Community Finances:   

  Expenses: $   805.00

  Outreach: $  

 

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

 

Rosemary's Blessing:

Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.

Mother Teresa

 

 

 

 

 

 

Says Our Dearest Tori, "Welcome, Everybody."

 

 

Readings:  

 Amos 7, 12-15,  The Lord said to me,”Go, prophesy.”

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

 Ephesians 1, 3-14, In love he destined us for adoption to himself.

Mark 6, 7-13, Jesus sent them out two by two. 

 

 

 

 

 

They are back, Folks, Shonda & Ben.  So good to have you both with us like usual.  Thanks, David, for carrying the load often.

 

 

Amos  observations:

Author: Amos or his scribe.  He was a shepherd of sheep & tended sycamore trees.  One of the 12 minor prophets of the OT, minor because of smallness of the works.  Amos has only 9 chapters.  Usual pattern of prophets: 1. predictions of dire times for evil behavior; 2. predictions of better times in the future. 

Date: Ca. 777 (a memory help), after the kingships of David & Solomon, time of King Jeroboam of the northern kingdom, called Israel vs the southern kingdom, called Judah (where Jerusalem is).   The northern half of the state is still undefeated.

         

 

 

Time for thanks to our God.

                

Geography: Note the two kingdoms, Judah in the south, Israel in the north.  Amos tended sheep in a little town called Tekoa, 10 miles south of Jerusalem, in Judah, the south.  He is sent by Yahweh to Bethel, a small but important town in the northern kingdom, 10 miles north of Jerusalem, to warn the people of Israel & their king Jeroboam that Yahweh was mad at them.  The wicked high priest of Bethel, Amaziah condemns Amos for his interference.

 

 

 

 

Who let all these crazy people in??

 

 

The Setting: a time of prosperity.  But Yahweh is mad at the greed of the wealthy and their oppression of the poor (which ties into our gospel talking about walking lightly through life).  We know the people of this kingdom of Israel are headed for annihilation by the Assyrian nation.  And they will disappear as a significant body.  

Our Selection, chapter 7:  Amos describes three visions or dreams he has had.  Amaziah, the priest, gives it to him for spreading these visions around.  Then, Amos responds and socks it to Amaziah with a hammer.

 

 

 

 

Emma doing her magic with our candles.

 

 

Take Nothing for the Journey

I apologize this morning for telling you a story that some of you will probably remember.  However, the event so speaks to the gospel this morning that I can not pass it up.  Another African story.

One evening in Tanzania I boarded an overnight train in Dar es Salaam, the capital.  I would get off the next morning in the region near Kilimajaro where there was a Jesuit house that I used as a base when I was not on the road giving seminars or retreats. 

 

 

 

Thanks for bringing up our gifts, Kevin, Connie, & John. 

 

 

I had bought my ticket just the afternoon of the trip.  No compartments were available, which were not much anyway.  Two shared the compartment and an upper bunk came down.  You had to be careful in the little stations, because thieves would look in the window and grab.  So, no big loss.

I had to take general booking.  This entitled me to a place on the train, not necessarily a seat.  It is not air conditioned and can be a bit warm. 

I started out sitting on a suitcase I traveled with.  There were mothers with little kids and a few chickens all around my area at the end of one train car.   I expected it would be a long night, but I would get where I wanted to go and then sleep extra.

 

 

 

Cody & Ben, you are having too much fun.

 

 

About midnight the train stopped, like in the middle of nowhere.  We sit there.  No explanation, nothing.   I finally join others getting off.  I lie down on the rocks on the edge of the track, my case under my head so no one would snatch it, and wait.  And wait.  We sit there with no explanation until about 7:00 the next evening. 

Just like Mark recommends in the gospel today, I had boarded that train with nothing to drink or eat.  Looking back, I cannot believe I was so stupid.  Normally I would never have set out without water. 

 

 

 

 

 Communion for Bill.

 

Why did I not ask the Tanzanian ladies for a drink?  I could easily talk Swahili with them.  Trouble was, they did not often purify their water and I was afraid of it.   So there I sat, now in the shade.  I look around.  Everyone on that train is Tanzanian.  I am the only white guy, which I am at home with.

Suddenly I see up the track maybe 4 or 5 cars ahead of me a white couple.  They must have extra water.  Hooray.  They are Germans, but speak English with no problem.

We hang out.  They saved me, and let me tell you a quickie about how I saved them.

 

 

 

Communion for Dee & Ray.

 

 

We were  seated in the shade of a Frangipani tree I can still clearly remember.  All the passengers were seated along the train in the shade.  Next to us was a momma with her baby.  At one point the momma gets up and goes into the train leaving her baby in the shade on a small blanket.

The German guy who was about 6, 4 gets up and takes a picture of the baby.  Bad move.  Someone on the train sees him, tells the momma, she tells her husband, and he comes out yelling with a bunch of people.  He wants the camera.  He wants to take the German to the police, wherever that might be.

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome back, Sophie, so nice to see you with us.

 

 

So, I stepped in.  We all sat down under the trees and I talked.   I finally got the father to allow the German to go to his compartment, cut off the baby’s picture, and give it to the man.  

He cuts off  the end of the film, brings it back, and gives it to the man.  It is black, of course, and the man is angry again. 

I explain how all the film is black until it is developed.  The crisis comes to an end. 

 

 

 

 

So good to see you, too, Dear Leo.

 

I ended up climbing Kilimanjaro with the couple, which ended up being amusing.  He was an Alpine Mountain rescue expert, like a 4 on a 5 scale.  He could crawl across your ceiling holding on with his fingernails.  When we got to the top of Kilimanjaro he got altitude sickness and I carried his back pack.  Of course, I teased him mercilessly. 

I never saw them again, although they were begging me to come to Germany on one of my homeward trips.  I wanted to see the Berlin wall and never did.  She was East German, he West.

 

 

 

Hang in there, Buddy, we are almost up to Cupcake Time.

 

 

The story simply tries to show how literal reading of the Bible can get you into bad places. 

What  would you suggest is a positive in this story about traveling with nothing? Could this be what Francis is emphasizing when he talks about Less is Better?  Consumerism?

How is Less Better for you?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Community Finances:   

  Expenses: $  80.00

  Outreach: $   00.00

 

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

 

Richard

 

Kevin

 

Exodus 12:  The Lord said to Moses, "Go down at once to your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, for they have become depraved".

1 Timothy 1:  Indeed the grace of our Lord has been abundant, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Luke 15:  My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours.  But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.

 

 

Ormand Beach, Florida

 

 

Music,    Ben & Shonda

Readers,  Connie & John 

Gospel,   John Cade

Homily,  John Stack

Eucharistic Prayer A & B,  John Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,      Hue & Richard & Kevin

Final Blessing, Rosemary

         

Starting Sunday, September 18th, we will be meeting at:

Art Centre of Plano

902 E. 16th St, Plano

             

 Please use the Haggard Park side entrance.

 

 

 

Ormand Beach, Florida
                 

                

Readings:  Download 09-11-22- Readings – 24th Sunday Ord

Notes for the Homily:  Download 09-11-22- Notes- 24th Sunday Ord

   

 

 

 

Remember these special people:

For Jan; For Sandra who has been diagnosed with Large B Cell Lymphoma;   For Lambrini, John Cade's wife, who is dealing with cancer and Kaliope, John Cade's Mother-in-law;  For Donna and the Dinsmore Family after her brother, Dennis died  from pancreatic cancer;   For Hue; For Jackie;  For John's sister, Kathey recovering from a fall;    For Tom Good;  For a young man, 19 struggling with a brain tumor and cancer;     For Mary Hall's friend Cadence still suffering from a serious medical condition;   For Sir Charlie & Jan; 

 

                           

Mediterranean Sea

 

Jackie's mom, sister, & friend, Lynn;  For Rick Turner searching for a kidney donor, Type O neg.;   For Jean & Cliff Wright;  For Dee, and for her daughters, Lisa & Lauren;     For a young man who is suffering from depression;  John Cade's daughter, Joey, with cancer; from Barbara, a little baby boy named Ford recuperating from an operation & friends, Annie, a mom of 3 kids and Michael ;    for the medical staffs, teachers, and coaches in our public & private schools.

 

 

Mediterranean Sea

   

Birthdays:   Warren Wittek 9/12

Anniversaries:   Mike & Geri Moran 9/12

      

Community Finances:   

Expenses: $   

Outreach: $   

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

                 

Mediterranean Sea

 

 

Rosemary's Blessing:  

May those that love us, love us. And those that don't love us,

May God turn their hearts.  And if He doesn't turn their hearts,

May He turn their ankles, so we will know them by their limping.

 

An Irish Blessing