Sunday Homily, July 15, 2012, 15th Ordinary Time B

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

Isaiah 11 observations:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Beautiful Dreams Can Happen

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Picture 1:   Hunter lighting the candles

Picture 2:   Mass begins

Picture 3:   Mary & Frank with the offertory

Picture 4:   C C at the donut shoppe

Readings: Acts 5, 27-41; Psalm 30; Revelation 5, 11-14; John 21, 1-19

Acts of the Apostles

This book continues Luke’s gospel, this time describing the early Christian community.

Revelations

More revelations about end times and heavenly events.

Do You Love Me X 3

How many here love chocolate chip cookies?

How many here love their dog or cat?

How many here love Rosemary?

Notice the different meanings of the same word "love." In the early language in which this section of John was written two words are used for "love." You can see that in English we often use "love" when we really mean "like." I like chocolate chip cookies, but I love Rosemary.

Watch how the meaning changes and becomes much more subtle when you distinguish the word. In the early language the word for "love" was "agapo." A second word was "phileo," and it meant "care for" or "hold you very special."

Here we go. First, Jesus says, "Do you love me more than these." He uses "agapo." Peter responds, "You know that I love you." Guess which word Peter uses. Not "agapo," meaning "love," but phileo, meaning "hold you special" or "care for."

Secondly, Jesus asks again, "Do you love me," and uses "agapo." Note he does not repeat "more than these." Peter repeats his first statement, "You know that I love you." Again he uses the word "phileo," I "care for you."

Now the third time takes place, and in English Jesus simply asks "Do you love me," but guess what. He uses "phileo" this time, "Do you care for me?" What does Peter respond? Same as the first two times, "I care for you," though this is not distinguished in the English translation.

Big difference, no? A fascinating play on words English totally misses. What is going on? A simplistic idea is that Peter denied Jesus three times. So here he is challenged to affirm Jesus three times. However, why the play on the word love?

1. Can Peter be showing a new side, a more humble side?
2. Is Jesus showing that he accepts Peter just as he is, saint as well as sinner?
3. Could this be consoling for us who fall like Peter?
4. How are we like Peter?

Click here to download the audio.

Readings: Genesis 2, 7-9, 3, 1-7; Psalm 51; Romans 5, 12-19; Matthew 4, 1-11.

Genesis: The great book: supposedly put together by Moses some 1500 years B.C.  The title means "origin." It is the first book of the bible, the first of the five first books that make up the Pentateuch, a Greek word, or Torah, for the Jews.  It covers ca. 2000 years of history and has 5 main characters: Adam (& family), Noah, Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob.

Today’s delightful little story tries to explain in simple terms how bad came into our world.  Guess how: it is the woman’s fault.  Could a man have put this little myth-story together?  A woman?  I invite you to read the book of Genesis.  It is fascinating.  Remember that it is myth, not literal.  Like, notice how many creation stories are presented.

No Perfect Marriages, only Perfect Moments

Last week we talked about the first of the Seven Secrets of Marriage, namely Divorce, Never, Murder, Always.  Meaning you can threaten your spouse with murder, which is play, but divorce is a non-negotiable with the exception of the three "A’s."  Remember the "A’s?"  Abuse, addiction, & adultery. 

This morning I would like to talk about this: No Perfect Marriages, only Perfect Moments.  Four observations. 

First, from childhood I think we all come to understand that there are no perfect marriages, while at the same time romantic movies, TV, and novels snooker us into false expectation.  Like,"When I find the perfect person, I will live happily ever after…"  False.  There can be, however, healthy marriages.  To have a healthy marriage, perfect moments are needed. 

Secondly, what are perfect moments?  Being a novice, I don’t always know, but I would suggest that when I have a perfect moment I have two feelings: peace in my spirit and affection for my spouse.

Some years ago a woman who was dear to me and who has passed away very unexpectedly described to me a set of her perfect moments.  Every night she & her husband would go to bed 15 minutes early and wake up 15 minutes early in the morning.  During the 15 minutes they would cuddle.  They would talk. They would ask each other about the day they just finished or the day ahead.  Any fears, any blessings, anything touch you, how are we doing, what next, and so forth.   It was her morning & evening perfect moment.

I wanted to do the same thing when Rosemary & I got married.  But, seeing as I started a little late and my shoulders and hips don’t have the flexibility to cuddle like I wished, Rosemary & I have a stand up hug every night before climbing into bed together, which is also one of my daily perfect moments.  We hold onto each other standing there in the dark and count our blessings of the day.

We had a number of perfect moments this past Christmas in Mexico, like taking out to lunch Maria Luisa & her daughter Karina, probably the first time they have eaten in a restaurant in maybe years. 

Another: our anniversary party every Cinco de Mayo, May 3 this year.  And dancing.  When we are on, it is perfect.

A third observation: perfect moments can happen.  They can also be set up to happen.  Some need to be set up.  Like Cinco de Mayo, like dancing, like cuddling in bed or hugging.  In other words, they take planning and discussion.  They are worth it.

A final observation: you can substitute the word "friendships" for "marriages."  Perfect moments can take place with friendships just as much as with marriages.  Like marriages, they also involve planning and effort.  There are no perfect marriages and no perfect friendships.  Only perfect moments.

What & when was you last Perfect Moment?  Your next?

AUDIO: http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2008-02-10.mp3

Isaiah 9, 1-6,  The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. (A beautiful passage from Isaiah 1, one of my favorites)

 Psalm 96,    Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.

Titus 3, 4-7,   When the kindness and generous love of God appeared.

Luke 2, 1-14,   In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled.

Sabrina and her mom, Alison, say, "Welcome, Everybody, Happy Christmas."

Isaiah 9 observations:

Who: Can you guess, Isaiah 1, 2, or 3?  Yes, Isaiah 1.  Rosemary & I heard this sung in the Messiah Monday night at the Meyerson.

Date: Because it is Isaiah 1 writing, you can expect that he is living before the Babylonian Captivity, around 555 before Christ.  

Our Passage:  Also you might guess that being Isaiah 1 and living before the Babylonian Captivity, he would be quite critical of the people, their ways of living, their disrespect, selfishness, and materialism.  On the contrary, this passage talks about comfort and peace.  Watch and listen.  

Emma says, "Merry Christmas, Everybody."

A Christmas Story

This evening I would like to tell a Christmas story that exemplifies how we move from darkness to light, like good old Isaiah 1 says.  The story is about a Christmas event.  Want to know what a Christmas event is?  I would propose that it is a special event that brings peace, joy, and light to people like us.

Ever hear of a guy named Nathaniel Kendrick, nicknamed Mr. Kent?  He is a crossing guard here in Dallas at Lakewood Elementary School.  He has done this job for over 10 years, twice a day, a couple of hours each time, heat, rain, snow.  Mr. Kent used to work for the city of Dallas and retired from that work. 

Our Angels.

The kids and parents at Lakewood Elementary all love Mr. Kent, an elderly black man with gray hair.   And he obviously loved them.

As the years passed Mr. Kent’s wife gradually had more health problems.  As she went down more and more, so did their finances.  Finally, a couple of weeks ago their car was repossessed.  The car Mr. Kent used to come to Lakewood Elementary.

Our Chloe.

Some of the dads connected with Lakewood learned about what had happened to Mr. Kent’s car.  They banned together, collected money, and eventually bought Mr. Kent a car.

So, one day while Mr. Kent was working his job as a crossing guard, two of the dads drove Mr. Kent’s new car into the crosswalk and stopped.  He came over and asked them to move on.  And they responded, “Mr. Kent, you might have to move it yourself.  From all of us at Lakewood Elementary, welcome to your new car. "

Zoe with Santa.

Mr. Kent was so moved he was in tears, as were others gathered around. 

This is a Christmas event.  These parents gave more than a car to Mr. Kent.  They gave him peace, joy, and light.  They were recipients also, as was I.

Guess who is growing up. Yes, The Gerwers.

What is the Christmas event in your life?  How have you provided peace, joy, and light for someone in your life?

Source: WFAA.com 12/15/14

Santa's Helper, Darbyanna.

Another of our best helpers, Georgie.

Readings: Isaiah 43, 16-21; Psalm 126; Philippians 3, 8-14; John 8, 1-11.

Isaiah – The scene: the Jewish people are captives in Babylon ca. 550 years before Christ. Isaiah the great prophet had warned the people that their bad ways were going to lead to this.

In this chapter 43 Yahweh reminds them of how much he has done for them in the past and lets them know that they are still his people. Their lives will get better.

The first 5 verses of this chapter are some of the best in the Bible, telling the people to not be afraid because he is with them.

Philippians – Philippi was the first church Paul set up on European soil. He is in prison. He is basically saying that for him nothing has any importance beyond his relationship with Jesus.

Judging

Our recent trip to East Africa was divided into two parts. The first half we spent in Tanzania visiting some of the world’s most marvelous game parks, like Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater.

The second half we spent time at place called Elsamere on the southern shore of a lake called Naivasha in the bottom of the Great Rift Valley. The place is somewhat famous because it was here that Joy & George Adamson made their home and where they raised a baby lioness named Elsa. Joy & George eventually let Elsa return to the wild, but while together they were the subject of the famous film Born Free, the story of Elsa.

The place is delightful, accepting at most 16 guests with three cottages spread out from the main house which is used as a dining room. It is here at Elsamere where we could not leave our cottage at night because hippos are grazing, one night right outside our window.

When we arrived, there were already 8 visitors, all Brits, 6 women in a group and a couple. Since they had already been eating meals together for a couple of days, we ended up seated at the second table with one of the Kenyan assistant managers.

As time went on, despite our efforts to get to know the Brits, nothing developed and I began to feel the ladies were ignoring us Americans. A couple of the ladies I had greeted seemed pretty disinterested in chatting. We had a good time with the couple. However, I was, as they say, put off by these women.

I know what it was that put me off. They never initiated a greeting and in the evening before dinner when we arrived with our guard from the cottage, they were all seated around the fire place. No welcome. In fact, they seemed totally involved in their own conversations.

Until the last night. Thirty minutes before dinner, snacks were served and we all made a big circle in front of the fireplace. All were departing the next morning. We three were split up around the circle.

Now they talked with us, especially a couple of them who had hilarious personalities. It was in this circle that we heard the story of the calendar (the women all belonged to the same organization that put out the famous calendar that was the subject of the movie "Calendar Girls"). We spent the time in hysterics.

The next morning I told them that my only disappointment at Elsamere was not having the opportunity to get to know them better.

I came close to judging and condemning these 6 Brit women, of judging the book by the cover.

Who is the Brit that you are condemning?

Download the homily for March 25, 2007 as an mp3 file.

Readings:

Genesis 60, 1-5, Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. 

Psalm 12, The Lord, every nation will adore you

Ephesians 3, 2-6, 11-14,  You have heard of  the stewardship of  God

Matthew 2, 1-12, Magi from the East

The brain trust.

Readings:

Download Readings 1-3-2021

Homily:

Download Mike's Homily 1-3-2021

Our beautiful Georgie reading Isaiah.

Our Kevin reading Ephesians, while Connie, his mom looks on.

Thanks to the Team

Music,  Ben & Shonda

Readers,    Georgie & Kevin, and Buddy, the candle blesser

Gospel,  Deacon Mike Carrell

Homily,   Deacon Mike Carrell

Eucharistic Prayer A & B, Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,   Hue & Richard & Mike 

Final Blessing, Rosemary

For hosting us at Legacy, Becky

Remembering…..Mike reading.

Please Remember these special people:

For Carrie's ex, Larry;  For Alan Stryker;  For Joe Sullivan;    For Rosemary's great niece, Rylie ;  For Richard's grand daughter, Madeleine; For David Dinsmore's bad shoulder from a biking accident;  For Esparza's new great grandson baby, son of Monique;  For all the medical personnel struggling to treat the tsunami of sick people, in particular, locally, Cindy's staff at Presby, Dallas, and at Frisco Presby, the mother of Harper and Betsy, Kendle, working in labor & delivery, and for Hue & Linda's daughter, Doctor Rosemary Beavers;   For Mary & Dave Hall's g-daughter Allison Keller working at St. Lukes, The Woodlands,   For Loretta's aunt Alicia;  For Sir Charlie & Jan;  Shonda's mom & Cody & Ben & Leo & all of Shonda's dear family;

John sharing the Eucharistic Prayer still in the Christmas spirit.

Jackie's mom, sister, & friend, Lynn;  For both Jean & Cliff Wright;  For Rick Turner searching for a kidney donor, Type O neg; For Meredith, cancer free;    For John O'Donnell & Jean & their daughter, Molly;   For Dee, and for her daughter, Lisa; For John Schanot's continued health;  For Anthony & Sabrina;    For a young man who is suffering from depression;  John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli and Lambrini, plus John's daughter, Joey, with cancer; for a little 4 month old boy undergoing an operation, from Barbara & for Rollie with Corona; for the medical staffs, teachers, and coaches in our public & private schools.

Birthdays: Tom Fleming, 64, Cheryl O'hagan

Anniversary: Richard & Carol, 45th

Community Finances, January 3, 2021

Expenses: $200.00

Outreach   $450.00  (often for Souls Harbor, Legacy, etc.)

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

Am I dreaming?  Or is it a nightmare??

Rosemary's Blessing

When the decorations of Christmas have been packed away then the work of Christmas begins:

Lord, help us

to find the lost,
to heal those broken in spirit,
to feed the hungry,
to release the oppressed,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among all peoples,
and to make a little music with the heart…

Adapted from Work of Christmas Begins by Howard Thurman