Reminder for the Epiphany of the Lord, January 7, 2024

 

Will somebody please go and sit with Jim & John.

 

Readings: 

Joshua 5, 9-12,  The Lord said to Joshua, "Today I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you."

Psalm 34,  Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.  (Excellent!)

2 Corinthians 5, 17-21, Whoever is in Christ is a new creation.

Luke 15, 1-32, The Great story of the Prodigal Son.

 

 

 

Zoe doing her candle magic.

 

Joshua

The scene: Moses has died just as the Jewish people are getting ready to enter their new land.  Joshua takes the leadership.  This book describes the defeat of the Canaanite people, and the division of the land. 

In our chapter the Israelite people are camped outside Jericho before attacking the town.  Yahweh is saying that he has removed the shame of the people for being slaves in Egypt.  They are feasting.

2 Corinthians

This section of Corinthians informs the people that in Christ they are new people, a new creation.

 

 

"Welcome in," say Ken & Cindy.

 

The Prodigal Son: A Work of Art

 This story is my favorite of the whole Bible.  Note one thing: this is story, not history.   The author carefully crafts his work of art to show how much God loves us.  Let me give you three observations about the son, three about the father, and an extra three to show you how astounding this story is. 

 

You are having too much fun, Patricia.

 

First, the younger son:

 

1. He has no right to ask for inheritance.  None.  By asking he is saying he wishes the father and the older son dead.  A symbolic murder.  Father can kill him for this.

 

2. He works feeding pigs instead of asking for help from the temple.  This means he rejects the religious tradition and is considered a traitor not only to the family, but to the religion. 

 

3. So as a horrible failure as a son of the family and a son of the religious tradition, he decides to return. He makes up his little speech and heads home.  He is hungry to the point of dying.  Do this or die.  Many listening Jews would say, Die. 

 

Suit up time, John.

 

The Father: he actually commits as many crimes and sins as the son.

 

1. He runs down the road to the son when he sees him coming.  A very undignified action.  Outrageous.

 

2. He embraced and kissed the son.  Huge violation of Jewish religious custom and law.  By doing this the father positions himself outside of the religious & cultural community.  He is a reject like the son. 

 

3. He cuts the son’s speech off before he can say finish, eliminating the last sentence, “treat me as you would one of your hired workers.”  And to make it worse, he orders the servants to bring the finest robe, ring, and sandals. 

 

"Help, Hue, I can't get this on by myself."

 

The robe, the ring, and the sandals:

 

1. The robe: restores the son’s dignity.

 

2. The ring: gives authority to the son, even equal to the father and certainly more than before he left.

 

3. The sandals: gives the son freedom.  Slaves were not given sandals so they would not run away.  The father is doubling the message he gave when he cut the son’s speech off before he could say the third part about being treated as a servant. 

 

A board Meet? 

 

A word about the older son, because we so often identify with him. 

 

1. That he tells his father how he feels.  Great.  In those days, it meant the father can kill him.  Today: communication.

 

2. What is his challenge: acceptance of his brother, his father, and himself; focus on gratitude for all he has; move from trying to be a good boy to loving?  Any one of these?  Or all?  All. 

 

I apologize for so much data.  There is even more.  The point is that the story is a carefully crafted work of art attempting to describe how totally loving our God is, toward us.

 

Communion ready?

 

Is your vision of God's love for you conditional or unconditional?  How does this image of an unconditionally loving God reflect your image of God?   

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome: Catholic Mass with coffee & juice, and pastries, some bought, some home-made.  

Time: 9:30; Celebrate with the Community  & Stack  &  John Cade  

Place: Legacy Charter School,  601 Accent Drive, Plano, TX 75075

 

Please pardon the Blog's absence.  We took a break and got away for 10 days.

 

Readings: 

Joshua 5, 9-12,  The Lord said to Joshua, "Today I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you."

Psalm 34,  Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.  (Excellent!)

2 Corinthians 5, 17-21, Whoever is in Christ is a new creation.

Luke 15, 1-32, The Great story of the Prodigal Son.

 

Community Activities:  

ROMEO MEET: Friday, March 29, Jason's Deli, Collin Creek Mall, west side of Central, 1:00.  Welcome all wakos, you will fit right in.   The Old Ex will attend.

 

JULIETTE LUNCHEON:  April   -  Hi Everyone,

Can’t believe April is almost here.  We will be meeting Friday, April 5^th at 12:30 at Red Lobster.  It is Lent and most of us won’t be eating meat on Friday. Please let me know who will be joining us.  It is always fun and a special day to look forward to. Everyone is welcome.

Red Lobster

3501 Central Expressway (West side of the highway) Spring Creek and Central Expressway

Marilyn

972-491-7068

 

 

TRUE?

Cherish yesterday, Dream tomorrow, Live like crazy today.

Unknown

 

 

 

What's up in Ye Old Catholic Church?  Like…

1.     6 Years of Pope Francis,  

 

 

 

See you Sunday,  

J.S., 214-783-0443

 

 

 

JSM Mission-Faith Statement: 

 Help create a Catholic Community that welcomes all God’s People, provides for and challenges spiritual and total growth.

Reaches out to help people who are disadvantaged and make the world we live in a better place to live.

 

 

Jeremiah 38:   Then the king ordered Ebedmelech the Cushite to take 3 men along with him, and draw the prophet Jeremiah out of the cistern before he should die.

Hebrews 12:  For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross,…

Luke 12:  There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished.

                           

         

Mary reading from Jeremiah

 

 

Thanks…

Music,    Ben

Readers,  Mary & Warren

Gospel,   John Cade

Homily,  John Stack

Eucharistic Prayer A & B,  John Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,      Hue & Richard & Kevin

Final Blessing, Rosemary

                                             

                 

         Warren reading from Paul's letter to the Hebrews       

Readings:  Download 08-14-22- Readings – 20th Sunday Ord

Homily:  

                  

                         

Hue and Kevin working on the Zoom

 

 

 

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 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; 

                           

Meredith, Brent and Paul

                                                                                                                                              

                   
Aggie and Allan 

 

 

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.

 

 

Connie and Barbara

   

Birthdays:   Marlene Ekes 8/15

Anniversaries:   Jean & John O'Donnell 8/15, Bernadette & Gilberto Delgado  8/20

      

Community Finances:   

Expenses: $   780.00

Outreach: $   120.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

                 

 

 

 

Rosemary's Blessing:  

To laugh often and much;

To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;

To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;

To appreciate beauty;

To find the best in others;

To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;

To know even one life has breathed easier because you lived.

This is to have succeeded.

 

Success – Ralph Waldo Emerson

May you succeed!

 

 Time: 9:30; Celebrate with the Community & John. 

Place: Vines High School, 15th between Custer & Independence.

 

Readings: 

Isaiah 11, 1-10, The wolf shall be a guest of the lamb  (a beautiful reading).

Psalm 72,  Justice shall flourish in his time and fullness of peace forever.

Romans 15, 4-9,  Welcome one another.

Matthew  3, 1-12, I am baptizing you with water.

Community Events:

1.    This Sunday, collect for Samaritan Inn:  

Current Urgent Needs:  Disinfectant Spray,  Bleach Wipes and  Toilet Paper.  Check the website for other needs:  http://www.thesamaritaninn.org/SupportTheInn/NeedsList.aspx1.

2.  Love for the Kids Picnic,  A most touching event,  Dec. 14,  Download Love-for-kids

3.   ROMEO lunch Friday, December 6,   Jason's, 1:00, Welcome.  The Old Geezer won't make it.

4.  The Women's Lunch Group on 1st Thursdays,  The Olive Garden, 1:00, Central and Plano Pkwy, northbound service road.    For more info talk with Carol or Bernadette. 

 5.  Christmas Concert at the Meyerson:

The date:  December 19.   Rosemary says that you may still sign up.  Her contact, Blake, knows that we usually have a few additional people.   Total so far, 29 people.  

Welcome, also, to the Rectory for wine & cheese and a ride through Highland Park to see the best lights. 

By the way, we are dropping the idea of riding bikes through Highland Park to look at the Christmas lights.  It is just too cold.  Plus, each bike would need lights on front and back, a little expensive.

  

1.      Kennedy on Thankgiving for Francis, National Catholic Reporter, November 27, 1000 words,      Download Giving thanks 12-6-13

 

 

True? 

Never put on line something you would not want to see the next day on the front page of The New York Times (or Dallas Morning News).

From Rosemary's Momma

 

 See you Sunday, December 8, 2013, 2nd Advent, Cycle A

 J.S., 214-783-0443

 JSM Mission-Faith Statement

     Help create a Catholic Community that welcomes all God’s
People, provides for and challenges spiritual and total growth.

    Reaches out to help people who are disadvantaged and make the world we live in a better place to live.

 

 

 

 

Guess who has arrived, Everybody!   Welcome into Our World, Vivian Grace.  You are beautiful and perfect.  Tell your mommy & daddy, "Congratulations."  Arrival was Tuesday, 8 lbs.

 
 

Welcome: Catholic Mass with coffee and juice and pastries, both bought and home-made, after Mass.

Time: 9:30; Celebrate with the Community & Stack and Mike homilizing.

Place: Vines High School, Plano, 15th between Custer & Independence.

 

Genevieve, too, says, "Hi, Vivian, Welcome.  But, guess what, I got more hair than you."

 

Readings:

Ruth 1,  15—17, 20-26,  The story of Naomi and Ruth

Psalm 104,    Lord, send out our Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.

1 Corinthians 12, 3-13,   There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same spirit.

 John 15, 26-27 & 16, 12-15, When he comes, he will guide you to all truth.

 

 

 And Annabelle says, "Hey, don't forget me.  And I am older than you two.  A little respect, please."

 

Community Activities:        

1.      ROMEO MEET: Friday, May, The Twenty Second, Jason's Deli, Collin Creek Mall, west side of Central, 1:00.   We also welcome the Working Classes, especially if you pick up the tab for the Old Guys.

 2.      LADIES' LUNCHEON,  June 4, Thursday, Papadeaux, 725 S. Center (East side, the side the sun comes up), 1:00.  It was heard that Cathy is covering set ups. 

Everyone, please forward to anyone you think would be interested.  If you let me know I will add their email to the list. 

Carol 

 

It won't be long, you little girls, until you will be joining at the play station these big kids, Buddy, Emma, Zoe, and Victoria.

 

What is going on in our Catholic World:

1.       Get rid of megaparishes,  National Catholic Reporter,  Mat 13,  727 words,       Download Megaparishes 5-21-15

2.     Francis and Bishop Romero of El Salvador,  National Catholic Reporter, May 19, 1555 words,    Download Francis & Bishop Romero 5-21-15    

 

                   Eshelbrenner Clan with Richard leading the parade.

 

 True?  

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.

Steve Jobs (Who?)

 

                         Welcome Back, Kim and Travis

 

See you Sunday, May 24, 2015, Pentecost,  Cycle B

J.S., 214-783-0443

 

 Offertory with Mary Ellen (just moved back to Dallas from CT), Grace, Alison and John.

 

 JSM Mission-Faith Statement

   Help create a Catholic Community that welcomes all God’s People, provides for and challenges spiritual and total growth.

    Reaches out to help people who are disadvantaged and make the world we live in a better place to live.

 

 May you be blessed, too, along with Annabelle, Oscar, Gloria, and Eric.

 

 

 

Community Finances:   

  Expenses: $    310.00

  Outreach: $      95.00

 

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

 

Ben gets a cookie

 

 

Rosemary's Blessing:

Come, O Dancing God,

Spirit of Life and Love,

of  Beauty and Diversity,

stir up my soul,

bathe me in your light,

and unleash my own spirit

that I may dance with you

and be light for those around me

and reflect your love to all that I meet this week.

 Edited and adapted from a blessing by Fr. Andrew M. Greeley