Rosemary's sister, Clare recuperating from knee replacement.
Readings:
Wisdom 18, 6-9, You people awaited the salvation of the just.
Psalm 33, Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own (Everybody?)
Hebrews 11, 1-2, 8-19, Faith is the realization of what is hoped for.
Luke 12, 32-48, Do not be afraid any longer.
The Team says, "Welcome."
Observations on the Readings: note how there is one positive line and a whole bunch of fear focus.
Do not be afraid any longer, Little Flock
I would like this morning to pick up on that line from Luke, Do not be afraid any longer, Little Flock.
A week ago this past Wednesday I was coming home from working out at the Jewish Community gym. It was about 7:00 A.M. and sunny. It had been dark when I set out at around 5:30. I parked in our driveway, turned off the Prius, and prepared to get out and enter our kitchen door.
So Ben goes off for summer vacation and returns 5 1/2 inches taller. How did you do that, Ben? Last time I measured I was 2 inches shorter.
Suddenly through the left corner of the windshield I noticed something white just off the cement and in the grass. “Nuts,” I thought. “I have forgotten again to leave at the J my hand towel used for sweat." But, I had not noticed it when I departed.
As I exited the car I more or less kept my eye on the white spot when suddenly I saw a movement. I walked over and the white towel turned out to be the prettiest little pure white cat. It was lying on its left side, facing our back door, and its right hind leg twitched once in a while.
"Connie, I bet you are in the market for a mint condition red car."
It had obviously had a bad night. I thought I could see tooth marks on its neck and on its left shoulder an open wound. It had somehow walked almost to our back door (to find help), lay down exhausted, and was dying.
The welcome team, Alison and Jan.
I ran inside to get Rosemary. We decided to take her or him straight to the vet just around the corner. We put a towel on a piece of cardboard. Rosemary took some gloves and placed the little cat on the towel.
Thanks, Leo, for a delightful second Homily.
I confess that I was scared to pick up the cat because I thought her spinal tendon might be damaged. There was no obvious pain, but as she was picked up the little cat, it opened the sweetest little light blue left eye and looked at Rosemary.
At the vet’s office we all decided that the little cat needed to be euthanized out of her pain. It had no ID and the vet said she was in bad shape.
Just in case you lose your way, Buddy's shoes will light your path.
I walked out of that office with tears running down my cheeks and for a couple of days the cat was on my mind and in my heart.
Let me now refocus. I would propose that my heart goes out to that little cat only a tiny fraction of how God’s heart goes out to all of us. Could we be God’s cats?
Do not be afraid any longer, Little Flock.
Sophia lights the candles while Buddy reads the blessing.
Could it be that all this emphasis on fear, on being caught off guard, and being punished (even forever) is partly the tribal leaders of the people trying to control the unruly tribe?
If you are plagued by this fear, what can you do to not be afraid any longer, Little flock?
The offertory team, Louis, Cheryl, Frank, and Mary.