Readings: Deuteronomy 11, 18-32; Psalm 31, Lord, be my Rock of Safety; 2 Corinthians 5, 20-6, 2; Matthew 6, 1-6, 16-18. 

Deuteronomy, some observations:

 What:

1.  5^th book of the Bible, last book of the Torah.

2.  A farewell discourse by Moses after 40 years in the desert. He will not, but the Jewish people are about to enter what they called their promised land, a place occupied by the Canaanites, who will be killed and displaced by the Jews.

 
 

 

 Author: not Moses.  Rather, some teachers and political leaders of the people already in Jerusalem.

 Dates: Some material seems to come from before the Assyrians destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel.  So about 750 years before Christ.  It seems to have other material and to have been stitched together as one piece after the Babylonian Captivity.  Therefore, around 550 before Christ.

 Subject: Yahweh has saved his special people and blessed them.  To continue this blessing, obey.  Otherwise, you know what.

 Today’s Subject: there is a blessing & a curse.  Obey the laws & be blessed; disobey & be cursed. 

 Sources: Good News Bible; The New Interpreter’s Study Bible; Wikipedia, St. Louis U. Liturgies.

  

Is My House Built on Sand?

 Because of Leo’s baptism I want to say just a word about Matthew’s main lesson. 

 Do you own a house in the Dallas area?  Is your house built on rock?  No!  It is built on black clay soil, about as solid as sand.

 Some years ago my mom & I had a couple of foundation companies give us an estimation on fixing our 1950 pier & beam foundation.  One company said they would not touch the place. 

 

 If I put a pen on a certain angle on my computer desk, it will roll right off.  The tile on the outer wall of my bathroom is squishing because the wall is sinking faster than the bathroom.

 I would suggest that we are all built on black clay soil or sand.  Sorry Matthew.  Specifically, we all fail, we have our obsessions & addictions, we have our fears.  We are still accepted!

 

 If this is not the point of God’s acceptance of us, I do not know what is. 

 This reminds me of Jimmy Johnson’s boast about the Cowboys, “They don’t just talk the talk; they walk the walk.”  This is cute macho talk when you win.  Were the Cowboys this past year just losers?  No, not really. 

 
 

 The positive side of the lesson is that we are challenged to be what we used to get drummed into us as young Jesuits, Renaissance Men (or Women).  In other words, I try to be fully alive, physically, intellectually, and psychologically/spiritually healthy & active.  A person of self discipline & moderation.

 Good old Lent arrives Wednesday.  Where is your foundation weak? 

 Picture 1:   Leo welcoming everyone to his baptism

 Picture 2:   Baptism, Teresa & John, Ray & Shonda, and Leo

 Picture 3:   The baptism

 Picture 4:    Old Geezers, Myron Hubble & Bill Poncik

 Picture 5:    Justin & Ashley with the grandparents, Jean & Cliff      

 

Readings:

Acts  15, 1-2, 22-29,   Unless you are circumcised you cannot be saved.

Psalm 67,  Oh, God let all the nations praise you.

Revelation  21, 10-14, 22-23,  The angel took me to a great, high mountain.

John 14, 23-29,  Whoever loves me will keep my word.

 

 

 

Welcome home, Chloe, you are beautiful and special here.

 

 Acts observations again:

WHO: same as author of Gospel of Luke, Chapter 15 of 28

WHEN: late 60’s, before 70

WHY: To further Paul’s desire to make “The Way” of Jesus’ followers acceptable to people in the Greco-Roman world of his time.

Today’s reading from Chapter 15 of Acts gives us another example of how the followers of Jesus at that time were originally Jewish. We have no documents from the 20 years following Jesus’ death. Scholars conjecture that there were writings from that time that became sources for the authors of the gospels of Matthew and Luke.

 

 

 

Victoria, along with Zoe, they say, Welcome, Everybody."

 

 

My Peace I give to you

My Peace I give to you.  What a beautiful gift.  The Best.  How do you find it?   

I would like to talk about finding the peace this morning.  I would propose that the gift is all around us.  It is here in our community, it is in our homes, it is in Tom Thumb, it is in our city.  I would suggest that there are big and little packages of peace.  For example, some little packages that give me peace.

First, taking Aviana, our dog, for a walk.  Rosemary takes Aviana for two or three afternoon walks.  Along the way she gets to know so many of our neighbors. 

 

 

 

Brandon, the guy with all the personality, also says, "Hi, Folks."

 

 

I take Aviana for 3 walks in the morning, including her first walk at ca. 4:15.   Want to know what peace is?   Watching her do her business quickly, especially both of them on this 5 minute walk.  It is short because she knows that she will get her breakfast right away afterward. 

Secondly, try biking.  Sometimes riding my bike with Rosemary around White Rock and going down the White Rock Creek Trail, I cannot believe how delightful this is.   On The Trail I often think, 'I cannot really be in Dallas,' the scenery is so beautiful and natural.

 

 

Chloe put to work lighting the candles.
 

 

 

Thirdly, I find great peace in doing weddings and, in particular, getting together with each couple to plan their wedding.  Just this past Friday and Saturday I spent an hour with two delightful couples. Saturday’s couple was Lisa Anderlick, John and Karen’s daughter.  

These daily and weekly events, while being really profound to me, are what I could call smaller packages of peace.    Want to know about a Big Packages?

  

Sisters, Jessica and Renee.

 

First, how can I not be touched with peace every time we all come together?   Remember that morning that it was pouring rain at 9:30?  Rosemary and I both said that few people would find their way here in that storm. 

What happened?  We had 65 plus people.  The kids are a special event of peace.  Our music.   And just everybody.   The peace of our community stays with me all week long. 

 

The Quinn Girls,  Vivienne, Kiera, & Mikayla.

 

Secondly, Cinco de Mayo!   What?, you say.  Cinco de Mayo? 

This big Mexican feast is also a special day for Rosemary & me.  We are celebrating our 11th anniversary.  I know you figured Rosemary could not stand to live so long with this old obsessive bachelor.  However, we have made it and each day brings more peace and more fun. 

 

 

Another beautiful Sunday thanks to Shonda & Bethany, Ray & David.

 

 

One of the fun things  takes place most weekday mornings, when I return from the J at around 7:15.   I wake up Rosemary with coffee and newspaper in hand.  Then I return to the kitchen, get my cup of coffee, and proceed to hop on the bed where we talk and discuss the day.  Aviana is also part of the event.

Unfortunately, even though coffee is supposed to be a stimulant, when I drink it after working out, it has the opposite effect.  Ten minutes and I tell Rosemary I am falling asleep and think I will take a 15 minute nap.  Of course, I get a comment like, “What a fascinating conversationalist you are.”

 

 

 

Remember, Brent, the cupcake is for Reggie, your Souls Harbor manager and recovery story–his birthday.

 

What is the response to these little and big packages of peace?  Two things.   Awareness and Gratitude.

Where do you find The Peace? 

 

Readings:  Isaiah 45, 1-6; Psalm 96; 1 Thessalonians 1, 1-5; Matthew 22, 15-21

Isaiah: This selection comes from what is probably Isaiah 2, written some centuries after the first 39 chapters.  Isaiah speaks from Yahweh's perspective and He is calling someone by name.

Thessalonians:

• Time written: ca. 52 A.D.  Considered Paul's first letter.

• Place: Paul was writing in Corinth, Greece to the town in northern Greece, Thessalonica, at the northern corner of the Aegean Sea.

• Purpose of writing: to comfort and encourage the new Christians of Thessalonica, most of whom were Gentiles.

Picture 1: Beginning of Mass

Picture 2: Choir, Wendy, Shonda, & Ray

Called to Caretake

Last Tuesday Rosemary went to visit a woman named Robin Reddick.  Robin is Kay Reddick's daughter and it was Kay who visited us last January around the time of my birthday.  Robin, who is 50, has never spoken a word in her life, has a severe case of Down's Syndrome and has lived in special homes for the majority of her life. 

To celebrate Kay's 80th birthday Rosemary & I went to visit her in Lindsay, Ontario, a little town about 2 hours north east of Toronto.  I've known & had a special relationship with the Reddicks & their 6 kids since I studied Theology in Toronto from '68-'72.  When I visit them I almost always visit Robin. 

We found Robin in the dining room of the center.  She was asleep at the table semi-reclining in a wheel chair that tilts back.  Next to her right was Irene, a little lady asleep with her head almost touching the edge of the table.  Across the table was Gladys who said repeatedly, "I'm a graduate nurse," and referring to Robin sleeping in her wheel chair, "She is never a problem." 

I always have the question, "Why," when I visit Robin.  Kay says that without saying a word, Robin has profoundly effected her life for the better.  Robin lives in this facility now because she is declining in health, sleeps most of the time, and frequently does not eat.   For the first time ever Robin had tears in her eyes while we were there.  What is the feeling behind the tears?  What is going on inside Robin?

While I was humbled by my time with Robin as usual, I was equally struck this time by the staff.  Ontario does a terrific job with such services.  There must have been about 5 women serving lunch to ten tables of four persons each.  These women humbled me.  They laughed, they played, they knew the names of all the elderly & handicapped people, and they teased them.   I got up once and served tea to Gladys and the ladies were all appreciative.  They were hand feeding some people and all the while talking to them. 

These care taking ladies came to mind when I reflected upon today's readings.  In Matthew we hear about giving to the state and giving to God.  In Thessalonians, Paul says they are chosen.  In Isaiah, Yahweh says, "I have called you by your name."  That confounds me when I think about Robin.  Does Yahweh call her by name?  Does Yahweh choose her?  To do what?  To what kind of life? 

I can see the care taker ladies being called by name & chosen to nurture those people in their charge.  In fact, I see all of us who are not like Robin to be called to care take.  This is how I understand the Matthew reading about rendering to Caesar.  We care take in ever wider circles, beginning with those closest to me physically, perhaps my family.  Then as a Christian I am called to care take my village, my town, my state, my country, my globe?  

I remain confounded by Robin's life.  However, I have no doubts that I am called to care take people in ways similar and dissimilar than the ladies at the center. 

Name three people you care take in your life.  Whom do you care take in the beyond, like nationally?

AUDIO:  http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2008-10-19.mp3

Readings:

Mark 11, 1-10,  Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem, read as we process in

Isaiah 50,  4-7  I gave my back to those who beat me.

Psalm 22,    My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?

Philippians 2, 6-11,   God greatly exalted him.

 Mark  14,  The Passion in 4 parts.

 

 

 

Sorry, Everybody.  Because of the length of the readings, especially the Passion, no homily this Sunday.  Next Sunday, Easter.

 

 

 

Rosemary's Blessing

Gaze at the beauty of earth’s greenings.

Now, think.

What delight God gives to humankind

with all these things. . . .

All nature is at the disposal of humankind.

We are to work with it.

For without it we cannot survive.

 

Hildegard of Bingen  (1098-1179)

 

 

The Best Music Team

 

 

Thanks to the Team

Music, Shonda & Ben

Readers, Cathy & Kevin  & Buddy, the candle blesser

Eucharistic Prayer & Gospel, John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers, Mike & Ben & Becky & Richard & Tom

Final Blessing, Rosemary

 

 

 

Who's that peeking around the corner?  Becky

 

Please Remember these special people:

For Jim Esparza, the son of Frank & Mary, who just passed last Saturday with sepsis;   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;   For Bill;   For Joe Hogan with cancer;  For Loretta's aunt Alicia;    For Sydney;  & For Sir Charlie;  Shonda's mom;   for Michelle;  For a friend, a neighbor, & a doctor, Karen, with brain cancer; For Rick Turner searching for a kidney donor, Type O neg; For Meredith, cancer free.;    For Hue;  For John O'Donnell;    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;  Virginia Mattingly

 

 

 

Mike, our technology magician.

 

From last Week:

Birthdays:  Shonda (last Week), Deacon Mike ordained '78, Bill Ekes, Alison DeGenova; this week, Bernadette,  

Anniversary:  The McClurgs, Diane & Kent, 48 years, & Diane's knee replacement this past week; Sandra  & Chuck, 59th 

 

 

Download MASS 20 0614 Reading 2 Corpus Christi

 

 

 

Richard & Tom

 

Corpus Christi

We celebrate today the Church feast of Corpus Christi.  Rosemary also reminded me that Friday the 12^th I was celebrating the anniversary of my ordination at St. Ritas.  You will never guess how many years it has been since that day.  Next year it will be 50 years, 1971.  Can you believe that, Folks?   It blows me away. 

For maybe 20-30 of the last years I have tried to point out that to understand the Eucharist and Corpus Christi, I have to know what a special feast is like because I have enjoyed them in my life.  For me the obvious is the Thanksgiving celebration.  Rosemary & I have treasured these Thanksgiving events because we always went to celebrate with Joe & her sister Clare at their house on Hilton Head.

 

 

 

Legacy continues to be a perfect venue.

 

This morning I have 4 unique celebrations that took place in conjunction with the famous tree planting hobby I got myself into.

First.  It was around 1990 when I went big.  We planted Marsh Lane from near Love field to LBJ on two consecutive Sundays in November.   

When we finished, my beloved  old grade school coach and Scout Master, Frank Hart, invited everyone to come to his restaurant just north of LBJ on Marsh Lane.  Everything was on Frank.  Wow, was I touched.

 

 

 

Second.  The next fall we must have planted Hillcrest or Preston.  Too far away from Frank’s restaurant.  Guess who came out and catered the whole gang.  Frank’s son , Frank Jr., who had the Greenville Avenue restaurant, Back Country bar-b-que.  Incredible as it may seem, I had Frank in one of my classes when I taught at Jesuit as an intern ’65-’68.  Frank jr. catered the team for a number of years.

Three.  The next year or so my classmate, Ed Lamberty, brewed up in the Jesuit resident community kitchen a whole bunch of chili.  Venison chili.   Yes, Venison chili.  Word got out and the kids did not want to eat it.  Eat bambi?  Poor Ed.  He was both a hunter and an excellent cook.   I think he quit hunting.

 

 

Remembering….

 

Four.  Remember the big tree planting we did at Plano Senior High one October?  Always October.  400 trees starting at 12:00 noon with a covered dish party at 3:00 in a room on the east side of the school, or maybe in the junior high. We were still celebrating Sundays at Vines High School.

By 1:30 or 2:00 all 400 trees had been planted.  And everyone went to eat.    I can still remember dearest Maureen Macchio coming in at 3:00 with her special meat balls.

How do you celebrate the Eucharist?

 

 

Says Aviana, "Hey, Everybody, we have a new home.  As soon as the truly pleasant couple moves out, we move in.  Isn't that right, Grace?

 

 

Readings:  Isaiah 66, 10-14; Psalm 66, Let All the Earth Cry Out to God with Joy; Galatians 6, 14-18, Luke 10, 1-12, 17-20

 

4th of July: some notes–

1.  Celebrates the composition & signing of the Declaration of Independence from the British on July 4, 1776.  2 days ealier a declaration was made. 

2.  Composed by a committee of 5, including the greats, Jefferson, John Adams, and Ben Franklin.

3.  Jefferson & Adams, long time friends and collaborators, both died the same day.  Guess the day: July 4.  Exactly on the 50th anniversary of the first July 4. 

4.  Just so you know: Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, Coney Island, NY, began July 4, 1916.

 

 

Isaiah 66: 2 notes–

1.  This is the last chapter of the whole great book.  Therefore, the author is author #3, written just at the end of or after the Babylonian Captivity, ca. 550 BCE.  It is also part of the Book of Consolation and the reading today is total consolation.

2.  Jerusalem is mentioned a lot.  What about making Jerusalem symbolic, not just the place?  What kind of symbol?  Don't know.  But, all of us have our Jerusalem place.

Sources: Wikipedia; David McCullough, John Adams (excellent work)

 

 

The Harvest is Abundant, but the Laborers are Few?

 

 

Last weekend John Cade, Tony, and I went to a convention-seminar at the AA Training Center south of DFW airport.  The meeting was sponsored by and for Corpus, a national organization of over 600 married priests.

About 80 plus people were there, and, folks, I was impressed.   Humbled, even.   About half the guys came with their wives.  These people are the best. 

 

 

I would look at these men and think to myself, ‘These are the kind of men this church needs.’  They are healthy spiritually and psychologically, they love to serve, and they are rejected because they married.  The Catholic Church reminds me of the mad wolf who eats her young.  Every one of these men should be active and would be active if they could.

 

 

Let me tell you briefly about just two men who moved me.

 

 

First is a man named Anthony Padovano.   You may have heard about him or read him.  Incredibly talented and accomplished, he’s written over 25 books, has lectured at 25 colleges & universities.  He has doctorates in theology and literature.  He presents at the U.N. and at The Hague.  He’s a playwright and, in fact, for the second year in a row we got to see one of his plays, one on Thomas Merton.  Last year was Martin Luther.

 

 

Equally outstanding about Tony Padovano, however, is his optimism in the face of lots of criticism and his personal warmth.  He presented a talk on the profoundly positive impact the Second Vatican Council has had on Catholicism, an impact that cannot be reversed despite the reversal efforts going on.  When the article is printed, I will attach it to the blog.

 

 

 

The second person who humbled me was a married priest from Louisville, Kentucky.  A simple, easy going guy, I only know his first name, Tony.  I called him Louisville Tony.

 

 

I got to know Louisville Tony Friday afternoon before the seminar began and after we both had checked in.  We ended up sitting on a porch overlooking the beautiful campus. 

 

 

He told me that when he married about 25 years ago, he had no idea what he was going to do to support himself & wife.  He had decided to go into teaching, when he saw an ad by Hospice asking for chaplains.  He applied, was accepted, and has worked as a Hospice chaplain in Louisville now for decades.

 

 

He told me he loves what he does.  He is prevented from being a priest officially, but he said that with the exception of doing Masses he is working full time as a priest anyway.  He wanted to know all about you folks and how and when our community got started.  A number of guys, in fact, wanted to know this.  He said he might explore starting a small group in Louisville.

 

 

In the gospel this morning we hear about the harvest being abundant, but the laborers are few.  I would say, “Whoa!”  I know of an organization that has 600 laborers, Corpus, who signed up to be workers, but did not just want to live alone.  I find that the ones I’ve come to know through Corpus are still laborers, just not officially. 

 

 

 

In fact, they are like all of us, because we are all called to be like Louisville Tony, even like Anthony Padovano, in our own way.  In this community you help with CCAC, with Habitat, with Heritage Farm, with the Life Net food serving at Thanksgiving, with food drives, and on and on.

 

 

What are you doing today? 

 

 

Picture 1:   Mass Begins, Wendy & Ben

 

Picture 2:   Sienna with grandmother, Robyn, and mom, Erin

 

Picture 3:   Sacrament of the Sick, John Cade

 

Picture 4:   Sisters, Cindy & Marlene