6th Sunday of Easter May 14, 2023

 

Some of the hikers.  Rose, John, Paul, Carrie and Andy on the first high pass.

 

Readings:

Ezekiel  33, 7-9,    You have been appointed watchman for the house of Israel

Psalm 95,   If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts

Romans 13, 8-10,  Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another

Matthew 18, 15-20,  Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am.  

 

Ready to start.  Georgie, Buddy, John and Leo.

 

Homily:

Last week Stack spoke about Matthew’s saying, “take up your cross, and follow me.” Stack gave his take on this demand. He gave as an example a younger friend who had struggles with school, with getting into Jesuit, with getting into the Air Force, and how he did not let his personal struggles defeat him. This friend faced his struggles straight on (he took up his cross) loving himself enough to not let his struggles defeat him.

 

The musicians, Shonda and Ben.

 

 In the reading from Romans today, Paul summarizes God’s commandments in one saying, “Love one another as you love yourself.” This is where I focus my thoughts today.  

I have been moved by the many stories of people’s loving actions for those caught up in Hurricane Harvey, dramatic rescues in boats, grabbing a hand to keep someone afloat, donating supplies or giving financial assistance out of love. Our lead choir singer, Shonda, of Texas National Guard fame, spent a couple of weeks in southeast Texas helping with Hurricane Harvey rescue operations. She agreed to tell some of her story. [Shonda spoke of what she and others in her ‘pod’ did for victims of Harvey and what immense gratitude the survivors had.]

Thanks for your service Shonda.

 

The Offertory Procession. Mike, Geri, Carol and Richard.

 

Now I ask you to remember times you reached out in love to help—times you helped build a house with Habitat, or volunteered to help with the Love for Kids, or helped with the counting of the homeless, or helped tornado victims in Oklahoma, or supported organizations such as Soul’s Harbor or the food drive today, or DARCC, or loved Mother Earth by planting trees, or helped nurture this community’s children during Mass, or helped in so many ways to make our Mass a special time each Sunday. Add to this the many loving actions you perform for others in your family, in your neighborhood or in the community at large. You, in so many ways, are living out the greatest command: “Love one another.”

 

Just beginning the Mass.  Hue checking the sound and Leo, John, Georgie and Buddy at the altar.

 

One question is: Where does our impulse and ability to love come from? Richard Rohr, a great Catholic spiritual guide, gives one answer to that question in his book The Divine Dance:

    “Love is not just something you do; love is someone you are. Love is where you came from and love is where you’re going. It’s     not something you can buy or attain. It is the presence of God within you, called the Holy Spirit.

    You can’t make God love you one ounce more than God already loves you right now. You can’t. You can go to church every     day for the rest of your life. God isn’t going to love you any more than God loves you right now.

    You cannot make God love you any less, either—not an ounce less. Do the most terrible thing and God wouldn’t love you less.     The flow of God’s love is constant and total.

    You have nothing to be afraid of. God is on your side, honestly more than you are on your own. We cannot diminish God’s     love. What we can do, is learn how to believe it, receive it, trust it, allow it, and celebrate it.”

 

Ben and his Dad, Cody.

 

This love is what we gather here to remember and to celebrate. Think about it. This is the Good News. God’s all-accepting love is in us and flows outward, accepting and loving others.

 

Zoe, Michelle, Tori and Harper in an important discussion.

 

 

Blind leading the Blind? 

 

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

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

Place: Sigler Elementary, 1400 Janwood Drive, Plano, TX 75075

 

 

The Gang.  Lot of having fun here.  Suspicious behavior.

 

Readings:

Wisdom 12, 13, 16-19,   You judge with clemency

Psalm 86,   Lord, you are good and forgiving.

Romans 8,  26-27,  The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness.

Matthew 13, 1-23,  Kingdom Parables

 

 

Minor elevation time.

 

Community Activities:  

ROMEO MEET: Friday, July , Jason's Deli, Collin Creek Mall, west side of Central, 1:00.  Welcome all wakos,  you will fit right in.   The Old Geezer may be away.

JULIET LUNCHEON, (aka.,just us ladies into eating together), For August,  TBA

 

 

 

Communion for the communion helpers

 

What is going on in Our Catholic World

1. Health Care,   National Catholic Reporter, June 28,   140 words,    Download HEALTH CARE 7-13-17
2. Vatican laws vs practice, Crux,  April, 2016, 600 words,    Download VATICAN LAW VS PRACTICE 7-19-17

 

 

New styles in community foot wear.  Identities?

 

True?

If the enemy is in range, so are you.

Infantry Journal 

 

 

Healing for Sydney & Hugh.

 

See you Sunday.

J.S., 214-783-0443

 

 

Healing for Bern.

 

 

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.

 

 

Peace, Everybody.

Malachi 3:  But for you who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays.

2 Thessalonians 3:  Rather, w wanted to present ourselves as a model for you, so that you might imitate us.

Luke 21:  Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.

     

John and Rosemary will be taking a vacation from 11/16 – 12/1.  John Cade will have Mass on Zoom,  Sunday, 11/20 and Sunday, 11/27.

 

 

Beth reading from Malachi

 

 

Thanks…     

Music,    Ben & Shonda

Readers,  Beth & Rob

Gospel,   John Cade

Homily,  John Stack

Eucharistic Prayer A & B,  John Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,   Hue & Richard & Kevin

Final Blessing, Rosemary

         

                             

Rob reading from Paul's letter to the Thessalonians

 

               

                                                                  

Readings:  Download 11-13-22- Readings – 33rd Sunday Ord

Homily:  

 

 

Brent receives a check for Soul's Harbor

 

 

Remember these special people:

For Jan;  For Tom  Quinn who is having back surgery on November 21st;  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 Madeleine, Richard Eshelbrenner's granddaughter;  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; 

                                                                    

 

The Kiss of Peace

 

 

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.

 

 

Lynda and Izzy

 

   

 

Birthdays:   John Anderlick 11/14, Diane McMahon Bergan 11/17, Frank Esparza 11/18, Cody Mashburn 11/19,  Ron Ackerman 11/22,  John Cade 11/24, 

Anniversaries:   John & Connie Bresson  11/14,  Barb & Ron Senter 11/25, Frank & Mary Esparza 11/28, John & Michelle Simari 11/29

      

Community Finances:   

Expenses: $   2,210.00

Outreach: $   135.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

                 

Barb & Ron get a cookie for their anniversary

 

 

Rosemary's Blessing:  

O God, when I have food,
help me to remember the hungry;
When I have work,
help me to remember the jobless;
When I have a home,
help me to remember those who have no home at all;
When I am without pain,
help me to remember those who suffer,
And remembering,
help me to destroy my complacency;
bestir my compassion,
and be concerned enough to help;
By word and deed,
those who cry out for what we take for granted.
Amen.

 Samuel F. Pugh

 

Genesis 9:  “I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. . . . "

1 Peter 3:  Put to death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the Spirit.

Mark 1: "This is the time of fulfillment.  The kingdom of God is at hand.  Repent and believe in the gospel."

 

 

Genesis  22, 1-2, 10-13, 15-19, God put Abraham to the test

Psalm 16, I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living

1Romans 8, 31-34, If God is with us, who can be against us.

Mark  9, 2-10, He was transfigured.  

 

Dreaming….

 

 

Isaiah 55: …my word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.

Romans 8:  Brothers and sisters: I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us.

Matthew 13:  But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.

    

 

John Stack Ministries now meets at:  The ArtCentre of Plano, 902 E. 16th St, Plano

 

John Cade's homily from last Sunday: Download 07-09-23 Homily -14th Ordinary

 

Information on Jan Keszler's internment and reception: https://ariacremation.com/obituary/janet-lee-keszler/