Homily for January 7, 2007 – The Epiphany

Readings: Isaiah 60, 1-6; Psalm 72; Ephesians 3, 2-6; Matthew 2, 1-12.

Isaiah

When you hear the writer of Isaiah say this morning, “Jerusalem, Rise up in Splendor,” think of Tony Romo, who just lost that game last night.  He & all Cowboy fans are depressed this morning.  Tony is Jerusalem and Yahweh is telling him that his day has really come, that he will win.

The Jews are depressed because they have been defeated by the Babylonians.  Their whole town has been defeated and they are captives, paying for their sinful ways.  The Isaiah writer is saying to the Jewish people, and by extension to all of us, winning is on the horizon. 

For us Christians, we are looking back and saying we have won, won redemption with the arrival of our savior.

 

Ephesians

Paul writes to the people Ephesian people to let them know that God’s plan for redemption includes the Gentiles, not just the Jews.  In the gospel the magi come.  They, as Gentiles, represent us non-Jews.

 

The Three Gifts

A week ago Saturday Rosemary & I arrived by bus at one of the most beautiful colonial towns in southern Mexico, Oaxaca. The town has had trouble since the summer and especially in November.  Teachers went on strike during the summer and when the government seemed to attack them aggressively, a spark ignited a broader based demonstration.  As a result tourism, the life blood of many in the town especially around Christmas, was wiped out.  No one came, except Rosemary & me & a few other hearty souls.

The evening we arrived we went down to the town square, a jewel with giant shade trees, sidewalk cafes on three sides, Christmas lights, kids, families, balloons, perfect weather, and a beautiful gazebo in the middle. A band was playing at the gazebo. Lined up in front of the band were a hundred or so chairs. People were dancing. We danced. It was enchanting. At one point as we stood listening to the music, a woman walked up to us and said in English, “Thank you for coming to Oaxaca this year.”

I was stunned almost into silence and struck by two things.

First, that she came forward and thanked us. The gift of thanks again.

Secondly, that our presence was a gift to her and the people. 

This is what the three kings did. They came, they shared their presence and each shared a special gift, gold, frankincense, & myrrh.

I would suggest that we, too, are challenged to present ourselves to others with our special gifts.  What are the gifts? 

I think our presence in that magical town square brought at least support & encouragement.  If I ask myself what I want to give to another it is peace, acceptance, and fun.

What special gifts do you want to give to your people? (Please feel free to post a comment answering the question.)

 

Special Thanks:

 

For reading, Jean Atwood & Scott Shaw

For the Altar Bread, Ray & Claire Occhipinti

For Serving, Carmen & Ashley

For the Altar & donuts, Margie Dugan & Jackie Ritter

For the Books & Communion Cups, Roy & Carol Strom, & Beth Robinson                        

For ushering & all sorts of jobs, Cliff Wright

For the music, Ray & Shonda, Roy, Hue, Rick & Jackie

Download the homily as an mp3 file.

Similar Posts

  • Sunday Homily, October 29, 2017, 30th Ordinary Time

      IMG_0314

     

    Sir Charlie, we have hardly even started and  you are already booing.

     

    Readings:

    Exodus  22, 20-26,  You shall not molest or oppress an alien.

    Psalm 18,  I love you, Lord, my strength

    Thessalonians 1, 5-10,  You know what sort of people we were among you.

    Matthew 22, 34-40,  Which commandment is the greatest.

     

     

    IMG_0315

     

    And here we have some nice people, Becky & Tom & Mike.

     

    Exodus observations–

    What: One of the great books of the Bible, the second book of the O.T.  A good read.  The name  means 'departure' and refers to one of the most important events in Israel's history, the departure of the people of Israel from Egypt where they had become slaves after going there to escape drought in their own land.

    Author: not Moses, but a bunch of people putting together the story most likely after the Babylonian Captivity, therefore around 555 before Christ.

     

    IMG_2022

     

    She is back, Folks, Wendy with her little one.

     

     

    Our selection:   comes from the "Book of the Covenant," that is, the law or commandments.

    The materials in the book are akin to many legal codes of the ancient Near East, the most famous of which is the Code of Hammurabi, 20th Century before Christ.

    Today's reading comes from a section of the code dealing with the laws of social conduct.  They inculcate a social ethic based upon compassion.  Abstract justice is not enough, especially for the underprivileged.  The lesson was obviously chosen to go with the summary of the Law that forms the gospel reading. 

    Watch how Yahweh (that is, the person writing in Yahweh's name) says he is compassionate just after declaring he will kill certain types of people if they are not compassionate.

     

    IMG_1991

     

    Our Dear Emma in action, The Candle Lighter of The Week.

     

     

    Matthew observations–

    What:  another example of the cultural game of "gotcha," a set up.  How this works you got to know the background…

    Background:  The Pharasees identified 613 commandments in the Torah (first 5 books of the O.T.)  248 were positive ("thou shalt"), and 365 were negative ("thou shalt not").  How could anyone remember all of them?  Were some more important than others?  If you choose one, what about another??

     

    IMG_0313

     

    Wake up, Tori, you are missing a marvelous story.

     

     

    See where we are going?   Our Gospel, "the Greatest Commandment?"  Matthew has the the Pharasees ask this question to put Jesus into a bind.  But again, Jesus slips their trap.  

    Some teachers distinguished between "heavy" and "light" commandments.  The "Ten" are examples of the heavies.  An example of a light commandment is in Deut. 22, 6-7, which stipulates that a person who finds a bird's nest with a mother sitting on eggs or with young may take the young but must let the mother go.  The reason for observing all these commandments: "That it may go well with you, and that you may live long."  (Deut. 5, 16; 22, 7)

    Resources: The New Interpreters Study Bible; St. Louis U. Liturgical @ Liturgical.slu.edu

     

     

    IMG_2012

     

    Communion for All.

     

     

    Here comes Thanksgiving ! 

    Bet you cannot guess why this Sunday is special to me!  It is tree planting Sunday!

    This struck me as I was looking for something in the readings that moved me.  I honestly did not find it.  But, suddenly I remembered that this was a busy weekend for me, probably for about 15 years.  The tree project was always connected with Thanksgiving, which is only about 4 weeks away.  Let me tell you how this got started.

     

     

    IMG_1974

     

    The Great Book Swap.

     

    I was just back from ca. 10 years in East Africa by 1990.  I was grateful to be back in the States after being in countries a bit dangerous, like, for instance, Uganda during the time of Idi Amin. 

    I have loved to plant trees ever since my years as a Boy Scout at Christ the King.  I did it everywhere I went, Toronto & East Africa, for instance.   In 1990 I was living in the Jesuit community at the high school.  I began to plant trees on the campus.  I quickly ran out of space and started on Inwood Road.   The project had begun. 

     

     

    IMG_1985

     

    Georgie, witnessing a Miracle?

     

    I started using the Sunday before Thanksgiving as planting day, and after a couple of years realized it was too busy a time.  So we moved the date to the last weekend of October, always with the theme of Thanksgiving.  For me, gratitude to be home. 

    You may remember our last big planting, one Sunday after our Mass at Vines.   We planted 400 trees on the campus of Plano Senior High, in about two hours or less, from 12:00 to 2:00.   A picnic was scheduled for 3:00.   Most everybody stopped in by 2:00.  Then were gone by 3:00.

     

     

    IMG_1989

     

    "Miracle?   What miracle?," says Buddy, more fascinated by the bricks.

     

    The Thanksgiving build up has begun, Folks.  I’ll probably ask this 3 more Sundays.  What are you grateful for this year? 

     

      IMG_2024

     

    Thanks, Brent, for the marvelous ministry you do as director of Souls Harbor.

  • Sunday Homily 6-15-08, Fathers” Day

    Readings: Exodus 19, 2-6; Psalm 100; Romans 5, 6-11; Matthew 9, 36-10, 8.

    Exodus: The second book of the Torah or Pentateuch, following the book of Genesis.  The book describes probably the greatest event in Israel's history, the departure of the people from Egypt under the leadership of Moses.  Today's selection is simply Yahweh's reminder to the people that if they are faithful and good to him, they will prosper.

    Diloon & Audry

    A Fathers' Day Story

    When I was a Jesuit and lived in Tanzania about 10 miles west of the mountain, Kilimanjaro there was a small Jesuit house.  I used it as a base, coming back to it after months traveling around the country giving seminars to nuns & priests. 

    One Sunday afternoon I wanted to go up the mountain about 7000 feet to a Capuchin monastery & convent where my team & I gave a lot of the seminars.  I took my travel bag, walked to the town bus park, and boarded a rattle trap old bus just departing for a little village just below the monastery, a trip that would take me 90 minutes.

    Half way down the road to the cut off to go up the mountain the old bus pooped out.  Everybody gets off and stands around.  Shortly, miracle of miracles, another old rust bucket of a bus headed up the mountain comes along.  Most did not want to pay two fares, so they stayed.  I, however, hopped on an already overloaded antique. We take the cut off and headed up the mountain.  The bus huffs & puffs, the gears scream & groan, steam starts seeping from under the hood.  You guessed it: the bus dies just as the road begins to seriously ascend.  

    It is now about 6:00 or 6:15.  Because we are right on the equator and twilight always lasts just 20-30 minutes, I know I have only about half an hour to get to the monastery.  I have a decision: stay on the switch back road and take an hour or take shortcuts which may get me there in 30 minutes.  I chose the shortcuts. 

    30 minutes did not get me to the monastery.  In fact, it got me into total blackness.  I could see almost nothing.  I know generally where I am but I cannot see even the trail.  Somewhere amid the darkness through the forest of banana trees that are cultivated at this level, I see a dim light from a kerosene lantern and head toward it. It is a family's hut.

    I walk up speaking the Swahili word for 'hello,' 'hodi.'  A lady comes to the door and is very hospitable even though I must have scared her.  However, she is Catholic like almost all the members of her Chaga tribe which lives on the mountain.  She is used to white priests. 

    I tell her, of course, that I am headed for the monastery & cannot find the way because of the dark. She calls to one of her children, a little boy of probably 6 years.  She tells him to take me to monastery and off we go up the trail.

    I can hardly see this little kid and he just zooms silently along climbing all the time.  We pass other little family huts with faint lights, we walk in total darkness, and eventually he brings me to a point from which I can see the lights of the monastery above.

    I thank this shy little boy, hug him probably, and he disappears back down the trail while I walk up to the monastery.  I  never saw him or his mother again, and I could hardly find their house in the daytime.  

    For me this story has a metaphor quality.  It is like a parable.  College educated priest lost in the dark and guided to the light by a little boy.

    Sometimes we are the guide, the nurturer.  Other times we are the priest in the dark who needs guidance and the guide may be a small creature, a child.

    I see the child guiding us to three things: to simplicity, to interdependence, and to play.

    Mary

    • A child may like a lot of Stuff, but can self entertain with the simplest toy. I saw so many kids in Tanzania play soccer with a home made ball.
    • A child cannot exist along, independent of others. As we get older we love our independence. We shun co-dependence. The child teaches us to interdepend.
    • A child especially helps me to value & engage in play. The Type A does not play.

    We celebrate Fathers' Day today, which is mostly a celebration of the nurturing side of dad.  For this moment, you dads, how do you come to greater light through kids?

    AUDIO: http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2008-06-15.mp3

    In honor of Fathers' Day we have some helpful communication hints.  Nobody ever gave me such valuable information before my marriage. 

    Download 9_words_women_use.doc

     

  • Sunday Homily 4-12-09, Easter

    Readings: Acts 10, 34-43; Psalm 118 (This the Day the Lord had made; let us Rejoice and be Glad); Colossians 3, 1-4; Mark 16, 1-7 (from Saturday night readings)

    Easter Mass 4-12-09

    Acts: 

    Author: Most likely Luke, who wrote the Gospel with his name and who followed and copied some of Mark's material. 

    Date: ca. 70-100 A.D., therefore ca. 40 years after the death of Jesus. 

    Subject: the ministry of Paul & the 12 Apostles after the death of Jesus.

            Chapters 1-8 deal with the Resurrection, Ascension, & Pentecost (Holy Spirit)

            Chapters 8- 28 deal with Paul's conversion & ministry.

    Guess who 4-12-09

    Today's selection: Two visions/dreams have just occurred:

            1. Cornelius, a captain in the Roman army and a Gentile, has a vision in which he is instructed to go to a town called Joppa and talk with a man named Peter.

            2.  Peter has a vision in which a sheet held by its 4 corners comes down and is full of all kinds of animals.  A voice says, "Eat."  Peter refuses because of the law of ritual impurity, i.e., some animals are ritually impure and it is prohibited to eat them.  But the voice insists.  At this point three of Cornelius' people arrive and invite him to come to Cornelius' house.  This vision symbolizes that even Gentiles who are ritually impure are invited to the new Christian community.

    Our selection takes up just after Peter arrives are Cornelius' house, finds a group of Cornelius' friends, is invited to speak to them, and he begins.  The following is what he says to the group of Gentiles gathered in Cornelius' house.

    Meaning of the Word Easter: the origin of the use of Easter seems lost in history.  Probably not from Latin, which uses pasqua.  Probably not coming from a German goddess of spring, which some have suggested.  May have emerged from early Celtic converts (British Isles), who wanted to use their own words for Christian feasts, rather than Latin words.

    Quads 2

    The Easter Event Today

    I think it was last Tuesday morning.  I had come out into the yard in front of our house to let Aviana do her business.  Suddenly around the corner comes a little black Prius which I recognize.  The window comes down and one of Aviana's favorite neighbors stops to give her a little loving. 

    The neighbor who is so friendly asks how we are all doing and was I getting the spring weddings going.  I said that, yes, we had weddings for all the weekends of May except one and that one weekend we had two weddings.  I also mentioned that I was looking forward to a fun Easter Sunday with an Easter egg hunt for the kids.

    She then mentions that Lent has passed by in a flash and that she has paid no attention to it and really did nothing special.  Am I hearing maybe some minor Catholic guilt?  I'm also thinking to myself that this woman is just terrific as she is.  She does not need to do anything special for Lent.  I mean she loves Aviana and she is friendly to me.  That in itself is extraordinary.  But she also goes back & forth in front of our house it must be a dozen times a day ferrying her 4 kids to numerous events.  On top of that, she teaches at SMU. 

    I thought about this friendly lady as I started looking around in my daily life for a recent Easter event.  You know what I think an Easter event is.  It is something or someone which gives me greater peace and life. 

    Good Friday 1, 4-12-09

    Initially as I looked back over the past six weeks since we started Lent, I thought of the week I spent in Galveston with the 50 kids from St. Bonaventure U. in Buffalo, NY.  That was a dramatic Easter event for me. 

    Way back I had talked about making Lent a time of service and greater sensitivity.  I hit the jackpot with the Galveston trip.   The generosity and desire of those kids to donate their spring break to service gave me a ton of peace and life.  I still feel the effect of them in my life.

    I am aware that I lucked out with the Galveston trip.  Just to be able to get away for the week.  Like Rosemary who is working now in downtown Dallas, the majority of you cannot walk away from your job for a week.  However, if Lent has passed you by quickly and you look back with any guilt, I would say, "Get rid of it." 

    The sensitivity begins now. 

    What is the Easter event in your life today?

    AUDIO:  ttp://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2009-04-12.mp3

    Good Friday 2, 4-12-09

    Picture 1:  Easter Mass with Noah helping

    Picture 2:  Guess Who Made it!

    Picture 3:  Second time ever!

    Picture 4:  Good Friday Stations

    Picture 5:  Good Friday Stations at the Robinson's house

  • Sunday Homily, February 17, 2008, 2nd Lent

    Readings: Genesis 12, 1-4; Psalm 33; 2 Timothy 1, 8-10; Matthew 17, 1-9.

    Genesis: Like last week we have a selection from Genesis.  I mentioned that 5 main characters make up the book, Adam & Eve (& family), Noah, Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob.  Last week we looked at Adam & Eve & how the author thought bad might have entered the world.

    Today we look at how the Jewish people thought their nation came into existence.  Abraham is like George Washington.  He is seen as divinely appointed, just as the people thought they were divinely appointed.  Remember, these events took place ca. 1500 B.C.

    Unpack Your Backpack

    The last two weeks we talked about two secrets to making a marriage relationship successful.  The first secret was Never Divorce, Murder Often, meaning divorce is a non-negociable, while playful murder is healthy.  Divorce is considered only when the three "A’s" enter: abuse, addiction, adultery.

    Tom_z

    Last week we said that there are No Perfect Marriages, only Perfect Moments."  Had any perfect moments this week?  The transfiguration talked about in today’s gospel was a perfect moment.  I would consider the two as synonymous.  Perfect moments are transfigurations.

    Today’s secret: Unpack Your Backpack.

    What does this mean? 

    First, put all your junk out on the ground.  No hidden deals, nothing kept hidden in the backpack.  This junk includes embarrassments, longings, and fears.  Those fears of being rejected, of being stupid and ugly, of heights, of lightning, anything. 

    One thing I don’t encourage people to talk about: previous relatiionships.  My idea is that these relationships are no longer lying around in the backpack.  They were dumped out months or years earlier and only create tension if they are brought out and shared with the person I love now. Nothing is accomplished by talking about previous relationships.  In fact, a certain amount of uncertainty can creep in, especially if the person listening is even slightly insecure.

    Secondly, the hidden package in the backpack.  What is it?  My defenses.  What does it mean. Disarm.  Lay down thy defenses.  Frustrations and annoyances creep into a relationship.  Not dealt with they become sore spots.  I get hurt, get offensive, get hurt again, then get more defensive.  I become crabby & irritable or passive aggressive.  Passive aggressive means I am really mad, aggressively riled up, but show it by not talking.  This can go on for hours, sometimes days.  I can get into this & Rosemary calls me on it.  Which is a gift.

    Occasionally when talking with a couple I find that each one is blaming the other.  Then one will say, "on that occasion, yes, I was passive aggressive."  Or, "Yes, I wanted to hurt you."  When I hear this, I cheer.  The person has just laid down arms. The person has admitted, confessed, let it out of the backpack.  Then a new relationship can begin.

    Thirdly, what about frustrations and irritations that creep into the backpack, like I just talked about and that lead to defensive positions?  Don’t bury them in the backpack.  How do I get a place where I can disarm?  Three steps.

    Denni_z

    • Talk about what is frustrating me or irritating me.  A Behavior?  Driving, eating, neatness, responsibility for house chores, and so on.  Use "I" statements as much as possible instead of "You, you, you" statements that blame.  "I’m uncomfortable when…"  This has to be done not in the heat of the irritation, but later when I am peaceful and the setting is peaceful.
    • Then I can make a request for a change.  "Could we talk about driving?"  "I feel scared when…"
    • Next, acceptance. Some things may not get changed.  Then what?  Dump the relationship or be defensive all my life or accept?  I cannot expect all the behavior changes to be changed.  Thus, I got to change, if I want to have a relationship.  Acceptance of the other has to be part of a relationship, whether between spouses or friends.

    As I mentioned last week this is pertinent to friendships, just as much as marriages.

    With whom do I have this kind of relationship and how am I keeping my backback clean?

    AUDIO: http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2008-02-17.mp3

  • Sunday Homily, December 6, 2015, 2nd Advent

    Leo 2

                                     Bonjour et Bienvenu, Mes Amis.

     

    Readings:

     Baruch  5, 1-9,  Jerusalem, put on the splendor of glory.

    Psalm 126,    The Lord has done great things for us, we are filled with joy.

    Advent special: Pope Francis,' Laudato Si (Praise to you).

     

    Wittek 1

                        Leighton, too, says, "Welcome, Everybody."

     

    A Reading from Pope Francis’ Letter on the Environment:

    In some countries there are positive examples of environmental improvement: rivers, polluted for decades, have been cleaned up; native woodlands have been restored; advances have been made in the production of non-polluting energy and in the improvement of public transportation. These achievements show that men and women are capable of intervening positively.

    At the same time we can note the rise of a false or superficial ecology which bolsters complacency and a cheerful recklessness.  In periods of deep crisis requiring bold decisions, we are tempted to think that what is happening is not entirely clear.  Superficially, apart from a few obvious signs of pollution and deterioration, things do not look that serious, and the planet could continue as it is for some time.  

    Such evasiveness serves as a license to carry on with our present lifestyles and models of production and consumption. This is the way humans contrive to feed self-destructive habits: trying not to see reality, trying not to acknowledge reality, delaying important decisions and pretending that nothing will happen.

    The word of Pope Francis.

    Luke,  3,  1-6,  Prepare the way of the Lord.

     

    Wittek 2

                                 Warren says, "What's going on around here?"

    Baruch:

        What: One of the little books (only 5 chapters) of what I'll call The Odd Books.  That is, it is not one of the big 3, nor one of the 12 little prophetic books, nor part of the N.T.  It is part of a dozen small books in between.  Most Protestant churches  don't recognize the legitimacy The Odd Books.

         Author:  Baruch was Jeremiah's secretary. Maybe he wrote some of the material, but it was not put together.  Remember, he & Jeremiah lived before & during the Babylonian Captivity.  There are 4 small discourses.  Compilation of the total work seems to have taken place later,  Most likely some anonymous person or persons a few centuries after Jeremiah. 

     

    Denni-Cathy

                         Who let these two characters in?  

     

    Date of composition: maybe during the  Maccabees' revolt ca. 100 before Christ.   If so,  the little book intends to strengthen resistance of the Jews during the Macabeean Revolt, using the Babylonian model to encourage the people.

          Our passage: a message of optimism, hope, peace, and a victorious new day.  The passage reflects 2nd Isaiah's message (chapter 40), which is likewise quoted in Luke's gospel for today.  The famous 2nd Isaiah: Luke uses this source to build his nativity narrative.  See also the lyrics of Handel's Messiah.

    Sources:  Good New Bible.

     

    Advent candles

                                              2nd Sunday of Advent, two candles.

     

    It’s Coming, It’s Coming, It’s Here!

    I would like to talk this morning about the fact that it is coming, it is coming, it is here.  That is, Christmas.  I would propose that there is a richness, a joy, and a peace in the time leading up to Christmas, as well as Christmas itself.

    A little story.

    When Rosemary & I were with her sister and brother in law in Hilton Head, we spent an evening watching a comedy film called Christmas with the Kranks.  At first I thought this was just going to be a goofy movie, which it was.  But it had a message inside the comedy. It goes like this.

     

    Buddy, Tori, Zoe

             Guess who lit those candles, Buddy, Victoria, and Zoe.

     

    A couple in probably their 40’s had a daughter who was going to Peru to work as a Peace Corp volunteer.   They were both depressed.  At that point, Luther, the husband decided to buy tickets on a Christmas Caribbean cruise.   That got them both excited. 

    Luther also decided that they would simply skip Christmas at their home, no decorations and no holiday socializing when they normally had a big Christmas Eve party.

     

    Georgie-Kevin 1

                                     The Team, Georgie & Kevin

     

    First thing that happens, the Scouts come with Luther’s annual Christmas tree, the kids’ annual fundraiser.  Luther says, “No Christmas tree this year.”  This causes quite a commotion & pushback.  Scrooge gets mentioned.

    Then the police come selling their annual calendar.  They get turned away and are not happy.  Then the neighborhood wants Luther to put up his plastic snowman on the roof.  “Not this year,” says Luther. 

     

    Harper 1

                                                      Hi, Harper.

     

    By now Luther and Nora have everyone mad at them, the Scouts, the Police, and all the neighbors.  One old neighbor across the street gives it to Luther.  His wife has cancer.

    The couple are counting days to departure when on Christmas Eve morning their daughter, Blair, calls to say that she has decided to do Christmas with them, is in like Miami and will arrive home in the afternoon, and is bringing with her a Peruvian guy she wants them to meet.  She plans to wed him.  Plus she is so looking forward to all their annual decorations, the big Christmas Eve party, and snow. 

     

    Tori-Michelle

                             Victoria and her favorite Mommy.

     

    Luther and Nora are delighted, speechless, and aghast.  What to do?  They reverse field and start racing around to decorate and set up the Christmas Eve party.  Luther even borrows a decorated Christmas tree from a neighbor who will be away for Christmas.   Some of the Scouts help him take it to his house.

    It all gets done, the over the top decorations, the party to which the neighbors come, and the daughter with her new fiance’ gets her snow. 

     

    Food Drive 1

                                          Some of today's food drive.

     

    The coup de grace comes when Luther slips away from the party and crosses the street to the grumpy neighbor and his wife with the cancer.  Luther gives the couple their cruise tickets. 

    The lesson from the movie?   The value of community, of friends, and of family.

     

    Gen 2

                   Genevieve says, "I think it is time for me to start moving around."

     

    This is what we try to build here on Sundays, what Rosemary & I try to build at Hilton Head, our Romeos & ladies’ luncheons, and next Saturday, the marvelous Love for Kids picnic.

    How are you sharing The Spirit?

     

    Gorilla

                    Our friendly gorilla says he appreciates all hugs.

     

     

     

  • Sunday Homily, July 3, 2016, 14th Sunday Ordinary Time

    Readings:                          

    Isaiah   66,  10-14,  Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad.  

    Psalm 66,  Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

    Galatians 6, 14-18,     Peace and mercy be all who follow.

    Luke 10, 1-12, 17-20,  The kingdom of God is at hand.

     

    Dana 1

     

    Says Dana, "Good Morning, Everybody, welcome in."
     

     

     

    Readings observations: 

    Isaiah 66:  This is the very last chapter of  The Great Isaiah, so you can guess it is upbeat and hopeful for the future.  The Israeli people have just returned from the Babylonian Captivity to discover a totally destroyed Jerusalem.  It will get better, he says, rejoice.

    Psalm 66:  66 seems to be the number this week.  

    Also, these two readings talking about joy and rejoicing are so apt for our July 4 celebration.  I want to talk about July 4.

     

     

    Gorilla

     

    Our Community mascot Mr. Gorilla, likewise, says, "Come in, You All."

     

    Happy July 4

    It is July 4 time and I would like to talk this morning about why I am happy to be an American.  I was sharing my ideas with Rosemary, an advantage to being a married priest (or maybe not), and she said, “Can’t you find reasons a little more dramatic, a little more universal?”  So, my reasons are just my own homey variety. 

    I do claim a certain unique perspective because of living in East Africa for about 10 years.  I admit there were a few occasions when I was grateful I had the American embassy as a refuge in case I got into some trouble.  I can certainly remember looking at the American flag flying over the embassy in Nairobi, Kenya and being grateful and thinking, ‘Yes, that’s my country.”

     

    Kevin 1

     

    Sez Sir Charlie to Kevin, "Kevin, wouldn't you like to buy cheap my almost  new, beautiful, smooth running Studebaker?"

     

     

    So, here are 3 reasons why I am delighted to be an American this summer.   Natural beauty and people beauty with two parts.

    First, the natural beauty.  There certainly are beautiful places in East Africa, for instance.  Like Kilimanjaro, which I climbed 5 times & the Serengeti game park.  Likewise, in Italy, the Amalfi Coast, Cinque Terre, even Rome. 

     

    Music 2

    The Best Music, Bethany and David.

     

    In the States we have the Rockies of CO, Grand Canyon, the beaches, like Gulf Shores, AL.  For me, there is nothing better than Yosemite.   But, you say, I live in Dallas.  Beware there is natural beauty here, too.  Try White Rock Lake, try the White Rock Creek trail.  I ride this trail and wonder sometimes, ‘Am I truly in Dallas,’ it is so wild and wooded. 

    A few weeks ago, thanks to the Collin Classic bike rally, I just discovered in Plano the Oak Point Park.  Is this really Dallas?

    I love the natural beauty we have in America.

     

    Offertory 1

    The Offertory Crew, Laura (whom I knew when she was a nice little girl), Sandra, and Ann.

     

     

    Then there is the people beauty.   Don’t laugh.  I propose the trustworthiness of people. 

    Want to see an amazing phenomenon?   Park yourself on a corner of one of the small towns we will pass through in three weeks on the bike rally through Iowa.  You will see maybe more than a thousand bikes hitched to parking cables and lying on the ground, not one with a lock. 

    I park in front of a grocery store, put my helmet on the handle bar, walk in, get what I want, and return to my unlocked bike. 

     

    The Gang 2

     

    Today's community.

     

     

    Want to see another phenomenon?  The hospitality of people.  Join me to ride the Hotter ‘n Hell Hundred the end of August.   There are 10 rest stops, like every 10 miles.  Each stop is loaded with bushels of volunteers overflowing with hospitality. 

    I have my two favorites, 30 and 75.  At the 30 mile there is a group of elderly ladies (maybe many younger than I) who personally bake dozens of 6 varieties of cookies.  They positively blow me away and every year I tell them they are my favorite stop of all. 

     

    Richard 1

     

    Richard, this Bellvita goes to Carol with an abundance of love and powerful karma on her birthday, that she does well with the chemo beginning Friday.

     

     

    What are you proud about this year?

    Happy July 4.

     

    Today's team 1

     

    Today's team.  All the world is on vacation this week, and certainly all our kids.