16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 20, 2025

Readings:

Deuteronomy  18, 15-20,  Moses spoke to all the people.

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

1 Corinthians 7, 32-35,   A married man is anxious about the things of the world.

Mark 1, 21-28,   In the synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit.

Introduction 

In our reading from the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses speaks to the Israelites about the coming of the Prophet, the Messiah, who is the Word of God. Our Responsorial Psalm states, ‘let us come into his presence to show our gratitude,’ for God will shepherd his people by feeding and guiding his flock. The expectation of these readings is realized in today’s reading from Mark.    

Our second reading is from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians on another subject altogether.  It is a good example of why one should always seek first to understand the context in which the text has been placed.  

Homily with Mike:

 Today’s reading from Mark needs to be understood in the context of where it was placed in the gospel.  John the Baptist has just told the people that he is baptizing in water; but when the Messiah comes he will baptize you in living waters; his words that pour forth the Holy Spirit. 

So, Jesus comes to Galilee and these are his first words: ‘The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe in the good news.’

‘The time is fulfilled,’ means that John the Baptist has fulfilled his purpose to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah who will baptize with the Spirit. ‘The kingdom of God is at hand;’ the Messiah, the light of the world, is in their very midst to enlighten those who are in darkness.

The word repent, metanoia, means to have a change of heart, a spiritual conversion. ‘Believe in the good news,’ is an invitation to welcome and live the good news that the Father has sent his Word to redeem us, his only begotten Son. So, Jesus enters the synagogue on the Sabbath.

Why did he do this?  He would teach how and why his good news would fulfill that day’s reading from the Law and/or Prophets.  As Jesus began to teach, the Holy Spirit flows forth from his words into the heart of a man who had been in darkness.  The man’s unclean spirit cries out, ‘I know who you are; the holy one of God.’ Jesus says, ‘Come out of him. Those present are amazed, ‘his words are spoken with authority not like those of the scribes.’ The man’s unclean spirit flees from the presence of the Holy Spirit, just as darkness always flees from the light.

Just before Christmas, Francis gave a spirited last minute Advent teaching to his Curia calling them to have a change of heart, a spiritual conversion from their complacency, petty squabbling, favoritism and gossiping.

To make his intention completely clear, he prefaced each teaching with a selection from the spoken Word of God.  The News releases informed us that a number of the higher ranking members of the Curia felt Francis was out of order for doing this.  The mere fact that some thought they were higher ranking members is reason enough for Francis to chastise them.

Christ taught his disciples to put themselves last and the people they were to serve first.  Don’t follow the hypocrisy of the Scribes who love their gold rings, the clothes they wear, the huge homes they live in, their praying in public places to seek attention, choosing the best seats at banquets…How did things get so out of order for the scribes?

Think about today’s reading from First Corinthians Chapter 7, Paul sets the stage by teaching what is from the Lord, the sacred bond of marriage.  He then says that what he is going to talk about, celibacy, is not from the Lord; it’s from his experience, saying that it was a gift to him; that everyone doesn’t have this gift; there are many gifts. 

However, the readings that we are given, like the one today, that come from Paul, not the Lord, have been understood by the Magisterium to be saying that celibacy is a higher spiritual gift than that of marriage. Not so!

But we have brought it hook, line and sinker.  When a priest celebrates Mass he recognizes himself as Christ.  We should celebrate that recognition!  What we have forgotten is this: in marriage when a husband and wife seek to have a child, they too are making Christ alive to one another and to the World. 

When they coach a child in some sport, or teach a child how to say grace before a meal, they too are being Christ to one another and to the world.  Don’t sell yourself short.  God has no favorites!  Recognize who you are called to be; the Body of Christ in the world during this week.  Being a celibate priest is not a higher spirit gift than being a husband or wife or—a child or a student—or whatever gift it is that you have been given to be.

Readings:

Acts 10, 25-26, 34-35, 44-48, God shows no partiality;

Psalm 98, The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power;

1 John 4, 7-10, Let us love one another; 

John 15, 9-17, I have told you this so my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.

Cole lighting our Easter Candle with his dad, Chuck

An introduction to today’s readings.  We continue reading in Acts. It’s called Acts of the Apostles, but only Peter and Paul are given any space. John is mentioned only 3 times, and for James only his execution by the Emperor Herod is mentioned. So it is more properly Some Acts of Some Apostles.

As Stack said before, we’re pretty sure that Acts was written by Luke who is also the author of the third Gospel. Luke was a Gentile (non-Jewish) from Antioch in Syria, and was a companion of Paul in his travels around Asia Minor, from Antioch, around through Greece, and to Rome. We know Luke was with Paul in Rome when Paul was in prison. Acts was probably written around the time Paul was put to death during his second imprisonment under the Emperor Nero in 64 or perhaps 66 CE.

Our Joanie with Erin

The other readings are from the First Letter of John and the fourth Gospel. Traditionally 4 books of the New Testament were attributed to John the Apostle: the 4^th Gospel, 3 letters and the Book of Revelation. Scholars say that the vocabulary, grammar and style of writing make it unlikely that Book of Revelation was written by the same person responsible for the 4^th Gospel. Some modern Bible scholars raise the possibility that John the Apostle, John the Evangelist who wrote the Gospel and John of Patmos who wrote the Book of Revelation were 3 separate individuals. The First Letter of John reads like a summary of the 4^th Gospel teachings, and the time of writing is probably similar, in the latter part of first century, sometime between 80-100 CE. 

John Blessing all females

Homily

Today’s readings really speak for themselves.  That they happened to fall on Mother’s Day is serendipitous. In Acts we heard that the Good News is for everyone, without exception: “God shows no partiality.”

The Gospel told us what the Good News is: that God is love and is always with us, without exception. “Remain in my love”….”I tell you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy might be full”….“I call you friends.” 

Ryan & Jim sharing their blessings

And the Letter of John gave us the call to respond to the Good News: “Let us love one another…everyone who loves is of God…”  

On Mother’s Day we get to express love and gratitude in a special way for our mothers. Personally, I have never known a Mother who was not doing the very best she knew how. Not everyone, however, gets to have a Mother who consistently protects them, consistently nurtures and teaches them, and consistently loves them as they wish and deserve.  All mothers are somewhere on the continuum of consistency as mothers. All mothers I have known aspire to be good mothers, and good mothers aspire to be even better mothers. Some mothers were actually Aunts or Grandmothers or adoptive mothers. My mother’s mother died giving birth. So my mother’s mother was actually her Aunt Molly.

Torri, along with her mom & grandmom, being blessed

I think one of the reasons Mary, the Mother of Jesus, has received such honor and devotion from us down through the centuries is that, without knowing much about her life, we could easily project on to her an ideal of mothering for us to aspire to. I love it that we can do that today for all our mothers. Mothers aren’t perfect and don’t have to be perfect. We honor our mothers for protecting us, nurturing us, teaching us, and loving us as best they can or could.

My mother, a Methodist of Scotch-Irish descent, immigrated as a young woman from Mississippi to Louisiana in the 1920’s, to teach school in a very small town that was totally Cajun and Catholic. She left everything she knew and moved to live in a ‘foreign’ culture. There she met my father. They fell in love and married. My mother never felt fully accepted by all his family—remember this was 4 generations ago, when Catholics considered themselves the only true believers—everyone else was suspect. She of course had to promise that all her children would be raised Catholic. When my parents’ second child was born, a son, he died right after birth. My Mother was in a hospital in Abbeville where I later grew up, and my father was 10 miles away in the country, where they lived at that time on my grandparent’s plantation.

My father’s sisters apparently told him that my mother wouldn’t want anyone going to the hospital at this time; that she needed time alone before she came home. When I was about 21 my mother confided in me that story, and she finished telling it with the words, “I never forgot it, and I never forgave him.” I share this story, even though it carries her pain, because of what else it told me about her: that even though my mother and father did not have a close/intimate relationship and their married life was a struggle, she was totally dedicated to our family and to being the best mother she could be for us 5 children. And her life was a testament to that.

Jessica, daughter of John & Connie, brother, Kevin, & sister, Renee

We do not get to choose our mothers. But today we get to honor them. However consistent they have been in protecting, nurturing and loving us, we honor all mothers today. We honor them for their dedication, and for their struggles, and for their efforts at mothering us the very best way they know how (or knew how).

The questions I have for us are: whoever mothered us, do we know and appreciate how she was mothered? What was her joy, and what was her pain and her struggle? And how do we honor that in our own lives?

John escorting Bressica, Thompson, CT, near Boston

Acts 5:   So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.

Revelation 5:  "To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor, glory and might, forever and ever."

John 21:  So he said to them, "Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something."  So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish.

John Cade and John Stack start Mass

Thanks…     

Music,   Ben & Shonda

Outreach: $    250.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

Connie and John help with Communion

Rosemary's Blessing:

Walk softly upon the earth.
May its beauty forever surround you,
its wonders forever astound you.

May its wisdom delight you,
its music invite you
to dance and to play and to sing.

May you love and be loved by all that you meet;
may you know and practice compassion.

Rejoice in the earth and in all of creation.
Rejoice in life.

a parting blessing – alfred v. fedak – 2008

Readings: Acts 4, 8-12; Psalm 118, The stone rejected by the builders has become the corner stone; 1 John 3, 1-2; John 10, 11-18, The Good Shepherd 

Acts:  A review–

Date: ca. 70-100 A.D.

Author: Luke, who wrote both the Gospel and Acts

Setting:  Just like the last 2 Sundays, Peter & John have just healed a lame man outside of the temple gate.  The people rush to question them.  They say it happened because of God's power and that Jesus was raised from the dead.  The high priests hear about this and have them arrested.  After telling them to stop saying Jesus was raised from the dead, the two are released.

Our Selection: last week we read Peter's discourse to the local believers in a room.  The week before we read about the quality of life of the local believers, communal.  Today's account is Peter talking to the high priests and elders of the high court.  They are on trial.

John:

Date of Gospel: A.D. 85-95

Author: scholars have doubts that the Apostle John is the writer of the 3 works attributed to John, the Gospel, 3 letters, & Revelation.  Doubts exist even that one writer composed all the works.

The Shepherd Who lays down His Life

Back in the beautiful old days of St. Mark's, during the time when Duffy was our super hospitable pastor, Rita was the housekeeper and the to die for cook, and we had a fun staff with priests like Dean Pratt & Fr. Rudy, we had three marvelous deacons, Arnold Pichon, Mike Carroll, and Bob Scoggins. 

I had the privilege to get to know Arnold especially well when he started out as a novice deacon.  For years we did the Hispanic Mass in the cafetorium at 9:00.  I watched him move from being a rather nervous homilist to being a confident, caring deacon as the years went by.  He was faithful to the community.  He gave his heart to those people and so far as I understand, he still does.  Every Sunday and days in between, whoever the priest is who shows up.

Everybody at St. Marks knew Mike Carroll.  Not only did he tell numerous smaltzie stories in his homilies, standing right down at the base of the altar like I loved to do.  He also made good points and he was always there.  I would arrive for evening penitential services during Lent & Advent.  Who was running the services?  He also dedicated his heart to the people and in particular to the kids in formation programs.

Finally there was Bob Scoggins, whom I love just as much as Arnold and Mike.  Scoggins was always at the 10:30 cafetorium Mass, and from the beginning I admired him for something special.  Bob's wife Trula had MS.  When I started saying the 10:30, Trula was always there in a wheel chair or some kind of conveyance.

The years went on and suddenly it dawned upon me that Trula was not there.  I asked Bob about it and he said Trula had deteriorated and could not get out of bed for long.  I suggested he simply bring her and she could lie on a bed near or on the stage while we had the Mass.  Bob, however, thought it would be too hard & embarrassing for her.

Sometime after that, Trula went on to her reward.  Then, every time Bob gave a homily he would end up in tears talking about Trula's example.  It continued so long that finally I used to tell him before the Mass, "Okay, Scoggins, no tears today!."  Slightly preposterous of me, who deals with tears often enough.  A lot of good it did.  More tears always came.  Finally, somewhere in those golden days, Bob went to stay with Trula.  He gave his heart to the people of St. Mark's and to Trula. 

I was reminded of these terrific guys because we are reading in John about the Good Shepherd who lays down his life.  Scoggins was a Good Shepherd and laid down his life, his whole heart for Trula and the people.

Arnold and Mike are Good Shepherds.  They are still pouring out their hearts and their lives for the people.  It don't get better than these guys.

You might think, "Well, nice, but I don't see anybody else besides these deacons.  Plus, that is their job."  Look around some more.  Try Julia Grenier who started the Collin County Adult Clinic.  Try Rita Dore who played such a marvelously hospitable compliment to Duffy and who baby sat The Man through so much.  She was there in the background, but likewise playing the role of The Good Shepherd, pouring out her heart & her life for us guys.

My old coach, teacher, and Scout Master at Christ the King was a Good Shepherd to me.  Frank Hart.  He gave me his life. 

Two questions:

        1.  Who is your model for The Good Shepherd?

        2.  How are You a Good Shepherd?

AUDIO:  http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2009-05-03.mp3

Picture 1:  Mass with Kevin helping

Picture 2:  Choir, Wendy, Ray, & Celeste

Picture 3:  Our Father, Kevin, Patricia, & Bill

Picture 4:  The Ekes, Zalie, Cindy, Marlene, Bobby, Mabel, & Debbie

Readings: Isaiah 42, 1-7; Psalm 29; Acts 10, 34-38; Matthew 3, 13-17, The Baptism

Isaiah: After 6 weeks of marvelous visions of the future, the writers of Isaiah today present a contrary vision, actually a vision of suffering that will characterize the savior.  Instead of a conquering hero, we are given a Suffering Servant.  There are three or four of these Suffering Servant Songs in the book of Isaiah, and they certainly were not the common expectation of the people.

There are two parts to today’s selection.  The second part is a beautiful description of how Yahweh, despite suffering, will help us to open the eyes of the blind and free people imprisoned and living in darkness.

The Story of Cuernavaca

Last summer our community sent $2500 to two women, a mother & daughter, living in a garage in Cuernavaca.  The money was a grant & a loan to help them start a small pharmacy.  Over the Christmas holiday Rosemary & I had the privilege to see how far they have progressed.

If you remember, I requested the help for a number of reasons.  First of all and obviously, they have virtually nothing and I for-see the day when Maria Luisa, the mother will pass on.  She has already had three primary sources of cancer.  I could see Karina struggling to live some day, while dealing with the fact that her mobility is so limited because she is crippled from childhood polio.

Karina, Maria Luisa, & I had talked about the day when Karina would be alone.  Out of the conversations came the idea that Karina could open a small Mexican pharmacy, which is more like our small convenience stores.  She had already worked in her aunt’s store and knew the business.  Moreover, despite their lack of formal education, I pick up how intelligent & savvy Karina is.  I often tell her she has a gift for teaching if she could only get the education and certification.  She has not been able to do this, even if I supported her, because she has had to care for her sick mother over the past five or six years.

The state of their progress is this.  The women have opened a small shop in an arcade.  They are selling candles and tea and similar items.  Karina tells me that she was not able to get a license from the government to run a little non-prescription pharmacy.  I had thought that she would have had an advantage in getting a license with her disability.  But no.

A couple of observations.

First, I was impressed with their ingenuity and creativity.  Instead of getting discouraged and defeated, they moved in a slightly different direction.  They found a place that is about 20 minutes by bus from their neighborhood, saying that they did not want to pay the higher rent for a place closer to home.  They did some do diligence to find this place in the middle of a busy neighborhood with lots of shops. 

Secondly, initially I was not excited about selling candles.  Can you make a living off of candles & tea?  However, looking at how proud they were of their clean little shop I could not help but think they will make it.  Karina is too street smart to lose.  They spend a few pennies on the bus and they tell me they will be open seven days a week.  Really they don’t have much at home, so the shop may be like a home.

If they succeed with this venture, I have told them that we are giving them a loan. Pay back is not to us but to people they know who really need help in Cuernavaca. 

Finally, both Rosemary & I were humbled that we could be the bearers of such joy and optimism.   I am grateful to all of you who made this dream come true. 

AUDIO: http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2008-01-13.mp3

Jackie’s HOLLAND: Download welcome_to_holland.doc

Rosemary’s Blessing:

May you always have walls for the wind, a roof for the rain, tea by your fire,              laughter to cheer you, those you love near you, and all that you heart may desire.

Readings:

Isaiah  55, 10-11,   My word shall not return to me void.

Psalm 65,   The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.

Romans 8, 18-23,  We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains.

Matthew  13, 1-23,  A sower went out to sow.

Kevin says, "Welcome, Everybody, It is good to be back home.

Isaiah, The Great One, observations—

Who:  One of the Big 3 prophets, the greatest in my estimation.  Jeremiah and Ezekiel are the other two.  Actually, the book includes the work of 3 prophets.   Our selection is the last chapter written by Isaiah 2.

Time:  Isaiah 2 was living during the Babylonian Captivity, ca. 555.  Isaiah 1 writes before the Captivity, maybe 150 years.  Isaiah 3 writes after the return to Jerusalem.

Georgie also says, "Hi, Everybody, It is fun to be home again."

Subject today: better times will come.  I am expanding today’s passage, because it is so good.

Isaiah 2 has some of the most beautiful passages, many of which are seen as foretelling the coming of the Savior.  His readings are used all through the Advent & Christmas readings, as well as in Lent.  Handel uses Isaiah 2 in his marvelous work, The Messiah.

Both the Isaiah reading and Psalm 65 are beautiful.  

And Zoe, Tori, and Buddy all say, "Hi, Folks, it is so fun to be back again."

And My Seed Landed Where?

This morning I would like to talk about how Jesus is said to describe how the farmer’s seed is scattered on four different types of ground, the path, the rocks, the thorns, and the fertile.  Where did your seed fall?  Where did my seed fall?  I’m sure a lot of volunteers would be happy to let me know where my seed fell.

If you are a sinful gambler poker player you would look at this explanation and notice the bad odds, one out of four.  I would propose, however, that we all landed on fertile soil.  Let me offer some examples. 

I’ve shared this example once before, so you might remember it, but probably not. 

Cupcake of The Week to John on his birthday.

When I was a little kid about 5 years old, I was playing in the driveway of our house in University Park.  There were no fences and the drive went from the street, through the space between our house and the neighbor’s, and to the back up against the alley. 

The neighbor was Sam Berger, who owned a hat store in downtown Dallas.  He was Jewish and lived next to us all during the Holocaust.  I was oblivious to it all.  He & his wife had a big black lady who not only worked in the house, but lived in the back in an apartment attached to the garage, the servant quarters.  This black lady was not nice to me.

And a Cupcake of The Week to Beth on her birthday.

So this day as I am playing in the driveway, the lady steps out of the kitchen door & stands on the steps.  Without thinking, I say, “You are a big fat elephant.”

To the lady’s credit, she marches right across the drive and tells my mom.  My mom comes out of the house, drags me in, and spanks me.  Thinking back, I am impressed that my mom respected the lady.  The spanking, however, and her treatment of me confirmed my suspicions that my seed had fallen at least on the path or rocks, if not right on the thorns.   I definitely grew up with the belief that I was a bad kid. 

And a Cupcake of The Week to Harper for her 3rd birthday about 3 weeks late.

Despite the fact that you folks might agree with that assessment, I would propose that I was just a normal little boy doing silly things. 

This habit of doing silly, not bad things, can continue into adult years.  I know a guy who gets on his bike and rides off for an hour leaving the driver’s door of his car wide upon. 

I know a lady who last week let her Lincoln run out of gas in rush hour traffic.  Her husband, a bit nettled, brought gas, but then could not start the car.  It had to be towed.

Zoe seriously at work.

I know a dear friend who drove into her garage with a canoe strapped to the top of her car. 

You do this stuff and you begin to believe the bad news, ‘I am a loser, I am bad, my seed obviously landed in the ditch.” 

And then there are the malicious acts.  You know where I come in on this.  Kids hurt and abused grow up to hurt and abuse.  They are not bad.  They are damaged. 

So, who landed on fertile soil?  All of us.  God don’t make bad seed.

So, what do you think about all this?

Emma and her pal say, "It is so nice to be here."