26th Sunday, Ordinary Time, 9/26/2021

Numbers 11, Would that all the people for the Lord were prophets.

Psalm 19, The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart. 

James 5,  Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder.

Mark 9,  If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.

 

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Shonda & Ben bringing us together.

 

Thanks……

Music,    Ben & Shonda

Readers,  Beth & Rob & Buddy, our candle blesser 

Gospel,     John Cade

Homily,   John Stack

Eucharistic Prayer A & B,  John Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,      Hue & Mike

Final Blessing, Rosemary

 

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Beth reading the first reading from Numbers.

 

Readings: 

Download Readings 26th Ordinary time 09-26-21

 

Homily by John Stack,  

Download Homily 26th Sunday 9-26-2021

 

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Rob reading from James.

 

Remember these special people:

For John & Karen Anderlick's unborn grandson;   For Rosemary's great niece, Rylie;  For Richard's grand daughter, Madeleine;   For Esparza's new great grandson  & Frank;  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, and for Hue & Linda's daughter, Doctor Rosemary Beavers;   For Mary & Dave Hall's g-daughter Allison Keller working at St. Lukes, The Woodlands,   For Sir Charlie & Jan;  Shonda's mom & Cody &  Leo & all of Shonda's dear family; For Ursuline Sr. Mary Troy,

 

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Jan & Charlie saying, "Hi, Everybody!"

Jackie's mom, sister, & friend, Lynn;  For Rick Turner searching for a kidney donor, Type O neg.; For Meredith, cancer free & John Schanot;    For John O'Donnell & Jean;   For Jean & Cliff Wright;  For Dee, and for her daughters, Lisa & Lauren  ;  For Anthony & Sabrina;    For a young man who is suffering from depression;  John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli and Lambrini, plus John's daughter, Joey, with cancer; from Barbara, a little 12 month old baby boy named Ford recuperating from an operation & a nephew; for David McKeon's brother, Hugh; For Beth's friends & brother;   for the medical staffs, teachers, and coaches in our public & private schools.

 

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Mary, Connie, & John singing the beautiful hymn "On Eagles' Wings."

 

Birthdays:   Ben's daughter, Sophia, 14 (yesterday), Judy Carol, Leo (11?), Jackie Johnson

Anniversaries:  

Fred & Patricia

Tom & Becky Good

Ron & Nancy Kovatis

 

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Cathy, Fred, & Ron updating the news of the week.

 

Community Finances,   September 26, 2021

Expenses: $600.00 

Outreach: $5.00 

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

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Rosemary sharing her beautiful Blessing of the Week.

 

Rosemary's Blessing:

“Rivers do not drink their own water;

trees do not eat their own fruit;

the sun does not shine on itself

and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves.

Living for others is a rule of nature.

We are born to help each other.

No matter how difficult it is.

Life is good when you are happy

but much better when others are happy because of you.

Let us remember that pain is a sign that we are alive,

problems are a sign that we are strong and

prayer is a sign that we are not alone.

If we can acknowledge these truths and

condition our hearts and minds, our lives will be more meaningful,

different and worthwhile.”

Pope Francis

 

 

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Peace, Everyone!

 

JSM Mission-Faith Statement  

      Help create a Catholic Community that welcomes all God’s People, provides for & challenges spiritual & total growth.  

      Reaches out to help people who are disadvantaged & make the world we live in a better place to live.

 
John Stack Ministries, 7017 Helsem Way, Dallas, Texas 75230

 

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  • Sunday Homily, August 14, 2016, 20th Sunday Ordinary

    Readings:

    Jeremiah   38, 4-6, 8-10  They took Jeremiah and threw him into the cistern.

    Psalm 40,  Lord, come to my aid

    Hebrews 12, 1-4,    Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses.

    Luke 12, 49-53,  Do you think I have come to establish peace on earth.  No.

    (Less than amiable readings again this week.)

     

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    Jeremiah Observations:

    Author:  really Jeremiah or at least his scribe.

    Date:  after the Babylonian Captivity again, say 555 years before Chrsit. Jeremiah sees the Babylonian catastrophe coming and says it is going to be how Yahweh punishes the people for their evil and unjust ways.

    Subject:  Jeremiah is the classic prophet.  He does the 3 things characteristic of a prophet.  He criticizes the behavior of the people.  He promises punishment from Yahweh.  He indicates that a better day will come.    Jeremiah lives to see the punishment, that is the Captivity.  Probably not the return from captivity.

    Our selection:  Jeremiah pays the price of most real prophets.  The people are enraged, turn against him, and watch what happens.

     

    Zoe 1

     

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    God establish Peace on Earth ?  YES!

    Last Thursday when Rosemary & I were doing our early morning bike ride around White Rock Lake, I stopped at the north bridge, originally to stop racing and just appreciate the beauty of the lake.  Now days, however, I discover I also love to watch the dogs in their doggie park and in the water.

    Dallas has constructed a flagstone platform at the edge of the lake where dogs and owners can play at dogs chasing objects thrown in the water.

     

    Cole-candle

     

     

    Cole, our candle lighter of the week, at his specialty.

     

    Thursday I spotted a generic, medium sized, white, short haired dog who was so full of life.  His tail never ceased to wag, whether on land, eager for a ball to be thrown, or even in the water.   That dog was a portrait of joy and excitement.

    I climbed back on my bike touched with warmth and peace.

     

    G-father
     

    The Generations, Dad, daughter, & grand daughter, Gilbert, Michelle, & Zoe.

     

    I get the same feeling when Aviana comes racing to greet Rosemary and me after we have been away a while, tail wagging, excited, and wiggling with joy.  Warmth and peace.

    So, do you think our God is a God of peace or a God who brings strife, division, and conflict?   Peace, me.  Luke must have had a bad day at the office when he wrote up this 12th chapter.

    Let me give you 4 other examples of where I find the God of Peace.

     

    Kevin & Harper

     

    Buddies, Kevin & Harper. 

     

    A month from now about 10 of us will go to Idaho for our annual 9 day back packing trip in the mountains.  God gives me nothing more marvelously peaceful than to sit around the evening campfire, eat a good meal, and enjoy the simple camaraderie.  I can feel the peace already.

    Talking about camaraderie, our Friday Romeos and our Sunday mornings here together, both give me peace and joy. 

     

    Music 1

     

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    Then there is an elderly little lady at the Jewish Community Center gym..  The first time I saw her a week or so ago she was getting off the elevator with a walker.   Fairly disheveled she was dressed in a long cover all and had red sneakers.   What really struck me immediately was her wig.   Cancer survivor.  I was humbled.  So I said good morning and she responded with an upbeat, pleasant response.    She went over, sat down on one of the exercise machines, and started exercising.  

     From her I take peace and humility.

     

    The Line up 1

     

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    Finally, the big one for me comes in about 3 months, Thanksgiving.  Is there anything better than a feast for counting blessings, experiencing joy and peace?   We are blessed in America to have it. 

    So, what do you think?  God brings division and strife?  Or God brings Peace and Joy?   For me, no question, God brings Peace and Joy.

    What do you think?

     

    Offertory 1

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  • Sunday Homily 7-11-10, 15th Ordinary Time

    Readings:  Deuteronomy 30, 10-14; Psalm 69, Turn to the Lord in Your Need, and You will Live; Colossians 1, 15-20; Luke 10, 25-37

    Apologies for a late blog.  The Editors are in Lindsay, Ontario where wireless is fairly non-existent on Sundays.

    Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

    Introduction to the Readings

    Our first reading today comes from the Book of Deuteronomy, which is the fifth book of the Pentateuch.  The section is from the closing chapters, which are best identified as “The Final Discourse of Moses”.  It may seem strange to us, that having lead the people from captivity in Egypt and spent some 40 years wandering thru the desert, received the famous “Ten Commandments” on Mount Sinai, which set up the covenant between the God and the Jews, we find that Moses is not going to enter into the Promised Land, because of some unnamed fault (Numbers 20: 12).  In the reading today, Moses emphasizes the nearness of God’s commandments to the people.  

    Mass 7-12-10

    Paul’s Letter to the Colossians gives us what is clearly an early liturgical hymn about Christ.  The reason for the letter to the Colossians was that there were some folks creating problems in the community with false teachings.  In using this hymn, which was probably part of a very early liturgy, he is working with a concept that faith is not only needed for liturgical worship, but that through liturgical worship faith is deepened.  The hymn can be broken into two themes, Christ’s role in creation and Christ’s role in reconciliation.

    Our gospel continues the journey to Jerusalem.  On the way a lawyer tests Jesus and we have the great story of the “Good Samaritan”. 

     

    Choir 7-12-10

    Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. – Homily

    What is our image of God?  In our lives our image of God must go through many changes.  If we reflect on what happened to Moses after all he had done in helping the Jews escape from Egypt, lead them for 40 years thru the desert towards the Promised Land, only to be denied entry himself, it would seem that God is harsh. 

    John Cade 7-12-10

    If we look at the image of Jesus presented to us in the Second Reading from the letter to the Colossians, we find a God who is more in fitting with what modern writers are calling the Cosmic Christ, who is present in the entire universe and holding all creation in existence.  This Cosmic Christ is a difficult image to have a relationship with for humans.

    And finally in our Gospel, we are told clearly that the way to live our lives in relationship with God is to love one another, especially those whom we wouldn’t consider our friends.  Elsewhere in the gospels we are told “as often as we did it for one these, the least, we did it for Jesus”.  So to live our lives as God wants us to, we do need to pay special attention to what we read in the gospels.  If I look at the balance in Jesus’ life, he certainly took care of his neighbors, but he also went off to pray quietly.  Do we have that balance?

    Cora 7-12-10

    Picture 1:  Mass with Tony and Kevin

    Picture 2:  The Choir, Wendy, Shonda, Ray & Celeste

    Picture 3:  John Cade

    Picture 4: Cora Elizabeth Shadrick, daughter of Megan and Dave, granddaughter of Rob and Beth.

     

     

  • Sunday Homily, February 16, 2020, 6th Ordinary Time

     

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    "Welcome in, Everybody," says Bill.

     

    Readings:

    Sirach  15, 15-20, Before man life and death, good and evil

    Psalm 119,  Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord.

    1 Corinthians 2, 6-10,  What eye has not seen.. What God has prepared for those who love him.

    Matthew 5, 17-37  If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out.

     

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    Thanks, Grace, for lighting today's candles while the girls are away for the week end.

     

    Observations:  on Sirach—

    What:  This is one of those 12 odd books in between the Old and the New Testament.

     Author: a Jewish teacher called Joshua.  The only identified author in the whole Old Testament.  He tells us who he is, that he is a teacher, lived in Jerusalem, and traveled a lot.  It seems he put his work together while running a school in Alexandria, Egypt.

     

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    Thanks, John, for reading today's Blessing of the Candles.

     

     His grandson translated the Hebrew work into Greek.  This Hebrew text was lost for centuries until the 19th century, when 2/3 of it was found in Cairo.  Then other portions were found in Qumran and Masada, as late as 1964.

     Date: composed around 175 years before Christ.  About 90 years before Christ the Jews put together their official bible, but excluded Sirach because they could not find the Hebrew version, only the Greek. 

     

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     Christians accepted the book as part of their bible in the 2nd century after Christ.  The Council of Trent (keep 1555 in mind as a date) officially accepted it, making it part of that extra 12 books called the Apocrypha or Deuterocanonical.  Martin Luther rejected the book & so do many Protestant congregations today.

     Subject Matter: practical ethics, duties.  Beware of the either / or spirituality presented.  Also, what about unconditional love??

     

     

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    Subject today: you may choose good or bad.  Beware of the either / or spirituality presented in the reading.    All is either good or bad.  No in between or both, which is more what we all are, both good and bad.  

    It can be simplistic & Pelagian, that is, it is all up to you and you have all the strength needed to choose good.  Pelagians thought that you had to EARN your salvation.  Therefore, the more religious stuff you did, like the more Masses, the more pilgrimages to the church & shrines, the more novenas & rosaries,  the more merit you win for yourself.

    Psalm 119: the longest of all the psalms.  A focus on observance of the laws, decrees, and statutes.

     

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    Communion time.

     

    Matthew 5:  a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount. Note the figures of speech called “antitheses,” namely, “You have heard it said, but, I say to you.”  4 even 5 times.  Matthew is trying to establish the authority & authenticity of Jesus.

    See if you can find any unconditional love in this passage?  

    Sources: Good News Bible; New Interpreter's Bible; Reginal Fuller, S.J., David Westberg, S.J., & Larry Gillick, S.J., St. Louis U. Liturgies, on line; Wikipedia .

     

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    Communion helpers & cleaners

     

    Wako Spirituality

    We have been here before, Folks.  In fact, Mike says to me, “So, are you going to start with that same story again?”  Yes, Everybody, we begin with that same story.  Just a quick reminder.  Here we go.

    When I was studying theology in Toronto years ago, like maybe 1970, an article came out in the local newspaper.  Some guy had read the passage saying that if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away.  He did it, folks. 

     

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    Shonda & Ben, The Best.

     

     In this passage from Matthew there are five pieces of advice to the early Christians which taken literally can get a person all messed up.  Is there a positive as well as a negative to each? 

    Two observations before I touch the five.  I have mentioned this so often that I hope you are not worn out.  First, infinite demand and infinite acceptance.  Watch out here for a lot of infinite demand.  I’ll give a positive & a negative for each.  Secondly, God, unconditional love.

     

     

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    Matthew’s five pieces of advice are 1. breaking the least commandment,  2. getting angry,  3. looking at a woman, 4. divorce, and  5. swearing.  Here goes.

    • Matthew says that if you break the smallest commandment you will be the least in the kingdom.  Moreover, unless you are better than the Pharisees, you will not even get into the kingdom.  The positive here is that the bar is set high.  The negative is that all, all of us sinners will be kept out. It creates scruples and obsessive compulsive behavior.  

     

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    • Secondly, if you get mad at me and call me a fool, you are going to Hell.  I love it.  The positive here is the call to anger management.  I am challenged to know that all feelings are okay and need to be controlled.  The negative is that it gives me the idea that anger is not allowed, so stuff it.  Trouble is, it does not stuff well.  Not like a sleeping bag or tent.  It pops up in unexpected places.
    • Looking at a woman with lust.  The positive here is teaching respect for all people.  This advice, written by men for men, was attempting to gain some respect for women who were looked upon as property.  I found this in Tanzania & Kenya.  Rosemary read me an article about some guy who cut off his wife’s ears and nose for reporting him for abuse.   The negative is that it teaches us that feelings are sinful.  In the old days, we thought we looked at a girl and we were going to hell.  This is doubly sad because I don’t think there is a hell anyway.

     

     

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    More of the same, please.

     

    • Divorce is adultery.  The positive is that it reinforces the unity of marriage.  The negative is that people stay in abusive or addictive marriages long after it may even be safe.  Divorce is failure and we all fail sometimes even in tragic ways.  In order to escape using the word divorce the Catholic Church comes up with the more convoluted word Annulment.
    • Swearing.  The positive is that it involves politeness and respect for others.  Even if I am okay with my anger I do not swear at someone.  The negative is that it tightens us up.  We forget the therapeutic value of cussing, maybe a healthy & fun way of releasing anger.  The healthy Jesuits I lived with certainly partook of this therapy. 

     

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    Welcome home, Loretta.

     

     The overall danger in these pieces of advice is that we really get messed up, forgetting two things.  First they are presenting infinite demand and they make no mention of infinite acceptance.

    Secondly, where is the God of unconditional love?

     The poor guy in Toronto who blinded himself is an example of how we can mess ourselves up with goofy religion.  

     Where are you with these ideas?

     

     

  • Sunday Homily 8-23-09, 21st Ordinary Time

    Joshua 24, 1-18; Psalm 34, Taste and See the Goodness of the Lord; Ephesians 5, 21-32 ; John 6, 60-69.

    Joshua:

    Who is Joshua and what is this booklet about:  Joshua was Moses' assistant, his lieutenant when the the Israelites wandered in the desert.  The booklet is the story of the Israelite invasion of Canaan under Joshua's leadership. 

    Mass 8-23-09

    Author: somewhat amusingly, the fundamentalists say that Joshua wrote most of the booklet.  More scientific scholars say the work is a compilation of a number of sources.

    Date of composition: again fundamentalists state that the booklet was composed 1400-1370, i.e., while Joshua lived.  Scholars of a broader vision suggest that even if a Joshua existed the work was put together 800-700 BCE. 

    The work combines a number of traditions about battles & destruction of cities to create a nationalistic narrative that justifies the Israelites' taking another peoples' land for their own.  Like kids say, 'He made me do it.'  Here the Israelites are saying, 'Yahweh made me do it.'

    Ethical Question: genocide.  This is a bloody book.  Yahweh commands that the Israelites exterminate every breathing thing, including women & children & livestock. 

    The battle of Jericho is characteristic.  For 6 days the Israelites marched around the city, blowing horns and menacing the people.  On day 7 they marched around 7 times and the walls came tumbling down, as in the spiritual.  Then every person except one woman & her family were slaughtered.  Lots of debate and rationalization over these events.

    Our Selection: The last chapter of the booklet.  Joshua, who is dying, calls the people together at a place called Sechem and puts it to them.  Stick with Yahweh who has done all these things for you (which are mentioned in the text but are long & tedious) or choose another path of your own.

    Sources: Good News Bible, Got Questions.org, Wikipedia

    Choir 8-23-09

    Ephesians:  Got to say a word about this selection because it involves some pretty amusing observations from Paul.  For instance, the famous statements, "Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord."  "The husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the church."

    Some years ago while I was waiting in a line to ride the roller coaster at 6 Flags I overheard a husband telling his wife to obey him because of this passage.  I almost dropped my teeth.

    Some perspective: Traditionally there are three types of relationships.

        1.  Matriarchal: the woman/wife is the head of the family.  Culturally this has been established.

        2.  Patriarchal: the husband is the head. 

        3.  Equality: both are partners, husband and wife. 

    Paul's place: guess which paradigm Paul comes from?  Paul lives in a culture which considered women & children little more than domestic animals.  In Tanzania I found the same paradigm among the ordinary people.  Even though today Paul can sound wako & chauvanistic, what he says about husbands loving their wives as they love their own bodies, this was pretty radical.

    Today: all three of the paradigms are valid.  Among most educated people, however, equality between husband & wife, men & women is the most healthy for all involved.

    Peter 8-23-09

    Peter McGinn, 1948-2009

    It was mid February when Rosemary first got word that Peter her brother was infected with amiloidosis, a rare and virulent infection that strikes mostly men 60-65.  Peter was 60. 

    It was mid March, after enduring a menu of chemo for a month, that Peter & his wife Marilyn decided to go recuperate at their house in Hilton Head, in a plantation near to Joe & Clare, Rosemary's sister & brother in law.  We decided at the last minute to fly over there to see Peter, it being easier than to visit him in Binghamton, NY.  This was the last time we would see him. 

    He died this past Monday morning after finding out that the amiloidosis had begun to attack his lungs, that he could not endure a heart transplant, and that he was simply being kept alive by meds & machines.  After visiting with his two adult daughters & Marilyn Saturday evening and Sunday morning, Peter chose to cease all meds and machine aids that Sunday afternoon.  About 15 hours later he died peacefully. 

    I wanted to speak about him because of at least three reasons I admired him and felt quite a kinship, not just of family, but of spirit. 

    First, his love of psychology & intelligent spirituality.  He got his doctorate in psych at Johns Hopkins and used it in creative ways.  He was the CEO of United Health Services.  He was the kind of CEO who would eat in the hospital cafeteria, asking random groups, like the nursing staff or the maintenance staff if he might join them for lunch.

    As a psychologist he was a teacher & a systems man.  In fact, I used to laugh.  He would send me articles each month.  And he asked me to review his latest book.  I would read a title like 'Ways to facilitate communication with your board.'  I open the article and he had 23 points.  I would send him a note saying, "Too much."  As you know, I lean toward systems myself, but after 3 or 4 I am exhausted. 

    Secondly, I loved Peter because he was a biker.  A bicycle rider.  In fact, we had planned a bike ride in Hilton Head which he could not manage because he was too weak.  This was only symptomatic of his dedication to being a well rounded man, a renaissance man like we used to try to model ourselves in the Jesuits.  He was intellectually & physically, psychologically & spiritual balanced.  I see it as the basis for his peace and acceptance of his ultimate path.

    Thirdly, he taught a platinum rule.  Not just the golden rule, which says, 'treat others as you would have them treat you.'  The platinum rule is, 'Treat others as they would like to be treated."  He had 23 reason why this was more effective. 

    Significantly, according to what I'm told, he practiced the platinum rule even in the hours after he had ceased life support.  As doctors & staff stopped by his room, he thanked each one, mentioning how they had touched him. 

    Tomorrow morning, Monday, Rosemary & I will attend a family only memorial in Binghamton.  A month from now a large open to all his friends memorial will be scheduled and we will attend. 

    Who is the Peter McGinn in your life?

    Peter 2, 8-23-09

    Picture 1:  Mass with Kevin & T.J.

    Picture 2:  Choir, Wendy, Ray, & Celeste

    Picture 3:  Peter McGinn

    Picture 4:  Peter McGinn–

    The two charities that Dad favored in lieu of flowers are Seva and the Food Bank of the Southern Tier.  They are both online, Seva.org, and foodbankst.org.  Rosemary T. McGinn

    Check out a review of Peter:


     

     

  • Sunday Homily 5-2-10, 5th Easter

    Readings: Acts 14, 21-27; Psalm 145, I will praise Your Name forever, My King and My God (1st stanza, my favorite: the Lord is Gracious and Merciful, Slow to Anger and of Great Kindness); Revelation 21, 1-5; John 13, 31-35.

     

    Mass 5-2-10

    Psalm 145:

    The book of Psalms is the hymn book and prayer book of the Jewish Bible. 

    Composed over centuries, before Christ's time and probably assembled after the Babylonian Captivity, i.e. ca. 550 BCE

    Authors: many.  Not just King David

    Psalm 145: this psalm has one of those lines that is a special gem, a glimpse for me into a reality that I find a mystery.  The nature of God.  Something I can only approach by analogy and projection. 

    I read the Bible and encounter a god who is jealous, merciless, and demanding payback.  I don't buy this.  I do buy, however, the image presented by the first stanza.  I even change it a bit to say, The Lord is gracious and merciful, never gets angry and is full of love.

    Mop Man 5-2-10

    Known Because we have Love for One Another

    I would like to talk this morning about the Collin County Adult Clinic and how we all got involved with it.  You probably know that Julia Grenier was the founder of this clinic, but you may not know how she came to do it. 

    I talked with her Thursday and got the story.  It started about 30 years ago, so in the early 80's, when she was hired by Elizabeth Seton Parish to be the parish nurse.  Julia just celebrated 50 years as a nurse.  This was a new position for a parish to have and Julia made it more unique in her special way. 

    She ended up getting involved with PISD kids and with day laborers in the area.  At one point she was even working as a volunteer at the Day Laborer Center somewhere in Plano.

    She told me that during this time she would meet with people who needed significant medical help.  She could handle the first aid cases, but she had to take the more serious into clinics and emergency rooms.  She said you could not get a patient looked at, say at PrimaCare, without a $100 up front payment. 

    Julia paid these expenses out of the savings she and Al had put away.

    David 5-2-10

     

    The expenses mounted and so did the number of patients Julia was treating.  Enter St. Marks and Fr. Duffy.  There was an obvious need for a clinic.  Julia & Duffy worked out an agreement where St. Marks would let Julia use some space gratis and get help through Catholic Charities. 

    They opened on a Thursday night in 2003.  Julia said 15 patients showed up the first night.  All the staff, doctors, nurses, support, all worked pro bono.  The second week twice that number showed up.  And then the word spead and the numbers soared, making it impossible to carry the load at St. Marks. 

    Jerry Weis informed me that at this time Collin County set aside some money for health, did not really know what to do with it, and gave the clinic in 2004 about $50,000.  They banked it and banked another $25,000 the next year while they looked for a larger venue, which they found on Ave. K & Park.

    A builder with Rotary named Jerry Huffman said he could put the space together for $275,000.  He finally did the job for $150,000 and the clinic opened in late 2005.  The patient load now on Thursday evenings was 70 to 90 every week. 

     

    Madge & Carl 5-2-10

    Meanwhile, Julia's health was deteriorating.  In 2008 she had to retire.  I remember thinking that this might be the end of the clinic.  Instead, the staff pulled together, hired a full time, paid director, John Ernst, and even expanded the service to Tuesday night.

    Julia told me on the phone that she spends many week days in their home here in Plano, but weekends she & Al have a small horse farm in East Texas, which is why we don't see her on Sunday mornings.  She may make it for Mother's Day next week.

    Jesus says in the Gospel this morning, "All will know you are my desciples, if you love one another.  I am amazed at how Julia took a small job and turned it into a large clinic because she saw people in need.  I am humbled at how Julia exemplifies loving others.

    How do you show your love?

    Burkharts 5-2-10

     

    Picture 1:  Mass with Tony.

    Picture 2:  Full service ministry at San Vino.

    Picture 3:  David McKeon introducing the 9 couples renewing their marriage promises.

    Picture 4:  Madge & Carl Smith renewing their marriage of 60 years, Carl with the tie he wore last on his wedding day

    Picture 5:  Kim & Mike Burkhart (from Tuscon, formerly of St. Mark's) renewing their marriage of 25 years.

     


     

  • 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 9, 2020

    Readings:

    1 Kings 19, 9, 11-13, Go outside and stand on the mountain before the Lord.

    Psalm 85,  Lord, let us see your kindness and grant us your salvation            

    Romans  9, 1-5, They are Israelites.  

    Matthew 14, 22-33,   Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.     

     

     

    Thanks to the Team

    Music,  Ben & Shonda

    Readers,  Jackie & Patricia, & Buddy, the candle blesser

    Gospel & Homily,  Deacon Mike 

    Eucharistic Prayer A & B, Stack & John Cade

    The Magic Zoom makers, Mike (on vacation) & Richard, Ben & Hue 

    Final Blessing, Rosemary

     

     

    CB 5

    Download Readings week 19

     

    1st part of Homily

    Today’s gospel is a continuation of last week’s story from Matthew about the Lord, with his disciples, feeding the Jews with the fish and the loaves, for the fish are a metaphor for the liturgy of the Word, and the loaves and leftovers a metaphor for the liturgy of the Eucharist. 

     

     

    Homily by Mike Carrell

    The Lord be with you.

    A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew

    After Jesus had fed the Jews, he made the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side of the lake. With the crowd dispersed, Jesus climbed the mountain so he could be by himself to pray.

    He stayed there alone, late into the night. Meanwhile, the boat was far out to sea when the wind came up against the boat, and they were battered by the waves. At about four o'clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them walking on the water. They were scared out of their wits. "A ghost!" they said, crying out in terror. 

     

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    Their music just gets better & better.

     

    But Jesus was quick to comfort them. "Courage, it's me. Don't be afraid." Peter, suddenly bold, said, "Master, if it's really you, call me to come to you on the water." 

    Jesus said, "Come ahead." But when Peter looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, "Master, save me!" Jesus didn't hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, "You of little faith, what got into you?" The two of them climbed into the boat, and the wind died down. 

    The disciples in the boat, having watched the whole thing, worshiped Jesus, saying, "This is it! You are God's Son for sure!" 

     

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    Tom, Richard, & Hue working their magic.

     

    2nd part of homily

    It was Jesus intention for his disciples to follow his example of sharing the fish and preparing the gentiles to also receive the loaves and leftovers, so that Jews and gentiles could become brothers and sisters in Christ. This story teaches the Church that its disciples were to have faith in his words even until the end of time.  The gospel of the Lord.

     

    Aaa

     

    There he is, Folks, Mike finally in the wilderness of Colorado, with Rose.

     

    Please Remember these special people:

    For our Bill & his family,   For Becky's dad just discovered with the virus;  For Cindy recuperating from a procedure some weeks ago;    For Esparzas, Frank & Mary,  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 Mary & Dave Hall's g-daughter Allison Keller working at St. Lukes, Woodlands,  For Joe Hogan with cancer;  For Loretta's aunt Alicia;    For Sydney;  & For Sir Charlie & Jan;  Shonda's mom & Cody & Ben & all of Shonda's dear family;   for Michelle;

     

    Bbb
     

    Two happy campers, Mike & Rose.

     

    For Jackie's mom;  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, plus John's daughter, Joey

     

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    Where is that Mike??!!

     

    Birthdays:   Carrie Bieda, 62; Stephen Farmer, 30; Marlene; Richard has a new grandbaby, Madeline, congratulations, Carrie

    Anniversary:  John & Jean O'Donnell, 62nd;  Ryan McClurg & Grace, 7th  

     

    Rosemary's Blessing:

    Come, O Dancing God,

    Spirit of Life and Love,

    of  Beauty and Diversity,

    stir up my soul,

    bathe me in your light,

    and unleash my own spirit

    that I may dance with you

    and be light for those around me

    and reflect your love to all that I meet this week.

     

    Edited and adapted from a blessing by Fr. Andrew M. Greeley

     

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    A 2020 broadcasting studio??

     

       

    Community Finances, August 9, 2020

    Expenses: $1040.00

    Outreach   $300.00    (often for Souls Harbor, Legacy, etc.)

    Thanks, Folks, for doing what you can.

     

    Here is a link to a survey about access to the Sunday Mass.  Please take the survey and let us know how easy/difficult it is to get to the Mass.  Thanks. 

    (Take this survey and all your life problems will be solved.  That is what Becky & Mike told me.)