19th Sunday, Ordinary time, 8-8-2021

Welcome in, Cody & Ben.  So good to see you.

Readings:  

 Deuteronomy 4, 1-2, 6-8,  Moses said to the people…  

Psalm 15,   The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

 James 1, 17-18, 21-22, 27, All good giving is from above.

Mark 7, 1-8, 14-15, 21-23,  You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.

Welcome in, daughter & dad, Michelle & Gilbert.   So good to see you, too.
                 

Homily:  Our gospel begins with Jesus being rather upset about the traditions of the elders and their legalism that disregards goodness, justice and compassion. Based on last Sunday’s story in the Dallas Morning News about abuse that still hasn’t been addressed by our hierarchy, our male leaders are not practicing love, or common sense.

Thanks, Tori, for being a super candle lighter.

The Church states a human tradition when it says a priest cannot be married, for this should not be so, for Peter was married in the Good News of Jesus Christ, and Paul’s Letter to Timothy is quite clear when it addresses the lifestyle of a bishop with these words:  A bishop is to be blameless; the husband of one wife.

Thanks, Georgie, for reading The Blessing of the Candles

Likewise, the Church states a human tradition when it says that women can not be ordained, but this too is not so, for St. Paul identifies Phoebe in his letter to the Romans, as a deaconess that he works with, and the inspired writers of the Mark and John gospel both identify a servant whose ministry is that of a deaconess.

The Best music, Shonda & Ben.

With what can I compare today in the Church to the hundreds of minor legalistic, human traditions held by the Jewish elders that caused Jesus to be upset?  Recently there is a law in the Church that the Easter Candle can’t be placed in front of or beside the altar unless it was 100 percent bee’s wax, and one of our most prominent cardinals has recently made a Church law that the most expensive and tasteful wine affordable should be used for the altar wine.

Team mates and Big Sister & Younger Brother, Georgie & Buddy.

Besides all of these human traditions, the theologians of the Church have added one of their own.   In the Mark gospel there are only two references to Mary as a mother.  In the first one she thought that Jesus was going out of his mind. His response to those who had surrounded him, was this, ‘Who is my mother, brother, and sister?’ Those who welcome and live my words.’

Mary is also referred to only twice in the John gospel, and again not by the name Mary, but only as mother. 

Mike homilizing on the readings.   Thanks for your ideas, Mike.

The Matthew and Luke gospels have what we call infancy narratives. In both, Mary gives birth to Jesus Christ.  So far, so good and wonderful.  However, in the John gospel we are taught that God is spirit, and from the very beginning [of everything] he, the Word, Jesus Christ, is spirit, in oneness with God the Father.  We know that Mary is the mother of Jesus Christ; but how can this be since he is spirit?’   The answer is this: the inspired writers have made Mary a metaphor in the Matthew, Luke and John gospels.   As the written expectation of the Law, Prophets, and Psalms for the coming of the Messiah, she gives birth to the written Good News of Jesus Christ, where he is present through the power of the Holy Spirit.

 Offertory Team, Becky, Grace, & Tom.

Readings: Wisdom 12, 13-19; Psalm 86; Romans 8, 26-27; Matthew 13, 24-43

Wisdom:

• Author: not Solomon, but an unknown Jew from Alexandria
• Original Language: Greek
• Time: 1-2 centuries B.C.
• Message: Yahweh rewards those faithful to him.
• Means Greek Philosophy common in Alexandria (Platonism & Stoicism) and Jewish traditional  teachings (wisdom of Solomon).
• Uniqueness: one of the ca. 11 deutero-canonical books (not originally part of the Jewish bible).

The Kingdom

Almost every morning of the year I grab a rocking chair on our back porch, sip a cup of coffee, and admire the beauty of the day.  Since our house is situated on a corner, from my rocking chair I can see a small street called Camellia which comes from Royal Lane and passes our street, Tulip Lane.  Camellia can get busy on school mornings when parents bring their kids in the back entrance to St. Mark’s Boys’ School.  Normally, however, I watch joggers & walkers pass by, some of them on their way to or from the Starbucks on the Preston & Royal corner.

This past Wednesday morning I was sitting on our back porch as usual.  The joggers & walkers were passing by.  At some point I look up and see a couple and their dog approaching.  I have never see them before, but they certainly caught my attention.  They were both talking on their cell phones.   

At first I could not believe that I was seeing what I was seeing.  I do not want to judge this couple in any way.  They may have been talking with their kids or their parents or some very important people. 

In todays’s Matthew reading we have three metaphors or parables attempting to show what the kingdom might be like.  Three more agricultural parables.  Last week we had the seed sewn on four types of soil, one of which was good.  Today we have a mustard seed, a bit of yeast, and a field infected with weeds put there by an enemy.

Let me make four observations about this kingdom that comes up so often in the gospel writers.

1. First, I would suggest that the kingdom is inner peace, peace with my neighbors, peace with my friends, peace with my lot in life, and peace with who & what I am.
2. Secondly, I would suggest that the peace of the kingdom is present tense. It is available now, in this life. It may also grow, as the parable of the yeast and the mustard seed indicate. I may be more peaceful next year than I am this year.
3. Third, the peace is a gift. We have the yeast in our spirit. We have the mustard seed inside of us. We are created to have inner peace.
4. Fourth, the growth of the seed of peace inside of us sometimes involves effort, self-discipline, and self-defense against the enemy. And who is the enemy? Part of me. I can scapegoat something outside of me, saying, “The devil made me do it.” However, the real enemy may be my inclination to miss the beauty because I am sidetracked by all the metaphorical cell phones in my life. Serious enough, these cell phones are called addictions.

Paradoxically, the form my self-discipline and self-defense may take is acceptance, that word I have put forward so often.  Acceptance of others, of my place in life, and acceptance of myself, even with my shortcomings. 

The couple I was watching Wednesday morning may have definitely been in the kingdom that we are talking about.  They may be peaceful people.  However, they might find even more peace if they discard what may be an enemy to their peace.

What is the enemy keeping you from entering the kingdom, from inner peace?

AUDIO:  http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2008-07-20.mp3

Happy 1st Easter, Dear Atlas, so nice to see  you.  Know that you have a terrific mommy.  Congratulations, Dearest Wendy

Readings:  (Easter Sunday)

 Acts of the Apostles 10, 34, 37-43 , Peter proceeded to speak

Psalm 118,  This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad.

 1 Corinthians 5, 6-8,  A little yeast leavens all the dough.

John  20, 1-95,  Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning.

Congratulations, Brandon.  What a neat little boy you have.

Acts of the Apostles 

This work is basically the story of the development & growth of the Christian community after the death of Jesus up to Paul's arrival in Rome.

It is considered more idealistic than factual.

The author seems to be Luke, the same who wrote the Gospel.

Thanks, Dearest Emma, for being our Candle Lighter of The Week

A Random Act of Kindness

Mary Ellen has a friend named Diane.  They met in their book club probably many years ago.  Diane was a significant help with the move of Mary Ellen from her nice condo to Prestonwood Assisted Living.

A couple of weeks ago Diane and another friend of hers decided to go out for lunch.  They chose Napoli’s Italian, which I think is on Independence & McDermott.  Do our Juliettes not know this place already?  

Offertory.  Happy Easter Dearest Cameron, Trey, Brady, & Reid, and also to your crazy dad, my beloved friend.

So they have their lunch, chat, and finally ask the waiter for their bill.   Instead of giving them their bill, the waiter says that another lady who had been eating in the restaurant had paid for them and left. 

Another Random Act of Kindness.

And You?  Performed any Random Acts of Kindness lately?

Special thanks to our Special Easter Team, Georgie and Buddy, along with John and Mike.

Happy Easter

(P.S.  Incidentally, Rosemary suggested to me that maybe we ought to have lunch once in a while at this Napoli’s.)

I think this must be Christmas or Easter.  So many old & dear friends.

Watch out, My Dear Leo.  A big rabbit is just about ready to snatch you.

Deuteronomy 30:  Moses said to the people: "If only you would heed the voice of the LORD, your God, and keep his commandments and statutes that are written in this book of the law, … "            

Colossians 1:  Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

Luke 10:Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers' victim?" He answered, "The one who treated him with mercy."  Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

Mary Jane reading from Deuteronomy
 

Thanks…     

Music,   Ben & Shonda

John gets a cookie for his birthday

Outreach: $   50.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

Connie gets a cookie to make her ear surgery sweeter

Rosemary's Blessing:

Lord Jesus Christ,

who are called the Prince of Peace,

who are yourself our peace and reconciliation,

who so often said, “Peace to you,”

grant us peace.

Make all men and women witnesses of

truth, justice, and brotherly love.

Banish from their hearts whatever might endanger peace.

Enlighten our rulers that they may guarantee

and defend the great gift of peace.

May all peoples of the earth become as brothers and sisters.

May longed-for peace blossom forth

and reign always over us all.

Amen.

Prayer for Peace– by St. John XXIII

Who let that rabbit in here??  Happy Easter, Everybody.  Welcome.

Readings:

Acts of the Apostles  10, 34-43.   You know what has happened all over Judea

Psalm 118,  This is the day the Lord has made.  Let us rejoice and be glad.

1 Corinthians 5, 6-8,   A little yeast leavens all the dough.

 John 20,  1-9,    The Resurrection

Chloe with Nora and Charlotte and their buddy, all say, "Happy Easter, Folks, welcome in."

 Resurrection

I would like to talk about the Resurrection this morning.  I suspect that you, like me, consider this event a one time event from ancient history.

However, on the contrary, I want to suggest that resurrection events are multiple and present tense.  They take place daily or, at least, frequently in our lives.  A resurrection moment is a moment of great positive feeling, great consolation, a Kilimanjaro moment, and a time when I say ‘It is good to be alive.’

 Joanie  and the kids.

Let me give you 4-5 examples. 

First, there is a bike ride the last Saturday every August in and around Wichita Falls, yes, the famous Hotter ‘N Hell.  After you have ridden the 100 miles and just before the finish line in town, you pass over a bridge leading up and then down to the finish.  Many a time when I am on top of that bridge, I am in tears, tears of gratitude and positive feelings.   I can say to myself, ‘It is so good to be alive!’

The Gerwers, Casey & Rob, and the kids.

Secondly, another bike ride in July, for a week, 500 miles, crossing Iowa from west to east, from the Missouri to the Mississippi.    When I come down a hill and behold that enormous gorgeous river, I have a Kilimanjaro moment.  Tears again, gratitude, wonder. ‘It is good to be alive.”

Cody with Ben & Olivia.

Thirdly, Labor Day every September we put together a group of 5-12 people and we head out back packing.   I started doing this with the Jesuits back in “89 and we have seen numerous beautiful parks.  For me The Beauty is Yosemite and especially our particular route on the east side, a route I call Matterhorn Canyon.

There are 3 passes of 10 thousand feet.  Kilimanjaro moments each.  Equally positive are 2-3 special campsites.  ‘It is good to be alive in Yosemite.’

Harper with her daddy, Brian, and her granddaddy, Ted 

2 more.  Every Fall and Spring many of us in the community volunteer at the Love for Kids picnic at Circle K ranch in Flower Mound.  2 weeks ago I am standing at the entrance to the pavilion to welcome the kids, who are all handicapped.  They come with their marvelous parents.

At one point my attention was caught by a little blond girl about 2 years old seated in a pram.  She had her left hand over her eyes, her head was down on the little basket, and she was sobbing her eyes out.  She broke my heart.  I think she might have been scared by all the people. 

Our Great Candle Lighter, Cole, at work.

Bill Hammond has a story about a little boy about 3 who had a left prosthetic leg.  I noticed him coming in, for sure.  Bill says that later the boy & his family approached the horses for a sponsored ride.  The family told Bill they did know.  The boy did not even like to pet dogs. 

The little boy, however, was so excited once he got on the horse that the horse walkers toured the boy around not one time, but two. 

I think we have the Zurchin clan here, Tom  & Charlotte, Chloe & Nora with Denni, and Claire & Andrew.

What are your resurrection moments?  When was the last one?

Carol with Karen, John, & Richard.

Readings: Acts of the Apostles 6, 1-7; Psalm 33, Lord, let your Mercy be upon Us, as we place our Trust in You; 1 Peter 2, 4-9; John 14, 1-12 

Acts observations & review—(Author, Date, Place, Subject) a repeat from Easter

 Author: This is Luke, the physician, the companion of Paul, the Gentile writing for Gentile Christians, and the same Luke who wrote the Gospel of Luke.

 Date: Around 65 years after Christ.  Probably just before the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple (70 C.E., a big date in Jewish history), or Luke would have probably mentioned it. 

Place: probably Ephesus, today a ruin on the west coast of Turkey south of Constantinople.  Once this town was a major Christian center.

 Subject: the material works like in concentric, expanding circles, beginning in Jerusalem and ending in Rome after touching Judea, Syria, Ephesus, & Europe.  It treats activities in the early Christian community, some of which may describe they way they wished things were. 

 Sources: Good News Bible, New Interpreter’s Study Bible, St. Louis U. Jesuits’ Liturgical web

Homily

 This past week four of our community, Bill Hammond, Bob McGrath, Charlotte Gelineau Katner & her husband, Harry, all went to Tuscaloosa, AL to help with the tornado clean up. 

Bill took the homily time to share how he was touched by the students from St. Bonaventure College in Buffalo, NY, by their faculty moderator, and by the people of Tuscaloosa. 

The fifteen boys and fourteen girls who made the trip from Buffalo worked tirelessly cleaning up people's property, sawing up fallen trees, and consoling the victims of the tornado.

One of the kids even found the lost wedding ring of a lady.  It was found under a piece of trashed wall board.

Everyone spent nights on the floor of the all purpose center of the Methodist Church in Tuscaloosa.  The community housed all the volunteers and fed the whole group. 

Bill said he returned with sense overload and a marvel at the good will & generosity of so many people.

Picture 1:   Mass begins

Picture 2:   Bill Hammond talking about Tuscaloosa

Picture 3:   Offertory, Melissa, Jenny, & their mom Diane Holcomb 

  
Picture 4:   Chloe & Emma

Picture 5:   Leo joins the music with his dad, Ray, and Wendy.