17th Sunday, Ordinary time, 7-25-2021

2 Kings 4, They shall eat and there shall be some left over.

Psalm 145, The hand  of the Lord feeds us, he answers all our needs.

Ephesians 4, ..unity of spirit through the bond of peace.

John 6, Where can we buy enough food for them to eat.  

 

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Music Magic with Shonda & Ben

 

Thanks……

Music,    Ben & Shonda

Readers,  Patricia & Fred, & Buddy, our candle blesser 

Gospel,     John Cade

Homily,   John Stack

Eucharistic Prayer A & B,  John Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,     Richard, Hue, & Mike

Final Blessing, Rosemary

For hosting us at Legacy for all these years & will miss you enormously, Becky

 

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Patricia reading 2 Kings.

 

Readings:

Download 07-25-21 R1 – PatJansky – 17h Ord (1)

 

 

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Fred reading from Ephesians.

 

Homily by John Stack

Download Homily by John Stack 7-25-2021. 17th Ordinary Time

 

 

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Today's Team.

 

Remember these special people:

For John & Karen Anderlick's unborn grandson;  For Alan Stryker;   For Candice Taht, friend of Mary Hall;   For Rosemary's great niece, Rylie ;  For Richard's grand daughter, Madeleine;   For Esparza's new great grandson baby, son of Monique, & Frank with shingles;  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 Loretta's aunt Alicia;  For Sir Charlie & Jan;  Shonda's mom & Cody &  Leo & all of Shonda's dear family; For Ursuline Sr. Mary Troy, 

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Who are these two beautiful girls?  How you have grown, Zoe, and, Wow!, Michelle, how you have really trimmed down.  Welcome home, Both of You!

 

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 4 month old baby boy named Ford recuperating from an operation; 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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Happy Anniversary to you & David, Donna.  I wish I could be with David now beginning the first day of Ragbrai.

 

Birthdays:    Dawson, Cindy Ekes

Anniversaries:   Donna & David

 

 

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Happy Birthday, Dawson.

 

Community Finances,   July 25, 2021

Expenses: $960.00

Outreach: $405.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 
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Rosemary doing her blessing of the week.
                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                             

Rosemary's Blessing:

 

Life is not a journey to the grave

With the intention of arriving safely

In a pretty and well preserved body,

But rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke,

Thoroughly used up,

Totally worn out,

And loudly proclaiming

—WOW—What a Ride!

 

Hunter S. Thompson

 

 

 

 

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Mike, thanks tons for all you  have done for our community.  You helped us stay together for a year.

 

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, November 8, 2015, 32nd Ordinary Time

    Readings:

    1 Kings 17, 10-16,  Please bring me a small cup of water to drink.

    Psalm 146,    Praise the Lord, my soul.

    Hebrews  9, 24-28, Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands.

    Mark 12, 38-44,  The poor widow with the 2 small coins, The Widow's Mite.

     

    Gen 1

                Genevieve & Mary say, "Good Morning, Everybody,                     Welcome in."                     

           

    Kings:

         Author & date of composition: the work is a compilation of numerous sources put together near the end of the Babylonian Captivity, ca. 555.

        Subject Matter: 1 Kings is part of a 4 book work that includes 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings.  The 3 kings are Saul, David, and his son, Solomon.

     The work begins with Samuel, the last great judge, continues through the lives of the 3 kings, and finally shows how Solomon’s sons’ squabbles led to the division of the Jewish nation into two states, north & south, Israel & Judah.  Both states were defeated and the people of both were taken into captivity as slaves. 

    The people of Israel never returned from Syria.  The people of Judah taken into the Babylonian Captivity maintained their tribal identify and came back to Jerusalem, which had been wrecked.   The Babylonian Captivity ended on a high note when Cyrus of Persia defeats Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon, and allows the Jews to return to Jerusalem.

     

    Cole 1

                        Cole, a Master Candle Lighter, at work.   

     

        The Theme: you be good, good things happen to you; you be bad, bad things happen to you.

        Our selection: 2 great prophets lived when the kingdom divided, Elijah & Elisha.  They criticized the bad ways of the sons of King Solomon.  In this selection, Elijah tells the king he is going to send a drought to the king's land.  Then Elijah goes away & meets a poor, starving widow with a son.  Watch what happens.  This is setting us up for the Widow's Mite story in the gospel.

     

    K & G
     
               

                   Another team of Master Helpers, Kevin & Georgina 

     

    Today’s Widow’s Mite

    This morning I would like to talk about the two ladies in our readings, the lady with her son getting ready to eat their last meal before dying and the famous Widow’s Mite.  Let's make it contemporary.

    A story to exemplify. 

    Ever hear about Nathan Bradley?

    Narthan Bradley is a policeman.  In fact, he is a GA State Trooper.  He is young, 25 years old, and has been working as a trooper for a year and a half. 

     

    Tori 2

               Is that an angel that I see?  Why, Yes, it is Victoria.

     

    This past Halloween Saturday afternoon Nathan was on duty when he was called to cover a traffic accident.  He discovers when he arrives that a young couple have been killed.  Somehow he checks out where they live, which was not far away.  He decides to go to their house to report the deaths to whomever lives there.

    He goes to the house and rings the bell.  The inside door is opened cautiously and Nathan discovers 4 children aged 13 to 6, all dressed in their Halloween costumes.  The kids tell him their parents have gone to buy some face paint at the corner.

     

    Zoe 1

                 Is that another angel that I see?  Yep, it is Zoe

     

    On the spot Nathan makes 2 decisions.  He cannot tell them about their parents’ deaths.  In fact, he decides he has got to make this Halloween special for them . 

    So he bundles them into his squad car and takes them first to McDonald’s, hamburgers, milk shakes, the whole deal.  Then he takes them on a tour of the state trooper complex.  They play trick or treat.  Finally they have a sleep-over at the station. 

     

    Noah 1

     

        Remember that nice little kid we talked about last Sunday…..

     

    During this time a call has been made to a grandmother in Jacksonville.  She is driving up to take care of the kids. 

    With the kids bedded down, Nathan is not finished.  To help pay for expenses, like the funerals, Nathan goes on line and sets up a fund on Go Fund Me, hoping to collect $7,000.   As of yesterday, Saturday, one week from Halloween and the accident, the fund had reached $400,000. 

    Are there not sensitive and generous people everywhere around us? 

     

    Little Noah

                    Here he is, like a few years ago, Noah before.

     

    3 quick observations on The Widow’s Mite.

    Three observations.

    First, this is a marvelous call to help and to contribute, not just money, but so much else, my time, my positive strokes of others, my efforts to help kids recover from deaths, like Nathan Bradley. 

     

    Mike & Dee

                     
                      Cupcake of The Week to Mike & Dee.

     

    Secondly, watch out.  A trap here.  See Mark’s use of infinite demand?  Am I supposed to likewise contribute all I have, my whole livelihood?  Not quite, which leads to my next point.

    Thirdly, want to know why I did not want to take up a formal collection at our liturgies?  Because the churches I was part of as a young boy always pushed money.  These little stories guilted me.   I bet a lot of parishioners are hearing this morning how they should be donating to their parish.  Tithing is the norm, 10%.  It is a really literal approach to the story.

    How are you helping others?

    Source: I found this story on line, Outlook Express, Friday, 11/6/15.

        Ro 2
           

    Cupcake of The Week to Rosemary on her birthday, the 14th

  • Sunday Homily, January 25, 2015, 3rd Ordinary Time, B

    January 25, 2015, 3rd Ordinary Time B

    Readings:

    Jonah  3, 1-10,  The word of the Lord came to Jonah, saying…..

    Psalm 25,    Teach me your ways, O Lord.

    1 Corinthians 7, 29-31,   Let those having wives act as not having them.

    Mark 1, 14-20,   Come after me and I will make you fishers of people.

     

    Charlotte

    "Hi, Folks," says Charlotte, "Welcome."

     

    Jonah: This little book of 4 chapters is a gem and tells a delightful short story.   It is so good I would like to read it all, but will read only chapter 1 and most of chapter 3. 

    Background: Jonah has been asked by Yahweh to go to Nineveh in Assyria to tell the people & leaders that they are evil and will be punished shortly by Yahweh.  Trouble is, Nineveh is the enemy, like me going to Houston or Philadelphia. 

    So he runs away, catches a boat headed for Spain, is blamed by the sailors for causing a big storm on the sea, and is dumped overboard.  The whale swallows him and for three days Jonah is constrained to reflect on what he is doing.  When, after 3 days, the whale dumps him on shore, Jonah is more willing to listen.  We arrive at this point and I will have most of chapter 3 read.

     

    Chloe

    Chloe, too, with her sister, says, "Welcome, Everybody.

     

    Author: For centuries, while people took this story as factual, Jonah was considered author of his own story.  Once it was seen as a fable or allegory, it is accepted that the story probably has some unknown ancient as the author.

    Date of composition: no one really knows, but educated guesses put it ca. 800 before Christ.

    Note: the story of Jonah and the story of Jesus' interaction with his future apostles are both about The Call.   1 Corinthians is really bad.  Just like last week.  Who in Rome chooses these readings?

     

    Emma

    And Emma, too, "Hi, Everybody."

     

    Reminiscing at 75

    This morning I would like to reminisce on the theme of call at 75.  I propose that calls can be blessings or gifts.  For example. 

    I see three big calls in my 75 years.  The first came when I was in high school at the old Jesuit on Oak Lawn.  I felt drawn to be a Jesuit & a priest. 

     

     

    Kevin

    Kevin arriving ready to cover anything, Georgie, his partner, participating in a swim meet.

     

    I admit there was a lot of scare in this decision, scare that I was going to hell because of my sinful ways and the guys I hung around with.  I remember clearly one of the sermons commonly used with us guys.  You go out with your girl friend, you neck a little bit, you head home, you are hit by a train, and killed instantly.  You go straight to hell. 

    I remember the pastor at Christ the King telling the people that where you go will depend upon the people you hang out with.  Good people, you go to heaven.  Bad people, you know where.  I looked around and thought to myself, ‘I know where I’m going.’  I look around now and see some of my best friends, one a lawyer, another a banker, and my friend in Chicago, FBI.  On second thought, I still don’t know where we all might be going.

     

    Leo-Brandon

    Leo and Brandon, buddies.

     

    Trouble is, now I don’t think there is a hell thanks to my Jesuit training. I grew up in the Jesuits.  We simply had to.  I used to look at some of my classmates in the military and thought they were lucky.  We entered the Jesuits in those days and never went home for anything, weddings, special events, maybe funerals of parents.

    With all this, my decision to follow this inner call to be a Jesuit was an enormous blessing.

     

     

    Kite

    Cupcake of The Week to Doug for entering a new decade.

     

    It led me to a second momentous blessing in my life, my years in East Africa, especially Tanzania.  I really had to learn how to adapt.  I learned Swahili and in the process discovered I have a gift for languages.

    A high moment for me during maybe my 8th year came one afternoon when I went to a market in a big shed at my base near Kilimanjaro.  I had an old Tanzanian who was a buddy.  He sold fruits and veggies.  I always chatted with him when I was in town.  One day after we had chatted, a little old lady asked him, while I was to the side picking fruit, was I one of them, their people. 

     

     

    Sir Charlie

    Cupcake, really a power bar of the week to Sir Charlie in another decade.

     

    I used Swahili so good she thought I was an ndugu, which means something like a brother, something I would never had used for myself.  The old guy told me and I was floored.

    Then I was somewhat unpleasantly invited to go back to the States, which led to the third most incredible call and blessing, Rosemary and marriage.

     

     

    Emma-Cole

    Emma and Cole signing a birthday card.


      
    Looking back I returned to the States with a loneliness that I picked up in Tanzania and a much different perspective on marriage that I also picked up from the people, the priests, and even the bishops and a particular cardinal.  Tanzanians deep inside think not getting married is contrary to the laws of the universe.  I came home with this and I now could not be a happier person.

    Finally, a side effect call and gift: you people, our community, the gift and the fun I receive from you every week.

    Calls can be marvelous gifts and blessings.  I have had three and a half marvelous ones. 

    And you?

     

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    Peace is Emma with Aviana.

     

     

  • Sunday Homily 3-4-12, 2nd Lent

    Genesis 22, 1-2, 9-13, 15-18, Take your son Isaac.  You shall offer him up as a holocaust; Psalm 116, I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living; Romans 8, 31-34; Mark 9, 2-10, He was transfigured before them.

    Introduction to Genesis 22

     The concept of a covenant between God and His people is one of the central themes of the Bible. The First Reading last week was the covenant God made with Noah. This week it is the covenant God made with Abraham, and next week it is the covenant God made with Moses.  Of course, as Christians, our belief is that we have a covenant with God through Jesus Christ. 

    God, with infinite love for us brings salvation to the Table in the covenant won for us by Christ.  What are we to bring?  We are to live the spoken Word in our lives with gratitude!

     Before Bill Poncik gives the first reading, I want to share a story he emailed me a couple of weeks ago.  The mother of a young boy knowing that he had a terminal disease and only a few weeks to live asked him what he wanted to do that day. He replied that he would like to go to the Fire station for maybe he would have been a fireman.  She called the neighborhood fire station in Phoenix where they lived, told the chief there the situation and asked if her son could come for a visit. The chief asked for his height and weight and told her to bring him at 9:00 AM and plan to stay awhile. They were greeted by the morning shift of 16 men who made him a fellow fireman for a day, gave him a fitting safety helmet, yellow protective coat and boots. He and his mother began a wonderful tour; but he was told that if he heard the bell ringing that one of the 16 firemen would escort him to one of the trucks. Three times that day the young boy lived his dream.  A few weeks later his mother called the station once again to tell them that the angels would be coming for her son, that he was still awake but not for long. She was told to open the window of his bedroom when she heard the siren. That day 16 firemen climbed the ladder and entered his window fully dressed in their yellow and red. They were there, when the boy left them, dressed like the angels who had come to carry him to paradise.  16 men were living Christ’s words with gratitude in answer to God’s gift of salvation.

    Mass Begins 3-4-12

    Mass Begins

     

    Homily from Mark 9:2-10

    Candle Lightng 3-4-12

    Candle lighting, Mike & Jenny

     

     Again, to better understand a reading, one must consider the context in which it has been placed.  So, in the teaching that precedes this transfiguration event, a man is seeking to be in a covenant relationship with God through Christ.  In this process of coming to faith he observes those around Jesus to be ‘like trees that are walking.’ 

    What does this mean?  Christ’s disciples have to commit themselves to Christ’s words. The seed has been planted; but they have no roots, no foundation. They have failed to understand that he is the Messiah. That teaching does end with Peter coming to the realization that the Messiah has come to them; however, he misunderstands Christ’s mission and the disciples’ responsibility in response to God’s plan of salvation.

    Offertory 3-4-12

    The Dembneys, Kate, Chris, Susan, & Nancy

     

     Secondly, let’s look at the purpose of Christ’s mission in the very first verses of this Mark gospel realizing that since they are in the summary of the gospel we will find them somewhere in the later text of the Mark gospel.  When the Mark gospel begins we find that when Jesus comes forth from the waters where John was baptizing, the Holy Spirit comes upon him with the voice from heaven saying, ‘This is my son the beloved.’  These words are present twice in the Mark gospel. Here in the beginning of the summary of the Mark gospel—the second time, of course, is in today’s gospel. 

     Thirdly, we need to look at the very beginning of the Bible in the covenant God made with Abraham in the Book of the Law.  When Moses came up from the waters of the Red Sea leading the Israelites to freedom the Spirit came upon him.  Later, when Moses went up the mountain, by himself, the second time to receive the 10 commandments, Moses face continued to give off some light for he had been close to the radiance of God when the covenant had been made with him.

    Leo 3-4-12

    Leo joins the choir

     

      In today’s reading, Jesus takes his inner circle of Peter, James and John up the mountain where Christ’s divinity is revealed to them. Streams of light come forth Him, for he was dazzling bright. When Moses and Elijah appear Peter is still in the dark, for he wants Jesus to abide in the presence of Moses and Elijah.  It is then we hear, with Peter, the voice from heaven, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, Listen to Him!’ (Exclamation point) No one is there but Jesus. The words of Moses and Elijah are to be understood as an expectation of the Law and the Prophets for the coming of the Messiah. When one listens to, and puts into practice, the words of Christ with all their mind and heart and soul, they enter into the new covenant with God through Christ through grace.  The words of Christ fulfill the covenants that required circumcision and obedience to the Mosaic Law.

    Leo & Lynday 3-4-12

    Leo resigned from the choir with Lynda

     

     Some might be saying, ‘Well, yes, I understand; but be more specific about that to which we are to listen.”  Well, now we know why the inspired writers of the Matthew Gospel have a Sermon on the Mount! That sermon is to enlighten us. Not only is it a summary of how we are to live our lives; but it informs us that it is how we are to illuminate others to come to glorify God. During Lent I would recommend that we all reread it. It begins at Matthew’s Chapter 5.  How are you going to remember where it is in the Matthew gospel? Just look at one of your hands—five fingers—Chapter five.

     If you read the Letter of James written to the Jewish Christians its inspired writers tell us that in the New Covenant there is one perfect law.  Since in that letter there are many references to the John gospel, it’s not hard to realize what those inspired writers meant.  In the John gospel Jesus presents his disciples with one commandment.   We are to love one another as Christ loves us!  When we do that we are truly living the entirety of Christ’s words—the perfect response to the covenant God has made with us in Christ Jesus.

    Georgie 3-4-12

    Georgie with her dad, Randolph, and her friend, Meghan

     

     Reflect for a moment on something you plan to do this coming week. How will you illuminate those moments to those who around you by your words and actions?  Remember, we show our gratitude to God only to the degree we show our love toward others!

    The Team 3-4-12

    John, Kevin, & Mike

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Sunday Homily, February 16, 2014, 6th Ordinary Time, Cycle A

    Readings:

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

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

    1 Corinthians 2,  6-10,  We speak a wisdom to those who are mature.

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

     

    Batman Leo

    Batman Leo says, "Come on in, Everybody; I'll protect you from all the bad guys."

     

    Observations: on Psalm 119, on Matthew 5, and, first, 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.

     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.

     

    Cowboy Cole

    Cowboy Cole on a mission.

     

     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. 

     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.

     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.

     

    Zoe-Leo

    Zoe and Leo waiting for those cupcakes.

     

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

     

    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.

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

    Cupcakes

    Cupcakes of The Week to John, Dick, Rosemary (17th), Nina, and subbing for Ray, guess whom?, Leo!

     

    Tear It Out & Throw It Away, My Right Eye?  You Crazy?!

     I have mentioned a lot of this once before, but it bears repeating because it is so relevant. 

     When I was studying theology in Toronto years ago, 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. 

     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? 

     

    Offertory

    Offertory, the Ekes, Marlene, Cindy, Zaile, and Billy.

     

     One observation before I touch the five.  I have mentioned this so often that I hope you are not worn out.   Infinite demand and infinite acceptance.  Watch out here for a lot of infinite demand.  I’ll give a positive & a negative for each.

     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.

     

    Music

    Bethany, Shonda, and Ray.

     

    1.  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.  

     2.  Secondly, if you get mad at me and call me a fool, you are going to Gehenna.  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.

     

    Cowboy Cole 2

    Cowboy Cole taking care of business.

     

    3.  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 Muslim 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.

     4.  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.

     

    Beginning

    The Team begins the 6th Sunday of Ordinary Time.

     

     5.  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. 

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

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

     What do you think about these ideas?

     

    Ro

    Rosemary does her blessing.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Sunday Homily, August 18, 2013, 20th Ordinary Time C

    Readings:

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

    Psalm 40,  Lord, come to my aid.

    Hebrews 21, 1-4,  We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.

    Luke 12, 49-53, Do you think I have come to establish peace on the earth?

     

    Mass begins 8-18-13

    Mass begins with Kevin and Georgie.

     

    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.  

     

    Comunion 8-18-13

    Communion helpers Jan, Rich, Claire, and Lynda and Tom.

     

    Do you think
    I have come to establish peace on earth? 
    No!

    This morning I would like to talk about this line supposedly attributed
    to Jesus that he has not come to establish peace on earth.  “No,” he says.  As you can probably guess, I don’t like this
    statement.   I can see him aiming it at
    the big people who are abusing the poor.


    Buddy-Zoe 8-18-13

    Zoe and Buddy back from Disney World.

     

    However, I live on the passage from John 15 where he says, “As the
    Father has loved me, so I have loved you, live in my love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in
    you and your joy may be complete.”  There
    are numerous other lines where Jesus says, “Peace.”


    Harper 8-18-13

    Harper at the Pastry Shoppe.

     

    So, I confess I not only don’t like this line, but have my doubts about
    who said it or wrote it.  Instead I focus
    on the positive, on peace.  I see this
    everywhere.  Let me give you a bunch of
    examples. 

    I had and saw peace and joy Friday when I was honored to do Ryan McClurg’s
    wedding in Ogden, Utah.  I was
    overwhelmed by it when I saw the tears in Diane’s eyes as I stood with Ryan in
    front of everyone at the very beginning of the wedding.


    Torri-Buddy 8-18-13

    Torri and Buddy at the Pastry Shoppe.

     

    Then when his fiance, Grace came up the aisle with tears pouring down
    her face, the peace and joy was even stronger. 
    I had a hard time getting started. 
    The whole wedding and reception was peace and joy.

    I experienced peace and joy when I saw the peace and joy in Ryan’s face
    and remembered the difficult days he went through after breaking his ankle in
    his freshman year at OK State on his football scholarship.  His football days were over and it really hit
    him hard.  He had been tight end on one
    of Plano Senior High 5-A state championship teams.  We talked about that time and he is so happy
    to have gotten through it.


    Music 8-18-13

    Bethany, Shonda, and Ray.

     

    I experienced peace and joy when our Cole, who was there, of course,
    with Chuck and Erin, Ryan’s big sister, did a great one.  There was a little blond girl his age named
    Peyton whom Cole frequently informs everyone he will marry.   At one point
    Thursday or Friday he put her head into the ice chest where the beer and drinks
    were chilling.  What a hoot.


    Welcome 8-18-13

    Welcome to the wedding of Ryan McClurg, once of Plano Senior High, and Grace, in Ogden, Utah, where Ryan is stationed in the Air Force.

     

    This was followed by, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”  And they are back being best buddies. 

    Peace and joy was found on the big back porch of a big old mansion the
    McClurgs rented.  At least 20 people
    stayed there along with 4 or more little kids around Cole and Peyton’s
    ages.  2 hours sitting on that porch
    early in the morning drinking coffee and watching the kids play in the house
    and yard was total heaven.


    Grace 8-18-13

    Grace and Ryan.

     

    Closer to home, how about the peace and joy of Leo getting his head
    stuck in the chair up here last week? 
    And Beth coming to Shonda’s rescue to pull Leo straight out?

    And the week before that, how about Emma, who has been shy once upon a
    time, slowly coming up here as we celebrate, finally climbing right up beside
    me and laying her little toy car on the altar?  
    Talk about peace and joy.


    Cole 8-18-13

    Our buddy Cole, a ring bearer.

     

    I do not even talk here about the peace and joy that comes from working
    Habitat on a Saturday. 

    It is there, folks, despite what the writer of this line says.  Every day. 
    You just got to look or, rather sometimes, look back. 

    Your peace and joy, today?

     

    Another Harper 8-18-13

    Another Harper, at the wedding in Ogden, Utah. She is the daughter of Brandon and Ashley who now live in Houston with three little girls.

     

     


  • Reminder for Sunday, August 11, 2019, 19th Ordinary Time

    Welcome--

     

    Welcome, Everybody, including you crazies.

     

     

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

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

    Place: Legacy Charter School,  601 Accent Drive, Plano, TX 75075

     

    IMG_8270

     

    Peace, Everybody.

     

    Readings:

    Wisdom 18, 6-9,  You people awaited the salvation of the just.

    Psalm 33,  Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to me his own (Everybody?) 

    Hebrews 11, 1-2, 8-19,  Faith is the realization of what is hoped for.

    Luke 12, 32-48,  Do not be afraid any longer.

     

    IMG_8317

     

    The Look!

     

    Community Activities:  

    ROMEO MEET: Friday, August 9, Jason's Deli, Collin Creek Mall, west side of Central, 1:00.  Welcome all wakos, you will fit right in.   

     

    Juliets, August-September, TBA

     

    2 kids

     

    Two buddies (kids, really)

     

    TRUE?

    Cornbread

     

     

     

    What's up in Ye Old Catholic Church?  Like…

    Catholic Church in Germany shrinking,  http://corpus-blog.blogspot.com/2019/07/latest-statistics-show-german-church.html

                      

    Our father

     

     

    Our Father.

     

    See you Sunday, J.S.

    214-783-0443

     

    IMG_8271

    Peace, Everybody.

     

    JSM Mission-Faith Statement: 

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

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

     

     

    Coffee shoppe 3

     

     

    The Coffee Shoppe is open, John, Rob, & Geri.