3rd Sunday of Easter, 4-18-2021

 

 

 

Our brother – sister act, beautiful

 

 

Readings:  

 Acts of the Apostles 3, 13-5, 17-19,  Peter speaks again.

Psalm 4,  Lord, Let you face shine on us.

 1 John 2, 1-5,  Whoever keeps his word, the word of God is perfected in him.

John  24, 35-48,  Jesus appears in the upper room. 

 

 

 

 

Trying out for the choir Buddy?

 

Acts: A review–

Author:  Luke, the author of both The Gospel and Acts.  Today we get Luke twice, in the first reading with Acts and in the last reading, today's Gospel. 

While we are on the subject, Luke's gospel story today is a compliment to last week's gospel story by John.  Both John & Luke find the apostles in a locked room, Jesus appears, and he says, "Peace."  Both focus on the physical, last week on Thomas demanding to see the wounds, this week Jesus eating.  What does he eat?   Why so much focus on the physical? 

Date:  written about 40-60 years after Jesus death, i.e., ca. 70-100 A.D.

 

 

 

 

Suited up and ready to go!

 

 

Subject: Two parts.  Part one covers chapters 1-8, which focus on the resurrection, ascension, and Pentecost, plus their effect on the community.  The rest of the book, i.e., chapters 9-28, the focus is on Paul, his conversion & travels.  

Today's Selection:  

The scene is this, just like last week.   Peter & John have just healed a lame man at the door of the temple.  The people come rushing to see.  Peter & John say, "Hey, we did not do it."  In fact, Jesus did it and he has been raised from the dead.  This caught the attention of the priests and authorities who had the two arrested and put before the council.  They are released the next day after a warning not to talk about this Jesus.  Then they return to the local community of believers. 

 Today we go back to the time just after the healing of the lame man.  The people have rushed to see the phenomenon and ask Peter & John to explain.  Today's reading is their explanation.

 

 

 

 

 

Love for Kids Picnic & our team under the patronage of St.Bonaventure U., NY

 

 

Let Your Face Shine Upon Us

I want to talk about how the Lord’s face shone upon me this week.  Two stories.

First, Thursday afternoon Rosemary & I finally went for a bike ride down & back on the White Rock Creek Trail.  I’ve already mentioned often what a jewel this path is.   With the forest and the birds singing, is this Dallas?

As usual we stopped for a break on the bridge overlooking the doggie park swimming hole.  It is always a joy watching the dogs jumping into the water & playing.  Thursday there was one lab especially joyous and full of energy.

 

 

 

 

Good Morning, My Dearest Zoe.

 

 

The lady who was his owner would toss a stick as far as she could into the water.  She and the dog were on the third level of the terraced bank, all paved.  That dog would race down the two levels and then launch himself (or herself) a good ten feet above the water. 

That dog was the Lord’s face shining upon us.

The second story has to do with that beloved and cursed Love for the Kids picnic, cursed because it always takes place on a Saturday, when I am pretty busy getting ready for you know what.

 

 

 

 

The Offertory Team, Beth & Emma, Allan & Aggie.

 

 

So, I am driving north on I35 sort of grousing at that Hammond who keeps inviting me to events like this and at the same time aware that I always return home richer and more humbled.  I then realize that Bill is also inviting me to Dickenson again and to a CO backpacking trip.  And I am saying no to everything.  This even goes to L’Alliance Francais, where I am getting invited more and more to plug back in after about a half a year dropping out.

It hit me, am I getting to be some kind of old stay at home?  Some old monk?  I confess I just love staying at home hanging around with Rosemary & Aviana.

 

 

 

 

You think I'm going to trust that right hand of yours, Sir Charlie?  No way!
 

 

 As I drive along, L’Alliance Francais came to my mind.  Monday evening I have a two hour class with a group of voyajeurs, travelers to France.  5:00 P.M. I wish I did not have to go.   I go. And return full of joy.  

All this went through my mind as I drive north on I35 to Love for Kids.  I realized I do not want to only stay at home.  As I walk around the picnic grounds I know I want to go to L’Alliance and to Dickinson and to CO.  Sign me up, Bill.

This Love for Kids Picnic is dangerous, Folks.

These are two ways the Lord’s face shone on me this week.

And You?

 

 

 

Good Morning, Beth, Sir Charlie is awaiting you.  Does he have a deal for you, like a motor enhanced bike.  Oh, I forget.  You already have one.

 

 

 

 

Readings:

Samuel 3, 3-10, 19,   The call of Samuel by Yahweh.

Psalm402,  Here I am, Lord, I come to do your will.

1 Corinthians 6, 13-15, 17-20,  Your bodies are members of Christ.

John 1, 35-42,  What are you looking for?    

 

 

 

 

Thanks, John, for celebrating this week while Rosemary & I had a wedding for her youngest sister's son, Sean, in Mount, Laurel, NJ, just east of Philadelphia.

 

 

The reading from First Samuel tells a story of Samuel’s call by God and how difficult it was to hear it. The Gospel reading tells a story of the call of Peter and Nathaniel by Jesus. These stories are both dramatic in their details and their telling.

 

But even kids seem to hear a call on some level—they seem to identify with things bigger than themselves. I remember my grandson Leo, at about age 3, saying: “I want to be a scientist”, or “I want to go to ‘space university’”. At that same age, we heard how strongly he identified with something bigger than himself. Joey would tell Leo that he was going to go to Texas U.(her college), and Daniel would say that he was going to Oklahoma State (his college).

 

 

 

Sir Charlie, I don't trust you so close.

 

 

Leo’s speech was still rudimentary then and when we said, “Leo, when you grow up, you’re going to Texas U.”, Leo would say with great determination, “No, I’m going to ‘okeenokee steak’. Without even knowing what it meant, Leo, so young, had listened, heard a call, and strongly identified with a parent’s alma mater. He became a follower.

 

In the olden days, today’s readings about a call from God would be used to talk up vocations to the priesthood and the religious life. Though the church still suffers from a clerical culture and a vertical patriarchy, we know all are called to priesthood, to minister—to serve and care for one another. So some calls are special, some are dramatic, like Samuel’s and like Peter’s and Nathaniel’s.

 

 

 

Hi, Beth, Hi, Emma.  So nice to see you.

 

 

I echo Stack in that the call to serve, to care, to follow—is most often a small voice, usually inaudible. We have to be listening for it. Problem: having a ‘habit of ‘listening’ is not automatic. We’re not born with it. But we can all learn to ‘listen’ and, by practicing listening, we all can develop it into a habit.

 

So, when we ‘listen’ daily to what we read or to what others say, or become attentive to random daily situations, we are developing the habit of listening. Our practice at the beginning of Mass to pause and ‘listen’ can be the beginning of developing the habit of listening.

 

 

Hi Tori, Hi, Zoe, So nice to see you girls, too.

 

 

There was the story on TV this week of a man who saved a stranger’s life by pushing her away from an oncoming car which then hit and killed him. This man and this woman had both stopped to help out another driver whose car was stalled. Like Samuel’s and John’s stories, this is a dramatic and amazing example of someone hearing a call, it’s a hero story—difficult, if not impossible, to identify with.

 

What the newscast doesn’t tell us is the back story, how this man and this woman likely lived their lives—my guess is they had a habit of listening for the many small daily calls to care about others in small ways, in ways we all can. This is within the reach of all of us: to develop a habit of listening for those small everyday calls to serve and to care for others.

 

 

 

 The Girls, Cheryl & Marilyn

 

 The question: Can you hear those small daily calls? And have you developed the habit of listening?

 

 

 

Mass this Sunday, December 31st will be on Zoom only.  John Cade's wife has Covid and John Stack is unable to get to the ArtCentre.

 

Here are the links for Sunday:

Jeremiah 38:   Then the king ordered Ebedmelech the Cushite to take 3 men along with him, and draw the prophet Jeremiah out of the cistern before he should die.

Hebrews 12:  For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross,…

Luke 12:  There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished.

                           

         

Mary reading from Jeremiah

 

 

Thanks…

Music,    Ben

Readers,  Mary & Warren

Gospel,   John Cade

Homily,  John Stack

Eucharistic Prayer A & B,  John Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,      Hue & Richard & Kevin

Final Blessing, Rosemary

                                             

                 

         Warren reading from Paul's letter to the Hebrews       

Readings:  Download 08-14-22- Readings – 20th Sunday Ord

Homily:  

                  

                         

Hue and Kevin working on the Zoom

 

 

 

Remember these special people:

For Jan; For Sandra who has been diagnosed with Large B Cell Lymphoma;   For Lambrini, John Cade's wife, who is dealing with cancer and Kaliope, John Cade's Mother-in-law;  For Hue; For Jackie;  For John's sister, Kathey recovering from a fall;    For Tom Good;  For a young man, 19 struggling with a brain tumor and cancer;     For Mary Hall's friend Cadence still suffering from a serious medical condition;   For Sir Charlie & Jan; 

                           

Meredith, Brent and Paul

                                                                                                                                              

                   
Aggie and Allan 

 

 

Jackie's mom, sister, & friend, Lynn;  For Rick Turner searching for a kidney donor, Type O neg.;   For Jean & Cliff Wright;  For Dee, and for her daughters, Lisa & Lauren;     For a young man who is suffering from depression;  John Cade's daughter, Joey, with cancer; from Barbara, a little baby boy named Ford recuperating from an operation & friends, Annie, a mom of 3 kids and Michael ;    for the medical staffs, teachers, and coaches in our public & private schools.

 

 

Connie and Barbara

   

Birthdays:   Marlene Ekes 8/15

Anniversaries:   Jean & John O'Donnell 8/15, Bernadette & Gilberto Delgado  8/20

      

Community Finances:   

Expenses: $   780.00

Outreach: $   120.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

                 

 

 

 

Rosemary's Blessing:  

To laugh often and much;

To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;

To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;

To appreciate beauty;

To find the best in others;

To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;

To know even one life has breathed easier because you lived.

This is to have succeeded.

 

Success – Ralph Waldo Emerson

May you succeed!

 

Guess who has arrived, Everybody!   Welcome into Our World, Vivian Grace.  You are beautiful and perfect.  Tell your mommy & daddy, "Congratulations."  Arrival was Tuesday, 8 lbs.

 
 

Welcome: Catholic Mass with coffee and juice and pastries, both bought and home-made, after Mass.

Time: 9:30; Celebrate with the Community & Stack and Mike homilizing.

Place: Vines High School, Plano, 15th between Custer & Independence.

 

Genevieve, too, says, "Hi, Vivian, Welcome.  But, guess what, I got more hair than you."

 

Readings:

Ruth 1,  15—17, 20-26,  The story of Naomi and Ruth

Psalm 104,    Lord, send out our Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.

1 Corinthians 12, 3-13,   There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same spirit.

 John 15, 26-27 & 16, 12-15, When he comes, he will guide you to all truth.

 

 

 And Annabelle says, "Hey, don't forget me.  And I am older than you two.  A little respect, please."

 

Community Activities:        

1.      ROMEO MEET: Friday, May, The Twenty Second, Jason's Deli, Collin Creek Mall, west side of Central, 1:00.   We also welcome the Working Classes, especially if you pick up the tab for the Old Guys.

 2.      LADIES' LUNCHEON,  June 4, Thursday, Papadeaux, 725 S. Center (East side, the side the sun comes up), 1:00.  It was heard that Cathy is covering set ups. 

Everyone, please forward to anyone you think would be interested.  If you let me know I will add their email to the list. 

Carol 

 

It won't be long, you little girls, until you will be joining at the play station these big kids, Buddy, Emma, Zoe, and Victoria.

 

What is going on in our Catholic World:

1.       Get rid of megaparishes,  National Catholic Reporter,  Mat 13,  727 words,       Download Megaparishes 5-21-15

2.     Francis and Bishop Romero of El Salvador,  National Catholic Reporter, May 19, 1555 words,    Download Francis & Bishop Romero 5-21-15    

 

                   Eshelbrenner Clan with Richard leading the parade.

 

 True?  

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.

Steve Jobs (Who?)

 

                         Welcome Back, Kim and Travis

 

See you Sunday, May 24, 2015, Pentecost,  Cycle B

J.S., 214-783-0443

 

 Offertory with Mary Ellen (just moved back to Dallas from CT), Grace, Alison and John.

 

 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.

 

 May you be blessed, too, along with Annabelle, Oscar, Gloria, and Eric.

 

 

 

Isaiah 50:The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced;

Philippians 2: Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance,  he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Another Reminder for Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025