Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24, 2020

Readings: We are celebrating All Saints, but using the readings for Sunday, Sirach 35, 12-18; Psalm 145, I will praise Your Name forever, My King and My God (my favorite line in the psalm; can you spot it?); 2 Thessalonians 1, 11-2, 2; Luke 10, 9-14 (Good Ole Zacheus ).

We actually had two poems read this morning for All Saints.  Watch for them in the Friday blog. 

 

Psalm 145:

 See if you can pick it out.  My favorite line in perhaps all of scripture. 

 

Fr. Jack Deeves, S.J. at 82

 A week ago Thursday I attended a celebration of the life of Fr. Jack Deeves at St. Rita’s.  Jack was a Jesuit companion all my 50 plus years as a Jesuit.  He was 82.  He had received a heart transplant in ‘89, and lived with it for 21 years, close to if not a record.  He was one of the good old Jesuits. 

 I want to tell you about him this morning and use as a template the story of Zacheus and my favorite line from scripture.  Could you spot it?  My version: “The Lord is gracious and merciful, never gets angry and is abounding in love.”  Psalm 145, verse 8.  Could this not be the answer to our big question?

 

Unlike our friend Zacheus, Jack was not short in stature.  Probably 6’2” or more, you could see him above the crowd smiling and greeting all the people gathering around him. 

 Like Zacheus, who was agile enough to climb trees, Jack was a good athlete.  In my early Jesuit days I did not like to face him when he was pitching for the other side. 

 Like Zacheus he was what the psalm calls ‘gracious.’  I would say he was a gracious hospitable extrovert.  For many of the years I spent at Jesuit with him he was the father minister, the priest in charge of the kitchen, supplies, and the well being of the men in the house.  I cannot count the number of years he played the role of Santa Clause at our annual Christmas party. 

 I took Jack out to lunch about a year ago at Kel’s Kitchen down at Forest & the Tollway, a Jesuit staff hangout.  As we go in, half a dozen or ten people all know Jack and stop him to chat.  Jack graciously spent time with all of them, smiling and asking them about their families & lives.  I thought he was never going to make it to our table.

 

 Like Zacheus and certainly like God who the psalm writer says never gets angry, Jack never lost his amiable disposition and enthusiasm for people and life.  Only if one of us Jesuits to be buggers would slightly intimate that Ursuline, the institution he loved last & most, we would intimate that Ursuline was slightly less than Jesuit.  To the rescue Jack would come. 

 I can remember when I was in my 5^th, 6^th and 7^th years of study in Mobile we used to go to a 2 week summer camp on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay, a place I loved, because I loved the outdoors, the water, the sun, water skiing, and outdoor sports like 2 person volley ball.  Jack was the father superior for us maybe 50 guys living in a two storey, screened in pavilion.  Big open dormitory on the second floor.  Jack made life heavenly for us, even though some guys were not into the outdoor life.  We had no a/c.  He even had time to play with the neighbor kids from houses along the shore.  I developed some close friends among those neighbors. 

 Finally, as the psalm writer says about God, Jack was dear.  He was loving.  He loved people and he poured out his spirit loving them, at Kel’s Kitchen, at Jesuit, at Ursuline, as cheer leader moderator for years, and at so many football games and school events. 

 I know Jack was hurting because of my departure, but he was one of the guys I could always call up or go by Ursuline to find him.  I would ask how he was and how the other guys were.  He would even go out to eat with me.

 
 
 

Jack was not short of stature physically or spirit-wise.  He was, moreover,gracious and merciful, never got angry and was dear, abounding in love.

 Who is the Jack Deeves in your life?

 Picture 1:   Beginning of Mass for All Saints

 Picture 2:   Memorial for Our Beloved

 Picture 3:    More of the Memorial

 Picture 4:    Our Father

 Picture & Obituary from the Dallas Morning News, October 17:            

 

 

 

Sir Charlie, you are supposed to be welcoming everybody.  Looks like you are scaring everyone away, like me.

 

Readings: 

Isaiah 60, 1-6, Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem. (good one)

Psalm 72, Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.  

Ephesians 3, 2-3, 5-6,  The Gentiles are co-heir, members of the same body.  

Matthew 2, 1-12, The Epiphany or opening to the Gentiles.

 

 

John ready in case I forget.

 

An Epiphany Day

This morning I would like to talk about an Epiphany Day, meaning a special day or a wonder day or event or even a person.  December 28 was an epiphany day for me.  Anybody guess why?  Yes, the date of my back surgery, an event I was totally looking forward to.

 

 

Emma sharing her candle lighting gift with the rest of us.

 

The operation was scheduled for 10:00.  We had to be there at 8:00.  Rosemary & I were there at 7:30.  Somewhere around 8:15 they checked me in and gave me the special operation gown.  I was invited to get on my own special stretcher with 4 wheels. One guy wheeled me around and into a 14 cubicle pre-op room.   Along the way we picked up Rosemary and a good old friend.

 

 

Buddy reading our Blessing of the Christmas Candles.

 

I did not know it at the time, but I was going to spend 4 hours waiting in that room.   My doctor got delayed was all I was told.  Rosemary had to leave.  I got to know the names of the pre-op room staff, Matt and Deborah. 

 

 

Cody, tell Ben that he cannot go to  sleep until I start talking.

 

I teased some of the pre-op patients.  Like one lady was begging to have a coffee.  I welcomed back some from surgery.  I had to ask to use the restroom.  I napped.  All these 4 hours my buddy stayed with me.  He read the newspaper when I dozed.

 

 

To join this exalted team, it is required that you are named John and that your are old enough to forget your age.

 

Finally about 2:00 I was wheeled into the operating room, cold as usual.  An hour or so later I was awake, Rosemary was there, and my good friend was there. 

Looking back, the day was an Epiphany Day and the operation an epiphany event.  You know what was another epiphany event?   My good friend.  He came and stayed about six hours, from the time I was supposed to have the operation, through the delay, and up to and past the operation time.  The pre-op room staff even told the poor guy we looked like brothers.

 

 

Bill and his special mom, Mabel.

 

Know who that special friend is?  Mike Carrell, an Epiphany Event.   Thanks, Mike.

 

 

 

Hi, Tom & Joe & Marsha

 

 

 

 

The Best Teammates

 

 

 

 

Elevation Time

 

 

 

The Healing Touch with John.

 

 

 

Mike, an Epiphany Friend

 

 

 

 

Isaiah 35, Be strong, fear not

Psalm 146, Praise the Lord, my soul

James 2,  Did not God choose those who are poor

Mark 7,  The people brought to him a deaf man.

 

 

Jackie & friend.

 

Thanks……

Music,    Ben & Shonda

Readers, Geri & Mike, & Buddy, our candle blesser 

Gospel,     John Cade

Homily,   John Cade

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

 

 

John & John or Black & White

 

Readings: Sorry, not today

 

Homily by John Cade:  Sorry, not today

 

Mike reading from the Letter of 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,

  

The Team

 

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; for David McKeon's brother, Hugh; For Beth's friends & brother;   for the medical staffs, teachers, and coaches in our public & private schools.

 

 

Peace to All.

 

Birthdays:   Aggie Stryker

Anniversaries:  

Aggie & Allen Stryker, 54th

Beth & Rob, 37th?

Gratifioris, David & Caroline, 36th

 

 

 

Community Finances,   September 5, 2021

Expenses: $725.00

Outreach: $515.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

Rosemary sharing her blessing?

 

Rosemary's Blessing:

Loving God…

Give us hearts
where all may enter in,
ears to hear your call,
hands to do your will,
voices to sing your praise
and soul enough
to recognize You
in everything we do.

Taken from The Prayer for Those Who Dwell In A Monastery of the Heart by Joan Chittister

 

 

Welcome, Lynda & Tom

 

 

Readings:

Genesis  18,  20-32,  The story of Sodom & Gomorrah.

Psalm 138,  Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

Colossians 2, 12-14,     He has forgiven us all our transgressions.

Luke 11, 1-13,  Ask and you will receive.

                                           

Book of Genesis, Ch 18 

— Probably written during the Babylonian captivity (6^th century BCE) to help solidify Jewish people in their identity as the people of God. 

 

Letter of Paul to church in Colossae: Ch 2 

— Colossae was a small community in Asia Minor, east of Ephesus.  This letter is written during Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome. 

 

Gospel of Luke: Ch 11

It’s in the letter to the Colossians that we learn Luke was a physician, the only mention of that fact.  Luke was probably Greek and the only non-Jewish writer in the New Testament, and accounts for almost a third of the New Testament (with Gospel and then Acts). This Gospel probably written between 80-100 AD, 3 or more generations after Jesus.  It was still being edited after 100 AD.   

     

 

                                                                        

Homily on 17^th Sunday in Ordinary Time – July 24, 2016

Each week of the year the Church selects readings from Scripture to teach us about God, to feed us with words that give life and comfort and challenge, and that remind us that we are one with God and one with each other. 

Today we learn again about God as merciful, as generous, as giving of the Spirit. 

These teachings about God’s goodness and mercy and generosity were tested for my family a couple of weeks ago when our friend Alex Folz died suddenly in his sleep at age 48.  Alex’ wife Leslie, her grown children Sarah, Mary, Liz and Peter, Alex’ parents Libby and Gene, his 3 sisters, Ali, Amy and Annie, Lambrini and her Mom, Kalliopi, and myself, and so many friends, work mates and acquaintances have been in shock and grief over his passing so suddenly from our lives. 

                                                                                                                                 

 

 

Lambrini met Alex as a co-worker at the Louisiana Department of Revenue 19 years ago.  Lambrini and Alex hit it off and became ‘best buddies’.  Before long Lambrini and me and Kalliopi were treating Alex as part of our family.  For years, several days a week, he would join us for meals.  He helped Kalliopi with her garden, plowing and digging.  He worked at learning enough Greek to be able to communicate with Kalliopi, which she loved about him.  Alex watched over our house and cared for our dog, Coco, whenever we were away.  Coco loved Alex and ran to greet him whenever she saw his car drive up.  We shared tools and vehicles and did all the things good friends and family do with each other.  Alex was a big OU Sooners fan.  He and I watched football games together and he and Mama and I would go eat meat together.

A few years ago he travelled with us on one of our trips to Greece.  Lambrini has always missed her 2 brothers, George in Greece, and John in Massachusetts who died over 10 years ago.  And Alex became her ‘best buddy’.  It was a rare day they didn’t speak, in person or by phone. 

                                      

 

Alex was very close to his parents and sisters.  He spoke with his parents every day and to his sisters frequently.  He loved his nephews and nieces and talked about them all the time.  Alex had friendships he maintained from his college years at OU in Norman, especially his good friend Shawn.  He had tennis buddies who met weekly to play together.  He joined a singles’ group, and that’s where he met Leslie.  In talking about their families, Alex and Leslie discovered that when they were little, their families had lived close to each other in the same area of Indiana, and some even knew each other.  Leslie’s grown kids showed had real caring for Alex, and were so happy that their mom had found love in her life again.  Alex and Leslie married last July at the Catholic Cathedral downtown.  What a happy day that was. 

Alex and Leslie were on a trip for Alex’ annual visit with his family for the 4^th of July weekend, and then they drove on to Chicago for a few days’ relaxation before Leslie’s daughter’s graduation from grad school that Saturday.  On Thursday Alex did not awaken and I got the call from Leslie.  Lambrini flew up to represent our family at his funeral in Indiana.  

                                                                                                                                       

 

We are taught and know that God is merciful, and generous and gives us the Spirit of life.  And we are tested when bad things happen to good people.  As the shock of Alex’ passing has gradually become a little softer, we have begun to see who Alex was to us; how he too was merciful and generous and giving of the Spirit to those around him; how his life made our lives better and more full; and much more fun—we laughed loud a lot with Alex.  As we grieve over this loss, we have realized that Alex was a presence of God in our lives.  Remember John Stack’s question to the parents and Godparents whenever he performs a Baptism: when is the last time you saw God?  Alex showed God’s Spirit over and over in a way that stays with me and gives me joy.  It has also been amazing to see his parents, in their grief, show such concern and caring for all of us feeling the loss of Alex.  And Leslie, dealing with her lost dreams and their lost plans for the future; and yet reaching out to give care and love for others who share the pain of loss.  It really helps that we are all in this together and that Alex’ life has left a lasting mark on all who were connected with him. 

                                           

                                                                  

 

We know from the Book of Job that there is no perfect answer for such losses.  For Lambrini and her mom and me it’s been other people who care and just connect with us that has made a difference.  So many family and friends have reached out to us just to be connected at this time.  I want you to know that I have definitely experienced and appreciated your support.  You listened; you didn’t try to define my grief or give it a meaning or take it away; you have showed me you are present to me and you are with me.  You are a part of the mercy and generosity and Spirit of God in my life.  Thank you for that.

My question today is:  How do you find comfort and the Spirit when you are tested?  And how are you part of that comfort and Spirit for others?

                                                                     

 

Readings: Zephaniah 2, 3-3, 12-13; Psalm 146, Blessed are the Poor in Spirit; the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs; 1 Corinthians 1, 26-31; Matthew 5, 1-12 

 

Zephaniah observations:

 The 3 chapters of the little book of Zephaniah were compose about 600 years before Christ.  Therefore, he is writing shortly before the Babylonian defeat of Jerusalem and the Captivity.  Because of the book’s shortness Zephaniah is considered one of the 12 minor prophets. 

His theme is the prophetic line:

            1. You people are bad.

            2.  You people will be punished by Yahweh.

            3.  You people, after being punished, will return to a happy place.

 

Today’s selection focuses more on how the humble of spirit will pasture their flocks with no one to disturb them. 

 The psalm & Matthew today both focus on how the poor in spirit will be happy, receiving the kingdom of heaven.

 I am struck that in the readings there is a quality of wishful thinking.  For example, in the psalm,  the lord sets captives free, secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry, and raises up the bowed down. 

 I can see someone skeptically asking me, “Stack, are you crazy.  You believe this really happens?  Look at history.”  I would like to talk about this in the homily.

 

Poor in Spirit?  Get Real!

 You remember last Thanksgiving when about 35 of us went to help feed the homeless for LifeNet?  Well, while I was helping out, I liked to go around and chat up the people at different tables.

 At one table during the second or third seating over by the windows opposite the side door I ran into 3 elderly white, nicely dressed little ladies.  Folks, they absolutely reminded me of my mother, who would have been mortified to have been eating there. 

 

The ladies were quite friendly, obviously educated, and lived in Richardson.  Were they homeless?  Were they without money, social security, family?  I only knew that they would not have been there had not LifeNet vetted them as being authentically in need. 

 My heart went out to these ladies and I mention them this morning as a lead into the notion that blessed are the poor in spirit, the kingdom of heaven is theirs.  This statement strikes me as really precarious.

 I would propose that there is a healthy and an unhealthy poverty of spirit.  The poverty of these 3 ladies is unhealthy, spirit killing, depressing.  Unemployment, homelessness, all kill the spirit.

 The same is true of Larry Sims, the 60 year old black man exonerated Friday of a crime for which he has spent 25 years in jail.  DNA proof.  Can you imagine being put in jail for 25 years of your life for something you did not do?  I think I would be mad, bitter.  The amazing reality is that these men are all accepting, forgiving, and grateful.  They humble & amaze me. 

 The same was true of the 3 little ladies.

 

 Mr. Sims is number 35 exonerated in Dallas according to my buddy & old classmate Tony Levatino who helps these men adjust to their new life through Holy Trinity Parish down on Oak Lawn.

 This unhealthy poverty of spirit has been so common down through our history as humans.  Suffering has characterized so many lives.  Slavery, holocausts, genocides, wars.

 I have spent my life attempting to raise up people in this poverty.  We are doing it in this community. 

 What then is healthy poverty of spirit?  From my perspective it is two things: acceptance and gratitude.  This brings about peace of spirit.

 I am astounded, but Mr. Sims and the 3 ladies seemed to have acceptance and gratitude.  I do know others who were dying of depression or discouragement.

 

 Can a person work through the unhealthy poverty of spirit to the peace of acceptance & gratitude?  Apparently so. 

 On a scale of 1-10, where is your poverty of spirit, your acceptance and gratitude?

Picture 1:   Mass with Kevin helping

Picture 2:   Emma walking

Picture 3:   Georgie & her sister Zoe

Picture 4:   Zoe with her dad, Randolph & grandmom, Bernadette

Picture 5:   Michelle, the mother of Georgie & Zoe, with Torri & Buddy, the twins, and Gilberto, Michelle's dad

 

  

 

 

Sorry, no pictures, can't be loaded.

Readings:  

Acts 9, 26-31, The Church was at peace;

Psalm 22, I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people;

1 John 3, 18-24, Let us love not in word or speech, but in deed and truth;

John 15,1-8, I am the true vine and my Father is the vine grower.

 

Introductions by Mike Carrell:

Recall from last Sunday’s reading from Chapter 4 in the Acts, that Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit defended his actions before the Jewish leaders: priests, scribes and elders among them. What had Peter done? Recall how the John gospel ended? Christ’s words to the twelve, “As the Father has sent me, so now I send you.  Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven.”  In the name of Jesus Christ, Peter has forgiven a man of his sins.  The mission entrusted to the apostles has begun! 

Today’s reading is five chapters later in Acts.  One of the Jewish leaders, Saul, who we later know as the Apostle Paul, has experienced a conversion of heart.  Here’s what he encounters in Jerusalem:

               First reading: Acts 9:26-31

Our second reading continues the teaching that we received in 1 John: When we follow Christ’s commands He is alive within us through the power of the Spirit.

               Second reading: 1 John 3: 18-24

 

Homily

The relational skills that we learn within our families as we grew or are growing up are very important to who we are, and who we will be toward others.

Stephen Glenn, author of Developing Capable People and Developing Capable Young People, wrote about principles that are universal in building human relationships. He shared actual stories that contained these principles. One such story was about a famous, creative, research scientist who answered a reporter during an interview on why he thought that he was more creative than the average person.

The scientist answered that it began from an experience that he had as a very young child.  He was trying to remove a bottle of milk from a refrigerator when he lost his grip on the slippery container and it fell dumping most of its contents onto the kitchen floor. 

When his mother came into the kitchen, instead of yelling at him, giving him a lecture or punishing him, she said to me, ‘Robert, what a great and wonderful mess you have made.  I have rarely, if ever, seen such a puddle of milk. Since the damage has already been done, would you like to get down and play in it before we clean it up?’  And, he did just that.

After a few minutes his mother said, ‘Robert, whenever you make a mess like this eventually you have to clean it up and restore everything to its original order.  We could use a sponge, a towel or a mop. Which would you prefer to use?’ He chose the sponge, and together they cleaned it up. 

Then his mother said, ‘You know, what we have here is a failed experiment on how to carry a big container of milk with two amall hands. Let’s take the empty container out in the back yard and fill it with water and see if you can discover a way to carry it without dropping it.’  The scientist said that at that moment he began not to be afraid to make mistakes.  Mistakes from then on were just opportunities for learning something new.

You might recall Trever in the Movie, Pay it Forward. His Social Studies teacher in middle school has given them an assignment to show how they might address the problems in society and then write a paper on it.  Trever decides that change must begin in him first. He does goods deeds to those in need around him, and when they want to do something for him, he replies, ‘Pay it Forward.’ The change proposed by Trever that must begin within the one who desires change in others has of course been proposed by many of the great philosophers.

In the context of our theological teaching in today’s gospel, Christ’s words, ‘Love one another as I have loved you,’ is how we put into practice being God-like:  ‘for as the Father has loved his Son, so his Son has loved us.’

This gives specific meaning to the sign within the context of today’s teaching where the Father is the vinegrower, Christ in the vine, and we are the branches, for we are joined together by the same Spirit!  Christ is alive to us as we plant the seed of his words.  This means that each of us becomes part of the Father’s plan of salvation…and that the fruit that comes forth from every seed around has become a sign that all of creation reflects God’s plan of salvation in Christ, Jesus.