23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 6, 2020

 

 

Welcome in, Everybody.  Abrasos for todos.

 

 

Readings:

Genesis 9, 8-15,  Never again shall all creatures be destroyed by the waters of a flood.

Psalm 147,  Your way, Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.

 1 Peter 3, 18-22,  God patiently waited in the days of Noah.

Mark 1, 12-15, The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert.

 

 

 

Hi, Harper.  How many Girl Scout cookies you going to sell us today?  (Lots!)

 

 

Genesis:  observations–

What:  First book of the Bible, starts with creation & ends with the Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob (Israel).  Any reading from this book should start with Once upon a time.   Why?  Because we have here a literary genre that is like myth or a fairy tale in our language.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for bringing up the bread & grape juice, Joe & Brent & Cheryl.
 

 

 

Author: Not Moses as was thought for centuries before people began to study the work.  At least 3 sources: 

• a Y (or J) source for the group that addressed God as Yahweh;
• an E for the group who addressed God as Elohim (Like two historians calling NYC The Big Apple or New York City, or Denver by its name or Mile High City);
• and a P group that focused on the priestly class, activities, & customs, the Levite tribe.

Time: compiled and put together from 950 to 500 BCE.

Today's Selection: the flood has just receded and Noah is receiving a promise (called covenant) from Yahweh that never again will people be wiped out by a flood.  Guess what the sign of the promise is.

 

 

 

Hey, You People, did not your mommas tell you not to go out on a cold and rainy morning?!

 

 

A Happy Lent

I want to talk this morning about having a happy Lent.  Why?  Because God created us to be happy. 

I admit again that this is my least favorite season of the year.  I always look for something positive to do and am never really satisfied with what I come up with.

 

 

 

 

Getting bored?  Join the kids in the playroom.

 

 

Some years ago Diane McMahon recommended to me a facebook article by a lady named Karen Ehrman.  She says, “For this Lent don’t give something up, take something up.”  She has 4 positive suggestions for taking something up.  I add a 5^th.   I like her suggestions.

 

 

Get your Wednesday ashes at Marlene's comfy house.

 

 

1.       Take up note writing to people with whom you don’t communicate that often, but who are friends.  She says she buys 40 cards, envelopes, and stamps.  Each morning she sends one out to a friend, just saying that she likes the person.

2.       Take up the phone and call someone every day or once a week and tell them you are calling just to tell them thanks for being a good friend.  

 

 

 

People come from the north.

 

3.       Take up a simple gift for a friend or family member.  Like bring flowers to someone, bring a Starbucks, offer to wash the dishes, or clean or dust the house, mow the grass (welcome to Tulip Lane).  Invite someone to lunch.  This is a once a week or occasional take up.

 

 

 

People come from the South. 

 

4.       Take up a simple gift for a stranger.  Like the recycle men, the garbage men, the checkers at the grocery.  Compliment the checker on her finger nails, give $10 to each of the garbage men (watch out for their over the top gratitude). 

5.       Take up visiting someone in retirement or in a hospital.  (This is my addition, not Karen’s)  We got lots of people you may choose from.

 

 

 

Ashes for Debbie & Bobby.

 

 

As you can see, some of these suggestions are occasional or once a week ideas.  Plus, what we have here are only seeds.  Even while you were listening to the five I put forward, you may be been thinking about other possibilities.

How can you have a happy Lent?

Source: Karen Ehman, on line.

 

 

 

 

Ashes for Cindy.  A good Ash Wednesday gathering.

 

Happy Mother's Day, Cathy, and Happy Grandmother's Day, too.

 

Readings: 

Acts of the Apostles, 13, 14, 43-52, The Gentiles were delighted.

Psalm 100,  We are his people, the sheep of his flock. (excellent stanzas)

Revelation 7, 9, 14-17,  I, John, had a vision of a great multitude.

John 10, 27-30, My sheep; hear my voice.

 

It's a Family Affair, Zoe & Tori lighting our Easter candles with the help of their big sister Georgie.  And Buddy reading the Easter Blessing of the Candles.

 

 

 

Observations on Acts

Date: Sometime before the year 70.  Why?  No mention of the destruction of Jerusalem, which took place the year 70, an enormous date in Jewish history.

Who: The same person who wrote the Gospel of Luke.  How do we know.  Similarities of style, language (Greek), and theological themes.

Subject: the story of the expansion of the Jesus story in 3 areas, first, Jerusalem, then, Palestine or the Holy Land, and finally, into the Mediterranean and, ultimately, Rome. 

Sources, Good News Bible, The New Interpreter's Study Bible, Wikipedia

 

 

Another Family Affair for the Offertory, John & Connie & Kevin.

 

Mother's Day History:

1905-08: Anna Jarvis of West Virginia began this celebration for her mother, Ann, who cared for wounded Civil War soldiers of both sides.  She campaigned to make it a national day and in 

1914:  Woodrow Wilson made it national.

The spelling: always singular, according to Anna. 

Hallmark Cards: Anna hated them because she felt you know what.  

 

 

 

The Communion Team,  Lynda & Tom, Claire & Denni.

 

The Lord is Good, Psalm 100, Today’s second stanza

In honor of Mother’s Day, I would like to share two stories about my mom and our relationship.  Or why she was probably glad to see me get on that train taking me to the Jesuit Novitiate in Grand Coteau. LA.

Both events took place in the delightful Spring of 1957.  I was 17 and a junior at Jesuit.  Both involve my mom’s car, a light blue, low slung probably ’55 Pontiac sedan. 

 

 

Sez Buddy, "I'm worn out, Georgie."

 

 

So I came home from school one afternoon, wanted to go for a ride, and found that my mom had taken her car keys, which meant she did not want me driving around in her car.  I was allowed to drive my dad’s Chevy when it was home.

In those days a person could hot wire a car’s ignition and drive off.  Guess what I did.  I got all the way on my street, Stanford, to the corner with Preston, a block & a half.  Then the tin foil fell off of the ignition and the car died.

While I am trying to rectify this operation, a car turns off of Preston onto Stanford.  Guess who was in it.  Yep, my mom with one of her bridge buddies.   I gave up the idea of going for a ride and returned home to a chilly reception.

 

 

 

The Special Mother's Day Blessing.

 

 

The second time I had been given the keys to mom’s car and I went to hang out at a cleaners shop on Preston just south of NWST Highway.  A buddy, Jerry, worked there afternoons providing curb service to customers.  

Shortly after I arrived a University Police car pulled up next to me and asked me to come with them to the station to be questioned about another of our friends who stole neighborhood  cars.  I got into the squad car and the other cop brought my mom’s car.

 

 

Mother's Day Blessing.

 

I was questioned about what I knew about my friend joy riding in stolen cars.  That was not as scary as it sounds.  University Park in those days was a small, middle class village on the northern edge of Dallas.  Since grade school we had known the cops by name and they knew us by name occasionally.

The thing that really steamed my mom was that the police had come to the door to ask where I was.  She happened to be hosting the afternoon bridge club, the other ladies mostly being moms of my buddies.  She was so embarrassed and ashamed.  Moreover, what she was mad about was the fact that the cop drove her car to the station.

 

 

 

The Blessing.

 

I never found out what happened to my car thief buddy.  He was with us at Christ the King grade school, but did not go on to Jesuit.  I do know he is still alive, living outside of Dallas. Want to know why I thought I was surely going to hell?  By  your friends shall you be known.  But, God is good.

Where are you going?

 

Bona Responds again, Tom & Bill & Richard, Michelle & Georgie & Bernadette.

Readings: Jeremiah 20,10-13; Psalm 69; Romans 5, 12-15; Matthew 10, 26-33

Jeremiah: one of the 3 great prophets along with Isaiah & Ezekiel.  He lives just before the defeat & destruction of Jerusalem 650 years before Christ.  He foretells the catastrophe, warning the Hebrews that their sinful ways will lead to destruction.  He lives to see the event, but also prophesies that the exile will be temporary and that one day the people will return to Jerusalem.

Jeremiah was unpopular with the people because of his warnings.  Today's reading shows him bitter and complaining about the people. 

 

As Good as Sparrows, as Good as Aviana?

In February, when we put our little dog Naomi to sleep after 15 years, Rosemary & I debated whether we would ever want to get another dog.  Putting her to sleep was one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. 

Around Memorial Day, however, Rosemary began to look on line just a bit.  Shih-tzus were our favorite, but we entertained other types of small dogs.   In fact, our vet had recommended a woman in East Texas who occasionally raised a litter of maltipoos, a mixture of maltese & poodle. 

Last Wednesday we took a trip to East Texas.  We had two ladies to visit, the one recommended by the vet and another who raised shih-tzus.  On the way we debated: yes or no.  We decided to just look.  

Well, so much for looking.  In fact, the hardest thing was coming home without one of each. 

Behold Aviana, a maltese-poodle mix whose name comes from the air base north east of  Venice, where we visited Michael & Lydia on our spring trip.  The base is Aviano; we made it feminine.

Do I have any doubts or reservations now that she is part of our family?  No, not one.  In fact, I am reminded every day why she is a special gift.  A couple of observations.

Do you realize that she is not afraid?  I think she is like all of us when we are born.  When do we begin to be afraid?  I know how Aviana could become afraid.  If I treated her mean & rough, and abused her.  Matthew recommends that we be afraid not of the person who kills the body, but of the person who kills the soul.  I would suggest the word spirit instead of soul.  Abuse kills the spirit.  At the least it wounds the spirit.

Yesterday I was working on line and Aviana was lying under my feet sound asleep.  Not on her tummy or on her side.  She was lying on her back with her legs and ears splayed out.  Talk about trust.  Lack of fear.

Matthew says that we need not fear because we are worth more than many sparrows.  Am I worth as much as one Aviana? 

Second observation is that I see the acceptance of God in the behavior of Aviana.  I saw it in Naomi.  I walk in the house and receive not just unconditional acceptance.  I encounter excited & joyous celebration.  I am amazed and touched.  We hear a lot about how we will be judged a sheep or a goat at the great roundup.  If I am lax, God will come like a thief in the night and hurl me into hell for being caught off guard. 

My preference is to see the acceptance of Aviana as reflective of the acceptance of God.  She is another of those little creatures we talked about last week.  She is another metaphor or parable about God's acceptance of us as we are. 

Aviana is not afraid of us.  She amazingly trusts us.  Moreover, she accepts and celebrates us just as we are.  

How does she symbolize or not symbolize your relationship with God? 

AUDIO:  http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2008-06-22.mp3

 

 

 

 

Says Harper, "Welcome in, Everybody."

 

Readings:

Isaiah 61, 1-2, 10-11,   He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners.  (Wow!)

Luke 1,  My soul rejoices in my God  (The Magnificat)

1 Thessalonians 5, 16-24,  Rejoice always.

John, 1, 6-8, 19-28  A man named John was sent from God.

 

 

 

And Welcome in to you two, Joe & Brent.

 

Isaiah observations– 

Who:   This is Isaiah 3.  Isaiah  1 goes to Chap. 39, Isaiah 2 goes 40-55.  From 40 on we have what is called the Book of Comfort.  Our selection today is all about comfort.  The writer is consoling the Hebrews after returning from Babylon to a destroyed Jerusalem  around 555 before Christ.

The first marvelous couple of verses are repeated more or less in Isaiah 42, i.e.,  Isaiah 2.  Also, Luke puts these words into Jesus mouth in chapter 4 of his gospel.

 

 

 

 

 

Tara, Welcome into the U.S from Iran and welcome to our Community.

 

 

 

Advent Wreaths: This little liturgical practice came to the Catholic liturgy, believe it or not, from the German Lutherans in the 1500's, the time of Martin Luther.  It was more than just decoration.  The circle symbolized eternity.  The greens, Christian life in a dead time of the year.  The candles represent each of the 4 weeks of Advent, each candle symbolizing the greater light brought by Christ.  Their color purple symbolized penance and purification for the Coming.  The Rose  candle says, 'We are almost there!

 

 

 

 

Zoe, Our Candle Lighter of The Week, lighting all 4 candles for Advent.
 

 

 

Bring Glad Tidings to the Poor

In the spirit of Advent, which means in Latin bring to or come to (the Lord), I want to tell you two more stories of being touched by goodness and feeling the Lord’s presence. 

I am a member of the Dallas North Rotary.  I have been a member since ca.1990, when I was adjusting to life in Dallas after the years in East Africa.  A guy invited me one time and I never stopped going.  Mostly because I have some good friends there, not that I even eat lunch.

 

 

 

 

Vesting up with the help of Jackie & Georgie.

 

 

Last Tuesday we were having our usual lunch at a delightful little café called Greek Isles on the southwest corner of Preston & Royal.  We were taking a few minutes to share brags or special news. 

One guy named Jerry, who may have been a college professor and who may be older than I am, unlikely as that may seem.  Jerry is telling how he went to the Chase Bank on the Northeast corner of Preston & Royal.  He comes out and notices a low tire.  He pulls a screw out of it, drives to the Exxon convenience store across the street, and discovers that the air pump is broken.

 

 

 

 

The Minor Elevation

 

 

So he leaves his car by the pump and walks over to attend the Rotary luncheon.   I don’t think Jerry has the skill or strength to put on his spare tire.

 I confess that at this point I am thinking that I could run over and put his spare on with no problem.  But I know I did not want to volunteer.  I did not want to leave the people and I did not want to spend the time after the luncheon.

 

 

 

 

Guess what is coming!

 

 

Suddenly, before my conscience kicks in, a guy named Gus says he can do it right away.  He gets up, leaves his lunch, and gets the keys from Jerry.   Out of the room he goes.  Gus just happens to be the gregarious, outgoing owner of the Greek Isles.  I was touched at his gesture and embarrassed at mine.

For me, an Advent moment.

An amusing footnote.  Gus is the owner of the café, but his son, Chris is the manager.  Gus gave the keys to Chris and I suppose it was Chris who eventually put the spare on Jerry’s car.

 

 

 

 

Can it get better that this, mom & daughter, Beth & Emma.

 

The second Advent moment was Thursday night at the Meyerson, the whole event.   Rosemary & I have gone to this Christmas concert for 20 years and every year I am so moved.  It was again this year a visual feast as well as an auditory feast.  Moreover, I was there with over thirty of my best friends.

It could have been better only if Rosemary might have made it.   That she did stay home in bed to recuperate from her congestion was a blessing in itself.

Another Advent event.

Yours?

 

 

 Kevin is home from college, Everybody, yeah, along with his mom & dad, Connie & John, and special friend, Sandra.

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.  

 

 

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

 

 

Patricia reading 2 Kings.

 

Readings:

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

 

 

 

Fred reading from Ephesians.

 

Homily by John Stack

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

 

 

 

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, 

 

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.

 

 

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

 

 

 

Happy Birthday, Dawson.

 

Community Finances,   July 25, 2021

Expenses: $960.00

Outreach: $405.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

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

 

Readings: Isaiah 35, 4-7; Psalm 146, Praise the Lord, my Soul; James 2, 1-5; Mark 7, 31-37.  Today's celebrant: Tony O'Donovan

Isaiah:   The book of Isaiah is one of those very long 66 chapters and interesting books of the Old Testament.  The book is really two books, written by very different people and at very different times.  Isaiah himself is most likely thought to be the author of the first section, to chapter 39.  It was written at a troubling time for Judah, the southern kingdom. 

 

 

The Assyrians had over-run the northern kingdom of Israel and were making noises about invasion of the southern kingdom of Judah.  The four different kings who ruled at the time of writing the first part of Isaiah had all made deals with the Assyrians in an attempt to placate them into leaving  Jerusalem alone.  The people were living with an interesting kind of philosophy.  God will forgive whatever we do, so lets do whatever!!  The theme of the whole book is one of ‘Judgment and Promise’.  Judgment of the people because they are not following God’s Law, and Promise, such as we hear in today’s reading, of better times.

 

Letter of James.

As I mentioned last week, for five Sundays, starting last week, we are going to be reading the Letter of James as our second reading.  The author, James was probably the head of the church in Jerusalem, and at times is referred to as the brother of Jesus.  He is not one of the twelve apostles James; there were two of them!  The letter is not a typical “letter” in the same sense as Paul’s Letters, in that there is a very brief greeting, not the typical extended greeting, no information about the sender and nothing of the usual formulaic ending of letters of that time.

The letter was probably written before 62CE when James was stoned to death.  It is addressed to the “twelve tribes of the Diaspora”, which refers back to the Diaspora when the tribes were scattered following the Babylonian and Assyrian invasions.  In this case it is addressed to those churches outside of Jerusalem, made up of Jewish converts to Christianity.

The contents are a collection of moral observations and instructions and today’s reading is clearly that. Don’t judge others by what they wear.  James is stressing something which Jesus practiced in his public life, taking special care of the poor, the ignored in society. 

 

The Gospel today focuses on Jesus healing.  Mark’s Gospel is the shortest and earliest written of the four Gospels in the New Testament.  It is only 16 Chapters and has nothing about the birth of Jesus.  Mark begins his gospel with the statement “The beginning of the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God”.  A very clear purpose statement, and for the rest of the gospel he carefully builds up supporting evidence to back that statement.  The first half of the gospel is primarily a series of parables and miracles, designed to have us asking, “who could this be?”  And exactly half way through the gospel, Jesus turns to Peter and does ask that very question “and who do you say I am?”.  And of course we have Peter’s famous response “you are the Christ, the Son of the living God”.  The whole tone of the Gospel immediately shifts towards Jerusalem and the passion/death.  Today’s Gospel reading from Mark is from the first half of the gospel; it is a miracle, the healing of a deaf man.  Yet I think that there is more to it.  Remember, when this was written, sickness was closely associated with sin.  It was widely believed that if someone was afflicted in some way, then they or their parents must have sinned.  And in the gospels remember the Jews used to get upset with Jesus healing and forgiving.  I think for many at the time, the two were closely linked.

Of course if we jump to today, we find that the two are still closely associated, “you are as sick as the secrets you keep”.  With the demise of the confessional, the question comes up of how do we get forgiveness. 

A couple of points to keep in mind:  God is always ready to forgive.  Remember the story of the Prodigal Son.  There was the father not just willing to forgive the wayward son, he was actually waiting, looking to see if he would come home again.  Running out to greet the kid.  Something which we can easily overlook, the son’s “sin” was not just that he blew all the money, but remember what he had originally asked for – his share of the estate, something he would normally only get when his father died.  What he is saying is “dad, you are dead”.  This too was what the father was forgiving him.  The point, God is always ready to forgive us, everything.  The question for today, are we able to forgive ourselves. 

Remember, at mass we have several times when we acknowledge our sins, and ask forgiveness.  At the Rite of Penance as we begin mass.  At the “Lamb of God”, and most especially right before communion when say, “Lord I am not worthy to receive you,  but say but the word and I will be healed.” 

 

As we continue with our liturgy, lets pause and reflect:  What have I not asked forgiveness for, and what have I not forgiven myself for?  Life is too short to be carrying around our mistakes from the past. Lets leave them here at the altar for God to take care of.

 

Picture 1:  Tony O'Donovan celebrating our Mass in the patio of Wilson Middle School.  Vines was closed for the weekend while renovations took place.

Picture 2:  Tony & the choir, Wendy, Shonda, Ray, & Celeste

Picture 3:  Tree shaded patio of Wilson Middle School.

Picture 4:  Tony & Kevin