Sunday Homily, November 10, 2019, 31st Ordinary Time

Readings:  Jeremiah 23, 1-6; Psalm 23, The Lord is My Shepherd; there is nothing I shall want; Ephesians 2, 13-18; Mark 6, 30-34     

Jeremiah:

Author & Who: Jeremiah is called "the broken hearted prophet," because he felt compelled to say woe to the leaders & shepherds of the state of Judah.  He predicted tragedy for the people because of their unfaithful ways.  Because he predicted such catastrophe, the leaders & even the people hated him.  He hated his his prophet job and his unpopularity.

Jeremiah is considered #2 of the big 3 prophets, along with Isaiah, #1, and Ezekiel, #3.  They are considered the major prophets because of the size of their works, e.g., Jeremiah has 52 chapters.

Baruch, Jeremiah's secretary & scribe, is considered the person who wrote down & edited the Book of Jeremiah. 

Time: ca. 625-575, i.e. before the famous Babylonian Captivity and during part of it, which took place starting around 585 BCE.

Setting & Story: Catastrophe is coming in the person of Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (near Baghdad, Iraq, of all places).  He has defeated the Assyrians who had destroyed the northern Jewish state of Israel (ca. 720 BCE) and is now looking at Judah, the southern state with Jerusalem the capitol.   The 10 tribes of the north were carted away and disappeared into the Middle East gene pool.  Intermarriage and lost culture. 

Jeremiah sees what is coming, predicts devastation, and blames it on the leaders & shepherds of the people of this southern state of Judah.  It happens as he foretold, and Jeremiah ends up going to Egypt, where he dies.  He also predicts the return of the people to Judah and the rebuilding of Jerusalem.

Interesting Side Note: can you guess when the Genesis story of creation in 7 days was composed?  Biblical research reveals that the creation story was put together during the Captivity, i.e. ca. 575.

Why?  The priests & prophets (e.g., Ezekiel) of the Jews in captivity determined that the people would not be assimilated into the local gene pool as their cousins in the northern kingdom had done when made to live with the Assyrians.  They decided they would establish customs & religious practices that would make the Jews so different they would not intermarry.  Three special laws were established: 1.  male circumcision; 2. dietary laws and laws about not touching menstruating women; and 3. the Sabbath.

The priests put together the 7 day creation story to suggest that Yahweh approved of their Sabbath law.  They had Yahweh rest on the 7th day to bolster their demand that all Jews take a day off every 7 days.  Before the Babylonian Captivity there was no legislated Sabbath and no myth of Yahweh creating the world in 7 days with the 7th being a day of rest.  So, now you know when the story was created & by whom, the priests, and why, to keep the Jews united vs the Babylonians.  It worked, even down to today.

Our Selection: Jeremiah is saying woe to the leaders & shepherds of the Jews of Judah.  He is also consoling them that a better day will come when they will have good leaders and they won't have to fear and tremble.

Sources: Bishop Spong, The Sins on Scripture; Wikipedia

Shepherding

Every Friday morning since before 1990 I have had an appointment with a little lady about 4'11' named Elizabeth.  She is 93 this year. 

In the beginning she used to take the bus to Jesuit for our meetings.  In fact, one fall Friday morning she was walking along the main first floor hall, the bell rang for the end of class, the guys poured out, and one big kid, number 55 in his football jersey, knocked her down.  Uninjured and flattered by the attention of all the boys, she wended her way to the back of the property where my office was.

Some of you have met her because you have helped me move her from a second floor to a first floor apartment, then from that apartment to a condo she bought.  Npw she lives in the 3 Fountains retirement home a little off of Park Lane, east of Central and Northpark Mall.  She has always been a independent, bohemian lady with a literary bent.  She wrote a novel 80.

The church she always attended after her conversion and until she could not get around was Holy Trinity in the Oak Lawn area. This was where she lived most of her life.  While she was at Holy Trinity she met a couple in their 50's who used to bring her home after Mass. 

As Elizabeth got older the couple got more involved.  Really involved in a helpful way.  The husband, who seems familiar with real estate, found the condo that she bought, then found the retirement home for her, doing all the paper work.  He is selling the condo for her right now.  At first I though there was some kind of swindle taking place, because they were almost too good.  They were real, however. 

The wife continues to visit Elizabeth about once a week, taking her to the doctor and pharmacy, using a lot of her time.  This is depite the fact that Elizabeth can often be less than gracious.  I do not know how many times I have been sumarily kicked out and told not to return.  Elizabeth admits that she often treats the lady harshly.

This couple has been a life saver not only to Elizabeth, but also to me.  I did not know how I was going to help Elizabeth deal with her growing inability to get around.  She had said often she would never go into one of those old folks homes.  She had told me she wanted to die in her condo.  The couple somehow helped her over this obstacle.  What they did, I think, is they just took her to a couple of places they had checked out.

I talk about this couple today because they exemplify something I think the gospel is trying to convey, the meaning of being a shepherd, a care taker. 

Jesus does two things in the episode that I think are marvelous.  First, he shows care for his comrades.  These guys had been out sharing the message, had returned to share their adventures, and they were tired.  People were all around.  Jesus suggests that they all go away to a quiet place and rest.  This is shepherding or care taking one's closest, one's family, one's team. 

They get into a boat and cross some water, obviously the Sea or Lake of Galillee, one of the beautiful places of the world, a heart shaped body 21 miles in length & only 7 miles across.  Many of you could swim it.  The second marvelous thing Jesus does is take compassion on the people who have anticipated where he was going and got there first.  He changes his plans and tends to them.

This is our challenge.  The couple who care take Elizabeth is an example of what Jesus is showing us. 

Whom do you shepherd or care take?

AUDIO:  http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2009-07-19.mp3

Picture 1:  Mass with Sabrina & Ruth

Picture 2:  Choir, Wendy, Shonda, Ray, & Celeste

Picture 3:  Ekes & Wittiks–Bobby & Debby, Barb W., Mabel, Marlene, Cindy, Curtis, & Warren W. 

 

Readings:

Isaiah 55, 1-5, All you who are thirsty, come to the water.  (Ever wonder why I love Isaiah so much!!)

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

Romans  8, 35, 37- 39,  What will separate us from the love of Christ?

Matthew 14, 13-21,   They all ate and were satisfied and they picked up the fragments left over.  (Terrifically positive readings this Sunday!  Wow!)

 

 

 

 

Thanks to the Team

Music,  Ben & Shonda

Readers,    Mary Jane & John, & Buddy, the candle blesser

Gospel & Homily,  Deacon Mike & Stack

Eucharistic Prayer A & B, Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers, Mike & Richard, Ben & Hue (welcome Hue!)

Final Blessing, Rosemary

 

 

 

The Best Music, Ben & Shonda.

 

Please Remember these special people:

For our Bill & his family, Patty, Bobby & Lisa, Melinda, Amy & Bret;  For Becky's dad just discovered with the virus;  For Cindy recuperating from a procedure some weeks ago;    For Carrie Bieda's son;   For Esparzas, Frank & Mary,  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;   For Joe Hogan with cancer;  For Loretta's aunt Alicia;    For Sydney;  & For Sir Charlie & Jan;  Shonda's mom & Cody & Ben & all of Shonda's dear family;   for Michelle;

 

John Schanot reads Romans today.

 

 

For Jackie's mom;  For a friend, a neighbor, & a doctor, Karen, with brain cancer; For Rick Turner searching for a kidney donor, Type O neg; For Meredith, cancer free;    For Hue;  For John O'Donnell;    For Dee, and for her daughter, Lisa; For John Schanot's continued health;  For Anthony & Sabrina;    For a young man who is suffering from depression;  John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli and Lambrini;  for Virginia Mattingly.

 

 

Download Readiongs Week 8-2

 

 

Birthdays:  Linda Beavers, Eric Wittek, Lynda Fleming 60, Souls Harbor's birth (Brent wants a cupcake), born 1956 (64 years ago!)

Anniversary: Mike & Judy, 56th

Brian Bambaneck & Kendall, 15th (parents of  Harper & Betsy)   

        

 

 

Today Mary Jane reads from Isaiah.

 

John's Homily, In Memory of Bill

Matthew has presented to us this morning one of my favorite Bible stories.  The point is usually made that Jesus just multiplied the bread.  As I’ve said all the times I have spoken on this little vignette over the years, my read is that Jesus created such a spirit among the people that they shared what they had with each other.  That was the miracle of sharing.  

 I saw this in Tanzania the ten years I lived there.  I would be riding my motorcycle down a hot, dusty road, & come across a half a dozen Tanzanian women waiting for a country bus.  They all wore robes from their heads to their sandals.  Under those robes they had food.  And they did not reveal a crumb. 

 

The brain trust.

 

What did Jesus do?  He created a spirit of trust and invited them to share.  Imagine you are there.  You are provident and conceal your rations.  Suddenly, after having a good meeting with these people, Jesus takes a  loaf of bread, breaks it, takes a piece, and passes it to you.  In the spirit of sharing, you take a piece of the bread and you put some of your bread into the basket. 

Can’t you see Bill Hammond doing this!  It is September and Bill is standing up here inviting us all to help with the Love for Kids special picnic day at the Circle K Farm in Flower Mound one Saturday in October.   20-30-40 members of our community would show up every year.

 

 

The Brain Trust?

 

Initially I found it difficult to spend Saturday morning at the picnic because I used Saturday to get my ideas sorted out for our Sunday Masses.  Little did I need those ideas because I came home and devoted all my homily time to how I was touched by the kids, by our community, and by Bill for touching my heart again.

Because of Bill & Bona Responds, Bill and I spent a week in Galveston helping to clean up after the hurricane.   Bill frequently relayed opportunities to community members to join him and other Bona Responds kids in tornado clean up.  Bill got us into these sharing events and we were incredibly richer.

 

 

Hey, Mike, we got audio this morning.  Hooray!  In fact, if you missed it the first time, it even repeats.

 

The second event that showed me how special Bill was came with our early September 8-9 day back packing trips to Yosemite.  8-9 campers loaded up and came along.  Bill was one camper & hiker that I knew I could rely on to help me out if someone was having trouble with the altitude or weight of a back pack.  We had 8 dinners & deserts, like freeze dried peach cobbler,  which Rose Banzhaf prepared & freeze dried.  This meant 1 bear canister for each camper. We ate well and we had to tote all that up the trail.  Bill always generously offered to help out with the load, especially the pint of Jack Daniel we all carried for the evening feast. 

 

Sacra Couer, Paris

 

The third way that Bill touched me was the famous Hotter ‘N Hell Bike Ride out of Wichita Falls, the last week end of August, yes, usually the hottest week end  of the calendar.  The year was probably 2011.  

So along comes Bill inviting me to ride.  Trouble was, I was a runner, not a biker.   No problem.  He had everything I needed, Helmet, shorts, shirt, and even a bike (which I discovered later was Bobby’s bike).   I must have hesitated, to say the least.  But you know how hard it was to turn Bill down. 

 

Chain Bridge, Budapest

 

So I agree and ride up with Bill to Wichita Falls.  We camp out on the college campus.  There are thousands of these crazy people. We get up in the dark about 5:00.  Bill wants to leave before the huge crowd takes off all together.  I get into these clothes in the dim light of the parking lot.  We take off.  It does not take long for Bill & his buddies to speed off down the road.  I trail along. Yes, I did finish but Bill never let me forget that I spent the first 20 miles with my bike pants on backward. 

 

Sunset, At Sea

 

Thank you, Bill, for blessing my life and the lives of so many.  You have been and still are a very special gift.

Using John Lewis' Blessing,  So I say to you, walk with the wind, brothers & sisters, and let the spirit of peace & the power of everlasting love be your guide.  

 

Is City of Dallas giving us a little hint?  

 

Cindy Cramer:

John has been in touch with Cindy Cramer’s son and daughter.  Cindy has healed from the heart surgery. 

She is presently in Encompass Health Rehab Hospital, 3351 Waterview Parkway, Richardson, TX 75080, Room 110.  Cindy needs physical therapy to learn to walk again due to Guillain-Barre.

She is not allowed any visitors but would LOVE to receive some cards and notes.  Also, since she is on the  first floor you can window visit.  The windows are numbered with the room numbers, so you should be able to find #110.  Also you can make her a home-made dinner and deliver it to the front desk! She is currently on a special diet due to her blood thinner which requires that she not go crazy on Vitamin K. It's not that she can't have any at all; she just shouldn't have large amounts. Check out the Mayo Clinic's list of foods to avoid. If you include any of those items mixed into a casserole or something, be sure to include a note with how much is in there.

She’s very busy between three meals a day, and physical therapy twice a day at times that change daily, scheduling your visit may be a challenge. Rather than set a particular time for all window visits, it will probably be easiest if you just sign up for a day, and then contact her about when would be a good time to come by. Here is the signup sheet if you want to do that.

 

Mark 11, 1-10, Jesus enters Jerusalem

Isaiah 50, 4-7, I gave my back to those who beat me.

Psalm 22, My God, Why have you forsaken me.

Philippians 2, Christ did not not regard equality with God.  (Omit)

Mark 11, Passion

 

 

Happy Palm Sunday and Here's to New Life!

 

Thanks……

Music,  Ben & Shonda

Readers, John & Connie Doherty, John Schanot & Mary Jane, & Buddy, the candle blesser

Gospel,  see Readers in last line

Homily,  none today

Eucharistic Prayer A & B, Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,   Hue & Mike  

Final Blessing, Rosemary

For hosting us at Legacy, Becky

 

 

 

Readings for Sunday, March 28, 2021

Download Readings for 3-28-2021 Palm Sunday

 

Regarding today's readings:  We will read

1.  Mark's description of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem;

2. Isaiah's description of one of the Suffering Servant pieces;

3.  Skip the Philippians reading;

4.  Mark's long description of The Passion. 

 

 

The Best Music, Shonda & Ben.

 

Please Remember these special people:

For Carrie's ex, Larry with Corona;  For Alan Stryker;  For Joe Sullivan;    For Rosemary's great niece, Rylie ;  For Richard's grand daughter, Madeleine;   For Esparza's new great grandson baby, son of Monique;  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 

 

 

Our Brain Center!

 

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

 

Birthdays:   Barb Wittek

Anniversaries: 

 

Community Finances,   March 28, 2021

Expenses: $ 1,000.00

Outreach: $ 375.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

 

Rosemary's Blessing:

Lord God who is endlessly patient

with our foolish and annoying frailties,

instill in us patience for our fellow humans. 

Help us to keep our temper cool,

our nerves calm,

and our disposition amiable.

Andrew N Greeley   A Book of Irish American Blessings and Prayers                

 

 

 

 

Readings:

Isaiah 49, 14-15,  I will never forget you.   

 Psalm 62,  Rest in God alone, my soul.

 1 Corinthians 4, 1-5,   Then everyone will receive praise from God.

 Matthew 6, 24-34,    Do not worry about tomorrow, tomorrow will take care of itself.

 

 

"Happy Mardi Gras, Everybody," say Cathy and Harper.

 

Isaiah observations and reminders—

Who, This is 2^nd Isaiah.

When, This is during the Captivity in Babylon, ca. 555 before Christ. 

Subject, The writer, the prophet, is trying to lift the spirits of his fellow slaves.  He gives them exquisite news, using God’s words, “I will never forget you.”  A short but touching cameo of consolation and hope. 

 

 

And from Kevin, "Welcome in, Folks."

 

Have a Happy Lent

I admit that Lent is my least favorite seasons of the year, mostly because of the emphasis on penance I encountered as a kid and during my early years as a Jesuit.  We did penance in those days.  I don’t think it was spiritually and psychologically healthy. 

Therefore, I would like to talk about how to have a Happy Lent.  A no dread zone.  And, I would add, a belief that God cares not a whit for us doing all sorts of penance.   

 

 

Tori, too, says, "Hi, Everybody."

 

Consequently, I have two points based on being people fully alive.  The first point focuses on self nurture and has two suggestions.

First, treat yourself each week of Lent.  Like take a special day off, go out to eat, like join us at Romeos or Juliettes, have some ice cream, and go for a drive (if possible with the traffic congestion).  In fact, because we have not had a day off since Thanksgiving, Rosemary, I, and Aviana are going to visit her sister in Hilton Head for a week. 

 

 

Hi, Vivian.  It is so nice to have you with us this morning.

 

Secondly, spend some quiet time in contemplation, especially with a focus on gratitude.  I just read about a guy who survived the Burma death camps.  He said he was never a prisoner, meaning he always focused on what he was grateful for whatever torment was going on around him.

The second half of this you will maybe hate me for bringing up.  But, here I go, exercise.  I want to keep you people alive, fully alive until you are ready to check out.  This really involves only 2-3 hours per week, 30 minutes a day for six days.  There are two types of exercise, cardio and strength. 

 

 

The Candle Man of The Week, Cole, at work. 

 

Cardio involves walking, riding a bike, and running.  A 30 minute walk around the neighborhood has amazingly positive effects. 

I can certainly vouch for how good I feel after I have done a spin class at the Jewish Community Center in the morning.  I do this Monday through Friday and it is marvelous.

 

 

Delivery day is here,  TODAY.   Do we have a doctor in the house?  
 

 

Strength is for muscle and bone, and involves things like yoga, Tai Chi, and weights.  It also includes doing things like gardening (even mowing the grass?), taking the stairs, walking from the outer edge of the parking lot, dancing, and house work (like vacuuming).

The goal in all of this is to be fully alive and happy until we arrive home. 

 

 

Offertory team, John & Connie, Scott & Lily

 

So, how are you going to have a Happy Lent?

Good article on exercise,  Download EXERCISE FOR LENT 2-

 

Bethany, when is my new play mate coming to visit me?  

Acts 2:   Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

1 Corinthians 12:To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.

John 14:  The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you."

John Cade and John Stack start Mass

 

 

Thanks…     

Music,   Ben & Shonda

Cody reading from Corinthians

Outreach: $   80.00   

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

 

Preparing for Communion

 

 

Rosemary's Blessing:

A Pentecost Prayer

Welcome Holy Spirit,
In the silence of a still night’s fearful thought you come,
comfort in the sleepless worries,
gentle in the rising doubts,
forgiving all our handmade hurts,
patient in our pointless hurry,
counseling as the waves come crashing,
“Be still and know that I am God.”

Wonderful Counselor, Comforter,
you will never abandon us.
You will always be with us.

Your promises are sure.

Help us to give like you,
forgive like you, live for you.

Amen

Found on the Catholic Relief Services Website

Readings:

Zechariah  12, 10-11,  I will pour out a spirit of grace and petition.

Psalm 63,  My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

Galatians 3, 26-29,  You are all one in Christ.

Luke 9, 18-24, If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself.

 Zecheria observations : 

Who:  
one of the 12 minor prophets.  Why?  Small work.  Only 14 little chapters.  Vs the Big 3, who have chapters numbering into the 60’s.  Zecharia is really the author of this work.

Time:  
post Babylonian Captivity, therefore, after 555 before Christ.  How do we know?  Reference is made to Darius, the king of the Persians.

Content:  
part 1 involves visions about the restoration of Jerusalem.  Part 2, our part, talks about future prosperity.  Maybe a slightly forgetable book.  I have not one line highlighted in my bible.

Sources: Good News Bible, Wikipedia

 

 

Deny Myself and Take up a Cross Daily

Ever since I can remember hearing this item I have felt discomfort and
rejection.   I think there was some of this in my original decision to enter the Jesuits to be a priest in 1958.

Certainly in those early years of Jesuit training, we practiced this.  We lived in silence most of the time, worked hard on the beautiful Jesuit farm at Grand Coteau, and we never went back to our original homes.   A really regimented monastic life, up at 5:00, lights out at 10:00, every day, month after month, year after year.

 Times have certainly changed and I have obviously changed.  Three comments about the idea of taking up a cross daily.

First, it is a metaphor, a metaphor for self discipline.

Secondly, the self discipline involves obvious things, let's say, three:

          Healthy eating, that is, watch out for salt, sugar, and fat or butter, the major seducer ingredients of fast food places, like McDonald’s.

 

          Exercise, that is, keep moving.  2 a days are coming for high
school football players.  You want to see self discipline?  27 days from now I will join 15 thousand other wakos to ride across Iowa in a week, about 500 miles.  I’m exercising, getting in shape. 

          Next, take breaks, days off, vacation periods.  A day off a week
or 3 once a month, as I do.   Contemplate and reflect during the
breaks.  What?  My blessings & gifts & joys.  Number one, number two, and on.

 

Thirdly, the goal?  Follow God’s invitation to be fully alive.

Where are you being invited by God to become more fully alive?