Sunday Homily, July 21, 2019, 16th Ordinary Time

Introduction: While reflecting on our blessings of the week-

• We are blessed to be alive today, just as those who landed in the Hudson;

• We are blessed to be alive to witness Tuesday the inauguration of a black man where slaves once constructed the buildings.  Our people have grown.

Readings:  1 Samuel 3, 3-19; Psalm 40; 1 Corinthians 6, 13-20; John 1, 35-42   

1 Samuel: This is book one of two books.  The series is 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings; the characters being Samuel, the last of the Judge leaders of Israel-Judah; Saul, the first king; and King David. 

Authors:  Traditionally it was thought that 3 people wrote the book, Samuel, Gad, & Nathan.  Samuel, chapters 1-25; Gad was King David's historian, & Nathan was an editor.  Contemporary biblical experts think this unlikely & say that the works were put together at least 50 years after the time of the events.

Time:  The events take place ca. 1100-1000 BCE.  The compilation & recording of the events takes place ca. 950 BCE. 

Today's Selection: Yahweh is calling Samuel in a dream.  This ties in with the Gospel where three future apostles are called.  Samuel's parents were Elkanah & Hannah, and Hannah is famous because of a touching story about how she came to have Samuel.  She had been barren for years and even Elkanah's other wife ridiculed her.  One day the prophet Eli heard her crying and praying in the temple.  At first he accused her of being drunk.  Then when he talked with her, he promised that she would have a son. 

Hannah had promised Yahweh that she would dedicate to the temple her son, if she got one.  Consequently, our selection finds Samuel residing in the temple with Eli the prophet.  He would be about 12 years old.

Be aware that while these marvelous stories about Samuel are mythological, the writer is attempting to convey to a simple people lessons in trust in Yahweh.

What are You Looking for?

The theme of our readings this morning is obviously call & response.  Over the years you have heard repeatedly my 3 personal calls, the priest-Jesuit call, East Africa, and marriage.  You have reason to be tired of hearing the same stories.  Consequently, I looked around for sub-themes in the readings, and in my various sources a number of sub-themes came up.  The sub-theme that I want to talk about is stated by Jesus to the two future apostles, Matthew and (maybe) John, "What are you looking for?"  This is certainly relevant to what is taking place this week.  But first three other minor observations.

First, the verb stay is used three times.  The two ask Jesus where is he staying or dwelling.  They find where he is staying.  Then they stayed with him.  Significant to the writer?  So many times the writers have a special agenda in their use of a word.

Secondly, the verb see or looked intently at is used 5 times.  John the Baptist watched Jesus walk by, but really what is said is that he looked intently at.  Then Jesus saw the two.  Jesus tells them they will see.  The two saw where Jesus stayed.  Then when Peter came before Jesus, Jesus looked at him, really looked intently at him. 

Third, 4 o'clock in the afternoon.  In the original language it says 10 o'clock.  This is the eastern way of keeping time, the way I learned in East Africa.  There is another whole time calculation than the Greenwich Mean Time.  In fact, I find it more logical.  What is usually the first hour of daylight or the first hour of darkness?   7 o'clock in our time.  In the east the first hour of daylight & the first hour of darkness is 1 o'clock.  Our 7:00 A.M. & 7:00 P.M. is 1 o'clock of the day or 1 o'clock of the night.

Finally, "What are you looking for?"  Who knows, who cares?  Well, we know.  And we can care because what those two are looking for is basically what we are looking for.  So did they find it?

I would propose that we can say, 'yes, I know what they were looking for."  We are blessed because we have people who have gone before us who have mapped out what we people are looking for.  You may have run into this in psychology 101 or elementary psychology in high school, but it is useful to remind ourselves.  The person who for me mapped it out best is the famous psychologist, Abraham Maslow.  He has five stages of human need or what we are looking for.

Stage 1:  Imagine a pyramid and we are starting at the bottom with the most elemental.  What we are looking for at this stage is biological and physiological.  Namely, food & drink, air, shelter,warmth, sleep.  Our ancestors lived on this stage, but most of us today have this stage under control.

Stage 2:  Safety & security.  I may have shelter, food, and drink, but need a secure place to shelter, eat, and drink.  You may think this applies simply to robbers or security from getting bombed like is going on in Gaza right now, but how many little kids do not find this need stage satisfied.

Stage 3: Love & belonging needs.  I am part of.  A family, a group of peers or friends, a community.  I find acceptance, affection, and love.

Stage 4:  Esteem.  I have achieved, attained status, have reputation & recognition.

Stage 5:  Self actualization.  Self acceptance, acceptance of others and my world, inner peace, more fully alive.

I would observe that all of us in this community have stages 1 & 2 under control and probably also the other three stages in varying degrees.  I suggest that self actualization involves me giving back to others esteem, love, and a sense of belonging.  I also suggest that the usual obstacle to my greater self actualization is my addiction, whatever that may be, alcohol, drugs, food, TV, etc.

There is a little 5 question quickie self assessment that you may take.  I will put a link to it on the blog this evening.  Check it out.

What are you looking for?  Where are you?

AUDIO: http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2009-01-18.mp3

SELF ASSESSMENT: Download Quick self assessment

Picture 1:  Choir–Wendy, Shonda & Ray, & Celeste

Picture 2:  Birthday & Anniversary–Charlie, Claire & Ray

Picture 3:  Birthdays–David & Alexandra, dad & daughter

 

Readings: Isaiah 11, 1-10 (a beauty); Psalm 72, Justice shall Flourish in His Time, and Fulness of Peace Forever; Romans 15, 4-9; Matthew 3, 1-12. 

Isaiah 11 observations:

Author: Isaiah 1.  Remember, 3 primary authors are responsible for the 66 chapters.  Isaiah 1 covers chapters 1-39.  This book is one of the Big 3 O.T. prophets, along with Jeremiah and Ezekiel.  This is because the works are the longest.  There are 12 minor prophets.

Time: ca. 700, before the Assyrians annihilate the northern Jewish kingdom, called Israel, vs the southern kingdom called Judah, where Jerusalem is.  10 tribes were lost in this destruction, the 10 Lost Tribes of Israel. 

Remember there were 12 tribes.  Why?  Because of the 12 sons of Jacob, who was one of the 3 great patriarchs or founders of the tribe, Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob, who was also called Israel. 

 

Message of Isaiah 1: condemnation of the corruption of the ruling class & oppression of the poor.  Because of this, destruction is coming.  He foresaw the coming of the Assyrians, not a difficult thing to do.  The profile of the prophet was usually 1. criticism, 2. prediction of dire payment, 3. consolation.

Today’s message: consolation.  Two parts.  In part one, a special person will come. And because of him, part two, watch what will happen.  A dream most touching.

 
 

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!'

 

Beautiful Dreams Can Happen

 The Isaiah reading this morning has special meaning for me in two ways. 

 First of all, the beauty of the writer’s dream touches me.  He dreams that the world will have such peace and harmony that even the animals will live without fear of each other.  Wow. 

 
 

Secondly, I have a story connected with the dream.  It happened in Toronto the Advent at the end of the year I was ordained, 1971.

 The Jesuits have a theology college in Toronto and I spent four years there, ’68-’72.  The fall of my second year a class of about 35 guys entered from all over.  Among them was a Jesuit brother. 

 Brothers were Jesuits, members of the fraternity, but they focused on living religious life in a community with its 3 vows of poverty, chastity, & obedience.  They did not feel a call to be priests.  They worked in all sorts of occupations, treasurer, house administrator, grounds keepers, you name it.

 The Jesuit brother who entered that fall had been a brother for a half a dozen years & now wanted to become a priest.  Trouble was he was blind.  His name was Larry. 

 Larry had not come to this idea solely on his own.  Many people had encouraged him.  For some years he had worked & taught at a Wisconsin Jesuit boarding high school called Prairie du Chien, now closed unfortunately. Here the idea really grew.

 He went to the Wisconsin Jesuit provincial and he agreed to see what could be done.  The provincial went to Rome to get permission for a blind person to be ordained.  Rome said, “No, and don’t bother to ask again.” 

 So the provincial sent Larry to Toronto to do the normal theology studies leading up to priesthood.  Just to see how he would make out. 

 He made out splendidly.  In fact, we all pitched in to help him.  We recorded classes, we read to him, we recorded assigned readings, and we studied with him.  I, in fact, lived next door to him on the third floor. 

 The end of the first year came and the provincial returned to Rome to ask again.  Rome said, “No, and don’t ask again.”

 The end of Larry’s third year the provincial asked again.  This time Rome said, “He may be ordained a deacon.”  Folks, the excitement and gratitude in our house was tactile.  You could feel it, touch it.  We knew that once a deacon, he could easily move to priesthood.

 
 

Larry was now in his 3^rd year and it was in Advent of the 3^rd year when the men were ordained deacons, the priesthood coming in the following spring. 

 It was the second Sunday of Advent, cycle A like this year, in the college chapel full, about 35 guys getting ordained deacons preliminary to being ordained priests 6 month later.  The reading was Isaiah 11.  In Braille Larry read Isaiah’s dream.  There was not a dry eye, not a sound but Larry’s voice. 

 Today Larry Gillick is ordained and works as part of a team working out of St. Louis U. 

 Beautiful dreams can happen.  We can influence their happening.  How? 

Picture 1:   Hunter lighting the candles

Picture 2:   Mass begins

Picture 3:   Mary & Frank with the offertory

Picture 4:   C C at the donut shoppe

 

 

 

Macy Grattafiori & her dad, John.

 

Readings:

Isaiah 25, 1-6, 10, Then will the eyes of the blind be opened.

Psalm 146,  Lord, come and save us.

James 5, 7-10,  The coming of the Lord is at hand.

Matthew 11, 2-11,  The blind regain their sight, the lame walk, the deaf hear, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.

 

 

Macy & Nick.

 

We have heard that people discover that the Blog has not been coming.  Typepad tends to drop people for no reason.  So if this happens to you, just sign up again by going to www.johnstackministries.com

 

 

 

Main Altar at the venue in Watercolor, Florida, part of Santa Rosa Island.  An excellent, rustic wedding venue.

 

 

Observation & Homily from John

Love for Kids: A few words about Love for Kids yesterday. Bill Hammond signed up a John Stack Ministries team for it. I met up with three others from our community—Rich, Cheryl, and Mike Carrell. We were assigned to help prepare lunches and manage the lunch line for about 900 kids and their adult guardians. Our team totaled ten volunteers plus the head honcho from Love for Kids. Some in our team were college students looking for a volunteer experience and they proved they were there to work. The team worked without a break for over two hours, and collaborated as a real team.                       

 

 

 

John preparing to share his homily ideas.

 

   Many of the kids expressed their gratitude. It was cute seeing their eyes scan the lunch boats for any differences, like some differences in cookie selection. Some kids said, “I don’t want chips; I want Cheetos” or “Where’s the drinks?” etc. I checked with our volunteers, and we all were highly honored to represent John Stack Ministries, loved our gig, and were happy to be able to stand strong for Bill.

 

 

Who is that man with the crazy hat?

 

Homily:

There are umpteen healing stories in the Bible (Old and New Testaments). Healing and forgiveness stories are at the core of the Gospel message. They’re mostly connected to forgiveness and reconciliation. They teach us to ‘watch’ for the blessings that come our way daily; how different this is from that Christmas song, you better ‘watch out’ cause Santa knows if you’re good or bad.

 

 

The sister act on candles, Georgie, Tori, & Zoe.

 

The Good News invites us to watch carefully for life-changing blessings, rather than watch fearfully for threat and punishment.

Recently I shared my family’s struggles over forgiving a family member for past mistakes. We suffer in a relationship of brokenness and distance.

 

 

Buddy reading & speaking from the heart the Candle Blessing of the Week

 

 

Another example from about 20 years ago gives me hope. It was when two of my sisters and I ganged up on another sister whom we thought needed to change how she related to the nursing home staff where our disabled older sister lived—basically to force her to do things our way.

 

 

Happy Birthday, Tom.

 

My sin was not being sensitive to how each of us is different, and so ‘gives’ in different ways. My blessing was to see on the long drive home how wrong I was in judging rather than accepting and forgiving. I returned the next weekend and asked forgiveness. In spite of her children’s advice to say no, she forgave me. Her gift of forgiveness and reconciliation was and is a great blessing in my life.

 

 

Happy 3rd Anniversary, Cody & Shonda.

 

Question: How are you sometimes not sensitive to how other’s differences can lead to you judging others and distancing yourselves? I invite you to participate in our forgiveness and reconciliation rite today.     

Amen.

 

 

Thanks, David & Caroline for driving Rosemary & me all over Santa Rosa Island for the wedding.

 

Readings:

Isaiah  22, 19-23,  I will pull you down from your station.

 Psalm 138,   Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands. 

Romans, 11, 33-36,  For from him and through him and for him are all things.

Matthew 16, 13-20,  You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church.

 

 

Matthew observations–

First biblical scholars agree that Jesus did not say what is in this little story.  Rather, the Matthean community shaped a highly stylized scene that attempted to establish Peter's position as leader of the new community.  The writer, because he wants to authenticate Peter, creates a scenario where Jesus makes Peter The Man.

 

 

Isaiah observations—

1.  Notice the chapter, number, 22.  Students of Isaiah, my favorite, will immediately know this is Isaiah 1.  Chapter 1-39 make up Isaiah 1.  Isaiah 2 and 3 follow.
2.  Since it is Isaiah 1, students will know that the composer lived before the Babylonian Captivity, which took place around 555 before Christ.  Isaiah 2 is composed during the Captivity.  Isaiah 3, whom we had last week, works after the Captivity.
3.  Knowing that things were not good before the Captivity, you can guess that Isaiah 1 is critical of Israeli life.  You would be correct.
4.  Our selection today is both critical, “I will pull you down.”  But it is also talking about a better day.  

 

 

 

Mary Ellen Day at San Vino

I want to talk about you today, Mary Ellen.  I hope you don’t mind.  I did not ask your permission, because I figured a “No” would be what I would got.   

I am doubly bummed because before I took off for the HHH, I had put together a few ideas tying you together with the line from today’s psalm; Do not forsake the work of your hands.  I wanted to show how you have fully lived out the work of his hands, that is, life, and how you have lived!

 

 

 

Then, at about 5:00 this morning I read this article by Scott Burns, in The Dallas Morning News, Happy Money. It is about spending money healthily and happily.  I think, ‘That is Mary Ellen."  Burns’ ideas are

1. Make it a treat.
2. Buy experiences.
3. Buy time.
4. Invest in others
5. Pay now, consume later.

Mary Ellen has done this all the decades I have known her.  And this is the same as living the work of his hands.

For example, make it a treat.  I know Mary Ellen has two favorites, ice cream and wine.  What can you expect?  She is, after all, Italian.  Scott Burns’ treat was Starbucks.

 

 

 

Regarding investing in others, I know that for some time Mary Ellen tutored kids at Hillcrest High School in English.  She also volunteers as an usher at various venues, like the Winspear.

I do not know how she has paid now and consumed later, but I do know how she has bought experiences and time.  Two examples that involve her traveling to other countries with Rosemary and me.

I think it was 2007 when Rosemary & I planned a trip back to the scene of my work as a Jesuit, Tanzania.  This was going to be a tenting trip and we were going to be traveling in an open topped Land Rover over very rough roads.  I had a guy who ran safaris into the national parks, like Serengeti.

 

 

 

We invited Mary Ellen and she was ready, as always.  Everything went super except one time when we were traveling through some wild terrain that had bushes, scrub trees, and tsetse flies.  These flies can travel fast for short distances.  They could catch us standing in the back of the Land Rover looking around.  And they bite.  Fortunately, we got away fairly quickly and there was no damage. 

Another of the many times Mary Ellen bought into an experience with Rosemary and me was a trip to Italy.  We had a crowd, about 8 people.  We had to rent a van.

 

 

 

Mary Ellen not only went with us, she went over a few days early and went to Trieste, Italy.  Why Trieste?  To scatter some of her husband, Chris’s, ashes at the site where he was born.

Chris was a career Marine and Mary Ellen and he had met in Argentina, where Mary Ellen had gone to work for the State Department for a few years.  This is another one of her experiences.  

Chris had been born into a career military family, which was why he had been born in Trieste.  His family was posted there. 

Scott Burns could use you, Mary Ellen, as a beautiful example of just what he is writing about.  I thank you for all the times you have included me and Rosemary in your experiences and time.  I wish you a bon voyage and a continued rich life in Connecticut.

 

 

 

 

Readings:

Isaiah, 56, 1, 6-7,  My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples

Psalm 67,  Oh, God let all the nations praise you.

Romans  11, 13-15, 29-32,  The gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. 

Matthew 15, 21-28,   Woman, great is our faith!  Let it be done for you as you wish.

 

The Netherlands

 

Thanks to the Team

Music,  Ben & Shonda

Readers,  Hue & Georgie , & Buddy, the candle blesser

Gospel & Homily,  John Cade 

Eucharistic Prayer A & B, Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers, Mike (on vacation) & Richard, Tom, Ben & Hue 

Final Blessing, Rosemary

 

 

 

Please Remember these special people:

For our Bill & his family,   For Becky's dad discovered with the virus;  For Cindy recuperating at home, finally!;    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 Mary & Dave Hall's g-daughter Allison Keller working at St. Lukes, Woodlands,  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;  for Bill Ekes' longtime buddy, Bobby Duncan, who just passed to the other side.

 

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, plus John's daughter, Joey

 

 

 

Look carefully, you may see Mike.  Buena Vista, Cascade Falls

 

 

Download Readings Week 8-16

 

 

Homily 08/16/20,    20^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Two things:

First, Readings 1 and 2 speak the same truth, that, whether you are an insider or an outsider, you are welcome as God’s people.                  Second, in the Gospel story, even if you are an outsider, you and your sorrow, your pain, are fully understood.  

The first two readings speak about insiders and outsiders.  First reading is from Isaiah Ch 56.  [Recall what

John Stack has said about the 3 authors of Isaiah Ch 1-39, 40-55, 56-64.]  Here Isaiah says, whether you are one of the chosen Jewish people (an insider), or a non-Jewish foreigner (an outsider), is not the point; it’s what you do, how you live your life, that identifies you as God’s people, “for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”

 

 

 

 

In Romans, Paul says: Neither the non-Jewish Gentiles converting to Christianity (outsiders), nor the Jewish people, including Jewish followers of Jesus (insiders)—neither had an advantage over the other.  God welcomes all.  It’s not where you come from but what you do, how you live your life, that identifies you as God’s people.

The second amazing Good News is in Matthew’s story of Jesus and the Canaanite woman (Canaanite, yep, that would make her an outsider).   It wasn’t so much what Matthew said about the disciples being such unhelpful dorks…is Matthew using sarcasm here? (See Gospel language).  This story is embedded in a whole string of stories about Jesus caring for people in need, in pain.  E.g. in the same Chapter Matthew says Jesus “was very deeply moved by the sick among them”, that he saw the hungry and fed them, that he saw the disciples’ fear in a storm and calmed them.

 

 

And immediately after today’s story of the Canaanite woman, Matthew tells how the crowds brought the lame, the blind, the mute; and Jesus said, “My heart goes out to them.”  Matthew strings all these stories together as one, to say God gets it, God gets you and me, understands our needs and pain. God’s Spirit is with us in our fear, our sorrow, our pain. 

Recently, I experienced some of what the Canaanite woman was going through.  We have a daughter, Joey (age 46), who gave her consent to speak about it.  She told us this past week that she has breast cancer and the initial treatment will be major surgery.  My family and I are in shock and pain.  I know from today’s readings that my part is not to be strong or aloof, but to be accepting, understanding and caring; most of all, to be present. 

 

 

Remember ……

 

All three Bible stories today have similar messages:  First, whoever we are and wherever we come from, we are God’s people—totally accepted, come-on-in accepted. 

And second, whoever we are and wherever we come from, we are understood, cared for and loved unconditionally.  God is present with us.  Every one of us.

 

My question: When did you last see and know that you are accepted, understood, loved unconditionally?  And when did you last accept, understand, love another unconditionally?                                       

 

 

 

A note from John Cade:

In the summer of 1956, when still in the seminary, I spent a week at the Trappist monastery north of Atlanta, outside Conyers Georgia.  I got to experience how Trappist monks end every single day, expressing their devotion to Mary, Jesus’ mother—a hundred men standing together and chanting in Latin, Salve Regina, Hail Holy Queen.  August 15^th is one of the days we have traditionally honored Mary.  I will chant this hymn in her honor at the end of Sunday Mass.

 

 

Birthdays:    Last Week,  Carrie Bieda, 62;   Stephen Farmer, 30; Marlene; Richard has a new grandbaby, Madeline, & Mom is Cary

This Week. Haya from the JCC , 6:00 A.M. Spin Class, 82, Rose Banzhaf

 

Anniversaries: 

Last Week.  Mary Hall & Dave, 60 years;   John & Jean O'Donnell, 62nd;  Ryan McClurg & Grace, 7th, 

This Week:  Bernadette & Gilbert  

 

 

From mountain stream to desert rock.

 

 

Community Finances, August 16, 2020

Expenses: $600.00  

Outreach   $100.00    (often for Souls Harbor, Legacy, etc.)

Thanks, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

 

 

 

As of September 1, Rosemary & I will have a new address,   7017 Helsem Way, Dallas 75230.   This enclave has TREES, unlike our poor, dear, tornado battered Preston Hollow neighborhood.

 

 

 

Cindy Cramer is home!  Hooray!

On Thursday, August 13, 2020, 12:52:06 PM CDT, Cathy Cramer <catcramer@gmail.com> wrote:

Great news, everyone — my mom is home!

She's tired and still has some recovery ahead of her. She asked that you hold phone calls for a few days until she gets back into some semblance of a routine.

This will be my last email to y'all. Thanks again so much for all your love, support, and prayers!

Love,

Cathy

 

 

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

 

 Readings:

Joshua 5, 9-12, Today I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you.

Psalm 34,  Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5, 17-21,  We are ambassadors for Christ.

Luke 15, 1-32,  A man had two sons, The Prodigal Son.

 

Introduction and homily by John  Cade 

Some words about today’s readings, especially Joshua: 

WHAT: The book of Joshua is the 6^th book of the Hebrew Scripture and of the Christian Old Testament. 

WHO: The name Joshua has the same root in Hebrew as the name Jesus has in Greek. Joshua was the young man Moses chose to be his military captain in their conflicts with other tribes in their wanderings for 40 years prior to entering the land God had promised them. In the Book of Deuteronomy (5^th book of Pentateuch), Moses had a lapse of confidence in the Lord’s plan, following his sending the 12 spies into Caanan and getting a negative intelligence report (all except Joshua and Caleb said ‘don’t go’—giants and outnumbered, etc.).

That’s when the Lord told Moses he would not enter the Promised Land and that Joshua would be the only adult not born in Egypt to enter the promised land. After Moses died, Joshua was called by God to lead the people into the promised land.

 

WHEN: Scripture scholars generally agree that the Book of Joshua has little historical value for early Israel, that it actually reflects a much later period, and that it was written by multiple authors and editors.  Guess when scholars think the book of Joshua was compiled in its present form? Yes, after the fall of Jerusalem (around 555) during or after the Babylonian captivity.

WHY: Bible scholars say the intent of Joshua was theological, a teaching about Israel’s call to keep the covenant given through Moses, and to show what happens when you keep the covenant and what happens when you don’t. There are horror stories in this book, like when the Israelites are instructed to destroy every breathing being of the tribes they replaced. Today we debate about the U.S. military’s drone program, about whether it is legal or ethical to kill an enemy if innocent non-combatants might also be hurt, or to kill a U.S. citizen who has now become an enemy. They seemed to have had no qualms in Joshua’s time about such fine points. 

Today’s Reading from Joshua: It’s a passage that celebrates the Israelites’ crossing over the River Jordan and their entrance into the promised land. For the first time they have food from the land to eat and are no longer in need of the manna that God provided during the 40 years they wandered in the desert.

Then in the reading from Luke we hear how Jesus describes in a parable that God is like a merciful parent, accepting with love rather than vengeful or punishing. The Good News proclaimed by Jesus—the new Joshua—turned the old covenant on its head—now the covenant is about the preeminence of love and the fullness of life for all people everywhere, including strangers and enemies and sinners.

 

Homily:   

This reading speaks for itself and doesn’t need much else. My words today will be brief. 

There is a strong link between the covenant between God and the Israelites of Joshua’s time and the covenant announced by Jesus for all people and exemplified in the story of the ‘prodigal son’ or ‘the merciful father’

The original covenant was made between God and Abraham, and followed with Isaac and Jacob, Joseph and Moses and Joshua. Three times there is mention of a Passover meal to mark this covenant between God and the Jewish people.

The first Passover meal was when the people prepared to flee Egypt with Moses; the second mention is when Moses received the 10 Command-ments at Mt. Sinai; and the third is when the Israelites entered with Joshua into the promised land. In Joshua and in Luke there is the story of gathering for a meal or feast (like our pot luck feasts), to celebrate acceptance by the merciful father. Jesus himself, before he died, shared a Passover Meal with his friends. We celebrate that way today and every Sunday by gathering for a ritual meal we call the Mass. This gathering and sharing is the sign of our connection with God and God’s acceptance, mercy and love, extended to all.

Friday I heard that the Cardinals in Rome will open their conclave on Tuesday and they too will gather for a meal, a special Mass, as they select a successor to Benedict XVI to lead our world-wide community as an accepting, merciful and loving parent. 

My question for you is: When is the last time you received acceptance and mercy from someone? & How do you show acceptance and mercy with your family, your community and all people? 

“You must rejoice, for your brother was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found.”