Sunday Homily, June 30, 2019, 13th Sunday, Ordinary Time

Rosemary's Blessing

Lord,

May we never take our freedom for granted

and help us to strive so that this same freedom

may be experienced by everyone in our country,

especially the poor and the oppressed,

and eventually by all humankind.

Andrew Greeley   A Book of Irish American Blessings and Prayers  

Thanks to the Team

Music,  Ben & Shonda

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

Gospel & Homily, John Cade

Eucharistic Prayer, John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers, Mike & Richard

Final Blessing, Rosemary

Download Readings Week 14

Please Remember these special people:

For Cindy facing a procedure Monday morning;   For our Bill;  For Esparzas, Frank & Mary, who lost their son Jim to sepsis;   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;   for Michelle;  

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

Richard & Mike, this Sunday's producers.

Birthdays:  Brent, 64; Paul Bieda, 59, Kim, Carol Eshelbrenner

Anniversaries:   Jan & Sir Charlie, 58th

Sir Bieda, Is this what happens when you retire??

Community Finances, July 5, 2020

Expenses: $500.00 

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

Thanks, Folks, for doing what you can.

Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.  Winston Churchill

John Cade's excellent homily

Homily: I want to thank Stack for making known to us the beauty and power of a Biblical verse in today’s Responsorial Psalm, “The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in kindness.” I now know that this same description of who God is, is also repeated in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets, and in other Psalms.   

• In Exodus Ch 34 we hear that when Moses received the 10 commandments the Lord came down over Mt. Sinai in a cloud and said, The Lord the Lord, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness.”
• In the Book of Numbers Ch 14, when the Israelites didn’t obey God’s commandments and just grumbled about life being difficult, God wanted to wipe them out, start all over and make Moses the head of an even greater nation. But Moses cried out quoting God with what he said about himself on Mt. Sinai, that ‘The Lord is slow to anger and rich in kindness.” 
• At least three psalms repeat this description of God.

Psalm 86 says, “You, O Lord, are merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness.”

Today’s Psalm 103 says, “Merciful and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger and abounding in kindness.”

Psalm 145 says, “The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness.”

• The Prophet Joel Ch 2, says, “Gracious and merciful is God, slow to anger, rich in kindness.”
• Finally, the funny little story of the Prophet Jonah. He was told by God to go to Nineveh and preach to the people that they better repent or in 40 days they would be destroyed. In Ch 4 Jonah says to God that the very reason he didn’t want to preach destruction to Nineveh and tried to run away, was because, “I knew that you are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and rich in kindness.”

Mike checking out the production.

My household of three persons are, for the most part, keeping the quarantine, so there aren’t as many opportunities to see God show up in person through the mercy and kindness of others, though I see plenty of it on the news.  Here’s five instances I saw this verse, this definition of God, show up in others, all just this week:

• I was struck again by the graciousness and kindness of our Mass team. The tech squad, e.g., brings some of their own computers, and other electronic stuff I wouldn’t understand, and patch it all together to ‘make community happen’ through this online Mass.
• I went to get about a twice-a-month treat for me and Mama (what I call Kalliopi)—original chicken from KFC. I order the smallest bucket they have, 8 pieces which covers the protein part of two meals.  When I got to the window, the guy says, I have a recommendation—when you want the 8 piece, order the 10 piece special; and it costs less.  He did not have to tell me this little secret. 
• Our AC guy came to perform a semi-annual check-up on our AC system. When he tested the unit’s cold air production he found it wanting and said he thought we’d need a pound of Freon @ $200/lb. But he stayed longer watching the gauge, and eventually said with a smile, “Well, waiting later, now it’s reading okay, so no added Freon is needed.”  He did not have to extend the time of his check-up.
• Joey brought us some of the bulk vegetables she gets from an organic farm near Austin every week. She did not have to drive across town to bring us such a treat.
• Finally, when Joey came, Leo was with her wearing a t-shirt that said on the front in big print, “A little kindness can change the world.” Hello!?  That inspired to recall how often others show up—in so many ways—wearing that Bible verse definition of God: The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in kindness.

When was the last time you saw this verse show up in another person, or in yourself?

Acts 1:  “. . . for John baptized with water,  but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Ephesians 1: May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, . . . 

Luke 24:  “. . . And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Mary Jane reading from the Acts of the Apostles

Thanks…     

Music,   Ben & Shonda

Outreach: $   230.00   

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

Shonda gets a cookie for her birthday

Rosemary's Blessing:

Christ has no body now on earth but yours,

     no hands but yours,

     no feet but yours,

Yours are the eyes through which Christ’s

     compassion is to look out to the world,

Yours are the feet with which Christ is to

     go about doing good,

Yours are the hands, with which Christ is to 

     bless all people now.

From a prayer by Teresa of Avila (1515–1582)

Readings:

Deuteronomy  8, 2-3, 14-16,   He let you be afflicted with hunger, then fed you.

Psalm 147,   Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

1 Corinthians 10, 16-17,  We all partake of the one loaf.

John  6, 51-58,  Whoever eats this bread will live forever.

The Girls say, "Welcome, Everybody, Hats in honor of Cathy." Patricia, Carol, and Maureen.

Deuteronomy: The fifth & last book of the Torah.  The scene: Moses & the Hebrews are in the desert just outside the promised land, the land of the Canaanites, whom they are going to kick out and kill.  Moses is reviewing their journey from Egypt.

Date:  first put into some form around 750 before Christ, then put into a more final form, guess when, at the end of the Babylonian Captivity, around 555.

Jan with her hat of symbols, tree planting, peace, patriotism, friendship, and cupcakes.

Author: not Moses, even though the book is 3 sermons of Moses on the plains of Moab, just at the end of the period of wandering, and just before entering the land of the Caananites, or the Promised Land.  It is really tradition, stories of old times. 

Our Selection:  Moses is recounting the escape from Egypt and the years in the desert.  

The belief that Yahweh punishes, corrects us, and tests us with affliction is not common today as Moses suggests to the people.  You can still hear it from fundamentalist preachers.  Remember the huricane in New Orleans?  We will read more of the section to get the sense more clearly.

Geri and Marilyn say, "Hi, Folks, Come in."

My Guide through the Desert

We have just read about how Moses guided the Jewish people through the desert.  In honor of two of our most favorite people who are retiring from years in public education, this morning I would like to talk about people who guided us and me through the desert.

Two short stories, some of which you may have heard before.  It just seems to fit in here so well.

When I was in maybe 6^th grade, I joined the Boy Scouts at Christ the King around January, when I have my birthday.  Some of my classmate joined up in the spring.

Cathy and especially Harper accepting a special pastry for Cathy's retirement from public education.

First thing I know, along comes summer and we are heading to Texoma for a week of summer camp.  We get there, get our tents, and I overhear some of the 8^th grade guys planning to initiate me.  Why me?  Probably because I was bigger than some of my classmates. 

So suddenly I get sick.  I’m afraid.  I'm home sick.  I want out of there.  These guys were bigger than me and I did not feel safe, no way.  The scout master was a pretty passive guy I did not know well. 

Rick and Jackie accepting a special pastry for Rick's retirement from public education, Rick's 62nd birthday, Rick and Jackie's 39th anniversary, and for Jackie's marvelous recovery.

We had come in on Sunday.  By Monday night I am back home, and back home really feeling horrible about what I did.  I feel like a chicken, for sure.  I was embarrassed even in front of my parents.

The next summer comes along.  My dad, who had remained active along with me in the Scout troop, invited me to go with him back to Texoma.  He was going to spend the night as one of the adult overnight supports for the troop.  

With some trepidation, I decided to go.  We arrived at night and I still remember walking into the tent of my coach and teacher, Frank Hart.  He was sitting on his cot and there was a Coleman lantern buzzing.  He had always supported me.  Always encouraged me. 

Brian and especially two little mice accepting a Cupcake of the Week for Brian's 63rd.

His welcome that night was a turning point in my young life.  It probably prepared me for the day after high school, when I would walk away from the security of my family, join the Jesuits, and never return, even to Dallas for 7 years.

My second guide through the desert was one of the Jesuits at the old Jesuit High.  From as early as I can remember I detested clericalism and the piety stuff.  That was all I had seen until Jesuit.  Fr. Jules May was not clerical and not pious. 

He was our freshman football coach.  As coach he was out there in clothes as crummy as what we wore.  And as coach he got after us like a drill sergeant.  He cussed us.  He yelled at us.  He accepted us ultimately.  I remember my dad was somewhat shocked. I loved him. 

Buddy, the candle man, lighting up with the help of his mom, MIchelle.

I remember one day we were playing Highland Park on our upper field right next to Oak Lawn across from Holy Trinity.  My best buddy played center for Highland Park and I played center for Jesuit.   At one point in the game we were punting out of our own end zone, a chain link fence between our field and Oak Lawn.  I centered that ball over the kicker’s head, over the fence, and onto Oak Lawn. 

I was so humiliated and was waiting for Jules May to descend upon me with both feet.  He did not. 

Marsha, one of those from the "crazy corner."

Jules May was one of the reasons I decided to join the Jesuits.

These two coaches and teachers were guides to me through the desert. Cathy & Rick have guided tons of young people through the desert. 

Who was your guide?

Whom are you guiding today?

Zoe, as always, the style setter.

Readings: Zechariah 9, 9-10; Psalm 145 (second stanza, a favorite); Romans 8, 9-11; Matthew 11, 25-30

Zechariah:  Zechariah is the 11th of the 12 Minor Prophets and lived just when the Hebrews were released from the 70 year long Babylonian Captivity, ca 535-520 B.C.  In Jerusalem he encouraged the people to rebuild the temple.

He was a favorite of the N.T. writers because he is rich in messiah predictions.  Today we have one of those visions. 

Psalm 145, 8-9: Terrific line: “The Lord is gracious & merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness.”

Independence

Last Sunday, June 29th, there was a column in the Points section of the Dallas Morning News.  The writer, Peter Lovenheim of Brighton, NY, described how he became aware that he did not know any of his neighbors.  With all the tools at his disposal to keep in touch instantly with people, even around the world, he was detached & out of touch with his own little neighborhood.

Peter decided to do something about it.  He actually began to invite himself to spend the night at his neighbors and write about their lives and his experiences with them.  Naturally, he was turned down often, but he did find some people willing to take him in and even discovered one woman with cancer needing help she could not get other than through her neighbors. 

It was his first experience of spending the night with an elderly guy, Lou, that turned out to be the article in the paper.  He called it, Why I Woke up in my Neighbor’s Spare Bedroom.  He even describes how he & his neighbors discovered, then helped the elderly lady dealing with cancer. 

I remember when my mom lived in the house in which Rosemary & I now live, how once a year or so there would be a block party and everyone came to have a picnic under the oak trees in someone’s yard or drive.  I also remember that in the neighborhood in which I grew up in University Park we did not have block parties.  However, we did know all the neighbors, or let’s say they all knew Johnny Stack & were wary of him.

I talk about this today for two reasons. 

• First, we have just celebrated Independence Day. We revisited our national roots Friday and have come away proud of what our ancestors did to establish an independent country. As a child I wanted to grow up to be equally independent. Independence equals maturity. Dependence equals immaturity and is something I dread and hate.
• Secondly, as good and noble as independence is, taken to an extreme, independence involves not necessarily maturity, but rather isolation and loneliness. Lovenheim called his original neighborhood situation detachment. I would also call it independence, the opposite of that old dreaded dependence.

I suggest there is a healthy middle ground: interdependence.  The old cliche’ No Man is an Island is only partly true these days.  There are numerous often elderly people living on islands of abandonment in our neighborhoods.  To avoid the either/or trap and focus on interdependence, I suggest two things:

• Pro-activity. I  take the initiative. I  look around. I  pick out my neighbor or neighbors whom I don’t know at all or don’t know well.  I make a move. I  take steps to build a small community.
• Spend time. It takes time to build. It takes time to visit someone or call them or talk with them when I see them. Granted, time is often one of our most precious commodities.  The relationships are worth it.

This is what I see us doing here at San Vino, building community, taking time.  I think one reason why a number of mega-churches have so many people is that the administration sets up multiple small communities, teen-agers, young adults, golden agers, unmarrieds, divorced, etc.  People feel like they belong.  This is why I love to have our seasonal brunches. 

My hope is that no one in our community feels alone on an island.  We know one another and care for each other.

Who is the unknown neighbor in your life?

AUDIO:   http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2008-07-06.mp3

The Nativity with Emma (the sheep), Buddy (the camel), Cowboy Cole (Joseph), Zoe (Mary), and at about 3 weeks, Jake (Jesus).

Readings:

Isaiah 9, 1-6,  The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.

Psalm 96,  Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.

Titus,  2, 11-14,  The Grace of God has appeared.

Luke 2, 1-14,   In those days a decree went out from Caesar  Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled.

The angels including Torri, CC, Brooklyn, and Sienna.

A Christmas Gift

I want to tell you about a Christmas gift this afternoon.  It is one of my biggest gifts of this season and it came to me yesterday afternoon by surprise.

In our neighborhood we have alleys behind the lots.  Garbage trucks and service vehicles us the alleys.

The whole gang.

Once a week on Mondays we are visited by the trash trucks and the recycle trucks.  The trash trucks are all mechanized, so only a driver runs the show.  A mechanical arm grabs the trash can, empties it, and replaces it.

Emmett getting ready for his debut with Marilyn.

The recycle truck, however, has three people, one driver and two men who empty the recycles into their truck.  I often see the recycle guys because they start the day’s run at our alley and at our house.  We are on the corner.  We wave.

I got this idea from a guy I helped to do his memorial a few years ago.  He would give a small gift to his mail man and trash collectors.

Jesus getting ready, Jake & his mom, Amanda.

So Monday morning I am watching at 7:00, hoping to give the recycle guys a gift of a few bucks.  They don’t come.  I am afraid I will miss them like I did at Thanksgiving.  So I place a note on the recycle bin.  And I continue to watch.  I can hear them usually, because their big truck makes noise.

Jacob with his mom, Stacie.

Suddenly about 3:00 I hear the truck.  By the time I grab my coat and head out, one of the guys is coming in the back yard, because my note told them to come to the door.   They are friendly as ever.

I give them each $20.

This was when my present arrived. 

Joe and his family.

Their gratitude.  It was over the top.  They thanked me over and over.  One guy says, “I’m rich, I’m rich.”  They head off down the alley with more thanks and well wishes for a Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year. 

I was so touched I got choked up when Rosemary asked me how it went.  So small a gift on my part, so great a gift to me on their part.

Want to receive a gift like this?  When are you going to do it?

One of Ours, Cole Carey, Corporal, USMC, lighting the 4 candles.

 Joshua 24, We will serve the Lord

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

Ephesians 5, Wives should be subordinate to their husbands

John 6, Many of Jesus' disciples said, "This saying is hard."

Good News for Aggie & Alan, The doctor discharged Alan with a clean bill of health.  Congratulations!!

Thanks……

Music,    Ben & Shonda

Readers,  Jackie, Mary, & 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

Thanks for excellent reading, Jackie.

Readings:

Download Readings 21st Ordinary Time 8-22-21

Homily by John Cade

Download Homily John Cade 08-22-21

And you too, Mary, great reading!   Thanks.

Remember these special people:

For John & Karen Anderlick's unborn grandson;  For Alan Stryker;    For Rosemary's great niece, Rylie;  For Richard's grand daughter, Madeleine;   For Esparza's new great grandson baby, son of Monique, & 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,

Today's team, John & John

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, Cindy, Peace, Dee.

Birthdays:   Marilyn Ackerman

Anniversaries:   Banzhafs, 50

Richard sharing communion with Dee & John.

Community Finances,   August 22, 2021

Expenses: $200.10

Outreach: $300.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

Rosemary reading her Special Blessing.

Rosemary's Blessing:

May you learn to see your self

With the same delight,

Pride and expectation

With which God sees you in every moment.

To Bless the Space Between Us by John O’Donohue

Cheryl, the Dog Whisperer, and Aviana.   More Peace.