Sunday Homily for December 9, 2018, 2nd Advent, C cycle (the Luke cycle)

Readings:    

Genesis  2, 18-24,  It is not good for the man to be alone.

 Psalm 128,   May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.

 Hebrews 2, 9-17,   He is not ashamed to call them brothers.

Mark 10, 2-16,  Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery.

 

Genesis:

Date of Compilation: Most likely during the Babylonian Captivity, i.e., around 600-550 BCE.  But the material for the sources was coming together over 200 years.

Authors:  4 major sources–

The J or Y source (for Yahweh), coming from Judah, the southern half of the divided Jewish state after Solomon's death.

The E source (for Elohim), coming from Israel, the northern half of the Jewish state which was destroyed by the Assyrians ca. 700 BCE.

The D source (from Deuteronomy), coming from the revisions of the prophet Jeremiah & his companions.

The P source (from the priests), which or who during the Babylonian time took the material from the first 3 sources, wove them together, and edited them. 

How do you know: by text analysis, noting different styles of writing, place references (e.g. mention of the Tigris & Euphrates in chapter 2, which says "Babylon."), event references, people references, and agendas behind the stories (e.g. Sabbath & Creation Story #1).

Subject Matter: A panorama stretching from the two stories of creation, through The Fall, Cain & Abel, Noah & the flood, the Tower of Babylon, the Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob, Joseph and his jealous brothers, Joseph as governor of Egypt & his brothers' visit & eventual migration to Egypt. 

Our Selection: we will read the whole of creation story #2, chapter 2.  The story comes from the Y or J source, but note the mention of the Tigris & Euphrates, which a person in Babylon would appreciate  ( A clue that a priestly source has inserted a geographic reference.  Why would a Jewish high priest be familiar with Babylonian rivers?  Babylonian Captivity. ).

Hebrews: We will read from Hebrews for the next 6 weeks (excluding All Saints), right up to the feast of Christ the King, which marks the end of the liturgical year.  Then we begin Advent and a new liturgical year.

Author: unknown, but he wrote excellent Greek.  Not Paul.

When Written: 85-95 CE, i.e., 50 plus years after Jesus' death

Subject: superiority of Christ.  Rather convoluted.

 

Then He Embraced Them

This morning I want to talk about the last paragraph of Mark, the one about accepting the little kids and how He embraced them.

This past week Rosemary & I went to Lindsay, Ontario, a small town north east of Toronto.   When I spent 4 years studying in Toronto I came to know a number of people.  The Reddick family I have especially loved and kept in touch with since I left there in the early 70’s.

The mother of the family lives in Lindsay, and for some years we visit her to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving, which is tomorrow.   This year we went to celebrate a memorial for one of her children, Robin.  All of the spread out family was coming.

Robin was a special child when she was born in 1958.  She had Down’s Syndrome.  Robin never spoke and spent all of her life in excellent residences provided by the Ontario Provincial government.

Kay, Robin’s mother, spent all the time she could carve out from taking care of her 5 other children with Robin.  Robin lived 53 years and died about a month ago.   The memorial was delayed until Rosemary & I could be there.

3 lessons I take from my relationship with Robin. 

First, gratitude for what I have, for example, my ability to ride 60 miles yesterday in the Make a Wish bike rally.  Plus so many other gifts.

Secondly, I have loved that precious girl and she taught me how to expand my love to include special people.

Thirdly, she invited me to look at and stand in awe of the mystery of life.  What is it?  What gifts get handed out to whom and why?

I learned at least one lesson from Kay.  Namely, how to love a special person even when it is impossible to keep the person at my side.

 There was a touching side story in all this.  Some woman told Kay that she had specialized in care for specialized people because as a teen she had worked with Kay.  At a big Catholic Church in Toronto Kay had run like a religious ed class for a large group of special kids.  Even though Robin could not be in it.

So, we had the memorial Wednesday at the United Church in Lindsay.  The following is Kay’s message to her dearest Robin.

 

Roberta Mary Reddick, my Special Robin,

You and I have had quite a journey together since May, 1958, and during that time I have felt blessed and proud to be your mother. 

I remember the Sunday morning you were born and as the nurse lay you in my arms, she said “I think these 2 need to get acquainted.”  I have thought often of these words as I suspect she guessed what I did not yet know that ours would not be the usual mother/daughter relationship.

However, my little one,  you showed me a different part of life and changed my world without saying a word. 

Some memories:

You hated shopping and standing around.  So if I was debating too long on a purchase, you uttered those bored noises which I took to mean, “I may just throw up if we don’t leave soon.”

Also, your impatience in a restaurant as you never took you eyes off the waitress until your meal arrived. 

Your love of lego and flipping through magazines endlessly. 

Your nurturing side came out when living at Christian Horizon Group Home and you would bring Tom his slippers and made sure he was okay.

Of course, while living at Christian Horizon you became one of the family and were loved and cared for every day. 

At this time I than k all the people who helped you through your days and nights.  The last 4 years of your life at Case Manor the caregivers were your hands, feet, eyes, ears, and voice without complaint.  I can truly say they must be angels.  Thanks you.

But most of all, Robin, I hope you always know how much you were loved and now as your beautiful spirit is free and you have your wings, remember  that in my heart you will forever live. 

Last Wednesday, the day of Robin's Memorial, Lindsay in fall color, the leaves turning.

 In Mark, Jesus says, "Let the children come to me, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."  

First of all, I want to thank all of you in this community for being so child friendly.  You are marvelous.

Secondly, in your life, whom do you love like this?

 

Welcome, Everybody, including you crazies.

 

 

Welcome this Sunday: Catholic Mass with coffee & juice, and pastries, some bought, some home-made. 

Time: 9:30; Celebrate with the Community  & Stack  & John Cade 

Place: Legacy Charter School,  601 Accent Drive, Plano, TX 75075

 

 

Peace, Everybody.

 

Readings:

Wisdom 18, 6-9,  You people awaited the salvation of the just.

Psalm 33,  Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to me his own (Everybody?) 

Hebrews 11, 1-2, 8-19,  Faith is the realization of what is hoped for.

Luke 12, 32-48,  Do not be afraid any longer.

 

 

The Look!

 

Community Activities:  

ROMEO MEET: Friday, August 9, Jason's Deli, Collin Creek Mall, west side of Central, 1:00.  Welcome all wakos, you will fit right in.   

 

Juliets, August-September, TBA

 

 

Two buddies (kids, really)

 

TRUE?

 

 

 

What's up in Ye Old Catholic Church?  Like…

Catholic Church in Germany shrinking,  http://corpus-blog.blogspot.com/2019/07/latest-statistics-show-german-church.html

                  

 

 

Our Father.

 

See you Sunday, J.S.

214-783-0443

 

Peace, Everybody.

 

JSM Mission-Faith Statement: 

 Help create a Catholic Community that welcomes all God’s People, provides for and challenges spiritual and total growth.

Reaches out to help people who are disadvantaged and make the world we live in a better place to live.

 

 

 

 

The Coffee Shoppe is open, John, Rob, & Geri.

Acts 15:  It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities, namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meats of strangled animals, and from unlawful marriage.

Revelation 21:  The city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gave it light, and its lamp was the Lamb.

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.

 

Tom reading from the Acts of the Apostles

 

Thanks…     

Music,   Ben

Outreach: $  300.00   

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

 

Brent, thanking the community for a $2,000 check for Soul's Harbor

 

 

Rosemary's Blessing:

Grant us, Lord God,

a vision of your world as your

love would have it: 

a world where the weak are protected,

and none go hungry or poor; 

a world where the riches of creation are

shared, and everyone can enjoy them; 

a world where different races and cultures

live in harmony and mutual respect; 

a world where peace is built with justice,

and justice is guided by love.

Give us the inspiration and courage to

build it, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

From “Engaging our  Faith”, www.ucc.org

Readings:  Isaiah 66, 10-14; Psalm 66, Let All the Earth Cry Out to God with Joy; Galatians 6, 14-18, Luke 10, 1-12, 17-20

 

4th of July: some notes–

1.  Celebrates the composition & signing of the Declaration of Independence from the British on July 4, 1776.  2 days ealier a declaration was made. 

2.  Composed by a committee of 5, including the greats, Jefferson, John Adams, and Ben Franklin.

3.  Jefferson & Adams, long time friends and collaborators, both died the same day.  Guess the day: July 4.  Exactly on the 50th anniversary of the first July 4. 

4.  Just so you know: Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, Coney Island, NY, began July 4, 1916.

 

 

Isaiah 66: 2 notes–

1.  This is the last chapter of the whole great book.  Therefore, the author is author #3, written just at the end of or after the Babylonian Captivity, ca. 550 BCE.  It is also part of the Book of Consolation and the reading today is total consolation.

2.  Jerusalem is mentioned a lot.  What about making Jerusalem symbolic, not just the place?  What kind of symbol?  Don't know.  But, all of us have our Jerusalem place.

Sources: Wikipedia; David McCullough, John Adams (excellent work)

 

 

The Harvest is Abundant, but the Laborers are Few?

 

 

Last weekend John Cade, Tony, and I went to a convention-seminar at the AA Training Center south of DFW airport.  The meeting was sponsored by and for Corpus, a national organization of over 600 married priests.

About 80 plus people were there, and, folks, I was impressed.   Humbled, even.   About half the guys came with their wives.  These people are the best. 

 

 

I would look at these men and think to myself, ‘These are the kind of men this church needs.’  They are healthy spiritually and psychologically, they love to serve, and they are rejected because they married.  The Catholic Church reminds me of the mad wolf who eats her young.  Every one of these men should be active and would be active if they could.

 

 

Let me tell you briefly about just two men who moved me.

 

 

First is a man named Anthony Padovano.   You may have heard about him or read him.  Incredibly talented and accomplished, he’s written over 25 books, has lectured at 25 colleges & universities.  He has doctorates in theology and literature.  He presents at the U.N. and at The Hague.  He’s a playwright and, in fact, for the second year in a row we got to see one of his plays, one on Thomas Merton.  Last year was Martin Luther.

 

 

Equally outstanding about Tony Padovano, however, is his optimism in the face of lots of criticism and his personal warmth.  He presented a talk on the profoundly positive impact the Second Vatican Council has had on Catholicism, an impact that cannot be reversed despite the reversal efforts going on.  When the article is printed, I will attach it to the blog.

 

 

 

The second person who humbled me was a married priest from Louisville, Kentucky.  A simple, easy going guy, I only know his first name, Tony.  I called him Louisville Tony.

 

 

I got to know Louisville Tony Friday afternoon before the seminar began and after we both had checked in.  We ended up sitting on a porch overlooking the beautiful campus. 

 

 

He told me that when he married about 25 years ago, he had no idea what he was going to do to support himself & wife.  He had decided to go into teaching, when he saw an ad by Hospice asking for chaplains.  He applied, was accepted, and has worked as a Hospice chaplain in Louisville now for decades.

 

 

He told me he loves what he does.  He is prevented from being a priest officially, but he said that with the exception of doing Masses he is working full time as a priest anyway.  He wanted to know all about you folks and how and when our community got started.  A number of guys, in fact, wanted to know this.  He said he might explore starting a small group in Louisville.

 

 

In the gospel this morning we hear about the harvest being abundant, but the laborers are few.  I would say, “Whoa!”  I know of an organization that has 600 laborers, Corpus, who signed up to be workers, but did not just want to live alone.  I find that the ones I’ve come to know through Corpus are still laborers, just not officially. 

 

 

 

In fact, they are like all of us, because we are all called to be like Louisville Tony, even like Anthony Padovano, in our own way.  In this community you help with CCAC, with Habitat, with Heritage Farm, with the Life Net food serving at Thanksgiving, with food drives, and on and on.

 

 

What are you doing today? 

 

 

Picture 1:   Mass Begins, Wendy & Ben

 

Picture 2:   Sienna with grandmother, Robyn, and mom, Erin

 

Picture 3:   Sacrament of the Sick, John Cade

 

Picture 4:   Sisters, Cindy & Marlene

 

 

 

Readings:

Genesis  18, 20-32,  What if there are ten there?  For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.

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

Colossians 2, 12-14,  You were buried with him in baptism.

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

 

Observations on the readings:

The first reading from Genesis is a familiar story about God’s mercy and forgiveness, how it is all encompassing and present to all. More in my homily about this.

The second reading from Paul’s letter to the Colossians is his letter to the Christian community at Colossae (in present day Turkey), telling them to remember that, as followers of Jesus, they are made new and are called to forgive one another, called to peace and thankfulness. Remember, I said last week I was choosing a more inspirational part of this letter for us to hear (Chapter 3, 12-15)

In the Gospel reading from Luke we will hear about prayer. The prayer Jesus
taught that we are familiar with, and say in Mass, is in Matthew, Chapter 6.
Today’s version in Luke is shortened. Jesus’ parable of knocking on a friend’s
door is about God’s constant mercy.    

 

Homily

From the reading in Genesis, I want to talk today about mercy and forgiveness. In particular I want to talk about what I think makes it possible for us to forgive one another. Forgiveness requires first that I put away self-justification where I put myself above another, where I collect points that make me ‘look better’ than another, especially one whom I judge has offended me, hurt me (‘I am right; I am justified in my hurt’). In order to forgive, I give up the quest ‘to be right’. [This is
where that saying fits, ‘you can be right’ or ‘you can have love in your life.’]
If I need to ‘look better’ or ‘be right’ (self-justified, self-righteous),
forgiveness becomes difficult, even unlikely.

The second requirement for sharing forgiveness is accepting what I take as an offense, a hurt, as possible in the universe of my life. This means in the whole universe of possible happenings, I accept that this hurt, this offense, is possible, this can happen to me. If I treat an offense or hurt as unthinkable or unacceptable to me in my universe, I disallow it as possible and keep it at a distance, away
from me, therefore not forgivable.

The third requirement to forgive another is mercy. Mercy is the quality attributed to God in today’s reading from Genesis about God and the people of Sodom. The quality or spirit of mercy makes forgiveness possible, even predictable. As we listened to the story about God and the people of Sodom, didn’t we predict as each question was asked by Abraham, that God’s response would be mercy?

We are called to have mercy and to forgive, even giving up the safety of waiting to first be forgiven by another (when there is mutual hurt). We are called to forgive. On the other hand we are totally accepted wherever we are in the process of learning mercy and forgiveness in our relationships.  Sometimes it may seem easier to forgive another than to ask for forgiveness from the other. Maybe that’s because giving forgiveness seems to put us in the ‘good guy’ role. Asking for forgiveness can put us in a more vulnerable position, not knowing if we will receive mercy and forgiveness from the other.

 So, my questions today are:   

Am I ready to forgive hurts by another,
especially from those close to me?

Am I ready to accept myself, even if I am not
yet fully capable of forgiving?

Am I able to ask for
forgiveness from another?