Isaiah 60: Get out of bed, Jerusalem! Wake up. Put your face in the sunlight. God's bright glory has risen for you.
Ephesians 3: The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives (what I've been calling outsiders and insiders) stand on the same ground before God.
Matthew 2: They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.
Another Reminder for the Baptism of the Lord, January 5, 2025
Wisdom: this book is one of the 12 special books only finally approved by the Catholic Church at the Council of Trent in 1546. Martin Luther, for instance, did not think the 12 books were genuine. Whatever the case, the 12 books are in a special section of our bible after the Old Testament.
The book we are reading from today contains traditional Jewish and Greek ideas about life, basically saying that God rewards those faithful to him & punishes you know whom.
What are You Afraid of?
When I was about sixteen, I came home from the old Jesuit High School one afternoon probably in the spring. Nobody was home, not even my sister as far as I can remember. My dad was at work. My mom was at one of her afternoon bridge clubs and had gone with one of her friends because her baby blue Pontiac was in the garage.
After hanging around a bit and getting bored, I decided I was going to go visit a friend and use my mom’s car. Mom, however, did not like me using her car, so I could not find her keys. Now in those days all of us kids knew how to run a car without keys. It was called hot wiring a car. You used tin foil on the back of the key slot under the dash.
So I hot wired my mom’s big Pontiac, pulled out of the driveway onto Stanford, and turned toward Preston Road. Arriving at the corner the car stalls. For five minutes I am working on the key slot to start the car, all to no avail, when a car coming north on Preston turns into Stanford. A lady is driving. I know that lady and sitting next to her, my mom.
The master had returned and the servant was unprepared. In fact, the servant was caught red handed.
I never got that car started and, in fact, had to pay my hard earned paper route money to get it towed and fixed. I had shorted out some wires. I don’t remember my mom ever saying anything, but I was humiliated.
I remembered this incident when I read about the master & the servant. I have some observations about these readings.
First, I don’t see our God as a thief who is trying to catch us off guard. He is not a strict master who is looking to catch us red handed and beat us.
Secondly, I don’t see us as servants. In fact, in John’s gospel Jesus says he does not call us servants, but friends. In today’s psalm it says, "Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own. We are his chosen. So is everyone.
To see this parable in a positive light, I would go back to last week when we talked about life being a gift. When it says that the Lord will come at an hour we do not expect, I propose that the gift comes at moments and in packages we do not expect. Appreciation is the goal and the process. It involves being sensitive and reflective.
One of the best lines in the whole gospel today is the very first line where Jesus says, "Do not be afraid any longer." This means I do not have to be afraid of God, afraid of death, afraid of getting caught red handed, or afraid of missing the gifts of the moment.
I’ll always remember how stupid I felt when my mom came around that corner and saw me in her car, broken down. She did not tear into me, and neither do we have a god who is a thief or master who will beat us.
No Mass Celebration again this Sunday, March 22, 2020
Sorry Everybody.
Please pass the word to anyone you think of.
I will miss you all, John
During this time, you will receive the blog on Saturday (instead of Monday). It will include the three readings for the Mass, plus John's Homily #3 on Matthew.
We thought by doing this you could celebrate The Word together as a family on Sunday mornings. John will also leave you with a question to ponder on.
Any other ideas, please let us know.
I miss you girls, Harper & Betsy.
On the lighter side:
People have asked about their donations to the Community during this time. Should you like to make a donation at this time, you can send a check to the house (6107 Tulip Ln., Dallas 75230). Thanks and John will send you a "thank you" note.
For John Stack having a hard time right now with a bad back; For Laura Chollick; For Sandra who has been diagnosed with Large B Cell Lymphoma; For Richard's grand daughter, Madeleine; For Esparza's new great grandson & 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,
Colmar in Alsace, France
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 baby boy named Ford recuperating from an operation & friends, Anne and a mom of 3 kids ; for David McKeon's brother, Hugh; For Beth's friends & brother; for the medical staffs, teachers, and coaches in our public & private schools.
Colorful Trains
Birthdays: Tom Fleming January 5th
Anniversaries:
Community Finances Christmas through December 31st,
Expenses: $ 800.00
Outreach: $ 400.00
Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.
Pont Fortifie Constructed 1514
Rosemary's Blessing:
When the decorations of Christmas have been packed away then the work of Christmas begins:
Lord, help us
to find the lost, to heal those broken in spirit, to feed the hungry, to release the oppressed, to rebuild the nations, to bring peace among all peoples, and to make a little music with the heart…
Adapted from Work of Christmas Begins by Howard Thurman
JSM Mission-Faith Statement
Help create a Catholic Community that welcomes all God’s People, provides for & challenges spiritual & total growth.
Reaches out to help people who are disadvantaged & make the world we live in a better place to live.
John Stack Ministries, 7017 Helsem Way, Dallas, Texas 75230
Place: Vines High School, 15th between Custer & Independence, south side, Plano
Readings: Sirach 27, 30-28, 7; Psalm 103, The Lord is Kind and Merciful, Slow to Anger, and Rich in Compassion (terrific line!); Romans 14, 7-9; Matthew 18, 21-35
Picture Picture 1: C.C.
Picture 2: John
Picture 3: Leo & his dad,
Picture 4: Ray
Community Bulletin Board:
1. Any families still looking for religious ed for your kids? Just let us know.
2. This Sunday we will start having grape juice available for those who prefer not to take wine. We may not do this every Sunday, but at least half the time. Thanks to John Cade for the suggestion and apologies for being so insensitive to the issue for so long. Vat. II, of course, allowed this, but it was forbidden again duing J.P. II's time.
3. Michael Morwood's presentation, Sept. 24. A married priest, excellent speaker, terrific ideas on our faith, Download Morwood Flyer 9-9-11
4. Yes, it is time for those of you who have asked: reservations for Christmas at the Dallas Smphony.
The plan: Dec. 15, Thursday, 8:00 P.M., $68.00 per ticket, group rate ($80.00 otherwise), Orchestra Terrace (the lowest terrace), because the main floor was too expensive. Wine & cheese before the performance at The Parsonage. Let me or Rosemary know. Sunday, Sept. 25, last day to join us. Sept. 26 we buy tickets.
5. Next brunch Sunday, Sept. 25. John Cade will celebrate the Mass in honor of his 50th anniversary of ordination.
Jeremiah 33: That's when Judah will be secure and Jerusalem live in safety.
1 Thessalonians 3: And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you.
Luke 21: And then – then! – they'll see the Son of Man welcomed in grand style – a glorious welcome!
Another Reminder for the 1st Sunday of Advent, December 1, 2024