Readings: Deuteronomy, 26, 4-10; Psalm 91; Romans 10, 8-13; Luke 4, 1-13

Deuteronomy – The scene: The Israelites have escaped from Egypt and have been wandering in the desert for years. They are just about to enter The Land. They are assembled. Moses is addressing them and reminding them of all Yahweh has done for them over the years of wandering.

In our chapter he is telling them that when they have settled in their new land, where he will not accompany them, they must take a basket full of a portion of their first harvest, present it to the rabbi, and offer it as a sacrifice of thanksgiving.

Romans – Paul writes to the Romans that all people, Gentiles as well as Jews, are invited to be part of the Christ event.

Lent!

I know I have mentioned this once a year or so ago, but I saw it again and it is so fitting to our Lenten time of year. Please bear with me.

The last time I was with Rosemary’s sister & brother in law in Hilton Head I was working out on a stationary bike in the little club gym. I look up and coming into the gym is a little old man leaning on a cane. He is hobbling along and bending a bit. I think the man is one step this side of a wheel chair.

I watch as he enters, stows his cane in the corner, pulls a gym towel around his neck, heads for an elliptical trainer, gets on, and begins to work out. I am stunned with the vigor he puts into the trainer. I finish with my half hour bike ride and depart with him still pumping away.

The man is one symbol of what Lent can be. It is like spring training that baseball and football teams are engaged in right now. For me this Lent is not a time of gloom, doom, penance, and a focus on sin. It is new life, becoming more fully alive, spring cleaning, getting into better shape. Becoming a more peaceful human.

Here are ten things you can do for spring training:

1. Exercise more. Take a walk every day, even a couple of times a week.
2. Eat more healthily. Beware of hidden ingredients, e.g., high fructose corn syrup.
3. Mediate every work day morning for 15 minutes, maybe 5 minutes, giving thanks for your blessing of yesterday & today.
4. Say thanks 5 times a day, once a day, especially to family members.
5. Give one compliment a day, especially to a family member.
6. One time a week phone someone or make a luncheon engagement.
7. Read a book. A novel, a book I have recommended.
8. Fun! Be more creative in doing fun things.
9. Give yourself to something that helps others, like Colin Co. Adult Clinic or the Great Trinity Forest Clean up.
10. Get into recovery for your addiction: alcohol, drugs, food, work, smoking, porn. We are all addicted.

You cannot do all of these recommendations. Choose one. Choose something not here.

Look ahead six week to the Sunday we gather for Easter, April 9. How will you have had a great spring training Lent?

Download the homily as an mp3 file.

Readings: Ezekiel 37, 12-14; Psalm 130, With the Lord there is Mercy and Fullness of Redemption; Romans 8, 8-11; John 11, 1-45.

The Fifth Sunday in Lent – Reflection on Readings

The first reading today from Isaiah comes from what scholars now refer to as Deutero-Isaiah, namely Isaiah part two, the time when the Israelites are in Exile in Babylon.  The mood is totally different from first Isaiah where the prophet is railing against the people living in Jerusalem for their wicked ways.  Jerusalem has been destroyed and the people are captives in Babylon.  Before the exile, Israel was relatively prosperous, overly self-confident and very material minded.  In second Isaiah, the prophet sees a people who must be consoled, not punished.  This is the tone of today’s first reading.  The prophet tells them basically to forget the past and look forward to the great things God will do for his people.

Just a few words about the second reading from the Letter to the Philippians.  Paul is writing from prison.  This letter is a very practical letter with advice on how the community needs to continue to stay focused on Christ.  There is personal news about various people the community would know of and some very specific words about those who continue to insist in circumcision for the gentiles who convert.  Again in today’s reading we have Paul also say “forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead” the same theme which we found in Isaiah, and will also see in the gospel when Jesus tells the woman “Go, and from now on do not sin any more”

The Fifth Sunday in Lent – Homily

Our gospel today is really not from St. John but most likely Luke.  For whatever reason this incident was dropped into the middle of the section of John’s Gospel dealing with Jesus in Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles.  This feast is one of three in the year when Jews were expected to go up to Jerusalem.  The interesting thing about the feast was that the people erected tent like structures and lived in them for the week of the festival.  This put all of the people on an equal footing, as rich and poor alike lived in very similar structures. 

The feast was a celebration of the harvest and usually occurred in September or October.  It would have been equivalent to our Thanksgiving.  What I find interesting is the following from the book of Leviticus “On the first day you shall gather foliage from majestic trees, branches of palms and boughs of myrtles and of valley poplars, and then for a week you shall make merry before the LORD, your God.” Since next Sunday we celebrate Palm Sunday. 

But back to today’s reading.  Remember a common theme running through the gospels is the attempt by the scribes and Pharisee’s to trap Jesus into either breaking the Roman Law or the Torah Law.  This is what is really behind today’s reading.  It has very little to do with the woman and her situation.  But of course, I want to focus on the woman. 

Did you ever get caught doing something you shouldn’t be doing?  I remember as a kid helping myself to some apples in a neighbor’s back garden.  I was caught just as I was getting back over the wall to escape.  I can still remember the fear and my reaction.  Now can we imagine how this woman must have felt?  Not only was she caught in a very embarrassing situation, now she is made to stand in the middle of this group of "holy men".  She is very aware of what fate awaits her; she is to be put to death. 

There has been much wondering about what Jesus was writing in the sand.  I think I know.  Nothing.  He was just doodling so that he didn’t have to look at the woman and add to her shame and embarrassment.  He didn’t want to add to it!

Coming as this reading does as part of our Lenten readings, and so close to Easter, I see in this reading a better understanding of what Easter is all about.  Just as the woman’s past is put behind her and she is set free, so too the Resurrection puts our past behind us and sets us free.  It is the ultimate “I love you” from God.  I remember the cover of a book by Dom Eugene Boylan from years ago, which had a picture of the crucified Christ on the cover; the title of the book was “This Tremendous Lover”.  This is Easter; this is what we are getting ready for.

Picture 1:  Mass beginning with Tony & Kevin

Picture 2:  Bill Hammond

Picture 3:  Penny Morrow

Picture 4:  Coffee Shoppe, Mary Ellen Charlie, Warren, and Tony

Welcome in, Sydney & Hugh, you are early enough to find seats.

Readings: 

Isaiah 6, 1- 2,  3-8,   Whom shall I send? Here I am, send me..

Psalm 138,  In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.  (Good one)

1 Corinthians 15, 1-11,    I am the least of all the apostles

Luke 5,  1-11,  Today this passage is fulfilled in your hearing.

"Welcome in," says Ben, "we are ready to warm You up."

Observations:   Isaiah (I) 

This is The Great One.  The Prophet.  My favorite.  In general, this work has three parts put together by three different people.  It is time dependent: before, during, and after the, you guessed it, the Babylonian Captivity.  Keep 555 before Christ in mind as an easy date.  You can guess that this is Isaiah I, being chapter 6 (of 66 chapters)

Last week we heard the story of the prophet Jeremiah’s call by Yahweh.  This week we have Isaiah’s call. 

Cindy, too, says, "Welcome in, Everybody.  It is warmer in here than out there in that cold rain."

Psalm 138

Want to hear something beautiful?  Listen to today’s psalm.  Another of my favorites. Thanks, thanks, and more thanks.

1 Corinthians 15

In last week’s Corinthians’ reading Paul described his vision of love.  Today he continues talking to the people of his church in Corinth, focusing on how he was called by God.

So, today we have a theme of call & gratitude.  Even the gospel has a sub-theme of call.  Pretty neat.

Jim & John solving all our problems in life.

Sunday Homily

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with all my heart

We have been blessed the past few weeks because of so many good readings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and now Psalm 138, one of my favorites.   I can still remember when and where it was that I became aware of its beauty.   I was in Nairobi making a private retreat near an arboretum.  My subject today, therefore, is another of my favorite activities,  giving thanks.

Jan, our official greeter as everyone comes in, readies the home made communion bread and the grape juice.

About two weeks ago I got an Email from a young woman who wanted me to perform her wedding in October here in Dallas.  I have backed off of doing weddings almost every weekend.  Just too exhausting & I don’t have the old energy.

I do not remember this girl, but she wrote something that really hooked me.  She said that she used to attend St. Marks Cafetorium Masses and loved my homilies.  Naturally,  of course, I accepted her invitation, and was grateful that here is one person who has with me fond memories of some good times.

"Where is that crazy mike button?"

The second reason I gave thanks this week tied in with this girl who is called Kathleen.   Remember the monster kid who came to our Mass last Sunday?  Noah and his mom.  The kid whom I knew when he was just a little guy who helped me  as an Altar server in the cafetorium.  Within a couple of weeks I have remembered with gratitude the good times I had at St. Marks.

The thirst reason why I am giving thanks to the Lord with all my heart today is because  of the spinal surgeon who took away all my pain with his operation.   Thursday, exactly six weeks since the operation, he gave me a complete and total discharge.

Emma, you are so good, I think you could light those candles in your sleep.

I may ride my bike & return to the 6 A.M. spin classes at the Jewish Community Center.  I don’t even have to have a physical therapist.  According to him I am old enough and experienced enough to manage my continuing rehab.

Buddy, you have a gift for reading and you are developing a terrific stage presence.

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with all my heart.  

For what are you giving thanks this morning?

I give thanks, Sir Charlie, that you have not pulled a fast one on me in the last 5 minutes, or so I think, maybe, I hope.

Sez Luke, "Hi, Everybody, Welcome in.  This is my first time here."

Readings:  

 Numbers 11, 25-29,  Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets.

Psalm 19,  The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

 James 5, 1-6, Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries.

 Mark 9, 38-43, 45, 47-48,   If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out

Welcome in, Ben, Cody, and Olivia.

The Book of Numbers

The fourth book of the Pentateuch.  It leaves us with the impression of a carefully structured and organized religious society moving through history under the sustaining and guiding hand of God.  It is a complex collection of historical, legal and liturgical traditions spanning a period of about a thousand years! 

An outline would identify three broad divisions of the book: The sojourn at Sinai, chapter 1-10 covers the last 19 days the Israelites spent at Sinai. 

(Story of Sinai by bus from Cairo to El Arishe & Tel Aviv.)

Pardon me for needing your help, Hue, but even at 78 I need help getting dressed & suited up.

The second section deals with the journey from Sinai to Moab, chapter 10-22 and covers a span of about 38 years. 

The third section, chapters 22-36, covers events in Moab  over a period of 5 months. 

Today’s reading is from the beginning of the second section, when the people are just starting out on their journey.  Moses is getting concerned with the responsibility of all of the people, so God shares the spirit, which is on Moses among 70 elders, even two who were not part of the group gathered around the Tent.

The Best Music with Shonda & Ben.

The Letter of Saint James

This is the final Sunday  (Hooray!) for the second reading to come from the Letter of St. James (Santiago de Compostella), which we have listened to for the past five weeks.  In the reading today the mood is very stark!  “Your wealth has rotted away”.  The audience for this letter is the communities outside of Jerusalem.

Again, remember the letter is a collection of moral observations and instructions, and in today’s reading James’ does not have much that is positive to say about the rich.  The bigger context is to encourage the Christians who are suffering at the hands of the powerful.  James reminds his audience that Jesus is coming again very soon!  Immediately following today’s reading he says “Be patient brothers until the Lord’s coming.”

Tori Lights our Candles of the Week.

If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out  (the homily that I passed on because I accidentally read the wrong Gospel for today.)

Two comments about this line in the reading.

First.  I spent the years 1968-72 studying theology in Toronto.  We had a lot of gray days in Toronto seeing as it is on the northern shore of Lake Ontario.

One of those days, the news came out in the Toronto newspaper, the Globe & Mail, that a young guy had intentionally blinded himself.  Guess why.  Yep, he read this line in Mark and figured his eyes were a source of temptation.  Doing what?  Maybe just girl watching.

I remember all the guys (there were around a hundred of us) were repelled by the news.  There was a gut level response that what this poor guy did was sick.  It was self mutilation combined with religious extremism. 

The Offertory Team, Cheryl, Grace, & Diane

That for me is the negative.  Any way it can be positive?   As a motivator?  Yes.  I’m reminded of how important self motivation is to all of us.  I am reminded by the St. Marks Boy School running by our house in the morning before school.  I am reminded by Tom & Paul & Carrie running their marathons.   I am inspired by Richard losing weight & keeping it off when told he could get diabetic..   I am reminded at the JCC (Jewish Community Center) 6 AM spin class where Haya, a little lady older even than I am who rides with a slightly bummed right shoulder M, W, F. 

I look upon God’s position on this as infinite demand, yes, coupled with infinite acceptance.

What do you need?  Motivation?  Look around you.

Wake up, Luke, it is time to sing and dance.

Readings: We are celebrating All Saints, but using the readings for Sunday, Sirach 35, 12-18; Psalm 145, I will praise Your Name forever, My King and My God (my favorite line in the psalm; can you spot it?); 2 Thessalonians 1, 11-2, 2; Luke 10, 9-14 (Good Ole Zacheus ).

We actually had two poems read this morning for All Saints.  Watch for them in the Friday blog. 

Psalm 145:

 See if you can pick it out.  My favorite line in perhaps all of scripture. 

Fr. Jack Deeves, S.J. at 82

 A week ago Thursday I attended a celebration of the life of Fr. Jack Deeves at St. Rita’s.  Jack was a Jesuit companion all my 50 plus years as a Jesuit.  He was 82.  He had received a heart transplant in ‘89, and lived with it for 21 years, close to if not a record.  He was one of the good old Jesuits. 

 I want to tell you about him this morning and use as a template the story of Zacheus and my favorite line from scripture.  Could you spot it?  My version: “The Lord is gracious and merciful, never gets angry and is abounding in love.”  Psalm 145, verse 8.  Could this not be the answer to our big question?

Unlike our friend Zacheus, Jack was not short in stature.  Probably 6’2” or more, you could see him above the crowd smiling and greeting all the people gathering around him. 

 Like Zacheus, who was agile enough to climb trees, Jack was a good athlete.  In my early Jesuit days I did not like to face him when he was pitching for the other side. 

 Like Zacheus he was what the psalm calls ‘gracious.’  I would say he was a gracious hospitable extrovert.  For many of the years I spent at Jesuit with him he was the father minister, the priest in charge of the kitchen, supplies, and the well being of the men in the house.  I cannot count the number of years he played the role of Santa Clause at our annual Christmas party. 

 I took Jack out to lunch about a year ago at Kel’s Kitchen down at Forest & the Tollway, a Jesuit staff hangout.  As we go in, half a dozen or ten people all know Jack and stop him to chat.  Jack graciously spent time with all of them, smiling and asking them about their families & lives.  I thought he was never going to make it to our table.

 Like Zacheus and certainly like God who the psalm writer says never gets angry, Jack never lost his amiable disposition and enthusiasm for people and life.  Only if one of us Jesuits to be buggers would slightly intimate that Ursuline, the institution he loved last & most, we would intimate that Ursuline was slightly less than Jesuit.  To the rescue Jack would come. 

 I can remember when I was in my 5^th, 6^th and 7^th years of study in Mobile we used to go to a 2 week summer camp on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay, a place I loved, because I loved the outdoors, the water, the sun, water skiing, and outdoor sports like 2 person volley ball.  Jack was the father superior for us maybe 50 guys living in a two storey, screened in pavilion.  Big open dormitory on the second floor.  Jack made life heavenly for us, even though some guys were not into the outdoor life.  We had no a/c.  He even had time to play with the neighbor kids from houses along the shore.  I developed some close friends among those neighbors. 

 Finally, as the psalm writer says about God, Jack was dear.  He was loving.  He loved people and he poured out his spirit loving them, at Kel’s Kitchen, at Jesuit, at Ursuline, as cheer leader moderator for years, and at so many football games and school events. 

 I know Jack was hurting because of my departure, but he was one of the guys I could always call up or go by Ursuline to find him.  I would ask how he was and how the other guys were.  He would even go out to eat with me.

Jack was not short of stature physically or spirit-wise.  He was, moreover,gracious and merciful, never got angry and was dear, abounding in love.

 Who is the Jack Deeves in your life?

 Picture 1:   Beginning of Mass for All Saints

 Picture 2:   Memorial for Our Beloved

 Picture 3:    More of the Memorial

 Picture 4:    Our Father

 Picture & Obituary from the Dallas Morning News, October 17:            

Says Emma, Hi, Folks, Welcome in.  

Readings:

Malachi 1, 14-2, 2, 8-10,   A great king am I, says the Lord

Psalm 131,  In you, O Lord, I have found my Peace

Thessalonians 2, 7-9, 13 ,  We were gentle with you.

Matthew 23, 1-12,  Do not be like the Pharisees.

Likewise, Zoe, says, "Good Morning, Everybody, Come in."

Observations on Malachi:

 Interesting notes, a review:

                   1.  This is the last book of the Old Testament.    

                   2.  A little book, only 4 chapters.

                   3.  Last of the 12 minor prophets ( minor because of their small content )

 Author: Malachi means “my messenger.”  The writer’s real name is unknown.

Offertory with Sydney & Hugh, Nina & Kerry.

 Date:   555 years before Christ.  This is deduced from the emphasis on the temple and the priesthood, and the word “governor” used one time.  Governors ruled after the Babylonian Exile, ca. 590-550, kings before.    

 The temple was rebuilt ca. 520 after the Israelites came back ca. 550 from the Babylonian Exile.  The Persian ruler Cyrus let them return & rebuild the old walls & temple. 

 Message:  Beware, you priests and people, because you are lax, corrupt, and cheating God of his rightful offerings.   Again, the prophet act: 1. condemn behavior, 2. promise punishment, 3. offer consolation after reform.

Sophia, our Candle Lighter of The Week, in action.

Today’s Message:

                   1.  Yahweh is speaking, actually to the priests, though in the official reading this reference is edited out.   

                   2.  You priests, I will curse you if you do not honor my name.

                    3.  I have made you contemptable because you don't follow my ways.  Again, note the Prophet's message: 1. condemn behavior, 2. promise punishment, 3. consolation after the conversion.

                   Sources:  Good News Bible; New Interpreter’s Study Bible; The Minor Prophets by Al Maxey (on line); & Wikipedia

So, Georgie, how is it being 16?   Know you are The Best.

Gratitude for Blessings 2017-11-04

Rosemary & I have an end of year exercise we go through, what are the Blessings of the Year.  We write them down.  It is a process of numerous days, beginning with Thanksgiving and ending only around New Years. 

So, when I told Rosemary I wanted to give a Thanksgiving homily this Sunday, she says, “Okay, but don’t get off on your Big 3.  People have heard them often enough.”  “But people forget,” I say to little avail.  So I won’t, with nothing more than their mention.  Namely, 1. My years as a Jesuit.   2. My years in East Africa.  3.  My years with Rosemary.

Study Hall for Tori & Zoe. 

The following are five 2017 gifts or blessings.

1. The Jewish Community Center.  I know only a small slice of the Community’s day, from about 5:30 to 7:00 every weekday morning, always in the spin class room or in the gym. 

The peopIe I have come to know and love are so normal and loving.  Plus they all work at keeping themselves in some kind of good shape.  I look at these good people and I think that it is my religion, Catholicism and Christianity that has caused this community to be hounded, hunted, persecuted, and killed for centuries, ever since Matthew wrote the Blood Curse, Let his blood be upon us and our children.”   Matthew 27.   I am humbled they accept me.

All Our Saints for All Saints.
 

2. Rob, Beth, Rosemary, & I rode the 20 mile Dallas Bikes rally yesterday and it was glorious. It was a blessing and reminded me of two other special summer blessings look forward to and I take part in every year, Ragbrai (ride across Iowa for a week, 500 miles) and the Matterhorn Canyon back packing trip. 

All Saints Prep with Karen and Denni.

2. A third blessing this year has been, don’t laugh, you ladies, Romeos!  I look forward to this get together with the guys all week and it is always fun. 
3. For a number of years a classmate and good friend of mine from the days we spent together at Jesuit has made a significant financial monthly donation to our community. It, together with everybody else’s generosity, enables us to help so many deserving people.
4. Finally and most obvious to me so often, the unbelievable blessing of you, our Sunday community. It is a clear sign you all must be crazy.

All Saints prep with Geri and Sandra.
 

What are your Blessings of The Year 2017?

Our Saints.