Homilies

 

Welcome in, Everybody, from Jean & John.

 

 

Readings:

Isaiah 66, 18-21,  I come to gather nations of every language..

Psalm :  Go out to all the world and tell the Good News

Hebrews 12, 5-7, 11-13, Endure your trials as discipline

Luke 13, 22-30,  Many will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.

 

 

 

Welcome in, Everybody, from The Team.

 

Isaiah 66 observations:

Author: Isaiah III.  The book of Isaiah is one of my favorites, as you have heard me say often enough.   Some beautiful passages.  Remember, 3 primary authors are responsible for the 66 chapters, and we are reading the very last. 

This book is one of the Big 3 O.T. prophets, along with Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Why? because the works are the longest.  There are 12 minor prophets.

 

 

Trouble in the bleachers with Richard & Mike.

 

Time of composition: ca. 555 to 777,   The Assyrians annihilated the northern Jewish provence or 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 III: Mostly consolation after the catastrophic mess of Jerusalem that greeted the Jews on their return from Babylon. 

 

 

 

Do I have a deal for you on a almost mint condition red Studebaker.

 

What is the activity of a prophet?  1.  criticism, 2. prediction of dire consequences, 3. consolation.

Today’s specific message: this being the last chapter of the whole work, you might guess.  Yes, consolation.

To check out the state of the world, check in with Dona, Bernadette, and Tera (from Iran).

 

Psalm  117:  The best line in the whole bunch of readings.  Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

Hebrews observation:

 The best thing about today's selection: we have to read Hebrews only one more week.  Awful reading today.

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome in, Jim & John.

 

Go Out to All the World and tell the Good News

You all know well  that I love to celebrate birthdays, like we do here at our Sunday celebrations.  I have carried this over to the 6:00 A.M. spin classes at the J.

Consequently, I am often asking people when is their birthday.  Then at the end of our session I get up front and tell everybody that this person is celebrating a birthday, and give them a BelVita cookie package.  I used to try to sing, but gave it up because singing is not my gift.

 

 

 

With only her first cataract removed, Connie can see!

 

There is a lady named Haya.  I don’t know her last name..  I only know that I am touched and humbled by her.  She is probably 5’1”, and has a scar on the back of her right shoulder.  She and I are the same age part of every year.

Because I am intrigued and humbled by the background & history of these Jewish people, I often ask a person how their family was effected by the Holocaust.   With Haya having the same age as I have, I was especially curious to know what she was doing while I was growing up in University Park.  So I asked.

 

 

Who are those two characters messing with Ben?

 

Turns out that Haya and her family lived in a small town in Poland.  Her father and his two brothers had a small business.  When the Germans took over Poland in late ’39,  Haya’s dad took the family and ran to Marseilles.  The brothers decided to ride it out.

As things got worse Haya’s dad took the family to the Holy Land even before the Jewish State’s establishment.  Finally the family migrated to New York City and somehow got settled there despite some anti-imigration sentiment in the government.  Haya,  therefore, grew up in NY City.  She never heard what exactly happened to her two uncles and their families.

 

Candle Lighting team in operation.

 

Now days Haya seems to be in a good place.  I think she has a son and a daughter and maybe her husband is deceased.  Whatever, Haya has a  house in the Glen Lakes gated community on Walnut Hill and Central, a condo in Manhattan, and a condo in Tel Aviv.  She seems to bounce around all three locations.  So on her birthday, which is August 25, I announced to the class and gave her a BelVita.

 On her way  out she whispered to me, “You made this the happiest day of my life.”   I was stunned and touched.

 

 

Thanks, Tom & Denni, Karen & John for bringing up our gifts

 

 I cannot believe what I just heard.   On the one hand, I am touched that such a small gesture can mean so much to her.  On the other, does this say something about her life?   What has she seen in life that I have never seen? 

Why talk about her this morning?  Two reasons.   Because she is Good News.  The Psalm says, “Go out and tell the Good News.”  People are The Good News.   I want to know her story.

Secondly, I want also to contextualize the negativity of Hebrews and Luke. 

 

 

Elevation time.

 

There was a strong belief in these times that God was definitely a conditional love God.  Why did the Babylonian Captivity take place?  The Israelites were bad.  Jeremiah says it, the Isaiahs say it.   And so it was written.  In fact,  according to a minister here in Dallas,  God punished the people in N.O. for their badness.  Remember Katrina?

Pretty much this opinion of God has been discarded.   Is sickness a penance for a sinful, bad life?   Is this why I got Parkinson?

 

 

 

 

 

Today's Communion team.

 

Me?  I believe and I propose that people are The Good News, that you are The Good News.  God takes Delight in you

And you?   A God who scourges and demands penance or a God who proclaims that people are The Good News?

Haya?  Her birthday will be celebrated tomorrow morning.

 

 

 

Who is this scary person, Harper?

 

 

Welcome, Terra, from Iran

 

Readings:

Jeremiah 38, 4-6, 8-10,  They took Jeremiah and threw him into the cistern.

Psalm 40,  Lord, come to my aid. 

Hebrews 12, 1-4,  Let us rid ourselves of every burden.

Luke 12, 49-53,  I have come to set the world on fire.

 

 

The Candle Lighting team in action.

 

Jeremiah Observations:

Author:  really Jeremiah or at least his scribe.

Date:  after the Babylonian Captivity again, say 555 years before Christ. Jeremiah sees the Babylonian catastrophe coming and says it is going to be how Yahweh punishes the people for their evil and unjust ways.

 

 

 

Blessed be The Lord, with David, Ben, Shonda, and Leo

 

Subject:  Jeremiah is the classic prophet.  He does the 3 things characteristic of a prophet.  He criticizes the behavior of the people.  He promises punishment from Yahweh.  He indicates that a better day will come.    Jeremiah lives to see the punishment, that is the Captivity.  Probably not the return from captivity.

Our selection:  Jeremiah pays the price of most real prophets.  The people are enraged, turn against him, and watch what happens.

 

 

Will somebody go sit with Sir charlie.

 

Why I love the J (as in Jewish Community Center vs Jesuit, an older love)

This morning I would like to talk about why I  love the J.  That is, as in the Jewish Community Center rather than my long time love, Jesuit.

This past Thursday morning before 6:00, more of less, I was in the big gym at the J.  Monday, Wednesday, & Friday I am in another wing of the complex to beat myself up at spin class with about 20 others.  I love it.

 

 

 

 

Welcome back, Richard

 

Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday I work on ellipticals and punch a bag, all to maintain some control over the Parkinson’s.

This past Thursday I have just finished about 15 minutes on an elliptical as I see the next customer coming along, Rita.  I have known & loved Rita for a number of years.    She comes Tuesdays & Thursdays with the DART special bus.    She is an African American hug machine.   Despite me being a Catholic  and she a Jehovah Witness, she still hugs me and continues to pray and work for my conversion.

 

 

 

Welcome Home, Sandra, and sorry about the loss of your brother

 

While we are hugging on each other and I am helping Rita to get seated on the elliptical, along comes a very outgoing and friendly girl from our spin class, Lisa.  We all three get talking.  Lisa, who is somewhat new to spin class, but who knows everybody, she asks if I am still working (a compliment) and then what did I do.

 

 

Uh ho, Patricia is coming to sit with you, Sir Charlie.

                                                            

So what should I do?  Drop the bomb in this peaceful Jewish haven?  “Oh, I’m Catholic Jesuit priest excommunicated for getting married.”  I did it.   Lisa was so responsive and positive I was touched and humbled.  Rita already knew my background.  Then we had to split.

 

 

Leo miked up and right at home.

 

Reflecting later on the encounter, I was struck by what a precious event that was, a real God-like moment.  Here were 3 people, 2 women & one guy.  The woman who could have been our hostess was Lisa, who is Jewish.   The other woman, African American & a Jehovah Witness.  The guy, an excommunicated Catholic Jesuit.

 

 

 

Elevation time.

 

Meeting people like Rita and Lisa are why I love the J

Can we not meet and develop relationships with other people similar to Lisa & Rita?

 

 

Offertory Time with Tom & Denni & & Cheryl.

 

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.

 

 

From Jim & John, "Welcome in, Everybody." 

 

Readings:

Ecclesiastes, 1,2; 2, 21-23,  Pretty pessimistic.  Author having a bad day?

Psalm 90, If today you hear his voice, harden not you hearts.  

Colossians 3, 1-5, 9-11,  Think of what is above, not of what is on earth

Luke 12, 13-21,  There was a rich man

 

 

So good to have you back, Dee, especially looking so good.

 

The First reading from Ecclesiastes reminds us that when a person passes he or she can’t take any of their worldly things with them.

Our Second reading from Paul’s Letter to the Colossians reminds us that greed is idolatry; for it is a love of wealth; rather than a love of God.

 

Good Morning, Patricia!

 

Homily on the Gospel reading:

 

Here in Chapter 12 of Luke, a nondescript man comes to Jesus seeking a favorable decision regarding some inheritance that he is hoping to receive from his older brother. Jesus used this event to address the crowd with the wisdom to be on guard against all forms of greed.

 

 

 

Watch out for this crazy guy, Everybody.  I knew him way back when he was a nice little high school, kid.

 

Following Jesus’ advice the older brother has put their extended family in mind.  He will not allow himself or his younger brother to fail in their responsibility to put their extended family ahead of their desire for possessions.   The older brother had taken a course of action to enhance the harvest from their father’s land.

 

 

 

Three of the Candle Lighting Team, Zoe, Tori, & Georgie.

 

Now, there is nothing more in Luke’s chapter 12 about the relationship between the younger man and his older brother; however Luke has no intention of forgetting about them!  Each of the gospels form two complementary stories.   We will encounter the brothers again in a chapter 15! There, the younger son said to his father, “give me the share of the inheritance that would come to me.  The father divided the inheritance between them…and a few days later the younger brother took his inheritance with him to a foreign land where he squandered it on riotous living.

 

 

 

Mike homilizing on the Luke gospel.

 

Recall that when the prodigal son came home asking to be forgiven, the story did not end. Is there a story like this in your immediate family? Harden not your hearts.

 

 

 

Married life: carry your cross??

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

+Says Louis, "Welcome in, Everybody."

 

Readings:

Genesis  18, 20-32,  Sodom!  Good story.

Psalm 138,  Lord, on the day I cried for help you answered me.  (a terrific psalm)

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

Luke 11, 1-13, "Ask & you will receive."

 

 

The Great Candle Team in action.

 

Intro to the readings:

1.   Another nice story about Abraham's relationship with God.  We can all place ourselves in Abraham's' shoes.

2.  The Gospel reading gives us an idealized version of how the Our Father came about.  With all these stories, you probably would not be far off if you suspected a ghost composer rather than Jesus. 

It ends with an encouragement from Jesus to ask for what you want with persistence, "ask & you will receive."  Reminds me of my mom & her 8 day novenas.  One of those novenas was, I bet, that I would leave the Jesuits quickly and go to college like a normal kid.

3.  Psalm 139.  As much as I like parts of the readings, it is Psalm 139 that really touches me and has touched me for decades.  I would like to spend a couple of minutes explaining why & how it has played a role in my life.  All 4 stanzas move me.   The first line of the first stanza sums it up, "I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with all my heart."

 

 

 

 

Leo joins the Music Machine.

 

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

This event took place 20 years ago or more.  Do you remember one Spring afternoon (think it was Spring), when Hillary Clinton came to Dallas?  I know not the reason, but come she did.  There was an ordinary motorcade somewhere in the Dallas area.  All was peaceful until one of the motorcycle policemen had an accident.  The policeman was killed in the accident.

 

 

We probably really don't want to know what is going on over there.

 

The man was a member of St. Marks Catholic Church, where I was saying every Sunday the 9:00 & 10:30 Masses.  I always said the English Mass in the cafetorium at 10:30, and the 9:30 was either English in the main church or Spanish in the cafetorium.  Seeing as the policeman was hispanic I probably knew him from the Spanish Mass.

The funeral which was huge was held at Restland on Greenvile Ave. & Forest Lane.  I went to the viewing to offer my condolences, but decided to skip the funeral, it being so huge.

 

 

 

Watch out, Sydney, for that Rosemary.

 

The family has 4 or 5 kids and the kids were in individual rooms.  I chose to visit with one of the daughters because I knew her probably the best.  She was around 13 and was seated with her girl friend at the back of a room and people were lined up to visit her moving clockwise through the room.

I got in line which started in the hall.  When I got in, the girl got up and ran over to me and we hugged.  I stayed in line and when I got to the girl she told her friend that I was her priest and that when she made her first confession, a process which I don't like, I gave her for her penance two Hershey Kisses.

 

 

 

Elevation Time.

 

I give Thanks to you O Lord with all my heart. 

I give thanks because that little girl got my message.  The message: that "your kindness, O Lord, endures forever."  (Stanza 4,line 3)   This was why I gave out Hershey Kisses instead of penances and even hugs to every kid despite the warning about "don't touch the kids."  I grew up without enough hugs. 

"The Lord is gracious and merciful, never gets angry and is abounding in Love." Psalm 145 & other locations.  Another of my favorites.

Can you believe that?

 

 

 

Who let that Shropshire in here?

 

 

With the exception of John, in Jennings, LA to visit his sister, the whole gang is back, yeah.

 

Readings:

Genesis  18, 1-10,  Sarah will have a son (at 90!)

Psalm 15,  He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord

Colossians 1, 24-28,  I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake.

Luke 10, 38-42, "Lord, do you not care that my sister…

 

 

 

A great sister act.

 

Observation on Genesis:

I would laugh at the editor who selected this passage about Abraham and Sarah, his wife.  He leaves out the punch line, a most relevant fact coloring this passage.  Namely, Sarah is 90 and Abraham 100.  Why was this not mentioned?

Genesis, by the way is the first book of the bible and a fun read, especially if you can appreciate it as fable & not factual history.  Don't go looking for the Ark, like you read about periodically.

 

 

 

Buddy  reading the Summer Blessing of the Candles.

 

Observation on Paul writing to the Colossians:

This version of Paul makes me want to pull out the violins and weep for the poor man.  Which, I guess, is the intention Paul is working with.  A poor me presentation.  The goal: get the readers to get up off their behind and get to work, like Paul is doing.

 

 

 

Shonda & Ben, The Best, minus David riding RAGBRAI with Dana, his daughter.

 

Ragbrai Spirit : People are Good

It’s Ragbrai (Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa)  week, Folks.  At this moment bikers (including David & Dana) are arriving at Council Bluffs on the MO River prepared to set out this morning, heading ultimately next Saturday to Keokuk, where Mike &  Judy grew up on the MS River.  I should be there.

 

 

What kind of trouble are these 4 up to??

 

Along the way the bikers will walk (too crowded to ride) through achingly beautiful little towns with glorious Victorian houses, tree lined streets, delightful town parks, and welcoming people.  Plus a gazillion vendors. 

Let me give you two vignettes that reflect the spirit of Ragbrai. 

One early afternoon I am riding over some medium level hills.  They were a work out.  At one point starting to climb I run up behind a tricycle, one wheel in front of two & a bench.  Seated on the bench was an elderly guy and a young woman.  The woman is pumping them up the hill. 

I think to myself, This hill is going to really discourage that woman.  So I ride to the top, drop my bike, and run back down to find two other young guys with the same idea .  We all three joined in and pushed that woman and her father right up to the top.

 

Cody, I have not seen Ben in a couple of summer months and when he came in this morning I did not recognize him.  He's grown a foot.

 

 

I hopped on my bike and as I went down the hill I realized another hill was coming up.  To this day I can only hope other people stopped to push that lady & her dad up what turned out to be a series of serious hills.  I would expect they did help.

I have already mentioned here that my most favorite vendor was the home made pie & ice cream stop, always on the right hand shoulder, always in the afternoon (at least for me).  I mentioned how once when I forgot my money, Hanc, a good kid I would see every year, he served me anyway.

On another occasion I was in line at the pie selections tables when a lady behind me realized she did not have enough.  Naturally I staked her and told her to forget it. 

 

 

 

And the same with your pretty daughter Olivia.  She has so grown up this Summer.

 

A day or two later I am sitting on a park bench in a beautiful park.  I am looking at a band stand, the bikers’ road, and a gorgeous river.   Behind me is the whole rest of the park with bikers everywhere.   Everybody is just enjoying the beauty.

Suddenly a tap on my shoulder.  The lady from the Amish pie & ice cream stand hands me the money I loaned or really gave her.  She said thanks and disappeared in the throng of people lying around.   To say the least I was stunned and touched, and reminded again of how good people are. 

This year I will not join the 20 to 30 thousand riders doing the 500 more or less miles.  The people spirit stays with me.

 

 

Today' Communion team, Cheryl, Patricia, Mike, & Claire.

 

Jan, The Head of Traffic Control, on the job.

 

 

Readings:

1 Kings 19, 16 19-21, You shall anoint Elisha.

Psalm 16,  You are my inheritance, O Lord.

Galatians 5, 1, 13-18, For freedom Christ set us free.

Luke 9, 51-62, No one who sets his hand to the plow…

 

 

I say, Pere, remember that pretty red Studebaker….