Homilies

Readings:

Isaiah  9, 1-6,  The people who have 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 August.  The Nativity narrative.

 

Merry Christmas, Nora, your first one.  How was it being Jesus in the Nativity Play? 

 

Isaiah: author, date, subject, today’s selection–

   Author: This is probably my most favorite book in the Old Testament.  Isaiah is one of the Big Three OT prophets along with Jeremiah & Ezekiel.  This is because of the size of the work, 66 chapters, but even more so because Isaiah is so beautiful and influential in the Christian story. 

There are really three Isaiahs, chapters 1-39, 40-55, & 56-66.  How do we know?  Simple.  Different styles of writing, different vocabularies, different slants to the message, references to places.

 

Merry Christmas to all you Quinns and thanks for  bringing up the Offertory.

 

   Date: 1 Isaiah, our selection is put together ca. 700 before Christ.  2  Isaiah, ca. 500 before Christ; 3 Isaiah, ca. 400 before Christ.

   Subject: As always, there have been predictions of doom & destruction because of the badness of the people. 

Today’s selection: This passage, however, is the flip of this.  Listen for words like rejoicing, making merry, joy, peace, a God-hero Child is born.

Source:  Good News Bible, Bishop John Shelby Spong

 

 

 The littlest Quinn, Vivienne.

 

Christmas Eve Homily

This afternoon I would like to tell you a Christmas story.  It is about a kid and his grandmother at Christmas.  

I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid.
I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies know that!"

 

 J.J. and The Smile.

 

My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight up with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her "world-famous" cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true.

Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me. "No Santa Claus?" she snorted…."Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad!! Now, put on your coat, and let's go."

 

And Merry Christmas to you, too, Charlotte.

"Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my second world-famous cinnamon bun. "Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days. "Take this money," she said, "and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car." Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's.

 

Our Angels.

I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping.

For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for.

I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to my church.

 

 

 The Best, Wendy, Shonda, & Ray.

I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade-two class. Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out to recess during the winter.

His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough; he didn't have a good coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat!

 

 

Meals on Wheels food pick up.

                                                                                                                                                                                  

I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that.

"Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down. "Yes, ma'am," I replied shyly. "It's for Bobby."

The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her about how Bobby really needed a good winter coat. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag, smiled again, and wished me a Merry Christmas.

 

 

 A beautiful Christmas morning for delivering Meals on Wheels.

That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) in Christmas paper and ribbons and wrote, "To Bobby, From Santa Claus" on it.

Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially, one of Santa's helpers.

 

Our Drivers, Ro & Aviana, ready to go.  This is a big  operation.

 

Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going."

I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his door and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma.

 

 

 The Great Shepherds, Jake & Leo.

Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobby.

Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were — ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team.

 

 

 Merry Christmas Rosemary, Mike, and Geri.

I still have the Bible, with the coat tag tucked inside: $19.95.

May you always believe in the magic of kindness and caring of Santa Claus!

 

 

 Welcome Home, Sabrina!

 

Readings:

Micah  5, 1-4,  He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock

Psalm 80,    Lord, make us turn to you, let us see you face and we shall be saved

Pope Francis' Laudato Si, 

A Reading from Pope Francis’ Letter on the Environment:

Whether believers or not, we are agreed today that the earth is essentially a shared inheritance, meant to benefit everyone. Hence every ecological approach needs to incorporate a social perspective which takes into account the fundamental rights of the poor and the underprivileged.

The principle of the subordination of private property to the universal distribution of goods, and thus the right of everyone to their use, is the first principle of the whole ethical and social order.  

 

 

Welcome, Everybody, the music is wonderful.

 

The Christian tradition has never recognized the right to private property as an absolute, and has stressed the social purpose of all forms of private property. 

The natural environment is a collective good, the patrimony of all humanity, and the responsibility of everyone.

The words of Pope Francis.

 

Luke  1,  39-45, Mary set out and traveled to the hill country. 

 

Welcome home all you Dinsmores, David, Dana, Betty, Donna, and Dawson.

 

Micah: author, date, subject, our selection–

Author: one of the minor prophets (because of length, 7 chapters), Micah is considered to be the author of these words.

Date: probably around 700-690 BCE, a contemporary of Isaiah, living in Judah.  He had witnessed the destruction of the northern half of the kingdom, Israel, by the Assyrians, ca. 720 BCE.  He watched Judah pay tribute to Assyria.  He forsaw the Babylonian disaster in 590.

 

Candle Lighter of The Week, Cole.

 

Subject: like all prophets, he predicts doom and destruction for Judah because of the injustice of the people, especially the rich over the poor.  Micah learned from Israel's destruction by Assyria, which he attributed to God's anger with those people. 

Then, of course, in the prophet tradition, he predicts a return to peace and prosperity after the people are purified.  He speaks to Bethlehem as if to a person and says that a new ruler will come from the town and the good ruler will shepherd the people.  Why Bethlehem?  Because David was born there and the new David was supposed to come from the same royal village. 

 

Does it get any better?  Leo & Brandon.

 

Asked what God wants of us (like penance, sacrifices of animals, goods, even children), Micah states one of the great lines in scripture: "What God requires of us is: 1. act justly, 2. love tenderly, and 3. walk humbly with our God." (6, 8)  You people do that. 

Our Selection: God promises a good ruler will be born in Bethlehem, the place where King David was born, a royal village.

Sources: Good News Bible, John Shelby Spong, Wikipedia

 

And from Marlene, "Hi, Everybody, Welcome in."

 

A Christmas Story

This morning I want to tell you a Christmas story. I am reminded of the event partly because Tom & Teresa just visited Mombasa, Kenya, where I passed some time while I was living in East Africa.  Also I thought about it at the Christmas concert Thursday evening.

 I have talked about this event before, but it seems to fit here again.  It took place in Tanzania the Christmas of my sixth, seventh, or eighth year living in the country.

 

 

 The Brain Trust, Zoe, Emma, & Victoria.

 

To begin, it is good to mention that Tanzania does not celebrate Christmas like we do here.  First of all, it is summer, being just south of the equator.  So, warm.   Moreover, people do not decorate with lights like we do here.  It is not the custom, nor do folks have the money.

I was usually pretty homesick at Christmas, both in the Jesuits and more so in Tanzania.  So this year I decided I would throw a Christmas day party American style, especially with a turkey. 

 

Beautiful Advent Colors.

 

To get the turkey I had to not only go beyond the little town of Moshi, where the Jesuits had a house and where I was based.  I, in fact, had to travel to Nairobi, Kenya, the country immediately to the north. 

Despite the fact that most of the time I was away from Moshi on the road giving seminars and retreats, I still knew some people from the times I was in town.  So I invited a number of families.

 

The Community.

 

In particular, I invited the family who lived next door to us, a husband and wife with their two little girls, for whom I had a great affection.  The family was all Muslim and the father was a police chief.  It is always helpful to have a police chief as a friend in certain countries.  I assure you.

To invite the family I followed the more formal African protocol.  I invited the husband to come over to our house.  I had two rocking chairs ready in my office/bedroom.  We sat down and I offered him coffee or tea.

 

Everybody partakes at this communion, kids, too. 

 

Then I said, “Mohammed, I would like to invite you and your family to a special celebration of the Christian Christmas.  It will be the evening of December 25, beginning around 5:00.”  Then, I explained what was Christian Christmas.

Finally, I added, “We both know, Mohammed, that you have a problem with alcohol.  I request that you show up sober.  If you show up drunk, I will have to ask you to leave.”  Mohammed said he was grateful for the invitation for him and his family.  He would not arrive drunk and if he did I should invite him out.

 

Communion Helpers, Beth & Rob & Mike

 

Want to guess what happened?   You guessed it.

About 1:00 Christmas day Mohammed and his buddy arrived a bit early.  Yes, they were both drunk out of their minds.  We talked, I told him I was sorry, but he could not come to the party.  He, too, said he was sorry, he left, and I did not see him again that day.

 

Kevin & Georgina

 

Later, however, about 5:00, his wife and girls arrived with a surprise.  In the African tradition of hospitality, she had invited all her extended family and they all showed up together, about 15 of them. 

Despite all this, we had a fun American style Christmas, most of it, in fact, on the roof.  We had an Arabian style house with a flat roof.  A great place for parties and watching the sun set glow on Kilimanjaro nearby.

 

 The Team.

 

Why talk about this today?

First, to show you how Christmas is celebrated in other countries.

Secondly, to show just how we are so fortunate to celebrate with such fan fare and warmth.   I am grateful to be here.

What has been your best Christmas ever? 

How are you celebrating this year?

 

Don't forget to hug the gorilla on your way out.  He loves hugs.

                                 Bonjour et Bienvenu, Mes Amis.

 

Readings:

 Baruch  5, 1-9,  Jerusalem, put on the splendor of glory.

Psalm 126,    The Lord has done great things for us, we are filled with joy.

Advent special: Pope Francis,' Laudato Si (Praise to you).

 

                    Leighton, too, says, "Welcome, Everybody."

 

A Reading from Pope Francis’ Letter on the Environment:

In some countries there are positive examples of environmental improvement: rivers, polluted for decades, have been cleaned up; native woodlands have been restored; advances have been made in the production of non-polluting energy and in the improvement of public transportation. These achievements show that men and women are capable of intervening positively.

At the same time we can note the rise of a false or superficial ecology which bolsters complacency and a cheerful recklessness.  In periods of deep crisis requiring bold decisions, we are tempted to think that what is happening is not entirely clear.  Superficially, apart from a few obvious signs of pollution and deterioration, things do not look that serious, and the planet could continue as it is for some time.  

Such evasiveness serves as a license to carry on with our present lifestyles and models of production and consumption. This is the way humans contrive to feed self-destructive habits: trying not to see reality, trying not to acknowledge reality, delaying important decisions and pretending that nothing will happen.

The word of Pope Francis.

Luke,  3,  1-6,  Prepare the way of the Lord.

 

                             Warren says, "What's going on around here?"

Baruch:

    What: One of the little books (only 5 chapters) of what I'll call The Odd Books.  That is, it is not one of the big 3, nor one of the 12 little prophetic books, nor part of the N.T.  It is part of a dozen small books in between.  Most Protestant churches  don't recognize the legitimacy The Odd Books.

     Author:  Baruch was Jeremiah's secretary. Maybe he wrote some of the material, but it was not put together.  Remember, he & Jeremiah lived before & during the Babylonian Captivity.  There are 4 small discourses.  Compilation of the total work seems to have taken place later,  Most likely some anonymous person or persons a few centuries after Jeremiah. 

 

                     Who let these two characters in?  

 

Date of composition: maybe during the  Maccabees' revolt ca. 100 before Christ.   If so,  the little book intends to strengthen resistance of the Jews during the Macabeean Revolt, using the Babylonian model to encourage the people.

      Our passage: a message of optimism, hope, peace, and a victorious new day.  The passage reflects 2nd Isaiah's message (chapter 40), which is likewise quoted in Luke's gospel for today.  The famous 2nd Isaiah: Luke uses this source to build his nativity narrative.  See also the lyrics of Handel's Messiah.

Sources:  Good New Bible.

 

                                          2nd Sunday of Advent, two candles.

 

It’s Coming, It’s Coming, It’s Here!

I would like to talk this morning about the fact that it is coming, it is coming, it is here.  That is, Christmas.  I would propose that there is a richness, a joy, and a peace in the time leading up to Christmas, as well as Christmas itself.

A little story.

When Rosemary & I were with her sister and brother in law in Hilton Head, we spent an evening watching a comedy film called Christmas with the Kranks.  At first I thought this was just going to be a goofy movie, which it was.  But it had a message inside the comedy. It goes like this.

 

         Guess who lit those candles, Buddy, Victoria, and Zoe.

 

A couple in probably their 40’s had a daughter who was going to Peru to work as a Peace Corp volunteer.   They were both depressed.  At that point, Luther, the husband decided to buy tickets on a Christmas Caribbean cruise.   That got them both excited. 

Luther also decided that they would simply skip Christmas at their home, no decorations and no holiday socializing when they normally had a big Christmas Eve party.

 

                                 The Team, Georgie & Kevin

 

First thing that happens, the Scouts come with Luther’s annual Christmas tree, the kids’ annual fundraiser.  Luther says, “No Christmas tree this year.”  This causes quite a commotion & pushback.  Scrooge gets mentioned.

Then the police come selling their annual calendar.  They get turned away and are not happy.  Then the neighborhood wants Luther to put up his plastic snowman on the roof.  “Not this year,” says Luther. 

 

                                                  Hi, Harper.

 

By now Luther and Nora have everyone mad at them, the Scouts, the Police, and all the neighbors.  One old neighbor across the street gives it to Luther.  His wife has cancer.

The couple are counting days to departure when on Christmas Eve morning their daughter, Blair, calls to say that she has decided to do Christmas with them, is in like Miami and will arrive home in the afternoon, and is bringing with her a Peruvian guy she wants them to meet.  She plans to wed him.  Plus she is so looking forward to all their annual decorations, the big Christmas Eve party, and snow. 

 

                         Victoria and her favorite Mommy.

 

Luther and Nora are delighted, speechless, and aghast.  What to do?  They reverse field and start racing around to decorate and set up the Christmas Eve party.  Luther even borrows a decorated Christmas tree from a neighbor who will be away for Christmas.   Some of the Scouts help him take it to his house.

It all gets done, the over the top decorations, the party to which the neighbors come, and the daughter with her new fiance’ gets her snow. 

 

                                      Some of today's food drive.

 

The coup de grace comes when Luther slips away from the party and crosses the street to the grumpy neighbor and his wife with the cancer.  Luther gives the couple their cruise tickets. 

The lesson from the movie?   The value of community, of friends, and of family.

 

               Genevieve says, "I think it is time for me to start moving around."

 

This is what we try to build here on Sundays, what Rosemary & I try to build at Hilton Head, our Romeos & ladies’ luncheons, and next Saturday, the marvelous Love for Kids picnic.

How are you sharing The Spirit?

 

                Our friendly gorilla says he appreciates all hugs.

 

 

 

Jeremiah  33, 14-16, The days are coming.

 Psalm 25,    To you, Oh Lord, I lift up my soul

Pope Francis Letter “Laudato si”  (“Praise to you”)  –  “There is an inseparable bond between concern for nature, justice for the poor, commitment to society, and interior peace.”

Luke  21,  25-28, 34-36,,  There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars.

 

Luke: Ch 21 –  “Up on your feet.  Help is on the way!”

Author: The gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles make up a two-volume work which scholars call Luke–Acts.  According to an early Church tradition, the author was the Luke named as a companion of Paul in three of Paul’s letters, but Scripture scholars say there is a problem with this. Though the author of Luke-Acts admired Paul, his theology was significantly different from Paul’s; there are countless contradictions between Acts and Paul’s letters. Bottom line: we don’t know who author of Luke-Acts is.

When written: The most probable date is around 80-100 AD, and there is evidence that it was still being revised well into the 2nd century.  The author takes as sources the Gospel of Mark, written around 70 AD, the sayings collection called the Q source, and a collection of material called the L source (L for Luke).

Audience: Luke was written to be read aloud to a group of Jesus’ followers gathered in a house to share the Lord's supper. The author assumes an educated Greek-speaking audience, but attends mainly to specifically Christian concerns rather than to the Greco-Roman world at large.

Today’s passage: A commonly held belief of the early Christian community was the return of Jesus; many thought this would happen within one generation. So it’s not surprising to read prophecies of that event attributed to Jesus in the Gospel writings.

 

Homily by John

  As a kid I attended school and church regularly.  I really liked the beginning of a new school year and the season of Advent at church.  Both of these were like a chance to start over again.  Another chance to start fresh and without judgment.  During my school years, we had summer fun times for 3 months and, remarkably, I was often ‘summered out’ and looking forward to a new school year with my classmates and most of my teachers.

We started over with new subjects, new books, new teachers – happy time for me.   At church we had finished that long ‘ordinary time’ without much happening, and had the scary sermons just before Advent about the ‘end of times’ and the ‘sheep and goats’ and judgment and punishment. 

Advent for the most part aimed us toward Christmas and the baby Jesus and the lights and happy thoughts and times.  I remember gathering a bunch of green fern moss to be the grass for the village I helped build around the manger scene.  Advent – happy time.

This week I’ve been thinking how happy it is for me to not actually ever hear hell and brimstone and judgment when we gather here; rather, acceptance and encouragement and challenge. 

I have so much to be thankful for.  I have a loving family who care for me in so many ways.  I have loving friends who show care and acceptance, including you guys.  I have a Pope with whom I feel a togetherness in thought and aspiration, and permission to express my thoughts, even my doubts, without judgment.  I have a Pope who encourages and challenges me to love and care for the world, for the environment, for my neighborhood, for my neighbors, for myself.  And I am grateful. 

My question is: What are you grateful for at this start of the new church year?  Or for the entire last year?  

Special Readings for Christ the King,   Download Nov . 22 Special Readings for Christ the King

 

                    Zoe says, "Hi, Everybody, Welcome in."

 

Homily by Mike

 

Our two Readings and our hymn from Psalms reveal that God has sent to us his very son, the Messiah and King of Kings, who is robed in majesty and his kingdom will last forever.  He has empowered us with the Holy Spirit to be Christ in the world to continue to bring about his kingdom.   Metaphorically, we have been robed in majesty, in goodness and mercy, bearing with one another, and forgiving one another.

 

             Genevieve, says, "Hi, Folks, So nice to see you here this                       beautiful Sunday.

 

Recall the story of the two prostitutes who stand before Solomon.  The two of them had been living together and both had given birth to a son only days apart. 

A terrible accident happened shortly after that.  One of them rolled against her child in the middle of the night and her son was suffocated.  She did a terrible thing. Getting up she placed her dead child in the arms of the other woman and took the living child back to her bed. 

 

                             "Hi, Harper, So nice to see you back."

 

When it was nearing morning the mother of the living child realized that the child next to her was dead.  Now it was she who began to weep. It was not until it was light that she realized it was not her child who had died.  The king listened as the two woman began to argue with one another as to who was the mother of the living child. 

Finally he said to his servants, ‘Bring me a sword so that I might divide the child.  The real mother raised her voice to protect her son’s life, ‘Give her the child, certainly do not kill him.’ The other said, ‘divide him.’ 

               The Candle Experts of the Week, Leo and Cole.

 

Of course the king now knew the real mother.  Justice was served; however, it was done at the expense of mercy!  After realizing in the morning that the dead child was not her child, she should have run to the other woman to embrace her lovingly, to kiss her tenderly, to cry with her, to listen to her, to comfort her, to take care for her, and to forgive her.

Think about the story about the prodigal son. After throwing away his inheritance in riotous living, one day ‘he hit bottom,’ he longed to eat the pods that the pigs were eating; but no one gave him anything. 

 

                                              The Team.

 

But unlike the woman whose son was dead, he took the initiative to seek help from what also seemed a hopeless situation. ‘I will go home and tell my father that I have sinned against God and against him.’ 

The prodigal son sought forgiveness, and his father welcomed him with mercy and a celebration with the fatted calf, begging the older son to join them. They had to rejoice and celebrate, and forgive, because his younger brother had been dead but was alive again.  Mercy and forgiveness flow forth from the Law of Love of the kingdom of God.   

 

 

                  The Best in Music, Shonda, Bethany, Ray.

 

Think about the example we received from Jesus when the woman caught in adultery was left standing before him.  The scribes and Pharisees had left one after the other after Jesus had encouraged them to come to their senses, ‘The one of you who is without sin cast the first stone. 

The word of our King of Kings is mercy.  Is there no one left to condemn you?  ‘Neither do I condemn you.’  After forgiving her, he sent her along the way to make her journey with him; for the journey of every disciple is a journey to Jerusalem.  Next week begins our liturgical journey to Jerusalem.  The intention of the Church is that we also make it a spiritual journey, for it is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.

 

                                 Elevation of us all.

Readings:

Daniel 12, 1-3,  The wise shall shine brightly.  

 Psalm 16,    You are my inheritance, O Lord.

Hebrews  10, 11-14, 18, Every priest stands daily at his ministry.

Mark 13, 24-32, This generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.

 

 

 

Leo and Brandon say, "Hi, Folks, Welcome in."  Along with Mary, too.  

 

Thanksgiving History: Everyone knows about the first Thanksgiving in 1602 with the Pilgrims and the Indians eating together, the Mayflower, and Plymouth Rock.   Here are 5 facts that people do not hear about usually.

1.  When did Thanksgiving begin?  Our ancestors have celebrated end of harvest feasts of gratitude for centuries.  Lincoln first focused on a national feast; FDR established the national holiday in 1941.

2.  The pilgrims did not know they were pilgrims.  They called themselves saints, and non-saints were called strangers.  The word pilgrim came along in the 18 hundreds, 2 centuries later.  They were not even Puritans, but separatists.  They split off from the Church of England, old Henry VIII's church, and the Puritans did not split off. 

 

 

                                      "Hi, Paul & Carrie."

 

3.   The Separatists did not come to establish religious freedom.  They came for religious freedom for their religion and only their religion.  Like the Catholic Church, the Separatists demanded everyone belong to their program.  Failure to conform could result in execution, ala inquisition.

4.  The Mayflower returned to England, was torn apart, and its beams were used to build a barn in Buckinghamshire (just north of London & east of Oxford).

 

 

          "Welcome back, Miss Genevieve, Good to see you."

 

5.  How did the Indians & Separatists communicate?   The Indians were Algonquians & one of them, Squanto had actually lived in Briton some years.  He returned to his tribe and taught his friend, Samoset English.  It was Samoset who communicated with the Separatists, & the Indians taught them to raise corn, to fish, and to hunt.  In the first winter half of the 100 Separatists died before the Indians taught them how to survive.

 

 

               "Oh, Folks, Watch out.  The girl walks!"

 

Thanksgiving

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, my most favorite celebration, I would like to talk about blessings.  Excuse me for the personal focus.  It is my annual assessment.  Rosemary & I do this together more toward the end of the year, but initially I put together my own list.

I have already told you that in life I am grateful for three big blessings, my Jesuit experience, my African experience, and my marriage. 

As an aside, this Tuesday we celebrate the 26^th anniversary of the 6 Jesuits killed in the patio of their residence of their university, UCA, University of Central America, El Salvador. 

 

 

                     Zoe, our candle lighter of the week.

 

I was just back in the States from East Africa and was quite moved by these men.  I was ready to go there myself.

This year I can perceive again three big blessings, marriage, health, and my role as priest/psychotherapist.  Let me explain each of these a little.

The landscape of my marriage this year included, first of all, our Viking cruise on the Rhine River.  Just watching and listening to the river was special, but that was only the beginning.  Delightful people, quaint places, homey environment, and more.

 

 

"Hi, Georgie, Suit up time.  Just the two of us this morning."

 

Our Mondays, dancing also has been a blessing.  We even took a class Friday night in what is called West Coast Swing.  I was getting to a point that I wanted to learn a few new steps or routines, like when we used to dance a lot of years ago.  West Coast Swing we knew some from the old days, but we had forgotten a lot.  Friday was a great help.

Because of our marriage I also have the privilege of spending Thanksgiving most years with Rosemary’s sister & brother in law in Hilton Head.  I can rest and unload the pressure more there than almost anywhere else in the world.

 

 

                     Cupcake of the year to John on his birthday.

 

A final blessing connected with our marriage is just our time together.  We have breakfast together most mornings, lunch 3-5 times a week, and I just enjoy being together.  Maybe we are reading on the couch together in the evening before I check out at 9:00, to comments like, “Party Pooper.”

The second big blessing is health and, in particular, my super hips.  I have already called my hip specialist, like I do every Thanksgiving, to let him know how grateful I am and to list what I have done.

 

 

                   Cupcake of The Week to Frank on his birthday.

 

Like riding 500 miles across the beautiful, rolling hills of Iowa for a whole week.

Like riding the HHH, Hotter N’ Hell Hundred the last Saturday of August out of Wichita Falls.  Hundred like in miles and temp.

Like spending 9 nine days in Yosemite with 8 good friends, when on the 2009  hike I thought I would never be able to hike there again.

 

 

      Cupcake of The Week to John & Connie on their 29th.

 

 

Finally, I would like to mention the privilege and honor I feel in being a priest and psychotherapist.  I love doing the marriages, the memorials, and the visits, all of which Rosemary & I do together. 

And this community.  What a joy to come here each Sunday to see all of you and to watch the kids grow healthy and peaceful.

What are your 2 or 3 biggest blessings of the year that you are grateful for?  Happy Thanksgiving.

 

     

 

         Cupcake of The Week to Mary Ellen on her birthday.
           

Readings:

1 Kings 17, 10-16,  Please bring me a small cup of water to drink.

Psalm 146,    Praise the Lord, my soul.

Hebrews  9, 24-28, Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands.

Mark 12, 38-44,  The poor widow with the 2 small coins, The Widow's Mite.

 

            Genevieve & Mary say, "Good Morning, Everybody,                     Welcome in."                     

       

Kings:

     Author & date of composition: the work is a compilation of numerous sources put together near the end of the Babylonian Captivity, ca. 555.

    Subject Matter: 1 Kings is part of a 4 book work that includes 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings.  The 3 kings are Saul, David, and his son, Solomon.

 The work begins with Samuel, the last great judge, continues through the lives of the 3 kings, and finally shows how Solomon’s sons’ squabbles led to the division of the Jewish nation into two states, north & south, Israel & Judah.  Both states were defeated and the people of both were taken into captivity as slaves. 

The people of Israel never returned from Syria.  The people of Judah taken into the Babylonian Captivity maintained their tribal identify and came back to Jerusalem, which had been wrecked.   The Babylonian Captivity ended on a high note when Cyrus of Persia defeats Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon, and allows the Jews to return to Jerusalem.

 

                    Cole, a Master Candle Lighter, at work.   

 

    The Theme: you be good, good things happen to you; you be bad, bad things happen to you.

    Our selection: 2 great prophets lived when the kingdom divided, Elijah & Elisha.  They criticized the bad ways of the sons of King Solomon.  In this selection, Elijah tells the king he is going to send a drought to the king's land.  Then Elijah goes away & meets a poor, starving widow with a son.  Watch what happens.  This is setting us up for the Widow's Mite story in the gospel.

 

            

               Another team of Master Helpers, Kevin & Georgina 

 

Today’s Widow’s Mite

This morning I would like to talk about the two ladies in our readings, the lady with her son getting ready to eat their last meal before dying and the famous Widow’s Mite.  Let's make it contemporary.

A story to exemplify. 

Ever hear about Nathan Bradley?

Narthan Bradley is a policeman.  In fact, he is a GA State Trooper.  He is young, 25 years old, and has been working as a trooper for a year and a half. 

 

           Is that an angel that I see?  Why, Yes, it is Victoria.

 

This past Halloween Saturday afternoon Nathan was on duty when he was called to cover a traffic accident.  He discovers when he arrives that a young couple have been killed.  Somehow he checks out where they live, which was not far away.  He decides to go to their house to report the deaths to whomever lives there.

He goes to the house and rings the bell.  The inside door is opened cautiously and Nathan discovers 4 children aged 13 to 6, all dressed in their Halloween costumes.  The kids tell him their parents have gone to buy some face paint at the corner.

 

             Is that another angel that I see?  Yep, it is Zoe

 

On the spot Nathan makes 2 decisions.  He cannot tell them about their parents’ deaths.  In fact, he decides he has got to make this Halloween special for them . 

So he bundles them into his squad car and takes them first to McDonald’s, hamburgers, milk shakes, the whole deal.  Then he takes them on a tour of the state trooper complex.  They play trick or treat.  Finally they have a sleep-over at the station. 

 

 

    Remember that nice little kid we talked about last Sunday…..

 

During this time a call has been made to a grandmother in Jacksonville.  She is driving up to take care of the kids. 

With the kids bedded down, Nathan is not finished.  To help pay for expenses, like the funerals, Nathan goes on line and sets up a fund on Go Fund Me, hoping to collect $7,000.   As of yesterday, Saturday, one week from Halloween and the accident, the fund had reached $400,000. 

Are there not sensitive and generous people everywhere around us? 

 

                Here he is, like a few years ago, Noah before.

 

3 quick observations on The Widow’s Mite.

Three observations.

First, this is a marvelous call to help and to contribute, not just money, but so much else, my time, my positive strokes of others, my efforts to help kids recover from deaths, like Nathan Bradley. 

 

                 
                  Cupcake of The Week to Mike & Dee.

 

Secondly, watch out.  A trap here.  See Mark’s use of infinite demand?  Am I supposed to likewise contribute all I have, my whole livelihood?  Not quite, which leads to my next point.

Thirdly, want to know why I did not want to take up a formal collection at our liturgies?  Because the churches I was part of as a young boy always pushed money.  These little stories guilted me.   I bet a lot of parishioners are hearing this morning how they should be donating to their parish.  Tithing is the norm, 10%.  It is a really literal approach to the story.

How are you helping others?

Source: I found this story on line, Outlook Express, Friday, 11/6/15.

   
       

Cupcake of The Week to Rosemary on her birthday, the 14th

Readings:

Revelation 7, 2-4, 9-14,  I, John, saw another angel.

Psalm 24,    Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.  

1 John  3, 1-3, See what love the Father has bestowed on us.   Instead of this reading, we will have a special poem for All Saints.

Matthew 5, 1-12,  Blessed are the poor in spirit. 

 

'Welcome in, Everybody,' say Victoria, Michelle, and Cathy.

 

Intro: 3 feasts—

                    All Saints: (or All Hallowes) those who have achieved the beatific vision according to the Catholic Church.  Plus, saints are canonized  based on miracles.

                    All Souls: those who have not achieved the beatific vision and are considered paying for their sins in purgatory.  Limbo has been abandoned by the Catholic Church and purgatory is in question.

                    Hallowe’en: the vigil of All Hallowes, a Celtic-Irish harvest, end of summer celebration. 

 

               A Happy Birthday Cupcake of The Week to Karen.

 

The Western Catholic Church:

 4 significant dates, 300, 600, 700, & 800

Year 300: during this century the early Christians, reeling from persecution, celebrated feast of All Martyrs.  This is really the foundation of the feast.

Year 600: a Pope Boniface dedicated the Pantheon in Rome to Mary & All Martyrs.  May 13 was the celebration because it was also an ancient pagan day of celebration.

Year 700:  a Pope Gregory set up in St. Peter’s Basilica a side chapel dedicated to All Saints.

Year 800: Dec. 25, Charlemagne is crowned Emperor by the Pope on the red stone in St. Peter’s.  Charlemagne, an advocate of All Saints, established it on Nov. 1, coupling it with a Harvest Feast.

Sources: Practicing Catholic by James Carroll, Catholic Encyclopedia on line, Wikipedia.

 

                              Happy Birthday to you, Rob.     

 

 The Second Reading:

SMILE BECAUSE THEY LIVED 

You can shed tears because your love is gone

Or you can smile because your love  lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that your love will come back,

Or you can open your eyes and see all that your love has left.

Your heart can be empty, because you can’t see your love

Or you can be full of the love that you have shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow

And live in yesterday,

Or you can be happy for tomorrow

Because of yesterday.

You can remember only that your love has gone

Or you can cherish the memory and let it live on.

You can weep, and close your mind,

Be empty and turn back,

Or you can do what your love would want –

Open your eyes, smile, love and go on.

 

For lighting the candles, Cole, A Cupcake of The Week.  Enjoy.

 

All of You, Saints

This morning I would like to talk about All Saints, and, in particular, some of our saints.  I have a group, an individual, and another group.  I would like to talk about all three.  These are the old geezer priest's observations.

First of all, the group.  This is the group Rosemary and I see every Monday evening at the Farmers Branch Senior Center.  Dance night.

 

            Our pet gorilla, dressed in holiday attire, also says,                             "Welcome, Folks."

 

Last Monday Rosemary & I discovered when we arrived that Halloween was being celebrated.  And talk about celebrating.  You would have been knocked out at the costumes some of these people put together.  I had not a clue who some of them were. 

One lady struck me.  Rosemary & I were dancing when I notice her coming in at the other end of the ballroom.  She was all dressed up and was pushing what I thought was a baby pram.  So maybe she has a doll or even a puppy in there.  But no, as we got closer I discovered that it was, in fact, a walker for her. 

 

                                                 Our Saints.

 

This really touched me.  She cannot dance, but she can dress up and join the party.  I last saw her talking to all sorts of people.

There are two other people who really touch me on dance night.  One lady, Janice, is blind, and has been blind for a dozen years, but can she dance!  I have danced with her a couple of times.  I always come in and tell her I want a Janice hug.  She knows me by my voice.

 

                                                     Our Saints.

 

The other person is a guy 96 years old.  He cannot dance, but he tries.  He flew heavy bombers during the Second W.W.  A line dance is scheduled every Monday evening at about the same time, 7:30, and I can see him lined up, getting behind the beat and even getting turned around.  But he always gets out there.

These folks, living life to the fullest, are saints for me.

 

                                                                     Our Saints.

 

Secondly, a good friend of mine, Jim Miller, whom many of you would recognize because he always joined us for Christmas Eve and Easter.   He loved the community.  Just could not get up for 9:30.

His wife, Jan, sent me a note Thursday night saying Jim wanted to see me and that he was not doing well.  We have a custom of sharing lunch every other month or so.  Because of that, I knew he was getting treatment for cancer.  He seemed pretty confident.

 

John, who is that masked person?  Are you not scared?

 

I did not get his wife’s message until late Thursday evening and waited to call her Friday after 8:00, thinking she would be up & active by then.  When I got her, she was in tears and said that Jim had just died.  He even told her he was disappointed I had not been contacted sooner so I could have visited him.

Jim, who was a proud graduate of the Naval Academy and a questioner, was a saint for me.   

                 Why, that's Leo.  Just in time to share your birthday                             cupcake, yes!  Happy Birthday.

 

Thirdly, I would say this group of people.  You people are saints to me.  After all, you put up with me every week, and even Rosemary.  The old geezer priest knows this stuff. 

So, how does it feel to be told you are a saint?

And who is your favorite saint?

 

                      The Best, Shonda, Bethany, & Ray.

Readings:

Jeremiah 31, 7-9,   Shout for joy, the Lord has delivered his people.

Psalm 126,    The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

Hebrews  5, 1-6, Every high priest is taken from among people.

Mark 10, 46-52,  Bartimaeus, a blind man, sat by the road begging.   

 

           Grace says, "Welcome in, Everybody, Good to see you."

 

Jeremiah observations:

Who:  one of the Big 3 Prophets, 52 chapters, the “broken hearted prophet,” because he hated being so unpopular and having to condemn so much. 

Baruch, Jeremiah’s scribe seems to be who put down the prophet’s message.   Jeremiah probably died in Egypt.

When: put together before & during the B.C., Babylonian Captivity, say 555 before Christ  (reminder, Babylon is near present day Bagdad, Iraq).

Remember, too, that time before Christ is counting downward or backwards.

 

                And, of course, Genevieve says, "Hi, Everybody."

 

Interesting Side Note: (another reminder) can you guess when the Genesis story of creation in 7 days was composed?  Biblical research reveals that the creation story was put together during the Captivity, this same time, i.e. ca. 555.

Why?  The priests & prophets (e.g., Ezekiel) of the Jews in captivity determined that the people would not be assimilated into the local gene pool as their cousins in the northern kingdom had done when made to live with the Assyrians.  They decided they would establish customs & religious practices that would make the Jews so different they would not intermarry.  Three special laws were established: 1.  male circumcision; 2. dietary laws and laws about not touching menstruating women; and 3. the Sabbath.

 

            There he is, our most proficient camera man, usually just                  inside the entrance, Rick.

 

The priests put together the 7 day creation story to suggest that Yahweh approved of their Sabbath law.  They had Yahweh rest on the 7th day to bolster their demand that all Jews take a day off every 7 days.  Before the Babylonian Captivity there was no legislated Sabbath and no myth of Yahweh creating the world in 7 days with the 7th being a day of rest.  So, now you know when the story was created & by whom, the priests, and why, to keep the Jews united vs the Babylonians.  It worked, even down to today.

Subject of the work: the usual prophet message—condemn, pay, peace.

Today's subject: Beautiful message of peace and consolation.  It is coming.

Sources: Bishop John Shelby Spong, The sins of Scripture; Wikipedia

 

 

     We caught you, Shonda, hugging our pet gorilla.  He loves it.
 

What, Shout for Joy ?

The consoling readings today are summed up in that first line from Jeremiah, ‘Shout for Joy.’  Unless you are blind as Brartamaeus or as I am so often, you can get behind this shouting pretty easily. 

Let me propose 4 reasons why I shout for joy today and see if you can spot some of your own. 

First, the rain.  We just endured 3 months or more of drought.  The ground was dust.  I was sitting on our back porch Thursday night when it started.  At first I thought we were really going to get missed, despite all the weather reports to the contrary.

 

          The Best, Shonda (doing Air Force today), Bethany, & Ray.

 

However, we got 3 ½ inches that night.  Then 3 more on Friday and 3 again on Friday night, total 9 ½.  

The only negative for Rosemary & me was that an old roof leak that comes into our kitchen showed up again, even with the work we put into fixing it in the May rains.  Nevertheless, I shout for joy over the rain.

Secondly, Romeos on Friday.  Actually, a week ago I had a most interesting lunch.  None of the bums showed up.  I was alone.  ‘Out of town,’ they all said.  However this past Friday, wow, Mike and Bill and Ray all showed up.  Don’t tell them, but I was shouting for joy.

 

         The Team says, "We miss you, Georgie (at a swim meet).

 

Thirdly, I see every Sunday a bunch of no fear kids.  I love it when Leo or Emma or Harper walk around up here.  Let these kids know they have a cupcake waiting up here for them, and they come running, or dancing, as in the case of Leo. 

Yes, I’ve been told that when I put on the white alb, the kids think I am God.  My hope is that because I will not get mad at them and will welcome them, they will know that God does not get mad at them and welcomes them.  This was not the message that I and many of you got when we were little kids going to church. 

I shout for joy that these kids are here with us.

 

                                 "Hi, Tori, Keeping busy?"

 

Finally, picking up on the message in Hebrews about the priest, I shout for joy that I have lived the majority of my life as a priest.  I have always felt called to this vocation and I love it.   For me it has not been prestige but opportunity, like to do what we do here with the kids. 

I shout doubly because just when I might have had to put the opportunity on the shelf, you people invited me to carry on, what we have done together now for 11 years this Thanksgiving.

 

                                 Ace candle lighter, Cole.

 

There is so much I love, like doing weddings.  For example, the big, fun Lebanese wedding last Saturday.  It is a privilege to visit people who are sick and to give some peace to people getting ready to move to the other side, like Joan & Rita, Chuck & Curtis, and Fred. 

For this I shout for joy.

 

                                Fall has arrived in Dallas.

 

And You?  If you are not shouting for joy, are you deaf, or blind like Bartamaeus or me? 

For what do you shout for joy?