Homilies

Readings: Isaiah 43, 18-25; Psalm 41; 2 Corinthians 1, 18-22; Mark 2, 1-12

Isaiah: Some reminders–

The Book of Isaiah is one of the Big 3, along with Jeremiah & Ezekiel, because they have a lot of chapters and therefore say a lot..  Isaiah has 66 chapters.

Author & Time: The book has at least 3 contributors.  Chapter 43, today's selection is from Isaiah 2, who seems to be writing  during the Babylonian Captivity of the Jews who lived in and  around Jerusalem.  The time was ca. 575 BCE.  Isaiah 1 wrote before the Captivity.  Isaiah 3's material might come from after the Jews returned to Jerusalem, the time after the Assyrians under Cyrus conquered the Babylonians.  Cyrus let the Hebrews return to Jerusalem.

Our Selection, Chapter 43: the writer has Yahweh speaking to his defeated and depressed people.  This is the Book of Comfort, and informs the Jews that times will get better, which they do, at least for these Jews' children & grandchildren. 

How Make Lent a Winner

There is a story floating around about this guy in Washington, D.C.  One cold morning in January he took his violin down into a subway station.  He set up his spot, pulled out his violin, and began to play for the throngs of commuters rushing to and fro.  He played for about an hour.

During the hour a few people paused and listened for a few moments, then hurried off to their train.  Another lady dropped in a dollar while she rushed by.   Others paused quickly and some tossed in a bill.  The people who most focused their attention on him & his music were kids.  They would stop dead in their tracks mesmerized.  Their parents would have to drag them on to their destination while the kids looked back over their shoulders.

After the hour the man had accumulated about $30.  Nobody cheered, nobody applauded at the end of his performance.  Nobody even noticed.  Not that the guy needed the money or the applause.  He was Joshual Bell, one of the best violin players in the world.  Two days before this, in fact, his concert in Boston had sold out with tickets averaging $100.  The violin he plays costs over 3 million.

The Washington Post had set up this event where Joshua Bell would perform in the subway station.  The goal was to see how people would respond to beauty in an ordinary place at a busy time.  Perhaps 1,000 people passed by Joshua Bell in that one hour during which he played 6 pieces of classical music.  No one actually stayed for the whole of even one piece.  Only a handful paused for no more than a couple of minutes.  Only the kids wanted to stay and listen. 

The wonder is, is this typical of us.  If I do not have enough time to pause 5 minutes and appreciate one of the best musicians in the world play some of the best music in the world, what other beauties am I missing?  And missing every day.

I tell this story because we are beginning Lent Wednesday.  I confess this is not one of my favorite times of the year, mostly because of the history I have with it being focused on sin and penance.  Give up this, give up that.  If you would like to take this as an occasion to become a better, more fully alive human, I would like to suggest two positives.

First, sensitivity.  Sensitivity to the beauty around me, like that music, to the beauty of people as a community and individually, and to the beauty of myself, my health, my gifts, my education.  It was not Lent, but last Wednesday I went to visit the new Trinity River Audubon Center in south Dallas.   Just the building I found  to be architectural poetry.  Maybe once a week something of this type is planned during the next five weeks.

The second positive has to do with the story in Mark about the four guys who brought their paralyzed friend to Jesus for healing.   I find this story so right on.  I love it.  The man could not get there on his own, but his friends could get him there.  Oops, when they get to the house where Jesus is, they find they cannot get through the crowd.  No problem.  They climb the roof, break a hole, and lower him down.

We had houses like this in Tanzania.  The roof is made out of tree poles laid across the house with about  1 to 2 feet of space between each one.  Other branches are placed on top.  Then a mud like clay is put on the branches.  Over the mud usually is a smoother clay.  We had a Jesuit house near the base of Kilimanjaro whose flat roof was cement and we would sit up there to watch the sunset against the mountain, every night 6:00 to 6:30.  Being on the equator sunset & sunrise takes place the same time every day and lasts 30 minutes.

So these guys cut a hole through the roof and lowered down their friend.  This is friendship and community at its best, me helping you when you need it and you helping me when I need it.  Hillary says it takes a village.  I would suggest it takes a community.

So the second positive to make myself a richer person in this Lent: service, help my neighbor with his roof.  Somebody needed to help Peter with the roof of his house.  I hope the four guys helped him.  Bill Hammond, Bob McGrath, & I are all going to work on housing in Galveston next week.  One small step, one small contribution.

So, if you want to make yourself a richer person in the next 5-6 weeks, if you don't want to pass by the Joshua Bells on your commute, and you like to help out, how about sensitivity and service?

AUDIO:  http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2009-02-22.mp3

Picture 1:  Mass with T.J. Helping

Picture 2:  Birthdays, Maggie & Chloe, Ron, T.J. Dana (17), Rosemary, & Diane

Picture 3:  Clare (mom) & Chloe dancing & Ron Kovatis

Picture 4:  Communion helpers, Patricia, Geri, Don, Ron, & Beth

Readings: Leviticus 13, 1-2, 44-46; Psalm 32; 1 Corinthians 10, 31-11, 1; Mark 1, 40-45 

Leviticus: The book of the Levite tribe, the priestly tribe, one of the 12 tribes of Israel (from the 12 sons of Jacob–The Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob).

Author: a collection of many sources, but not Moses (impossible).

Date: some laws go back 1400 BCE., others from ca. 450 BCE.  

Note: an interesting example of how academics better understand these texts.  They noted that both Leviticus 11 & Deuteronomy 14 have similar lists of clean and unclean animals for eating.  Deuteronomy 14, however, has 11 additional critters which are not mentioned in Leviticus 11.  These 11 dwell only in the Arabian desert, not in Egypt or the land of Canaan (Holy Land).   From this it can be deduced that the person (s) writing the laws in Leviticus had not wandered the desert and was writing before the Exodus.  The writer (s) of Deuteronomy, however, had wandered the desert.  Source: The Book of Leviticus; Believe: Religious Information Source, Canon Tristam

Subject matter: laws for better living with Yahweh.  For instance in chapter 11, one may not eat pigs, camels, or rabbits, no animal with a divided hoof.  All winged insects are unclean, except those that hop.  In chapter 12, women are ritually unclean after giving birth, 7 days for boys, 14 days for girls.  Chapter 19, "love one another as one's self."  This morning's selection deals with how people with leprosy are to be treated.  Leprosy, of course, was considered a punishment for sin & disobedience.

Exclusion vs Inclusion

When I first lived in Kenya & Tanzania in the late 70's I spent time working on my Swahili in a Jesuit parish that was in a town called Tabora, Tanzania.  The town is in the middle of Tanzania with no paved roads leading to it.  Only a few roads in the town itself are paved.  The parish had about 3 Jesuit priests in those days, if I remember correctly, a French Canadian, an Irish, and an Indian.    Today the Jesuits have departed and handed it over to the diocese because of not enough Jesuit priests.

In those days the parish had 21 outstations, some of which even had other outstations further out.  These were located in small villages where little mud walled churches had been put up.  Occasionally I found a rather large cement block church left over from times when priests were more abundant.   Each Sunday we would all head out on motorcycles to the outstations. 

On the edge of Tabora there was a special community.  A community of men & women who had leprosy.  The exclusion of these lepers was similar to what we read in Leviticus, though they received better care.  Our parish used to help them a lot and I went to say Mass for them and spent time talking with them often individually, sometimes in a group.  Despite the effectiveness of modern medicine, many had significant scarring and were without hands or feet.  I remember being touched mostly by the quality of their spirits and sense of acceptance. 

I am reminded of this leper community when I read about the lepers in today's readings.  Leviticus lays down the directives, exclusion.  Mark has Jesus dealing with a leper, including him in the community.   I've already discussed Leviticus.  Let me mention 3 points relevant to Mark & his account.

First, Mark's aim.  Mark wants to convince Christians of Jewish & mostly Gentile background that Jesus is the Messiah.  This community probably lived in Galilee, that is, around the Sea of Galilee or in Syria.  How do today's students of the bible know this?  Because they analyzed the text and noted that Mark used Greek rather than Aramaic.  Moreover, Mark describes some Jewish customs.  Both points indicated that he talks to a community made up more of Gentile Christians than Jewish Christians.  They could not speak Aramaic and they did not know Jewish customs.  Also, it is thought that the community was dwellingng around Galilee because Mark describes the geography of those places rather than around Jerusalem. 

Secondly, Mark's means, how does he accomplish his end?  He uses two literary techniques, the somewhat famous Messianic Secret technique and miracle stories. 

When Mark has Jesus tell the leper, "See that you tell no one anything," Mark is using the Messianic Secret technique.  People were saying that they lived at the time of Jesus, but never saw or heard about any of these miracle events.  Mark is saying that they did not hear about them because Jesus tried to hide his powers.  The secret is only supposed to be revealed at the end, at the death & resurrection.  Nevertheless, as part of his technique Mark allows it to leak out by writing that the man "began to publicize the whole matter."

Thirdly, how Mark carefully crafts his writing.  It is noted that in this chapter 1, Mark has 8 points he is using to convince people.  For example, he built community by calling the apostles, he showed power by running off an unclean spirit, he gives life to Peter's mother, and so on.  The miracle he describes today is number 8 and aims at inclusion  of rejects in the community.

Instead of excluding the leper like Leviticus instructs, Jesus welcomes him.  In fact, he does something that broke the law and the people would be astounded.  He touched the leper.  This was after Mark has the leper break the law by approaching Jesus.  People around are saying, "Wow!", when they read this. 

This might be today's lesson for us.  Inclusion.  Like it was for me in Tabora, Tanzania, it may be easier for us to think of including a leper, because we know the virus is not that contagious and can be effectively treated.  But HIV?  What about other races, colors, religions, students from other schools?

Whom do I have trouble including in my community?

References:

• Austin Cline, Audience of Mark's Gospel (on line), for the 11 extra critters

• Carmelite website, Homilies, for the 8 points Mark makes in chapter 1

AUDIO:  http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2009-02-15.mp3

Picture 1:  Mass with Sabrina helping

Picture 2:  Hunter & Dillon, Kim, Ken, & Cindy

Picture 3: at the Coffiee Island, Maureen, Greg, & Angelo

Picture 4:  Hunter

Readings: Job 7, 1-7; Psalm 147; 1 Corinthians 9, 16-23; Mark 1, 29-39

Job:

Author: Unknown.  No book in the OT or NT has less known about it.  Called the most profound book of the OT.  It deals with the problem of evil,  personal justification, and why bad things happen to good people.   Job himself could be historical, a literary creation, or a combination of the first two.

Date: It is guessed to be before the time of Moses and Egypt, i.e., earlier than 1300 BCE.

Structure: 3 poetic dialogs preceded by a prose introduction and ending with a prose conclusion.

Why do Bad Things Happen to Good People

The Book of Job is considered so profound because it gives one person's idea about why bad things happen to good people.  This also is told in the form of a fable and challenges us to figure out what we believe.  Let me tell the fable.

Once upon a time there was a good man named Job who lived in the land of Uz.  He had 7 sons and 3 daughters, a sign that he was especially blessed. 

One day Yahweh was walking around heaven talking with his buddies when he ran into the devil.  "What have you been doing?" he asked.  "I have been walking around here and there," the devil responded. 

"Have you noticed how good my man Job is?"  "Yes,' says the devil, "but I bet he will curse you to your face if you stop protecting him and take away all his goodies."  "It's a bet," says Yahweh, "Just don't hurt him."

So a few days later while all of Job's 7 sons and 3 daughters where having a feast with their families, a storm blew up killed them all.  A messenger runs to tell Job of the horrible news. 

Shorty after that, another messenger runs in and says lightening has just killed all his sheep and the shepherds.   Other messengers then run in saying Job's livestock have been rustled by robbers who killed all the farm hands.

Job is devastated, of course, but responds with the famous statement: "I was born with nothing, and I will die with nothing.  The Lord gave, and now He has taken away.  May his name be praised." 

So Yahweh wins his bet.  But when Yahweh and the devil meet up to settle their bet, the devil pushes him saying that he bets Job will curse Yahweh if the devil is allowed to hurt his body.  No death, just hurt.  "Bet," says Yahweh.

The next day Job comes down with sores all over his body, like leprosy, and he has to go outside of town where the lepers go.  He sits in the town dump.  His wife now comes and his friends.  They all grieve. They also encourage Job to see what he has done bad, to curse Yahweh, and to confess.  Job proclaims his innocence.  But he is depressed and discouraged. 

Finally, while not cursing Yahweh, he cries out his anguish saying (chapter 3): 

"Oh, God, put a curse on the day I was born; put a curse on the night when I was conceived!  Turn that day into darkness, God." (verses  2-4) 

"I wish I had died in my mother's womb or died the moment I was born.  Why did my mother hold me on her knees?" (verses 11-12) 

"Why let men go on living in misery?  Why give light to men in grief?" (verse 20) 

"Everything I fear and dread comes true.  I have no peace, no rest, and my troubles never end." (verses 25-26)

After some time in this situation, Yahweh comes along and speaks with him:

"Who are you to question my wisdom with your ignorant, empty words?  Stand up now like a man and answer the questions I ask you.  Were you there when I made the world?" (verses 2-3)

"Job, have you ever in all you life commanded a day to dawn?" (verse 12)

"Have you been to the springs in the depths of the sea?  Have you walked on the floor of the ocean? "(verse 16)

"Have you been to the place where the sun comes up or the place where the east wind blows?" (verse 24)

After hearing all the numerous ways that Yahweh reminds him of how insignificant he is, Job apologizes to Yahweh and promises to be a good man from now on.  Yahweh restores his wealth and gives him 7 more sons and 3 more beautiful daughters.  He lives another 140 years as a prosperous and happy man.

So does this answer the question why bad things happen to good people?  What is the lesson for me?  Contemporary scripture scholars find evidence that the happy ending of Job's story was a late addition, that the story ended simply with Job apologizing.  Not always is the Job story a happy ending.

For example, I do not know if you heard or read this week the story of Timothy Cole.  He was a freshman at Tech in '85.  He was studying in his room in the apartment of his brother one evening.  There were other kids in the house.  Timothy was accused of attacking a coed that same night and he was convicted.  The girl mistakenly identified him from a picture.  He was given a 25 year sentence. 

This past Thursday Timothy was finally acquitted of the attack by a DNA match and the confession of another prisoner who did the attack.  The trouble was, Timothy died in 1999 in his cell of an asthma attack.  Found dead in his cell.

Ironically the girl attacked repeatedly noted that the attacker smoked non stop.  Timothy, because of his asthma, never smoked.  Moreover, when the guy who really did it tried to tell the local authorities in Lubbock, they did not even respond.  The guy had to write to the family of Timothy, who died before he could be exonerated.  The guy who attacked the girl said he heard Timothy crying in his cell and saying he never did it.

Timothy is a a Job without a happy ending, a good kid who had a really bad thing happen to him.  This happens every day, folks.

So, why do bad things happen to good people?

AUDIO:  http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2009-02-08.mp3

Picture 1:  Mass with Sierra & Noah

Picture 2:  The result of 69 years

Picture 3:  Paul, Rich & Carol, Bernadette, Mary Ellen, and Maureen

Picture 4:  Grandma Denni, Chloe, & Maggie

Best reference on Job: The Voice: Biblical & Theological Resources, Dennis Bratches (on line)

Readings: Deuteronomy 18, 15-20; Psalm 95; 1 Corinthians 7, 32-35; Mark 1, 21-28 

Deuteronomy:5th book of the Bible, the Torah, coming after Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, & Numbers.  The work is basically 3 lectures given supposedly by Moses to the Jewish people while they were still in the desert and preparing to enter the land of Canaan, where the Canaanite people lived. 

Author: For centuries people considered Moses to be the author, in fact, the author of the first 5 books of the Bible, the part called the Torah.  Today it is commonly held that Deuteronomy is a compilation by a number of authors.

   

Date: 7th Century BCE, with some parts coming from the period of the Babylonian Captivity, ca. 575.

Our selection: comes from the second lecture (chapters 5-26) which presents numerous dictates about how to behave in the new land.  For example, an every 7 years a jubilee year is prescribed when all debts are erased (chap. 15); if one's son is rebellious, take him to the city council, and stone him (chap. 21); and laws concerning slaves (chap. 23).  In our section from chap. 18 Moses is telling the people another prophet like himself will be raised up by Yahweh to lead them.  Guess why this prophet statement is chosen by the lectionary editor today?  Jesus is seen by people following Jesus' time as the prophet mentioned by Moses.

A note on Paul's comments in 1 Corinthians: jokesters like to say that maybe Paul was not happy in his marriage.  This is why he puts marriage in second place behind non-marriage.  It could, also, be because he was influenced by the dualistic philosophy of his time, flesh-spirit.   Spirit was good, flesh less good.  For the spirit to thrive the flesh needed disciplining.

   

Judging the Book by the Cover Again

There was a kid who was working as a stocker at a Home Depot.  One afternoon he heard a new female voice over the store intercom asking for help with packing at the check out.  Sort of reluctantly he stops his break and goes to help.  As he searches for the person asking for help he sees a beautiful woman who stuns him.  He had never seen her before.  He helps her out, then hangs around the time clock to see what her name is when she checks out. 

When she checks out, he watches where her card goes and takes a look at the name.  Brenda.  Then, as he walks to his car he sees her walking up the street toward home he guesses.  The next day he waits around just right and as she departs he asks if she would like a ride.  She accepts, figuring he can't be too bad since he works where she does.

He does the same thing another day and as she is leaving the car he asks if she would like to have dinner the next Saturday night.  She says she can't.  He continues to invite her and she admits that she cannot come because she has two little kids and cannot afford the baby sitter.   He offers to pay for the sitter and asks her to think about it.  Finally, another day she accepts, despite the fact that he is 22 and she is 26.

When he arrives at the door that evening, she says again she cannot go.   The sitter canceled.  He says, "So, let's take the kids."  She says it would be very difficult.  So, he asks to meet the kids and she grudgingly lets him in.  First to come in is a daughter about 8 who he thinks is cute as can be.  Then Brenda goes to the back and returns pushing  a wheel chair with a young boy.  A little child born a paraplegic with Down Syndrome.

"This is why I cannot go out," She explains.  "No problem," he says, "We can still take them with us."  Now it is Brenda's turn to be astounded.  Most men she knew would not come near her just because of having two children.  But one that is a paraplegic with Down Syndrome.  Adios!  But she accepts, they all go to eat, and then to a movie. 

When the kids need anything the guy is ready to help, even helping when the little boy needs to go to the potty.  Brenda continues to be astounded at the guy's helpfulness and consideration.

If you have not heard this story already, the guy's name is Kurt and you can see him on TV this evening playing quarterback for the Cardinals at age 37.  The story has a marvelous ending, because about a year later they married and have had at least two more kids.  Be fun to see Brenda on TV.

I talk about Kurt Warner because before I read this story I have not liked him for a little while.  He plays for a team whose owner I do not like.  But also, the maybe one time I have ever seen him on TV was when he played the last game against Carolina, he never seemed to be excited or animated, never congratulated anybody, or cheered on his team mates.  At least that was what I saw.  Then I get this story from Larry Thompson and think, "There I go, did it again."  Judged a book by the cover.  In fact, judged negatively.

I would like to apply this lesson to the Mark story about the man with the unclean spirit.  Traditionally when people were considered to have an unclean spirit they were considered possessed by a devil.  Do you believe in devils?  In this tradition we have all the melodrama connected with exorcisms.  Want to read about how this can go wako?  Read Heretic's Daughter  by a Dallas author, Kent. It talks about the Salem, MA witch hunts around 1690.

Today, with our much deeper psychological understanding of people's behaviors, their thinking and feeling, we would consider the man with the unclean spirit to most likely have a mental disorder or sickness.  It could even be an addiction.  You only have to visit psych wards in hospitals to run into what could be called people with unclean spirits.  You meet a homeless person on the street and you might be tempted to think that person is demonic. 

What did Jesus do?  I propose he first of all was not scared away by the man.  Secondly, he accepted him peacefully. 

The lesson for us?  Maybe two.

First, regarding the Bible, what is your belief system?  Believe in devils, in evil spirits, in demonic possession, in exorcisms?

Secondly, how many times a week do you judge the book by the cover? 

AUDIO:  sorry, missed connection

Picture 1:  Mass with T.J., Lorynne, & Lacee

Picture 2:  Birthday of John & Geri

Picture 3:  Jim & Dorothy

Picture 4:  Birthday of Gilberto

References:

• The Carmelite web site

• Christ in the Desert web site

• St. Raymond Catholic Parish, Dublin, CA web site

• Bishop John Shelby Spong, various works and articles in Mirabile Dictu, edited by David          Gawlik

Readings: Jonah 3, 1-5 & 10; Psalm 25; 1 Corinthians 7, 29-31; Mark 1, 14-20  

Jonah: This little book of 4 chapters is a gem and tells a delightful short story. 

Background: Jonah has been asked by Yahweh to go to Nineveh in Assyria to tell the people & leaders that they are evil and will be punished shortly by Yahweh.  Trouble is, Nineveh is the enemy, like me going to Houston or Philadelphia.  So he runs away, catches a boat headed for Spain, is blamed by the sailors for causing a big storm on the sea, and is dumped overboard.  The whale swallows him and for three days Jonah is constrained to reflect on what he is doing.  When, after 3 days, the whale dumps him on shore, Jonah is more willing to listen.  We arrive at this point and I will have all of chapter 3 read.

Author: For centuries, while people took this story as factual, Jonah was considered author of his own story.  Once seen as a fable or allegory, the story obviously has some unknown ancient as the author.

Date of composition: no one really knows, but educated guesses put it ca. 800 BCE.

The Call, again

 You hear the story about the young boy returning home one afternoon?  He lived in a rural area and was taking a short cut through a field he knew of.  Suddenly a coyote started following him.  He ran.  The coyote ran faster.  The boy knew the coyote was going to catch him before he got home and was going to eat him.

So he stopped.  He turned to face the coyote, and said, "I know you will catch me and eat me.  But before you do so, please sing me a song in your beautiful voice."  The coyote agreed and began to howl his song to the boy.

At home the boy's beloved dog heard the coyote's howl, knew his master was in danger, raced to the sound, and scared away the coyote.  Moral of the story: in times of danger, use your head. 

Ever hear this story?  It is one of Aesop's fables. 

I tell this story about the boy and the coyote to exemplify what the story of Jonah & the whale is.  A fable.  It has a moral.  What is it?

Before answering, let me highlight something.  Jonah & the whale has humor all through it.  Even after the episode we read today, Jonah's behavior continues to be amusing.  Jonah goes to Nineveh to tell them to repent or the Lord would punish them.  Lo and behold, they repent, and quickly.  Is Jonah delighted and congratulating them?   On the contrary, he throws a snit and in a huff goes outside of the town and sits under a small tree.  He and Yahweh converse.  Yahweh asks Jonah what right has Jonah to be mad at Yahweh for showing mercy to the people of Nineveh.

The moral of the story: listen to God's call in your heart if you want to be happy, despite the amusing ending. 

For contemporary example, here's a story that relates to Tuesday's marvelous event.  I have a friend who went to U.T. in the early 60's.  He came up from Plainview.  This was in the middle of the civil rights activity and he and his buddy decided to join the campus NAACP, an organization I, too, worked with from '65-'68, even living one summer with a hero black lady friend of mine in south Dallas.  Dead now unfortunately, her name was Wanita Kraft.

The goal of the university chapter of the NAACP that year was the integration of the Texas and the University theaters on "The Drag," Guadalupe Street across from the University.  The university chapter was fairly large and they had volunteers who would parade in circles in front of each theater every evening.  My friend and his buddy would get assigned about once a week.  Before they went they changed into old clothes that they would not miss if they got torn up or bloody. 

Torn up and bloody they did.  People would come by not just to yell and curse them.  They would not just throw trash, tomatoes, eggs, and beer bottles.  They would come out of their cars and trucks, come up to them, and flail away.  The policy of the group was non-violence, following the example of Martin Luther King who followed Ghandi among others.  So what do you think they did?  Punch them out?  Knock them down?  They would drop to the ground and cover their heads.  My friend says that was the hardest thing.  To accept getting kicked, punched, spit on, and trashed while not responding.

Eventually the punchers would tire and drive away.  Then a rescue team of some girls would emerge to help them up, clean their wounds, and take to the hospital those hurt more seriously. 

Wonder what happened?  One year of nightly demonstrations and the theaters integrated.  My friend remembers the night they lined up to buy tickets, one white, one black.  Like I did, my friend had a lot of tears watching the inauguration Tuesday morning.

Jonah had the call, the four had the call, my friend had the call.

What is your call?

AUDIO:  http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2009-01-25.mp3

Some of my references:

• Aesop's Fables: The Boy & the Wolf

• The Carmelite web site

• The Dominican web site (Spanish only)

• St. Raymond Catholic Parish, Dublin, CA web site

• Bishop John Shelby Spong, various works and articles in Mirabile Dictu, edited by David          Gawlik

Picture 1:  Mass with Sabrina & Anthony

Picture 2:  Communion distributors–Gerri, Ron, Jan, Patricia, John, Beth & Rob

Picture 3:  Communion–Ron & Marilyn Ackerman, Nina Waldron, Jerry Weiss

Picture 4:  Carl reading Jonah

Introduction: While reflecting on our blessings of the week-

• We are blessed to be alive today, just as those who landed in the Hudson;

• We are blessed to be alive to witness Tuesday the inauguration of a black man where slaves once constructed the buildings.  Our people have grown.

Readings:  1 Samuel 3, 3-19; Psalm 40; 1 Corinthians 6, 13-20; John 1, 35-42   

1 Samuel: This is book one of two books.  The series is 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings; the characters being Samuel, the last of the Judge leaders of Israel-Judah; Saul, the first king; and King David. 

Authors:  Traditionally it was thought that 3 people wrote the book, Samuel, Gad, & Nathan.  Samuel, chapters 1-25; Gad was King David's historian, & Nathan was an editor.  Contemporary biblical experts think this unlikely & say that the works were put together at least 50 years after the time of the events.

Time:  The events take place ca. 1100-1000 BCE.  The compilation & recording of the events takes place ca. 950 BCE. 

Today's Selection: Yahweh is calling Samuel in a dream.  This ties in with the Gospel where three future apostles are called.  Samuel's parents were Elkanah & Hannah, and Hannah is famous because of a touching story about how she came to have Samuel.  She had been barren for years and even Elkanah's other wife ridiculed her.  One day the prophet Eli heard her crying and praying in the temple.  At first he accused her of being drunk.  Then when he talked with her, he promised that she would have a son. 

Hannah had promised Yahweh that she would dedicate to the temple her son, if she got one.  Consequently, our selection finds Samuel residing in the temple with Eli the prophet.  He would be about 12 years old.

Be aware that while these marvelous stories about Samuel are mythological, the writer is attempting to convey to a simple people lessons in trust in Yahweh.

What are You Looking for?

The theme of our readings this morning is obviously call & response.  Over the years you have heard repeatedly my 3 personal calls, the priest-Jesuit call, East Africa, and marriage.  You have reason to be tired of hearing the same stories.  Consequently, I looked around for sub-themes in the readings, and in my various sources a number of sub-themes came up.  The sub-theme that I want to talk about is stated by Jesus to the two future apostles, Matthew and (maybe) John, "What are you looking for?"  This is certainly relevant to what is taking place this week.  But first three other minor observations.

First, the verb stay is used three times.  The two ask Jesus where is he staying or dwelling.  They find where he is staying.  Then they stayed with him.  Significant to the writer?  So many times the writers have a special agenda in their use of a word.

Secondly, the verb see or looked intently at is used 5 times.  John the Baptist watched Jesus walk by, but really what is said is that he looked intently at.  Then Jesus saw the two.  Jesus tells them they will see.  The two saw where Jesus stayed.  Then when Peter came before Jesus, Jesus looked at him, really looked intently at him. 

Third, 4 o'clock in the afternoon.  In the original language it says 10 o'clock.  This is the eastern way of keeping time, the way I learned in East Africa.  There is another whole time calculation than the Greenwich Mean Time.  In fact, I find it more logical.  What is usually the first hour of daylight or the first hour of darkness?   7 o'clock in our time.  In the east the first hour of daylight & the first hour of darkness is 1 o'clock.  Our 7:00 A.M. & 7:00 P.M. is 1 o'clock of the day or 1 o'clock of the night.

Finally, "What are you looking for?"  Who knows, who cares?  Well, we know.  And we can care because what those two are looking for is basically what we are looking for.  So did they find it?

I would propose that we can say, 'yes, I know what they were looking for."  We are blessed because we have people who have gone before us who have mapped out what we people are looking for.  You may have run into this in psychology 101 or elementary psychology in high school, but it is useful to remind ourselves.  The person who for me mapped it out best is the famous psychologist, Abraham Maslow.  He has five stages of human need or what we are looking for.

Stage 1:  Imagine a pyramid and we are starting at the bottom with the most elemental.  What we are looking for at this stage is biological and physiological.  Namely, food & drink, air, shelter,warmth, sleep.  Our ancestors lived on this stage, but most of us today have this stage under control.

Stage 2:  Safety & security.  I may have shelter, food, and drink, but need a secure place to shelter, eat, and drink.  You may think this applies simply to robbers or security from getting bombed like is going on in Gaza right now, but how many little kids do not find this need stage satisfied.

Stage 3: Love & belonging needs.  I am part of.  A family, a group of peers or friends, a community.  I find acceptance, affection, and love.

Stage 4:  Esteem.  I have achieved, attained status, have reputation & recognition.

Stage 5:  Self actualization.  Self acceptance, acceptance of others and my world, inner peace, more fully alive.

I would observe that all of us in this community have stages 1 & 2 under control and probably also the other three stages in varying degrees.  I suggest that self actualization involves me giving back to others esteem, love, and a sense of belonging.  I also suggest that the usual obstacle to my greater self actualization is my addiction, whatever that may be, alcohol, drugs, food, TV, etc.

There is a little 5 question quickie self assessment that you may take.  I will put a link to it on the blog this evening.  Check it out.

What are you looking for?  Where are you?

AUDIO: http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2009-01-18.mp3

SELF ASSESSMENT: Download Quick self assessment

Picture 1:  Choir–Wendy, Shonda & Ray, & Celeste

Picture 2:  Birthday & Anniversary–Charlie, Claire & Ray

Picture 3:  Birthdays–David & Alexandra, dad & daughter

 

Readings:  Isaiah 55, 1-11; Psalm Isaiah 12; 1 John 5, 1-9; Mark 1, 7-11.  

Isaiah II & Isaiah I: 2 readings from the Book of Isaiah today.  Some points–

• Review of time frame.  The 3 writers of Isaiah all write in relation to the Babylonian Captivity, ca. 575.  Isaiah I before; Isaiah II during; and Isaiah III after the Babylonian captivity.   Chapters 1-39; 40-55; and 56-66.

• Our first reading today, chapter 55, is from Isaiah II.  Many of the lyrics for Handel's Messiah come from this writer, who is one of most influential of the prophetic writers.  This is because he is used & quoted frequently by the Gospel writers.

• Our selection from chapter 55 is Isaiah II exemplifying the consolation theme that characterizes the work of Isaiah II & III.  It is Isaiah II's last contribution and he is addressing a people  depressed.  Using Yahweh's words he is saying, 'Thirsty?  Come to me.'

• In place of a psalm this morning we have another selection from this great work, a selection from Isaiah I chapter 12, which picks up the water theme.  The passage was written before the Captivity.

I am Chosen by God and Beloved?

Like last week when we celebrated the feast of the Magi or Wise Men, this week's focus on the baptism of Jesus is intentionally crafted to help the Jewish people believe in the uniqueness of Jesus.  I have 3 background facts about this story and will follow up by highlighting a somewhat hidden treasure.

First.  When Mark has John the Baptist say, "I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals," the Jews knew something about John that the rest of us don't know today.  Only a slave was expected to deal with the sandals, because the slave was at the bottom of the social order.  The people of the time would recognize that John is saying, "I am lower on the social order than a slave."

He would be addressing his followers who thought he was terrific, and wanted him to be the man.

Second.  While the majority of the Bible presents us with myth, occasionally there is a story about an event that is likely historical.  The baptism of Jesus is one of those events.  Biblical professionals apply two criteria.  Know what they are?

    a.  One criterion is multiple mentions.  That is, the event is mentioned in numerous places and by numerous writers.  Jesus' baptism is mentioned explicitly in the 3 synoptic gospels, i.e., Matthew, Mark, & Luke, and is even hinted at in John's gospel. 

    b.  The other criterion is dissimilar mentions.  That is, each time the story is told, different aspects are developed around the main event.  Therefore, it is unlikely that one writer told the story and the other two copied from him, which is the case with lots of stories in Matthew & Luke.  They probably copied, sometimes directly, from Mark. 

Third.  Nazareth.  We think of this village as a nice little place where Joseph ran his carpenter shop.  His customers were the local folk who were his neighbors.  However, Joseph might have been doing some of his work for the Roman army because at that time Nazareth was a garrison town of the Roman empire.  In fact, Nazareth apparently had a reputation as being pretty wide open with a red light flavor. 

That Jesus was born in Bethlehem with Joseph as his father puts him into the prestigious lineage of King David some 1,000 years earlier.  Being from Nazareth would create a different image in the minds of his Jewish listeners.  They would think, what kind of family is this that comes from that kind of town?

The story has to do with the line in Mark where Yahweh says, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."  By the way, this line is mentioned in the other 2 synoptics, but exactly the same.

This past week we watched the BCS bowl game that OU lost in the second half.  This week end we are watching the NFL play offs.  We all want to know who is number one.  We want our teams to be number one, college level, NFL, or NBA.  On a smaller scale we often get caught up into thinking, 'I want to be number 1.'  In my sports, in my studies, or with you.  The advertising all around me tells me that to be that number one I need to buy a bigger house, or a hot car, or an iphone, or this clothing, or ultimately get something to make me better than I am as I am. 

I even heard the story about the nut case guy who in order to get his name into the Guinness Book of Records climbed into a pit of 80 poisonous snakes.  Number one!

One of the blessings for us in going every Christmas to Mexico City is to see that Stack lives in a bubble, a bubble of wealth and material.  At a stop light on La Avenida de Reforma in Mexico City I am not surrounded by Cadillacs, Mercedes, Beamers, and big SUV's like I am at the corner of Preston & Royal near our house.

In the midst of this obsession with trying to be number one Yahweh comes saying the words 'my beloved' and 'pleased with.'   I discount the words because they are applied to Jesus in the passage.  I would propose that we can apply to us those words.  He says to you, whatever your age or state is, 'You are my beloved', and 'I am pleased with' you.  The way you are.

How does this idea strike you?

AUDIO:  http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2009-01-11.mp3

Picture 1:  Sabrina reading her Christmas Poem

Picture 2:  The Choir

Picture 3:  Birthdays, Bobby Ekes & Doug Kite

Picture 4:  Chloe & Maggie

Readings:  Isaiah 60, 1-6; Psalm 72; Ephesians 3, 2-6; Matthew 2, 1-12 

Isaiah 60: 3 observations–

1.  This is Isaiah III who seems to have lived around the time of the Babylonian Captivity, i.e., 575 BCE., not at the time of Isaiah I (chapters 1-39) who lived ca. 800.   (& Is. II, chapters 40-50)

2.  Therefore, our passage from chapter 60 is addressed to Jerusalem which is in total destruction.          

3.  Isaiah is saying that your day is coming, Jerusalem, when you will return to being the most splendid city of all.  See the double meaning?  Jerusalem is a city & also a symbol of the Jewish people.

Psalm 72: 3 observations–

1.  King David is considered the author or at least the editor of the psalms.

2.  When written and sung the Jewish people were asking Yahweh to endow and bless their current king, i.e., Saul or David or later kings.

3.  The image of king over the years becomes a symbol, a symbol of the savior.  The expectation of the Jews was that a mighty King David type was coming.  Post Jesus the attributes of the king in this psalm are applied to Jesus.

Epiphany, The Coming of the Wise Men on January 6:

   3 observations–

1.  The word means an enlightenment, a WOW moment.

2.  Celebrated since ca. 300 & Constantine on January 6, 12 days from the birth, the 12 Days of Christmas.

3.  Considered a second Christmas, to the Gentiles, personified by the Wise Men, who were not Jews, but Gentiles.

The Epiphany, a Cornucopia of Symbols

Where to begin, folks.  There is so much symbolism in this liturgy, in Matthew, for sure, and in the combination of Matthew with Isaiah and Psalm 72.  I'll touch five points & end with a story.         

1.  The Wise Men.  Matthew uses them to  symbolize every man's search for truth & meaning in life.  They were like astrologers, searching the skies for meaning.  The search theme permeates this whole presentation and is Matthew saying, "Go, and do the same search."  You can sense in this story Matthew's esteem for how the Gentiles search and discover the savior, unlike his fellow Jews.

The Wise Men have a double & triple significance because they are Gentiles and they come from the east.  Where does the sun rise?  Where do stars rise?  A new son has been born and like the sun in the east he will bring new light.  Remember Matthew speaks to two audiences, his fellow Israelites, whom he is chastising in this presentation, and the Gentiles. 

2.  The Jews are getting put down for their blindness.  Here in the city of David, Bethlehem, another symbol because this ties Jesus up with the lineage of King David, here in this special city the chosen people do not have a clue about what a monumental event is taking place.  Even in the great city, the city of pilgrimage, Jerusalem, the people are blind.

3.  The star.  It is mentioned as rising.  Where do stars rise?   Another symbol for the rising in the east. 

4.  The O.T. quote.  Even though the chief priests and scribes in Jerusalem knew their scripture, they don't go to Bethlehem.  They quote chapter 5 of the prophet Micah, a contemporary of Isaiah III, who says, "Bethlehem, a ruler is going to come from you."  Micah thought of a ruler who would lift the Jewish people out of bondage, but Matthew turns it around, the ruler coming from Bethlehem being Jesus, not a powerful king, but a servant.  This is one of Matthew's most common tools of convincing his listeners.  He quotes O.T. passages to say that the passage is being fulfilled by this man Jesus, or baby in this case.  He is like a debater or attorney carefully crafting arguments for his case. 

5.  The 3 gifts.  Gold is given because it signifies royalty.  Frankincense, or incense, signifies divinity.  And myrra signifies being human.  Myrra is medicinal.  It comes from a bush like tree that has a yellow, sticky sap on its bark.  The sap was good for skin infections and acne, asthma, colds, and flu, and even herpes.  It is found in Saudi Arabia & Somalia.

The story.  A week ago today Rosemary and I had the privilege to bring gifts to the mother & daughter we have been supporting since I first met them in '86, when I studied Spanish in Cuernavaca.  We did not bring gold, but about $450 to help them with their little shop. 

Carina, the daughter, proudly informed us that this March they have been open for business two years.  Their merchandise is candles of all types, colors, aromas, and decorations, most of which they provide themselves.  They sell incense and herbs for coughs and colds.  They are both so grateful to everyone who has helped them out. 

We took them out to a simple restaurant twice and it was probably last year with us the last time they went out to eat.  Carina rides the local buses an hour to work and is open from 8:00-6:00.  It is a strenuous trip for her because of her being crippled.  In fact, she fell in the street earlier this year and is saving up enough money to either fix or get a new apparatus for her leg.  The old one, which we gave her some years ago, broke in the fall.

I am so humbled by this young woman's responsibility, her cleanliness in the little shop, her do diligence with the humble products she is selling.  While we were with her & Maria Luisa in the shop one afternoon, I saw how Carina graciously welcomed and chatted with a half dozen customers she had. Among other things, I watched her sell 4 three foot long white bees wax candles that she had decorated with a brown ribbon & bow & some decorations embedded in the wax.  She sold each for ca. $5.00. 

She had to take out two loans of about $500 each to buy up her merchandise and she is diligently paying it back step by step.  The $450 we brought will help with either the loans or her leg apparatus.  Her mother is her buyer and they bring in the candles from the region around Acapulco. 

In a quiet moment I asked Carina how has she planned for when Maria Luisa dies.  She has already had three cases of cancer & is 66.  Carina told me she is more vulnerable than she looks and is sick often.  She also told me she has no special plans for when her mother dies.  She can continue to live in the garage they live in now.  And she can maintain herself with the candle shop.  Thanks to you all.  It may be impossible to save the world, but you have helped two people to survive.

What will we do next?

AUDIO:   http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2009-01-04.mp3

Picture 1:  Birthdays & Anniversaries–Tom Fleming, Rich & Carol Eshelbrenner, and Roy Strom

Picture 2:  Carina & Rosemary & Maria Luisa in Cuernavaca, Mexico

Picture 3:  Carina's Candle & Herb Shop

Picture 4:  Carina & John & Maria Luisa

 

Readings:  Isaiah 9, 1-6; Psalm 96; Titus 2, 11-14; Luke 2, 1-14 (Nativity Drama by the kids)

A Small Nativity, Missed

On the corner of Preston & Forest down in Dallas there is a restaurant that I go to occasionally, PeiWei.  It is on the same corner as Whole Foods.  One day last week I was standing outside the restaurant about 1:30 waiting for my sister to show up. 

While I was waiting I saw coming up Forest from the Central Expressway side a man probably about my age.  Coming very slowly.  His legs were crippled and he was dragging them along with the aid of aluminum crutches.  He was a white guy with gray hair, docker pants, a dark polo type shirt, and a navy blue sport coat.  Black shoes that had been shined.

I watched him for about five minutes as he labored up the slight incline of the street and then as he came up the ramp into the shopping center.  He was heading straight toward the corner sidewalk where I awaited my sister.

I was going to greet him, but before I could say anything he says to me, "So you like Chinese, eh."  I agreed, and then he asked if he could ask me some directions.  "Sure," I said.  He drops his crutches literally on the sidewalk and leaning over he pulls out of his pocket a card which he shows me and asks if I know where Dougherty's Pharmacy is. 

Sure I know where Doughtery's Pharmacy is.  Everyone who lives in that general area of Preston Hollow and beyond knows where Dougherty's is.  It is an independent pharmacy and a years old landmark in the neighborhood.  The man's business card has a hand drawn map on the back showing accurately where the pharmacy is.  I think, "This guy must be from out of town."

Because the trouble is, Dougherty's is not at the busy intersection of Preston & Forest, but at the equally busy intersection of Preston & Royal, one mile south down Preston Road.  Moreover, there are no sidewalks and the bumpy path is rather close to the speeding traffic.  I know about the lack of sidewalks because on Sabbath days I see Jewish families struggling along the paths on foot on their way to or from the temple.

So I tell the man where the pharmacy is and how to get there.  I also tell him that it is a rather daunting walk even for a person able to walk with ease.  He says it is no problem, leans over, picks up his aluminum crutches, hitches them to his his upper arms, and struggles down the sidewalk.  I say, "I would be happy to take you over to the pharmacy, but I am waiting for my sister."  He responds with, "No problem, the walk will be good for me."  "Walk,", I think, "He can maneuver only with great effort."  And off he goes down the sidewalk and eventually around the corner & out of sight while I continue to wait for a few more minutes.

Later I am kicking myself.  "I could have helped him," I think, "driving him the distance and coming back in 5 minutes."  I could have phoned my sister I would be 5 minutes late.  Instead, I just stood there like a dummy. 

I look back on this now as a small nativity moment.  And I missed it.  I want to be more alert and ready for the next one. 

This evening we celebrate the Big Nativity.  We are privileged to have this knowledge.  However, it is the little ones that slip by me.  These little ones sensitize me to the bigger one.

What little nativity has slipped by you recently or slips by you all the time?

AUDIO:  http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2008-12-24.mp3

Picture 1:  Wendy, Shonda, Ray, & Celeste

Picture 2:  Nativity Drama with the Kids

Picture 3:  Angels and Shepherds

 

 

Readings:  2 Samuel 7, 1-16; Psalm 89; Romans 16, 25-27; Luke 1, 26-38. 

2 Samuel:

Date compiled:  650-600 BCE, probably in Jerusalem.  David lived ca. 1000 BCE

2 Samuel is part of a 4 book assembly: 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings. 

Subject matter:      a)  Samuel as Judge

                              b)  Saul as King

                              c)  David as King

Sources:          a)  The court history of David written by Gad

                       b)  Samuel wrote chapters 1-24 of 1 Samuel

                       c)   Anti-monarchy source

                       d)  Pro-monarchy source 

                       e)  Redaction & editing by Nathan   

King David, Jesus' Ancestor   

 In the spirit of anticipating Christmas, I would like to tell you an Old Testament story this morning, a story about one of my most favorite O.T. characters, King David.  We Catholics do not have a tradition like Protestants do of hearing over & over the stories of the great ancestors of our religion and culture.  Today we can rectify this a bit.    

To get the scene you have to go back 1,000 years BCE.  David and two other great leaders are all living at the same time.  Samuel is the first of the three and he is the last ruler of Israel who is a judge.  Saul is the second person.  He follows Samuel as leader and is the first king of Israel.  

What is happening is that Saul is doing a bad job of being king.  If you know any psychology you will detect that he is bipolar or manic depressive.  He has big mood swings.  Yawheh has tired of him and has whispered to Samuel that Samuel needs to go find a new king.  Yehweh deconsecrates Saul as king.  He directs Samuel to go visit a man named Jesse with 8 sons in a special little town.  Name that town.  Bethlehem.  This is significant to N.T. writers like Luke and you will hear it mentioned in the Christmas readings. 

As each son is brought before Samuel Yahweh whispers in his ear, "No, not this one," even though Samuel thinks each one would make a good choice.  After the seventh son is rejected, Samuel prepares to leave, but asks Jesse if he has any other sons.  Jesse says that, as a matter of fact, he does have another son, his youngest, who is out in the fields tending the livestock.  When David comes before Samuel, Yahweh whispers, "This is The Man."  Samuel consecrates David then and there the future king of Israel.

With that David moves into King Saul's palace as a page and becomes a favorite to Saul.  David can interpret dreams and he can play a soothing guitar that calms Saul when he has some of his dark moods.  David pleases Saul so much that eventually David marries his daughter Micah.

Life goes on peacefully this way until one day the Philistines come to attack.  The Hebrews are terrified, in fact doubly terrified because of one giant guy who is killing everyone and challenging any & all Jews to come out and fight him.  Guess who this guy is.  The Famous Goliath.  Guess who volunteers to come out and fight.  David.

This part of the story we all know.  David dings Goliath with a stone from his sling shot, then whacks off his head with Goliath's own sword.  David becomes very popular with the people.  David becomes unpopular with Saul who begins to feel the poison seed of jealousy.  The jealousy expands so much that eventually Saul dedicates all his efforts to killing David.  David hides in the desert and ultimately Saul dies.

At this point David becomes the king and is successful in all he does.  At one point, in fact, after a successful military campaign against their enemies, David comes dancing joyfully into the city of Jerusalem leading the military parade.  From a nearby window his wife Micah is watching and as the Bible says, she is disgusted.  When David returns home and is greeted with the derision of Micah, he defends himself and declares that he will continue to dance his joy before the Lord.  Yahweh is not impressed with Micah' criticism and she never has any children.

Not all the time does David join his armies in the field.  On one occasion he is strolling on the roof of his house in the afternoon.  He looks over to a neighboring roof and discovers a woman bathing.  David is bitten.  He sends his servants to invite her to dinner at the king's palace.  A month or so later, guess what.  The lady sends word that she is pregnant.  Guess who this lady is.  The famous Bathsheba.

David decides that he can't let it be known that he is the father.  He sends for Bathsheba's husband, Uriah, who is one of his best soldiers.  He invites him for dinner, gets him drunk, then tells him to go home and sleep well.  Uriah, however, is a man loyal to his comrades and decides that he will not go into his house to sleep when his fellows are sleeping in the fields.

So the next morning David sends him back to the field with a note to the commander.  The note instructs the commander to put Uriah in the front of the fight and when they are all engaged to pull everybody back but Uriah.  Uriah gets killed. 

Shortly after this David is visited by a local prophet who has received a message from Yahweh.  Nathan tells David a story about a rich man who took a poor man's sole beloved sheep and slaughters it.  Nathan asks David what should happen to that rich man and David says he should be severely punished.  Nathan says, "You are that rich man."  So David acknowledges his failure and does penance. 

Meanwhile Bathsheba has a son.  The Great Solomon.  He who built the Jerusalem temple which the Jewish people are still lamenting since its destruction by the Romans.

You will see Luke make a big deal out of the lineage of Jesus, that he is of the house & family of David.  Solomon, the son of David & Bathsheba is his great, great grandfather.

There are so many lessons in this story.  I have just two observations.

1.  Jesus comes out of a lineage with a unique event.

2.  God forgives even some big sinners.  We can take consolation from this & know that we are accepted.

What about David do you like the best? 

AUDIO:  http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2008-12-21.mp3

Picture 1:  Our Father

Picture 2:  Maggie McGrath & Tom (dad)

Picture 3:  Cliff Wright