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Sunday Homily, March 4, 2018, 3rd Lent, B cycle
Note: Because of popular demand and because I am still congested, no spin class for me at the J Monday morning. John
Hi, Dearest Emma, Welcome in.
Readings:
Exodus 20, 1-17, Yahweh gives the 10 Commandments to Moses
Psalm 19, Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.
1 Corinthians 1, 22-25, God is stronger
John 2, 13-25, Jesus cleans out the temple.
Tori & Zoe at work lighting our candles.
Exodus: 2nd book of the Bible & of the Torah, the first 5 books of the Bible.
Date of Composition: put together ca 450-400 BCE, though elements come from 1000 BCE at least.
Author(s): Moses, no. At least 3 sources, maybe 4, e.g., the Yahweh (J) source, the Elohim (E) source, the Priestly (P) source, and even the Deuteronomy Source.
While Zoe & Tori light the candles, Georgie reads the Candle Blessing.
Subject: The 10 Commandments–observations:
- Academics see 3 maybe 4 versions of the 10 commandments, Exodus 34 (the oldest), Exodus 20 (our selection), Deuteronomy 5 (the last)
- The versions come from the sources composing at different times, for example these 4
- The Yahweh Source, 10th Century BCE, therefore, Exodus 34
- The Elohim Source, 9th Century BCE, therefore Exodus 20
- The Deuteronomy Source, 7th Century BCE, therefore Deuteronomy 5
- The Priestly Source, edited all the sources in 6th Century BCE (450-400 BCE, at the end of the Babylonian Captivity). The 7 Day Creation Story comes from this source at this time.
Source: Bishop (Episcopal) John Shelby Spong (Excellent Biblical Scholar)
Side Note: it is interesting to realize that the 10 Commandments are not considered the first set of laws. For instance, the famous Code of Hamurabi . Hamurabi was the ruler of Babylon (good old Babylon again) 18-20 centuries even before the Christ event.
Good Morning to the Kerns, Michael, Candy, Ben, and Holly around here somewhere.
The Week's Blessings (3)
Two Sundays before Ash Wednesday we had a first reading from the Book of Job. Job was the man over whom Yahweh and Satan had a little wager.
Job was a prosperous man. So Satan bet that Job would curse Yahweh if Yahweh allowed Satan to send into his life a whole lot of afflictions.
And Good Morning to you, also, Vanessa and Stella.
The line that Job is famous for comes after Job has been flattened. He says to his tormentors, “The Lord gives. The Lord takes away. Blessed be the Lord.”
This has been one of those rare Job weeks in my life. Things started going down Thursday about 2:00. I felt a slight whisper in my chest. I know my physical system well enough to spot when something different is happening.
The Team, Georgie & Buddy.
Rosemary & I had just spent Monday to Thursday with Kay Reddick in the small Ontario town of Lindsay. We were just departing to drive into Toronto to share dinner with Renee, one of the Reddick kids.
When we arrived at Renee’s house, I knew I was coming down with something. It turned out to be Influenza Type B. I struggled with that all the way home and through Saturday & Sunday until I saw my favorite internist Monday. Initially, he thought I had severe chest congestion. Only on a just to be sure did he do an influenza test. In ten minutes my doctor said, “You got it.”
Ladies' Luncheon, Friday.
I felt immediate improvement once I got on Tamaflu. What a gift. But, as far as I was concerned this diagnosis complicated my life. I had hoped to join the Dickinson team. I never made it. “The Lord gives. The Lord takes away. Blessed be the Lord.”
I truly have no significant reason to be anything other than grateful—for my health.
Who let these people out on the streets?
I had a five day menu of Tamaflu and every morning I felt better until Saturday morning I woke up and knew I was healed. I am grateful for my health. I am disappointed I did not get to take part in Dickinson, but I am touched and proud of our community which contributed so much.
What are you grateful for this third Sunday of Lent?
This could be dangerous.
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Reminder for Sunday, February 18, 2018, 1st Lent
"Welcome in, Everybody," say Hue & Linda.
Welcome: Catholic Mass with coffee & juice, and pastries, some bought, some home-made.
Time: 9:30; Celebrate with the Community & Stack
Place: Sigler Elementary, 1400 Janwood Drive, Plano, TX 75075
What are these two up to??
Readings:
Genesis 9, 8-15, Never again shall all creatures be destroyed by the waters of a flood.
Psalm 147, Your ways, Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.
1 Peter 3, 18-22, God patiently waited in the days of Noah.
Mark 1, 12-15, The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert.
Just judging by appearances, I would suspect that whoever is seated in front of John is in danger. Why else would be Connie so amused??
Community Activities:
ROMEO MEET: Friday, February 16, Jason's Deli, Collin Creek Mall, west side of Central, 1:00. Welcome all wakos, you will fit right in.
JULIET LUNCHEON, (aka.,just us ladies into eating together), March Luncheon, TBA
Cindy & Ken, Joe & Geri (twins?)
Dickenson Trip: February 23- March 3
Bill Hammond putting the touch on Bill Ekes to join us in Dickinson, TX to help those folks after the hurricane.
What is going on in Our Catholic World:
1 For a good article on why an excellent NY Jesuit was disinvited to a NJ parish, go to
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/03/opinion/sunday/scariest-catholic-james-martin.html
Say Nina and Kerry, "Who let in this old geezer in with that red cap?"
True?
– 100 years ago everyone owned a horse and only the rich had cars. Today everyone has cars and only the rich own horses.
Healing for Grace.
See you Sunday.
J.S., 214-783-0443
Healing for Jan.
JSM Mission-Faith Statement: Help create a Catholic Community that welcomes all God’s People, provides for and challenges spiritual and total growth.
Reaches out to help people who are disadvantaged and make the world we live in a better place to live.
Peace, Everybody.
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Sunday Homily, January 28, 2018, 4th Ordinary Time B
"Welcome in, Everybody," say Cody with Sandra & Emma & Beth & Sophia.
Notice: if ever you notice that suddenly you are not receiving this blog, please reregister under www.johnstackministries.com. Two guys just told me on the same day that the blog suddenly stopped coming. This is the error of the carrier, Typepad, and it happens fairly regularly for some reason. So sorry.
Guess who is Sophia's favorite dad. I bet it is Ben.
Readings:
Deuteronomy 18, 15-20, Moses spoke to all the people.
Psalm 95, If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts
Corinthians 7, 32-35, I should like you to be free of anxieties.
A married man is anxious.Mark 1, 21-28, Is not a man’s life on earth a drudgery?
A double team. While Emma performs her candle magic, Georgie reads the blessing of light.
Deuteronomy observations :
What : 5th book of the Bible, of the Pentateuch or Torah It is a series of addresses by Moses to the people in the desert after escaping from Egypt & Pharaoh.
Psalm 95 observations:
I would like to share some ideas about the part of the responsorial that says, If today you hear his voice.
The first stanza is the best of all the readings. Watch for it.
Welcome in Vanessa, Stella, and Coco.
1 Corinthians observations:
There was in ancient times a theory of asceticism that said that all pleasure was harmful to the inner spirit. This applied double for sexual experience. From personal experience I would reject this idea. Watch what Paul says about marriage vs celibacy.
There he is, Sophia's favorite daddy and, also, Leo's favorite mommy
Mark observations:
The story is about a man who had an unclean spirit in him, meaning he was possessed by a devil. Today people would say Jesus did an exorcism.
There is another explanation of all this that I subscribe to because of psychological study and personal experience.
Psychology says there is a condition called multiple personalities. The condition is the result of severe abuse, especially at a young age. It is a self defense maneuver, a disassociation from myself.
Yes, it helps to have helpers with the elevation, especially with a little Parkenson's.
I have worked with some of these poor people. They usually had more than one personality with different ages. With some of those I worked with there had been exorcism, which was not just useless, but harmful. The person thought they had a devil inside, which was false and horrible. For starters there is no devil.
Recovery involves acceptance and talk. Ultimately, the host person needs to close the door to the alternates because it knows it is safe. It takes time for healing.
Actually, Jesus exemplifies the process, though it normally takes much more time than one encounter. I would suggest that Jesus presented a peaceful and accepting persona, just what the man’s host personality craved.
Watch as Mark presents a story about multiple personality.
How could we do this without Georgie and Buddy!
Hearing the Voice of God in Unusual Places
I want to talk this morning about three places the voice of God was heard. Two are mine. Number three from a mystery guest who gives me permission to share the story.
The first event came up because I am thinking about the trip planned to Dickenson to help with the clean up. A few years back there was a tornado in OK City. The same team went, Professor Jim Maher & his students from St. Bonaventure.
Jim has my number unfortunately (not really), so I went up by myself.
It is almost brunch time, Buddy. It will be terrific!
One day we're cleaning up a mess at a rural town called Little Ax. We had our team and you will never guess at the other team. Muslim Emergency Aid. Remember? I talked about this after I returned. They were well equipped like the Baptist Men and great guys and girls.
At one point I was walking down a hill from taking a piece of an I beam to the pile on the dirt road. For pick up. One second I was up walking down that slope. The next I fell over something on the ground.
I was not injured in any way, landing on thick grass. People started coming to my help. Guess who was the first to come to me. Yep, one of the Muslim boys. I was most touched and humbled.
The voice of God in an unusual place.
Sez Rosemary, "Don't tell the old geezer that he is 78. He still thinks he is about 40."
The second was at DFW airport when Rosemary & I came back from the wedding a couple of weeks ago. We had landed and were departing the plane.
I stopped to put a book into my backpack, using a wheel chair as a table, stepped to the right, forgot about the little foot piece, and fell right over on the carpeted gangway.
Like with Joyce Scott, the lady I talked about Christmas Eve, all sorts of people came to my aid and helped me get up. No injury except to my price.
God spoke again in an unusual place.
Brent, It is an honor to be able to give you these two checks for Souls Harbor. The work you do there for 65 men in recovery is phenomenal.
Thirdly, the mystery guest. Rosemary.
One morning about 6:00 Rosemary walked up to the desk of one of the hotels within shuttle distance of DFW. We park at these hotels when we fly sometimes. It costs about $5 per day and the shuttle is free.
Without a word she starts in, “I would like a chit to park here. My husband is parking the car in the back.”
The clerek looks up and says cheerfully, “Good Morning.”
“Oh, I am sorry. Yes, Good Morning to you, too.”
The voice of God in an unusual place.
You, any unusual places?
Guess what is coming.
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Reminder for Sunday, January 28, 2018, 4th Ordinary Time
No touch Our Father. The flu.
Welcome: Catholic Mass with coffee & juice, and pastries, some bought, some home-made.
Time: 9:30; Celebrate with the Community & Stack
Place: Sigler Elementary, 1400 Janwood Drive, Plano, TX 75075
Don't leave yet, Leo. We are almost finished.
Readings:
Deuteronomy 18, 15-20, Moses spoke to all the people.
Psalm 95, Today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts
Corinthians 7, 32-35, I should like you to be free of anxieties.
A married man is anxious.Mark 1, 21-28, Is not a man’s life on earth a drudgery?
What a team we got, Georgie, Buddy, Leo, David, Ben, Shonda (barely visible), and even Emma singing (just out of sight, Mike).
Community Activities:
THIS SUNDAY: birthday brunch after Mass, Welcome! Guess for whom.
Do I dare ask what you crazies are laughing at? Like Me??
ROMEO MEET: Friday, January 26, Jason's Deli, Collin Creek Mall, west side of Central, 1:00. Welcome all wakos, you will fit right in.
JULIET LUNCHEON, (aka.,just us ladies into eating together), February Luncheon,
Hope everyone is keeping warm on this chilly January night. Many of you have suggested going to the Bavarian Grill for lunch in February. We can enjoy authentic German cuisine in a warm, friendly and inviting atmosphere.
We will meet Friday, February 2 at 12:30. The Bavarian Grill is located at 221 West Parker Rd., Plano. It is in the same shopping plaza as Burlington Coat Factory.
Please let me know if you will be joining us.
Thanks, Marilyn, 972-491-7068
Dickenson Trip: February 23- March 3
Elevation help. Great when you got Parkenson's.
What is going on in Our Catholic World:
1 Why are young Catholics departing, National Catholic Reporter, January 22, 2018, 740 words, Download YOUNG CATHOLICS DEPARTING 1-25-18
Healing for Cheryl.
True?
To me, old age is always fifteen years older than I am.
Bernard M. Baruch, upon observing his eighty-fifth birthda.
Healing for David.
See you Sunday.
J.S., 214-783-0443
Special Community Blessing for Ray & Beth, who have surgery this week. Part A, Rosemary shares her blessing.
JSM Mission-Faith Statement: Help create a Catholic Community that welcomes all God’s People, provides for and challenges spiritual and total growth.
Reaches out to help people who are disadvantaged and make the world we live in a better place to live.
Community Blessing, Part B, everybody.
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Sunday Homily, January 21, 2018, 3rd Ordinary Time
"Welcome in, Everybody," from Carol Ann & Doug, David & Caroline.
Readings:
Jonah 3, 1-5, 10, The word of the Lord came to Jonah (a fun story)
Psalm 25, Teach me your ways, O Lord
Corinthians 7, 29-31, The time is running out.
Mark 1, 14-20, Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Mother & Daughter, Connie & Jessica. Welcome home, Jessica.
In our first reading, the word of the Lord came to Jonah; he was to call the people of Nineveh to turn from their evil ways.
Our second reading from 1 Corinthians is reminding us what is really important;
be Christ in the world.
Hi, Leo.
Homily: Mike
The first words in our reading from the Mark gospel were a call given by Jesus of Nazareth to follow him to Jerusalem, ‘The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand, repent, and welcome and live the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Jesus then calls Peter and Andrew and James and John, to leave their nets and follow him, to become fishers of men. It is important to realize that the inspired writers of all four gospels began each gospel with a summary of the important teachings that they had presented within their gospels.
Leo?? Anybody seen Leo around?
Today’s reading is about the enhancement that the early Church made to the sabbath synagogue service of Judaism to form the Christian Liturgy of the Word.
During the Babylonian captivity the sabbath synagogue service began to come into existence, for the Jews were in exile, the temple was a long way off, and it had been destroyed. This service of worship and instruction was implemented and Judaism did survive; its worship and its religious instruction that had been handed down to each following generation had become the glue that held the Jews together.
Welcome to the Choir, Emma. You sing beautifully.
At the time of Jesus of Nazareth, it was a service each sabbath with Psalms to be sung to worship God, a readings that was an expectation from the Law and Prophets for the coming of the Messiah, and a teaching on that same reading given by an elder or scribe, if possible.
With that in mind, listen how our early Church chose to enhance the sabbath synagogue service for the Church’s Liturgy of the Word and show, at the same time, the sacred relationship that would always exist between Judaism and Christianity:
Our Candle Man of The Week, Ben, at work.
In today’s reading, Jesus entered the synagogue and taught, and we are told that by the power and authority of the Holy Spirit he astounded those at the service for his teaching of the Good News was unlike those given by the scribes. The scribe could only give a teaching on the expectation of the passage; Jesus’ words gave a fulfillment of the expectation.
This fulfillment was followed by a spiritual instruction given on the fulfillment [like the one you are reading]. The inspired writers of a complementary parable Story about this enhancement, given in the Luke gospel, put the fulfillment of an expectation on the coming of the Messiah from Isaiah this way: Jesus stood up after the reading from Isaiah in the synagogue service saying, ‘This day these words are being fulfilled in your hearing.’
The Team, Leo, Georgie, Buddy, and Deacon Mike, waiting to share his homily.
Something to think about: Yesterday’s Sabbath Synagogue Service, at one location, began with Hymns and Blessings, and a reading from the Torah from a calendar of readings that stretches over one complete lunar year.
Mike, scoping out the landscape.
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Sunday Homily, January 14, 2018, 2nd Ordinary Time
Readings:
Samuel 3, 3-10, 19, The call of Samuel by Yahweh.
Psalm402, Here I am, Lord, I come to do your will.
1 Corinthians 6, 13-15, 17-20, Your bodies are members of Christ.
John 1, 35-42, What are you looking for?
Thanks, John, for celebrating this week while Rosemary & I had a wedding for her youngest sister's son, Sean, in Mount, Laurel, NJ, just east of Philadelphia.
The reading from First Samuel tells a story of Samuel’s call by God and how difficult it was to hear it. The Gospel reading tells a story of the call of Peter and Nathaniel by Jesus. These stories are both dramatic in their details and their telling.
But even kids seem to hear a call on some level—they seem to identify with things bigger than themselves. I remember my grandson Leo, at about age 3, saying: “I want to be a scientist”, or “I want to go to ‘space university’”. At that same age, we heard how strongly he identified with something bigger than himself. Joey would tell Leo that he was going to go to Texas U.(her college), and Daniel would say that he was going to Oklahoma State (his college).
Sir Charlie, I don't trust you so close.
Leo’s speech was still rudimentary then and when we said, “Leo, when you grow up, you’re going to Texas U.”, Leo would say with great determination, “No, I’m going to ‘okeenokee steak’. Without even knowing what it meant, Leo, so young, had listened, heard a call, and strongly identified with a parent’s alma mater. He became a follower.
In the olden days, today’s readings about a call from God would be used to talk up vocations to the priesthood and the religious life. Though the church still suffers from a clerical culture and a vertical patriarchy, we know all are called to priesthood, to minister—to serve and care for one another. So some calls are special, some are dramatic, like Samuel’s and like Peter’s and Nathaniel’s.
Hi, Beth, Hi, Emma. So nice to see you.
I echo Stack in that the call to serve, to care, to follow—is most often a small voice, usually inaudible. We have to be listening for it. Problem: having a ‘habit of ‘listening’ is not automatic. We’re not born with it. But we can all learn to ‘listen’ and, by practicing listening, we all can develop it into a habit.
So, when we ‘listen’ daily to what we read or to what others say, or become attentive to random daily situations, we are developing the habit of listening. Our practice at the beginning of Mass to pause and ‘listen’ can be the beginning of developing the habit of listening.
Hi Tori, Hi, Zoe, So nice to see you girls, too.
There was the story on TV this week of a man who saved a stranger’s life by pushing her away from an oncoming car which then hit and killed him. This man and this woman had both stopped to help out another driver whose car was stalled. Like Samuel’s and John’s stories, this is a dramatic and amazing example of someone hearing a call, it’s a hero story—difficult, if not impossible, to identify with.
What the newscast doesn’t tell us is the back story, how this man and this woman likely lived their lives—my guess is they had a habit of listening for the many small daily calls to care about others in small ways, in ways we all can. This is within the reach of all of us: to develop a habit of listening for those small everyday calls to serve and to care for others.
The Girls, Cheryl & Marilyn
The question: Can you hear those small daily calls? And have you developed the habit of listening?
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Sunday Homily, January 7, 2018, The Epiphany
Says, Tori, "Welcome in, Everybody.
Readings:
Isaiah 60, 1-6, Upon you the Lord shines
Psalm 72, Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Ephesians 3, 2-3, 5-6, You have heard of the stewardship.
Matthew, 2 , 1-12 The Epiphany (the Magi)
Shonda, Ben & David doing it.
Isaiah 60: observations–
- Who: Can you guess which Isaiah this is, 1, 2, or 3? Yes, this is Isaiah III who seems to have lived after the Babylonian Captivity, that is, 555 Before Christ
- Today’s passage: chapter 60 is addressed to Jerusalem as a symbol, which is in total destruction. Isaiah is trying to lift the spirits of the people who are depressed at seeing the mess that is Jerusalem. He is saying that your day is coming, Jerusalem, when you will return to being the most splendid city of all, and by extension, the tribe.
Isaiah 3 should get a commission from the Jerusalem chamber of commerce.
One of our Best Helpers, Leo.
The Epiphany, a Cornucopia of Symbols:
2 observations & 2 postscripts–
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 2 points, each with 3 subdivisions..
- The Wise Men
- The Wise Men have a double & triple significance because they are Gentiles
- They come from the east, considered the source of wisdom in the world of that time. Where does the sun rise? Where do stars rise? A new son has been born and like the sun in the east or a star, he will bring new light.
- They are searchers & symbolize every person’s search for meaning in life. Remember Matthew speaks to two audiences, his fellow Israelites, whom he is chastising for not searching, and the Gentiles.
Emma, our Candle Lighter of the Week, in action.
- The 3 gifts.
- Gold is given because it signifies royalty.
- Frankincense, or incense, signifies divinity.
- Myrra signifies medicine. Myrra is for human health. 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.
Suit up time.
A post script. People in Europe used to write an inscription over their doors, e.g. 20+C+M+B+18. The numbers are our year. The letters are Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. Christians made it say, “Christ Bless our house or Maison the year listed.
Another post script. In New Orleans Epiphany starts Carnival season, which leads up to Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. The parades are starting, folks. Let's go.
Sources: Reginal Fuller, St. Louis U. Liturgy; Biblical & Theological Resources, the Voice Institute, on line; Wikipedia; and other sources.
Suit up time continues.
An Epiphany Event
I would like to define epiphany as a giving & receiving of good news. To exemplify this I have a story about a Christmas dinner I hosted one Christmas afternoon in the Jesuit house I used as a base in Tanzania. I had been in East Africa at this time for about 7 or 8 years. Because Christmas had often been lonely & sort of a downer, I decided this year to throw a dinner.
Since there were no turkeys available where I lived, I had to travel a day up north to Nairobi, Kenya. I got a frozen turkey, returned and had to explain to the customs on both sides of the border. Since, as a white guy who spoke Swahili pretty fluently, they passed me through probably thinking I was a bit crazy, like most wazungu, dizzy white guys in Swahili.
The Team, all suited up.
Next step. Invite the neighbors on both sides of our house. So I went to the father on the east side and invited him to come to my office. He was a police chief, a very important person to have as a friend.
So, I said to him, “Mohammad, I want to invite you & the family to a special dinner on what we Christians call Christmas day. On one condition: you get drunk, you may not come.” “Oh, yes, yes, asante sana, (thanks, thanks),” he responded.
Offertory with Ray & Claire (whose mom just died today in New Orleans), Barb & Ron.
Christmas Eve I celebrate a late night Mass at the Capuchin sisters complex about 900’ up the south slope of Kilimajaro. I almost live here because the sisters have a guest house with about 15 rooms. I run 10 to 30 day seminars and retreats at their guest house.
Christmas day I travel the 2 hours down from the mountain. It is summer time. I pull into our dirt driveway and park under the canopy. Behind me pulls in an old battered Land Rover. Two guys get out and stagger toward me all buddy, buddy. Yep, one of them is Mohammed.
Welcome back Georgie. So nice to see you again.
I am so disappointed and tell him, “Mohammed, you cannot come, Bwana. We had a deal.” This could have been a tough moment for me if he refused. But, no, he apologized and the two guys drove off in their old Land Rover.
I was a little anxious about him coming anyway, but at 4:00 everybody started coming. I expected maybe 10, but along with his wife and their two delightful little girls, extended family members showed up, a very common East Africa custom.
The minor elevation.
All this took place on our roof, from which you could see Kilimanjaro. We had a partial Arab style house with a flat roof with cinder block railing.
The Epiphany is a giving & receiving good news. The roof top dinner we had was a giving & receiving good news.
What are your epiphanies?
Guess what is coming!
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Special Edition for Sunday, December 31, 2017, Holy Family
Special thanks, Hue and Ken, for the heads up on a mistake in the last edition of the blog.
The Correction: Mass this Sunday will be at 9:30, the usual Sunday schedule (not 4:00 P.M.)
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Reminder for Sunday, December 31, 2017, Holy Family
Hi, Emma, and Happy Christmas. You look gorgeous.
Welcome: Catholic Mass with coffee & juice, and pastries, some bought, some home-made.
Time: 4:00; Celebrate with the Community & Stack
Place: Sigler Elementary, 1400 Janwood Drive, Plano, TX 75075
Note for bad weather Sundays: If you wonder if we will have our celebration, call me (214-783-0443) and I will record a message. I will also get a phone tree moving. Check the directory for phone numbers. If we know for sure the Saturday evening before, I can also post a blog.
Hi, Nora, I hear Santa is coming to visit you tonight and maybe even this evening.
Readings:
Genesis15, 1-6; 21, 1-3 Look up at the sky and count the stars. Just so shall your descendants be.
Psalm, 105, the Lord remembers his covenant forever.
Hebrews 11, 8, 11-12, 17-19 By faith Abraham obeyed.
Luke 2, 22-40, Simeon & Anna meet Jesus
Quiz: how many people are singing in the photo.
Community Activities:
ROMEO MEET: Friday, December 29, Jason's Deli, Collin Creek Mall, west side of Central, 1:00. Welcome all wakos, you will fit right in. Apologies for the mix up last Friday.
JULIET LUNCHEON, (aka.,just us ladies into eating together), January Lunch, TBA
Dickenson Trip: February 23- March 3
Those Bresson kids.
What is going on in Our Catholic World:
1 The cruelty of the tax plan, NationalCatholic Reporter, December 14, 666 words, Download THE CRUEL BUDGET 12-28-17-
2. Jesuit parishes as sanctuaries, National Catholic Reporter, December 21, 654 words, Download SJ PARISHES SANCTUARIES 12-28-17
3. How to reform the Vatican, National Catholic Reporter, December 21, 255 words, Download REFORMING VATICAN 12-28-31
I think I see some shepherds.
True?
The belief that there is only one truth, and that oneself is in possession of it, is the root of all evil in the world.
Max Born
Under that bush, could there be a Cathy?
See you Sunday, December 31, 2017
J.S., 214-783-0443
Sez Sam, "Where is that Santa character?"
JSM Mission-Faith Statement
Help create a Catholic Community that welcomes all God’s People, provides for and challenges spiritual and total growth.
Reaches out to help people who are disadvantaged and make the world we live in a better place to live.
Sez Tori, "He's coming, Sam. You just watch."
"I've seen him," says Zoe