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Sunday Homily, 9-10-17, 23rd Ordinary Time
ByRosemary September 10, 2017

Some of the hikers. Rose, John, Paul, Carrie and Andy on the first high pass.

Readings:

Ezekiel 33, 7-9,    You have been appointed watchman for the house of Israel

Psalm 95, If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts

Romans 13, 8-10, Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another

Matthew 18, 15-20, Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am.

Ready to start. Georgie, Buddy, John and Leo.

Homily:

Last week Stack spoke about Matthew’s saying, “take up your cross, and follow me.” Stack gave his take on this demand. He gave as an example a younger friend who had struggles with school, with getting into Jesuit, with getting into the Air Force, and how he did not let his personal struggles defeat him. This friend faced his struggles straight on (he took up his cross) loving himself enough to not let his struggles defeat him.

The musicians, Shonda and Ben.

In the reading from Romans today, Paul summarizes God’s commandments in one saying, “Love one another as you love yourself.” This is where I focus my thoughts today.

I have been moved by the many stories of people’s loving actions for those caught up in Hurricane Harvey, dramatic rescues in boats, grabbing a hand to keep someone afloat, donating supplies or giving financial assistance out of love. Our lead choir singer, Shonda, of Texas National Guard fame, spent a couple of weeks in southeast Texas helping with Hurricane Harvey rescue operations. She agreed to tell some of her story. [Shonda spoke of what she and others in her ‘pod’ did for victims of Harvey and what immense gratitude the survivors had.]

Thanks for your service Shonda.

The Offertory Procession. Mike, Geri, Carol and Richard.

Now I ask you to remember times you reached out in love to help—times you helped build a house with Habitat, or volunteered to help with the Love for Kids, or helped with the counting of the homeless, or helped tornado victims in Oklahoma, or supported organizations such as Soul’s Harbor or the food drive today, or DARCC, or loved Mother Earth by planting trees, or helped nurture this community’s children during Mass, or helped in so many ways to make our Mass a special time each Sunday. Add to this the many loving actions you perform for others in your family, in your neighborhood or in the community at large. You, in so many ways, are living out the greatest command: “Love one another.”

Just beginning the Mass. Hue checking the sound and Leo, John, Georgie and Buddy at the altar.

One question is: Where does our impulse and ability to love come from? Richard Rohr, a great Catholic spiritual guide, gives one answer to that question in his book The Divine Dance:

    “Love is not just something you do; love is someone you are. Love is where you came from and love is where you’re going. It’s     not something you can buy or attain. It is the presence of God within you, called the Holy Spirit.

    You can’t make God love you one ounce more than God already loves you right now. You can’t. You can go to church every     day for the rest of your life. God isn’t going to love you any more than God loves you right now.

    You cannot make God love you any less, either—not an ounce less. Do the most terrible thing and God wouldn’t love you less.     The flow of God’s love is constant and total.

    You have nothing to be afraid of. God is on your side, honestly more than you are on your own. We cannot diminish God’s     love. What we can do, is learn how to believe it, receive it, trust it, allow it, and celebrate it.”

Ben and his Dad, Cody.

This love is what we gather here to remember and to celebrate. Think about it. This is the Good News. God’s all-accepting love is in us and flows outward, accepting and loving others.

Zoe, Michelle, Tori and Harper in an important discussion.

Read More Sunday Homily, 9-10-17, 23rd Ordinary Time
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Announcements
ByRosemary September 10, 2017
Rosemary's Blessing of The Week:

May all peoples of the earth become as brothers and sisters,

and may the most longed-for peace

blossom forth and reign always among men and women."

Pacem in Terris, Pope John XXIII, 4/11/63

Patricia reading from Ezekiel.

Special Thanks to these special people:
- For the Readings: Pastricia & Mary Ellen
- For The Team: Georgie & Buddy & Leo
- For the Communion Bread: Alison
- For the Special Communion Cups: Jan & Charlie
- For the Pictures: Rick & Connie & Mike
- For the coffee and extras: Mike & Judy & Jackie
- For the altar & sound: Rick & Hue
- For the Music: Ben & Shonda
- For all who helped with Communion
Mary Ellen reading from Romans.

Birthdays: Jean Wright & Wendy (Sunday), Warren Wittek

Anniversaries:

Mike & Geri (42^nd Tuesday)

Our candle lighter, Emma and her assistant, Tori.



Please Remember these special people

Mike's swollen knee; For the Urbanczyk family; For Connie Bresson's mom; For Carol's recuperation;   For Tom Good; For Dee and her daughter, Lisa; For John Schanot's continued recuperation; For Nadia's recuperation; For Geri's nephew, Martin Calabrese and Martins' family; For a young man who is suffering from depression; For Claire's mom; For Cliff & Jean; For Rosemary's niece, Beth and her partner, Sarah with cancer; For Laura's sister Claudia; For Dawn; John Simari’s friend, Ron; For Anthony & Sabrina; For John & Jean's son John Louis; For our good friend Kay in Ontario; For Rose's daughter in law Jamie; For a young father of two & married, Paul Day, struggling with a heart condition

A birthday cupcake for Warren.

For Rosemary's sister, Patty and her husband, Lou; For Cathy's uncle, Jim Wright at 92; For Connie's nephew, Fred; For Mary Jane Stevenson's son Philip, 34, sick & don't know why; For Maureen’s daughter, Kathleen, with cancer; For Jackie's friend, Barbara, plus Angela & her mom; For Sr. Patricia Otillio, a nun I worked with for years in Grand Coteau; John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli; for Franks brother with advanced Parkinsons; For Steve Barrett, Rose, & Katie;

42 years for Geri and Mike.

Dick Thompson's daughter, Teri Jill, and Judy's aging parents; Barb & Warren's grandbabies, Leighton Elizabeth and Warren Phillip and Ethan Michel, & their friend Chris, plus Barb's Annie & Kaitlen; Tom and Teresa Quinn's niece, Chawna, with cancer, their granddaughter, Mikayla;   plus Neva Flynn, Angel, and Diane Kreeitzer; Connie Doherty's mom and her sister, plus Kevin's cousin, Peter; for Mary Ellen; For a number of David McKeon's family who are having a rough time with health issues; for our friends, sons, and daughters in the military, including Ryan McClurg and Chebino; cure for autism from Laura Chollick; for our President.

Zoe, Michelle, Tori, Harper and Cathy.

Your Finances, September 10, 2017

Expenses: $ 985.00

Outreach: $ 245.00

Zoe and her Mom, Michelle.

Special Note:

We also had a Food Drive for the North Dallas Shared Ministries Food Pantry.

Thanks for your Generosity, Everybody.

Have a Great Week, J.S

(214-783-0443)

Our candle lighter, Emma and her assistant, Tori also got a cupcake.

JSM Mission-Faith Statement

      Help create a Catholic Community that welcomes all God’s People, provides for & challenges spiritual & total growth.

      Reaches out to help people who are disadvantaged & make the world we live in a better place to live.
Read More Announcements
Reminders

Reminder for Sunday, 9-10-17, 23rd Ordinary Time
ByRosemary September 6, 2017
They finally caught her.

Welcome: Catholic Mass with coffee & juice, and pastries, some bought, some home-made.

Time: 9:30; Celebrate with the Community & John Cade

Place: Sigler Elementary, 1400 Janwood Drive, Plano, TX 75075

The Girls. Again.

Readings:

Ezekiel 33, 7-9, You have been appointed watchman for the house of Israel

Psalm 95, If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts

Roman s 13, 8-10, Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another

Matthew 18, 15-20, Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am.

Does that not look like a takeover!

Community Activities:

ROMEO MEET: Friday, September 15, Jason's Deli, Collin Creek Mall, west side of Central, 1:00. Welcome all wakos, you will fit right in. Most of us will be gone to Yosemite until the 14^th. Take a break for a week?

JULIET LUNCHEON, (aka.,just us ladies into eating together), October, TBA

The Community.

What is going on in Our Catholic World
1. Jean Vanier, The Tablet & Corpus, August 18 800 words (a hero of mine from my years in Toronto), Download VANIER 7-31-17
The Best Team.

True? (from Patricia)

Author Anne Lamott recently turned 61. So she’s compiled the following list of “every single true thing I know.” A brief recap:
1. All truth is a paradox. “Life is a precious unfathomably beautiful gift, and it is impossible here,” she says. Life is “filled with heartbreaking sweetness and beauty, floods and babies and acne and Mozart, all swirled together.”
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2. “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes.” That includes you.
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3. Nothing outside of you will help you in any real, lasting way. Radical self-care is the only thing that will get you through. It’s hard to admit, but it’s true, and it works the other way around too. “If it is someone else’s problem, you probably don’t have the solution,” she says.
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4. “Everyone is screwed up, broken, clingy and scared. Everyone, even the people who seem to have it most together.” So don’t compare your insides to someone else’s outsides, she warns.
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5. “Chocolate with 75% cacao is not actually a food. Its best use is as bait in snake traps or to balance the legs on wobbly chairs.”
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6. Every writer puts down terrible first drafts. The trick is that they commit to sticking with it. They take it Bird by Bird, her father’s advice that became the heart of her bestselling book. “Every story you own is yours. If people wanted you to write more warmly about them, they should have behaved better,” she says. “You are going to feel like hell if you never write the stuff that is tugging on the sleeves of your heart — your stories, visions, memories, visions and songs. Your truth, your version of things, your own voice. That is really all you have to offer us. And that’s also why you were born.”
  .
7. Creative success are “something you have to recover from. They will hurt, damage and change you in ways you cannot imagine.” And that brings us back to #1, because creative success is also amazing. “It is a miracle to get your work published,” she says. “Just try to bust yourself gently of the fantasy that publication will heal you, will fill the Swiss cheesey holes inside you. It can’t. It won’t.”
  .
8. Families are both astonishing and hard. Again reference #1. “Earth is forgiveness school,” she says. “It begins with forgiving yourself — then you might as well start at the dinner table.”
  .
9. Speaking of food: try to do a little better. “I think you know what I mean.”
  .
10. Grace is a powerful thing. “Grace is Spiritual WD-40 or water wings,” she says. “The mystery of grace is that God loves Henry Kissinger and Vladimir Putin and me exactly as much as He or She loves your new grandchild.” Grace doesn’t always come in the forms you expect. Lamott sees it most in laughter. “Laughter really is carbonated holiness,” she says. “It helps us breathe again and again, and gives us back to ourselves.”
  .
11. God isn’t that scary. Rather than getting trapped in the mundanity of our own lives, she tells us to “go look up.” Now. “My pastor says you can trap bees on the floor of a Mason jar without a lid, because they don’t look up,” she says. “If they did, they could fly to freedom. Instead, they walk around bitterly, bumping into glass walls.”
  .
12. Death is incredibly hard to bear, and you don’t get over losing people you love. “We Christians like to think death is a major change of address,” she says. “But the person will live again fully in your heart, at some point, if you don’t seal it off.” Memories of the people you love will make you smile at inappropriate times, but their absence will also be “a lifelong nightmare of homesickness for you.” Again, see #1.
She takes a deep breath. “Okay, I think that’s it. But if I think of anything else, I’ll let you know.”

Healing for Cindy.

See you Sunday.

J.S., 214-783-0443

A footnote: We are donating as a Community

$1000 to the special fund established by the mayor of Houston,

$1000 to the 1st Baptist Church of Rockport

Healing and Life for Zoe.

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.

Communion for everyone.
Read More Reminder for Sunday, 9-10-17, 23rd Ordinary Time
Homilies

Sunday Homily, September 3, 2017, 22nd Ordinary Time
ByRosemary September 3, 2017

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

Readings:

Jeremiah 20, 7-9,    You duped me, Lord, and I let myself be duped

Psalm 63, My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

Roman s 12, 1-2, Do not conform yourselves to this age.

Matthew 16, 21-27, Whoever wishes to come after me, must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.

And Harper, too, says, "Come in, Folks. Take this chair."

Jeremiah observations–

What:  I think Jeremiah is my second favorite O.T. prophet, behind Isaiah, mostly because he makes whining and complaining into an art form. I need to take lessons from him. Not that he did not have enough to complain about. Jeremiah is one of the Big 3 with Isaiah and Ezekiel. He is called the ‘broken hearted prophet.’ Here is why.

Time:  Jeremiah lived and prophesied in Jerusalem around 600 before Christ. Why is this important? It is some 50 years before the Babylonian Captivity. Jeremiah had a heart rending life predicting punishment of death and destruction for the Hebrews for their sinful, selfish ways. Jeremiah predicted disaster, and disaster came in the person of Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon-Bagdad.

Jeremiah wore a wooden yoke as a visual aid to his message. He may have been ultimately killed by the Hebrews.

Today:  Jeremiah is in top form.

The Best Music, even though they are slacking off, Wendy & Ben.

Deny Yourself, Take up Your Cross, and Follow Me

I want to talk this morning, folks, about the line in Matthew, Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me.  I confess right off, I hate this line. Can you imagine a loving God creating people to deny themselves and take up a life of suffering?

Matthew’s line can be very tricky. It can be approached healthily or in a rather sick way. I can witness to the latter in my own life. I have already described how as a young Jesuit I was expected to do penance and deny myself in various ways, like the practice of using little whips to scourge our backs and little chains with points to wear around our thighs. This was supposed to bring me closer to God.

Two Very Special People, Wendy & Brandon

I can laugh at this now, but I am humbled at how easily I can be snookered. When I read this line and others like it in the Bible and remember my experiences, I now see the presence of an ancient philosophy that still influences a lot of religious activity today. The philosophy: dualism.

The idea is simple. Reality comes in pairs, hot & cold, dark & light, order & chaos, and, in particular for this discussion, body & soul or flesh & spirit. So far so good.

Our Candle Lighter of The Week, Sophia (Ben's daughter).

The trouble enters with a judgment about the flesh & spirit. Specifically, flesh is bad, spirit is good, superior. Consequently, so that my spirit may reach an elevated plane of purity & perfection, and ultimately closer union with God, I attempt to subdue my flesh by disregarding the body's needs, ultimately aiming to live without it. Do not give in to pleasure. How about that!

A couple of facts. Dualism is identified as far back as 1000 years B.C. and came out of Zoroastrianism, a religion that worshiped one god and believed in an afterlife. Did it come from Egypt as so much did at that time? No, from Persia, the area we call Iran today. Zoroastrianism was widespread until Muhammad arrived on the scene around 650 and established Islam. Through the ages lots of people picked up on dualism, for example, Plato, Augustine, Descartes, and the early Christians, like Matthew.

However, there is a healthy approach to the line. A story to exemplify the healthy.

Welcome back Vivi, Quera, & Mikala, Teresa and Tom's grandkids.

Way back when I was living at Jesuit and working as a psychotherapist, a single, divorced mother came with her son, Michael, one day and basically said, “help!” She had a really active boy about 3^rd grade. He and his neighbor buddy, a black kid, used to race around our neighborhood and the high school on their bikes. Great kids.

The years passed and I got to know Michael really well. One afternoon when Michael was in 7^th grade at St. Monica, we were watering trees with the white truck and the old red water trailer. I don’t remember who was driving us along the medians, but at one point I can remember to this day, he said to me that if he did not make the entrance exam at Jesuit, his life was no good.

Let me not ask what these 3 are up to.

I did not say anything at the moment. But later I told him that thinking was baloney. I said Jesuit did not want kids who said their lives were no good. If he made it, Jesuit would be a better place. If he did not, another school would be a better place because they had a tremendous gift in their school.

He did not get in.

So Michael went to Bishop Dunne. He played sports, worked hard to make good grades, and kept in contact with a neat guy who was the admissions director at Jesuit.

He got in as a sophomore. He did excellently.

The Offertory with Louis & Sandra, John & Mary Jane

Next Michael wanted to go to A&M and join the corps. He did not get in. He does not test well. So he went to Tech and joined the Air Force ROTC. After 4 years there he invited me to the ceremony where he was to get his lieutenant bars.

The ceremony was in a big auditorium. Michael was the last. On the stage with him were his mom and his girl friend, Lydia. At one point in his personal ceremony Michael turns to the whole auditorium, asks their patience for a moment, turns back to Lydia, drops on a knee, and asks her to marry him.

Talk about blowing the roof off of the auditorium. Everybody went crazy. She said yes.

It does not get better than this, Vivi, Quera, and Mikala.

Now, Michael has long finished his flight training, part of which took place right up at the scene of the Hotter N’ Hell, Wichita Falls. He has been stationed all over the world, like Aviano, Italy, where we got the name of our dog, Aviana, after a visit there. He has a little boy and a girl, a beautiful wife in Lydia, and a platinum career as a jet pilot.

Michael has denied himself a lot of quite legitimate pleasures to achieve some healthy goals. Even now he continues to keep himself in good physical and intellectual shape.

So, how do you deny yourself and take up a cross?

Best buddies, Sophia and Emma.

Read More Sunday Homily, September 3, 2017, 22nd Ordinary Time
Announcements

Announcements
ByRosemary September 3, 2017
Rosemary's Blessing of The Week:

Always pray to have eyes that see the best in people,

A heart that forgives the worst,

A mind that forgets the bad,

And a soul that never loses faith in God.

Unknown

A Second Blessing:

Beauty is skin deep

But fabulous is forever.

Unknown

Mike reading from the Prophet Jeremiah

Special Thanks to these special people:
- For the Readings: Mike & Geri
- For The Team: Georgie & Buddy
- For the Communion Bread: Alison
- For the Special Communion Cups: Jan & Charlie
- For the Pictures: Rick & Connie & Mike & Beth
- For the coffee and extras: John & Jackie
- For the altar & sound: Jackie & Hue
- For the Music: Ben & Wemdy
- For all who helped with Communion
Geri reading from Romans

Birthdays: Aggie Stryker & Maureen Macchio

Anniversaries:

Nina & Kerry (30^th, Tuesday)

Monica & Richard Froebe (30^th, Tuesday in FL)

David & Caroline (32^nd, Wednesday

Rob & Beth (43^rd, Thursday)

Aggie & Allen (50^th, Saturday)

Mike & Dee (60^th, Thursday)

Rosemary reading her Blessing of The Week.

Please Remember these special people

Mike's swollen knee; For the Urbanczyk family; For Connie Bresson's mom; For Carol's recuperation;   For Tom Good; For Dee and her daughter, Lisa; For John Schanot's continued recuperation; For Nadia's recuperation; For Geri's nephew, Martin Calabrese and Martins' family; For a young man who is suffering from depression; For Claire's mom; For Cliff & Jean; For Rosemary's niece, Beth and her partner, Sarah with cancer; For Laura's sister Claudia; For Dawn; John Simari’s friend, Ron; For Anthony & Sabrina; For John & Jean's son John Louis; For our good friend Kay in Ontario; For Rose's daughter in law Jamie; For a young father of two & married, Paul Day, struggling with a heart condition

Happy 43rd Anniversary, Rob & Beth.

For Rosemary's sister, Patty and her husband, Lou; For Cathy's uncle, Jim Wright at 92; For Connie's nephew, Fred; For Mary Jane Stevenson's son Philip, 34, sick & don't know why; For Maureen’s daughter, Kathleen, with cancer; For Jackie's friend, Barbara, plus Angela & her mom; For Sr. Patricia Otillio, a nun I worked with for years in Grand Coteau; John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli; for Franks brother with advanced Parkinsons; For Steve Barrett, Rose, & Katie;

Even though Mike is celebrating his 60th Wedding Anniversary with Dee from his seat at the Heavenly Banquet Table, we celebrate, nevertheless, the Anniversary of you two dear people, Dee.

Dick Thompson's daughter, Teri Jill, and Judy's aging parents; Barb & Warren's grandbabies, Leighton Elizabeth and Warren Phillip and Ethan Michel, & their friend Chris, plus Barb's Annie & Kaitlen;

Happy 50th Anniversary, Aggie & Allen, and, too, Aggie, to you, Happy Birthday.

Yom and Teresa Quinn's niece, Chawna, with cancer, their granddaughter, Mikayla;   plus Neva Flynn, Angel, and Diane Kreeitzer; Connie Doherty's mom and her sister, plus Kevin's cousin, Peter; for Mary Ellen; For a number of David McKeon's family who are having a rough time with health issues; for our friends, sons, and daughters in the military, including Ryan McClurg and Chebino; cure for autism from Laura Chollick; for our President.

Thanks, Sophia, for being a delightful Candle Lighter of The Week.

Your Finances, September 3, 2017

Expenses: $1125.00

Outreach: $ 685.00

Special Note:

In the name of the Community, we will donate this week

$1000 plus to the special fund established by the Houston mayor

$1000 plus to the 1st Baptist Church of Rockport

Food Drive next Sunday for the North Dallas Shared Ministries Food Pantry.

Thanks for your Generosity, Everybody.

Note: Sunday ca. 1:00 P.M. at the Costco at Churchill & Central (the new one), there was no line for gasoline at all.

Who let these ladies out on the street this past Friday??

Have a Great Week, J.S

(214-783-0443)

They say 'ladies' luncheon,' with 22 people. Can't be any fun without us guys.

JSM Mission-Faith Statement

      Help create a Catholic Community that welcomes all God’s People, provides for & challenges spiritual & total growth.

      Reaches out to help people who are disadvantaged & make the world we live in a better place to live.

Got to be trouble with these two!
Read More Announcements
Reminders

Reminder for Sunday, September 3, 2017, Ordinary Time
ByRosemary August 30, 2017
Our Dear Hostess of Hospitality says, "Welcome in, everybody."

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

Our Specialty, Sign Language.

Readings:

Jeremiah 20, 7-9,    You duped me, Lord, and I let myself be duped

Psalm 63, My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

Roman s 12, 1-2, Do not conform yourselves to this age.

Matthew 16, 21-27, Whoever wishes to come after me, must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.

Hi, Stella.

Community Activities:

ROMEO MEET: Friday, September 1, 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), September 1, Friday

Hi Everyone,

Maybe it will be a little cooler when we get together for Lunch Friday, September 1^st at 12:30 at YE Shire Tavern 3600 Shire Blvd. Richardson. Hope everybody can join us for a lot of fun and laughs as we share our summer. Please let me know if you can make it.

Thanks,

Marilyn

972-491-7068

"Pastry Shoppe is Open!," say Stella and Ulysses.

To My Dear Fellow Community Members:

I am thinking about Our Community donating to the Hurricane recovery $2000. We can afford the donation and the board has approved of the move. What do you think?

We are in the process of selecting a trustworthy partner and one where the executives are not receiving inflated salaries. At the moment we are considering smaller, more local groups like The Houston Mayor's special recovery fund just set up and the Houston Food Bank

We can talk about this Sunday or you may text me or Rosemary, or send an email.

Thanks, John

Beware, That Man, Sir Charlie, is back.

What is going on in Our Catholic World
1. Priests' Children, Boston Globe & National Catholic Reporter, August 21, 1400 words, Download CHILDREN OF PRIESTS 8-8-17
Stella and her favorite aunt.

True?

We spend the first twelve months of our children's lives teaching them to walk and talk and the next twelve years telling them to sit down and shut up.

-Phyllis Diller

Not again, no cupcake!

See you Sunday.

J.S., 214-783-0443

Says who? Priests don't need help, even getting dressed.

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.

So who let those parakeets in here?

Peace, Everybody.
Read More Reminder for Sunday, September 3, 2017, Ordinary Time
Homilies

Sunday Homily, August 27, 2017, 21st Ordinary Time
ByRosemary August 27, 2017
Guess who is back, Everybody, Wendy! And she is expecting.

Readings

Isaiah 22, 19-23, I will pull you down from your station.

Psalm 138, Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands (one of the best psalms on gratitude)

Roman s 11, 33-36, How unsearchable his ways.

Matthew 16, 13-20, You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church.

Not only is Wendy back, but also her parents, her sisters, and their kids.

Matthew observations–

Biblical scholars agree that Jesus did not say what is in this little story. Rather, the Matthean community shaped a highly stylized scene that attempted to establish Peter's position as leader of the new community. The writer, because he wants to authenticate Peter, creates a scenario where Jesus makes Peter The Man.

Like, Sheena and her Rocco.

Isaiah observations—
1. Notice the chapter, number, 22. Students, as you are, of Isaiah, my favorite, will immediately know this is Isaiah 1. Chapter 1-39 make up Isaiah 1. Isaiah 2 and 3 follow.
2. Since it is Isaiah 1, you will know that the composer lived before the Babylonian Captivity, which took place around 555 before Christ. Isaiah 2 is composed during the Captivity. Isaiah 3, whom we had last week, works after the Captivity.
3. Knowing that things were not good before the Captivity, you can guess that Isaiah 1 is critical of Israeli life. You would be correct.
4. Our selection today is both critical, “I will pull you down.” But it is also talking about a better day.
Emma, our Candle Lighter of The Week in action.

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

In the presence of the angels I will sing you praise

When I told Rosemary a day or so ago that I wanted to talk about thanksgiving and did she have any ideas, ( She often has good ones.) she says to me, “Why do you want to talk about thanksgiving ? This is August, not November.”

“You love this Psalm 138 almost as much as I and I can’t be grateful enough,” I responded. Consequently, I have 4 delights I am grateful for this morning, and Rosemary reminded me of all 4. They are an unexpected delight, a seasonal delight, a nocturnal delight, and a constant delight.

Says Tori, "Hi, Everybody."

The first delight, then. Parakeets, wild parakeets.

When Rosemary & I ride our bikes around the jewel of White Rock Lake, we begin at Royal Lane & Greenville, we ride south on the White Rock Creek path to NW Highway, and then we pass along the eastern shore of the lake to the very southern edge, where we stop for a break at a shady boat house. Not always, but occasionally we are welcomed by a whole bevy of green parakeets. These parakeets are famous in Dallas

This past week they welcomed us raucously every day. It was especially a delight because we introduced Carrie to our little friends. For this unexpected delight, I give thanks.

Hi, Carol, you look great, along with Richard and Bernadette.

Secondly, the delight of a landscape. The seasonal delight took place on the White Rock Creek path. Rosemary & I are going north on the path back to our car. We have passed under the Skillman St. Bridge and passed over a small scenic, steel & wood bridge heading for the tunnel under Abrams Rd.

I glance up from watching the cement path and what I see was so touching, about 300 yards of the path winding ahead of me through dark woods, the rich green grass recently mowed, and, framed by the forest in a V image, the sky so blue it took my breath away. I wanted to stop. For a seasonal delight, I give thanks.

The Minor Elevation.

The nocturnal delight took place after I had gone to sleep Thursday night. Rosemary comes into the bedroom and whispers that the movie event for Souls Harbor came off really well and that the best part for her was that a whole bunch of our community was all there together. I went back to sleep proud of you people. For a nocturnal delight, I give thanks.

The constant delight is the non-stop generosity and the always ready to help presence of John Cade and Mike Carrell. What would we all do when Rosemary wants go on a cruise or go visit her sister in Hilton Head, if it were not for you two guys?

For you two constant delights, I give thanks.

What delights you are grateful for?

Say Harper and Victoria, "Wow, that was really good."
Read More Sunday Homily, August 27, 2017, 21st Ordinary Time
Announcements

Announcements
ByRosemary August 27, 2017
Rosemary's Blessing of The Week:

May you learn to see your self

With the same delight,

Pride and expectation

With which God sees you in every moment.

To Bless the Space Between Us by John O’Donohue

Bill reading from Isaiah #1

Special Thanks to these special people:
- For the Readings: Bill & Claire
- For The Team: Georgie & Buddy
- For the Communion Bread: Alison
- For the Special Communion Cups: Cindy & Ken
- For the Pictures: Rick & Connie & Mike & Beth
- For the coffee and extras: John & Jackie
- For the altar & sound: Jackie & Hue
- For the Music: Ben & Wendy
- For all who helped with Communion
Claire reading from Romans.

Birthdays: Marilyn (Monday), Marsha (Sunday), Teresa Quinn (Thursday).

Anniversaries:

Rose & Wally Banzhaf (46^th, Sunday)

Ken & Cindy (55^th, Friday)

Rosemary reading her Blessing of The Week.

Please Remember these special people

Mike's swollen knee; For the Urbanczyk family; For Connie Bresson's mom; For Carol's recuperation;   For Tom Good; For Dee and her daughter, Lisa; For John Schanot's continued recuperation; For Nadia's recuperation; For Geri's nephew, Martin Calabrese and Martins' family; For a young man who is suffering from depression; For Claire's mom; For Cliff & Jean; For Rosemary's niece, Beth and her partner, Sarah with cancer; For Laura's sister Claudia; For Dawn; John Simari’s friend, Ron; For Anthony & Sabrina; For John & Jean's son John Louis; For our good friend Kay in Ontario; For Rose's daughter in law Jamie

So sorry, Brent, again we are short a cupcake. In place of the cupcake Rosemary gave me this piece of paper. Maybe it is an IOU. Good work on the movie fund raiser.

For Rosemary's sister, Patty and her husband, Lou; For Cathy's uncle, Jim Wright at 92; For Connie's nephew, Fred; For Mary Jane Stevenson's son Philip, 34, sick & don't know why; For Maureen’s daughter, Kathleen, with cancer; For Jackie's friend, Barbara, plus Angela & her mom; For Sr. Patricia Otillio, a nun I worked with for years in Grand Coteau; John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli; for Franks brother with advanced Parkinsons; For Steve Barrett, Rose, & Katie;

Happy 55th, Cindy and Ken. You are special people.

Dick Thompson's daughter, Teri Jill, and Judy's aging parents; Barb & Warren's grandbabies, Leighton Elizabeth and Warren Phillip and Ethan Michel, & their friend Chris, plus Barb's Annie & Kaitlen;

Happy Birthday, My Dear Marilyn.

Tom and Teresa Quinn's niece, Chawna, with cancer, their granddaughter, Mikayla;   plus Neva Flynn, Angel, and Diane Kreeitzer; Connie Doherty's mom and her sister, plus Kevin's cousin, Peter; for Mary Ellen; For a number of David McKeon's family who are having a rough time with health issues; for our friends, sons, and daughters in the military, including Ryan McClurg and Chebino; cure for autism from Laura Chollick; for our President.

And Happy Birthday to you, My Dear Marsha.

Your Finances, August 27, 2017

Expenses: $1005.00

Outreach: $ 475.00

Thanks for your Generosity, Everybody.

This week we donated $2,000.00 to Soul's Harbor.

And, My Dear Teresa, Happy Birthday to you.

Lunch with the Juliets

Hi Everyone,

Maybe it will be a little cooler when we get together for Lunch Friday, September 1^st at 12:30 at YE Shire Tavern 3600 Shire Blvd. Richardson. Hope everybody can join us for a lot of fun and laughs as we share our summer. Please let me know if you can make it.

It is next Friday.

Thank you to Claire, Mary Ellen, Cheryl, Theresa, Dee, Pat and Mary Hall who are able to join us. For those of you who wish to come but have not responded please let me know as I will need to make reservations.

Thanks,

Marilyn

972-491-7068

Emma, thanks for being such a marvelous girl and a super candle lighter.

Have a Great Week, J.S

(214-783-0443)

Memories of a tremendous wedding with Vika and Austin.

JSM Mission-Faith Statement

      Help create a Catholic Community that welcomes all God’s People, provides for & challenges spiritual & total growth.

      Reaches out to help people who are disadvantaged & make the world we live in a better place to live.

Says Emma, "See you next week, Everybody."
Read More Announcements
Reminders

Reminder for Sunday, August 27, 2017, Ordinary Time
ByRosemary August 23, 2017
Suiting up is a team effort with Rosemary & Mike helping Leo.

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

A final kiss from mom and we are ready to go.

Readings:

Isaiah 22, 19-23,    I will pull you down from your station.

Psalm 138, Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands (one of the best psalms on gratitude)

Roman s 11, 33-36, How unsearchable his ways.

Matthew 16, 13-20, You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church.

Hue takes time out from his radio station every week to handle our sound.

Community Activities:

ROMEO MEET: Friday, August 25, 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), September 1, Friday

Hi Everyone,

Maybe it will be a little cooler when we get together for Lunch Friday, September 1^st at 12:30 at YE Shire Tavern 3600 Shire Blvd. Richardson. Hope everybody can join us for a lot of fun and laughs as we share our summer. Please let me know if you can make it.

Thanks,

Marilyn

972-491-7068

The community goal, keep these characters busy to keep them out of trouble, John & Connie, Denni & Tom, & John.

What is going on in Our Catholic World
1. Rome attacks a good priest/scholar, Corpus, August 11, 1900 words, Download PRIEST PERSECUTED BY ROME
Best Buddies, Ben & his dad Cody.

True?

Don’t do something permanently stupid because you are temporarily upset.

Congratulations, Dee, on walking with that new hip.

See you Sunday.

J.S., 214-783-0443

Yes, this is that crazy group. At least Cathy is off chasing an eclipse instead of abusing the local priest.

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.

Okay, just wake me up when you are finished talking.

Says the lovely Georgie, "Welcome back next week, Everybody."
Read More Reminder for Sunday, August 27, 2017, Ordinary Time
Uncategorized

Sunday Homily, August 20, 2017, 20th, Ordinary Time
ByRosemary August 20, 2017
Says Ben, "Welcome in, Everybody."

Readings:

Isaiah 56, 1, 6-7, A house of prayer for all peoples.

Psalm 67, Oh God, let all the nations praise you.

Roman s 11, 13-15, 29-32, I am speaking to you Gentiles

Matthew 15, 21-28, My daughter is tormented by a demon.

Likewise, Sydney & Hugh say, "Come right in, Folks."

Isaiah 56 observations:

As soon as you see Isaiah, chapter 56, you know some things, if you are into the study of the Bible and especially of Isaiah, my favorite.
1. Isaiah 56 is Isaiah 3, chapter 56-66, the end of the book of Isaiah.
2. Isaiah 3 is put together after the Babylonian Captivity, that is, around 555 before Christ.
3. The Israelites have returned to Jerusalem, a totally destroyed, depressed city.
4. Therefore, it is plausible to expect Isaiah 3 to be trying to lift up the spirits of the people. This he does, consoling the people with promises of a better time. Note: the better days are conditional on good behavior. Ever think of how our whole redemption story is conditional? Not much unconditional love. In other words, if you want my love and favor, behave.
Sez Leo, "I am ready, let's go!"

Goofy Myths

This morning I would like to talk about myths, wako beliefs, and superstitions. Myths are human efforts to explain the unexplainable, like what happens to me after death, how did the world begin, and when or how is the world going to end.

There could be no better time to talk about myths, because guess what we have tomorrow. An eclipse of the sun. Today we understand what is happening because we have telescopes and an understanding of how objects are moving in space.

It don't get better than this. The Gerwers are here. Brady, Cameron, Casey, Trey, and Reid.

However, long ago the Greeks, to take one example, believed the myth that the eclipse was a sign that the gods were mad and that disaster was about to take place, even the end. The ancient myths held that the eclipse was demon caused and that the eclipse was an evil omen.

Today it still may be believed that the eclipse is a danger to an unborn child and even to the mother. The wisdom, therefore, says ‘don’t get pregnant before an eclipse.

Long time Best Buddies, John & Leo.

The truth in all these myths is that the eclipse is not caused by angry gods, is not a bad omen, disaster is not about to take place, and there is no effect on an unborn child or the mother.

The only truth is that the sun, even a sliver of it, will burn your eyes if you look at it and you will go blind.

Our Candle Man of The Week, Ben.

There are food myths, too, folks. For example, raw carrots are better for you than cooked carrots. Vitamin C wards off colds. Coconut oil is good for your health. Not so to all.

And, of course, the great myth that regular consumption of Blue Bell will cause weight gain. Oops, come to think about it, maybe it is true. Just wishful thinking.

Two more long time Best Buddies, Zoe with her grandfather, Gil

All of this I mention as a way of setting up what I would finally like to touch, the subject of Matthew’s story, the little girl possessed by a demon. For centuries there has been the myth that people, adults and even children, have been possessed by demons. The belief still lives. Despite the movie The Exorcist, this is not true. People are not possessed by demons.

There is a psychological explanation for a person showing these symptoms. There are two ways to explain the situation, disassociation and multiple personality. I have only worked with adults who present symptoms which are really odd behaviors. This is because the person, who has been severely abused as a child presents multiple personalities. One personality may present like a demon, another as a 10 year old child, another as a talented corporate executive.

Two more long time Best Buddies, Mary & Mike.

Apparently I have the ability when I am being hurt to go to an out of body place where I am not hurt. This can lock itself in place.

The people I worked with who had this diagnosis, if they had been told they were demon possessed, awful. And maybe some uneducated priest tried to do an exorcism. This did not help them at all. In fact, they were sure they were condemned. Victimized again.

From Best Buddies to The Best Music, Shonda, Ben, & David.

Therefore, my position is that there is no possession by devils. In fact, there are no devils.

Rosemary says to me, "Why do you want to talk about this subject? My answer, 'To take away or lessen fear.'

We have a God of unconditional love. Believe it?

The Elevation.
Read More Sunday Homily, August 20, 2017, 20th, Ordinary Time