Sunday Homily, June 28, 2015, 13th Ordinary Time, B
Readings:
Wisdom 1, 13-15, 2, 23-24 God did not make death.
Psalm 30, I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
2 Corinthians 8, 7, 9, 13-15, You excel in every respect.
Mark 5, 21-43, My daughter is at the point of death. Please come. Also, Who has touched my clothes?
Sienna says, "Hi, Folks, Welcome in.
Wisdom observations:
One of the 14-15 books of the deutero-canonical books of the bible. Not part of the orginal Jewish bible, not part of the OT nor the NT, but in between and the subject of controvercy over the centuries. Were they really part of the bible or not? How do you know? Catholic church accepts the books.
Author: not Solomon, but a Jew living in Alexandria, Egypt, who spoke and wrote excellent Greek.
Our Dear Angela, too, says, "Welcome, Everybody."
Date: ca. 100-200 before Christ. How do we know these facts? Because of text analysis. For example, while the author wrote in Greek, he uses phrases and expressions that have a Hebrew flavor. Also, he mentions rulers and places that reveal date and locale.
Sources: Catholic Encyclopedia on line
And Genevieve, too, not to be outdone, says, "Hi, Folks."
You can do it too
In the gospel today Jesus gives life to a little girl. I would like to propose that you can give life, too.
I have a story for you from my Dallas Morning News columnist friend, Steve Blow. I saw his touching story Friday morning.
Buddy says, "Tori, Did you take my cupcake?"
Ever hear of Fausta Twizerimana or Dolena Westergard? Well, 8 years ago Fausta flew into Dallas and arrived exhausted one evening at the East Dallas Grace United Methodist Church. She, her five siblings, and her parents were from a refugee camp in Tanzania. Fausta was 4.
The Church welcomes refugees and this particular evening Dolena Westergard was there. Dolena met the family and picked up Fausta. She fell in love.
Says Brooklyn, "Happiness is being in my mom's arms."
The family continued to attend the church and fitted into the fabric of the community. Dolena watched Fausta and noticed that the girl had a gift for dancing. She was always doing it.
After four years of watching the girl dance, Dolena, who was now really a god mother to the kids, enrolled Fausta in the Dallas Black Dance Theatre. Fausta, now 8, fell in love, too. Never did she miss a session for the next four years.
Harper at 4, says, "Happiness is a cupcake on my birthday."
Then, along comes 2015 and a notice goes up that the Dance Theatre of Harlem was coming to Dallas to audition for positions in their summer workshop.
Fausta has been dancing now for 4 years, is 12, and Dolena thinks it would help the girl just to learn how to audition. No expectations.
You guessed it, Fausta gets selected.
Alison says, "Yes, Harper, I agree, especially now that I am officially an American citizen."
Fine, but who is going to buy plane tickets for Fausta and a chaperon, plus about $3,000 in expenses? This is New York, after all.
You guessed it again, Grace United Methodist. Last night Fausta sat in a Broadway theatre to watch an African story, The Lion King.
Gilbert and Michelle (father & daughter), the Great Kid Watchers.
Grace United Methodist gave life to Fausta, and, in particular, Dolena gave life to Fausta.
This week the nine families of Charleston gave life to me and to our whole nation with their forgiveness.
Just like Jesus gave life to that little girl and to the woman who touched him.
Rosemary, our best backup.
To whom do you give life?
Source: Dallas Morning News, Steve Blow, Metro section