Church of the Resurrection

“They have no wine … how does this request concern me.” In all honesty, pastoral experience in USA Hispanic communities has deepened my understanding of this Gospel. I suppose it would be the same in any hard scrabble ethnic community anywhere. I recall the Thorton’s telling me about their wedding Mass and reception in a German American community in rural Kansas. There was a blizzard. Many missed the wedding. The reception and its dancing and beer went off without a hitch, blizzard or no blizzard. Families that host parties, especially in villages and pueblos, are filled with pride and excitement and enthusiasm. Villagers are known for pulling together and gossiping and remembering slights and slips. So, the family who hosted the wedding reception in Galilee and elsewhere lasted for days—were facing embarrassment and shame. The Mother of Jesus intervenes. Just as she does in our lives. Jesus is the one sent who dwells among us. He’s beyond human worries about shame—about himself that is. His passion and suffering would’ve been embarrassing if it was not how he transformed us into love. The superabundance, 125 gallons, is a sign of the gift he brings. His love is abundant and overflowing. Always. The combination of the anniversary of Dr Martin Luther King and the inauguration of a new president reminds us of the social compact and how we are called to respect human beings, even when we differ socially or ethnically or in religious tradition. America as a people has come a long way and we have further to go for sure. The churches of St Monica and St Augustine are hosting a national workshop in February: The Church in Black and White. All are welcome. Ken Coughlin will have a bible study class this Sunday, january19 at 10:30am.

“After all the people had been baptized and Jesus had been baptized.” Luke paints a picture in words. “After all the people,” why would Jesus go last? Remember the country folks and shared bath water? Who on earth would choose to go last? And why is Jesus in line anyway? This is a line to be baptized (washed) for repentance, a fresh start, a new beginning. Jesus is the Son of God, the Chosen One, the spotless one. This Savior is not one who stands apart. He chooses to smell like his sheep. He has come to share all things with us, except sin. He is not here to impose his will. He has come as one who serves, which is why he goes last. He wants to make sure everyone else is safe on the way first. Special thanks to Mary Kevin and Steve McNamara who have taken on the responsibility of scheduling our team for the monthly meal at the DayCenter for the Homeless. Mike and Ginny Ayling have been so good and so faithful for many years. A team works best when good people step forward to help and do their part. Ken Coughlin will break open the Word next Sunday January 19. This year Letters of Contributions are available by request. Please contact Debbi in the parish office.

“How does this happen that the mother of my Lord comes to me.” The 4th Sunday of Advent means that the celebration of our Lord’s Nativity is almost upon us. Ready or not. It is here. Note that joy marks the moment. Not worry or stress or resentment or envy. Joy. Young or older these women today are filled with joy. It reminds me that so far, at least, every woman who’s discovered she is expecting has been happy and joyful. Whether younger or older there’s been anticipation and hope. That’s faith and the central dynamic of the Gospel. The reign of God is not to be a crushing disappointment. It is when God, using us and helping us, puts his world—and ours, aright. Not too Elizabeth recognizes the child in her cousin’s woman is “Lord.” Faith in Jesus has begun. That’s reason to rejoice. Christmas and New Year’s Masses are easy to remember. The same sequence: Eve 5p English and 7p español. Day 9:30a English and 12noon Spanish. Thursday, Dec 26, there will be a Memorial Mass for Dr Tom Llewelyn, a dear friend of the parish at 11:30a. No scheduled Mass Friday, Dec 28. Parish office closes noon Christmas Eve reopens Thursday Jan 2. Our updated phone system forwards voicemail to our email. End of the year contributions always welcome. Please specify if you want a contribution designated for 2024 or 2025. Contribution Letters for parishioners who contributed $250+ will be available by request after January 31, 2025.

“Rejoice always.” What on earth does Paul mean? Our world has so many problems. Our lives go up and down. One moment we are happy, the next sad. Rejoice always? Loopy. Unless Paul means something different than emotion or sensing we are winning. His sense is rooted in gratitude. We rejoice because we are grateful. Even in our tears and anxiety we are grateful and rejoice because we are loved. No matter what rises or falls, we’ll be ok. The one who loves holds on gently and securely. Special thanks to all who helped with the great celebrations for Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Installation of Adoración Nocturna. We are most grateful. Masses for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve: 5p English 7p Spanish. Christmas and New Year’s Day 9:30a English and 12n Spanish. As December ends, we are grateful for every contribution. If you desire a contribution, be credited for 2024 or 2025, please clearly mark the check. Also, remember the parish can receive directly gifts in stock. Please contact the Parish Office for details.

“When these things happen stand up and raise your heads.” Advent starts a liturgical year and Gospel. Luke is our gospel. Characteristics will include gentle, compassion, mercy, women and universal. All sorts of non-Jews And Israelites will appear. And there’ll be lots of songs and some humor. Not so much today. Today is heavy yet hopeful. When the signs arise, stand up straight and hold your heads up. It’s going to be ok. Jesus has got this. Special thanks to our Knights and vendors for the parish market. Our Advent will include a novena for Our Lady of Guadalupe and major celebrations on Dec 11 (Vigil) and 12. Then, we’ll start the Posadas series. On Wednesday Dec 4 we’ll have guest confessors from 5:30-7p as well as myself. Dec 14 our Adoration Group invites all to their one year celebration and inauguration. Calendar wise, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception moves to Monday Dec 9. The obligation does not follow, and Bishop David has issued a general dispensation for this year only. There will not be a scheduled Mass that Monday. Christmas Eve and Day (for early planners): Eve 5p English 7p Spanish, Day 9:30a English 12n Spanish. Same schedule for New Year.

“You say that I am a king.” The dialogue between Jesus and Pilate fascinates at so many different levels. First, recalling it’s not a formal trial. Jesus is a peasant and not a citizen. Second, it is stylized. Yet, it effectively how Jesus rules. Not as a petty authority who needs an army to impose his will. He expresses the reign of God, the actual rule of his Father who comes in love. So, Jesus is no king like Charles or Felipe or autocrat like Putin or Xi. Jesus has come to express and live the truth. Thanks to our Knights for helping with the Parish Market. Please note our adjusted schedule for Thanksgiving. Mass Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:00p.m. No scheduled Masses Thursday or Friday. Office closes at 1:00pm on Wednesday and will be closed Thursday and Friday. Our families in sacrament formation meet Sunday, Nov 24 at Bishop Kelley High School for an Advent Retreat. It concludes with Sunday Mass at 5pm.

“Amen, I say to you … of that day and hour no one knows.” Our year of Mark comes to its conclusion. Remember, Mark is so compact that at times it borrows from John to complete the liturgical year. So, we do get to hear “thlipsis” again, tribulation, difficulty, crisis. Then, we are told a fundamental truth (amen I say to you means “pay attention” it’s important). No one knows when our world comes to an end. Yes, it will end. When is unknown. For us, though, the human beings, knowing the end is not the point. We are to live each moment as if it was our last. Not in fear but in hope and meaning. After all, each of us have had our worlds shaken and turned upside down, by illness, by betrayal, by failure. Jesus’ love and his words stand firm. Unshaken. Solid. They will not pass away. Our Youth Group set a goal and through hard work and generosity is now part of the National Youth Conference in Southern California. We look forward to their safe return and sharing with us the joy of their experiences. The Parish Market is almost here. Visit with Tony Smith, our Knights or Debbi in the Office.

They devour the houses of widows and as a pretext recite lengthy prayers.” So, our 4 week miniseries concludes. Each of the texts featured a person and a path of faith (or the wrong way). Remember: James and John and the 10 (?), Bartimeaus (for tests takers multiple choice he’s the only right answer), the Scribe and now the widow. It’s very important we hear the context. Jesus the prophet is telling the truth about the scribal and priestly class. They have made his Father’s House a den of thieves. Who built the new Temple, in all its splendor and a wonder of the World? Herod, the sociopath who robbed and murdered. The temple clergy were thick with the Romans. The Temple economy generated immense cash with the leadership conveniently kept for themselves. Jesus was blunt and direct. Yes, he taught about sex (human desires that emerge from deep within like lust, greed, resentment and envy). Jesus taught marriage was between one man and one woman one time. Still, his teaching did not exclude humans on their way. I came across this in a book review in the Economist. Written in a pithy English style, it has a powerful point: “Though Jesus was fiery in his condemnation of greedy people, he had precious little to say about sex, celibacy and homosexuality. Yet, as one modern theologian pithily pointed out: “no medieval states burned the greedy at the stake.” Bartimeaus remains the model. Stealing from widows and the poor has no place in the reign of God. The Church, like any human group, has material needs. Contributions make possible our shared space, pay salaries for those who work for the Church and are shared with the poor. Doing our part means no one has to give what she or or he has to live on. A share is sufficient. Our Youth has an opportunity to reach a goal they set and worked very hard to achieve. They leave to participate in the annual National Youth Conference in LA. We are most grateful for each and every person who has helped. The Parish Market is very close. Thanks to our Knights and others for their leadership.

“You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” The benefit of hearing the Scriptures together again and again is how new insights pop up. This year the interchange between Jesus and the scribe became clear to me in a new way. “Not far?” It’s because the Kingdom (reign) of God is not a place or territory, a destination where we could say, been there, done that and I have the t-shirt. We cannot “inherit” in the words of the rich youth. We need to be like Bartimeaus and follow Jesus on the way. Problems and difficulties and all, we continue with him as guide and model of love. Do review Leveticus 19. Notwithstanding the scribe, Moses did not command love of neighbor. The Hebrew and Greek is “countryman” “tribesman.” Jesus is the one who stretches the definition to neighbor. It changes everything. Thanks to our Knights for our German dinner in honor of Cristopher Columbus, an Italian who sailed for the Spanish Monarchy. I am very grateful for our Knights and their efforts to build and support our parish community. Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the Parish Market, November 23 and 24, 2024!

Friday Nov 1 is a holy day of obligation. Masses at 8:30am and 12:10pm in English and 7p Español. Also, 9:30am and 10:30am at Tulsa County Jail. With the Feasts of All Saints and All Souls parishioners are invited to bring photos and memories of the departed for our Altar of the Dead. Please do label all photos so we can return them to you. Blessing.