I'm entitle'
The last Time this happened, I took a two month sabbatical and read, among other books but chiefly, the translated Russian novel "Laurus" about a Russian holy man who lived and loved and agonized and did his wandering holy man thing a thousand years ago.
Every chapter in life is An Occasion, and that book and that occasion and my state of mind of total dismay at that Time are a unique stage setting in my life that I had high hopes would never again come round, but have indeed and here we are - - what?, forget it, it's none of your alphabet business.
But I'm entitle' and this Time I'm ready again, with "Exodus" by Leon Uris and two books to reread if my mind goes there, "Lee and Grant" which I last read what? thirty or forty years ago? and "Where the Crawdads Sing," which I started but didn't finish maybe ten years ago?, IDK.
If I were doing life over, which I'm not doing and have no desire to do because something might change and turn out different from this morning, I might go back X years and hold on to my complete collection of Harry Golden books instead of giving them to a loved one - - including "You're Entitle'" along with "Only in America" and "So, What Else Is New?" and "Enjoy, Enjoy" and "For Two Cents, Plain" and on and on. Harry Golden, born in Russia and migrated to Canada and the USA and grew up in the Yiddish speaking tenement community in the lower east side garment district of NYC; later in life moved South and published a newspaper, "The Carolina Israelite" of especially pointed political satire and tongue in cheek answers to our Southern stupidities such as couldn't possibly eat at a soda fountain sitting on a stool next to a Black person, social issues of the day, including "the Golden white baby plan," which I've discussed here on +Time at least once in past years.
What's on my calm and collected mind this morning? Again, none of your alphabet business, although it occurs to me that one of the "last Times" in my life, on a Sunday morning in January 2011, I walked through Cove School, now Holy Nativity Episcopal School's The Bill Lloyd Building, just in case. I may do that again one Sunday morning in January 2025, eh? Maybe Sunday, January 19th before MLK Day, nomesane?
That is to say, God willing and the Creek don't rise and Jesus tarries.
This is rambling Saturday, so I'm just going with it.
Along with hot & black at perfect sipping temperature from my magic mug, Lasagna for breakfast - - after leaving Pruitt yesterday, Linda, Kristen and I went to our local go-to pizza place, Enzo's - - which I also can see from my office study den - - and had pizza and Coca Cola. I might prefer beer with my sushi and with my pizza, but I was driving, so the Coke. There's nothing better in life than two things: ice water, and ice cold Coca Cola. As we looked at the menu, our hostess announced that they'd just taken a wonderful Lasagna out of the oven, so I ordered a serving to bring home. Heated it up and it's excellent. I've not yet but may soon try the pizza at Ferrucci Ristorante, or their lasagna if they have lasagna. Is their pizza dough spun, and are they using a 900°F oven?
On our Saturday POD, an early text reads that our new refrigerator is out for delivery, that we are number 7 on the list of stops, and promises to arrive between eleven and three. That's potentially a good thing, eh? Looking good anyway. It's been an interesting week-plus.
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Tomorrow, Advent 3 Year C is Rose Sunday and we'll light the pink candle. As I've explained every year or so, Rose Sunday or Rejoice Sunday or Refreshment Sunday or Gaudete Sunday - - this Time you can look it up, I'm not going to explain it again. The first word of the introit to the old Latin Mass, Gaudete in Domino semper, Rejoice in the Lord always ... we no longer do it that way, but we do Rejoice, give thanks and sing.
Oh, and a couple of our Propers for tomorrow, significantly including Philippians 4:4 - ->
Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
The Gospel Luke 3:7-18
John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."
And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages."
As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.
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There you see the Gospel agenda of settling the John the Baptist Question right up front: John is not the Messiah, he said so himself.
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Anyway, several things to move this morning before the crew comes to deliver and to take away.
RSF&PTL
T89&c
