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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 3, 2021)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, November 3, 2021 -- THREE Spiritually Speaking Widow’s Mite By Fr. Thankachan Joseph Readings this week invite us to make a total commit- ment to God’s service with a humble and generous heart free from pride and prejudice. With regard to gifts, we have a saying that goes: “It’s the thought that counts.” Yet, in practice we often forget this and use a different standard: its size, its cost, etc. We often judge our own contribution and that of others by standards other than those of the Gospel. Christ did not fall for it. The First Book of Kings (17:10-16) Fr. Thankachan depicts the generosity of a poor widow Joseph who had barely enough food for herself and her son but welcomed the prophet Elijah as a man of God, shared her food with him, and received her reward in the form of a non-stop supply of food during the fam- ine. (This particular passage is found in a collection of stories of miracles wrought by the prophet Elijah, who challenged King Ahab and his cruel pagan Queen Jezebel over the issue of worship of the false god Baal.) This poor, pagan widow was a Syro-Phoenician living in Zarephath in the territory of Sidon, in the middle of a famine. Elijah, following the Near Eastern custom, asked the widow for hospitality in the form of food and accommodation. The widow was not unwilling but told the prophet that she had enough for only one meal for her son and herself. But Elijah asked her to demonstrate her trust in his God’s providence by first giving food to himself, as the man of God. She did as he asked, and we know what happened. As a reward for her sacrificial generosity, she received from God His blessing: her jar of meal and the jug of oil were never empty as long as the drought lasted. This story of the widow’s provisions, like the story of the raising of her son when he died, emphasizes the power of God’s word in the prophet’s mouth. The letter to Hebrews (9:24-28) was written for Jewish converts to Christianity, in part to help them cope with the loss of the comforts they had enjoyed from the institutions of Judaism. St. Paul teaches these Judeo-Christians that Jesus, alive in the community, has become the Holy of Holies and the High Priest, around whom all temple worship revolved. Since Jesus replaces both the temple and human mediators, the Christians need not go to the temple in Jerusalem for worship. Under the Old Covenant, a priest conducted an annual ritual sacrifice in the sanctuary of the Temple, slaughtering a lamb. Paul argues that Jesus himself has replaced the whole class of ancient priests and that the earthly sanctuary has been outdated by the sanctuary that is heaven, where Jesus the Priest intercedes for us directly before God. Similarly, the repetitive annual sacrifices have been replaced by Jesus’s once-for-all sacrifice at Calvary. Thus, Jesus the High Priest cleanses us from our sins, mediates for us now with His Father, and assures us of our final deliverance in the future. In the Gospel of St. Mark (12: 38-44), Christ speaks highly of a widow as He watches what was going in a Jerusalem temple and explains to the disciples about generous giving to God. The offering of the widow, in the eyes of others, was the least. But in the eyes of Christ, it was the greatest. The teaching that we could apply to life this week are the following: 1) Let us learn to appreciate the widows and widowers of our parish communities and the marginalized sections of the society of our parishes. Widows (and widowers), in addition to their deep grief, often suffer from economic loss, from the burden of rear- ing a family alone. Their loneliness draws them closer to God and to stewardship in the parish. They are often the active participants in all the liturgical celebrations, offering prayers for their families and for their parish family. Frequently, they are active in parish organizations, as well as in visiting and serving the sick and the shut-ins. Hence, let us appreciate them, support them, encourage them, and pray for them. 2) Let’s accept Christ’s attitude for judging people. We often judge people’s value by what they possess. But Jesus measures us on the basis of our inner motives, the intentions hidden behind our actions, the sacrifices we make for others, and the degree of our surrender to God’s holy will. The offering God wants from us is our hearts and lives. ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M. Obituaries Laurie Jo Harrison C. Jean Bennett Bowman Laurie Jo Harrison and Cheney, WA. Bowman, daughter of Dave Laurie made her home and Norma Harrison of in Medical Lake where she Vancouver, WA, passed took pride in the fact that away on October 14, she attended every 2021. Laurie was single sporting event born Sept 21, 1960, for son, Christian, at Coulee Dam, WA. who went to school She spent her there. early years of grade Rick and Lau- school at Davenport, Laurie Jo rie had a passion for WA, enjoying Lit- Harrison traveling in their mo- tle League games, Bowman tor home, boating, the swimming pool, NASCAR, Mariners, twirling her baton and go- Seahawks, Green Bay and ing to basketball games the Gonzaga Zags. with friends. She liked tak- Laurie is survived by ing baton lessons with her her son, Christian, who was big sis and delighted in a great source of pride for many escapades with her her; fiancé, Rick Wright; brother, Karl. parents, Dave and Nor- Laurie spent her ju- ma Harrison; brother, Karl nior high and high school Harrison; sisters, Susan years at Heppner, where she Thompson (Scott) and Kel- participated in volleyball, ly Boyer (John); nieces, basketball and track as well Brooke Boyer Kates, Me- as cheerleading with her gan Deffe (Shaun), Molly sister, Kelly, rooting for the Hughs (Doug); nephews, Heppner Mustangs. Matt Gaffney, Zach Lust, In 1979, Laurie grad- Tyler Boyer (Lindsey); two uated from Cheney High great nephews, Cole and School with honors and Evan; her good friend, Bob went on to graduate from Miller and many relatives Eastern WA College with and friends. a BA degree in education. “Laurie will be sadly She was employed by the missed by all, but we will Head Start program, Hous- have fond memories of her ing Authority, and managed cheerfulness and love for apartment complexes in family and friends,” noted Vancouver, Medical Lake a family member. Ione/Arlington competes at state Pictured: Grace Ogden #4, Favi Juarez #7, Madison Orem #9, Haylie Peterson #11 and Naijiah Knight #9 The Ione/Arlington volleyball team competed against North Powder at the state competition. The girls showed up and put North Powder on their heels taking the first set 25-16. Ione/Arlington fought back during the second set from an 11 point deficit for a hard fought loss at 25-20. The team continued to battle for a loss in the third and fourth sets. The team consists of Grace Ogden, Favi Juarez, Fast , Fast , Fast! Speedy Internet For Your Home Speeds and Prices 300 Mbps Symmetrical High-Speed Internet for $59.95/month No contracts, data caps, price increases or throttling. Whole home wi-fi included 1 Gig Symmetrical High-Speed Internet for $74.95/month No contracts, data caps, price increases or throttling. Whole home wi-fi included 2 Gig Symmetrical High-Speed Internet for $99.95/month** No contracts, data caps, price increases or throttling. Contact Karen at (541) 436-0223 or email sales@gorge.net For quicker service & installation be sure to contact us and Pre-Register by Nov. 15 Free residential installation! ($99 value) www.gorge.net/heppner-ione Available in Ione and Heppner city limits ** Equipment price is not included C. Jean Bennett, 91, also served on the Mor- passed away October 26, row County School Board 2021, at Pioneer Memorial for eight years, a position she took great pride Hospital in Heppner. in. Later she found A graveside service her true calling as will be held at 11 a.m. the Morrow Coun- Tuesday, November ty brand inspector 2, 2021, at the Hep- which she did for pner Masonic Cem- 27 years. etery. Attire is boots Jean loved her and jeans as that was Jean Bennett family and living what Jean was most on the family farm where comfortable wearing. Jean was born April 2, they raised sheep, cattle hay 1930 and raised on the fam- and grain. She enjoyed the ily farm on Hinton Creek outdoors and going to the east of Heppner, the daugh- mountains. Jean is survived by her ter of John and Lulu Bickell Hanna. She lived there until husband, Don Bennett; shortly before her passing daughters, Deborah Sumner with her husband of 71 (Paul), Judy Barber (Don), Sandy Matthews (Skip); years, Donald Bennett. Jean graduated from six grandchildren and 14 Heppner High School in great grandchildren. She 1949. She was chosen as was preceded in death by a princess for the 1946 her parents and siblings Morrow County Fair and Genevieve Corbin, Mildred Rodeo court along with Conner, Bill Hanna and her lifelong friends Gwen John Hanna. Donations in Jean’s Healy and Darlene Hoskins. Jean worked at several name can be made to Hep- places in Heppner includ- pner Booster Club, PO Box ing Ma Bell as a telephone 917, Heppner, OR 97836 or operator. She then worked to Pioneer Memorial Hos- at JC Penney’s and Gard- pital, PO Box 9, Heppner, ner’s men’s wear. She was OR 97836 Sweeney Mortuary of an active member of the Morrow County Livestock Heppner is in care of ar- Growers and spent sever- rangements. The online al years as a 4-H leader. condolence book is avail- Jean drove school bus for able at www.sweeneymor- many years for the Morrow tuary.com. County School District. She Madison Orem, Haylie Peterson, Naijiah Knight, Cecilia McElligott, Sunem Calvillo, Jolene Serrano, Aubrey Blakley, Isabella Mastriona, Callie Troutman and Analisa Valdez. Superintendent Kevin Dinning told the Gazette, “We are extremely proud of the I/A volleyball team this year. They have shown determination and grit and are great ambassadors of our community.”
