Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, March 9, 2022 -- THREE
Spiritually Speaking
Come down
immediately
By Fr. Thankachan Joseph
Last Sunday when I went into my hometown Parish
Church, I was given the reading about
the conversion of Zacchaeus, mentioned
in Luke 19; therefore, I reflected on his
conversion and how we can turn our-
selves to God. Lent is a time to look into
oneself - to see how, through sin, we have
run away from God and turned to worldly
Fr. Thankachan
and material possessions.
Joseph
Sin is the breaking of one’s relation-
ship with God, seen in the life of Adam
and Eve, with Cain and Abel, and with how God confused
the people while they were building the tower of Babel.
God continuously calls us to conversion and waits for
us to return to Him like the father in the parable of the
prodigal son, or He runs after us like the hound of heaven
in the poem of Francis Thompson. Jesus and John the
Baptist both began their ministries of preaching with an
ardent plea to turn away from sin (Mt. 4: 17); “The time
has come,” Jesus said. “The kingdom of God has come
near. Repent and believe the Good News.” (Mk. 1:15).
Jesus did not leave behind a list of sins, but He
showed the meaning and seriousness of sin by the way
He responded to events and situations. He redefined many
of the existing teachings on sin (Mt.5:21f). According
to Jesus, sin meant a) refusal to help those in need (Mt.
25: 41-46; Lk. 16: 19f); b) waste of talents (the one who
buried the talent is condemned) (Mt. 25.24-30); c) unwill-
ingness to forgive (even after experiencing forgiveness for
oneself) (Mt. 18:21f); d) Pharisaism (condemning others
and despising them) (Lk. 18:11-12; Mt. 23:13f); e) cult of
pleasure (makes one lose the power of reasoning as in the
case of Herod) (Mt. 14:1-12); f) waste of grace (taking
things for granted) (Lk. 20:9f; Mt. 23:37); g) refusal to
accept and stand by one’s own people (Lk. 15: 25-32);
h) ingratitude (though we have received much more than
we truly need or deserve) (Lk. 17:11-19); i) selfishness
and hoarding (lack of trust in the providence of God) (Lk.
12:13-21); j) casting aspersions on the character of others
(the unpardonable sin) (Lk. 7:39f).
When I read the story of Zacchaeus, the following
came to my mind as points for our reflections and our
spiritual growth this week: We read in the Gospel of Luke
(9:4) that Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed up a sycamore
tree to have the glimpses of Jesus at least once in his life.
When Lord Jesus reaches the spot where Zacchaeus was
waiting to see Jesus, He looks up and calls him to come
down immediately. Jesus tells him that He is planning
to stay with him that day. Similarly, the Lord is inviting
each one of us to come down from our own self-made
glories and presumptions. We, too, need to have the same
inclinations and likings as Zacchaeus had for Jesus to see
the face of the Lord at least during this season of lent.
Like Zacchaeus, we, too, have made a sort of high
pedestal of our own pride and arrogance. When smugness
enters into our lives, we, too, keep our own kith and kin
and neighbors away from our daily life.
Jesus invites each of us to come down from the
heights of wealth, possibly, that we have accumulated for
our personal benefits. Or is it from living without both-
ering ourselves with our fellow beings, neighbors when
they go through highest amounts of pain and misery?
Instead, we close our eyes towards them.
Though we do these things and run away from God,
He does not keep track of our sins, mistakes, and errors
(cf. Lk. 15:21f). But we ourselves do. Our guilty con-
science torments us (Lady Macbeth, Herod). We punish
ourselves. The season of lent is an invitation to our read-
iness to forgive, and contrition is more important than
whispering sins to the priest. Readiness to change is a
necessary condition. (Zacchaeus Lk. 19:8). No sacrament
works like magic - either it is an occasion for personal
transformation or an empty ritual. The season of lent is a
time for all of us to prepare ourselves for the forgiveness
of sins from God. Confession truly is good for the soul
and is the celebration of our homecoming. Either we can
enter the home like the prodigal son in the parable or
sneak back into the pigsty.
Obituaries
Mary Elizabeth
(Bailey) Riggs
Russell Bryon
Seewald
Mary Elizabeth (Bai- Estes of Heppner; sons,
ley) Riggs was born on Chaney (Pam) Ferguson of
Colorado Springs,
October 31, 1944, in
CO; Charles (Jodi)
Ogden, UT to James
Ferguson of Lex-
and Wanda Bailey. She
ington; Scott Fer-
died March 4, 2022, at
guson of Prosser,
the age of 77.
WA; Keith (Kris-
Mary was raised
tin) Ferguson of
and attended school in
Stanfield. She married Mary Eliza- S u m n e r , WA ;
eight grandchil-
Chuck Ferguson early beth Riggs
dren and one great
in her life. She spent
the last 30 years with her granddaughter; brothers,
best friend and partner John Robert, Paul and Lawrence
Bailey and sister, LuCynda
Estes.
Mary was a member of Keltz.
Mary was proceeded in
the Stanfield Moose Lodge
and the Heppner Elks death by her parents; sister,
Lodge. She loved spending Wanda Fowler; brothers,
time with her sons and fam- James, Gordon, Russell,
ily enjoying the mountains, Roger and Chuck Bailey.
A celebration of life
fishing, hunting, camping,
riding horses and 4-wheel- will be held at Stanfield
ers, playing cards and dice, Moose Lodge on March
teaching her grandkids how 19 at noon, with a potluck
to cook and sew and many to follow. Donations may
other things. Mary also be made to Willow Creek
knew no strangers and was Terrace Assisted Living,
400 Frank Gilliam Drive,
a friend to many.
She is survived by John Heppner, OR 97836.
Good News Only
By Doris Brosnan
on one of the Main Street
What are the odds of benches for any length of
this story from the tiny town time, and you might start
of Heppner, OR, USA? Flo- to feel a bit higher, maybe
rene Robinson has been in even a bit like dancing a jig,
touch for a long time with for the Irish music broad-
an Australian cousin of her cast along the street can be
husband Dean, and just a bit uplifting.
recently also established
As the St. Patrick’s
contact on social media celebration returns after
with another of his Austra- the two-year hiatus, hopes
lian cousins. (Generations are high that the crowd of
ago, the family patriarch visitors will also. Finding
emigrated to Australia and parking spaces this week-
stayed there with some end will be less challenging
family though two sons for our visitors because
returned to the states.) In the city has leveled and
conversation with the new- graveled the lot by the May
er contact, Florene men- Street bridge so it will be
tioned the other’s name as available for parking.
they talked about family,
The city crew has been
which elicited a response sprucing up for our week-
of, “Do you know her?” end company: street-sweep-
Long story shorter; the ing, mowing, repainting the
father of both women had street shamrock. The school
married more than once; lawns look good, too.
the newer contact had the
Good news: As the Irish
name of a half-sister but celebration winds down on
had never been able to find Sunday, Daylight Savings
her. Florene acted as go-be- Time will have returned
tween for the two newly at 2 a.m. Time to spring
discovered sisters who live forward.
not many miles apart.
Chilly but mostly sun-
As Nancy Gochnau- ny weather seems to be wel-
er headed for Missouri a coming back the schools’
week ago Tuesday morning, athletes out for baseball,
caravanning in her car be- softball, golf, and track.
tween a pickup/trailer and a Tennis, anyone?
U-Haul truck, she knew she
Only a few minutes are
was leaving the St. Patrick’s probably needed for jotting
senior apartments in good down your positive news
hands. Nancy’s managerial and sending it to dbros-
responsibilities have been nan123@gmail.com? Or
handed over to DeRina you can also call 541-676-
Howard, who reports no 5382 or 541-223-1490.
vacancies at this time but
Here’s hoping that
offers the office number for some good news comes to
inquiries: 541-676-5380.
everyone reading this.
Feeling a bit low? Sit
The Morrow County Clerk’s office has released the
following report of marriage licenses:
February 3, 2022: - Jennifer Yvonne Bash, 40, Ione,
and Matthew Louis Spargo, 38, Pocahontas, AR.
February 18, 2022: - Linda Louise Keith, 35, Hep-
*Design *Print *Mail
pner, and Jose Elias Sauceda III, 45, Heppner.
Marriage Licenses
Print & Mailing Services
Sykes Publishing
Prepare for
Power Outages
& Save Money
541-676-9228
Russell Bryon Seewald, naturally to Russ. His grand-
dedicated husband, father, kids loved his neck kisses
grandfather and friend, with the tickly scratch of
passed away in his sleep at his chin whiskers. He loved
home in Kennewick, WA on having the kids watch car
Friday, February 25, 2022. racing with him, when they
Russ was born to Rich- would sarcastically taunt
Grandma with
ard and Gloria Seewald
cheers of “Go,
in Caldwell, ID on July
race car, go!”
21, 1962. He graduat-
Russell is
ed from Vallivue High
survived by his
School in 1980 before
wife, Kim; their
attending College of Ida-
ho, both in Caldwell. At Russell Bryon three children
Spencer, Shel-
C of I, Russ met his wife, Seewald
by (Bonderman)
Kim, and graduated in
1987. He then started his and Savannah (McCarl);
30+ year career in banking, four grandchildren, Alayna,
Clara, Calvin Russell and
mostly as a loan officer.
Russ and Kim married Carly; his brother, Brad and
on January 6, 1991, and his uncle, Ron.
Russ fought a short
soon after welcomed their
first child, Spencer. In short bout against throat can-
work, the family grew to cer. His family appreciates
five with the births of Shel- the dedicated staff of the
Tri-Cities Cancer Center
by and Savannah.
Through the years, and Genesis Care.
In his memory, dona-
Russ enjoyed playing golf,
fixing cars and time with tions can be made to his
his family. He loved visiting memorial fund, which will
Phoenix, making annual first be used to purchase
trips to golf with his friends a memorial park swing,
and frequenting his vaca- and then to support the
Tri-Cities Cancer Center
tion home in Scottsdale.
Russ and Kim called and Genesis Care. [https://
the Boise area home for al- everloved.com/life-of/rus-
most 50 years. They moved sell-seewald/donate/]
Please join his fami-
to Heppner, OR in 2011
where Russ worked for ly for drop-in memorials:
Bank of Eastern Oregon, Sunday, March 6 at Zee’s
and then to Kennewick, Rooftop from 2-6 p.m. (250
WA in 2015, still making S 5 th St #900, Boise, ID);
frequent trips back to Boise. Sunday, March 13 at CG
His race spectating, Public House from 1-4 p.m.
auto repair skills and lead (9221 W Clearwater Ave,
foot combined to become a Kennewick, WA 99336).
His friends and family
love affair with auto racing.
In the summers, he could are invited to share happy
often be found at a number memories and celebrate
of racetracks in the north- Russ’ life in the way he
west and beyond, while in would want to be remem-
the winters, he was tuning bered – as a loving and car-
and repairing his race cars – ing man who enjoyed life.
A special tribute will
always a BMW, preferably
also be planned during a car
black.
Being a grandpa came race this summer.
CRP signup
deadline approaches
The USDA Farm Ser-
vice Agency’s General Con-
servation Reserve Program
(CRP) signup deadline is
Friday, March 11. General
CRP helps producers and
landowners establish long-
term, resource-conserving
plant species, such as ap-
proved grasses or trees, to
control soil erosion, im-
prove water quality and
enhance wildlife habitat on
cropland.
Producers interested in
enrolling in General CRP
should contact their local
FSA office before close-of-
business March 11. To find
a USDA Service Center/
FSA office, please visit
https://offices.sc.egov.usda.
gov/locator/app.
Justice Court Report
Morrow County Justice
of the Peace, Glen Diehl,
has released the following
Justice Court report:
-Abel Santos Ramirez,
28, Ione, was convicted of
no operator’s license, fine,
$265; driving uninsured,
fine $265; failure to drive
within lane, fine, $265; and
open container, fine $265.
-Kannon M. Walkins,
20, Heppner, was convicted
of violation of basic rule,
fine, $265 and failure to
carry proof of insurance,
fine, $265.
-Donald R. Martin, 51,
Heppner, was convicted of
driving while suspended,
fine, $440 and driving un-
insured, fine, $265.
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