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Here is the Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82512159155
phone-in for (audio only).Phone Number: (646) 558-8656
Meeting ID: 825 1215 9155
Liturgy of Radical Compassion of Self Love.
Welcome: Our readings today are chocked full of thoughts and ideas for sharing. As we listen, let us be ready to hear and respond to the Holy One’s loving invitation.
Let us pray: Holy One, every day we live in your Reality, believing it is our reality. Your Reality is often unknown, hidden, or obscured from us as we plan and hurry through our lives living our small realities. May we pause and slow our senses to know, see and hear your invitation as we allow ourselves to be belted and pulled into the great Reality that is yours and ours if we but trust in its abundant grace.
Opening Song: Be Still And Know - Song by Shaina Knoll and video by MTStreck
LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading: A Reading from the Prophet Isaiah
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts nor are your ways, my ways,” says the Holy One. “As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts.”
For just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the sower and bread for food, so will my word be that goes forth from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will carry out my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.
And you will go out joyfully, and be led out in peace; the mountains and hills before you will break into cries of joy, and all the trees in the countryside will clap their hands.”
These are the inspired words of Isaiah, a prophet of the Holy One. The community affirms them by saying, AMEN.
Psalm to Isaiah
I hear you encouraging your people to seek God,
to return to the abundance that is God's ways.
You see how your people are seeking riches and that which is not fulfilling.
You know to seek what is not fulfilling will leave them unsatisfied
and will not be everlasting.
Today I too try to encourage my community, friends and family to rely on God
to provide us with our true happiness,
and to seek the way of love always as the bottom line.
But it is hard when people are suffering to believe that the Divine source will ease their suffering.
I know your people too were suffering,
but you still maintained that they would be eased by trust in God.
I don't know that I have such conviction
to tell people of this in the midst of such pain.
May I know, believe and live in your Reality.
Alleluia: Dennis
Gospel: A Reading from the Gospel of John
Assembled were Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, Zebedee’s children, and two other disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going out to fish.” “We will join you,” and they all went into the boat.
All through the night they caught nothing.
Just after daybreak, Jesus was standing on the shore, though none of the disciples knew he was Jesus. He said to them, “Have you caught anything, friends?” “Not a thing,” they answered. “Cast your net off to the starboard side, and you will find something,” Jesus suggested.
So, they cast their net and caught so many fish that they couldn’t haul the net in. Then the disciple who Jesus loved, cried out to Peter, “It is the Teacher!”
Upon hearing this, Simon Peter threw on his cloak-he was naked-and jumped into the water. Meanwhile the other disciples brought the boat to the shore.
When they landed, they saw a charcoal fire had been prepared. Jesus said “bring some of the fish you caught.” Peter went aboard and hauled ashore the net. In spite of the great number of fish the net was not torn.
Jesus took some fish and bread and gave it to them. When they had all eaten, Jesus said to Peter, “Simon ben John, do you love me more than these? Peter said, “Yes, Rabbi, you know that I’m your friend.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” A second time Jesus put the question, “Simon ben John, do you love me?” Peter said, “Yes, Rabbi, you know I’m your friend.” Jesus replied, “Tend my sheep.”
A third time Jesus asked him, Simon ben John, do you love me as a friend would?
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked, “Do you love me?” a third time.
Peter said “You know everything, Rabbi. You know that I am your friend.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. The truth of the matter is when you were young you put on your own belt and walked where you liked; but when you grow old you will stretch out your hands and someone else will put a belt around you and take you where you do not want to go.”
These are the inspired words of the disciple known as John. The community affirms them by saying AMEN.
Homily and Shared Reflections
These readings are filled with many wonderful themes. I love the Isaiah reading, especially where the Holy one reminds us that God’s thoughts are not our thoughts. The Holy One is always inviting us to be ready for much more than what we may have planned.
And then there is this gospel with three distinct themes. First, we have the disciples fishing with Jesus on the shore once again feeding his disciples. Then we have the conversation between Peter and Jesus where Jesus asks Peter three times “do you love me?”
And finally, we have Jesus telling Peter he will be led where he will not want to go.
For a moment I am going to focus on Peter and Jesus. I believe that Peter represents the humanity in you and me. Peter who consistently messes up, from not wanting his feet washed, to falling asleep in the garden, to denying Jesus three times, and maybe most painfully, fleeing when Jesus is crucified.
At the end of this gospel Jesus tells Peter, “someone will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” We could take this phrase literally, and some scholars have, believing this is a reference to the way in which Peter will eventually die. But the phrase, “fasten a belt around you” would have been heard very differently by those following Jesus. In first century Israel all men wore a large belt. It was about 4 inches wide, that cinched the tunic, at the waist. The belt provided a way to tuck the tunic up-when needed for easier movement. This wearing of the belt was useful and needed in everyday life. Jesus is like that belt, wrapped around us, and willing to be part of our everyday life. Jesus often said, “come follow me”. When we follow Jesus, we may be taken where we do not want to go. We may have to suffer unexpectedly or unfairly. We will have to put others first with no reciprocation or gratitude. We will have to forgive when we do not want to forgive. And we will take care of one another and love one another because that is what is asked of us. Jesus loved Peter and all the disciples, warts and all. He loves us too, warts and all and he shows us over and over again.
What did you hear? Please share your thoughts.
Statement of Faith
We believe in the Holy One, a divine mystery
beyond all definition and rational understanding,
the heart of all that has ever existed,
that exists now, or that ever will exist.
We believe in Jesus, messenger of the Divine Word,
bringer of healing, heart of Divine compassion,
bright star in the firmament of the Holy One's
prophets, mystics, and saints.
We believe that We are called to follow Jesus
as a vehicle of divine love,
a source of wisdom and truth,
and an instrument of peace in the world.
We believe in the Spirit of the Holy One,
the life that is our innermost life,
the breath moving in our being,
the depth living in each of us.
We believe that the Divine kin-dom is here and now,
stretched out all around us for those
with eyes to see it, hearts to receive it,
and hands to make it happen.
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
Deven: As we prepare for the sacred meal we bring to this table our blessings, cares and concerns beginning with the words “I bring to the table…”
We pray for these and all unspoken intentions. Amen.
Kathie: Let us pray our Eucharistic prayer with open hearts and hands:
All: We are grateful for our brother Jesus teaching us the way of compassion through entering into the suffering of others. May we care for ourselves as Jesus cared for us, seeing humanity through the eyes of “Love”. Through his loving eyes we are healed and we open our hearts to the pain and suffering of others.
Because of your empowering unconditional loving Presence Beloved, we are aware of your presence in and among us. Your love radiates from our hearts, minds, and bodies. The nurturance of ourselves and one another empowers your embodied presence. “We are not the survival of the fittest but the survival of the nurtured.” (Cozolino) With joy and gratefulness today and always, we sing:
Holy, Holy: Here in this Place – Holy Holy Holy by Christopher Grundy
Deven: Holy One, you speak to our hearts and say “I don’t need anything from you for me to love you - I don’t need you to evolve for me to love you - I don’t need you to grow for me to love you - I don’t need you to succeed for me to love you - I will stay with you in any circumstance. I was here at the beginning, I am here in the middle, I will be here in the end. There is nothing you can do to lose me.” “Just your being is love to me”.
We thank you for Jesus who heard the Divine voice of deep love for him as “this is my beloved son”. Jesus showed us a path to comforting ourselves as the Divine Beloved would comfort us and as we would nurture our own children, family and friends. May we hear God’s voice as Jesus did to love and forgive ourselves so that we may more fully love and forgive each other.
Kathie: Please extend your hands in blessing.
All: We call upon your Spirit that is present in us at this Eucharistic table. We are grateful for the bread and wine that remind us of our call to be the light of Christ to the world.
Presiders stand at the table
Deven/All: On the night before he faced betrayal and death, Jesus shared supper with his friends. He reminded them of all that he taught them, and to fix that memory clearly with them, he bent down and washed their feet.
Lift the plate as the community prays the following:
When he returned to his place at the table, he lifted the bread, spoke the blessing, broke the bread and offered it to them saying:
Take and eat, this is my very self.
Lift the cup as community prays the following:
Kathie/ALL: Then he took the cup of the covenant, spoke the grace, and offered it to them saying:
Take and drink.
Whenever you remember me like this, I am among you.
Deven: All: Holy One, your love transforms us so we love and heal each other. We resolve to love as Jesus loved. Jesus loved the marginalized, the poor, the homeless, the mentally ill, the immigrants, the stranger. Amen.
This is the bread of life and the cup of blessing. Through it we are nourished and we nourish each other.
All: What we have heard with our ears, we will live with our lives; as we share communion, we will become communion, both Love’s nourishment and Love’s challenge
Let us share this bread and cup to proclaim and live the gospel of justice and peace. Please receive the bread and cup with the words: You are radically loved.
Communion song: Let go of the shore
Kathie: Communion prayer:
Loving Source of our being, You call us to live the Gospel of peace and justice. We live justly, we love tenderly, we walk with integrity in Your Presence Amen.
Let us pray as Jesus taught us:
Holy One, you are within, around and among us.
We celebrate your many names.
Your wisdom come; your will be done,
unfolding from the depths within us.
Each day you give us all that we need.
You remind us of our limits and we let go.
You support us in our power, and we act with courage.
For you are the dwelling place within us,
the empowerment around us,
and the celebration among us,
now and forever, Amen. Adapted by Miriam Therese Winter
BLESSING
Deven: Please extend your hands in blessing.
ALL: May the infinite beauty and joy of Creation continue to astound us
May the Presence of the Divine always comfort and inspire us
May we be the face of the Holy One in all we say and do, and
May we be a blessing in our time. AMEN.
Closing Song: Learn to Sit Without Knowing by Carrie Newcomer
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