Please join us between 9:30 and 9:55 am via Zoom
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
Welcome and Theme: Our theme for today is a celebration of and recommitment to working for justice in our world, for liberty and peace proceed from justice for all creatures and Mother Earth.
Opening Prayer
Holy One, we gather as a community of believers in the dignity of all people, and the call to be a voice for our sisters and brothers who face oppression and injustice. We celebrate the example provided by our brother, Jesus, who offered hope and new life to all those to whom he ministered. He helped them to recognize the power within to overcome adversity and discrimination, which provided them a path to wholeness. We recognize our call to continue the ministry of Jesus and commit ourselves to work for justice and peace in the world today. Amen
Opening Song: The Justice Song - Words and Music by Selorm Tamakloe and Kaign Christy
LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading: “Letter from the Birmingham Jail” our responsibility to stand up to unjust laws and actively work for their change. By Rev. MLK, Jr.4/16/1963
These are the inspired words of Martin Luther King, Jr. and we affirm them by saying, Amen.
Second Reading: A Reflection on Thomas Merton’s “View of Being a Peacemaker.” His quiet monastic life gave Merton the opportunity to be a spiritual prophet of peace to the world at war.
It is my intention to make my entire life a rejection of, a protest against the crimes and injustices of war and political tyranny which threaten to destroy the whole human race and the world. By my monastic life and vows, I am saying no to all the concentration camps, the aerial bombardments, the staged political trials, the judicial murders, the racial injustices, the economic tyrannies, and the whole socio-economic apparatus which seems geared for nothing but global destruction in spite of all its fair words in favor peace. I make monastic silence a protest against the lies of politicians, propagandists and agitators, and when I speak it is to deny that my faith and my Church can ever seriously be aligned with these forces of injustice and destruction. My life, then, must be a protest against [those who invoke their faith in support of war, racial injustice and tyranny] also, and perhaps against these most of all… If I say no to all these secular forces, I also say yes to all that is good in the world and in humanity. I say yes to all that is beautiful in nature… I say yes to all the men and women who are my brothers and sisters in the world.
I think that’s a noble way of living–to speak out against all the violence, killings and war making, and to say yes to life, peace and hope.
These are the inspired words of Thomas Merton and we affirm them by saying, Amen.
Alleluia
Gospel: A reading from the writer known as Luke
After this, Jesus appointed seventy-two others, and sent them on ahead in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, “The harvest is rich, but the workers are few; therefore, ask the overseer to send workers to the harvest. “Be on your way, and remember I am sending you as lambs in the midst of wolves. Don’t carry a walking stick or knapsack; wear no sandals and greet no one along the way. And whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be upon this house!’ If the people live peaceably there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will come back to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you, for the laborer is worth a wage. Don’t keep moving from house to house. “And whatever city you enter, after they welcome you, eat what they set before you and heal those who are sick in that town. Say to them, ‘The reign of God has drawn near to you.’
These are inspired words from the writer known as Luke, and we affirm this by saying, Amen.
Homily Starter & Sharing
Rosie: Catholic Social Teaching is a central part of our living our lives following in the footsteps of Jesus. Our Gospel and Readings today from scriptural and contemporary writings exhort us to be active participants in establishing fairness, justice, and closing the poverty gap, as only then will we have peace. We are bringing folks up to speed understanding differences and inclusiveness, and actively work toward eliminating violence. But we have a long way to go to change the culture of retribution to a culture of reconciliation. The retributive mindset has influenced us throughout U.S. history and is pervasive today. For example, we know that making high school and college courses available in prisons is the single most powerful action to cut recidivism, but these classes have been cut in almost every State, as persons opposed to “rewarding” prisoners with education suppress allowing them. We know the arc of justice swings wide; how can you make a difference in your life to keep hope alive by working for justice in your own world?
Dennis: Rosie’s question is a good one, and a hard one, if we reflect on today’s readings. Martin Luther King, Jr. calls for us to be extremists in something in which we believe that fights against injustice and to do so in the way of Jesus, that is with “love, truth, and goodness”. Thomas Merton proclaims his extremism of living his entire life in the battle against injustice and tyranny, and points specifically to the end to war, racial injustice, and tyranny. It is unfortunate that both of these men’s hopes for a better world are still very much a work in progress, as we continue to see and experience wars around the world, racial and religious injustice rearing it’s ugly head, and tyranny entering our political arena.
The Gospel today has Jesus sending forth the 72 disciples to spread “love, truth, and goodness”. He forewarns them that he is sending them “as lambs in the midst of wolves”. If we reflect on that for a moment, each of those quoted by King in the first reading, were “lambs in the midst of wolves”, speaking out against the injustices of their day. As followers of Jesus, we are also called to speak out against all the violence, killings and war making, and to say yes to life, peace and hope. We will also come up against the wolves. So, back to Rosie’s question, how can you make a difference to keep hope alive by working for justice in your own world?
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
As we prepare for this sacred meal, we are aware of our call to serve, and just as Jesus is anointed, so is each of us. We bring to this table our blessings, cares and concerns beginning with the words, I bring to the table.
Intentions shared
We bring these and all deeply held blessings, cares, and concerns to the table of friendship and peace.
With open hands let us pray our Eucharistic Prayer together (1)
We gather today mindful of the many times we have professed our readiness to be true disciples of Jesus, to be salt of the earth, and light for the world.
We, recognizing the call of Jesus to love our neighbor and all of creation, join in the everlasting song of praise to the Great Mystery of Light and Love:
Holy, Holy, Holy: Here in This Place by Christopher Grundy
We acknowledge the daunting challenge of this time in the society in which we live, with its economic systems that impoverish and disempower people and its political systems that enables the rich to get richer and the earth to become poorer.
We remember that Jesus encountered in his day, systems as unjust as those we experience in our day, and who surely felt powerless to change anything on his own.
We turn our hearts and minds to his message, to his hopes and dreams, to his ardent desire for a better society. We focus on his struggle his reflections his prayer his questions – where to start? how to start? what to say? whom to choose? how to keep going? how to be salt? how to be light?
We call to mind how Jesus urged his listeners to put their trust in the power of being neighbors, in the power of the Divine Spirit within them, in the power of conversion from the religious thinking and practices that made them feel inadequate and worthless.
Our prayer today is a prayer of resolve, a prayer of determination that we, each of us, will do whatever we can, however small, in whatever way we can to bring the real dream of Jesus to fruition in our lives and in our world today.
We focus on Jesus, human like us, a man with a dream for a better world, a man of extraordinary courage, a man on a journey to the end of his life, a man willing to die for what he believed, a man who knew he would never see his dream fulfilled, a man who had to trust that those who came after him would keep his dream alive.
As we gather once more around the table of friendship and love, we remember how Jesus washed the feet of those gathered, both women and men, to remind them of the call to be a servant to all. We all gather to recall the bread and cup that Jesus shared with them shortly before he died. He invited them to eat and drink as a sign of their readiness to keep his memory alive and to continue the work for what he believed and lived.
Gathered at the table, Jesus lifted the bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them saying,
“Share this bread among you; this is my body which will be broken for justice.
Do this to remember me.” (pause)
He then took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
“Share this wine among you; this is my blood which will be shed for liberation.
Do this to remember me.” (pause)
Let us share this bread and this cup in solidarity with all peoples of the world, to be strengthened, so that peace and justice may prevail everywhere.
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.
Please receive Communion with the words: I am the hands and feet of the Christ.
Communion Meditation: America, the Beautiful: 2020
Post Communion Prayer:
When our eyes do not see the gravity of racial justice,
Shake us from our slumber and open our eyes, O God
When out of fear we are frozen into inaction,
Give us a spirit of bravery, O God
When we try our best but say the wrong things,
Give us a spirit of humility, O God
When the chaos of this dies down,
Give us a lasting spirit of solidarity, O God
When it becomes easier to point fingers outwards,
Help us to examine our own hearts, O God
God of truth, in your wisdom, Enlighten us.
God of hope in your kindness, Heal us.
Creator of All People, in your generosity, Guide Us.
Racism breaks your heart.
Break our hearts for what breaks yours, O God.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Prayer of Jesus
Let us pray the prayer Jesus:
O Holy One, who is 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 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
(Miriam Therese Winter)
Final Blessing
Dennis: Please extend your hands and pray our blessing together.
Ever present God, you called us to be in relationship with one another and promised to dwell wherever two or three are gathered. In our community, we are many different people; we come from many different places, have many different cultures. Open our hearts that we may be bold in finding the riches of inclusion and the treasures of diversity among us. We pray in faith. Amen
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Closing Song: Go Make A Difference
(1)Eucharistic Prayer adapted from Michael Morwood’s book “Prayers for Progressive Christians”, and “The Words of Eucharist” by Kurt Struckmeyer)
Healing Service for Joan
Welcome
Judy:
Holy One, you hold us all in the embrace of your creative Love. Today we tenderly pray for our dear friend and sister Joan, as she faces surgery and treatment in her journey back to wholeness and health. As her companions on the way that is your way we offer her our love and support, each from our own individual gifts.
Denise:
Joan, you are a beloved member of this community. You have gifted us with your gentle wisdom, your helpful hands and your sweet smile. You are part of the beauty of creation, and as such you are an incarnation of the Holy One, a spark of the Divine.
Today, as you face health challenges and surgery, we as individuals and as your beloved community offer our own gifts and strengths to you. We pray that the Spirit of the Holy One guide the hands and hearts of the nurses and physicians who will work with you, returning you to full wholeness and health. We surround you with loving thoughts as we bless you.
Blessing:
Judy: Please raise your hands as we bless Joan together in prayer:
May the Wholeness from which creation sprang wrap you in wholeness, holiness, and healing. May the Love that made the universe and placed you within it wrap you in a healing embrace. May the Boundless energize you for the journey ahead. May you return to us, your loving community, healed, whole, and healthy.
Anointing:
Denise: Oh Holy One, it is in you that we live, move, and have our being. You call us all to wholeness and health in your kin-dom. In your name we anoint Joan today and ask that she be filled to overflowing with peace and healing. Amen.
(Joan is anointed by Mary Theresa)
Joan, we anoint you with the chrism of healing. We call on our Beloved, the ever-present Holy One, to keep you safe and sound, and we pray that you face your journey free of anxiety.
Blessing of the Prayer Shawl:
Judy: Please raise your hands as we bless this prayer shawl.
Joan, we bless this shawl, which was lovingly made. This shawl has brought comfort and healing energy to many in our community. It holds the prayers of those who crafted it as well as those who have wrapped themselves in its warmth. It also represents the prayers of this community for your healing. We pray that it will bring you comfort as you make your journey back to health.
Denise:
As we continue to bless Joan, and accompany her in her walk toward healing, may the words of Jennifer Williamson bless us all with wisdom and comfort:
"Healing is an honor,
Though perhaps one wrapped in darkness,
Like a star is."
Closing Song: Healed, Whole and Healthy, Karen Drucker https://youtu.be/zvCU9ZqXEWw
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