Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82512159155
phone-in for (audio only) Phone Number: (646) 558-8656
Meeting ID: 825 1215 9155
Lynn: Welcome/ Theme – The blessings of Devotion and Hospitality
Opening Prayer: God of Love, we know you are always present with us. We are strangers and aliens no longer. Each of us is one of your holy people, filled with the indwelling Spirit and gifted with the glory of Creation to be well and to do good. We cherish this day which You have made and thank you for the grace to be together. Amen.
Opening Song: Somewhere to Begin by Sara Thomsen
https://youtu.be/ei54clvS1m4?si=Z3tOodx-025LRNLD
People say to me, “ Oh you gotta be crazy!”
How can you sing in times like these?
Don’t you read the news? Don’t you know the score?
How can you sing when so many others grieve?
People say to me, “What kind of fool believes
That a song will make a difference in the end?”
By way of a reply, I say a fool such as I
Who sees a song as somewhere to begin
A song is somewhere to begin
The search for something worth believing in
If changes are to come there are things that must be done
And a song is somewhere to begin.
Additional verses: 2) dream 3) love
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading: Ruth Ch. 1 (condensed) and Ch. 2 1-17
A famine had swept over the land of Israel and so a family from Bethlehem emigrated to Moab. Soon after, the father, Elimelech died and the sons, Mahlon and Chilon, grew to manhood and married Moabite women. Yet within ten years both sons perished leaving behind their wives, Orpah and Ruth and their mother, Naomi. The mother decided to return to her homeland where food was once again abundant.
Naomi expected her daughters-in-law to stay in Moab and she blessed them in farewell saying, “May the Most High give you security and true fulfillment and lead you to new spouses.” Each daughter-in-law wept and hesitated but Orpah returned to Moab while Ruth pledged to Naomi:
Wherever you go, I will go;
Wherever you lodge, I will lodge.
Your people will be my people,
And your God, my God.
Where you die, I will die
And there I will be buried.
I swear—may Yahweh be my witness and judge—
Not even death will keep us part.”
And together, they walked until they came to Bethlehem.
Ruth went to the fields of Naomi’s relative to be a gleaner, following the harvesters and gathering the grain they dropped. The relative, a wealthy man by the name of Boaz, saw Ruth working without rest and assured her that she would be protected in her gleaning of his land. “Stay with my binders and they will share their water with you. I have ordered all my reapers not to bother you.
Ruth bowed down to the ground and replied, “How have I come to deserve your favor so that you take care of me? I’m just a foreigner.”
Boaz answered, “I have heard how you have cared for your mother-in-law since your husband died, and how you left your own family and the land to live here among strangers. May you be richly rewarded by the Most High
God of Israel for your loyalty.”
When noontime arrived, Boaz invited Ruth to share roasted barley and to dip fresh bread in wine. Ruth ate until she was no longer hungry and returned to the gleaning. That afternoon, Boaz instructed the binders to drop some grain from the bundles so as to let Ruth collect it.
By evening, Ruth had enough grain for a whole basket as well as leftovers from the lunch for Naomi.
These are sacred words from the book of Ruth and we affirm them by saying, Amen.
Alleluia by Jan Phillips:
https://youtu.be/IC4nbwmQDVw?si=xdfKjPXdVEXi9PyU
Gospel: Mathew Ch. 23: 1-12
Jesus told the crowds, “The religious scholars and Pharisees have succeeded Moses as teachers; therefore, perform every observance they tell you to. But don’t follow their example; even they don’t do what they say. They tie up heavy loads and lay them on others’ shoulders, while they themselves will not lift a finger to help alleviate the burden.
All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries* and wear huge tassels. The are fond of places of honor at banquets and front seats in synagogues. They love respectful greetings in public and being called, ‘Rabbi’.
But as for you, avoid the title ‘Rabbi’. For you have only one Teacher and you are all sisters and brothers. And don’t call anyone on earth your ‘Mother’ or ‘Father’. You have only one Parent—our loving God in heaven. Avoid being called leaders. You have only one leader— the Messiah.
The greatest among you will be the one who serves the rest. Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, but those who humble themselves will be exalted.
These are the words of the gospel writer known as Mathew and we affirm them by saying, Amen.
*either of two small square leather boxes containing slips inscribed with scriptural passages
and traditionally worn on the left arm and on the head by observant Jewish men and
especially adherents of Orthodox Judaism during morning weekday prayers
Shared Homily:
The story of Naomi and her two daughters-in-law Ruth and Orpah begins with all three losing their husbands and having no children or, in Naomi’s case, no grandchildren. In a time when women are defined by marital status and fertility, they have lost every shred of security and hope for the future. For Jews listening to this story, the names foreshadow the ending. Naomi means “Joy” or “delight’, Orpah means “the one who walks away” and Ruth means “Beloved”. Naomi’s sons who have both died young and childless are Mahlon and Chilon, which mean either “Sickness” and “Consumption” or “Sterility” and “Small Vessel”.
So, Naomi and Ruth or, “Joy” and “Beloved” carve out a happy ending in a place and time when Jewish law and customs are not in their favor. Once her husband dies, the childless Ruth is no longer in-law to Naomi. Her pledge to remain with Naomi is founded on love. Their return to Judea seems to put Ruth at risk of never marrying. Jews and Moabites shared a hostile history of battles and curses and Moabites were not Jewish.
Once in Naomi’s hometown of Bethlehem, Ruth works at gleaning the left-over wheat from fields— which was technically against Jewish law but which was tolerated in practice as landowners looked the other way.
Boaz, the wealthy landowner disregards the long-held prejudice against foreigners when he learns of Ruth’s devotion to Naomi. He does not look away from Ruth’s gleaning; he makes it more profitable by telling his workers to intentionally leave more wheat behind for Ruth to glean.
As you can probably tell from the lunch with wine, Boaz and Ruth ultimately marry and have a son. (Read the two short chapters of the Book of Ruth for more on the adventurous maneuvering preceding the match of Ruth and Boaz) The marriage is sanctioned by Jewish law because Boaz is a relative to Naomi and the first husband. The family is expected to supply a second husband for Ruth. Their child, Obed will be the grandfather to King David and ancestor to Jesus.
The happy ending is due to devotion, love and hospitality but it owes in some part to following the intent of the law and not the letter of the law. This is the lesson Jesus teaches in our gospel today. He calls out the Pharisees for hypocrisy, for burdening the obligations of others while not lifting a finger to help. He enjoins his followers to follow the teachings of the Pharisees but not to live as they do, seeking high status and the perks of leadership.
For Jesus, leadership is not self-seeking but rather, humble service. While the laws are vital, they must be applied by those in power with kindness, mercy and love— with an eye and heart for the marginalized, the outcast and the foreigner.
Elsewhere in Mathew, Jesus reminds us that he has come to fulfill the law, not to abolish it. Sometimes, fulfillment comes as it does for Ruth, Boaz and Naomi by walking the extra mile, giving more than your share, and being kind when it is not expected.
What did you hear in the readings?
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.
Prayers of the Community
Lynn: As we prepare for the sacred meal, we are aware of our call to live the humility and love that Jesus models for us. We bring to our friendship table our gratitude, blessings, and concerns. Please feel free to voice your prayer beginning with the words “I bring to the table….”
We pray for these and all unspoken concerns in our hearts. Amen.
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
With open hearts and hands, let us pray our Eucharistic prayer
All: Holy One, we yearn to be close to you and to live in the embrace of your gentle wisdom. Your divine grace leads us away from our anxieties, fears and distractions and toward all that is blessed and joyous so that we might live in the Spirit and serve the cause of equality and inclusion.
Each of us is divinely created in Your image. We are precious to you and to each other because of who we are. We are beloved and blessed in your unconditional love, quite apart from how we act or fail to act. We resolve to look upon all our sisters and brothers as precious and deserving so that we serve to spread the gospel of love and peace.
Thankful for Jesus, who treated all of Creation with respect and abundant love, we seek to follow his example to be a light in the darkness. We recognize Your loving Presence here with us today and always, and we sing:
Here in this Place by Christopher Grundy
All: Dearest Holy One, there are times when we feel scarcity and emptiness even though we know You love us more than our human imagination can grasp. May we have the presence of mind to live in Your love. We strive to see You reflected in every person we meet, especially those with whom we disagree and those in need of great caring. Guide us in sharing our gifts and in being open hearted so that we learn to also accept help from others.
We thank you for Jesus, because he knew what it was like to be an outsider in occupied and foreign lands. May your indwelling presence prompt us to bring gospel kindness and understanding to refugees, asylum seekers and all people who feel like ‘outsiders. May we serve each other, walking in your love.
Lynn: Please extend your hands in blessing.
All: We are grateful for the bread and wine that remind us that we are called to renew and to be renewed with the love of the Spirit of God who is in everything, everyone and everywhere. We thank you for Jesus, beacon of love and wisdom, offering us a perspective of openness and service to others. We are grateful for this bread and wine which reminds us of the call to spread the good news of love in our world.
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 bread
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, go and share my love with one another.
lift the cup
Then he took the cup of the covenant, spoke the grace, and offered it to them saying:
Take and drink of the covenant
made new again through my life in you.
Whenever you remember me like this,
I am among you.
Bread and wine are transformed by your Spirit and we are transformed when we open ourselves to Your Spirit. Each time we share this bread with one another we choose to be transformed. We choose to love as you love us.
What we have heard with our ears, we will live in our lives; as we share communion, we will become communion, both Love’s nourishment and Love’s challenge.
Through Jesus we have learned how to live. Through Jesus, we have learned how to love. Through Jesus we have learned how to serve. AMEN
Lynn: Please receive the bread and wine with the words, I stand with Jesus
and with Ruth, devoted and welcoming
Communion Song: I Will Not leave You Comfortless by Jan Phillips
https://youtu.be/qqyPIk9aZ2E
Lynn :Let us pray together the prayer of Jesus:
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
Lynn: Please extend your hands in blessing as we pray together:
ALL: May our hearts expand,
May our humble grasp on love reach higher and wider,
May the Presence of Abba God comfort us,
May we be faithful followers of Jesus,
And May we persevere, always willing to see that the other as a mirror of ourselves and of God.
Closing Song: Stand by Me
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.