phone-in for (audio only) Phone Number: (646) 558-8656
Meeting ID: 825 1215 9155
What Love Can Do
Welcome and Theme:
Opening Prayer:
God of Love, we know you are always present with us. We acknowledge Your fire of the Divine igniting our hearts and the Spirit of serenity you weave in the tapestry of our souls. We seek to be Jesus in our time and place and to create “lives that are holy and hearts that are true.” May we cherish this day which You have made. Amen.
Opening Song: Deer's Cry Sung by Lisa Kelly
https://youtu.be/34DVkdZAIw4?
LITURGY OF THE WORD
1st Reading: A reading from the Book of Exodus
Pharaoh spoke to the midwives of the Hebrews — one was Shiphrah, and the other Puah and said, “When you assist the Hebrew women in childbirth, examine them on the birthing-stool. If the baby is a boy, kill it. If it is a girl, let it live.” But the midwives were God-fearing women, and they ignored the Pharaoh’s instructions, and let the male babies live. So Pharaoh summoned the midwives and asked why they let the male babies live. The midwives responded, “These Hebrew women are different from Egyptian women; they are more robust, and deliver even before the midwife arrives.” God rewarded the midwives, and the people increased in numbers and in power. And since the midwives were God-fearing, God gave them families of their own.
These are the inspired words from the Book of Exodus and we affirm them by saying, Amen.
2nd Reading: "Look What Love is Doing - by John Foley, SJ (adapted by DMcD)
In the Gospel, Jesus says … in no uncertain terms.
“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.
“What?” we might exclaim (as I did in college). I thought that law consisted of commands forced upon me from the outside, rules whose violation would bring punishment. What is this about law depending on love? Take a look.
God does not fail at love. God waits. God says, “how wonderful that you are learning!” God says, “I love every person on earth. And you—you are my beloved. I am at your side as you learn to open to me and to others.”
Do you and I succeed in this? Well, we need laws to help us. But the root of law and of life is fair care of others. It is loving concern under God for human persons. Ultimately this is a replication of God’s love for us.
“Look at what love is doing.”
A reading from John Foley, SJ which we affirm by saying, Amen.
Alleluia: Celtic Alleluia
Gospel: Matthew 22:15-22
Then the Pharisees went off and began to plot how they might trap Jesus by his speech. They sent their disciples to Jesus, accompanied by sympathizers of Herod, who said “Teacher, we know you’re honest and teach God’s way sincerely. You court no one’s favor and don’t act out of respect for important people. Give us your opinion, then, in this case. Is it lawful to pay tax to the Roman emperor, or not?”
Jesus recognized their bad faith and said to them, “Why are you trying to trick me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin which is used to pay the tax.” When they handed Jesus a small Roman coin, Jesus asked them, “Whose head is this, and whose inscription?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
At that, Jesus said to them “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s but give to God what is God’s”
When they heard this they were astonished and went away.
These are the inspired words from the gospel writer known as Matthew and the community affirms them by saying: Amen
(pause)
Homily (Donna) and Shared Reflection
Regardless who is elected to any political office or is running the world religions or even how kind our bosses friends and families are, there are some things that are most likely true. Sometimes the world will put us in difficult situations. Laws written by the government or religious leaders or our bosses will go against the grain of our conscience. People will trick, deceive and corner us. Today we celebrate that no matter what ties try to bind us, we are always free. Our freedom is guaranteed because we live by one law only. We live in the law of love, which is God. In Catholicism we call this primacy of conscience. We can and MUST learn to respond in wise and loving ways when the world around us isn’t.
In the retreat yesterday we heard a Ted talk by Buddhist nun Sister True about the importance of practicing presence in every situation in order to cultivate life-giving power in our world.
She gave three questions for us to ponder that can guide us. Who are you? Where are you? What do you want? Jesus surely knew the importance of being grounded in these questions. He knew the history of his people and what was going on in the world around him. He frequently used his knowledge and his meditative prayers to lead him to wise actions. I think this is why people were drawn to Jesus as a wisdom figure.
The stories today present two kinds of power. One is life destroying, one is life giving. The first use of power predominates when people are focused on protecting their authority. The second is focused on protecting human life at all cost. People can use or abuse the power that goes with their position, but they can never control individual primacy of conscience.
As we see in the gospel today Jesus was able to be wise even under the pressure of being tested by the Pharisees and Herodians in front of a crowd of people who had varying political and religious views. Jesus kept the focus on having the right priorities. He said to give the state what belongs to the state and to give to God what belongs to God. This wise and powerful clarification of priorities left the people feeling amazed.
The midwives would not follow the command to kill the male babies. Fear of God which is translated as reverence and awe for God guided them to disobey the state. They acted with wisdom grounded in respect for human life. Their brave civil disobedience saved the lives of many including the life of newborn Moses. They experienced awe and reverence when they were present at many births. Their deep knowing of this significant experience of birth surely made it impossible for them to entertain killing babies even when they were directed by state to do so. Love was their guiding principle and Primacy of Conscience was their highest law.
State leaders, church leaders, bosses, friends, and family may act in ways that are not wise. Their choices may be power saving and not lifesaving. But one thing will always be true. We have the choice as individuals to respond with love through primacy of conscience. When we do so, we image God who is perfect love for the world. May OUR choices be wise and leave people feeling amazed.
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
Presider 1: As we prepare for this sacred meal, we bring to this table our blessings, cares and concerns. please feel free to voice your concerns beginning with the words “I bring to the table….”
We bring all of these prayers and unspoken concerns to the table of friendship and love. Amen.
Liturgy of the Eucharist
Presider 2: Please join in praying our Eucharistic Prayer:
ALL: O Divine Fire of Love, glowing embers dance in our hearts. Our souls are purified by the searing truth that ignites our spirits and by the fire that penetrates the cold around us, setting our hearts aglow with tenderness.
How often have we felt tender love that is without limits or boundaries! How often have we been consumed with delight by love in a human touch! How often have we been embraced through Earth's beauty, a part of the beloved creation that surrounds us! We are energized to work for justice and peace in our world and we raise our voices with grateful hearts as we sing:
Holy, Holy, Holy: Here In This Place by Christopher Grundy
ALL: Holy Mystery, may we listen with assurance and excitement as the infinite, boundless, depths of love are revealed within and among us. May we awaken to the promise that we are always, no matter what the obstacles or setbacks we experience, embraced with love and compassion. May we be consumed with such a hunger and thirst for justice that our words and actions inflame others to
become signs of justice. May we have eyes to see human need, hearts to care for our sisters and brothers and hands and feet to lighten others' burdens.
We are thankful for Jesus, and his strong, but gentle presence, whose message blesses and transform our lives. He showed us how to live as your new creation.
Presider 1: (lifts bread as community prays the following:)
All: On the night before Jesus died, he gave us a special gift of love divine. He took bread, broke it and shared it with friends who gathered around the table saying:
Take and eat of the Bread of Life
Given to strengthen you
Whenever you remember me like this
I am among you. (pause)
Presider 2 (lifts the cup as community prays the following: )
All: Jesus then raised a cup of blessing, spoke the grace 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. (pause)
All: Let us share this bread and cup to proclaim and live the gospel of justice and peace.
Please receive the bread with the words, You are the face of God.
Communion Meditation: Love Changes Everything
https://youtu.be/MQEVx6plEI0?si=8Ubi3BMlVEm68Pwt
All: As we celebrate this memory of Jesus, let us experience, like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, in the sharing of the bread and the cup of blessing, the divine presence in our midst.
May we become Spirit-Fire, as we fan the flames of love over the entire cosmos.
May all of our families and friends, the young and old, the sick and dying and all those in need experience nurturing love this day.
May all creation dance and become one heart, one mind, one spirit with everything. May we touch the earth with reverent awe and live in harmony with all creatures. May we turn away from all efforts to dominate anyone or anything. May we see the divine presence shining in the stars and in the sun. May we embrace the universe's treasures and celebrate life's simple pleasures each day. May love kindle our friendship with all life, as we dwell as one with all of creation.
Presider 2: Let us pray together the prayer of Jesus:
ALL: O Holy One, who is within, 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.
The Prayer of Jesus as interpreted by Miriam Therese Winter
Presider 2: Holy One, we are thankful for this holy meal which reminds us of the need to willingly give of ourselves completely. Our hearts are fueled with divine energy. May we share the love we have experienced with all of creation and may we live always as instruments of faithful love. Amen.
Blessing
Presider 1: Please extend your hands in blessing.
ALL: May the Fire of Love ignite our hearts and radiate through us; may the Spirit of truth and justice burn within us forever. Amen.
Closing Song: The House That Love is Building by Sarah Hart
https://youtu.be/dM69BAgvuXw?si=MIlmVtuwvl-I88K6
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.