“May the seed of happiness enter grey stormy places in which I lose sight of joy.
Awaken enthusiasm.Loosen whatever restrains my spirit.”
Author Unknown
Suzanne: Welcome
A promise is given from our Creator that we will be given wisdom, knowledge, and joy when we do ‘good works’ (Ecclesiastes 2:26).Two weeks after celebrating the joyful birth of Jesus, Sister Joan Chittister wrote about the nature of happiness in her January newsletter, The Monastic Way.Timely insights are shared in the darkness of winter amidst personal suffering.Sister Joan believes that ‘happiness’ isone of the great universal riddles of all time.Instead of asking, ‘Am I happy?’she suggests that we will be missing the opportunity to explore the greatest spiritual self-development question of all time: “Am I spending my life on something meaningful enough to give joy to my existence?
The riddle opens a door to exploration as Sister Joan provides a story about a disciple having a conversation with her rabbi:
Disciple:What good work shall I do to be acceptable to God?
Rabbi:How should I know? Abraham practiced hospitality and God was with him. Elias loved to pray, and God was with him. David ruled a kingdom and God was with him. Judith led her people and God was with her, too.
Disciple:Well, then, is there some way I can find my own allotted work?
Rabbi:Yes.Search for the deepest inclination of your heart and follow it.
Sister Joan recognized a sacred gift being given by the rabbi, “It is when we immerse ourselves in something big enough or beautiful enough to consume us beyond the moment and forever, that we find the unreachable limits of human happiness.” As a seeker she does not hesitate to question herself, wondering whether her life’s mission is tapping into the best and most natural gifts that rest inside of her.This is a personal question, and she closes her reflection by saying, “Clearly happiness is doing something we can do well that gives joy to our own life and meaning to the lives around us.”
Kathy: Scripture reading adapted from 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
There are varieties of gifts, service, and activities but the same Spirit who empowers them all in everyone …To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good … to one the utterance of wisdom, to another the utterance of knowledge, to another faith, to another gifts of healing, to another the working of miracles … All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit.
Song
Be a Light by Thomas Rhett (lyrics), Keith Urban, Chris Tomlin, Hillary Scott Reba McEntire
The suffering in the world as well as our own can be debilitating.Theologian, humanitarian, and 1952 Nobel Prize winner Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) wrote, “Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight … One thing I know, is the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.”Schweitzer suggests that if there is something that stirs your heart, and you can act with compassion, then you have served a good and progressive purpose.
In the tradition of Thomas Aquinas, theologian, philosopher, and writer Gilbert. K. Chesterton (1874-1936) described happiness as a mysterious connection between our own fulfillment and the well-being of others.Seekers take the time to delve into their inner selves to find their internal gifts and what they need to experience fulfillment.Happiness is found in the journey of discovering our soul’s light, where our problems become the very place to uncover wisdom and love.The sacredness of life is revealed, as Joan Chittister also said, “Happiness is the serene awareness that wherever we are is where we belong, whatever the storms in which we find ourselves.”
Sharon: Prayer of Intention:
I bow to the sacred in all creation. May my spirit fill the world with beauty and wonder. May my mind seek truth about my strengths with humility.
May my imagination overcome despair and suffering by recognizing possibilities. May my heart be open to serve for the well-being of myself and others. May my soul rejoice in the light that glimmers in the present moment.
— Adapted fromMary Lou Kownacki, Distributed by Pax Christi, USA
Closing Reflection
Sister Joan presents two crucial spiritual questions:
•Am I spending my life on something meaningful enough to give joy to my existence?
•Am I am doing something that taps into the most natural gifts in me?
Closing Song
More Light by Christopher Gundy1 minute 39 seconds
“It is when we immerse ourselves in something big enough or beautiful enough to consume us beyond the moment and forever that we find the unreachable limits of human happiness.”
Welcome to the Upper Room Liturgy. Our theme today is "Called to be a Prophet." May we speak with authority like Jesus and the prophets who walked before us, and may our words provide "access to God's love and presence and healing power."
Juanita: Opening Prayer: Let us pray, In the name of the Holy One, our Creator,
Jesus our Brother and the Holy Spirit, Wis dom Sophia, . Amen
God of Compassion, may we speak your words of mercy and justice through the “authority” of your prophets. Let our actions to console, to lift up, to heal, to drive out the demons and unclean spirits of fear, greed and arrogance among us, reveal your compassion and forgiveness in our midst. Amen
Opening Song: You have Anointed me – by the Dameans
Moses spoke to all the people, saying: "A prophet like me will your God, raise up for you from among your own kin; to him you shall listen. This is exactly what you requested of your God, at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, 'Let us not again hear the voice of our God, nor see this great fire any more, lest we die.' And the Holy One said to me, 'This was well said. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kin, and will put my words into his mouth; he shall tell them all that I command him. Whomever will not listen to my words which he speaks in my name, I myself will make them answer for it. But if a prophet presumes to speak in my name an oracle that I have not commanded to speak, or speaks in the name of other gods, he shall die.'"
These are the inspired words of our ancient ancestors and we affirm them with, Amen.
Second Reading: From The Time is Now: A Call to Uncommon Courage by Joan Chittister
Our world waits for you and me, for prophetic spiritual people everywhere to refuse to be pawns in the destruction of a global world for the sake of national self-centeredness.The prophet is the person who says no to everything that is not of God.
No to the abuse of women.
No to the rejection of the stranger.
No to crimes against immigrants.
No to the rape of the trees.
No to the pollution of the skies.
No to the poisoning of the oceans.
And while saying no, the prophet also says YES.
Yes to equal rights for all.
Yes to alleviating suffering.
Yes to embracing the different.
Yes to who God made you.
Yes to life.
It is not an easy spiritual path.It can be tiring, wearying, soul-saddening and at times electrifying. Prophetic spirituality calls us to walk in the wake of the biblical prophets of ancient Israel, to hear the word of God for the world and repeat it, shout it, model it until the world comes awake. It is to demand it until the hungry are fed and the sick are cared for and the violent are sent away empty of their power to destroy.
These are the treasured word of Sister Joan Chittister and the Community says Amen
Gospel: A reading from the Gospel of Mark Mk: 1:1-28
Then they came to Capernaum, and on the sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!" Jesus rebuked him and said, "Quiet! Come out of him!" The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, "What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him." His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.
These are the inspired words of the Gospel writer known as Mark and the community affirms them by saying AMEN.
Shared Homily (Juanita)
Homily Prophets
Listen! The Time is Now!Moses spoke to the people he had been serving saying, “A prophet like me will your God, raise up from your own people, to that prophet you must listen.” There have been many prophets in the past beginning with the OT.Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Isaiah, Daniel, and the list goes on.They were each called by God, filled with the Holy Spirit to speak God’s word to the people. Before Jesus arrived John the Baptist was called to speak out about repentance and that someone greater than he would come.
Jesus is the prophet who calls us to follow him.As a prophet, Jesus came to speak the truth with authority as we read in today’s gospel. So, who are the prophets of today?Sr. Joan Chittister writes, “It is the new prophetic voice for which the world is waiting.It is the voices of Amos, and Hosea, Isaiah and Micah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and now yours that is needed to change the world.
And what does a prophet do?A prophet cries out, cries out, without fear, Without care for cost.Without end.…for the sake of the children, for the sake of the world, for the sake of the gospel, Cry out.”Prophetic communities are crying out against unjust wars, clericalism, pedophilia, abuse of women and children, climate change, pollution, sexism, homelessness, gun violence, and so much more.
Jesus was not afraid to cry out to the marginalized, the hungry, the sick and stand up against the forces of evil. He cried out over Jerusalem.
He spoke in the synagogue teaching with authority.He held the people spell bound as he rebuked the evil spirit out of the possessed person. He is considered a prophet and more than just a prophet. Jesus fulfilled many prophetic traditions and brought messages of God's will to humanity. He performed miracles, taught about the Kin-dom of God, and made predictions about future events. Additionally, Jesus is seen as the fulfillment of numerous Old Testament prophecies regarding the coming Messiah.When I visited the Jesuit University in El Salvador I heard stories how they were standing up against the violence that was happening to the people there.They cried out for justice and were killed.
Archbishop Oscar Romero after the death of Rutilio Grande began to speak out for the oppressed and the poor. He became a threat to the government and was finally shot.The four church women spoke out against the government on how the farmers were being treated, they too were tortured and shot. Mother Teresa heard the call to go and work with the poorest of the poor in Kolkata, India.In the beginning of her ministry to the poor she was rejected by the people of India but she persisted in taking care of the destitute and dying.
Sr. Joan Chittister speaks out for justice through her lectures and books. For over 50 years she has passionately advocated on behalf of peace, human rights, women’s issues, and monastic and church renewal.
Prophets irritate people and get their attention.
As women priests we too are irritating the Vatican so much so that many have been arrested by their police.In 2012 Christine Mayr Lumetzberger and I stood up to go to communion while attending mass in St. Peters, Rome.Two priests came down from the sanctuary and blocked our row denying us Eucharist. After mass we were surrounded by 8 security guards, then asked to leave St. Peters or be arrested because they had identified us as priests the day before.
Today, Bridget Mary, Mary Theresa and others are standing up against the male hierarchy and requesting that women who have been called by God be ordained.Members of the Upper Room, the Magdala Community and others are sowing the seeds for inclusivity and equality in the church modelling a new way of ministry. The prophet refuses to remain silent. Jesus is asking us what will we do to cry out for changes that need to be made?Find the courage to go out and make a difference in today’s world.Speak out as today’s prophets.
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
(Written by Jay Murnane)
Mary Theresa: As we prepare for this sacred meal we are aware of our call to serve, andjust as Jesus is anointed, so is each of us. We bring to this table our prayers for the community.
Prayers for the community.
We pray for these and all unspoken intentions. Amen.
Juanita: Please join in praying the Eucharistic prayer together.
Blessed are you, Holy One, source of all creation. Through your goodness you made this world and called us to be Your co-creators. We give thanks for the diversity and beauty of life around us and within us.
We open our awareness to the goodness of all of creation and we remember our responsibility to serve. You invite us to build the earth into a community of love rooted in justice. You placed confidence in us, for you made us and you know that we are good.
In joy and in thanksgiving we join with all the faithful prophets who have gone before us and we sing:
Holy Holy Holy by Christopher Grundy
https://youtu.be/uXyu57tR2gk?si=kJwDs6iASc7x6-hB
Mary Theresa: We thank you for Jesus, simple servant, lifting up the lowly, revealing you as God-With-Us, and revealing us as one with you and all of creation.
He lived among us to show us who we are and challenged us to know you. He taught us the strength of compassionate love.
Please extend your hands in blessing.
We are grateful for your Spirit at our Eucharistic Table and for this bread and wine which reminds us of our call to be prophets for the body of Christ.
On the night before he died, Jesus gathered for supper with the people closest to him. Like the least of household servants, he washed their feet, so that they would re-member him.
All lift their plates and pray 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.
(pause)
All lift their cups and pray the following:
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.
(pause)
What we have heard with our ears, we will live with our lives. As we share communion, we become Communion both love’s nourishment and love’s challenge.
You are called, consecrated and chosen to serve.
Please receive Communion with the words: You are anointed to serve
Juanita: Holy One, we are willing to do everything Jesus did, to re-create the living presence of a love that does justice, of a compassion that heals and liberates, of a joy that generates hope, of a light that illumines people and confronts the darkness of every injustice and inequity.
We trust you to continue to share with us your own spirit, the spirit that animated Jesus, for it is through his life and teaching, all honor and glory is yours, forever and ever. Amen.
All: Amen.
Joan: 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
Juanita:Let us raise our hands in blessing pray together:
May we continue to be the face of God to each other. May we call each other to extravagant generosity! May we walk with an awareness of our Call as prophets, knowing we are not alone. May we, like Jesus, be a shining light and a blessing in our time!
May you be blessed in the name of the Holy One, our Creator, Jesus our Brother, and the Holy Spirit, Wisdom Sophia, .Amen
Closing Song: Go The Distance - One Voice Children's Choir
