phone-in for (audio only) Phone Number: (646) 558-8656
Meeting ID: 825 1215 9155
Welcome: Last weekend we celebrated Holy Week with all its joys and sorrows. This week we move forward. We, like the disciples, are often filled with anxiety. For the disciples they were feeling lost, and scared. For us our world is upside down with wars, racism, antisemitism, anti-gay, and the list goes on. With all our worries and anxiety, we hear our call to live the life of Jesus, one step at a time. As our opening song says we Choose Life.
Opening Song: Choose Life by Colleen Fulmer
LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading: A Reading from A story from Testing Tradition and Liberating Theology (Val Webb)
During World War II Father Salvatore, was adapting his liturgies and homilies in order to comfort his frightened, starving congregation hiding in the catacombs during the siege of Malta. Salvatore’s superior, an official of the church disapproved of Salvatore’s methods and reported him to the bishop for irregular behavior. The bishop relieved Salvatore of his priestly duties and sent him to a Capuchin monastery for a retreat.
Salvatore started to question his fitness to be a priest. He doubted all things, silly things, sacred things, wildly letting go of his faith that he had lived for forty years.
He suddenly thought, for no reason at all, of the Last Supper. Had it really been such a solemn pompous festival with wine which turned to blood for the next two thousand years, the eating of the bread which became the Savior’s flesh? It wasn’t like that at all. It was really about a marvelous man who knew he must die-taking leave of his friends-fishermen and carpenters who liked a party- and raising his goblet at the end of a cheerful evening and telling them: ‘Don’t forget me when I am gone, have supper, eat and drink and remember me. Remember all that I taught you’.
The community affirms these words with AMEN!
Gospel acclamation: Celtic Alleluia by Christopher Walker
Gospel: A Reading from the Gospel of John (20:19-30)
In the evening of the first day of the week, the disciples had locked the doors for fear of the authorities, but Jesus came and stood in front of them and he greets them: “Peace be with you.” Having said this, he showed them his wounds. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw Jesus, who said to them again, “Peace be with you. As Abba God sent me, so I am sending you.” Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive sins, they are forgiven. If you retain sins they are retained.
It happened that one of the Twelve, Thomas-nicknamed the Twin was not present when Jesus came. The other disciples kept telling him, “We have seen Jesus.” Thomas’ answer was, “I’ll never believe it without putting my finger into the nail marks and my hand into the spear wound.”
On the eighth day, the disciples were once more in the room, and this time Thomas was with them. Despite the locked doors Jesus came and stood before them saying, “Peace be with you.” Then to Thomas, Jesus said, “Take your finger and examine my hands. Put your hand into my side. Don’t persist in your unbelief but believe.” Thomas said in response, “My Savior and my God!” Jesus then said, “You have become a believer because you saw me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Jesus performed many other signs as well-signs not recorded here-in the presence of the disciples. But these have been recorded to help you believe that Jesus is the anointed one, and that you may have life in your believing.
We affirm these words with AMEN!
Homily Starter:
John’s gospel originally ended with Chapter 20, the story of Doubting Thomas. Chapter 21 was added much later- and focuses on Peter and his call to “feed my sheep”. We might surmise that Chapter 21 was added to highlight Peter’s role as “head of the church.” But that is a discussion for another day.
For today, lets focus on why John decided to end with this gospel. John had three main points he wanted to emphasize. The first is Jesus telling the disciples to “receive the Holy Spirit”. We often think we receive the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Here Jesus calls forth the spirit the very first time he is in the room with the disciples. Jesus doesn’t wait! He wants his followers to experience the joy and the power of the spirit.
The second point John makes is when he has Jesus say, “if you forgive sins they are forgiven and if you retain them, they are retained. We frequently agonize over this verse and what it means in the institutional church past and present, and how it affects us personally.
In Barbara Reid’s book Abiding Word, she turns this verse and its meaning upside down. She writes there is no word for sins in the Greek translation. Rather, the word for sins is correctly translated from the Greek as “hold on” and “bind the injuries” of each person. Yes Jesus is talking about forgiving but for the purposes of healing, binding up injuries and offering comfort. If the disciples, and consequently, you and I go out and do not forgive, we are missing the real point of Jesus’ message. We miss the opportunity to hold, heal and bind up injuries. We miss the opportunity to love.
Now to the third part and lion’s share of this gospel: the story of Thomas. John ended his gospel with Thomas for a good reason. He focused on Thomas because Thomas is more like you and me. John identifies Thomas as Didymus or Twin. He uses the name symbolically, Thomas Didymus is a dichotomy. Thomas had two experiences or twin experiences simultaneously; he experienced doubt and faith. He witnessed his brothers and sisters on fire with the spirit and he wanted that too, but just like you and me he had to figure it out for himself. He was not going to just take another’s word for it and yet at the same time he was not sure of his own inner call. He doubted himself as he saw the faith of others.
In the first reading Salvatore was living his call and doing what he knew he must do to take care of his congregation. The church authorities intervened and created doubt in Salvatore. In the end Salvatore remembered what Jesus’ life was truly about. Out of his doubts, his faith emerged once again.
Like Salvatore, and Thomas, you and I are not always sure of our call. We question if we are doing enough if we are on the right path? Even our friends and families question our beliefs. We are here together in the Upper Room. How is it that we got here? We are called, we are searching, and we accept the invitation. We continue to have doubts as we continue to listen to our call. We pray, and study, we support and help each other. Our journey is filled with ups and downs, doubt, and faith. The best part is we are all Thomas’ we are all Salvatores and we are on this journey together. our journey is filled with each other.
What did you hear in these readings and homily? How will it change you?
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
As we prepare for the sacred meal, we bring to the table our prayers and intentions, starting with the words I bring to the table.
We pray for these and all unspoken intentions. Amen.
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
With open hearts and hands let us pray our Eucharistic prayer in one voice.
O Great Love, thank you for living and loving in us and through us as we set our hearts on belonging to you. May all that we do flow from our deep connection with you and all creation.
You know our limitations and our essential goodness and you love us as we are. You beckon us to your compassionate heart and inspire us to see the good in others and forgive their limitations. Acknowledging your presence in each other and in all of creation, we sing:
Holy, Holy, Holy: Here In This Place by Christopher Grundy
Guiding Spirit, when opposing forces in us tug and pull and we are caught in the tension of choices, inspire us to make wise decisions toward what is good.
We thank you for our brother, Jesus, and for all our sisters and brothers who have modeled for us a way to live and love in challenging times. Inspired by them, we choose life over death, we choose to be light in dark times.
Please extend your hands in blessing.
We are ever aware of your Spirit in us and among us at this Eucharistic table and we are grateful for this bread and wine which reminds us of our call to be the body of Christ in the world.
On the night before he faced his own death, Jesus sat at supper with his companions and 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 plate)
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, share your love with one another.
(Lift cup)
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.
We share this bread and cup to proclaim and live the gospel of justice and peace. Please receive this bread with the words: We choose life in our doubt and faith.
Communion song: Blessings by Hollow Coves
Holy One, your transforming energy is within us and we join our hearts with all who are working for a just world. We pray for wise leaders in our religious communities. We pray for courageous and compassionate leaders in our world communities.
We pray for all of us gathered here and like Jesus, we open ourselves up to your Spirit, for it is through living as he lived that we awaken to your Spirit within,
moving us to glorify you, at this time and all ways.
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
Loving source of our being, you call us to live the gospel of peace and justice. We choose to live justly, love tenderly, and walk with integrity in your presence.
BLESSING
Please extend your hands in our final blessing.
ALL: May the Fire of Love ignite our hearts and radiate light through us.
May the Spirit of truth and justice burn within us. May we walk together as we support and tend to one another and all creation.
AMEN.
Closing Song: A Gathering of Spirits by Carrie Newcomer
https://youtu.be/zGLFtOFPqHU?si=HQhd8zEONT0_Knyf
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