phone-in for (audio only) Phone Number: (646) 558-8656
Meeting ID: 825 1215 9155
Welcome and Theme —Today is Bastille Day, a French holiday that recalls the attack on the Bastille prison and liberation of many innocents from deplorable conditions. It was the first act of what would become The French Revolution. And so, today we consider how change comes about and how we can be instruments of holiness and liberation for ourselves and for those whose lives we can influence or improve.
Opening Prayer —We gather this morning aware of the glory and joy that life offers, especially in the love of those who brighten our lives and the care and love of the Divine. We are blessed and beloved. May we also remember that whenever love and support can turn into action, justice reigns, courage inspires, peace flows and all things become possible with God. Amen.
Opening Song: Standing on Their Shoulders by Earth Mama
LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading: Ephesians 1: 4-6 and 11-14
God has chosen us in Christ to be holy and blameless and to be full of love: God likewise predestined us through Christ to be adopted children, that everyone might praise the glory of God’s grace.
In Christ we were willed an inheritance. In Christ you too were chosen. When you heard the Good News and believed in it, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit who is the pledge of our inheritance, the deposit paid on the full redemption of a people who are God’s own.
These are the inspired words from the first of Paul’s letters to Ephesus and we affirm them. Amen.
Second Reading: “Take Nothing for the Journey” by Joyce Rupp
Heal and proclaim…
Were the twelve afraid?
Did they wonder if they could do those things?
Compared to the quality of your ministry,
Did they feel inadequate and unworthy?
What persuaded them to go? Your words?
Your friendship? Their enthusiasm?
Your deep belief that they could do it?
And you said:
“Take nothing for the journey.”
What did you mean?
Trust or more than trust?
Did you perhaps imply that we can’t wait
until we have all the possible things we need?
That we can’t postpone “doing”
until we are positive of our talents?
That we can’t hold off our commitment
until we are absolutely sure
We won’t make a mistake?
I think of all the excuses and reasons
We can give for not serving and giving:
no time, no talent, no knowledge,
no energy, no assured results.
You say, “Take nothing.
Don’t worry about your inadequacies.
I will provide for you.
Go! Just go! Go with my power.
Risk the road, risk the work.
Go! I will be with you.
What else do you need?
These are the inspired words of Joyce Rupp from “Out of the Ordinary” and we affirm them. Amen.
Celtic Alleluia by Christopher Walker
Gospel Reading: Mark 6: 7-13
Then Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out in pairs, giving them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a mere staff– no bread, no bag, no money in their belts. They were to wear sandals but, he added, “Do not take a spare tunic.”
And Jesus said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave town. Any place that does not receive you or listen to you, as you leave it, shake off the dust from the soles of your feet as a testimony against them.” And so, they set off, proclaiming repentance as they went. They cast out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.
The apostles returned to Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. Jesus said, “Come away by yourselves to someplace more remote, and rest awhile.” For there were many people coming and going and the apostles hadn’t had time to eat. So, they went away in a boat to a deserted area.
These are the inspired words of the writer known as Mark and we affirm them. Amen
—Pause to consider the readings—
Homily Starter – Lynn
We have heard the phrase that we are ‘children of God’ often. Less often, we hear that Christ is our brother and through that relationship, we are ‘adopted children’ as Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesians. We are not the poor relations in a Victorian novel like Jane Eyre or Pip in Great Expectations.
No, we are adopted children who are written into the will.
So generous is the Holy One that we are brought into the family of believers, our community and we receive not only the Holy Spirit but the promise of redemption, rescue, healing and being eternally “God’s own.” We have literally hit the spiritual lottery. The only qualifier in Paul’s letter is that we believe it. It is up to us to accept and realize our fullest blessings.
You’d think that would be easy —to accept blessings— but doing so requires believing in our worthiness rather than atoning or fearing that we have to earn the love of God. The world around us is sometimes hard and callused and rude and random, making it hard to hear Paul’s view that “God has chosen us to be holy and blameless and to be full of love.”
What must the apostles have believed about their blessings when Jesus sent them away? The word apostle literally means “one who is sent out”. Did the Twelve expect that they would be hitting the road to heal, to proclaim, and to go with the authority of Jesus? How many Christians today still don’t know or resist the knowledge that this is our portfolio – to use our God-given talents to do as Jesus did if only in our own families, neighborhoods, towns and cities? The need is within our reach and our personal touch can be wondrous.
The instruction to take no money, no luggage, no food or spare clothing may seem to strange to us but hospitality for travelers and strangers was expected; there would be no Mariott or even a Red Roof Inn along the dirt roads. This was how Jesus and John the Baptist before him performed their nomadic ministries. The more harsh instruction about shaking the dust off your feet is not thought to be a custom of the time but was added later by 11th century missionaries.
So, let’s move from the literal instructions to the common-sense idea of travelling light and being liberated from material goods, fears, regrets, worries and resentments that we carry around with us. Each of us has a certain amount of baggage. (Most of us overpack)
Who among us doesn’t carry some scar tissue, some need of healing and understanding?
As the Joyce Rupp reading suggests, those sent out— from the apostles to ourselves may be in need of support, mindfulness, trust and deep belief that we are inheritors of the Spirit of God.
Sure, it can be exhausting to try and be always understanding. Love can be a real challenge and surrendering our grudges is hard. Thank God Jesus knew that the apostles needed respite when they returned. Self-care is a critical component of being able to be there for others.
An ironic twist follows in the gospel—the boat they used to reach a remote area was followed by mobs of people and more preaching by Jesus to thousands. The apostles had to find enough loaves and fishes for all of them. Life is funny that way, isn’t it?
What are your thought about today’s readings? What does it feel like to be liberated from that which holds us back? How do you travel light?
FYI - Source material for today’s starter was gathered from:
“Restless Pilgrim” by David Bates Sunday Lectionary: Travelling Light – Restless Pilgrim and The Sunday website of St. Louis University http://iturgy.sluhostedsites.org/
The Five Gospels. What Did Jesus Really Say? Robert W. Funk, Roy W. Hoover and The Jesus Seminar
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. Please voice your intentions beginning with the words, “I bring to the table…..”
We pray for these and all unspoken intentions in our hearts. Amen.
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
Let us pray our Eucharistic prayer with open hearts and hands:
We yearn to be close with the Holy One in divine kinship. We know that our God is with us always, even in moments when we are not paying attention. We are the observers and the inheritors of divine wisdom, compassion and the awesome power of divine grace. We are anointed and sealed with the wind and fire of the Holy Spirit. And, as if these blessings were not enough, we claim Jesus as our brother who has modeled how to live a life of faith in action, of persistence and progress.
Nurturing source of life and love, we pray today for the good judgement to recognize and publicly admit to our talents. We resolve to deploy them as best we can to foster love and insist on justice in a polarized and fractured time. Just as you sent the Twelve out in pairs, you have gifted us with community, the strength of which awes us and enlivens us.
Because all things are possible with You, Holy One, we see and we become light in the darkness. Your loving Presence here with us today and always, brings us to sing with joy:
Holy, Holy, Holy: Here in this Place by Christopher Grundy https://youtu.be/uXyu57tR2gk?si=xAc1gOkkEdxoz3sv
O Compassionate 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. Guide us in sharing our gifts as well as in being open hearted to accept help from others.
We thank you for Jesus, who knew what it was like to be an outsider in occupied and foreign lands. May his presence prompt us to bring gospel kindness and understanding to disputes among nations, citizens and neighbors and within families.
Please extend your hands in blessing.
Presider stands at the table
We call upon your Spirit that is present in us at this Eucharistic table. We are grateful for the bread and wine that remind us of our call to be the light of Christ to the 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.
All lift the 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 and love one another
(pause)
All lift the 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.
(pause)
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.
Let us share this bread and cup to proclaim and live the gospel of justice and peace.
Holy One, your transforming grace inspires us to follow our consciences. We resolve to love as Jesus loved, to discern the better angels of our nature with hearts open to your Spirit. Amen.
Please offer communion with the words “You are a disciple of justice”
Communion Song: “What Shall I Give” by Sara Thomsen video by Denise
https://youtu.be/t9rYcvSSRQQ?si=LQME01DI5w4ifS4C
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
Closing Blessing
Please extend your hands in blessing and join in one voice:
May God bless us with discomfort
At easy answers, half-truths and superficial relationships
So that we may live deep in our hearts.
May our Pilgrim God bring us to epiphanies of new places and new friends,
sharing the joy of travelling and growing together. Amen.
Closing Song: We are the World Together at Home Edition 2020
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.