 |
phone-in for (audio only) Phone Number: (646) 558-8656
Meeting ID: 825 1215 9155
Welcome
Kathie: Welcome to the Upper Room’s Liturgy for the Feast of Mary Magdalene. The theme of the feast focuses on a renewed understanding of Mary Magdalene. Every week we delve into scripture and find something new.
Opening Prayer
Kathie: Holy One, in a world divided we ask for strength as we commit to unity, peace and love. We are your people the world over. We live, grow, and have our very being in You. We are your people. Amen.
Women of the Church - Song by Carey Landry - Video by MT Streck
First Reading (Pat Davis): I AM WOMAN by Lucy Edelbeck, OP
I am WOMAN
with an alabaster jar
with a jar filled with precious nard.
I am willing to break my jar
to spill my gifts
of compassion
of preaching
of breaking bread.
I broke my jar, gave my all.
Then I heard voices
from Judas
from all the Peters down the ages
“WOMAN
save your jar
save your anointing
Not in the Sanctuary
Not in the sickroom
Not at the Altar
Save your jar and give it to the poor.”
But I heard the Voice of Jesus
“Leave her alone
She will always find a way
to break her jar
to anoint Me with her gifts.
She will find Me again and again
where I promised to be
for when I was hungry
She gave Me to eat,
where I was imprisoned
She came to me.”
These are the inspired words of Lucy Edelbeck OP and we affirm them by saying, Amen.
Celtic Alleluia by Christopher Walker
Gospel (Mary Skelly): A reading from the Gospel of John (John 11:20-27)
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him, while Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would never have died. Even now, I am sure that God will give you whatever you ask of him.”
“Your brother will rise again,” Jesus assured her. “I know he will rise again,” Martha replied, “in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her: “I am the resurrection and the life: whoever believes in me, though he or she should die, will come to life; and whoever is alive and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes, Lord,” She replied. “I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God who comes into the world.”
These are the inspired words of the Gospel writer known as John, and we affirm them by saying, Amen.
Shared Homily: Mary Lou Liptak
As we come together today to celebrate the feast of Mary Magdalene, I’m reminded that Magdala in Greek means TOWER. Mary Magdalene wasn’t from Magdala, it’s a TITLE! When thinking about towers the image of a ‘Light House’ wells up within me. And so I begin with this story: Through the pitch-dark night, a captain sees a light dead ahead on a COLLLISION COURSE with his ship. He sends a signal: “Change your course 10 degrees east.” The light signals back: Change YOURS, 10 degrees west.” Angry now, the Captain sends: “I’m a navy Captain! CHANGE YOUR COURSE, Sir!” “I’m a seaman, 2nd class,” comes the reply. “Change your course, SIR.” Now, the Captain is furious. “I’m a battleship! I’m NOT changing course! Then there is one last reply. “I’m a Light House! YOUR CALL!
Imagine with me for a moment what pictures spring up in our imaginations about Lighthouses because they hold deep symbolic meanings that span across cultures and history. Lighthouses portray strength, resilience and endurance. The image of safety comes to mind because they provide shelter and hope. Their beacons of Light offer a way forward even in the darkest times. The image of a lighthouse tower can serve as a powerful symbol! Mary Magdalene, the TOWER is a powerful person!
Why was the importance of Mary Magdalene obscured from our view? Let’s look at the changes that were made to the character of Mary Magdalene through the centuries, one of the most important women in Scripture. She is also one of the most slandered—people have been making stuff up about her for thousands of years, because to men who have historically held power in the church—and still do—she is a woman who threatens the legitimacy of the patriarchy. She is portrayed as a prostitute, a person who is possessed by evil spirits, as a squanderer of precious oil that could be used to ease the sufferings of the poor. Anything to discredit her importance, because she was a very significant woman disciple. And it has come to light that through the altering of the translation, one woman named Mary was split into two in the story of Lazarus being raised.
Let’s reflect on our Gospel story of the raising of Lazarus (Jn.11) where we hear the Christological confession stated by Martha in our English bibles: “Yes Lord. I believe that you are the Messiah. The one who’s come into the world.”
According to the research of Elizabeth Schrader and her work looking at Papyrus 66 with fresh eyes, it has been recently discovered that through the changing of the translation, by an editor of John 11, Mary Magdalene, not Martha made that confession. The translation was changed throughout the text. In earlier writings by other authors there is no mention of Martha. We unfortunately will never know if the splitting of one woman into 2, in John 11 as 2 sisters of Lazarus was benign or malicious, but it definitely has real implications. (Of course, if you love Martha, she still remains in Luke 10 but they are 2 different stories.)
It seems that if this Christological confession was reported as being stated by an obscure or made-up woman named Martha she would remain ambiguous. When Peter made his Christological confession in the synoptic gospels, Jesus proclaimed that Peter was ROCK and His church would be built upon it. Imagine what would have happened if when Mary made her confession she comes to be known as TOWER?
So as not to try to rewrite part of a brilliant conclusion of the implications of this discovery, let me instead quote from an address given by Diana Butler Bass on the matter. She asks: “What if the other story of Mary hadn’t been hidden? What if Mary in John 11 hadn’t been split into 2 women? What if we’d known about Mary the Tower all along? What kind of Christianity would we have if the faith hadn’t only been based upon, “Peter, you are Rock and upon this Rock I will build my church”? But what if we’d always known, “Mary, you are the Tower, and by this Tower we shall all stand?”
Members of the Upper Room have called for changes regarding women’s status in the church for years…and when the church still refuses to acknowledge the gifts of women, even as followers, let alone in leadership, you courageously pursued your own path, guided by one of the first women disciples herself, a TOWER of Light! I applaud your bravery, because we are changing the course of history in our church! Not 10 degrees, but 180 degrees!
And so, I invite you to imagine today what kind of church we would have if this discovery of Mary Magdalene wasn’t hidden from us. As Diana Butler Bass asks: “What does a Christianity of Mary the Tower look like?”
I hand it over to you, for your thoughts and reflections:
Statement of Faith (Kim and Kathie)
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 (ALL on Zoom and in the room)
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
(Kim and Kathie)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.
Everyone and everything is born of You. We carry within us your light and life.
In the mystery of matter and deep in the cells of our souls are your longings for oneness: the oneness of the universe vast and vibrating with the sound of its beginning, the oneness of the human soul, a sacred countenance in infinite form. All that we are and all that we do flows from our deep connection with you and we sing our song of praise:
Holy, Holy, Holy: Here in This Place by Christopher Grundy
All: Creator and Lover of all beings, we cannot grow in the darkness of this world without Your Light. Our desire to be in Your light is a gift from You. Help us keep our hearts and minds open to You through our love and care for each other and all creation.
Please extend your hands in blessing
This bread and wine is a sign of Your nourishment and a sign of Your great love. Your Spirit is upon us and we belong to You and one another.
We thank you for Jesus, simple servant, lifting up the lowly, revealing you as God-With-Us, revealing us as one with you, and all creation.
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. Once again he showed us how to love one another.
lift bread
All: Back at the table, he took the bread, spoke the grace, broke the bread and offered it to them saying, Take and eat, this is my very self.
lift the cup
Then he took the cup of blessing, 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. Every time we share this bread and wine we choose to be transformed. We choose to love as You love us.
As we celebrate and recognize You in this bread and wine we love and recognize you in each other. We are filled with gratitude and joy. Glory and Praise to you both now and forever. Amen
Lift bread and cup:
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
Please receive communion with the words: I am a light, shining for others.
Communion Song:
May the Christ Light Shine in You by Kathy Sherman
Communion prayer: Loving Source of our being, you call us to live the Gospel of peace and justice. We live justly, we love tenderly, we walk with integrity in Your Presence Amen.
Let us pray together the prayer of Jesus:
O Holy One, who is 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.The Prayer of Jesus as interpreted by Miriam Therese Winter
Blessing
May the spirit and love of Mary Magdalene remind us that we are all unique, blessed and needed in this world. May we learn to be a lighthouse for each other, weathering storms and celebrating life together. And may the Holy One continue to bless us as we strive to live as one.
Closing Song: Woman Spirit by Karen Drucker – video by MT Streck
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.