Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82512159155
phone-in for (audio only) Phone Number: (646) 558-8656
Meeting ID: 825 1215 9155
Welcome: Tonight, we have a difficult gospel to hear. We know the institutional church has used this gospel to insist on the sanctity of the sacrament of marriage no matter what is happening in the home. Let’s tease out what was going on culturally at the time of Jesus and shed some light on what these words of Jesus might really imply.
We have a special guest tonight, Carrie Brown and her parents, Mary Jane and Ed Brown. Carrie is an activist and advocate for women in Ghana. Carrie, please tell us a little about yourself.
Opening Prayer: Holy One as we celebrate this litrugy together and share our reflections on the scriptures we are grateful for the many blessings of insight, care and love. Amen.
LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading: A reading from the book of Proverbs
There are three things-no actually four—that are too wonderful for us to understand: the way an eagle soars in the sky, the way a snake glides through the grass, the way a ship makes its way in mid-ocean, and most importantly the way two people share their lives.
These are the inspired words from Proverbs 30 and the community affirms these words with AMEN
Gospel acclamation: Celtic Alleluia by Christopher Walker MT Video
Gospel: A Reading from the Gospel of Mark 10
Once more the crowds gatherered around Jesus and as usual he began to teach them. Some Pharisees approached Jesus and as a test asked, “Is it permissible for husbands to divorce wives?” In reply Jesus asked, “What command did Moses give?” They answered, “Moses permitted a husband to write a decree of divorce and to put her away.”
But Jesus told them, “Moses wrote the commandment because of your hardness of heart. From the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. This is why a person leaves home and cleaves to another, and the two become onflesh. They are no longer two, but one flesh. What God has united, therefore let no one divide.”
People were bringing their children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples scolded them for this. When Jesus saw this he was indignant and said to them, “let the children come to be, do not stop them. It is to just such as these that the kindom of God belongs. The truth whoever doesn’t welcome the kindom of God as little child will not enter it.”
We affirm these words from a writer known as Mark with AMEN!
Homily Starter:
How many times did Jesus defend or heal women in the Gospels? I could not find an exact number, but these women came immediately to mind -the woman at the well, the woman caught in adultery, the woman who washed his feet, the centurion’s daughter, Peter’s mother-in-law, the woman with hemorrhages, and there are so many more.
According to scholars Frank Stagg, and Gilbert Bilezkian there is no record of any instance where Jesus disgraces, belittles, reproaches or stereotypes a woman.
In this gospel we see the pharisees trying to trick Jesus once again by asking him a loaded question. At that time Jewish law said only the man could divorce his wife. While at the same time Roman law said either the man or the woman could divorce the spouse. The Pharisees were asking Jesus the question to trap him between Jewish law and Roman law.
In the second part Jesus answers their question with a question of his own. His question points out human weakness. Jesus knows his Abba God understands our human weakness. The Pharisees are holding others to an ideal standard without considering the reality of human weaknesses.
Laws concerning divorce were in place because women were property of their husbands. If the marriage contract (it was not a sacrament) was dissolved the woman was on her own. Divorce laws were in place to protect the women (and children.) Ideally there would never be divorce but Jesus knew his Abba God’s intention of no divorce was really an intention of loving care and protection. Diane Bergant writes that the “purpose of marital union” was to assure that women and children would always be cared for.
We know that the institution of the church, especially those with sacraments as the Catholic church, condemn divorce, marginalized the divorced, and no longer welcomed them at the Eucharistic table.
We know many women and men have stayed in abusive marriages because they are financially trapped, or believe they are morally obligated because of the sacrament.
Unfortunately, the church doesn’t consider what is most important: the individual, the person is always more important than any man-made law or sacrament.
As the proverb says we do not really know or understand the way of the human relationship. We do know we must strive to live justly, love tenderly and walk with integrity with our God.
What did you hear in these readings and homily? How will it change you?
Prayers of the Community
As we prepare for the sacred meal, we bring to the table our prayers and intentions:
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 https://youtu.be/sgkWXOSGmOQ
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: I am strong and loved.
Communion song: Hold Up Your Head from Women With Wings
https://youtu.be/1Z3SzstJh9g
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.
Presentation by Carrie Brown
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