phone-in for (audio only) Phone Number: (646) 558-8656
Meeting ID: 825 1215 9155
Rethinking the Solemnity of
Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Universe
Welcome and Theme:
Good morning and welcome to the Upper Room. Today we will visit the idea of Jesus as the King of the Universe. This royal, imperial view of Jesus is likely not the most appealing for many who hear this message. It is too “top down” and aggressive. King of the Universe gives way to a Universal Christ. There is a rich invitation to embrace a deep inner journey. This contemplative life of emptying oneself leads to a very simple gospel call to lives of service and love. Although we may be inspired by Christianity, it is not exclusive to Christians. It is our common call.
Opening Song: May the Christ Light Shine in You
https://youtu.be/tY0Rj9Yd2lk?si=RGxv1q-MYHbvU8GM
LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading: Excerpts from The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr
What Love tells us about God Love, which might be called the attraction of all things toward all things, is a universal language and underlying energy that keeps showing itself despite our best efforts to resist it. It is so simple that it is hard to teach in words, yet we all know it when we see it. After all, there is not a Native, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Islamic, or Christian way of loving. There is not a Methodist, Lutheran, or Orthodox way of running a soup kitchen. There is not a gay or straight way of being faithful, nor a Black or Caucasian way of hoping. We all know positive flow when we see it, and we all know resistance and coldness when we feel it. All the rest are mere labels.
For the first two thousand years of Christianity, we framed our faith in terms of a problem and a threat. But if you believe Jesus’s main purpose is to provide a means of personal, individual salvation, it is all too easy to think that he doesn’t have anything that contradicts our egos’ desires or our cultural biases. We ended up spreading our national cultures under the rubric of Jesus, instead of a universally liberating message und the name of Christ.
These are the inspired words of Richard Rohr and the community affirms them by saying: Amen
Second Reading: Excerpts from A Reply to Richard Rohr On the Cosmic Christ by Ilia Delio
We cannot know this mystery of Christ as a doctrine or an idea; it is the root reality of all existence. Hence, we must travel inward, into the interior depth of the soul where the field of divine love is expressed in the "thisness" of our own, particular lives. Each of us is a little word of the Word of God, a mini-incarnation of divine love. The journey inward requires surrender to this mystery in our lives and this means letting go of our control buttons. It means dying to the untethered selves that occupy us daily; it means embracing the sufferings of our lives, from the little sufferings to the big ones, it means allowing God's grace to heal us, hold us and empower us for life. It means entering into darkness, the unknowns of our lives, and learning to trust the darkness, for the tenderness of divine love is already there. It means willing to sacrifice all that we have for all that we can become in the power of God's love; and finally, it means to let God's love heal us of the opposing tensions within us. No one can see God and live and thus we must surrender our partial lives to become whole in the love of God. When we can say with full voice, "you are the God of my heart, my God and my portion forever" then we can open our eyes to see that the Christ in me is the Christ in you. We are indeed One in love.
These are the inspired words of Ilia Delio and the community affirms them by saying: Amen
Gospel Acclamation: Celtic Alleluia by Christopher Walker
https://youtu.be/o1rc7ojQtJU?si=TaIRTLw4sA6qf7dk
Gospel: A reading from the writer known as John (1:1-5)
In the beginning there was the Word; the Word was in God. The Word was God. The Word was present to God from the beginning. Through the Word all things came into being, and apart from the Word nothing came into being that has come into being. In the Word was life, and that life was humanity’s light- a Light that shines in the darkness, a Light that the darkness has never overtaken.
These are the inspired words of the writer known as John, and we affirm them by saying, Amen.
Shared Homily
This feast day called the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe was declared in 1925. During the past 100 years the Roman Church has grappled with what it actually means to declare Jesus to be the King of the Universe. During Vatican II there was an attempt to expand or temper the meaning by declaring that God’s Holy Spirit works in and through other religions and that even non-Christian faiths can lead to salvation. It seems that it may have been an overreach to declare Jesus to be the King of all the Universe. The absurdity of this condescending assertion is clear to serious progressive Christians. The Upper Room community is devoted to a big tent understanding of Jesus’ humble itinerant ministry. A king implies a militaristic top-down system of governing. As Americans, our founders chose not to have a king as does much of the world. Jesus did not want this in his name nor did he want this for his followers. When asked which commandments were the most important, he said “love God and love others as yourself”. Period. No coronations, no ruling class, no one true Church and faith, no supreme power. Love, service, simplicity, agape, working for justice and peace and compassion are the gospel calls in the world. In order to be like Jesus, we simply need to defy unjust authority, live for others, speak truth to power and remain steadfast. As we say in our liturgies “all he had was himself, his companions and God and together that was more than enough.” We have all of this as well. Here in this place today each of us has everything Jesus had, and it is more than enough. I love the saying of St Francis of Assisi when he says “preach the Gospel at all times and use words when necessary”. The gospel of Jesus is love in action, service, kindness and community. It is not a religion, it is a path. Rohr speaks to this universal call.
So what of the Universal Christ?. It is a very interesting and important concept in progressive Christological thinking. In John’s gospel the understanding of Jesus had shifted from a man in history to the Eternal Word Jesus the Christ who is the Word who always existed, was with God, Is God. Today many find deep meaning in the concept of Christ Consciousness, Universal Christ as the lifegiving energy that flows through all. This is a core concept in Christian sitting meditation. This is certainly less militaristic and I would say offensive than the King who has dominion over all but I find it problematic in today’s world. Many who call themselves Christian would not know what you're talking about and may find it appalling. In many ways, this way of contemplating Jesus is both ancient and new. Many Christian thinkers see this view as “new age” or heretical. Without focusing on the sanctifying atoning death of Jesus, his purpose is distorted, say some scholars. They find it to be too esoteric and not focused on Jesus the son of a God requiring blood atonement for sin. In the US today, over 80% of evangelical Christians voted for the candidate who made up his own version of the bible. Many of our brother and sister Americans believe God from his throne room had a hand in choosing him to be in a position to do God’s work. They believe that God has plans for our president elect’s agenda to be implemented. So, for many, the universal king is terrifying and offensive. Marginalized Jews, Muslims, women, LGBTQ, Hindus, Native People, minorities, atheists, immigrants, asylum seekers are witnessing a significant number of Americans thank a heavenly king for making the president elect the most powerful person on earth The vulnerable and marginalized don’t need to worship Jesus the King. Rather they need us to be the hands, feet, eyes and heart of Christ. I find it hard to ask people who are currently terrified to understand that Universal Christ does not mean the King Jesus of Christian Nationalists.
Pondering the readings for today we discover the call to a deeper understanding of the interior life journey with the Universal Christ or the Christ mind. We are so beautifully invited to the deep interior contemplative life. It invites serious seekers to conversion, relinquishment and embracing. I think that the Universal Christ is who Merton, Therese of Lisieux, Hildegard of Bingen, Dorothy Day, Desmond Tutu, and so many of our favorite mystics encountered through their deep inner life. This freedom of spirit inspired non-violent public ministries modeled on the simple servant Jesus. Their love in action was the message. Mystics seek union with God. I would encourage you to spend time with our readings today and discover what resonates with you.
Please feel free to share what the readings or topic means for 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 compa+ssion,
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
Presider: We invite you to share your prayer intentions beginning with the words: “I bring to the the table..”
Presider: We pray for these and all unspoken concerns of our hearts. Amen.
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
Presider: Let us join with open hands to pray our Eucharistic prayer together:
All: Source of Love and Light, we join in unity of Spirit, love and purpose with Your people everywhere, living and crossed over. With all of creation across billions of galaxies, we open our hearts and souls to become One.
In your loving embrace we are liberated from division, fear, conflict, pride and injustice. We are transformed into wholeness which we resolve to bring to all whose lives we touch. With gratitude, we meld ourselves Your Divine Presence which knows all, shelters all and transforms all into love, abundant and eternal.
In one voice, we praise Your loving, healing ways and the glory of all You have Created:
Holy, Holy: Here In This Place by Christopher Grundy
https://youtu.be/uXyu57tR2gk
We thank you, Holy One, for Jesus, a man of courage whose exquisite balance of human and Divine points our way and who strives with us in our time of need. We yearn with passion to live as Jesus, one with you and your Spirit, in peace and justice.
May our desire to be one with You join us to all living things. We seek to heal the differences that isolate us so that we may live in healthful unity with all people, of every ethnicity, skin color, gender orientation or class. May we have the imaginative sympathy and love of Your Spirit to move with courage beyond the confines of bias, miscommunication, ignorance and hurt and into the healing place where Divine light and love abide.
Presider: Please extend your hands in blessing of bread and wine.
All: Together, we call on Your Spirit, present in these gifts - bread that satisfies our hunger and wine that quenches our thirst – to make us more deeply One, living in the fullness of holy compassion and Sophia wisdom.
Anticipating the likelihood of betrayal, arrest and pain, Jesus wanted more than anything to be with his friends, to share a meal, exchange stories and create fond memories. To strengthen the bonds of friendship that evening, Jesus washed the feet of his friends in an act of love and humility.
LIft the 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. (pause)
Presider: Please receive communion with the words: We are One in Love.
Communion Song: Become What You Love
https://youtu.be/98erkb5g88c?si=PIBgN-GReHr3k5Md
Presider: Let us join with disciples of all ages to pray together:
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 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 (Miriam Therese Winter)
BLESSING
Presider: Please raise your hands in blessing and join together in our closing prayer:
We pray for harmony in the midst of divisiveness and for hope in the middle of hurt. We bless our civic leaders and ourselves and all peoples with a call for harmony and deep peace: May Deep peace be a blessing onto you. May we know the deep peace of the running wave. May we know the deep peace of the flowing air. May we know the deep peace of the quiet earth. May the moon and stars pour their healing light upon us all. Amen.
Closing Song: Leaning In
https://youtu.be/rot5M9Kirhc?si=Oenlhk6TE10UAEla
