Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82512159155
phone-in for (audio only) Phone Number: (646) 558-8656
Meeting ID: 825 1215 9155
Welcome: We gather today at a time of great upheaval and chaos in our country and in the world. Many of our dear sisters and brothers are being targeted and identified as the “other”, facing discrimination, removal, and violence against them. We are called to stand in solidarity with them, being a voice against the hatred and bigotry that has taken root in our country. Let us, in our time together, reinforce the Love and Compassion that Jesus preached and lived, that we may strengthened as disciples of The Way of Jesus.
Opening Song: I Am Ready for Change by Carrie Newcomer
https://youtu.be/uG3DdY5r8uk?si=uJP_WoiAWxgGdSIR
Opening Prayer:
Holy One, who has called us into being,
fill our hearts with your loving kindness,
steady us in our resolve to care for the world with deep devotion.
Guide us in the path of Jesus, form us into disciples,
who embody compassion and hope.
Cultivate in us a love for the way of hope filled discipleship. Amen.
Reading 1: A reading from the Book of Isaiah (Is 6:1-2a, 3-8)
In the year of the death of Uzziah, ruler of Judah, I saw YHWH seated on a high and lofty judgment seat, in a robe whose train filled the Temple. Seraphs were stationed above.
They would cry out to one another, “Holy! Holy! Holy is YHWH Omnipotent! All the earth is filled with God’s glory!” The doorposts and thresholds quaked at the sound of their shouting, and the Temple kept filling with smoke. Then I said, “Woe is me, I am doomed! I have unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips! And my eyes have seen the Ruler, YHWH Omnipotent!” Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding an ember which it had taken with tongs from the altar. The seraph touched my mouth with the ember. “See,” it said, “now that this has touched your lips, your corruption is removed, and your sin is pardoned.” Then I heard the voice of the Holy One saying, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” “Here I am,” I said, “send me!”
These are inspiring words from the Book of Isaiah and we affirm them with Amen.
Reading 2: A reading from Howard Thurman in Footprints of a Dream : The Story of the Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples
The movement of the Spirit of God in the hearts of men and women often calls them to act against the spirit of their times or causes them to anticipate a spirit which is yet in the making. In a moment of dedication, they are given wisdom and courage to dare a deed that challenges and to kindle a hope that inspires.”
These are inspiring words from Howard Thurman and we affirm them with Amen.
Alleluia: More Light by Christopher Gundy
Gospel: A reading from the Gospel attributed to the anonymous author known as Luke. (Lk. 5:1-11)
One day, Jesus was standing by Lake Gennesaret, and the crowd pressed in on him to hear the word of God. He saw two boats moored by the side of the lake; the fishers had disembarked and were washing their nets. Jesus stepped into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to pull out a short distance from the shore; then, remaining seated, he continued to teach the crowds from the boat.
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Pull out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Rabbi, we’ve been working hard all night long and have caught nothing; but if you say so, I’ll lower the nets.” Upon doing so, they caught such a great number of fish that their nets were at the breaking point. They signaled to their mates in the other boat to come and help them, and together they filled the two boats until they both nearly sank. After Simon saw what happened, he was filled with awe and fell down before Jesus, saying, “Leave me, Rabbi, for I’m a sinner.” For Simon and his shipmates were astonished at the size of the catch they had made, as were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s partners. Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you’ll fish among humankind.” And when they brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.
Homily Sharing:
In our readings today, we hear different accounts when biblical figures have an encounter with the divine. In Isaiah, the Seraphs declare God’s holiness and glory causing everything around to quake and tremble, including Isaiah. Somehow, having seen YHWH, Isaiah immediately is overcome with a sense of almost unbearable unworthiness that is only abated when a Seraph touches his lips with an ember from the altar. It is not clear if the ember scorched his lips or if it was painful. We only know that the Seraph tells him he is now without sin. We might wonder why, at the moment of this encounter with YHWH, Isaiah is convinced that he is unclean to the core and that he lives among a people with unclean lips. What makes for unclean lips, corruption, and sin personally and collectively? And why is it only after his lips have been touched with the ember does Isaiah hear the Holy One asking “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” and then Isaiah is free to respond, “Here I am,” “send me!”
The text might be suggesting that when we respond with “here am I” our yes and send me, is a relational non individualistic response. The yes is to go beyond the immediate and familiar world we know. Send me to go beyond our relationship to ourselves or to God but to those we will encounter in the world. We should not, however, be lulled into a sense of an easy send me.
The second reading from Howard Thurman reminds us that when we respond with “yes, send me,” we are likely going against the cultural grain. Going against the spirit of the times is also relational and just may cost us a great deal even as we hope we are preparing for a world we hope will be realized. Thurman is teaching against any notion of a cheap and easy discipleship. The path of discipleship is most often a counter cultural path in opposition to exploitive self-gratification. The Spirit that inspires, transforms us, calls out of places that may have offered us pleasure, privilege, or even unacknowledged narcissism. Those around us, those in power, may prefer what existed before. Discipleship places us in opposition sooner or later.
Of course, there are those moments when a crowd recognizes the Holy even though they are not fully aware of what the teaching might require of them. In Luke, the crowd pressed in to hear Jesus. I wonder if they were surprised that the lesson was to be learned from a boat with men attending to their catch of the day. Even when Jesus taught from Simon’s boat, Simon and the others are not overly interested. It is only when Jesus gives them a directive that they take real notice of him and, though they question his wisdom, they do as he says and pull in a large net of fish. Simon was “filled with awe and fell down before Jesus, saying, “Leave me, Rabbi, for I’m a sinner.” What is it about being in the presence of the Holy that leads anyone to have a radical transformation in self-understanding? It is that the path toward discipleship, or listening to the movement of the Spirit, or being overcome with awe, that we must see ourselves, by comparison, as sinners? Simon asks Jesus to leave him. Those fishing with him are astonished at the size of their second catch of the day. Jesus does not confirm Simon’s self-assessment. Jesus makes a more radical move: he redefines Simon’s relationship to the world: “Don’t be afraid; from now on you’ll fish among humankind.” Discipleship, true discipleship, may very well require us to give up the way we have been in the world, who we are to the world, and who we know ourselves to be. In the process, we may feel the earth tremble and our hearts quake because we do not yet know this new person being called into existence. Even so, do not be afraid.
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 this sacred meal, we are aware that just as Jesus is anointed, so is each of us. As bearers of LIGHT and HOPE, we bring to this table our blessings, cares and concerns. Please feel free to voice your intentions beginning with the words, “I bring to the table…..”
We pray for all blessings, cares and concerns, and all unspoken intentions. Amen.
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
We gather in the power of the Spirit whose breath inspired the primal waters, calling into being the variety and abundance of creation. The unfolding story of creation witnesses unceasingly your creative power. You have gifted our youthfulness, nurtured our growth and blessed our maturity amid the changing seasons of life. You call us to be a people of faith, to embrace our world with a new vision. In Jesus, our teacher and companion on the journey, you reveal humanity come of age, the evolutionary fulfillment of many eons, who invites us to wholeness with the promise of new life. As a priestly people we seek to live as Jesus taught; to be wise, holy, creative and courageous prophets and rebels, ever open to the Spirit’s call. In gratitude and joy, we embrace our calling. May our song be one of welcome as we lift our voices to proclaim the ancient song of blessing.
Holy, Holy, Holy: Here in This Place by Christopher Grundy
We are forever blessed by the Spirit, who enlivens and inebriates all that exists, who transforms gifts of grain, vine, and our lives, by incarnational grace to nourish and sustain us on our journey.
It was before the Feast of Passover, and Jesus realized that the hour had come for him to pass from this world to Abba God. So, during supper, Jesus rose from the table, took off his clothes and wrapped a towel around his waist. He then poured water into a basin, and began to wash and dry the disciples’ feet. ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ I give you a new commandment: love one another. You’re to love one another as I have loved you. [John 13]
When he returned to his place at the table, he spoke the blessing, broke the bread and offered it to them saying:
Take and eat, the bread of life for all who hunger for peace and justice.
[pause]
After the meal, he then raised the cup of blessing poured in a spirit of solidarity and empowerment, spoke the grace, and offered them the wine saying:
Take and drink the Cup of Compassion for a broken world.
Whenever you remember me like this, I am among you.
What we have heard with our ears, we will live with our lives, both love’s nourishment and love’s challenge.
Please receive the Bread of Life and the Cup of Blessing with the words, I accept the Call.
Communion Song: In These Times by Paul Stookey
https://youtu.be/iQnxVedlEpE?si=w3xLBUN4852ON8ea
Post-Communion Prayer
We unite our thoughts and prayers with all those who yearn for new life and enrich our lives with friendship and love. We also remember those who have died, and continue to sustain us in the cosmic communion of life.
May we be blessed with vision, wisdom and courage to discern more wisely your call to holiness in the ordinary circumstances of our lives; to act justly and compassionately in confronting the pain and suffering that desecrates the Earth and all her people;
to take risks in being creative and proactive on behalf of the poor and marginalized;
to love all people with generosity of heart, beyond the labels of gender, race, creed, color and sexual orientation; and may we ever be aware and alert to the newness the Spirit makes possible, as our world unfolds and evolves into the fullness of life to which we are called in the wise and wonderful work of co-creators with the Holy One.
Let us pray together the Prayer of Jesus:
O 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. (Sr. Miriam Therese Winter)
BLESSING
Please raise your hands and pray our blessing.
May God bless you with anger...
at injustice, oppression,
and exploitation of people.
May God bless you so that you may
work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with tears...
to shed for those who suffer from pain,
rejection, starvation and war.
May God bless you so that you
may reach out your hand
to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.
May God bless you with
enough foolishness
to believe that you can make a difference
in this world, in your neighborhood,
so that you will courageously try
what you don't think you can do, but,
in Jesus Christ you'll have all the strength necessary.
And may God bless you that you remember
we are all called
to continue God's redemptive work
of love and healing
in God's place, in and through God's name,
in God's Spirit, continually creating
and breathing new life and grace
into everything and everyone we touch. Amen.
(adapted from A Franciscan Blessing for Justice and Peace)
Closing Song: Go Make a Difference by Steve Angrisano
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.