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The Hebrew letter MEM |
Welcome: Our readings tonight talk about wandering around the desert for 40 days or 40 nights. Perhaps the readings are about our own wanderings.
Opening Prayer: Holy One, you are with us always, whether we are aware of your presence or off on some new crisis of life. With you we are with each other, standing in solidarity as we journey. Amen.
Opening Song: Be Not Afraid by
https://youtu.be/_H_kgDXcKIw?si=3VoyQm6jUqLqoKuI
LITURGY OF THE WORD
Reading 1: A reading from the book of Exodus
In the evening you will know that it was YHWH who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning, you will witness the glory of God, the One to whom you directed your complaints. And in the morning, there was a layer of dew all around the camp; when the layer of dew evaporated there on the surface were flakes of something delicate, powdery, fine as frost. The Israelites called it manna. It tasted like wafers made with honey. They ate manna for the forty years it took them to get to Canaan.
When the Israelites arrived at Mount Sinai, YHWH said to Moses come up to me on the mountain and wait for me there. I will give you the Law and the commandments. Moses climbed the mountain until he disappeared into the cloud, and he stayed there for forty days and forty nights.
We affirm these words with Amen.
Gospel Acclamation: Ancient Words by Michael W. Smith
https://youtu.be/gqtEtqmjHf4?si=CRdqCFPNZsP5GwpK
Gospel: A reading from the Gospel of Luke
Jesus returned from the Jordan filled with the Holy Spirit and she led him into the desert for forty days, where he was tempted by the Devil. While Jesus fasted, the Devil tempted Jesus to turn stone into bread. Jesus replied: “Scripture says we do not live on bread alone.” The Devil then offered Jesus power and glory. Jesus quoted scripture again saying: “You will worship the Most High God; God alone you will adore.” Finally, the Devil challenged Jesus to throw himself down from the parapet and wait for God to save him. Once again Jesus quoted scripture, and said, “Do not put God to the test”. After all the tempting Jesus was left alone. The Devil waited another opportunity.
We affirm these words with Amen.
Homily Starter: At the beginning of January, we read the gospel describing the Baptism of Jesus. They tell us it was at the beginning of his formal ministry. Jesus was about 30 years old. The average lifespan of a man in Palestine at that time was mid to late 30’s Jesus was passed his prime. He had much left to do. Many of us may be past our prime, but we to have much to do.
In today’s gospel we read the “tempter” is taunting Jesus continuously. We can imagine that the temptations did not just begin when Jesus began his ministry and went into the desert. Jesus had a lifetime of temptations. Isn’t that what we today in the 21st century face? We are continuously struggling, dealing with grief, anger, disillusionment, broken relationships and worst of all powerlessness.
Jesus experienced what you and I experience. Over the years, we have teased out and dissected all three of these temptations. The first is having bread- a metaphor for the basics of life, food, shelter, work. The second temptation- power and glory. We want to be proud and acknowledged for our accomplishments - maybe we are focus on how well our children are doing, or how well off we are financially. The third temptation reminds of how easy it is to get caught up in the world’s expectations. We might compare ourselves to others and want and expect more. There are many ways to interpret what each temptation means to us personally.
In addition to these well-known temptations-the number 40 has great significance. Jesus was in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights. In the Torah. Moses was on Mount Sinai for 40 days, and the Jewish people wandered the desert for 40 years. This week we start 40 days of Lent. There are many, many references to the number 40 in the Scriptures.
Why 40? The Hebrew language itself gives us some insight as to why 40.
Each letter of the Hebrew Alphabet has a number connected to it. The number 40 is connected to the letter mem ( מ ). The number 40 coupled with the letter mem gives us an insight as to why 40. 40 is a metaphor for something greater than a literal number. In Hebrew the letter mem represents the kingdom (malchut). The kingdom represents planting the seeds, birthing and creation. The shape of the letter mem is likened to the womb and is connected to the power of reproduction. There are 40 weeks of pregnancy. For those who belong to the Jewish tradition, this letter and number represent the feminine presence in the kingdom of God. Unfortunately, for us, the Christian, Catholic traditions pay little attention to the feminine presence in the kin-dom of God.
In the future when we hear, 40 days, weeks, years, or generations, remember this as a reminder that God is neither male nor female. That God is mother/father- creator. We are growing and evolving in our understanding of God and consequently we are growing and evolving in our understanding of ourselves.
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:
We pray for these and all unspoken prayers of our hearts. 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: Here in This Place by Christopher Grundy
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.
All lift the plate and pray:
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 share my love with one another
(pause)
All lift the cup and pray:
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)
We share this bread and cup to proclaim and live the gospel of justice and peace. We choose to live justly, love tenderly, and walk with integrity.
Please receive communion saying: I am never alone
Communion Song: Bread of Life by Rory Corey video by MTStreck
Prayer after Communion
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
BLESSING
Please extend your hands and pray our blessing:
ALL: May the Fire of Love ignite our hearts and radiate through us.
May the Spirit truth and justice burn within us. May we recognize the Holy One in everyone and everything.
May we know we are never alone.
AMEN.
Closing Song: Blessings by Hollow Coves (video, DHS)
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