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| Photo by Laurel Burns |
Please join us between 9:30 and 9:55 am via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82512159155
phone-in for (audio only).Phone Number: (646) 558-8656
Welcome: Good morning and welcome to the Upper Room. Today we are considering the theme of Thresholds or changes in life. As followers of Jesus we have guidance and examples of how we move from “here to there”, from “no longer to not yet”. There has never been a time in human history where people have not been challenged to live as those called to live with bravery and trust
Opening Prayer
As we gather here today, let us consider the threshold on which we are currently standing and the “yes” that we need to say to move into the new threshold to which we are called. We do this knowing that we are guided by the Spirit who comes to us through periods of quiet reflection and our path, although uncertain, is illuminated by the light of the divine within each of us.
Opening Song: You Say by Lauren Daigle
https://youtu.be/HqpNGYbcy3U?si=U0GEQnOe8X_4jtOU
LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading: A reading from Mirabai Starr
Not all prophets do as they are told. Not at first, anyway. When the call comes, most of them turn left and then right: “Who, me?” they murmur. If the call is a true one, the voice of the Holy Spirit will roar: “Yes, you!”
Even then, the prophet will haggle with the Holy One. “There must be someone better suited to speak for the Divine.” But the God of Love is a patient God. The God of Love calls once, twice, three times. Only then does the prophet square her shoulders, gird her loins, open her hands, and say, “Hineni. Here I am.”
The history of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam abounds with accounts of great beings who trembled when they were confronted with the presence of the Divine and given a task of global dimensions. Traditionally, this reluctance is implied, rather than stated, yet when we read the scriptures with an open heart, we can feel the anguish behind the submission.
Our community affirms these words by the prophet Mirabai Starr by saying Amen
Second Reading: A reading from John O’Donohue
At any time you can ask yourself: At which threshold am I now standing? At this time in my life, what am I leaving? Where am I about to enter? What is preventing me from crossing my next threshold? What gift would enable me to do it? A threshold is not a simple boundary; it is a frontier that divides two different territories, rhythms and atmospheres. Indeed it is a lovely testimony to the fullness and integrity of an experience or a stage of life that it intensifies toward the end into a real frontier that cannot be crossed without the heart being passionately engaged and woken up. At this threshold a great complexity of emotion comes alive; confusion, fear, excitement, sadness, hope.
This is one of the reasons such vital crossings were always clothed in ritual. It is wise in your own life to be able to recognize and acknowledge the key thresholds: to take your time; to feel all the varieties of presence that accrue there; to listen inward with complete attention until you hear the inner voice calling you forward. The time has come to cross.
Our community affirms these words of the prophet John O’Donohue by saying AMEN!
Gospel Acclamation: Celtic Alleluia by Christopher Walker
https://youtu.be/o1rc7ojQtJU
Gospel: A reading from the gospel according to the writer known as Matthew(Mt.4:12-23)
When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee.
He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun
and Naphtali, that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled:
Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen.
From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.
He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him. He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people.
Shared Homily
We all experience thresholds in life both individually and communally. They are a symbol of changing from one state to another. An example of thresholds is the current state of our country and the world. Political upheaval has challenged many to take direct action in order to help bring about the justice and peace for which we yearn. Many have increased efforts to meet the direct needs of those in our community. Many religious, political and philosophical people have written about the new era in which we find ourselves. Old systems are breaking down and we do not yet know what the future holds. I would like to suggest though that just for today, we look deeper and more personally to what it means to be a person of faith in light of a broader range of thresholds or changes in life.
When John the Baptist was arrested, Jesus read the moment and fled to Galilee. In this , he fulfilled the scripture of Isaiah. Jesus calls the fishermen. There is no explanation about what he was actually promising them if they would follow him. The call was enough and they left with him into the unknown future. There is no doubt that Jesus, the fishermen, the Jews living under occupation felt fear, apprehension and uncertainty. The dangers were real and each step or decision carried with it no promises other than that God would be present with them. Nadia Bolz Weber encourages us to remember that. The Divine sees all as holy and capable of great things. God uses our strengths as well as our weaknesses to take the circumstances of life and find our “yes”. St. Hildegard of Bingen referred to God as the Living Light. This Light is the God who is Love and who lights our footsteps and path with grace. The Light that brings veriditas or the greening of our world and our souls.
Most things in life are impermanent and changing. We move from health into illness, from illness into health. We having changing financial options or resources. We make decisions about relationships, careers, housing, travel, social and political priorities and life stages. Images of God, Jesus, Spirit Sophia evolve and deepen through the heartfelt prayer and disciplined mediation and openness of the seeker.
As followers of Jesus, we can look to all the examples of history and in our own lives to see that we have the spirit of God within, around and among us. If we believe and stay faithful to our path, the Light will shine to meet us in the darkness of circumstances of life. We can look within and ask “what is it that God is calling forward in me? What do I need in order to cooperate with the light of grace in order to do whatever I am being called to do in this moment or situation? We are called to find our “yes” when it could be easier to say no out of fear or uncertainty.
Again, while all are welcome to share from the heart, I am encouraging us to avoid the temptation to make it about politics or one man. The thresholds were there before this administration and will always be in our lives. We welcome thoughts about the readings or topic.
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 of our call to serve, and just as Jesus is anointed, so is each of us. We bring to this table our blessings, cares and concerns, with “I bring to the table”
We bring these and all our intentions held in our hearts. Amen
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
With open hands and hearts let us pray our Eucharistic prayer together (Diarmuid O’Murchu)
Holy One, you have been called by many names by many people in the centuries of our planet’s life. Yet, no name truly defines you or describes you. We celebrate you as the marvelous, loving energy of life who caused us and our world to be. We celebrate you as the Source of light and life and love, and we celebrate your presence and all-ways care.
We stand at a critical moment in Earth’s history – a time when humanity must choose its future.
As the world becomes increasingly interdependent and fragile, the future holds both peril and great promise.
May we recognize that, in the midst of a magnificent diversity of cultures and life forms, we are one human family and one Earth community with a common destiny.
United with our vast universe, with our Mother-Planet and her people everywhere, with one another and You, Holy One, our spirits dance and sing this song of praise:
Holy, Holy, Holy: Here in this Place by Christopher Grundy https://youtu.be/sgkWXOSGmOQ
We give grateful thanks for those who came before us, for all those who gave from their hearts, who gave from their lives, that there might be a better world, a safer world, a kinder world, we pray for peace in their name.
And for the children, that they may live and have children of their own and that it will go on - this great blossoming that is meant to go on and on – we pray for peace, in their name.
And for all peoples of this earth who have no voice in this, For the animals that have no voice in this,
For the plants, the trees, the flowers that have no voice in this,
For all who share this earth with us, we pray for peace in their name.
We thank you for our brother, Jesus. He showed us so simply, so tenderly, how the world is in our hands. He had nothing in this world but your love, companions on the journey, and his very self. Together, that was more than enough, and that remains our clarity in the midst of confusion: the miracle of healing, new hope, nurturance, nourishment, liberation and life.
Please extend your hands in blessing.
All: Your Spirit is here in us and in the gifts of this Eucharistic table. May we become gifts of wisdom, light and truth which remind us of our call to be the body of Christ to the world.
On the night before he faced his own death and for the sake of living fully, Jesus sat at the supper with his companions and friends. He reminded them of all that he taught them, and to fix that memory clearly within them, he bent down and washed their feet.
Lifting the 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 and share my love with one another.
Lifting the cup:
He then raised high 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.
What we have heard with our ears, we will live with our lives, As we share communion, we will become communion both Love’s nourishment and Love’s challenge.
Please consume the bread and drink the cup with the words: You have all that you need
Communion song: Light Will Find You by Josh Groban
https://youtu.be/wAtJ-ZunzMA?si=_VdfnInTL4xkUYVT
Prayer After Communion
Loving Source of All, we have looked for others to save us and to save our world. Yet, we are called, and consecrated and sent into the world to establish justice and show the blessed fulfillment that comes with simplicity and the giving of ourselves in love. We will make new our commitment to the harmony of the original vision of creation.
Like Jesus, in all openness, we will be filled with your own Spirit and renew the face of the earth.
For it is through learning to live as he lived, And why he lived,
And for whom he lived,
That we awaken to your Spirit within,
Moving us to love and care for one another and all creation, At this time and in all ways.
We say yes to You!
Let us pray together the prayer of Jesus:
All: O Holy One, who is within, around and among us, We celebrate your many names.
Your Wisdom comes.
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
Let us pray together our blessing:
A Blessing for After by Jan Richardson
This blessing
is for the moment
after clarity has come,
after inspiration,
after you have agreed
to what seems
impossible.
This blessing
is what follows
after illumination departs
and you realize
there is no map
for the path
you have chosen,
no one to serve
as guide,
nothing to do
but gather up
your gumption
and set out.
This blessing
will go with you.
It carries no answers,
no charts,
no plans.
It carries no source
of light
within itself.
But in its pocket
is tucked a mirror
that, from time to time,
it will hold up to you
to remind you
of the radiance
that came
when you gave
your awful and wondrous
yes.
Closing Sung Prayer: I Want to Live by John Denver https://youtu.be/EONVnK7JlU4?si=NUCeDLABdWm1mLPu
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