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Theme: Transformation into the Promise of New Life
Welcome: Today we draw on the wisdom given to us from Jesus the Christ. His teachings inspire humanity to come together in compassion and find common ground so that the flowers of spring will flourish from the fulfilled promise of the resurrection.
Opening Prayer
Our opening prayer is the song Deer’s Cry. The lyrics are attributed to an ancient and timeless Irish prayer of protection said to be written by St. Patrick (385-461 AD). We join him in asking God our Creator to be with us during these difficult times and provide divine guidance so that we may become an instrument of Jesus’ love, pardon and inner peace.
Opening Song: Deer’s Cry by Shaun Davey, sung by Rita Connolly
https://youtu.be/xeVEGOPjJXQ?si=IcQVcZRto5d7R45R
LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading: by Thomas Merton No Man is an Island [pp. 258-259]
Life and death, words and silence, are given us because of Christ. In Christ, we die to the flesh and live to the spirit. In Him we die to illusion and live to truth. We speak to confess Him, and we are silent in order to meditate on Him and enter deeper into His silence, which is at once the silence of death and of eternal life - the silence of Good Friday night and the peace of Easter Morning.
There are the words of Thomas Merton, and we affirm them by saying Amen.
Second Reading: An excerpt from the Address by the Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, July 19, 1988
Common ground! Think of Jerusalem, the intersection where many trails met. A small village that became the birthplace for three religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Why was this village so blessed? Because it provided a crossroads there, different people met, different cultures, different civilizations could meet and find common ground. When people come together, flowers always flourish - the air is rich with the aroma of a new spring.
These are the words of Jesse Louis Jackson, and we affirm them by saying, Amen.
Gospel Acclamation: Spirit of the Living God by Daniel Iverson, sung by Michael Crawford
https://youtu.be/xoJN0owUoWA?si=2pvLtcO7o5Bl6tv_
Gospel Reading: attributed to the Gospel Writer John 11:3-45
[shorter version adapted from The Inclusive Bible]
The sisters of Lazarus who are Martha and Mary who was the one who anointed the feet of Jesus with perfume then dried his feet with her hair, sent word from Bethany saying, “Rabbi, the one you love is ill.” When Jesus heard this, he said to his disciples, “This illness is not to end in death; it is happening for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
Now Jesus loved the family very much. Yet even after hearing that Lazarus was sick, he remained where he was staying for two more days. Finally, he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” They protested saying, “Rabbi, it was only recently that they tried to stone you – and you want to go back there again?” Jesus replied,
“Aren’t there twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk by day don’t stumble because they see the world bathed in light; those who go walking at night stumble because there is no light in them … Our beloved Lazarus has fallen asleep. I am going to Judea to wake him.”
The disciples thought he was talking about actual sleep. So, he said very plainly, “Lazarus is dead! For your sakes I am glad that I wasn’t there that you might come to believe. Let us go to him.”
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him and Mary sat at home with the many people who came to console them. Martha said to Jesus, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died! Yet even now, I am sure that God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus reassured her saying, “Your brother will rise.” Martha replying, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus answered her saying,
“I am the resurrection and I am Life: Those who believe in me will live, even when they die; and those who are alive and believe in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Martha said to him, “Yes! I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, God’s only begotten, the One who is coming into the world.” Martha then went to Mary and whispered, “The teacher is asking for you.” So, Mary followed Martha with the mourners. When they reached Jesus, Mary fell to his feet once again saying, “If you had been here, Lazarus would never have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, he was moved by the deepest emotions and wept. Some of the people said, “See how he loved Lazarus.” But others said, “He made the blind person see; why couldn’t he have done something to prevent Lazarus’ death?”
When they approached the tomb which was a cave with a stone that lay across it, Jesus was again deeply moved. He said to the people gathered, “Take away the stone.” Martha, said, “Rabbi, it has been four days and by now there will be a stench. Jesus replied, “Did I not assure you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?” So, the people took away the stone and Jesus raised his eyes and said,
“Abba, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd that is here I am now asking that they may believe that you sent me.” Then in a loud voice Jesus said, “Lazarus, come out!”
And Lazarus came out of the tomb still bound hand and foot with linen strips; his face wrapped in a cloth. So, Jesus said to the people, “Untie him and let him go free.” Now many of those who came to console Martha and Mary saw what Jesus did, and they began to believe in him.
These are the words of the Gospel writer known as John, and we affirm them by saying, Amen.
Homily and Shared Reflections
Today’s readings offer guidance to life’s challenging questions: How can we bring about a change to oppressive power in all its forms so that the vision of transformative empowerment and healing can be actualized? This is the vision of loving compassion that Jesus brought to humanity 2000 years ago.
We continue to live in the unsettled space of betwixt and between, which is the difficulty we find ourselves in. This liminal space of possibilities will remain a lofty ideal unless we embody this transformative vision with day-to-day decisions placed alongside it.
Thomas Merton speaks to us as individuals to go deeper into the silence and sit quietly to encounter our true self and discover the gift of our authentic sacred reality. It is the common ground that we were all born with, a place where we can go to discern the answers that lie beyond the illusory false self that has evolved from the fears and selfish desires perpetuated in dominant cultural beliefs.
The miracle is that we need not be alone to face the struggles and painful suffering created by oppressive power and societal pressures. The ironic twist is that Lazarus was not dead but sleeping, entombed in the darkness of suffering without knowing how to escape the despair. We can feel all the emotions being expressed by the characters of this story. When Jesus summoned Lazarus into the light, he also empowered the community of friends and family who gathered to offer consolation to Mary and Martha saying, “Untie him and let him go free.” Jesus provided a gift of deep understanding when he created the conditions for everyone gathered at that moment in time to experience empowerment so they could loosen the bindings of decay.
Resurrection had occurred as a spiritual transformation in a present reality that could be carried over into eternity. Released from the stranglehold of doubt and unworthiness, those gathered came to believe that freedom from the dark forces of oppressive societal pressures can be achieved by embodying Jesus’ life-giving vision through the actions of loving compassion.
Jesse Jackson illuminates the moral of this scripture by situating modern day problems where ancient stories took place. We can only imagine the exchange of ideas in the surrounding area of Jerusalem, an ancient intersection connecting criss-crossing routes winding across the three continents of Europe, Asia and Africa. It is where the empowering message of the rabbi known as Jesus spread to reach the crossroads where we are at today.
He then draws the attention of his audience to the decisions that need to be made at every level in society. He has alluded to the opportunities that lie in the liminal space of discovery when different cultures and civilizations are willing to come together in the search for common ground – where collaboration and constructive problem-solving have a chance to surface so that decisions can materialize to create life-giving conditions for both individuals and entire civilizations to thrive.
The difficult position we find ourselves in, is to decide whether to embody a vision for peace and harmony that will reflect the glory of God the Creator or continue to make day-to-day decisions that will further suffering and destruction. Jesse Jackson has shifted our imaginations into the realm of possibilities when self-righteous differences can be set aside to find common ground, so that flowers can flourish and the air can become rich with the aroma of a new spring.
Please share your thoughts.
Statement of Faith
Please join in praying our 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 are aware that just as Jesus is anointed, so is each of us. We bring to this table our blessings, cares and concerns. Please feel free to voice your concerns beginning with the words “I bring to the table….”
We pray for these and all unspoken concerns. Amen.
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
adapted from Diarmuid O’Murchu
With open hands and hearts, let us pray our Eucharistic Prayer:
Gracious Creator, source and sustenance of life, redeeming presence to the pain and brokenness of our world, Holy Spirit, who enlivens all that exists.
Down through the ages, you rescue us from darkness. and you light up our ways with wise and holy people. You restore our spirits and you revive our dwindling hope.
May your Spirit transform us that we may be refreshed in our inner being and be empowered to bring mercy, love, and healing to those whose lives we touch.
For all you bring to our lives, and for all we seek amid pain and suffering, we acclaim your love and greatness, and we join with all creation to sing our hymn of praise:
Holy, Holy, Holy - Here in this Place –by Christopher Grundy
https://youtu.be/sgkWXOSGmOQ?si=_eBgAsPjpEnUXv8P
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 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 bread, spoke a blessing, broke the bread and offered it to them saying:
Take and eat, this is my very self.
(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: Untie us and set us free
Communion Song: If Not Now, Tell Me When? By Carrie Newcomer
https://youtu.be/7bY585-fzSs?si=2eE-3zUiLrdHRSkS
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 of truth, compassion and justice burn within us.
May we continue to be the face of the Holy One, and
May we be a blessing in our time. AMEN.
Closing Song: Compassion (Change the World) by Andrew Witt
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