Living Gospel Inclusivity and Empowerment Now- https://bridgetmarys.blogspot.com/2025/10/rev-dr-bridget-mary-meehan-arcwp-chat.html
Saturday, January 20, 2018
Friday, January 19, 2018
Benedictine Nun, Sister Joan Chittister, Calls for Formal Censure of President Trump- National Catholic Reporter, Make America America Again!
https://www.ncronline.org/news/politics/where-i-stand/chittister-calls-formal-censure-president-trump
..."It is difficult to decide which is worse: A president unworthy of the office or a Congress unworthy of their power and place in American society. A Congress that stands by meekly — silently — while the standards of the presidency and the character of the nation deteriorate from the top down also betray us.
Congress and its leaders say not an official word of public censure about the racism that has been exposed in relation to our immigration policies. The silence in this case is not virtue. By saying nothing about the racism that underlies the president's attack on black countries, Congress abdicates its responsibility to the nature of American democracy.
The question, then, is what can you and I do to stop this slide to the bottom of the international pit?
Only the public can say a word now that can signal to the world that, at its root, America is still American in all its ideals and all its colors.
A censure is a military procedure used to publicly and officially address "conduct unbecoming an officer." It is a public rebuke of the commander in chief that is halfway between opening impeachment proceedings and doing nothing at all.
If you want to be part of the voice that makes America America again, contact Congress and call for censure."
[Joan Chittister is a Benedictine sister of Erie, Pennsylvania.]
..."It is difficult to decide which is worse: A president unworthy of the office or a Congress unworthy of their power and place in American society. A Congress that stands by meekly — silently — while the standards of the presidency and the character of the nation deteriorate from the top down also betray us.
Congress and its leaders say not an official word of public censure about the racism that has been exposed in relation to our immigration policies. The silence in this case is not virtue. By saying nothing about the racism that underlies the president's attack on black countries, Congress abdicates its responsibility to the nature of American democracy.
The question, then, is what can you and I do to stop this slide to the bottom of the international pit?
Only the public can say a word now that can signal to the world that, at its root, America is still American in all its ideals and all its colors.
A censure is a military procedure used to publicly and officially address "conduct unbecoming an officer." It is a public rebuke of the commander in chief that is halfway between opening impeachment proceedings and doing nothing at all.
If you want to be part of the voice that makes America America again, contact Congress and call for censure."
[Joan Chittister is a Benedictine sister of Erie, Pennsylvania.]
Homily : "Jettisoned Jonah" Jonah 3:1-5, 10 by Nori Kieran-Meredith, ARCWP
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| Nori Kieran-Meredith ARCWP |
Today’s
sermon comes with a tip of the preacher’s hat to my hiking buddy, comedy writer
John Mirdo.
The book of
Jonah is a fishy tale to be
sure. If we’re going to make sense of it,
it helps to re-tell the story in contemporary language. And so we’re using North American cities
instead of Nineveh and Tarshish, which don’t mean much of anything to most of
us. So let’s give it a shot! For
starters, “Jonah,” means “dove” in Hebrew.
This is the story of the dove’s awakening.
Jonah is in
San Pedro, at the Port of Los Angeles.
God calls Jonah. “Set sail for
San Francisco!” But Jonah doesn’t want
to go to San Francisco. That’s where the
enemy lives!
In disobedience to God, Jonah packs up everything and
hotfoots it off to Cabo San Lucas.
God sends a
“great wind” and a “mighty storm” after Jonah, such as threaten to break apart
his ship. In a panic, the sailors jettison
their cargo. And when that doesn’t work,
they jettison Jonah, too. They suspect,
rightly, that a defiant Jonah is the cause of their distress. Conveniently, a big fish swallows Jonah who
spends three days in utter darkness, sautéed in stomach acid. A terrified Jonah prays for deliverance, and
God relents. The great fish spits Jonah up on the shore, and God hits the reset
button. Time to try this again!
God calls
Jonah. “[Ahem. I told you to] set sail
for San Francisco!” Jonah replies, “God,
I don’t want to go to San Francisco.
That’s where the enemies of the Jews are.” Is Jonah afraid that God might be courting a
new chosen people? Might God abandon the
Jews, or worse yet, use their enemies to destroy them?
But Jonah sets
off reluctantly anyway. Upon his
arrival, he proclaims God’s message in exactly seven mournful words. [Aside: Now we return to Biblical names for
cities.] “40 days more and Nineveh will
be overthrown.” Jonah may be saying one
thing, but he’s definitely feeling another.
He yearns with all his heart
to fail at this mission.
So what
happens next? Faster than a camel on
diuretics, word flies to the king of Nineveh, who buys into the message of the
Hebrew God. The king proclaims that everyone is to commence immediate
penance, even the pack animals. No one
is to drink water, nor eat, and from now on all must wear sackcloth. (Can’t you just picture all the animals
wearing sackcloth?) Then all the
Ninevites wail aloud to God for mercy. And the animals howl, too. Every one.
What an earful that must have been! And all because Jonah uttered seven words. The repentance is so intense that God forgives
everyone. God promises that no evil
shall befall the Ninevite children.
Jonah sputters in protest and holes up dejectedly in a lean-to east of
the city.
Thoughtfully,
God provides Jonah with a bush to shade him from the sun, whereupon Jonah falls into an exhausted sleep. But then God sends a scorching east wind and
a most industrious worm to devour the bush.
And God proclaims cheerfully “Rise and shine, Sleepyhead!” Well no, God doesn’t actually say that, but
Jonah nonetheless wakes up on the wrong side of his sleeping mat. He would rather die than aid Israel’s
enemies! Why did God ask something so
terrible of him? But God reminds Jonah
gently that the children of the earth all belong to God, and that God will take
care of them, each and every one.
This is so
incredibly different from every other passage of scripture! And just why is that? This isn’t a history lesson. It was never meant to be taken literally. It’s meant to wake up the Jewish people to be
who they’re supposed to be. The Ninevites behave like the chosen people
of God. And why aren’t the chosen people
behaving? Why are the Ninevites more
like true believers than the Hebrews? What
is all this craziness? What is really
going on here?
The book of Jonah is a satire! The book of Jonah is a satire. As far as I know, it’s
the only satire in the Bible, and for thousands of years, we’ve been
misinterpreting it as history. Or
perhaps as a parable, but not for what it truly is.
And so what
does it have to do with anything today? I’m
going to turn this over for discussion now.
Points for
Discussion, if No One Has Any
God loves
all God’s children, none more than others.
Jonah
wasn’t afraid to oppose God. He was
hardly passive. His first concern was
for his fellow Jews, not God’s will. He
wasn’t right, and even though God creamed him [or acidified him?], he emerged
in one piece, hardly the worse for wear.
LGBT
scholars point to Jonah’s incarceration in the great fish in terms of being in
the closet. Does this comparison
work?
"Peace Should be Integral to Women's March" by Cindy Sheehan and Rick Sterling
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/01/18/peace-should-be-integral-womens-march
...."The escalating military budget is driving our country further and further into debt. Meanwhile infrastructure is decaying, health care and housing is diminishing and education is underfunded. College students now graduate with astronomical student debt. Meanwhile there is growing police oppression.
We must include PEACE in our march because unless we can stop the trend, a nuclear war is going to destroy civilization. There is no such thing as a winnable nuclear war. Resisting the war machine and dismantling ALL nukes should be essential elements in our activism. The continuity of human life on our planet is at stake. These are Women's issues.
As we demand a change in tone and behavior in the White House, we must also demand a change in US international foreign policy away from militarism and aggression.
The demand for peace not war should be integral to the Women’s March."
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/01/18/nuclear-annihilation-and-wisdom-mass-salvationThursday, January 18, 2018
Most American Catholic Women Want the Church to Have Women Deacons, No Surprise, When?
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/american-catholic-women-support-female-deacons_us_5a5f6902e4b096ecfca98ba5
My Response: It is not surprising that Catholic women want the church to have women deacons since we some grassroots communities have had women priests for over ten years! The question is when will it happen?
The CARA Survey paints a bleak picture for involvement of millennials in the Church---only 17% of young Catholic attend parish liturgies once a week!
My Response: It is not surprising that Catholic women want the church to have women deacons since we some grassroots communities have had women priests for over ten years! The question is when will it happen?
The CARA Survey paints a bleak picture for involvement of millennials in the Church---only 17% of young Catholic attend parish liturgies once a week!
A Conversation About Women Priests' Role - Promoting a Church of the People , non-Clerical, From Chile during Pope Francis' Visit this week
http://www.elmostrador.cl/braga/2018/01/17/felipe-berrios-sobre-falta-de-mujeres-en-el-clero-queremos-una-iglesia-mas-femenina/
If my translator is accurate, this articles promotes women priests as a way of moving the church toward a non-clerical, hierarchical model to a church of the people, an egalitarian circle of equals. This is the vision of the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests! www.arcwp.org
If my translator is accurate, this articles promotes women priests as a way of moving the church toward a non-clerical, hierarchical model to a church of the people, an egalitarian circle of equals. This is the vision of the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests! www.arcwp.org
"Called to Say Yes", An Inspiring Poem by International Spiritual Speaker and Poet Edwina Gateley
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| Edwina Gateley is a prominent lecturer, and writer on faith issues and spirituality with a specific focus on women in the bible, mystical tradition and contemporary life. |
"Called to Say Yes"
From Edwina Gateley, There Was No Path So I Trod One (1996, 2013)
From Edwina Gateley, There Was No Path So I Trod One (1996, 2013)
We are called to say yes.
That the kingdom might break through
To renew and to transform
Our dark and groping world.
That the kingdom might break through
To renew and to transform
Our dark and groping world.
We stutter and we stammer
To the lone God who calls
And pleads a New Jerusalem
In the bloodied Sinai Straights.
To the lone God who calls
And pleads a New Jerusalem
In the bloodied Sinai Straights.
We are called to say yes
That honeysuckle may twine
And twist its smelling leaves
Over the graves of nuclear arms.
That honeysuckle may twine
And twist its smelling leaves
Over the graves of nuclear arms.
We are called to say yes
That children might play
On the soil of Vietnam where the tanks
Belched blood and death.
That children might play
On the soil of Vietnam where the tanks
Belched blood and death.
We are called to say yes
That black may sing with white
And pledge peace and healing
For the hatred of the past.
That black may sing with white
And pledge peace and healing
For the hatred of the past.
We are called to say yes
So that nations might gather
And dance one great movement
For the joy of humankind.
So that nations might gather
And dance one great movement
For the joy of humankind.
We are called to say yes
So that rich and poor embrace
And become equal in their poverty
Through the silent tears that fall.
So that rich and poor embrace
And become equal in their poverty
Through the silent tears that fall.
We are called to say yes
That the whisper of our God
Might be heard through our sirens
And the screams of our bombs.
That the whisper of our God
Might be heard through our sirens
And the screams of our bombs.
We are called to say yes
To a God who still holds fast
To the vision of the Kingdom
For a trembling world of pain.
To a God who still holds fast
To the vision of the Kingdom
For a trembling world of pain.
We are called to say yes
To this God who reaches out
And asks us to share
His crazy dream of love.
To this God who reaches out
And asks us to share
His crazy dream of love.
From edwinagateley.com: Born in Lancaster, England, Edwina Gateley's educational experiences have awarded her a Teacher's Degree from England, a Masters in Theology from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and certification as an HIV counselor in the State of Illinois. From 1981 to 1982, Edwina lived for nine months in prayer and solitude in a hermitage in Illinois. In 1983, she spent over a year on the streets of Chicago, walking with the homeless and women involved in prostitution. Within these two experiences were the seeds of her ministry that would be realized in 1983 when she founded a house of hospitality and nurturing for women involved in prostitution. Numerous groups and individuals, including the Governor of the State of Illinois, the Mayor of Chicago, the late Cardinal Joseph Bernadine, and the former President of the United States, Bill Clinton, have publicly commended Edwina’s work and ministry. Edwina is currently writing, leading retreats for abused and marginalized women, and serving as "Mother Spirit" for Exodus, a program in Chicago for women in the second phase of recovery from prostitution. Edwina continues to give talks and retreats internationally. She is available to speak of her faith journey, and her struggles to be faithful to her call to urban ministry and mission. She also speaks on Transformation, Justice, Mission, Women in the Scriptures, Mysticism, Prayer and Spirituality.
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
Articles on Women in America, Enjoy!
https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2018/01/16/proud-be-catholic-groundbreaking-america-survey-asks-women-about-their-lives
Catholic women may be part of a Democratic voting wave in 2018. They are ready to welcome women deacons.
No one had ever done a comprehensive survey of Catholic women. So we did.
This issue of America presents the findings of the most comprehensive survey of U.S. Catholic women ever conducted.
A Crisis of Catholic Women?
https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2018/01/16/crisis-catholic-women
The Editors: All the women who responded to this survey still identify themselves as Catholic, however far they may have strayed from a consistent practice of the faith they were raised in.
The humble, indispensable women leading the Catholic Church you've (probably) never heard of
Kerry Weber
The church may benefit from a more deliberate effort to reach out to Catholic women.
Megan Sweas
Catholic women may be poised to help Democrats in 2018.
Armenian Apostolic Church Ordains Deaconess in Iran
http://www.diarioarmenia.org.ar/elijen-una-diaconisa-mujer-en-la-diocesis-de-teheran/
Yerevan (hetq.am) .- The Primate of the Diocese of Tehran ordained as a deaconess a woman in the Mother Church of Surp Sarkis.Although this role exists centuries ago in the Armenian Apostolic Church, this is the first time that a lay woman, not a nun, will occupy this role in the parish.
Ani-Kristi Manvelian, 24, an anesthesiologist by profession, was ordained, along with Mayis Mateosian, by Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, Primate of the Diocese in the Iranian capital.
"What I have done is in accordance with the tradition of the church and nothing else," the archbishop said. As he explained, this was his personal initiative "to revitalize the participation of women also in the liturgical life of our church". He added: "Do not be surprised, a woman could also become a servant of the Holy Altar."
Ani-Kristi has been involved in the life of the church in Tehran since she was very young.Usually, she used to perform the duties of an acolyte, such as reading the psalms or carrying the ceremonial candle.
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
"Fishing for Young People Will NOT Save the Church!" a sermon for Epiphany 3B – Mark1:14-20 by Pastor Dawn Hutchings
A sermon preached on the Third Sunday after Epiphany 2015 . Our readings included Ecclesiastes 3:1-13, “A Blessing for New Beginnings” by John Donohue and Mark 1:14-20. Listen to the sermon here
Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP, www.arcwp.org
Fishing for Young People Will NOT Save the Church!
Changing National Demographics Tell Us that
Youth are NOT the Future of Christianity!
Good News! Yesterday, I spent over an hour embracing our newest grandchild. Our granddaughter arrived into our corner of the cosmos on Wednesday morning. As I held this precious little humanoid in my arms, I couldn’t help marveling at the billions and billions of years of development that led to the configuration of cells in which little Evelyn Adele’s conscious self is now poised to be without a doubt one of this planets most dynamic, intelligent, beautiful, talented, compelling, loving, engaging, smart… funny, did I say beautiful?
She’s gorgeous!!! Just like all our grandchildren! Of course. Just like all of your grandchildren. Just like each and every child who has ever been born! Little Evelyn has already won my heart. It is amazing how much love bursts forth when a tiny little humanoid appears in your life. Holding Evelyn is like holding the sun, the moon, and the stars in your arms. It is difficult not to burst with sheer joy at the realization that life is so much more intricate, complex, beautiful, and awesome than you can even begin to imagine and yet, there’s a sadness in the tenderness of that sweet embrace. Because life is more intricate and complex that we can begin to imagine, the knowledge of all the risk, danger, sadness, and tragedy in creation I couldn’t help thinking of all the disappointed parents and grandparents whose hopes and dreams did not come to fruition. Then there’s the tragedy and injustice of all the beautiful children whose lives are at risk because of poverty, injustice, hatred, violence, war, and indifference. The complexity and the fragility of life seem so acute when you are holding a newborn. The mixture of emotions and the intensity of feeling is something that mere words cannot adequately describe.
All of the parents and the grandparents here know this. But if you had told me any of this a few years ago, I would have understood what you were saying but I would have had precious little idea of what it is that you were feeling. Being a grandparent is something that I never thought possible for me. Usually you have to have children before you can be a grandparent. But thanks to the generosity of my beloved Carol’s children, I have been blessed to be a grandmother. Next to Carol herself, I must say that being “Gran” is the best surprise I could have hoped for, way back when I was discovering who I actually am. But I will confess that the role of grandmother is not a role I ever imagined playing. My image of myself is changing. My ideas about the future are morphing into something I barely recognize. My hopes and dreams are expanding. I can hardly wait to see what lies ahead. The future is calling me to follow wherever these glorious little humans may lead us.
So, this week as I have been wondering about what the future holds for some very precious little ones, I have also had the words of today’s gospel reading floating in the corners of my mind as I try to figure out exactly what the good news is. “This is the time of fulfillment. The reign of God is at hand! Change your hearts and minds, and believe this Good News!” Good News. “evangelion” a Greek word which becomes in English: evangel as in evangelize and evangelical. It is an important word for us. Holy Cross is part to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. To evangelize is to bring good news. I suspect that many of the members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada are more than a little indifferent to the word “evangelical”. We may call ourselves evangelical but what’s in a name really? Thanks to some other churches’ callous way of being evangelical the very word itself has fallen into disrepute. Honestly, most of us would rather not be associated with evangelicals. Good News hardly applies to the types of Christians who are willing to hit people over the head with their bibles in order to judge and condemn them into the kind of shame and fear that sees the fires of Hell being kindled by their very souls. Besides, we’re Lutherans and by nature we’d rather not push Good News. We prefer to live our lives quietly as an example and hope that others will see something in us worth inquiring about and then we can refer them to an appropriate book, speaker, or pastor so that their questions can be answered in a modest open kind of way that may or may not lead them to any particular conclusions but will of course affirm that God’s grace is sufficient.
It is more than a little ironic that our very name includes the word evangelical but there is precious little good news about the state of the Lutheran church or any church for that matter. Jesus said, “Follow me, I will make you fishers of people.” But we all know that there are precious few people willing to be caught these days and we church folk are woefully bad fishers. Sure there are plenty of fish in the sea, but the holes in our nets makes casting into the seas of busy, discerning, modern, populations seem futile. Those of us who are willing to bait a few hooks with contemporary food for thought can’t seem to snag enough fish to ensure our survival. So dwindling congregations and growing expenses have led us to cutback after cutback as we huddle together in the few remaining buildings that we can afford to maintain.
Good News? Not really. Over and over again we are told, and so we tell each other, the church is dying. It’s not a particularly slow death. We are told, and so we tell one another that, the few members we do have are aging and once they are dead the church too will die. The answer we are told, and so we tell one another, is to attract young people. We need more young families. We need children. We need youth and vitality. Unless we figure out how to attract young people the church shall die.
The only problem is we are not attractive to young people and to date our efforts to be hip, to get down with the program, and move with the times has only exposed us for the aging frauds that we are when we try to be something we are not. Whatever you say about the inexperience of the younger generation, they are smart enough to spot a fake or an imposter and so our programs and our youth outreach, or even our pub nights, movie nights, and yes our contemporary worship, has for the most part failed to produce the kind of results we need in order to survive. So, some of us have turned on others of us as we compete for meager resources and clamor for attention from the generations missing from our pews. For the most part church’s that want to grow their numbers have become obsessed with trying to figure out what to do to bring in a younger crowd.
Now before I go any further, let me make it absolutely clear that I too believe that we should go out of our way to be attractive to a younger crowd, but, and there’s a very big but here, so listen very carefully. Despite what we’ve been hearing and what many of us have been saying for decades the youth are not the future of the church. Look around. You and the silver-haired aging populations of this planet are the future of the church, especially in Canada.
I will confess that I too have been fooled into believing that what we really need to do to ensure the future of the church is to bring in a younger crowd. But the real solution lies more in a reality to which many of us have been blind.
Let me begin with the facts. How many of you were born between the years 1946 and 1965? Congratulations, the vast majority of this congregation belongs to the generation of Boomers, which in Canada continues to dominate the demographics. The truth is that the population of Canada, the United States and Europe is aging. The fastest growing part of our population is seniors. Currently 15.3 % of the population of Canada are senior citizens. That percentage is rising quickly. By the year 2030 – 23.6 percent of the population will be made up of senior citizens. By 2050 that number is set to rise to 31 %.
In case you are wondering, the statisticians insist that senior citizens are people who have reached the age of 60. The Good News is that even after the current crop of seniors have long since shuffled off this mortal coil there will be plenty more senior citizens out there in the sea. The even better news is that as we live longer we are enjoying better and better health; 80% of seniors can expect to live healthy and productive lives. Wait it gets better.
Our aging population is better educated that it has ever been before and despite most of the dire predictions the vast majority of seniors are better off financially than seniors have ever been in the history of humanity. Now that doesn’t mean there aren’t challenges or that some of our seniors aren’t living in poverty. It does mean that we do have the wherewithal to ensure that seniors can live vitally rewarding lives and contribute to the health and wellbeing of our society in ways we are only beginning to tap into.
The future has so much potential. If you need even better news than this let me just tell you that according to the statisticians Canada ranks 5th in the world for quality of life for seniors.
When the fish who have been caught by Jesus’ compelling good news swim off to other shores, when we are gone, there will be plenty of more fish in the seas. So, let me ask you to think long and hard about this. Why aren’t we casting our nets where the fish are?
Have we become so obsessed with youth that we are willing to let schools and schools of fish swim past us in the vain hope that minnows are more attractive because they alone can save us? While I’m at it let me push you even further. When did any of this good news become about saving the institution? We have good news to share with people who have ears to listen.
Most of us are getting up there in years so we know the importance of dwelling in the questions of this life. Who are we? Where did we come from? Why are we here? Is there a Creator, or a god, or a source, or a reality that we are somehow connected with? Where are we going? What is justice? How do we stop the violence? What can we do to ensure peace? What happens when we die? Where are we going? Are we going anywhere? Is there life beyond this life? What is love? Who am I? These are the questions that haunt our very existence.
We have a contribution to make to conversations about the very nature of reality. We have wisdom to share. We have love to give. We have a hunger for justice and peace. We can continue to be obsessed with youth or we can embrace who and what we are and live fully, love extravagantly and become all we are created to be.
I believe that this particular congregation has something special to offer. Lord knows, we have the grey hairs, bald and balding heads, old bones, wisdom, generosity, and love. We also have what so many people wish for in a congregation. We have an appetite for learning and we are not afraid to dwell in our questions. We have the courage to try new things and to fail if need be. We have a passion for life and we sure know how to play.
Holy Cross is uniquely placed to be church in the 21st century. When we worship together stuff happens. We have a Global Justice Team which not only educates it advocates and provides opportunities for all sorts of people. We have a Beyond Church Team that is always thinking out of the box and engaging the world around us. We have Pastor Tom, whose skills and talents as a pastor and a psychotherapist are enabling us to care for one another in ways that make a difference in peoples’ lives. We have Marney. Our music program is amazing. We have an adult education program, which tackles the stuff of life. We also know the importance of children and we have a dedicated group of volunteer educators who are committed to giving children opportunities to encounter the sacred in ways that will feed them for life. We have all of you and we have a vital sense of fun as we play together, sing together, worship together, encounter the sacred together, struggle for justice together and love one another in ways that nourish, ground and sustain us in this amazing thing we call life.
I hope that we can find the courage to play to our strengths. I know that we can meet our financial challenges and solve our accessibility challenges. I trust that together we can be a vital community. Please don’t go away from this sermon thinking that I want us to focus solely on being a senior congregation, that’s not what I’m suggestion at all. We need all ages to be a vital and dynamic community.
What I am suggesting is that if we be authentic to who we are; if we play to our many strengths we will continue to be the kind of congregation which is attractive to all ages. Healthy communities are attractive. Communities who know who they are and who they serve are healthy communities. Healthy communities are able to play to their strengths. We don’t need to become what we are not in order to survive. That doesn’t mean that we don’t need to challenge ourselves to be more than we are. It does mean that we need to remain open to the challenges of the world in which we live.
But from time to time, we need to hold up a mirror and celebrate who we are together. Holy Cross is fearfully and wonderfully made. We have so much potential. So many strengths. Yes, there is so much more that we can be.
I for one can’t wait to spread the Good News. There are so very many fish in the sea. All sorts of varieties and ages so let us follow Jesus and cast our nets widely. Let’s play to our strengths, for we are great fishers and we the most precious bait, the Good News that at the very heart of all that is the Divine Reality that we call God is LOVE.
For everything there is a season, this is our season. Let’s embrace it. Let’s live fully. Love extravagantly. And be all that we are created to be. Let’s do it together in the midst of the One who is Our Lover, Beloved and Love Itself.
Monday, January 15, 2018
Pope Francis Worried About Nuclear War and Calls for Ban on Nukes, Newsweek
http://www.newsweek.com/pope-francis-worried-about-nuclear-war-and-calls-ban-nukes-781446
Pope Francis discussed his fears of nuclear war while on his way to Chile on Monday.
The pontiff distributed a picture he described as "the fruit of war" and marked with his own signature to raise awareness about the dangers of nuclear conflict. The photo was captured by American photographer Joseph Roger O' Donnell and shows a Japanese boy carrying his dead younger brother on his shoulders following the U.S. atomic bombing of Nagazaki.
"I found it by chance" the pope told reporters, quoted in Italian news agency Ansa. "Such image moves more than a thousand words. And I wanted to share it with you," he said.
Sunday, January 14, 2018
Leonard Cohen , Love Itself and The Window, YouTube Videos, and Talks on Mysticism by Shinzen Young
Shinzen Young Shares about the song:
In Part One Shinzen shares his interpretation of Sasaki Roshi's teisho and how fellow student Leonard Cohen has woven the style and teaching of Roshi into his song "Love Itself", from his album Ten New Songs. Filmed at La Casa de Maria Retreat Center in Santa Barbara, Jan. 10, 2009. *Note* Part 2 consists of Shinzen listening to the song Love Itself as he alternates between meditating eyes closed and looking out at his students meditating. "Love Itself" song posted in Part 2 with the kind permission of Leonard Cohen.
In Part One Shinzen shares his interpretation of Sasaki Roshi's teisho and how fellow student Leonard Cohen has woven the style and teaching of Roshi into his song "Love Itself", from his album Ten New Songs. Filmed at La Casa de Maria Retreat Center in Santa Barbara, Jan. 10, 2009. *Note* Part 2 consists of Shinzen listening to the song Love Itself as he alternates between meditating eyes closed and looking out at his students meditating. "Love Itself" song posted in Part 2 with the kind permission of Leonard Cohen.
Shinzen Young about Mysticism with a capital M:
Upper Room Liturgy 1/14/18: Answering our Call
Opening Prayer:
O Holy One, From the
day we drew our first breath, you have always been with us, calling us to the
fullness of life. We are grateful for our brother Jesus who walked this earth
as one of us, teaching us by example your greatest desire: That we love and
care for one another. Amen.
https://youtu.be/V0aAkOe87mo
First reading: 1
Samuel 3: 3-10, 19
Samuel was sleeping
in the temple of the Holy One
near the Ark of the Covenant.
near the Ark of the Covenant.
The Holy One called to Samuel, who answered, "Here I am."
Samuel ran to Eli and said, "Here I am. You called me."
"I did not call you, " Eli said. "Go back to sleep."
So he went back to sleep.
Again the Holy One called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli.
"Here I am, " he said. "You called me."
But Eli answered, "I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep."
Samuel was not
familiar with the Holy One,
because the Holy One had not revealed anything to him as yet.
The Holy One called Samuel again, for the third time.
Getting up and going to Eli, he said, "Here I am. You called me."
Then Eli understood that the Holy One was calling the youth.
So he said to Samuel, "Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply,
Speak, Holy One, for your servant is listening."
When Samuel went to sleep in his place,
the Holy One came and revealed his presence,
calling out as before, "Samuel, Samuel!"
Samuel answered, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
Samuel grew up, and the Holy One was with him,
and all of Israel recognized that Samuel was a prophet of the Holy One.
because the Holy One had not revealed anything to him as yet.
The Holy One called Samuel again, for the third time.
Getting up and going to Eli, he said, "Here I am. You called me."
Then Eli understood that the Holy One was calling the youth.
So he said to Samuel, "Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply,
Speak, Holy One, for your servant is listening."
When Samuel went to sleep in his place,
the Holy One came and revealed his presence,
calling out as before, "Samuel, Samuel!"
Samuel answered, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
Samuel grew up, and the Holy One was with him,
and all of Israel recognized that Samuel was a prophet of the Holy One.
These are the
inspired words of our ancestors, and we affirm them by saying, Amen.
John the Baptist was
standing by the Jordan River with two of his disciples,
and as he watched
Jesus walk by, he said,
"Behold, the Lamb of God."
The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.
Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them,
"What are you looking for?"
They said to him, "Rabbi" — which translated means Teacher —,
"where are you staying?"
He said to them, "Come, and see."
So they went and saw where Jesus was staying,
and they stayed with him that day.
It was about four in the afternoon.
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter,
was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus.
He first found his own brother Simon and told him,
"We have found the Messiah" — which means “the Anointed One.”
Then he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said,
"You are Simon the son of John;
you will be called Cephas" — which is translated Peter.
"Behold, the Lamb of God."
The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.
Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them,
"What are you looking for?"
They said to him, "Rabbi" — which translated means Teacher —,
"where are you staying?"
He said to them, "Come, and see."
So they went and saw where Jesus was staying,
and they stayed with him that day.
It was about four in the afternoon.
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter,
was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus.
He first found his own brother Simon and told him,
"We have found the Messiah" — which means “the Anointed One.”
Then he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said,
"You are Simon the son of John;
you will be called Cephas" — which is translated Peter.
These are the
inspired words of John, disciple of Jesus, and we affirm these words by saying,
Amen.
Homily Starter by Debra
Trees, ARCWP:
Our readings today
speak to the call of the Holy One in our lives and the call to discipleship
with Jesus. Scripture scholar, Diane
Bergant notes that we begin in Ordinary Time with a reflection on the Call to
Discipleship. “This call is not reserved for a select few. It accompanies our baptismal commitment and
is issued to all Christians.” So here,
we continue our “Ordinary time” but it is not that ordinary!
Isn’t it interesting
that Samuel did not know that it was the Holy One alone who was calling him?
The Spirit had a physical presence, even in the form of the auditory. In Samuel’s time and his experience as
recounted in the Scriptures, he was being physically called. And so, he got up
to answer. Even his mentor and benefactor, Eli, did not realize that it was the
Holy Spirit calling Samuel until he put two and two together, in the
persistence of the call, and then directed Samuel to listen.
This direction to
listen is important for all of us. It is an active listening, putting ourselves
in a position of service. “Here I am. I am listening.” It is a listening with
an outcome of action. The resulting action might not always seem easy, or even
to make sense. Hence, Samuel was known by his people, the Hebrew nation, as a
prophet and Holy Person. The Holy One
worked through Samuel, and when it happens to us, we know, the Holy One is
working through us.
But as scripture
scholar Barbara Reid points out, the call to discipleship comes in diverse
ways.
Jesus in his time was
thought to be a rebel, a messiah, a saint, a prophet, a teacher, a healer, and
so much more. He was obviously special, listening and acting within the Grace
of the Holy One. Here we are two thousand years later, still trying to figure
him out. Can you imagine, having someone direct you to him, and say, “Go, talk
to him?” And, can you imagine him saying
to you, “What are you looking for?” and
you responding, “Where are you staying?”
This Gospel emphasizes the concept of “abiding” with Jesus, not just
following. Living with, coming together with, and knowing… these lead to a
companionship of friendship and love, and not just adoration.
The call to
discipleship is one thing and can come in diverse ways.
Again, the response
to that call can be complicated, not obvious, and requires us to abide with
each other in community and support. After the call is discerned, the response
to discipleship can take some work…
What, dear friends,
have you heard? What will you do? What will it cost you?
Resources:
Bergant, D. (1999), Preaching
the New Lectionary: Year B. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical press, p. 224-229.
Reid, B. (2011. Abiding
Word: Sunday Reflections for Year B. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical press, p.
60-61.
Communion Meditation:
Follow Your Heart’s Desire by Jan Phillips
Blessing:
May we continue to be
the face of God to each other. May we call each other to extravagant
generosity! May we walk with an awareness of our Call as companions on the
journey, knowing we are not alone. May we, like Jesus, be a shining light and a
blessing in our time!
Closing Song: Anthem
by Tom Conry
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