Theme: What do You ask of me?
Dotty: Welcome to Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community. Today the theme of our Liturgy is based on the story Mark tells us of the rich young man who stood before Jesus and asked, “Good teacher, what else must I do to share in the eternal life of your Kin-dom”. As we prayerfully reflect on the hidden messages in this Gospel story let us quiet our minds and be still. In silence each of us can hear our inner voice the voice of Divine and then ask this question: “what is this story really all about, what is the message for me today?”
Joan: Reminders: We welcome your reflections at the time of the shared homily. Several of the members of our community have a speaking part in the Liturgy. It is important to be conscious when you speak unmute yourself. Also be sure that you re-mute when you are finished.
Remember to place bread and wine on your table so that you may participate in the consecration and reception of both the sacred bread and cup.
We are all like the rich young man in that we search to embrace the Christ with in us and we commit to live a life following the values revealed in the scriptures. Let us together now celebrate the memory of Jesus on earth and begin with our opening song.
Follow Me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lry-SRbAxUA
First Reading: A reading from the book of Wisdom. Chapter 7
Reader: Anne Cooke
So, I prayed, and understanding was given to me.
I called for help and the spirit of Wisdom came to my aid
I valued Wisdom above even my throne and scepter
And all my great wealth was nothing next to this.
I held no precious jewel as an equal,
Because all the gold in the world
Was just a handful of sand,
And all the silver in the world
Was worth no more than mud,
I loved Wisdom more than health and beauty,
I preferred Wisdom to the light of day,
Whose countenance shone unceasingly,
Through Wisdom, I received all good things,
And I had wealth beyond counting.
King Solomon is the implied author of the Book of Wisdom.
Reader: Maryal Gagnon
A Reading from Psalms for the New Millennium by Silvia Antonia Brandon-Perez a priest member of ARCWP.
We live on a planet that is magnificent and beautiful and welcoming. It has perceived risks and danger, but some of that has come from our societal rites and beliefs. As adult children, we created games in our minds to entertain ourselves, and then make of the games the seriousness of war, death, and destruction. Why do we need to say “my” and “mine” rather than “ours” or “yours”? Why isn’t sharing the norm? There is an abundance of things and feelings and beauty, more than enough for every being on this planet. Yet we create a picture of scarcity and then make it so by wanting to seize and grip and grab existence. In the quantum universe, as we think, so we are and so it is.
These are the inspired words of ARCWP visionary and priest serving the poorest of the poor in California.
CELTIC ALLELUIA – Linda Lee Miller
https://youtu.be/2ME1cF2iSgE
The Gospel reading today the book written in the name of the apostle called Mark
As Jesus was resuming his journey, a man came running up to him, and threw himself on his knees before him, “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” answered Jesus. “No one is good but God. You know the commandments: do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not say what is false about others. Do not cheat. Honor your father and your mother.” “Teacher,” he replied. “I have observed all these from my childhood.” Jesus looking at the man, loved him and said, “there is still one thing wanting in you, go sell all that you have, and give to the poor and you will have wealth in heaven; then come and follow me.” But the man’s face clouded at these words, and he went away in distress, for he had great pssessions.
CELTIC ALLELUIA – Linda Lee Miller
https://youtu.be/2ME1cF2iSgE
Shared Homily
Joan P. Let us pray together 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.
We pray that the Holy One renew in our hearts our commitment to journey always in faith and hope as we reach out and support, as we comfort and love those closest to us, our MMOJ community, those who live in our country and all the people of the earth.
Joan M. As we prepare for the sacred meal, we bring to this table our cares and concerns, our blessings and our gratitudes.
We bring to the table members of our MMOJ community who are experiencing difficult times for a variety of reasons. May they find peace of mind and heart.
We bring to the table all those who serve the needs of other, those who serve our communities, all those who give of themselves locally, whose compassion brings healing of hearts.
We bring to the table the people of our troubled country, especially those who actively address issues of prejudice of all kinds. May they be heard, may they be listened to, may we all see transformation within ourselves, our communities and our government.
We bring to the table all those who are blessed with wealth and riches. May they open their hearts and share what they have with those who have little.
We bring to the table all members of our community; we remember in a special way everyone in our midst who needs physical or emotional healing.
…pause… unmute and share the names of those you know who need healing
May all be healed by the strength and power of Jesus as well as the healing power within us as we are people of faith and hope.
We bring these and all our worries, cares, and concerns as well as our gratitudes, hopes and deep beliefs. This is a table of friendship and peace.
And together we say
So Be It
Anna: With open hearts and hands let us pray our Eucharistic prayer in one voice:
Blessed are you, Source of All Life,
For your word was spoken at the beginning of time as you called forth life, all the creatures of the earth, all the life in the seas, all the birds of the air came into being.
Blessed are you for the gift of humankind created all over the earth, created in your image to love and care for one another.
Blessed are you who calls us to follow Jesus. We let go of all that reflects prejudice in our minds and hearts. We desire only to follow the gospel as we walk in the presence of Jesus as we model our life on his life
Amen
Song: Here in this Place by Chris Grundy
https://youtu.be/sgkWXOSGmOQ
Joan P: We give thanks to you. Every life and heart stretch toward you, O name untroubled, honoring the name of God, praised with the name Creator. To everyone and everything comes the kindness of the Holy One and love and desire.
And if there is sweet and simple teaching, it gifts us, mind, word, and knowledge; mind, that we may understand you; word, that we may interpret you; knowledge, that we may know you. We rejoice and are enlightened by your knowledge; we rejoice that you have taught us about yourself. We rejoice that in the body you have made us divine through your knowledge.
Dotty: The thanksgiving of the human who reaches you is this alone; that we know you. We have known you, O light of mind. O light of life we have known you. O womb of all that grows, we have known you. O womb pregnant with the nature of Creator God, we have known you. O never-ending endurance of the Spirit of Life who gives birth, so we worship your goodness. One wish we ask: we wish to be protected in knowledge, one protection we desire; that we do not stumble in this life. When they said these things in prayer, they welcomed one another, and they went to eat their holy food, which had no blood in it. (The Prayer of Thanksgiving – New New Testament)
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Please extend your hands in blessing.
Maryal: We are grateful for Your Spirit whose breath inspired the primal waters, calling into being the variety and abundance we see around us. Your Spirit sustains and animates our every endeavor, inviting us to act in wisdom and in truth. 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 your living presence in the world.
Anne Cooke: We thank you for Jesus, a man of vision and conviction. He lifts the lowly, revealing you as God-With-Us. We remember Jesus today tthrough the sharing of bread and wine.
Dotty: 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.
Community lifts 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, this is my very self.
Community lifts the cup
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
This is the bread of life and the cup of blessing. Through it we are nourished, and we nourish each other. What we have heard with our ears, we will live with our lives; as we share communion, we become communion, both Love’s nourishment and Love’s challenge.
Please receive communion with the words: I am one with my God.
Communion song:
Surrender - Heather Houston and Samantha Keller
https://youtu.be/_2UEIVviGCU
Prayer after Communion
Joan P
O Sacred Spirit, you call us to share all of our gift and to give compassionate care to all those we meet.
We remember our sister priests, strong extraordinary women who demonstrated in life a compassionate love of you and a dedication to serve others with understanding and love. Adele, Judy, Tish, Joan, Michele, and our dearest Sally.
We remember all our family and friends who have transitioned into a New Life. We remember them with love and hold them forever in our hearts.
(Speak the names you hold in your heart.)
Anna Let us pray as Jesus taught us.
Our Mother
Who is in heaven and within us
We call upon your names.
Your wisdom come.
Your will be done,
In all the spaces in which you dwell.
Give us each day
sustenance and perseverance.
Remind us of our limits as
we give grace to the limits of others.
Separate us from the temptation of empire,
and deliver us into community.
For you are the dwelling place within us,
the empowerment around us,
and the celebration among us,
now and forever. Amen
Rev. Yolanda M. Norton
Gratitudes and Announcements
BLESSING
Joan P. May the blessing of the Holy One lead you on your journey.
May the blessing of Spirit Life fill you with wisdom and understanding.
May the blessing of Divine Mystery reveal insight into life’s unfolding.
ALL: Amen
Dotty Let us bring the message of Jesus to all those we meet.
We embrace our call to service.
Closing Song: Being Kind by Empty Hands Music
https://youtu.be/mJhZ64BvvFU
