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Welcome to our Mary Mother of Jesus InclusiveChurch Community Liturgy. We are a “Church Without Walls.”
Whoever you are. Where ever you are. Just as you are. You are welcome at our table.
Dotty: Theme For Today’s Liturgy:
Today we honor and celebrate all of the strong and courageous women who confronted the darkness in their lives and pushed through that darkness to recognize the Divine Light within.
Opening Prayer:
Like Mary of Magdala, apostle to the apostles, we rejoice that our spiritual power to live the Gospel is rooted in the presence of Spirit within each and all of us. Like Mary of Magdala, we rejoice that our oneness with the Holy One frees us from rules, projections and expectations that limit our ability to be a radiant reflection of Divine love and compassion.
Amen
Gathering Song: Women Spirit Michelle Sheriza
Joan P: Transformation Rite:
May our lives radiate the love of the Jesus.
May we live justice and equality in our church and world.
May Mary of Magdala be our model of courage and faithful service in our times.
All: Response: We will continue to be Transformed
LITURGY OF THE WORD
Jack M. Our First Reading: “Mary of Magdala”from Soul Sisters by Edwina Gateley
This is an excerpt from the text:
Ah, Mary of Magdala, they did not tell us your story.
It was lost, buried deep in layers of fear and denial, that such a one as you – female, fiercely loyal friend of Jesus - could walk so closely with him, never leaving his side even as you stood before the gates of hell.
They did not tell us, Mary. They did not tell us your story.
Could your seven demons be those very ones that reside still in your sisters, two thousand years later, cowering in shadowy apartments, brutalized by domestic violence and believing it deserved? Afraid to speak, to break the chains that bind them.
How was it with you then, Mary of Magdala? Standing in the place of revelation, singular woman witness, of the Resurrection? How was it to be so bereft and then be thrust, still weeping, into the bliss of the Realm of God, to run then, with that vision – that newness of life – to those who lived in fear?
Ah, Mary, we your sisters (and brothers) need to hear your running and your story resurrected and dusted from the tomb of scriptural exegesis into the bright sunlight. We need to claim your vision breaking through dead history into our warm lives.
We, women waiting, need to find you, Mary of Magdala. In the torn threads of our own journeys; we need to weave you, Mary, sister and friend, into our lives that we might stir and rise, fluttering in hope of new beginnings, no matter how long dead we have lain in the ground. Ah, then, Mary, brave woman of Magdala, we too will run from our tombs singing our song of resurrection with you, soul sister, into the bright, bright sun.
These are the inspired words of Edwina Gateley, disciple of Jesus, and we affirm them by saying,
Let It Be So
Joan P: A reading from Gospel of Mary the beloved apostle
At the end of that week, when all the disciples had gathered in the house at Bethany, Mary of Magdala came to them and told them what she had seen and what Jesus had said.
But they were grieved and wept greatly, saying, “How shall we go out and preach the Gospel of the kingdom of the Son of Humanity? If they did not spare him, how will they spare us?”
Then Mary of Magdala stood up, greeted them all and, raising her right hand, said to her brethren, “Only from the truth I tell you, do not weep and do not grieve or be irresolute, for his grace and that of the One who sent him will be entirely with you and will protect you. But rather, let us praise his greatness, for he has prepared us and made us truly human. When Mary of Magdala said this, she turned their hearts to the good, and they began to discuss the words of Jesus.
Peter said to Mary of Magdala, “Sister, we know that he loved you more than any other among women. Tell us the words of the Rabbi, which you remember, which you know and understand, but we do not, nor have we heard them.”
Mary of Magdala answered and said, “What is hidden from you, I will proclaim to you.” And she began to speak to them the words that Jesus had given her.
“My Rabbi spoke thus to me. He said, ‘Mary, blessed are you who came into being before coming into being, and whose eyes are set upon the kingdom, who from the beginning has understood and followed my teachings. Only from the truth I tell you, there is a great tree within you that does not change, summer or winter, and its leaves do not fall. Whosoever listens to my words and ascends to its crown will not taste death, but know the truth of eternal life.
These are the inspired words of Mary of Magdala, beloved disciple of Jesus, and the community responds: LET IT BE SO!
Homily Starter
STATEMENT OF FAITH
Mary M: Let us proclaim 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.
PRAYERS OF THE COMMUNITY
Jack M: Jesus healed St. Mary of Magdala of a very serious illness and then she followed him, supporting his mission with all of her resources. Thank you,Christ Spirit, for all the ways you heal us. Open our hearts to receive your healing grace and let us, like St. Mary of Magdala, put all we have at your service.
Mary: Mary and the other women and men disciples persevered with Jesus, even when he was persecuted by his own religious leadership and government authorities. God of Strength, help us stand in Jesus’ truth and healing love especially when we experience persecution for justice’ sake.
Jack: Because of her witness and fidelity, St. Mary of Magdala is known as the Apostle to the Apostles. Help us, O God of Righteousness, to accept your apostolic call “to go and tell our brothers and sisters of Jesus’ power to heal… even wounded structures which exclude.”
Mary: Women were faithful disciples of Jesus and significant leaders in the early Christian communities. Help us Most Inclusive One, to reclaim our baptismal call to leadership.
Jack: Our country is struggling, all that we love in our Democracy is threatened. We look for right leadership and your strength, Jesus, to bring peace to our hearts and minds.
For what else shall we pray:
We pray for these and all the concerns we hold deep in our hearts. LET IT BE SO!
The Healing Song by Karen Drucker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAocwPRVFsg
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
Mary: With open hands and hearts, let us pray together our Eucharistic prayer:
O Nurturing, Mothering One, You are always with us. We are grateful for Your constant loving and unconditional presence. You give us life, and we live and breathe with your Spirit. You create us female and male; You call us good, and we live as equal partners. You share the earth with us, and we, as co-creators with you, on your ongoing activity of creation.
O Heart of Love, Your Spirit moved through Mary of Magdala as she taught us that we are in continuous communion with you. Your Spirit moves through the love within us, expanding in widening circles to embrace all people and creation in our evolving universe. United with all our blessed ancestors, with Mary of Magdala and all women and men who confronted the structures of oppression in their times with unique vision and compassion, we sing:
Holy, Holy Holy by Karen Drucker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3r-3TFB6wI
Joan P. We give grateful thanks for all your faithful servants, opening for all of us a path to life.
(Please extend your hands in blessing.)
Come forth Sacred Spirit and be with us at our Eucharistic Table and send light and blessing upon the bread and wine which reminds us of our call to be the body of Christ in the world.
We thank you for Jesus, simple servant, lifting up the lowly, revealing you as God-With-Us, revealing us as one with you, and all creation. He had nothing in this world but your love, companions on the journey, and his very self. Together, that was more than enough.
As 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.
Dotty: On the night before he died, Jesus came to the table with the women and men he loved. He reminded them of all that he taught them, and to fix that memory clearly within them, he bent down and washed their feet.
(All lift their plates and pray the following)
Back at the table, Jesus took the Passover Bread, spoke the grace, broke the bread and offered it to them saying, Take and eat, this is my very self.
(All lift their cups and pray the following)
Joan P: Then he took the cup of blessing, spoke the grace, and offered it to them saying:
Take and drink of the covenant
Made new again through my life in you.
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 become communion, both Love’s nourishment and Love’s challenge.
Please receive communion with the words: The Divine Spirit is within me.
Communion Meditation: Song of Ruth
https://youtu.be/_-5fV8HWwkE
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Mary M: O Divine Love, your transforming energy is within us and just as you called Mary of Magdala, you also call us to go forth and to tell the Good News.
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.LET IT BE SO!
Joan P. 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
Dotty: Please raise your hands in blessing:
May our lives radiate the love of the Holy One.
May we live justice and equality in our church and world.
May Mary of Magdala be our model of courage and faithful service.
May we be a blessing in our time. Amen.
Our closing song: Blessings Upon You. Michelle. Sherliza and Roma Downey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A59ybCmUFUo
Please send personal intentions to
Joan Meehan. Jmeehan515@aol.com
They will be added in our Community Prayer Book.
Please send donations to:
Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community
5342 Clark Road #3079
Sarasota, FL 3423
