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Passcode: 552967
Theme: Planting Seeds
Welcome and Gathering
Beth: Welcome to our Zoom liturgy at Mary Mother of Jesus, an inclusive Catholic Community where all are welcome.
Our blessed community gathers weekly on Saturday afternoon to celebrate the Eucharist,love for our Holy One and one another and to give thanks for our many blessings. Our time together is sacred time where we bring our collective loving energy and prayer to help heal ourselves, one another, and our hurting world. “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Wherever you are,
Just as you are,
You are welcome at this table. (Integral Christianity by Paul Smith)
Let us begin our liturgy by expressing lovethrough song.
Gathering Song: One Power by Daniel Nahmod (Stop at 3:19)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZbdIRkRYrA
Opening Prayer
Kathryn: In the name of our Creator, Jesus our brother, and Holy Spirit Wisdom, we gather with hearts full of joy to celebrate our oneness with and in you and in all things. Let our ears hear, our eyes see, and our hearts receive as we remember and expand your Good Word on Earth. May Holy Mystery transform these days of injustice, inequality and pain into days of joyful anticipation of living your holy kindom on Earth. And to this we say:
ALL: Let it be so, and so it is! ALL: Amen
Rite of Transformation
Beth: We pause now to remember the times we have not born fruit in caring for self, others, and our planet Earth. Take a moment to recall one missed opportunity, one broken or damaged relationship. (Pause briefly and extend your hand over your heart)
Beth and ALL: As we ask for and receive forgiveness, we open our hearts to Infinite Love embracing and healing us. Let it be so and so it is!
Liturgy of the Word
Bob: First Reading: SIRACH 27:4-7
When a sieve is shaken, the husks appear; so do one’s faults when one speaks.
As the test of what the potter molds is in the furnace, so in tribulation is the test of the just.
The fruit of a tree shows the care it has had; so too does one’s speech disclose the bent of one’s mind.
Praise no one before he speaks, for it is then that people are tested.
And we respond by saying, AMEN!
Kathryn: Second Reading: At the Feet of Mortals by Denise Hackert-Stoner
The maple tree that had stood, bare and firm against wind and snow all winter long, is now abloom with young, green leaves. These new leaves are the tree’s alchemists. As they grow, they will use the elements from earth and sun to create glucose, feeding this giant of a tree all summer long.
As I look up into the long, hanging branches, I see something else among the new leaves. I see future trees, in the form of seeds. Thousands of seeds. Soon they will lie at my feet, on lawn and patio. For a week or two in May we will be wading in a pool of maple seeds. They arrive whether we want them or not. They are cast without thought or plan by their parent tree, each little seed spinning to earth on its one papery wing, bearing the future on its whirling flight.
Isn’t this the very definition of grace? Abundant, extravagant, unrestrained, uninvited, unearned? We live our lives in a sea of grace. It is present in every life, available to every life, no matter the circumstances. It spins into our lives like seeds on delicate wings, with nothing but hope to guide it to a place where it can grow into the image of its Source. May that place be me. May that place be you.
Here’s a little poem I wrote about these marvelous, exasperatingly profuse little “helicopters.” I hope you enjoy it.
At the Feet of Mortals
With nary a shake of its limbs the great maple releases its seeds.
For days and days they fall; careless, indolent, wayward, abundant.
Like grace from heaven, they do not ask permission, do not plan their descent.
Broadcast, not sown, they fall at the feet of all creation.
And where there is a bit of soil, where there is a drop of water, they take root.
And giving glory, they become the image of their Parent.
Beth: Gospel: Luke 6:39-45
Jesus told his disciples a parable, “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit?
No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher.
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.
“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.”"Sister, we know that you e loved by the
These are the inspiring words of the Gospel writer known as Luke and we affirm them by saying: ALL: Amen.
Homily Starter – Kathryn Shea, ARCWP
Our Readings this week focus on important lessons about how we speak, act, and live as followers of Jesus. There are many possibilities for themes in our Readings, and initially I wanted to focus on the planting of seeds. I think this is what we all truly are. We are Sowers of seeds. We chose the seeds we want to sow; seeds of justice, truth, love, equality, and peace. We chose our seeds wisely. These seeds could be our words, actions, or deeds, or all of the above. It is not just our responsibility to choose healthy seeds, but also to plant them firmly in good soil and to nurture them as they grow into trees bearing good fruit.
Luke compares people to trees, “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit.” Our actions and words should show our good heart, as our First Readingreminds us that our words reveal our true selves. By aligning our words, actions, and hearts with these lessons, we can follow Jesus more closely.
These Readings are perfect for today’s liturgy. Based on the absolutely awfulmeeting in the Oval Office yesterday, where our President and Vice Presidentused words, actions, and deeds that were rude, disrespectful and simply, evil,toward President Zelensky of Ukraine. The world watched in horror and disbelief. We watched, in horror and disbelief. I simply had no words for what was happening and I actually found myself crying, remembering the words, “We shall reap what we sow.” I had trouble sleeping last night and prayed for solace and strength and was led to this prayer, based on Psalm 92.
A Prayer for Strength and Gratitude
Lord, thank You for the many blessings in my life.
Help me to remember to praise You each day,
Even when life gets busy and distractions come.
Keep my heart focused on Your goodness.
When I see others succeed through wrong choices,
Remind me that Your justice will always prevail.
Help me to trust in Your plans for my life,
Knowing that You guide me with love and care.
Make me like a strong tree, rooted in Your truth.
Give me the strength to stand firm in my faith,
Even when challenges and doubts arise.
Help me to grow in wisdom and understanding.
Lord, protect me and guide my steps each day.
Be my refuge when I feel weak or afraid.
Remind me that You are always with me,
Supporting me through all of life’s struggles.
Thank You for Your faithfulness and love.
I place my trust in You, knowing You are good.
Help me to live a life that honors You,
Praising You always with a grateful heart. Amen.
And now I invite you to share your thoughts and reflections.
Communal Statement of Faith
Pat and ALL: Together let us profess our Faith.
We believe in our Creator who has not forgotten us, rather is ever and always present with us.
We believe in Jesus, the Word incarnate, who journeyed on the earth, blessing the sick, making whole the broken, healing many, instilling faith in his followers so that they may continue the work He began.
We believe in Christ, the everlasting Presence in our world in our universe.
We believe in the Spirit of Life, the breath of wisdom Sophia, who stays present and real to us during this great human struggle we face today and in the days ahead.
We believe in the communion of saints, our heavenly friends who walk with us in love as we continue our life journey.
We believe in one another and our individual and collective response to being diligent in following the directives given by medical professionals at this time.
We believe in the partnership and equality of women and men in our Church and our world. Here we live our prophetic call of Gospel equality.
We believe that 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.
Pat: 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, comfort and love those closest to us, those who live in our country and all the people of the earth.
Prayers of and for the Community
Bob: We now bring our prayer intentions to the Table, saying, “I bring to the Table…”
Our response is: May our words bring healing.
We pray for all those suffering, or will be suffering, as a result of those in charge in our government.
Response: May our words bring healing.
We pray for all who are suffering, lonely, and without faith or hope. Response: May our words bring healing.
We pray for all those living in the conditions of war and fear.
Response: May our words bring healing.
We pray for the intentions in our MMOJ community prayer list. (Joan shares)
Response May our words bring healing.
And, for what else should we pray?
Response: May our words bring healing.
Bob: Holy Mystery may we respond to the needs of our sisters and brothers in loving prayer and solidarity. Amen
Eucharistic Prayer
Kathryn: Gracious Wisdom, you embrace us with your extravagant affection in our times of both blessedness and weakness. Even though we have times of doubt, we know You are always with us…you living in us and we living in you. In this festive meal, your Spirit is poured out on each of us gathered in the circle of your friends and disciples, we also ask that your Spirit be spread to those of our community who are not with us today.
Beth: We thank you for the gift of Jesus of Nazareth in history -- and the gift of Jesus in faith. On earth, his life burned with the vision of his mission on earth. Through the example of his life – his teachings and actions - he showed us not only how we should live, but also what was worth even dying for.
Pat: When his time on earth had come to an end, Jesus – aware of and accepting his destiny – gave us his life for the values that he deeply believed, lived and taught…his conviction that love is stronger than death. And then, in providing an example of this wisdom for all people in ages to come, he opened wide his arms…and died. And the spirit that lived in Jesus resurrected him to a new life, a promise made to all of us too who live the new story. Jesus is with us today and he will be through the end of time.
(With an outstretched arm, we pray the consecration together.
Kathryn: We remember the gift that Jesus gave us on the night before he died. He gathered with his friends to share a final Passover meal. And it was at that supper that Jesus took bread, said the blessing and shared it with them saying: take this, all of you, and eat it. This bread is you; this bread is me. We are one body, the presence of God in the world. When you do this, remember me and all that I have taught you. This is the new and everlasting covenant.
[short pause]
Beth: In the same way, Jesus took a cup of wine, said the blessing and gave it to his friends saying: take this, all of you, and drink it. This wine is you; this wine is me. We are one blood, the presence of God in the world. When you do this, remember me and all that I have taught you. This is the new and everlasting covenant.
Kathryn: Jesus, who was with God “in the beginning of the creation of the heavens and the earth,” is with us now in this bread. The Spirit, of whom the prophets spoke in history, is with usnow in this cup. Let us proclaim this mystery of faith.
Kathryn and All: Jesus has died. Christ is risen. The Divine Presence lives in us and through us in the world today.
Beth: God, we know that you bless your church throughout the world. We, your people, ask for your grace that we may continually grow in our love and caring for Francis, our Pope, Bridget Mary, our Bishop and for everyone with whom we come in contact, especially those who live on the margins of church and society. They are all our brothers and sisters, members of your Blessed Family. We remember also all those, living and dead, who touched our lives and left their footprints on our hearts. We remember especially….(mention names here, if you would like to..)
Beth and All: We believe that the Spirit of God is at work in and among us and will do more than we could ever ask or imagine. We believe that it is through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, Creator God, forever and ever.
COMMUNION RITE
The Prayer of Jesus
Bob: Let us pray as Jesus taught us.
Bob and All: O 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 we need. You remind us of our limits, and we let go. You support us in your 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, Miriam Therese Winter, MMS
Sign of Peace:
Kathryn: Eternal wellspring of peace-
May we be drenched with the longing for peace
That we may give ourselves over
As the earth to the rain, to the dew,
Until peace overflows our lives
As living waters overflow the seas. (Marcia Falk)
Jesus said to his disciples, “My peace I leave you. My peace I give you.” Let us now extend a sign of peace to one another as we say, “Namaste, Namaste, Namaste.”
Beth: Please join in praying the Litany for the Breaking of the Bread:
Beth and All: Holy One, You call us to speak truth to power; we will do so.
Holy One, You call us to live the Gospel of healing and justice; we will do so.
Holy One, You call us to be Your presence in the world; we will do so.
Kathryn: This is the bread of life and the cup of blessing. Blessed are we who are called to Christ’s table.
Kathryn: Please receive/share Eucharist now, saying: “You are the bread of life.” And “You are the cup of compassion.”
Communion Song: Abide by Me (Please stop at 2:48)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWxgvY5j0HY
Introductions/Thanksgiving/Announcements
Closing Community Blessing
Kathryn: Please raise your hands in blessing: And together with our arms extended to one another we say:
May we speak with kindness and truth.
May we be humble and see our own faults.
May we live faithfully and love others as you love us.
May we be Christ in all those we meet.
ALL: Thanks be to all that is holy! Amen andAlleluia!
Closing Song: PLANTING SEEDS: A Song of Life | Empty Hands Music | nimo feat. daniel Nahmod ( Please stop at 2:12)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AmqYcWjBmc
If you would like to add your intercession to our MMOJ Community Prayers book,
Please send an email to jmeehan515@aol.com
If you would like to invite another person to attend our liturgy please refer them to
www.marymotherofJesus.net where the day’s liturgy is found. Zoom instructions are also included there.
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Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community
5342 Clark Road #3079
Sarasota, FL 34233
