Theme: Joy Beyond Expectation!
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https://zoom.us/j/93473708926?pwd=VHFKZGJ5N3ljbzZtVU1qQVRZY1lodz09
Meeting ID: 934 7370 8926
WELCOME AND GATHERING
Cathy: Welcome to our Zoom liturgy at Mary Mother of Jesus, an inclusive Catholic Community where all are welcome.
Whoever you are,
Wherever you are,
Just as you are,
You are welcome at this table. (Integral Christianity by Paul Smith) We invite you to pray the liturgy and respond where it says “All.”
-All participants will be muted during the liturgy except for the presiders and readers. --You are welcome to participate at Homily sharing and prayers of the Community. At that time please unmute to speak and remember to re-mute when done.
-Please have wine/juice and bread/cracker nearby as we participate in our Eucharistic Prayer.
The third Sunday of Advent is traditionally called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is the Latin word for rejoice. Today we light our third candle on the Advent wreath, the pink one, as we reflect on the gift of joy eternally promised to us, which was to begin, with the birth of Jesus .
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH--Prayer
(Elena) Holy One, as we light our Advent candle today, help us focus on you during this busy season. May we stay aware of the joy you bring into our lives. We want to find you in the everyday moments and come with hearts of gratitude to your manger on Christmas day.
All: Amen (Third Advent candle is now lit.
Let us begin our liturgy by expressing love through song.
Gathering Song: Rejoice by Charity Gayle (Stop at 2:40 minutes)
https://music.youtube.com/search?q=Rejoice
OPENING PRAYER
(Elena) In the name of our Creator, Jesus our brother, and Holy Spirit, Sophia 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 the gift of joy on Earth. May Holy Mystery transform the days leading up to Christmas into a time of holy anticipation; preparing our hearts, as we joyfully await the chance to celebrate the birth of Jesus. All: Amen
RITE OF TRANSFORMATION
(Cathy) 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)
(Cathy 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
(Luca) First Reading: Isaiah 35:1-6,10
Let the desert and the wilderness exult, Let the Arabah rejoice and bloom. Let it blossom profusely like the jonquil, let it rejoice and sing for joy. The glory of Lebanon is bestowed on it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of Our God, the splendor of the Most High.
Strengthen all weary hands, steady all trembling knees; say to all faint hearts, “Courage! Do not be afraid! Look, Your God is coming, vengeance is coming, the retribution of God; God is coming to save you” Then the eyes of those who are blind will be opened, the ears of those who are deaf will be cleared; then those who are lame will leap like deer and the tongues of those who are mute will sing for joy.
They will enter Zion shouting for joy, everlasting joy on their faces; joy and gladness will go with them, and sorrow and lament will flee away.
The Word of God All: Thanks be to The Holy One
(Maryal) Second Reading: James 5:7-10
Meanwhile, my sisters and brothers wait patiently for the Master’s Arrival. You see farmers do this all the time, waiting for their valuable crops to mature, patiently letting the rain do it’s slow but sure work. Be patient like that. Stay steady and strong. The Master could arrive at any time.
Friends, don’t complain about each other. A far greater complaint could be lodged against you, you know. The judge is standing right around the corner. Take the old prophets as your mentors. They put up with anything, went through everything and never once quit, all the time honoring God. What a gift life is to those who stay the course!
The Word of God All: Thanks be to God
(Cathy) Gospel: Matthew 11:2-÷11
While John was in prison he heard about the works the Messiah was performing, and sent his own disciples to ask, “Are you the One we’ve been expecting, or are we still waiting?” Jesus told them, “Go back and tell John what’s going on: The blind see, The lame walk, Lepers are cleansed, The deaf hear, The dead are raised, the wretched of the earth learn that God is on their side. Is this what you were expecting? Then count yourselves most blessed!” When John’s disciples left to report, Jesus started talking to the crowd about John. “What did you expect when you went out to see him in the wild? A weekend camper? Hardly. What then? A sheik in silk pajamas? Not in the wilderness, not by a long shot. What then? A prophet? That’s right, a prophet! Probably the best prophet you’ll ever hear. He is the prophet that Malachi announced when he wrote, ‘I’m sending my prophet ahead of you, to make the road smooth for you.’
“Let me tell you what’s going on here. No one in history surpasses John the Baptizer; but in the kingdom he prepared you for, the lowest person is ahead of him.”
These are the inspiring words of the Gospel writer known as Matthew and found in Eugene Peterson’s The Message. We affirm them by saying: All:AMEN.
HOMILY STARTER AND COMMUNITY SHARING
COMMUNAL STATEMENT OF FAITH
(Joan 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.
PRAYERS OF AND FOR THE COMMUNITY
(Maryal) We now bring our prayer intentions to the Table, saying, “I bring to the Table…”
Our response is “HOLY ONE hear our prayer.
~We bring to the table all those suffering as a result of the natural disasters taking place on our planet. Response: HolyONE, hear our prayer.
~ We bring to the table all those who need healing of body and soul from cancer and all other chronic illnesses. May they receive an increase of faith, hope and strength to endure.
Response: Holy ONE, hear our prayer.
~We bring to the table the people in all war torn countries that they may live in peace without fear and that goodness and sanity will fill the hearts and minds of those that would cause them harm. Response: Holy ONE, hear our prayer.
~We bring to the table the people of our nation who have been and are adversely affected by all the destructive, thoughtless, cruel, criminal, and perilous actions by our present administration. Response: Holy ONE, hear our prayer.
We bring to the table all those who are committed to working tirelessly to preserve our constitution and its laws. Response: Holy ONE, hear our prayer.
~We bring to the table the intentions in our MMOJ community prayer list. (Joan shares)
Response: Holy ONE, hear our prayer.
And what else shall we bring to the table?
Response: Holy ONE, hear our prayer.
(Maryal) 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.Holy Mystery may we respond to the needs of our sisters and brothers in loving prayer and solidarity. Amen
OFFERTORY: Here is My Life by Joe Wise
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsHM7_XZT5A
PRESENTATION OF THE BREAD AND WINE
(Cathy) Gracious God, you have set the banquet table and have invited all of us to a feast of unending delight. Blessed are You, Holy One, through Your divine providence we have this bread, to share, the Bread of Life. (Cathy and All): Blessed are You, Holy One, forever.
(Luca) Blessed are You, O Loving One through Your divine providence we have this wine to share, our spiritual drink. (Luca and All): Blessed are You, Holy One, forever.
(Cathy) Let us lift up our hearts. (Cathy and All) We lift them up to the Holy One, abiding with us and loving through us.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
(Elena) 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.
(Cathy) 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.
(Luca) 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.)
(Elena) 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]
(Cathy) 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.
(Elena) 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 us now in this cup. Let us proclaim this mystery of faith.
(Elena and All) Jesus has died. Christ is risen. The Divine Presence lives in us and through us in the world today.
(Cathy) 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..)
(Cathy 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
(Maryal) Let us pray as Jesus taught us.
(Maryal 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:
(Cathy)
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.”
(Joan) Please join in praying the Litany for the Breaking of the Bread:
(Joan 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.
(Elena) This is the bread of life and the cup of blessing. Blessed are we who are called to Christ’s table.
(Elena) Please receive/share Eucharist now, saying: “You are the bread of life.” And “You are the cup of compassion.”
COMMUNION SONG
“Mary, Did You Know”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPsgIhlYQmM
INTRODUCTIONS/THANKSGIVING/ANNOUNCEMENT
CLOSING COMMUNITY BLESSING
(Elena) Please raise your hands in blessing: And together with our arms extended to one another we say:
May we seek truth boldly and love deeply.
May we welcome opportunities to birth the Christ in all those we meet.
May we live visitation, as Mary did, and reach out and travel the distance to assist those in need of our support.
May we continue to be the face of the Holy One, and
May our names be a blessing in our time. All: Thanks be to all that is holy! Amen and Alleluia!
CLOSING SONG:
We Are Bethlehem by Alana Levandoski
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLpdfXSIdFo
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If you would like to add your intercession to our MMOJ Community Prayers book,
Please send an email to jmeehan515@aol.com
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