Conscience, Integrity & Justice: Rebuilding our Church
AUGUST 23RD, 2009 — 21ST SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
JOSHUA 24:1-2, 15-18, O ONE WHO WELCOMES WOMEN (by Miriam Therese Winter), JOHN 6:60-69
Dear Friends,
It is with great eagerness that we wait to welcome Fr. Roy Bourgeois to Spirit of Life tomorrow! It seems fitting that he is coming on the Sunday when we read in John's Gospel, that Jesus' words are "Spirit and life"! In this story, many Jesus' followers are deeply troubled by his words, and they did not necessary find "life" in his message. They face the question: Should we believe and follow... or beat it out of here and "return to our former way of life". This was a question of conscience, and a challenge to the integrity of their faith. Often the words that the Spirit speaks call for us to think long and hard about the challenges to our way of life that a "yes" to continuing to accompanying Jesus brings. Jesus questions those closest to him "Do you also want to leave", and Peter answers: "Master, to whom shall we go"? How would you answer Jesus today?
Staying with Jesus, presents different challenges for us in this time and space. While we may not be theologically challenged as were these 1st century followers of Jesus on the issue they struggled with "eat my body, drink my blood" rather, our challenge is more likely to be that of truly living out of that theology by being "Christ's Body and Blood" in our world. And, here's where the Spirit's call to Justice comes in.
Our 2nd Reading this Sunday speaks of a critical injustice in the church today... the very topic of Roy's talk! What does gender have to do with one's call to serve God's people? Our theology teaches us that Jesus is the Word of God made flesh... .not "made male"... We offer you this prayerful poem by Miriam Therese Winter for your reflection ... leading to action.
O One Who Welcomes Women
into the household of the Spirit
and the leadership of the church,
be with all women
who feel themselves
on the outside, looking in,
kept far from the banquet table
richly laden with Your blessings
and intended for us all.
May Your symbols of abundance
not be used to mock our poverty.
Throw open the doors that bar us
from our share of daily bread.
May the strength of female apostles
reach to us across the ages,
and the wisdom of our longing match the folly of Your cross.
Wise Woman God,
Tender Woman God,
You are the One Who holds us all
in the hope Your new tomorrow
and the faith of Your yesterday.
Amen.
and the leadership of the church,
be with all women
who feel themselves
on the outside, looking in,
kept far from the banquet table
richly laden with Your blessings
and intended for us all.
May Your symbols of abundance
not be used to mock our poverty.
Throw open the doors that bar us
from our share of daily bread.
May the strength of female apostles
reach to us across the ages,
and the wisdom of our longing match the folly of Your cross.
Wise Woman God,
Tender Woman God,
You are the One Who holds us all
in the hope Your new tomorrow
and the faith of Your yesterday.
Amen.
(by WomanWord: A Feminist Lectionary and Psalter - Women of the New Testament by Miriam Therese Winter)
We hope that you can join us for Fr. Roy's presentation/discussion, and our liturgy this week. We invite you to come and pray with us at Spirit of Life and share in the experience of who each of us are which graces our time together. We are a Catholic community where every voice is heard, and women and men are unafraid to acknowledge the equality of women and men; and to embrace feminine as well as masculine... and beyond... images of God. As a community, we try wholeheartedly to "be Christ" to one another, to tend to the needs of one another, and to those in need in our world. Together, we celebrate our belief that we are being transformed by God's grace as we gather together in prayer. We warmly invite you to come and gather with us at our Table, and join in our experience of the "kin-dom" of God. We are an inclusive, open, affirming and interactive community, deeply committed to being a people of "justice and joy."
With blessings and gratitude for your faithful pursuit of justice,
Find more about past weekly reflections and podcasts in our ARCHIVE PAGE.
