Conscience, Integrity & Justice: Rebuilding our Church 2
AUGUST 30TH, 2009 — 22ND SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
CALLED TO SAY YES (by by Edwina
Gateley), JAMES 1:17-18, 21-22,27, MARK 7: 1-8, 14-15, 21-23
Dear Friends,
What a glorious gathering of God's People to hear Fr. Roy Bourgeois and fortify our commitment to building a new Church more in keeping with what Jesus had in mind! It began early with Spirit of Life Community pitching in to prepare the space and the refreshments and picking up Fr. Roy at the airport and greet the people. By the time we started, there were more than 150 gathered in the stifling heat to hear Fr. Roy and to discuss the justice of ordaining women in the Catholic Church. The day began with Jean and Ron welcoming people and then Jean introduced Theresa Novak Chabot, Roman Catholic Women Priest Candidate (who will be ordained deacon November 21 at Spirit of Life.) Fr. Roy insisted that a woman called to ordination speak first. Then Jim Fitzgerald of our community, newly chosen Executive Director of Call to Action, introduced Fr. Roy. Fr. Roy traced his work for social justice from Vietnam through Bolivia and School of the Americas Watch to his present quest for justice within the Catholic Church through the ordination of Women to the Priesthood. Roy spoke passionately about how he has felt called to stand up to bullies in all the social justice venues mentioned above and give voice to those who are oppressed. After Roy's talk, refreshments and then a lively discussion followed. Michael Paulson from the Boston Globe was there and reported all of that in the Monday edition article that you may have seen. If you did not see it and would like to, the link is ARTICLE.
A spirited Eucharist followed. The Spirit of the whole day was vibrant and life-giving. We are letting it echo!
It is fitting that the readings for this coming Sunday are around the theme of doing (and not just thinking about) works of justice. This is best captured in the poem "Called to Say Yes" by Edwina Gateley that we will use as our first reading on Sunday. Let it speak to your heart:
Called to Say Yes
We are called to say yes
That the kingdom might break through
To renew and transform our dark and groping world.
We stutter and we stammer to the lone God who calls
And pleads a New Jerusalem in the bloodied Sinai Straits.
We are called to say yes that honeysuckle may twine
And twist its smelling leaves over the graves of nuclear arms.
We are called to say yes that children might play on the soil
of Vietnam where the tanks belched blood and death.
We are called to say yes that black may sing with white
And pledge peace and healing for the hatred of the past.
We are called to say yes so that nations might gather
And dance one great movement for the joy of humankind.
We are called to say yes so that rich and poor embrace and
become equal in their poverty thru the silent tears that fall.
We are called to say yes that the whisper of our God
Might be heard through our sirens & the screams of our bombs.
We are called to say yes to a God who still holds fast
To the vision of the kingdom for a trembling world of pain.
We are called to say yes to this God who reaches out
And asks us to share God's crazy dream of love.
That the kingdom might break through
To renew and transform our dark and groping world.
We stutter and we stammer to the lone God who calls
And pleads a New Jerusalem in the bloodied Sinai Straits.
We are called to say yes that honeysuckle may twine
And twist its smelling leaves over the graves of nuclear arms.
We are called to say yes that children might play on the soil
of Vietnam where the tanks belched blood and death.
We are called to say yes that black may sing with white
And pledge peace and healing for the hatred of the past.
We are called to say yes so that nations might gather
And dance one great movement for the joy of humankind.
We are called to say yes so that rich and poor embrace and
become equal in their poverty thru the silent tears that fall.
We are called to say yes that the whisper of our God
Might be heard through our sirens & the screams of our bombs.
We are called to say yes to a God who still holds fast
To the vision of the kingdom for a trembling world of pain.
We are called to say yes to this God who reaches out
And asks us to share God's crazy dream of love.
(by Edwina Gateley)
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.
