We are pleased to post two homilies for Epiphany. With great thanks to Rev. Dr. Beverly Bingle, Roman Catholic woman Priest from Holy Spirit Catholic Community in Toledo ,Ohio whose wisdom here is a gift to us for this special feast. My homily from the Good Shepherd Community in Fort Myers, Florida follows Rev. Bev’s.

Here is Rev. Bev’s Homily:

The word epiphany comes from the Greek for
a sudden realization of a striking new understanding.
Isaiah writes of an epiphany.
In the midst of darkness
as the Jews return from the Babylonian Exile
to find their Jerusalem home in ruins,
Isaiah has a vision of the glory of God’s presence
shining on the people once again.
The land will be holy again,
and all the peoples, not just the Jews,
will live in peace and see God’s glory.
For the people living 500 years before Christ,
it’s a new understanding
of the nature of God and the meaning of life.
_________________________________________
Paul has an epiphany, too, which he explains to the Ephesians.
It’s not just the Jews who receive the divine word,
but the Gentiles, who are co-heirs with the Jews,
co-partners in the promise.
All are members of the same body.
For Paul and the people of 60 AD,
it’s an epiphany,
a new understanding of God and the meaning of life.
_________________________________________
After the Great Revolt—the first of three Jewish-Roman wars—
the Jews who follow the Way of Jesus of Nazareth
also come to a new understanding of God
because of their experience of him
in the midst of death and destruction.
Because they are Jews,
they explain their new understanding—their epiphany—
with images familiar to them.
Because they are Christians,
they hold on to their hope in Jesus’s Way
of peace based on justice.
So they use the image of light and darkness, just as Isaiah did.
The Magi—Persian priests or astrologers—
coming to see the newborn baby in the stable,
tell Herod they have seen the light of his star rising.
The image occurs again later in the Matthew’s Gospel.
In Chapter 4 Matthew quotes Isaiah 8:
“the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.”
After that has Jesus tell his disciples, “I am the light of the world.”
___________________________________________
Other images in Matthew’s infancy narrative
serve the same purpose.
For example, Herod’s chief priests and scribes tell him
that the Messiah will be a ruler who will shepherd the people,
prefiguring the adult Jesus,
the Good Shepherd who knows his sheep.
Those early followers of Jesus
came to a new understanding of God
and the meaning of their lives,
and they expressed that epiphany
in images that both built on their Jewish tradition
and expanded its reach to the whole world.
___________________________________________
Today’s epiphany story is not just ancient history.
We each have experienced epiphanies in our lives—
new understanding, growth in spirituality,
visions of hope for better times.
The image of light in the darkness is still fresh.
___________________________________________
We’ve seen light brought to others.
Last Tuesday the Italian Coast Guard
brought light to the darkness
when they rescued 970 Syrian and Kurdish refugees.
Closer to home, the Tiffin Franciscians’ Project Hope
brings light to over a hundred immigrants every year.
Scores of Toledoans bring light through anti-racism dialogues,
and hundreds bring light by their participation
in the Compassionate Community project.
______________________________________________
As disciples of Jesus,
each of us is called to bring light to the world.
Anne and Tom are doing that.
They worked to bring journalist Alison Weir to Toledo
to speak about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Liz is bringing light to youngsters
in the special needs classes she teaches at TPS.
Sydney is bringing light to Carol
when she visits her with communion.
And all of us are bringing light to Toledo—
and the whole future world—
with our tree-hugging plans
that we’ve decided to call “The Tree Toledo Project.”
Whenever we welcome a stranger, or diaper a baby,
or volunteer at Assumption Outreach,
or listen to another human being with love in our hearts,
we bring light to the world.
___________________________________
Isaiah had a vision of Jerusalem being holy,
and holy for all, not just the Jews.
We too have a vision—
of the world being holy, a place of light and peace;
of an inclusive church;
of safe neighborhoods and clean water and food and freedom;
of equality and justice for all peoples.
In each of the ways we find to love our neighbors,
especially the poor and oppressed,
we are making our world holy.
We are bringing light to the world.

—
Holy Spirit Catholic Community
at 3535 Executive Parkway (Unity of Toledo)
Saturdays at 4:30 p.m.
Sundays at 5:30 p.m.
www.holyspirittoledo.org

Rev. Dr. Bev Bingle, Pastor

From Rev. Judy:

Tomorrow is the twelfth day of Christmas, when the Feast of the Epiphany is celebrated- when the wise seekers from the East found the Christ-child as they followed a brilliant star.  In Latin America, Puerto Rico, and many other cultures this day is celebrated as “Three Kings Day” “El Dia de los Tres Reyes”  when gifts are given and holy processions wind through the streets. In our church we serve people of many countries and cultures. When we celebrate this day our “kings”, our wise seekers, are girls and boys, women and men, young and old. Though the seekers probably were not royalty, we honor the tradition and give crowns to all of our children and some of our adults, and involve them in bringing up the offering and the Gifts as well as the specific gifts of gold ,frankincense and myrrh.

Epiphany means  a manifestation, a revelation or a striking appearance that brings with it a realization, an understanding of larger essence or meaning.  We use the word now when we have an “aha moment” or discover something important. Still, the discovery of the Christ is for each of us the most important moment in our lives.  The poor and marginalized shepherds found him as they did their usual hard and cold work of tending the sheep out in the fields,again guided by a great light. And so, in the wonderful story of Christmas we have the poor and the unlearned and the well off and the learned all en-lightened, all following the light to Christ-seeing the light. And the light shines through the darkness of ignorance and greed,prejudice and injustice,violence and hate revealing the glory of God-that is, who God is.  Mary, a young girl who may have been a Temple servant, is chosen as theotokos -God-bearer.  She announces immediately that now “the poor will go away filled”- God’s justice and deliverance, especially for the poor and outcast of this world is coming.  Joseph who understandably had his doubts also sees the light and Mary and Jesus are loved and protected.

Matthew shows the early church of Jewish Christians that Jesus fulfills prophecy, brings the light to all and people of all nations will indeed build the kingdom (kin-dom) of God. In the Liturgy of the word the First Reading from Isaiah 60:1-6 initially was a challenge to Israel to rise and shine and bring the light of God into the darkness of hard times in and after exile so that peoples of all nations will be attracted to the light.  Indeed the text says that it will be people of other nations that will build the new Jerusalem. For Christians, Jesus, the Christ, is that light and people of all nations are building God’s reign of love and justice on earth. Psalm 72 says”O God, every nation on earth will adore you” and the poor will be rescued and saved. The Epistle (Ephesians 3: 2-6) is another epiphany: the Gentiles are now also heirs to the promise-included in the reign of God now and forever. And this is a key point of this Feast of Epiphany: people of all nations seek and find the Light, the Christ-child,pointing the way ,illuminating the way to God. The reign of God is inclusive of all.  The darkness of human ways may threaten this Holy Babe but he will live and teach and die and rise, dark designs and death will not get him, not in the beginning , not in the end.

Another key to understanding the visit of the magi, the wise seekers perhaps priests of another religion, perhaps astrologers,  that some later thought to be kings or royalty is understanding the meanings in the gifts they gave. When a gift is well given it is suited to the receiver. The tons of gifts returned after Christmas say that it is not easy to give good gifts, gifts that somehow match or reveal the receiver. The gifts of the wise seekers were expensive, probably priceless in their time with the aromatic resins being of even greater value than the gold,  but the cost of a gift has little to do with whether it is a good gift. As I noted in my Christmas reflections one of our teens gave us a gift of two little ceramic snowmen marked “Faith” and “Peace”   that symbolized for her the faith and the peace that the Pastor gave to the church. Her Mom told us that she asked for a ride to the Dollar Store where she found these treasures. But the real treasure was that her notes with each one showed that she understood who we are, or at least what we are trying to be and to teach. She “got it”. What a great gift! Now, in the same way, the wise seekers from another faraway land not even friendly to Israel, “got it” they understood that the baby in the manger was divine and human, a king, a priest/prophet and a healer. The gold was for a king-and it probably came in handy for a carpenter’s family. The frankincense and myrrh were used for healing then and now. Their aromas, balms and oils are stress reducers and medicinal for everything from cancers to skin and joint diseases,from wound care to pain medicine. Indeed Jesus healed both body and soul of all who came to him for wholeness. These resins were also used in religious ritual as an offering to God and to invoke God’s spirit upon people, to help connect us to the Spirit, to connect heaven and earth, divine and human, and even to accompany a dead person on his or her journey back to God. These gifts suited Jesus in every way.

And so we wonder about our gifts to one another and to Jesus this Christmas. Are the gifts we give gifts of ourselves, gifts of great worth to our God and to our neighbors in building the kingdom of peace, justice and love. Are we healing to one another? Do we offer our selves as bridges to the sacred, or do we keep the best for ourselves? When Pastor Judy B and I worked with a religious Sister in Guyana, South America, on our visits there we spent some nights in a shelter for women and children in an interior community where we worked with the women and girls present. Sister asked on of the abused young women to “sing her song for us”. This thirteen year old sang “A Bridge Over Troubled Water” so beautifully we were totally moved by it. When asked, she explained that Sister had taught her that song and Sister and this place was like a bridge over troubled water for her and the others there. Indeed, that was so. I prayed that we may always be that bridge for one another.  For indeed that too is a bridge to the sacred.  Do we love only own people-or do we embrace all people as God’s people? Are we imitating Christ in serving one another and in justice and inclusion? Let us pray that this new year may bring us closer in our own epiphany, in understanding who is this Jesus, born in a manger that we follow, and may we have the courage to live love and justice. Amen.

Rev. Dr.. Judy Lee, Co-Pastor Good shepherd Inclusive Catholic Community , Fort Myers, Florida

Happy New Year From our Good Shepherd Children and Youth:

And from our people:

AND, From our Board Members and Wonderful Volunteers:

We are so blessed with love and support!

And, finally,  members of our St. Francis Ministry also send their blessings:

This are the newest members: rescued just before Christmas-

This is Mama “Bonnie”, home from her spaying, and her two kittens. Mama is not tame but is making herself get used to us as she takes care of her beautiful babies. A patient and loving home is needed.

Mama is ever watchful and making progress.

Maya, a Junior at FGCU, is assisting by having Princess spayed and caring for her. Princess has had several sets of kittens and the last ones all died. She is just fine now.

And here are a few others who are home with us this year:

A Blessed and Happy New Year from the Peaceable Kin-dom

and Pastors Judy and JudyB and all of our loving and supporting friends

Pastor Judy Lee,, Good Shepherd Community

January 1,2015

Rvda.  Marina Teresa Sanchez Mejia,RCWP of Cali,Colombia celebrated a Christmas house Mass with members of her community. This woman of deep faith, courage and passion for justice, especially for the Afro-Colombiano Community, celebrates with holy passion for the Eucharist, Christ present with us and for the people of God. Many attended and also enjoyed the fellowship afterward. She is making a major difference in the lives of so many, especially the women,youth, and children of the community.

Here are some fotos of the joyful celebration:

Que Dios te Bendigas, Rvda. Marina Teresa! Vale,vale!

May God continue to bless and protect Rvda. Marina Teresa and her community.

Love and blessings, amor y bendiciones,

Rvda. Judy Lee, RCWP

Fort Myers, Florida

Christmas is filled with seemingly impossible events-events that are, however, totally possible with God. The words of the prophet Isaiah, speaking almost 900 years before Jesus was to be born forecasts the coming of the greatest Light who would be born a baby and called “Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Protector Forever, Prince of Peace” (Is 91-6). God will come to us as a tiny baby. The Awesome and great God of the entire Cosmos will be born into human life to show us how to live, and die and rise again. He will show us how to welcome everyone to God and leave no one out in the cold,to bring peace in a troubled world. Like Mary, who is asked to be the God-bearer, we are told as we hear the Christmas story once again “With God nothing is impossible” (Luke 1:37). Young Mary gets past her fears and is open to having this very special baby who will be called Yeshua, Jesus,  “Deliverance”. Joseph does not divorce her but embraces her and takes care of her. The baby is born in the space designed for animals, a most humble birth. The Shepherds are the first to be told about this event, and frightened though they are, they go and see the baby and go and tell the Good News of his birth. Along with Mary who said that the hungry will now be filled and the rich will go away empty, they, the lowly and often untrusted outsiders, the shepherds, are the first evangelists.(Luke 1 and 2). Later, the magi, astronomers, learned individuals, or kings, will follow their bright star and find him. And they will not tell the wicked and jealous king Herod about this newborn king so Joseph and Mary will flee to Egypt until it is safe to come back(Matthew 2).  How could these humble parents afford the trip to Egypt, perhaps with the gold and gifts that the Magi brought-or simply because “with God, nothing is impossible”. Christmas at its root is the impossible made possible, God made flesh and dwelling among us.

How do we enact Christmas this year with the deluge of human need and troubles ever increasing before us? We do it with faith, faith that embraces even the impossible. Faith that doesn’t need proofs for everything, faith that includes feelings of reverence and deep love. For me, that is a faith that makes me want to bow down on my knees and say “thank you God!”  and it is now and always has been the people of God that have taught me this faith.  Fourteen year old Keeondra saved her money and bought her Pastors two little ceramic snowmen this Christmas, one had the word “faith” on it, the other “peace” She explained in her hand-made card that “the church was where people found peace” and that the faith of the pastors grows faith in the people “who may not know God without it”, and that is how she chose those snowmen for us.   Keeondra is on the right in the picture on the right below. She is with her youngest sister Jakeriya and her brother Quay who nearly died of an opportunistic infection in November 2013, and who renewed his faith in reaffirming his hospital bed baptism just a few weeks ago. His life and affirmation of Life is one of the impossible events made possible by the faith that Keeondra is referring to as she affirms the miracle of faith. Also, several of our formerly homeless people have called and let us know how grateful they are to be enjoying their homes this Christmas. One man, Lloyd has now moved to Maine and married his High School sweetheart and he was able to get HUD housing in Maine after having it here as well.  Roger, our first housed person brought a donation to the church as he often does and prayed a prayer of thanks long with Lauretta and Nathaniel during our Prayers of the Faithful. Gary also spoke of the Peace of Christ at Christmas. And the “peace in the church” that young Keeondra was referring to in her card includes having a place to live in the apartment behind the church for her family of seven as they get back on their feet once again. Theirs is a faith of new life and second and third chances, a faith of the possibility of new things happening. A faith that includes her older sister being the first generation of their family members to be in college and doing well as of this September (on the right in the picture on the left below) .

And so this Christmas-tide we are asked to have the kind of faith that embraces what may be or seem to be impossible. The kind of faith that can see the great Light still among us, that can affirm the coming of the Christ who is with us still, the kind of faith that is for all people and welcomes everyone to the Table. The faith that can take the hopes and dreams of our lives, however impossible or broken they may be and breathe them into live reality. This is the faith that gives birth to love,no matter what.

In our Good Shepherd Inclusive Catholic Community the possibly impossible has been possible this Christmas. Due to the generosity of individuals,like Mary Pautz, Ellen and Jack McNally, Peter Lee, Ellie VerNooy, Danielle Nisivoccia, Jean Bauer, Pearl Cudjoe and Judy Alves, Rudy Elder, Monica Piccirillo, Evelyn Touhsaent and her husband Cliff, and Joan B. Volkmuth and Klaus Helf, Katy Zatsick and Bridget Mary Meehan, Phyllis Owen and Michele Nowosad, Stella Odie-Ali and Hank and Claire Tessandori,  and special organizations, like the Orioles, a local Social Club pictured below on left, and Gini Beecroft,Tom Rutkowski and the Breckinridge Community and Red Thread Group, Lisa Munklewitz and the Lamb of God Church and Thrift Store, below on right, we were able to give meaningful Christmas gifts to over thirty-five children and young people and over twenty-five adults,and also to serve wonderful Christmas meals all during advent. What a joy this is!

Our Sunday school has increased by six young people most of whom participated in our Christmas Pageant. It was great joy to see them learning the Gospel by acting it out. Here are some of them at rehearsal. After the rehearsal, Niyah,6, went outside by herself and knelt down at the Nativity scene, placing her hands over her heart as Mary did. We caught her there praying and she smiled for the camera. She has been doing this quietly and spontaneously since she was three years old,somehow drawn to Mary. We especially thank our Junior and Little Lambs teachers, Pearl Cudjoe and Linda Maybin for their year long assistance, and Efe Jane Cudjoe for her youth leadership.

One of the miracles of Christmas was that Niyah’s Mom, who has sent her since she was two without accompanying her and her sisters and brothers, came to church to see the Pageant.

The joy and laughter as the congregation watched the Pageant was overwhelming. Joelle White was Mary and Keion Lewis, Joseph. The part of Mary’s donkey was played by Jakeriya Maybin and the Angel by Arnya Jackson. The reverence of the children was most moving. And Santa Claus, (Hank Tessandori) paid us a visit that caused squeals of delight.

These young girls are holding “the Baby Jesus” and his “sisters” , dolls lovingly made for them by Helen Hearn, a compassionate and highly skilled octogenarian, who also makes extensive wardrobes for each doll.

Arnya,7, just loves her new doll. Her face says it all for the joy of Christmas at the Good shepherd Inclusive Catholic Community in fort Myers. Thanks be to God! To quote our wise Keeondra, “MERRY CHRISTMAS-HAVE FAITH !”

Love and Christmas Blessings throughout the New Year,

Pastor Judy Lee,RCWP

Pastor Judy Beaumont, RCWP

12/26/14

We must apologize for the lack of activity in a season where there is plenty of reflection and activity to share.  I have missed being here with you.  My computer crashed and it has taken a while to restore it but we are happily back now. And, perhaps even more than that our preparations for the needs of our people in this season keep us going 24-7. I am happy to share and echo Rev. Chava Redonnet’s reflections  about seeing the face of Jesus all around us this Christmas season. And I am also happy to share Rev. Bev’s 4th Sunday Advent Homily.

This Sunday is the fourth Sunday in Advent and we will light the candle of love in our Good Shepherd Community.  We will also welcome the Christ-Child a few days early and celebrate Christmas with our community. For many reasons celebrating the Sunday before is an assistance to our people in meeting the needs of their families for Christmas. Our children are planning a great Nativity Pageant and Santa will be visiting both children and parents and adults afterwards.  We will be sharing this with you for Christmas.

On this Fourth Sunday we reflect with Second Samuel 7 that from the house of David the temple will be established. From the shepherd David to the shepherds on the plain who heard and saw the announcement of Christ’s birth, the temple of our living God has been in the hearts of God’s people. Mary, who was perhaps a young temple servant before her betrothal to Joseph, chosen to bear Christ into the world, the God-bearer, became the willing temple of God.  Asked to be a God-bearer, she said yes, despite her fears (Luke 1: 26-28). And, the prophet Isaiah anticipated this child that would be born to us: Wonderful Counselor, the Strength of God,Eternal Protector,Champion of Peace ((Is 9:2-7). The humble shepherds too, terrified by the astronomical events leading them to the Christ child in the lowly manger,  said yes to going and telling the Good News, becoming the first evangelists(Luke 2:1-14). In our church we also see that God calls us, the poor and the little ones of the world to bear Christ and the Good News. So may whatever frightens us and makes us hold back in bearing and sharing the Good News be put in perspective in this season of love and joy, and let us boldly go forth and tell.

Advent and Christmas Blessings, Rev. Judy Lee

Rev. Chava’s Reflections

Rev. Bev’s Homily

Just in time for Christmas,
today’s readings shed light on God’s identity—who is God?—
and on our own identity—who are we?
These scriptures speak to us of incarnation—
the mystery that we celebrate this coming Thursday:
God-with-us in human form.
_________________________________________
Our first reading from Samuel
starts with King David trying to put God in a box,
but our God-beyond-all-names speaks out:
I have been with you wherever you were;
I was with you no matter what you were doing,
and I will be with you and your offspring,
from all eternity and for ever.
God is with us.
____________________________________________
Paul, in our second reading, makes clear who we are:
we are the ones with strength from God;
we are the ones to whom God’s mystery is revealed;
we are the ones who give glory to God through Jesus;
we are the people of God,
giving praise by following the Way of Jesus.
Our identity—our very being—is part of God.
We are in God.
_______________________________________________
Then our Gospel tells the same truth
in the story of Mary and her cousin Elizabeth,
servants of God and women of courage,
open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
They don’t see how or why, but they go ahead anyway, in trust.
They say yes to carrying children and giving birth
in the midst of the oppression and violence
of the Romans who occupy their land.
They recognize God’s presence
alive in each other and in their children.
Not only is God with us, God is within us.
__________________________________________
So the scriptures tell us that God is with and within us,
and we are in God, always, for ever and ever.
But that has to make sense in terms of the reality of our daily lives.
The world we live in
is not always an experience of “forever” and “always.”
It’s not always an experience
of God who is, who is with us, who is within us,
and we don’t always experience ourselves as in God.
Too often life is made up of lost jobs, dashed hopes,
fleeting friendships, broken marriages, and aging and dying
in a world of violence and bloodshed.
It’s as if God has abandoned us,
like in that last line of today’s Gospel: And the angel left her.
________________________________________________
Down at Claver House Tuesday
we talked about the morning news report
of the murder of a hundred Pakistani students,
and some of the guests, haltingly at first,
began to talk about the horrors of the wars they had served in.
George talked of Korea,
Jim and Daniel of Viet Nam,
Chris of Afghanistan.
Tough men.
Yet tears came to their eyes when they remembered,
as if it were yesterday,
the grief they felt 40, 50, 60 years ago.
A brother killed on his third tour in Vietnam,
a note from his buddy
found tucked by his name in the Memorial Wall in Washington.
The 18-year-old who took a bullet in his heart
the day after he arrived on the battlefield.
The chaplain reading Last Rites over still bodies.
And the grief they still feel.
The sad understanding how hard it is to unlearn that training to kill.
Their broken families.
Their broken lives.
They remember.
They marvel that they’re still alive, and they are grateful.
They don’t understand how they survived
and some of their buddies didn’t.
In spite of it, and because of it, they go on,
having faith that God was with them then
and is with them now,
and, they told me,
they believe that God remains
with and in those who didn’t come home.
__________________________________________
In the encyclical Deus Caritas Est, Pope Benedict wrote this:
Seeing with the eyes of Christ,
I can give to others much more than their outward necessities;
I can give them the look of love which they crave.
It’s that look of love that I saw in those men Tuesday—
they listened to each other with respect and understanding,
that look of acceptance and love that each of them craved.
___________________________________________
In five [four] days we’ll be celebrating the Nativity of the Lord—
Christmas with its joy and song,
family traditions and special meals with loved ones.
The turmoil in our world—and even in our family circles—
can make us question if God is really with us and within us.
That’s why we have to see our world,
and all the people we meet,
with the eyes of Christ.
As much as we love our perfect spouse and our perfects kids,
as much as we love our perfect selves,
we have to love the in-laws and the outlaws,
the uncle with the off-color jokes, the whiny aunt,
the inconsiderate neighbor, the judgmental friend,
the ex-offender, the old college buddy with too much to drink.
All of them.
We have to love the vet who killed in our name,
and the draft-dodger who left for Canada.
Every one.
___________________________________________
We are called to see our world with the eyes of Christ,
to look on ourselves
and everyone else
with that look of love,
so we can know who God is
and who we are.
So we can see Christmas.

—
Holy Spirit Catholic Community
at 3535 Executive Parkway (Unity of Toledo)
Saturdays at 4:30 p.m.
Sundays at 5:30 p.m.
www.holyspirittoledo.org

Rev. Beverly Bingle

Christ is Born!  Shout it out!

Shout it out! AMEN!

There is something about advent that quiets us down in our spirits and helps us to reflect on the essential meanings of the coming of Christ. Florida is known for its long and bright days even in winter. But still the darkness comes earlier and evening is longer than we like. Activities stop earlier and there is time to think and reflect on the beautiful prophetic readings about the long awaited messiah, Deliverance, Emanuel,God With Us. The reading from Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11 is particularly moving to me. The early verses in this Scripture herald John the Baptist who is the voice, the thundering voice, in the wilderness making straight the way of our God. The Gospel,Mark 1:1-8 has John thundering his message to the people. Turn yourselves around, turn back from your way to God’s way, to loving God with all your being and your neighbor as yourself, turn back to a life of justice and peace. Turn back to Love.  The last time I preached on this text I dropped a huge book on the floor with a great clamor. Speak up, speak up with God’s message!  This is not a time to mumble! The best news is coming, announce it. God’s love and justice has been born among us and we will learn to live love and justice as we follow the way of Christ.

Isaiah 40:11 speaks to our congregation growing from the bottom up, full of children, mothers, youth and new Christians. On Sunday we had 21 children with us, including six that have been coming for just a few times.  “Like a shepherd you feed your flock,gathering the lambs and holding them close,and leading mother ewes with gentleness.”  The same strong and gentle God who holds the little lambs close, the God with Mother/Father arms to embrace,protect and comfort, sends his own Beloved child as a helpless baby to be cared for and loved.  With this same God love and faithfulness will meet and justice and peace kiss each other and embrace(Psalm 85:10). And God will help us when we just cannot get this right. I think of the mothers in my flock who carry the heavy load alone, sometimes near breaking. I think of those who have been beaten,used and exploited in the name of “love”. I think of the children who do not have what they need to grow materially, physically,intellectually, emotionally and spiritually. I think of the children being raised by other relatives and foster parents who have lost both parents to drugs, alcohol, violence death and illness. I think of those living with those types of caregivers here and now in our midst. Then I think of the one parent who faithfully rounds up all of the children in her neighborhood to bring them to church.  We will hold them close and treat the ewes with tenderness. But it will take more than us to turn this around.  I am sickened by the violence all around them. Our little nine year old who lost his five year old cousin to a drive by shooting a few weeks ago now has a husky eleven year old telling him “watch your back, I’m going to get you”. And that happened right after church so I could intervene. But it will take God to keep him safe and to bring justice and peace to his world.

And so my heart resounds with Rev. Chava’s reflection on her little flock. She is so right that the number in the flock is immaterial, God is there for each one, carrying each in God’s ample arms. And sometimes God’s arms are our own tired limbs. Sometimes they help someone change out of soiled clothes, and sometimes they help people step out of soiled lives and take on new life.  Rev. Chava’s love holds them close and her passion for justice never tires, although I know she does. I sometimes join her in wondering “shall we continue?” “Are we doing enough”? And even CAN we continue? This shepherding is hard work! And justice is so far off. I rejoiced with Rev. Chava as her young man from Mexico was granted his wish of a Voluntary Departure in a speedy way as someone spoke for him-and was heard, miracle of miracles. Someone representing justice. I was glad in an immigration system where there is little justice that some little justice did happen. I was glad last week when President Obama made some definite beginning steps in repairing that broken system and can only pray that partisanship can finally be put aside to serve the needs of all concerned for we need the labor as much as the workers need the work and the recognition of their families. Perhaps that is a “Hail Mary” but we can pray for it.

As we face the coming of the Christ-child, let us hold all children close and work and pray for justice.

Rev. Judy Lee,Co-Pastor The Good Shepherd Community

And here is Rev. Chava;s lovely reflection:

Oscar Romero Inclusive Catholic Church
Bulletin for Sunday, November 30, 2014
First Sunday of Advent

Dear friends,

Happy Advent! May the peace and stillness of this waiting time fill your
soul, and balance the sometimes frantic energy of the weeks that lead up to
Christmas.

We had a lovely Advent Mass at St Romero’s this morning, with a surprise
visit from Ann and Nancy who visit about once a year from Penn Yan. Bob
McBride is almost always present these days. He’s the member of the St
Joe’s community with responsibility for our overnight shelter. Another
woman came in as well. It’s usually like that – Bob, and one or two people
who come once or twice. Last week there was a man who is part of the
Sanctuary Village under the bridge, and Carol who is one of our regulars.

Every now and then I ask God if it’s time to stop the Sunday Mass. In the
past, any time I asked that question a dozen or so people would show up for
Mass. For us, that’s a crowd! Lately the answer to that question has not
been numbers, but a deepened appreciation for what we offer in this simple
Mass. There are some people who come back over and over, for whom I think
our Mass is a place where they are known and loved, no matter how long they
have been away. There are others who come once and are never seen again,
but the moment when they were here was a blessing. I’m thinking of a time
when it was just one man from the street, and me. His faith was so deep!
After communion he asked if he could sing something, and made up a song on the spot about what a blessing it was to be worshipping together.

We have tossed around the idea of looking for another place for Mass on
Sunday mornings.  Some folks who live at St Joe’s have said they would come if it didn’t feel so much like work – and that’s a reasonable thing for
them to say, because in fact Sunday mornings can turn into a sort of extra
hospitality time. We try not to do that but sometimes there’s an emergency,
like the Sunday a woman came in who had soiled her trousers and needed
sanitary supplies. Most of the Mass time was devoted to taking care of her,
and I was awfully glad we were there to do it. Then she and I had a lovely
Mass together.

I don’t think numbers are important to God. God loves us one person at a
time, and I think it’s enough when we do the same.

In the migrant ministry it was an interesting week, as I accompanied one
young man to court. Ironically, he wants to go back to Mexico – he has been
here ten years and misses his family. A year ago he wanted to go back, but
his court date got postponed for a year. So he found a job in a dairy farm
and has been working. Finally his court date came around. He quit his job
and moved in with his aunt, making plans to go to Mexico a few days after
his court appearance. He was hoping for Voluntary Departure, in which one
pays one’s own way out of the country, and has no deportation history to
prevent coming back at some later time.  Either way, he knew he was going
back, and he’s ready!

So we went to court. His lawyer, Richard Link, told the judge he wanted
Voluntary Departure. The judge checked with the government attorney, who
said there was no obvious bar to his being granted that. “Okay,” the judge
said. “We’ll schedule him for a hearing. Next available date is in April
2016.”

My heart sank! Richard said, “Ah, your honor? He was hoping to go back to
Mexico this weekend!” And to the judge’s credit, he found a way to schedule
the hearing that very afternoon. Richard and I made phone calls and
rearranged our days, and the three of us went to lunch and then returned
for the hearing.  Our young friend was put in the witness box. “Have you
ever been arrested?” the judge asked him. “No.” “Have you ever done
anything for which you could have been arrested?” again, no. Actually, this
young man is the sort of person we ought to be begging to stay! But he was
granted Voluntary Departure, and should be able to get his bond money back,
as well.

I tried to explain the meaning of the word “irony” but couldn’t do it.  The
next day, he and his aunt and uncle came over to my house for Thanksgiving
dinner, and we said goodbye. If all goes well, he will be back with his
family by Christmas. Please pray for him as he journeys home.

Much peace to you this Advent. You are always welcome at Sunday morning
Mass!

Love to all
Chava

Oscar Romero Church
An Inclusive Community of Liberation, Justice and Joy
Worshiping in the Catholic Tradition
Mass: Sundays, 11 am
St Joseph’s House of Hospitality, 402 South Ave, Rochester NY 14620
A member community of the Federation of Christian Ministries

A Blessed Second Week and Second Sunday of Advent!

We have had some very happy events in our community that we would like to share with you so you can join us in thanksgiving.

First we would like to share that one of our young adult men celebrated the year since his baptism with an affirmation of baptismal vows before the whole congregation. He was baptized in the hospital a year ago as his life was truly touch and go. He was able to participate in his baptism in the hospital and was surrounded by his family but it remained hazy in his memory. In what is nothing short of a miracle he slowly regained his memory and his health over the year, So he wanted to make his baptismal vows in a more complete way when he was fully aware and before the congregation. On Sunday 11/23 this event of thanksgiving and affirmation took place. It was an affirmation of his life as well as his baptismal vows.He took the name John for his baptismal name. He began by saying.” Today I want to affirm my Baptism. I promise to love Jesus and to want to follow Jesus the Christ.”

John gathers with his parents and Godparents  He receives the white stole of Baptism and the Light of Christ

John celebrates with his Grandmother and family members afterward. The joy experienced by all present was palpable.Below are his sisters and cousin. And his brother and his little niece..

We also had two Birthdays to celebrate: Keeron, 17, and Keeondra, 14. I can barely reach Keeron’s head for a blessing.

And here are our triplets who celebrated their sixth birthday the week before! And below is one of our Moms, Awsha, with her beautiful baby girl.

We are so thankful for this new life in our church.  Love and blessings to all as we now enter Advent and await the coming of the Christ-child once again and appreciate all the faces of Christ in our midst.

Love and blessings, Pastor Judy Lee, RCWP

Fi

Sometimes I feel like the girl in the picture at the right of J. Janda’s poem, “Patterns” as it appears on the Sunday Website of St. Louis University University:  liturgy.slu.edu.

A Poem To Sit With The First Sunday of Advent B November 30, 2014 Reading I: Isaiah 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7 Responsorial Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19 Reading II: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Gospel: Mark 13:33-37

It is a cartoon by Martin Espramer,OSB,  of a young woman sitting in a chair asleep with something like a broom leaning on a wall behind her and an angry bald headed man standing over her.  I don’t quite get the scene, is it a girl and a teacher, a cleaning woman and a boss, a father and a daughter? I am not sure and I am not inclined to accept the angry looking man as a God-figure-or the view that God is angry at our shortcomings.  But I am sure that I do fall asleep on the job. I am sure that I do too much and reflect too little. I am sure that I am not often true to my nature anymore because I rarely take time to be quiet, to experience, to think, pray, and ponder, appreciate, and write poetry. I am such a complex combination of needing to work actively for the kin-dom and live the social justice teachings of Christ and the church as in our Matthew 25 readings of last week, and needing to stop and be quiet and share the inspirations of the Holy Spirit in words and poems. With that dual focus balance is needed and I have lost it for the time being. I am running (away) too much, as Janda suggests and as the prophet Isaiah (63:17) suggests when he says we are wandering far from God. I can identify with Isaiah’s feeling that even our good deeds are polluted and we have all withered like leaves (Isaiah 64:6). I know when I am “off balance” because I get grumpy and angry and exhausted. I feel very much like a withered leaf. I have often said that it is God’s creation, particularly the life abundant at my little lake that grounds me. And yet, there are days when I do not spare even the few minutes it takes to step outside and feed the ducks, ibis, fish and turtles and appreciate the deep beauty and meaning of those moments-the “Thank you, God!” and restoration that those moments bring. There are times when I let that which means the most to me become just one more chore. But, whenever I make even the slightest effort I am rewarded with peace and joy and awe of that God who restores us (Psalm 80) and strengthens us (I Cor 3:9) and is, as Isaiah says, our Mother/Father and the potter who shapes and molds us with care and love.

So, I appreciate Advent when we are to stop a while and open our eyes to what is around us and really see it, as if for the first time. That is what alertness and being watchful means to me. Not to wait for something or someone to come, but to open my eyes and see who is already here and what is surrounding me. To really see and experience the moment. The beautiful spiritual poet J. Janda captures this need to watch, and see. (This is from the St. Louis website, under Spirituality of the Readings on textweek.com)

(The  poem comes from Janda’s book, IN EMBRACE. If you wish to order a copy go to http://www.lifeinchrist-newsletter.com     ).

Good Shepherd’s Youth Leader Efe Jane Cudjoe appreciating the sunflowers in an airport in Thailand during her semester of study abroad from Brown University.

As we light the first candle, the candle of hope, in the advent wreath tomorrow may we be filled with the hope that we may refresh and renew our lives this Advent-time; that all that is withered within us may be brought to life again; that we will look and see God’s creation, the beauty in each lined and anxious face we see, the sacred in the flowers, small animals and birds and most especially the sacredness of God’s people-young and old, beautiful and withered. Let us hope that we can learn to wait with anticipation for God with us, of Emanuel, of the Christ-child and of the Christ. And let us hope to then work to renew the world with the Spirit of the Living God burning bright within us-like the candle of hope for a weary world.

There is a song by Daniel Iverson that I first heard in St. Michael, a black and Hispanic Roman Catholic Church in Hartford Connecticut where my soul was renewed.. We will sing it tomorrow as we recall that in this waiting time, this advent, our Potter is still with us renewing our souls and creating us anew:

“Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me.

Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me.

Melt me, mold me,

Fill me, use me—

Spirit of the living God,

Fall fresh on me.”

In this time of anticipation of the coming of Christ once again may we, in stillness and hope, know deeply that we and this world can be made new again.

Amen.

Rev. Dr. Judy Lee, RCWP

Co-Pastor of the Good Shepherd Inclusive Catholic Community in Fort Myers, Florida

A few weeks ago I was visiting our youngest Sunday school class, for 4-6 year olds, and they were coloring two pictures: a picture of cute little sheep and lambs in a field and a picture of Jesus carrying a little lamb in his arms. The teacher, one of our parents,  was teaching: God loves you and God takes care of the little sheep; Jesus loves you and takes care of you. I sat down and praised the work they eagerly showed me. We sang “Jesus loves me” and I got ready to go, saying that they were a beautiful group of little lambs. Bobbie,6, asked me what a lamb was. I said a baby sheep. Riah,5, said to me “Well, I am not a sheep!” I had to agree that they were beautiful little girls and that God loved each of them very much. It was too hard to explain that sheep stand for many things in the scriptures, including God’s people,but I gave it a good try.

In the first reading for this Sunday,Ezekiel 34:11-12, the prophet Ezekiel is following up on a ten verse challenge to the shepherds of Israel who have lost the sheep, who take care of themselves instead of the flock, who actually feed off the flock. In verses eleven and twelve God takes the sheep back and looks after them, searching for them, rescuing them and giving them good pasture land.  In Verse 16b God says “I will shepherd the flock with justice”. God, the Good Shepherd, goes on to say that the fat sheep push the thin ones out of the way and drive away the weak sheep. Reading this passage as a 21st Century Christian and Roman Catholic Christ follower, I am pleased that we can dissent even as Ezekiel did. Rev. Charles Curran,  a famous moral theologian who disagrees with the church on many things, calls this loyal dissent. Isn’t this what the prophets did? Isn’t this what Ezekiel is saying? Watch out you so called shepherds-you are losing the sheep and driving them away. Pope Francis lives a lifestyle of simplicity and reaches out to the poor and outcast no matter what the other shepherds are doing. He challenges us to “have the smell of sheep” on us-to be deeply and closely involved with the sheep.

Jesus, in the famous Matthew 25:31-46 passage, minces no words. He is telling us that to walk the walk of building the kingdom/kin-dom of God we are to feed the hungry, give the thirsty a drink, shelter the  homeless, clothe the naked, comfort the sick, and visit the prisoners. To do this is to serve Jesus, the Christ. To do this is to serve God. To do this is to care for the sheep.In another Jesus given metaphor: if we love him we are to feed the sheep, ewes, and lambs. Anything less than this is to talk the talk sitting on our rear ends. It counts for nothing.  In this passage Jesus also separates the doers from the talkers and lets us know clearly that “as often as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these,you neglected to do it to me” (V.46). There is no eternal life in this. Love is an action word. As Mother Teresa of Calcutta says: “Love is not words. It is action. Our vocation is to love”.

The Good Shepherd is both the name and the metaphor for our church. We teach that each one is to serve the next one. We serve mostly the hungry, homeless, formerly homeless, underemployed,unemployed, thirsty, not well clothed, sick, prisoners and other outcasts. We serve one another. There are moments of great joy in our church and tomorrow we will affirm the baptism of a young adult man who was almost dead from an opportunistic infection, struggling for life in the hospital a year ago to date. As he was baptized by me in the hospital he is really happy to make and affirm baptismal promises when he is healthy again a year later. He has a difficult life of battling opportunistic infections and sometimes he is difficult within his family as he and they deal with what it means to battle virulent disease so young. Yet, we are so thankful for the miracle of his life and his desire to follow Christ.  The work of such service is often joyful.  But just as often it is very difficult as the needs never stop, and the resources ,including human resources needed to serve, are never enough. There are moments of almost screaming-help, we can’t do this anymore,send some help, please!  There are moments of impatience and frustration- saying when will that one ever see the light for his or her life? There are moments of anger when one larger sheep grabs all the best food being served or when we are treated to a diatribe of curse words as someone frustrated with not having what is needed yells at the closest people he or she can find.  There are no saints here, just a small group of  very human folks trying to be good shepherds. And we can only pray that at the end of the day, we too will be lifted up and carried by the Shepherd. This is our faith. And in the meantime, let us continue the work of the reign of God,the work of the good shepherd.

Rev. Dr. Judy Lee, RCWP

Co-Pastor Good Shepherd Inclusive Catholic Community

I am also sharing here the words of Fr. Ron Rolheiser who wrote an excellent homily for this Sunday on the Spirituality of the Readings on the St. Louis University Website:

In Exile The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe November 23, 2014 Reading I: Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17 Responsorial Psalm 23:1-2, 2-3, 5-6 Reading II: 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28 Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46 “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Gospel) Give Drink to the Thirsty

When we think of the essentials of the Christian faith we generally associate these with belief in a certain creed, acceptance of various dogmas, adherence to a certain moral code, especially as it pertains to private morality, involvement with a church community, and with having some personal relationship to Christ in our lives. Now, while these things are essential and may never be denigrated, Jesus would add something else. For him, a criterion, in fact the criterion, for the practice of the Christian faith is the exercise of the corporal works of mercy. Have we fed the hungry? Given drink to the thirsty? Clothed the naked? Jesus’ command to practice the corporal works of mercy is direct, uncompromising, and everywhere present in the entire New Testament. Taken as whole, every tenth line in the New Testament is a direct challenge to the Christian to reach out to the physically poor. In Luke’s gospel, it is every sixth line. In the Epistle of James, it is every fifth line. Involvement with the poor is not a negotiable item. This is mandated with the same weight as is any creed, dogma, and moral or spiritual teaching. And this may never be spiritualized. The command to be involved with the physically poor means just that, the physically poor. It is rationalizing when we turn the corporal works of mercy into something less concrete, namely, when we define the physically poor in such a wide sense so as to include everyone—“To feed the hungry can also mean feeding those who are spiritually hungry.” “To give drink to the thirsty can also mean giving spiritual nourishment to those who, while affluent materially, are hungry for deeper things.” There is a sense in which this is true, but that is not what Jesus intended in Matthew 25 and not what the church has perennially intended in its social teachings. There is a spiritual sense to hunger, thirst, and poverty, but that is addressed elsewhere, both in the New Testament and in church teachings. Reaching out to the deeper, non-material, hungers and thirsts of humanity is what is mandated in the spiritual works of mercy. The words of Jesus in the gospels challenging us to reach out to the physically poor are not intended spiritually. The corporal works of mercy are about reaching out to the physically poor, pure and simple. So how do we give drink to the thirsty? Obviously, especially given what has just been said, there is an aspect to this that is brutally concrete. Water is even more important than food. Without water we die, are unable to wash ourselves and our clothing, and are unable to enjoy any quality of life whatever. To lack clean, drinkable water is to lack the first necessity of life. Hence, Jesus’ command to give drink to the thirsty is, first of all, about looking around ourselves and our world and trying to provide for every person on this earth clean, drinkable water. This, given the present situation of the planet, is not easy to do. A long, and mostly morally sanctioned, history of privilege and inequality—wherein some of us have surplus while others lack for basic necessities—has made for a situation in which there is now a rationalized acceptance of the fact that millions of people lack the basic physical necessities for life, including clean, drinkable water. Thus, to get water to the thirsty today requires more than just the positive efforts being made by those individuals and agencies which are directly trying to bring clean water into poor areas. What is required, as well, is a change of heart and ultimately a change of lifestyle, by each of us who does have clean water. As the great social encyclicals of the church, from Leo XIII through John Paul II, re-iterate over and over, clean water will come to everyone on the planet when those of us who have surplus, of any kind, live fully moral lives, namely when we accept that is it not right to have surplus while other lack necessities: God intended the earth and everything in it for the sake of all human beings. … Thus created goods should flow fairly to all. All other rights, whatever they may be, are subordinated to this principle. (Popularum Progressio 22 & Gaudium et Spes 69) No person or country may have surplus if others do not have the basic necessities.” (Rerum Novarum 19; Quadragesima Anno 50-51;Mater et Magistra 119-121; Popularum Progressio 230) Giving drink to the thirsty involves looking at those principles with more moral courage than we have up to now. Fr. Ron Rolheiser

Used with permission of the author, Oblate Father Ron Rolheiser. Currently, Father Rolheiser is serving as President of the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio Texas. He can be contacted through his web site,www.ronrolheiser.com. Art by Martin Erspamer, O.S.B. from Religious Clip Art for the Liturgical Year (A, B, and C). Used by permission of Liturgy Training Publications. This art may be reproduced only by parishes who purchase the collection in book or CD-ROM form. For more information go to: http://www.ltp.org/ Back to Spiritual Reflections