Reflection From Your Co-Pastors
June 28, 2021
Yes, our heads are spinning. Mark’s Gospel yesterday, Sunday, is “One of the religious scholars who had listened to them debating and had observed how well Jesus had answered them, now came up and put a question to him: ‘Which is the foremost of all the commandments?’
Jesus replied, ‘This is the foremost: "Hear, O Israel, God, our God, is one. You must love the Most High God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (12: 29-31) [i].
Aren’t loving God and loving our neighbor one and the same?
Can we truly love God without loving ourselves?
Can we truly love our neighbor without loving God?
As we talk about relationship as the basis of spiritual life, and the outcome of a loving relationship the well-being of the other, isn’t this one statement, which is a combination of two statements, one and the same?
As we talk about finding God within, as the core of our being, that from which we came and that to which we shall return, returning to our true selves, how can anyone be excluded from finding God, wherever God may be found?
If we are at the forefront of an age of rising consciousness even to the point of having a new relationship with the universe, how much more do we need to begin by having compassionate relationships with each other? In the story, the religious scholar asks for one commandment; Jesus’ answer has two seemingly different commandments. What follows, combines them into one with, “There is no commandment greater than these” or “…no other commandment greater than these” making it into one commandment.
Checking four Scripture sources, The Inclusive Bible (2007), the New Revised Standard Version (1989, which is authorized by Protestant,
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Anglican, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches), the one read by Deacon Katie Kline of Trinity Lutheran yesterday, and the UCCB website all do the same.
So why are our heads spinning, because the Roman Church is again excluding some of us in a very public way: the Vatican objects to a proposed Italian anti-homophobia law; and the UCCB is writing an eligibility statement around President Joe Biden having a seat at the Table (see La Croix publication). Where does the Greatest Commandment fit here?
Maybe right here in a poem from Derek Walcott included in The Universal Christ:
The time will come
when, with elation,
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror,
and each will smile at the other’s welcome,
And say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you
all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.
R. Rohr ends this passage with “…the Christ, you, and every ‘stranger’ are all the same gazing.” p 234.
[i] For the Hebrew translation, substitute Lord in place of God, and shall in place of must.
[ii] Rohr, “The Universal Christ”, 234.
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Mary of Magdala Leadership Council Meets Tonight - all are Welcome
The Leadership Council meets tonight, Monday, June 28th at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. It is an open meeting and members can attend. If you would like to listen in or wish to present to the council, please email us at marymagdalafc@gmail.com.
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Prayer Requests and Service Recordings |
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Praying for peace, health and well-being through
challenging times
+Ira Robinson, 18 mo. old grand-nephew of Mary Lou Devlin -member - is hospitalized. Please pray for Ira and family.
+Carl Lake, friend of Co-Pastor Jane
+Courtney Shook - daughter of Tom and Jean Christen, member
+Dorothea Grimm - Mother of Rosanna Bateman, member
+Sue Harari - friend of Cathy Engel
+Mary Detweiller - member and her daughter Tricia
+Rob Frank - friend of Kerrie Anderson - member
+Jerry Padilla, father and Ryan Cordova nephew of Lisa Jones - member
+Aidan - grandson of Mother Kae.
+Lauren Roob - friend of Rosanna Bateman
+Liz and Ken Zornes and family, whose daughter is struggling with addiction - friends of Sandra and Dick Life
+Michael Keefe, son of member Yvonne Keefe
In gratitude for all who pray for and with our community.
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+Dona Bosse - member
+Rosemary - Fr Michael's mother
+Dani - niece of the Cloyds - members
+Ruth Parker, sister of Dori Carroll
+Joanne Gallagher - member, and for her sister, Dr. Barbara Immroth
+Jim and Lucille Bowen friends of Suzanne King, member
+Leo Six – father of Michael Six
+Mike Gudim
+Suzanne King - member
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For the peaceful repose of souls for those who've passed and comfort for the families.
Adrian - Son of Joe & Ann - friends of
members Cindy and David Cloyd
Mary Crosby - member
Clint Wisdom - brother-in-law of Joan Chapman-Smith
Leon - father of Mother Cynthia
Kristin - daughter of ECC priest Scott Jenkins.
Joan Kneeland - sister-in-law of Bill Kneeland
Rita Ortiz, friend of Deacon Rosean
Margie Weitz - member
Chris Bachman, friend of Lisa Jones
Bob, husband of Joyce Dehaven -
friend of Cathy Engel
David Heyman -member
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Sunday - June 27 - 301 Faith Partners Service
The recording of the 3-church service and homily by Co-Pastor Dcn. Rosean Amaral will be available later this week.
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Past Recordings, Bulletins and Announcements
For all bulletins, reflections, Sunday recordings visit our webpage. Please contact us with questions, concerns and ideas for better connection with and for the community - marymagdalafc@gmail.com
Newsletters of Trinity Lutheran Church and the St. Paul's Episcopal
What are our partners in ministry up to? Go here for the Trinity Lutheran Church monthly newsletter, "Tidings". And here is St Paul's weekly bulletin
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Who Are the 301 Faith Partners? |
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The 301 Faith Partners have a Vision,
Mission and Values statement that guides
our relationships, interactions, and shared projects and ministries.
Our Vision – ‘Our guiding Light’
Weaving a tapestry of love, hope and justice for the world.
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Read the Vision, Mission, Core Values and Covenant here.
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