What a Week This has Been...

Settlement issues-still not settled.
I have emailed my lawyer asking "Whuz up?" no reply, tomorrow I will call.

Thursday the weather was so warm-50 and sunny that I could walk again on the Lake Michigan shoreline. First time since November! It was wonderful-lots of ice still floating on the lake. It will take some time for winter to melt.

Then the weather plunged and again I wear slacks under my dresses for ministry-in and out of cars/nursing homes, etc. I presided at a memorial service for two of our patients at a nursing home of Manor Care-which owns our hospice also. It was the first time I held one at a MC. About 10 staff members came because the residents had been long term. A time for sharing the stories. Everyone was very pleased with the service and the time to share-tears from staff and family members flowed with remembering. How we humans bond in our care for one another--it is beyond "for pay." To be kind and loving it truly is our nature, the best of being a man and woman. We continue to evolve beyond what we are to who we are called to be.

Then today I presided at the annual "International Day of Prayer for Women's Ordination (in the RCC)" I had a very good feeling as I put the liturgy together. About 15 people came some because of the liturgy for WO. One of the Sisters, a true radical feminist Catholic for over 40 years working for womens' equality in the RCC said, "Katy, your inclusive liturgy was so powerful and meaningful." I felt as if she ordained me for she would not say such a thing lightly.
The readings for the fifth Sunday of Lent include Jesus calling forth Lazarus from his tomb. I said in my reflection:
I was struck by the Words of God in the first reading from Ezekiel and then the Healing by Jesus in the Gospel. Two situations:

in one persons are dead-mentally and spiritually to their reality
and in one story a person is really physically dead.
Yahweh, the God of power over spiritual death proclaims:

“I am going to open up your graves…
I will put my breath in you,
and you will live.”
Yahweh is talking to people who are living,
however they are living in spiritual exile of who they are called to be.

In our Gospel
Jesus is talking to a man who is physically dead.
Jesus says, “Lazarus, come out.”
Let us all be the voice of Jesus, “Lazarus, come out.”
The dead one returns to living in this physical world.
Lazarus came out of death; still bound hand and foot.
Jesus says “Untie him and let him go free.”
Let us all be the voice of Jesus “Untie him and let him go free.”

What is going on in our readings?
God tells people who are living that they are dead and
God is going to make them live again.
Jesus calls the dead one forth from his grave of four days.
Jesus then tells his community “Untie him and let him go free.”

The people of Israel in the time of Ezekiel are in exile away from all they know,
a place that is home in landscape, culture, language, faith, customs,
paradigm of the world, politics and relationships.
Lazarus is dead to this world, away from all human experience-
physical, mental, social, his own unique identity, and human relationships.

So for our reflection today:
Women in the Roman Catholic Church are in exile
as much as Israel in the time of Ezekiel.
We have been baptized within the institutional church.
However, we are not alive as surely as the Israelites of Ezekiel’s time.
Our deepest spiritual sense of who we are in the world
as beloved daughters of God is denied by the RCC.
The essence of woman’s humanity is denied.

Which gets us to our Gospel.
In the lived experience,
in the reign of God whom Jesus knew,
whom Jesus is in relationship with:
God calls out “Come out” to those who are dead.
Jesus then gives the community of Lazarus the command
“Untie him and let him go free.”

Jesus says to us here in our time; the Beloved community of John, the People of God,
“Untie women and let women go free”-
into their calling to serve Godde as priests for the community of believers.
Some are called to be ministers,
some are called to be leaders of prayer and sacraments for the community-priests.
Some are called to be representatives to the larger community of faith-bishop, cardinals, pope.
I use these terms because of their familiarity.
May our faith community renew itself beyond these defining terms
so that all may answer our individual call to priesthood given through baptism
into the Body of Christ.

Are you ready to fully participate
in the work of creating a vision of the People of God
where each is valued as daughter and son of God;
living Godde’s Presence in the world?

Let us all “Come out” into the kindom of Godde.

I made the yeast bread for the Eucharist and shaped it in the form of a shaft of gathered wheat. Of all the times that I have made it, this was the best! I had been fearful because it did not rise the first rising time! The kitchen was just too cold I think.

The Pope is coming to the US in April, after our liturgy 5 of us met to work on how we would "celebrate his visit" The main activities would take place in DC and New York. But Chicago would "kick off the welcome" because the event will take place on the Sunday before he arrives. It should be interesting. I will be away and cannot take part, but I can help before the event. What fun we created Pink Smoke when he was elected and the photos were all over the world. We need to make a You tube video this time so we can keep it for all the world to see! Depends on the media really will they come out? What can we do that will get them to us?

We need to continue to celebrate and ordain women and men "To Live the Change We Want to See" as Gandhi so rightly told the people of his time. All is good and right.