Dear Friends,

We are challenged once again to grow large hearts and have clear minds as we face our world with the Scriptures in hand. Much challenges us these days of which we will discuss today. Rather than let all that isn’t right send fear through us, Lent calls us to give, always, as best we can, a loving response–it’s what Jesus did when he lived physically among us and it is what we must do as well.

We will look forward the next two Sundays after this one, to a pair of Zoom Masses, March 28, Palm Sunday and April 4, Easter Sunday! I will send out the links the Saturday before each Mass.

Please continue to stay safe and well even with your vaccinations as you get them–we are getting close but not there yet! Please call 507-429-3616 or email, aaorcc2008@gmail.com if I can be of help in any way. Peace and love, Pastor Kathy

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Entrance Antiphon

O God of Justice, defend my cause against the wickedness of this world.  Rescue me from those who would act with deceit and injustice.  You O God are my refuge.

Let Us Pray

Opening Prayer

Loving God, love led Jesus to accept the suffering of the cross that we might glory in new life with him.  Change our selfishness into self-giving. Help us to embrace the world you have given us, that we may transform the darkness of its pain into the life and joy of Easter.  Grant all this through Jesus, the Christ, with you and the Spirit—one God, who lives and loves us forever and ever—Amen.

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Readings:

• Jeremiah 31: 31-34
• Hebrews 5: 7-9
• John 12: 20-33

Homily  

As I said in the bulletin, these unfolding, last days of Lent give us quite “a plate” of issues—ones that need our attention as followers of our brother Jesus: how LGBTQs are looked at and respected in society—raised anew by Pope Francis, our newer issue of racism, although one that has been with us for a while—against Asian Americans in light of this past year of pandemic, fueled through the incompetence and lack of empathy of former, so-called leaders in Washington, and the ages-old racism at the heart of this country for our black sisters and brothers played out now in the present as we prepare for the trial of Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis.  And while all these issues are of great importance; I wish to concentrate on Pope Francis’ recent comments on the blessing of same-sex unions in light of today’s Scriptures. 

   The National Catholic Reporter (NCR) has recently stated that Francis is giving us “whiplash” and they have even called him a “hypocrite” because of his statement that priests may not bless same-sex unions.  And if you haven’t kept track of the “whip-lash-like” statements—here’s a bit of the back story. 

   In Pope Francis’ attempt to reach out to the LGBTQ community, he has stated that they are loved by God and the Church and even admits that God created them as they are.  Now if all the above is true, then any thinking, compassionate person has to be asking, “What kind of God creates a person a certain way, wanting this “spiritual” being to have a truly “human” experience while here, as we have spoken of in the past, but wouldn’t want them to find and express love in the ways of their own particular makeup?”  I would say this is a cruel God indeed!  But we all know that it is not God making this law, but the men who state that they are speaking for God. 

   Unfortunately, this otherwise compassionate leader (Francis) who has shown us in other ways—toward the earth (Laudato Si), and initially toward gays in his statement, “Who am I to judge?”— (although, he has no such compulsion where women are concerned—a whole other story—my apologies—I couldn’t help myself!) that he does have an open mind—to an extent.  As others have said, “His statements of support for gays, up to this point have not been against, “any law already on the books.”  That is apparently the difference with this newest statement. 

   His signature to the statement that priests do not bless same-sex unions, “because God doesn’t bless sin,” is about the law and in this writer’s mind, totally wipes out any previous verbiage about “loving” these sisters and brothers.  This statement is so indicative of the person who compartmentalizes their thoughts and feelings and unfortunately, men in our society have a penchant for doing this more so than women—another good reason for having more women involved in leadership roles to off-set this incomplete thinking.  In today’s first reading from Jeremiah, this prophet says that God will write laws on our minds, yes, but our hearts as well!

   So, let’s look at Francis’ statement in the light of NCR’s concern that he is causing, “whiplash” and their indictment of “hypocrisy.”  Frankly, the statement to any group of people that, one, “they are loved,” which, by the way indicates, “acceptance” of who they are, yet two, does not want them to act on their natural impulses as a human being is, in the words of a sister-priest friend, “crazy-making.” 

   Now, in order that I not be, “unclear,” it is one thing if a person is called to be celibate, but to say that an entire group of people must be celibate because the powers-that-be want sexual encounters to be simply between one man and one woman in order to call their union, “a marriage” is simply unjust.  And to then, call it a “sin” and blame it on God, is an abomination in my humble opinion! And finally, I would say to Francis, if that is your God—you may keep “Him,” thank you very much! 

   I would also like to take time in this homily to express my extreme sorrow to all of my gay and lesbian friends in committed relationships who have no doubt been hurt by the callousness of Francis’ words in your regard.  And as one who has had the privilege of blessing unions of such friends, let me extend the offer once again to any and all who might want their union blessed within the Catholic church—I am here for you.

   And on a final note; I would like to address the almost inordinate need, it seems, to have so much of Church life adhere around the concept of “sin.”  We need to be baptized to wash away our “original sin” when our God sees us first and foremost as most loving parents do their own children—original “blessings.” *

*the notion of “original blessing” comes from Matthew Fox

Jesus then, needed to come to earth to die on the cross as the ultimate sacrifice, to appease an unforgiving God for “the sin of all humans,” and now, priests cannot bless same-sex unions because, “God does not bless sin.” Interesting isn’t it that in all the ways any loving couple expresses love, compassion and understanding in this world, the one area that is zeroed in on is the physical, intimate sharing that can so strengthen them for all else that they do in this world?

   And if we want to discuss “sin” let’s look at the sin of clergy-sex-abuse of minors and others and the decades that this went on within the Church unaddressed and now even not fully addressed because of the system of clericalism that allows it to remain.  Clericalism, we all know, is the system that sees, bishops and priests as basically better than those that they supposedly, serve.  I think many, once faithful Catholics have little desire these days to take their, “less than perfect lives” to the scrutiny of men in the confessional that they feel are basically, untrustworthy.  This Sacrament has basically fallen to the wayside for most Catholics when it once had the potential for so much good. 

   So, my friends, by way of reigning this in and concluding; I would say to Francis, his bishops and priests, that it is time to wake up— “get out of the box,” concentrate on the love, more, as my dear, deceased, mother-in-law, Margaret was fond of saying—get their brooms out and uncover again, the footsteps of Jesus.  He always moved first with acceptance, honesty, mercy—basically love and then challenged every last one he encountered, to try again—to be their best. 

   The writer to the Hebrews today tells us that, “Jesus was heard because of his reverence” [for the people].  Jeremiah the prophet began our instruction today saying that God has “put [the] law in [our] minds and on [our] hearts.”  We must never separate the two, my friends—as the mind helps us to understand what might be needed in any situation, but the “heart” allows us to make the personal decision that is best in each situation.  An “engaged” heart could never separate a person from their action, saying they “love the person” but naming the loving action between two committed people, regardless of gender, “a sin”—just couldn’t do it!

   In John’s gospel today, Jesus’ words come to us, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain.”  Simply put, we need the gifts of all—as the grain mingles with the soil, is “watered” by the life experiences of all, that single grain bursts open and is capable of taking on more and beautiful new life.  Many in our family witnessed this phenomenon in the New Year with the generous gifts of our son and daughter-in-law, Isaac and Lauren in an amaryllis bulb fully potted and ready to go once we watered and fertilized it.  We each got different shades with beautiful names that once we put them in motion developed leaves, stalks and after several weeks, buds of the most beautiful hues.  We shared via texts and emails with our generous “givers” what came of their love—to the delight of us all! 

   And the true wonder is that after all that production, the bulb is completely spent (dead it seems) in the production of something so new, different, and beautiful. Then, with care that same plant is cut back, grows new stems and in the process a new bulb to start all over again!

   That’s what love does in us too my friends.  And I truly think that in order for our Church to grow and become significant in our world once again it must do the same.  Jesus was right when he said, “Unless the grain falls into the ground and dies—it remains only a single grain.  Amen? Amen!

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Prayers of the Faithful

Response: “Create a pure heart in me, O God.”

1. Loving God, let my actions always reflect a heart committed to you, where love is what determines how I respond to what life brings, we pray—Response: “Create a pure heart in me, O God.”

• Loving God, help our country and our world to be people who love peace and strive to bring it about—thank you for being our strength and our light,  we pray—Response:  “Create a pure heart in me, O God.”

• Gracious God, bless each of us with healthy bodies, minds and spirits–be with those who most need you today, we pray—Response: “Create a pure heart in me, O God.”

• O God, show us the ways during this holy season of Lent to grow closer to you, we pray—     Response: “Create a pure heart in me, O God.”

• O God, thank you for work and the ability to work and we ask you to be with those who have lost their jobs; give them hope for a new day, we pray—Response: “Create a pure heart in me, O God.”

• Loving God, teach us to live as though the lives of our brothers and sisters around the world were in our hands, because they are, we pray—Response: “Create a pure heart in me, O God.”

7.  Loving God, instill in our country’s people the flexibility and patience needed to struggle through uncertain times—be with our leaders to bring justice, hope and peace to our country and to our world,  we pray—Response: “Create a pure heart in me, O God.”

• For our community, All Are One, continue to bless us and assist us to be open to all of your people and guide us to always make a place of welcome at our table, but more importantly, in our hearts, we pray—Response: “Create a pure heart in me, O God.”

• Loving Jesus, be with all those who have lost loved ones this week, from COVID and all other causes—give them your peace, that they may find their way through their grief, we pray—            Response:  “Create a pure heart in me, O God.”

***Let us pray for the silent petitions on our hearts—pause, then response

Let Us Pray

   Good and merciful God, you are our light and our love.  You have written your promises of love on our hearts—help us to remember and never forget your covenant with us and enable us to do our part in loving response. As Lent draws to a close soon, continue to lead us in your path helping us to realize that our hour is upon us too—that now is the time to be your people and act as we say we believe.  Help us to remember that we are your hands, eyes, ears and heart for our world—help us to have your passion to work for justice and understanding for all in this world, especially those who are poor or disadvantaged in any way.  All this we ask of you, in Jesus’ loving name and with the Spirit—one God, living and loving us forever and ever, Amen.

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Let Us Pray—We can’t be together once again, but soon, hopefully! Jesus is always with us though! Remember!

Prayer of Communion

Jesus, you are the light of our world—give us the light of life to comfort your people, we ask this in your loving name—Amen.

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Dear Friends, if we look out of our windows in Minnesota today, we see bright sunshine and the hope of spring, not far off! Yet the reality of life in Minnesota is that on March 6th, we can’t yet believe that there is no more snow in our future. It is somewhat the same in our lives as Christians, as followers of our brother Jesus–for all the advancements and good things accomplished that we may be able to name, if we are honest, we would have to say that there is yet more to do to make us more equal in our country and in our Church. But rather than this cause us to be disappointed, or disillusioned, let it be something that energizes us as we daily strive to be our best. Pastor Dick Dahl has gifted us with a homily today that helps us along these lines. He mentions an endeavor of the Winona Sheltering Network–that of preparing to welcome an Honduran family seeking asylum to our Winona community should we be accepted. I will have more to say about this should we in fact be accepted and of how we as a parish and as individuals may assist these newcomers.

In the meantime, please stay safe and well and get vaccinated as soon as you can! I had hoped that by Easter this year, we might be able to consider meeting in person again, but all the best science says that all adults won’t be vaccinated until at least June, and even then, it will be a while, before we can consider ourselves safe. so, with that in mind; we will stay on Zoom a bit longer. The next scheduled Zoom Masses are on Palm Sunday, March 28, 2021 and then on Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021. Please be in contact with me by phone, 507-429-3616 or by email, aaorcc2008@gmail.com if I can help in any way, or if you would just like to chat. Peace and love, Pastor Kathy

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Entrance Antiphon

Our God says, “I will prove my holiness through you. I will gather you from the ends of the earth; I will pour clean water on you and wash away all your guilt. I will give you a new spirit.”

Let us Pray

Opening Prayer

God of all compassion and goodness, heal the wounds of our sins and selfishness.  Call us to prayer, fasting, sharing with others and to whatever we most need to grow closer to you and all in your household of the people of God.  We acknowledge our failings in love. When our weakness causes discouragement, let your compassion fill us with hope and lead us through a Lent of repentance to the beauty of Easter joy. Grant all this through Jesus, our brother and with the Spirit—who live and love us, God, forever and ever, Amen

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Readings:

• Exodus 20:1-17
• 1 Corinthians 1: 22-25
• John 2: 13-25

Homily

Pastor Kathy writes, “We are challenged this week around the rule of law–a black and white approach versus the rule of love, which often responds to more of the ‘gray’ areas of life. Ponder what this means to each of us.”

Today’s Gospel reading thrusts before us Jesus’ disruptive actions and his perplexing words. I have been grateful this past week that Richard Rohr’s daily meditations have focused on “The difficulty of seeing clearly.”

The quotation of Jeremiah comes from a parallel moment in that prophet’s life, some six hundred years before. Standing at the gates of the Temple built by Solomon, shortly before the onslaught of the Babylonian conquest, Jeremiah had issued a strident wake-up call to his fellow Judahites: they were violating every commandment on the tablets—idolatry, stealing, murder, perjury, oppression of the alien— and now they were acting as if their Temple rituals were going to make them right with God without any need to change their behavior. Thus, they had turned the Temple into a false haven, a “den of thieves.” So according to Mark’s version, Jesus’ similar confrontation in the Temple was an acting out of the essential message of his preaching: “The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” —Mk 1:15

What a surprise now to turn to John’s version. Whereas in Mark the incident occurs during the final week, John introduces the episode early, right after the wedding feast at Cana. And John’s description is far more dramatic. In this version, Jesus makes a whip out of cords and we hear not simply of doves but of sheep and oxen. We witness a veritable stampede of livestock scarcely suggested in Mark’s version. And Jesus utters no quotations from the prophets but a direct command, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace”.

What a mess he made! Talk about disrupting business as usual and making a statement! But what was it! Was it heard, received, understood? The difficulty of seeing clearly! What does it mean to us?

The point was not drama but symbol. In this Gospel John shows Jesus acting out the full Easter meaning of his life: he can drive out the animals of the Temple sacrifice because his own self-offering on the cross will permanently fulfill the purpose of Temple sacrifice.

If we ask what really happened in that Temple scene, Mark probably brings us closer to the events of history. If we ask what is the deeper meaning of that happening, John’s meditation draws us deeper.  

Jesus’ clearing of the Temple was a prophetic action demonstrating that the expected reign of God was being inaugurated and that it will be an age for the inclusion of all, the end of business as usual—in the Temple and everywhere else—for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.

Disruptions upset one’s sense of order and security but are sometimes necessary to reveal what is deeply disordered in society but not seen clearly or at all. Protests have repeatedly erupted after unarmed Black men and women have been killed by police. I’m not talking about destructive actions, but about disruptive ones, meant to make us see more clearly systems of injustice that we have been blind to and that we are part of.

Undoubtedly some were surprised but grateful at the time for what Jesus did: the poor who had been overcharged for the birds or animals they were required to offer for sacrifice; the Zealots who protested the arrangement the religious leaders had made with the Roman occupiers; perhaps even some of the Pharisees who believed holiness came from living the precepts of the Law and not just sacrifices and prayers at the temple.

John, however, combines Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple with his prediction of the Temple’s destruction, words that the other Gospels place at different times during his ministry. His claim that the temple would be destroyed (which it would be 42 years later by the Romans in 70 AD) and that he would rebuild it in three days was thrown back at him jeeringly as he hung nailed to the wood of the cross. Only after his death and resurrection did his followers begin to understand what he had meant and that he was referring to his risen body. 

The cross is power and wisdom. But it is a paradoxical kind of power and wisdom—a foolishness in human eyes that is wiser than human beings, and a weakness that is stronger than we are. Only believers can penetrate the wisdom behind the folly, and the power behind the weakness. For all unbelievers, the message of the cross remains a scandal (for Jews) and folly (for all others).

John wants to make clear that the old order of worship is to be replaced by a new one—an order focused no longer on the old Temple but on the Body of Christ.

Father Rohr’s meditations that I referred to earlier focused on “The difficulty of seeing clearly.” They include insights from Brian McLaren, a colleague of Father Rohr, who writes about “contact bias:” This results when a lack of personal and ongoing contact with people who are different from us causes us to fail to see them for who they truly are. When I don’t have intense and sustained personal contact with “the other,” my prejudices and false assumptions go unchallenged. By distrusting and avoiding them, I never have sustained and respectful interactive contact with them, which means I will never discover that they are actually wonderful people to be around. . . .

In this way, the prejudice cycle spins on, unchallenged across generations. As prejudice persists, it becomes embedded in cultures and institutions, creating systems of racism and hatred, marginalizing groups who are stigmatized, dehumanized, scapegoated, exploited, oppressed, or even killed. . .

Our previous President referred to immigrants at the southern border as rapists and murders and wanted to build a wall to keep them out. But if we are willing to listen to [“the other”] and learn from them, we can break out of our contact bias, which opens us up to seeing in a new way. . .

On page after page of the gospels, Jesus doesn’t dominate the other, avoid the other, colonize the other, intimidate the other, demonize the other, or marginalize the other. Instead, he incarnates into the other, joins the other in solidarity, protects the other, listens to the other, serves the other, and even lays down his life for the other. 

The one we follow into mission and ministry—Jesus the Christ—was an avowed boundary crosser, a reformer of the religious and secular culture of his time. We are in good company when we follow the way of radical inclusion of those different from ourselves. 

The more we bump into the folks who are so-called “other,” the more we are stretched, the more we are pulled out of that bias and have new truths because we have tangible evidence of the beautiful, powerful creativity of our God who made all of this diversity for us to enjoy. 

Jesuit John Kavanaugh writes: The new commandment of love of God and neighbor, may seem folly, but God’s folly is wiser than human provision. We will always struggle with this. And since Jesus himself has promised to remain in our midst, we can look to him to heal our blindness and our guilt. 

In this spirit, a group in our community, under the aegis of the Winona Sheltering Network, have banded together to provide community sponsorship for individuals and families who have escaped terror and persecution in their home countries, traveled hundreds of miles only to be herded in unsafe camps at our southern border. Kathy and Robert have put their names on the line as the groups’ legal representatives as we wait to welcome our first family. I know that several of you are part of this group.

The sign Jesus offers in justification for this disruptive behavior is the genuine love, humility, and generosity that we ask of him to motivate and to guide us.

Recall that this is the Gospel that begins with a prologue announcing that the divine Word became flesh and pitched his tent among us.

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Prayers of the Faithful

Response:  “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

1. Jesus, our brother and friend, as we continue the holy season of Lent, we ask that you would be our daily companion to be ever more like you, we pray—Response: “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

• Loving God, help our country and our world to be people who love peace and strive to bring it about—be with all world leaders to do everything in their power to use the tools of communication and negotiation and let war be the very last choice when there is disagreement, we pray—Response:  “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

• Gracious God, bless each of us with healthy bodies, minds, and spirits–be with those who suffer with the daily uncertainty of illness of any kind, especially COVID, we pray—Response: “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

• O God, help us to be people of strength as we strive to share your love with your entire household, and especially now as the Sheltering Network prepares to receive a Honduran family for asylum into our Winona community, we pray—Response: “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

• O God, thank you for work and the ability to work—and be especially with all those who have lost their jobs and are looking for new work, we pray—Response: “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

• Loving God, teach us to think and act globally doing with less so that everyone can have the basics, we pray—Response: “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

• Loving God, be with your household of people, especially those suffering so terribly now in war-torn countries, we pray—Response: “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

• For our community, All Are One, continue to bless us and assist us to be open to all of your people and guide us to always make a place of welcome at our table, but more importantly, in our hearts, we pray— Response: “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

• Loving Jesus, be with all families who have lost loved ones this week, from COVID and all other causes—give them your peace, that they may find their way through their grief, we pray—Response: “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

10. Loving God, show us as a nation the ways to truly make our country safer from gun violence, we pray—Response: “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

***Let us pray for the silent petitions on our hearts—Pause–then response

Let us pray

   Loving God, you have given us Jesus to show us the way. Assist us during this holy season of Lent to always keep our eyes on him—his ways of loving and reaching out in care to all that he met. He was on fire, consumed; the Scriptures tell us, for the household of God—give us that same fire so that no one is ever left without someone caring for them in this world. You have shown us the way—give us the strength to be your true followers—we ask this of you who are our Creator, Savior and Spirit of the Living God, loving us always and forever—Amen.

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Let us pray—Again, we can’t be at the table together, but help us to know that you are always with us.

Prayer of Communion

Jesus, our Brother and Friend, your life gives us life—help us always to be your life for our world—we ask this in your loving name, Amen.

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