Liturgy in-Person & on Zoom Indiana Interchurch Center 1100 W. 42nd St. Indianapolis IN 46208 Liturgy schedule When Marion County is HIGH on the CDC Covid map, St. Mary of Magdala liturgies will be on Zoom only.
For prior homilies, visit our blog.
Commitment to Living in God's Love
November 3, 2024 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time Hele Weber-McReynolds, RWCP Deut 6:4-9; Ps. 18; 1 Cor 12: 31-13:13; Mark 12: 28-37 I recently read a story that I think ties in well with these readings about covenant and commitment. Apparently, a surgical oncologist was watching her son play in a Little League baseball game, when the umpire was struck in the neck by a wild pitch and experienced a cardiac arrest. The doctor sprang into action and started CPR, while another spectator ran to the church next door for an AED, and another called for the EMS. They managed to resuscitate the man, and he was rushed to the hospital and survived. No doubt they would have done the same for anyone in this situation, but they were especially grateful because this umpire was well known in the area for his kindness and commitment, and for how he encouraged the kids and helped make baseball fun even when it was stressful. They said he showed up at every single game to support the kids and engage them, to model respect, gratitude, and kindness. When expressing what this dramatic episode had meant to her, the doctor said, “I think our obligation as people is to live with intentionality.” To me, this story illustrates how we never know where or when we will be called to live out Jesus’ command to love our neighbors as ourselves. We have to have the intention to walk in Jesus’ shoes at all times in order to be ready when someone in need of our help appears. And I know I need to back that intention up with regular prayer and reflection on scripture to keep myself from being distracted by all the constant stimuli around me. When we talk about living God’s covenant, we’re talking about commitment. Commitment to living in the love God has given to us, to not find differences in other people, but what we have in common. To help people like we would like to be helped. Commitment to making our little corner of the world better, for now, and for everybody’s kids and grandkids. In our first reading, from Deuteronomy, Moses summarized the law of God in the Shema, the prayer/creed that encouraged God’s people to live always with the love of God in their hearts, so that they would be ready to act in God’s name in all times and circumstances. Then Jesus linked that creed to love of our neighbors as ourselves, to make clear once and for all that loving others is a way of loving God. Taking care of one another, Jesus and the scribe in the gospel passage agree, is worth more than all the ritual sacrifices Jesus’ contemporaries could offer. I never get tired of hearing Paul’s description of love, in the passage we read from 1 Cor. It is a more concrete expression of how to love one another as ourselves. Paul said we follow God by acting with patience and kindness, humility and honesty, patience, mercy,` hope, trust, and zeal for justice. He said he believed we can only see vaguely what God is like during our life on earth, but that after we die, our understanding of God’s love will be crystal clear. Our zeal for justice will tested in one way, I believe, by next week’s election. The simple act of voting for candidates who support fair treatment for everyone can be an act of justice itself. So can writing those who get elected and supporting legislation to feed more hungry people, provide decent health insurance for everyone, protect personal rights, and protect the environment. By staying engaged with what our civil leaders are doing, we can act to help protect the most vulnerable. So let us recommit ourselves to live lives of love like God’s love, and to look out for our neighbors as we would like to have them look out for us. Let us, as it said in the first reading, write the law of God’s love on our hearts. 
Sacraments
We celebrate the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing, and Matrimony - which includes Holy Union for heterosexual or same sex couples. Services also include funerals, committal services, and celebrations of life. Also other traditional services such as house blessings. Call Helen Weber-McReynolds, RCWP, to request a home or hospital visit. 317-691-1016. To Volunteer
New volunteers are always welcome to join our liturgical ministries. Participate as a musician, lector, greeter, usher, communion minister, or share another talent with us. Our website was done by a volunteer! If you have an idea and would like to share your time & talent, please tell us! Contact Helen at 317-691-1016 for more information or fill out the form below! 
St. Mary of Magdala Catholic Community gives 10% of its income to charity.
Our most recent recipient, World Central Kitchens, is known for rapidly organizing cooked meals for victims of natural and other disasters. For more information on their latest activities in response to Hurricanes Helene and John, as well as crises in the Middle East and Ukraine, see http://wwck.org/. Other recipients include:
Tax Deductible Donations If you would like to make a tax deductible contribution to St. Mary of Magdala, please send a check to: St. Mary of Magdala Catholic Community P.O. Box 20042 Indianapolis, IN 46220
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Upcoming Liturgies
with St. Mary of Magdala and our sister communities Sat. Nov. 16, 5 p.m., HCICC, Hermitage and Zoom Sun. Nov. 24, 11 a.m., StMMCC, in person and Zoom Sun. Dec. 1, 11 a.m., StMMCC, in person and Zoom The sister communities
StMMCC: St. Mary of Magdala Catholic Community Rev. Helen WeberMcReynolds , pastor Gathering in person at: Indiana Interchurch Center 1100 W. 42nd St., Indianapolis IN 46208 Zoom link requests: hweber@iuhealth.org BICC: Brownsburg Inclusive Catholic Community Bp. Nancy Meyer & Rev. Angela Nevitt Meyer, copastors Gathering in person at: 516 E Main St, Brownsburg, IN 46112 (Ash Interactive entrance behind Enterprise) Zoom link requests: biccinquiry@gmail.com HCICC: Home Church Inclusive Catholic Community Contact Rev. Peggy Alderman for information. Zoom link requests: peggymomm@gmail.com In the News:
For RWCP updates from Angela and others at the synod in Rome, see www.facebook.com/RCwomenpriests . Upcoming Events
Recent EventsOur Ecotheology Retreat centered around Robin Wall Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants was such a success that we are already looking into reservations for next year!
The Eucharist of Equals: Liturgy of Love was both lovely and heart-felt, and was preceded by social action outside the Indianapolis Convention Center, in counter witness to the USCCB’s Eucharistic Congress. For more information on the July 20-21 events, see our Community page.
Our annual Lenten reflection program featured discussion of Midrash: Reading the Bible with Question Marks, by Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso , Senior Rabbi Emerita of Congregation Beth-El Zedeck, Indianapolis, with an afterward by Joan Chittister, an author featured in prior reflection programs.
We thank Rabbi Sasso for making a personal appearance!
Intercessions
Response: Loving God, hear our prayer. ● For the Church, that we may passionately and continuously call out to Christ for our needs and courageously follow Jesus on the way of Life. We pray - R ● For a listening and sensitive heart: that we may never ignore nor try to silence those who cry out in pain or seek our assistance. We pray. - R ● For all who are blinded by prejudice, that God will enlighten our hearts and help us recognize the value and dignity of each person. We pray - R. ● For all who are ill, particularly those with diseases of the eyes: that God will bring healing and renewal to them in body, mind and spirit. We pray. - R ● For awe and enjoyment of the beauty of Fall in the Midwest, that we may be mindful that all the earth is God’s gift to us and that it is entrusted to our stewardship. We pray. - R ● For those who are recovering from natural disasters: that God will strengthen them, open doors to the resources that they need and give them hope. We pray. -R ● For safe and peaceful elections: That God will give all voters wisdom as they make decisions about candidates and ballot measures, overcoming obstacles in getting to polling places, and accepting balloting results. We pray. -R For what else shall we pray? External Links
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