The following excerpts are from the readings and homily from the Ordination in Stuttgart Germany on April 9, 2008.

LITURGY OF THE WORD

1st READING: Jeremiah 1:4-8

Now the word of YHWH came to me and said:
Before I formed you in the womb, I chose you.
Before you were born, I dedicated you.
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.
I said, But Sovereign YHWH!
I don't know how to speak! I am too young!
But YHWH said,
Do not say, I am too young.
Now, go wherever I send you.
And say whatever I command you.
Do not fear anyone,
For I am with you to protect you.
It is YHWH who speaks.

GOSPEL: John 15: 9-17

As my Abba has loved me, so have I loved you.
Live on in my love.
And you will live on in my love if you keep my
commandments, just as I live on in Abba God's
love and have kept God's commandments.

I tell you all this that my joy may be yours,
and your joy may be complete.
This is my commandment: love one another as I
have loved you.
There is no greater love than to lay down one's
life for one's friends.

Reflection by Bishop Patricia Fresen

The readings about the call of Jeremiah and the Gospel from John both speak of being called, being chosen. Each of us is called and chosen, and for each of us, the call unfolds as our lives progress and we are often amazed - and sometimes dismayed - as we see what we are called to.

We nearly always resist the call, at least in the beginning, as Jeremiah did by saying that he was too young for the task of being a prophet to the nations. For us, as Roman Catholic womenpriests, the problem is hardly that we are too young (!) but rather that we are women, and both we ourselves and most others in the church have been conditioned to think that, as women, we cannot respond to God's call to priestly ministry.

We are called to the prophetic ministry of ordained women living a renewed model of priesthood, one of servant-leadership rather than one focused on hierarchy and power, and one of inclusiveness rather than exclusion.

Let us also remember, as we listen to the words of Jesus, that love is more important than anything else; a kind of love that is ready to "lay down one's life" for one's friends.

And truly, in joining Roman Catholic Womenpriests and being ordained, that is what we find ourselves called to do, day after day: "laying down" our lives for our friends, for our sisters and brothers in our RCWP communities and for those to whom we serve in the greater body of a renewed Roman Catholic church.

Pray With Us

O, Divine Feminine, we are called to become one body, one spirit in Christ. We need to recognize each other's gifts if we are to grow into that oneness. At times we may feel discouraged, hurt or even marginalized. Help us to gain the grace to cherish each other and our differences as both women and men, as a manifestation of your goodness and a church united in "whole-holiness".

Give us the vision to recognize the mission of RCWP, a mission to develop a new priestly ministry of servant-hood. May your Spirit come upon us as we grow in wisdom in our ministries serving and contributing peace to others. Help us to be all that You, God, O Sophia have created us to be. For your Spirit's presence in our lives and as we continue on this journey with the RCWP movement we are most grateful. Amen.