Easter 2 - Liturgy
Greetings (See Second Reading)
We are gathered in the name of Jesus,
the First and the Last,
the Living One who lives for ever,
our Lord and our God.
May his peace and joy be always with you.
R/ And also with you.
Introduction by the Celebrant
A. The Risen Lord Present among His People
Why do we gather every Sunday to celebrate the eucharist of the Lord? For the same reason that the first Christians changed their day of worship from the Jewish Sabbath to the Christian Sunday. For Christ rose from the dead on Sunday, the first day of the week. It became "the Lord's day," the day on which they began to celebrate that Christ is risen and alive in the community of his faithful, as he is present among us now. He is real and alive among us, he is our companion on the road of life and we recognize him in the community of the Church. May the Lord Jesus give us faith to sense his presence.
When 'cultural sensitivity' becomes 'cultural accommodation'
Excluding women from the foot-washing ceremony on Holy Thursday betrays an understanding of Jesus' message of service.
 |
Bangkok: The decision by parts of the Catholic Church in India to differ with Pope Francis' decision to allow women to have their feet washed in the ceremony on Holy Thursday is puzzling to say the least.
Their reason given is simple. The inclusion of women in a ceremony where a man (the celebrant) washes the feet of a woman as one of the 12 people who participate in the re-enactment of Jesus actions on the first Holy Thursday would offend against "cultural sensitivities."
Holy Saturday - Liturgy
PART I: SERVICE OF THE LIGHT
Introduction by the Celebrant
Introduction by the Celebrant
When there was sin, the world was in the grip of darkness. We celebrate tonight how Jesus came in that darkness to bring us the light of God's love by his death and resurrection. Now a new era could begin for the world and for all of us. This is why we light the fire, for Jesus came to light in us the fire of his love and hope. Let its flames leap up high in us and make us fervent. We kindle the light and profess that Jesus Christ is our light and the light of the world. We follow him and ask him to make us lights on the path of others. What a joy for us!
Easter Vigil and Easter 2016
You probably do not remember the name Nikolai Ivanovich Bukharin. During his day he was as powerful a man as there was on earth. A Russian Communist leader he took part in the Bolshevik Revolution 1917, was editor of the Soviet newspaper Pravda (which by the way means truth), and was a full member of the Politburo. His works on economics and political science are still read today. There is a story told about a journey he took from Moscow to Kiev in 1930 to address a huge assembly on the subject of atheism. Addressing the crowd he aimed his heavy artillery at Christianity hurling insult, argument, and proof against it.
An hour later he was finished. He looked out at what seemed to be the smoldering ashes of men's faith. "Are there any questions?" Bukharin demanded. Deafening silence filled the auditorium but then one man approached the platform and mounted the lectern standing near the communist leader. He surveyed the crowd first to the left then to the right. Finally he shouted the ancient greeting known well in the Russian Orthodox Church: "CHRIST IS RISEN!" En masse the crowd arose as one man and the response came crashing like the sound of thunder: "HE IS RISEN INDEED!"
I say to you this morning: CHRIST IS RISEN! (congregational response should be: HE IS RISEN INDEED!). I am convinced! I have faith that Christ was dead and he was buried. That I believe. But, this too I accept as true: He rose from the dead and will come again in glory.
This is Easter. And to stand here on this day in this pulpit and proclaim this word. . . I cannot begin to tell you how this defines all that I am.
But, you will say to me, how do you know that the resurrection is real? How do you know that it is really valid?
1. Because someone told me about the Resurrection
2. Because the Resurrection as stood the test of time
3. Because I have experienced the Resurrection
Hoy Thursday 2016
Tony
Kayala, c.s.c.
1. Jesus was humiliated in the very heart of his own teaching when the
disciples were fighting for position. So he does three things: a. he exchanges
the symbol of position with a symbol of service (stole with towel), b. they
want to “take” and he says “Take this and eat” and he “gives”; c. finally he
prays to the Father to keep them together in unity. These are the 3 symbols we
used as we began the Lent on Ash Wednesday: a. fasting is what we do to
ourselves (humility-washing – vis-à-vis love yourself), b. almsgiving is what
we do for others (love your neighbour) and finally c. prayer is what we do with
God (love God). These are the foundations of our faith – the two commandments
lived, explained, understood differently.
Good Friday 2016
The betrayals of so many people ended in a tragedy of cosmic
proportions. Let us pay particular attention to all those seemingly
insignificant decisions made by the supporting actors in this melancholy drama.
It won't be difficult to see ourselves in this play; each of us commits the
same little murders every day.
India's Sister Lucy Kurien: a life of self-less service
For nearly 20 year's her shelters have helped women and children desperately in need.
 |
| Indian President Pranab Mukherjee presents Sister Lucy Kurien with the Nari Shakti (women empowerment) award, March 8. (Photo courtesy of Sister Lucy Kurien) |
Through her organization — called Maher (mother's home) — Sister Kurien assists destitute women and children irrespective of caste, creed or religion.
"The focus is always on the street, especially the women who are mentally challenged and those suffering from HIV," said Sister Kurien, who belongs to the Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod.
Palm/Passion Sunday - Liturgical Payers
I. BLESSING OF PALMS AND PROCESSION
Introduction by the Celebrant
A. Jerusalem: Place of Suffering and of Triumph
We know from the school of life that not every day is a day of joy and bliss: there are also gloomy days of suffering, of disappointments and failure. But today, on Palm Sunday "of the Lord's Passion," we are told in no uncertain terms that this was the freely accepted lot of no less than Jesus himself. First, we see him acclaimed in a small triumph, but then we hear how he is led to his death. One week from now, on Easter Sunday, we will hear it clearly and emphatically stated that his death led to the triumph of his own resurrection; we will also hear of the forgiveness and life he brings us. We unite ourselves with Our Lord in his triumph and in his suffering and death and we pray that he will make our life and death as acceptable and meaningful as his.
Palm Sunday C
Palm Sunday C from Jaimelito Gealan
“Either give up Christ or give up your jobs.”
Constantine the Great was the first Christian Roman emperor. His father Constantius I who succeeded Diocletian as emperor in 305 A.D. was a pagan with a soft heart for Christians. When he ascended the throne, he discovered that many Christians held important jobs in the government and in the court. So he issued an executive order to all those Christians: “Either give up Christ or give up your jobs.” The great majority of Christians gave up their jobs rather than disowning Christ. Only a few cowards gave up their religion rather than lose their jobs. The emperor was pleased with the majority who showed the courage of their convictions and gave their jobs back to them saying: "If you will not be true to your God you will not be true to me either.” Today we join the Palm Sunday crowd in spirit to declare our loyalty to Christ and fidelity to his teachings by actively participating in the Palm Sunday liturgy. As we carry the palm leaves to our homes, we are declaring our choice to accept Jesus as the king and ruler of our lives and our families. Let us express our gratitude to Jesus for redeeming us by his suffering and death, through active participation in the Holy Week liturgy and reconciliation with God and His Church, repenting of our sins and receiving God's pardon and forgiveness from Jesus through his Church.
Lent 5 C: Liturgical Prayers
Adapted from Bibleclaret.org edited. TK
---------------
Penitential
Act
-Lord Jesus, you tell us to go and sin no more:
• For the Church
we love, that it may be in our world a place and a sign of forgiveness and
reconciliation, let us pray: R/ Lord of life, in you we trust.
• For broken homes and for families that are united, let us pray : R/ Lord of life, in you we trust.
• For those wounded by the hardships of life and for those who keep hoping, let us pray: R/ Lord of life, in you we trust.
• For those in authority, that they pay attention to the people's needs and not crush anyone with their power, let us pray: R/ Lord of life, in you we trust.
• For our Christian communities, that we keep accepting everyone with understanding and compassion, let us pray: R/ Lord of life, in you we trust.
******
Homily Prayer:
“Those who live in constant terror of their own sins are powerless to accomplish anything in the world.” …Berdyaev
Lord, there was a time when the feeling of guilt had us paralyzed.
We felt condemned by voices within us:
• sermons we had heard in our childhood threatening us with hell fire;
• teachers who told us we had to be perfect.
We felt as if we were standing in full view of our accusers
and they were condemning us as deserving of death.
We thank you, Lord, that you sent us, at that moment,
a wise and kind person, who stayed with us, saying nothing,
just being there like Jesus bent down and writing on the ground,
until, very gradually, as the weeks went by,
the harsh accusing voices were silenced, one by one,
beginning from the most deeply rooted,
and eventually we were standing there knowing you were looking at us,
and telling us that we were now free to go out and lead a good and creative life.
“All condemnation is of the devil. We condemn others
only because we shun condemning ourselves.” …St Seraphim of Sarov
Lord, we who are community leaders in the Church or the country
often have to point out people’s faults.
Help us to do so without condemning them.
But that is not easy; we have to listen to our innermost selves,
waiting patiently until every scribe and Pharisee within us has walked away
because only then do we have the right to look at another and say, “Go, and sin no more.”
Lord, just as in the time of Jesus, society pronounces its harshest judgments
on those who are caught committing sexual sins, especially if they are women.
Authorities will always single them out and make them stand in full view of everybody,
insisting that in the name of religion they must condemn such persons to death by stoning.
We pray, Lord, that your Church will be like Jesus,
pointing out the hypocrisy of the accusers,
and protecting the dignity of those who have sinned.
“One form of gentleness we should practice is towards ourselves. It is reasonable to be displeased and sorry when we commit faults, but not fretful or spiteful to ourselves.“ …St Francis de Sales
Lord, teach us to look at ourselves with respect and compassion,
as Jesus looked at the woman taken in adultery
when he was left alone with her and she remained standing before him.
Lord, send us leaders like Jesus,
who will stand with the weak and the vulnerable against their oppressors,
not aggressively, but calmly, so that the oppressors walk away of their own accord,
and the weak find the space to create a good life for themselves.
Lord, we remember a time when we were using a Bible passage to condemn someone,
and quite suddenly the passage came alive for us,
and we saw that we were condemning the other for what we were guilty of ourselves,
so that we let the stone fall from our hands and went our way.
Blessing
---------------
Introduction
by the Celebrant
A. Throw No
Stones
Have you ever had
the experience of hurting someone very much but that the offended person
forgave you, perhaps with difficulty, and accepted your apology, and that was
the end? Do you remember how relieved you felt, as if you were a new person?
That is how God keeps forgiving us: he makes us new every time again. Do we
live as forgiven, new people? Do we make others new by our pardon? Let us
encounter again in this Eucharist our patient, forgiving Lord Jesus.
B. Look First
Into Your Own Heart
When they have
sinned, especially when grievously, some people are afraid that God is out to
catch them, like a policeman who has to implement the law. Today we learn from
Jesus that God goes beyond the law, for he forgives and keeps forgiving. This
is the attitude we learn from God. Look into your own heart and see that you
need forgiveness. And repeatedly so. Then you will also easily forgive others.
Let us ask Jesus for this attitude, even when we still feel the hurt inflicted.
-Lord Jesus, you
throw no stones at us and you don't want us to throw them at anyone:
-Jesus Christ,
you do not condemn us for you have come to save what was lost and you want us
to be free and alive-Lord Jesus, you tell us to go and sin no more:
Opening Prayer
God of life, this
is the Good News you let us hear today through your living image, Jesus Christ:
Love is stronger than death, you want the sinner to live and to become all new.
Let us no longer live in the past of sin but make us free for life and for
love. Give us hearts as merciful to one another as you have been lenient and
loving to us. We ask you this through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
General
Intercessions
In his love, God
wants to make the world ever new. Let us entrust to his mercy our intentions
and those of our brothers and sisters.
Let us say: R/ Lord of life, in you we trust.
• For broken homes and for families that are united, let us pray : R/ Lord of life, in you we trust.
• For those wounded by the hardships of life and for those who keep hoping, let us pray: R/ Lord of life, in you we trust.
• For those in authority, that they pay attention to the people's needs and not crush anyone with their power, let us pray: R/ Lord of life, in you we trust.
• For our Christian communities, that we keep accepting everyone with understanding and compassion, let us pray: R/ Lord of life, in you we trust.
Lord our God, we
thank you for listening to us and for showing us your patient mercy, through
Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Prayer over
the Gifts
Lord God,
merciful Father in these signs of bread and wine we share in the forgiveness
and life of your Son Jesus Christ. By his body and blood make us, limited and
fallible people, your new creation, your people of hope, capable of rising
above ourselves and preparing your new heaven and new earth. For we expect
everything from you through Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Deliver Us
Deliver us Lord,
from a past of evil, from everything that estranges us from you and one
another. Gather us in the solidarity and peace of one faith, one hope, one
love, as people set free by your Son. May we spread your reconciliation to
build up a liberated world and to wait in hope for the coming in glory of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...
Prayer after
Communion
Tender and
compassionate Father, we thank you for letting us share in the sacrifice of
your Son that brought us your pardon and peace. Let him give to us, pardoned
sinners, the strength to remain faithful to you. Let us be disciples demanding
to ourselves and very merciful to others. We ask this through Christ our
Lord. R/ Amen.
******
“Those who live in constant terror of their own sins are powerless to accomplish anything in the world.” …Berdyaev
Lord, there was a time when the feeling of guilt had us paralyzed.
We felt condemned by voices within us:
• sermons we had heard in our childhood threatening us with hell fire;
• teachers who told us we had to be perfect.
We felt as if we were standing in full view of our accusers
and they were condemning us as deserving of death.
We thank you, Lord, that you sent us, at that moment,
a wise and kind person, who stayed with us, saying nothing,
just being there like Jesus bent down and writing on the ground,
until, very gradually, as the weeks went by,
the harsh accusing voices were silenced, one by one,
beginning from the most deeply rooted,
and eventually we were standing there knowing you were looking at us,
and telling us that we were now free to go out and lead a good and creative life.
“All condemnation is of the devil. We condemn others
only because we shun condemning ourselves.” …St Seraphim of Sarov
Lord, we who are community leaders in the Church or the country
often have to point out people’s faults.
Help us to do so without condemning them.
But that is not easy; we have to listen to our innermost selves,
waiting patiently until every scribe and Pharisee within us has walked away
because only then do we have the right to look at another and say, “Go, and sin no more.”
Lord, just as in the time of Jesus, society pronounces its harshest judgments
on those who are caught committing sexual sins, especially if they are women.
Authorities will always single them out and make them stand in full view of everybody,
insisting that in the name of religion they must condemn such persons to death by stoning.
We pray, Lord, that your Church will be like Jesus,
pointing out the hypocrisy of the accusers,
and protecting the dignity of those who have sinned.
“One form of gentleness we should practice is towards ourselves. It is reasonable to be displeased and sorry when we commit faults, but not fretful or spiteful to ourselves.“ …St Francis de Sales
Lord, teach us to look at ourselves with respect and compassion,
as Jesus looked at the woman taken in adultery
when he was left alone with her and she remained standing before him.
Lord, send us leaders like Jesus,
who will stand with the weak and the vulnerable against their oppressors,
not aggressively, but calmly, so that the oppressors walk away of their own accord,
and the weak find the space to create a good life for themselves.
Lord, we remember a time when we were using a Bible passage to condemn someone,
and quite suddenly the passage came alive for us,
and we saw that we were condemning the other for what we were guilty of ourselves,
so that we let the stone fall from our hands and went our way.
Blessing
We have heard
today our Lord's invitation not to shut ourselves up in the mediocrity of our
past but to set out boldly for the future with fresh generosity. This future
will not be without difficulties: the Lord never promises an easy life. But he
promises to be with us with the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, and the
Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Lent 5 C - Woman Caught in Adultery
`
Michel de Verteuil
General Comments
There are three people in today’s passage:
• the woman;
• the group called “scribes and Pharisees”;
• Jesus.
As always, in your meditation you must let yourself enter the story from the viewpoint of one of the three.
•The woman was guilty of a sexual sin, but her story evokes any experience of having done something shameful in a moment of great vulnerability.
20 Ways to Redefine Who You Are
There comes a point in our life when we need to take a moment and redefine who we have become. This is perhaps one of the toughest challenges that we will have to face - after all, it involves observing, and reshaping our selves. These inspiring statements rang true for me, and over the next 20 days, I have chosen to observe, accept and adapt my actions, encouraging me to redefine myself as a better person.
25 Things We Need to Remember in Life
|
In
spite of how beautiful life can be, there are also moments of
loneliness, rash decision-making, and gloomy, seemingly hopeless hours.
We all go through similar days in our lives where we are blinded from
seeing the beauty that's right in front of us. Although some situations seem
difficult for us to contend with at a particular moment in
time, they actually enable us to learn from them later on, accepting them
as little life lessons. Here are a few I've gathered throughout my
life...
|
One for Humanity
This is an amazing picture: Abdul Raheem, an Afghan soldier who lost both his hands in war, received a pair of hands from Joseph of Kerala who had suffered brain death. Joseph’s wife and daughter are looking at the hands that once caressed them. The transplant surgery was performed by Dr. Subramanian Iyer (blue shirt) of the Amrita Hospital, Kerala. A Hindu doctor, a Christian organ donor, a Muslim recipient – that’s humanity!
Impressions of the Planet - Must watch it
You cannot change other people, but you CAN change the way you see them.
Lent 4 Sunday C: Laetare: Rejoice: I had lost him and now I found him
******************************************************
Michel de Verteuil
General comments
Verses 1 to 3 are one of several passages in the gospels which give us an overall picture of Jesus’ lifestyle. In your meditation, identify who for you are “the tax collectors and sinners,” people who are outsiders to the community; then, who is Jesus, and finally, who are “the Pharisees and Scribes” who complain.
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