Raising the cup Ministry & Liturgy follows a deliberate path. That path is the response to a call to speak words of challenge and passion, of hope and support. Over the past few years ML has labored in a determined way to keep the flame that drives us to do the work of ministry burning strongly. We have drawn on the waters of baptism to strengthen us for the work of ministry. We listened to the song of the great Vigil and through its imagery found new light for the work of ministry. Now in ML’s 35th year, we focus deliberately on how we are challenged to call on the name of the Lord and how we then do the work of ministry in that name. To do that, we look at the most powerful liturgies we own. The words we pray and sing throughout Triduum give us direction and insight about how we are to live and serve. Those words and the images they convey can be formative tools, and so they will be our guide throughout this year. In this moment in our common liturgical life, we are called to minister and witness in a way that speaks of unity and Christian charity, seeking a path of humility and kindness. With confidence we reach out with the words of the psalmist, calling on the name of God, knowing that with each challenge we face, our God is with, in, and among us. In this issue of ML, we center on Psalm 116 of Holy Thursday as we consider how we live out the call to ministry. Ron Raab offers another of his startling challenges to the way we view one another as he describes a “personal poverty retreat.” This experience of walking among the poor changes the way we see ourselves and has the power to shift the way we live our lives. Paige Byrne Shortal reflects on a process that each of us has known at some point: changing directions in ministry. At a time when so many of us are facing increasing exclusion in ministry, it is hard not to be discouraged, but there are reasons to hope and goodness to be found in every new direction. Jean Marie DuHamel looks to that hope as she shares the ways that faith is expressed in ministry. She speaks of imaginative expressions in ministry as a response to God’s call. Sharing some of my own insights in this issue, I speak of commitment in ministry and how baptism demands of us more than a passing agreement. When we ask more, offer more, and commit more, God’s purpose is better served. Also in this issue we welcome Matt Reichert, who will write “Ritual Foundations” for the Liturgical Formation department. Matt holds a master’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and currently works for St. John’s Preparatory School and St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minn. Ada Simpson returns with a new column in a new format, Moving Rite Along, reflecting on the many dimensions of ritual and liturgical life. This is a time for courage and compassion in this church of ours. There is no doubt that we are struggling with every aspect of our nature. Claims on language, music, ritual, and roles all have the potential to divide us. Still there is much that unites us, and making sacrifices for the sake of that unity in Christ is what will ultimately save us. When we are willing to take up the cup that brings both suffering and salvation and are able to share both freely, we take a step toward being made whole. When we pour into it our fears and hopes, dreams and desires, we enter into the paschal mystery with an offer of all that we are. Joining that sacrifice of self with one another in Christ binds our lives and ministry together in a way that cannot be separated. How can I repay the Lord    for his goodness to me? The cup of salvation I will raise;    I will call on the Lord’s name (Ps 116:12–13). ML From the Publisher:  ML goes green! Did you notice that the past few issues of Ministry & Liturgy have been printed on a new paper? This 100% recycled paper saves trees, which is important because today the print magazine industry claims about one tree per second. However, we understand that some readers miss the look and feel of the glossier paper, so we are working with our printer to identify a glossy paper that is not only recycled but is also Forest Stewardship Council certified. Choosing FSC certified paper helps eliminate the habitat destruction, water pollution, displacement of indigenous peoples, and violence against people and wildlife that often accompany logging. ML is committed to helping stop the assault on forests without compromising quality. We appreciate your support as we explore evolving solutions. SUBSCRIBE NOW! What do YOU Think? Send an e-mail to ML Editor or post an entry on the ML Current Issue Discussion Board. (All submissions become the property of RPI and may be edited for length.)