Liturgy Formation

KAY MURDY

With the close of evening prayer on Easter Sunday, we will continue to give thanks for God’s saving mercy during the 50 days of the Easter season that concludes on Pentecost Sunday. During these Great 50 Days, the church invites us to rejoice in the new life of Christ. This new life was initiated in us through our baptism. Even so, the full realization of God’s reign is still to come. Rather than discouraging us, we should be filled with anticipation. The passion, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus and the sending of the Spirit are all one piece — 40 days, 50 days, 90 days — and just the beginning. All the days of eternity await us.

2nd Sunday of Easter, March 30
Acts 2:42–47; Ps 118:2–4,13–15,22–24; 1 Pt 1:3–9; Jn 20:19–31

Luke paints a picture of a model community — sharing everything in common and gathering for the Eucharist, prayer, and instruction. Is this a portrait of the ideal church, or does it describe a community in the honeymoon stage? Peter writes to a church beginning to undergo trials, doubts, and questions. Most Christians never saw Christ in the flesh. Can they be expected to have the same faith as those who did? Peter appeals to the community to see themselves as “chosen sojourners,” God’s people on a journey. In Christ’s dying and rising, they have been given a “new birth” through baptism. Though their faith is being refined in a furnace, they will emerge “more precious than gold.”

After the crucifixion, even the apostles wavered in their faith, hiding behind locked doors, shaking in their sandals. It wasn’t until they actually saw the risen Lord that their courage and faith returned. Yet Thomas refused to believe without proof. “Peace!” Jesus tells Doubting Thomas and all of us too. “You believe because you see. How blessed you are when you believe without seeing.”

For Reflection: Who in my community helps me believe when I am filled with doubt? Am I able to bring peace to others who experience fear and uncertainty?

3rd Sunday of Easter, April 6
Acts 2:14,22–28; Ps 16:1–2,5,7–8,9–10,11; 1 Pt 1:17–21; Lk 24:13–35

On the Sunday of the resurrection, two disciples make a sad journey. They had hoped that Jesus would be the one to set them free. Suddenly the risen Christ appears in their midst, but they fail to recognize him. As they share their broken dreams with the “stranger,” he opens their minds to the Scriptures. It was necessary that the Messiah suffer and die so as to enter glory. “Stay with us!” they plead. At table, their hearts and minds are opened, and they recognize the risen Christ. He continues to be present in the breaking of the word and Eucharist and in our broken brothers and sisters.

On Pentecost, the disciples no longer hide in fear. God’s Spirit is poured forth on all flesh. Sons and daughters joyfully proclaim God’s mighty words and deeds. Young and old dare to dream. God is faithful and has delivered us from a futile way of life. As sojourners on a journey, God shows us the path to life. Our faith and hope is centered on Jesus’s dying and rising to glory. If God has done this for Jesus, we can have confidence that we will live in God’s presence forever!

For Reflection: Am I able to hear Jesus speak in the proclamation of the word? Do I recognize him in the breaking of the bread?

4th Sunday of Easter, April 13
Acts 2:14,36–41; Ps 23:1–3,3–4,5,6; 1 Pt 2:20–25; Jn 10:1–10

The paradox of the Christian life is that when we are called to follow Jesus we are called to die. Yet we are also called to live the abundant life of grace. The gift of this new life is the promise of the Holy Spirit. The acceptance of this gift means that we must live according to God’s will and follow in Christ’s footsteps day by day.

Jesus is the “good shepherd” who calls us each by name. At times we listen to false shepherds, and they lead us astray. They are impostors who look after their own interests instead of caring for the flock. Though we have all strayed like sheep, we can return to Christ who is the “guardian of our souls.” Jesus is the true shepherd who walks ahead of us, watching out for dangers and guiding us by right paths. He leads his followers through the gateway of the sheepfold where we will be protected from harm. Yet the gates are not closed to those who are still far off. They are open wide to the horizons of God’s kingdom.

For Reflection: When have I felt called by Christ? In what ways do I shepherd others?

5th Sunday of Easter, April 20
Acts 6:1–7; Ps 33:1–2,4–5,18–19; 1 Pt 2:4–9; Jn 14:1–12

As the church increased in numbers and diversity there were bound to be problems. When the community was ethnically and culturally similar, things were harmonious. When they grew beyond familial bonds, there was dissension — “us” against “them.” The Hebrew Christians looked out for themselves, and the Greek-speaking Christians felt slighted. It is the Spirit that enables all peoples to work and pray together. When others see the love and unity of those who believe in Christ, many will be eager to embrace the faith.

Peter says that the church is like a building with Christ as the “cornerstone.” Upon him the whole edifice is constructed. Believers are “living stones” built into a sacred temple in which to worship the Lord. Jesus says that there are many “dwelling places” in God’s house, room for one and all. Anyone who wishes to come to God can come through Jesus, the full revelation of God, the “way” to God’s “truth” and the fullness of God’s “life.”

For Reflection: Is my parish a community of love and unity or of alienation and division? How can I help show the way to truth and life?

6th Sunday of Easter, April 27
Acts 8:5–8,14–17; Ps 66:1–3,4–5,6–7,16,20; 1 Pt 3:15–18; Jn 14:15–21

Jesus comforted his grieving followers by telling them he would not leave them orphans when he ascended to his Father. The Spirit would remain with them to console and guide them. But soon after, there were many who felt abandoned and alienated — “outsiders” rather than “insiders.” Jesus regarded everyone as his brother and sister, worthy of the gospel. Following his example, Philip went to preach the good news to the people of Samaria, who were regarded as heretics. When the apostles heard how eagerly the Samaritans accepted the Lord, Peter and John prayed for them to receive the Spirit too.

The “Spirit of truth” may not be accepted by all, and many suffer because of their beliefs. However, it is better to suffer as Jesus did — for good deeds rather than evil ones. Though we do not see Jesus in his earthly existence, we see him everyday in the people we meet. If we love Jesus, we will obey his command to love one another.

For Reflection: What is my attitude toward people of different faith traditions and cultures? How does the Spirit help me to adjust my attitude?

Ascension, May 1
Acts 1:1–11; Ps 47:2–3,6–7,8–9; Eph 1:17–23; Mt 28:16–20
(Note: In some dioceses, Ascension is celebrated on the 7th Sunday of Easter.)

Jesus often spoke of his final passage from this earth to the heavenly realm. After the resurrection, he tried to convince his followers of his new life. Over a course of 40 days, they saw him with their own eyes and touched him with their own hands, yet they still did not understand his meaning. Jesus told them to wait for the fulfillment of the promise of the Holy Spirit. The church needs the wisdom and insight of the Spirit to know Christ clearly. We need to understand the great hope and glorious heritage to which we are called.

Jesus summons us and empowers us with the authority that was given to him. We must not stand and gaze into the heavens wondering what we are to do. We have been given a clear mandate: “Go! Make disciples of all peoples. Baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit. Teach them to carry out my commands!” We must continue Jesus’s work on earth, but we don’t have to do it alone. We can have confidence that the Spirit will be with us.

For Reflection: Do I appreciate the immeasurable scope of my calling? How have I experienced the Spirit at work in me?

7th Sunday of Easter, May 4
Acts 1:12–14; Ps 27:1,4,7–8; 1 Pt 4:13–16; Jn 17:1–11

Jesus gathers his disciples in prayer as he is about to be glorified through his passion, death, and resurrection. Jesus knows that his “hour” has come, the kairos moment when he will fulfill his mission on earth. Jesus has accomplished the work that has been given to him, that of revealing the one, eternal, merciful, ever-present God who is “Father” of all. Through Jesus’s words and deeds, he has revealed God’s glory to his followers, and now he prays for all who will glorify him by continuing his work on earth.

Before Jesus’s ascension to heaven, he promises his followers that they will receive power from the Holy Spirit to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth. Like the apostles, we must wait and pray for the fulfillment of the promise. We gather to pray with Mary, the mother of the church. Filled with the Spirit from the moment of Jesus’s conception, she prays at the birth of the church. Peter reminds us that though we share in Christ’s sufferings, we will rejoice when his glory is revealed. Jesus has entrusted us with the message. Empowered with his eternal presence, we will not fail him.

For Reflection: Do I pray for the Spirit to guide and direct my parish community? How has my work given glory to God?

Pentecost, May 11
Acts 2:1–11; Ps 104:1,24,29–30,31,34; 1 Cor 12:3b–7,12–13; Jn 20:19–23

The wonders of Pentecost! The people gather in prayer, and the strong wind of change fills the church with the fire of the Spirit of God. It is in one Spirit that each of us is baptized, male and female, great and small. The Spirit gifts each person, not for personal gratification but for the “common good.” Empowered by the Spirit, we are Christ’s instruments of peace and reconciliation, speaking the universal language of love.

What would happen in our lives, in the church, and in the world if we took God’s promise seriously? Doors of our hearts would be unlocked. We would see the unique diversity and gifts that we did not recognize before. We would have the courage to release those bound by hatred and unforgiveness. We wouldn’t try to make ourselves greater or more powerful than others. We would speak words of peace, not war. As God’s servants we pray: “Lord, send out your spirit and renew the face of the earth!”

For Reflection: How has the Spirit given me new life these 50 days? How can I breathe new life into my community?

Ritual Foundations

MATT REICHERT

No one knows the deep truth of the saying “when it rains it pours” quite like someone who works in parish ministry. Just as we begin to think we can relax and recover after the marathon of Triduum, we enter the Easter season, ripe with first communions, baptisms, and other celebrations. As if that weren’t enough, we also have the feasts of Ascension and Pentecost, confirmations, and graduation liturgies to look forward to. Sometimes we may well begin to wonder, “Am I a minister or a masochist?”

It’s easy, when looking at this intimidating list of springtime responsibilities, to feel overwhelmed. It’s understandable that we begin to feel stressed and stretched. Unfortunately, this is the time when we begin to let these feelings of anxiety and fatigue show through in rehearsals, liturgies, and celebrations. So how do we keep a fragile balance between good liturgy, good ministry, and good physical and mental health?

First, let’s change our way of thinking about this time in our liturgical year. True, we have a lot of “stuff” going on. But if we look at it simply as a series of “to-dos” or as a laundry list of liturgies we need to “cram in,” we lose sight of the sheer beauty of these moments of rejoicing and resurrection. We have to see the big picture. We need to look at this time through the eyes of the season instead of the events.

We need to make sure that each celebration during the time of Easter points toward the same thing. What are your community’s needs? What are your goals? What does the Easter season mean for your community in the 21st century? Keeping these things in mind, carefully selecting appropriate texts and melodies, we set the framework for our celebrations — a framework that remains the same throughout Eastertime. Sound crazy? Sound too different or too difficult? Actually, we all do this to some extent in the way we design our environment.

We create a worship space that is tasteful and suitable for our liturgy while reflecting our place in the liturgical year. Every time we enter our prayer space, we are reminded that it is Easter by the colors we see, the lilies we smell, and the placement of our powerful symbols of the resurrection — a triumphal cross, the healing waters of baptism, and all of our signs of life and rebirth. This environment stays the same for the entire season, and when it changes, we know that we are moving along the continuum of the liturgical calendar and into the next season. We wouldn’t dream of completely changing the environment of our worship space every Sunday. If we would, the environment wouldn’t be utilized as an extension of our sacramental experience of God. It would just be theatrics.

Think of our ritual music in the same way. Instead of worrying about psalm settings and acclamations for each separate liturgy, choose a seasonal psalm, Mass setting, and acclamations. It may also be appropriate for your parish to use the same gathering hymn, hymn of praise, or final hymn. Carefully chosen settings direct us through the season and tie all of our celebrations together. Selecting seasonal music in the context of the needs of our parish community helps foster a greater communal sense of the season. In addition, seasonal continuity helps create a more familiar and comfortable experience for the congregation. It’s easy for choirs and music ministers to tire of the music — we rehearse it over and over and sing at several liturgies each weekend. But it’s important to remember that just when we begin to get sick of a particular piece of music, the congregation is just beginning to get it.

In addition to ritual music, keep the rituals the same during the season. What will you do for the gathering rite? How will you utilize the sprinkling of holy water? How will each part of the liturgy flow together? Keeping our rituals consistent will help further punctuate the focus of the season.

Keeping a seasonal framework for our liturgies binds our worship together and points toward a common goal or theme that speaks to our community. It helps create a familiar, communal environment that we strive to create every week, but especially during a season when many who don’t regularly attend our liturgies come back. It drives us forward and keeps us focused, worshiping and praying as one community, with one voice, one mind, and one heart. Alleluia, indeed! ML