Offering & Making Holy - 2 Corinthians 5:19

2 Corinthians 5:19 "In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their transgressions against them and entrusting us with the message of salvation."

In preparation for my 25th anniversary of profession of vows (2003) my mother’s wedding ring was engraved with words from the Maronite Liturgy in honor our Maronite ancestry and in gratitude for my consecration. In Spirit of the Liturgy the chapter on the Body and the Liturgy expressed what I engraved on the ring in Syriac – “This is my body given up for you.” Since the Anaphora is the most solemn part of the Divine Liturgy I asked the Bishop if this was permissible. My reasons were that the words of consecration were also my response to Christ’s offering.

Joseph Ratzinger expresses this so well as the whole event of the Incarnation, cross and resurrection present as the way God draws us into cooperation with himself. We pray that the Sacrifice of the Logos become our sacrifice so that we may be transformed. As a young professed I had many opportunities to enjoy liturgies where large number of priests were present. For want of room on the altar they would stay in the pews at the celebration. During the consecration all rose and prayed the Anaphora in close proximity to all of the faithful. During those moments I reflected on the offering we were all making. This was a wonderful visual of what was occurring in reality – we were all praying to be made the true Body of Christ .

The Maronite name for the Divine Liturgy is Qorbono in Syriac referring to the “offering” and focusing on the sacrificial acts of Christ offering himself and on our own willingness to give our lives as an oblation. In Arabic term Quddas means “making holy” referring to the fact that in the liturgy the gifts, and by analogy the participants, are divinized by the action of the Holy Spirit. The Preparation of the Gifts is an act of offering by the whole community. The bread and wine selected from among the gifts are chosen to become the Body and Blood of Christ. Similarly, our gifts and dedication to be of service to Christ are consecrated through the action of the liturgy.

“The Word leads us out of individualism into the communion of saints spanning all times and places." In our community when it is someone’s turn for Eucharistic Adoration, we use the words of Martha to Mary as an invitation to a sister for adoration: “The Master is here and he is asking for you.” When we will travel or transfer to another location we tell each other: “We will meet before the tabernacle.” These words serve to remind us that worship includes our whole life. “The true liturgical action is the deed of God, and for that very reason the liturgy of faith always reaches beyond the cultic act into everyday life, which must itself become 'liturgical', a service for the transformation of the world." Our bodies are trained, as we transform our wills in a communion of will with God, for the resurrection – as the liturgy is oriented toward the risen Christ.
This has implications for mission as well, in the call to transform the world. Transformation in Christ begins with us and also effects change in the world. Mission is a call to live liturgy which does not compete in the market place. It attracts others when it looks not at itself, but at God, when it allows God to enter and act. It is authentic inculturation as it interprets the world anew in the light of God –opening up men and women to their possibilities.

Quotes from Spirit of the Liturgy by Joseph Ratzinger

extra-Ordinary time Acts 10:44

Acts 10:44 "While Peter was still speaking these things the Holy Spirit came upon all who were listening to the Word."

I am assisting in the Catechetical Certification Program for the Archdiocese of Boston. Today the guest speaker, a member of the Neo-Catechetical Movement (known as The Way), was invited to present Lectio Divina. Father began his presentation with his vocation narrative. Not unlike Peter when he visited the house of Cornelius. Cornelius was expecting him and had prepared the house summoning his friends and relatives. This was to be a big occassion. In fact Cornelius was so excited that he knelt at Peter's feet when he entered. The scripture passage even goes so far as to say "he fell at his feet and worshiped him." You can just imagine Peter the fisherman, still stinging from his denial of Christ and much more humble in his position as evangelizer, lifting Cornelius back up. "Get up! I am a man too!"  After Father pointed us toward Christ he opened the Bible. "Is this the Word of God?" he asked. Everyone nodded yes. Surprisingly he said "Not really - it is the Scripture but some people spend their lives looking up passages for scientific or historical study - they can read it over and over. What makes it the Word of God?" Then he called out a name "Andrew!" There happened to be someone called Andrew in our gathering. Andrew had raised his hand in response. "See the Word became alive just as when the Angel Gabriel greeted Mary "Hail, Mary! The Lord is with you!" "What happens to us when the Word reaches us - is directed to us," Father continued, "Is our response. The seed of the Word is planted and begins to grow. Who is the Word of God? Jesus."

In this reading from the Acts of the Apostles Peter was taken by surprise during his delivery of the Word. The Word became flesh in all of Cornelius's friends and relatives through the Holy Spirit. Even while Peter was still proclaiming the Word the Spirit enlivened the gathering. The Word grew in them and would continue growing through baptism, life in the body of Christ (the Church) and to the full stature of Christ. The Word would lead all of these Gentiles to life in the Holy Trinity "Until Christ is formed" as Paul said (Gal. 2:20).

As the Christmas season concludes and we enter the Church's Ordinary Time we reflect on how "extra-ordinary" all time is in Christ.

Read Acts Chapter10 (aloud if with a group).

WAY Meditate  How does Peter dialogue (pray) with God? Does it remind you of the prayer of Abraham or Moses? How does Peter deepen his understanding of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ?

LIFE Pray  What invitations are you receiving from the Lord that invite you to relationship through sharing the love of Christ?

LIVE Act  If you receive the Pauline Cooperator magazine read the evangelization issue (January 2010) to live out of a Pauline style of evangelization. Why is the gospel "good news?" How do you witness Christ as Peter did? Do you identify with Cornelius in your search for a deeper faith?


PRAYER

Lord Jesus, Cornelius was at prayer and received a heavenly visitor who reminded Cornelius that his alms giving and prayer had been remembered before God. May all that we do be a pleasing sacra-fice (to make holy) as incense rising before you each moment of the day. When you call us through your Word and Sacrament may our ears be opened to obedience. When you invite us to extend hospitality in our daily meetings with others let us be filled with your Spirit. May we bear your Word upon the streets of the world. We ask this in your name, Jesus. Amen.

Christmas Rejoicing! Eph. 1:18-19

A prayer for the Christmas season is that "the eyes of our hearts be enlightened so we will come to know what the hope is to which God calls us. How glorious his glorious heritage shared among us!" (Cf. Eph. 1:18-19).

This is what the celebration of Christmas is all about. The darkness of winter, the shorter days and longer nights have turned toward the light. The days are becoming longer and the light is revealing what we couldn't see in the darkness. The great gift of Christmas is the coming of our salvation. All that we long for: whole relationships, security, control for a planned future... We don't have to give them up - we just gift them up to God and receive them back in such a way that they become the fullness of life.

Paul tells us "It is all yours, all is yours, you are Christ's and Christ's is Gods!" Our longings and desires are now turning toward the light. Our eyes are enlightend and we rejoice in the hope that is our vocation (call). Rejoice, Paul exhorts. Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I say Rejoice! 

Have a blessed and glorious revelation of God's love in Jesus through the Spirit this Christmas. May Jesus be born in us and grow to full stature.

Sr Margaret Kerry, fsp

Advent Waiting with Saints & Scripture

"Advent, this potent liturgical period we are entering, invites us to remain silent as we come to appreciate a presence. It is an invitation to understand that the individual events of the day are signs God addresses to us, signs of the care He has for each of us. How often does God make us aware of some aspect of His love! To maintain what we might call an 'inner diary' of this love would be a beautiful and rewarding task in our lives. Advent invites us and encourages us to contemplate the living Lord. Should not the certainty of His presence help us to see the world with different eyes?" Benedict XVI
The saints can help us see the world with different eyes. They have left their daily witness written on the hearts of believers. They intercede for us from within the communion of the saints as our brothers and sisters. Their eyes have seen what Paul said "eye has not seen nor ear heard what is prepared for us by the Lord." Our waiting can happen in real waiting situtations: the line in the grocery store, the traffic, waiting for a phone call or a letter, waiting for friendship, waiting for reconciliation. Our advent waiting with the saints reminds us that we can celebrate hope in Jesus coming to live among us to prepare a place for us to live forever.

The inner diary of love that we write as we wait in silence is contemplation. Our eyes are open to the mystical reality of communion with God and with one another.

Here are some scripture citations on waiting:

Mark 15:43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body.

Luke 1:21

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple.

Luke 2:25
Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

Luke 3:15
The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ.

Luke 12:36
Like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.

 Luke 23:51
who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God.

Acts 22:16
And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.'

Hebrews 6:15
And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.

Hebrews 9:28
so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

All Saints Day Eph. 4: 22

Ephesians 4:22 "Be renewed in your mind and spirit and put on the new person created in accordance with God's designs in true righteousness and holiness."

Novena to Jesus Divine Master, Way, Truth and Life

The novena to Jesus Divine Master beging October 16th. Pauline's celebrate the Feast on the last Sunday of October. This year it will be on October 25, 2009. Join us at any of our Pauline centers for Liturgy. In Boston there is a retreat weekend at St Thecla's retreat house from October 23-24th. Then we join the community of the Daughters of St Paul at 50 St Paul's Ave for Liturgy followed by brunch.

To go to the google doc of the novena copy and paste this link to your browser: 
http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B-PIh0MeUzvnMmZiYjliMWMtZWZlNS00MjE4LWJlMDgtNTAxOTA0ZmZhZjUw&hl=en

September 2009 1 Corinthians 1: 24-25

“Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God, for God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength. 1 Corinthians 1: 24-25

One of the “icons” of Paul’s description of Christ in this passage is the community of L’Arche. These are places (Arks) that enable people with and without disabilities to share their lives in communities of faith and friendship. Community members are transformed through relationships of mutuality, respect, and companionship as they live, work, pray, and play together. In a recent letter to his communities, the founder, Jean Vanier, wrote: “The most important time is to help each person become more human and governed less by fear. It is about keeping an open heart, creating communities where we truly love one another despite our differences and where we become a source of hope for one another and where we celebrate life. It is also about discovering how faith in God and the Gospel can help us to become more loving, more giving and not bow down to the tyranny of normality: being strong and beautiful, fleeing from suffering and discarding the weak. The greatest value of L’Arche, like faith and light, is to show that weak people are not only important, but that they have a message for society and the Church.” This is a difficult concept to grasp, yet our deepest longings point in this direction. Cardinal Ratzinger wrote in Introduction to Christianity that “Christian faith is more than the option of a spiritual ground to the world,; its central formula is not ‘I believe in something,’ but ‘I believe in you.’ It is the encounter with the man Jesus, and in this encounter is experienced the meaning of the world as person.” Jesus, he continues, is God’s witness through whom the intangible has become tangible. Each of us has to ask the question: “Are you really he?” as we experience the darkness and indifference of the world. This question is an assertion that we want to know and love him more and more so we can confess: “I believe in you, Jesus, as the meaning of the world and of my life.” Fr. Crespi, S.S.P. writes: before carrying out mission it is necessary to promote a spirituality of communion. Then we answer the deep needs of the world knowing our brothers and sisters in the profundity of the mystical Body, in the mystery of the Trinity. The great program, Alberione says, is the one of the tabernacle: From here I will illuminate. We are light in the measure we live in communion with God. “I am the light of the world, you are the light of the world” Jn. 1:4. This is the mission entrusted to us. We are called to radiate God, to diffuse God’s light.

TRUTH Read 1 Corinthians 1: 24-25  You may also want to read the surrounding versus introducing Paul’s reflection.

WAY Meditate How did Paul arrive at this proclamation? As we read Paul’s letters often we realize that he strove to live Christ as a new way to be human.

LIFE Pray Cardinal Ratzinger said each of us ask the question: “Are you really he?” As we profess Jesus to be Life what questions do we want to share with him? Turn these into a prayer.

LIVE Act “Meaning, is the bread on which we subsist. Without the word, without meaning, without love we fall into the situation of no longer being able to live, even when earthly comfort is present in abundance. Meaning is the ground on which our existence stands and lives. It cannot be made but only received. We respond to the Word that upholds and maintains all things. Meaning is already granted to us. We share this meaning, the light of Christ, with everyone we meet.” Cf. Cardinal J. Ratzinger, Introduction to Christianity.

PRAYER

Jesus, Good Shepherd,
Who brought from heaven the fire of your love, give us your heart.
Inflame us with a great love for our brothers and sisters. Make us sharers in your mission.
Live in us so that we may radiate you
In word, in suffering, in pastoral action,
In the example of a good life.
We offer ourselves as faithful sheep who share in your pastoral mission in the Church. Dispose all minds and hearts to receive your grace. Come, divine Shepherd, guide us; may there soon be one flock and one Shepherd.
Jesus Good Shepherd, Way, Truth and Life, have mercy on us. Amen.

(Prayers of the Pauline Family, Fr. Alberione).