Celebration New Life

Embracing a Common Future

Edmund Rice Christian Brothers

North America

Thursday, 09 August 2007

New Wineskins for New Wine

a celebration of new life

LEADER: Our community eucharistic service uses the story of the Journey to Emmaus to give a sense of our own journeying together as we recognize Jesus is with us. Our service and the eucharistic meal are seen as integral - so that we have a sense of Jesus' presence with us as we 'break bread together' at this meal.

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

Today we celebrate our common faith and our common brotherhood, and yet find that we too have had to come to recognize the risen Lord in different ways and through our different experiences. The story of the disciples on the Road to Emmaus, as told in Luke 24, records the process of discovery for two disciples, and their desire to tell the news to others.

The story begins with confusion at what has happened. Their experience was of Christ walking with them while they were unable to recognize him. Then there is the sense of excitement as - still unrecognized - he opens up their understanding and gives meaning to what they experienced. Then there is that moment of recognition of Jesus in the broken bread and meal together. But it doesn’t end there. The ending is the movement to mission with the dash back to Jerusalem to tell the others what they experienced of the risen Jesus.

So, we will allow this story to shape our celebration today. It holds some parallels for us coming together with our different experiences, and allowing our listening heart to hear the voice of the Spirit as it came through to us over the years, and especially now as we take up the ministry to lead.

OPENING SONG: On The Journey To Emmaus

On the journey to Emmaus

with our hearts cold as stone,

the one who would save us had left us alone;

Then a stranger walks with us

and, to our surprise,

he opens our stories and he opens our eyes.

And our hearts burned within us

as we talked on the way

how all that was promised was ours on that day.

So we begged him,

"Stay with us, and grant us your word."

We welcomed the stranger, and we welcomed the Lord.

And that evening at table,

when he blessed and broke bread

we knew it was Jesus arisen from death;

Though he vanished before us

we knew he was near—

the life in our dying

and the hope in our fear.

On our journey to Emmaus,

in our stories and feast,

with Jesus we claim that the greatest is least;

And his words burn within us—

"Let none be ignored"—

who welcomes the stranger

shall welcome the Lord.

OPENING PRAYER: A New Beginning

Creator God,

how can it be that

I so often forget the miracles visiting

your creation each day

in the form of sunny days,

laughing flowers, drifting clouds.

This beauty around us holds a strong power over me.

I awaken each day to the supporting presence you give

In the vibrant vigor, and the unseen energy raising

within me each day to serve you again, and again.

Risen One, dwelling within me,

how can it be that I sometimes forget you,

your passionate grace tending my soul,

your constant stream of hope

rising up through the dead ground

of my brown, barrened prayer.

I turn to you in this time of new beginning,

bowing gratefully

to every person, every sign of your creation,

for each one sings a metaphor

full of your presence, proclaiming your embrace

of my inner life, a life holding the promise

of an eternal return to my call, my giftedness and

being sent in your name. Amen

Adapted from Easter Metaphor by Joyce Rupp Easter 2004

RECONCILIATION:

Let us now come in prayer to ask God's forgiveness and mercy for the times when it is we who were at fault, and turn a blind eye to God’s presence among us. Let us pray.

Lord Jesus Christ, We confess that there are times when we have turned against you, when you have become hidden from us by our own failings and sins, when we have chosen to turn away from you and your ways.

For these times when we have rejected you by action or inaction, we are truly sorry: Lord have mercy.

We confess that there are times when we have failed to recognize your presence in others who are sharing the journey of life alongside us, and failed to show love to them as we would want to show our love to you. For these times when we have rejected you, we are truly sorry: Lord have mercy.

We confess that there are times when in our weakness or negligence, we have failed to turn to you in our needs, and have accused you of lack of love for us. For these times when we have rejected you, we are truly sorry: Christ have mercy.

We confess that there are times when we have failed to recognize your presence in one another, and have marred the unity of your body by prejudice, misunderstanding, and arrogant judgment. For these times when we have rejected you, we are truly sorry: Christ have mercy.

Lord, for all those times when our own choices, desires, sins, and lack of love have blotted you out of our thoughts, words and deeds, we are truly sorry: Lord have mercy.

In your mercy renew in us such a sense of your presence with us, and such assurance of your promise to us that you are with us to the end of the age - that our whole lives may be lived in the light of the knowledge that you walk beside us. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen.

GOSPEL READING The Walk to Emmaus - Luke 24

Characters: narrator, Jesus, Cleopas, second disciple

Narrator: That very same day, two of the disciples were on their way to a village called Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking over all that had happened. Now as they talked together, Jesus himself came up and walked by their side, but something prevented them from recognizing him. And Jesus said to them,

Jesus: What are you talking about as you walk along?

Narrator: One of them, called Cleopas, answered Jesus:

Cleopas: All about Jesus of Nazareth, who proved he was a great prophet by the things he said and did. Our chief priests and our leaders handed him over to be crucified. Our hope had been that he would be the one to set Israel free. And that's not all--some women from our group went to the tomb in the early morning, and when they did not find the body, they came back to tell us they had seen a vision of angels who declared he was alive. Some of our friends went to the tomb and found everything exactly as the women reported, but they saw nothing of Jesus.

Jesus: You foolish men! You are so slow to believe the message of the prophets! Was it not ordained that the Christ should suffer and so enter his glory?

Narrator: Then, starting with Moses and continuing through all the prophets, he explained to them the passages throughout the Scriptures that were about him. When they drew near to their destination, Jesus acted as if he were going to go on. But they pressed him to stay with them.

Second Disciple: It's nearly evening and the day is almost over. Stay with us for the night.

Narrator: So he stayed with them. And while he was with them at table, he took the bread and said the blessing; then he broke the bread and handed it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he had vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other,

Second Disciple: Didn't our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?

Narrator: They set out that instant and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven assembled together with their companions. The Apostles told the two disciples that it was true, that Jesus had in fact been raised from the dead and had appeared to Peter. And then the two disciples told their story of what had happened on the road and how they recognized Jesus at the breaking of the bread.

PAUSE TO REFLECT ON THE GOSPEL

ACTION RESPONSE:

A 'fanfare' of short sentences, in celebration of the different ways in which Jesus has made himself known to us his disciples; concluding with an Acclamation such as :

Alleluia! Christ is with us.

He is with us, indeed! Alleluia!

SONG Open our eyes, Lord - Jesse Manibusan

Open my eyes, Lord. Help me to see your face.

Open my eyes, Lord. Help me to see.

Open my ears, Lord. Help me to hear your voice.

Open my ears, Lord. Help me to hear.

Open my heart, Lord. Help me to love like you.

Open my heart, Lord. Help me to love.

I live within you, Deep in your heart, O Love.

I live within you, rest now in me.

INTERCESSIONS:

Let us pray for unity by greater recognition of Christ in each other.

Let us pray for our discipleship and ministry - for help in enabling us to recognize Jesus alongside us.

Other intentions ...

At the end of the intentions we pray:

LORD’S PRAYER - expressing our closeness as we recognize Jesus with us.

OFFERTORY AND COMMUNION:

Jesus is the bread of life, not to nourish our bodies as ordinary bread, nor even as the manna which the people of old ate in the desert; no, he is the bread of life who has come down from heaven, that we should feed on him and never die.

(The bread and the cup of wine are held up )

The Lord is here.

God’s Spirit is with us.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give thanks and praise.

We give you thanks and praise, living Father, for sending to us Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.

For he is the living bread come down from heaven, that whoever feeds on him should live forever.

He gave himself for the life of the world and the bread that he gives is his flesh; that whoever eats his flesh and drinks his blood should have eternal life and be raised up by him on the last day.

So, Father, we pray that this bread and this wine

may be to us the true food of his flesh and true drink of his blood,

and that we may abide in him and he in us.

As our Lord fed five thousand with the loaves and fishes,

and taught his disciples to hunger after the bread which truly satisfies,

so, mindful also of his Last Supper with his disciples,

the journey meal of revelation at Emmaus,

and following his example and obeying his command,

we bless you for this bread and wine of eternal life that,

eating and drinking in accordance with his promise,

we today may also be partakers of his most blessed flesh and blood.

Jesus is the bread who has come down from heaven;

whoever eats this bread will live forever.

He has ascended where he was before,

he has given us his Holy Spirit.

May the Spirit give us his true life;

let our hunger not be met by lesser food.

And so, Father, led by his Spirit,

we praise you through him;

his words to us are Spirit and life.

We cannot go to anyone else,

for he has the words of eternal life.

We come to him because you have drawn us;

we praise you through him because he now feeds us.

To you be all praise and glory through him now and forever. Amen.

BREAKING THE BREAD

Jesus is the bread of God which comes down from heaven. Lord, give us this bread always.

INVITATION

Jesus said: 'Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life,

and I will raise them up on the last day.'

Come, eat and drink as he has commanded,

and have eternal life as he has promised.

The flesh of Christ. R. The true food

The blood of Christ. R. The true drink

(The community partakes of the bread and the wine)

THANKSGIVING PRAYER

Lord, to whom could we go?

You have the words of eternal life.

Jesus asks, 'Do you then believe?'

Lord, we believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.

Will you then stay with him? That is our prayer.

Then let us pray. Living Father,

we thank you for feeding us with the flesh

and blood of Jesus Christ your Son,

that we might remain in him, and he in us.

Let your Spirit keep us faithful to him,

for he is the living bread

in whom all our hungers are satisfied.

We praise you through him forever. Amen.

CLOSING SONG: Companions on the Journey - Carey Landry

Refrain

We are companions on the journey, breaking bread and sharing life,

and in the love we bear is the hope we share

for we believe in the love of our God... We believe in the love of our God. Refrain.

No longer strangers to each other, no longer strangers in God's house, we are fed and we are nourished, by the strength of those who care... By the strength of those who care. Refrain.

We have been gifted with each other, and we are called by the Word of the Lord to act with justice, to love tenderly, and to walk humbly with our God... To walk humbly with our God. Refrain.

KISS OF PEACE