Embracing a Common Future

Edmund Rice Christian Brothers

North America

Thursday, 09 August 2007

DEEPENING THE SPIRITUALITY

REMINISCING WITH GOD

We pray ... (a prayer from one member in the community)

Reflection: Reminiscing with God

Most people enjoy reminiscing, and religious are no exception. Sometimes we get serious about it, but most of the time we retell the hilarious moments when our life really seemed out of this world.

God likes to reminisce too. "I remember the days of your youth," God says in Jeremiah. At his last meal with his disciples, Jesus asked them to remember him. Reminiscing with God can be a touching form of prayer.

I still recall the time when God became more than the big picture on the wall of our kitchen. The day I heard my first story about the early martyrs was the day I learned that there really was something to die for.

Jesus and I will never forget the day I said to myself, "I am on the cross," and I thought that I would break open. We both remember how, years later, I realized that I really did break open then, and how it was the most graced moment of my life.

Reminiscing with God fills us with awe and gratitude for God's way with us in the past, and with encouragement and hope for the future. It reminds us that this faithful God always was and always will be God with us and for us.

                - Carmelite Community, Indianapolis

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PAUSE

Reading: John 6: 35-40

Jesus said, "I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever. I have told you this explicitly because even though you have seen me in action, you don't really believe me. Every person the Father gives me eventually comes running to me. And once that person is with me, I hold on and don't let go. I came down from heaven not to follow my own whim but to accomplish the will of the One who sent me.

"This, in a nutshell, is that will: that everything handed over to me by the Father be completed—not a single detail missed—and at the wrap-up of time I have everything and everyone put together, upright and whole. This is what my Father wants: that anyone who sees the Son and trusts who he is and what he does and then aligns with him will enter real life, eternal life. My part is to put them on their feet alive and whole at the completion of time."

            - Translation from The Message

QUIET REFLECTION / SHARING

Let us pray to the Lord who is the origin, companion, and goal of our life's journey.

R/ This is what my Father wants.

Lord Jesus, you accompanied your doubting disciples on the road to Emmaus; sustain your Church in our daily journey of faith.

R/ This is what my Father wants.

You do not disappoint those who hope in your mercy: remember that we are slow to believe, and strengthen our faith.

R/ This is what my Father wants.

You guide those who walk in darkness: teach you paths to all those who seek the road of life.

R/This is what my Father wants.

Offertory

Each person in turn holds up the cup of wine and the plate of bread and makes their offering for this eucharistic service.

Communion

Loving God of pilgrims, we gather together to praise and bless you. Your name is faithful one and your love is everlasting. We have come to experience your love in many ways as life's pilgrims.

We thank you for the Spirit you breathe into us, a wandering Spirit - for eyes that guide us - for feet that plod the paths - for occasional signposts when we have lost our way.

We thank you for your love which gives our journey meaning and direction. You bless us with your divine restlessness. You urge us down roads we do not feel strong enough to travel. You support us with companions who bolster us when we despair.

For all those pilgrims who have gone before us and pointed the way to you, for Abraham, Moses, for David, for Mary, our Mother, for Blessed Edmund and all the saints who have led the way before us, we give thanks, Loving Creator.

But most of all we thank you for your greatest pilgrim, Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth and the life. He lights our path. He opens our eyes. He does not abandon us in our need. His journey led him to Jerusalem. There he strengthened us with a meal to follow in his footsteps.

On the night before he died, Jesus took bread and blessed you, God. He gave it to his friends with these words:

Later he took a cup of wine. Again he blessed you and gave it to his friends with these words:

PAUSE

And so loving God, we thank you for the words and example of your pilgrim, Jesus. By his life he teaches us to believe in you and life's journey. By his death he shows us the meaning of hope when we lose everything.

And by his resurrection he proclaims your love which makes all weary, wrinkled pilgrims new. So let us proclaim the mystery of our faith:

PAUSE

Loving Creator, send us your Spirit, so that we, your pilgrims, can have light for our eyes, strength for our limbs, and companionship on an otherwise lonely journey.

Help us accept the gifts you have given us. Teach us to use them as we struggle with the journey, the mystery of your presence in us and our world. May we seek you, meet you and know you as we travel along the way. All this we ask through Jesus Christ who is our way to you.

Close the service with the Kiss of Peace