Easter – a Rollercoaster
For neophytes, and those candidates just received into full communion with the Catholic Church, this Second Sunday of Easter marks yet another turning point, as they enter the final period of christian initiation. While remembering the height of the Easter Vigil, it is quite easy to be brought sharply back to the realities of everyday life in the readings of the Second Sunday of Easter. This leads me to ponder four questions. What signs are going to be received in awe by our new catholics (Acts, 2.43)? How will their faith be nurtured? Are they going to have the resilience to continue the post baptismal period of mystagogy? What are the practical considerations for the RCIA team?
As ever I return to the rite: the neophytes, together with those received into full communion with the catholic church #244, #410 ( see #330 for children) now join with the whole community as they:
… grow in deepening their grasp of the paschal mystery and in making it part of their lives through meditation on the Gospel, sharing in the eucharist, and doing the works of charity.
RCIA #244
The above assumes #75 will have been followed in a systematic way: providing appropriate catechesis over sufficient length of time, based on the liturgical year. The Word that was opened up in the period of Dismissal, is now able to be explored and built upon, particularly during the Easter Season when the sacraments of initiation have been encountered, experienced and made one’s own. In the following Sundays all the faithful can be reminded of their baptismal vows (sometimes overshadowed at the Easter Vigil when all thoughts have been with those being baptised). The community is ready for the sacramentals to be opened up anew, to be reminded of the importance of the symbols of our faith: oil, water, bread and wine. Yet one of the greatest ritual symbols is the assembly: this is the community the neophytes will have experienced through sponsors, godparents, catechists and the local church as they were introduced to the christian way of life. Now this relationship develops as they become one with the community, as all journey towards Pentecost, nurtured by liturgical catechesis, the ongoing RCIA sessions and all the people.
The community must never underestimate their role in the initiation process, but this can only occur where the whole church is aware how vital is the ‘the pastoral care of Christian initiation’ (GDC 91). Where RCIA is not part of integrated church practice this poses a delicate problem to be overcome. The Easter Season provides the opportunity for the whole community to walk the same easter path.
Another obstacle is if the catechumenate period envisaged by #75 did not take place. What can then occur is a frenzy to impose all the required catechesis in the mystagogy period. But we have missed the purpose of mystagogy if we cram it with ‘religious facts’ (see #244- 248), whether during the initial period which ends with Pentecost, or the extended mystagogy to the anniversary of initiation (adopting the USA system).
This is the time for the neophytes to create and make firm their ties with the community; to experience the liturgy as one of the faithful, and to become immersed in a process of formation that continues throughout one’s life. This is a time to renew the whole community as they see faith experienced as known, lived, celebrated and prayed (GDC 84)
Suggestions
- Forward planning to provide a new group for the newly initiated; to plan the initial period and extended period.
- Use the liturgy - involve the initiates, process the gospel, the offertory gifts, intercessions.
- Use the homily - remind the faithful of their baptismal vows: the rights, obligations and duties they bring; before Pentecost have the sprinkling rite, or invite the assembly to process and dip their hand in the baptismal font.
- Let the initiates continue to meet sponsors, godparents, the community; provide opportunities for questions to be asked, contexts explored.
- Have ongoing formation sessions for the whole community- open up the Easter Mystery, explore the symbols, look for the signs in daily life, bring the gospel alive through lectionary based catechesis, engage in prayer.
- Introduce them to parish groups, tasks, charities, web based resources, newspapers and journals.
- Ensure they attend - and the parish is represented - at the Pentecost Mass with the bishop (this should occur in all dioceses).
Have in mind that faith has to be known, celebrated lived and prayed (GDC 84) as you search for new ways to show what it means to be part of the body of Christ in today’s world, nourished by the Word and Eucharist.
All this demands forward thinking so the newly initiated don’t believe they’ve hit the jackpot and have nothing more to do. This is a new way of life for those who believe, and it will keep returning to new heights.
- # RCIA (1998, USA edition)
- GDC General Directory for Catechesis (1997)
RCIA Network Conference 2008
Forming Threshold Companions
Information and a Booking form for this year's Network conference are being sent out today. Details will be posted on the website at the beginning of April to allow Network members a chance to book first.
Martin Foster
Two prayers for the week
Two Opening Prayers from the Missal for Easter Week
Easter Monday
Father,
you give your Church constant growth
by adding new members to your family.
Help us put into action in our lives
the baptism we have received with faith.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who live and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Easter Saturday
Father of love,
by the outpouring of your grace
you increase the number of those who believe in you.
Watch over your chosen family.
Give undying life to all
who have been born again in baptism.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who live and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
All white on the night
Something I have learnt through experience is never ask a group a question that you do not know how to answer yourself. This is not about being omniscience but being prepared first to draw on one's own experience before expecting others to do likewise.
As we look beyond the Triduum to the Easter Season and see 6-7 weeks of mystagogy we need to remind ourselves the celebration of the Triduum is the starting point. Perhaps we need to first note down our experience of the liturgies of the three days. I am a great one for jotting down the practical details: what went well, what needs to be attended to next time, what could be better. This is all very useful when we come to prepare the following year's liturgies. But here I am more thinking of a journal. Reflections and impressions over three days. Even if you are busy as a liturgical minister in some form your need to participate. Participation is the first condition of mystagogy.
On Holy Thursday
- What were your expectations before hand?
- Was there a word or a phrase in the readings that stayed with you?
- Which symbols caught your attention?
- How did you feel at the end?
On Good Friday
- What words would you use to describe the liturgy?
- During the intercessions for whom did you pray?
- What did feel like to kiss the cross?
At the Easter Vigil
- What did you see as you gathered around the fire?
- How many times did images of water come in the readings?
- How would you depict the liturgy of baptism?
These questions are only starters. After you have got down your impressions take the opportunity to come back to them, to reflect on them. Ask why did you think or feel that, what can learn about what we celebrate, about Christ.
These reflections will enable us to help others to reflect. In the end though it will be the neophytes who lead us deeper into the mysteries. This paradox is at the heart of the Easter gospel.
When I prepare the liturgy booklet the one thing I am likely to forget is the reading that changes each year — the gospel at the Easter Vigil. One of the element that is common to gospel in all three years is that the resurrection is announced by someone in white garments. In Matthew 'His face was like lightning, his robe white as snow'. It is not too fanciful make a connection with those who will rise up from the waters and put on a white garment, white as snow perhaps. In the waters of baptism they will die and rise with Christ, they are the sign that Christ is risen in our midst. From them over the coming weeks we will learn what it all means.
It can’t be Holy Week next week?!
And if it is - how on earth did we get here?
There are advantages to an early Lent - for many people this year, Lent will almost be over before they really get to grips with the fact that it started - far too soon after Christmas. Only two weeks now and we can get back to the chocolate - the alcohol - the things we have denied ourselves and life can get back to normal! But for our Elect and Candidates, two weeks time brings them to one of the most important events in their lives. There will be a certain amount of making their new status as a Catholic Christian part of normal life but just at present, we hope they are living with a heightened awareness of the call to which they are responding - looking back on the Rite of Election with joy and ahead to the Easter Vigil with eager anticipation (albeit tinged with a bit of 
anxiety).
This last week of Lent might be a good time to offer them the opportunity to look back on how they got to this point.
This week's blog could be used as a guided reflection inspired by the Year A Gospels - as part of an RCIA session or individually over a coffee - or both!
Brew up - settle back - and relive the journey to this last week of Lent... it really IS Holy Week next week - how on earth did we get here!
It started somewhere... Jesus' public ministry started with his baptism in the Jordan - spend a few moments building up the scene in your mind's eye. Jesus emerging from a crowd ... John's reluctance ... Jesus' immersion in the river and the dove coming upon him... and the words from God: This is my beloved Son - listen to him. When have I felt that love of God for me - sensing that I am God's beloved son - beloved daughter?
...
Almost immediately, Jesus is sent into the wilderness - to be tempted - challenged? Where have my wildernesses been? ... When have I faced challenges which have helped me to find God and God's will for me?
...
And Jesus took three close friends to the top of a mountain and became transfigured - their friend but not their friend... divinity shining from him - majestic divinity in the air all around them ... and that voice again: My Son - the Beloved - listen to him. What words of Jesus have spoken most powerfully to me over the last few months?
...
It hasn't always been plain sailing - there have been times of weariness and uncertainty - when I've needed time and the faith of others to recharge my batteries. When have I come to the "well" - come to listen to Jesus and to other people - and found myself refreshed? When have people come to the "well" - and I have found myself like the Samaritan Woman - engaging in conversation and listening and helping myself and my companions to go deeper into the mystery of God? When have I taken my experience of encountering Jesus back to others?
....
And the Gospel of last week - the story of the person born blind ... whose soul saw things hidden from the sight of others ... who stuck to his story no matter what pressure he was put under .... When have I had a sudden insight - a kind of dawning understanding of something that had been hidden from me before? Have there been things during my RCIA sessions that have been like a bolt from the blue - or shaft of lightning? When have others not seen the truth as I have... and how did I feel?
....
And what of Martha or Mary in the Gospel story of the raising of Lazarus? When have I been like Martha - heading down the road to meet Jesus ... and telling him like it is: If you had been here this wouldn't have happened. Where were you when ........(name something that stretched your faith)? Or, when like Mary - overcome with sorrow and just unable to make the first move - but sensing the Lord somewhere out there ... And how do I feel when I recall the shortest verse in Scripture: Jesus wept. Jesus' own grief coming through ... his own tears shed with those of Martha and Mary... his own tears shed with my own - his tears for my sorrow ... His compassion which does not deny sadness but shares it - and seeks to transform it. When have I sensed the healing love of my Lord?
...
And here we are - months - years - into our Journey of Faith ... And along the way - the company of Jesus - whether we recognised him at the time or not ...
Next week, we will accompany him on the last fateful journey from the entry into Jerusalem - from euphoria to agony ... from praise to condemnation ... from hope to despair ... from death to resurrection ...
And I will respond to his invitation - for the first time as I enter the waters of baptism and die with him and rise to new life ... or the fiftieth ... I will respond to the invitation to be part of this story - of a death that changed the world because it did not end there ...
It really IS Holy Week next week! How did I get here? And more importantly - where is the Lord leading me from here - from the waters of Baptism to....? from anointing and gifting with the Spirit to ...? to the Lord's Table ... and from there...?
Unbind him and set him free
If you ever find yourself in Oxford make your way to the chapel of New College. There you will find a truly remarkable statue of Lazarus by Jacob Epstein. It is in white marble. As you look you will see the bands of death being stretched round the body of Lazarus almost to breaking point. He is being dragged reluctantly from the grave. This reluctance to come forth from the place of safety and death is further emphasised by the fact that his head is turned backwards as he is being pulled back to life. That beautiful piece of sculpture offers a profound insight into the story of Lazarus found in John’s Gospel:- Resistance to true freedom.
To get inside the story we need to identify our own resistance to removing the stone covering the cave where the body lay buried along with our resistance to believing the word of Jesus that endlessly gives life.
Having taken the stone away listen to the word spoken in a loud voice “Lazarus come out”. A loud voice reaching down into the very depths of all that is life taking: That echoes through the ages and that cannot be resisted. The command “Unbind him and let him go” reflect the word spoken to Moses from the Burning Bush:- “I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt” – the house of slavery.
These images form the basis of the Third Scrutiny as the Elect prepare themselves within their parish communities for the Easter Vigil. In fact for both the individual and the community the questions raised are demanding indeed and reach into the psyche of both:
- What am I reluctant to reveal about myself or my community?
- What in my life am I reluctant to change?
- What do I or we want to keep hidden away?
- What do I or we need to do to set others free?
- What word or command of Jesus do I most resist?
- What word or command of Jesus echoes deep within me?
- From what do I or my community need to be unbound and set free?
The prayer prayed over the Elect and on behalf of the community has much to offer to these reflections. The prayer is geared towards those who are preparing for baptism at the Easter Vigil but can easily be adapted for those already one with us through baptism or for the community as a whole. The lines or words in italics are offered as a possible adaptation.
“Father of life and God not of the dead but of the living,
you sent your Son to proclaim life,
to snatch us from the realm of death,
and to lead us to the resurrection.
Free these elect (us)
from the death-dealing power of the spirit of evil,
so that they (we) may witness
to their (our) new life in the risen Christ,
for he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
(Then with hands outstretched)
Lord Jesus,
by raising Lazarus from the dead
you showed that you came that we might have life
and have it more abundantly.
Free (us) from the grasp of death
those who await your life-giving sacraments
(as we celebrate your life-giving sacraments)
and deliver them from the spirit of corruption.
(and continue to deliver us from the spirit of corruption)
Through your Spirit, who gives life,
fill them (us) with faith, hope and charity,
that they (we) may live with you always
in the glory of your resurrection
for you are Lord for ever and ever. Amen”
A thought!
“Sickness struggles to own the world. I want you to live.
Live, do you hear me? Half-living is a safe hell.
The house I build is for souls who would be well.”
‘The house I build’ by Brendan Kennelly