What’s next
So the Day of Resurrection that took a week to celebrate draws to a close. Birthing pools for baptism by total immersion are put away; the Easter flowers are beginning to fade; congratulations cards are being filed away with smiles as the names of well-wishers known and unknown are read … there is a real sense that a stage in the journey is complete and, despite the promise of mystagogia for the rest of one’s life, there can begin to creep in a sense of anti-climax… a “what next?” True, there are some whose enthusiasm will stay on a high for some time – particularly if they are given opportunities to relive the experience of the Vigil – but even for them the story of Thomas in the Gospel of the Second Sunday of Easter can sow useful seeds for the future.
It is strange that of all the wonderful stories in the Gospel, this is one the very few that we hear every year – and always at the end of the Easter Octave. True, it is about appearances of the Risen Lord – but most of us will probably remember Doubting Thomas and his frustration at the “tall tales” his friends - previously seen as fairly sane if not always quick on the uptake - are telling him – and their frustration at his not being able to accept what they say. You can imagine the Aramaic equivalent of “oh you had to be there…” springing to their lips, particularly as at that stage, Jesus had given no indication as to whether this was a one-off appearance or was to become a regular occurrence. How do you convey the encounter with a man who was dead in ways that convince someone who wasn’t there when he turned up? Thomas’ (again Aramaic equivalent of) “Yeah… right…” is actually quite sensible under the circumstances.
Caravaggio's painting of Thomas and the Risen Jesus
But – and here’s the rub – isn’t that what we are doing in the RCIA – telling others of our own encounters with one who was dead and who is now risen? But we can’t see him and we don’t hear his voice and we can’t put our own fingers in his wounds (even if we could overcome our squeamishness to do it) and we haven’t smelt and tasted the bread and fish that he served up after the resurrection either.. As eye witnesses it doesn’t make us very good, does it? And yet – somehow we do it! Something in our joy at believing without seeing comes across and people are drawn in to learn more – though we have to admit that an awful lot more come into the “Yeah… right…” category.
So how can we help our newly-fledged Christians and Catholics as they prepare to take flight – to encounter those who will be bemused by their decision and perhaps even be hostile to it? And how do we prepare them for the moment when all the “specialness” begins to evaporate and new set of people are the catechumens – the Elect – and they are just part of a congregation? What about when even for them, faith begins to become niggling doubt – or the pulls of daily living in a frequently unsympathetic society take the edge off the joy they thought they would never forget?
Well, maybe we can look at Thomas – what made the difference for him? We know that Thomas was one of the apostles who said he would go with Jesus and die with him – but didn’t… Also he was the one who admitted he didn’t know where Jesus was going so how could he know the way? Like the other disciples, it would take the personal meeting with the Risen Jesus to make sense of the things he had said about dying and rising again.
That personal encounter…. that moment when the rest of the world falls away and Christ becomes all in all… So where was it for our neophytes? Where for our candidates? Was it in the Word – something that spoke so clearly that it changed their lives? Was it in the Body of Christ – the People of God? Or in a priest? Or, in that moment of receiving the Lord in Communion for the first time? When did they know with all the capacity of their being that this was true – and could say with Thomas, “My Lord and my God”?
Legend has it that Thomas left Jerusalem and took the Gospel to India. It is likely that there were times when he would have quite liked to have given up – and plenty of conversations with people who were not remotely interested in the Good News of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. But that moment – the moment of meeting with Jesus and hearing his words “Doubt no longer but believe…” somehow kept him going.
So as we reflect with our new Catholics on the next stage of their journey, perhaps we can bring Thomas alongside as a guide. When he set forth from Jerusalem, he probably had no idea of the way he was going to follow – but he did know who his Way was – and his Truth – and his Life. And so do our new Catholics…
Thoughts to reflect on…
- What are the “soul-memories” of ways in which we have encountered Christ over months and years? How do we keep them alive and ready to strengthen us for the way ahead?
- When I look at the Host and Chalice elevated during the Eucharistic Prayer – and receive the Body and Blood of Christ, how can I develop a sense of this being my personal encounter with “My Lord and my God”?
You are warmly invited…..
Lent! and it begins with a blissful invitation 'Come back to me with all your heart'. At the beginning of this period in the ritual text is the quote 'The water that I shall give will turn into a spring of eternal life'. That sounds mysterious......
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RCIA 125: 'In the liturgy and liturgical catechesis of Lent, the reminder of baptism already received or the preparation for its reception, as well as the theme of repentance, renew the entire community along with those being prepared to celebrate the paschal mystery..... for both the elect and the cmmunity Lent is a time for spiritual recollection.'
We are being drawn into an ever-deepening experience of who Christ the Saviour is for us personally and communally. Through the Word, in Sunday Gospels, in scrutinies and presentations, we are invited to come closer and be touched by the one who has given us living water to quench our thirst, light for our path, and the freedom to live life to the full, in love and service of others. Its an opportunity for each of us to be reminded of who we are and who we are becoming, and to renew our resolve to hold fast. We might take time in these next six weeks to look at the initiation rites for ourselves, and through the lens of these promises, our intimate covenantal relationship can take on new meaning and hope. The whole purpose of the Gospel of John, proclaimed in the scrutinies, is our union wth Christ through the Spirit - so no academic pursuit this! No requirement to learn or acquire or achieve or posess - but simply to open, and allow for what is happening amongst the people in the Gospel narratives to happen among us in our communities. These are not rituals instituted and left behind by a departed Jesus, but Jesus risen and present in and around us now.
So with a double-awareness of Jesus in his time and history, and Jesus in similar movement in our lives, we respond to the invitation, the question:
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What is your thirst? What darkness or blind spots are in your life? What causes you to remain bound up in 'deathly' attitudes?
We read the gospel differently when we are hungry, says Gustavo Guttierez. You could by extension say we read the gospel differently when we are thirsty, blind or bound up with troubles? And we discover that Christ meets us right where we are, with living water, light for our path, new life full of hope and meaning.
So yes, I am looking forward to Lent and I pray to be open to both personal and community renewal.
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Lord God, You created the human race and are the author of its renewal. Bless all your adopted children and add these chosen ones to the harvest of your new covenant. As true children of the promise, may they rejoice in eternal life, won, not by the power of nature, but through the mystery of your grace. We ask this ghrough Christ our Lord. Amen (RCIA 122, B, Prayer over the Elect)
If you forgot to buy your PP a Christmas present
Celebrating Initiation: a guide for priests by Paul Turner does what it says on the cover. As he says in the Introduction:
I have written this book for my brother priests. Deacons may benefit from it because they also preside for many of these rites. Lay ministers may enjoy reading over my shoulder. But I am writing primarily for priests to explain the many rites we need to know, and to help integrate them into the particular work we do as pastors, presiders, and preachers.
The book covers all of Initiation, so not only the rites of the RCIA in detail but also the Rite of Baptism of Children, Confirmation and First Communion. If you have questions about how the rites are celebrated they are probably answered here. This is not, however, a dry collection of rubrics. The purpose of the rite is explained, what needs to be done prior to celebration and then a step by step guide to the rites. Where there are options they are covered and, often, an opinion is offered about what is the author's practice and why. Paul Turner, unsurprisingly for those familiar with his other books, saves his strongest opinions for the 'combined rites' — the provision in the US rites for common rites for the unbaptised and baptised. He is neither convinced that they work or are a good idea from both a theological and liturgical point of view. He does offer a commentary on these rites which is drawn from personal experience.
In some ways this book is a sign of that inability, one sometimes comes across, for those who are responsible for presiding at the rites to take responsibility for their part in the rite — this can mean, as an extreme, not even being aware of the ritual book. Paul Turner provides a good travel guide but you still need to get out the map, and look at the rite, and then actually walk the streets, and celebrate the rite.
One small criticism is that this is not a book for bishops. Given its comprehensive coverage it is a pity that the Rite of Election is not included.
It may be helpful to give an overview of a section to show what is offered. Even if you are one of those who is reading over the author's shoulder. In the sections on the Presentations there is first a historical and theological overview, then a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of celebrating the Presentation during or before Lent and what it means to present something which is already known. There are ideas about how and when to celebrate the liturgies within the life of the parish; comments on the different options for the readings. Turner offers an interesting idea for celebrating the liturgy (which would be on a weekday) of rather than inviting the elect to come forward he suggest inviting the faithful to come onto the sanctuary to recite the creed to the elect who remain in their places. There is a strong comment on the use of printed texts:
The liturgy does not ask you to get a nicely framed parchment of the creed inscribed in calligraphy … Following the ancient tradition, the creed is not something you write down. It is not something you pass from hand to hand. You pass it from mouth to ear, and from heart to heart. It is part of a Christian's being, not an accessory on the wall of one's spiritual life.
Celebrating Initiation is published by World Library Publications which is distributed in the UK by Decani.
People in darkness…
It was odd coming back from Evening Prayer tonight... for the first time I noticed that there weren't so many lights on the outsides of houses this year. No enormous blow-up snowmen or Santas climbing walls - and just a few flashing icicles and snowflakes – and, bizarrely, one Father Christmas on a penny-farthing! (Obviously a new tradition in the making there!)
It's as if the financial gloom is being translated into a literal gloom with fewer lights to brighten dull winter nights. Perhaps it speaks too of an inner gloom besetting the minds and hearts of people as the fears of unemployment and loss of income take hold. Faced with massive uncertainty, people seem to become stuck in wintriness and losing faith that things will get better – and it is true that the light on the horizon is very faint for many people at present.
But as we approach the darkness of the longest night, we know (somewhere very deep down) that the nights will begin to draw out and light will prove stronger than the darkness. As we approach the feast of Christmas – with its timing at the darkest part of the year – we may be lighting the third and fourth candles of Advent wreaths and seeing the increase in light reminding us of this. On the other hand, Advent candles are gradually burning down – and the chocolates in the Advent calendars running out!
We are also coming up to the pre-Christmas Octave and the time of the O Antiphons – the antiphons that open the praying of the Magnificat at Evening Prayer in the days leading up to Christmas. These are a rich source of images and thoughts for prayer – for the dark time of year and the chill of economic troubles – drawn as they are from a heritage of faith of people who lived through their own dark times – of slavery – of Exile – of longing for a shoot of hope from long-dead tree.
Even if time does not permit the praying of the whole of the Evening Prayer of the Church, it could be worth finding the antiphon for each day (see below) and praying it – and the Magnificat – and praying that the prophecies and promises of God intervening in the world will be fulfilled. We can explore the Divine Office and its role in the prayer life of the whole Church – and then unpack the meaning of the Antiphons a little with our catechumens and candidates.
The opening words of the Antiphons form titles of Christ – and the links between the dates and the titles are as follows
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17 December - O Wisdom
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18 December - O Adonai (an ancient name of God)
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19 December - O stock of Jesse
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20 December - O key of David
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21 December - O Rising Sun
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22 December - O King...
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23 December - O Immanuel...
And, as a thought for Christmas Eve, we could add, though not a title of Christ, an acknowledgement of the woman who made it possible with
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24 December - Blessed is she...
There is a variety of places to find the O Antiphons – in the Office books for starters but also online – at http://www.universalis.com/ for example. A daily reflection on them with a Scripture reading and questions can be found from http://www.wellsprings.org.uk/o_antiphons/index.htm
As people become – like those in the time of Isaiah – people who walk in darkness, we can point them to the promise of Light… to the One whose titles span the centuries – the One who is Emmanuel, God in it with us.
Saints Alive
Many countries are lavish in their remembrance of their saints’ days, with the whole village enjoying a day of festivity and reverence to a particular saint. The people of Malta take the celebration of the feast of St Paul’s Shipwreck, very seriously. Preparation is year long for this annual feast to their patron saint. It falls on the nearest Sunday to February 10th and there is much anxiety about the weather, for the 17th century wooden statue cannot be carried outside in high winds or heavy rain. I took this photo after the men had spent a couple of hours transferring the statue to its portable beams, had proudly begun the procession, only to be driven back into the safety of the church when the rain fell. It wasn’t only the bearers that shed tears, but many in the crowd acted as if they had suffered a great loss.
This year All Saints Day will be celebrated next Sunday November 2nd (England & Wales only) and I would like to explore how this provides a catechetical opportunity for RCIA catechists and the community.
Saints are so much a part of our life. We read about them, we pray to them in Mass and in a time of need; we feel supported by them and are secure in knowing they are a communion of saints. Our churches are dedicated to them, but so are street names, pubs and businesses. Statues are part of our architectural heritage Even non-christians have heard of St Christopher, and when on holiday how can you ignore the patron saint hanging above the visor of the bus driver in Malta, Crete, Cyprus etc.
From time to time, saints have featured with great predominance in my faith journey. Although, not always obvious at the time, on looking back I have been able to chart a sideways and upwards step, leading me to new exploration and depths as I try to fathom what exactly God has planned for me. While I find it a little puzzling why All Souls is not being commemorated on the 2nd November, I relish the opportunity that this change to the liturgical year offers to RCIA catechists.
- Those involved with the period of inquiry have the chance to share in hearing the richness of saints’ stories when members of the parish participate in group sessions. What an easy way to introduce a relationship with saints when exchanging stories of how St Christopher was invoked on a hazardous journey, or how prayers to St Jude or St Rita helped turn a hopeless situation into a triumph. As for the lost things that St Anthony is asked to find…
- For both inquirers and catechumens, there is the opportunity for exploration and discussion over birth names and what saints they identify with. This may involve hearing about holy people from other cultures, and learning about new saints.
- Hands on experience is possible by bringing statues, icons or pictures to the group. Many art books or museum catalogues will show how saints have been depicted through the ages.
- Use this time of the liturgical year to think ahead to the Easter Vigil to bring alive those named in the Litany of Saints, so that our candidates will be able to sing out ‘pray for us’ with some familiarity of the saints named.
In our parish, everyone has been invited to bring to Sunday Mass a picture or statue, or icon of their favourite saint. I am hoping that those who have adopted England as their second country will bring statues of the saints they have grown up with, and catechumens and all, will see the variety of holy people that have inspired those in our community. It is a time for the neophytes and those who were confirmed to remember their confirmation saint, and together with the parish young confirmed earlier in the year, they could place their saints in a special location in the church.
- For those experiencing mystagogy, here is a chance to explore holiness. Look at popular prayers, or the saints named in the Eucharistic prayers. What is amazing about saints, is that they come from such a diversity of backgrounds and cultures. Anne Gordon in A Book of Saints - True stories of how they touch our lives, offers instances where people today have been influenced by their relationship with a particular saint.
The glory of saints is, that they have lived, and coped with temptation, doubt and what seemed insurmountable obstacles; they have planned their path of faith only to find its progress thwarted, until eventually they have realised God is leading them along another path. But perhaps the most apt is St Martin of Tours, the pagan soldier who tore his cloak in half to give to a freezing beggar, and then in a vision Christ called him to stop being a catechumen, and to be baptised.
Battling with a heavy sea in a headwind!
In the middle of August, we have this well-known Gospel, which echoes powerfully with us as a parish, in the 'holiday season' trying to maintain contact with our candidates - feeling we are battling against the odds..... And He made us get into this wretched boat and go on ahead while he dismissed the crowds (yes, dismissed!) and went up into the hills for a nice quiet time by himself! We quite fancy a nice bit of quiet ourselves.
Well, in this story there is room for both - time for quiet refreshment in the 'sheer silence' on the hillside (Community Bible translation of 'gentle breeze' (in 1 Kngs 19:12) and with the psalmist to 'hear what the Lord has to say, a voice that speaks of peace', and time for battling with our own fears and immaturity as we attempt to move forward with the process of initiation.
On reflection, perhaps rather than highlighting Peter's doubt, it is is his courage and faith that is emphasised when he says in the height of the storm on seeing Jesus walking towards them, 'Order (or 'tell')me to come to you' and Jesus says 'Come' and he climbs out and gives it a go!
So what have we been 'giving a go' this Summer? The 'group' has not been meeting to break the Word, which could be seen as a disapointment. However, the sponsors have been alongside our candidates these last weeks, sitting with them at Mass, bringing them to parish picnics, prayer vigils for Zimbabwe, and pilgrimages to local shrines, as well as continuing to share on the Sunday Gospels over a coffee, and telling stories of their own experience, for example, of reconciliation, as this sacramental opportunity approaches for the one who is to be received into full communion in September (on the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross - most appropriate for him). Our neophyte has got married - so that has been a great joy in the whole parish community. He specifically wanted the recitation of the Creed in the nuptial mass because it has come to mean so much to him. So on reflection, the community and the candidates have been quietly getting on with the business of helping 'those who are searching for Christ in the various circumstances of daily life'. (RCIA9) Perhaps, gradually we are moving towards a more liturgical/mystagogical apprenticeship!
Taking God’s love seriously
Yesterday in our parish Sunday Mass many will have experienced the first scrutiny - and allowed that gospel encounter of the woman with Jesus at the well to interpret our own lives and inner longings. As we walk with Christ, our way, our truth, our life, along the lenten pathway towards Easter, we too meet the people he meets - through wilderness, up and down mountains, thirsty woman, blind man, dead man, welcoming crowd, angry mob - we too enter into that sense of being 'handed over', and having to trust God that this is the right path. And the scrutinies are moments of self-searching, repentance, enlightenment. They are described in RCIA 141 as having a spiritual purpose - to uncover and heal all that is weak, and to bring out and strengthen all that is good and strong. Their aim is to 'complete' conversion and deepen our resolve to hold on to Christ. Their focus is towards salvation and the resulting new life and freedom that brings. As individuals and community, in reflecting on the experience of the scrutinies, may we become more and more consciously aware of being filled with Christ - living water, light of the world, resurrection and life. We are not diminished by the experience.. we are set free.
So, what was the experience like for you? In what ways are you 'thirsty'? What does the encounter tell you about Christ?