Theme: We are the
Body of Christ
Presider 1:
Welcome everyone. As we gather today to
celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi, let us remember that are we the Body of
Christ, mandated to share the body of Christ with the body of Christ.
Opening Hymn: “The
Supper” from Breaking Bread
Refrain: Precious body, precious blood, seen as
bread and wine;
Here
our God prepares the feast divine.
Bread
of love is broken now, cup of life is poured.
Come
share the supper of our God.
Verse: This is the
bread of God coming down from heaven,
Giving
life to us, to all the world. Refrain
Verse: “I am the
living spring of eternal life;
You
that drink from me shall not thirst again.” Refrain
Verse: “I am the bread
of heav’n giving life to you;
You
that eat this bread shall never die.” Refrain
Verse: “All those who
feed on me have their life in me
as
I have my life in the living God.” Refrain
Verse: All praise to
you O Christ present in this feast;
In
this bread we share in one life, one God.
Refrain
Opening Prayer
Presider: As we gather together in this sacred place
and share in this banquet of love, let us begin in the name of God, the Source
of all being, Jesus, Eternal Word, and of Holy Spirit, Sofia Wisdom. ALL:
Amen
Presider: My sisters and
brothers, God is with you! ALL: And
also with you
Presider: Gracious and Gifting God,
ALL: Through the life, death and resurrection of
Jesus, new life was brought into the world. Through the Holy Eucharist, the
sacrament of unity, we receive nourishment and hope for our lives.
May our eyes, ears and hearts be
open to your truth in the words and stories we will share this day.
May we be nourished by this
simple meal of bread and wine to stand tall with conviction and courage to be
keys that open the way to all who desire to live in union with You.
May it be so. ALL:
Amen
Community Reconciliation (Brief Pause for reflection.)
Presider: Creator God, to you all
hearts are open, no desires unknown, and no secrets are hidden. We ask you to
send us your Spirit so that we may live more fully according to your will.
Presider: Christ Jesus, we ask for the grace to realize our continual need
to grow in understanding, compassion and caring for ourselves, all of humanity
and for our planet earth.
ALL: (with an outstretched arm):
God, our Father and Mother of Compassion, through Jesus’ life, he
revealed that nothing can separate us from your unconditional love. He sustained
us with his body and blood unto life everlasting and sent the Holy Spirit who
gives us the understanding, willingness and courage to love one another. We ask
you to grant us the grace of pardon and peace so that we may – in turn- forgive
each other our failures to care for one another and for our earth. We ask this
in the name of Jesus, our brother and of the Holy Spirit Sofia, our healer and
comforter. Amen.
Glory to God
Presider: Let
us raise our hands and hearts in joyful praise together with our brothers and
sisters in the communion of saints as we sing:
Glory to God, glory, O praise God, alleluia. Glory to God, glory, O
praise the name of our God. (3x)
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading: Religious Experience….. /Bernard Lee ALL: Thanks be to God
Responsorial: Psalm 63:1-9
ALL: I will take the
cup of salvation and call on the name of my God
Second Reading: “Flowers in the Desert”/ Demetrius Dumm ALL: Thanks be to God
Sequence: Panis Angelicus (Cheri McDonough)
Gospel acclamation:
ALL: Alleluia (Celtic version)
Gospel: Mark 14:12-16; 22-26
ALL: Glory and praise to our brother, Jesus the Christ
Homily Starter/
Community Reflections
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Homily Starter for
Corpus Christi- 6/2/18, Elena Garcia ARCWP
Today we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi. It has been
one of my favorite feast days for many years. It still is, but my understanding
has evolved. For a few moments, we will take a trip through memory lane. Those of us who received our first communion
as children remember having been taught that Jesus was going to COME into our
hearts. We also were given to understand that we would experience this brief
union with Jesus every time we came to mass and received the Body and Blood of
Jesus, which was available to most of us only once a week. But because we are “sinful adopted children of
God”, we would not be worthy of this union and certainly not before confessing
our sins and fasting in preparation for this encounter. So, for many years we
believed these teachings and followed these and other precepts. We recited
prayers like, “I am not worthy that you should come into my heart but only say
the word and my soul shall be healed”, and we sang, “Oh Lord I am not worthy
that thou should come to me but speak…..”
Then Vatican Council came along
and life became a bit easier. Altars were moved, Mass was said in English,
weekly confession was no longer mandatory, fasting time was reduced, and we no
longer had to stick our tongues out to be fed, we could feed ourselves. Some
priests actually became giddy and began to take Eucharist and other sacraments
into the world where the people of God rejoiced and were glad. But Jesus was still
COMING from somewhere up above to fill us with his presence for a very limited
time and we would leave to face the week, business as usual. It appeared to be
an opportune time to connect with the following of Jesus the Christ much like
the early Christians did. We missed the opportunity.
Then those self- appointed
individuals in Rome, fearing the loss of control, power and financial
stability, soon pulled in the reins. So, back to the church buildings some of
us marched in obedience to mandates that sacraments, especially Eucharist, were
to be administered on sacred ground and by ordained clergy. And the marginalized were again left outside.
As years went by a few changes were made to appease the disgruntled, like
appointing Ministers of the Eucharist (at first all men and eventually the
women) to help with the distribution of communion, and likewise, lectors to
read scripture at mass.
Although the Council boldly
proclaimed that Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian life, I wonder
how it is that there is such a disparity between theory and practice? The demands of Eucharist were never disclosed
or shared. And so, we have a varied understanding of Eucharist among members of
the Catholic Church. They include those who attend Eucharist weekly out of
church law obligation and fear of flirting with mortal sin; also those who
attend because the practice is reinforced by the accepted norms of family or
society; those who come because for them
it is truly the high point of their devotional and religious life; then those who are good and active
participants who see the Eucharist as God’s greatest gift to us; and finally, those
who fight to their death to insist on their Catholicity but seldom darken the
door of the church. That last group are the ones that attend on major feast
days, funerals and weddings, while sacramental participation holds no meaning
for them and is totally devoid of their daily lives.
I ask, why have we come to this
pass? Could it be that our own attitude about the Eucharist has helped to
enforce this existing situation? The one thing that seems to be common in all
the above
mentioned groups is that they are
all passive - in each of them the Eucharist is something that happens to us. Surely
we have always thought of Eucharist as something we RECEIVE. This is reinforced
by the mode of giving communion in which we stick out our hand or our tongue and
the Eucharist is given to us with the words “Body of Christ”. Even the priest prays for himself, “May the
body and blood of Christ bring my soul to everlasting life.” If Jesus’ loud
proclamation, “This is my body and this the cup of my blood which will be shed
for you,” refers only to himself, Eucharist becomes essentially an exercise in
historical memory. However, that is not Mark’s perspective. He understands
sharing as joining actively with Jesus. THAT is what is asked of all who share
Jesus’ life and mission in baptism. It is also what we are tempted to avoid as
was Jesus at Gethsemane.
We who are here today, along with
those who gather with us at any time, have awakened to the truth and reality of
Eucharist. That is, we see the Eucharist from the point of view of giving more
than receiving. Each time we celebrate Eucharist we do so as an expression and
celebration of the community’s commitment to live for others and to give of
ourselves for the life of the world. It was especially Jesus’ sacrificial
ACTION that was memorialized by the early church. When Jesus said, “Do this in
remembrance of me”, he was asking us to DO as HE DID, to offer our lives that
others might live. The signs of the Eucharist are definitely beyond the bread
and the wine. They are the bread that is broken and shared, and the wine that
is poured out making the entire event Christ’s Eucharistic gift.
Jesus is already present in those
gathered in his name. Our faith as a community and our desire to truly be the
Body of Christ is a major aspect of Eucharist.
St. Augustine captured this reality many years ago. In his 272nd
sermon he said, “If you are the Body of Christ, it is your mystery which has
been placed on the altar of the Lord; you receive your own mystery. You answer
‘Amen’ to what you are.”
The Eucharistic presence of Jesus
urges us on, challenging us to respond more fully to the mystery which is ours.
If our faith is weak and the quality of our lives barely Christ-like, then
Jesus’ presence within us will not be very obvious. On the other hand, as we
grow into the likeness of Jesus and bring to the Eucharist a faith-filled
presence, the Eucharistic Jesus will become more and more enfleshed within us.
Then we will be able to say “Amen” to a reality which is visible for all to see,
we will become more fully the body of Christ.
Father Paul Bernier ended his
book Bread Broken and Shaped with these words:
“Eucharist is where all cares and
concerns come to a focus, and where we are asked to measure them against the
standard lived by Jesus when he proclaimed for all to hear that the bread that
he would give would provide life for the entire world. But it will do so only
if finding ourselves with a basket of bread, we have peered deeply enough into
the heart of Jesus to know what to do with it.”
Our challenge is to freely accept
that cross, to willingly drink that cup and to make Jesus’ words and actions
our own. We are happy to be and to live as Christians!
I have used the following authors
to prepare this homily starter: Paul Bernier, SSS; Henri Nouwen; Jude Winkler, OFM.
Questions for Reflection
~ Share your understanding and belief regarding Eucharist
and how it may have changed throughout the years.
~ What have you brought along with you and what have you
thrown overboard?
~ Where are you now?
Keep in mind we are in the process and personal growth takes time.
~What is your response or reaction to Jesus’ challenge to be
his body and do what he did?
Profession of Faith
CREED: Taken from “The Friends in Faith” and shared by Joan Meehan
ALL: Gathered together as people of faith, we profess our belief in a
God who is larger than we can name, unable to be contained, yet present in each
one of us. We have come to know this God in the living of our lives, and in the
holiness of the earth we share. We believe in a God revealed in all peoples—all
genders, religions, and orientations. We embrace a compassionate God, who
champions justice and mercy, and is always faithful when we call. Our God gives
and forgives, patiently loving without conditions. We gratefully believe in a
God who feels our deepest struggles, and celebrates our greatest joys. A God
who both dances with us in celebration, and holds us when we cry. This God is
not “other” to us, but shares our breath in every moment, and promises we are
never alone. We believe in a God who believes in us- believes that we are
precious and incredible gifts, worthy to claim image and likeness to the
divine. We hold fast to our God who journeys with us, who continually calls us
to choose the shape of our days through the choices we make. This God accepts
us as we are, and shares each hope we have for our becoming. This is the God in
whom we believe, our Creator, our Mother and Father who became human in Jesus,
our brother. Our God is the Spirit of Life, the voice that continues to speak
love, and asks us to answer. In this God we choose to believe. AMEN
Prayers of the
Community
Presider: We are a people of faith.
We believe in the power of prayer. We are mindful of God’s unconditional love
and care for each one of us. And so we bring the needs of the people to our
merciful and gracious Creator. After each intercession please respond:
Compassionate God, hear our prayers.
~Jesus, priest of the new
covenant, you invite all to your banquet table; let our lives lead others to
know and love you. Compassionate….
~Jesus, living bread, you refresh
those who are burdened and weary; help us to bear one another’s burdens and so
share the bread of your mercy. Compassionate
….
~Jesus, you broke bread with those
who would deny and betray you; may the sharing of the Eucharistic meal bring a
spirit of reconciliation to the world. Compassionate….
~For what else shall we pray?
Presider: Healing God, you faithfully listen to our prayers. We ask You to
strengthen us in our concern for one another- here and throughout the world. We
ask You to support us in our endeavors for justice and equality so that, with
our sisters and brothers, we may promote cultures of peace without violence in
our world. We ask this in the name of Jesus and Holy Spirit Wisdom. All: Amen
Offertory Procession
Song “We Remember” # 495 – verses 1 and 2
Preparation of the
Gifts
Presider: Blessed are You, God of all creation. Through your goodness we
have this bread to offer, this grain of the earth that human hands have
prepared for our use. It will become for us the bread of life.
ALL: Blessed be God forever
Presider: Blessed are you God of all creation. Through your goodness we
have this wine to offer, this fruit of the vine that human hands have prepared
for our use. It will become for us our
spiritual drink.
ALL: Blessed be God forever.
Gathering of the
Gifts
Presider: Our brother Jesus, who has often sat at our tables, now invites
all of us to join Him at his family table. Everyone is welcome to share in this
meal.
(The whole community is invited to gather around God’s family table)
ALL: Loving and caring God, we, your people are united in this
sacrament by our common love of Jesus. We are one with all beings in the
community of creation and with all those who share your gift of compassion,
especially toward those who are marginalized and oppressed. May we love
tenderly, do justice and walk humbly with you in solidarity with our sisters
and brothers. May we strive to live as prophetic witnesses to the Gospel of our
brother Jesus, supported by the wisdom that directed him and by the Wisdom of
the Spirit who supports us. Amen.
Presider: Let us give thanks to
the Creator and Sustainer of all that exists.
ALL: With hearts full of love, we give God thanks and praise.
Presider: Holy Spirit, we realize
your presence among us as we gather at the family table.
ALL: Fill us with reverence for you, for one another, and for all of
creation.
Presider: God dwells in you! ALL:
And also works through you. Namaste!
Presider: Let us lift up our hearts and love deeply.
ALL: We lift them up to the Holy One who lives in us and loves all
through us.
Presider: Let us give thanks to the creator of all.
ALL: It is our joy to give God thanks and praise.
Eucharistic Prayer
Presider: Ever present and always caring God, we do well always and
everywhere to give you thanks. In you we
live and move and have our being. Your
Spirit dwelling in us gives us the assurance of unending peace and joy with
you. That Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead, is the foretaste and promise
of the paschal feast of heaven. And so
we sing in thankful praise:
All (sing): We are Holy, Holy, Holy…(3x) You are Holy, I am Holy, We
are Holy…(Music by Karen Drucker)
Voice: We thank you, God, for the gift of Jesus in history – and
the gift of himself as a vision of your constant presence in everyone,
everywhere he went. He revealed you in
everything he did in his life well lived.
And he showed us, through his example, not only how we should live, but
also for what we may die.
Voice: When his time on earth had come, Jesus – aware of and
accepting his destiny – gave up his life for the values that he deeply
believed, lived and taught…his conviction that love is stronger than
death. And then, providing an example of
this insight for the understanding of ages to come, he opened wide his arms and
died. Then the Spirit of God, who raised
Jesus from the dead, showed us that life is eternal and love is immortal. Jesus is with us today as he will be through
the end of time.
All: O God, let your Spirit of life, healing and wholeness come upon
these gifts that we brought from your fields and placed on our table – this
simple wheat and wine. May she make them
holy so that they will become for us the Body and Blood of Jesus, our brother.
(With an outstretched arm, we pray the consecration together.) We remember the gift that
Jesus gave us on the night before he died.
He gathered with his friends to share a final Passover meal. And it was at that supper that Jesus took the
bread, said the blessing and shared it with them saying: take this, all of you
and eat it. This bread is you; this bread is me. We are one body, the presence of God in the
world. Do this in memory of me. [Pause]
In the same way, Jesus took a cup of wine, said the blessing and gave
it to his friends saying: take this, all of you, and drink it. This wine is you; this wine is me. We are one blood, the presence of God in the
world. Do this in memory of me.
Presider: Jesus, who was with God “in the beginning of the creation of the
heavens and the earth,” is with us now in this bread. The Spirit, of whom the prophets spoke in
history, is with us now in this cup. Let
us proclaim the mystery of faith.
All: Christ has died. Christ is
risen. Christ lives in us and through us in the world today. His Body is
blessed, broken and shared every time we comfort the troubled, counsel the
confused and advocate for justice.
Voice: In memory of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, we offer
you, God, this living-giving bread and this saving cup. May all who will share in this sacred meal be
brought together in unity by the Holy Spirit.
And may that Spirit, that Wisdom, that moved in Jesus move as freely in
our lives as She did in that of Jesus.
Voice: God of blessing and
peace, we remember your church throughout the world; help us grow in love,
together with Francis, our Pope, Bridget Mary, our Bishop, and your whole
family everywhere – especially those who live on the margins of church and society. We remember the victims of recent floods and
earthquakes, and those struggling to reconstruct their homes and lives from
these devastating events. We remember
the communion of saints both living and dead, who touched our lives and left
footprints on our hearts. We remember
especially… (pause to mention names).
All: Through Christ, with
Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is
yours, Creator God, forever and ever… and
let everyone sing… Great Amen (3X)
All (holding hands): Our Father
and Mother, who are in heaven, blessed is your name...
All:
God, we have just prayed that your kingdom may come among us. Grant that we can open our ears to hear it,
our hands to serve it, and our hearts to make it real. Amen.
The Sign of Peace
Presider: Jesus, you said to your
disciples, “My peace I leave you; my peace I give you.” Look on the faith of those gathered here
today and…
All:
…grant us that peace. O Loving
God, following the example of Jesus and with the strength of the Spirit, help
us spread that peace to everyone, everywhere, with no exceptions. Amen.
Presider: May the peace of God be always with
us, and let us extend that peace to one another as we join hands in a circle of
love and sing:
Let there be peace on earth and let it
begin with me. Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Creator, children all
are we; Let me walk with all peoples
in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me, let this be the
moment now. With every breathe I take
let this be my solemn vow. To take each
moment and live each moment in peace eternally. Let there be peace on earth and
let it begin with me.
Litany for the Breaking of the Bread
Presider: Loving God…All: You call us to Spirit-filled service and to live the Gospel of
non-violence for peace and justice. We
will live justly.
Presider: Loving God…All: You call us to be your presence in the world and to be bearers of
understanding and compassion, forgiveness and healing everywhere in your
name. We will love tenderly.
Presider: Loving God…All: You call us to speak truth
to power. We will walk humbly with you.
Presider: This
is Jesus, who liberates, heals, and transforms us and our world. All are invited to partake of the sacred
banquet of love. All:
We are the Body of Christ.
Pre-Communion Prayer
Presider: Jesus,
you invite us to receive you and become you for others. We are the Body of Christ. May the Source of Life whose power now at
work in us can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine, be given glory
through all generations. Amen.
Sharing of Bread and Wine (As you offer the bread and wine to the
person next to you say:
“You are the Body of Christ.” and “You are
the blood of Christ.”
Communion Song: Instrumental
and moment of silence
After Communion Song
“Pan De Vida” # 345 Verses 1,2,3-
Bilingual
Prayer of Thanksgiving after Communion
Presider: Jesus, through your
life, death and resurrection, you have brought new life to the world. Through
the Holy Eucharist, the sacrament of unity, you nourish that life and give us
hope. Strengthened by this bread, may we walk in your truth and learn to love
one another as you have loved us. We ask this in your name. Amen
Prayers of Gratitude, Introductions, Announcements
Final Blessing
(Everyone please stand and extend your hands
in mutual blessing.)
All: Loving Jesus, may we be compelled by an awareness of your
presence within us to respond to your call to walk in your truth and strive to
love one another as you have loved us.
Presider: As we go forth from this sacred space, let us
purposefully look with new eyes and hearts to recognize Christ within all who
we meet. Let our service continue.
All: Thanks be to God. Let it be so!
Closing Hymn: “We Are Many Parts” # 585 – All Verses
Homily Starter Question
~ Has your experience and
understanding of the Eucharist evolved through the years? If yes, how so?
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