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Today is Holy Thursday. We celebrate the Last Supper when Jesus called us to remember him in this sacred feast of Passover that celebrates his journey through death to Risen Glory.
When we gather weekly, Mary Mother of Jesus Catholic Community celebrates an inclusive Eucharistic Banquet. All pray the words of Institution/Consecration together. We, the Body of Christ , share the Body of Christ at the table with the the Body of Christ around the table. In our communities, all are welcome to receive Eucharist.
We pray the following prayers as we prepare to receive Eucharist, "Jesus, you make us worthy to receive you." We are the body of Christ."
Bridget Mary Meehan, arcwp
www.arcwp.org
The following is Richard Rohr's meditation on Eucharist.
Holy ThursdayGod as Shared Food
Meditation 33 of 52
"When we start making the Eucharistic meal something to define membership
instead of to proclaim grace and gift, we always get in trouble;
that’s been the temptation of every denomination that has the
Eucharist. Too often we use Eucharist to separate who’s in from
who’s out, who’s worthy from who’s unworthy, instead of to declare
that all of us are radically unworthy, and that worthiness is not even
the issue. If worthiness is the issue, who can stand before God? Are
those who receive actually saying they are “worthy”? I hope not. It
is an ego statement to begin with. In fact, we Catholics even say
“Lord, I am not worthy” right before we come to the altar. I guess
we don’t really mean that, and it is just a pious bluff.
The issue is not worthiness; the issue is trust and surrender. It all
comes down to “confidence and love,” as Thérèse of Lisieux said.
I think that explains the joyous character with which many celebrate the
Eucharist. We are pulled into immense love and joy for such constant and
unearned grace. It doesn’t get any better than this! All we can do at
Eucharist is kneel in love and then stand in confidence. (St. Augustine
said that the proper posture for prayer was standing proud and erect,
because we no longer have to grovel before God or fear God, if God is
like Jesus.) "
Adapted from Eucharist as Touchstone (CD, MP3)
https://cac.org/store/cds/item/812-eucharist-as-touchstone
I truly appreciate your postings for this Thursday They give me comfort over the loss of the old rituals that once meant so much to me, and in years of late I do not participate in these rites. I am a faithful reader of your blog, and it gives me hope that someday, there will be an inclusive church where women have a rightful place at the altar. One available in most places--wish I could join you in Florida. Genevieve
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