Opening Hymn: Fresh as the Morning from the CD As Morning Breaks and Evening Sets #2 God of the Bible, God in the Gospel, hope seen in Jesus, hope yet to come, you are our center, daylight or darkness, freedom or prison, you are our home. Fresh as the morning, Sure as the sunrise, God always faithful, You do not change. God in our struggles, God in our hunger, suffering with us, taking our part, still you empower us, mothering Spirit, feeding, sustaining, from your own heart. Those without status, those who are nothing, you have made royal, gifted with rights, chosen as partners, midwives of justice, birthing new systems, lighting new lights. Not by your finger, not by your anger will our world order change in a day, but by your people, fearless and faithful, small paper lanterns, lighting the way. Hope we must carry, shining and certain through all our turmoil, terror and loss, bonding us gladly one to the other, till our world changes, facing the Cross. 1
Ant. 1 Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant. Ephesians 1: 3-10* Praised be the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens. God chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless in God s sight. We have been predestined to be God s children through Jesus Christ, such was the purpose of God s will, that all might praise the glorious favor bestowed on us in Christ. In Christ and through his blood, We have redemption,- the forgiveness of our sins, according to the riches of God s grace lavished upon us. For God has made known to us in all wisdom and insight, the mystery of the plan set forth in Christ. 2
Ant. 2 Turn to me with all your heart, says our God. Psalm 15* Who shall visit in your tent, And dwell on your holy mountain? They who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, who speak the truth from their hearts;- and do not slander with their tongues; They who do no wrong to each other, nor cast reproaches on their neighbors, who pray the godless to repent, and honor those who fear the Most High. READING: Dr. Joseph Grau, a student of the writings of French Jesuit Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, wrote his doctoral dissertation (as yet unpublished) on the ethics of Teilhard. In much of traditional Christian Spirituality, Grau wrote, we are seen as independent persons, each seeking our own individual salvation by avoiding serious sin. In contrast, for Teilhard, as for St. Paul, all humanity (and the rest of creation) is living in the Cosmic Christ, who is daily growing, changing and evolving toward his ultimate completion. In this perspective, Christians are not primarily isolated individuals, each independently seeking to save their own souls, but we are all inextricably interconnected in this great God Project. In St. Paul s words, we are the hands and feet, the eyes and ears of Christ on earth today, helping bring this Cosmic Christ to his fulfillment as destined by the Creator. Thus, we see the need for all to become effective change agents. Therefore, our spirituality today cannot be focused simply on avoiding sin. Rather we must be focused on consciously choosing actions that are designed to make a positive difference in the world. For Teilhard, we are all called to be Agents of Change in helping the Structures of our world become more just, kind, and caring for all those in need (People). We consciously choose to become Agents of 3
Change so that Christ may be all in all. To accomplish this will require a lot of change and improvement in our world. What part will you play in the great God Project? RESPONSORY (from Review for Religious, 70.1, 2011, pp. 15-16) My soul waits for God; in your word I hope. My soul For with you there is steadfast love, -in your Glory to you, Source of all Being, Eternal Word and Holy Spirit. -My soul CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH Ant. Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God. The Rising Sun- Tony Alonso from the CD As Morning Breaks and Evening Sets. #4 The Rising Sun of joy and justice lights the way that leads to peace. As the day descends from heaven so does love that sets us free. God raises up a child to save- Bless the Lord, bless the Lord. So we might worship without fear- Bless the Lord who sets us free! God renews the covenant- Bless the Lord, bless the Lord. Promises safety from hatred s hand- Bless the Lord who sets us free! 4
You my child will prepare God s way- Bless the Lord, bless the Lord. Tell of God s justice and mercy- Bless the Lord who sets us free! INTERCESSIONS Let us praise Jesus Christ, model of faithfulness, hope of our salvation. With sincere hearts we pray: O Christ, guide us to truth. You knew the burden of temptation; -make us strong in resisting evil. You drove away those who desecrated the temple of God ; -help us to make our worship pleasing to you and a blessing for all. Moses was called to lead his people to water in the desert; -lead those who thirst for truth to the words of the gospel. You taught your disciples patience and long-suffering; -teach us to set aside our own convenience and comfort to enable the growth of others. You are the fountain of living water: -be with all catechumens who will present themselves as the Elect in all the dioceses of the Universal Church today. 5
PRAYER: Jesus, our Savior, you bore hunger, thirst, and temptation as you prepared to preach the good news to your people. You offer the bread of heaven and living water to those who hear you with faith. During this holy season of Lent, let us hunger and thirst anew for your word. Grant us all that we need to be totally dedicated to you, that we may live with you forever. Amen. * Psalms taken from People s Companion to the Breviary 6