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All we know is that periodically, some situation or
event deflects us from the path that we thought we were on and, in so doing,
ends the life-chapter we were in. In order to continue our journey, we are
forced to let go of the way we got that far. Having let go, we find ourselves in
the wilderness for a time, and not until we have lived out that time can we come
back around to a new country.
- Wm. Bridges
(A short reflection on life's journey - how there are no maps especially made for each person - how we have models for us (saints) but we can not follow what they did with their lives. We need to create our own map for our own journey. Importance of moments that cause us to pause, and possibly shift ourselves in our journey. Edmund is a wonderful example for us. The model he had chosen for his life was thrown off balance and needed to be reshaped after his wife's death. Her death - and the long time he had in the 'wilderness' (see Bridges statement above) offered him tremendous opportunities for the direction his life would take. Such moments in our lives afford us similar opportunities as well.)
Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of our God.
In the name of our God who is three in one --
The Creator who called us into existence,
The Christ who calls us to be of service to one another,
The Holy Spirit who calls us to new life,
We pray . . .
We ask that, from the riches of God's glory, we be strengthened with power through the Spirit to be strong in our inner selves, and that, through faith, Jesus Christ will dwell in our hearts. We pray that we may have our roots and foundations in love, and that, together with all God's people, we may have the power to understand how broad and long and high and deep is Christ's love. Yes, may we come to know the love of Jesus and be filled with the perfect fullness of God. Amen. (Ephesians 3:16-19 adapted)
READING: Proverbs 30: 5-9
The believer replied, "Every promise of God proves true; he protects everyone who runs to him for help. So don't second-guess him; he might take you to task and show up your lies." And then he prayed, "God, I'm asking for two things before I die; don't refuse me– Banish lies from my lips and liars from my presence.
Give me enough food to live on, neither too much nor too little.
If I'm too full, I might get independent, saying, "God? Who needs him?' If I'm poor, I might steal and dishonour the name of my God." The Word of the Lord ...
PAUSE
RESPONSE: PSALM 1
R/ Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Happy those who do not follow
the counsel of the wicked,
Nor go the way of sinners,
nor sit in company with scoffers.
R/ Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Rather, the law of the LORD is their joy;
God's law they study day and night.
They are like a tree planted near streams of water,
that yields its fruit in season;
Its leaves never wither; whatever they do prospers.
R/ Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
But not the wicked!
They are like chaff driven by the wind.
Therefore the wicked will not survive judgment,
nor will sinners in the assembly of the just.
R/ Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
The LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.
Glory be to you ...
R/ Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Reading: Luke 9: 1-6
Jesus now called the Twelve and gave them authority and power to deal with all the demons and cure diseases. He commissioned them to preach the news of God's kingdom and heal the sick. He said, "Don't load yourselves up with equipment. Keep it simple; you are the equipment. And no luxury inns--get a modest place and be content there until you leave. If you're not welcomed, leave town. Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and move on."
Commissioned, they left. They travelled from town to town telling the latest
news of God, the Message, and curing people everywhere they went.
The Word of the Lord ...
QUIET REFLECTION
/ SHARING
INTERCESSIONS
Let us pray to the Lord who is the origin, companion, and goal of our life’s journey.
R/ Stay with us, Lord.
Lord Jesus, you accompanied your doubting disciples on the road to Emmaus; sustain your Church in our daily journey of faith.
R/ Stay with us, Lord
You do not disappoint those who hope in your mercy: remember that we are slow to believe, and strengthen our faith.
R/ Stay with us, Lord
You guide those who walk in darkness: teach you paths to all those who seek the road of life.
R/ Stay with us, Lord
"We look not to what is seen but to what is unseen; for what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Cor 4:18)
Amen
Communion
HYMN:
Companions on the Journey (C Landry)
1 Loving God of pilgrims, we gather together to praise and bless you. Your name is faithful one and your love is everlasting. We have come to experience your love in many ways as life’s pilgrims.
2 We thank you for the Spirit you breathe into us, a wandering Spirit - for eyes that guide us - for feet that plod the paths - for occasional signposts when we have lost our way.
3 We thank you for your love which gives our journey meaning and direction. You bless us with your divine restlessness. You urge us down roads we do not feel strong enough to travel. You support us with companions who bolster us when we despair.
4 For all those pilgrims who have gone before us and pointed the way to you, for Abraham, Moses, for David, for Mary, our Mother, for Blessed Edmund and all the saints who have led the way before us, we give thanks, Loving Creator.
1 But most of all we thank you for your greatest pilgrim, Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth and the life. He lights our path. He opens our eyes. He does not abandon us in our need. His journey led him to Jerusalem. There he strengthened us with a meal to follow in his footsteps.
L On the night before he died, Jesus took bread and blessed you, God. He gave it to his friends with these words:
Here is food for the journey.
Later he took a cup of wine. Again he blessed you and gave it to his friends with these words:
Here is drink for the journey.
Take this and share it.
PAUSE
2 And so loving God, we thank you for the words and example of your pilgrim, Jesus. By his life he teaches us to believe in you and life’s journey. By his death he shows us the meaning of hope when we lose everything.
3 And by his resurrection he proclaims your love which makes all weary, wrinkled pilgrims new.
So let us proclaim the mystery of our faith:
Dying you destroyed our death,
Rising you restored our life.
Lord Jesus, come in glory.
PAUSE
4 Loving Creator, send us your Spirit, so that we, your pilgrims, can have light for our eyes, strength for our limbs, and companionship on an otherwise lonely journey.
L Help us accept the gifts you have given us. Teach us to use them as we struggle with the journey, the mystery of your presence in us and our world. May we seek you, meet you and know you as we travel along the way. All this we ask through Jesus Christ who is our way to you.
Through Christ,
with Christ, in Christ,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honour is yours,
almighty God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Adapted from Michael Moynahan, S.J.
Lord's Prayer
Closing Prayer
A PRAYER FOR PILGRIMS AND JOURNEYERS
A journey once taken alone
we now choose to take together.
Moving forward as one body
into a future filled with possibility,
we walk without maps,
but we walk confidently,
and we walk with hope,
because we have chosen to be lights
for each other, while on the way.
We travel forward along a way
we have not gone before;
we travel as one who is led,
arms outstretched,
as one who is called forth to life.
We travel in need,
dependent on the Lord
for strength, for assurance;
dependent on each other,
God's instruments, for love.
Leaving known paths behind us,
we choose to journey forward
in faith and service.
As the journey brought us here,
so now we begin it anew,
in company.
- Edwin Hays