by Roxanne -

Walk Out of the Tomb

Beginning with Lent, our journey comes to a close.

The great liturgy, Triduum, began on Thursday.

We gathered.

Our feet were washed. We washed the feet of others.

We shared bread and wine.

Friday we prayed.

Saturday we waited.

At sundown tonight, Easter arrives. The liturgy continues.

We are all gathered.

The church is dark.

The wreath is placed in the fireplace. The bonfire is lit. In the darkness we wait and watch.

The Easter candle is lit.

In the darkness, the procession slowly enters the church. The bells jingle. The banners shimmer.

The bonfire glows outside the window.

The light is passed to everyone gathered.

Music starts. Readings begin.

Fragrant incense annoints us all.

And we remember.

Whatever tomb we think we are in, God can do things for us that we cannot imagine for ourselves.

We can walk out of the tomb.

Death is not the end.

Image Think Israel.org

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by Roxanne -

Good Friday

The beginning of Richard Rohr’s Meditation today says it well –

“Today the primary human problem, the core issue that defeats human history, is both revealed and resolved.  It is indeed a “good” Friday.  The central issue at work is the human inclination to kill others, in any multitude of ways, instead of dying ourselves—to our own illusions, pretenses, narcissism, and self-defeating behaviors.  Jesus dies “for” us not in the sense of “in place of” but “in solidarity with.” The first is merely a heavenly transaction of sorts; the second is a transformation of our very soul and the trajectory of history.”

Read the rest here.

by Roxanne -

The Great Liturgy Begins

Last night was the beginning of the great three-day liturgy – the Triduum – for Catholics. It is by far the most important liturgy. It is the the focus or the center of the liturgical year and our faith life. It is so important that three days are devoted to its completion.

Expectation is in the air. My colleague exclaimed “At last, Lent is over!” At sundown on Holy Thursday we gather together. Tonight we feast. The church is bright with candlelight. Expectation is in the air.

We leave chronos time and enter kairos time . . .

The music begins. The three oils are brought in and placed before those assembled. This procession begins the liturgy. Liturgy quite simply means “the work of the people.”

We hear the story of Exodus – the story of the Passover Seder. We hear from St. Paul, the voice of the early Church. We hear the story of the Last Supper in the gospel of John. In this gospel, Eucharist is a foot washing. Jesus demonstrates that service brings healing.

Large baskets of white towels and pitchers of warm water await. We, too, wash each others’ feet. Large and small, tired or hurting – each washes and is washed in turn.

Then the banquet. Lots of incense – for the table, for the assembly, for the servers and the presiders. The plumes drift upward.

The table is carefully dressed. The large table cloth is unfolded until it hangs completely to the floor. Real bread and wine are brought forward along with our other gifts. Baskets of used towels symbolize our gift of ourselves in service.

We bless, break and share the bread. We drink the wine. We remember to “do this in memory of me.” What is it we are to do? We are to allow ourselves to be blessed, broken and shared. We come and learn to share bread, in order to go out into the world and share bread! Many are hungry.

Then the lights dim. The liturgy does not end here. It has only just begun.

We leave in silence and we wait.

by Roxanne -

“More Roman Than Catholic?” is here!

My newest book has just arrived. Yes! It was a long time in coming but it’s finally here. It is available here, soon at Amazon Books and Barnes & Noble.

The book explores this topic: Are we more Roman than Catholic?

As Roman Catholics, have we over-emphasized values from ancient Roman culture that clash with what it means to be truly Catholic? Have power and privilege for a few and external authority without accountability trumped cooperation, shared leadership and discernment by the whole community? What does this mean for our Catholicity? For the future of the Church?

We have seen a Catholicism that fosters an ongoing reliance on external authority. This is problematic and dangerous. True Roman Catholicism must foster within each person a reliance on internal authority and integrity to one’s own values within a community. A vision of the Church without this is no vision at all.

If you are an interested Catholic or just want to know more – order a copy.

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by Roxanne -

Passover

Tonight we shared a passover seder meal at our neighbor’s home. Many Christians, one Jew.

Yet we are all Isra-el (one who struggles with God or El-ohim).

Our host, E, is a good friend and an amazing cook. There was tender roasted lamb seasoned with thyme, rosemary and olive oil. There was the charosset of walnuts, ginger, apples and dates. There was steaming, homemade chicken matzo ball soup. There were roasted potatoes, boiled eggs and horseradish.

Like many generations before us, we shared the bitter herbs of suffering dipped in the salt water of tears. We broke the unleavened bread and drank the wine.

We heard the story of how people of every time and place escape from the oppression they are caught in – whether it is the dominant culture, as in Egypt, or the seduction of anything that separates us from God or our true selves.

We prayed that death, in all its forms, will pass over this house, these lives.

We remembered how we wandered in the desert of our lives, looking for something more.

We gave thanks in gratefulness, for all God has done, is doing and will do in our lives to make us who we are truly meant to be. We are being slowly healed by healthy relationships in community.

As we heard the ancient blessings in Hebrew, Aramaic and English, even Elijah came to sit in the empty chair near the end, in the form of one more guest.

It was an evening of friendship, generosity and hospitality. Thank you E.

Amen.