Sunday, January 23, 2011

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

23 January 2011

EntranceAll that is hidden (Bernadette Farrell)
Penitential RiteSt Gabriels I (mtgf)
Psalm 26The Lord is my light and my help (mtgf)
Gospel AcclamationSalisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of GiftsCantate Domino (Pitoni)
Eucharistic AcclamationsMass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of GodRemembrance (Marty Haugen)
CommunionLord, you have come to the seashore (Gabarain)
FinalChurch of God, elect and glorious

When talking about liturgical seasons I often use the image of a stone hitting the water and the ripples flowing outwards. A central event (the Birth of the Lord in Advent-Christmas) has repercussions backwards and forward. The stone/event is large enough that it ripples over the edges of the season. Today we had one of the ripples. The Christmas season has as a key image darkness and light and the first reading today was a repetition, in part, of the first reading of the Mass during the night at Christmas. Opening and closing hymns reflected this and they also responded to the idea of being called to follow Christ. That which was hidden is now made clear.

An aspect of the new translation that people pick up is what is perceived to be negative language, which often means being explicit about sin and that some are uncomfortable with this. The opposite also appears to be true that the new translation also recovers description of the people of God as holy and people are similarly uncomfortable — perhaps they want a quiet life! Church of God, elect and glorious is an unequivocal expression of God's holy people — perhaps we think it refers to somone else.

No comments:

Post a Comment