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Season 3. Six Faith Dynamics - Observed in the Mass
The SongWalk Echoes Podcast
Welcome
Season 3 of the SongWalk Echoes Podcast focuses on six faith dynamics observed in the Roman Catholic Mass.
Join Don Prisby and Jeff Peterson in exploring:
- Vocation - How we are called to the Altar of the Word and Table.
- Conversion - How we orient our lives in right-relationship with God and the community.
- Mission - That we engage with the Church's mission throughout all of salvation history.
- Transformation - That we are transformed as a community into the body of Christ.
- Providence - How we are provided our daily bread and sent from the Mass to nourish others.
- Gratitude - That we join our gratitude with the Church in its traditions handed down over the ages.
"Let's take a SongWalk!"
Episode One: Introduction
Abstract:
In Season 3, we examine God's nourishment of His people through the accounts of the Manna in the Desert, the Wedding at Cana, the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes, the Last Supper, Agape Meals and the first account of the Eucharist described in the Didache.
What does it mean to hunger and thirst for God, as the music for this episode illustrates? We are called to the Eucharistic table each week. We ponder how we are called, prepare, join the mission of the Church, are transformed, provided for, and express our gratitude.
SongWalk Elements:
Music - "Like the Deer that Yearns" by Don Prisby
Art - Manna in the Desert - Mosaic, Basilica of St. Mary Major, Rome (pictured)
Scripture - Exodus 16: 1-6, 15
Story - The United States Eucharistic Revival
Reflection Questions:
- Why do you attend Mass?
- What are the dynamics in our day-to-day lives that are perceived alternatives for attending Mass?
- Write down five inspirations that call and send you from the Eucharistic liturgy.
- Think of three ways that you might be more attuned and attentive in your participation in the Mass.
EchoPoint:
Let's imagine what it means to thirst, to be with God and with one another in our weekly call to gather as a community at the Table of our Lord. How do we thirst?
Episode Two: Vocation
Abstract:
The very act of making the Sign of the Cross with holy water upon entry to the church indicates our vocation, our calling to the Mass. In so doing, we recall our Baptism into the community and our anointing as priest, prophet, and king. In Episode 2, we ponder our vocation and our invitation to gather as a community. We consider the ways that we dispose ourselves to such a calling.
SongWalk Elements:
Music - "The Supper" by Don Prisby
Art - "The Wedding at Cana" - Juan de Flandes, 1497 (pictured)
Scripture - John 2: 1-12
Story - "The One with the 'T' on Top"
Reflection Questions:
- Name three ways that you prepare for Mass each week.
- In what ways do you feel called to the Mass?
- What are some of the challenges for you in attending this weekly celebration?
EchoPoint:
In preparation for the next time we go to Mass, let's ponder, "How am I called to the community and to the Lord as He is present in the Word and the Table?" Let's try to be intentional about our call, our vocation to participate in the Mass.
Episode Three: Conversion
Abstract:
As the Mass begins, we take time right away to convert, to "turn toward" and with the community. From the praying of the Confiteor, and the Lord Have Mercy, to the completion of the Gloria, we are placing ourselves in right-relationship with God and with one another. We begin the important transition from the hectic week and drive to the Church, to being with the Lord and one another.
SongWalk Elements:
Music - "Down On My Knees" by Don Prisby
Art - Anne, Mary and Jesus" Leonardo Da Vinci, 1501 (pictured)
Scripture - Mt 14:13-21
Story - Encounter at St. Anne's Church, Jerusalem
Reflection Questions:
- How do we find peace in our day-to-day lives to be in the presence of God?
- Why is it important during the Confiteor to acknowledge our sinfulness before God and one another?
- What is the significance of the thrice articulated "Lord have Mercy?
- Why is joining the angels in singing Glory to God important during the Penitential Rite?
EchoPoint:
Let's take some moments in conversion with the people that we love. How can we be fully present to them, even to the strangers that we meet on the street? What will that look like?
Episode Four: Mission
Abstract:
From hearing the Word of God through the Hebrew Scriptures, the Epistles, and the Gospel, through the homily, and recitation of the Creed, to the Prayers of the Faithful, we listen, recall, and participate in the mission of the Church. We reflect back through millennia and look forward to our opportunities to be a people of God in the world.
SongWalk Elements:
Music - "Gospel Magnificat" by Don Prisby
Art - "The Annunciation, Fra Angelico, 1426 (pictured)
Scripture - Luke 1: 46-55
Story - Fr. Alleluia from Kisii, Kenya
Reflection Questions:
- What is the significance of listening to the accounts from the Hebrew Scriptures during the Liturgy of the Word?
- Where else in the Mass is the Jewish Tradition so importantly present?
- What can we learn in the Epistles about life in the early Church?
- Why is the homily important?
- How can we tie the recitation of the Creed and the Prayers of the Faithful as expressive of the Church's mission?
EchoPoint:
As we consider our mission to be God's presence in the world, each day as we awake, let's pray, "May the Word of God be in my mind, on my lips, and in my heart, that I may worthily proclaim the Gospel of the Lord." How will we be the presence of God for others each day?
Episode Five: Transformation
Abstract:
During the Liturgy of the Eucharist, we see the environment, our offerings and the Church transformed. From the Offering of the Gifts through the Great Amen, we witness the elements of bread and wine become the body and blood of our Lord. We "lift up our hearts" as a community and we celebrate our being the People of God. We see God made manifest in the bread and wine and in the community.
SongWalk Elements:
Music - "Bless Us O Lord" by Don Prisby
Art - "Baruch Ata Adonai" (Pictured)
Scripture - Mark 14: 22-26
Story - Manifestations in the Word, the Eucharist, and in the People of God
Reflection Questions:
- How is our offering of money, time, and talent a means to transform the Church?
- How do we identify with the family or people asked to bring the gifts of money, bread, and wine as offerings up to the sanctuary?
- How are we transformed in the participation in and reception of the Eucharist?
EchoPoint:
Let's try to transform our lives this week by being Eucharistic, to have hearts of gratitude for all that God provides. How will being grateful change our thoughts and deeds this week?
Episode Six: Providence
Abstract:
At the Sign of Peace, we become the stewards of the peace of God to be offered to one another. We also prepare ourselves in humility to receive the body and blood of Jesus. We become both strong and humble in the reception of God's providence of peace and daily bread.
SongWalk Elements:
Music - "New Life in Your Hands" by Don Prisby
Art - "Early Agape." Catacombs of Priscilla, Rome, Italy (pictured)
Scripture - Acts 2:46-47
Story - Human Dignity
Reflection Questions:
- Why is it important to grant peace to one another before receiving the body and blood of Jesus?
- How does this disposition of peace differ from the disposition of asking for forgiveness of one another during the Penitential Rite?
- What more can we do to prepare for the reception of Holy Communion?
EchoPoint:
How can we share agapic love this week; to express covenant love to all we meet; to be providential and unconditional? To be providential is to look to the other's future needs. How can we love that way?
Episode Seven: Gratitude
Abstract:
"The Mass is ended. Go now to love and serve the Lord and one another." Our response? "_______be to God." Our liturgy concludes in gratitude. We give thanks for having been called and now sent into the world. The notion of thanks, of Eucharistia is associated with the Mass as far back as the First and Second Centuries AD. Our gratitude then, is an expression of the thanksgiving made with the People of God across all time.
SongWalk Elements:
Music - "Ite Missa Est" by Don Prisby
Art - The Didache (Pictured)
Scripture - The Didache
Story - Favorite Part of the Mass
Reflection Questions:
- Write down five reasons to be grateful during or following the celebration of the Mass?
- How can we portray our gratitude in the coming week as we are "sent now to love and serve the Lord and one another?"
- Why is gratitude an important disposition?
- How can we be eucharistic people?
EchoPoint:
Let's spend some time this week pondering the gift of faith that has been given to us. And, in prayer, let's imagine our response being, "Receive our hands, receive our hearts." How can being grateful manifest our disposition of service to God and others?
Episode Eight: Summary and Conclusion
Abstract:
We've examined the six dynamics of vocation, conversion, mission, transformation, providence, and gratitude observed in the Mass. We acknowledge that we are called to and sent from the Mass. Now, we ponder that we are on the Road to Emmaus, out in the world until once again we will gather to see Jesus again in the breaking of the bread.
We are on the figurative Road to Emmaus.
SongWalk Elements:
Music - "The Road to Emmaus" by Don Prisby
Art - "The Road to Emmaus" (pictured)
Scripture - Lk 24:13-35
Story - The Road to Emmaus
Reflection Questions:
- What does it mean to be sent from the Mass?
- How will we see the Lord on our various roads this week?
- What can preoccupy us in being able to see God's presence in the world?
- What does it mean to see Jesus in the breaking of the bread?
- How can we prepare for the next time we will gather at the Table?
EchoPoint:
What does it mean for us to be on the Road to Emmaus? Will we be lost and confused? Will we see people with a sense of eucharistia and gratitude?
There is a destination calling us.
Let's keep our hearts open to that.
May we be Christ's presence in the world until we meet at his Eucharistic table next time at the Mass.
Make a New Year's Resolution You'll Want to Keep!
Join us on a 34- day guided virtual retreat with "Reimagining the Ignatian Examen" by Mark Thibodeaux, S.J.
Facilitated by Don Prisby, Founder/Director of SongWalk.
Cost: Complimentary.