Ash Wednesday - 3/2/2022

[Music] so [Music] so [Music] so [Music] so [Music] [Music] [Music] so [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] so [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] so [Music] [Music] so [Music] so [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] so so good evening welcome to st cecilia as we enter into the season of lent today the church celebrates ash wednesday for those worshipping with us virtually music and prayers for tonight's liturgy can be found below the video on the parish's website or by clicking the flow code for those worshipping in person music and prayers can be found in today's worship aid please stand and take a moment to greet your neighbor our opening song this evening is hosea [Music] oh [Music] is [Music] oh [Music] [Applause] [Music] is [Music] you shall sleep [Music] faithfulness [Music] [Music] [Applause] you are the absolute best hi everyone welcome to saint cecilia uh it's good for us to be together look look around uh it's the most people we've had in this church uh over two years uh with this pandemic and as we emerge from it we come into this uh lenten season and it's good for us to be together uh this night i'd like to invite those of you guys who are up in the back to please we got a ton of seats here in the front so if you want to come forward please uh please feel free and just watch out for the camera and as uh these guys are being seated to the left and to the right i want to welcome all of you who are watching with us throughout the country this evening it's good for us to begin the lenten journey together tonight i want to give a special shout out to michael clooney who's down in hollywood florida michael is one of my favorite people he was one of the original altar service in my first parish in dorchester over 30 years ago and michael lives with his sister dottie and her husband danny and dottie always keeps a close eye on him and he loves ice cream daddy's making him give up ice cream for lent michael tell your sister that the priest said it's okay you can have ice cream all right all right you know we're gonna get to that in a minute all the stuff that we give up is it just on the surface level or is it something that we give up that propels us on the deeper levels to see more clearly who we are what we're about and where we're going so let's call him the good and loving god now as we begin this lenten journey in the name of the father the son and the holy spirit amen the lord be with all of you let us pray oh lord grant that each of us may begin with holy fasting our lenten journey this campaign of christian service so that as we take up battle against all spiritual evils we may be armed with weapons of self-restraint all through our lord jesus christ your son who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the holy spirit one god forever and ever as we listen to the readings this evening listen on the deeper levels to what the prophet joel is calling us to do to not stay on the surface on this next 40-day journey but to go deep and to change things not on the external level but on the interior level a reading from the book of the prophet joel even now says the lord return to me with your whole heart with fasting and weeping and mourning rend your hearts not your garments and return to the lord your god for gracious and merciful is he slow to anger rich in kindness and relenting in punishment perhaps he will again relent and leave behind him a blessing offerings and libations for the lord your god blow the trumpet in zion proclaim a fast call an assembly gather the people notify the congregation assemble the elders gather the children and the infants at the breast let the bridegroom quit his room and the bride her chamber between the porch and the altar let the priests the ministers of the lord weep and say spare o lord your people and make not your heritage of reproach with the nations ruling over them why should they say among the peoples where is their god then the lord was stirred to the concern for his land and took pity on his people the word of the lord [Music] be merciful o lord for we have sinned me merciful lord [Music] oh [Music] [Applause] [Music] have mercy on me god in your kindness in your compassion lot out my offense o wash me more and more from my guilt and my sorrow and cleanse me from all of my sins [Applause] [Music] [Applause] me my offenses truly i know them and my sins are always before me against you alone have i sinned what is evil in your sight i have done [Music] me [Music] put your stead spirit in my soul cast me not away from your presence oh lord and take not your spirit from me [Music] [Music] give back to me the joy of your salvation let your willing spirit blare me up and i shall teach your way to the ones who have wandered and bring them home to your sword [Music] [Music] me [Music] a reading from the second letter of saint paul to the corinthians brothers and sisters we are ambassadors for christ as if god were appealing through us we implore you on behalf of christ be reconciled to god for our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin so that we might become the righteousness of god in him working together then we appeal to you not to receive the grace of god in vain for he says in an acceptable time i heard you and on the day of salvation i helped you behold now is a very acceptable time behold now is the day of salvation the word of the lord [Music] glory to you lord jesus christ son of the living god glory to you lord jesus christ [Music] glory to you lord jesus [Applause] if today you hear his voice heart and not your hearts glory to your lord jesus christ [Applause] [Music] the lord jesus christ son of the living god be with all of you a reading from the holy gospel according to matthew you know just a gentle reminder when we trace that sign of the cross foreheads lips and hearts not a mindless catholic gesture but as we begin this lenten journey god be with us all the stuff that we're thinking about what we're thinking about giving up we're thinking about the world situation we're thinking about these words of yours be on our lips stuff that we say to and about each other stuff that we need to say as we speak truth to power and be in our hearts as that source of desire that we can understand this stuff on a deeper level jesus said to his disciples and we are the modern day disciples take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them otherwise you'll have no recompense from our heavenly father so when you help someone when you give arms don't go blowing a trumpet before you like the hypocrites do in the synagogues on the streets so that they can win the praise of others amen i say to you they have already received their reward but when you give arms don't even let your left hand know what your right hand is doing let your arms giving be secret then your father who sees in secret will repay you and when you pray don't be like the hypocrites they love to stand and pray in the churches and synagogues on the street corners so that others may see them amen i say to you they have received their reward but when you pray go to your inner room close the door and pray to your father in secret and your father who sees in secret will repay you and then when you fast don't look gloomy like the hypocrites they neglect their appearance so that they can appear to others that they're fasting amen i'm telling you they've already received their reward but when you fast anoint your head wash your face so that you may not appear to be fasting except to our father who is hidden and your father who is sees what is hidden will repay you the gospel the good news of the lord big crowd this is great waiting two years for this you know to have us come back and then slowly these these masks are coming off and we're coming into the spring there's uh lent doesn't end on good friday what's it end on with the great celebration of easter right so the the good friday doesn't have the last word it's easter sunday the rising so there's all this hope all this promise and yet we slow it all down tonight and in these next 40 days to kind of look within to repent to start to have a change of heart wherever we need to change in order for us to emerge and really experience what that cross is all about you ever hear the words pascal mystery you know every time those come up in the prayers i always feel like i have this need to explain them and i i hope that's not being you know i don't know what the right word is pedantic or something like deputy or or i just want to make us understand that paschal mystery means through the the life the suffering the death and then the what the resurrection of jesus huh that's the paschal mystery that somehow through all the suffering and all the pain that that crosses about the betrayals of his best friends the misunderstandings the fear the selfish all the stuff that reigns in our world today in our relationships with each other that none of that as painful as it is has the last word the good friday stuff doesn't have the last word the garden of gethsemane doesn't know it's the empty tomb he's risen why are you looking for him here so i want that spirituality of the paschal mystery to be with us as even as we begin the lenten journey which is penitential it's quiet we're smearing ashes on our foreheads we're giving up things because we need hope jesus is clearly about hope the last word of easter the resurrection is what wins out not the suffering the injustice and the pain of the cross so i mentioned all that because i want you to think about whatever cross it is that you're carrying huh whatever's going on in your life now whatever the struggles are might be with family in a marriage with health physically mentally might be with all that's happening in the world and what that does to us the fears that we have like is this really happening in ukraine is this actually happening in 2022 we're watching it and it's not a movie it's real life tv that we see every night on the news or go online who knows what's happening in our in ukraine i hope almost all of us if not all of us know we have to know we have to be aware of this stuff we're all in this together as human beings as the human family whether it's happening in ukraine or africa or south america we're all in this as human beings together we have to be aware of these things now what does all of that have to do with starting lent smearing our foreheads with ashes and giving up stuff hang on and see if he can ride with me it might be bumpy but try to uh try to try to see where the skull is and let's see where it lands all right the opening prayer lord grant that we may begin with holy fasting this campaign of christian service i have never entered into lent calling it the campaign of christian service huh but yet isn't that what it is that campaign to serve and to go deeper in ourselves give stuff up that encumbers us and keeps us from coming out of ourselves at the service of others so that as we take up battle timely words huh in light of the world today as we take up battle against spiritual evils we may be armed with weapons of self-restraint i don't know what to you but to me that doesn't feel like much of a weapon self-restraint feels like i'm making myself vulnerable anyone else self-restraint makes me feel like somebody's going to get one over on me oh my god didn't he say it a couple of weeks ago pray for your enemies bless those who curse you turn the other cheek it's antithetical to so much that goes on within us in our dna as human beings maybe what we even learned and yet we begin the lenten journey armed with weapons of self-restraint how fitting at this time in world history as russia daily continues to invade terrorize and bombard ukraine in its innocent civilians and citizens governmental buildings i watch the news i listen to some commentary and i wonder what goes on in the mind of people who move in this direction and trust me the united states were not pure and clean in our history over the past couple hundred years governments do this leaders do this but may we be armed with weapons of self restraint as weak insignificant not enough wrong as it may feel to be that way how does our weapon of self-restraint fasting praying and almsgiving keep us in solidarity with the people of ukraine solidary in solidarity of heart and spirit with them is it going to make any difference whatsoever does anybody feel a call to arms on some level what does prayer fasting and almsgiving do for us you know whatever it is that you've been thinking about giving up for lent or that you started to give up today i always say to people because i'm saying it to myself don't let it be the 40-day spiritual endurance test so that when we get to almost easter and we bite the head off that chocolate easter bunny you know because we've been salivating for this or have that nice cab or orange juice or whatever it is that you gave up right or you can't wait to get back on that screen time again and what the way that you were social media unless giving up these things propels us deeper to look inside as to who we are and where we're going it's just a 40-day spiritual endurance test whoopee i gave up gin and tonics for six weeks i gave up ice cream michael clooney michael has down syndrome this kid loves ice cream and sweets like me huh i know i'm in big trouble with your sister right now pal but tell her to cut you some slack all right if it's just the endurance test what good is that joel says in that first reading today rend your hearts not your garments in other words don't just do something on the outsides of the people can say oh you gave up this you gave up that run your hearts do something deeper give up something deeper now if giving up all of those things that i just mentioned propels you and me to have a a clearer sense of ourselves maybe by not having all that alcohol maybe not by not relying on the the gummies every night no judgment just saying it none maybe not relying on all that food that we we we take into to kind of comfort ourselves and ourselves fill in all the blanks if giving that stuff up gives us clearer spiritual insight mental acuity helps us to become more clear in who we are and where we're going in life helps us to do course correct then give it up and see how that goes forward if our arms giving helping somebody else makes a difference in the world or our community or to someone give it up let's give up what keeps you and me uninterested in what's happening in the world disinterested and numb to the injustice that's around us is there anything that you and i can give up that if we give it up we become more aware of the needs of others and then get propelled to do something about it or is it easier to stay comfortably numb and give up the chocolate or the surface stuff trust me i'm asking myself these questions tonight as i'm talking what are you giving up and why it's easy to become happily unaware through the great upheavals and injustices even the wars in the world and then prayer do you pray what's your prayer like there's this formal communal liturgical prayer where we come to the liturgy we break bread at the table the eucharist it's key to what we believe as catholics it's the source and summit you know the community gathers but when we leave here do you keep that conversation going with jesus with god with mary whoever's not busy up there whoever your go to is huh you know those thoughts that you and i have in our minds as we think things through and try to figure things out and then that gut stuff that intuitive stuff that we get going on don't think that the holy spirit that the spirit isn't wafting its way through those areas trust your intuition let those conversations that we're thinking about when we're not totally distracted with everything else around us let that become your prayer it doesn't have to be as formalized as you think it can just be as authentic and real and natural bring god into that place i think our prayer during lent connects us with the people of ukraine with the people right around us who are suffering and hurting in any way so as we give of ourselves our arms giving as we fast and give things up so that we can get a clearer vision and clearer insight so too our prayer connects us i'm going to just ask this are we praying for the people of ukraine we're certainly going to pray tonight but individually when you think of this when you see it on social media when you see it online or in the news like are we praying for these people there's no thing that's going to come back it's a nice job we logged in your prayer so like 40 less people are going to die because you you sent that prayer and you know it doesn't work that way but in an unseen way these guys knew what they were talking about jesus certainly knew what he was talking about pray give alms and fast so this lent this campaign of christian service let's make it worthwhile on the spirit levels even if we don't get to see the end results let's go into battle i don't even use that language i'm taking it from the book but let's go into battle with our prayer fasting and arms giving as we take a battle against spiritual evils if you will spiritually the injustices in the world when you and i speak truth to power or we think we have to say something to somebody or we have to have a tough conversation with family or friends when you and i pray before that we are invoking the spirit and the spirit will lead and guide us that's part of this that's quote unquote arming ourselves with this stuff but does it make a difference the prophet joel says lord spare your people gather everybody look what we did tonight blow the trumpet so we play the organ right play the piano proclaim a fast call the assembly gather the people notify the congregation check check check check assemble the elders all right i'm in that category gather the children the infants at the breast let the bridegroom and the bride come like everybody get get get everybody in here to look inside and begin this campaign this is what it's about so i asked as i began what is it that you and i are giving up as we begin the journey what is our self-restraint that we heard about as a weapon i tell the story every lent and i'll briefly tell it for those who are new one of my first years here 20 years ago at northeastern it was just about this time at night finished the mass hadn't eaten all day latisha you've heard this a million times but it's a good example i was so hungry after the mass the 12-hour endurance test i don't know what came over me i walked up the street i walked into the burger king on huntington ave and there was clearly this high school girl who was very catholic she had the cross she had the virgin mary she had all the good beautiful gold catholic stuff and i was like double cheeseburger fries and a diet coke please and then johnny got a little judgmental and she had an attitude and i was like what is these kids nowadays listen to me huh can't get good customer service i was so hungry i had to wait for the fries i dove into that cheeseburger i looked it right in the eye totally oblivious to what i was doing i was like oh my god this is so good i'm starving and she was just like i was flying the colors i was wearing the collar can you imagine she probably fasted all day and here comes the priest oh i'll have the double cheeseburger please you know make up my own rules i don't think i'm going to he double hockey sticks for that right but then i look at the judgmentalism i look at the resentments that i carry and nurture i want all of us to look at this stuff the prejudices that we have that pettiness and cattiness that stuff that can just lacerate another person with a few little click clicks for the thumb that's the stuff that jesus is interested in us giving up so if giving up the chocolate cake the double cheeseburger alcohol screen time makes a difference on that level yes give it up if it gives clearer vision and deepens our spiritual relationship wisdom give it up whatever it is that you and i give up if it helps us to be more generous less judgmental growing in compassion if it helps us to obliterate racism let us like joel in the first reading be stirred to concern for the land and for all peoples if giving up what we give up this lent helps us in these ways and not just in losing weight or completing the 40-day endurance test then we're taking up battle against the spiritual evils we're arming ourselves not with guns but with weapons of self-restraint it's modeled for us perfectly in that cross up there i don't think i could have done it forgive them father they don't even know what they're doing who says that one person but he models for us how to be so let's rend our hearts on the inside not just the garments on the outside and lord spare your people shall we please stand my friends let us humbly ask god the father that god will guide us be pleased with us and bless us with an abundance of his grace and bless these ashes that we will smear in our heads as a reminder to turn away from sin and to believe in the gospel the good news oh god you who are moved by acts of humility and who respond with forgiveness to works of prayer fasting and arms giving lend your merciful ear to our prayers and in your kindness pour out the grace of your blessing on us your servants who will be marked with these ashes that as we follow the lenten observances this campaign of christian service we may be worthy to come with minds pure with hearts clear to celebrate the paschal mystery of your son all through jesus christ our lord amen [Music] so so [Music] so is [Music] make us [Music] with love [Music] with us [Music] you give us [Music] bless us [Music] us with us [Music] make us [Music] [Music] kindness [Music] right [Music] us [Music] uh [Music] once again [Music] [Music] us foreign [Music] through [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] me [Music] is [Music] [Applause] [Music] r [Applause] [Music] [Music] is [Music] our lord [Music] faithfulness [Music] and [Music] faithfulness [Music] the source of grace [Music] i will take your heart of souls [Music] [Music] the source of grace [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] a source of gracefulness [Music] [Music] oh [Music] is [Music] s kindness that we make [Music] that we make for [Applause] [Music] [Music] god is there [Music] they will see me so newly mocked with this sign of repentance let's stand and come before the lord who spares us who helps us to go deep as we make our prayers known lent is a season of alms giving let us pray for the poor for those who are hungry for those who are without shelter for those who are dying for lack of medical care for those without the opportunity to learn for those who live with violence and for generous hearts and creative minds that we might do our part to alleviate poverty we pray lord hear our prayer lent is a season of prayer let us pray for those who do not know god for those who cannot pray for those who pray without consolation for those who pray always and support us by their prayers and for faithful hearts and quiet minds so that we might listen for the voice of god within us we pray lent is a season of fasting let us pray for those overwhelmed by too much for those who eat too much drink too much spend too much own too much hurry too much for those whose lives are consumed by excess and for trusting hearts and inspired minds so that we might reject the temptations of this world and live simply that others may simply live we pray let us pray for all those for whom we are most concerned for all those for whom we have promised to pray especially the sick and suffering among us we pray [Music] let us pray for those who have died especially dr paul farmer virginia noyes and jim nance for their eternal peace we pray our r for the intentions we hold in the silence of our hearts we pray lord hear our prayer lord god as this congregation gathers as we come together this evening from all different walks of life we come together drawn by your spirit to begin this campaign of christian service our lenten journey may we do it with integrity we do it with meaning and efficacy as we go forward and emerge this easter we ask this through christ our lord amen please be seated ash wednesday is designated every year in this diocese uh for a collection for catholic charities and so we will take that collection up tonight uh you can also use the flow code if you're uh watching virtually that's on your screen right now or you can take your worship aid and click on that and scroll down to catholic charities fund and we thank you very much for your generosity [Music] lord you search me [Music] [Music] of my days [Music] and my rising you deserve my purpose [Music] of life [Music] is [Music] god of my presence [Music] your spirit is upon me still i search for [Music] [Applause] [Music] is [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] with [Music] [Applause] [Music] as we begin this journey together would you pray my friends that my sacrifice and yours may be made acceptable to god the loving and gentle father may the lord accept the sacrifice at these hands to the praise the glory of your name for our good and good of all the church lord may this eucharist that we celebrate tonight the sacrament that we've received sustain each and every one of us that our lenten fast may be effective and pleasing to you and be for each of us a healing and life-giving remedy all through jesus christ our lord the lord be with you let's lift up our hearts and let's give thanks to the lord our god truly right and just yes it's our duty but it's our eternal salvation always and everywhere to give you thanks lord holy father almighty and eternal god for you will that our self-denial gives you thanks it humbles our own sinful pride it contributes to the feeding of the poor and it so helps us to imitate you and your kindness your generosity and love so we glorify you lord as we join with countless angels as with one voice of praise we acclaim [Music] [Music] is [Music] [Music] foreign [Applause] [Music] lord god you are holy indeed and every single thing that you've created rightly gives you praise for through your son our lord jesus christ all by the power and the working of the holy spirit you give life to all things and you make them holy and you never cease to gather a people to yourself so that from the rising of the sun to its setting a pure sacrifice might be offered to your name and so lord we humbly implore you by the same spirit graciously make holy these gifts of bread and wine that they may become for us the body and the blood of our lord jesus christ and whose command we celebrate these mysteries on the very night that he was betrayed he himself took bread he gave you thanks and he said the blessing he broke the bread and then he gave it to his disciples saying take this all of you and eat of it this is my body which will be given up for you in a similar way when supper was ended he took the chalice and once more giving you thanks he said the blessing he gave it to his disciples and he said take this all of you drink from it for this is the chalice of my blood it's the blood of the new the eternal covenant and it will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins so do this in memory of me the mystery of faith [Music] [Music] [Music] tonight we celebrate the memorial of the saving suffering the saving passion of your son lord his wondrous resurrection his ascension into heaven and as we look forward to his second coming we offer you in thanksgiving this holy this living sacrifice look upon the oblation of your church and recognizing the sacrificial victim by whose death you willed to reconcile us to yourself grant that we who are nourished by the body and blood of your son and filled with his holy spirit may become one body one spirit in christ lord may he make of us an eternal offering to you so that we may obtain an inheritance with your elect especially with the most blessed virgin mary the mother of god joseph her spouse with the apostles the martyrs saint cecilia and all the saints on whose constant intercession in your presence we rely for unfailing help and may this sacrifice of our advance the peace the healing and the salvation of the whole world lord be pleased to confirm in faith and in charity your pilgrim church here on earth your servant francis our pope and sean our bishop the bishops the religious the clergy and the entire people you've gained for your own and lord listen graciously to the prayers of this family that you've gathered here before you this evening in your compassion father of mercies gather to yourself all your children wherever we may be and to our departed sisters and brothers all who are pleasing to you at their passing from this life give kind admittance into your kingdom we especially remember our good friend dr paul farmer virginia noyes jim nance and all those you and i love and miss so deeply for there we hope to enjoy forever the fullness of your glory through jesus christ our lord through whom you bestow in the world everything that is good for it's through him with him and in him o god almighty father in the unity of the holy spirit that all glory all honor is yours now and forever [Music] [Music] let's join together and pray as jesus taught us our father who in heaven hallowed be your name your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil deliver us lord we pray from every evil graciously grant peace in our day that by the help of your mercy we may always be free from sin and safe from all distress as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our savior jesus christ for the kingdom the power and the glory are yours now and forever lord jesus you said to your apostles i leave you peace my peace i give to you look not on our sin but on the faith of your church and graciously grant us peace and unity in accordance with your will who live and reign forever and ever and as we begin the lenten journey the peace of the lord jesus be with all of you in a coveted way away let's offer each other a sign of that peace [Music] oh [Music] us [Music] is [Music] r [Music] behold the lamb of god behold the one who wants us to go deep in our fasting our prayer and our almsgiving the one who wants to equip us on the deepest levels the one who takes away the sins of this world blessed are those called to the supper of the lamb lord i'm not worthy that you should enter into my roof only say the word looking forward [Music] creation [Music] so [Music] foreign [Music] us to serve to be christ for each other [Music] blessed peace of god's creation given for r [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] r [Music] for the voiceless [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] foreign [Music] is [Music] foreign [Music] [Applause] [Music] for sacrifices [Music] [Music] foreign [Music] broken [Music] [Music] r foreign [Music] our [Music] all right [Music] sacrifice let us [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] r [Music] blessed feast of god's creation [Music] as we walk my face r [Music] [Applause] [Music] blessed peace of god [Music] sacrifice [Music] jesus o lord give us hearts that reckon the criticism [Music] [Music] creation even [Music] oh [Music] so let us pray lord may this eucharist that we have celebrated the sacrament that we've received sustain us so that our lenten fast prayer and almsgiving may be pleasing to you and be for us that healing remedy all through christ our lord so at the back of the church guys we have these little black books please feel free to take one six minute meditations it's a good little way to go through lent uh they're in the back uh we invite you to come be with us on sundays the 6 p.m mass a lot of college kids and the mornings just be great and for all of you who are watching we look forward to our gathering on sunday i actually think the cardinals going to be with us sunday morning at 9 32 so it'll be good for us to continue the journey together thanks for coming tonight the lord be with you lord pour out a spirit of compassion and compunction on those who bow before you in majesty and love and by your mercy may we merit the rewards that you promised to all those who do penance all through jesus christ our lord and may this blessing begin our journey the blessing of the father the son and the holy spirit our celebration's over let's go forth to live out tonight's readings thanks be to god as we conclude our liturgy please join in singing again we keep the psalm fast verses 1 two three and five [Music] is [Music] [Music] is is [Music] oh is [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Laughter] [Music] [Applause] [Music] so [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] so [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] foreign

Channel: Saint Cecilia Parish

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Length: 100min 35sec (6035 seconds)

Published: Wed Mar 02 2022