Creative Liturgy Class

Carla Soccorro De Leon

Journal

10-Jan-17

Reading for the Epiphany of the Lord

This was my first experience of Creative Liturgy Class. I appreciate that we have a class like this
where we have time to pray, and learn to pray better by contemplating on the previous
Sunday’s gospel. Our class is composed of students from different religious denominations, but
we are united in prayer. Our thoughts, words, voices and musical instruments raised in worship
to the same mighty God, regardless of different religious beliefs. Music indeed is a universal
language that makes prayer more heartfelt and meaningful.

Today’s gospel speaks about the star of Bethlehem leading the wise men to the infant Jesus. It
makes me think; wouldn’t it be wonderful if a bright star could just lead me to Jesus? Life would
be so much simpler. I hear so many voices inside my mind and see so many different paths
before me, so how can I ever know the right way?

Everything in life is about making the right choices. But I realize God has given something much
better than a bright star, and that is the Holy Spirit. So today I pray, “Holy Spirit grant me
wisdom and guide me according to your light and truth. May I hear your voice clearer than the
voices of my emotions. Help me to recognize Jesus in all things, people, places and events of my
life. Amen.”

17-January-17

Reading for 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

It is our group’s turn to handle the liturgy today. Yes, even prayers need to be creative—not
with flowery words or expressions. After all, the Lord sees what is truly in our hearts. I mean it
should be creative in showing love. Beautifying the altar and our prayer space is one, and
carefully choosing the right symbols to meditate on the Gospel. We chose a long flowing blue
cloth as part of the altar decoration to symbolize the River Jordan, and candles to symbolize the
fire of the Holy Spirit.

The reading today is about St. John the Baptism proclaiming Jesus as the Son of God, the “Lamb
of God”, who takes away the sins of the world. We emphasized what “ordinary time” in the
church calendar means.
During the Holy Mass, the priest invites the congregation to “Behold the Lamb of God; behold
Him who takes away the sin of the world.”

Every Mass is an invitation to fix my eyes, heart, and whole self on Jesus. Jesus wants me to
open my eyes at the “breaking of the bread” so that I might know Him more deeply.

“Lord, I seek You, every time I participate in the holy sacrifice of the Mass. As I receive You in
Communion, I behold You, Jesus, as the Lamb of God, who takes away all my sins. Open my
eyes, reveal Yourself to me and transform my life. Amen.”

24-Jan-17

Reading for 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

The group of Kevi and Michel did a very nice representation of the Gospel reading today. They
used a musical instrument shaped like a boat as an altar display. That helped me to pray,
imagining myself in Lake Galilee where Jesus called His first disciples as they were casting their
nets to fish.

One thing that struck me in the readings last Sunday is, I Cor. 1:10 : “I urge, that you be united,”
where St. Paul makes a plea for unity in the Corinthian church. I feel that call for unity being
accomplished every time we hold a Creative Liturgy class.

There is also another call, from Jesus Himself, to come after Him. There’s a saying that goes: “To
follow Jesus is always right but it is not always easy.”

And so I pray, “Amidst the trials of my life, I find great comfort in Your abiding presence, Jesus.
You, Who always walk side by side with me and who never fail to deliver me from all my
struggles in life. Help me to never lose track of You as I walk the rough roads of life. Amen.”

31-Jan-17

Reading for 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today we reflect on the Beatitudes. We decorated our altar to look like a small mountain with
the Bible placed on top of our improvised “mountain” symbolic of Jesus preaching the
Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount.
To put simply, the Beatitudes for me is Jesus saying, “This is how you are supposed to live your
life to be truly happy!” It is also a reminder of God’s promises to me. That He loves me and
wants nothing more than to lift me up in His presence.

We had a flower offering during the Prayers of the People. Like flowers that need to be put in a
container with the water in order to live, so are we in need of God’s Word to nourish our souls.
The Beatitudes helps us to receive Jesus’ life-giving Spirit and reach the kingdom of heaven.

Today, I pray with flower in hand, “Bless me Lord. I hunger and thirst for righteousness. Please
satisfy my soul. May my prayer ascend Your holy mountain. Amen.”

7-Feb-17

Reading for 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Your light must shine before others.” (Matthew 5:16)

This is the verse that stands out for me in today’s readings. It reminds me of a story about
Mahatma Gandhi saying this to a Christian friend, “I like your Christ, but I do not like your
Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

That’s the challenge of today’s Gospel reading: to show the joy, the love, and the peace of
Jesus to unbelievers. It makes me rethink of what I truly am as a Christian. Am I living a life not
only as a believer, but a true follower of Christ?

“Lord Jesus, please help me to reflect your teachings by the way I live. Help me to shine Your
light everywhere I go especially in my immediate family. Amen.”

14-Feb-17

Reading for 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
(Matthew 5:17)

Presenting liturgy in a way that would help the congregation pray better is always a challenge.
We have included both singing and dancing in meditating the Gospel to the tune of a short
antiphon which I composed. The words are: “Walk the law of the Lord. Seek Him with all your
heart.”

For the prayers of the faithful, we read prayers of intercession written according to the Ten
Commandments. As we read each prayer alternately, a candle is lighted to symbolize the
renewal of our commitment to God’s commandments.

In the Gospel, God challenges my perspective and urges me to a higher standard of religious
practice. It is not easy especially when challenging moments in my relationships—rejection,
injustice, betrayal, etc. comes in. Maybe, then, I am justified in my anger?

So I pray, “Jesus, Yours is wisdom that offers reconciliation, faithfulness, forgiveness,

understanding, patience and humility—all manifestations of Your call to shape my life by love.
Your compassionate eyes are always upon me, encouraging me to always choose the path of
life. Do not allow me lose my way. Amen.”

21-Feb-17

Reading for 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time

(Sick Leave)

I called in sick this Creative Liturgy class day. But my reflection on the Sunday’s Gospel is on the
verse: “Love your enemies.” (Matthew 5:44)

I suppose it takes a lot of humility to accept that not all people will like me no matter how hard
I try to be good to everyone. There were people whom I have really loved but who only
rejected and betrayed me in return. I consider them my enemies. It’s so difficult to love and
forgive these people because they have caused me so much disappointment, misery and pain.

I picture myself getting to heaven, and the first person I meet is the one who hurt me the most.
It’s possible. After all, God loves that person just as much as He loves me. I should never
presume to know how He judges each person. In God’s “infinite and unfathomable Divine
Mercy,” as He promised to St. Faustina, no one falls outside the scope of His most loving and
compassionate heart.

What God wants for me here on earth is what He also wants for my enemies. He said that He
also wants me to “be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).
“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44). Therefore, if I
want to be perfect, I should begin by loving my enemies. That, for me, is the most difficult
commandment. It is just beyond my human powers. But the Lord did it. And if I cooperate with
His grace I know I could.

So, I pray, “Lord, I pray for all those people who have hurt me deeply. They are your children
too. I realize that they are instruments that move me closer to becoming like You. Help me not
to harbor angry or hateful thoughts whenever memories of the pain come to haunt me. Help
me to forgive, to love and not to hate. I ask this in Your mighty name, O, Jesus. Amen.”

28-Feb-17

Reading for 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Even should she forget, I will never forget you.” (Isaiah 49:15)

I greatly appreciate efforts of my team, and Michel too, in setting-up a beautiful altar every
Creative Liturgy class. We have a colored net, symbolic of a fisherman’s net, adorning the cross.

Today’s Gospel reminds me to give up on worries and to trust on God’s unfailing love instead.
We had an “Untying the Worry Knot” meditation activity which I hope helped to focus on this
truth.

I admit I still have a lot of cares and anxieties that distracts me from prayer and giving my full
faith in God’s providence and plan for my life. I meditate on the lessons the wild flowers teach
me and the conflicts I experience between God and money.

I pray, “ Lord, Your gospel insists that I can’t give myself to You and still worry my future, money
and other material needs. Help me to give my heart fully to You in faith, that I may appreciate
all that is—to see beauty around me, in myself, and others. Bless me more and make me a
blessing to others. Amen.”

7-March-17

Reading for 1st Sunday in Lent

“Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.” (Matthew 4:1)
Lenten observance has started last Wednesday—a time when all faithful should fast and pray as did
Jesus for 40 days in the desert.

As I start my journey through Lent, the Sunday reading asks me to adopt the same confidence that Jesus
had in the face of temptation: that God’s Word alone will suffice; God’s promise of protection can be
trusted; and God alone is God.

Falling into sin is very easy, and oftentimes deceptive. There are many temptations that oppress me all
the time—a tendency toward irritation, selfishness, anger, resentment, jealousy, doubts. But fighting
temptations is not a hopeless cause as Jesus Himself has shown.

“Dear Jesus, You were tempted in every way, battling hunger and the nagging voice of the evil one.
But each time You were tempted You turned to the Heavenly Father in prayer and the Father did not
abandon You. It takes a great effort on my part to avoid sin but I know God will never turn away from
me either. Help me to cling to You in prayer when temptation comes. Amen.”

14-March-17

Reading for 2nd Sunday in Lent

In the Transfiguration of Jesus, I visualize our Lord on top of Mount Tabor, revealing Himself as
God to Peter, James and John. What a mind-blowing experience it must have been for the
apostles! It was not merely to the apostles that Jesus was revealing Himself, but to all mankind.

The purpose of Jesus’ Transfiguration is to encourage and strengthen His apostles for the ordeal
of the cross that lay before them. For as they learned at Calvary, the glory of God comes not
only through displays of magnificence, but also through self-giving love—a love that embraces
even death.

The Holy Spirit inspires me to see that Jesus is glorified every time I worship Him at Mass and in
prayer. He is glorified every time I go out of my way to help someone and He is glorified every
time I confess my sins or forgive someone who has hurt us.

In the faith-sharing activity, each of us shared a mountaintop experience. We used a soup bowl,
put it upside down to symbolize our going up the mountain. At the end of our story we turned
the bowl around and poured water to the bowl symbolic of our baptismal waters flowing
through the valleys of our life.

“Jesus, it is good for me to be here worshiping You in prayer. Open my eyes to the glory that
you displayed before Peter, James, and John. Let that glory reign in my heart. Be with me in the
mountains, and most especially in the dark valleys of my life. Amen.”
23-March-17

Reading for 3rd Sunday in Lent

We have a long gospel passage today, of Jesus teaching a Samaritan woman at the well. It was
good that we did a dramatic reading of it. The worship space is very creative. I appreciate how
Michel came up with a “well” using the resources we have in the classroom.

As I meditate on the image of Jesus as the “living water”, I think about three things. “Living
water” as a symbol of wisdom that imparts life and blessings to all who receive it. “Living
water” as a symbol of thirst of the soul for God. “Living water” that also represents God’s Spirit
who came to me in Baptism, penetrating every aspect of my life and quenching my spiritual
thirst.

The Holy Spirit, the Word of God and the Sacraments in the Church are the sources of living
water of Divine Grace for me. I am washed in it at Baptism, renewed by its abundance at each
Eucharist, invited to it in every proclamation of the Word and daily empowered by the
anointing of the Spirit. I am challenged by today’s Gospel to remain thirsty for the living water,
which only God can give.

“Jesus, I imagine myself as the Samaritan woman at the well. Thank You for welcoming me. Fill
me with Your Holy Spirit, refresh my soul and change me. Amen.”

28-March-17

Reading for 4th Sunday in Lent

Our blindfold activity /reflection today is focused on this: that Jesus heals our spiritual
blindness.

The gospel presents a man born blind. Seeing him the disciples ask Jesus about the connection
between sin and sickness. The Jews had understood that many infirmities were the result of
human folly and sin. Jesus changes their perspective. Sickness can befall us for a variety of
reasons.

While sin can lead to physical, mental, and spiritual infirmities, not all sickness are the direct
result of sin. Jesus answered that God had allowed this infirmity for a greater purpose which
God wanted to demonstrate as a sign of his presence and power. Jesus healed the man born
blind and glorified the healing God.

“Lord, Your healing of the blind man is a reminder that in all my weaknesses and blind spots, I
am in great need of Your light. It is faith which enlightens my existence by giving meaning and
value to all my aspirations and actions, and even to my sufferings and defeats. All this, thanks to
You Jesus, the light of my life who invites me to live as a child of light in a world darkened by sin
in all its forms and shapes. Amen.”

4-April-2017

Reading for 5th Sunday in Lent

Jesus still moves stones. He moves the stones of apathy, discouragement, doubts, confusion,
sadness and fear and moves me to a deeper living faith just like Martha, Lazarus’ grieving sister.
I am so much like Martha—at times blaming God for the sorrows that life takes me.

“Lord, if you had been here . . .” (John 11:21). I would have said that!

I look at Martha’s progression to deeper faith and take inspiration from it.

When Jesus asks Martha to open the tomb, she hesitates: “Lord, by now there will be a stench.”
(John 11:39). So Jesus nudges her forward: “Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the
glory of God?” (11:40).

Jesus has always been leading me to take a leap of faith. It is a gradual process. Often I falter
and hesitate, but he patiently waits for me to make the next move.

“Jesus, remove the stones in my life that blocks me to fuller faith! Come, Lord, and bring me to
life!”

18-April-17

Reading for Easter Sunday

“Jesus is Lord, He is risen!” (Rom 10:9).

Today is a time of great joy and celebration. However, I also look at this day a little bit
melancholic because it will be our last Creative Liturgy Class with Michel, Kevi and Pfotokho.
They will be greatly missed. I pray for God to bless them in all their future endeavors.

Note to self,” You should be an Easter person and not a Good Friday person!”

"Easter" literally means "the feast of fresh flowers." It is a feast that gives me fresh hope and
encouragement in this world of pain, sorrows and tears. It reminds me that life is worth living.
It is the belief in the Real Presence of the Risen Jesus in my life, in His Church, in the Blessed
Sacrament and in Heaven that gives meaning to my personal as well as my communal prayer,
strength to fight against temptations and freedom from unnecessary worries and fears.

We have symbols in the altar to help us ponder and pray: the empty tomb, the folded linen, the
bundle of “walis tingting” representing the rays of light of Jesus’ Resurrection. At the end of our
reflection, we will share on the following points:

If I were a witness to the empty tomb and the rolled over burial cloth, what would I have
done? How might I have reacted? What blocks me from fuller faith?

“Lord, Mary and the disciples saw only signs that Jesus had been taken away; they were not
expecting to encounter a living savior, and so they missed the clues. Help me not to miss on
Your message. I come to church always expecting to encounter You as my living savior in Holy
Communion. Open my eyes to see You, the Risen Christ always in my midst. Amen.”