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Liturgical Catechesis based on the Sunday Readings

This page is for those who would like to learn or teach more about the liturgy.  Each week it will reflect briefly on some aspect of our liturgical celebrations, often taking its point of departure from something in the Sunday readings.  It may thus be a useful resource for Sunday homily preparation and/or for parish bulletins. 

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

The Journey

Processions have always been popular among Christians.  We have Entrance Processions, Processions with the Gifts, even a Communion Procession (though this often feels more like a queue than a procession!).  There are also processions for special occasions:  Palm Sunday, Weddings, Funerals, The Easter Vigil, Corpus Christi, and so on.  This is because life is very much a journey.  Back in the time of the Old Testament, the greatest event recalled by the Jews was their great journey out of Egypt into freedom.  The great journey of Jesus in the gospels is the journey to Jerusalem, to the cross and, through the cross to the glory of God.  Our processions are, at least on solemn occasions, led by the Cross.  We are called to follow the Lord and to carry our own cross.  Of course we baulk at the idea of suffering, but every Eucharist provides us with ‘bread for the journey’:  the Lord who gave his life for us is with us to strengthen us a walk with us on the path of life.