Holy Saturday

Catholic Action Network

Women Led Prayer 

March 22, 2008

Open in Silence 

Introductions 

Silence 

Reading 1:

Isaiah 45: 18-25

For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (who is the God who formed the earth  
and made it, God established it and did not create it a waste place, but formed it to be inhabited), 
"I am the LORD, and there is none else.   I have not spoken in secret, In some dark land;  I did not say to the offspring of Jacob,  Seek Me in a waste place';          

I, the LORD speak righteousness,     Declaring things that are upright.  

Gather yourselves and come;         Draw near together, you fugitives of the nations; 

They have no knowledge,         Who carry about their wooden idol         

And pray to a god who cannot save.     Declare and set forth your case;         

Indeed, let them consult together. Who has announced this from of old?        

Who has long since declared it?         Is it not I, the LORD?        

And there is no other God besides Me,         A righteous God and a Savior;   

There is none except Me.      Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; 

For I am God, and there is no other.     I have sworn by Myself,   

The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness         And will not turn back, 

That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.  

"They will say of Me, 'Only in the LORD are righteousness and strength ' 
Persons will come to God,         And all who were angry at God will be put to shame.  
    In the LORD all the offspring of Israel         Will be justified and will glory." 

Reading 2:

Good Friday by Roberta Meehan, rcwp

Beyond reality

Beyond the pain

Nothing matters, fulfilling the mission

"This is why I am here."

Focus -- the journey nears its end.

Why do they scourge me?

Romans -- Jews -- doesn't make sense

Who are they? Doing a job

Why do they crown me? Doing a job

Forgive them, forgive them, forgive them.

Where are they? My family, my friends

Last night -- I gave them me

Now, where are they? I need them!

Did they leave me?

So alone! Why?

Carrying the cross -- heavy -- help

Hold the end -- thank you

Wipe my face -- yes. Thank you.

Grateful -- can't think

Falling, falling, falling.

Nails, nails, nails --

Support my arms!

Trouble breathing

Ease my pain

Fog my thoughts!

Stripped naked

All of me -- hanging from a tree

Nothing hidden -- nothing ever hidden

No shame

I am me, stripped as me.

Thirst -- terrible thirst

Sweat -- blood -- no, not gall!

Oh -- worse -- why -- doing a job

They don't know what they are doing.

Forgive them, forgive them, forgive them.

Crowds mocking me. Friends too.

Scorning me.

Saying terrible things

They don't know what they are doing.

Forgive them, forgive them, forgive them.

Two men here

Talking

One understands -- he'll be with me

The other doesn't know.

Forgive him, forgive him, forgive him.

Family and friends

I see some now

My mother -- my beloved

Others too

Hold each other! Love each other! Love each other!

Am I forsaken?

Am I delirious?

Take my spirit!

Forgive them!

It is finished!

Reading 3:

I Will Not Die an Unlived Life by Dawna Markova

I will not die an unlived life

I will not live in fear

of falling or catching fire.

I choose to inhabit my days,

to allow my living to open me,

to make me less afraid,

more accessible,

to loosen my heart

until it becomes a wing,

a torch, a promise.

I choose to risk my significance;

to live so that which came to me as seed

goes to the next as blossom

and that which came to me as blossom

goes on as fruit. 
 

Homily 

Silence 

Sharing: What do women say to each other when their loved ones have died/ when we are in mourning? 

Share with the prayer bowl between. 

Silence 

Closing Song: Freedom is Coming 
 

CALL

 A certain bright lady told God,

"Men only as priests seems odd."

 God nodded and said with a tear,

"T'was never intended, my dear."

 Then God called her by name with a hug and a nod.