A Church Born and Sustained

​The Church was born at the foot of the cross
as Mary and John were given to each other by the Lord.
The community of faith emerged
from the womb of suffering and death.
The Church was raised up
when Christ lifted his wounded hands
in blessing over his apostles.
So the Church was born again 
through Christ’s resurrection.
And the Church was empowered
to continue Christ’s saving work
when the Spirit came down upon
the eleven as they kept vigil.
They were filled with the new wine of the Kingdom
and so commissioned to preach, teach, and heal
in Christ’s name.

The Church of today
is still born at the foot of the cross,
is also called to the way of sacrificial love.
The blessing is great, the cost is the same.
The Church of today
is invigorated by the Risen Christ
and sent out to live the good news of the Kingdom
until Christ brings all to completion.
Incarnation, Crucifixion, Resurrection, 
Pentecostalization
are not dry doctrines about Christ
or just credal formularies to sign up to, 
but the very essence
of the Life of Christ
and so of the life of the Church
until the Final Apocalypse.

The day long promised –
Day of Transformation,
from frightened disciples to powerful preachers,
from the downhearted to the uplifted.
 
Day of action –
the descent from God that lifts us back up to God.
After much waiting and reflecting
the sending out begins.
 
Day of sharing –
this new life cannot be contained
or restricted in any way.
It is out of our control !
 
Day of freedom –
the chains of the past fall off.
The darkness of Calvary fully lifts.
All creation is changed within.
 
Day of proclamation –
The silence of the tomb is broken
by a language too deep for words,
groaning within us.
 
This is the day of the Spirit –
this is our day.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Let us welcome and live each day
as if it were our last,
with hearts and minds set on fire
by God’s daily guest.
 
The day long promised –
Day of Transformation,
from frightened disciples to powerful preachers,
from the downhearted to the uplifted.
 
Day of action –
the descent from God that lifts us back up to God.
After much waiting and reflecting
the sending out begins.
 
Day of sharing –
this new life cannot be contained
or restricted in any way.
It is out of our control !
 
Day of freedom –
the chains of the past fall off.
The darkness of Calvary fully lifts.
All creation is changed within.
 
Day of proclamation –
The silence of the tomb is broken
by a language too deep for words,
groaning within us.
 
This is the day of the Spirit –
this is our day.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Let us welcome and live each day
as if it were our last,
with hearts and minds set on fire
by God’s daily guest