Journey's Weekly Homilies

JOURNEY CATHOLIC COMMUNITY
HOLY THURSDAY
MARCH 28, 2002

EXODUS 12:1-8,11-14
I CORINTHIANS 11:23-26
MATTHEW 26:1-30

Homily by Sam

As many of you know I once had a Golden Retriever named Hillary.  Since
she was my only companion in the house we got to know each other’s moods
and habits intimately.  We even had shared rituals.

There was special door along my kitchen cupboard and inside I kept all
of Hillary’s accessories.  Treats for special occasions, a leash for
walks, shampoo for baths, and flea spray for pestilence.

Somehow Hillary knew the unique sound of that door because when I opened
it she would wake from a sound sleep wherever she was and come running.
She did not know if she was in for a walk or flea spray, so her race to
the kitchen could quickly turn to flight.  Imagine a seventy-pound dog
trying to hide in a small house!  But when Hillary heard the sound of
that door she knew two things: something important was about to happen,
and it had to do with her.

We gather for Eucharist today knowing, as we always do, that something
important will happen to us.  The meal that we are about to share
symbolizes our fellowship with each other and our commitment to the
Journey of following Jesus. I know that a common life together means
both walks and flea spray. So I approach this meal with Hillary’s
mixture of excitement and terror.

I last preached on Holy Thursday five years ago.  Sundya Iyer and Hannah
Ellsworth received their ceremonial first communion with us on that
day.  Gary was our pastor.  I lived eighty miles from here, commuting
for weekly fellowship, music, and shared meal.  And I had just started
going out with Seanna.

Hillary and I shared a household at that time. Eventually I would let
Hillary live with someone else so I could move to Portland and share my
life more deeply with Seanna.  This relationship also involves
excitement and terror, kisses and confrontation.  For these are part of
every journey.

In the last five years we have all ventured forth into a deeper
exploration of lay-led community.  We have invited new members.  How
many of you were not with us five years ago?  We have introduced new
songs (thank you Regina).  We have called new presiders and preachers,
and we have lost some too (even this year).  We started an inclusive
community council.  And our ideas about decision-making continue in new
forms.

We have had lots of walks together and treats.  We have struggled as
well.  It is amazing where the Journey has taken us since I last
preached on Holy Thursday.  And chances are the next five years ago will
be just as eventful.  "With eyes unopened we journey through this
world."

Blind though we might be to "what lies ahead" there is "light for us to
see".  The stories we have heard this evening remind us that a group of
people may choose a common life based on love and service in imitation
of Jesus.

The bread that we break reminds us that a shared life will, over time,
involve many deaths, but love itself does not die.  And the cup that we
share symbolizes our acceptance of all that following Jesus will entail.

And during the next three days of passion and resurrection we will be
reminded:  Imitation of Jesus leads to death.  But if we "choose to
follow after", we will fall only into the hands of God.  With this meal
we choose to follow.  May God bless us on the Journey.