Praying with Sunday's Scriptures

Editor's note: To help small faith-sharing groups, couples, individuals and others continue the Renew 2000 experience of praying with the Sunday Scriptures, a Diocesan Faith Sharing Writing team has prepared a weekly series for Lent using the Renew model. The series is being distributed to parish leaders and will appear in The Compass the week before that Sunday.

	March 30, 2003, Fourth Sunday of Lent Reading I: 2 Chronicles 36:14-16,19-23 Reading II: Ephesians 2:4-10 Gospel: John 3;14-21

By Jackie Staley

Focus: Lift high the cross. Christ lights up the darkness.

Opening Prayer (John 3:16-21)
Leader: "God so loved the world that he gave us his only Son.
All: So that all who believe in him may not perish but have eternal life.
Leader: The light has come into the world.
All: Whoever does the truth comes out into the light."

Scripture Sharing: Read the scriptures aloud. Pause for a moment between the readings. Each group member is invited to share a line from one of the readings that had an impact on him or her.

Lent
• Lent-related articles  • 2003 Lenten Wish List (3/7 issue)  • Lenten rules (2/28 issue)

Reflection: For Christians the cross is a sign of love. In the Gospel, John combines the Old Testament reference that points to the saving cross of Jesus with how the light of Jesus dispels darkness. In our own lives we may find that by accepting our 'crosses," light replaces the darkness of despair, anger or bitterness. From there we can become bearers of the light of Christ to others.

Faith Sharing

1. What or who are sources of light for you? For the world?

2. What are sources of darkness for you? For the world?

3. "God so loved the world that he gave us his only Son," that we might have eternal life. What does that mean to you? How can you live it each day?

Action Response: How do you live stewardship as your way of life?

1. Bring light to recently arrived refugees in your area. Check with your parish or diocesan offices to find out how.

2. Our words are external signs of interior attitudes. Be attentive to your speech about people this week. Make a special effort to speak words of light and not darkness.

3. Spend some time reflecting on the cross this week. Keep a crucifix in your pocket or where you will see it.

Closing Prayer (Individuals offer their intentions to bring to prayer.)

Leader: Let us pray together these words from Psalm 137:

All: But how could we sing a song of the Lord in a foreign land? If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand wither. May my tongue stick to my palate if I do not remember you.

Leader: May God bless us as we remember the cross of Jesus, sign of his love for all the world.

(Staley is a member of the Diocesan Writing Team for Faith Sharing Sessions, 2003, and Resurrection Parish, Allouez.)