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 Sunday's 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 12, 2006, 2nd Sunday of Lent Reading I: Genesis 22:1-2,9a,10-13,15-18 Reading II: Romans 8:31b-34 Gospel: Mark 9:2-10

Focus: An epiphany is a manifestation of the Divine. Where do we witness the Divine?

Opening Prayer:
To you O Lord we lift our souls. We trust you to lead us to see your Divinity all around us. Just as you send your mercy, send your discernment so that we may see you in all that is right. Let your call to us be in a pleasant voice so that we may joyfully obey you and know that if God is for us, who can be against? We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

	A Compass Lenten series

Scripture Sharing: Since this is a long scripture, we might take turns reading it. It is terrifying, encouraging and triumphant.

	L e n t
	• Other Everyday People, Everyday Faith articles
	• Other Lent articles

Reflection: If you have been reading the papers during the past Muslim feasts, you will note that the Koran tells Abraham to take his first born son Ishmael, the one that God loves, and offer him as a holocaust. This call to sacrifice a child in the first reading is terrifying to a parent, be it Isaac or Ishmael. Is God asking for impossible obedience? Yet God relented in his request and asked Abraham to sacrifice an animal instead. Later as some kind of comfort we are told "if God is for us who can be against?" How can God be for us if we cannot obey in the obedience He wants?

In the Gospel this man, Jesus, whom the apostles thought they knew, was transfigured in their very sight. What does that tell about how we see Jesus, how we see others?

Faith Sharing:
1. Is there any among us who could be as obedient as Abraham?

2. If we see ourselves as failing the obedience test, can we presume with Paul "It is God who acquits us"?

3. Did the presence of the prophets make Jesus' transfiguration more real to the three apostles? Do we need some human presence to make Jesus more real to us?

Readings for the Week Monday, March 6: Lv 19:1-2,11-18; Ps 19:8-10,15; Mt 25:31-46. Tuesday, March 7: (Perpetua and Felicity, martyrs) Is 55:10-11; Ps 34:4-7,16-19; Mt 6:7-15. Wednesday, March 8: (John of God, religious) Jon 3:1-10; Ps 51:3-4,12-13,18-19; Lk 11:29-32. Thursday, March 9: (Frances of Rome, religious) Est C:12,14-16,23-25; Ps 138:1-3,7c-8; Mt 7:7-12. Friday, March 10: Ez 18:21-28; Ps 130:1-8; Mt 5:20-26. Saturday, March 11: Dt 26:16-19; Ps 119:1-2,4-5,7-8; Mt 5:43-48. Sunday, March 12: (Second Sunday of Lent) Gn 22:1-2,9a,10-13,15-18; Ps 116:10,15-19; Rom 8:31b-34; Mk 9:2-10.

Action Response - How do we respond to what is asked of us?

1. During this week look for an Epiphany or remember a manifestation of the Divine in our less-than-saintly lives.

2. Try to be obedient to your call to holiness in small ways: bringing food for the pantries - feeding the hungry; to work on a Habitat for Humanity project or contribute money to obey "I was homeless and you took me in."

3. Jesus seems to need the encouragement of His Father. Our families need our encouragement. Each day this week give an indication of encouragement to family or co-workers to see if you can see some of the divine in them.

Closing Prayer: By Cardinal Newman

Dear Jesus, help me to spread your fragrance everywhere. Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly that all my life may be a radiance of Yours. Shine through me and be so in me that every one I come in contact with may look up, and see no longer me, but only Jesus.

We ask this in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

(Terri Brehm, Diocesan Writing Team for Faith Sharing Sessions, 2006)