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.
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March 26, 2006, 4th Sunday of Lent
Reading I: 2 Chronicles. 36:14-17
Reading II: Ephesians 2:4-10
Gospel: John 3:14-21 |
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Focus: Our God is loving and merciful, despite our fragile condition and sinfulness. "God so loved the world ..."
Opening Prayer:
Even now, O Lord, we return to You with all our hearts. Show us Your mercy as we continue on our Lenten journey. Keep us close to You. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Scripture Sharing: Read the scriptures aloud. Pause for a moment between the readings. Each group member is invited to share an idea from one of the readings, which had an impact on him or her.
Reflection: Throughout the ages, God has mercifully sent the prophets to show humanity the path to himself. In time, he sent his own Son. John's passage today, (John 3:16) is often found on bumper stickers, at athletic events, and other places: "God so loved the world [past, present, and future] that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him might not perish, but have eternal life."
Paul reminds us: "God's gift to us was not because of anything we have done on our own, nor earned." Truly, a Gift so great!
Faith Sharing:
1. How can we remember to acknowledge our Source of gifts in our daily life? Mother Teresa tells us that: "As long as we make the best effort we are capable of, we cannot feel discouraged by our failures. We cannot claim any successes either. We should give God all the credit and be extremely sincere when we do so." (Mother Teresa, In My Own Words)
2. How do we see God's mercy at work in our immediate surroundings as well as the broad world of today?
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Readings for the Week
Monday, March 20: (Joseph, Husband of the Virgin Mary) 2 Sm 7:4-5a,12-14a,16; Ps 89:2-5,27,29; Rom 4:13,16-18,22; Mt 1:16,18-21,24a or Lk 2:41-51a.
Tuesday, March 21: Dn 3:25,34-43; Ps 25:4bc-5ab,6-7bc,8-9; Mt 18:21-35.
Wednesday, March 22: Dt 4:1,5-9; Ps 147:12-13,15-16,19-20; Mt 5:17-19.
Thursday, March 23: (Toribio de Mogrovejo, bishop) Jer 7:23-28; Ps 95:1-2,6-9; Lk 11:14-23.
Friday, March 24: Hos 14:2-10; Ps 81:6c-11b,14,17; Mk 12:28-34.
Saturday, March 25: (The Annunciation of the Lord) Is 7:10-14;8:10; Ps 40:7-11; Heb 10:4-10; Lk 1:26-38.
Sunday, March 26: (Fourth Sunday of Lent) 2 Chr 36:14-16,19-23; Ps 137:1-6; Eph 2:4-10; Jn 3:14-21.
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Suggested Action Response:
1. Tell others we encounter this week about their special God-given gifts that touch the lives around them, especially those right at home.
2. Smile at others, bringing the joy of being acknowledged in the Lord.
3. Offer our daily problems and preoccupations as part of our Cross during this Lenten time.
4. In the words of one of my religious education students, "We should be honored because Jesus chose us to carry out God's ways." May these powerful words stick with us today!
Closing Prayer: Individuals offer their prayer intentions.
Dear Father, show us your unfailing love and mercy. "We have hope when we think of this: The Lord's love never ends; his mercies never stop. They are new every morning." (Lamentations 3:21-23) Bring us to the next day, showing your presence to others. We ask this in your name. Amen.
(Judy Marchewka, Diocesan Writing Team for Faith Sharing Sessions, 2006)
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