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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April 9, 2006, Palm Sunday
Reading I: Isaiah 50:4-7
Reading II: Philippians 2:6-11
Gospel: Mark 14:1--15:47 or 15:1-39 |
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Focus: We focus on the suffering, death and burial of Jesus
Opening Prayer:
O Lord, we pray for the wisdom and insight to see your life, passion, death and resurrection as you intend for us. We pray that you will inspire us to order our lives in accordance with your teaching. We pray that we will see you in all those we meet, model you to all those who see us and call all those around us to a closer walk with you. We ask this in your 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 impacted his or her life.
Reflection: Jesus accepted His passion, death and burial because it was His father's will for Him to do so. All of us do things in life because of someone else's directive, request or wish. Jesus showed us that this can be an honorable thing to do, even if it counters our own desires. When things are going badly in our life, reflection on what Jesus was willing to do could bring about a welcome change to our attitude.
Faith Sharing:
1. After observing the power and compassion of Jesus, the people of His day wanted Him as their King. Think of some of the people that you know who are in a position of leadership and explain how they reflect the characteristics of Jesus or fail to do so.
2. Jesus went to unbelievable lengths to accomplish His purpose for coming to earth. Reflect about some of the people that you know who worked very hard to achieve their perceived purpose, either good or bad.
3. Tell us how you think Peter, a lifelong Jew who envisioned God as all powerful and on that basis gave his life to Jesus, must have felt when he saw Jesus being dragged through the streets like a common criminal.
4. Jesus suffered greatly during His passion. Give us some examples of suffering, discomfort or misfortune in your own life that prepared you to be more helpful, empathetic or compassionate to someone in need.
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Readings for the Week
Monday, April 3: Dn 13:1-9,15-17,19-30,33-62 or 13:41c-62; Ps 23:1-6; Jn 8:1-11.
Tuesday, April 4: (Isidore, bishop, doctor) Nm 21:4-9; Ps 102:2-3,16-21; Jn 8:21-30.
Wednesday, April 5: (Vincent Ferrer, priest) Dn 3:14-20,91-92,95; (ps) Dn 3:52-56; Jn 8:31-42.
Thursday, April 6: Gn 17:3-9; Ps 105:4-9; Jn 8:51-59.
Friday, April 7: (John Baptist de la Salle, priest) Jer 20:10-13; Ps 18:2-7; Jn 10:31-42.
Saturday, April 8: Ez 37:21-28; (Ps) Jer 31:10-13; Jn 11:45-56.
Sunday, April 9: (Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion) Mk 11:1-10 or Jn 12:12-16 (procession); Is 50:4-7; Ps 22:8-9,17-18a;19-20,23-24; Phil 2:6-11; Mk 14:1--15:47 or 15:1-39.
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Suggested Action Response:
1. When someone comes to you with a problem, even if it is one of their own design, try to be as helpful and compassionate as possible. Do not be judgmental but put yourself in their shoes and try to jointly find a way back to acceptable life.
2. No one desires suffering in their own life. When the inevitable suffering or reversals occur in your life, resolve to use them to better understand the pain others feel when things go wrong.
3. Talk to some teenagers or young adults who are struggling and assure them that today's struggles can be overcome and there is a better life ahead. Use your time, experience and resources to help them along the way.
Closing Prayer: Individuals offer their prayer intentions.
Ask each group member if they are aware of someone who needs special prayer. Then say an "Our Father" or some specific prayer for each of them.
(Jake Jankowski, Diocesan Writing Team for Faith Sharing Sessions, 2006)
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