Praying with Sunday's Scriptures

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

	Feb. 18, 2007, 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time Reading I: 1 Samuel 26:7-9, 12-13, 22-23 Reading II: 1 Corinthians 15:45-49 Gospel: Luke 6:27-38

By Anissa Lodzinski

Focus: Love those who hate you and strive to do good to all!

Opening Prayer

Compassionate and merciful Lord, we come before you mindful that we need your help. Be with us and assist us as we strive to love those who hate us, and to do good to those who judge and persecute us. Help us to be compassionate as you are compassionate. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord. 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 that had an impact on him or her.

Reflection

The ability to take this Sunday's gospel to heart is part of what makes us Christians ... the ability to love and forgive and act selflessly. When someone mistreats us or misjudges us, it's easy to want to retaliate, to want to hurt that person right back. But through God's grace, our love for others - even those who are ungrateful and selfish toward us - must be marked by the same kindness and mercy God has shown to us. God's love for us is tremendous and unconditional. It is the same love God calls us to show to others.

Faith Sharing
1. When have you felt mistreated or misjudged? How did you respond?
2. How have you mistreated or misjudged someone else?
3. How has your faith influenced the way you treat those who hurt you?
4. What would you say to someone who is struggling to forgive another person?

Suggested Action Response

1. Think of someone who has hurt you and make an effort to reach out to that person.

2. Check with your parish social concerns committee and ask how you can participate in their upcoming projects, especially those that involve the hungry, homeless or marginalized.

3. Spend some time in prayer with God, and then write a letter to someone you have hurt and ask for their forgiveness.

4. This week during your meal prayer, pray for all those who suffer the injustices of war, domestic violence, hunger and homelessness.

Closing Prayer (Individuals offer their prayer intentions.)
Psalm 103
Merciful and gracious is the Lord,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
Not according to our sins does God deal with us,
nor does God punish us according to our sins.
The Lord is kind and merciful.

(Lodzinski is the associate director of worship for the Green Bay Diocese and is a member of the Diocesan Writing Team for Faith Sharing Sessions, 2007.)