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 weekly series for Lent using the Renew model. It will appear in The Compass the week before that Sunday.

	Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 18, 2007 Reading I: Joshua 5:9a,10-12 Reading II: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Gospel: Luke 15:1-3,11-32

By Anissa Lodzinski

Focus: God's unconditional love will always welcome us home to his loving arms.

Opening Prayer: God of love and mercy, we sometimes wander from you, but you are always there to welcome us back. Help us to trust in your love and not squander the gifts you have given us. Make us good stewards of all that you have bestowed upon us. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

	A Lenten series on Reconciliation

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.

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

Reflection

The gospel this Sunday is one that has been talked on and commented on in many different ways, and been given many different titles - "The Prodigal Son," "The Prodigal Father," "The Unforgiving Elder Son," and so on. It's a parable of self-centeredness, self-righteousness and unconditional love. Who of us hasn't experienced all those things in ourselves as well as others? As human beings, we all have times when we feel jealous or greedy or superior, but we almost always get knocked down and thrown back into reality. Fortunately, God is always willing to welcome us back with open arms. And we are called to do the same to others. We have all been hurt by the greed, jealousy or judgments of others, but how we respond to those people is the lesson of our gospel today.

Faith Sharing
1. When have you wandered away from God? What has brought you back?
2. When have you felt jealous of someone? Where did those feelings come from? Where was God?
3. When have you felt lost and abandoned? How was God present in that time?
4. Do you find it hard to trust in God's unconditional love for you? Why or why not?

Suggested Action Response

1. Spend some time thinking about someone you haven't been in touch with for a while. Try to find a way to reconnect.

2. Are there people in your life you find it hard to forgive? Ask God for the grace to help you.

3. Reread the gospel reading, and write a short paragraph on how you would feel if you were the father, the prodigal son, the older son.

Closing Prayer (Individuals offer their prayer intentions)
God of life,
Show us in these lenten days how to live more fully as your daughters and sons.
Help us to take the daily things of life and make them extraordinary in your love.
Teach us how to love as you love, and forgive as you forgive.
Bless us and keep us always close to you.
We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

(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.)