Praying with Sunday's Scriptures
for small faith-sharing groups

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.

	Fifth Sunday of Lent, March 25, 2007 Reading I: Isaiah 43:16-21 Reading II: Philippians 3:8-14 Gospel: John 8:1-11

By Patti Christensen

Focus: Walking in the newness of God.

Opening Prayer: Psalm 126, 1-3

All: The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

Leader: When the Lord brought back the captives of Zion, we were like men dreaming. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing.

All: The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

Leader: Then they said among the nations, "The Lord as done great things for them." The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad indeed.

All: The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

	A Lenten series on Reconciliation

Scripture Sharing

Read the scriptures aloud. What thought, line or image caught your attention? Each group member is invited to share.

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

Reflection

"See, I am doing something new!" (Isaiah 43:19). Every day presents us with new opportunities to walk with God. When we are tempted to judge someone, ignore our brother's or sister's plea for help, speak in anger or disobey any of the commandments; we must choose the life that Christ offers us. With just a few words and some drawing in the dirt, Jesus teaches us what it means to be honest about and with ourselves and not self-righteous as the accusers. It is so easy to be judgmental and self-righteous about others. We see others faults too clearly and we don't mind sharing their faults with others. Gossip, condemnation, persecution, and humiliation are sins we are easily tempted to commit. Maybe we even twist the truth a little and lie. What was Jesus drawing in the dirt? Obviously something that made the men uncomfortable. What would Jesus draw in the dirt if we were standing before him? As we near the end of Lent, a critical self-examination is necessary before we can receive the forgiveness Jesus extended to the accused woman. A conversion of the heart can only occur after we recognize our sinfulness. Just as Jesus believes that the woman accused of adultery could "avoid this sin," he believes in our ability to avoid sin. It is in walking with God each day that we can live life to the fullest, we too can become new!

Faith Sharing

1. In what ways do we ignore the need for help of our brothers and sisters in our parish, neighborhood, in the world? What does Catholic social teaching say about our responsibility to our brothers and sisters?

2. How can we respond when someone is gossiping? What can we do to prevent gossip from creeping into a conversation?

3. What does a critical self-examination mean to you? What does the Catechism say about the conversion of heart? (CC 1430-1433)

Suggested Action Response

1. Pick an issue that needs to be addressed in your parish (from the discussion of #1 above) and decide how you can create awareness within your parish and what type of action the people could do to meet the need.

2. Is there someone who has asked you for forgiveness and you haven't been able to grant it or is there someone whom you need to ask for forgiveness for your hurtful actions? Sometime this week ask for or give forgiveness to another with the compassion that Jesus had with the woman caught in adultery.

3. Reread Isaiah 43: 16-21 "Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing." Make a list of the things in your life that have been "new things" which have occurred this Lenten season. Give thanks and praise to God.

Closing Prayer (Individuals offer their prayer intentions)

Compassionate and loving God, we give you thanks for the opportunity to serve others. Create anew in us compassionate and loving hearts so that we might better serve our brothers and sisters in need. Glory and praise be to you! Amen.

(Christensen is the director of spirituality & evangelization for the Green Bay Diocese and a member of the Diocesan Writing Team for Faith Sharing Sessions, 2007.)