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 using the Renew model. It will appear in The Compass the week before that Sunday.

	Ascension Sunday, May 20, 2007 Reading I: Acts 1: 1-11 Reading II: Ephesians 1: 17-23 Gospel: Luke 24: 46-53

By Dcn. Mike Grzeca

Focus: With the Holy Spirit's power within us, we can witness to the truth of Jesus.

Opening Prayer: Gracious and saving God, it was your love and mercy that gave us Jesus our Savior. When the cross seemed to some to be only loss and tragedy, your holy power revealed it as a necessary step on the way to glory. Help us to wait for your tender compassion. Enlighten our minds and open our hearts to the gift of faith you have planted within us. At his Ascension, Jesus asked his followers to be witnesses to who he was on earth. Help us to live as witnesses to what Jesus means to us today. Give us the strength to help reveal the Good News to others by the power of the Holy Spirit. You are the One who always Is; help us to persevere on our journey and on the last day, take us to our home with Jesus and Mary. We ask this through Jesus, who has ascended to his heavenly home.

Scripture Sharing: Read the scriptures aloud. Pause for a moment between the readings. Please share with one another any idea or phrase that had an impact on you.

Reflection: Jesus could have ascended into heaven from a quiet and solitary place. But as with the rest of his ministry, he chose to do so in front of witnesses. He asked those people to be his witnesses for the rest of their lives; he did not ask them to go out and perform superhuman deeds. He asked them to show what they claimed to be. Why is it so hard for many to proclaim who Jesus was and what he taught? Is it because the world usually despises those values? As St. Paul prayed for the believers in Ephesus, may we come to know the surpassing greatness of the power of the Holy Spirit in those of us who believe. While we must avoid fanaticism, we are called to share the healing power of the story of our Lord Jesus. Whenever we are asked for the source of any joy or "worldly good fortune," let us use that as an occasion to bless God for all that we have been given.

Faith Sharing:

    1. Have I ever told someone about my belief in Jesus? What happened?

    2. Have you been lifted up by the sudden realization of God's creative presence? Describe that.

    3. Am I a member of this faith sharing group only for my own spiritual well being - or to share what I learn with others?

    4. In St. Luke's Gospel, Jesus said: "I am sending the promise of my Father on you" (Lk. 11: 9-13). Reread that passage and share your thoughts.

Suggested Action Response:

    1. Be open to instances when you can inject your belief in God into a conversation.

    2. Do your own family know what you believe about Jesus and his message? If not, consider setting aside some time (for example, during a car ride) to share that with them.

    3. Pray that the Holy Spirit will strengthen you to so live your life that someone will be drawn to the Lord by observing your actions.

Closing Prayer: Psalm 47.
With his Ascension, Jesus gives us hope that we too may go where he has gone. (Individuals may offer their prayer intentions)

(Dcn. Grzeca is the Green Bay Diocese's director of Evangelization & Worship.)