6th Sunday of Lent – Palm Sunday

 

Opening Prayer

Open my eyes so I can SEE YOU

in the faces of those around me.

Open my ears so I can HEAR YOU

in the cries of the poor and neglected.

Open my heart so I can FEEL YOU

in my sin and weakness.

May my senses be open to YOU

as you pour out all you have upon me!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Isaiah 50:4-7

• How have you or can you speak on God’s behalf? How can your actions speak for God?
• How does this reading speak of Jesus? Isaiah shed light on the coming of Jesus and the suffering He would endure.  What do you suffer for Jesus sake?

 

Philippians 2:6-11

• How did Jesus empty himself for us? How can we mimic this in our own lives?
• Make a list of the ways Jesus was a slave in the stories of the Gospel. What is the definition of a slave?

 

Mark 14:1-15:47

• How do you relate to this woman “wasting” precious oil on Jesus? What do you give to Jesus in such abundance that it could seem to be wasted?
• Is there a precious gift you can give to Jesus? What does this reading say God wants from you?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• What message is God filling you with morning after morning?
• Do you need to train your tongue?
• What makes it hard to turn your back on those who hurt you or cause you harm?
• What causes interest in bad news? What is it that draws people to want to know?
• How do you show God/Jesus/Holy Spirit honor? How do you bow before them?
• How have your actions caused pain for Jesus? Have you turned your back on him?
• Are there things in your life which you mock? Where could you find the good in that thing?

Closing Prayer

Leader:  Lord, you humble yourself so you can be emptied

ALL:  We love you, we honor you, we thank you

Leader:  Lord, you hold your tongue when others accuse you

ALL:  We love you, we honor you, we thank you

Leader:  Lord, you turn your back on those who beat you

ALL:  We love you, we honor you, we thank you

Leader:  Lord, you show obedience to God’s way

ALL:  We love you, we honor you, we thank you

Challenge for the Week:   Pope Francis poses a very interesting challenge for us.  He suggests we take some time to reflect on our life of faith.  Have we fallen asleep in our faith?  Are we living our faith out with fever or simply going through the motions?  Do we slumber through attending our weekly obligation or are we alive and growing?  Take time to think about this question.  Are you asleep?  Are you on the path of falling asleep?  OR Are you walking, skipping, jumping, dancing or even flying?  Do you know others who have fallen asleep in their faith; what can you do to help them “stay awake for Jesus”? 

5th Sunday of Lent

 

Opening Prayer

Lord Jesus

YOU came to remind us there is no life; except for life within YOU.

YOU teach us and guide us in YOUR way.

YOU call us YOUR own, YOU forgive us, YOU love us.

Help us to die to this world, so we might rise with YOU!

YOU give us all we need!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Jeremiah 31:31-34

• God says, “go and sin no more”. He shows us how we should forgive.  How easily do you forgive yourself and others?  What can you learn from God to help you forgive more easily?
• How can you tell or how do you know God has written on your heart?

 

Hebrews 5:7-9

• Do you tell God what you want? Do you shout out to Him when you are suffering or in trouble?  Tell Him NOW!
• We are not meant to suffer alone, who is with us? How do we know?  What keeps us from believing God is with us?

 

John 12:20-33

• Jesus travelled from town to town healing the sick and comforting the weary; what keeps you from believing He can do the same for you now?
• Do you share with others how God has healed you or do you remain quiet? Do you tell people of God’s healing power or do you give credit to others or yourself?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• How does God make a mark on your heart?
• Where do you see God’s promises come alive in your life?
• How has your faith been passed onto you? Is it the same faith of your parents?
• What conditions would cause you to have a stony heart?
• What causes you to have a heart of flesh?
• How has Jesus healed you in the past year?
• What causes your heart to break?

Closing Prayer

Leader:  Father, when we come to you with a troubled mind

ALL:  YOU call out the demons so we are free!

Leader:  Father, when we come to you with a troubled heart

ALL:  YOU give us comfort so we can be whole!

Leader:  Father, when we come to you with a troubled soul

ALL:  YOU forgive us so we can begin anew!

Leader:  Come, Savior, Come

ALL:  YOU deliver us from the troubles of this world and give us the promise of everlasting life!

Challenge for the Week:   Reflect back on the past few weeks of your Lenten journey.  Have you been able to empty yourself so God can fill you up with Easter blessings?  It is not too late to shed the things that weigh you down.  Let go of the things holding you back.  Be like the grain of wheat falling to the ground; surrendering to God.  Let God tend to you and cultivate you these remaining days of Lent so you can bear much fruit this Easter Season!

4th Sunday of Lent

 

Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father,

You gave yourself to us through Jesus.

You came to be one of us so we could know you better.

You taught us, you healed us, you brought us new life!

Even after Jesus’ death we are not left abandoned or orphaned;

for we have YOUR Spirit here, moving, guiding.

God, YOU are in all things, at all times.

May we forever seek YOU!

Journal/Reflection Questions

2Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23

• Do you believe God sends messengers now?
• In the Old Testament we hear God sent messengers “early and often” to His people. In the Gospels we learn about Jesus, God himself who came to share God’s plan for His people.  Then in the New Testament the Holy Spirit is left to dwell in and among His people.  How are the messengers of the Old Testament the same and how do they differ from the Holy Spirit?

 

Ephesians 2:4-10

• How is grace received? Where does it come from?  What is its purpose?
• Reflect on the phrase, “dead to our transgressions”. This word is also in the Our Father prayer.  How hard or easy is it for you to live this out?

 

John 3:14-21

• Do you recall the story of Moses and the serpent? Reflect on how these scriptures relate.
• Why do you think of all of the scripture passages, John 3:16 is the most commonly known and memorized verses?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• Are you open to receiving messages from God? Are there obstacles which keep them from coming through to you?
• Has God given you a message but you are unsure how to pursue it? Afraid you don’t have the strength to accomplish it?  Do you fear ridicule or abandonment of family or friends?
• Consider what your fear says about your faith in God and how it affects your relationship.
• How do you define grace? Is it a noun?  A verb?  An adjective?
• Could God be talking to you and you simply are not listening?
• Share an example of a time when you think God might have spoken to you but you ignored the message…what happened?
• Describe a time when you think you heard God speak to you and you stayed faithful to the request…what happened?
• Create a list of “good” things that happen in the dark, what needs darkness to live or survive?
• Are you ever or have you ever completely in the dark? Describe what it is like?

Closing Prayer

Leader:  When there is darkness, YOU send the light.

ALL:  The God of heaven and earth; create us anew!

Leader:  When we are hurt, YOU bring healing.

ALL:  The God of heaven and earth; create us anew!

Leader:  When we feel alone, YOU offer comfort.

ALL:  The God of heaven and earth; create us anew!

Leader:  When we sin against you, there is grace and mercy.

ALL:  The God of heaven and earth; create us anew!

Challenge for the Week:   The Sacrament of Reconciliation just may be one of the most misunderstood traditions/practices of the Catholic Church; not only among non-Catholics but within the circles of practicing Catholics too. Many wonder WHY we need to tell someone our sins especially when we don’t even want to think about them ourselves.  This kind of thinking simply keeps us from the grace we can receive through the Sacrament.  The word Sacrament comes from the Latin word sacramentum meaning “a sign of the sacred.”  The word Reconciliation also comes from a Latin word, reconciliationem which means to “re-establish”.  Toss in the definition of the word “of” and we learn that at the core, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is “a sign of the sacred coming from re-establishment”.  The “sign of the sacred” is the one on one personal encounter with Christ (represented by the Priest to whom you confess) you have when you confess your sins and ask God for forgiveness; the Priest then lays his hands over you calling down the grace by which your sins will be absolved.  As humans we kid ourselves into thinking God doesn’t already know the sins we have committed, we may even think HE would NEVER forgive us!  There is nowhere in the Bible that says God is incapable of putting us back together if we get broken or become lost.  It is through the Sacrament of Reconciliation that God’s grace re-establishes our relationship with Him.  Some might say that “God already knows your sins so why do we need to confess?” but again when you look at the definition we realize it requires action on our part.  When we just tell God our sin, we haven’t really taken responsibility for the sin; we haven’t been given our penance.  This piece only comes when one receives the Sacrament, when they encounter God through the sacred sign.  Then and only then do we receive the grace we need to be healed.  Embrace the opportunity to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  During Lent there are additional offerings of the Sacrament so if you don’t want to confess to your own parish priest, you can always attend a service at another parish.  If it has been a while since you have been, there are generally prayer aids provided by the parish to help you.  God’ grace is waiting to be poured on YOU!!!

3rd Sunday of Lent

 

Opening Prayer

Lord,

Rid us of foolish thoughts.

Keep away the nonsense of the world.

May we follow the commands you give

May we show your love to all we meet.

Journal/Reflection Questions

Exodus 20:1-17

• Which commandment do you have the hardest time understanding? Is it because you don’t understand it or perhaps it doesn’t seem to be valid for society today?
• Spend time reflecting on the 10 commandments. Then make a list of some “common” ways you or others break them.

 

1Corinthians 1:22-25

• How do you still look for signs and seek wisdom to confirm your faith and what you believe?
• What does Saint Paul say about God’s foolishness and weakness? Have you ever been witness to this in your life?  How?

 

John 2:13-25

• Jesus indicated, HE was the temple to be torn down and built back up. When have you felt this way?  What broke you down and how were you rebuilt?
• Jesus drove out the “demons” from the temple…what “demons” does Jesus need to drive out of you? Do you not think Jesus gets just as angry about the things we barter and rationalize that keep us from spending sacred time with Him?
• How can you live with more ‘zeal’? What does it mean to live with zeal? Or to have more zeal?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• If you could re-write the commandments, how would you?
• Why did Jesus say there were only two commandments? What did He mean when He said, “Love God and Love your neighbor”?  Does this make the other eight commandments invalid?
• How would you explain the 10 commandments to a child?
• Share examples of foolishness or weakness you see in the world. What can be done about it?
• Are there “stumbling blocks” in your life and/or faith which keep you from being the kind of disciple you wish to be?
• What “trips you up” and makes you feel weak or foolish? What holds you back from overcoming these obstacles?
• Have you ever did something which you knew was the right thing to do but others around you questioned? Consider how Jesus in the Gospel.  Take time to consider what Jesus was thinking at this point in the Gospel readings.  Do you think He simply flew off the handle or do you believe He knew what He was doing and others just didn’t understand?

Closing Prayer

Leader:  Give us sanctuary from worldly thoughts…

ALL:  give us wisdom!

Leader:  Give us sanctuary through the cross…

ALL:  give us power!

Leader:  Give us sanctuary in your commandments…

ALL:  Give us guidance!

Leader:  Give us sanctuary by your blood…

ALL:  Give us love!

Challenge for the Week:   When you come to receive communion, you come to receive Jesus.  In the Catholic Church, when you receive communion, you receive the Body and Blood of Christ. What is your disposition as you come to receive the Kings of Kings and Lord of Lords?  Then, once you receive Him, do you think about what a gift it is that you have Jesus within you?  Have you considered at that moment that you are the Tabernacle?  This week and from now on, work to show the reverence deserved as you come to receive Holy Communion; knowing you are a chosen vessel to bring Jesus’ message of love to others.