Sunday, March April 3rd Readings

Second Sunday of Easter

Opening Prayer

Lord Jesus

We know the wounds are real

when we look at people suffering.

We feel the pain of injustice

when we see malnourishment.

The scars aren’t always visible

but we know they are there.

Move us to be the hands, feet and hearts

…that bring comfort

…that bring justice

…that bring peace

May the joy of the resurrection

bring healing to a hurting world!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Acts 5:12-16

Who do you know needs healing? How can you bring them comfort?
How does God’s message heal you?

Revelations 9:1-11a, 12-13, 17-19

When have you needed strength to overcome? Where did the strength come from? Who gave it to you?
Why are people afraid of the unknown? What makes it scary?

John 20:19-31

Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit unto the disciples and they are moved into action, how does the Holy Spirit move you into action? How long has it been since you let the Holy Spirit move you?
What makes you believe in the resurrection? Does Thomas’ testimony help you believe?

General Questions for Journaling

Where do you see signs that God is alive today?
Have you ever witnessed a miracle?
How many times in a day, week, month or year do you believe a miracle happens?
Define love. Is there only one type of love or many?
How many types of love can you identify? What are their characteristics?
Can good come from suffering?
Is suffering necessary? Why or why not?
What causes you fear?
Have you ever been paralyzed by fear? What was the circumstance?
How is fear overcome? What do you do to conquer your fear? What advice do you give to others?
Do you think people fear forgiveness? Why or why not?
Where is peace found? How does someone find it?

Closing Prayer

Leader: Lord, in our weakness

ALL: YOU are strong!

Leader: Lord, in our questioning

ALL: YOU are the answer!

Leader: Lord, in our sin

ALL: YOU are forgiveness!

Leader: Lord, in our struggle

ALL: YOU are calm!

Leader: Lord, in our confusion

ALL: YOU are clarity!

Leader: Lord, in our lives

ALL: YOU are the WAY!

Challenge for the Week: Easter is the biggest Christian celebration and sign of our faith. It is so important it lasts for 50 days which is longer than Advent (4 weeks before Christmas) and Lent (40 days before Easter). How can you continue to live the Easter message for the next 50 days? What message do you feel God is calling you to send? Is there an injustice you can serve by volunteering your time? Is there a person in need of support or company? Where can you bring resurrection or new life? Take this Easter season as seriously as you do your Lenten sacrifice and spread the Good News that Jesus is alive!!!

Sunday, March 27th Readings

Easter Sunday

Opening Prayer

Savior

Each new day brings

new promise

Even when it is dark

and cold and rugged

The path we walk with YOU

is filled with opportunity

To walk with YOU

is our greatest adventure!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Acts 10:34a, 37-43

How is your life a witness to all God has accomplished through Jesus’ birth, teachings, miracles, parables, suffering, death and resurrection? Reflect and see if you can come up with an example of how each have been lived out in your life.
Identify your source of strength when you witness (testify) to God’s love, mercy, forgiveness, etc.

Colossians 3:1-4

How have died to allow God to live?
What about heaven do you most long for? Describe what you will see, feel, hear, touch and smell.

John 20:1-9

Can you relate to the fear the women and the disciples had when they saw the tomb open? Share a specific experience and how it affects your perspective.
What makes you believe in Jesus’ resurrection? How do you believe in what you have not seen?

General Questions for Journaling

Who are the people in your life who have your back? How do you know?
Where do you turn when you are seeking an answer to a decision or facing a hard choice? Where is Jesus in the decision making process?
How do you hide your faith from others? Who are those whom you hide your faith from and why? Are there people whom you hide your faith but are the ones who most need to hear the message?
Draw a picture of your heart. What does it look like? What does it contain? Use your imagination to create an image of the condition of your heart.
Where do you see compassion lived out in the world, your community, your family? From your view is compassion in a draught season or a harvest season?
How has your Lenten experience helped you prepare for the Triduum?
Did what you gave up or took on this Lent help you to grow in relationship with Jesus? How have you been changed from the experience?

Closing Prayer

Leader: May we surrender ourselves

ALL: for the sake of the Gospel.

Leader: May we pursue justice

ALL: for the sake of the Gospel.

Leader: May we seek and give reconciliation

ALL: for the sake of the Gospel.

Leader: May we turn away from sin

ALL: for the sake of the Gospel.

Leader: May we relinquish our will

ALL: for the sake of the Gospel.

Leader: May we open the tomb within

ALL: and live out the Gospel!

Challenge for the Week: You can witness or observe many things. This week try to keep count of the positive things you witness and use your words and actions to encourage those who displayed the behavior. Then try to use the examples you “witnessed” to be a “witness” (testify) to the good you saw in others. It could be something as simple as sharing how you saw someone open and hold the door for another, witnessed a simple act of kindness or charity, or were witness to an act of mercy or forgiveness. We can often get wrapped up in ourselves or the evil in the world and forget to look around at the goodness. The tomb has been open for thousands of years…how are your spreading the Good News? Be a witness by allowing Jesus’ light to shine through!

Sunday, March 20th Readings

Palm Sunday

Opening Prayer

Holy are you Lord

King of Kings

Lord of Lord

Son of God

Hosanna in the Highest

All praise and honor to YOU!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Isaiah 50:4-7

Define a well-trained tongue. Would you say your tongue is well trained?
Where do you see God each morning? How do you know He has your back?

Philippians 2:6-11

How have you emptied yourself to Christ this Lenten season? It is not too late.
How does your body language show respect or disrespect to God when you pray? How can you better show the reverence you say you have with your words, through your body language?

Luke 22:14-23:56

What have you done to reject God in the last month, week, day, hour? What was the “benefit” we received?
When did you last serve another person? How did you serve them? What was your motivation?

General Questions for Journaling

Who are the people in your life who have your back? How do you know?
When have you defended another person’s honor or integrity or character?
Have you ever had someone stand up for your honor, integrity or character?
When do you desire for things to stay the same? What are the conditions which cause you to want things to stay the same?
How do you feel about change? When do you desire change?
What are some changes which cause anticipation? What are some changes which cause anxiety? How are they the same? How are they different?
Is there some discomfort when standing up for what is right?
What do you say is the opposite of love? Hate? Fear? Distrust? Selfishness? Or something else? How does the opposite you choose affect your definition of love?
When was the last time you defended your faith to another? Where is the line of defending and being hypocritical?
Are there areas in our life where we have fallen asleep? How might God be calling you to wake up?

Closing Prayer

Leader: At dawn

ALL: YOU bring the sunrise to wake me.

Leader: In the morning

ALL: YOU clear the fog and give me a new day.

Leader: During the day

ALL: YOU are in each person and thing I see.

Leader: In the evening

ALL: YOU bring the night to slow us down.

Leader: At bedtime

ALL: YOU give us comfort as we rest.

Leader: Each day

ALL: We begin again!

Challenge for the Week: Choose a scripture passage (limit to 3-5 words) from this weekend’s readings to focus on this week. As we approach Holy Week, in the Catholic Church we sometimes get wrapped up in the ritual and movement, forgetting the meaning behind all of the pomp and circumstance. Use the scripture passage you chose to connect in a deeper way to the experience of Jesus, of the people around Him and the situation at hand. Seek to find a connection to an experience or situation you are currently or recently have been dealing with and then determine how God is leading you to conversion through this experience or situation. Don’t worry if the experience or situation doesn’t directly relate to you; we should learn from others mistakes and triumphs just as well. What will your scriptural mantra be this week???

Sunday, March 13th Readings

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Opening Prayer

Lord,

Let us remember

it is YOU who makes all things NEW

May we learn

to let go of past mistakes and begin fresh

Help us to

try a new path instead of the same one

Guide us on

to find YOU waiting with open arms

YOU forever change us,

mold us and do great things for us!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Isaiah 43:16-21

What keeps you from believing God has a plan for you and has created a safe passage way for you just as He did for the Israelites? How do your actions confirm your belief or disbelief?
How do the events of the past (those of the Old Testament and/or the events of the past 3-6 months) affect how you live out today? Share specific examples.

Philippians 3:8-14

How can you accept loss? What does that look like?
St Paul is determined; he has his eye on the prize. What is your goal? What steps do you take each day to achieve your goal? Are there others whom have a similar goal? How can you help one another reach your goal?

Luke 8:1-11

Do you condemn others? What causes you to do so? Is it jealousy? Is it because you think something is unfair? Is it out of fear of the unknown or what you don’t understand?
Where are you called to be merciful like Jesus in this Scripture? Who needs you to reach out to them?

General Questions for Journaling

Where in the Bible does God abandon someone? Where in the bible does God leave anyone alone? How does this affect you?
When have you felt like God has left you alone or abandoned you? What was the situation? What caused you to overcome?
How has God shown His presence to you today?
Each day God offers us a new beginning; what things of the past do you need to leave in the past so you can begin again?
How do your sins feel? Describe how it feels when you sin and how you are changed; how it affects your behavior, your thoughts.
What is the most important relationship in your life? Why?
What does it mean to live our lives forward? What does it mean to live in the past? Where do you see yourself on the spectrum?

Closing Prayer

Leader: Father, YOU are forever good

ALL: to us when we sin against you and others.

Leader: Father, YOU are forever kind

ALL: to us when we experience hurt.

Leader: Father, YOU are forever generous

ALL: to us when we call on you for help.

Leader: Father, YOU are forever merciful

ALL: to us when we turn our back to you.

Leader: Father, YOU are forever faithful

ALL: to us when we are ready; you welcome us!

Leader: Praise to YOU

ALL: Father of ALL!

Challenge for the Week: Where do you see God walking with you on your journey? Are you walking together side by side or are you lagging behind? Have you stumbled and refuse to get up and move or is God carrying you? What terrain are you travelling? Are you on flatland? Going through the desert? Climbing a mountain? Swimming/wading/drowning in the deep waters? Take time this week to figure out where you are on your journey with God. Use your own words to describe and even possibly draw a picture of what it looks like. Whether you write the words or draw the picture, put the date on it and place it in your bible so you can find it later and reflect on how it compares to where you are at that moment of time. God gives us all we need to succeed; we need to train our will to keep us accountable.

Sunday, March 6th Readings

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Opening Prayer

Lord, Let us come to you,

when we are weak and weary.

Have us reach out to you,

when we don’t know the way.

May we cling to you,

when we are overcome…

with darkness AND with joy,

YOU, Father, are all we ever need!!!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Joshua 5:9a, 10-12

How does God care for the Israelites? How does He care for you today?
The Israelites were guided to the Promised Land…can you relate your life to the journey of the Israelites? How is it similar? How is it different?

2Corinthians 5:17-21

Where do you see reconciliation in the world? In the church?
Can you let things go? How can you allow God to release you from your burdens?

Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

What message does Jesus send with this parable? Can you list at least three?
Where do you find yourself in the parable at this point in your life? Are you working hard, doing what you are supposed to be doing like the Older Son? Are you squandering away the gifts God has given you like the Younger Son? Can you find it in yourself to welcome the sinner home with open arms like the Father? Are you

General Questions for Journaling

How is Lent like the Israelites wandering in the desert? What was their final destination? How is that like our Lent/Easter?
What traditions do you have? Where did they come from? Are they hereditary? Are they cultural? Are they religious? How do these traditions form you? What makes them so sacred?
What can you do to learn from God how to forgive and forget?
What do you give to Jesus to make Him righteous? How do your words or actions give Jesus “wings” or a “leg to stand on”?
Does Christ live within you? How do you know? Can others tell?
How do you rejoice when you find something you have lost?
Is it easier to give forgiveness or ask for forgiveness? Why?

Closing Prayer

Leader: Each time we turn our backs on you…