Cycle B - Third Sunday of Lent – March 4, 2018
(Gospel Only)
“In three days I will raise it up”
OPENING PRAYER (Psalm 19)
Leader: Lord you have the words of eternal life
All: The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul;
The decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple.
Leader: The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes.
All: The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever;
The ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
Gospel Reading – John 2.13-25
The death of Jesus is announced very early in John’s gospel. Jesus had just cleansed the temple of buying and selling. His wrath burned against such an outrage. Small things, like selling doves, became a matter of life and death. There was no grey area. Jesus’ cleansing of the temple calls us in this season to turn over triggers to sin in our own lives.
1. What needs to be “turned over” in our lives, in our parish, in our country?
2. Name some cleansing action we could take for renewal in our lives?
3. When have you taken strong, public action in support of gospel values?
LIVING THE WORD
What aspect of God’s Word is challenging me/us this coming week?
What are some ways we as a family can change our lives for the better this Lent?
PRAYING THE WORD
· That the church might be sign of God’s covenant with the world we pray to the Lord.
· That we who are gathered here might truly find ways to cleanse ourselves of things that keep us from God and others pray to the Lord.
(Invite personal intentions, ending with the “Our Father …”)
Closing Prayer:
Leader: O God, you desire to be our God, and you want us to be your people.
We thank you for the covenant, which you have made from age to age.
All: We thank you for the new and everlasting covenant that you offer us in Jesus’ life and death and resurrection.
Leader: We praise you for guiding our path through life. Help us to walk your path and seek your Wisdom, who is Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
Leader: Let us share with one another the peace of Christ.
Gospel used in ALL YEARS with RCIA’s 1st Scrutiny
Third Sunday of Lent, March 4, 2018
First Scrutiny in The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults
“The water that I will give will become a spring of water gushing up to eternal life…”
OPENING PRAYER (Psalm 95)
Leader: O come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us make a joyful noise
to the rock of our salvation.
All: Let us come into God’s presence with thanksgiving;
Let us make a joyful noise with songs of praise.
Leader: O that today you would listen to God’s voice.
Harden not your hearts.
All: Let us worship and bow down,
let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
Amen
Gospel – John 4:5-42
This long dialogue around thirst and water has long been one of the Church’s prime Scriptures to illustrate the journey from unbelief to faith. Therefore, it is aptly connected to the baptismal journey of the catechumens during Lent. The awakening of faith in the newly baptized re-ignites the fervent of the Church’s faith. The story speaks for itself!
1. From this reading, what do you observe about the stages of faith development?
2. Are there elements in the story that suggest that the Samaritan woman is marginalized or considered undesireable in her community? Who is it in your neighbourhood/town who is considered less desirable?
3. Why do you think Jesus chooses to reveal himself to a woman, to a Samaritan/outsider?
4. For what do you thirst – in your families, your workplace, your parish?
LIVING THE WORD
What is God’s challenge for me/us this coming week?
PRAYING THE WORD
Intercession: For those preparing for Baptism and reception into the Catholic Church at Easter, for those seeking meaning and healing in life, for those who feel undesirable and unwanted. We pray to the Lord.
Invite other intentions, end with “Our Father …”
CLOSING PRAYER
Leader: O God, source of Living Water, your thirst for us far exceeds our thirst for you,
All: Following the witness of the Samaritan woman, quench our thirst for
meaning, for healing, for mercy.
Leader: Make your living water spring up within us so that our cup of blessing
overflows at all time.
All: Following the witness of the Samaritan woman, lead us out into the world
to proclaim with joy the Good News of your coming. Amen.
Leader: Let us share with one another the sign of Christ’s peace.