ALONE
INTRODUCTORY RITES
Gather as a family/ community; create an environment appropriate for prayer (dress appropriately - switch off your phones...).
We are conscious that Christ is present not only in the Blessed Sacrament but also in the Scriptures and in our hearts. Even when we are on our own, we remain part of the Body of Christ.
Place lighted candles, a crucifix, and the Bible on a covered table. These remind us of the sacredness of our time of prayer and could help us feel connected with our local worshipping communities.
You may sing or play an appropriate hymn. For instance:
The Sign of the Cross
Greeting and Introductory Words
L: The Lord invites us to the table of his Word: let us bless him for his goodness.
A: Blessed be God forever.
L: There are times when we are alone. And we don’t like it. We desperately strive to get away from solitude. Today’s liturgy reminds us that we need solitude. From solitude comes sight, serenity, and strength to face the challenges of life.
We pray that we may appreciate and seek solitude, and realise that we are never alone. God is with us in our solitude.
Penitential Rite
L: For the times we have shunned solitude, we ask the Lord’s mercy.
Pause
L: Lord Jesus, you were tempted but remained faithful to God:
Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you spent time with your Father in the wilderness:
Christ, have mercy.
A: Christ, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you invite us to repent and believe in the gospel:
Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
A: Amen.
Gloria
Opening Prayer
L: God of the covenant,
as the forty days of deluge
swept away the world’s corruption
and watered new beginnings,
so in the saving waters of baptism
your people are washed clean and born again.
Throughout these forty days,
cleanse our hearts of all that is not holy,
and give us your gift of new life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
A: Amen.
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
Readings
The readings are those assigned for the day in the Lectionary.
Preferably use a Bible/ Lectionary for reading.
Reading 1 Genesis 9:8-15
Psalm Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
Response Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.
Reading 2 1 Peter 3:18-22
Acclamation
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.
One does not live on bread alone, but on every word,
that comes forth from the mouth of God.
Gospel Mark 1:12-15
Reflection on the Readings
Use one of the following ways to reflect on the readings.
Lectio Divina
Imagine you are in Galilee when Jesus comes proclaiming: “The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” What are your thoughts and feelings? How do you respond?
Sunday Snippets
Many years ago, the explorer Richard Byrd spent a winter alone at the South Pole. Four and a half months in solitude. Why?
Byrd answers that question in his book Alone. Despite his numerous achievements, he felt empty. He wanted to get away “remote from all but the simplest distractions, with no necessities but those imposed by the wind and night and cold.”
Byrd emerged from his experience changed. He discovered that one can live more deeply and profoundly if one keeps life simple, without cluttering it with things.
Byrd is like many people who spent time alone, and came back changed: Moses, Elijah, John the Baptist… It’s not surprising, then, that Jesus spends time in solitude.
The Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness soon after his baptism! What happens to him in the wilderness? He matures. He listens to his inner voice; he deepens his awareness that he must rely on God and God alone; he becomes aware of his mission and its implications. Jesus returns ready to proclaim the Good News.
Our journey through life is like Jesus’ journey! We spend time preparing to launch into the world: think graduation day, religious profession or ordination day, wedding day. It’s a massive high. Almost immediately comes the testing time. Reality hits! We enter the desert, and not by choice! The mistake we make is we surround ourselves—with work, with people, with things.
We need to learn from Jesus. He spent time in solitude. He did this often. Note that John does not have the account of the Temptation in his gospel; the temptation happens repeatedly throughout Jesus’ ministry. And each time Jesus overcame it by spending time alone.
But he is not alone! Mark ends his one-line version of the temptation thus: “He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.” Jesus is not alone in the desert! God is with him, angels care for him, and nature is with him.
It will be the same with us when we spend time alone. God is with us. After the wilderness moment, we will be able to continue our commitments.
Will I spend time alone? Will I give up my dependence on material things and rely on God?
May you and I discover God’s providential care and the empathetic support of people during our desert moments, and support others during theirs.
Questions to Ponder
Reflect on some (or all) of the following questions:
Reading 1: God made a covenant with us, and “with every living creature… ” Does that reconfigure my attitude toward all creation––“our common home”, including the environment? How ?
Reading 2: Baptism is about dying and rising. Do I have any Lenten plans that might impact my dying to self or, figuratively speaking, rising from the dead?
Gospel: When have I felt the consolation of God’s love? What angels minister to me? To whom do I minister?
The Creed
Prayer of the Faithful
L: Heeding the Lord’s invitation to return to him during this Lenten Season, we pray: Lord, hear our prayer.
R: For the Church: that the Spirit may lead us during this Lenten season to a fuller living of the Gospel, steadfast faithfulness to our baptismal commitment, and generous service to those in need, we pray…
R: For our human family: that God’s covenant to preserve humanity may inspire us toward greater cooperation with all peoples as we strive to overcome disease, malnourishment, violence, and racism, we pray…
R: For all who are facing “wild beasts”: that we may know God’s presence and strength as we face selfishness, addictions, and all the actions which destroy life, we pray…
R: For all who are ill: that God may heal them, give strength to their caregivers, and guide public health officials in promoting safe practices, we pray…
R: For greater care for all living beings: that inspired by God’s covenant with every living creature, we may be good stewards of the eco-systems that support life in all its forms on earth, we pray…
R: For ourselves: that God may guide us to quiet places where we can listen to God and share our struggles and fears honestly, we pray…
L: Lord our God, touch our hearts and enable us to cherish our time in the wilderness that we may turn fully to you and live the Good News. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
A: Amen.
SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
The Lord’s Prayer
Spiritual Communion
A: Jesus, I know and believe in your real presence in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. It is you I desire to love and receive above all things. As I am unable to receive your sacramental presence now, come and be with me in heart and soul. Let my entire self be united with you as I welcome you again and know your loving embrace. Amen.
Post Spiritual Communion Reflection
“The Testimony of a Confederate Soldier” is from the period of the Great Civil War the United States. It describes what God can accomplish in us through our wilderness experiences, through our times of testing.
I asked God for strength that I might achieve;
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for health that I might do greater things;
I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy;
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of people;
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life;
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for
but everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am among all people, most richly blessed.
CONCLUDING RITE
Concluding Prayer
L: God of the covenant of love,
as the Holy Spirit led your Son to the desert,
may he open our eyes to see
the wastelands of evil
we have created in our world.
Help us to pray in solitude,
to feel our hunger for all that is good
and to overcome our temptations.
Through Christ our Lord.
A: Amen.
Blessing
L: The Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and lead us to everlasting life.
A: Amen.
L: Go in the peace of Christ.
A: Thanks be to God.
Conclude with a hymn. For instance:
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