NO HOLDING BACK
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: Sometimes we tend of think that Christian discipleship is instant. It is not! There is no instant glory, no instant blessings. It is an arduous journey of giving up and giving all.
We ask for the grace in the Eucharist that we may not hold back from God and from people.
Penitential Rite
L: And for the times, we have wanted instant discipleship and an instant relationship with God, we ask his pardon.
Pause
L: Lord Jesus, you led your disciples apart by themselves:
Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you are the beloved Son of the Father:
Christ, have mercy.
A: Christ, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, your glory would come through suffering on the Cross:
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.
Opening Prayer
L: Ever-faithful God,
you were pleased with Abraham’s obedience
and you accepted the sacrifice of your Son.
Train us by Christ’s teaching
and school us in his obedience,
that, as we walk his way of sacrifice,
we may come to share in your glory.
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 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18
Psalm Psalm 116:10, 15, 16-17, 18-19
Response I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
Reading 2 Romans 8:31b-34
Acclamation
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.
From the shining cloud the Father’s voice is heard:
This is my beloved Son, listen to him.
Gospel Mark 9:2-10
Reflection on the Readings
Use one of the following ways to reflect on the readings.
Lectio Divina
Imagine Jesus takes you with Peter, James, and John to “a high mountain”. What are your thoughts and feelings: when you witness him transfigured? when you hear the voice from the cloud? when you hear Jesus talk about him rising from the dead?
Sunday Snippets
No Holding Back is the title of Michael Holding’s autobiography.
It conveys his attitude during his career: he gave his all in every match. It highlights his manner as a commentator: though gentle, he is a fearless and rational critic. It captures the tenor of the book: he does not shirk controversial issues—the slide of West Indian cricket, the dismal state of its admin, and ICC politics.
Holding owes his achievements as a cricketer, a commentator, and a writer to “no holding back”!
“No holding back” is the thrust of today’s Lenten liturgy. It is the reason for God blessing Abraham and for Jesus’ glorification.
God blessed Abraham abundantly because he did not hold anything back: he left his homeland, believed that God would give him an heir despite his and Sarah’s advanced years, and did not hold back the life of that heir.
At the Transfiguration, the voice from the cloud said: “This is my beloved Son…” This son is the one who gave up his natural family to reach out to the wider family of God’s children; who gave up his foster father’s business to go about his heavenly Father’s business; who did not hold back his life but gave everything on Calvary. Jesus’ glorification—foreshadowed at the transfiguration—happened after he sacrificed his all on the cross.
Paul, in Romans 8:32, writes that God did not hold back “his own son but handed him over for us all.”
What do I hold back from God? Will I imitate God, Jesus, and Abraham… and make “no holding back” the thrust of my life? How will I practise “no holding back” in the week ahead?
Questions to Ponder
Reflect on some (or all) of the following questions:
Reading 1: What are the sacrifices that God asks me to make for my family, for his mission for me, for him?
Reading 2: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” In what ways do I experience God being “for me”? How does this experience help me in dealing with people who may be against me?
Gospel: The oblique message of Mark’s version of the Transfiguration is: “no cross, no crown.” Do I understand and accept that Jesus is the “suffering Son”? What implications does this understanding and acceptance have for my life?
The Creed
Prayer of the Faithful
L: St Paul assures us that God, who handed over his Son for us all, will also give us everything else along with him. With this assurance, we pray: Lord, hear our prayer.
R: For the Church: that we may grow in our identity, as beloved daughters and sons of God, through our Lenten observances, we pray…
R: For our human family: that God may heal those wounded by prejudice and injustice, and show us ways to dismantle racist structures and practices, we pray…
R: For all called to a life of sacrifice: that God may give them the strength to sacrifice their lives in witness to the Gospel and in loving service to those in need, we pray…
R: For all who are ill: that God may relieve the suffering of all who are ill, restore their strength as they recover, and guide all who are caring for them, 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 through our spiritual practices during this Lenten season, we may make more room in our life for God, the giver of all life, we pray…
L: Lord our God, we believe that you are for us and that we are your chosen daughters and sons. May this awareness deepen our trust in you and enable us to give ourselves completely to you and our sisters and brothers. 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
Lord, you asked the terrible of Abraham:
to sacrifice his only son!
But Abraham recalled your promise.
Gripping the knife in hand,
but holding more tightly to your promise,
he made ready with trust to sacrifice his son.
O God,
help me to trust in you and your promises to me
that I may never hold anything back from you.
On Mount Tabor,
you revealed once more your love for your Son,
a revelation which strengthened him
to give his all on Calvary.
Lord,
may we allow your Son to take us to your mountain.
Transform all our acts, our very being,
into your love.
May we realize that
the way to Christian glory is always and only
through the way of the cross.
CONCLUDING RITE
Concluding Prayer
L: Lord God, our Father,
with the apostles we have seen your Son
with the eyes of faith.
May he strengthen us, too,
to face the realities and hardships of life
and to commit ourselves courageously
to brighten the lives of people
with hope and love.
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:
Amen. Interesting analogy with Michael Holding’s life story as a cricketer, one of West Indies greatest. May God give us more courage to surrender to His will.
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