Palm Sunday

THE CHEERING STOPPED

INTRODUCTORY RITES

Gather as a family/ community; create an environment appropriate for prayer (dress appropriately - switch off your phones...). Place lighted candles, a crucifix, and the Bible on a covered table.

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.

Put a green branch in a suitable place (any branch will do; it does not need to be a palm branch). Through this green branch, we can remember Jesus’ sacrifice for us, and stay connected as we enter into the holiest week of the Christian calendar.

You may sing or play an appropriate hymn. For instance:

Hosanna to the Son of David

You are the King of Glory

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: Today is Palm Sunday, when we recall Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, when people acclaimed him as God’s messenger. A few days later, the same people shouted: “Crucify him!” 

We understand this better when we reflect on our lives. We have days of happiness, of success, of joy; we also have sad days of contradiction and failure. We have days of health and of sickness. Does our cry to the Lord change? Let us unite ourselves with the Church around the world and pray that we may always be able to shout “hosanna”!

Penitential Rite

L: For the times our cries to the Lord have changed depending on our situation, we ask the Lord for his forgiveness.

        Pause

L: Lord Jesus, you come to visit your people in peace:

Lord, have mercy.

A: Lord, have mercy.

L: Lord Jesus, by the cross you brought pardon and hope: 

Christ, have mercy.

A: Christ, have mercy.

L: Lord Jesus, you have come to create a new world:

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: Almighty and ever-loving God, in your great mercy you sent your Son to become like us, taking on human form and living among us, submitting to the Cross. Grant that we may heed his lesson of patient suffering and so merit a share in his Resurrection. 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.

Liturgical Readings for Palm Sunday

Reading 1 Isaiah 50:4-7

Psalm Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24 

Response My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

Option 1  or Option 2 or  Option 3

Reading 2 Philippians 2:6-11

Acclamation Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Christ became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross 

Because of this, God greatly exalted him

and bestowed on him the name which is above every name.

Acclamation

Gospel Matthew 26:14 – 27:66 or Matthew 27:11-54

 

Reflection on the Readings

 

Use one of the following ways to reflect on the readings.

Silence

Spend time in silence. Allow your thoughts and feelings to surface. Allow God to speak to you through his Word and through your thoughts and feelings.

Lectio Divina

Put yourself in the stead of one of the characters of the passion narrative or journey with Jesus through his journey from the upper room to Gethsemane to Caiaphas and Pilate to Golgotha. Reflect on your thoughts and feelings. What does the Lord tell you? 

Sunday Snippets

The book When the Cheering Stopped tells the tale of US President Woodrow Wilson. After World War I, Wilson was a global hero; on his first visit to Europe after the War, cheering crowds greeted him everywhere.

After a year, Wilson ran into opposition: his League of Nations was not ratified; at home, his party was defeated in the elections; in Europe, leaders were more concerned with their own agenda. As long as he “spoke” peace, Wilson was heralded as the new messiah. When he called for change that would lead to peace, the cheering stopped. Wilson became a broken man and a failure.

 

It’s a sad but not unfamiliar story. Jesus faced something similar during his journey to Jerusalem!

As long as Jesus fed the hungry and healed the sick, he was popular. As long as the people saw him as a political messiah, they gave him a royal welcome. 

When Jesus emphasised that he was a king of love-peace and not a military hero, when he showed that he would rule through humble obedience, when he broke social and religious barriers, when he became a threat to the religious authority and political standing of some people, when he loved all people unconditionally, when he called people to change… the cheering stopped. It turned to jeering. On the cross, Jesus became (literally) a broken man and a human failure. 

One who makes people feel good is popular. When one wants to change “feel good” to “do good”, when one challenges people to amend attitudes and action… the cheering stops.

Will I be the popular guy who makes people feel good or am I ready to be the unpopular guy who challenges people to be good? What will I do if/when the cheering stops?

I need to remember: The Jesus “story” does not end on the cross; there is the empty tomb. It does not end on Friday; it begins a new chapter on Sunday.

Questions to Ponder

Reflect on some (or all) of the following questions:

Reading 1: What words of hope, promise, or challenge has God given me to speak to others? When I do good but face opposition, am I able to affirm “the Lord God is my help”?

Reading 2: Though Jesus was in the form of God, he emptied himself, took the form of a slave, became human, humbled himself, and became obedient to the point of death. What impact does this experience and realisation have on me?

Gospel: Jesus endured the sense of abandonment by the one he loved most, his Abba. He chose to experience all of humanity’s worst suffering. What does this tell us? 

Even though he couldn’t access their love, do you think the Father and the Spirit were there with Jesus on the cross?

The Creed

Prayer of the Faithful

L: As we remember the hardships that Jesus endured for us, we are filled with hope because God is with us always, even in difficult moments of life. Let us therefore call upon him who hears all of our needs and pray: Lord, hear our prayer.

R: For the Church: that God may sustain us and help us to give faithful witness to the Gospel, we pray to the Lord… 

R: For leaders of nations: that they may learn to be servant leaders and never forget the needs of the most vulnerable, we pray to the Lord…

R: For all who are ill: that God’s healing love may relieve their pain, restore their health, and deepen their appreciation of life, we pray to the Lord…

R: For those who have experienced abandonment, betrayal, or rejection: that God’s Spirit may comfort them and help them to hold fast to the truth, we pray to the Lord…

R: For greater respect for human life: that all people may honour the mystery of human life at all stages along life's journey, we pray to the Lord…

R: For ourselves: that God’s love may sustain us in times of suffering and rejection, and help us to trust in his providence each day, we pray to the Lord…

L: God of compassion, in the death and resurrection of Jesus, you show your love for us. Sustain us in our passion and suffering. 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,

a very large crowd before and behind you 

cried out: “Hosanna to the Son of David”

as they spread their cloaks and strewed palm leaves,

preparing the way for the king to enter Jerusalem.

And yet, a few days later,

their shouts changed to: “Crucify him!”

Lord,

you so loved the world 

that you set your face like flint toward us,

and gave your back to those who beat you,

and your cheek to the ones who plucked your beard!

you humbled yourself and emptied yourself out of love.

Let us be amazed by your love,

and share in it.

Let us say with the pagan centurion:

“Truly this man was the Son of God!”

CONCLUDING RITE

Concluding Prayer

L: Loving Father, your Son gave himself totally on the cross. May we learn from him to keep our hope in you alive even when we do not know the future or when we must bear heavy crosses. We know that we will rise above our miseries to a life of joy without end. 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:

You’ll Never Walk Alone 

Hold On to Love

Abide With Me

V Sunday of Lent

REVERSAL!

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:

Glory and Praise to Our God

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 in our lives when we feel lifeless and listless. Sickness, pain, troubles—maybe even this summer heat—sap our energy. We want to give up.

Today’s readings give us hope that what “seems” lifeless will receive life. They assure us that while it may seem like Friday, Sunday is coming… and with it comes the Lord of Life! We pray that the Lord may breathe life into our listless lives.

Penitential Rite

L: For the moments we have remain listless and not allowed God’s reviving power to work in us, we ask the Lord for his forgiveness.

        Pause

L: Lord Jesus, you raise the dead to life in the Spirit: Lord, have mercy.

A: Lord, have mercy.

L: Lord Jesus, you bring light to those in darkness: Christ, have mercy.

A: Christ, have mercy.

L: Lord Jesus, you give us yourself to heal us: 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: Merciful God, you showed your glory to our fallen race by sending your Son to confound the powers of death. Call us forth from sin’s dark tomb. Break the bonds which hold us, that we may believe and proclaim Christ, the cause of our freedom and the source of life, 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.

Liturgical Readings for the V Sunday of Lent

Reading 1 Ezekiel 37:12-14

Psalm Psalm 130: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8

Response With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.

Option 1 or Option 2 or Option 3

Reading 2 Romans 8:8-11

Acclamation

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord;

whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will never die.

Acclamation

Gospel John 11:1-45 or John 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45

Reflection on the Readings

 

Use one of the following ways to reflect on the readings.

Lectio Divina

Put yourself in the stead of one of the characters of the story of the raising of Lazarus. Reflect on your thoughts and feelings. What does the Lord tell you? 

Sunday Snippets

I was in Grade 5 when the school showed us a film. It was a thrill to see the shades drawn in the school library and a 16 mm projector set up facing a blank wall. After the film, a few students were hanging around; the art teacher, rather than rewind the film, showed it in reverse. We laughed at the strange images: disintegrated objects were reconstituted, buildings crumbled by earthquakes took shape, people who had been knocked cold came back to life. It was fascinating!

Today’s readings are a vivid description of God’s power to run the film of life in reverse and to revive the lifeless.

Ezekiel (first reading) tells the exiles—dead in heart and spirit—that God will open their graves, raise them, and put his life-giving spirit in them.

Paul (second reading) writes to the Romans that God’s spirit gives life to our mortal bodies.

The story of the raising of Lazarus (gospel) shows us the kind of God we have: our God

- does not intervene every time to remove pain/suffering and death;

- is with us amid our suffering; he is one with us, compassionate and empathetic;

- gives us life.

The recurring narrative today is one of fear and death. We can easily get overwhelmed and bury ourselves in a tomb of fear. Jesus tells us what he told Martha: “I am the resurrection and the life” and asks us the same question: “Do you believe this?”

The liturgy challenges me to 

- make an act of faith that God feels my pain and is one with me. 

- spread the hope that God will revive our lifeless and listless world.

- be a life-giver through empathy with people who are suffering. 

Questions to Ponder

Reflect on some (or all) of the following questions:

Reading 1: The reading from Ezekiel comes at the end of the vision of the valley of the dry bones. The people have been saying: “Our bones are dried up, our hope is lost, and we are cut off.” 

At this moment of my life, do I feel like this? Will I believe God’s promise that he will make me rise from my present situation?

Reading 2: Paul affirms that we are in the spirit. In what ways do I manifest the presence of the Spirit of God? How does the Spirit lead you when you feel “the body is dead”?

Gospel: Have I ever felt that God seemed to have disregarded me entirely in my time of need? Have I thought, like both sisters did, “If only you had been here…”? How did I handle that thought?

Compare Jesus’ statement, “Untie him and let him go,” with Moses’ statement to the Pharaoh, “Let my people go.”

The Creed

Prayer of the Faithful

L: Sisters and brothers, through the death and Resurrection of his Son, God our Father has shown his immense love for us, and so with confidence we turn to the Lord and pray: Lord, hear our prayer.

R: For the Church: that God may transform our fears into hope, selfishness into love, and deaths into new life, we pray to the Lord… 

R: For leaders of nations: that they may recognize the dignity of all human life, we pray to the Lord…

R: For all who are ill: that God’s healing love may relieve their pain, restore their health, and deepen their appreciation of life, we pray to the Lord…

R: For those with a terminal illness and those on death row: that they may surrender their life into God’s embrace and come to know Jesus who is the resurrection and the life, we pray to the Lord…

R: For those who are mourning the death of a loved one: that they may know Christ’s loving and sustaining presence with them in their time of loss, we pray to the Lord…

R: For ourselves: that as we share in Christ’s gift of himself, we will live the new life of the resurrection, we pray to the Lord…

L: Lord God, make us come out of our graves of sin, mediocrity, and fear. Revive us in our uncertainties and trials and make our hope contagious for others. 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,

open up our graves

and breathe your Spirit into our dry bones.

You promised 

that we will come to life in you.

Lord,

you wept.

You had cried: 

“Lazarus, come out of there!”

Lazarus did.

Lord, 

weep with us and for us

trapped in burial cloths with our hands tied.

Your passion says:

“Untie them. Let them go free.”

CONCLUDING RITE

Concluding Prayer

L: God of all consolation and compassion, your breath alone brings life to dry bones and weary souls. Pour out your Spirit upon us, that we may face despair and death with the hope of resurrection and faith in the One who called Lazarus forth from the grave, and who is Lord for ever and ever.

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:

I am the Bread of Life

Be Not Afraid

IV Sunday of Lent

FROM BLINDNESS TO SIGHT

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:

Christ, Be Our Light

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: One of the most irritating things in life is when people seem blind to what is evident: Why don’t they see? Very often we are blind to God, to people, to the things we should see about ourselves. We ask our Lord to touch and open our eyes to the deeper and beautiful realities of our faith.

Penitential Rite

L: For the times we have failed to “see” God’s grace in and around us, the good in people and their needs, our faults, we ask the Lord for forgiveness.

        Pause

L: Lord Jesus, touch our eyes and open them to our sins: Lord, have mercy.

A: Lord, have mercy.

L: Lord Jesus, touch our ears and open them to the cries of the poor: Christ, have mercy.

A: Christ, have mercy.

L: Lord Jesus, touch our hearts and open them to your love: 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 our Creator, show forth your mighty works amid your people. Enlighten your Church, that we may know your Son as the true light of the world and through our worship confess him as Christ and Lord,

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.

Liturgical Readings for the IV Sunday of Lent

Reading 1 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a

Psalm Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

Response If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Option 1 or Option 2 or Option 3

Reading 2 Ephesians 5:8-14

Acclamation

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

I am the light of the world, says the Lord;

whoever follows me will have the light of life.

Acclamation

Gospel John 9:1-41

Reflection on the Readings

 

Use one of the following ways to reflect on the readings.

Lectio Divina

Imagine you are present with the blind man as he encounters Jesus, his neighbours, the Pharisees. What are your thoughts and feelings when you witness these encounters? 

Sunday Snippets

Author John Griffin was blinded in an explosion during World War II. Twelve years later, he suddenly began to see what he described as “red sand”. A specialist later told him that a block to an optic nerve had abruptly cleared causing him to see. Commenting on his experience, Griffin said: “You can’t imagine what it is like for a father to see his children for the first time.”

The blind man of the gospel had an experience like Griffin’s: after Jesus anoints the man and he washes in the pool, a son saw his parents for the first time! He saw more than his parents; he saw Jesus as his Lord.

While his physical sight was instantaneously restored, his spiritual sight grew in stages: Jesus is the man called Jesus, a prophet, a man of God, and finally Lord.

The Pharisees/Jews make an opposite journey; they become increasingly blind. They expel the man from the synagogue. Even his parents disassociate themselves from him out of fear.

For the evangelist, this is not merely another miraculous cure. John is writing to a community that is experiencing rejection from Jewish society. Through this sign, he presents the blind man as a model of spiritual growth to encourage them to continue to “see” Jesus as their Lord.

Like the blind man, we have been anointed and washed in the waters of baptism.

Have I grown in my faith response to Jesus: do I “see” him as my Lord… or is he merely a man, a prophet, a man from God?

Am I ready to risk rejection in my desire to see Jesus? 

Questions to Ponder

Reflect on some (or all) of the following questions:

Reading 1: When was a time that a first impression about someone or something was proven to be far from the reality? How can I better “look into the hearts” of others?

When I feel God is calling me to perform a task, what do I do: assume that God will give me what I need for the task or back away at the thought of obstacles? 

Reading 2: What does it mean to be called “a child of light?” Are there any “fruitless works of darkness” in my life that need to be exposed? How can I continue to grow in my spiritual journey, moving from “darkness” to “light”?

Gospel: Has there ever been a physical or emotional misfortune in my life that has turned into an opportunity for the demonstration of God’s power? How do I answer the question “why?” concerning pain or suffering in my life? 

The Creed

Prayer of the Faithful

L: Sisters and brothers, we ask our Lord to open our eyes to see him and to recognize him in our neighbour, as we pray: Lord, hear our prayer.

R: For the Church: that we may share the light of the Gospel with all who are struggling to recognize good from evil, truth from lies, and selfless love from self-serving activity, we pray to the Lord… 

R: For leaders of nations: that they may promote the well-being of all people, particularly the vulnerable and the powerless, we pray to the Lord…

R: For people living with disabilities: that they may cope with the effects of their disability, we pray to the Lord…

R: For those appearing for examinations: that their efforts may bear fruit, we pray to the Lord…

R: For insight to caring for our environment: that we may see the damages we have done to the environment and work to protect it from further harm, we pray to the Lord…

R: For ourselves: that we may look beyond appearances and attempt to see the face of Christ in all people, celebrating diversity and promoting the gifts each person brings, we pray to the Lord…

L: Lord God, restore our sight that we may see the way that leads to you and to people, and at the end of our road we may see you. 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,

won’t you cleanse my blind eyes,

wash away the mud,

and move me 

from being an unseeing person to a believer,

from a bystander to a disciple,

from a walker in darkness to a lamp for your light?

Lord, 

let me see…

beyond appearances or stature

and into the heart like you do.

CONCLUDING RITE

Concluding Prayer

L: Lord our God, wake us up from the night of sin and the sleep of indifference. Let the light of Christ shine in us, that those around us may discover in us a bit of his compassionate love, the truth he spoke, and the new life he brought. He is Lord for ever and ever.

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:

Open Our Eyes, Lord

Amazing Grace

III Sunday of Lent

THIRST QUENCHER

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:

Come to the Water

As the Deer

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: We seek “something new” or “something more”. Today’s readings remind us that there is only one thing that can satisfy our desire for something new or something more: living water, which Jesus gives us. We ask the Lord to keep giving us this living water and to help us share it with others.

Penitential Rite

L: For the times we have not allowed the living water to quench our thirst and have quenched it elsewhere, we ask God’s pardon.

        Pause

L: Lord Jesus, you give us living water to quench our thirst: Lord, have mercy.

A: Lord, have mercy.

L: Lord Jesus, you give yourself to heal us and bring us strength: Christ, have mercy.

A: Christ, have mercy.

L: Lord Jesus, you give us the consolation of the truth: 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: O God, living and true, look upon your people, whose dry and stony hearts are parched with thirst. Unseal the living water of your Spirit; let it become within us an ever-flowing spring, leaping up to eternal life. Thus may we worship you in spirit and in truth. 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.

Liturgical Readings for the III Sunday of Lent

Reading 1 Exodus 17:3-7

Psalm Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9

Response If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Option 1  or Option 2 or Option 3

Reading 2 Romans 5:1-2, 5-8

Acclamation

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Lord, you are truly the Saviour of the world;

give me living water, that I may never thirst again.

Acclamation

Gospel John 4:5-42

Reflection on the Readings

 

Use one of the following ways to reflect on the readings.

Lectio Divina

Imagine you are present during the encounter of the Samaritan woman with Jesus. What are your thoughts and feelings when you hear them dialogue with one another? 

Sunday Snippets

Several years ago, I was trekking with friends. By mid-day, after trekking a few hours, we were half-way to our destination and out of water! There was no water source/ human habitation in sight. An hour later, we chanced upon a tiny stagnant pool of water. We were tired and thirsty. And so, though the water was dank, we drank!

Thirst! This was the condition of the wandering Israel. 

It was thirst that made them grumble against Moses; lament their liberation from Egypt; question God’s presence among them. 

God’s response? He gives them life-giving water: a reminder of his continued and powerful presence among them.

Thirst! This was the condition of the Samaritan woman.

It was physical thirst that made her come to the well in the noon-day sun; emotional thirst which took her through six relationships; spiritual thirst which made her dialogue with a male Jew.

God’s response? Jesus gives her life-giving water. He satisfies her longing for love and understanding; he treats her as a human person with respect and dignity. Through a seven-part catechesis, he guides her from ignorance to faith; she grows progressively in her knowledge of Jesus’ identity: a Jew, sir, prophet, and Messiah. 

Her growth in the faith journey culminates in her leaving her water jar behind; she goes from being a social outcast to becoming a disciple and a missionary.

Thirst! This is our condition too. 

We have our physical, emotional, spiritual thirst. God’s response to our thirst is like his response to the thirst of Israel and the Samaritan woman. He fills us with living water! We need not go back to the well because the source of living water is within us… from our baptism. 

Do I still go to other wells or do I allow the living water to be my thirst-quencher?  In what way can I, like the woman, invite people to “come and see” and encounter Jesus, and drink of the living water that I have drunk? 

Questions to Ponder

Reflect on some (or all) of the following questions:

Reading 1: In the desert, filled with thirsty panic, the Israelites grumbled that God was not with them. With the current world situation (violence, war, natural disasters, global warming…) and my troubles, can I relate to this situation in some way? What helps me overcome my thirsty panic?

Reading 2: Paul writes: “The Holy Spirit has been given to us.” What do these words mean to me? Do I call on the Spirit to come to my aid when I need help?

Gospel: The fact that Jews considered Samaritans heretics or that she was a woman did not keep Jesus from breaking through these barriers to talk with the Samaritan woman. What barriers do/ should I ignore when I take God’s gift of the “living water” to people in need? 

The Creed

Prayer of the Faithful

L: Sisters and brothers, it is God alone who quenches our thirst and satiates our longings. With trust in his providential care for us, we now pray: Lord, hear our prayer.

R: For the leaders of the Church: that they may be a source of living water for all who thirst for meaning and purpose in life, we pray to the Lord… 

R: For the world: that the Spirit may inspire world leaders to end the wars and bloodshed especially in Israel, Iran, and Ukraine, and turn human hearts toward forgiveness and cooperation, we pray to the Lord…

R: For all who face prejudice and discrimination: that God will heal their wounds and help them to continue to share their gifts for the good of others, we pray to the Lord…

R: For those appearing for their board examinations: that their efforts may bear fruit, we pray to the Lord…

R: For all who thirst every day: that God may assist all who have limited access to water, guide all who are searching for new sources of water, and raise our awareness of the importance of protecting clean water, we pray to the Lord…

R: For ourselves: that we make room for God and spend time in prayer during these coming weeks, we pray to the Lord…

L: God our Father, through your life-giving word, you have again quenched our thirst. Strengthen us in the desert moments of our lives. May we share your living water with all to satisfy their thirst for truth, for freedom and justice, and for everlasting joy. 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, 

they dragged themselves across the desert

dying of thirst.

They questioned whether the Lord was still with them.

Yes, you were there, 

but something had drained their souls of sight.

So too with us.

It can be hard to find you

in these arid days of our lives.

Help us, please.

Be fresh water to our dry days.

Lord,

when you declared to a woman at the well

everything about her life,

we think of our own lives as well.

You know each of our ins and outs too,

when we sit and when we stand;

when we yearn for light, love, beauty, and peace.

Still, often we remain dry!

Come, Lord Jesus, 

quench our thirst for life with your living water.

CONCLUDING RITE

Concluding Prayer

L: Lord our God, you have quenched our thirst by giving us your Son. Be with us as we go our difficult way in the desert, a way of renewal and conversion. 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:

Fill My Cup, Lord

All Who Are Thirsty