RSVP 2.24.2008

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE PARISH

RSVP:  Ritual, Scripture, Verse, and Prayer

 

An Invitation to Pray with the Scriptures:

 

RSVP offers a simple prayer and sharing format outlined below.  This can be done with others or alone.

 

These are suggestions only, and should be amended to fit the group and the time allowed.

Obviously if children are present, a candle may not be what is passed as part of the sharing.

 

Anyone can lead. Leadership can rotate and should not be seen as someone who “knows” more than others.  The leader simply initiates the prayer for all.

 

RITUAL:   Begin by lighting a candle.

The candle is symbolic of the light of Christ.  When we gather, Jesus himself is among us, because he said: “Where two or three have come together in my name, I am there among them.”  (Matt 18:20).   

 

Take a quiet moment to let go of the demands of the day, and begin to focus your heart on prayer.

 

SCRIPTURE:

The scripture is read slowly three times by the leader with periods of silence between readings.  This is an ancient form of prayer known as Lectio Divina, or sacred reading. 

The first reading merely gives the hearer a chance to hear the words. 

The listener, in prayer, asks:  What do these words say? 

The second reading is for deeper understanding. 

The listener, in prayer, asks:  What is God saying to me? 

The third reading is to discern action.

                        The listener, in prayer asks:  Is there an action God is calling me to take?

Between each reading, allow for some moments of silence - so there can be time for reflection.

 

Reflecting and sharing the VERSE of scripture that relates to our life:

Sharing our reflection gives voice to our prayer and not only helps us articulate our faith, but helps others as well.  The questions offered are suggestions only; if they speak to you, welcome them, if not, share your own reflections.  It is not necessary to answer every question.  They are intended to assist the reflection process only, not to assume answers or make comparisons. 

 

Steps for sharing:       1. The first person to share takes the candle and holds it in their hands. 

2.  Share only what you feel comfortable sharing. 

It is always acceptable to “pass.” 

3.  Listen with prayerful respect to others, and make no comments

 nor ask questions as others are sharing. 

4.      When the person sharing is finished, they will place the candle back

 in the center of the table so the next person may take it as they share.

 

PRAYER:

The group may ask all to pray in intercession or in thanksgiving for experiences or events that are happening in our lives:

. . . . . We pray to the Lord.                              All:  Lord, hear our prayer.

 

 

Closing Prayer:                      Our Father

 

 

Week of February 18, 2008  Third Sunday of Lent

 

Leader (Begin by lighting a candle):  Take a quiet moment to let go of the demands of the day, and begin to focus your heart on prayer.

Leader:  In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.   

All:  And also with you.

Leader:  A reading from the Gospel according to John (John 4:5-15, 19b-26, 39a,40-42, L28A

Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there. Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well. It was about noon.

A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” His disciples had gone into town to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, “How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans. Jesus answered and to her, “If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’  you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

The woman said to him, “Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the cistern is deep, where then can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this cistern and drank from it himself with his children and his flocks?”

Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water. I can see that you are a prophet.  Our ancestors worshipped on this mountain; but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.”

Jesus said to her, “Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You people worship what you do not understand; we worship what we understand, because salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him. God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth.”

The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Christ; when he comes, he will tell us everything.”

Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one speaking with you.”

Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him. When the Samaritans came to him, they invited him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days.  Many more began to believe in him because of his word, and they said to the woman, “We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

 

Reflection and Sharing:

Leader:      Please consider the following suggested sharing areas:

 

1.                  What does the phrase “Living Water”  mean to me?

2.                  Does my “thirst” lead me into conversation with Jesus?  What stands in the way of this conversation?

3.                  The Samaritan woman saw Jesus as a Jewish man, then prophet, and finally Messiah-savior of the world. Where am I in identifying who Jesus is to me?    

 

These are suggestions only; You may share your reflection on one of them or share other reflections you have on the gospel.  When you share, take the candle and hold it in your hands.  Share only what you feel comfortable sharing.  It is always acceptable to “pass.”  Listen with prayerful respect to others, and make no comments nor ask questions as others are sharing.  When your sharing is finished, place the candle back in the center of the table so the next person may take it as they share.

 

Intercessory Prayer:

Leader:   We ask you, now, for any prayers of intercession or thanksgiving for events and experiences that are happening in your life for which you want the group to pray.

                       

. . . . . We pray to the Lord.                              All:  Lord, hear our prayer.

 

Closing Prayer:                      Our Father

 

Other Readings for This Sunday:

First Reading:              Exod 17:3-7    

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

Second Reading:           Rom 5:1-2, 5-8