Catholic Church Serving West Seattle Washington
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 March 3, 2008 Fifth 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 11:3-7, 17, 20-27,33b-45,L34A
The sisters of Lazarus sent word to Jesus saying, “Master, the one you love is ill.” When Jesus heard this he said, “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that he was ill, he remained for two days in the place where he was.
Then after this he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to
When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him, but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.”
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.”
Martha said, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.”
Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
She said to him “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”
He became perturbed and deeply troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Sir, come and see.” And Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him.”But some of them said, “Could not the one who opened the eyes of the blind man have done something so that this man would not have died?”
So Jesus, perturbed again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay across it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”
Martha, the dead man’s sister said to him, “Lord, by now there will be a stench; he has been dead for four days.”
Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me, but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me.” And when he had said this, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth. So Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.” Now many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what he had done began to believe in him.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Reflection and Sharing:
Leader: Please consider the following suggested sharing areas:
1 How do I understand the role of death and dying in relation to my faith?
2 When have I seen Jesus as “Resurrection and Life” in my faith journey?
3 In what ways am I bound as Lazarus was bound? Who in my life has helped to untie me and let me go free?
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
First
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 130:1-2,3-4,5-6,7-8
Second
