Dear IHM Families, Teachers and Friends,
Each month we will feature LESSONS FOR THE SUNDAY GOSPELS for your personal use, for use with your family or perhaps for a prayer group you meet with to pray around the Sunday readings or for leading Liturgy of the Word with Children. These lessons for the Sunday readings have four components:
Reflecting, Acting, Sharing Ideas and Praying.
March 7, 2004
3rd Sunday of Lent
Luke 9:28-36
Reflecting
“Can you hear me now? Good. Can you hear me now? Good.” This is a popular commercial for a cell phone service. The person in the commercial is talking on a cell phone and moves from space to space and asks into the phone, “Can you hear me now?” The commercial is meant to show us that we will be able to hear and be heard no matter where we are if we use that service.
This commercial is a lot like the message we hear in today’s Gospel about the Transfiguration. Jesus and three of his Apostles go to the top of a mountain, where the Apostles see Jesus’ splendid and radiant glory. The disciples doze off, and when they wake up, they see how glorious Jesus is while he talks with Moses and Elijah. It’s as if God is saying to Peter, James, and John, “This is my chosen Son. Can you see him now? Can you hear him now?”
Lent is a good time for us to think about how clearly we talk to God and listen to God. The disciples were with Jesus, the Son of God, yet they dozed off. Do we doze off? Do we do everything we can to talk to God in prayer and to listen for God’s message to us in our hearts? God wants to know, “Can you hear me now?”
Sharing Ideas
Tell of a time when you felt that God was close to you and taking care of you in a special way. What keeps you from speaking and listening to God more often?
Acting
Play Gospel Telephone. Stand or sit in a circle and whisper a line of Scripture from one person to the next. After the line has been whispered around the circle, see how similar it is to the original line. Did it get pretty messed up or did everyone hear it and pass it on clearly?
Praying
God of Glory, quiet our hearts and help us pay attention and stay awake, so that we never miss what your Son, Jesus, says to us. Amen.
March 14, 2004
3rd Sunday of Lent
Luke 13:1-9
Reflecting
In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells the story about the fig tree that doesn’t bear fruit. He says that the man in the story has been going to that tree for three years to get fruit but never finds any. The gardener in the story asks the man to let the tree grow for one more year, during which time he’ll dig around the soil and put manure in the soil to make the tree grow stronger and bear figs.
Our faith is like the soil around the fig tree. We need to tend our soil of faith, just like the gardener promises to do with the soil around the fig tree in Jesus’ parable. We need to dig around the soil of our faith and sprinkle it with things like charity and prayer – so that it will bear fruit. Otherwise, it’s as if our faith is just like the soil around the fig tree; it won’t bring about much that is good.
Sharing Ideas
What happens when plants and flowers don’t get enough water? Besides watering, what other things does a gardener do to help make things grow?
Acting
Look out the window and pick a tree or bush. Take time every day over the next several weeks to look at that tree or bush to see how it changes and shows signs of growth. Remember: Sometimes you may need to look closely.
Praying
Dear God, you are the Master Gardener. Come into the garden of our lives and sprinkle our hearts with love and goodness, so that we can bear the fruit of kindness in the name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.
March 21, 2004
4th Sunday of Lent
Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
Reflecting
In today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus tell us the story we call the “parable of the prodigal son.” The word “prodigal” means “extravagant.”
In Jesus’ parable, the three key people – the father and his two sons – are all prodigal in one way or another. Clearly, the son who took off and wasted his inheritance is “prodigal.” He was extravagant in spending his money and time without thought for his own well being or for his family. The father also is “prodigal.” When that son finally comes home, he goes to extravagant lengths to welcome his child and to celebrate his joy and relief.
And the other son? How is he “prodigal”? He is the prodigal pouter. He is so wrapped up in his own extravagant self-importance that he can’t even see the goodness and abundance that are already his, all around him, all the time.
Sharing Ideas
Have you ever acted like the “prodigal father” in Jesus’ parable? Have you ever acted like one of the “prodigal sons”?
Acting
Name seven ways you can show extravagant love to others. Do one each day this week.
Praying
God, our Extravagant Father, thank you for waiting for us and forgiving us all the time. You’re always there for us. Help us to never forget your generous love. Amen.
March 28, 2004
5th Sunday of Lent
John 8:1-11
Reflecting
In today’s Gospel, the Pharisees and the teachers of Jewish law want to trap Jesus. They want to see if he will declare that the law should apply – which means the woman who is caught doing something seriously sinful will have stones thrown at her until she dies – or if he will suggest they “break” the law and have mercy on the woman.
But Jesus doesn’t fall into the trap. He doesn’t pick from the two choices he is given. Rather, he chooses love – for everybody. It’s clear how he chooses love for the woman; he does not condemn her but, instead, tells her not to sin anymore. He has mercy on her.
But how does Jesus show love for the Pharisees and teachers? He reaches into their hearts to let them see that they, too, have options in this situation: They can start throwing stones and publicly show that they consider themselves sinless, thus committing the sin of pride. Or they can search their hearts to find the mercy and love that is there and to which he calls them – and all of us.
Sharing Ideas
Has anyone ever tried to trick you? How did you feel? Is it hard to like a person who wants to trick others?
Acting
Imagine you are one of the Pharisees or teachers. Someone asks, “Why did you walk away?” What is your answer?
Praying
Merciful God, bless us with the wisdom of your Holy Spirit so we can see all our chances to be loving and merciful. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.
Each month we will feature LESSONS FOR THE SUNDAY GOSPELS for your personal use, for use with your family or perhaps for a prayer group you meet with to pray around the Sunday readings or for leading Liturgy of the Word with Children. These lessons for the Sunday readings have four components:
Reflecting, Acting, Sharing Ideas and Praying.
March 7, 2004
3rd Sunday of Lent
Luke 9:28-36
Reflecting
“Can you hear me now? Good. Can you hear me now? Good.” This is a popular commercial for a cell phone service. The person in the commercial is talking on a cell phone and moves from space to space and asks into the phone, “Can you hear me now?” The commercial is meant to show us that we will be able to hear and be heard no matter where we are if we use that service.
This commercial is a lot like the message we hear in today’s Gospel about the Transfiguration. Jesus and three of his Apostles go to the top of a mountain, where the Apostles see Jesus’ splendid and radiant glory. The disciples doze off, and when they wake up, they see how glorious Jesus is while he talks with Moses and Elijah. It’s as if God is saying to Peter, James, and John, “This is my chosen Son. Can you see him now? Can you hear him now?”
Lent is a good time for us to think about how clearly we talk to God and listen to God. The disciples were with Jesus, the Son of God, yet they dozed off. Do we doze off? Do we do everything we can to talk to God in prayer and to listen for God’s message to us in our hearts? God wants to know, “Can you hear me now?”
Sharing Ideas
Tell of a time when you felt that God was close to you and taking care of you in a special way. What keeps you from speaking and listening to God more often?
Acting
Play Gospel Telephone. Stand or sit in a circle and whisper a line of Scripture from one person to the next. After the line has been whispered around the circle, see how similar it is to the original line. Did it get pretty messed up or did everyone hear it and pass it on clearly?
Praying
God of Glory, quiet our hearts and help us pay attention and stay awake, so that we never miss what your Son, Jesus, says to us. Amen.
March 14, 2004
3rd Sunday of Lent
Luke 13:1-9
Reflecting
In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells the story about the fig tree that doesn’t bear fruit. He says that the man in the story has been going to that tree for three years to get fruit but never finds any. The gardener in the story asks the man to let the tree grow for one more year, during which time he’ll dig around the soil and put manure in the soil to make the tree grow stronger and bear figs.
Our faith is like the soil around the fig tree. We need to tend our soil of faith, just like the gardener promises to do with the soil around the fig tree in Jesus’ parable. We need to dig around the soil of our faith and sprinkle it with things like charity and prayer – so that it will bear fruit. Otherwise, it’s as if our faith is just like the soil around the fig tree; it won’t bring about much that is good.
Sharing Ideas
What happens when plants and flowers don’t get enough water? Besides watering, what other things does a gardener do to help make things grow?
Acting
Look out the window and pick a tree or bush. Take time every day over the next several weeks to look at that tree or bush to see how it changes and shows signs of growth. Remember: Sometimes you may need to look closely.
Praying
Dear God, you are the Master Gardener. Come into the garden of our lives and sprinkle our hearts with love and goodness, so that we can bear the fruit of kindness in the name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.
March 21, 2004
4th Sunday of Lent
Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
Reflecting
In today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus tell us the story we call the “parable of the prodigal son.” The word “prodigal” means “extravagant.”
In Jesus’ parable, the three key people – the father and his two sons – are all prodigal in one way or another. Clearly, the son who took off and wasted his inheritance is “prodigal.” He was extravagant in spending his money and time without thought for his own well being or for his family. The father also is “prodigal.” When that son finally comes home, he goes to extravagant lengths to welcome his child and to celebrate his joy and relief.
And the other son? How is he “prodigal”? He is the prodigal pouter. He is so wrapped up in his own extravagant self-importance that he can’t even see the goodness and abundance that are already his, all around him, all the time.
Sharing Ideas
Have you ever acted like the “prodigal father” in Jesus’ parable? Have you ever acted like one of the “prodigal sons”?
Acting
Name seven ways you can show extravagant love to others. Do one each day this week.
Praying
God, our Extravagant Father, thank you for waiting for us and forgiving us all the time. You’re always there for us. Help us to never forget your generous love. Amen.
March 28, 2004
5th Sunday of Lent
John 8:1-11
Reflecting
In today’s Gospel, the Pharisees and the teachers of Jewish law want to trap Jesus. They want to see if he will declare that the law should apply – which means the woman who is caught doing something seriously sinful will have stones thrown at her until she dies – or if he will suggest they “break” the law and have mercy on the woman.
But Jesus doesn’t fall into the trap. He doesn’t pick from the two choices he is given. Rather, he chooses love – for everybody. It’s clear how he chooses love for the woman; he does not condemn her but, instead, tells her not to sin anymore. He has mercy on her.
But how does Jesus show love for the Pharisees and teachers? He reaches into their hearts to let them see that they, too, have options in this situation: They can start throwing stones and publicly show that they consider themselves sinless, thus committing the sin of pride. Or they can search their hearts to find the mercy and love that is there and to which he calls them – and all of us.
Sharing Ideas
Has anyone ever tried to trick you? How did you feel? Is it hard to like a person who wants to trick others?
Acting
Imagine you are one of the Pharisees or teachers. Someone asks, “Why did you walk away?” What is your answer?
Praying
Merciful God, bless us with the wisdom of your Holy Spirit so we can see all our chances to be loving and merciful. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.
