Jesus my lord

Jesus, my Lord Group reflections on our call to love and serve our Lord

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Jesus, My Lord

978-0-9927584-1-7 Nihil Obstat: Father Terry Tastard, Censor Imprimatur: H.E Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster Date: Feast of Our Lady of Walsingham, 24 September 2014

The Nihil obstat and Imprimatur are a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free from doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil obstat and Imprimatur agree with the contents, opinions or statements expressed.

Writing Team: Dr Mark Nash and Mrs Margaret Wickware We are grateful to the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A for use of the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition copyright © 1993 &1989 and to the Bible Societies/HarperCollins Publishers Ltd for use of the Good News Bible copyright © 1994. Excerpts from The Divine Office © 1974, hierarchies of Australia, England and Wales, Ireland. All rights reserved.

The majority of images contained in this booklet have been taken from those freely available at the Wikimedia Commons website and from diocesan stock.

For all others the copyright has either been obtained or sought.

Produced by House on Rock Ltd (www.houseonrock.co.uk) in association with Diocese of Westminster (020 7798 9152; evangelisation@rcdow.org.uk)

exploring faith

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Front cover: The Crucified Christ (c.1437-1446) by Fra Angelico (c.1395-1455)

Jesus, My Lord

Contents About this book with

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Foreword by Cardinal Vincent Nichols (Westminster)

1. Life in the Spirit

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Baptism as the foundational sacrament for discipleship

2. Restless Hearts

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Nurturing a desire to explore our faith in Christ Jesus

3. The Three Foods

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Coming to know Jesus more deeply in Scripture and the Eucharist

4. Seeking Christ

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‘Laying down our nets’; making a life changing decision

5. Called and Gifted

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Being the hands and voice of Christ in the world

6. Feeding the Hungry

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Helping others to know God’s healing, mercy and love

Daily Prayers

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Prayers from Sunday to Saturday

Further Reading

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Other books and documents you may find useful

Jesus, My Lord

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Why small groups?

In St Luke’s account of the Early Church we hear that three thousand were baptised following Pentecost (Acts 2:41). Guided by the Holy Spirit, the newly baptised ‘devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers‘ (Acts 2:42). In a similar fashion thousands of people have found spiritual nourishment in faith-sharing, in reflecting on Scripture and prayer as part of a small group.

This resource feeds such small groups drawing on the Scriptures with each session clearly rooted in a passage from the Bible. As the Second Vatican Council Fathers emphasised ‘in the sacred books the Father comes lovingly to meet his children and talks with them’ (Dei Verbum, 21).

Fellowship is a vital part of small group participation. In these small groups you are able to get to know your fellow Christians better and to form strong, mutually supportive bonds. The living community is essentially Christian as Jesus ‘did not come to save individuals without any bond between them’ (Lumen Gentium, 9).

Members of small groups are encouraged to share and gain confidence in talking about their faith. It is this confidence building in a trusting environment that helps participants to ‘love in all the circumstances of ordinary life’ (Gaudium et Spes, 38).

Our prayers together help us to become the dwelling places of the Holy Spirit that we are called to be (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 2).

How do small groups work?

The sessions in this booklet are designed to last between 1 and 1 ½ hours. Those leading the session are, of course, free to add periods of silence, hymns and other readings of interest - these sessions are a guide but can be used as they are written.

It is vital that each person is given the opportunity to give their thoughts and share where they are on their faith journey. Small group sharing is not a place for argument or heated debate.

The atmosphere should be prayerful with the aim of helping each to feel welcome and conscious of God’s loving presence. Soft music, candlelight, a religious image or crucifix to focus attention can all be used to help in this aim.

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Jesus, My Lord

Foreword To be a Christian is to be a ‘missionary disciple’. Pope Francis frequently and powerfully teaches this truth. We all became ‘missionary disciples’ at our baptism.

However, each one of us lives out our missionary discipleship in our own particular way. As ‘missionary disciples’ we needs to ask ourselves in a truly personal manner: Who am I as a disciple? As a missionary, what have I to do and say?

This resource, Jesus, My Lord, helps us to explore these questions. It seeks to deepen our understanding of discipleship so to impel us to use our gifts to proclaim God’s Kingdom. We are reminded that a disciple is a believer, a student, a follower. So too that we must remain focused on the one in whom we believe, learn from and follow. Only by doing this can we discover what we must do and say in order to enable others to meet Jesus, to extend to them ‘the joy that fills the hearts and lives of who encounter Jesus’ (Evangelii Gaudium, 1).

St Peter made a conscious decision ‘to drop everything’ and to follow Jesus as his Lord – with all that entailed (see Matthew 4:18-19). After the Resurrection he proclaimed Jesus as Lord and Christ (see Acts 2). Jesus asks us to do the same.

St Paul announced joyfully the supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus as Lord - no matter the cost (e.g. see Philipians 3:8). We are ambassadors of Christ, he says, entrusted with the message of reconciliation (see 2 Corinthians 5:1920). To be effective emissaries of the Lord’s mercy, we must become ever more intimate with him.

I invite you to join me in regularly reflecting upon how well we live our vocation as ‘missionary disciples’. How profound and loving is our knowledge of the Lord?

Do we readily permit him to send us out to be his living presence in our world?

To be a ‘missionary disciple’ is a daily and life-long vocation. It embraces many moments of exultant joy. It is also marked with moments of darkness, doubt and real failure. Yet even in failure we can return to our true focus: the Lord. Let us open our hearts to him anew, become afresh his faithful disciples so to be his ever more his faithful missionaries.

With an assurance of my prayers and best wishes,

Cardinal Vincent Nichols Archbishop of Westminster

Jesus, My Lord

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About this book ‘The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is constantly born anew. In this Exhortation I wish to encourage the Christian faithful to embark upon a new chapter of evangelization marked by this joy, while pointing out new paths for the Church’s journey in years to come’ (Pope Francis - The Joy of the Gospel, 1).

Jesus, My Lord is the Diocese of Westminster’s faith-sharing resource on what discipleship means for us today. The principal documents used in this booklet are: Pope Francis’ Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), St John Paul II’s Redemptoris Missio (The Mission of the Redeemer) and inspiration is drawn from Pope Benedict XVI’s Lumen Fidei (The Light of Faith).

Jesus, My Lord is divided into six group sessions which explore and aim to strengthen our personal relationship with Jesus Christ and the nature that our response to God’s gift of Christ may take.

In addition to the Scripture and reflections now familiar to users of exploring faith booklets, you will find text boxes explaining various terms. The Scripture passages have been chosen to reflect the theme of their respective sessions and you will benefit from reading the passage in context (that is, reading the passages before and after the one featured in the booklet) either as a group or individually.

New to this booklet is a section specifically written with children in mind. That said, it may also prove useful in exploring the theme with people for whom English is not a first language - more on this on page 5.

The booklet is illustrated with a selection of pictures and looking upon these images may stir a thought or feeling in a way that the text could not. We also invite you to make use of simplified daily prayers drawn from the Divine Office.

Jesus, My Lord is not tied to a particular time of year and the prayers and meditations may be used by individuals, groups or in a wider parish context throughout the year. This booklet and others in the exploring faith series can be viewed at and downloaded from the Diocese of Westminster’s website [http:// rcdow.org.uk/faith/small-groups/resources/].

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Jesus, My Lord

CHILDREN’S PAGES Jesus, My Lord, the latest booklet in the exploring faith series, features pages specifically written for children. Reflecting the theme of the adult pages, the children’s section will a short reflection, the Scripture passage (from the Good News translation of the Bible), a question on the Scripture and some form of activity based on the theme.

The children’s section also features Theodore (a name which means ‘gift from God’) a young boy who is keen to understand how to respond to God’s love for him.

Theo, which he likes to be called for short, will ask himself various questions and will prompt us to ask the same questions ourselves. The pages on which you see his face will include activities and passages from the Bible which aim to help us explore the themes we find in the full sessions.

pes hort) ho e s r fo ’ o od’s lov re (‘The Theodo understand G how our us might s to help ow we h d n a for us d. e for Go own lov

Jesus, My Lord

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Image: Christ Washing the Feet of the Apostles by Meister des Hausbuches (1475)

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Session One Jesus, My Lord

life in the spirit

session one

Opening prayer

Taken from Psalm 136(135) - to be said all together or the group can divide in half and alternate.

All:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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O give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love endures for ever.

Give thanks to the God of gods for his love endures for ever.

Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his love endures for ever;

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who alone has wrought marvellous works, for his love endures for ever; whose wisdom it was made the skies, for his love endures for ever; who fixed the earth firmly on the seas, for his love endures for ever.

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It was he who made the great lights, for his love endures for ever; the sun to rule in the day, for his love endures for ever; the moon and the stars in the night, for his love endures for ever.

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He remembered us in our distress, for his love endures for ever.

He gives food to all living things, for his love endures for ever.

To the God of heaven give thanks, for his love endures for ever.

All:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Jesus, My Lord Session One

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As we come together let us, either aloud or in the silence of our hearts, give thanks and praise to the Lord for all the things we have accomplished, the joys experienced, graces received and people met over the past week. Let us also remember all those in need of our prayers.

Introduction to the Scripture reading Let us listen carefully to the Word of the Lord, and attend to it with the ear of our hearts.

Let us welcome it, and faithfully put it into practice.

St Benedict of Nursia (c.480-c.547) adapted

Explore the Scriptures Acts 1:1-8 Note: The Book of Acts recounts the establishment of the early Christian Church. Scholars generally agree that St Luke penned the Book of Acts as a continuation of his Gospel writings. In its first verses, we are reminded of the Great Commission, the gift of the Holy Spirit and the sending forth of the disciples.

In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over the course of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. ‘This’, he said, ‘is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’

So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’

Please take a few moments in silence to reflect on the passage, then share a word or phrase that has struck you. Pause to think about what others have said then, after a second reading of the passage, you may wish to share a further thought.

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Session One Jesus, My Lord

Reflection Many among us may recall our teenage years and memories of courting: some fond while others best kept long forgotten. Today, however, the popular press suggests that dating is generally out of fashion as young people socialize ‘in packs’, that is ‘hanging out’ with friends. Spur of the moment, Facebook and text messaging have replaced the long awaited phone call (perhaps hesitantly made) to arrange a date – a time of getting to know one particular person, to discover common interests and shared values. Time taken to develop mutual trust, a bond of love, to fall in love.

This lack of time invested in developing relationships might seem to contradict Christian living at its very root. God slowly and patiently engendered the Israelites with a yearning for the coming of our saviour, but we do not have to wait. We are invited, indeed privileged to be able to develop a dynamic relationship with the risen Christ, to get to know him, to fall in love with him, to become his disciple.

In the opening verses of the book of Acts of the Apostles that we have just read, we hear Jesus announce the supreme gift about to be bestowed upon Christ’s first disciples. At baptism, the foundational sacrament for discipleship, we too receive this supreme gift: the Holy Spirit infused into the inmost depths of our beings.

Only through the workings of the Holy Spirit are we united with Christ: ‘Through the power of the Holy Spirit we take part in Christ’s’ passion by dying to sin, and his Resurrection by being born to a new life’ (CCC, 1988). Only with the grace of the Holy Spirit can we respond to God’s gratuitous gift: the virtue of faith.

“I would like to invite everyone to renew firm trust in the Lord. I would like that we all, entrust ourselves as children to the arms of God, and rest assured that those arms support us and [help] us to walk every day, even in times of struggle. I would like everyone to feel loved by the God who gave His Son for us and showed us His boundless love. I want everyone to feel the joy of being Christian.”

Jesus, My Lord Session One

Pope Benedict XVI – Final General Audience (Feb 2013)

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For many of us, the gifts of the Holy Spirit were received at baptism as infants and strengthening by the sacrament of confirmation in our early teens. In those early years, our parents were given the task of helping us to grow in intimacy with the Lord, to entrust ourselves to him. However, the writings of St. John Paul II remind us that this is an ongoing lifelong endeavour which demands a continual turning again and again to ‘life according to the Spirit’ (see Romans 8:3-13), ‘to walk with the Spirit’ (Galatians 5:16). ‘Conversion means accepting, by a personal decision, the saving sovereignty of Christ and becoming his disciple.’ (Redemptoris Missio Mission of the Redeemer, 46) • • • •

Have you previously considered yourself a disciple?

What does the idea that ‘discipleship is an ongoing lifetime endeavour’ mean to you personally?

How can we deepen our trust in our loving God? How can we help others to do the same?

Closing Prayers You may wish to end this session with the Lord’s Prayer or silent reflection.

Gracious and holy Father, please give me: intellect to understand you; reason to discern you; diligence to seek you; wisdom to find you; a spirit to know you; a heart to meditate upon you; ears to hear you; eyes to see you; a tongue to proclaim you; a way of life pleasing to you; patience to wait for you; and perseverance to look for you.

Grant me: a perfect end, your holy presence.

A blessed resurrection, And life everlasting.

Amen.

This session looks at baptism as the foundational sacrament for discipleship (see page 62). At that time, we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit to stir our minds and hearts, to enable us to develop a profound and deep friendship with Christ. The next session explores the way we look at the world around us and how we seek the will of God.

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Signpost

a prayer of St Benedict of Nursia (480-547)

Session One Jesus, My Lord

my faith journey in christ Use this space to write down your answer to the following questions (you may wish to share with others what you have written): Where have you tried to set aside your own thoughts and tried to make decisions with the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:15)? Do you ever ask yourself: ‘What would Jesus do in this instance’?

I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us - yes, the many good things he has done... according to his compassion and his many kindnesses (Isaiah 62:7, NIV).

Jesus, My Lord Session One

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1. god’s gift to us Hi, my name is Theo (though my parents call me Theodore). My name means God’s gift but in this passage from the Bible we hear about a gift from God that comes to all who are baptized. The Holy Spirit! This gift, promised by God and sent from God the Father and God the Son, transforms each one of us.

From the Bible When they came together, Jesus gave them this order: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift I told you about, the gift my Father promised.

John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

From the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 1 verses 1 to 8.

Who does God send to fill us with power at baptism?

Have a look at the Bible passage above!

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Jesus, My Lord

Jesus, himself, is a gift from God. In ourselves we don’t have the strength to do everything we want to do.

We often have to rely on other people to help us - our parents, our teachers, our friends.

Jesus promised the gift of the Holy Spirit once he left his disciples for heaven. One name given to the Holy Spirit is - the ADVOCATE - which basically means helper.

In order to really and truly follow Jesus’ way we need to be open to the Holy Spirit. If we accept his help and his power we can achieve great things.

Can you find these words in the search box to the right?

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Gift

Let us Pray Dear God, please send me your Holy Spirit to help me to follow Jesus more closely each day.

Amen.

Jesus, My Lord

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Image: Christ and Saints by Giovanni del Biondo (1367)

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Session two Jesus, My Lord

Restless hearts

session two

Opening Prayers

Taken from Psalm 139(138) - to be said all together or the group can divide in half and alternate.

All:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

A:

O Lord, you search me and you know me, you know my resting and my rising, you discern my purpose from afar.

You mark when I walk or lie down, all my ways lie open to you.

B:

Before ever a word is on my tongue you know it, O Lord, through and through.

Behind and before you besiege me, your hand ever laid upon me.

Too wonderful for me this knowledge, too high, beyond my reach.

A:

To me, how mysterious your thoughts, the sum of them not to be numbered!

If I count them, they are more than the sand; to finish, I must be eternal, like you.

B:

O search me, God, and know my heart.

O test me and know my thoughts.

See that I follow not the wrong path and lead me in the path of life eternal.

All:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

As we come together let us, either aloud or in the silence of our hearts, give thanks and praise to the Lord for all the things we have accomplished, the joys experienced, graces received and people met over the past week. Let us also remember all those in need of our prayers.

Jesus, My Lord Session two

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Introduction to Reading of Scripture Let us listen carefully to the Word of the Lord, and attend to it with the ear of our hearts.

Let us welcome it, and faithfully put it into practice.

St Benedict of Nursia (c.480-c.547) adapted

Explore the Scriptures Luke 10:17-22, 25-28 Note: St Luke frequently stresses Jesus’ concern for minority groups, the oppressed and the poor. Here we find this concern highlighted in the twofold command to love God and love neighbour as oneself. Here we also see three more prominent Lucan themes - prayer, the Spirit and joy. Prior to this passage, Jesus warns that following him can be costly. The next passage is the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

The seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!’ He said to them, ‘I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning.

See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.’

At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.’

Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What do you read there?’ He answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.’ And he said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’

Please take a few moments in silence to reflect on the passage, then share a word or phrase that has struck you. Pause to think about what others have said then after a second reading of the passage you may wish to share a further thought.

Reflection Over the years cinema has opened windows onto new worlds and provided deep insight into our own. It has been used to shock and upset but also to amuse and inspire. In recent years animated films have gained a currency among people of every age, speaking to us about human concerns and resourcefulness.

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Session two Jesus, My Lord

The combination of ‘childish’ images and profound messages is a potent one.

Walt Disney, the American animator (d.1966), often spoke of cinema’s power and of his own creative impulse. In the end credits of a recent Disney film, Meet the Robinsons, he is quoted as having said: ‘Around here we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we’re curious... and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.’

Both St Thomas Aquinas and St Augustine were unconvinced about an intellectual curiosity that was simply for its own sake. They insisted that we risk an attitude of arrogance and pride without a clear and direct focus on God. St Bonaventure, a contemporary of St Thomas Aquinas wrote and preached about the journey of the mind into God. Such a journey required not pride-filled curiosity but a desire to inquire, to think and to comprehend what God wants from us. This is not the preserve of the intellectual or the hermit – though they can achieve the same goal – but each one of us, with a certain amount self-discipline, self-emptying and above all with God’s grace, can hear the voice of the Lord (see Luke 10:21).

Curiosity takes us to new places but we must be ever ready to see, accept and hold fast what is holy and helpful instead of passing it over for some novelty or another. We are truly blessed to have the gift of Scripture and the treasure-store of Revelation with which to aid and inform our search (CCC, 84). When we do find what the depths of our soul is longing for, our restless heart finds rest (St Augustine, Confessions, Book 1).

In understanding the love of God and the choice of Jesus to open wide the path to this same love, through his passion, death and resurrection, we find joy.

“The People of God is a disciple People — because it receives the faith — and a missionary People — because it transmits the faith. And this is what Baptism works in us: it gives us Grace and hands on the faith to us. All of us in the Church are disciples, and this we are forever, our whole life long; and we are all missionaries, each in the place the Lord has assigned to him or her. Everyone: the littlest one is also a missionary; and the one who seems to be the greatest is a disciple. We must all be missionaries and disciples.”

Jesus, My Lord Session two

Pope Francis – General Audience (Jan 2014)

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Such joy is a gift of the Spirit, indeed as Pope Benedict XVI once said: ‘the Spirit is joy, the gift in which all the other gifts are included and it belongs to the nature of joy to be radiant; it must communicate itself’ (Christmas, 2008).

Having heard the message, we believe. Having come to belief we can call on him who saves (Romans 10:14). Acknowledging Jesus as Lord and Saviour is transformative. It is not the end of curiosity in the world around us but a touchstone as we are tantalised by the mystery of God. It is an invitation to a deep and long-lasting friendship that spills over into our interactions with others and into other parts of our life (see Luke 10:27). Acknowledging Jesus as Lord and Saviour is the means by which we tackle the inevitable challenges and disappointments of life and the source of joy and authentic love.

• • • •

Do we display ‘spiritual curiosity’ seeking to deepen our faith in and understanding of God? Are you able to confidently assert that Jesus is the Lord of your life? If so, what changes, if any, are needed for you to show it?

How might we help others to see our discovery of faith in the way we act?

Ultimately, what is the motivation for what we do? Where have we set our sights?

Closing Prayers You may wish to end this session with some different prayers or silent reflection.

O most sweet Lord Jesus, Grant that my soul may hunger after Thee, the Bread of Angels.

May my inmost soul ever thirst for Thee, the fountain of life; may it ever seek Thee, find Thee, speak of Thee, and do all for the praise and glory of Thy name.

May my mind and my heart be ever fixed on Thee evermore.

Amen.

In this session we explored the idea of curiosity which can be simply for its own sake or, if directed to the wonder and will of God, can be lifechanging. Naturally, it is vital that we discern God’s will for our lives and vital too to remember we are not alone in this task. Next session we will look at the ways we are helped in the Scriptures and in the Eucharist.

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Signpost

adapted from a prayer of St Bonaventure (1221-1274)

Session two Jesus, My Lord

my faith journey in christ Use this space to write down your answer to the following questions (you may wish to share with others what you have written): What blessings have you received this past week? In other words, what has Christ done for you?

We boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God... we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:2-5 RSV).

Jesus, My Lord Session two

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2. what we really want Hi, Theo here again. Every year I look forward to my birthday. My family help me to celebrate with a cake and a present. I get cards and greetings from my friends. It is a really special day. The priest in my parish church also gets very excited when it is his birthday though he always says to us that there is something more important than the presents or good wishes we get. He says that when we follow Jesus we realise what life is really about!

From the Bible A teacher of the Law came up and tried to trap Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to receive eternal life?’

Jesus answered him, ‘What do the Scriptures say?’

The man answered, ‘“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind”; and “Love your neighbour as you love yourself.”’

‘You are right,’ Jesus replied; ‘do this and you will live.’

From the Good News according to St Luke, chapter 10 verses 25 to 28.

The Lawyer came up with the right answer, can you?

What did Jesus agree we must do in order to get to heaven?

Have a look at the Bible passage above!

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Jesus, My Lord

Jesus tells us that we should love others as much as we love ourselves!

This can be really, really difficult.

Sometimes people act in a way that hurts us, sometimes we can hurt people too by the things we say and what we do. But loving God and others is what Jesus says we must do to get to heaven.

When the lawyer asked the question, Jesus got the him to give the answer himself. In the same way, Jesus asks us to work out how to act with others and how to behave but he is always ready to help us. In the examples we read in the Bible and in prayer, Jesus helps us to see the way to the Father.

Whenever we make mistakes, Jesus reminds us that God loves to forgive those who ask for forgiveness and try hard to be good.

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Can you find these words in the search box above?

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Love

Lawyer

Scripture Heart

Let us Pray Dear God, please help me to treat those people I meet this week as well as I would like them to treat me. Please also help me to remember you in everything I do. Amen.

Jesus, My Lord

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Image: The Light of the World by William Holman Hunt (1853-54)

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Session three Jesus, My Lord

the three foods

session three

Opening prayer Taken from Psalm 63(62) - to be said all together or the group can divide in half and alternate.

All:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

A:

O God, you are my God, for you I long; for you my soul is thirsting.

My body pines for you like a dry, weary land without water.

So I gaze on you in the sanctuary to see your strength and your glory.

B:

For your love is better than life, my lips will speak your praise.

So I will bless you all my life, in your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul shall be filled as with a banquet, my mouth shall praise you with joy.

A:

On my bed I remember you.

On you I muse through the night for your have been my help; in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.

My soul clings to you; your right hand holds me fast.

All:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

As we come together let us, either aloud or in the silence of our hearts, give thanks and praise to the Lord for all the things we have accomplished, the joys experienced, graces received and people met over the past week. Let us also remember all those in need of our prayers.

Jesus, My Lord Session three

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Introduction to Reading of Scripture Let us listen carefully to the Word of the Lord, and attend to it with the ear of our hearts.

Let us welcome it, and faithfully put it into practice.

St Benedict of Nursia (c.480-c.547) adapted

Explore the Scriptures Ephesians 1:3-14 Note: St Paul founded the church at Ephesus on his third missionary tour (Acts 18:23-20:1).

The clear theme of this letter is unity. Christ is the unifying force and head of the ‘body’, in him all that divides is swept away. Here St Paul emphasises the point when he writes that this unity in Christ is the will of the Father. Later in the letter there are practical examples of the unity Paul describes.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance towards redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.

Please take a few moments in silence to reflect on the passage, then share a word or phrase that has struck you. Pause to think about what others have said then after a second reading of the passage you may wish to share a further thought.

Reflection The picture on page 22, The Light of the World by William Holman Hunt, shows Jesus at an overgrown doorway patiently waiting to be let in. It clearly shows that we don’t have to travel to the ends of the earth to find him but that he is knocking, not forcing his way in, just a step away. Once that door is open; once Jesus is in, as our invited guest, we would offer him our time and show our 24

Session three Jesus, My Lord

interest in him and everything about him (see John 14:6). We might even react like the lovers in the Song of Solomon: ‘when I found the one my heart loves, I held him and would not let him go’ (3:4).

Our openness to the ‘knock of God’ is not reliant simply on our own desire or our own strength. Nor is our ability to grow in holiness the fruit of our human capabilities alone. As St Albert the Great says: ‘grace builds on nature’ – the Lord himself aids the effort we make in getting to know him. The Son desires that we come to the Father through him (John 14:6), the Spirit intercedes for us according to the will of God (see Romans 8:27). Once we are open to this relationship the floodgates of God’s mercy, love and grace are ever more widely opened to us. In order that we are nourished in this lifetime’s work we can look to the three foods mentioned by Jesus in Scripture.

Scripture itself nourishes us: ‘Satan came and said to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God”’ (Matthew 4:3-4). In our reading of the Word of God, in our personal reading and in our attentive listening to preaching we gain insight into the life and message of Christ; a message we have a stake in spreading.

The Eucharist nourishes us: ‘Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.

Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink”’ (John 6:53-55). Eucharist, the source and summit of our faith (CCC, 1324; Lumen

Instituting a novena to the Holy Spirit, Pope Leo wrote we ought to pray to and invoke the Holy Spirit, for each one of us greatly needs His protection and His help:

Pope Leo XIII - Divinum Illud Munus, 11 (1897)

“The more a man is deficient in wisdom, weak in strength, borne down with trouble, prone to sin, so ought he the more to fly to Him who is the never-ceasing fount of light, strength, consolation, and holiness.”

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Gentium, 11) is ‘the flesh which suffered for our sins and which the Father raised from the dead. It is the flesh of our Saviour Jesus Christ’ (Ignatius of Antioch) which gives us life and gives life to those we help find their way to the table of the Lord.

We are nourished through seeking and doing the will of the Father: ‘The disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of my Father who sent me and to accomplish his work”’ (John 4:33-34). The will of the Father, the wish for each one of us, is that we freely look to the Son and believe in him, so that we might have life eternal (see John 6:40). Once we realise this and believe, we become disciples.

• • •

In my prayer do I seek the will of the Father? How might I try to discern the right way to live especially where I might be tempted to do things the easy way or the way things used to be?

How often do I give thanks for the gift of the Body and Blood of Christ?

How does the study of and reflection on Scripture feed the rest of my life?

Where do I find time to meditate on and study the Word of God?

Closing Prayers You may wish to end this session with different prayers or silent reflection.

We stand before you, Holy Spirit, conscious of our sinfulness, but aware that we gather in your name.

Come to us, remain with us, and enlighten our hearts.

Give us light and strength to know your will, to make it our own, and to live it in our lives.

Amen.

People travel the length and breadth of the world to find happiness. This session reminded us that Jesus is waiting at the door to heart of each person, waiting for the door to be opened. Once this happens and we let Christ in, the task of discipleship is ongoing. Next week we look at this ongoing relationship in terms of courtship and love.

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Signpost

Extract from the prayer used by Pope John XXIII at the opening of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965).

Session three Jesus, My Lord

my faith journey in christ Use this space to write down your answer to the following questions (you may wish to share with others what you have written): Where have I taken time to get to know Christ? What time have I spent with him?

‘Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord (Jeremiah 29:12-14, NIV).

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3. God gives us ‘food’ My friends are always hungry. When they have packed lunch for school they always eat their sandwiches at breaktime and don’t have much food left for lunch! God knows what is good for us and freely gives us what we need - ‘our daily bread’. Sometimes we forget to ask for it though.

From the Bible Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! For in our union with Christ he has blessed us by giving us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly world. Even before the world was made, God had already chosen us to be his through our union with Christ, so that we would be holy and without fault before him.

Because of his love God had already decided that through Jesus Christ he would make us his children - this was his pleasure and purpose. Let us praise God for his glorious grace, for the free gift he gave us in his dear Son! From St Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, chapter 1 verses 3 to 6.

What did God decide to do for us because of his great love?

Have a look at the Bible passage above!

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Jesus, My Lord

St Paul in his letter to the church in Ephesus (you say this like ‘Eh-fis-us’) talks about God’s love for all of us. This is something that got St Paul really excited.

He was so happy when he realised that God had sent Jesus to be our friend.

He realised that Jesus is with us to help us be happy and holy.

We can meet Jesus in a number of ways. Jesus talks of three foods in the Bible: he says we get stronger in faith when we read the Bible, when we receive his Body and Blood in the Eucharist (I made my First Holy Communion last year!) and when we try to understand what God wants us to do and be.

Can you find these words in the search box below?

Blessing Blessed Grace

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Let us Pray Dear God, help me to see Jesus in the world around me and to love you as he does. Amen.

Jesus, My Lord

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Image: The Wedding at Cana - 14th century Fresco from the Visoki Decani monastery, Kosovo

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Session four Jesus, My Lord

seeking Christ

session four

Opening prayer

Taken from Psalm 67(66) - to be said all together or the group can divide in half and alternate.

All:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

A:

O God, be gracious and bless us and let your face shed its light upon us.

So will your ways be known upon earth and all nations learn your saving help.

B:

Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.

A:

Let the nations be glad and exult for you rule the world with justice.

With fairness you rule the peoples, you guide the nations on earth.

B:

Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.

A:

The earth has yielded its fruit for God, our God, has blessed us.

May God still give us his blessing till the ends of the earth revere him.

All:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

As we come together let us, either aloud or in the silence of our hearts, give thanks and praise to the Lord for all the things we have accomplished, the joys experienced, graces received and people met over the past week. Let us also remember all those in need of our prayers.

Jesus, My Lord Session four

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Introduction to Reading of Scripture Let us pray with great confidence, with confidence based upon the goodness and infinite generosity of God and upon the promises of Jesus Christ. God is a spring of living water which flows unceasingly into the hearts of those who pray.

St Louis de Montfort (1673-1716)

Explore the Scriptures John 2:1-11 Note: In his account of Christ’s earthly ministry, St John recounts the wedding of Cana. Just as our faith is nurtured in community, Jesus performed his first miracle at this wedding feast and his disciples believed. Prompting this miracle, Mary, his mother interceded on behalf of the host and asked for Jesus’ help as she does for each one of us.

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Now standing there were six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.’ So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.’ Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

Please take a few moments in silence to reflect on the passage, then share a word or phrase that has struck you. Pause to think about what others have said then after a second reading of the passage you may wish to share a further thought.

Reflection In Session One, we read of the tendency for young people to socialise in groups.

Yet, the popular press often has columns of ‘Personals’ – adverts placed by people seeking companionship. Perhaps over time some people have found themselves alone, the world quite impersonal, their connections with family and friends long since faded away. There are a myriad of on-line forums and websites offering (usually for a fee) to make electronic-introductions, to connect people who are similarly interested in beginning a new relationship. For whatever reason, people 32

Session four Jesus, My Lord

have consciously decided to actively seek a companion. Some may even be looking for that someone with whom they might enter into marriage.

Holy Scripture refers often to marriage. In fact, as we have just read, Christ began his earthly ministry at a wedding feast. As was the Jewish custom at that time, the bride and groom would have previously been betrothed and at that time separately immersed in a pool of water as a spiritual cleansing. They would then have returned to their respective parents’ homes for perhaps a year or even longer to make all manner of preparations for their married life. As we know from our reading of the parable of the ten bridesmaids (Matthew 25), they would not have known the day nor the hour when the groom would call for his bride.

Then, the relationship was consummated with the total gift of persons to one another. Sometime later, friends and family gathered at the groom’s home to mark the joyous event. It was at this celebration that Jesus performed his first miracle and, as we are told, ‘the disciples believed in him.’

The bride and groom living in Jesus’ time who would have quite likely had an arranged marriage and precious little time spent together beforehand. Today, however, people are able to consciously seek out their life partner and get to know them well before making a life changing decision to spend the rest of one’s life with that particular person. They have time to build a bond of trust with which they can confidently face the unknown together.

Pope John XXIII Prayer to the Holy Spirit (1961)

“Divine Spirit, renew your wonders in our time, as though for a new Pentecost, and grant that the holy church, preserving unanimous and continuous prayer, together with Mary the Mother of Jesus, and also under the guidance of St Peter, may increase the reign of the Divine Saviour, the reign of truth and justice, the reign of love and peace.

Amen”

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In a manner of speaking, the decision to accept Jesus’ call to discipleship can be compared to a courtship. At whatever point we are at on our journey of faith, whatever our state in life - married, single, ordained - the Holy Spirit is there to help each one of us in consciously deciding to seek Christ as an intimate friend.

With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can get to know Jesus through reading Holy Scripture. We can spend time with him in prayer and before the tabernacle.

We can share in his life through the sacraments; seeking forgiveness for those times that we turned away and nourishment from his Body and Blood in the celebration of Holy Eucharist. Very importantly, we can begin to see his presence in our lives each and every day. United in Christ, we are never alone.

Only in seeking Christ can we grow closer to him and in doing so prepare ourselves to make that life-changing commitment – to become a disciple.

• • •

How can we develop a close, intimate relationship with the Lord?

What are we wedded to that quite often gets in the way of our relationships with Christ and with others?

What miracles or signs have helped you to believe?

Closing Prayers You may wish to end this session with different prayers or silent reflection.

O Christ, with You we have been raised, help us set our hearts on things above, where You are seated at the right hand of God. Help us to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things below.

For we have died, and our lives are now hidden in God. When You appear, O Christ, our life, it is our prayer, our hope, that we share in Your great glory.

Amen.

This session looked at how we develop a personal relationship with Christ which was established at our baptism. It also highlighted the role of the Holy Spirit in making the most of this conscious decision. Next session is on the theme of the gifts and graces given to us by the same Spirit who, we have read, is always ready to help us.

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Signpost

adapted from Colossians 3:1

Session four Jesus, My Lord

my faith journey in christ Use this space to write down your answer to the following question (you may wish to share with others what you have written): If you have turned away from our loving God, have you sought his mercy and forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation? When have you felt God’s mercy?

Though you have not seen him, you love him; even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:8-9, RSV).

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4. getting to know Jesus Have you ever had a power cut at your house? One moment the lights are on and your music is playing, perhaps you are watching telly, and next everything is dark and very, quiet (it won’t be dark if the electricity turns off during the day!). The couple at the wedding in Cana were having fun with their friends and family when the wine ran out - that was when Jesus stepped in after his mum asked him to help out.

From the Bible There was a wedding in the town of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited. When the wine had run out, Jesus’ mother said to him, ‘They are out of wine.’

Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill these jars with water.’ They filled them to the brim, and then he told them, ‘Now draw some water out and take it to the man in charge of the feast.’ They took him the water, which now had turned into wine.

Jesus performed this first miracle in Cana in Galilee; there he revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

From the Good News according to St John, chapter 2 verses 1 to 11

Who noticed that the wine had run out and what did Jesus do about it?

Have a look at the Bible passage above!

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The man and women who were getting married probably didn’t see each other much before their wedding day. Nowadays people spend a lot of time getting to know each other before getting married. They get to know what the other person likes, what makes them laugh, what makes them scared.

They meet each other’s friends and family and try to build a picture of what they are like.

Jesus wants to get to know us and he wants us to get to know him. We can only really do this by spending time with him. By praying, by loving others, by reading about his life, we get to know him and, through him, we get to know the Father. We can ask Mary for her help in getting to know her son better too.

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Can you find these words in the search box above?

Mary

Water

Wedding Wine Cana

Let us Pray Dear God, help me to understand what a good friend I have in Jesus. Please help me to get to know him, and you better and better each day. Amen.

Jesus, My Lord

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Image: The Red Vineyards near Arles by Vincent Van Gogh (1888)

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Session five Jesus, My Lord

called and gifted

session five

Opening prayer

Taken from Psalm 112(111) - to be said all together or the group can divide in half and alternate.

All:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

A:

Happy the man who fears the Lord, who takes delight in all his commands.

His sons shall be powerful on earth; the children of the upright are blessed.

B:

Riches and wealth are in his house; his justice stands firm for ever.

He is a light in the darkness for the upright: he is generous, merciful and just.

A:

The good man takes pity and lends, he conducts his affairs with honour.

The just man will never waver: he will be remembered for ever.

B:

He has no fear of evil news; with a firm heart he trusts in the Lord.

With a steadfast heart he will not fear; he will see the downfall of his foes.

A:

Open-handed, he gives to the poor; his justice stands firm for ever.

His head will be raised in glory.

All:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

As we come together let us, either aloud or in the silence of our hearts, give thanks and praise to the Lord for all the things we have accomplished, the joys experienced, graces received and people met over the past week. Let us also remember all those in need of our prayers.

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Introduction to Reading of Scripture Let us go forward in peace, our eyes upon heaven, the only one goal of our labours.

St Thérèse of Lisieux (1873-1897)

Explore the Scriptures 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 Note: Writing to the Corinthians at a time when they were struggling to establish Christian communities, St Paul reminds them of the gift of the Holy Spirit given to each of us at Baptism. In turn, the Holy Spirit gives gifts or ‘helps’ to do God’s will. St Paul uses the analogy of a body with different parts to describe our collaboration in Christ.

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says ‘Let Jesus be cursed!’ and no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.

Please take a few moments in silence to reflect on the passage, then share a word or phrase that has struck you. Pause to think about what others have said then after a second reading of the passage you may wish to share a further thought.

Reflection In the past decade or so thousands of Catholics have participated in ‘Called and Gifted’ workshops. During these workshops, participants are invited to reflect on their personal vocation and the gifts and talents made available to each person to build the kingdom of God. While the word ‘vocation’ may immediately bring to mind priests and consecrated religious men and women, we all, in fact, have a vocation. By our baptism, we are changed. We are united in Christ; we have ‘put on Christ’

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Session five Jesus, My Lord

(Galatians 3:27) and are called to live as Christ in this world (Galatians 2:1920). Pope Francis often speaks of our vocation as Christians; an honour that is not just a label. Over and over again, he explains that it is a lifestyle, a way of living. It entails letting Christ enter our lives, into our inmost depths, not just on Sunday mornings but each and every day (e.g. Angelus, 25 August 2013).

While Baptism initiates this special relationship, our loving God quietly awaits our response, our love, our heartfelt desire to enter into the life long process of ever deepening this intimate friendship. Our vocation to a state in life, whether as a priest, consecrated religious, married or single, requires a conscious decision and commitment. In a similar way, our Christian vocation calls us to consciously decide to align our hearts and minds with Christ and to offer our very selves for his work.

As we have just read in St Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians, each one of us receives the Holy Spirit. We may be most familiar with the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord) received at Baptism and strengthened with the sacrament of Confirmation (CCC, 1830 & 1831). However, St Paul is not speaking of these gifts that direct and ‘sustain the moral life of Christians’ but special graces known as charisms (from the Greek Charis meaning grace or free gift) that are given to each of us at Baptism in various measure not for one’s own benefit but for the ‘common good’.

‘By these gifts the Holy Spirit makes us fit and ready to undertake the various tasks and offices which contribute toward the renewal and building up of the Church’ (Lumen Gentium, 12).

Pope John Paul II Christifideles Laici, 16 and 17 (1988)

“Since Christians are reclothed in Christ Jesus and refreshed by his Spirit, they are ‘holy’. They therefore have the ability to manifest this holiness and the responsibility to bear witness to it in all that they do... The unity of life of the lay faithful is of the greatest importance: indeed they must be sanctified in everyday professional and social life. Therefore, to respond to their vocation, the lay faithful must see their daily activities as an occasion to join themselves to God, fulfil his will, serve other people and lead them to communion with God in Christ.”

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The Holy Spirit has hidden within each of us various gifts that enable us to be a channel for his love, his instrument for the work of building God’s kingdom (Ephesians 4). While Holy Scripture does not set out a complete listing of these supernatural graces, St Paul makes note of wisdom, teaching, healing, prophecy to mention but a few. It is when we have surrendered our personal wants and desires in order to follow Christ as his disciples that these spiritual gifts begin to emerge. It is when we discover our smallest effort in the vineyard of the Lord bears great fruit. Our life is transformed as well as those around us. We are evangelizing.

• What ways might the Holy Spirit be working through each of us? How might we be an instrument of God’s love for others?

• Discerning a charism is a process requiring time and opportunities to see its unusual and effective results. How can we begin to ascertain what might be our particular gifts?

• If you feel comfortable, perhaps you might wish to suggest the gifts that you might see in other members of the group.

Closing Prayers You may wish to end this session with some different prayers or silent reflection.

Attributed to St Jean-Gabriel Perboyre, missionary to China (1802-1840)

This session explored the gifts of the Holy Spirit given to us at Baptism and strengthened in Confirmation. It also suggested that we take seriously the task of discerning the gifts we have and how they might be used in support of the Church and the building of the Kingdom. Next week, the last of this booklet, we look at the sharing of our faith in Christ Jesus.

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Signpost

O my Divine Saviour, transform me into Yourself.

May my hands be the hands of Jesus.

May my tongue be the tongue of Jesus...

Grant that I may live but in You and for You, and that I may truly say with St Paul: ‘I live, now not I, but Christ lives in me’ Amen.

Session five Jesus, My Lord

my faith journey in christ Use this space to write down your answer to the following question (you may wish to share with others what you have written): What place does the Holy Spirit have in how you go about each day?

We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives (Colossians 1:9, NIV).

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5. gifts from heaven above I really like looking out of my window at night time. I live in the middle of the town and can see lights from the windows in other buildings (I can’t see the stars very well unless we go into the countryside). There are thousands of people in our town and each one of them is different. We all have different talents and gifts and need to use them to make life better for everyone.

From the Bible There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them.

There are different ways of serving, but the same Lord is served. There are different abilities to perform service, but the same God gives ability to all for their particular service. The Spirit’s presence is shown in some way in each person for the good of all... It is one and the same Spirit who does all this; as he wishes, he gives a different gift to each person.

From St Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 12 verses 1 to 11.

What does the Spirit give to us and why?

Have a look at the Bible passage above!

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Jesus, My Lord

Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to his disciples (that means he promised the Spirit to us too). This Spirit gives us gifts. The gifts he gives are different to different people and they are given so that we can help others and help others understand that God wants happiness for each of us. What gifts do you think you have that you can use to help others?

Can you find these words in the search box below?

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Jesus, My Lord

Let us Pray Dear God, help me to use the gifts and talents you have given me to help others. Amen.

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Image: Jesus Multiplies the Loaves by Bénédite de la Roncière (jesusmafa.com)

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Session six Jesus, My Lord

feeding the hungry

session six

Opening prayer

Taken from Psalm 51(50) - to be said all together or the group can divide in half and alternate.

All:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

A:

Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.

In your compassion blot out my offense.

O wash me more and more from my guilt and cleanse me from my sin.

B:

A pure heart create for me, O God, put a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from your presence, nor deprive me of your holy spirit.

A:

Give me again the joy of your help; with a spirit of fervour sustain me, that I may teach transgressors your ways and sinners may return to you.

B:

O rescue me, God, my helper, and my tongue shall ring out your goodness.

O Lord, open my lips and my mouth shall declare your praise.

A:

For in sacrifice you take no delight, burnt offering from me you would refuse, my sacrifice, a contrite spirit, a humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn.

All:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Jesus, My Lord Session six

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As we come together let us, either aloud or in the silence of our hearts, give thanks and praise to the Lord for all the things we have accomplished, the joys experienced, graces received and people met over the past week. Let us also remember all those in need of our prayers.

Introduction to Reading of Scripture Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort me and restore me.

attributed to St Patrick (c.387 – 493 or c.460)

Explore the Scriptures Matthew 14:13-21

Note: This passage from Matthew’s account of the Good News follows the beheading of John the Baptist. The death of his cousin must have affected Jesus greatly but despite his sorrow he healed the sick and spoke to the crowds. This feeding narrative mirrors the others in Mark 6:31-44, Luke 9:10-17 and John 6:5-15. In John’s account of the Good News, where there is no institution of the Eucharist – instead the washing of the feet – this passage is clearly visible as a Eucharistic text. The subsequent passage features Jesus walking on water.

Now when Jesus heard that John the Baptist had been killed, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick.

When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.’ Jesus said to them, ‘They need not go away; you give them something to eat.’ They replied, ‘We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.’ And he said, ‘Bring them here to me.’ Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full.

And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Please take a few moments in silence to reflect on the passage, then share a word or phrase that has struck you. Pause to think about what others have said then after a second reading of the passage you may wish to share a further thought.

Reflection The Scripture passage we have just read is familiar to us all. It is often referred to as the miracle of loaves and fishes and our focus lands squarely on the items

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Session six Jesus, My Lord

of food shared out. A more useful description might be the feeding of the multitude, here the focus shifts more on the nourishment of the crowd and leads us to ask what they are really hungering after. It is clear that they did not follow Jesus all the way to that ‘deserted place’ to have supper. They went for healing, they went for Him. Throughout the Bible, we read of the unfailing mercy and compassion of God, great in his faithfulness (see Lamentations 3:21-22). Innumerable are the people over the centuries that knew the power of God’s mercy and the love shown by him to his people. Jesus, the Christ, shows the path, is the path of this reconciliation. We, as disciples of the Lord, are in turn agents of this reconciliation, ambassadors of Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:19-20). While the feeding of the multitude can clearly be seen in a Eucharistic way it is also a clear example of Jesus’ mandate to the disciples to carry on his healing, nourishing, love-filled work.

Here, it is interesting that Jesus initially makes no move to satisfy the crowd’s physical hunger himself once the disciples ask him to send the gathered men, women and children away. Instead he tells the twelve to do the feeding: ‘you give them something to eat’. In the end it is the disciples who distribute what Jesus has blessed and broken, once the crowds were sated it is the disciples who take baskets to reap what was sown.

We are reminded, often, that Christ has no hands, no feet on earth but ours.

Just as Jesus commanded the disciples to feed the people (Luke 10:1-23) we are Pope Paul VI - Marialis Cultis, 37 (1974)

Jesus, My Lord Session six

“…the figure of the Blessed Virgin offers the men and women of our time the perfect model of the disciple of the Lord: the disciple who builds up the earthly and temporal city while being a diligent pilgrim towards the heavenly and eternal city; the disciple who works for that justice which sets free the oppressed and for that charity which assists the needy; but above all, the disciple who is the active witness of that love which builds up Christ in people’s hearts.”

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called, by virtue of our baptismal vocation and our Christian belief, to aid people in their search for what will truly satisfy their inmost desires (see Isaiah 55:2 and John 6:27). This help we can provide relies on our willingness to be graced by Christ. Grafted to the vine (John 15:4) we, as individuals and as a community of missionary disciples, will bear much fruit and rejoice (Evangelii Gaudium, 24).

• What are people thirsting for and hungering after today?

• How might we bring what is needed to others and in what ways do we seek Christ’s blessing on this work?

• Do you consider yourself ‘an imitation of Christ’ in the world?

• Where have we been aware of God’s mercy in our lives and have we ever talked about it to others?

Closing Prayers You may wish to end this session with some different prayers or silent reflection.

Grant me, O Lord, to know what I ought to know, to love what I ought to love, to praise what delights thee most, to value what is precious in thy sight, to hate what is offensive to thee.

Do not suffer me to judge according to the sight of my eyes, nor to pass sentence according to the hearing of the ears of ignorant men; but to discern with a true judgment between things visible and spiritual, and above all, always to inquire what is the good pleasure of thy will.

Amen.

This session is, unfortunately, the last of this booklet. Here, we focused on the role the disciples played in the feeding of the multitude - distributing that which was blessed by Jesus. We have a similar role in the world today; to distribute his message and make him known. Please consider meeting as a group on a regular basis and look out for our next resource.

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Signpost

St Thomas a Kempis (1380–1471) author of ‘The Imitation of Christ’ - a manual for Christian discipleship

Session six Jesus, My Lord

my faith journey in christ Use this space to write down your answer to the following questions (you may wish to share with others what you have written): How does your lifestyle communicate the love of Christ in your life? Where do you openly identify with Christ and tell others about your faith in the Risen Lord?

The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. (John 10:2-4, RSV).

Jesus, My Lord Session six

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6. talking about jesus Did I already mention that my friends are always hungry? At church they are the first to the plate of biscuits and always try to go back for seconds.

They say that is because they need the energy to run around. Jesus knows that people are hungry and thirsty but not just for ordinary food and drink.

He knows that we need to know God in order to be happy and satisfied.

From the Bible That evening his disciples came to him and said, ‘It is already very late, and this is a lonely place. Send the people away and let them go to the villages to buy food for themselves.’

‘They don’t have to leave,’ answered Jesus. ‘You yourselves give them something to eat!’

‘All we have here are five loaves and two fish,’ they replied.

‘Then bring them here to me,’ Jesus said. He ordered the people to sit down on the grass; then he took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, and gave thanks to God. He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. Everyone ate and had enough.

From the Good News according to St Matthew, chapter 14 verses 15 to 20.

What did the disciples have to feed the big crowds?

Have a look at the Bible passage above!

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We know from reading the Gospels that people didn’t follow Jesus just to get dinner! They followed him because he was so very close to God the Father and he could help them with their troubles. People brought their sick friends and relatives to him and Jesus healed them. People asked questions and Jesus had the answers (often told in stories where you have to think yourself to get the meaning).

Today we are followers of Jesus, his disciples, and it is our job to get to know Jesus really well and to help others to know him too.

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Can you find these words in the search box above?

Healing

Enough

Help

Crowd

Hungry

Let us Pray Dear God, help me to keep my eyes open to see what people need. Help me to keep listening for people asking for my help. Most of all, dear God, please help me to show others how good you are by being good myself. Amen.

Jesus, My Lord

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Daily Prayer: Sunday to Saturday ‘The Office is... the prayer of the whole People of God’ Pope Paul VI, The Hymn of Praise, 1 The daily prayers on the following pages are drawn from the Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours). Together with the Mass, the Office constitutes the official public prayer life of the Church. It is celebrated in both the Eastern and Western Churches. The Office is intended to be read communally but here we invite you to use it as a personal daily prayer.

Image: Apparition of the Virgin to St Bernard by Filippino Lippi (1480)

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Sunday - Jesus, my lord Introduction O God, come to our aid. Lord, make haste to help us.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. (Alleluia)

Glory be…

Antiphon Christ the Lord is a priest for ever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Reading 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 But we must always give thanks to God for omit Alleluias during Lent you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first Suggested Hymns fruits for salvation through sanctification O Lord You are the centre of my life by the Spirit and through belief in the (Celebration for Everyone 543; Laudate 423) truth. For this purpose he called you Praise, my soul, the King of heaven through our proclamation of the good (CFE 602; L 807) news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Antiphon Christ the Lord is a priest for ever according Short Responsory to the order of Melchizedek.

R Great is our Lord; great is his might.

V His wisdom can never be measured. R Psalmody Canticle 1 Peter 2:21-24 Glory be… R Christ suffered for you, Benedictus/Magnificat Antiphon leaving you an example All authority in heaven and earth has been that you should follow in his steps. given to me, says the Lord.

He committed no sin; Benedictus (if said in the morning) no guile was found on his lips. or Magnificat (if said in the evening) When he was reviled, see inside back cover for these prayers he did not revile in return.

When he suffered, he did not threaten; but he trusted to him who judges justly.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live in righteousness.

By his wounds you have been healed.

Jesus, My Lord

Pray for the Church, the world and your own personal intercessions Our Father…

Concluding prayer Almighty, ever-living God, it is your will to unite the whole universe under your beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

Grant freedom to the whole of creation and let it praise you for ever.

Amen.

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Monday - you hear me, O Lord Introduction O God, come to our aid. Lord, make haste to help us.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. (Alleluia)

Glory be...

Antiphon It is you whom I invoke, O Lord. In the morning your hear me.

Reading Romans 8:35-37 Who will separate us from the love of omit Alleluias during Lent Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or Suggested Hymns peril, or sword? As it is written, From heaven you came (CFE 187; L 749) ‘For your sake we are being killed all day Lord of all hopefulness long; we are accounted as sheep to be (CFE 386; L 969; Hymns Old & New 329) slaughtered.’

No, in all these things we are more than Antiphon conquerors through him who loved us.

It is you whom I invoke, O Lord. In the morning your hear me.

Short Responsory Psalmody Psalm 5 R Praise and glory to you, O blessed Trinity.

To my words give ear, O Lord, V To you be thanksgiving for ever. R give heed to my groaning.

Glory be… R Attend to the sound of my cries, my King and my God. Benedictus/Magnificat Antiphon It is you whom I invoke, O Lord.

In the morning you hear me; in the morning I offer you my prayer, watching and waiting.

But I through the greatness of your love have access to your house.

I bow down before your holy temple, filled with awe.

Lead me, Lord, in your justice, because of those who lie in wait; make clear your way before me.

All those you protect shall be glad and ring out their joy.

You shelter them; in you they rejoice, those who love your name.

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My spirit exults in the Lord God, my saviour Benedictus (if said in the morning) or Magnificat (if said in the evening) see inside back cover for these prayers Pray for the Church, the world and your own personal intercessions Our Father…

Concluding prayer God our Father, help us to believe in you and worship you, as the true faith teaches: three persons, eternal in glory, one God, infinite in majesty.

Amen.

Jesus, My Lord

Tuesday - Gifted in the spirit Introduction O God, come to our aid. Lord, make haste to help us.

Reading

1 Peter 4:10-11 Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever Glory be to the Father and to the Son speaks must do so as one speaking the very and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the words of God; whoever serves must do so beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world with the strength that God supplies, so that without end. Amen. (Alleluia) God may be glorified in all things through omit Alleluias during Lent Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Suggested Hymns Breathe on me, breath of God Short Responsory (CFE 98; L 302) R The Spirit of the Lord has filled the whole world. Alleluia.

Antiphon V It is he who holds all things in being and The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. He sent understands every word that is spoken. R me to bring Good News to the poor.

Glory be‌ R Psalmody Psalm 84 (85) I will hear what the Lord God has to say, a voice that speaks of peace, peace for his people and his friends and those who turn to him in their hearts.

His help is near for those who fear him and his glory will dwell in our land.

Mercy and faithfulness have met; justice and peace have embraced.

Faithfulness shall spring from the earth and justice look down from heaven.

The Lord will make us prosper and our earth shall yield its fruit.

Justice shall march before him and peace shall follow his steps.

Glory be...

Antiphon The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. He sent me to bring Good News to the poor.

Jesus, My Lord

Benedictus/Magnificat Antiphon The Holy Spirit appeared to the disciples in the form of fire and gave to them his special gifts; he sent them into the world to proclaim that whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.

Benedictus (if said in the morning) or Magnificat (if said in the evening) see inside back cover for these prayers Pray for the Church, the world and your own personal intercessions Our Father‌ Concluding prayer Lord God, you sanctify your Church in every race and nation.

Pour out the gifts of the Holy Spirit on us and fulfil now in the hearts of your faithful what you accomplished when the Gospel was first preached on earth.

Amen.

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Wednesday - Merciful lord Introduction O God, come to our aid. Lord, make haste to help us.

Antiphon Lord, heal my soul for I have sinned against you.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. (Alleluia)

Reading 1 Peter 5:5-7 Clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to omit Alleluias during Lent the humble.’

Suggested Hymns Humble yourselves therefore under the Dear Lord and Father of Mankind mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt (CFE 143; L 934) you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Love divine, all loves excelling him, because he cares for you.

(CFE 398; L 801) Short responsory Antiphon R In the morning let me know your love.

Lord, heal my soul for I have sinned against V Make me know the way I should walk. R you.

Glory be… R Psalmody Psalm 27(26) O Lord, hear my voice when I call; have mercy and answer.

Of you my heart has spoken: “Seek his face.”

It is your face, O Lord, that I seek; hide not your face.

Dismiss not your servant in anger; you have been my help.

Do not abandon or forsake me, O God my help!

Though father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.

I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.

Hope in him, hold firm and take heart.

Hope in the Lord!

Glory be...

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Benedictus/Magnificat Antiphon My soul magnifies the Lord, since God has had regard for my humble state.

Benedictus (if said in the morning) or Magnificat (if said in the evening) see inside back cover for these prayers Pray for the Church, the world and your own personal intercessions Our Father…

Concluding prayer Lord God, whose name is holy and whose mercy is proclaimed in every generation: receive your people’s prayer, and let them sing your greatness with never-ending praise.

Amen.

Jesus, My Lord

Thursday - Almighty God Introduction O God, come to our aid. Lord, make haste to help us.

Antiphon Anyone who follows me will not be walking in the dark; he will have the light of life.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. (Alleluia)

Reading Colossians 1:9-11 We have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual omit Alleluias during Lent wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully Suggested Hymns pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in Walk with me, oh my Lord every good work and as you grow in the (CFE 765; L 966; HON 582) O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder knowledge of God. May you be made strong with all the strength that comes (CFE 568; L 721) from his glorious power, and may you Antiphon be prepared to endure everything with Anyone who follows me will not be walking patience. in the dark; he will have the light of life.

Psalmody Canticle Habakkuk 3:1-19 Lord, I have heard of your fame, I stand in awe at your deeds.

Do them again in our days and make them known.

In spite of your anger, have compassion.

God comes forth from Teman, the Holy One comes from Mount Paran.

His splendour covers the sky and his glory fills the earth.

His brilliance is like the light; rays flash forth from his hands; there his power lies hidden.

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord and exult in God my saviour.

The Lord my God is my strength.

He makes me leap like the deer.

He guides me to grace on the heights.

Glory be...

Jesus, My Lord

Short Responsory R Blessed be the Lord from age to age.

V He alone has wrought marvellous works. R Glory be‌ R Benedictus/Magnificat Antiphon Show the power of your arm, Lord; put down the proud and exalt the lowly.

Benedictus (if said in the morning) or Magnificat (if said in the evening) see inside back cover for these prayers Pray for the Church, the world and your own personal intercessions Our Father...

Concluding prayer We beseech your mercy, Lord, keep our hearts always engaged on you, and grant us the light of eternal life. Amen.

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Friday - Mary, the disciple’s queen Introduction O God, come to our aid. Lord, make haste to help us.

Antiphon Christ is the Son of Mary: come, let us adore him, alleluia.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. (Alleluia)

Reading Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of omit Alleluias during Lent salvation, he has covered me with the robe Suggested Hymns of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks Holy Virgin, by God’s decree himself with a garland, and as a bride (CFE 263; L 366) adorns herself with her jewels.

Tell out my soul (CFE 684; L 880) Short Responsory R Hail Mary, full of grace: the Lord is with Antiphon you.

Christ is the Son of Mary: come, let us V Blessed is the fruit of your womb. R adore him, alleluia.

Glory be… R Psalmody Psalm 112(113) Benedictus/Magnificat Antiphon Praise, O servants of the Lord, Blessed are you, Mary, because you believed praise the name of the Lord! that all those things that were said to you May the name of the Lord be blessed by the Lord will be fulfilled. both now and for evermore!

From the rising of the sun to its setting Benedictus (if said in the morning) praised be the name of the Lord! or Magnificat (if said in the evening) High above all nations is the Lord, above the heavens his glory.

Who is like the Lord, our God, who has risen on high to his throne yet stoops from the heights to look down, to look down upon heaven and earth?

From the dust he lifts up the lowly, from their misery he raises the poor to set them in the company of princes, yes, with the princes of his people.

To the childless wife he gives a home and gladdens her heart with children.

Glory be…

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see inside back cover for these prayers Pray for the Church, the world and your own personal intercessions Our Father…

Concluding prayer Come to help us in our weakness, God of mercy, and as we celebrate the memory of the Mother of God, may we rise from our sins by the help of her prayer.

Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Jesus, My Lord

Saturday - proclamation Introduction O God, come to our aid. Lord, make haste to help us.

Glory be…

Psalmody Canticle Ephesians 1:3-10 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens.

Short Responsory R Your word, O Lord, will endure for ever.

V Your truth will last from age to age. R Glory be… R

God chose us in him before the world began to be holy and blameless in his sight.

Antiphon Let us serve the Lord in holiness all our days

Antiphon It is not you who will be speaking; the Glory be to the Father and to the son and to Spirit of your Father will be speaking in the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is you, alleluia. now, and ever shall be, world without end.

Reading

2 Peter 1:19-21 Amen. (Alleluia) So we have the prophetic message more omit Alleluias during Lent fully confirmed.

You will do well to be Suggested Hymns attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a Praise to you, O Christ, our Saviour dark place, until the day dawns and the (CFE 416; L 200) morning star rises in your hearts. First He who would valiant be (CFE 248; 862) of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s Antiphon own interpretation, because no prophecy It is not you who will be speaking; the ever came by human will, but men and Spirit of your Father will be speaking in women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke you, alleluia. from God.

He destined us in love to be his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

God has made known to us in all wisdom and insight, the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ.

A plan for the fullness in time, to unite all things in him.

Jesus, My Lord

Benedictus (if said in the morning) or Magnificat (if said in the evening) see inside back cover for these prayers Pray for the Church, the world and your own personal intercessions Our Father…

Concluding prayer Almighty God, may we, inspired with a new courage by the example of your saints, take up our cross without flinching.

Amen.

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What is a disciple?

While the disciples we read about in Holy Scripture may quickly come to mind, do we really consider ourselves disciples? Have we ever stopped to consider what is a disciple? What is discipleship? How does it relate to my life in the twenty-first century?

The word disciple is derived from the Latin ‘discipulus’ and is closely connected to ‘docere’ meaning ‘to teach’ and dicere ‘to learn’. There are many synonyms for the word including among others: student, learner, apprentice, understudy, follower, believer. All of which suggest relationship, the very essence of our Christian faith.

Through baptism, we called into relationship with our Triune God. With the graces bestowed upon each of us by the Holy Spirit, we are have the opportunity to grow closer to our Christ, our Master, our Teacher, to be his student, his follower - his disciple. It is by choosing to follow Christ that we will reach the loving embrace of our Father in heaven.

What is discipleship?

Discipleship is a conscious decision to ask our Lord’s forgiveness for those times when we have turned away and to ardently desire to develop a deep personal relationship with Christ, to get to know him intimately through Scripture and the Sacraments.

It is by knowing Christ and sensing his love that we feel impelled to share it with others… to be missionary disciples.

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Further reading Church documents There are many Church documents which can help us understand our shared task to be missionary disciples. These are available from the Vatican website [www. vatican.va] or to buy in hard copy from the Catholic Truth Society. For example: Pope Benedict XVI, Lumen Fidei (The Light of Faith), 2005 Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), 2013 Pope Paul VI, Evangelii Nuntiandi (Evangelization in the Modern World), 1975 Blessed John Paul II: Redemptoris Missio (The Mission of the Redeemer), 1979 Novo Millennio Ineunte (At the Beginning of the New Millennium), 2001 Ecclesia in Europa (The Church in Europe), 2003 General Directory for Catechesis, 1997 Other Resources Russell Shaw (2013) The Vocation of the Laity, Chartwell Press Leroy Eims (1978) The Lost Art of Disciple Making, Zondervan Publishing House Sherry Weddell (1998) The Catholic Spiritual Gifts Inventory, Third Edition, The Siena Institute Press Matthew Kelly (2012) The Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic: How Engaging 1% of Catholics Could Change the World, Beacon Publishing Sherry Weddell (2012) Forming Intentional Disciples: The Path to Knowing and Following Jesus, Our Sunday Visitor Cardinal Donald Wuerl (2013) New Evangelization: Passing on the Catholic Faith Today, Our Sunday Visitor Radiating Christ (2012) WRCDT [http://issuu.com/rcwestminster/docs/ radiatingchrist] Come, Follow Me (2014) WRCDT [http://issuu.com/exploringfaith/docs/ comefollowme]

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exploring faith Some other booklets in the exploring faith group sharing series

Hail Mary, Full of Grace (published autumn 2010) Six group sessions for faith-sharing which explore what the Scriptures and the Church say about Mary - the immaculately conceived, sinless, ever-virgin, mother of Christ, assumed into heaven.

978-0-9563514-4-9

£1.50 where sold

Teach Us to Pray (published autumn 2013) Six group sessions for faith-sharing which explore, the call to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and the idea of faith in today’s world.

978-0-9570793-7-3

£1.50 where sold

Amazing Grace (published Lent 2013) Six group sessions for faith-sharing exploring the call to continuing conversion and the mercy and love shown by God to his children.

978-0-9570793-6-6

£1.50 where sold

Come, Follow Me (published Lent 2014) Six group sessions for faith-sharing which explore, the joy of spreading the good news of Jesus Christ.

978-0-9927584-0-0

£1.50 where sold

Each of the previous resources in the exploring faith series can be downloaded and viewed by visiting the Diocese of Westminster’s website or can be purchased from our bookstore. If you have a QR reader simply scan the code (right) and you will be directed to the relevant webpage (www.rcdow.org.uk/bookstore). exploring faith booklets are produced, under licence, by houseonrock.co.uk

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Jesus, My Lord

The Song of Zechariah (Benedictus)

The Song of Mary (Magnificat)

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour, born of the house of his servant David.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour; for he has looked with favour on his lowly servant, and from this day all generations will call me blessed.

Through the holy prophets he promised of old that he would save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the hand of our enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by forgiving them their sins.

The Almighty has done great things for me: holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things, and has sent the rich away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.

In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet on the road of peace.

The Benedictus can be found in the first chapter of Luke’s gospel (Luke 1:68-79). You can also find the Magnificat in Luke’s account, earlier in chapter one (Luke 1:46-55).

Jesus, my Lord From the Diocese of Westminster’s exploringfaith series Jesus, My Lord contains six group sessions for faith-sharing which explore what difference acknowledging Jesus as Lord and Saviour has for our daily lives.

Jesus, My Lord contains a number of prayers and reflections as well as a scheme of daily prayer based on the Divine Office. New to this booklet are pages dedicated to helping parents share the theme with their children.

Other booklets and information on faith-sharing can be accessed online via the Diocese of Westminster website rcdow.org.uk following the links for small groups.

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