Strasbourg, France
Opening Prayer Jesus you once said to those you loved, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." May we find comfort that these words are for us today as well. -A2J Community (silent reflection) Prayer of the Bible The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. -Psalm 145: 14-18 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of Sin Examine me, O Lord, and try me; purify my mind and my heart; for Your lovingkindness is ever before me, and I walk in your truth -Psalm 26:2-3 (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of Jesus Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.” When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded. “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” -John 18: 19-23 (Think deeply on these life-giving words of Jesus) Prayers for Ourselves and Others Help me Lord to not live out of selfish ambitions or vain conceit, but in humility esteem others as more important than myself. Let me not look out only to my own interests, but also to the interests of others. -Philippians 2:3-4 (Time to bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing Prayer "Living God, at times we are strangers on earth, disconnected by the violence, the harsh oppositions. And you breathe upon us the Spirit of peace like a gentle breeze. Transfigure the deserts of our doubts and so prepare us to be bearers of reconciliation wherever you place us, until a hope of peace arises in our world” -Brother Roger of Taize (1940-2005) 
Nazca Desert, Peru
|
