Faith in Commution 08

WALKING BY FAITH IN COMMUNION
2019 - LENTEN REFLECTIONS
Table of Contents
page 5 Lenten Message
page 6 The Purpose of this booklet
page 6 How to use this booklet
page 8 Facilitating Group Reflection
page 9 Sundays of Lent (Year C)
page 10 First Sunday of Lent
page 16 Second Sunday of Lent
page 23 Third Sunday of Lent
page 29 Fourth Sunday of Lent
page 35 Fifth Sunday of Lent
page 40 Passion / Palm Sunday
page 46 Appendix - Activities
page 62 Acknowledgements
Lenten Message 2019
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Lent is a time to grow in holiness. It is a time to review our

relationship with the Lord and to look at how we have kept the
covenantal promises that we renewed at the last Easter Vigil.
To support this, there is fasting, almsgiving and prayer. For
many of us there is also abstinence. Whilst these give us some
trials and for others satisfaction; we must note that these are
only a means to an end. These must not be the goal of the
Lenten observances.
To grow through our Lenten observances is key to the Lenten
activities. In the first week of Lent, we hear how Jesus repelled
the temptations of the devil by using scripture. The Word of God
must not be out of our sight during this time of preparation to
renew our baptismal vows.
Let us also remember that as we walk in faith we should not
neglect our brothers and sisters who are also walking in faith.
The journey is that of the individual in the community. We
walk amongst sinners like ourselves and we see the pain that
we carry is also the pain our brothers and sisters carry. We
help one another overcome the pains of growth and get over
the hurdles that prevent healing which the Lord is offering
during this time of Lent. As Pope Francis invites us to do the
usual things in a new way, we must search for new ways to
journey in faith with one another even as we are walking in
faith with the Lord ourselves. This walking in faith should lead
to a transfiguration of ourselves in the Lord.
May the Lord bless you with graces that you will need to repent.
May the Lord bless you with the graces to journey with him to
forgive and show mercy towards those who need it in your life.
Rev. Fr. Terence Pereira

Episcopal Vicar for the New Evangelisation
The Purpose of How to use
this Booklet this Booklet

These reflections may be
This resource is intended for
used either (1) before
families, RCIA groups, parish
participating in the
organisations and ministries,
Sunday liturgy, as a way
and small Christian communities
of preparation to receive
and neighbourhood Christian
God’s Word at Mass, or (2)
communities. It may also be
after participating in the
used for individual reflection.
liturgy as a continuation of
To promote the Christian ‘breaking open the Word of
community in the God’ into our life.
neighbourhood as In the spirit of generosity,
a place where we can group members volunteer
hear the word of God beforehand to read
and put it into practice. Scriptures and other parts
To give participants an of the text.
experience of community and A different group
a sense of their mission by facilitator can take the
reaching out to neighbours responsibility in each
and those in need. session to foster good
interaction and to keep
To gather parish organisations
time.
/ministries, to pray together as
one and put Christ back in the Someone should record
centre. the discussion in general
terms and then email it
To increase communication to the members who are
between family members. absent.
Love should be the
main message in all The duration of each
communication, so the session is about two hours.
sessions are aimed at
families sharing stories, The time and place for the
doing meaningful activities next meeting should be
together, sharing faith announced at the end of
and being reconciled each session.
with each other.
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Session Format
Opening Prayer to your group or use the
individual section if you are
Everyone will pray the opening
doing it on your own. Reflect
prayer and sing the opening
on the questions and allow
hymn to foster a spirit of
time for response.
reflection and openness to
God’s Word and each other. Take Home
Readings Discern how the Word of God
is inviting us collectively or
The three scripture texts
individually to respond through
should be read at least twice,
concrete action(s).
allowing some time for a silent
listening to the Word. Doing your bit
Then the passages are Your action to reach out or
explained by the leader or evangelise to another person
group facilitator using the to share the Good News of
given write up. Preparation is Jesus.
recommended for the leader
or group facilitator to read and Closing Prayer
understand prior the meeting. The session ends with a prayer
being prayed by everyone in
Thoughts the group. Everyone will pray
Someone reads this section for each participant and then
which is meant to deepen our for the community.
reflection on the readings of
the week. Allow adequate time Appendix: Activities
for reflection. The appendix section
contains activities that
Reflections further enrich our spiritual
This section is designed with journey with our fellow
the different groups in mind. sisters and brothers in
Select the section relevant Christ.
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Facilitating Group Reflection
For where two or three meet in my name,
I am there with them - Matthew 18:20
Be mindful of Christ’s presence. Adopt a humble and reverent manner when speaking
or acting within the group. Read the text meditatively, and give your best attention to
the words of the Gospel readings.
May they all be one, just as, Father, you are in me and I am in you - John 17:21
Help everyone to feel at home and take special care to welcome newcomers.
Treat each person as a beloved member of the community and invite one another
to participate in the session by taking turns to read the text. Use a language that
everyone can understand so that no one feels left out.
...and their great men make their authority felt.

Among you this is not to happen - Mark 10:42-43
Avoid being authoritative or domineering by acting aggressively, flaunting knowledge, or
telling others what to do. If there is advice to be given, do so after the reflection is done.
Choose words that are easily understood by all when speaking. Avoid giving lengthy and
verbose sharing that consume other people’s opportunities to offer their sharing.
If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and

take up his cross every day and follow me - Luke 9:23
At the core of these reflections is the Word of God, the teaching of the Church, and the
invitation for our conversion towards Christ. If the group wanders away from this during
the session, gently invite one another to re-focus.
Because when the time comes, the Holy Spirit will teach you what you
should say - Luke 12:12
There is no need to prepare sharing in advance or to appoint people to share. Wait
patiently for God’s Spirit to inspire generosity, and remember to give thanks after
someone volunteers to contribute their own faith experience.
...your light must shine in people’s sight, so that, on seeing your good
works, they may give praise to your Father in heaven - Matthew 5:16
These reflections challenge us to do the will of God - to reflect the love of Christ to
others we meet. Spend some time at the start of the next group session sharing with
one another how each one has tried to do this over the past week.
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Sundays of Lent (Year C)
Walking by
Faith in Communion
Week Readings Theme
1st Sunday Deuteronomy 26:4-10 An inner

of Lent Romans 10:8-13 pilgrimage
leading to
Luke 4:1-13
encounter God
2nd Sunday Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18 Set our
of Lent Philippians 3:17–4:1 face toward
Jerusalem
Luke 9:28-36
with Jesus
3rd Sunday Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15 A journey of
of Lent 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10- repentance
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Luke 13:1-9
4th Sunday Joshua 5:9-12 Walking in
of Lent 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 faith with
sinners
Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
5th Sunday Isaiah 43:16-21 Walk with
of Lent Philippians 3:8-14 mercy and
forgiveness
John 8:1-11
Passion / Luke 19:28-40 A pilgrimage
Palm Sunday Isaiah 50:4-7 with Jesus
Philippians 2:6-11
Luke 22:14–23:56
First Sunday of Lent
An inner pilgrimage
leading to encounter God
Opening Prayer
O Lord God and Father, you created us and know us through and
through.
Guide us through this Lenten Journey towards the saving mystery

of your Son’s passion, death and resurrection, knowing self and
loving others. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who
lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever
and ever. Amen.
Readings:
1st Reading: Deuteronomy 26:4-10
A recalling of how God our Father saved his people. This reading is how
an Israelite should recount how God our Father saved ‘his father’ and thus
saved himself, an identification of self with his forefathers and community.
Note the interesting change of pronouns from ‘he’ to ‘us’. God’s saving
power is actualised even today, saving me personally. The reading
narrates the liberation from slavery in Egypt (Passover) to the gifting of
the Promised Land where first-fruits of the land are offered (Pentecost).
Bowing before the Lord in adoration, the Israelite professes his belief in
God our Father (in fact, this ‘pronouncement’ of Dt26 is the ancient creed
of Israel) and affirms the covenantal relationship. This reading pplies to
our Christian journey of conversion, credence and commitment as well.
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2nd Reading: Romans 10:8-13
From Israel’s profession of faith, our second reading is about our Christian
profession of faith that Jesus is Lord. Jesus whose name means ‘God saves’
truly lives up to his name by being very near us (v.8) and in fact lived
among us, died for us and was raised from the dead (our saving Paschal
Mystery). And v.13 tells us that “everyone who calls on the name of the
Lord will be saved”, and this name is Jesus, who is Lord. We Christians
profess this outwardly with our lips but the interior journey of maturing
this belief in our heart must also take place, so that with our heart, we
truly embrace the person and salvation of our Lord Jesus the Christ.
Gospel: Lk 4:1-13
Led by the Spirit into the desert, Jesus is also sustained by the Spirit
during this time of trial and temptation (40 days being numerologically
significant). The 3 temptations of Jesus echo those of Israel in the desert:
complaining about hunger and then about the manna, worshipping of
the golden calf, testing God our Father at Massah (meaning ‘test’) and
Meribah (meaning ‘arguing’). Jesus rejected all egotistical forms of self-
reference and reliance, emphatically asserted rather his filial obedience
to God his Father, but in a way that is becoming of the Son of God, that
is, in kenotic (self-emptying) humility.
Thoughts
Embarking on an inner journey… or a pilgrimage if we would like to have
a more spiritual slant to it. Where from and where to? The theme for this
week emphasises that this pilgrimage is to encounter God our Father.
And indeed, our life’s purpose is to encounter God our Father, to be in
communion with God our Father. St Bonaventure reminds us that we are
Homo Viator (‘man on a journey’, as I would like to translate it from the
Latin). But we need to know where we are at this point of our lives. No
application can give us directions to our destination if we don’t provide
our current location. However, our spiritual location is hard to pinpoint.
Indeed our spiritual identity is sometimes so hard to establish.
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And that is why we need to go on this inner pilgrimage, this journey
within ourselves in order to encounter God our Father, and so in end,
to accept and love ourselves and others. St Teresa of Avila in her
famous book ‘Interior Castle” gave a beautiful imagery of the soul as a
crystal castle with 7 mansions of many chambers each, but within the
innermost castle, dwells our soul’s desire, God our Father.
For this journey, we need to be led by the Spirit and sustained by the
Spirit to identify what temptations we are most afflicted by and if
we have mistakenly prioritised certain possessions in our lives, be it
material, psychological, emotional or ideological needs. The craving for
abundance, recognition, control etc., we know our list of needs. Where do
these needs fit in our journey towards God? Are these aids or obstacles?
More importantly, have we allowed God our Father to be our saviour? Or
do we prefer to save ourselves and in the process, save others, without
God our Father? Israel’s story is about God our Father’s powerful hand
leading them out of slavery and into freedom. And Israel’s relationship
with God our Father is then based on a trusting reliance on his covenantal
love and power to save. And Jesus’ coming as Son, is to show us how to
be sons in the Son. The devil’s attempt to introduce self-reliance into
the sonship of Jesus is met with incisive rebuttals from him. In fact, the
devil’s attempt to use the word of God to prove his point is bound to meet
with failure, as he is dealing with the Word-made-flesh, the eternal Word
of the Father, who will always be in reference to the Father, because the
Word IS the Word of the Father.
Lest we forget and ignore the fact that Jesus is true man, with real
human bodily weakness and feelings, equipped with free will, he is
subject to temptation. And so are we. And thus the role of the Holy
Spirit in the earthly life of Jesus is to sustain him in his filial obedience
to the Father, and this same Spirit is given to us to sustain us in our
trials and temptations of daily life, even in the life of the Church. So
our inner pilgrimage to encounter God our Father is a needed one, but
not to the exclusion of our pilgrimage with those whom God our Father
sends to be our companions along the way, our family, our friends, our
communities. Each may present its own particular way of helping or
hindering our personal journeys, hence we need to continually return
to our personal conversion, credence and commitment in order to be
able to walk on this pilgrimage with our greater family.
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Reflections:
For Small Christian Communities
We talk about what struck us in the passages of scripture.

Let us share a bit about the scripture that we have just heard.
We gather as neighbourhood groups and small Christian communities to
allow the Word take root in our hearts and to take flesh through our lives.
Is the way we are breaking and sharing the Word really enriching and
challenging our lives? In other words, contemplative and commissioning?
For Ministry

Do I see my ministry as merely functional, a means of my contribution to
the church or do I see it as a means for my personal sanctity as well? Do I
encompass my ministry service and members in my personal pilgrimage
to the Lord? And do I see myself accompanying others on their journeys?
More importantly, as a ministry, do we allocate time when we meet to
break and share the Word?
For Family
Let us as a family share about what stood out in the passages of

scripture.
Have I honestly asked myself if I am helping or hindering the spiritual

lives of the ones closest to me - my family? Despite the weaknesses of
the individuals and the trials that they sometimes put me through, am I
able to believe in and commit to my personal journey towards God our
Father and that of my family members?
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For Individual
Spend some time reflecting on the passages of scripture.

If you would share about the scripture text with someone, what
would you share?
Where am I in this inner pilgrimage to encounter God our Father? Have
I come to a realisation what my Christian identity is? Have I embarked
on this inner pilgrimage? And if I have done so, where do I find myself
now?
Take home
Let us ask ourselves if we are already on this inner pilgrimage to

encounter God our Father. Christ is the Way back to the Father and
this Lent is a perfect time to spend our 40 days with him in the desert
to confront the demons in our lives.
Most important question of all: Is Jesus Christ my Lord? Do I see the
Paschal Mystery which is the saving event of Christ’s passion, death
and resurrection as my personal saving event? Do I believe that this
saving Paschal Mystery applies to me at this very moment?
Doing your bit
Be open to sharing our personal inner journeys and be willing to discern

if the Lord is inviting us to accompany someone on this adventure.
Closing Prayer
O Lord God and Father, as the Israelites journeyed through the
desert into the Promised Land, may we dare to continue on
this adventure towards you, through the example of your only
begotten Son, and sustained by the power of the Holy Spirit, till
at last we are embraced by your most tender love. We ask you
this through Jesus Christ Your Son, our Lord and brother. Amen.
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My Lenten Reflection Journal
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Second Sunday of Lent
Set our face toward
Jerusalem with Jesus
Opening Prayer
Transform us, O Lord, to be more like you. We pray that you
give us the courage to stay with you, the wisdom to learn
from you and the peace to know that you are with us always.
Send the Holy Spirit to enlighten our hearts and minds that
we will always be open to your light and your truth. We make
this prayer in your most Holy Name, Amen.
Readings:
1st Reading – Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18
There’s a wonderful intimacy in the conversation between Abraham

and God our Father in this passage as the former shows a familiarity
with God our Father that comes from a deep faith in his continual
accompaniment. Abraham’s question about how he was to take
possession of the land might be read by some to be one of doubt but
given the faith that he has shown in the past, the question is more of
an openness to allow God our Father to show his works in the world.
Abraham’s immediate and generous response to the call to make the
sacrifice and his fidelity to protect it again demonstrates his fidelity
that opens him to receive the huge gift of the Promised Land. While
we might not have the same clarity in our own conversations with God
our Father in prayer, our openness through faith in God our Father’s
promises would allow us to recognise and accept the graces that God
our Father continuously offers us.
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2nd Reading – Philippians 3:17-4:1
St Paul very wisely exhorts us to be less occupied with earthly things in

favour of concentrating on heavenly things so that our earthly bodies
can better conform to the heavenly body of the Lord. This is not an
easy task given the many practical things that we have to do live well
in the modern world. We might not be able to do this on our own
but the Lord himself will transfigure our wretched human bodies into
glorious ones that are similar to his. The transfiguration of the Lord
showed him in all his divine glory – his transfiguration of us would
help us to find the divine parts that can often be hidden within us.
Through the recognition of the divine that is within us, we can draw
from the strength that the Lord gives us to resist the distractions from
the world and to keep our gaze heavenward, upon him.
Gospel – Luke 9:28-36
A theophany is a visible manifestation of God our Father to humankind

and the transfiguration of the Lord is one that is filled with symbolism.
The cloud, brilliant light and voice from above remind one of the great
theophanies that occurred to Moses and Elijah at Sinai and Horeb
respectively. That the latter two appear with the brilliantly shining
Jesus demonstrate how he was there as a fulfilment of the Law and
Prophets – not just as a man but as the Son of God. The somewhat
lop-sided response of Peter who saw the glory but at the same time
wanted to trivialise the event of such glory with the building of tents
demonstrates how we too need to approach the Lord with a heavenward
gaze. Peter’s lack of understanding meant that he tried to normalise
the great theophany instead of basking in the glory of the Lord who
always seeks to reveal himself to us where we are. We just need to be
aware of it and receive this as a revelation from God our Father and
not something merely human or banal.
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Thoughts
German theologian Rudolf Otto wrote that God our Father is mysterium
tremendum et fascinans – a mystery that is both terrible and overwhelming
but also fascinating and that attracts us without us knowing why. The
Lord showed himself as such a mystery in the transfiguration – it was too
overwhelming for the disciples to even comprehend, leading them to act in
seemingly misguided ways in the face of the overwhelming glory that Jesus
manifested. The attraction was also very apparent as Peter sought to do
everything he could for the Lord – it was just that his limited understanding
of Jesus’ mission caused his good intentioned but all too human response.
We’re faced with such choices on a daily basis even though we don’t
experience the grandeur of a theophany that the three disciples did.
We know God our Father communicates with us through our prayers,
our participation in the Sacraments and in our interaction with the
community at large. It might not be spectacular but God our Father
is there nonetheless. As with Abram, we need the openness and faith
to accept how God our Father communicates with us in our daily lives
and we pray continually for the grace to respond appropriately to this
communication. St Paul also reminds us to keep looking heavenward
so that we too can be transformed from within, to be brought closer to
the Lord and to be able to do his will better.
During Lent, we’re encouraged to deepen our prayer life so that we can
be more closely conformed to the will of the Lord. Jesus’ resolute mission
towards Jerusalem and his passion and death can seem to some quite
frightening as he willingly journeyed towards suffering. Seen solely
in the light of suffering, the journey towards Calvary might not make
sense but the readings for this Sunday invite us to include the glory and
the promise of heaven into the equation. We journey with the Lord not
just in suffering but in glory too. Suffering is part of our existence and
sometimes can aid us in our purification and penance but these are not
ends in themselves. We look heavenward, towards the glory of the Lord,
so that we can always be reminded of the salvation that comes from our
faith and our responses to the will of God our Father.
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Reflections:

How has our community experienced God our Father in concrete
ways over the past weeks or months? It could be encounters with
each other, individual experiences of God our Father in one’s life
or just instances where one is aware of God’s accompaniment. By
sharing personal experiences of God our Father, the community can
be enriched and encouraged in the mutual Lenten journey.
How can I share my own experiences of God our Father in a way that
encourages others to seek God our Father and to look heavenward?
For Ministry

In our ministry, how have we been active in encouraging others to
look heavenward and to seek the things of God our Father?
Have we been overly concerned with the practicalities of the ministry
which could lead us to sometimes forget the presence of the mystery
of God our Father?
It may be useful for the ministry to slow down and take stock of how
all members are continuing to respond to the call of the Lord in the
ministry. Bringing the individual experience of how God our Father
continues to touch us in our ministry can help revitalise our work,
especially during Lent.
For Family

scripture.
Is it possible that we sometimes focus more on the faults of our family
members rather than their good traits? We can sometimes miss the
beauty and glory of those closest to us because our connection with
them is so close.
It can sometimes pay to take a step back to consider and celebrate the
‘divine’ in our family members. Praise them and show them how God
our Father is working through them.
For Individual

would you share?
Our prayer experiences are often our most intimate connections with
God our Father. How does our prayer transform us and how am I
made to look heavenward more through my prayer?
It may also be useful to consider specific instances of how my prayer
helps me in my relations with others and how my prayer helps me to
respond to God our Father in specific ways in my daily life.
Take home
Peter expressed a very heart-felt desire to help the Lord during

the event of the transfiguration. While it didn’t come with great
understanding, it came from the depths of his desire to serve the
Lord. It may be apt to consider our own desires to serve the Lord,
especially in the context of our Lenten practices.
What do I feel the Lord calling me to and how can I respond in my life? It
could be as simple as helping a person that we meet on a daily basis or
involve more commitment like joining a ministry. The important thing is to
consider where the Lord is leading my desires.
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Doing your bit
Sharing one’s own experience of faith can be a powerful way of

evangelising. We all have our experiences of the mystery of God our
Father that is both scary but intensely attractive at the same time.
Reaching out to others through the mutual sharing of one’s experience
of the divine can be an excellent starting point to talk about God our
Father and what God our Father means to us.
Closing Prayer
Awaken in us, O Lord, the light of your love that we may be
able to carry this divine light that you so gloriously showed in
your transfiguration to everyone whom we meet. Shine this light
upon us during this Lenten journey, so that all that we do can be
pleasing to you. Amen.
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Third Sunday of Lent
A journey of repentance
Opening Prayer
Almighty God our Father, you give us this blessed season of
Lenten as a call and invitation to change our lives, renew our faith,
revitalize our community and grow in relationship with you. Help
us to be aware of and to overcome the resistance within ourselves
to your grace: our self-doubt, our pride and our indifference. May
our Lenten observances bear fruit in ourselves and in the Church.
We make this prayer through Christ and in the Holy Spirit. Amen
Readings:
1st Reading: Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15
The Exodus is at the heart of the faith of Israel. This was the work of
God our Father, who entered into the suffering and historical-political
context of his people.
Ramses II was the great builder who had taken the Hebrews as
indentured labour and slaves for his projects. It was a hard life of
endless suffering. Was there any hope for the Hebrews?
One day, Moses while tending his sheep sees a curious sight – a burning
bush! He draws nearer and hears a voice. God is speaking to him and has
a mission for him. Ask Pharaoh for the release of the Hebrew slaves and
the Lord will lead them into the Promised Land.
Moses, overcome by self-doubt, doesn’t feel up to it. He doesn’t
imagine Pharaoh will be too keen on that proposition. But God our
Father assures Moses and reveals his name, YHWH; that name is the
authority by which Moses will speak to the Hebrews and to Pharaoh.
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2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12
The Corinthians were the most annoying community that Paul had to
deal with. Conceited, prideful and stubborn. Corinth was a large and
prosperous city and Paul found willing converts among the affluent
classes of Corinthian society. However, after he left them, the Church
began to be dominated by some rather overbearing personalities who
distorted the faith that Paul had taught. Those from the upper classes
felt themselves to be superior and at times excluded those whom they
did not consider their social equals from the Eucharist.
Paul’s admonishment is gentle but direct. The Israelites were God
our Father’s chosen people but after their escape from Egypt, they
grumbled and were ungrateful and unfaithful to God our Father. For
that reason, they did not get to see the Promised Land. Paul tells them,
if you think you are special and privileged, it will lead to pride and
that will prove to be your undoing; and the undoing of the community.
Gospel: Luke. 13:1-9

In the Gospel today, Jesus is asked about a couple of tragedies that
happened at the time.
First, Pontius Pilate had killed some Galileans. While the Romans
generally allowed the Israelites to practice their Jewish faith, they did
not tolerate any kind of rebellion. Pontius Pilate was a ruthless leader,
who often executed rebels in a way that would serve as an example
and strike fear into the people so that they would think twice about
speaking out.
There also seems to have been some kind of disastrous accident where
a tower collapsed killing eighteen people. Jesus is clear that this is not a
punishment. But he also admits that we cannot explain these tragedies.
However, it is a reminder of our mortality, the fact that our days are
numbered. We cannot afford to be indifferent. The time for conversion,
the time for repentance is now.
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Thoughts
Repentance is the act of reflecting on one’s actions, feeling contrition
for past wrongs, and making a commitment to change for the better.
It finds its root in the Hebrew word shuv, and the Greek, metanoia. It
means to turn, to return, to change one’s orientation and move in a
different direction. However, change is always difficult. The readings
at today’s Eucharist remind us of the challenges we face.
When God our Father calls Moses, he is overcome by self-doubt. It will
require him to change the orientation of his life and Moses will have
to conquer his initial fear.
The faith and community of the Corinthians was jeopardized by their
pride. Some of them felt that they had special gifts and privileges and
were better than others. The wealthy treated the Church like their
private club and didn’t care for the poor.
In the Gospel, Jesus reminds the disciples of the risk of indifference. If
we live our lives in an unreflective way, then we could easily miss the
voice of God our Father who may be calling us to a ministry, a service
or to do our part to build the Church and community.
God our Father has a mission for us. The call may not be as dramatic
as Moses’. You’re not going to go out and meet a talking tree. But our
conscience speaks to us in times of silence. Compassion moves our
heart when we experience the suffering of others. That is the voice of
God our Father, speaking to us, calling us. But listening to that voice,
responding to that call, requires constant repentance – meaning, a
commitment to turn to God our Father more in prayer, the willingness
to change the direction of our lives, the choice to re-orient our priorities
and to serve others. That is what we are challenged to do during Lent.
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Reflections:

As a Christian community, are we truly open to all people, especially
those who are different from ourselves?
For Ministry

Does the culture of our ministry and community help make all
members feel welcome and valued?
For Family

scripture.
For the Israelites, the experience of God in the Exodus shaped their
identity. How have we experienced the presence of God our Father in
our lives as a family?
For Individual

would you share?
Am I so busy and distracted in my life that I find it hard to listen to the
call of God our Father? How is my Lenten penance helping me to let
go of some of these distractions?
Take home
As Moses was called to lead his people into freedom, how do I put my
Christian faith into action every day in the service of others?
Doing your bit
As Moses was sent to serve the people most in need, who are the
people around me who are crying out for friendship, hope and an
experience of God our Father?
Closing Prayer
Loving and merciful Father, may this season of Lent be a time
of change and growth for our parish, our communities and
ministries, for our families and for ourselves.
May our Lenten observance – our fasting, prayer and almsgiving

– help us to listen to the voice of God our Father and to respond
to his call. May our faith bear fruit in ministry and service
especially to the poor and the most abandoned. We ask this
through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
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Fourth Sunday of Lent
Walking in faith with sinners
Opening Prayer
Almighty God our Father, during this Lenten Week, you invite us
into a time of reflection upon our journey home to you. Each of
our journeys is a conscious and conscientious act of will and there
are times when we stumble for the difficulties along the way. As
we begin our reading, we ask you to draw near and be with us. In
our conversations, we ask you to draw us to a richer understanding
of our relationship with one another. In our reflections, we ask you
to guide us to see implications of our understanding and decisions.
We invite you and ask that everything we do here be for the glory
of your name through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Readings:
1st Reading: Joshua 5:9-12
What started as an exit (exodus) now ends in an entry (eisodos) into the
Promised Land. A whole generation had died, and a new generation
of Hebrews had been born during their desert sojourn. At Gilgal, God
our Father had them perform the rite of circumcision, and for the first
time since they left Egypt 40 years ago, the Hebrews celebrated their
Passover. They had witnessed the mighty power of God our Father, and
were now ritually his people.
During the wandering in the harsh desert. God our Father prepared his
people for the Promised Land by flushing Egypt out of them through
patient love; firm rebuke of evil ways; teaching them truth that is him;
protecting, healing and feeding them; trusting his people will come
to him in their time. Eventually at Gilgal, his people no longer looked
at Egypt with longing but instead are ready, physically, mentally and
spiritually, they enter and claim the Promised Land as their home. It
was a glorious homecoming with God our Father by their side.
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2nd Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
The Corinthian church regarded the young Christian faith as a

curiosity, a social club or at best another way to worship God our
Father. Paul, on the other hand, saw their disunity, sexual immorality
and spiritual immaturity. He reminded them that they were destined
for a greater inheritance, and swiftly led them to see the life, death
and resurrection of Christ with supernatural eyes of faith.
The young faith of the Corinthians was like seeds on a path, rocky places,
and among thorns. Christ was shunted by their carnal way of life. Paul
rebuked them for their sinful ways, and said to them that unless they were
in Christ, they would not see themselves as a new creation of God our
Father, reconciled to God our Father through Christ and in Christ. For a
start, they need to stop their divisive behavior and cavalier fellowship, and
begin to seek moral goodness; pursue true knowledge of Christ; practice
self-control; persevere with patience; inculcate a godly character; share
mutual affection for one another; and that is love for God our Father.
Gospel Reading: Luke 15:1-3; 11-32

The parable of the prodigal son is a coin with justice and mercy as
its faces; repentance and faithfulness. When the young son came to
his father to ask for his inheritance, in the Jewish culture of that day
it was like he was saying “I wish you were dead”. This is what the
Jewish leaders understood and in their minds, they would not have
received the young son back into the family. In fact he would have
been disinherited or even stoned, as was done in the ancient Jewish
culture of the Old Testament. He would have been disowned and he
would not have been allowed to return as part of the father’s family.
Although he justly deserved, upon his return, to earn his living by
working as a hired servant, his return to the father with the intent to
seek forgiveness and work out his penance was an invitation for mercy
to be shown him. And indeed his hope is borne out by the father’s
loving response to his return and his act of forgiveness of his sin.
The parable does not stop there. Through the elder son, Jesus taught
another aspect of disobedience by his defiance of his order to celebrate
the return of his brother. More importantly, the elder son failed to share
in the inner communal joy in the return of one who once was lost.
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Thoughts
Three persons will walk with me this week.
First, a young man – rash and arrogant. I look back at my life and recall
the times when I was convinced that everything I saw, heard and thought
pointed to a material world without the need for God our Father. My body was
made for pleasure and my possession a medium of exchange – everything
and everyone has a price. Years rolled on, and an emptiness which had
been kept at bay could not be hemmed in any longer. I grew cynical of
kindness, plagued by life’s meaningless-ness, haunted by loveless-ness, and
overpowered by inward loneliness. Then one Saturday evening in Lent, I
walked into church, too early for my appointment. The homily spoke of the
younger son who stopped short of throwing away the last shred of dignity
by refusing to eat the food for the pigs. From that point, I heard no more of
the homily. My very soul was in turmoil – what was my dignity?
Second, the father – who was hurt those years ago. Little by little, I
dropped a bad habit here, an indulgence there, confessed bits of my
less embarrassing sins, relearned prayers, took three steps forward
and two steps back. During quiet moments after mass, during moments
I stole on the way to work to read a Merton or C.S. Lewis, during retreats
when I prayed and searched for God our Father, during fellowship in
my community – God our Father never spoke but on hindsight, my spirit
was tugged along imperceptibly homeward through the comfort and
encouragement of many others who had walked with me in faith, little
knowing the great work they had done to redeem the soul of a sinner.
It took years before I caught a glimpse of my ability to love.
Third, the elder son – righteous and exacting. Coming home was just
the beginning of my challenges. Looking at others with gifts of tongues
and visions prompted me to exact my portion as just reward. Then
I realised that pride had extended its insidious reach into my very
being – I have failed to realise that others are on the same journey as
I was, and these gifts are given to celebrate God our Father’s love and
forgiveness. I look forward to relying less on my effort but on him to
walk life’s journey “because God’s love has been poured out into our
hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Rm 5:5),
and now I am asked to walk with fellow sinners as well.
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Reflections:

What obstacles stand in the way of the journey back to the heart of Christ?
What is our disposition with those desiring to go back to the heart of Christ?
What can our community do for those desiring to go back to the heart of Christ?
For Ministry
What assurance has God our Father given those desiring to go back
to the heart of Christ?
How can our charism help those desiring to go back to the heart of Christ?
What can our ministry do to encourage those desiring to go back to
the heart of Christ?
For Family
scripture.
How is our family friendly to conversation and dissenting views?
How is our family a haven for those desiring to go back to the heart of Christ?
What can our family do to encourage those desiring to go back to the
heart of Christ?
For Individual
would you share?
What impedes you and me from going back to the heart of Christ?
How do my spiritual gifts help you and me to go back to the heart of Christ?
What will I do to encourage you and me to go back to the heart of Christ?
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Take home
Pray for fortitude and determination. Find a buddy to “report” to each
day of your journey.
Doing your bit

Pray once a day with the person you want to journey with, or text original
words of encouragement to the person.
Closing Prayer
In every act of kindness we do, you are there,
In every shout of joy, you are there,
In every word of comfort we offer, you are there,
In every praise song we sing, you are there,
In every wish of goodwill we make, you are there,
In every truth we teach, you are there.
Forgive us those things we have done which have
caused you sadness,
and those things we should have done that would
have brought you joy.
In both we have failed ourselves and you.
Therefore, send us angels and companions to walk
with us each day,
to follow the way of the prodigal son
in his homecoming.
And when we finally reach the Cross, meet us there.
A C T
S H O U T
W O R D
P R A I S E
W I S H
T R U T H
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Fifth Sunday of Lent
Walk with mercy and forgiveness
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, in your mercy you’ve extended your love to
man, time and again – from the sin of Adam, the ark of Noah,
the deliverance from slavery in Egypt, establishment of King
David and lastly the redemption through Jesus. As we reflect on
your mercy and forgiveness, may we always keep in mind that no
matter how unworthy and unloved we think are, you will always
love us to the end. Amen.
Readings:
1st Reading: Isaiah 43:16-21
Israel is in exile in Babylonia at this point in time. God our Father is

telling Israel through Prophet Isaiah that their eventual deliverance
from Babylonian captivity will be as great, if not greater, than the exodus
from Egypt. Deutero-Isaiah recalled all the pivotal salvation moments to
serve as an anchor for people to cling to as they passed through their
present ordeal. God our Father continues to wait for Israel to turn back
to him - God our Father’s faithfulness is his mercy and forgiveness as He
waits for our return because God never forgets his promises.
2nd Reading: Philippians 3:8-14
Paul is so touched by Christ that it led to a complete reassessment of

his way of life. He realizes that his upbringing and his way of life, being
righteous in his persecution of the Christian Jews according to the law, is
not the Christ’s way of love. Paul now gladly gives up the upbringing he
had valued in the past – he now considers them rubbish – all because he
now knows Christ. And in spite of all his wrong-doings, Paul is confident
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that his faith in Christ and his continuing to walk Christ’s love will lead
him to perfect maturity as disciple of Jesus Christ.
Gospel Reading: John 8:1-11

At this point in time, Jesus is already a wanted man in Judea; some Jews
are looking to kill him. He teaches with such authority and he performs
so many healing miracles that many confer the title “Messiah” on him.
The woman who was caught in the act of adultery is just a tool for the
scribes and Pharisees to trap him. However, Jesus turned the trap on the
accusers and the woman was left alone with him. Misery met mercy and
the woman left the encounter a new creation in Christ. Jesus’ mercy and
forgiveness overcame all her misery, punishment, retribution and death.
This story reminds us not to judge to avoid bringing condemnation on
ourselves.
Jesus is the merciful judge who offer God our Father’s forgiveness and we
are invited to conversion and to walk in mercy and forgiveness like Jesus.
Thoughts
Since man’s exile from the Garden, God our Father’s continuous
mercy and forgiveness has been apparent. There’s nothing God our
Father wants more than for us to be reunited with him and he wants
us to be able to choose to do this freely. It is precisely this free will,
coupled with our tendency to sin, that we make selfish decisions and
move further away from God our Father.
The Israelites in exile in the first reading and the woman caught in
adultery in the Gospel are aware of the sinful situations they are in.
It is likewise for many of us who are fully aware of the repetitive
sins we are committing or the sinful situations we are currently in
but we are not willing to do anything about it. All we need to do is to
turn towards God our Father. Nothing demonstrates this more clearer
than the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke’s gospel where we see the
father’s action in the following verse (Lk 15:20) -
“So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long
way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.
He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.”
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We are reminded too, especially in the gospel, that all of us are
imperfect. Our sins may not be as obvious as the woman caught in
adultery but that does not mean we can go around casting stones at
others. To sin means a break in our relationship with God our Father
and that is a burden all of us are carrying. St Paul reminds us that
because now that we all have Christ, we will have to shed undesirable
ways and walk in ways of Christ.
As long as we are heartfelt about our repentance and turn to God
our Father, he will forgive and welcome us back. God’s grace is
greater than any sins. God’s mercy and forgiveness, as with his love,
is forever. God our Father looks with compassion at our attempts and
our stumblings – and like the concerned and loving father that he is,
he is always there to pick us up.
Reflections:
Let us reflect and share about how others in our community had
shown us acts of mercy, maybe unknowingly, and how we had felt
being the recipient of such love.
For Ministry
Let us reflect if we had been unnecessarily harsh in our opinions of other
ministry members or other parishioners in our interactions with them.
What can we do to incorporate humility and mercy in our interactions?
For Family
scripture.
We are often the harshest critics of our family members and we frequently
do not communicate our love of them clearly. Let us reflect and share
how forgiveness can be communicated among the family members.
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For Individual

would you share?
Let us think deeply about our faults and how these may have hurt
people around us. Are we humble enough to seek forgiveness from the
people we have hurt? Have we viewed the Sacrament of Reconciliation
as a dreary obligation rather than a joyful encounter of God’s mercy
and forgiveness?
Take home
God’s mercy and forgiveness, as with his love, is always there: it is

only up to us to want to dwell in it.
Doing your bit
Pray for a Catholic friend who finds difficulty in letting go of his/her

hurts and forgiveness. Encourage the friend to frequent the Sacrament
of Reconciliation.
Identify a non-baptised friend and share about your experience of
Jesus’ mercy and forgiveness.
Continue to encourage others to be mindfully merciful in our
interactions.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, through Jesus your Son, you have reminded
us to be merciful as you are merciful and to forgive others as
you have forgiven us. As we remember your mercy and love, we
ask that we will likewise bring your mercy and love to others we
meet. We ask this, especially, through your Son Jesus who is our
ultimate role model. Amen.
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Passion / Palm Sunday
A pilgrimage with Jesus
Opening Prayer
Almighty ever-living God our Father, we give you thanks and
praise you for who you are, for all you have created, all you are
creating. We thank you for sending your beloved son Jesus, who
showed us your love for all creation, your love for us. Open our
eyes to see your kingdom come here on earth. God of grace,
equip us to be your servants, listening, eager and ready to take
this pilgrimage with Jesus, Amen.
Procession Reading: Luke 19:28-40
This reading reminds us that Jerusalem is the Holy City, the centre of
the ‘ACTION” that will take place. Jesus will die in Jerusalem, and the
Church will be born in Jerusalem and from here the Good News will go
out to the rest of the world. Jesus knows exactly what will happen, he
is in control of events as they unfold. He is doing his Father’s will, and
that God our Father’s purpose will be fulfilled through him. Jesus’ entry
into Jerusalem on a colt is an allusion to a messianic prophecy (Zc 9:9).
As Jesus rides along, the people begin to praise God our Father for all
the mighty deeds that they have seen Jesus performed. They proclaimed
“Blessed is the King who comes/ in the name of the Lord/. Peace in heaven/
and glory in the highest.” In this proclamation, St. Luke is emphasizing
Jesus’ Kingship. Both heaven and earth proclaim Jesus’ kingship as
he enters Jerusalem. Some Pharisees think that this acclamation is
inappropriate and they told Jesus to “rebuke your disciples.” Jesus knows
that the acclamation is true; He is a King. In refusing to silence the
people, Jesus alludes to the prophet Habakkuk who, when condemning
those who pursue “evil gain” for their household says that the “stone
in the wall” and “the beam in the frame” of their homes will “cry out”
against them (Hb 2:11). Truth will not be suppressed. Jesus will fulfill
his Father’s will, and heaven and earth will know that Jesus is King.
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1st Reading: Isaiah 50:4-7
Chapter 50 of Isaiah opens with an oracle concerning the Servant, who

declares himself a disciple of the Lord God from whom he receives
the words to sustain the weary. The servant is shown as a man full
of confidence, and yet he is persecuted, insulted, tried; it is in this
situation that he declares that God comes to his aid.
The suffering servant is the personified nation, Israel, suffering exile
in Babylon. By applying his own experience to that of the nation, he
is encouraging the exiles to accept their suffering bravely, to believe
that God is still faithful to them, and to live in hope.
2nd Reading: Philippians 2:6-11
St Paul sets forth Jesus as the supreme example of servitude, humility, and
obedience. Jesus had a single mind to do the will of the Father. Evidently,
the church at Philippi struggled with some divisions among the Body.
Some strived together in unity; others caused strife and unrest. They had
quickly forgotten the model of Christ. Prior to these, St Paul also reminds
us that persecution and suffering would follow our profession of faith in
the Gospel. “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to
believe in him, but also to suffer for him” (Ph 1:29).
St Paul encourages the Philippians to embrace Christ as their model.
They, like Christ, should humbly, generously serve one another and to
follow in his footsteps.
Gospel Reading: Luke 22:14-23:56
The Gospel text begins with the institution of the Holy Eucharist. While
celebrating the Passover with the apostles, Jesus takes the bread and wine
used to celebrate God’s rescue of the people from slavery in Egypt and gives
them a whole new meaning. Jesus wants them to know that he will still be
with them, even after he is crucified. He also wants them to understand
his death and all that his death will accomplish within the context of their
covenant relationship with God our Father. A new understanding of that
covenant will come with Jesus’ resurrection and the invitation to that love
will be extended to the whole human race, not just to the Israelites.
Jesus also reminds the Apostles that they are not to be the kind of leaders
who lord it over others, rather, they are to be servant leaders, as Jesus
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himself has been. Even though he knows that his Apostles are going to
desert him and Peter is going to deny him, Jesus sees past their failures
to their final strength and fidelity after Pentecost.
For St Luke, the passion narrative of Jesus is the pinnacle of the
inevitable rejection of God the Father’s specially anointed prophet. It is
also the route that Jesus must take towards his eventual glorification.
Thoughts:
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week. We are reminded again
the depth of God our Father’s promise to us as we hear again what
Jesus did to free us from the consequences of our sin. Palm Sunday also
marks the beginning of Jesus’ hour of glory.
In spite of all the indignity, suffering, extreme agony to the point of
death, Jesus was determined to ride into Jerusalem because at the end
of it all, great things would be achieved for all people.
“I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have
turned back, you must strengthen your brothers.”
Jesus’ prayer over Peter wasn’t suggesting that his disciples have no
faith, but they have failed to exercise it, especially in times of trials and
facing uknown, - difficult moments. It was difficult for them to always
believe that God the Father was going to meet their needs, and their faith would
not stand up to the coming test. Jesus was right about Peter, because his faith did
fail-perhaps being “eclipsed” by fear. Jesus goes on to say, “..and once you have
turned back”. Jesus anticipated both the failure of Peter’s faith and his return.
It is not uncommon even today for us to retreat, withdraw, hide and
even deny when our faith are challenged. As we take this lifelong
pilgrimage with Jesus, trials and all sorts of hard times will come to
challenge our faith in him. However it is also true that hardships will
provide a way for us to gain greater faith like Peter after his return. We
should always hold on to the ones who is stronger than the challenge
we face: Our Christian Community and with God Our Father.
All of the Gospel accounts indicate that Jesus was brought before both
the Jewish religious leaders and Roman authorities, but only in Luke
it includes an appearance before Herod. Herod has been presented as
someone who has been curious about Jesus for a long time. However,
his curiosity goes unrewarded. It is only faith in Jesus and a genuine
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encounter with him that is rewarded. St Luke tells us that Herod and
Pilate had been enemies before, but now they became friends after
their encounter with Christ. Jesus’ power to heal and forgive extends
even to his enemies, including those who crucify him.
We too, as we take a closer walk with Jesus, with an encounter that
transforms our lives and propels us to become joyful witnesses of his
truth, we can also become peacemakers and make changes even to
the most hardened of hearts.
Jesus is the perfect model or example of a disciple. He has followed his
Father’s will, gave himself up willingly so that we might live. He has
revealed God’s love to us and love us to the end.
To be loved like this, should give us a new sense of our own worth,
our willingness to accept the cross of suffering on our pilgrimage with
Jesus. It should stir within us the desire to now truly live up to our
status as one of God’s children.
Reflections:

Are we a follower of Christ? Do we find any characteristics of a true
disciple difficult to follow?
How can we as a community help one another better prepare for Easter?
For Ministry

Share with each other what you understand about ‘A pilgrimage with
Jesus’ and the necessary attributes of walking with him in this journey.
How do we as pilgrims deal with big challenges when we feel our faith is weak?
For Family

scripture.
43
As a family, in which area should we improve to follow Christ?
Share with each other your God-encountered experiences during
this season of Lent.
For Individual

would you share?
If you place yourself as one of the characters in the passion narrative
who would you most likely be similar to? And why?
Take home
We are all pilgrims on earth. We are all seeking for happiness where only
God our Father can give. Let us accept the invitation from Jesus to be
intimate with him through prayer, almsgiving and fasting especially this
coming Holy Week, starting a lifelong pilgrimage with Jesus who alone
can give us a purest sense of mission and purpose in our journey with him.
Doing your bit
Pray for a specific family / individual whom you know is having

difficulty in practicing their faith.
Identify a non-baptised person whom you want to share about Jesus.
If it is possible, invite that person to a fellowship meal within your
family / community.
Closing Prayer
God of our pilgrimage, we praise and thank you for calling us to
be your disciples. We thank you for leading and guiding us as we
journey towards you. May your confidence continue to support
us, may your Spirit be our companion and draws us closer to
you, as we seek to follow in the steps of your Son, our Savior
Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the
Holy Spirit one God forever and ever, Amen.
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Appendix
Lenten Activities
REFLECTIONS FOR FAMILIES
Lent is a season of preparation for Easter when we reflect on God’s

salvation plan to bring his people from darkness into light and how
we respond to his call to holiness. The season of Lent begins on Ash
Wednesday and lasts through Holy Saturday. Through our Lenten
observance of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we, the faithful, embark
on a 40-day journey in the footsteps of our Lord, just as he spent 40
days in the desert more than 2,000 years ago.
Stations of the Cross for the Family
A family way of the cross can be a simple quiet time of prayer or an

opportunity for meditative and contemplative reflection on each station.
Before you start, here are a few pointers for your consideration:
You may choose to pray the Stations of the Cross using the stations in
your parish or you may use paintings/pictures based on each station
(you could use different pictures each week) – an opportunity for your
family to experience God through liturgical art.
Remind your family members that this is a prayer. We pray the Stations
of the Cross to help us enter deeper into the mystery of Jesus’ passion,
death and resurrection.
You may choose to do all stations at a time or you may choose to
reflect on one or a few stations at a time.
When you begin at a station, spend a few moments looking at the
image before you. As you begin your prayer, reflect on what each
station means to you, what touches you, what Jesus is saying to you
here, whether you could identify with the people in this station, what
you are thankful for, etc.
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Materials Needed / Environment:
• Pictures representing each of the 14 stations
• Lighted candles for the first 12 stations
• Snuffer
• Matches
• Darken the room – but leave a lamp or the light in a nearby room
on so you can still read.
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, you love us so much that you give yourself totally on the
Cross to make us holy. We want to be perfect as our heavenly Father
is perfect. Show us the way to holiness as we meditate on the Way of
the Cross. Help us to walk together by faith in communion as a family.
(Light all candles for the first 12 stations.)
Begin each station with:
“We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your holy
cross you have redeemed the world.”
After each station you say an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be...
First Station:
Jesus is condemned to death
Jesus is brought before Pilate by people he knows – the chief priests and
elders. Although he is innocent, no one stood up for him. Pilate sees that he
can do nothing and not wanting further trouble, he sentences Jesus to death.
Look at Jesus
Has anyone ever said mean or hurtful things about you, or has anyone
ever told a lie about you? If someone did that to you, look at your heart
and see how you felt. Maybe you were scared, or hurt, or maybe you
felt very angry.
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Show your heart to Jesus. See Jesus loving you when you show him what
happens in your heart. Then, when you are ready, you can ask Jesus to
help you, make your heart more like his. Maybe you want to ask Jesus to
help you to remember that God our Father is always with you.
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…
(Snuff the candle for the first station.)
Second Station:
Jesus carries his cross
After Jesus has been flogged by the soldiers, mocked at and spat upon,
he is made to carry the heavy cross by himself from the city to Calvary
(or Golgotha).
Look at Jesus
Have you ever had something happen that was very hard for you?
Sometimes we are not treated nicely or someone in our family falls
very sick. Sometimes we just can’t have things the way we want them.
Take some time to look at what your heart is like when this happens.
Then, when you see what your heart is like, show your heart to Jesus.
See Jesus loving you when you show him what happens in your heart.
When you are ready, you can ask Jesus to help make your heart more
like his.
(Snuff the candle for the second station.)
Third Station:
Jesus falls the first time
Jesus falls to the ground for the first time, exhausted by the weight of
the cross. The cross keeps pushing into his shoulder, and the stones on
the road hurt his feet. People yell and push him; the soldiers shout for
him to move faster. How tired Jesus is!
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Look at Jesus
Falling really hurts, doesn’t it? When people make mistakes, it is like
falling. And when that happens, their heart sometimes feels like it is hurt.
Can you remember a time when you fell, when your heart felt hurt? As
you remember that time, and look at how your heart felt, show your
heart to Jesus. See Jesus loving you as you show him your heart. When
you are ready, you can ask Jesus to help make your heart more like his.
(Snuff the candle for the third station.)
Fourth Station:
Jesus meets his mother
Jesus sees his mother. Amidst the angry crowd, she is there, watching.
Both Mother and Son can feel the other’s pain. There is nothing they
can do to make the pain go away but both are able to offer comfort
with their presence.
Look at Jesus
If you can remember a time when you were very sad, show Jesus what
your heart looked like when you felt that way. Picture Jesus loving you
when you show him your sad heart. Then, when you are ready, you
can ask Jesus to help make your heart more like his.
(Snuff the candle for the fourth station.)
Fifth Station:
Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carries his cross
On the way to Calvary, the soldiers grab a man to carry the cross for
Jesus. The passer-by is Simon of Cyrene, who happens to be heading
for Jerusalem from the country.
They continue on the long road, carrying the cross together.
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Look at Jesus
Sometimes helping someone can be difficult, for so many different

reasons. Maybe you haven’t finished something that you like to do,
when someone asks you for help. Or maybe you just don’t feel like
helping that person. Can you think of a time when you were asked to
help someone and did not want to help?
Show Jesus what it was like when that happened, and picture Jesus
loving you as you show him your heart. Maybe you can even hear
Jesus whisper, “Thank you for helping.” When you are ready, you can
ask Jesus to help you to have a helping heart.
(Snuff the candle for the fifth station.)
Sixth Station:
Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
Jesus is hot, tired, and sweating. His face is covered in sweat, blood
and dust from the long walk. Filled with compassion, Veronica steps
out from the crowd to wipe his face with a cloth.
Look at Jesus
Sometimes you may have done something that you thought was very
small or unimportant: bringing a glass of water or juice to someone,
or even giving someone a helping hand with a chore. Maybe you just
smiled at someone who looked sad!
As you think of the times you helped, show Jesus your heart. As you
picture Jesus loving you, maybe you can also picture Jesus leaving a
picture of his face on your heart. What a wonderful heart you have!
(Snuff the candle for the sixth station.)
51
Seventh Station:
Jesus falls the second time
Jesus falls to the ground for the second time. The cross grows heavier
and heavier. The noise from the crowd and from the soldiers makes him
feel even worse. It gets harder to get up. Jesus gets up and keeps going.
Look at Jesus
Have you ever had a hard time with something? Or you feel as if you keep
messing up on something? Nothing seems to improve after all your efforts
at making things better.
How does your heart feel when that happens?
Maybe your heart feels the way Jesus’ heart felt when he fell this
second time. When you show Jesus how your heart felt, picture Jesus
loving you. Jesus knows how your heart felt.
(Snuff the candle for the seventh station.)
Eighth Station:
Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
A great number of people follow Jesus, and among them are women
who are beating their breasts and wailing as they watch him suffer. He
tells them to take care of others, and especially to take care of their
children: “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for
yourselves and your children.”
Look at Jesus
Sometimes it is easy to just think about ourselves - about what is not

going the way we want it, or about problems that we have. It is very
hard, then, to think about other people. How does your heart look when
you do that, when you think only about yourself?
52
Show your heart to Jesus, and picture Jesus loving you with your heart
that way. When you are ready, can you ask Jesus to help you have a
heart like his, a heart that thinks about other people and remembers
other people? That’s the kind of heart Jesus has.
(Snuff the candle for the eighth station.)
Ninth Station:
Jesus falls a third time

Jesus falls to the ground, yet again, for the third time. The journey
seems so long and hard to bear. However, with great courage and
endurance, Jesus continues towards Calvary. his love for us overcomes
his pain.
Look at Jesus
And Jesus gets up again, even though it is hard for him to do. When we
have really tried to do our best, and have not been able to succeed, it is
easy to give up. Sometimes other people just keep yelling about something
we do, or sometimes other people make fun of the way we do something.
Can you remember a time when you felt this tired in your heart,
when you seemed to be having a sad or hard time with someone or
something?
Look at how your heart felt, and show your heart to Jesus. When you
are ready, ask Jesus to help you when you feel this way.
(Snuff the candle for the ninth station.)
Tenth Station:
Jesus is stripped of his garments

The soldiers take Jesus’ clothes and divide them into four parts, one for
each soldier. They also take his tunic; now the tunic is seamless, woven
in one piece from the top. So, they say to one another, “Let us not tear
it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.” Jesus stands in front of the
crowd with only a small piece of cloth covering part of his body.
53
Look at Jesus
Is it hard to share or to give away something that you like? Do you

sometimes like to keep everything for yourself? Do you ever let something
of yours be the reason for bad feelings or bad words between you and
someone else?
If you remember a time when something like this happened, remember
how your heart felt. Then, show your heart to Jesus. You can ask Jesus
to help you to have a heart that is like his heart.
(Snuff the candle for the tenth station.)
Eleventh Station:
Jesus is nailed to the Cross

It is nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. The inscription
on the charge against him reads, “The King of the Jews”. And with him
they crucify two bandits, one on his right and one on his left. There are
many people who passed by; some stop to mock and taunt him.
how much Jesus hurts as the soldiers nail him to the cross. But he looks
at the people who have hurt him and he asks God to forgive them.
Look at Jesus
Can you think of a time when someone hurt you with unkind words or
actions? Was it hard for you to forgive that person?
Jesus knows that forgiving is hard to do. That’s why Jesus will help to
change your heart when you ask him to help you to forgive someone.
See how your heart looks after you ask Jesus to do this.
(Snuff the candle for the eleventh station.)
Twelfth Station:
Jesus dies on the Cross

It is now about noon, and darkness comes over the whole land until
three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light fails, and the curtain of
54
the temple is torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, says,
“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, He
breathes his last.
(Remain in silence for a moment.)
Look at Jesus
Did you ever feel that you wanted to make something better, or that
if you only tried harder, something would change the way you want
to change? Or maybe you felt that you did not try hard enough at
something, and something bad happened.
If you can think of a time like that, then show Jesus your heart, and let
him love you. When you are ready, you can ask Jesus to help your heart
be more like his heart.
(Snuff the candle for the twelfth station. Room is now in darkness
except for a lamp/light nearby for reading.)
Thirteenth Station:
Jesus is taken down from the Cross
Joseph of Arimathea asks Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus.
Pilate gives him permission; so he comes and removes his body. Mary
holds the lifeless body of her Son, Jesus in her arms as she thinks
about Simeon’s words, “And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
Look at Jesus
Is there someone you love who has died? When you remember that
person, how does your heart look? You can show your heart to Jesus,
and show Jesus what you miss about the person who died. Jesus knows
what your heart looks like, and loves you when you show him your
heart. He can even help your heart become more like his.
55
Fourteenth Station:
Jesus is laid in the Tomb
Joseph and Nicodemus take the body of Jesus and wrap it with spices
in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. They wash
his body and wrap it in a clean sheet. Then they put his body into a
tomb. When they are finished, they push a very large stone over the
entrance, so that no one can go inside.
Look at Jesus
Can you remember a time when you were very sad to say “Good-bye” to
someone? Maybe you were leaving the person for only a short time, or
maybe it was for a long time. Maybe you said “Good-bye” to someone
you loved when that person died.
Take a few moments to think about one of those times you were sad saying
“Good-bye,” and show Jesus how your heart felt then. Try to picture Jesus
loving you, and being with you, with your sad heart.
Leader:
Without Christ, the world is plunged into total darkness. When Jesus
died, it seems that all is hopeless. But we know this is not the end of
the story. We know that on the third day after his death, Jesus rose
again. The light of the Risen Christ overcame death and brings us life.
Closing Prayer
O Lord, we unite ourselves with you in death so that we may unite
ourselves with you in a resurrected life. Teach us your ways,
O Lord, so that we turn away from sins and grow in holiness.
Amen.
56
ACTIVITY FOR SMALL CHRISTIAN
COMMUNITIES / MINISTRY
(Re)Building relationships in our communities
We often think that Lent is about giving up something. We give up

watching Korean dramas; we give up eating meat; we give up social
media, and the list goes on. Though these sacrifices are good, we
need to examine our hearts and our intentions for doing these things.
Are we doing them for the sake of a Lenten fast? If you think about it,
it is quite ‘easy’. We just need to give up whatever we have named for
40 days and after that we can go back to it again and maybe double
the dose that we were having before our ‘fast’. The fasting is done in
order to facilitate a change within us so that at Easter we are a new
person; a new life is seen.
During Lent, God our Father wants to give us graces that will transform
our lives. Transformed lives ‘free’ us to be able to love God our Father
and others more. We can do this by (re)building our relationships with
God our Father and each other. Let us look at the ‘broken’ parts of our
relationships and see how God our Father is giving us the opportunity
to make them right again.
In the life of our communities, relationships may be broken and we
may have not given much attention to them. Sometimes, these broken
relationships are avoided by everyone. Eventually, we find that
some people are no longer attending our regular meetings; or when
someone is present, we will find some other person missing.
This Lent, God our Father is asking us to look at these broken
relationships and take the courageous step to seek the transformation
that God our Father so wants our communities to have. We can then
make the commitment to fast for this particular intention(s).
57
Apart from mending broken relationships, God our Father is inviting
us to build new relationships. Who are the people that are left out
from our community meetings? What can we do to build relationships
with them? What have we been doing and what more can we do? We
pray and fast to seek God our Father’s guidance that will lead us to
action.
You may consider using the ‘Reconciliation prayer service’ next for
your community. Remember that God our Father wants to give us
the freedom to love this Lent. It is up to us to respond. Every step,
no matter how small is a way forward. We want to ask ourselves to
honestly seek the way forward and truly have patience and a forgiving
heart for one another.
Reconciliation Prayer Service
(Materials needed for this prayer service include paper and pens for
writing, empty basins, a pail of water, a jug for pouring and a cloth for
wiping feet during the service.)
Leader: We gather together to consider what we have done and what
we have left undone, to recognize our failings and our wounded-ness,
and to ask that from the ashes of the past, new life can spring up for
us and for all members of God our Father’s human family. Let us listen
to the word of God, let us acknowledge what is difficult, and let us
move together towards the hope of the resurrection.
58
Reading: Psalm 51: 3-17
Reader 1:
Have mercy on me God, in your goodness; in your abundant compassion
blot out my offense.
Reader 2:
Wash away all my guilt; from my sin cleanse me. For I know my
offense; my sin is always before me.
Reader 3:
Against you alone have I sinned; I have done such evil in your sight that
you are just in your sentence, blameless when you condemn.
Reader 4:
True, I was born guilty, a sinner, even as my mother conceived me.
Still, you insist on sincerity of heart; in my inmost being teach me
wisdom.
Reader 5:
Cleanse me with hyssop, that I may be pure; wash me, make me whiter
than snow. Let me hear sounds of joy and gladness; let the bones you
have crushed rejoice.
Reader 6:
Turn away your face from my sins; blot out all my guilt. A clean heart
create for me God; renew in me a steadfast spirit.
Reader 7:
Do not drive me from your presence, nor take from me your Holy
Spirit. Restore my joy in your salvation; sustain in me a willing spirit.
Reader 8:
I will teach the wicked your ways O Lord, that sinners may return to
you. Rescue me from death, God, my saving God, that my tongue may
praise your healing power. Lord, open my lips; my mouth will proclaim
your praise.
59
Reading: Matthew 18: 21-22
Reader 9:
Then Peter approaching asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against
me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus
answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.
Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Reader 10:
So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed
away; behold, new things have come.
Reader 11:
And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through
Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, God was
reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses
against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
Reader 12:
So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through
us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our
sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might
become the righteousness of God in him.
Leader: Let us take some time for silence as we reflect on the

words of Scripture, what we need forgiveness for, and who we must
forgive.
(Time for Silent Reflection)
Leader: Please take time now to write on one slip of paper first,
a few failings on our part, what we have done or failed to do
as individuals, as members of families, as communities, and as
members of our nation.
60
Secondly, on another slip of paper, write down who we must forgive
and for what hurt, in our families, our communities, our nation, the
world—we ask forgiveness for ourselves, our communities, our nation.
(Time for reflection and writing)
Leader:
From giving up the old, we will contribute to new life and growth. Let
us ask the Lord for mercy.
All: Forgive us our sins, O Lord, and help us find the strength and
courage to forgive others. Create in us a renewed spirit.
Leader: Please tear up the papers into small pieces. Come forward to
place your pieces in the box. We shall burn these pieces later and you
can all witness it.
(All participants will bring up the pieces of paper, put them into the
box.)
Leader: (Choose a piece of quiet music to be played at this time) I

shall now invite everyone here to take turns to wash each other’s
feet as a sign of continuous love and service to each other. Let this
act of washing each other’s feet be one to show that we resolve to
love and serve each other better.
(After everyone has taken turns to wash someone’s feet)
Leader: Let us thank the Lord for the promise of new life.
All: We give thanks to you, Lord of Life, for this opportunity of
renewal. May we join with all others who celebrate life in re-
committing ourselves to walk in your way of forgiveness.
May we lift our eyes towards hope for ourselves and for all our brothers
and sisters. May we open our hearts to all in the community, and may
our intentions and actions help create your Kingdom of justice and
peace. Amen.
(Adapted from Education for Justice session on reconciliation)
61
Acknowledgements
Writer & Editorial Team
Agnes Ngou
Anthony Siow
Daphne Leong
Gerald Kong
Isabel Ho
Rofina Tham
Rev. Fr. Terence Pereira
Sylvester Singh
Translations:
Archdiocesan Commission for the Apostolate of Mandarin-

speaking (ACAMS)
Archdiocesan Commission for Tamil-speaking (ACTS)
Designer:
Gabriel Patrick
Printer:
Naili Printing Services
62
Please visit
www.one.org.sg/feedback
to provide your feedback on this book-
let. Thank you.
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WALKING BY FAITH IN COMMUNION

2019 - LENTEN REFLECTIONS

page 6 The Purpose of this booklet

page 6 How to use this booklet

page 8 Facilitating Group Reflection

page 9 Sundays of Lent (Year C)

page 10 First Sunday of Lent

page 16 Second Sunday of Lent

page 23 Third Sunday of Lent

page 29 Fourth Sunday of Lent

page 35 Fifth Sunday of Lent

page 40 Passion / Palm Sunday

page 46 Appendix - Activities

Lent is a time to grow in holiness. It is a time to review our

Rev. Fr. Terence Pereira

this Booklet this Booklet

...and their great men make their authority felt.

If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and

1st Sunday Deuteronomy 26:4-10 An inner

Guide us through this Lenten Journey towards the saving mystery

We talk about what struck us in the passages of scripture.

We talk about what struck us in the passages of scripture.

Let us as a family share about what stood out in the passages of

Have I honestly asked myself if I am helping or hindering the spiritual

Spend some time reflecting on the passages of scripture.

Let us ask ourselves if we are already on this inner pilgrimage to

Doing your bit

Be open to sharing our personal inner journeys and be willing to discern

There’s a wonderful intimacy in the conversation between Abraham

St Paul very wisely exhorts us to be less occupied with earthly things in

Gospel – Luke 9:28-36

A theophany is a visible manifestation of God our Father to humankind

We talk about what struck us in the passages of scripture.

We talk about what struck us in the passages of scripture.

Let us as a family share about what stood out in the passages of

Spend some time reflecting on the passages of scripture.

Peter expressed a very heart-felt desire to help the Lord during

Sharing one’s own experience of faith can be a powerful way of

Gospel: Luke. 13:1-9

We talk about what struck us in the passages of scripture.

We talk about what struck us in the passages of scripture.

Let us as a family share about what stood out in the passages of

Spend some time reflecting on the passages of scripture.

Doing your bit

May our Lenten observance – our fasting, prayer and almsgiving

The Corinthian church regarded the young Christian faith as a

Gospel Reading: Luke 15:1-3; 11-32

We talk about what struck us in the passages of scripture.

Doing your bit

Israel is in exile in Babylonia at this point in time. God our Father is

2nd Reading: Philippians 3:8-14

Paul is so touched by Christ that it led to a complete reassessment of

Gospel Reading: John 8:1-11

Spend some time reflecting on the passages of scripture.

God’s mercy and forgiveness, as with his love, is always there: it is

Doing your bit

Pray for a Catholic friend who finds difficulty in letting go of his/her

Procession Reading: Luke 19:28-40

Chapter 50 of Isaiah opens with an oracle concerning the Servant, who

2nd Reading: Philippians 2:6-11

Gospel Reading: Luke 22:14-23:56

We talk about what struck us in the passages of scripture.

We talk about what struck us in the passages of scripture.

Let us as a family share about what stood out in the passages of