Message of the Holy Father Francis on the occasion of the day of prayer and fasting: O Mary, You shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope. We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who, at the Cross, united with Jesus’ pain, keeping your faith firm.
Each weekday for the next 14 days, Father James Lyons (Wellington) will be helping us reflect on God’s Word while we are in lockdown. What is God saying to us as we globally unite to defeat Covid-19? HOLY WEEK (3) SETTING: the Cross, with two lit candles. Prayer at the foot of the Cross: There’s a barrier between us, dear Jesus. Everyone’s being kept at a distance I cannot draw near to touch, to hold, or to comfort. I hear you forgive those who nail and spear you I sense your peace and I wonder at your courage and the strength of your love. A virus has brought suffering to our world and we seek someone to blame. But standing here, our suffering seems such a small wound. Help us walk the path of forgiveness that we might return to one another healed and at peace. This is the final of three reflections centred on Holy Week. Their themes are not confined to this particular week so can be used at any time. However, they may have special relevance for you in this lockdown phase of our struggle with Covid-19.
Each weekday for the next 14 days, Father James Lyons (Wellington) will be helping us reflect on God’s Word while we are in lockdown. What is God saying to us as we globally unite to defeat Covid-19? HOLY WEEK (2) SETTING: darker colours – purple, scarlet… Pieces of greenery. A lit candle near the cross. Opening Prayer: I know the plans I have in mind for you – plans for peace, not disaster, reserving a future full of hope for you. [Jer.29:11] Loving God, unfold your plans for us as we struggle through this time of unknowing. Strengthen our hope through our doubts and our fears. As we follow the path of Jesus with his cross of isolation may we never lose sight of the empty tomb beyond Calvary and the peace and joy that shines from it. Let this be our consolation, bringing trust and calm. **** O God, who willed your Son to submit for our sake to the yoke of the Cross, so that you might drive from us the power of the enemy, grant us, your servants, to attain the grace of the resurrection. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. [Prayer of Holy Week Mass] Scripture – Paul to the Philippians 2:6-11 His state was divine, yet Christ Jesus did not cling to his equality with God but emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave, and became as people are, and being as all people are, he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross. But God raised him high and gave him the name which is above all other names, so that all beings in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld, should bend the knee at the name of Jesus, and that every tongue should acclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Each weekday for the next 14 days, Father James Lyons (Wellington) will be helping us reflect on God’s Word while we are in lockdown. What is God saying to us as we globally unite to defeat Covid-19? HOLY WEEK (1) SETTING: highlight the cross, together with some stones and greenery. Prayer in awe of this sacred time: In this treasured week, O God, when we witness the extent of your love for us I close my eyes in humble thanksgiving. The cries of Jesus, isolated and fearing he has been abandoned, pierces my ears and my heart. I offer my own isolation in this pandemic moment for all in pain and without support, for those alone and lonely, for those lost and afraid. I praise your love, mysterious and awesome. There is no greater love than to lay down your life for your friends – see John 15:13 This description of love came just after Jesus had given his “new commandment” to love one another as I have loved you. [Jn 15:12] Within a few hours of speaking, Jesus would live that commandment to the full. To truly follow Jesus, I have to be prepared to give of myself, just as he did, for the good of others. During this uncertain time, living with the threat of Covid-19, this is exactly what everyone is being asked to do: to put the good of others ahead of my own.
Each weekday for the next 14 days, Father James Lyons (Wellington) will be helping us reflect on God’s Word while we are in lockdown. What is God saying to us as we globally unite to defeat Covid-19? SPACE BUBBLE SETTING: create a small enclosure, placing the cross in the centre. Let this represent your “bubble”, the space you inhabit during this lockdown period. Prayer of Praise: My heart is ready, God to sing and play and thank you. Your steadfast love is higher than the heavens and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Let your glory be over the earth to bring rescue to those you love. Help us in this hour of crisis for we can do nothing without you. [verses from Psalm 108] Astronauts live socially isolated. Orbiting the earth, they are locked in space, far away from loved ones and their usual activities. At this time, New Zealand and many other countries are in a lockdown situation, with people told to stay in their homes. Treating home as a bubble, illustrates the seriousness of the Covid-19 pandemic. Keeping yourself isolated lessens the chance of contracting or passing on the disease. The message is clear: stay bubbled-up in this locked-down world of ours!
Each weekday for the next 14 days, Father James Lyons (Wellington) will be helping us reflect on God’s Word while we are in lockdown. What is God saying to us as we globally unite to defeat Covid-19? SPIRIT FRUITS SETTING: write each of the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, kindness, patience, goodness, gentleness, trustfulness, self-control) on separate cards. Scatter them among several lit candles in your prayer space. Prayer of praise: Wonder-Counsellor, Mighty-God, You fill each day with your gift of light, freeing those living in a land of deep shadow. You make their gladness greater You make their joy increase. I praise and thank you for your great goodness. [see Isaiah 9:1-7] This prayer reflection centres on the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit. Like all fruit, they are food for health and well-being, to be savoured and enjoyed. Take time to identify and enjoy the taste of each. Some will quickly suit your palate; others will take more time to appreciate. You are invited to take them in any order. You could perhaps spread this prayer throughout the day, sampling and exploring one fruit at a time. Over-eating is not a problem with these fruits; you can never have enough as most of them take a lifetime to mature.
Each weekday for the next 14 days, Father James Lyons (Wellington) will be helping us reflect on God’s Word while we are in lockdown. What is God saying to us as we globally unite to defeat Covid-19? THE UNEXPECTED SETTING: Create a party atmosphere with a few decorations. Wrap up some “gifts” or “presents”. Recall the surprise of opening gifts, of meeting the unexpected. Prayer to begin: So much in life is unexpected and I suspect, dear God, that you planned it so. You are, after all, a God of surprises, revealing yourself in countless ways, in colours and shapes, in light and shade, in people and places and in life’s situations. Even in this troubled time that no one could foresee, I know you will guide us along a new path, to a new and fuller way of living. Ready me during this unexpected time to love better, serve better, live better. William Shakespeare, in Cymbeline, wrote, Fortune brings in some boats that are not steered. Covid-19 arrived on our shores unannounced and uninvited and is certainly not regarded as a guest. Given that the virus had already infected several countries we might have expected it to make its way to us, but we did not expect to have the nation so quickly shut down with virtually everyone told to stay at home! We did not expect the situation to become so serious.