Eucharistic Adoration

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (# 14)

A Weekly Pastoral Tool for the YEAR OF THE EUCHARIST

3^rd Sunday of Lent, Year A

Feb. 27 - March 5, 2005

“The Water I Shall Give”

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

(A moment of silence)

SONG: Any suitable Eucharistic hymn or Lenten song may be sung.

WORDS OF COLUMBA MARMION

(Cf. Christ in His Mysteries, 212-213)

Jesus Christ teaches the Samaritan woman that the hour is here and now is when the true adorers shall adore the Father in spirit and in truth. For the Father also seeks such to adore him. He manifests himself to her as the Messiah, a revelation that he had not yet made to anyone, not even to his disciples. Is it not remarkable that these two great revelations were made first of all to a poor creature, who had no other title to be the object of such a privilege except her need of salvation and a glimmer of goodwill?

This woman returns justified. She has received grace and faith. She left her water pot and went into the city to preach the Messiah whom she had met. Her first act is to make known the gift of God, communicated to her with such liberality.

It is for this end that Jesus spends himself. The Father’s will is that Jesus should bring to him the souls that the Father desires to save, that he should show them the way, and reveal to them the truth that leads them to life. That is the whole work of Jesus.

SILENT ADORATION AND PRAYER

OPENING PRAYER

(Adapted from the Ambrosian Preface)

Leader: O loving Lord,

in order to offer us the mystery of your humility,

you asked the Samaritan woman for a drink.

You deigned to thirst for her faith

and caused the gift of faith

to be born in her.

By asking her for water,

you lit within her the fire of the love of God.

Look upon us with immense mercy

that we may have the strength

to forsake the deep darkness of sin.

May we spurn the waters of harmful passion

and thirst unceasingly for you,

the fountain of life and the source of all goodness.

We give you thanks,

we adore and praise you,

now and forever.

Assembly: Amen.

Part I

JESUS MASTER TRUTH

Listening to the Word

GOSPEL READING: Jn 4:5-42

PERSONAL REFLECTION

(As a tool for personal reflection, please visit the PDDM Website: www.pddm.org // www.pddm.us for BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD [# 14]: A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday Liturgy. The Biblico-Liturgical Reflections are an aid for a deeper understanding of the Gospel reading.)

SONG: Any suitable hymn of praise or Lenten song may be sung.

Part II

JESUS MASTER WAY

Confrontation with the Word

POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART

Leader: Like the Samaritan woman, we are called to slake our thirst at the spring of living water that flows from the heart of Christ. In our spiritual encounter with Jesus at the well of salvation, let us look deeply in our hearts and assess our lives in light of his life-giving and refreshing Word.

1. What meaning does the symbolism of water evoke in me? How does the weariness and thirst of Jesus affect me personally? How do I respond to his request: “Give me a drink”?

2. Am I grateful to Jesus for the gift of living water? Do I live up to the meaning of sacramental baptism as “the washing of regeneration and the renewal by the Holy Spirit”?

3. Like the Samaritan woman, does my encounter with Jesus at the spring of living water transform me into a missionary of Good News and the bearer of the love of God poured into our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit and through the sacrificial offering of Jesus?

PENITENTIAL PRAYER

Leader: O compassionate and forgiving God,

we have experienced your saving mercy in your Son Jesus Christ,

the font of living water.

Attune us to his kindly voice

that speaks your word of peace and reconciliation.

Help us to recognize him in the needy persons around us,

who long for you as the deer yearns for running streams.

Filled with the divine love poured into our hearts by your Spirit

and regenerated into new life through Christ’s paschal sacrifice,

help us to slake the immense thirst of today’s world

for life and salvation.

As earthen vessels that hold the waters of your loving compassion,

may we go out into the world as bearers of Good News.

May we do so with the alacrity of the Samaritan woman

whom Jesus had transformed into a missionary of Gospel joy

at the wellspring of salvation.

Loving Father,

may we all drink from the living spring of your bounteous love,

now and forever.

Assembly: Amen.

SONG: Any suitable song may be sung.

Part III

JESUS LIFE

Acting upon the Word

PERSONAL PRAYER

CONTEMPLATING WITH MARY THE FACE OF CHRIST: The Mysteries of the Rosary may be prayed in part or in full.

THE WAY OF SOLIDARITY: PRAYER OF INTERCESSION

(Cf. Catholic Relief Services’ Calendar 2005)

Leader: Let us turn to our loving Father and present to him the thirst and yearning of humankind. With faith, we invoke him:

(R.) LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER.

1. DIGNITY OF HUMAN PERSON: All humanity has been made in the image of God. Through our actions we must express that each person is precious and that the lives and welfare of all people are priorities. (SILENT PRAYER)

That our thirst for human dignity and justice be satisfied; we pray: (R.)

2. COMMUNITY AND PARTICIPATION: Human beings are not only sacred, but social. How we participate in our family and community, from our daily actions to our policy decisions, affects each person. (SILENT PRAYER)

That our thirst for greater and more meaningful interconnectedness be satisfied; we pray: (R.)

3. RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: We must take responsibility to protect the rights of all people. These rights include the right to life, food, shelter, education, and employment, along with political and cultural rights. (SILENT PRAYER)

That our thirst for a greater protection of our rights and for a more conscientious exercise of responsibilities be satisfied; we pray: (R.)

4. OPTION FOR THE POOR: As a community of faith, we have the obligation to reach out to those most in need. The Gospel specifically calls us to take action on behalf of the most vulnerable members of society. (SILENT PRAYER)

That our thirst to respond compassionately to the cry of the poor be satisfied; we pray. (R.)

5. DIGNITY OF WORK AND RIGHTS FOR WORKERS: The ability to work to earn a living is a right of all people. All workers have the right to a fair wage, to organize themselves, and to work in good conditions. (SILENT PRAYER)

That our thirst for greater opportunities and justice for workers be satisfied; we pray: (R.)

6. SOLIDARITY: We are one human family, regardless of our differences. Answering the call to love our neighbors will promote a culture of respect and lead to peace in our communities around the world. (SILENT PRAYER)

That out thirst for a deeper human solidarity and harmony be satisfied; we pray: (R.)

7. CARE FOR GOD’S CREATION: We are called to be good stewards of what has been entrusted to us. Through protecting the environment in which we live, we respect the goodness of nature, a gift God has given. (SILENT PRAYER)

That our thirst for the integrity of God’s beloved creation be satisfied; we pray: (R.)

(Other prayers may be added.)

THE LORD’S PRAYER

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Leader: Lord, God of life,

when the Samaritan woman recognized who Jesus was,

she believed in him

and her life was changed.

Your Son continues to be the font of living water

who renews our strength.

Help us to listen to him speaking to us in the lives of the poor

and those crying out for help.

May we recognize your Son in them

and walk by their side on the way to you,

for you are our loving Father,

forever and ever.

Assembly: Amen.

FINAL SONG: Any suitable Eucharistic hymn or Lenten song may be sung.

Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang PDDM

PIAE DISCIPULAE DIVINI MAGISTRI

SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER

60 Sunset Ave., Staten Island, NY 10314

Tel. (718) 494-8597 // (718) 761-2323

Website: WWW.PDDM.US