EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (Vol. 2, n. 17)
Third Sunday of Lent, Year B
March 19-25, 2006
“Towards the New Covenant”
(+) 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 any appropriate song may be sung.
WORDS OF SAINT AUGUSTINE
God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple: all you who believe in Christ and whose belief makes you love him. Real belief in Christ means love of Christ … All who believe in this way are like the living stones which go to build God’s temple … It is in this temple, that is, in ourselves, that prayer is addressed to God and heard by him. But to pray in God’s temple we must pray in the peace of the Church, in the unity of the body of Christ, which is made up of many believers throughout the world. When we pray in this temple our prayers are heard because whoever prays in the peace of the Church prays in spirit and truth.
SILENT ADORATION
OPENING PRAYER
Leader: Father,
you called your people to be your Church.
As we gather together in your name,
may we love, honor, and follow you to eternal life
in the kingdom you promise.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God forever and ever.
Assembly: Amen.
Part I
JESUS MASTER TRUTH
Listening to the Word
FIRST READING: Ex 20:1-17
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
GOSPEL READING: Jn 2:13-25
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 [Series 4, n. 17]: 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 Eucharistic hymn or suitable song of praise may be sung.
Part II
JESUS MASTER WAY
Confrontation with the Word
POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART
Leader: We open our hearts to listen to the promptings of the living Word. Let us ask ourselves with limpid honesty:
A. What is our attitude to the Ten Commandments given to us by God? Do we consider it merely as a moral code, or do we treasure it as a gift of covenantal love? What do we do personally to help us “interiorize” the spirit of the Ten Commandments?
B. How does the figure of “the angry Jesus” as depicted in the episode of the cleansing of the Temple impact us? What are the various elements and areas that need “cleansing” in our personal lives, in the community, in the family of nations, and in creation?
C. What is our response to Jesus Christ, who has ratified the new and everlasting covenant in his blood? How do we follow and reverence him as the total and ultimate Rule of Life? How do we incarnate the great commandment of love of God and neighbor that he had taught us by the very offering of his life?
PRAYING WITH THE WORD
Leader: Father,
your commandments spring forth from your covenantal love
and your saving will to consecrate us as your holy people.
You have the words of everlasting life.
In the sacrificial death of your Son Jesus Christ,
the ultimate saving word you have spoken,
you have radically revealed
the depths and grandeur of your unfailing love for us.
May we follow unreservedly your Son,
the true and absolute Rule of Life.
By the gift of his life,
which brought forth the new and eternal covenant,
cleanse us from all that impedes our wholehearted attachment to you,
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 Light of the Rosary may be prayed in part or in full.
THE WAY OF SOLIDARITY: PRAYER OF INTERCESSION
Leader: Christ the Lord gave us a new commandment of love for each other. Let us pray to him:
(R.) LORD, BUILD UP YOUR PEOPLE IN LOVE
1. Good Master, teach us to love you in our neighbor, and in serving them to serve you. (R.)
2. On the cross you asked pardon for your executioners; give us strength to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us. (R.)
3. Through the mystery of your body and blood, deepen our love, our perseverance and our trust; strengthen the weak, console the sorrowful, and give hope to the dying. (R.)
4. O Word Incarnate, Jesus Christ, our Rule of Life, help us to put into practice the divine commands of love of God and neighbor; make us wholeheartedly committed to our covenantal relationship with our compassionate Father in heaven. (R.)
5. O living Temple of God and the living Sacrament of the Eternal Covenant, help us to reverence and promote the integrity of the Church of living stones built upon you in faith. (R.)
6. Give to the dead the perfect joy of your eternal love, and number us also among your chosen ones. (R.)
(Other prayers may be added.)
THE LORD’S PRAYER
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Leader: Father,
help us to be like Christ your Son,
who loved the world and died for our salvation.
Inspire us by his love,
guide us by his example,
for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God forever and ever.
Assembly: Amen.
FINAL SONG: Any suitable Eucharistic hymn or song of praise 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