Lent21 David J Farrell

Opening Prayer

+ Almighty God, through the death of your Son on the Cross you destroyed our death; through his rest in the tomb you hallowed the graves of all who believe in you; and through his rising again, you restored us to eternal life. God of the living and the dead, accept our prayers for those who have died in Christ and are buried with him in the hope of rising again. Since they were true to your name on earth, let them praise you for ever in the joy of heaven. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Opening Prayer

+   Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the lands,

Serve the Lord with gladness!

Come into his presence with singing!

Know that the Lord is God!

It is he that made us, and we are his;

We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

And his courts with praise

Give thanks to him, bless his name!

For the Lord is good;

His steadfast love endures for ever,

And his faithfulness to all generations.

Sacred Scripture

“1 All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped at Reph′idim; but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore the people found fault with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you find fault with me? Why do you put the Lord to the proof?” 3 But the people thirsted there for water, and the people murmured against Moses, and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?” 4 So Moses cried to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” 5 And the Lord said to Moses, “Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand the rod with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7

Discussion Questions

Was Jesus violating the Sabbath laws by healing a man? (see John 5:15-17, Luke 14:5 and CCC 581)

The Pharisees knew the scriptures well.  They knew that the Messiah was to come from Bethlehem.  Many of the Pharisees rejected Jesus on the grounds that he was from Nazareth in Galilee.  A superficial understanding of scripture actually led them to reject Jesus.  What must we do to make sure our understanding of scripture is not superficial?  (see Matthew 22:37-40 and CCC 85-87)

What is the purpose of the ten commandments? (see Romans 5:20-21)  When Jesus speaks to the woman caught in adultery, does he uphold the sixth commandment?  For what ultimate purpose?

Like Jesus himself, the man born blind is questioned by the authorities.  Does he speak the truth to them?  Does he fully understand the truth at the time of his questioning? What does this indicate for us when we are asked to defend our faith in Jesus?

We saw in chapter 6 that Jesus was able to preach to a crowd of 5,000 people in the open air.  Now he draws attention to himself in the midst of hundreds of thousands using only his voice.  What does this tell us about the human voice of Christ?

If no one can take Jesus’ sheep out of his hand, what power does the world or the devil have over you?  How, then, can a sheep of his be lost?

Opening Prayer

+ What has passed our lips as food, O Lord, may we posses in purity of heart, that what has been given to us in time may be our healing for eternity.

Seven Signs

1) miracle at Cana

2) healing of the Official’s Son

3) healing of the paralytic

4) multiplication of the loaves

5) the restoration of the blind man

6) the raising of Lazarus

7) the Resurrection of Jesus

Episode 1: John the Theologian

Moments of John in the life of Jesus

Jesus called James and John to leave their nets and follow him (Mark 1:20)

Jesus rebuked James and John for wanting revenge on people who rejected Jesus (Luke 9:55)

John fell down before Jesus in his glory on Mount Tabor (Matthew 17:6)

John laid his head on Jesus’ breast at his last supper before he was crucified (John 13:23)

John fell asleep while Jesus’ endured his agony in the garden (Mark 14:33)

John was allowed to witness Jesus’ trial because he knew the high priest (John 18:15)

John stood with Mary as Jesus died on the cross -and-

Jesus entrusted his mother’s care solely to John (John 19:26)

John saw the burial cloths neatly rolled in Jesus’ empty tomb (John 20:3)

John recognized Jesus walking along the sea of Galilee after Jesus’ resurrection (John 21:7)

Discussion Questions

In some ways, John’s life seems more blessed and filled with grace than any other Apostle, what would you say to him or ask him if you could speak with him today? (You don’t have to wait, take your question to prayer and ask John himself!)

John’s life work was to make it possible for every person to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that he alone is the truth and the life. Do you believe that? Do you have any doubts? What are they?

John witnessed many miraculous signs that led him to believe Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Do you believe God gives us signs today? Has God given you or your loved ones a sign of his presence?

God gave John a unique gift as an author, but he also infused John’s writing with the grace of the Holy Spirit.  Have you witnessed someone using their gifts in perfect concert with the will of God and the grace of the Spirit? Give testimony to God working in them for the benefit of the world.

Closing Prayer

+ O God, who through the blessed Apostle John
have unlocked for us the secrets of your Word,
grant, we pray,
that we may grasp with proper understanding
what he has so marvelously brought to our ears.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.

Our Father . . .

Hail Mary . . .

Glory be . . .

Join us each Saturday of Lent to follow Jesus Christ by studying his life as told to us by Saint John the Apostle.