Lent 2015: Pray - Study - Act
In This Issue
PRAY: For peace
STUDY: Reflection for the Second Sunday of Lent
ACT: Plan a Good Friday Way of the Cross
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Second Week of Lent, March 1-7, 2015
  
 
This is our second PSA e-bulletin (Pray-Study-Act) for the 2015 Lenten season. If you missed the one we did last week for the first week of Lent (Feb. 22-28), you can see it, as well as reflections for Ash Wednesday and the First Sunday of Lent, on our Lent 2015 webpage where we'll archive all of our Lenten resources. 
    We hope that the peace of Christ dwells deeply in your hearts during this Lenten season.

 

In peace,

Johnny Zokovitch
Director of Communications, Pax Christi USA
 PRAY: For peace
by Blessed John XXIII

 

Lord Jesus Christ, who are called the Prince of Peace, who are yourself our peace and reconciliation, who so often said, "Peace to you," grant us peace. Make all men and women witnesses of truth, justice, and brotherly love. Banish from their hearts whatever might endanger peace. Enlighten our rulers that they may guarantee and defend the great gift of peace. May all peoples of the earth becomes as brothers and sisters. May longed-for peace blossom forth and reign always over us all. Amen.

STUDY: 
Reflection for the Second Sunday of Lent

By Joyce Hollyday

  

Gen 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18 | Rom 8:31-34 | Mk 9:2-10

 

transfiguration Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them ... Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three booths: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." (Mark 9:2, 4-5)

 

The chapel was quiet, its lights dim. A small wooden altar held a flickering candle and a vial of rose oil. We sat in a circle, close to one another, a the foot of a large crucifix.

    Sojourners Community was away on a weekend retreat after a time of brokenness in our life together. That Friday evening last fall, we experienced a time of deep healing. After each of us shared the pain in our hearts, we moved even closer, placing hands on the one who had just spoken, voicing prayers for mercy and comfort, embracing the tears.

  A member of the community moved forward after each offering of intercessions, to each of us by turn. Taking our hands into her own, she anointed our palms with oil in the sign of the cross. Voicing our name, she tenderly proclaimed, "We anoint you healer, and healed; one with Christ; together in this community, the body of Christ."

   The sharing went on past midnight, with no signs of fatigue among us. We touched the presence of Christ in that room. And the embrace of the Holy Spirit, the one named Comforter, was palpable.... 

 

ACT: Plan a Good Friday Way of the Cross

Traditionally, many Pax Christi USA local groups plan and stage a "Way of the Cross" event on Good Friday, connecting the sufferings of Christ during his passion with the suffering of our brothers and sisters at the hands of violence, greed, poverty, sickness, racism and war. Last year, around 30 Pax Christi groups hosted these events in their communities. On the website, we have posted numerous resources for groups interested in undertaking a Way of the Cross in their community on Good Friday. The guides featured on the site can be used as-is or function as a template for you to plan your own action and witness. 

 

Click here to see resources for designing a Way of the Cross action.

 

Also please let us know if you have a Way of the Cross planned in your community. We will list on the website the names of groups, with contact information, which will be staging a Way of the Cross this year. Please send your information to me at [email protected].