Lent 2016: Pray - Study - Act
In This Issue
PRAY: Cry justice, cry peace
STUDY: Reflection for the Third Sunday of Lent
ACT: Creating signs of hope for Syria
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Third Week of Lent, February 28-March 5, 2016
  
 
Back in September, during Pope Francis's visit to the U.S., Pax Christi USA passed out tens of thousands of prayer cards to people waiting to see the Pope in Washington, D.C. and New York City. The prayer card featured the words of Pope Francis and his message--and now we're making that prayer card available to everyone as a resource for this Lenten season. You can read more here about the prayer card and order it online by clicking here. You'll see the full text in this week's "Pray" section below.
 In his reflection for the upcoming 3rd Sunday of Lent (see below in the "Study" section), Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace Eric LeCompte of Jubilee USA references the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) as a "beautiful example of persistent nonviolence in action." The CIW starts their "Workers' Voice Tour" during the 3rd week of Lent; we hope you'll click on the link to the left in the "Quick Links" section and see if they'll be holding an event near you.
   This is the third of our Pray-Study-Act e-bulletins for Lent. You're receiving it today, a few days before the Third Week of Lent starts, so that you may have the opportunity to incorporate these resources into your Lenten practice for yourself, your family, small faith community, religious congregation, school and church. We have set up a special Lent 2016 webpage with more resources which we hope will deepen the experience of Lent for you.  These e-bulletins, as well as reflections for each Sunday and Holy Day, will be archived alongside additional resources on our Lent 2016 page
    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: Cry Justice, Cry Peace
By Sr. Anne-Louise Nadeau, SNDdeN and Tom Cordaro
 
"Restore hope to young people, help the old, be open to the future, spread love. Be poor among the poor. Include the excluded and preach peace."  ~ Pope Francis
 
Oh God,
We cry justice for
our bruised and battered planet.
We cry justice for
our poor and marginalized communities of color
here and around the world.
We cry justice for
our detained immigrant and refugee
brothers and sisters in search of a home.
We cry justice for
all harmed by an unjust global economy.
We cry justice for
our criminal and legal system
that is selective in who is held accountable.
We cry justice for
our cities where violence is born
of injustice and inhumane conditions.
We cry justice ... We cry peace.
Amen.

* From the new prayer card featuring the image, words and message of Pope Francis, now available online through the Pax Christi USA store by clicking here.
STUDY: 
Reflection for the Third Sunday of Lent
By Eric LeCompte, Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace

 
"He said to the gardener, 'For 3 years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. [So] cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?' He said to him in reply, 'Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future.'" (Lk 13:7-9)

In today's Gospel, Jesus shares the parable of the fig tree. When the tree does not bear fruit, the owner wants to cut it down, but the gardener encourages us to care for the plant so that it will eventually bear fruit. It's a lesson in devotion, love, persistence and commitment.
   In a broken world that is craving nonviolent solutions, too often our community and world leaders choose violence over nonviolence. As noted academic Theodore Roszak states, "People try nonviolence for a week, and when it 'doesn't work' they go back to violence, which hasn't worked for centuries."
   Roszak draws out what today's gospel explores. Only through consistent dedication can we hope to see our efforts to build a nonviolent world bear fruit.... 

ACT: Creating signs of hope for Syria
from Pax Christi International


Global Call for Acts of Solidarity and
Days of Prayer and Fasting for Syria
In solidarity of all victims of this brutal war
15 March 2016: 5 years since the start of the protests

Pax Christi International is calling on our Global Network and all people of good will to organise acts of solidarity and days of prayer and fasting for peace in Syria between 15 and 20 March 2016. We call on individuals and organisations to show solidarity with refugees and victims of war and violence and create signs of hope that peace can come again in Syria.
   Organizing an act of solidarity or day of fasting or prayer is also an occasion to meet with refugees in your own community. Please share your events and stories and photos with us via Facebook or Twitter ( us the hashtag #HopeforSyria). In the course of the coming weeks we will provide you with update information so that you can prepare your actions. Also visit the new website created for this campaign by clicking here.