Weekly Readings Reflections: 5th Sunday of Lent

Our readings for the fifth Sunday of Lent (using Cycle A for the RCIA scrutinies) are:

God asked Ezekiel to prophesy to a valley full of dry bones that God was bringing them back to life. God did not take His action until Ezekiel did his part. The man born blind had to wash his eyes before he could see.
What are some miracles of God that you can think of that required some form of human collaboration/cooperation?
Why do you think God asks us to take a part in these interventions of His?
How are we supposed to know when/where/how to do our part?

Waiting for the Lord might sound passive, but I think that waiting is more about being prophetic, keenly aware of God's ongoing revelation, and being ready to move where/when and how the Spirit guides us. A great parable along these lines is here.
What are some unexpected ways that God has helped you in the past?
Did you see those as help from God at that time?
Why did you accept that help?
Do you think that you would recognize God's hand in your life in that same situation today?

How do you know that what you are doing with your life this year, this week, today, is pleasing to God?
When you were doing/saying/thinking something that was displeasing to God, how did you come to know that you were displeasing God?
Do you ever ask God questions about how you're living?
What sort of answers have you gotten?
What sort of process does God use when answering you?

We don't think about God's emotions very much, but Jesus certainly showed an array of emotions. Although I'm still uncertain what Jesus' reactions might be to an Aramaic pun might have been.
Do you think that God grieves with you when there is loss in your life?
Can you imagine Jesus sitting next to you, taking your hand, and just being with you in times of distress, illness, painful decisions, grief?
When Jesus is there with you, do you think that He ever gets impatient with you, wants to get up and be on His way, that He has more important things to do?
Do you think that there is a resurrection on the other side of every loss?
Why do you think that God left Jesus in the tomb for three days?
What are some tombs that you've been in?

Let Us Also Go to Die With Him

I look around at these brothers and sisters.

Each of us so very different in how we got here.

Each of us so very different in how we follow our Master.

Yet each of us devoted to this Kingdom with no palace that He brings.

We are all going to die.

Jesus wants to go back to Judea, land of the Jews,

Those with power, authority, and palaces

Who hate him bitterly for his Gospel of liberation,

Who want to silence Him so that they can cling to their traditions.

We have been freed.

Freed from our own weaknesses,

Freed from the lies that we have told ourselves and others,

Freed from the fear that God only loves us when we follow the rules,

Freed to join our God in the dance of the Trinity for eternity.

I will miss my family, my village, my synagogue.

I see my kith and kin as other lights of God in this world.

I know them now as fellow pilgrims, and I pray that they too find courage in Jesus.

The boys and girls that I grew up with, are dear to me now more than ever.

Because I see them through Jesus' eyes and know their true loveliness and beauty.

I pray that I die bravely.

I pray that my martyr's death will give others courage.

Courage to know God's Presence among us in new ways,

Courage to stand for the truth rather than cling to the comfortable,

Courage to step into the family of God as His sons and daughters.

Pray for us, as we pray for you.

Shalom!

Weekly Readings Reflections