Our readings for the 3rd Sunday in Lent:
- Exodus 17: 3-7
- Psalms 95: 1-2, 6-7, 8-9
- Romans 5: 1-2, 5-8
- John 4: 5-42
- Finding your trust
- Stepping into something new can be exciting, exhilarating, scary. Eventually thought, the novelty wears off, the implications of your decision begin to become clear, and its easy to begin to wonder: "did I really do such a great thing? Is this really where God wants me?"
- Have you ever done something bold because you felt led to that by God?
- How did that turn out for you?
- Do you still feel as though that was God's leading?
- Why?
- Seeking a soft heart
- A soft heart is one that is sensitive to the will of God in your life. The soft heart feels deeply, seeks closeness to God and others, and is willing to bear hurt and pain on the behalf of others because that empathy is what brings us together, what heals us of our hurts and wounds.
- Are there people in your life today that you might not have noticed in years past? Maybe you were too busy to notice them, or too preoccupied with other things, or afraid of them for one reason or another?
- What made you finally notice them?
- How did that noticing change you?
- Making peace
- Where do you find peace?
- What can take your peace away? Maybe it's a painful memory, someone alive today who immediately sets your blood boiling, maybe its a job that you know you have to do, but which you'd rather not.
- How are you praying for that situation?
- How would you like God to change that situation?
- How would like God to change you?
- Nobody
- A priest is someone within the community who strengthens our relationship to God, and a prophet is someone from without the community who represents God to the community, calling them to justice and reform.
- Do you see yourself as a priest, a prophet, or a little of both?
- Can we ever have too many prophets?
- Can we ever have too many priests?
- Who are some of the local prophets that you admire?
- Who are some of the local priests that you admire?
- How can we help them in their work?
- Preparation for Reconciliation
- Where is God calling me to be bold?
- How can I be more attuned to God's presence in my life?
- What is stealing my peace?
- How can I do more to bring the Kingdom?
Courage to Stay
He's left our village and I miss Him so.
That day at the well, He changed me.
I had been bitter, disappointed, cynical.
And He gave me hope and dignity.
Everyone around me in the village looks the same.
But I will never see them the same way again.
All of them, all of us were so eager to hear His voice.
That we all dropped what we were doing.
Now, now we are changed.
No longer strangers to one another.
No longer so cold and bitter.
Each seeing in the other another disciple.
For whatever reason -
He came here, to our village,
For all of us, and each of us.
He came for us, and among us.
At first, I wanted to follow Him.
Leave behind the jagged memories,
The long list of hurts and sleights.
But I would have missed a greater healing.
It is as us, all of us -
That He offers us healing and peace.
My people and the Jews are one in Him.
Who knows what is next for us?
But I know that we can only find our way -
When we travel this road before us
Together.
With Him and each other.
Shalom!
