Walking the Road of Reconciliation Lent 2014
Seven Step Journey
(Reconciliation Service included below)
This seven step process of reconciliation encourages daily reflection on one line of scripture, a thought from Pope Francis and a brief daily prayer. Some positive action is also suggested inspired by the words and images relevant to the phrase from the Bible.
The first step is taken on Ash Wednesday when people are invited to walk the road of reconciliation in this way. On this day they will be given a bookmark (contact the liturgy resource centre if you require any of these cards, with the scripture quotation, the thought and the daily prayer. In addition some graphics in the form of cartoons will help to focus on the particular theme. A new card is given out on each of the five Sundays of Lent following the same format. While it would be ideal if people ‘signed up’ from Ash Wednesday onwards it is possible to join in at any stage.
Reconciliation Cards 2014
In the fifth week of Lent people are invited to take the seventh step by attending a Penance Service or by going to Confession so as to bring to a close this chapter of the journey of reconciliation.
An important element of this process is that people are given the basic information about the process and then are invited to come forward to request the cards showing initiative and commitment.
There is an old song ‘Let Bygones be Bygones’ that has a message about reconciliation and about moving on that you might find helpful.
Let bygones be bygones and start all over again.
Let us forget our sorrows we must live for tomorrow.
Remember that the sunshine will always follow the rain
so let bygones be bygones and start all over again.
1. Come back to me with all your heart (Hosea 14:1)
Song Come Back to Me (Gregory Norbet)
All sing: Long have I waited for your coming home to me and living deeply our new life.
A Thought ‘Jesus in the confessional is not a dry cleaner. Confession is an encounter with Jesus, with this Jesus who waits for us, who waits for us just as we are.’ (Pope Francis)
Reflection One Christ the Bridge (St. Catherine of Siena)
I have made a bridge of my Word…I gave you a bridge, my Son, so that you could cross over the river, without being drowned…I want you to look at the bridge and notice its greatness… the bridge has walls and a roof of mercy …it stretches from heaven to earth, joining the earth of your humanity with the greatness of God…so the height stooped to the earth of your humanity, bridging the gulf between us and rebuilding the road…my Son’s having made of himself a bridge for you would not bring you to life unless you make your way along that bridge.
Action
You might consider starting the journey of reconciliation by approaching one person who you have offended recently or in the past and with whom you want to make up. If that is not possible, for whatever reason, you might write a letter of apology even if you never send it.
Daily Prayer O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you…`
Song: Bridge Over Troubled Waters ( Paul Simon )
Prayer Let us pray,
All say: Compassionate and loving God,
Open our hearts to the grace of forgiveness that flows so generously from yours.
May your patient love and acceptance encourage us to take the first step along the bridge of reconciliation.
Sustain us on that journey especially when we are tempted to give up. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
2. My offences truly I know them (Psalm 50:3)
Song Be Merciful, O Lord (Stephen Pishner)
All sing: Be merciful, O Lord, we have sinned, we have sinned
Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
A Thought
‘Concreteness, honesty, and the genuine ability to be ashamed of one’s mistakes are all qualities needed in order to be open to the forgiveness of God, as well as the deep awareness of his love.’ (Pope Francis)
Reflection Two
The story of the Good Thief on the cross beside Jesus is a story of hope for us. If Christ did not reject a condemned criminal who, at the last minute, confessed Him and asked to be remembered in his kingdom, do we think that Christ will reject us if we approach Him with the same faith and humility now? God is loving, merciful, kind, welcoming, and is always waiting for us to turn to him. He justified the criminal in one moment and he can do the same for us.
In one moment, O Lord,
You graciously granted paradise to the penitential thief.
Now by the tree of your Cross,
Enlighten, sanctify and save me.
(The Hymn of Light from Matins of Good Friday)
Action
The Good Thief who died on the cross beside Jesus teaches us about healing our hearts. He looks into himself, sees his failings, and then asks Jesus to simply remember him. Take time each day to place your hand on your heart and to remember your own weaknesses and failings. Finish this task by reciting the daily prayer with hand on heart.
Daily Prayer Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom
Song Jesus Remember Me (Taizé)
All sing: Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom
Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom
Prayer Let us pray,
God of truth and mercy,
Give us the grace of insight to know our own shortcomings and the areas of our lives in need of change and renewal.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
3. ‘Stand up,’ he said, ‘do not be afraid’ (Matt 17:8)
Song Kyrie (Taizé)
All sing: Kyrie, Kyrie eleison …Christe, Christe eleison… Kyrie, Kyrie eleison
A Thought
‘And we must never tire of going to ask for forgiveness. You may feel ashamed to tell your sins, but as our mothers and our grandmothers used to say, it is better to be red once than yellow a thousand times. We blush once but then our sins are forgiven and we go forward.’ (Pope Francis)
Reflection Three Repentance (Meister Eckhart)
Many people think that to show sorrow for their sin they must do extraordinary things, such as fasting, walking barefoot, and the like.
The best penitence, however, is to turn away completely from all that is not God and not divine, whether it be in yourself or some other person, place or thing. True repentance is approaching God in love and squarely facing up to what you have done. Choose your own way of doing this, and discover that the more you do it, the more real your repentance will become. True conversion is like our Lord’s passion. The more you imitate it the more your sins will fall away
Action
Bring to your mind something that you have never confessed to anyone. Take courage and confide in a trusted friend. You might be surprised that a moment of embarrassment could lead to a lifetime of peace.
Daily Prayer Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you
Song Bless the Lord My Soul (Taizé)
All sing: Bless the Lord, my soul, and bless God’s holy name
Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life.
Prayer Let us pray,
All say: God of truth and justice,
Give us the courage of the prodigal to face up to our faults and to admit them. Be with us as we move from the red fear of embarrassment to the green freedom of
confession.
Strengthen our resolve to turn away from old ways that do not give us life. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
4. Come and see a man who has told me everything I ever did (John 4:29)
Song Stand Beside Me (Columba McCann)
All sing: Stand beside me, walk before me,
hold and shelter me, touch and heal me
A Thought
‘I want to remind priests that the confessional must not be a torture chamber but rather an encounter with the Lord’s mercy which spurs us on to do our best. Everyone needs to be touched by the comfort and attraction of God’s saving love, which is mysteriously at work in each person, above and beyond their faults and failings.’ (Pope Francis)
Reflection Four from Walking on Water, Anthony De Mello (Columba Press 1998)
Once, a woman who was supposedly having visions of God went to the bishop for advice. He told her: ‘You may believe in illusions. You must understand, as bishop of the diocese, I am the one who can decide whether your visions are true or false’….
Action
Create a timeline of forgiveness by compiling a list of occasions when you showed forgiveness, you refused forgiveness and when you experienced forgiveness.
Daily Prayer Lord, you search me and you know me
Song Give Us Your Peace (Mahler)
All sing: Jesus give us your peace. Bring us together.
Let all the fighting cease. Shatter all our hearts of stone.
Give us a heart for love alone.
Prayer Let us pray,
All say: God of wisdom and love,
Help me to forgive myself for my wrongdoings.
Give me the grace to let go of the hurts others have caused me.
Fill my mind with thoughts of acceptance and mercy.
Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
5. So the blind man went off and washed himself, and came away with his sight restored (John 9:7)
Song Open My Eyes (Jesse Manibusan)
All sing: Open my eyes, Lord, help me to see your face
Open my eyes, Lord, help me to see.
A Thought
I am a sinner whom the Lord has looked upon. I am one who is looked upon by the Lord. I always felt my motto, Miserando atque Eligendo (by Having Mercy and By Choosing Him), was very true for me. (Pope Francis)
Reflection Five – Two Mirrors taken from 100 Wisdom Stories from Around the World – Margaret Silf (2003 Lion Publishing)
Satan always takes great delight in creating confusion. To help him do this better, he once had a special kind of mirror made. This mirror shrank the reflections of all the good and beautiful things in the world, and it enlarged all the bad and ugly things….
Action
Each morning as you wash your face look into the mirror and pray the daily prayer.
Daily Prayer I am a sinner whom the Lord has looked upon
Song Amazing Grace (African American Spiritual)
All sing: Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now I’m found
Was blind, but now I see.
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Prayer Let us pray,
God of insight and discernment,
Open my eyes to see your mercy.
Open my ears to hear your compassion.
Open my mouth to ask for forgiveness.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
6. Unbind him and let him go free (John 11:44)
Song Take the Stone Away (Marty Haugen)
All sing: Take the stone away, come out, come out.
Take the stone away come out.
A Thought
I think when the Prodigal son returned home, his father didn’t say: ‘But you, listen, sit down. ‘What did you do with the money?’ No he held a party. Then, maybe, when the son wanted to talk, he talked.’
Reflection Liberator God (Edward Hays)
How often we find ourselves
In a prison of our own making,
Held by resentment and hostility
Or cultural pressures to look good.
Pressed by the need to be right,
Caught up in heartless criticism
Or useless apprehensions.
You free us from one prison cell,
But then we move to another.
Help us to be fully liberated.
Action
Do a stretching exercise every day and feel the freedom of movement or throw a stone into the river or the sea and watch the ripples of freedom as the water scatters.
Daily Prayer The truth will set me free
Song Lead Us To The Water (Tom Kendzia)
Prayer Let us pray,
God of freedom and mercy,
Set us free from our slavery to sin
Liberate us from the guilt of faults forgiven
Release us from the prisons we have created.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Reconciliation Service 2014
Gathering Song Come Back to Me (Gregory Norbet)
All sing: Long have I waited for your coming home to me
and living deeply our new life.
Introduction
Opening Prayer Let us pray,
Compassionate and loving God,
Open our hearts to the grace of forgiveness that flows so generously from yours.
May your patient love and acceptance encourage us to take this step along the bridge of reconciliation.
Sustain us on that journey especially when we are tempted to give up. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Scripture My offences truly I know them (Psalm 50)
Examination of Conscience
What I have done…What I have failed to do
I have neglected my relationship with God in prayer
I have made a God of my ambition and my pride
I have spent too little quality time with family and friends
All sing: Be merciful, O Lord, we have sinned, we have sinned
Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
I have spoken unkindly or untruthfully about others
I have been jealous of the gifts of friends and neighbours
I have been unfaithful in honouring my commitments to others
All sing: Be merciful, O Lord, we have sinned, we have sinned
Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
I have passed my neighbour by in their time of need
I have failed to speak up for justice and truth
I have been dishonest in my dealings with others
All sing: Be merciful, O Lord, we have sinned, we have sinned
Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
I have held on to grudges and refused the apologies of others
I have not said sorry to those who I know I have hurt
I have encouraged others to be stubborn and heartless
All sing: Be merciful, O Lord, we have sinned, we have sinned
Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
I have been impatient with those who have disabilities
I have been thoughtless in my use of limited resources
I have been careless in my use of the road
All sing: Be merciful, O Lord, we have sinned, we have sinned
Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Scripture ‘Stand up,’ he said, ‘do not be afraid’ (Matt 17:8)
Act of Sorrow
Individual Confession and Absolution
As people come forward for confession reflections and music help to maintain the spirit of quiet. After the absolution people are invited to wash their hands in bowls held for them by members of the community.
Reflection
‘I want to remind priests that the confessional must not be a torture chamber but rather an encounter with the Lord’s mercy which spurs us on to do our best. Everyone needs to be touched by the comfort and attraction of God’s saving love, which is mysteriously at work in each person, above and beyond their faults and failings.’ (Pope Francis)
Scripture Come and see a man who has told me everything I ever did (John 4:29)
Song Stand Beside Me (Columba McCann)
All sing: Stand beside me, walk before me,
hold and shelter me, touch and heal me.
Scripture So the blind man went off and washed himself, and came away with his sight restored (John 9:7)
Song Open My Eyes (Jesse Manibusan)
All sing: Open my eyes, Lord, help me to see your face
Open my eyes, Lord, help me to see.
Reflection
I am a sinner whom the Lord has looked upon. I am one who is looked upon by the Lord. I always felt my motto, Miserando atque Eligendo (by Having Mercy and By Choosing Him), was very true for me. (Pope Francis)
Instrumental
Scripture Unbind him and let him go free (John 11:44)
A Thought
I think when the Prodigal son returned home, his father didn’t say: ‘But you, listen, sit down. ‘What did you do with the money?’ No he held a party. Then, maybe, when the son wanted to talk, he talked.’
Song Lead us to the Water (Tom Kendzia)
All sing: Lead us to the water, bring us to the feast.
Wash us in the river and fill us with your peace.
Reflection Liberator God (Edward Hays)
How often we find ourselves
In a prison of our own making,
Held by resentment and hostility
Or cultural pressures to look good.
Pressed by the need to be right
Caught up in heartless criticism
Or useless apprehensions.
You free us from one prison cell,
But then we move to another.
Help us to be fully liberated.
Song Lead us to the Water (Tom Kendzia)
All sing: Hold us in your mercy, heal us with your power.
Lift us from the darkness and teach us with your love.
Blessing May the God the creator shine mercy on your face
May Christ the healer touch you with love
May the Holy Spirit fill you with courage to change
Go in peace to share the forgiveness you have received.
Amen.
Song Lead us to the Water (Tom Kendzia)
All sing: Fill us with your fire, lead us from the night,
Guide us in your wisdom and draw us to your light.