EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (# 22)
A Weekly Pastoral Tool for the YEAR OF THE EUCHARIST
5th Sunday of Easter, Year A
April 24-30, 2005
“I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life”
(+) In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
(A moment of silence)
SONG: Any suitable Eucharistic hymn or Easter song may be sung.
WORDS OF ST. AMBROSE
Christ has shown us both the way and the place: You know where I am going, he said, and you know the way. The place is where the Father is; the way is Christ, according to his own declaration: I am the way, and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me. Let us set out on this way, let us hold fast to truth, let us follow life. It is the way that leads us, the truth that strengthens us, the life that is restored to us through him.
SILENT ADORATION AND PRAYER
OPENING PRAYER
(Adapted from St. Ambrose)
Leader: Yes, Lord Jesus, we do follow you,
but we can only come at your bidding.
No one can make the ascent without you,
for you are our way, our truth, our life,
our strength, our confidence, our reward.
Be the way that receives us,
the truth that strengthens us,
the life that invigorates us.
You live forever and ever.
Assembly: Amen.
Part I
JESUS MASTER TRUTH
Listening to the Word
GOSPEL READING: Jn 14:1-12
PERSONAL REFLECTION
(As a tool for personal reflection, please visit the PDDM Website: www.pddm.org // www.pddm.us for BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD [# 22]: A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday Liturgy. The Biblico-Liturgical Reflections are an aid for a deeper understanding of the Gospel reading.)
SONG: Any suitable hymn of praise or Easter song may be sung.
Part II
JESUS MASTER WAY
Confrontation with the Word
POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART
Leader: Jesus, the true Shepherd and the Gate for the sheep, is the true and living way to the Father. In the way he lives, in the truth of his word, and in the quality of new life that he brings, Jesus reveals the Father and leads us to a life of loving intimacy with him. Let us examine ourselves and see how fully receptive we are to his assurance of love.
1. When our hearts are fearful and anxious, do we allow ourselves to be comforted by the presence of Jesus and respond to his exhortation: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me” (Jn 14:1)?
2. How do we personally experience Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life? In our word and deed, do we replicate the person of Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life?
3. In our apostolic works, do we allow ourselves to be strengthened by the promise of Jesus: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these” (Jn 14:12)?
PENITENTIAL PRAYER
Leader: Lord Jesus, you have shown us the way to the Father: Lord, have mercy.
Assembly: Lord, have mercy.
Leader: Lord Jesus, you have given us the consolation of the truth: Christ, have mercy.
Assembly: Christ, have mercy.
Leader: Lord Jesus, you are the Good Shepherd, leading us into everlasting life: Lord, have mercy.
Assembly: Lord, have mercy.
PRAYER by Thomas Merton
My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this,
you will lead me by the right road
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always
though I may seem lost
and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face perils alone.
SONG: Any suitable song may be sung.
Part III
JESUS LIFE
Acting upon the Word
PERSONAL PRAYER
CONTEMPLATING WITH MARY THE FACE OF CHRIST: The Mysteries of the Rosary may be prayed in part or in full.
THE WAY OF SOLIDARITY: PRAYER OF INTERCESSION
Leader: Gathered together in Christ as brothers and sisters, let us call to mind God’s many blessings and ask him to hear the prayers, which he himself inspires us to ask. We pray:
(R.) LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER.
1. For the Pope, the divinely appointed successor to St. Peter and the vicar of Christ, that he may truly be a sacrament and means of unity in the Church and in the world. We pray: (R.)
2. For peace among nations that God may rid the world of violence, and let us serve him in freedom. We pray: (R.)
3. For the aged who suffer loneliness and infirmity, that they may be sustained by our love. We pray: (R.)
4. For those who have sinned and lost the way, that they may allow Christ to lead them on the right path and be brought back to the truth and the life of God. We pray: (R.)
5. For all of us gathered here, that in Christ, we may truly be way, truth and life for each other. We pray: (R.)
(Other prayers may be added.)
THE LORD’S PRAYER
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Leader: Loving Father,
in Jesus your Son, you have spoken your saving word
and restored us with the healing power of your love.
He is the Way that leads to you,
the Truth that sets us free,
the Life that makes our joy complete.
Continue to enliven the Church
by the grace of the Holy Spirit,
the Easter gift and the gentle counselor promised by Jesus
as he was about to depart from this world.
May the community of Christian disciples
replicate the mission of Christ,
the Way, the Truth and the Life
in today’s anguished world
that yearns to return to the path of life.
We ask this in his name of Jesus,
who lives and reigns forever and ever.
Assembly: Amen.
FINAL SONG: Any suitable Eucharistic hymn or Easter song may be sung.
Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang PDDM
PIAE DISCIPULAE DIVINI MAGISTRI
SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER
60 Sunset Ave., Staten Island, NY 10314
Tel. (718) 494-8597 // (718) 761-2323
Website: WWW.PDDM.US