
= Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur	March 2008
Words from St. Julie Courage, my dear good daughter! Let us make good use of the seas= on of the holy Passion of our loving Savior, our good Jesus. Let us courageously die to ourse= lves. In order to rise with him let us die with him—ah, with him, my = good daughter! —Namur, March 1= 8, 1815. Where are we on the Journey? We continue our Lenten journey with John’s powerful stories of the Blind Man and the Raising of Lazarus: Jesus as Li= ght and Life for our world. They invite us to look at our faith, at areas of unbelief, at the new life to which God is constantly inviting us. March 1= 6^th is Palm Sunday—the beginning of Holy Week. We are invited, through story and ritual, to consciously enter into the Paschal Mystery. Can we set aside our unbelief an= d have faith that death is simply a passage to new life? If we can, Easter Joy awaits us.= Ask for the grace to experience = the richness of this holy season as you take time with the readings of the Su= nday liturgies. Where am I on the Journey? Read the passages again. In prayer, ref= lect on the following questions.
= 1 SM 16:6-7, 10-13<= /a>	Samuel had to let go of his expectations and be ope= n to God choosing the “least expected.” Do I see myself as “worthy” of God’s love? Do I see myself as “worth= y” of God’s call? Am I open to God working in unex= pected ways in my life?
= PS 23	How do I experience God guiding “me in right paths”?
= JN 9:1-41	The Blind Man saw clearly what his neighbors and the Pharisees choose not to see. How do I “see” in ways others do not? How do I need my eyes to be open? I spend time with JN 9:1-41. With whom in the story= do I identify? I talk to God about the parts of the story that touch my heart. What does God respon= d? How do I experience God as my “light?”<= o:p>
= JN 11:1-45	I ask the Holy Spirit to guide my reflection on JN = 11:1-45. Which character speaks to my heart? What is it about that character that tugs at me? I talk to God abo= ut it and listen for God’s response. What do I hear?=
= MT 21:1-11	I take time to reflect on the parts of me that are “entombed” and in need of Jesus to roll the stone away. I ask Jesus to call forth, to enliven those parts of myself.<= /p>
= PHIL 2:6-11	I read PHIL 2:6-11. What phrases am I drawn to? I l= et them sink deeply into my heart.
= IS 50:4= -7	As I pray Isaiah 50:4-7, I’m aware of who com= es to mind. Who are the people who suffer today because of their efforts to build God’s vision for the world?
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= MT 27:11-= 54	As I read MT 27 I’m aware of the feelings that surface within me. I give t= hanks to God for loving me, for loving all of us, so abundantly.
= Acts 2:42-47	I ask the grace to recognize the Risen Christ in my life. I ask the grace to experience Christ’s peace = as I go through each day. <= /o:p> What “wonders and signs” do I see taking place within the Christian Community?&nb= sp; Who do I claim as my Christian Community? What does that mean to me?
= PS 118<= /span>	How do I experience God’s love as everlasting? For what do I = want to thank God?
= 1PT1:3-9	I spend time with 1PT 1:3-9. How do I experience “faith” as more precious than “fire-tried gold?” = How do I experience joy and suffering as two sides of the same coin?
= JN 20:19-3= 1	I spend time with JN 20:19-31. With whom in the sto= ry do I identify? I talk to God about the parts of the story that touch my heart. What does God respond? 17. I pray Jesus’ words: “Peace be with you.” I repeat them over and over, letting them move me into silenc= e. I ask the grace to live out of Jesus’ gift of peace.
A Prayer for the Season<= /span> Lord Jesus, let this Lenten season = be for us a time of contemplative prayer through which we grow in union with you= and through you with the God you call “Abba, Father”. As we reflect on the various eve= nts of your passion and death, help us grow in appreciation of your humanness, of your strength of character, of your value system, of your undying commitm= ent and love. As we contemplate= the injustices that were perpetrated against you in the sinful world of your time, help us perceive the injustices committed against countless million= s in today’s sinful world of which we are an integral part. As our hearts cry out against the inhumane treatment you received, let us grow in sensitivity toward today’s victims of barbaric behavior and help us find the strength = and the courage to cry out in effective ways against all violations of human rights and dignity. (Prayers for Reflective Christians, p. 145-6)

Where am I on the Journey?