Reflection Paper for January1999

Notes to the facilitators:
1. Attend and participate in a Reflection Session or Briefing given by the PAT team before you conduct the Session in your BEC.
2. Assign different persons to carry out different parts in the Session.
3. Throughout the Session, a prayerful atmosphere should prevail.

INTRODUCTION:
Welcome one another with a greeting of peace. Spend about 5 - 10 minutes sharing briefly each one's journey to this gathering.

OPENING PRAYER:

O God Almighty Father, as we make our way to you,
our ultimate destiny,
may all your children experience
the gentle company of Mary most holy,
image of purest love,
whom you chose to be Mother of Christ and Mother of the Church
 

OPENING HYMN:

It's A Long Road To Freedom (or any other appropriate hymn).

A little boy running down a street turned round a corner  and unexpectedly collided with a man. "My goodness!" said the man, "Where are you off to in such a hurry?"

"Home," said the lad. "And I'm in a hurry because my mother is going to spank me."

"Are you so eager to be spanked that you are running home for it?" asked the astonished stranger.

"No. But if my father gets home before me, he will do the spanking."

Does the father in this story seem harsh? But we have a different Father.
 
 
 

Section - B. Light From
(Luke 15: 20, 22-24, 28, 31, 32)

While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran to the boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him… the Father said to his servants, "Quick! Bring out sandals for his feet. Bring the calf we had been fattening and kill it; we will celebrate by having a feast, because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found."

And they began to celebrate.

…his father came out and began to urge the other son to come in…

The father said, "My son, you are with me always and all I have is yours. But it was only right we should celebrate and rejoice, because your brother here was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found.
 
 

Section - C
The heart of the Father burns with a great wish to bring his children home.

God creator of heaven and earth, has chosen to be first and foremost as father.

As Father, the only authority He claims for Himself is the authority of compassion.

Here is a God I want to believe in: a Father who from the beginning of creation has stretched out His arms in merciful blessing, never forcing himself on anyone, but always waiting; never letting His arms drop in despair, but always hoping that His children will return so that he can speak words of love and comfort. His only desire is to bless.
 

QUESTIONS

1) What is my best experience of God as Father,
      my own father and I as a father from birth to
      where I am now?
2) The gospel story speaks of the pilgrimage of the sons… the younger and the older… to the Father's home. Trace your own pilgrimage to the Father if you have felt lost at any time of your life. Each of us have begun a pilgrimage towards our Father's home. Life is a pilgrimage. Share with one or two of the group present here.

3) Together with us, there are others on this pilgrimage… in our family, our BEC, our parish, diocese, neighbourhood, country, the whole universe! Let us remember anyone from our family and neighbourhood.

4) Having come from the Father, we are returning to Him. Read Jesus'
     prayer to his Father on our behalf…. John 14:16, John 17:9, 11b,
    15, 16, 17, 18, 19…21.
 
 
 

Section - D - ACTION
Is there someone in your family, your neighbourhood who has not started on this pilgrimage towards the Father's home in  experiencing forgiveness and repentance; in reviving broken spirits; in awakening the helpless and unattending?

Let us now pray for God' peace to touch these persons whom we know of. (silent prayer)
 

CLOSING PRAYER:

Father, most merciful,
during this Holy Year
may our love for you and for our neighbour grow ever stronger:
may Christ's disciples promote justice and peace;
may they proclaim the Good News to the poor;
and may the Church our Mother direct her love
especially to the little ones and the neglected.

CLOSING HYMN:

Pilgrim Song (or any other appropriate hymn)