Week Four - Joy
Opening Prayer
God, Almighty, give us the joy of your love to prepare the way for
Christ our Lord, help us to serve you and one another.
Passage for Reflection:
At the beginning of 2004 year, Katalina - who had grown up in an orphanage - was abandoned by her boyfriend after telling him she was pregnant. Soon afterwards, she was invited by a Russian woman to a birthday party in a local bar in her village near Katalina was trafficked to a brothel in life, once shattered. She is staying with a family – which knows nothing of her past - in a rain-swept village in the north of
Adapted from an article by Ed Vullamy Sunday October 3, 2004– The Observer Silent Reflection – How do we bring joy to those people with no joy in their lives? Reader: Together let’s pray this Psalm with Katalina: Psalm 126 When the Lord brought the exiles back to we were like those moving in a dream. Then our mouths were filled with laughter, and our tongues with songs of joy. Among the nations it was said, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord had done great things for us, and we were glad indeed. Bring back our exiles, O Lord, like fresh streams in the desert. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs and shouts of joy. They went forth weeping, bearing the seeds for sowing, they will come home with joyful shouts, bringing their harvested sheaves. My Beloved lifts up his voice, he says to me, ‘Come then, my love, my lovely one come. For see, winter is past,the rains are over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth. The season of glad songs has come, the cooing of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree is forming its first figs and the blossoming vines give out their fragrance. Come then, my love, my lovely one, come. My dove, hiding in the clefts of the rock, in the coverts of the cliff, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet and your face is beautiful. Intercessions Reader: Reader: All: Lord, bring us your joy Poverty is one of the underlying elements that contributes to people becoming vulnerable to traffickers. We pray for the eradication of poverty in our world and look forward to opportunities, training and education for all. Reader: Nurturing a child is not easy in so many parts of our world. We pray that one day soon, parents willbe able to bring up their children in safety, peace and joy. All: Lord, bring us your joy Reader: Together let’s pray The Prayer of St. Francis Lord, make me a channel of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me bring your love. Where there is injury, your healing power. Where there is doubt, true faith in you. Where there is despair in life, let me bring hope. Where there is darkness, only light. Where there is sadness, ever joy. O Spirit grant that I may never seek, so much to be consoled as to console, to be understood, as to understand, to be loved as to love with all my soul. For it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, in giving that we receive, and in dying that we're born to eternal life. Final Blessing: May the God of hope fill each one of us with love and peace so that we may live in joy through the love of the Holy Spirit.