GOSPEL CONTEMPLATIONS MAPPING OUT LENT FOR DISCIPLESHIP

“COME WITH ME INTO THE DESERT. JOIN ME IN THE FORTY-DAY CHALLENGE FOR THE FATHER'S GLORY!” JESUS CHRIST - LENT 2016

GOSPELS OF LENT GOSPELS FOR DISCIPLESHIP CONTEMPLATIONS WHAT TO CONTEMPLATE AND HOW TO CONTEMPLATE THIS LENT

GOSPEL INTRO GIVING CONTEXT TO THE GOSPEL CONTEMPLATION (1) Before reading the Gospel for the GC lets begin by considering the context of the passage. What happened before, what will happen, where it takes place and who the characters are in the passage? The point of this is so that we can see more clearly what we are about to hear and the Holy Spirit will work more effectively in us for seeing Jesus in this Encounter through the Word (2) It also will be good, depending on the week, to consider the liturgical season or day that we are in, or the prior week’s Gospel, to put it in context of the overall movement of the Holy Spirit in the Church. This is to helping us to Encounter Jesus in a Communio way by connecting it to the liturgy and the Church as a whole (3) We are being invited into prayer, lets push away all distractions, turn off our phones, and focus. “Come Holy Spirit…Come Holy Spirit…Come Holy Spirit…..Holy Spirit Come…AMEN!”

GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 6:1-6,16-18 ASH WEDNESDAY: FIRST DAY OF LENT The Context of this Passage: Ash Wednesday begins Lent and every year we recall the words of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount that invite us to join Him in His simple but challenging call to purify ourselves in for the preparation to receive His mercy in an ever deeper way each year. He became like us so that we - in grace - can become like Him. Prayer, Fasting and Acts of Charity are the little way of Jesus. Let us make them our way with His help.

Jesus’ Instruction on Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving: Gospel Mt 6:1-6, Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. “When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.” GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 6:1-6,16-18 ASH WEDNESDAY: FIRST DAY OF LENT

PRAYER FASTING ALMSGIVING ATEAM LENTEN PLAN OF LIFE Its gonna be a 40 day journey so: Lets do it together NOT alone, Lets make a solid plan for accountability, Lets make this the BEST LENT EVER!!!!

WE ARE THE ATEAM ~ THERE'S NO “I” IN TEAM WE ARE A COMMUNIO - NO SOUL LEFT BEHIND

HERE’S THE PLAN….

THE IDEA IS THAT THIS WILL FIT IN YOUR POCKET AND YOU CAN USE IT AS A REMINDER ACCOUNTABILITY… KEEP TRACK BETTER, SEE THE BIG PICTURE AND IT'S JUST KINDA COOL TO HAVE A LITTLE FOLDY THING IN YOUR POCKET!

TYPE A QUOTE HERE. ITS HARD TO STAY FOCUSED FOR 5 MINUTES… HOW CAN I DO IT FOR 40 DAYS! LET'S TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO LOOK AT IT AND SEE HOW THIS WILL WORK

WE ARE ALSO GOING TO MAKE A SPECIAL EFFORT TO INCREASE EACH WEEK IN: PRAYER FASTING ALMSGIVING WE ALSO WANTED TO MAKE IT EASY TO REMEMBER HOW TO DO EACH STEP -MORNING OFFERING -DAILY LECTIO DIVINA -DAILY ROSARY OR DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET -NIGHTLY EXAMINATION OF HAPPINESS

PRAYER - FASTING - ALMSGIVING LETS START SMALL AND EASE INTO IT HOW ABOUT THIS WEEK WE JUST PRAYER : LETS JUST STAY REAL FAITHFUL TO THE ATEAM COMMITMENTS FASTING: GIVE UP ONE LITTLE THING IN OUR DIET LIKE SALT ALMSGIVING: LETS JUST COMMIT TO BEING SO POSTIVE THIS WEEK THAT EVERYONE IS CURIOUS AND WANTS TO JOIN YOU AT URS THIS SUNDAY IT DOESNT HAVE TO BE THESE THREE THINGS SPECIFICALLY, BUT LETS JUST START WITH SOMETHING SMALL LIKE THESE… MAKES SURE YOU TELL YOUR TEAM, WINGMAN PARENTS AND THEN KEEP IT QUITE BEYOND THAT

LECTIO CAN BE THE MOST CHALLENGING DAILY SPIRITUAL EXERCISE, SO YOU MIGHT WANT TO READ THE INSIDE QUOTE FROM POPE BENEDICT XVI THEY ARE HIS WORDS AND INSTRUCTIONS TO TEENAGERS ON HOW TO PRAY WITH SCRIPTURE THIS FOUR PART PLAN FOR DAILY PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE IS EASILY REMEMBERED IN THE WORDS YOU SEE HERE TO YOUR LEFT (1) READ (2) REFLECT (3) RESPOND (4) REST

TAKEAWAY: WHEN WITH JESUS DESOLATION BECOMES CONSOLATION Lent 2016 FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

“JOIN ME TODAY! IN THE BATTLE FOR SOULS, YOU WILL SAVE YOUR OWN IF YOU FIGHT IN PRAYER, IN FASTING AND IN WORKS OF CHARITY.” JESUS CHRIST - LENT 2016