Be more: Be in solidarity
Overview
The Be More prayers is a series of seven prayers that focus on ways in which we might engage in the mission of Jesus. The series of prayers are inspired by the words of St Oscar Romero "Aspire not to have more but to be more" and they draw on resources from Caritas Australia.
The prayer is intended for use with staff groups in a Catholic school community but can be easily adapted to other .
Each prayer resource in the series comes in PDF format and contains:
an introductory note for the prayer leader
detailed directions for the prayer experience
a biographical sheet about one of the Be More heroes
a prayer sheet handout that can be reproduced for all participants.
Each of the prayers in the series follows a common structure of:
Gather - Listen - Respond - Go Forth
Creating the space:
Where possible, arrange chairs in a circle or semi-circle around a prayer focus point. Try to create different heights in your prayer focus – even if you conceal a book or box under your cloth to create a different height. Items to incorporate in your prayer focus:
- Red, green and yellow cloths
- Three candles (+ matches to light the candles)
- Bible – open at Luke chapter 10 (a book stand or small easel is ideal to display the Bible)
- Cross or crucifix
- Symbol for this week: A paper chain of figures holding hands
You will also need:
Gather
- Welcome, introduction & preparation to pray
- Lighting of candles - 3 candle lighters
- Opening Prayer
Listen
- Introduction
- Gospel reading - 2 readers
Respond
- Be More bio
- Silence
- PowerPoint
Go Forth
NB: Sections identified as ‘Leader’ may be divided amongst different people but it is helpful to have a recognisable leader of the prayer.
The structure and ideas included are just suggestions. Please feel free to modify or add to the wording to make the experience more personal and relevant for your staff. Adding you own touches will not only make the experience more enriching for you personally, but also for the rest of your group.
Approximate time required: 20 mins
Be in solidarity: Prayer
We Gather
The leader welcomes those present and acknowledges the gift of coming together in prayer.
Leader: Our prayer today continues our focus on ways in which we might engage in the mission of Jesus, calling us to Be More. In today’s prayer we are called to Be in Solidarity – to stand shoulder to shoulder with the voiceless, the powerless, the homeless and the helpless.
Let’s pause before we begin and take a moment of silence to clear our thoughts and open our hearts to this time together.
(Ring a chime or bell then pause for two minutes of silence. Ring the chime again to end the silence)
With Christians around the world, we begin our prayer as they all do …
All: In the name of the Father, + and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Candle lighter 1: As we gather here in your name, Open our minds to know your voice. (light ‘head’ candle)
Candle lighter 2: Open our hands to do your work. (light ‘hands’ candle)
Candle lighter 3: And open our hearts to hold your Spirit. (light ‘heart’ candle)
Leader: Let us pray.
All: God who is three in one,
Your very being speaks to us of community.
From the beginning you have called your people
to be in right relationship with one another.
Teach us what it means to be one with you
and one in solidarity with your lowly ones.
We make this prayer through Mary, mother of all. Amen
We Listen
Leader: The first step to being in Solidarity is to recognise the connection that exists between us all. As human beings, we are all part of a global family.
The things that we have in common are far greater than the things that separate us.
Jesus reminds us that the greatest commandment of all is two-fold: to love God and to love neighbour.
(Luke 10:25-37) The two readers must ‘bounce off’ each other so that the reading does not become disjointed.
Reader 1: A reading from the gospel according to Luke.
Reader 2: A lawyer stood up and, to test Jesus, asked,
Reader 1: 'Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?'
Reader 2: He said to him, 'What is written in the Law?
Reader 1: What is your reading of it?'
Reader 2: He replied, 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart,
Reader 1: with all your soul,
Reader 2: with all your strength,
Reader 1: and with all your mind,
Reader 2: and your neighbour as yourself.'
Reader 1: Jesus said to him, 'You have answered right,
Reader 2: do this and life is yours.'
Reader 1: But the man was anxious to justify himself and said to Jesus,
Reader 2: 'And who is my neighbour?'
Reader 1: In answer, Jesus said,
Reader 2: 'A man was once on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho
Reader 1: and fell into the hands of bandits;
Reader 2: they stripped him,
Reader 1: beat him and then made off,
Reader 2: leaving him half dead.
Reader 1: Now a priest happened to be travelling down the same road,
Reader 2: but when he saw the man,
Reader 1: he passed by on the other side.
Reader 2: In the same way a Levite who came to the place
Reader 1: saw him,
Reader 2: and passed by on the other side.
Reader 1: But a Samaritan traveller who came upon him
Reader 2: was moved with compassion when he saw him.
Reader 1: He went up to him and bandaged his wounds,
Reader 2: pouring oil and wine on them.
Reader 1: He then lifted him onto his own mount
Reader 2: and took him to an inn and looked after him.
Reader 1: Next day, he took out two denarii and handed them to the innkeeper
Reader 2: "Look after him, and on my way back I will make good any extra expense you have."
Reader 1: Which of these three,
Reader 2: do you think,
Reader 1: proved himself a neighbour
Reader 2: to the man who fell into the bandits' hands?'
Reader 1: He replied, 'The one who showed pity towards him.'
Reader 2: Jesus said to him, 'Go,
Reader 1: and do the same yourself.'
(pause…)
Reader 2: The gospel, the Good News of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Leader: This gospel story is a very familiar one. Its familiarity can make us overlook the powerful message that is as relevant today as it was in first century Palestine. The lawyer’s question is the very same question we must confront today, ‘Who is my neighbour?’
I invite you now to spend a few moments in silence. Sit with that question, ‘Who is my neighbour?’ … who is it who calls you to see their need? … who is the unexpected one reaching out a hand of help towards you?
(Ring a chime or bell then pause for two or three minutes of silence. Ring the chime again to end the silence)
(Optional) Leader invites group members to share something of their reflection on the reading or their own experience.
We Respond
Leader: You each have a copy of the Be More Bio for Mother Teresa – perhaps our greatest example in recent times of one who stood in solidarity. Take a few moments to read the bio and reflect on the suggestions of ways in which you can ‘Be More’.
(Allow time for group to read and reflect.)
We Go Forth
Leader: Let’s place our prayers from this time together before God.
All: God of the marginalised,
Through your prophets and through your Word
you have called us into solidarity with the broken and the humble.
Open our eyes to all our neighbours in need:
in our families; in our school; in our country; and in our world.
We ask this through your Holy Spirit, who transforms the world. Amen.
Leader: We conclude with our blessing…
All: As we go about our day, O God;
As we strive to walk with Jesus as people in solidarity.
Remind us that we are the love of Christ, Who is with us always.
May your grace, mercy and peace,
Bless us, keep us and transform us all this day,
Now and forever. Amen.