Third Sunday of Lent C

The following are prayerful resources rather than a liturgy.


  • Responsorial Psalm
  • The gospel for the day
    (a useful commentary on the reading 
    here)
  • Some optional questions for reflection
  • Prayers of Intercession
  • Cluster Prayer
  • The gospel of the week ahead with questions

Psalm 102  The Lord is compassion and love.

The Lord is compassion and love.


1. My soul, give thanks to the Lord,

All my being, bless his holy name.

My soul give thanks to the Lord 

And never forget all his blessings.


2. It is he who forgives all your guilt

Who heals every one of your ills

Who redeems your life from the grave

Who crowns you with love and compassion.


3. The Lord does deeds of justice

Gives judgement for all who are oppressed 

He made known his ways to Moses

And his deeds to Israel’s sons. 


4. The Lord is compassion and love 

Slow to anger and rich in mercy.

For as the heavens are high above the earth 

So strong is his love for those who fear him.

Luke 13: 1-9  Unless you repent you will all perish as they did.


Some people arrived and told Jesus about the Galileans

whose blood Pilate had mingled with that of their sacrifices.

At this he said to them,

‘Do you suppose these Galileans who suffered like that

were greater sinners than any other Galileans?

They were not, I tell you.

No; but unless you repent you will all perish as they did.


Or those eighteen on whom the tower at Siloam fell and killed them?

Do you suppose that they were more guilty

than all the other people living in Jerusalem?

They were not, I tell you.

No; but unless you repent you will all perish as they did.’


He told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard,

and he came looking for fruit on it but found none.

He said to the man who looked after the vineyard,

“Look here, for three years now

I have been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and finding none.

Cut it down: why should it be taking up the ground?”

“Sir,” the man replied “leave it one more year

and give me time to dig round it and manure it:

it may bear fruit next year; if not, then you can cut it down.”’


This the gospel of the Lord


Copyright © 1996-2021 Universalis Publishing Limited: see www.universalis.com.

Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible are published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc.

Text of the Psalms: Copyright © 1963, The Grail (England). All rights reserved.

Having used our prayer resources, you might want simply to reflect yourself on them and how that might flow into your coming week. Some people have found it very helpful to meet with others and share their thoughts.
If you are interested  in joining a small group to share your thoughts and feelings about God's Word from any of the resources you have watched please email us.         
cluster.alpha@outlook.com

Questions for reflection (framed for a group discussion)

Jesus wasn't crucified for being meek, mild and caring.

His message continues to pinpoint the failings of a world of oppression and greed.

The Bad News is that, as individuals, we cannot hope to change that.

The Good News (Gospel) is that he is with us always in our struggle with it all.


  1. Metaphorically "plant a seed" whose fruit you might never know about. For example, you might say something positive or encouraging to a friend who's feeling down.(Share)
  2. What important work could bear fruit in your life right now if you have more confidence in God's loving care?

Prayers of Intercession


For Pope Francis and all religious leaders in this time of crisis.

May we join with Pope Francis when he spoke to young people this week saying:

“There are no machines to build peace. Peace is always made through sharing.

Always build bridges; don't discard anyone! Because wars start with discarding others.”

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer

 

For world leaders that they will come together in support of the United Nations,

seeking to end all wars and to work for the common good of all,

especially the poorest nations.

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer

 

For our UK governments, as they consider the prospect of rising prices, failing incomes, food shortages

- all of which will hit those on benefits, low incomes and pensioners the hardest.

We pray that they will target aid towards the most vulnerable and not shy away from taxing

those companies and shareholders who are making excessive profits from the present crisis.

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer

 

For ourselves, that we will pray daily for peace at this time in many areas of conflict

throughout the world but especially in Ukraine.

May we also respond as generously as we can to the plight of innocent victims of war

And to those more locally who are struggling to make ends meet.

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer

 

For all those who are suffering in mind or body and for all those in our Prayer Foundation list.

May they take comfort from God’s healing presence and the support of those praying for them.

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer

 

For those who have died recently:  Betty (Elisabeth) McNally, Martin McGraw, Bridie Sawyers, Richie Ellis, Mary Duffy, Rose Neilson, Constance Kelly and for all whose anniversaries occur at this time.

May they rest in the light of the risen Christ.

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer

Prayer to be Missionary Disciples

Picture of Jesus at door

Lord continue to bless our community
in this time of transition.
Help us on our journey
to grow from a maintenance church
to a missionary church.
Give us the courage
to be missionary disciples.
Make our doors wide enough
to receive all who need
human love and fellowship;
narrow enough to shut out
all envy, pride and prejudice.
Kindle in us the fire of your love
that all who come here
will find joy, peace and love.
Make this a house of prayer
and a gateway to your kingdom.
AMEN

Preparing for next week - Fourth Sunday in Lent

Luke 15: 1-3; 11-32   Your brother here was dead and has come to life.


The tax collectors and the sinners were all seeking the company of Jesus

to hear what he had to say, and the Pharisees and the scribes complained.

‘This man’ they said ‘welcomes sinners and eats with them.’

So he spoke this parable to them:


   ‘A man had two sons. The younger said to his father,

“Father, let me have the share of the estate that would come to me.”

So the father divided the property between them.

A few days later, the younger son got together everything he had

and left for a distant country where he squandered his money on a life of debauchery.


   ‘When he had spent it all, that country experienced a severe famine,

and now he began to feel the pinch,

so he hired himself out to one of the local inhabitants

who put him on his farm to feed the pigs.

And he would willingly have filled his belly with the husks the pigs were eating

but no one offered him anything.

Then he came to his senses and said,

“How many of my father’s paid servants have more food than they want,

and here am I dying of hunger!

I will leave this place and go to my father and say:

Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;

I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as one of your paid servants.”

So he left the place and went back to his father.


   ‘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 tenderly.

Then his son said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

I no longer deserve to be called your son.”

But the father said to his servants,

“Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him;

put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

Bring the calf we have been fattening, and kill it; we are going to have a feast, a celebration,

because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found.”

And they began to celebrate.


   ‘Now the elder son was out in the fields,

and on his way back, as he drew near the house,

he could hear music and dancing.

Calling one of the servants he asked what it was all about.

“Your brother has come” replied the servant

“and your father has killed the calf we have been fattening

because he has got him back safe and sound.”

He was angry then and refused to go in, and his father came out to plead with him;

but he answered his father,

“Look, all these years I have slaved for you and never once disobeyed your orders,

yet you never offered me so much as a kid for me to celebrate with my friends.

But, for this son of yours, when he comes back after swallowing up your property – he and his women –

you kill the calf we have been fattening.”
   ‘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.”’


This the gospel of the Lord


Copyright © 1996-2021 Universalis Publishing Limited: see www.universalis.com.

Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible are published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc.

Text of the Psalms: Copyright © 1963, The Grail (England). All rights reserved

Questions for reflection (framed for a group discussion)

Only in the gospel of Luke do we get this image of a God as a loving Parent,

anxiously scanning the horizon for his son's return from self-obsession and a wasteful way of life.

After the mercy of God, though, comes our responsibility to hand on what we've received.

  1. God has forgiven us every sin we'll ever commit. How, this Lent, are we going to show our gratitude?
  2. When have you been generous enough to forgive someone who hurt you deeply?