BLD NEWARK

THEME, PROMISE, ORDER, AND DIRECTION (TPOD)

FOR MARCH 2009

Week#1 (1^st Sunday of Lent) [Witnessing]

Readings for Mar 01: Gn 9: 8-15; Ps 25: 4-9; 1Pt 3: 18-22; Mk 1: 12-15

Theme: We are faithful to God’s covenant when we live the Gospel.

Promise: “Good and upright is the Lord, thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice, and he teaches the humble his way.” (Ps 25: 8)

Order: Repent, and believe in the Gospel. (Mk 1:15b)

Directions: 1. Hold zealously to the eight pledges of our covenant with the Lord as

covenant disciples.

2. Conduct a community Lenten recollection.

Week#2 (2^nd Sunday of Lent) [Holiness]

Readings for Mar 08: Gn 22: 1-2, 9ª, 10-13, 15-18; Ps 116: 10, 15-19; Rm 8: 31b-34; Mk 9: 2-10

Theme: We are faithful to God’s covenant when we listen to Jesus.

Promise: “I will bless you abundantly…and in your descendants all nations of the earth shall find blessings – all this because you obeyed my command.” (Gen 22: 17a-18)

Order: This is my beloved Son. Listen to him. (Mk 9:7b)

Directions: 1. Spend time before the Blessed Sacrament.

2. Hold zealously to the 3^rd and 4^th pledges of our covenant with the Lord:

· Nourish spiritual life by opening to God through individual, conjugal and family daily prayers; and upbuild the Community through intercessory prayer.  Faithfully pray and worship in unity and fellowship as one Community at least once a week.

· Regularly receive the Sacraments of the Faith, particularly the Eucharist and Reconciliation, and bear witness to the power of God's grace in our lives.

Week#3 (3^rd Sunday of Lent) [Obedience]

Readings for Mar 15: Ex 20: 1-17; Ps 19: 8-11; 1 Cor 1: 22-25; Jn 2:13-25

Theme: We are faithful to God’s covenant when we zealously obey His commandments.

Promise: “The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true, all of them just.” (Ps 19:9)

Order: I am the Lord your God . . .. You shall not have other gods besides me. (Ex. 20:2a; 3)

Directions: 1. Hold zealously to the 1st and 2nd pledges of our covenant with the Lord:

· Surrender self totally to God the Father, to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and to the Holy Spirit of God; and believe that God is the Source of all authority.  Humbly offer self in submission and servanthood to God’s authority as represented by the Catholic Church in the persons of the Holy Father and the Bishops of the Church.  Submit to the ecclesial authority of the Bishops of the diocese and the district Spiritual Director to whom the diocesan Bishop has delegated authority.

· Read, study and live the Word of God in the Holy Scriptures and in other spiritual readings, and regularly share knowledge and experience of the Word with other members of the Community at least once a week in designated Word Sharing Circle.

Week#4 (4^th Sunday of Lent) [Charity]

Readings for Mar 22: 2 Chr 36:14-16, 19-23; Ps 137: 1-6; Eph 2:4-10; Jn 3: 14-21

Theme: We are faithful to God’s covenant when we do good works in His name.

Promise: “For by grace you have been saved through faith.” (Eph 2: 8)

Order: Live the truth, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God. (Jn 3:21 paraphrased)

Directions: 1. Hold zealously to the 7^th and 8^th pledges of our covenant with the Lord:

· Actively assist in ministering to the spiritual, personal and material needs of other members of the Community and of the Body of Christ in a spirit of self-giving love.

· Support the Community’s Apostolates and Ministries with regular tithes and love offerings, given according to our true means and out of the fullness of our heart.

Week#5 (5^th Sunday of Lent) [Service]

Readings for Mar 29: Jer 31: 31-34; Ps 51: 3-4, 12-15; Heb 5: 7-9; Jn 12: 20-33

Theme: We are faithful to God’s covenant when we serve Him wholeheartedly.

Promise: “The Father will honor whoever serves me” (Jn 12: 26b)

Order: Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. (Jn 12:

Directions: 1. Hold zealously to the 5^th and 6^th pledges of our covenant with the Lord:

· Remain reconciled and in solidarity with the other disciples in community.

· Serve in at least one Community Apostolate or Ministry, guided by the direction of the District Council of Stewards and the appointed Pastoral Head.