FORMATION
FORMATION 2000
THEME NO. 1
“A time to celebrate”
1. Opening Prayer
(To be introduced by the leader then prayed by all present.)
Leader:
My brothers in Christ, gathered here together as sons of God and in the name
of the Church, let us prepare our minds and hearts and pray to the Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ for the renewal of the Church and the salvation of the world.
All:
God of compassion, you created the world out of love. In your tenderness you
sent your Son in the fullness of time to redeem it. We praise you for your mercy and give
you thanks for our new life through the death and resurrection of your Son. Be with us in
this year of Great Jubilee, the anniversary of the birth of your Son, our Redeemer.
May your kingdom here among us
continue to grow through your Spirit, bringing renewal to your Church.
May we be instruments of peace,
justice and reconciliation, within the Church, with others and with all of creation.
May we walk with Mary, who gave birth
to your Son, who is the mother of the Church and model for all disciples. We ask this
through your Son, Jesus who is with us yesterday, today, and forever. Amen.
2. The Focus
(Read by the discussion leader or member
nominated by him.)
The Third Millennium is:
A time for Australians to Celebrate.
Preparations are well underway in Australia
for the Olympic Games in Sydney. This important and exciting event is capturing the
imagination of many Australians. We are also preparing to celebrate the centenary of
Federation in the year 2001, recognising that this is an historic moment in which the
nation is called to take stock of its history and to prepare for its future. Some are
excited by the possibilities of a new millennium with the prospect of farewelling the past
and moving into a whole new era. Others are becoming anxious because such a point of
history generates in many a concern about the world and the security of its institutions,
its ecology, and its political relationships.
A time to celebrate 2000th anniversary of
Jesus.
According to our calendar, the year 2000
will mark the 2000th anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ. For Christians, the birth
of Jesus Christ initiates the central events of our salvation, establishing for us a
relationship with God which became the foundation of our lives and our history from that
point on. In preparation for this great commemoration, we have been preparing over the
past three years by reflecting on the mystery of God as we reflected in turn on each
person of the Holy Trinity. We have been called into a new relationship with God, to be
then expressed in this year of Jubilee, and in the years of our lives which follow into
the new millennium. Adapted from "The Coming of the Third Millennium"
Catholic Bishops of Australia.
This reading is followed by five
minutes of silent reflection on the following:
In what way could we, as individuals and as
Knights of the Southern Cross, mark the end of one millennium and the beginning of another
in relation to:
• personal life with
family and friends?
• life in the work
place and in the local community?
• involvement in
State and National issues?
• the relationship
with Jesus Christ and his Church?
3. The Word
– John 1: 28–39
(The Word of God gives us our context
for reflection and action. This read by one member.)
A reading from the Gospel of John.
This took place in Bethany across the
Jordan where John was baptizing.
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him
and declared, "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is
he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.'
I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might
be revealed to Israel."
And John testified, "I saw the Spirit
descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but
the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit
descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I myself have seen
and have testified that this is the Son of God."
The next day John again was standing with
two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, "Look, here is
the Lamb of God!" The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When
Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, "What are you looking
for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher),
"where are you staying?" He said to them, "Come and see." They came
and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day.
For a few
minutes, all silently reflect on the person of Jesus in this gospel and what it calls us
to.
4. The Sharing
(During this time (10 minutes) members
share insights gained from reflection on the Focus and the Word of God.)
5. The Action
1. Members offer suggestions
regarding actions which could be taken in the month ahead to sharpen awareness of the
Jubilee year and the call to make it known.
2. As a group, decide on one or two
actions which can be taken by all in the month ahead.
6. Closing Prayer
(Prayed by all members.)
Blessed are you, all holy God, creator of
the universe; by the gift of the Spirit you made visible our redemption in the mystery of
the incarnation of Christ, your Son, and have given us a share in his mission as prophet,
priest and king.
As we celebrate the great Jubilee, confirm
and strengthen our faith and the faith of all of all Christians. Sustain our hope of
eternal life, and rekindle our charity in active service to our brothers and sisters.
Glory and praise to you, O God of our
salvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever. Amen.
