FORMATION
FORMATION 1997
THEME NO.1
Jesus Christ, the one saviour of
the world
1. Formation Prayer
(To be recited by all present).
In the name of the Father …
Heavenly Father, as we commence this session
of the Formation Programme, help us to believe you are near to us and that you care for
each one of us every day of our lives. Send the Holy Spirit to be our helper and our
guide, enlightening our minds, giving us the grace to serve you with generous hearts and
inspiring us to stand firm as Christians in your love. We ask this through Christ our
Lord. Amen.
2. Scripture Reading - Hebrews
13:6–9, 14–16
(Read by the discussion leader or the
member nominated by him.)
So we can say with confidence, 'The Lord is
my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?' Remember your leaders, those
who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate
their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried
away by all kinds of strange teachings … For here we have no lasting city, but we are
looking for the city that is to come. Through him, then, let us continually offer a
sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruits of lips that confess his name. Do not
neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
3. The Message
(Read by the discussion leader or the
member nominated by him.)
The phrase 'Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday and today and forever' is the most breathtaking of all the formulas concerning
Jesus Christ in the New Testament. The author may have borrowed it from another source,
but it does emphasise the centrality of Jesus Christ for all time. He was the object of
the faith of the very first followers of the way of Jesus Christ and for him they were
willing to die. Men and women may come and go, world movements may ebb and flow but Christ
remains. All of Christ’s riches are 'for every individual and for everybody’s
property.' Christ did not live his life for himself but for us. In all of his life he
presents himself as our model. He is 'the perfect man' who invites us to become his
disciples and to follow him. Christ enables us to live in him all that he himself lived
and he lives it in us. In humbling himself, he has given us an example to imitate, through
his prayer, he draws us to pray, and by his poverty he calls us to accept freely the
privation and persecutions that may come our way
4. The Exercise
(Five minutes of reflection by all
members.)
How often to I compare my way of acting or
speaking with Jesus Christ as my model?
How would I describe the personality of Jesus
Christ?
How does my relationship with Jesus Christ
influence me in my daily work, particularly when I am ridiculed or mocked for my beliefs?
5. The Sharing
(Members share aspects of their personal
faith and its place in their lives that have come to them through the Exercise.)
6. The Word
(The basis of meditation and reflection
for the ensuing month given by the discussion leader.)
'Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today
and forever' (Hebrews 13:8).
7. Closing Prayer
(Recited by all members)
Father, your Son became like us when he
revealed himself in our nature: help us to become more like him, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
