Liturgy–Following God’s Commandments
Prayer Celebration Directions

GATHERING SONG
GATHERING PRAYER
Leader		Let us begin our Lenten reconciliation celebration in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All		Amen.
(Light candle.)
Leader		Jesus, you are the light of the world. May this candle remind us of your presence with us. We pause to ask forgiveness for the wrongs we have done and to bring to mind words and deeds that have hurt others, ourselves, and our relationship with God. Jesus, you teach us to love even our enemies and to show others the same mercy God shows to us.
READING
Reader		A reading from the Gospel of Luke. (Read Luke 6:27-36.) The Gospel of the Lord.
All		Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE
Leader		We pause for an examination of conscience. Listen to each of the commandments and think of times where you failed to do good or chose to do wrong.
Reader 1		The First Commandment: I, the Lord, am your God. You shall not have other gods beside me.
Reader 2		Have I put other things above God? What or who is really the center of my life?
All		Help us to obey your command to love, Lord. (Pause.)
Reader 1		The Second Commandment: You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain.
Reader 2		Have I used the name of God or Jesus in an irreverent way? If so, why did I do this?
All		Help us to obey your command to love, Lord. (Pause.)
Reader 1		The Third Commandment: Remember to keep holy the Lord’s day.
Reader 2		Do I treat Sunday as a day for rest, for being with my family? Do I attend Mass?
All		Help us to obey your command to love, Lord. (Pause.)
Reader 1		The Fourth Commandment: Honor your father and mother.
Reader 2		Have I been disobedient to my parents or others in authority? Have I talked back to them or ignored their advice?
All		Help us to obey your command to love, Lord. (Pause.)
Reader 1		The Fifth Commandment: You shall not kill.
Reader 2		Have I shown disrespect to people who are different from me? Have I ever hated another person? Have I bullied anyone?
All		Help us to obey your command to love, Lord. (Pause.)
Reader 1		The Sixth Commandment: You shall not commit adultery.
Reader 2		Have I been unfaithful to my friends? Have I shown disrespect for my own body or other people’s bodies?
All		Help us to obey your command to love, Lord. (Pause.)
Reader 1		The Seventh Commandment: You shall not steal.
Reader 2		Have I taken things that don’t belong to me? Have I cheated on tests? Have I hurt others by not respecting what belongs to them?
All		Help us to obey your command to love, Lord. (Pause.)
Reader 1		The Eighth Commandment: You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Reader 2		Have I lied to others? Have I spoken behind someone’s back? Did I participate in rumors or gossip?
All		Help us to obey your command to love, Lord. (Pause.)
Reader 1		The Ninth Commandment: You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
Reader 2		Have I been jealous of my friends’ relationships with other people?
All		Help us to obey your command to love, Lord. (Pause.)
Reader 1		The Tenth Commandment: You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.
Reader 2		Have I been jealous of what other people own? Do I often find myself wanting things I don’t need because someone else has them?
All		Help us to obey your command to love, Lord. (Pause.)
Leader		For a few moments, reflect on times where you failed to do good or chose to do wrong. Ask God’s forgiveness and mercy. Seek God’s help to be reconciled with those whom you have hurt and those who have hurt you. (Play instrumental music during reflection.)
SIGN OF PEACE
Leader		As a sign of God’s care for us, and as a sign of our willingness to treat others with care, let us offer one another a sign of God’s reconciling peace. (Participants shake hands with one another.)
CLOSING PRAYER
Leader		We ask God’s forgiveness for our sins and failings. We resolve to reconcile with others. Loving God, listen to our hearts and know our sorrow is genuine. Help us to ask forgiveness of those we have hurt, and give us the strength to forgive those who have hurt us. May God bless us and give us peace.
All		Amen.
CLOSING SONG