Theotokos Prayer Group 2021 Update No. 7 - First Sunday of Lent

First Sunday Of Lent

Mark 1:12-15

12 And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.
14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

Reflection

In this gospel we see that Jesus is driven by the Spirit into the desert and there he confronts and overcome the temptations of Satan. Only after this is He able to move forward with His ministry to proclaim the Kingdom of God, repentance and belief in the good news that He brings to all.

Reflection Questions:

In what ways have you experienced the desert?

In what ways have found yourself tested during the last year?

Have you discovered strengths or insights into God’s presence through this year of living through the pandemic that you did not perceive previously?

Picture

A picture of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
He is in an icy cold sweat and drops of great sorrow fall from His Body to the ground.
 
“My dear children, you see my Son Jesus, His Heart is so full of love for you His people, that when He feels and contemplates the Sin of the World that HE has to carry, He feels an icy cold sweat forming and falling from His Body to the ground. His Heart so full of Love and afire for His people, He will do anything to appease the Holy Wrath of The Father but Jesus sees so much sin He nearly faints with sorrow!
My children when my Son was sorrowing  in Gethsemane, I did the only thing possible, I sent Him my Motherly Heart to comfort His Most Sorrowful Heart.
my children will you do this for Jesus, send Him the comfort of your loving hearts of warmth and let Him know you are with Him on His walk to save you.
Will you try your best not to hurt Him and do only good things so that His Heart blazes with Love even more for humanity.
Every little sacrifice united to Jesus in His Perfect Will gives Him comfort, and your prayer, suffering and fasting will draw many others to Him giving Jesus little rays of joy in His great  sorrows.
Whatever your state in fife, If you are a father be a father to Him, if a mother be a mother to Him, if you are a sister or brother be a sister and brother to Him, offer your motherly, fatherly, sisterly, brotherly hearts and prayers to Him, He who is The Ever Eternal Sacrifice between you and the Holy Wrath of God. My children in these cold and unloving times, I Your Mother beseech you to cover His Poor Heart with heartfelt Kisses, He loves you so.
Your Mother Mary."

Mark 14 v 32-36

32 They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. 34 And he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.” 35 And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 He said, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.” 

Lenten Challenge

This week read and reflect on Chapters 1-2 of Marks Gospel. If you would like to please share any insights you receive.

Holy Spirit, teacher of truth, open my heart and mind to the deeper meaning of Scripture.

Lord Jesus, I want to know You in the very depth of my being. I want to live every moment in the knowledge of Your love and care for me. Help me to cherish the grace and promise of Easter today and throughout the year. Amen

Pope Francis on Fasting this Lent :

Fast from hurting words and say kind words.
Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.
Fast from anger and be filled with patience.
Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.
Fast from worries and trust in God.
Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.
Fast from pressures and be prayerful.
Fast from bitterness and fill you heart with joy.
Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others.
Fast from grudges and be reconciled.
Fast from words and be silent so you can listen.

Intercessions

Ann has asked for prayers. She has recently found out that in 2019 a Court Order was made against her for non payment of a parking fine in 2018 which she believed had been settled. She has asked this order to be reversed. She asks for justice, perseverance and wisdom. 

Dave who has cancer, has now been told an operation may be possible, the surgeon awaits the go-ahead. Continued prayers please.

Pray for Ashley struggling with an addiction.

Pray for continued healing for Peter recovering from Covid.

A further update on Andrew Haygarth. He is in need of our prayers again, he is to receive a tracheotomy and appears to have blood poisoning, he received the Last Rites last week, and so we live in hope he will be saved! Amen

Please pray for Jean who is very ill with a chest infection.

Ray whom we have been praying for passed away. His wife Priscilla was with him. May he Rest in Peace and may the Lord comfort Priscilla.

Yvonne Noone has asked for further prayers for her niece who is pregnant, her niece has now been told the baby is not moving again, and the doctor is very worried! Please can we all say an extra Hail Mary that this child despite all this worry is born completely healthy. Amen.

Pray for David that his job difficulties will be resolved soon.

Pray for Alan Guile and his healing ministry. May God bless him and all those he ministers to.
Clayne's brother David Gates who  was taken into hospital with Covid is better now and has been back at work and says he feels in better shape now than 5yrs ago, so physically healed. Amen. Clayne on his behalf says thank you to everyone who prayed!

Pray for Heather who is struggling with personal problems.

Steve who was suffering with Long Covid is much improved, thank you for the prayers.

Pray for Chantelle suffering with depression.

Pray for Pat who has not only cancer but now found out that her terrible back pain is a disk that’s resting on another disc, and they won’t operate.

Pray for our Government, local authorities and the health services as they try to deal with the new upsurge in the Corona Virus. Pray for a speedy end to the Coronavirus pandemic throughout the world, and for all those who have contracted the virus and for those who have died. Pray for a vaccine.

Thanks for the prayers for John who is doing well after the operation on his brain tumour. He is continuing with chemotherapy.

Pray for our priests and our parishes.

Pray for the intentions of all members of Theotokos.

Pray for lost souls.

Pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church and the World.

Resources 

1.Theotokos Prayer Group:
https://www.facebook.com/Theotokos-Prayer-Group-142398089120415/http://theotokosprayergroup.blogspot.co.uk/
2. Stockton Parish Family on Facebook with live streaming of Sunday Masses and Holy Week services:
https://www.facebook.com/parishfamilystocktonRC/
3. Daily Mass readings can be found at:
https://universalis.com/mass.htm
4. Bishops Conference of England and Wales Website - keep up to date on the latest situation as regards our Churches and resources for praying the Mass at home:
https://www.cbcew.org.uk/https://www.cbcew.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/03/No-Mass-A4.pdf
5. Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle Website:
http://www.rcdhn.org.uk/index.php
6. Catholic Charismatic Renewal in England:
http://www.ccr.org.uk/ 
7. Catholic Charismatic Renewal International
https://www.charis.international/en/home/

8. Celebrate Conference Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/Celebratecommunity/ 

9. Walsingham Catholic TV
(109) Walsingham Catholic TV - YouTube 

Please let me know if you have anything to share (prayers, readings, pictures , prophecies, inspirations) or any intercessions.
Also please update on those we are praying for so I can keep the intercession list up to date.
You can also get in touch just to say hello!