Adapted from: https://www.ocsta.on.ca/project/nurturing-hope-cultiver-lesperance/

Introduction to the Week:       

Each year, Catholic schools in Saskatchewan participate in a week-long celebration to remember and share the gift of Catholic Education. This year we will be taking time each day, with students and staff all across our province, to pray together as disciples who are Nurturing Hope.

Gracious and generous God, creator of the earth, our common home,

With each new day, we prepare the earth of our lives by sowing seeds of gratitude for all you have given. Inspire us to cultivate relationships with all living beings. May we harvest new fruit and marvel in the wonder at the beauty around us. Nurture us in hope.  Amen.

Call to prayer/Daily Theme:

This year's theme, Nurturing Hope, follows last year's theme when we were Igniting Hope. The pandemic has changed all of our lives and our world, the ways we interact with one another, and how we go to school. Our first sub-theme this week is Preparing the Earth of our lives. As we move from one season into another, we prepare for what we think is ahead. Hope is a gift God gives us so that no matter what challenge is ahead, God is there with us and within us.

Let us begin… In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Daily Theme/Opening Prayer:

Gracious God,

You created us for joy and peace. You have given us hope for those days when we have questions and fears. Help us to hold onto hope as we prepare the soil of our lives for new growth and new freedom, growth and freedom that can only come from you, the source of all goodness. 

Amen.

Scripture: Luke 13:6-9

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke.

Glory to you, O Lord.

Then Jesus told this parable: 'A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, "See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?" He replied, "Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig round it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down."'

The Gospel of the Lord. 

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflection:

In telling this story about the fruit tree, Jesus was really talking about us - and about God. God has "planted" us on this earth and he expects us to produce good fruit in our life. What kind of fruit does God expect? Things like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and gentleness. When He doesn't see these things in our life, He is disappointed -- but He is always willing to give us another chance.

Jesus wants to care for us and help us to be the kind of fruit-bearing children that God wants us to be. If we will trust in him, read his Word, and pray -- he will help us to produce a lot of good fruit.

Closing Prayer:

Jesus, Loving gardener of souls,

We are so blessed that you don't give up on us. You want us to bear the fruit we were created to grow. You continue to nurture and encourage us to prepare the earth of our lives for the gifts of goodness and mercy that you hold out for us. Inspire us to encourage one another to receive these gifts and to bear the fruit we were meant to grow.  Amen.

Call to Action:

Take some time today and this week to think of ways that you can prepare the soil of your heart so that you can produce good fruit.  Perhaps you can take extra time to read God's word and to pray. 

Appel à la prière/ Thème pour la journée: Préparer la terre

Cette année, notre  thème est "cultiver l'espérance." suit le thème "Allumez la flamme de l'espérance" de l'année passée.  La pandémie a changé nos vies, notre monde, la manière dont on interagit avec nos amis et la manière qu'on travaille à l'école. Notre premier thème de cette semaine est "Préparer la terre". Avec les changements des saisons, nous nous préparons pour l'avenir. Dieu nous donne le don de l'espérance. Il est toujours dans nos cœurs et avec nous lorsqu' on rencontre un obstacle ou un défi.

Commençons avec le signe de la croix: Au nom du Père, du Fils et du Saint-Esprit. Amen.

La prière de la journée:  

Dieu miséricordieux,

Tu nous as créés pour la joie et pour la paix. Tu nous as donné de l'espérance pour les jours ou nous avons des questions. Aide-nous à nous tenir à l'espérance en préparant le sol de nos vies pour la croissance et la liberté que Tu nous donnes car Tu es la source de tout ce qui est bon. Amen.

Prière pour la semaine

Dieu très bon, créateur de la terre, notre maison commune,

Chaque jour nous préparons le terreau de nos vies en y semant la gratitude pour tout ce que tu nous donnes. Inspire-nous à cultiver des relations avec tous les êtres vivants. Que nous puissions récolter des fruits nouveaux qui nous permettent de nous émerveiller face à la beauté qui nous entoure. À toi qui cultive l'espérance et nous fais grandir, louange et gloire pour les siècles des siècles.  Amen.