Welcome and Opening Prayer: Lord, we place ourselves in your presence. Send us your Spirit to enlighten our minds and open our hearts to your word. We know Jesus is with us, because we are gathered in his name, and he tells us “…where two or three are gathered in my name I am there among them.”
We invite our holy mother Mary the Seat of Wisdom to be part of our sharing as we say … ‘Hail Mary ….’
We invoke the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit in all that we do as we say … ‘Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.’
1st Reading of Scripture Passage: A Reading from the Gospel of Matthew 1:18-24
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife,
Silence (3 minutes)
2nd Reading of Scripture Passage
Silence (3 minutes) then sharing of word, phrase or image that left an impression on you.
3rd Reading of Scripture Passage
Silence (3 Minutes) followed by short and voluntary sharing of what stood out for you personally in the reading
Reading of Short Commentary:
“Because of Joseph’s great courage and faith, he, like Mary, opened the way for God’s plan of salvation to be enacted. He, too, played an important part in shaping Jesus of Nazareth from his youth and helped him prepare for his mission. Turning to God for guidance when difficult decisions have to be made and accepting full responsibility for those decisions are not popular concepts today. Even though most of us consider ourselves to be free and open-minded, we can very easily become slaves to opinions and fashions that are promoted by vested interests in both the market place and the media. It is also true that we are sometimes guilty of making our decisions based purely on self interest or greed. It seems that fewer and fewer people are willing to act in a selfless way, to simply do what is morally right or of benefit to others. Anything that demands commitment or sacrifice is too often viewed by our media as unfashionable, a relic of an unenlightened past.
As a result of this attitude a lot of good and necessary work is being left undone because it is difficult or financially unrewarding. Joseph was a man who made personal sacrifices simply because it was the right thing to do. It would seem that he was a practical man and we presume that he would have examined his options carefully. His life would probably have been easier if he had abandoned Mary and her unborn child, yet he showed great faith and generosity when he responded positively to the message he received in his dream. His decision was a leap into the unknown for him, but he managed to put aside his fear and confusion in order to do what was right and generous.
Joseph is an inspiration to all of us who feel that our faith is inviting us to greater trust in the Lord and to a deeper awareness of how we are called to serve the Lord in terms of family, neighbourhood and community. Maybe our impulse to share the divine love we have received will bring us little tangible reward in the short term. Perhaps we will never know what effect our words and actions will have on the world. Joseph probably never realised in his lifetime the full implications of the decision he made, yet after more than 2000 years we still honour and cherish his faith and generosity.”(Michael Router, ‘The Furrow’, November 2010)
Discussion: Discuss for a few minutes any point that struck you from the commentary? How do we put the word of God that we have heard into practice? Is there something we can do individually or collectively? Are we doing something that could be done better? Are there attitudes that need to change?
Prayers of Intercession – Choose any of the following prayers and, if possible, include your own prayers and petitions:
1. Lord you sent disciples to announce the Good News to all people - sustain those who proclaim your word. Lord, hear us.
2. We pray for those who carry a cross of pain and anguish today – Lord, grant them patience and courage. Lord, hear us.
3. God of all kindness, bless your church - make your people faithful to you. Lord, hear us.
4. Judge of the living and the dead, be merciful to all our deceased family, friends and neighbours; especially N. and N., and receive them into eternal joy. Lord, hear us.
5. Lord remember us as we begin our work, that we work in harmony with others. Lord, hear us.
6. May we always do what is right for our brothers and sisters - and together build a world that is pleasing to you. Lord, hear us.
7. Lord, our refuge and strength, listen to our praise at the conclusion of this day - teach us to praise you always. Lord, hear us.
8. Lord help us to remember the poor and unfortunate particularly as we prepare for Christmas - may we do what we can to ease their burden. Lord, hear us.
9. We pray for the sick and the suffering (pause to remember those we have been asked to pray for). May they receive healing and strenght this day through their faith in Jesus and through our prayers. Lord, hear us.
10. Through the birth of your Son, you have enlightened the world - give us new hope this day. Lord, hear us.
Now we offer all our prayers to God our Father as we pray in the Words that Jesus Gave us … ‘Our Father…’
Closing Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank for this time together which has enabled us to understand better the will of the Father. May your Spirit enlighten our actions and grant us the strength to practice your commands. May we, like Mary, your mother, be open to your will in our lives. You who live and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
Monday, 16 December 2019
Thursday, 5 December 2019
3rd Sunday of Advent (15th December, 2019): Prayer and Reflection on the Gospel
Welcome and Opening Prayer: Welcome and Opening Prayer: Lord, we place ourselves in your presence. Send us your Spirit to enlighten our minds and open our hearts to your word. We know Jesus is with us, because we are gathered in his name, and he tells us “…where two or three are gathered in my name I am there among them.”
We invite our holy mother Mary the Seat of Wisdom to be part of our sharing as we say … ‘Hail Mary ….’
We invoke the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit in all that we do as we say … ‘Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.’
1st Reading of Scripture Passage: A Reading from the Gospel of Matthew 11:2-11
“Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is he who takes no offense at me.”
As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to behold? A reed shaken by the wind? Why then did you go out? To see a man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, those who wear soft raiment are in kings’ houses. Why then did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written,
‘Behold, I send my messenger before thy face,
who shall prepare thy way before thee.’
Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
Silence (3 minutes)
2nd Reading of Scripture Passage
Silence (3 minutes) then sharing of word, phrase or image that left an impression on you.
3rd Reading of Scripture Passage
Silence (3 Minutes) followed by short and voluntary sharing of what stood out for you personally in the reading
Reading of Short Commentary:
“John the Baptist is presented by Jesus as one of the greatest persons ever born. Yet he missed the privilege being born into the age of Christ, a privilege that has been made available to us. We could do well to emulate John in preparing ourselves for Jesus to become really part of our lives.
John was strong. He was a man of integrity. He was not one of the rich and famous. He was no pop star – all sound and no substance. He would never have made a glamorous icon for Hello magazine. Yet many people went out to hear him, to be challenged by him, to have their lives radically changed by his words.
Actually, our Christian vocation is similar to his. We are called to prepare the way for Jesus to come into our own hearts but also to prepare other people’s hearts so that they, too, may “experience the joy of salvation”, that healing, wholeness and holiness we all long for and which alone gives real meaning to our lives. Christmas is a time of gifts – both giving and receiving. Let us make sure that among the gifts we offer to others is some of the Christian joy which we ourselves have received. ( Sacred Space)
Discussion: Discuss for a few minutes any point that struck you from the commentary? How do we put the word of God that we have heard into practice? Is there something we can do individually or collectively? Are we doing something that could be done better? Are there attitudes that need to change?
Prayers of Intercession – Choose any of the following prayers and, if possible, include your own prayers and petitions:
1. Lord you sent disciples to announce the Good News to all people - sustain those who proclaim your word. Lord, hear us.
2. We pray for those who carry a cross of pain and anguish today – Lord, grant them patience and courage. Lord, hear us.
3. God of all kindness, bless your church - make your people faithful to you. Lord, hear us.
4. Judge of the living and the dead, be merciful to all our deceased family, friends and neighbours; especially N. and N., and receive them into eternal joy. Lord, hear us.
5. Lord remember us as we begin our work, that we work in harmony with others. Lord, hear us.
6. May we always do what is right for our brothers and sisters - and together build a world that is pleasing to you. Lord, hear us.
7. Lord, our refuge and strength, listen to our praise at the conclusion of this day - teach us to praise you always. Lord, hear us.
8. Lord help us to remember the poor and unfortunate particularly as we prepare for Christmas - may we do what we can to ease their burden. Lord, hear us.
9. We pray for the sick and the suffering (pause to remember those we have been asked to pray for). May they receive healing and strenght this day through their faith in Jesus and through our prayers. Lord, hear us.
10. Through the birth of your Son, you have enlightened the world - give us new hope this day. Lord, hear us.
Now we offer all our prayers to God our Father as we pray in the Words that Jesus Gave us … ‘Our Father…’
Closing Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank for this time together which has enabled us to understand better the will of the Father. May your Spirit enlighten our actions and grant us the strength to practice your commands. May we, like Mary, your mother, be open to your will in our lives. You who live and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
We invite our holy mother Mary the Seat of Wisdom to be part of our sharing as we say … ‘Hail Mary ….’
We invoke the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit in all that we do as we say … ‘Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.’
1st Reading of Scripture Passage: A Reading from the Gospel of Matthew 11:2-11
“Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is he who takes no offense at me.”
As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to behold? A reed shaken by the wind? Why then did you go out? To see a man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, those who wear soft raiment are in kings’ houses. Why then did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written,
‘Behold, I send my messenger before thy face,
who shall prepare thy way before thee.’
Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
Silence (3 minutes)
2nd Reading of Scripture Passage
Silence (3 minutes) then sharing of word, phrase or image that left an impression on you.
3rd Reading of Scripture Passage
Silence (3 Minutes) followed by short and voluntary sharing of what stood out for you personally in the reading
Reading of Short Commentary:
“John the Baptist is presented by Jesus as one of the greatest persons ever born. Yet he missed the privilege being born into the age of Christ, a privilege that has been made available to us. We could do well to emulate John in preparing ourselves for Jesus to become really part of our lives.
John was strong. He was a man of integrity. He was not one of the rich and famous. He was no pop star – all sound and no substance. He would never have made a glamorous icon for Hello magazine. Yet many people went out to hear him, to be challenged by him, to have their lives radically changed by his words.
Actually, our Christian vocation is similar to his. We are called to prepare the way for Jesus to come into our own hearts but also to prepare other people’s hearts so that they, too, may “experience the joy of salvation”, that healing, wholeness and holiness we all long for and which alone gives real meaning to our lives. Christmas is a time of gifts – both giving and receiving. Let us make sure that among the gifts we offer to others is some of the Christian joy which we ourselves have received. ( Sacred Space)
Discussion: Discuss for a few minutes any point that struck you from the commentary? How do we put the word of God that we have heard into practice? Is there something we can do individually or collectively? Are we doing something that could be done better? Are there attitudes that need to change?
Prayers of Intercession – Choose any of the following prayers and, if possible, include your own prayers and petitions:
1. Lord you sent disciples to announce the Good News to all people - sustain those who proclaim your word. Lord, hear us.
2. We pray for those who carry a cross of pain and anguish today – Lord, grant them patience and courage. Lord, hear us.
3. God of all kindness, bless your church - make your people faithful to you. Lord, hear us.
4. Judge of the living and the dead, be merciful to all our deceased family, friends and neighbours; especially N. and N., and receive them into eternal joy. Lord, hear us.
5. Lord remember us as we begin our work, that we work in harmony with others. Lord, hear us.
6. May we always do what is right for our brothers and sisters - and together build a world that is pleasing to you. Lord, hear us.
7. Lord, our refuge and strength, listen to our praise at the conclusion of this day - teach us to praise you always. Lord, hear us.
8. Lord help us to remember the poor and unfortunate particularly as we prepare for Christmas - may we do what we can to ease their burden. Lord, hear us.
9. We pray for the sick and the suffering (pause to remember those we have been asked to pray for). May they receive healing and strenght this day through their faith in Jesus and through our prayers. Lord, hear us.
10. Through the birth of your Son, you have enlightened the world - give us new hope this day. Lord, hear us.
Now we offer all our prayers to God our Father as we pray in the Words that Jesus Gave us … ‘Our Father…’
Closing Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank for this time together which has enabled us to understand better the will of the Father. May your Spirit enlighten our actions and grant us the strength to practice your commands. May we, like Mary, your mother, be open to your will in our lives. You who live and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
Thursday, 28 November 2019
2nd Sunday of Advent (December 8th, 2019): Prayer and Reflection on the Gospel
Prayer and Reflection Based on the Gospel of the Second Sunday in Advent A
Welcome and Opening Prayer: Lord, we place ourselves in your presence. Send us your Spirit to enlighten our minds and open our hearts to your word. We know Jesus is with us, because we are gathered in his name, and he tells us “…where two or three are gathered in my name I am there among them.”
We invite our holy mother Mary the Seat of Wisdom to be part of our sharing as we say … ‘Hail Mary ….’
We invoke the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit in all that we do as we say … ‘Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.’
1st Reading of Scripture Passage: A Reading from the Gospel of Matthew 3:1-12
In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”
Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair, and a leather girdle around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit that befits repentance, and do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
Silence (3 minutes)
2nd Reading of Scripture Passage
Silence (3 minutes) then sharing of word, phrase or image that left an impression on you.
3rd Reading of Scripture Passage
Silence (3 Minutes) followed by short and voluntary sharing of what stood out for you personally in the reading
Reading of Short Commentary:
“Two kinds of people were coming out to see John. There were ordinary people, genuine penitents, looking for reconciliation with God. There were also Pharisees and Sadducees. However, these came out, not to express sorrow for sin, but to test John’s orthodoxy and observance of the Law. John has little time for them. It is not birth, race, religious affiliation, education, social status, or financial clout that makes us friends of God but our awareness of our total dependence on him for everything we need. Matthew is not just lashing out at some Jewish leaders. The words of John today are primarily directed to ourselves, to the Pharisee and Sadducee in each one of us. Our most dangerous enemy is complacency: “I’m a good enough Catholic. I’m not perfect, of course, I’m not a religious fanatic but I keep the basics of my religion. I’m OK.” Where our relationships with God are concerned, to stay in the same place is to go backwards.
If John the Baptist were to come among us today, what would he tell us? What would he warn us against? As we come to the end of another calendar year where do we need conversion and change in our lives? How can we and our families give better witness to the Christian message? What changes are called for in the way our parish gives corporate witness to the Gospel? The celebration of Advent calls for a serious consideration of these questions.
We are probably well into preparations for the celebration of Christmas. But what preparations have I made for the time afterwards, for the year that is ahead? Will Jesus be really part of my life? Will he really be entering my life in a special way at this time? Are his concerns my concerns? Namely, a desire that I be of service to others that I work with others to build a better society founded on love and justice and an equitable sharing of resources.
“Peace (and justice) on earth to those who are God’s friends” needs to become not just the song of the angels but a programme for me and my community.” ( Sacred Space.ie)
Discussion: Discuss for a few minutes any point that struck you from the commentary? How do we put the word of God that we have heard into practice? Is there something we can do individually or collectively? Are we doing something that could be done better? Are there attitudes that need to change?
Prayers of Intercession – Choose any of the following prayers and, if possible, include your own prayers and petitions:
1. Lord you sent disciples to announce the Good News to all people - sustain those who proclaim your word. Lord, hear us.
2. We pray for those who carry a cross of pain and anguish today – Lord, grant them patience and courage. Lord, hear us.
3. God of all kindness, bless your church - make your people faithful to you. Lord, hear us.
4. Judge of the living and the dead, be merciful to all our deceased family, friends and neighbours; especially N. and N., and receive them into eternal joy. Lord, hear us.
5. Lord remember us as we begin our work, that we work in harmony with others. Lord, hear us.
6. May we always do what is right for our brothers and sisters - and together build a world that is pleasing to you. Lord, hear us.
7. Lord, our refuge and strength, listen to our praise at the conclusion of this day - teach us to praise you always. Lord, hear us.
8. Lord help us to remember the poor and unfortunate particularly as we prepare for Christmas - may we do what we can to ease their burden. Lord, hear us.
9. We pray for the sick and the suffering (pause to remember those we have been asked to pray for). May they receive healing and strenght this day through their faith in Jesus and through our prayers. Lord, hear us.
10. Through the birth of your Son, you have enlightened the world - give us new hope this day. Lord, hear us.
Now we offer all our prayers to God our Father as we pray in the Words that Jesus Gave us … ‘Our Father…’
Closing Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank for this time together which has enabled us to understand better the will of the Father. May your Spirit enlighten our actions and grant us the strength to practice your commands. May we, like Mary, your mother, be open to your will in our lives. You who live and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
Welcome and Opening Prayer: Lord, we place ourselves in your presence. Send us your Spirit to enlighten our minds and open our hearts to your word. We know Jesus is with us, because we are gathered in his name, and he tells us “…where two or three are gathered in my name I am there among them.”
We invite our holy mother Mary the Seat of Wisdom to be part of our sharing as we say … ‘Hail Mary ….’
We invoke the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit in all that we do as we say … ‘Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.’
1st Reading of Scripture Passage: A Reading from the Gospel of Matthew 3:1-12
In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”
Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair, and a leather girdle around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit that befits repentance, and do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
Silence (3 minutes)
2nd Reading of Scripture Passage
Silence (3 minutes) then sharing of word, phrase or image that left an impression on you.
3rd Reading of Scripture Passage
Silence (3 Minutes) followed by short and voluntary sharing of what stood out for you personally in the reading
Reading of Short Commentary:
“Two kinds of people were coming out to see John. There were ordinary people, genuine penitents, looking for reconciliation with God. There were also Pharisees and Sadducees. However, these came out, not to express sorrow for sin, but to test John’s orthodoxy and observance of the Law. John has little time for them. It is not birth, race, religious affiliation, education, social status, or financial clout that makes us friends of God but our awareness of our total dependence on him for everything we need. Matthew is not just lashing out at some Jewish leaders. The words of John today are primarily directed to ourselves, to the Pharisee and Sadducee in each one of us. Our most dangerous enemy is complacency: “I’m a good enough Catholic. I’m not perfect, of course, I’m not a religious fanatic but I keep the basics of my religion. I’m OK.” Where our relationships with God are concerned, to stay in the same place is to go backwards.
If John the Baptist were to come among us today, what would he tell us? What would he warn us against? As we come to the end of another calendar year where do we need conversion and change in our lives? How can we and our families give better witness to the Christian message? What changes are called for in the way our parish gives corporate witness to the Gospel? The celebration of Advent calls for a serious consideration of these questions.
We are probably well into preparations for the celebration of Christmas. But what preparations have I made for the time afterwards, for the year that is ahead? Will Jesus be really part of my life? Will he really be entering my life in a special way at this time? Are his concerns my concerns? Namely, a desire that I be of service to others that I work with others to build a better society founded on love and justice and an equitable sharing of resources.
“Peace (and justice) on earth to those who are God’s friends” needs to become not just the song of the angels but a programme for me and my community.” ( Sacred Space.ie)
Discussion: Discuss for a few minutes any point that struck you from the commentary? How do we put the word of God that we have heard into practice? Is there something we can do individually or collectively? Are we doing something that could be done better? Are there attitudes that need to change?
Prayers of Intercession – Choose any of the following prayers and, if possible, include your own prayers and petitions:
1. Lord you sent disciples to announce the Good News to all people - sustain those who proclaim your word. Lord, hear us.
2. We pray for those who carry a cross of pain and anguish today – Lord, grant them patience and courage. Lord, hear us.
3. God of all kindness, bless your church - make your people faithful to you. Lord, hear us.
4. Judge of the living and the dead, be merciful to all our deceased family, friends and neighbours; especially N. and N., and receive them into eternal joy. Lord, hear us.
5. Lord remember us as we begin our work, that we work in harmony with others. Lord, hear us.
6. May we always do what is right for our brothers and sisters - and together build a world that is pleasing to you. Lord, hear us.
7. Lord, our refuge and strength, listen to our praise at the conclusion of this day - teach us to praise you always. Lord, hear us.
8. Lord help us to remember the poor and unfortunate particularly as we prepare for Christmas - may we do what we can to ease their burden. Lord, hear us.
9. We pray for the sick and the suffering (pause to remember those we have been asked to pray for). May they receive healing and strenght this day through their faith in Jesus and through our prayers. Lord, hear us.
10. Through the birth of your Son, you have enlightened the world - give us new hope this day. Lord, hear us.
Now we offer all our prayers to God our Father as we pray in the Words that Jesus Gave us … ‘Our Father…’
Closing Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank for this time together which has enabled us to understand better the will of the Father. May your Spirit enlighten our actions and grant us the strength to practice your commands. May we, like Mary, your mother, be open to your will in our lives. You who live and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
Monday, 28 October 2019
1st Sunday of Advent (1st December, 2019): Prayer and Reflection on the Gospel
Prayer and Reflection Based on the Gospel of the First Sunday in Advent A
Welcome and Opening Prayer: Lord, we place ourselves in your presence. Send us your Spirit to enlighten our minds and open our hearts to your word. We know Jesus is with us, because we are gathered in his name, and he tells us “…where two or three are gathered in my name I am there among them.”
We invite our holy mother Mary the Seat of Wisdom to be part of our sharing as we say … ‘Hail Mary ….’
We invoke the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit in all that we do as we say … ‘Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.’
1st Reading of Scripture Passage: A Reading from the Gospel of Matthew 24:37-44
“As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they did not know until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of man. Then two men will be in the field; one is taken and one is left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one is taken and one is left. Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the householder had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
Silence (3 minutes)
2nd Reading of Scripture Passage
Silence (3 minutes) then sharing of word, phrase or image that left an impression on you.
3rd Reading of Scripture Passage
Silence (3 Minutes) followed by short and voluntary sharing of what stood out for you personally in the reading
Reading of Short Commentary:
“In our daily lives we have to work, cook food, earn our living, take care of our families... but we must also prepare for the final call. That is the most basic reality of our lives. If we forget that, all our other success is actually failure. And we do not know when the Lord will come. "If the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into..." And, in many ways, it is a blessing that we do not know the day nor the hour. On the one hand, if we did know, we could be filled with a terrible anxiety knowing what the final blow was going to be or, on the other hand, we would let our lives go completely to pot knowing that we could straighten everything out at the last minute. In either case, our world would become a terrible place in which to live. So it is a question of being ready for any eventuality. "Stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming..."
How are we to prepare? We need to develop our relations with God and with our brothers and sisters based on a caring and unconditional love for all. We need to learn how to find God, to find Jesus in every person, in every experience. We need to respect every person as the image of God. We are to love our neighbours as ourselves, to love everyone just as Jesus loved us.
If, in our words and actions, our daily lives are full of the spirit of Jesus, then we have prepared. We do not need to be anxious about the future or what will happen to us. Concentrate on today, on the present hour, the present situation and respond to it in truth and love and the future will take care of itself. Then we do not have to fear no matter when Jesus makes his final call. It will be an encounter, not of strangers, but of two old friends.”(Sacred Space)
Discussion: Discuss for a few minutes any point that struck you from the commentary? How do we put the word of God that we have heard into practice? Is there something we can do individually or collectively? Are we doing something that could be done better? Are there attitudes that need to change?
Prayers of Intercession – Choose any of the following prayers and, if possible, include your own prayers and petitions:
1. Lord you sent disciples to announce the Good News to all people - sustain those who proclaim your word. Lord, hear us.
2. We pray for those who carry a cross of pain and anguish today – Lord, grant them patience and courage. Lord, hear us.
3. God of all kindness, bless your church - make your people faithful to you. Lord, hear us.
4. Judge of the living and the dead, be merciful to all our deceased family, friends and neighbours; especially N. and N., and receive them into eternal joy. Lord, hear us.
5. Lord remember us as we begin our work, that we work in harmony with others. Lord, hear us.
6. May we always do what is right for our brothers and sisters - and together build a world that is pleasing to you. Lord, hear us.
7. Lord, our refuge and strength, listen to our praise at the conclusion of this day - teach us to praise you always. Lord, hear us.
8. Lord help us to remember the poor and unfortunate particularly as we prepare for Christmas - may we do what we can to ease their burden. Lord, hear us.
9. We pray for the sick and the suffering (pause to remember those we have been asked to pray for). May they receive healing and strenght this day through their faith in Jesus and through our prayers. Lord, hear us.
10. Through the birth of your Son, you have enlightened the world - give us new hope this day. Lord, hear us.
Now we offer all our prayers to God our Father as we pray in the Words that Jesus Gave us … ‘Our Father…’
Closing Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank for this time together which has enabled us to understand better the will of the Father. May your Spirit enlighten our actions and grant us the strength to practice your commands. May we, like Mary, your mother, be open to your will in our lives. You who live and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
Welcome and Opening Prayer: Lord, we place ourselves in your presence. Send us your Spirit to enlighten our minds and open our hearts to your word. We know Jesus is with us, because we are gathered in his name, and he tells us “…where two or three are gathered in my name I am there among them.”
We invite our holy mother Mary the Seat of Wisdom to be part of our sharing as we say … ‘Hail Mary ….’
We invoke the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit in all that we do as we say … ‘Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.’
1st Reading of Scripture Passage: A Reading from the Gospel of Matthew 24:37-44
“As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they did not know until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of man. Then two men will be in the field; one is taken and one is left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one is taken and one is left. Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the householder had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
Silence (3 minutes)
2nd Reading of Scripture Passage
Silence (3 minutes) then sharing of word, phrase or image that left an impression on you.
3rd Reading of Scripture Passage
Silence (3 Minutes) followed by short and voluntary sharing of what stood out for you personally in the reading
Reading of Short Commentary:
“In our daily lives we have to work, cook food, earn our living, take care of our families... but we must also prepare for the final call. That is the most basic reality of our lives. If we forget that, all our other success is actually failure. And we do not know when the Lord will come. "If the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into..." And, in many ways, it is a blessing that we do not know the day nor the hour. On the one hand, if we did know, we could be filled with a terrible anxiety knowing what the final blow was going to be or, on the other hand, we would let our lives go completely to pot knowing that we could straighten everything out at the last minute. In either case, our world would become a terrible place in which to live. So it is a question of being ready for any eventuality. "Stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming..."
How are we to prepare? We need to develop our relations with God and with our brothers and sisters based on a caring and unconditional love for all. We need to learn how to find God, to find Jesus in every person, in every experience. We need to respect every person as the image of God. We are to love our neighbours as ourselves, to love everyone just as Jesus loved us.
If, in our words and actions, our daily lives are full of the spirit of Jesus, then we have prepared. We do not need to be anxious about the future or what will happen to us. Concentrate on today, on the present hour, the present situation and respond to it in truth and love and the future will take care of itself. Then we do not have to fear no matter when Jesus makes his final call. It will be an encounter, not of strangers, but of two old friends.”(Sacred Space)
Discussion: Discuss for a few minutes any point that struck you from the commentary? How do we put the word of God that we have heard into practice? Is there something we can do individually or collectively? Are we doing something that could be done better? Are there attitudes that need to change?
Prayers of Intercession – Choose any of the following prayers and, if possible, include your own prayers and petitions:
1. Lord you sent disciples to announce the Good News to all people - sustain those who proclaim your word. Lord, hear us.
2. We pray for those who carry a cross of pain and anguish today – Lord, grant them patience and courage. Lord, hear us.
3. God of all kindness, bless your church - make your people faithful to you. Lord, hear us.
4. Judge of the living and the dead, be merciful to all our deceased family, friends and neighbours; especially N. and N., and receive them into eternal joy. Lord, hear us.
5. Lord remember us as we begin our work, that we work in harmony with others. Lord, hear us.
6. May we always do what is right for our brothers and sisters - and together build a world that is pleasing to you. Lord, hear us.
7. Lord, our refuge and strength, listen to our praise at the conclusion of this day - teach us to praise you always. Lord, hear us.
8. Lord help us to remember the poor and unfortunate particularly as we prepare for Christmas - may we do what we can to ease their burden. Lord, hear us.
9. We pray for the sick and the suffering (pause to remember those we have been asked to pray for). May they receive healing and strenght this day through their faith in Jesus and through our prayers. Lord, hear us.
10. Through the birth of your Son, you have enlightened the world - give us new hope this day. Lord, hear us.
Now we offer all our prayers to God our Father as we pray in the Words that Jesus Gave us … ‘Our Father…’
Closing Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank for this time together which has enabled us to understand better the will of the Father. May your Spirit enlighten our actions and grant us the strength to practice your commands. May we, like Mary, your mother, be open to your will in our lives. You who live and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
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