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: Gospel – John 1:29-34
John saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” John also testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.”
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:
Why, we might ask, is John the Baptist so content in today’s gospel to step aside and hand over to Jesus? Up until this encounter on the shores of the Jordan it was John who had been pulling in the crowds and getting all the attention. He was an important man who even had the king’s attention and respect so we would have expected him to be somewhat reluctant to retreat into the background. But John knew exactly what his role was: “I did not know him myself, and yet it was to reveal him to Israel that I came baptising with water” (John 1:30). Because he knew very clearly what his purpose was, John could tell when he had accomplished his mission.
I wonder do we ever think about why we were put on this earth. Or about what God’s plan is for our lives? If we do not have a satisfactory answer to this question, chances are that we will spend our lives chasing after everything and nothing and that we will find ourselves in a rat-race of envy and jealousy with those who we think are better off. Those who do not have some understanding of the reason for their being find it hard to be ever truly happy.
There is much angst and worry in our country at the moment about the problem of suicide, particularly among young men. Many answers are put out there for why such tragedies happen. But one reason that rarely gets mentioned is the crises of faith that exists in our society. Young people are offered everything except the comfort and strength afforded by religious faith. They are promised the world if they become compliant consumers and devoted capitalists but are not given the one thing that can give them true purpose and a sense of direction – knowledge of the love of God made visible in the person of Jesus.
God has put us here for a reason. Finding that purpose and being contented with it is one of the true treasures of life, a treasure that can eradicate a lot of resentment and bitterness within us. John the Baptist is a great example of the fact that there is much greatness to be found in doing the ordinary things humbly and well and in pointing the way to God so that others may find him. (Fr. Michael Router, The Furrow, December 2015)
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 4/5 of the following prayers and, if possible, include your own prayers and petitions:
1. We pray for the Archdiocese of Armagh as we journey through this Year of Reflection and Prayer together. May our prayer help and guide us as we begin our process of planning for the difficult and challenging years ahead and may the Holy Spirit enlighten us on how we should move forward. 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 you, with others and with our environment. 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 - may we do what we can to ease their burden. Lord, hear us.
9. By the resurrection 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 the word that has enabled us to understand better the will of the Father. May your Spirit enlighten our actions in our homes, our communities and in this diocese. Grant us the strength to practice in our lives what your Word has revealed to us. Through you who live and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit one God forever and ever. Amen.
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