SECURING OUR FUTURE
INTRODUCTORY RITES
INTRODUCTORY RITES
Gather as a family/ community; create an environment appropriate for prayer (dress appropriately - switch off your phones...).
We cannot gather as usual for the Eucharist. But we are conscious that Christ is present not only in the Blessed Sacrament but also in the Scriptures and in our hearts. Even when we are on our own, we remain part of the Body of Christ.
Place lighted candles, a crucifix, and the Bible on a covered table. These remind us of the sacredness of our time of prayer and could help us feel connected with our local worshipping communities.
You may sing or play an appropriate hymn. For instance:
Greeting and Introductory Words
L: The Lord invites us to the table of his Word: let us bless him for his goodness.
A: Blessed be God forever.
L: The tagline for an insurance company reads: “kal par control”!
This is what today’s liturgy challenges us to do: to start securing our future… with God. We ask the Lord to give us the wisdom and the grace to secure our future with him by building relationships and by serving him alone.
Penitential Rite
L: For the moments we have been more concerned about our material fate and have served other masters, we ask pardon.
Pause
L: Lord Jesus, you call us to be trustworthy in matters small and big:
Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you call us to build relationships with God and neighbour:
Christ, have mercy.
A: Christ, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you call us to serve one master, God alone:
Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
A: Amen.
Gloria
Opening Prayer
L: God our Saviour,
you call us into your service.
Make us wise and resourceful:
children of the light
who untiringly continue your work
for integrity and justice.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
A: Amen.
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
Readings
The readings are those assigned for the day in the Lectionary.
Preferably use a Bible/ Lectionary for reading.
Reading 1 Amos 8:4-7
Psalm Psalm 113:1-2, 4-6, 7-8
Response Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.
Reading 2 1 Timothy 2:1-8
Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia.
Though our Lord Jesus Christ was rich, he became poor,
so that by his poverty you might become rich.
Gospel Luke 16:1-13 or 16:10-13
Reflection on the Readings
Use one of the following ways to reflect on the readings.
Lectio Divina
Imagine you are with Jesus and his disciples. What are your thoughts and feelings when you hear the parable of the shrewd steward?
Sunday Snippets
A friend of mine survived Hurricane Katrina. A few days later, a neighbour asked him: “What claims are you putting in?” My friend had not suffered any major damage; he answered: “None.” His neighbour couldn’t believe it. He said: “Are you nuts! Here’s your opportunity to collect a few bucks. The insurance companies are writing cheques on the spot. How can you pass up putting in a claim for $5,000 for… whatever? You’ve been paying premiums all these years. Get a little back. Secure your future.”
The neighbour’s ethics is questionable and it’s easy to criticise him for falsifying a claim. But securing one’s future is something most of us do. Think of the time spent working out which bank gives the best interest, which mutual funds give the best returns, which courses to do to improve our market-value. We are trying to ensure a secure future.
That’s what the steward in today’s parable does. When he gets the pink slip, he does everything, even cooks the books, just to secure his future.
The parable has nothing to do with the steward’s dishonesty. Jesus challenges us to be as resourceful and committed to secure our future with God as the dishonest steward was to secure his future in this world.
Jesus gives us some sound investment advice: “Make friends for yourselves with unrighteous mammon.” The Aramaic “mammon” is related to “emet” the word for faithful; it stands for something upon which one depends. We tend to think that our security lies in material possessions; that putting money in a safe place is the best way to assure our future. Jesus tells us to exchange it for bonds of mutual appreciation and to use our resources to build relationships because people, as the steward discovered, are more important than money. The most important relationship is the one with God!
Jesus asks his disciples to imitate “the children of this world” who are totally committed to a single cause and serve only one master.
Today’s liturgy challenges us to secure our future with God.
What am I going to do to secure my future? In whom and what am I go to invest my time and my resources?
Will I use the resources that God has given me and serve him with all the shrewdness, effort, and resources that I put into other areas in my life?
Questions to Ponder
Reflect on some (or all) of the following questions:
Reading 1: Throughout Hebrew scriptures the orphans and widows were the responsibility of those in right relationship with God. What are some things people can do when they feel responsible for people in need? What can I do to help correct an unjust situation?
Reading 2: Paul was appointed preacher and apostle to take the Good News to the Gentiles. How can I take such a message beyond the sphere of the Church?
Gospel: Was the unjust steward dishonest or just clever? How would the kingdom of God benefit if I were more resourceful on its behalf here on earth? Can I think of a way I can be more resourceful or cleverer in my spiritual life?
How faithful/ wise am I with the resources God has entrusted to me? How do I steward these resources?
The Creed
Prayer of the Faithful
L: My sisters and brothers, encouraged by Christ’s word that God never forgets those who depend on him, we bring our prayers before him in hope and trust, and pray: Lord, hear our prayer.
R: For the Church: that we may be good stewards of the gifts that God has given us, use them for his glory, and never be possessed by our possessions, we pray…
R: For world leaders: that they may faithfully fulfil their obligations and establish peace and good order in each nation, we pray…
R: For employers and employees: that all may fulfil their responsibilities and treat one another with dignity and respect, we pray…
R: For all affected by illness or natural disasters: that God may comfort them, give them strength to cope, and open the hearts of many to assist them, we pray…
R: For preservation of our common home: that we may be good stewards of natural resources by protecting and preserving these resources needed for all life, we pray…
R: For ourselves: that we may be diligent and faithful in our ordinary responsibilities so that we may share in God’s greater gifts, we pray…
L: Lord our God, free us from everything that makes us withdraw into ourselves. Keep our hearts undivided to serve you faithfully and to share generously the gifts you have given us. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
A: Amen.
SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
The Lord’s Prayer
Spiritual Communion
A: Jesus, I know and believe in your real presence in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. It is you I desire to love and receive above all things. As I am unable to receive your sacramental presence now, come and be with me in heart and soul. Let my entire self be united with you as I welcome you again and know your loving embrace. Amen.
Post Spiritual Communion Reflection
Lord,
you praise the steward
who musters every available bit of farsightedness and craft
to work out his material fate.
May we imitate his shrewdness
in working out our spiritual fate.
Help us to share the goods of the earth
to meet the needs of all
and so gain favour with you
who is the ultimate client and the ultimate landowner.
May we serve you alone.
CONCLUDING RITE
Concluding Prayer
L: Just and merciful God,
help us to refuse to adore money and possessions.
Make our hearts gentle and compassionate,
that we may open our hands and homes
to the dispossessed and marginalised,
to share with them in your name.
Through Christ our Lord.
A: Amen.
Blessing
L: The Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and lead us to everlasting life.
A: Amen.
L: Go in the peace of Christ.
A: Thanks be to God.
Conclude with a hymn. For instance:
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