XXXI Sunday of the Year

ALLOWING GOD TO FIND ME

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:

Create in Me a Clean Heart

Lead Me, Lord

The Sign of the Cross

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:    We often believe that religion is the human search for God. Perhaps. But the Bible is clear that it is God who searches in love for woman and man and waits for them to respond to his love. That’s the thrust of today’s readings. We pray that we may allow our loving and patient God to find us, and that we may respond to his love.

Penitential Rite

L: For the times we have stayed away from God, we ask his pardon.

        Pause

L: Lord Jesus, you are kind and full of compassion: 

Lord, have mercy.

A: Lord, have mercy.

L: Lord Jesus, you come to seek and to save what was lost: 

Christ, have mercy.

A: Christ, have mercy.

L: Lord Jesus, you bring pardon and peace to the sinner:

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: Just and merciful God, come into our midst today to speak your word and satisfy our hunger. Enable us to see you clearly, to welcome you with joy, and to give justice and mercy a place in our lives.

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.

Liturgical Readings for the XXXI Sunday of the Year

Reading 1    Wisdom 11:22-12:2

Psalm         Psalm 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13, 14

Response I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.

                Response 1 or Response 2

Reading 2 2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2

Acclamation

                        Alleluia, alleluia.

                        God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,

                        so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.

                  Acclamation

Gospel         Luke 19:1-10

Reflection on the Readings

 

Use one of the following ways to reflect on the readings.

Lectio Divina

Imagine you are in Jericho when Jesus is passing through. What are your thoughts and feelings when you hear him tell Zacchaeus that he “must stay” at his house and when you hear Zacchaeus promise to give half his possessions to the poor and to make restitution for his extortion? 

Sunday Snippets

John Powell writes about Tommy, a student in his theology of faith class at Chicago’s Loyola University. Tommy, Powell writes, was the “atheist in residence” and a serious pain in the back bench! 

At the end of the course, he asked: “Do you think I’ll ever find God?”  Powell emphatically said: “No!” and added: “Tommy! I don’t think you’ll ever find him, but I am certain that he will find you!”  Tommy left Powell’s class and life.

Sometime later, Tommy had terminal cancer. He returned to Powell to tell him that God had found him. When the cancer was detected, Tommy said he “got serious about locating God… and began banging bloody fists against the bronze doors of heaven. But God did not come out.” Then “one day I turned around and God was there. He didn’t come to me when I pleaded with him… Apparently God does things in his own way and at his own hour. But he was there. He found me. He found me even after I stopped looking for him.” Tommy found God when he opened his heart to love his own father and the people to whom he was close. 

The story of Zacchaeus is like Tommy’s. Zacchaeus went in search of Jesus the wonder worker… and God found him. Rather, he allowed God to find him when he opened his heart to love the poor. 

Two questions!

Why does God—the hound of heaven—seek us and wait till we allow ourselves to be found? 

We have an answer in the First Reading: “You have mercy on all… and you overlook people’s sins that they may repent. For you love all things…” Love is the reason why God waits for us; love does not compel.

Why do we take so long to allow God to find us? 

Perhaps because God challenges us to change, and we don’t like/ want to change! Luke probably intends the story of Zacchaeus as a contrast to the earlier story of the rich young man (18:18-23). Both are rich and look for Jesus. The young man has observed the commandments from his youth; Zacchaeus is a tax collector and a sinner. The young man is saddened by Jesus’ challenge to sell his possessions and follow him; Zacchaeus responds with joy and repentance to Jesus’ invitation to stay at his house.

Today’s liturgy reminds us that God constantly seeks us and waits for us to respond to his love.

Will I allow God to find me? Will I change my life and open my heart to love? What is the change that I need in my life?

May you and I do this so that the Lord can say: “Today salvation has come to this house”!

Questions to Ponder

Reflect on some (or all) of the following questions:

Reading 1: “For you love all things that are and loathe nothing that you have made.” What things do I think of when I hear this? If God’s attitude toward every created thing is love, what is my attitude? Do I show reverence for creation? For my neighbour? 

Reading 2: Paul wanted the Thessalonians to know that he was constantly praying for them. Does it help to know people are praying for me? Does it help me to pray for other people? How?

Gospel: A man climbs a tree to see. A holy man visits a “sinner’s” house. A repenting person gives half of all his possessions to the poor. How do I explain these events? 

Does knowing Jesus elicit extra-ordinary behaviour from me? What?

The Creed

Prayer of the Faithful

L: Sisters and brothers, with trust in God who seeks the lost and is full of compassion for us, we pray: Lord, hear our prayer.

R: For the Church: that we may extend God’s love to all who are on the fringes of society, invite them to come and see Jesus that they may find acceptance in the Christian community, we pray to the Lord… 

R: For the world: that God may protect all who are at risk because of warfare or violence, we pray to the Lord…

R: For all who have lost their way in life, particularly for youth who have run away or who have entered the drug culture: that we may reach out to them and offer them a way home to God, to their families, and to their true selves, we pray to the Lord…

R: For all who are ill or in difficulty: that God may bring healing to the sick, renewal of hope to all who find life difficult, and strength to all who serve their needs, we pray to the Lord…

R: For a spirit of stewardship: that we may protect and care for all creation which God has made and which reflects God’s glory, we pray to the Lord…

R: For ourselves: that we may accept God’s generous love, return to him, and be renewed through God’s mercy, we pray…

L: Merciful Father, your Son did not shun or condemn outcasts and sinners; he sought them and loved them. May your merciful love for us enable us to return to you. 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,

however ill-gotten his wealth, 

Zacchaeus 

retained a childlike ability 

to keep seeking the truth, 

and had the childlike capacity 

to take the necessary means to see Jesus!

Even a heart toughened by ill-gotten wealth 

can be changed if there is a residue of childlike seeking

and when it hears the Lord call out.

Lord,

call me by name and stay at my house!

Let my heart run over with the joy you bring,

and spread it to everyone, everywhere.

Change my heart, O God.

Do say it to us, Lord,

that you must stay at our house this day and all days.

CONCLUDING RITE

Concluding Prayer

L: Lord God, lover of life, we are aware that we are sinners. We bless you for the joy and the forgiveness you give people through your Son, Jesus. May he dispose us to share with our brothers and sisters your mercy and forgiving love.

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:

Amazing Grace

Search Me, O God

XXX Sunday of the Year

HOLINESS/PRAYER IS NOT WHAT I DO

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:

Create in Me a Clean Heart

Lead Me, Lord

The Sign of the Cross

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:    A reporter asked Mother Teresa if she had ever been tempted to be proud. She asked: “Proud about what?” The reporter replied: “About the wonderful things you have been doing for the poorest of the poor!”  Mother Teresa said: “I have not done anything. It is God who worked in and through my sisters and volunteers.”

Today’s readings remind us it is God who works in and through us, and that holiness is not about self-actualization but recognizing our need for God.

Penitential Rite

L: For the times, we have boasted about our spiritual achievements, and thought that our holiness was our effort, we ask the Lord’s forgiveness.

        Pause

L: Lord Jesus, you came to heal the contrite of heart: 

Lord, have mercy.

A: Lord, have mercy.

L: Lord Jesus, you always hear the cries of the poor: 

Christ, have mercy.

A: Christ, have mercy.

L: Lord Jesus, you are close to the broken-hearted and you hear the prayer of the humble:

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: O God, who alone can probe the depths of the heart, you hear the prayer of the humble and justify the repentant sinner. Grant us the gift of humility, that we may see our own sins clearly and refrain from judging our neighbour.

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.

Liturgical Readings for the XXX Sunday of the Year

Reading 1    Ecclesiasticus/Sirach 35:12-14, 16-19

Psalm         Psalm 34:1-2, 16-18, 22

Response The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

                Response 1 or Response 2

Reading 2 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18

Acclamation

                        Alleluia, alleluia.

                        God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,

                        and entrusting to us the message of salvation.

                  Acclamation

Gospel         Luke 18:9-14

Reflection on the Readings

 

Use one of the following ways to reflect on the readings.

Lectio Divina

Imagine you are with Jesus when he addresses the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector “to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else.” What are your thoughts and feelings when you hear this parable? 

Sunday Snippets

A man boasted to a spiritual master that he had achieved quite a degree of holiness: “I rise early in the morning; I fast from food and drink; I work tirelessly, and I discipline myself with a whip.”

The spiritual master walked with him through a field and pointed to a donkey. He said: “That donkey rose early in the morning. It hasn’t been fed or given a drink. It has worked tirelessly and has been whipped.” He asked the man: “What makes you any different from that ass?”

We could assume that we can become “holy” primarily through our efforts – good deeds, sacrifice and penance, the sacraments – and become proud. Today’s gospel reminds us that holiness isn’t about self-actualization, that there’s more to holiness than doing good deeds! 

The Pharisee in the parable did all the good practices he listed, which have their merit. The problem is 

- his “prayer” is an advertisement for himself with too many I’s (six!); the subject of his prayer is not God but himself! 

- his “holier-than-thou” attitude.

- he thought his actions justified him; he did not need God’s mercy and love.

The tax collector knew that he was a poor sinner and that he needed God’s grace/mercy and love to help him. 

Jesus speaks “this parable to those who were fully convinced of their righteousness”! Holiness or righteousness is not about what we do and achieve. It is about recognizing our need for God. It is what happens when we bring our emptiness before him and let him pour his love into us. It’s only then we – like the tax collector – are justified, that is, set right with God.

The first reading from Sirach reiterates this truth: “The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds; it does not rest till it reaches its goal.”

In the second reading, Paul boasts that he has finished the race and that the crown of righteousness awaits him. But he boasts in the Lord.

Do I tell God what I have done for him? Do I compare myself with others convinced of my righteousness? 

Or do I stand humbly before God, with full awareness of my nothingness, and acknowledge his goodness, love and mercy to me?

Questions to Ponder

Reflect on some (or all) of the following questions:

Reading 1: Do I do anything when I hear the cry of the oppressed, the orphan or the widow? Is there something I could do to help anyone in need that I am not doing now?  

Reading 2: Do I sometimes feel as if I am being “poured out like a libation,” or that everyone has deserted you? What did Paul do to combat these feelings in himself? What would help me?

Gospel: What is my attitude to sin in my life? Do I take it seriously and seek forgiveness? Or do I excuse it or compare myself with others and think I am better than they?

We can easily fall into the trap of judging others who fall short of own standards. Why is this dangerous? How can I avoid it?

The Creed

Prayer of the Faithful

L: Sisters and brothers, we bring our prayers to the Father with humility and confidence in his goodness and generosity and pray: Lord, hear our prayer.

R: For the Church: that we may recognize our need for God and resist relying upon our own efforts to justify ourselves, we pray… 

R: For government leaders: that they may promote the welfare of citizens and the common good, we pray to the Lord…

R: For missionaries: that the Lord may strengthen them to continue proclaiming the Good News of his merciful love, we pray to the Lord…

R: For all who are bound by a spirit of self-righteousness: that God may free their hearts, break down the walls of prejudice, and open them to the dignity of each person, we pray to the Lord…

R: For all who are recovering from illness and natural disasters: that God may give them courage and guide them to the help they need, we pray to the Lord…

R: For greater stewardship: that all people may learn to respect creation and care for it as a gift of God, we pray to the Lord…

R: For ourselves: that we may come before God honestly, surrendering our pride, and recognizing the limits of our strengths and abilities, we pray…

L: Lord our God, we know that beautiful words mean little if they do not spring from humble and sincere hearts. Help us to do as we say and to live as we pray, that you may hear our prayer. 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,

let me have a powerful self-image

and recognise that I am unique and gifted…

Let me also recognise 

that every excellence I have is a gift from you 

and you have given it to me 

so that I can share it with others in love 

and rejoice with them when they have it too…

and thus be “justified” before you.

Lord, stop me from being self-righteous 

and from looking down on others,

which is the worst kind of pride.

CONCLUDING RITE

Concluding Prayer

L: Kind and merciful Father, we stand before you empty-handed. Forgive us for the times we boast of the good that you gave us the grace to do. Keep us from looking down on any of our brothers and sisters, and give us grateful hearts for all that we have received from you.

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:

Amazing Grace

The Cry of the Poor

XXIX Sunday of the Year

PRAY ALWAYS!

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:

Sing to the Mountains

All the Ends of the Earth

The Sign of the Cross

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:    Mark Twain’s character Huckleberry Finn once prayed for a fishing pole and hooks. When he got only the pole, he gave up on prayer. We may have the same experience: we pray for something; we don’t get it and we are tempted to give up on prayer. Today’s readings urge us to never give up on God and prayer. We ask for the grace to pray always.

Penitential Rite

L: For the moments we have given up on God and prayer, we ask his pardon.

        Pause

L: Lord Jesus, you ask us to pray always without becoming weary: 

Lord, have mercy.

A: Lord, have mercy.

L: Lord Jesus, you ask us to have faith that God will bring justice to our world: 

Christ, have mercy.

A: Christ, have mercy.

L: Lord Jesus, you give us an example of unceasing prayer and unwavering faith:

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: Lord, tireless guardian of your people, teach us to rely, day and night, on your care. Support our prayer lest we grow weary. Impel us to seek your enduring justice and your ever-present help.

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.

Liturgical Readings for the XXIX Sunday of the Year

Reading 1    Exodus 17:8-13

Psalm         Psalm 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8

Response Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

                Response 1 or Response 2

Reading 2 2 Timothy 3:14 – 4:2

Acclamation

                        Alleluia, alleluia.

                        The word of God is living and effective,

                        discerning reflections and thoughts of the heart.

                  Acclamation

Gospel         Luke 18:1-8

Reflection on the Readings

 

Use one of the following ways to reflect on the readings.

Lectio Divina

Imagine you are with the disciples when Jesus tells them the parable about the persistent widow. What are your thoughts and feelings when you hear this parable? 

Sunday Snippets

Perseverance is a trait that is admired in society. We have examples in daily life: Dipa Karmakar who, despite flat feet and flawed systems, came fourth at the Rio Olympics; APJ Abdul Kalam who overcame poverty to become India’s foremost scientist, missile man, and then our ninth President.

The first reading and the gospel seem to posit a link between perseverance and blessing: as long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel had the better of the fight with Amalek (first reading); the widow’s persistence finally pays off (gospel).

There are two problems with this lesson! 

First, we believe in a God who freely and unconditionally graces his people what they need. How can we assert that only when we pray hard enough, God will give us what we want? 

Second, it could create guilt in some (and pride in others). When we don’t get that for which we prayed, does it mean we haven’t prayed enough or our faith is not deep enough? How can we tell a person who is terminally ill or who has lost a child; those in financial difficulty or in abusive households; those affected by hurricanes and floods… that they haven’t prayed enough? 

Persevere and be blessed is not “good news”!

What is today’s good news? Read the first line of the gospel: “Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.”

In the parable, Jesus contrasts God and the judge: if a corrupt judge renders justice because the plaintiff is persistent, how much more will our loving-caring God answer us? Jesus challenges us to pray always, trusting that God will act in his way and in his time to answer our petitions, not necessarily in the way we want.

In the first reading, we have the example of Moses who prayed always (despite becoming weary) while the Israelites battled the Amalekites. 

We have examples in our time: Mother Teresa “prayed always” despite enduring spiritual despair and loneliness for nearly fifty years; Pope John Paul II “prayed always” though he suffered greatly because of Parkinson’s disease.

In moments of trial and tribulation, do I still trust God and pray without losing heart? Or do I abandon God and prayer when things don’t happen as I think they should?

We pray not because we have to beat a path to God’s door before he will open it, but because until we beat the path, maybe there’s no way of getting to our door (cf. Frederick Buechner).

Questions to Ponder

Reflect on some (or all) of the following questions:

Reading 1: Could Moses have kept his hands raised (or “prayed constantly”) without the help of his companions? Can I relate to this story in any way? Can I let friends help me when I can’t manage by myself? Whom do I support spiritually? 

Reading 2: What task does Paul lay on me in this reading? What instruction book does he give me to carry out the task? Is it “inconvenient” sometimes to proclaim the word of God by being patient and encouraging?

Gospel: What does Jesus’ injunction, “Pray always …” mean to me?

Why does God want us ‘to cry out day and night’ to the Lord? Doesn’t he already know our needs?

Have I ever given up on prayer? Why/ why not?

The Creed

Prayer of the Faithful

L: Sisters and brothers, the Lord invites us to pray insistently without giving up. Let us bring our prayers before our Father in heaven and pray with faith: Lord, hear our prayer.

R: For the Church: that we may be persistent in prayer and attentive to God’s invitation to greater discipleship, we pray… 

R: For the world: that God may turn the hearts of world leaders from violence and help them to take bold steps to promote peace and provide for the safety of the innocent, we pray to the Lord…

R: For all who support us in our journey of faith; for family, friends, and fellow believers: that God may bless and renew them, we pray to the Lord…

R: For all who are growing weary in seeking justice: that the Holy Spirit may give them strength and help them to persevere, we pray to the Lord…

R: For all who are recovering from illness and natural disasters: that God may heal them, sustain their spirits, and guide them in restoring their lives, we pray to the Lord…

R: For greater stewardship: that all people may learn to respect creation and care for it as a gift of God, we pray to the Lord…

R: For ourselves: that God may sustain us as we encounter challenges and keep us faithful to the virtues of the Gospel in our decisions and actions, we pray…

L: God our Father, you do not resist our prayer when we have full trust in you. Let the Holy Spirit, here among us, prompt us to pray trustingly and insistently. 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,

your staff was too much for Moses.

His arms became weary.

Aaron and Hur held those hands up until sunset.

Lord,

when hope, energy and prayer wane,

let Aaron or Hur—or any friend—support me.

And let me support my loved ones.

Help us endure through your friends.

Let us pray always and remain steadfast in hope

that you will bring justice and peace in our lives.

CONCLUDING RITE

Concluding Prayer

L: Lord our God, we know that you are our loving Father, and that you are attentive to us every moment of our lives. Let our prayer come to you as a cry of trust. Give us what we really need and keep our trust alive that you are good and loving.

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:

The World Stands in Need of Liberation

Pray Always

XXVIII Sunday of the Year

BE GRATEFUL… IT PAYS!

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:

What Thanks O Lord

All the Ends of the Earth

The Sign of the Cross

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:    Laughing when we are happy and crying when we are sad are natural responses but saying “thank you” must be learned. That’s what parents always do with their little children: teach them to say “thank you”. 

The word Eucharist means “to give thanks”. Today it would be good to recall the many blessings we have received in our lives and thank God for each of them.

Penitential Rite

L: For the times we have not been grateful to God and to one another, we ask for forgiveness.

        Pause

L: Lord Jesus, you had compassion on the lepers and healed them: 

Lord, have mercy.

A: Lord, have mercy.

L: Lord Jesus, you offered salvation to the foreigner who returned to give thanks to God: 

Christ, have mercy.

A: Christ, have mercy.

L: Lord Jesus, you gave thanks to the Father for revealing his secrets to the little ones:

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: O God, our life, our health, our salvation, look with mercy on your people. Stir up in us a saving faith, that believing, we may be healed, and being healed, we may worthily give you thanks.

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.

Liturgical Readings for the XXVIII Sunday of the Year

Reading 1    2 Kings 5:14-17

Psalm         Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4

Response The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

                Response 1 or Response 2

Reading 2 2 Timothy 2:8-13

Acclamation

                        Alleluia, alleluia.

                        In all circumstances, give thanks,

                        for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

                  Acclamation

Gospel         Luke 17:11-19

Reflection on the Readings

 

Use one of the following ways to reflect on the readings.

Lectio Divina

Imagine you are journeying with Jesus through Samaria and Galilee. What are your thoughts and feelings when the ten lepers approach him and ask him to have pity on them; when only one (“this foreigner”) returns to thank Jesus? 

Sunday Snippets

I came across two studies on the effects of gratitude.

One study examined the effects of writing letters of gratitude. The results indicated that writing such letters increased participants’ happiness and life satisfaction; it decreased depressive symptoms.

In another study, participants were assigned to one of three groups: problem-listing, gratitude-listing, and neutral life events. They kept records of their moods, health, and life appraisals. The gratitude-outlook group exhibited heightened well-being across several outcome measures.

The bottom-line: being grateful has emotional benefits; gratitude pays. 

This evidence from experimental psychology confirms evidence from scripture! The first reading and the gospel are stories of the healing and gratitude of two lepers.

Acting on the word of Elisha, Naaman is cured of leprosy. He returns to give Elisha thanks and takes back some earth to build a shrine to the Lord. He recognises not only the healing but also the healer. 

Acting on the word of Jesus, ten lepers are cured. Only one, a Samaritan, returns “glorifying God in a loud voice” to thank Jesus. 

The gratitude of both “foreigners” is more than a simple act of politeness; it is a deep profession of faith in the saving power of God. 

Giving thanks is far more important than we think! Grateful people are well equipped to face the disappointments of life: they can (like the healed Samaritan) “stand up and go their way” with enthusiasm and energy. Ungrateful people or those who take everything for granted progressively journey to loneliness, isolation, and bitterness. Perhaps there is a connection between the words “miser” and “miserable”!

The anecdote at the end! A man stumbled upon a barn. He discovered that this was the devil’s seed storehouse. Curious, he began exploring. Most of the bins were labelled “discouragement seeds”. Just then one of the devil’s helpers arrived to pick up a bin. The man asked him the reason for the abundance of discouragement seeds. The helper laughed and replied: “They are very effective and they take root quickly.” The man asked: “Do they grow everywhere?” The helper said in sullen disgust: “No! They never grow in the heart of a grateful person.”

This is just a story, but it points to a pay-off: grateful people are seldom discouraged.

Am I grateful to God (and to his mediators) for his numerous blessings and graces? How do I manifest gratitude to God and others? For whom and for what am I grateful today?

Questions to Ponder

Reflect on some (or all) of the following questions:

Reading 1: Which do I think God uses more often to communicate with me, extraordinary signs or ordinary ones? Explain.

Reading 2: Paul says: “I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus.” How would this work? Is Paul saying that my suffering is linked to the salvation of others? How?

Gospel: Does God offer his generous love regardless of a person’s origins or accomplishments? Do I give of myself or my goods when there is ingratitude? 

Do I take note when God pours grace into my life? How do I express my gratitude to God?

The Creed

Prayer of the Faithful

L: My sisters and brothers, let us turn to the Lord with our needs and the needs of others, and in gratitude for the many ways in which he has already blessed us, as we pray: Lord, hear our prayer.

R: For the Church: that we may be a people filled with gratitude for all the blessings and gifts which we receive each day, we pray… 

R: For the world: that we may see all people as children of God and never judge them according to their race, religious background, education, or social standing, we pray…

R: For all who are excluded and marginalized by society: that they may experience welcome and acceptance by the Christian community, we pray…

R: For all who are ill, particularly those with long term diseases: that they may know the renewing and comforting touch of God, we pray…

R: For greater stewardship: that all people may learn to respect creation and care for it as a gift of God, we pray…

R: For ourselves: that we may be open to the ordinary ways in which God touches us and works in us through the people and events in our lives, we pray…

L: Hear the prayers of your faithful and grateful people, O Lord, and bring to completion your saving work in 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,

Naaman rushed back to Elisha to give thanks

and offered a gift in thanksgiving. 

This was a very healthy and normal reaction: 

when people feel loved, their heart goes out to the giver 

and their soul wants to give gifts in return.

The Samaritan too returned to give thanks to you.

As maturity grows in people, 

they want to give back instead of only receiving.

Lord,

help me to be a mature individual:

let me thank you for the many blessings you bestow on me

and let me share myself with my sisters and brothers.

CONCLUDING RITE

Concluding Prayer

L: God our Father, when we were doomed to death through sin you called us to life through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Give us thankful hearts. May all we say and do, and all of our lives be a gift to those around us, and an act of gratitude to you.

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:

Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart

For the Beauty of the Earth

Count Your Blessings