FAITH IS A GIFT AND A TASK
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: There is disorder everywhere: the destruction of life, the triumph and celebration of evil, disease and natural disaster. We plead for help… and God asks us to have faith. He says: “I understand your sorrow and I will make things better; wait for it.”
We ask the Lord to give us this gift of faith, which waits for him to act and which acts while we wait!
Penitential Rite
L: For the moments our faith has wavered, we ask the Lord to pardon us.
Pause
L: Lord Jesus, you call us to have a little faith to see miracles:
Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you call us to fulfil our obligations without seeking reward:
Christ, have mercy.
A: Christ, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you fulfilled the will of your Father:
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, the rock of our salvation,
whose gifts can never fail,
deepen the faith you have bestowed
and let its power be seen in your servants.
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 Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4
Psalm Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9
Response If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Reading 2 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14
Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia.
The word of the Lord remains forever.
This is the word that has been proclaimed to you.
Gospel Luke 17:5-10
Reflection on the Readings
Use one of the following ways to reflect on the readings.
Lectio Divina
Imagine you are with the apostles when they ask Jesus to increase their faith. What are your thoughts and feelings when you hear Jesus’ response?
Sunday Snippets
A family I know has been going through difficult times: one member died in a tragic accident; two have major illnesses; some of the younger ones face career uncertainty. It is overwhelming. And the “good Catholics” around them have been questioning their faith: “If their faith were stronger, they wouldn’t have all these troubles”!
Experiences like this make one question: What is faith? A mantra to recite or a magic wand to wave… and whoosh… problems solved?! I wish it were, but it is not!
This Sunday’s readings help us to understand what faith is.
Habakkuk (first reading), writing in a time of turmoil, dares to question God about his apparent silence at the injustice he and his people are suffering from foreign conquerors. God persuades him to wait patiently for deliverance for “it will surely come”. The attitude required of his people is “faith”: steadfast loyalty and holding on in obedience to God’s law even when it apparently pays no dividends.
St Paul reminds Timothy (second reading) that God has gifted us “a spirit of… power and love and self-control” and invites him to bear hardships “with the strength that comes from God.”
Jesus instructs his disciples (gospel) that it is the quality (and not quantity) of their faith that matters. The size of faith doesn’t matter because God is the one doing the moving! He urges them to do their duty, that is, to serve God unconditionally without counting the cost. He cautions the disciples against supposing that faith (and the service of the Lord) establishes a claim for reward.
Faith is a gift of the Spirit – that moves us to wait patiently and humbly – while steadfastly doing our tasks – in the knowledge and hope that God’s will and word will be fulfilled.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church affirms: “to obey in faith is to submit freely to the word that has been heard… Abraham is the model of such obedience… the Virgin Mary is its most perfect embodiment” (144). Didn’t they have problems and difficulties? Through all their ordeals, their faith never wavered.
What kind of faith do I have: a mantra to recite or a magic wand to wave or steadfast loyalty to God and fidelity to duty through (and despite) difficulties?
May the Lord increase my faith!
Questions to Ponder
Reflect on some (or all) of the following questions:
Reading 1: The writer could no longer endure violence, abuse, and oppression in the world. Can I relate to this reading? Where do the challenges of discipleship arise for me?
Habakkuk speaks of misery and violence. How do I cope with misery and difficulty in my life?
Reading 2: How can we “stir into flames” the power of love and self-control? Can love overcome cowardice and be a weapon for Christians?
Gospel: Do I know people, who, with strong faith, have moved mountains or have uprooted mulberry trees? Who are they? What have they accomplished? Can my faith help me do the kinds of things they did? Can it help me overcome obstacles?
How am I nurturing the seed of my faith? What resources do I have that can strengthen my faith?
The Creed
Prayer of the Faithful
L: My sisters and brothers, if our faith is as small as a mustard seed, we have the potential to do great things in the Lord’s name. Let us pray with a trusting faith in God for the hungers and needs of our world: Lord, hear our prayer.
R: For the Church: that we may grow in unswerving faith that helps us overcome all doubts and hesitation and keeps us seeking God’s will even when the cost is high, we pray…
R: For the world: that all people can believe in the possibility of a more humane and compassionate world where the hungry, the poor, and the marginalised treated with dignity, we pray…
R: For those who work for social justice: that they may continue to strive for a world where all will be sisters and brothers caring for and seeking the good of one another, we pray…
R: For all affected by illness or natural disasters: that the Lord may heal them and strengthen their spirits, we pray…
R: For healing of the earth: that the Spirit may open hearts to the seriousness of the challenge and give courage to those who are working to find solutions for ecological problems, we pray…
R: For ourselves: that we may recognize that faith is a gift from God and that we may grow in our reliance upon and loyalty to God in every area of our lives, we pray…
L: Lord our God, we thank you for our faith, which we have received from you as a gift to be developed with your help. Make our faith grow day after day, let it give meaning to our life and express itself in love and justice. 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,
I feel like Habakkuk and ask:
How long, O Lord? I cry for help, but you do not listen.
You do listen and you answer: “Wait”!
You will make things better but not yet.
My insides scream:
“Not yet! Why don’t you help me/us right now?
Why are you delaying?”
You call me to have faith;
a mustard-seed size faith is enough
to uproot a mulberry tree.
You have to give me that faith.
I trust that whatever faith you give me will be enough.
Lord, increase my faith.
CONCLUDING RITE
Concluding Prayer
L: God our Father,
at times our faith is tried and tested
through difficulties and questions,
so as not to become complacent.
May such occasions be for us
opportunities to place all our trust
in your love and concern for us.
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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