NOBODY’S CHILD? GOD’S!
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:
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: There are times in our lives when we feel down and out; we feel we have reached the end of our strength. Today’s readings assure us that God is our strength and we completely depend on him. When we realise/ acknowledge our dependence on God, we know peace.
We pray that we remain aware of our dependence on God and experience his nurturing presence in our lives.
Penitential Rite
L: For the times we have relied only on our strength, we ask his pardon.
Pause
L: Lord Jesus, you were poor in spirit and depended totally on your Father:
Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you were meek and humble of heart:
Christ, have mercy.
A: Christ, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you are the Prince of peace:
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,
teach us the hidden wisdom of the gospel,
so that we may hunger and thirst for holiness,
work tirelessly for peace,
and be counted among those
who seek first the blessedness of your kingdom.
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 Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13
Psalm Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10
Response Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!
Reading 2 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia.
Rejoice and be glad;
your reward will be great in heaven.
Gospel Matthew 5:1-12a
Reflection on the Readings
Use one of the following ways to reflect on the readings.
Lectio Divina
Imagine you are among the disciples when Jesus begins to teach them after “he went up the mountain”. What are your thoughts and feelings when you hear (each of) the beatitudes?
Sunday Snippets
One of the saddest songs I have heard is “Nobody’s Child”: a song about a blind orphan boy, who feels he is nobody’s child because nobody wants him. Many come to the orphanage to adopt children, but – because he is blind – they leave him behind. He strongly feels the absence of love.
There are moments in our lives when we feel like “nobody’s children”: we feel unwanted, unloved, misunderstood, and rejected; we consider ourselves failures.
Today’s readings tell us that we have no cause for despair… because our God prefers the nobodies of the world!
In the first reading, Zephaniah speaks of and to “a people humble and lowly”.
These – the remnant of Israel/anawim – are a small group of people who, despite difficulties and trials, have been faithful to God. While others turn to worldly wealth and power, these know that their power lies in God alone. Hence, they shall know true peace: “they shall pasture… with none to disturb them”!
The anawim are a concrete sign of God’s power working among the nobodies of the world.
This is the thrust of the gospel beatitudes!
“Blessed are the poor in spirit…” The ‘poor in spirit’ do not have the resources to meet their needs and recognise their total dependence on God. Jesus does not justify/extol economic poverty; he calls his disciples to recognise their complete dependence on God and to give up self-reliance. “… for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” He assures them that when they are ‘poor in spirit’ they will experience deep communion with God now.
The second to the seventh beatitudes spell out aspects of being ‘poor in spirit’.
In the eighth beatitude, we hear again the refrain: “theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Those declared ‘blessed’ are those persecuted for righteousness’ sake. Righteousness, for Matthew, is doing God’s will always.
Today’s readings that – however painful the circumstances – the anawim or the poor in spirit experience the grace of God and intimate communion with him… here and now and always.
In my darkest hour, in moments of intense isolation and pain, in moments when I feel like nobody’s child, can I be ‘poor in spirit’? Can I acknowledge my nothingness before God and my complete dependence on him? If yes, mine is the kingdom of heaven.
Questions to Ponder
Reflect on some (or all) of the following questions:
Reading 1 : God promises to leave a humble “remnant” in the people’s midst. One of their rewards was “they shall pasture and couch their flocks with none to disturb them.” Is there always a certain happiness and peace found in the love of God?
Reading 2: How can the “weak of the world shame the strong”? What does this mean to me: is weakness a priority for me or is it strength? Is non-violence a weakness or is it strength?
Gospel: How can I make the beatitudes a way of life for me?
The Creed
Prayer of the Faithful
L: Sisters and brothers, let us pray to our Father in heaven that we may be counted among the poor and humble who totally depend on him: Lord, hear our prayer.
R: For the Church: that we may embrace the beatitudes by walking humbly and finding our strength in Christ, we pray to the Lord…
R: For world leaders and members of legislatures: that their hearts may be sensitive to the needs of the poor and voiceless as they formulate new policies and budgets, we pray to the Lord…
R: For all who hunger in whatever way: that they may be satisfied, we pray to the Lord…
R: For all who are ill: that the Spirit may ease their suffering, bring encouragement through the care of the Christian community, and restore them to wholeness, we pray to the Lord…
R: For greater stewardship of creation: that we honour the way in which God has created the world and work to maintain balance within nature, we pray to the Lord…
R: For ourselves: that we may recognize the blessedness God gives us and manifest it in our lives through loving sacrifice, deeds of justice, and words of compassion, we pray to the Lord…
L: Lord our God, from whom all good things come, we pray today for all those living between hope and fear and for ourselves. Set us free from anxiety and from false security and give us all that is good. 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
We thank you, Lord our God,
for people who have made themselves poor
to enrich others;
for people who can listen to the miseries of others,
for people who can console;
for people who spread peace and rest,
who are attentive to little things,
who are happy when others are great;
for people who hunger for justice
who crave to see every person free,
who suffer when injustice is done to their neighbour;
for people whose judgment is gentle,
who respect the mystery of all life,
who open their hearts to forgiveness and reconciliation;
for people whose intentions are straightforward,
whose words are sincere;
for people who believe in roads to peace,
who turn their swords into instruments of friendship;
for all the happy people
whose liberating lifestyle
is a refreshing ray of hope to all. Amen.
CONCLUDING RITE
Concluding Prayer
L: Lord God, loving Father,
give us the blessedness
which you offer us through your Son.
Make us aware of the poverty of our hearts,
that you can fill us with yourself
and with love and concern for people.
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:
