GOING BEYOND “THE BOOK”
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: “Champions are not born; they are made.” An attitude that characterizes all champions is “going beyond”. This is an attitude that should characterise every Christian: “going beyond” what the law commands. We pray for this grace.
Penitential Rite
L: For the times we have been satisfied with merely “going by the book”, we ask the Lord’s pardon.
Pause
L: Lord Jesus, you want us to respond to God’s love with our whole heart:
Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you have made love the foundation of all commandments:
Christ, have mercy.
A: Christ, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, all your life was a yes to the Father and to people:
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: All-seeing God,
you alone judge rightly our inmost thoughts.
Teach us to observe your law from the heart
even as we keep it outwardly.
Purify our desires,
calm every anger,
and reconcile us to one another.
Then will our worship at your altar
render you perfect praise.
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 Sirach 15:15-20
Psalm Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34
Response Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Reading 2 1 Corinthians 2:6-10
Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom.
Gospel Matthew 5:17-37
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 challenges them that their righteousness must surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees if they are to enter the kingdom of heaven. What are your thoughts and feelings when you hear this sentence and the series of “it was said… but I say to you” phrases?
Sunday Snippets
There were two junior executives in a company. Both were diligent workers. One always went by the book and never erred. The other went beyond the book and therefore made mistakes. When there was an opening for a senior executive position, the managing director promoted the second exec. Mr By-the-Book was enraged and questioned a director about the decision! He had a better record; he never made mistakes; he always followed the book. The director replied: “Yes! But what will you do when something comes up that isn’t in the book? You know the rules. He knows our rationale; he knows the mind of the directors.”
It’s not enough to go by the book. Often in life—and always in the Christian life—we need to go beyond the book. That’s the bottom line of today’s scripture!
The first reading from Sirach presents the people with a choice: life and death. We will have life if we keep the commandments. We have the capacity to do so; it’s a matter of choice.
In the gospel, Jesus challenges his disciples to go beyond the book, to surpass the righteousness of the scribes/Pharisees. In the Jewish perspective, one was righteous if one kept the law. For Jesus, it’s not enough to tick the commandment boxes!
Jesus identifies the causes of sin and calls his disciples to also avoid the causes of sin. He does this through six illustrations (four in today’s text) which have the form “it was said… but I say to you.” The first part of the statement recalls the Law of Moses; the second part is the challenge to “go beyond”.
Disciples must not only
a) avoid murder but also avoid attitudes/behaviour that inappropriately express anger;
b) avoid adultery but also have hearts free of lust;
c) avoid divorce but also remain faithful to the marriage covenant;
d) avoid false oaths but also avoid oaths (an oath calls on God to witness to the truth of one’s statement).
It’s not enough to know and keep the rules. We need to know the rationale for the rules and keep their spirit. We need to know why we are disciples and who we should be… by knowing Jesus, putting on his mind, and living his values.
Am I ready to go beyond “the book”? Am I ready to imitate the One who came to “fulfil the law”? It is a tough ask… and so we pray for the grace to go beyond the book.
Questions to Ponder
Reflect on some (or all) of the following questions:
Reading 1: Which do I choose: life or death; good or evil? Do I always know which is which? How do I discern when I do not know or I am unsure? Why did God give us free choice?
Reading 2: How is it that the Spirit can scrutinize the depths of God? Is that same Spirit present in me?
Gospel: Jesus is critical of the Pharisees’ type of righteousness, which focuses on externals. How do these things relate to the inner spirit of the law? How do they relate to loving God and neighbour?
How does accepting the spirit of the law, not just the letter, lead to personal freedom?
The Creed
Prayer of the Faithful
L: Sisters and brothers, let us pray to God our Father, whose law is a light for our life: Lord, hear our prayer.
R: For the leaders of the Church: that the Spirit may lead them to a deeper understanding of the wisdom of God so that they can share the values that will lead believers to live the Gospel more faithfully, we pray to the Lord…
R: For world leaders: that they continue to search for ways to heal ancient wounds and find ways of promoting peace and justice for all, we pray to the Lord…
R: For all who are struggling with moral decisions: that the Spirit of God may inspire them with wisdom, help them to recognize the greatest good in their options, and connect them with a supportive community, we pray to the Lord…
R: For healing: that God may heal the sick, give hope to those preparing for surgery, comfort the parents of sick children, and strengthen all who care for the sick, we pray to the Lord…
R: For the victims of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria, and all who suffer from this devastating calamity; for the aid workers who are responding to the crisis: that the Lord may assist them and protect them, we pray to the Lord…
R: For ourselves: that we may persistently seek greater holiness and never be satisfied with merely fulfilling the letter of the law, we pray to the Lord…
L: Lord our God, give us the courage to be free and responsible for ourselves and for others, and to live by the spirit of your commandments. 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,
God of wisdom,
why do you let us choose?
Help us always to choose life and you.
Lord,
let us grasp the core and crux of your law:
justice; love; compassion.
Let your law make us holy…
not like the Pharisees,
who blow trumpets before they give,
but by going beyond the law
to keep its spirit.
CONCLUDING RITE
Concluding Prayer
L: Lord God, loving Father,
in your Son Jesus, you have shown us
how we should seek and fulfil your loving will.
Dispose us to respond to your love
from the depth of our heart
and to be faithful to you in all we do.
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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