STIFLE NOT THE SPIRIT
INTRODUCTORY RITES
Gather as a family/ community; create an environment appropriate for prayer (dress appropriately - switch off your phones...).
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: We often mistrust those who are different, of other races, political ideas, or religions. We judge them without considering who they are, their stories, the good they do. The Lord invites us to be open-minded and recognize the good in others and their works. As Catholics (the word means universal), do we accept the Spirit working everywhere? Let us ask the Lord to open our minds and hearts to all and to recognize his Spirit in people of good will.
Penitential Rite
L: We ask the Lord to forgive us our small-mindedness and our prejudices.
Pause
L: Lord Jesus, you came to gather the nations into the peace of God’s kingdom:
Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you recognized and acknowledged the faith
of the Syrophoenician woman and the Roman centurion:
Christ, have mercy.
A: Christ, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you saw goodness in all sorts of people, and accepted and loved them all:
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: Pour out your Spirit, O God,
over all the world
to inspire every heart
with knowledge and love of you.
Grant that we who confess Jesus as Lord
may shun whatever is contrary to this faith
and give witness to your love
that has saved us in Christ,
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 Numbers 11:25-29
Psalm Psalm 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14
Response The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
Reading 2 James 5:1-6
Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia.
Your word, O Lord, is truth;
consecrate us in the truth.
Gospel Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48
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 John tell Jesus that the disciples prevented a man from doing good because he was not one of them and when you hear Jesus’ response?
Sunday Snippets
Some years ago, during Cricket Australia’s tour of India, Matthew Hayden was to return home after the test series. But he performed brilliantly in the tests and the selectors added him to the ODI squad. Some argued that he shouldn’t have been included because he wasn’t in the original squad. That didn’t matter for Cricket Australia; what mattered was Hayden was a good player in good form. They didn’t stifle Hayden, and it paid off.
This episode gives a sound principle to build the “God Squad”. It shouldn’t matter whether one was part of the original team or not. All that matters: is God’s Spirit in him/her?
The liturgy invites to recognize that God’s Spirit works in all people of good will and to co-operate with it.
In the First Reading, Joshua asks Moses to stop Eldad and Medad from prophesying because they were not part of the “in-group”. In the Gospel, Jesus’ disciples stop a man driving out demons in his name because he was not one of them.
Moses’ and Jesus’ responses are instructive! Moses tells Joshua: “Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets!” Jesus tells John: “Do not forbid him… for he that is not against us is for us.” Moses and Jesus taught their followers to recognize God’s work inside and outside the immediate community. Kingdom work is not reserved to a few chosen ones; it is for all people of good will.
This does not mean that we should apologize for our beliefs and water down our faith. Moses did not tell Joshua to leave the tent and join up with Eldad and Medad, nor did Jesus tell his disciples to follow the man driving demons out in his name.
But to refuse to recognize that people of other faiths are doing the work of God or to stop them is to deny the working of the Spirit in these people.
The world is saturated with the Spirit of God.
Do I look at the church as an exclusive club? Can I open my eyes to the good that others do, recognize God’s spirit working in them, and co-operate with them?
May I cooperate with (and not stifle) the Spirit and every person doing God’s work and good work. May I believe that there is place for every person of goodwill in “God’s Squad”!
Questions to Ponder
Reflect on some (or all) of the following questions:
Reading 1: Do I believe that the Spirit works in people of good will? Am I willing to cooperate in such working?
Reading 2: This is one of the few New Testament passages that shows concern for social justice. How concerned am I for social justice? What do I do about situations of injustice in my community/ work place?
Gospel: When have my words or actions prevented someone from following Jesus? In what ways have I harmed the unity in my family or in my church?
The Creed
Prayer of the Faithful
L: Let us pray to the Father of all for all people far and near, known and unknown: Lord, hear our prayer.
R: For the Church: that we may welcome the gift of the Spirit so that God’s mercy, compassion, and presence may be manifest to our world, we pray…
R: For the leaders of nations: that they may be concerned about the rich and poor alike, and let all people and nations have a just share in the riches of this earth, we pray…
R: For migrants and refugees: that all those who are forced to flee from war, injustice, hunger, and poverty that they may travel safely and be received generously by those who are blessed with peace, prosperity, and a better life, we pray…
R: For all who have suffered loss through floods and violence: that God may heal their pain, protect them from further harm, give them hope, and touch the hearts of many to assist them, we pray…
R: For commitment to care for our common home: that world leaders and each of us may take meaningful steps to curtail the environmental damage of the planet and work to protect the poor and vulnerable from its effects, we pray…
R: For ourselves: that we may welcome all whom God calls to serve and listen for the Spirit’s promptings about new forms and styles of service needed to meet the hungers of human hearts, we pray…
L: Lord God, make us recognize and appreciate the good in people. May we be one and cooperate with all people of good will to stand with courage for freedom and justice everywhere. 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
Holy Spirit,
we cannot hem you in or harness you,
or say: “You can’t go there” or “You wouldn’t do that.”
You go, like the wind, where you will,
and we sense your presence.
Where are you present?
In those
who feed the hungry and give water to the thirsty,
who shelter the homeless and welcome the refugee,
who teach the ignorant and support the weak,
who stand for justice and uplift the oppressed,
who care for the earth.
Help us to recognize
the signs of your presence in our midst,
so that we may find you wherever your manifest yourself,
even in the most unthinkable and unusual situations.
Teach us to love all people without jealousy or closure,
always open to the vast horizon of your action.
Come Holy Spirit!
CONCLUDING RITE
Concluding Prayer
L: God our Father,
you send us out into the world
by the strength of the Holy Spirit.
Let him blow not only in us
but in whomever he wills
and in the direction you want us to go,
toward your future and your kingdom
of integrity, truth, and 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:
