WHO IS CHRIST? WHO IS A DISCIPLE?
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 profess in the Creed “I believe in Jesus Christ”. Do we really know him? To know him we must understand that his death on the cross is part of his identity! And we must follow him by taking up our daily crosses.
Let us pray that we may understand the necessity of the cross in the life of Jesus and in our lives, and for the strength to carry the many crosses of our daily life.
Penitential Rite
L: For the times we have not wanted to carry our cross and have wanted an easy, no-sacrifice, no-cost religion, let us ask the Lord to forgive us.
Pause
L: Lord Jesus, you resolutely took the way to Jerusalem, to suffer there and die for us:
Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you remained faithful to the Father who sent you:
Christ, have mercy.
A: Christ, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you invite us to take up our crosses and follow you:
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: Make us one, O God,
in acknowledging Jesus the Christ.
As we proclaim him by our words,
let us follow him in our works;
give us strength to take up the cross
and courage to lose our lives for his sake,
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 Isaiah 50:5-9a
Psalm Psalm 116:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
Response I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
Reading 2 James 2:14-18
Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia.
May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord
through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.
Gospel Mark 8:27-35
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 as they set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. What are your thoughts and feelings when you hear Jesus ask the question “who do you say I am”; teach that “the Son of Man must suffer greatly…”; and invite his disciples to “deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me”?
Sunday Snippets
Before joining an organization, prospective members need to know two things: the organization’s identity-mission and their job profile.
Likewise, to belong to the “organization” of Jesus, disciples need to know Jesus’ identity and mission, and the profile of a disciple.
Today’s readings set out in clear, unambiguous terms the answers to these questions.
The Gospel is the mid-point of Mark’s Gospel.
The first part of the Gospel revealed Jesus as the Messiah who mediates God’s power by teaching and healing with authority. It reaches its climax with Peter’s faith declaration: “You are the Christ.”
The second part will reveal the kind of a Messiah Jesus is and will be: one who must suffer, be rejected, and be killed. Must! There is a necessity about his suffering and death. Jesus is not a glorious king or a military leader; he is the suffering servant. The revelation of his identity culminates on Calvary when the centurion looks at Jesus on the cross and says: “This was the Son of God.” The crucified Jesus is the Son of God.
The first reading forms a backdrop for the Gospel. It highlights the resoluteness of Yahweh’s servant in facing the suffering that comes his way as a prophet.
But suffering has no place in Peter’s idea of messiahship. He rebukes Jesus, who tells him to take his place as a disciple – behind the Master! The disciple must take up the cross, lose his/her small-fearful-insecure self, and follow Jesus. Being a disciple necessarily involves suffering.
Messiahship and discipleship are not only about suffering. Jesus is convinced that he will be raised from the dead. He promises his disciples that if they die to themselves, they will find life in communion with God.
We are not prospective disciples; we already belong to Jesus. We need to be clear about his identity-mission and our profile.
Who is Jesus for me: is he merely a wonderworker/ healer?
How do I see discipleship: as a taking up of my cross and following Jesus along the Via Dolorosa? Am I willing to accept pain and suffering and the grief of life?
Questions to Ponder
Reflect on some (or all) of the following questions:
Reading 1: “The Lord God is my help.” How do these words relate to Jesus’ utterance in the Gospel: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself”? Will God be with me, holding my hand, every minute, no matter what?
Reading 2: How important is it to express my faith in works? Do I ever respond to the call to serve my neighbour? If so, how: with a few words/ in some of my actions/ always?
Gospel: “The Son of Man must suffer greatly…” Jesus tells the disciples about the cost of discipleship. How does Peter handle this new message? How do I?
What cross do I need to take up today? How can carrying this cross help me grow closer to Jesus?
The Creed
Prayer of the Faithful
L: Let us pray to our living and loving God who has created us for happiness, that we may learn to face the responsibilities and hardships of life: Lord, hear our prayer.
R: For the Church: that our profession of Jesus as the Christ may be manifest through laying down our lives in service of others and in allowing God to raise us to life, we pray…
R: For the world: that God may turn hearts from violence, protect the innocent from harm, and bring forth a new season of justice and peace, we pray…
R: For all who suffer for the sake of the Gospel: that God may strengthen them, help them to be faithful witnesses, and fill their hearts with peace, we pray…
R: For all who spend their lives serving others: that God may guide emergency personnel each day, give strength to all who care for the sick, and inspire many young people to join them in serving others, we pray…
R: For all who have suffered loss through recent hurricanes, floods, wildfires, 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 we may use the Season of Creation as a time to remember, respect, pray, and act for the good of all of creation, we pray…
R: For ourselves: that we may surrender our plans and ambitions to God, embrace our responsibilities for today, and follow Christ each day, we pray…
L: Lord God, the crosses of the world are ours, for Jesus is ours. Let them be yours to lighten, for Jesus carried the cross for all, and he is your Son and our Lord for ever.
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
Jesus, you ask us:
“Who do you say that I am?”
You have shown us
in word and deed who you are: the suffering messiah;
you set your face like flint and
resolutely carried your cross to Calvary.
May I think as God does and not as human beings do,
and accept you as the crucified Christ.
In every joy, take my hands.
In every sorrow, take my hands.
Then I will know you well, love you well.
Strengthen me
to take up my daily cross,
and to follow you to my Calvary.
CONCLUDING RITE
Concluding Prayer
L: Lord our God,
send us out into the world of people
to bear one another’s crosses
and to share each other’s joys,
that we may not merely admire your Son
for having borne his cross,
but follow him on the road
that leads to life and glory.
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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