WELCOME LITTLENESS
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: According to Carl Jung, the human personality is driven by two energies: the senior energy and the child energy. The senior is geared towards competition, power, and success; the child energy is attuned to cooperation and celebration. Our culture is heavily biased in favour of the senior energy. We are success oriented, and we are often willing to do anything to succeed.
The Liturgy today challenges us to welcome the child part of our personality so that we become less calculating and more trusting, less success oriented and more service minded. Then, only, does believing and following Jesus become possible.
Penitential Rite
L: For the times we have been filled with evil desires and selfish ambitions, and embroiled in power struggles, we ask the Lord’s pardon.
Pause
L: Lord Jesus, you loved little children and blessed them:
Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you were last of all and servant of all:
Christ, have mercy.
A: Christ, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you humbled yourself by your death on the cross:
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,
in your kingdom the last become first,
the gentle are strong,
and the lowly exalted.
Give us wisdom from above,
that we may find in your servant Jesus
the pattern of true discipleship
and the grace to persevere in following him,
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 Wisdom 2:12, 17-20
Psalm Psalm 54:3-4, 5, 6 and 8
Response The Lord upholds my life.
Reading 2 James 3:16—4:3
Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia.
God has called us through the Gospel
to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel Mark 9:30-37
Reflection on the Readings
Use one of the following ways to reflect on the readings.
Lectio Divina
Imagine you are journeying with Jesus and his disciples to Capernaum. What are your thoughts and feelings
- when you hear the disciples discussing about who is the greatest (would you be a part of the discussion?!)?
- when you hear Jesus exhort them to be “the last of all and the servant of all” and to receive “one child such as this”?
Sunday Snippets
An oft-repeated anecdote to start! A fisherman was carrying his catch of crabs in an open basket. A passer-by remarked: “Aren’t you afraid the crabs will crawl out?” The fisherman replied: “No! Do you know anything about the behaviour of crabs? Watch!” As a crab crawled towards the top of the basket, the others pulled the climber down. This kept happening! The crabs would not allow the others to climb towards the top.
It’s not just crabs that pull one another down. We do the same because of jealousy and selfish ambition.
Today’s readings address these two foibles that destroy people.
In the second reading, St James writes: “Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice.” He lists the reason for conflict: unsatisfied craving.
The first reading from the Book of Wisdom is an inside-view of how selfish minds work and illustrates the extremes to which jealousy and selfish ambition can lead a person when confronted by a “righteous man”.
It’s the same in the gospel. The religious leaders are jealous of Jesus, the righteous man; his virtue is an examination of conscience for them! He predicts that they will hand him over to torturers.
Jealousy and selfish ambition destroy people and community. Jesus smells these foibles enter his fledgling church! He has just instructed his disciples on his passion, but suffering does not fit into their perspective of the kingdom; they are busy discussing their great positions in the kingdom.
Jesus nips this one in the bud. He puts a child in their midst and challenges the twelve to welcome him/her. When they can welcome “littleness,” they welcome him.
In effect, Jesus compares himself to the child who cannot resort to power tactics when threatened. On the road to Jerusalem, in the face of suffering and death, he can only turn to his Father in trust; this makes him vulnerable.
When we live upright lives, we can be sure that people will pull us down. The challenge before us:
Will I give in to jealousy and selfish ambition? Will I resort to power tactics or will I welcome the vulnerability of a child?
How will I welcome and accept the child part of my personality, and become less power-conscious and success-oriented?
Questions to Ponder
Reflect on some (or all) of the following questions:
Reading 1: “Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us, he sets himself against our doings.” Were I to speak against unjust “doings” might people consider me obnoxious? Does that stop me?
Against what “doings” would I like to speak out?
Reading 2: Where does ambition for power and greatness lead? What does it do to a family, a community, a workplace, a church…? Is there a way to cultivate peace?
Gospel: Jesus tells the disciples that to rank first, they should be the servants of all. Where do I think the parish/ church ranks in taking care of people in need? Where would I rank myself?
Am I comfortable welcoming my “littleness” and being vulnerable?
The Creed
Prayer of the Faithful
L: With humility and an awareness of our dependence on God our Father, we come before him as his children, and pray: Lord, hear our prayer.
R: For the Church: that we may be servants of one another, particularly of those in need, and thus bear witness to God’s love for everyone, we pray…
R: For the world: that God may heal misunderstandings, remove jealousy and selfish ambition, and bring greater cooperation among peoples and nations, we pray…
R: For the poor and powerless in our society: that we may hear their voices, understand their pain, and humbly walk alongside them through life's challenges, 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 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 God may awaken us to our selfishness and disordered desires that distract us and help us choose ways to be instruments of God’s mercy and compassion, we pray…
L: Lord God, make us aware of our littleness and of how much we are dependent upon you and one another. May we not aspire for greatness but reach out in love to serve one another in imitation of your Son, who is Lord for ever and 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
Lord,
you were born in a stable needing everything,
having only life.
Then you were on the cross needing everything,
having no life.
Yet you are greatest of all…
because you lived what you taught your disciples:
that one who wishes to be first,
shall be the last of all and the servant of all.
Teach us…
to love you,
to care for your children, to serve your poor,
to welcome the immigrant, to free the prisoner,
to welcome vulnerability and littleness.
CONCLUDING RITE
Concluding Prayer
L: God, giver of all good gifts,
give us the ambition to belong
among the last and the least
as people who know how to serve,
generously and without condescension,
the people around us,
especially all who are little and brittle.
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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