EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (# 10)
A Weekly Pastoral Tool for the YEAR OF THE EUCHARIST
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
Jan. 30, 2005 - Feb. 5, 2005
“The Beatitudes”
(+) In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
(A moment of silence)
SONG: Any suitable Eucharistic hymn or any other appropriate song may be sung.
SILENT ADORATION AND PRAYER
OPENING PRAYER
Leader: Jesus Divine Master, we adore you as the Word Incarnate sent by the Father to instruct us in life-giving truths. You are uncreated Truth, the only Master. You alone have words of eternal life. We thank you for having imparted to us the light of reason and the light of faith, and for having called us to the light of glory. We believe, submitting our whole mind to you and to the Church.
Assembly: Master, show us the treasures of your wisdom, let us know the Father, make us your true disciples. Increase our faith so that we may attain to the eternal vision in heaven.
Part I
JESUS MASTER TRUTH
Listening to the Word
GOSPEL READING: Mt 5:1-12a
PERSONAL REFLECTION
(As a tool for personal reflection, please visit the PDDM Website: www.pddm.org // www.pddm.us for BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD [# 10]: A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday Liturgy. The Biblico-Liturgical Reflections are an aid for a deeper understanding of the Gospel reading.)
SONG: Any suitable hymn of praise or song may be sung.
Part II
JESUS MASTER WAY
Confrontation with the Word
POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART
Leader: The Beatitudes are a portrait of Jesus himself: poor, lowly, merciful, single-hearted, peaceful, persecuted, sorrowful, hungry and thirsty for holiness. They are also a description of the ideal Christian. Let us now examine our hearts in light of the challenge of the Beatitudes.
1. Are we ready to welcome into our hearts the challenge of the Beatitudes and abide by the radical teaching of Christ on the foundations of God’s kingdom?
2. In revealing to us the principles of the Beatitudes, do we believe that Christ is calling us a deeper experience of joy and intimacy with God, our loving Father? Do we believe that we are being called to an astounding love and service of God’s people?
3. What are our experiences of joy and difficulty in the concrete daily living out of the Beatitudes? Among the eight Beatitudes mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew, which are the ones that are challenging us with greater intensity today?
PENITENTIAL PRAYER
Leader: Jesus Christ has left us an example to follow. Let us ask him to renew us in spirit so that we may shape our lives according to the teaching of the Gospel. We say to him:
(R.) HAVE, MERCY ON US.
1. Lord Jesus Christ, you said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Yet we are preoccupied with money and worldly goods and even try to increase them at the expense of justice. Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: (R.)
2. Lord Jesus Christ, you said: “Blessed are they who mourn for they will be comforted.” Yet we are impatient under our own burdens and unconcerned about the burdens of others. Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: (R.)
3. Lord Jesus Christ, you said: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the land.” Yet we are ruthless with each other, and our world is full of discord and violence. Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: (R.)
4. Lord Jesus Christ, you said: “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be satisfied.” Yet we do not thirst for you, the fountain of all holiness, and are slow to spread your influence in our private lives or in society. Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: (R.)
5. Lord Jesus Christ, you said: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy.” Yet we are slow to forgive and quick to condemn. Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: (R.)
6. Lord Jesus Christ, you said: “Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.” Yet we are prisoners of our senses and evil desires. We are not single-hearted in our devotion and are full of duality and deception. Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: (R.)
7. Lord Jesus Christ, you said: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Yet we fail to make peace in our families, in our country, in the world and in God’s beloved creation. Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: (R.)
8. Lord Jesus Christ, you said: “Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Yet we prefer to practice injustice rather than suffer for the sake of right. We discriminate against our neighbors and oppress and persecute them. Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: (R.)
SONG: Any suitable song may be sung.
Part III
JESUS LIFE
Acting upon the Word
PERSONAL PRAYER
CONTEMPLATING WITH MARY THE FACE OF CHRIST: The mysteries of the Rosary may be prayed in part or in full.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Leader: Mindful of the benefits received from the Lord,
let us lift up to him our prayers of gratitude
and let us say together:
(R.) THANK YOU, LORD.
1. For having created a beautiful world all for us. (R.)
2. For having created us and for keeping us alive. (R.)
3. For becoming man in order to save us. (R.)
4. For the Christian faith to which we are called. (R.)
5. For giving us your holy grace. (R.)
6. For the gift of the Beatitudes. (R.)
7. For giving us your holy Word. (R.)
8. For your Eucharistic presence in our midst. (R.)
9. For keeping us away from harm and for peace and liberty. (R.)
10. For our daily bread, for our family, friends and loved ones. (R.)
11. For the eternal joy you have promised us. (R.)
12. For being the eternal Beatitude to us. (R.)
(Other prayers may be added.)
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Leader: With longing for God’s kingdom and the fullness of his Beatitudes, we pray.
Assembly: OUR FATHER …
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Leader: In faith and love we ask you, Father,
to watch over your family gathered here.
In your mercy and loving kindness
no thought of ours is left unguarded,
no tear unheeded,
no joy unnoticed.
Through the prayer of Jesus
may the blessings promised to the poor in spirit
lead us to the treasures of your heavenly kingdom.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.
Assembly: Amen.
FINAL SONG: Any suitable Eucharistic hymn or song may be sung.
Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang PDDM
PIAE DISCIPULAE DIVINI MAGISTRI
SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER
60 Sunset Ave., Staten Island, NY 10314
Tel. (718) 494-8597 // (718) 761-2323
Website: WWW.PDDM.US