EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (# 38)
A Weekly Pastoral Tool for the YEAR OF THE EUCHARIST
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
August 14-20, 2005
“Great Is Your Faith!”
(+) 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 appropriate song may be sung.
WORDS FROM THE DAYS OF THE LORD, vol. 4
Jesus’ ministry was limited to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel”. But the welcome of the Canaanite woman already announces that the day will come when pagans will be able to eat “the bread of the children” and not only “the crumbs falling from the table of their masters”. In fact, the risen Christ will commission the eleven to go and bring the good news to all nations. Having gone back to the Father, he will exercise, through his disciples, the power given to him in heaven and on earth and he will be with them “until the end of the age” (Mt 28:16-20). No one is excluded from this salvation that continually expands. The Apostle of the Gentiles attests to his assurance (one that all Christians must share) that God’s mercy reaches all, Jews and pagans … Like the Church at large, every Christian community, even a small one, even a very homogenous and particularized one, is catholic, that is, open to universal values, especially when it is assembled for the liturgy, and particularly the Eucharist.
SILENT ADORATION
OPENING PRAYER
Leader: Loving Father, the faith-filled Canaanite woman is a beautiful figure of the children of the world as recipients of the bread of salvation, Jesus Christ. In the compassionate response of Jesus to her patient pleading for the daughter she loves, we see the future missionary expanse of the work of salvation on behalf of all peoples, both Jews and non-Jews alike. May the Church, the community of believers that was born from the Easter event, be renewed and strengthened in its work of spreading the Gospel to all nations. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Assembly: Amen.
Part I
JESUS MASTER TRUTH
Listening to the Word
GOSPEL READING: Mt 15:21-28
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 [# 38]: 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 Eucharistic hymn or suitable song of praise may be sung.
Part II
JESUS MASTER WAY
Confrontation with the Word
POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART
Leader: We open our hearts to listen to the promptings of the living Word. Let us ask ourselves with limpid honesty:
1. Is our faith persistent and indomitable as that of the Canaanite mother depicted in this Sunday’s Gospel? Are we ready to engage in confrontations and endure difficulties and rejection for the sake of those we love?
2. What is our response to those who importunately rely on our help and assistance? Does the faith of others move us to positive and compassionate action?
3. Is our ministerial concern parochial or universal? In light of the Easter event, do we commit ourselves to share the saving work of Jesus, the “bread of salvation”, with all peoples of the earth?
PRAYER
(Cf. Commission Francophone Cistercienne, Sur la trace de Dieu, Paris:Desclee, 1979, p. 43)
Leader: As earthly joys call for a feast,
may joy unite us at God’s table!
Assembly: Great is your faith!
Let it be done as you wish.
Leader: As wine make the guests merry,
may the Spirit of Christ inebriate the living!
Assembly: Great is your faith!
Let it be done as you wish.
Leader: As a wedding gathers a crowd of friends,
may people come from the four corners of the world to the banquet of the Lamb!
Assembly: Great is your faith!
Let it be done as you wish.
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 Light of the Rosary may be prayed in part or in full.
THE WAY OF SOLIDARITY: PRAYER OF INTERCESSION
(Cf. Liturgy of the Hours)
Leader: Let us pray to God who cares for all, and with earnest humility say:
(R.) COME TO THE AID OF YOUR PEOPLE, LORD.
1. Gather all into your Church.
2. Preserve Benedict XVI, our Pope.
3. Protect and bless N. _______, our bishop.
4. Guide priests with your hand.
5. Further holiness among the laity.
6. Assist workers.
7. Help those who have gifts to use them in your service.
8. Be a strong helper to the defenseless.
9. Grant deliverance to the captives.
10. Guard us from earthquakes and other calamities.
11. Save us from sudden death.
12. Bring those who have died into the light of your presence.
(Other prayers may be added.)
THE LORD’S PRAYER
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Leader: All-powerful Father,
God of mercy,
look kindly on us in our suffering.
Ease our burden and make our faith strong
that we may always have confidence and trust
in your fatherly care.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
Assembly: Amen.
FINAL SONG: Any suitable Eucharistic hymn or song of praise 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