EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (# 39)
A Weekly Pastoral Tool for the YEAR OF THE EUCHARIST
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
August 21-27, 2005
“I Will Give You the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven …”
(+) 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 OF POPE PAUL VI
To speak of Jesus as he appears in the course of the gospel has become something very attractive, inevitable, and compelling, but at the same time, difficult and ambiguous. So much so indeed, that the question: “Who is Jesus?” lent itself to the most varied answers, and even in the minds of the disciples it was not at all clear who he might be … After a variety of confused answers, taken from public opinion, Jesus pressed home the point of the discourse by putting the straight question to his future apostles: But who do you say that I am? Then it was that Peter, enlightened by God the Father, replies, surely also in the name of the rest, and gives the famous, invincible definition of Jesus: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!
Let us hold fast in thought, in heart, in life, to this most certain and ineffable truth about our Lord Jesus Christ … Let us all remember the confession of Peter which we have professed with explicit adherence and inexhaustible joy, in the certainty that, founded upon the apostolic rock and on the cornerstone which is Christ himself, the building which he, using us as living stones, is now constructing, cannot fall … This building is his Church, holy and immortal, to which we have the good fortune to belong and from which we receive Christ himself, the bread of eternal life.
SILENT ADORATION
OPENING PRAYER
Leader: Loving Father, your Son Jesus Christ, entrusted the keys to the kingdom of heaven to Peter, when he made a leap of faith and declared him to be the Christ, the Son of the living God. We give you thanks and praise for the Church, the spiritual building that is built upon Christ the cornerstone and on the foundation of the apostolic witnessing. We pray for Peter and his successors that, faithful to their ministry of apostolic witnessing, they may continue to exercise the pastoral power of the keys of the kingdom for the good of all and for your greater glory. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Assembly: Amen.
Part I
JESUS MASTER TRUTH
Listening to the Word
GOSPEL READING: Mt 16:13-20
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 [# 39]: 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. What is our response to Jesus’ probing question addressed to us personally in the here and now: “But who do you say that I am” (Mt 16:15)?
2. How does Peter’s leap of faith inspire us today? What does it mean to make the personal confession of faith: “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God” (Mt 16:16)?
3. How do the keys of the kingdom of heaven promised to Peter affect the Church’s pastoral ministry in the world today?
PRAYER
Leader: Stone chosen to bear the building
where God gathers his children,
Simon, strengthen this Church
upon the rock where you yourself rest!
Assembly: Jesus, Son of the living God,
unique rock that saves us!
Leader: Who is the rock, if not our God?
He is the God who fills me with courage
and shows me a way beyond reproach.
Come near the living stone
rejected by humans
but precious in God’s sight.
You yourselves, living stones,
form a building in the Spirit
to present your sacrifices to God.
Assembly: Jesus, Son of the living God,
unique rock that saves us!
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
Leader: Let us pray to God who cares for all, and with earnest humility say:
(R.) LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER.
1. For peace from on high, for the salvation of our souls, and for the integration of creation.
2. For good weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, for the protection of our homes and the safety of our neighborhoods, and for a clean and healthy environment.
3. For our civil authorities, for all world leaders, for the president of our nation, and for the mayor of our city.
4. For Benedict, our Pope, for all the holy servants of God, and for all who hold with pastoral care the keys of the kingdom.
5. For all those who have done good to us; for our parents, relatives and friends; and for all those who celebrate birthdays and anniversaries this week.
6. For the poor, the hungry, the homeless and the imprisoned; for immigrants, exiles and refugees; for the aged, the lonely and the bereaved.
7. For the sick and for all who suffer in any way.
8. For those who have departed from this life.
(Other prayers may be added.)
THE LORD’S PRAYER
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Leader: God our Father,
from living stones, your chosen people,
you built an eternal temple to your glory.
Increase the spiritual gifts you have given to your Church
that your faithful people may continue to grow
into the new and eternal Jerusalem.
We ask 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