EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (# 41)
A Weekly Pastoral Tool for the YEAR OF THE EUCHARIST
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
September 4-10, 2005
“The Duty of Christian Correction”
(+) 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 ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
You will be doing everything for the glory of God if, when you leave this place, you make yourselves responsible for saving a brother or sister, not just by accusing and rebuking him or her, but also by advising and encouraging … You will also be preparing yourself a double reward, since as well as greatly furthering your own salvation, you will be endeavoring to heal a fellow member of Christ’s body. It is the Church’s pride, it is the Savior’s command, not to be concerned only about our own welfare, but about our neighbor’s also. Think to what high honor you raise yourself when you regard someone else’s salvation as a matter of extreme importance … Christ shed his own blood for our salvation … So if your Lord shed his blood for that person, surely it is right for each of us to offer at least some words of encouragement and to extend a helping hand to those who through laxity have fallen into the snares of the devil. But I am quite certain that you will do this out of the tender love you bear your own members, and that you will make every effort to bring your neighbors back to our common Mother, because I know that through the grace of God you are able to admonish others with wisdom.
SILENT ADORATION
OPENING PRAYER
(Cf. Rite of Penance)
Leader: Lord our God, you created us in love, and redeemed us in mercy. While we were exiled from heaven by the jealousy of the evil one, you gave us your only Son, who shed his blood to save us. Send now your Holy Spirit to breathe new life into your children, for you do not want us to die but to live for you alone. Protect us now and always from the wounds of sin. May we ever keep in its fullness the gift your love once gave us and your mercy now restores. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Assembly: Amen.
Part I
JESUS MASTER TRUTH
Listening to the Word
GOSPEL READING: Mt 18:15-20
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 [# 41]: 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 my attitude to the erring members of the Christian community? Do we dedicate ourselves to the ministry of Christian correction?
2. Do we believe that only God’s grace can change hearts and effect conversion? Do we allow ourselves to be instruments of grace for others?
3. Is the concern for others’ salvation at the heart of every member and every cell of our Christian community? Are we a reconciled and a reconciling community? Are we a community of forgiveness based on love?
PRAYER:
(By George Appleton)
Leader: Grant me, O Lord, an understanding heart, that I may see into the hearts of your people, and know their strength and weaknesses, their hopes and their despairs, their efforts and failures, their need of love and their need to love. Through my touch with them grant comfort and hope, and the assurance that new life begins at any age and on any day, redeeming the past, sanctifying the present, and brightening the future with the assurance of your unfailing love, brought to me in Jesus Christ, your Son my Lord.
Assembly: Amen.
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. That we may perceive the true meaning of Christian forgiveness.
2. That we may consciously seek the lost like Jesus the Good Shepherd.
3. That we may devotedly offer our prayers for the conversion of sinners.
4. That the perpetrators of crime and violence be moved to conversion and experience spiritual healing.
5. That we may be a reconciling and reconciled community marked by the gentle touch of forgiveness.
6. That we may be caring and kind to the poor and prisoners, to the sick and the lonely, to the victims of violence and crime.
(Other prayers may be added.)
THE LORD’S PRAYER
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Leader: Loving Father,
give us the grace to be compassionate with sinners
from the depths of our heart.
May we not be arrogant with them,
but weep together with them.
Grant that,
weeping over our erring neighbors,
we may also weep over ourselves.
We ask this through Christ our Lord,
who is our healing and forgiveness,
now and forever.
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