EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (# 50)

A Weekly Pastoral Tool for the YEAR OF THE EUCHARIST

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

November 6-12, 2005

 

“Behold, the Bridegroom”

 

(+) 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 EUGENE MALY

(Cf. Eugene Maly, The Word Alive: Reflections and Commentaries on the Sunday Readings, New York: Alba House, 1982, p. 103)

 

Here is the heart of parousia, full enjoyment of the Kingdom with the Lord and with one another. The parable in Matthew’s Gospel gives us further insight. The groom represents the Christ awaited in his parousia. The midnight hour does not mean a designated time. Rather it conveys the uncertainty (they are in the dark) concerning the time of his coming. The two groups of bridesmaids represent those who will and will not share in the event. Preparedness is the ultimate criterion. The theme of preparedness is certainly one of the reasons why the Church reminds us of the parousia at several places in the Eucharistic prayer. If our eyes are on that glorious goal, we are more likely to keep our spiritual lamps lit and ready for that reception.”

 

SILENT ADORATION

 

OPENING PRAYER

(Adapted from a prayer by Dag Hammarskjold)

 

Leader: Have mercy upon us.

Have mercy upon our efforts,

that we before thee,

in love and in faith,

righteousness and humility,

may follow thee,

with self-denial, steadfastness and courage,

and meet thee in silence.

Give us a pure heart that we may see thee,

a humble heart that we may hear thee,

a heart of love that we may serve thee,

a heart of faith that we may love thee.

You live and reign forever and ever.

 

Assembly: Amen.

 

Part I

JESUS MASTER TRUTH

Listening to the Word

 

GOSPEL READING: Mt 25:1-13

 

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 [# 50]: 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 the personal significance of the wedding feast of the Bridegroom mentioned in today’s Gospel?

2.      In what ways are we the foolish bridesmaids? In what ways are we the wise bridesmaids?

3.      Do we believe that the parousia is, in a sense, already here? How do we deepen our spirit of preparedness for the Lord’s parousia or second coming?

 

 

PRAYER

(Cf. Commission Francophone Cistercienne, La nuit, le joir, 28 – Fiche de chant P LH 107, 109)

 

Leader: Wakefulness in our hearts,

a lamp lighted by the Lord,

renews itself at his flame

as we sing our joy with one voice.

Assembly: Stay awake and be ready!

For you do not know on what day your Lord will come.

 

Leader: May thanksgiving watch in us

as the flower of the almond tree

which, the earliest, glimpses from afar

the coming summer and its harvest.

Assembly: Stay awake and be ready!

For you do not know on what day your Lord will come.

 

Leader: May our love and his praise

be the two wings of the morning

which unfold in prayer

and take us far from ourselves.

Assembly: Stay awake and be ready!

For you do not know on what day your Lord will come.

 

Leader: Here is the Bridegroom calling us:

let us run to the Lamb’s nuptials!

But how long the road seems:

when will you dawn, last morning?

Assembly: Stay awake and be ready!

For you do not know on what day your Lord will come.

 

 

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 the Church be prepared for the Lord’s parousia and learn how to live our “today” in the perspective of the Day that will not fail to come.

 

2.      That we may avoid the folly of the foolish bridesmaids and learn to invest our entire selves for the coming of the Kingdom.

 

3.      That we may seek the wisdom of the wise bridesmaids and learn to subordinate the non-essentials to the absolute value of God’s Kingdom.

 

4.      That the disciples of Christ be truly united with his Paschal Mystery and thus experience that the parousia, in a sense, is now.

 

(Other prayers may be added.)

 

 

THE LORD’S PRAYER

 

 

CONCLUDING PRAYER

 

Leader: God of power and mercy,

protect us from all harm.

Give us freedom of spirit and health,

in mind and body to do your work on earth.

Grant us the grace of preparedness exemplified by the wise bridesmaids

and allow us to keep our lamps burning

until the day of the nuptial banquet in heaven.

We ask this through Christ, our Lord.

 

Assembly: Amen.

 

 

 

FINAL SONG: Any suitable Eucharistic hymn or song of praise may be sung.

 

 

 

 

Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang  PDDM

 

 

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