EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (# 51)
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
November 13-19, 2005
“Since You Were Faithful in Small Matters …”
(+) 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 HAROLD BUETOW
(Cf. God Still Speaks: Listen, New York: Alba House, 1995, p. 248-251)
Sometimes we Christians, in favor of smooth security, are smugly disinclined to take the bold risks that others take on behalf of their business and personal ventures. Today’s liturgy on this next-to-last Sunday of the Church year tries to set us straight. Jesus’ story of the talents teaches us to boldly prefer taking active risk in our lives over passive complacency … The standard of God’s judgment of every person is relative to the talents given: the greater the gifts, the greater the responsibility. We are the servants in today’s Gospel parable, and the absentee master is a symbol of Christ; his return is a scene of judgment … We are not all equal in talent, but we are all called to collaborate in the work of the Gospel according to our personal opportunity, ability, and gifts … Jesus wants us to know that salvation will come to those who are prepared to risk their lives for him.”
SILENT ADORATION
OPENING PRAYER
(Adapted from Michael Buckley’s Prayer: “Use of Talents and Possessions”)
Leader: Heavenly Father,
your Son Jesus Christ has taught us
that all our possessions and talents are on trust from you.
Help us to be zealous and faithful stewards of all you have given us,
so that, true to your grace,
we may merit to be welcomed into your kingdom
as good and faithful servants,
who have in all things sought and accomplished your holy will.
You live and reign forever and ever.
Assembly: Amen.
Part I
JESUS MASTER TRUTH
Listening to the Word
GOSPEL READING: Mt 25:14-30
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 [# 51]: 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. How receptive am I to the Word of God? Do I allow it to direct my attention toward the end time and the fulfillment of the whole history of salvation through Christ’s second coming?
2. In this time of vigil for the Lord’s coming at the parousia, am I a conscientious, enterprising and risk-taking servant, bent on making the talents I have received bear abundant fruits for the service of the Church and the spread of the Gospel of Christ in the world?
3. Have I been an unprofitable servant? Have I been lazy, smug, fearful and irresponsible in promoting the kingdom of God here on earth? Have I failed to maximize the talents and grace given me by the Lord?
PRAYER
(By Nerses Snorhali, Cf. Days of the Lord, vol. 4, Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 1992, p. 254)
I was like the unworthy servant
who earned nothing out of his talents;
and I even outstripped him
because I lost the gift of grace.
I have neither doubled your talent
nor made fourfold the two, nor tenfold the five,
so as to be in complete mastery
of the ten cities of the senses.
But I buried in the ground the one talent,
by wrapping it up in the shroud of vices.
I did not put the money in the bank
so that you might demand the interest,
that is, I have not carried the word of your command
to the ears of my mind,
which are the spiritual bank
of the wisdom of the Bread of Life.
This is why I expect
to be chastised in the darkness
until you come to look for the talent
which you granted me at the sacred font.
But to you, O Savior of my soul,
I want to weep and say:
“Since it is still possible for me to do good,
give me the grace to please you by acting rightly.”
Thus I shall hear the joyous sentence
like the faithful servant:
“Enter my celestial house
in the joy of the Lord.”
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 learn to serve the Lord as he deserves, to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to ask for any reward, save that of knowing that we do the divine will.
2. That we may be made worthy to serve our fellow men and women throughout the world who live and die in poverty and hunger. May we give them through our hands this day their daily bread, and by our understanding love, give them peace and joy.
3. That our time of waiting for the lord’s parousia may be marked with fervent diligence in daily tasks.
4. That we may always seek to be trustworthy, active and creative servants and dedicate ourselves to the task of promoting God’s kingdom here on earth.
5. That we may not give in to complacency and avoid the unfortunate passivity and laziness of the unprofitable servant who buried his talent in the ground.
(Other prayers may be added.)
THE LORD’S PRAYER
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Leader: Father of all that is good,
keep us faithful in serving you,
for to serve you is our lasting joy.
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