EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (# 52)
Christ the King, Year A
November 20-26, 2005
“The Shepherd-King”
(+) 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.
INTRODUCTION
(Cf. Days of the Lord, vol. 4, p. 268.)
Christ is King. But this title does not designate him as a powerful one among or above the powerful of the earth. In the tradition of the cultures of the Middle East, this title refers to the concept of God as Shepherd-King of his people, who tends the frailest sheep of his flock. The king is the one who does justice to the weak and the poor whom he protects against the powerful and the tyrannical power they exercise toward the defenseless and those threatened by injustice. God is this perfect king who acts with mercy, compassion and tenderness … Jesus has revealed this divine kingship. He calls the little ones his brothers and sisters … He recognizes as his own those who act like him, are animated by the same effective charity, feed the hungry, see to the needs of the destitute, liberate prisoners. When he comes back in his glory and gives his royal power in homage to God, he will introduce into his kingdom those who will have acted as he did.
SILENT ADORATION
OPENING PRAYER
Leader: Father all-powerful, God of love,
you have raised our Lord Jesus Christ from death to life,
resplendent in glory as King of creation.
Open our hearts,
free all the world to rejoice in his peace,
to glory in his justice,
to live in his love.
Bring all mankind together in Jesus Christ your Son,
whose kingdom is with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God forever and ever.
Assembly: Amen.
Part I
JESUS MASTER TRUTH
Listening to the Word
GOSPEL READING: Mt 25:31-46
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 [# 52]: 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. In this last Sunday of the liturgical year, do we take time to focus our attention and contemplation on the meaning of Christ’s kingship and the global saving mystery of him as the Risen One at the right hand of the Father, who came, who comes, and who will come again?
2. How do we respond to the criterion of Christ’s kingship based on the exercise of love and service on behalf of the “little ones”? Do we have compassionate hearts that serve as a badge of nobility of his kingdom?
3. Mother Teresa of Calcutta said, “If sometimes our poor people have had to die out of starvation, it is not because God didn’t care for them, but because you and I didn’t give, were not instruments of love in the hands of God, to give them that bread, to give them that clothing; because we did not recognize Christ, when once more Christ came in distressing disguise.” Are we guilty of refusing to see Jesus in other people who need to be served? Have we failed to see that the kingdom of Jesus has been prepared for the little and poor ones and that we have been called to be instruments of God’s love on their behalf?
PRAYING WITH THE WORD
(Adapted from a prayer by the Commission Francophone Cistercienne, Sur la trace de Dieu, Paris: Desclee, 1979, 94 – Fiche de chant M 53)
Leader: Your kingdom is not of this world, Lord Jesus,
since you carry this world on your shoulders,
as a shepherd his lost sheep.
To show your dominion,
no other scepter than your cross.
No other strength than your mercy:
no other right than your victorious love.
You offer to us your life in exchange for our death,
because your power wants to give us back to ourselves
and snatch us out of the yoke of remorse.
Your kingdom already inhabits us, Lord Jesus;
at your word the child in us rises,
you recreate it almost unbeknown to us.
Everything journeys in you toward its beauty:
still frail, joy touches the earth;
heaven is near,
near its radiance.
Assembly: Help us to live by your Gospel
and bring us to the joy of your kingdom,
where you live and reign forever and ever.
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 our liturgical celebration of Christ the Shepherd-King may intensify our expectation of his coming again in glory.
2. That we may understand the true nature and meaning of Christ’s kingship and the object of his saving mission on behalf of the homeless, the hungry, those who thirst for justice, the stranger, the destitute, the sick, and those in prison.
3. That journeying through the liturgical year, we may be fully conformed to the Shepherd-King who serves his people personally and compassionately and that we may be empowered by his love to serve the poor and the little ones.
4. That united with Christ, the Shepherd-King, we may present to the heavenly Father, a Kingdom of truth and life, a Kingdom of holiness and grace, a Kingdom of justice, love and peace.
5. That we may crown the Church’s liturgical year with prayer and contemplation, and with acts of mercy, goodness and charity.
(Other prayers may be added.)
THE LORD’S PRAYER
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Leader: Lord,
you give us Christ, the King of all creation,
as food for everlasting life.
Help us to live by his Gospel
and bring us to the joy of his kingdom,
where he lives and reigns 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