EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (Vol. 2, n. 33)

14^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

July 9-15, 2006

“The Perils and Sufferings of a Prophet”

(+) 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. 5, Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 1993, p. 128-129)

            God wants to give everyone a chance. He cannot resign himself to seeing the least plot of land remain fallow. His love causes him to hope against hope. He knows the fecundity of the Word that, in any event, will bear fruit. The fact that he sends a son of man as a prophet in the midst of the people shows, on the contrary, an unflagging solicitude. The presence of his spokesperson shows to all that he remains ready to welcome those who will listen, even after having first rejected the prophet. God is not naïve, but knows that through hearing his unceasing calls, every sinner can finally experience a movement of wisdom, abandon bad ways, and be converted. All sinners will always find near at hand a prophet ready to help them and welcome them in the Lord’s name. God places harsh words in his prophets’ mouths in order to lead the most obdurate sinners to an awareness of grave consequences should they remain blind. Acting in such a way, God manifests his mercy.

SILENT ADORATION

OPENING PRAYER

Leader: God our Father,

you send the power of the gospel into the world as

a life-giving leaven.

Fill with the Spirit of Christ

those whom you call to live in the midst of the world

and its concerns;

help them by their work on earth

to build up your eternal kingdom.

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.

Part I

JESUS MASTER TRUTH

Listening to the Word

FIRST READING: Ez 2:2-5

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

GOSPEL READING: Mk 6:1-6

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 [Series 4, n. 33]: 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:

A.    Do we thank the Lord for Jesus, the true and absolute prophet that God, in his great love, sends into our midst? Do we open our hearts to receive Jesus and his prophetic voice that challenges our mediocrity and complacency? Do we allow our own prejudices and/or limited experiences to condition our response to the prophetic voice of Jesus that is addressed to us in the here and now?

B.     Do we believe that we too are called by God to be prophets in and with Jesus? Do we experience the joy, anguish and ecstasy of being God’s prophets in today’s world? What do we learn from the deep experience of suffering and pathos by Jesus and Ezekiel in their prophetic ministry? Do we feel that the Lord God strengthens us with the power of his Spirit? Do we thank the Lord for the Spirit of Jesus that enables us to be prophets of his love, truth and compassion today?

C.     Do we allow the adage “Familiarity breeds contempt” to take hold of us negatively and thus diminish our positive response to God’s marvelous actions and prophetic voice? Are we open to the positive change that occurs in the people around us? Do we welcome the “surprises” that each new day brings to our life?

III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD

Leader: Loving Father,

you sent Ezekiel and the Old Testament prophets

to speak your word of saving mercy to your erring people.

In their prophetic ministry,

they have experienced the agony and the ecstasy

as humble servants of your all-powerful word.

In the fullness of time,

you sent to us your divine Son, Jesus the Incarnate Word.

He is the ultimate prophet and message bearer,

the radical revelation of your saving love.

Together with Ezekiel and the other prophets you had sent,

your Son Jesus experienced to the utmost

the perils and the sufferings of a prophetic stance

against an unbelieving and obdurate world.

The prophets have courageously uttered your word of judgment

and offered continually your gift of reconciliation to your people

whom you love with an unconditional love.

In their fidelity to the inner truth of your saving word

and strengthened by your Holy Spirit,

Jesus and the prophets have communicated your abounding mercy

and manifested your uncompromising solicitude for your people.

As Christian disciples,

we too are called to an active prophetic ministry in the world today.

Give us the grace to live out our own prophetic vocation

with personal dedication and fidelity.

We ask this through Christ our Lord,

in unity with the Holy Spirit,

one God forever and ever.

Assembly: Amen.

Part III

JESUS LIFE

Acting upon the Word

PERSONAL PRAYER

CONTEMPLATING WITH MARY THE FACE OF CHRIST: The Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary may be prayed in part or in full.

THE WAY OF SOLIDARITY: PRAYER OF INTERCESSION

Priest: Let us pray to God who cares for all, and with earnest humility say:

(R.) COME TO YOUR PEOPLE, LORD.

1.      Assist your Church.

2.      Preserve Benedict, our Pope.

3.      Protect our Bishop N. _____.

4.      Direct those who preach the Gospel.

5.      Clothe your priests with holiness.

6.      Strengthen religious men and women in their pursuit of holiness.

7.      Bring an end to strife and hatred.

8.      Nourish children by your loving care.

9.      Enable young people to grow in wisdom.

10.  Support and give solace to the aged.

11.  Grant blessings to those we love.

12.  Admit those who have died into the company of the saints.

13.  For the Holy Father’s General Intention for the month of July: FOR THOSE IN PRISON, IN PARTICULAR YOUNG PEOPLE: May they be helped by society to start a new life with new meaning.

14.  For the Holy Father’s Mission Intention for the month of July: FOR ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS GROUPS IN MISSION LANDS: May they live and work peacefully side by side to build societies with respect for human and spiritual values.

(Other prayers may be added.)

THE LORD’S PRAYER

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Leader: God our Father,

through the obedience and fidelity of your Son Jesus Christ,

the true and ultimate prophet,

you have raised a fallen world

and revealed your uncompromising solicitude for us all.

Help us to live with integrity and truth

and bring us to the joy of everlasting life.

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

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