EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (Vol. 2, n. 35)
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
July 23, 2006
“I Will Appoint Shepherds for Them …”
(+) 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 VENERABLE BEDE
Thus when Jesus landed he saw a large crowd. He took pity on them because they were like sheep without shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
Matthew relates more fully how he took pity on then. He says: And he took pity on them and cured their sick. This is what it means really to take pity on the poor, and on those who have no one to guide them: to open the way of truth to them by teaching, to heal their physical infirmities, and to make them want to praise the divine generosity by feeding them when they are hungry as Jesus did.
SILENT ADORATION
OPENING PRAYER
(Composed by Blessed James Alberione)
Leader: Jesus, Good Shepherd, who brought from heaven the fire of your love, give us your heart. Inflame us with the desire for the glory of God and with great love for our brothers and sisters. Make us sharers in your apostolate. Live in us, that we may radiate you in word, in suffering, in pastoral action, in the example of a good life. We offer you ourselves as docile and faithful sheep, to become worthy of cooperating in your pastoral mission in the Church. Dispose all minds and heart to receive your grace. Come, divine Shepherd, guide us; may there soon be one flock and one Shepherd.
Assembly: Jesus Good Shepherd, Way, Truth and Life, have mercy on us.
Part I
JESUS MASTER TRUTH
Listening to the Word
FIRST READING: Jer 23:1-6
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
GOSPEL READING: Mk 6:30-34
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. 35]: 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
A. What are the painful scenarios of “the sheep without a shepherd” that we are witnessing daily in today’s world? What do we do to respond to such gripping and pitiable situations?
B. How does the following compassionate promise of our loving God touches us: “I will appoint shepherds for them who will shepherd them so that they need no longer fear and tremble” (Jer 23:4)? Are we ready to be true “shepherds” to God’s flock? In what ways are we guilty of playing the unfortunate roles of “false shepherds”? How do we make amends for our apathy and indifference, and for the injustice we have committed against “the sheep without a shepherd”?
C. What do we do to actualize in our lives the loving care and ministry of Jesus, the Good Shepherd? What is our concept of solitude and rest? Do we endeavor to allow both others and ourselves to relish the quiet and rest promised by the Good Shepherd? Do we allow the heart of the Good Shepherd to throb in us and animate our daily acts of caring and serving?
PRAYING WITH THE WORD
(Cf. Days of the Lord, vol. 5, Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 1993, p. 154)
Leader: You were far from the source of life,
wandering and dispersed.
Now, rejoice:
by his cross the Lamb gathers the flock,
and all those who follow him proclaim:
Assembly: Jesus, our shepherd, you lead us to the father!
Leader: All of you who are hungry and thirsty,
come quickly: God’s justice is revealed to you.
The walls are destroyed;
the barriers are down:
God reconciles you through the blood of the Lamb.
Joyous news for those who were far and for those who were near:
one body unites them.
Assembly: Jesus, our shepherd, you lead us to the father!
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: In his goodness, God sends us his Son Jesus as our Good Shepherd. Let us give thanks to him for the great care he has shown in gathering his dispersed flock and for caring for his sheep through the ministry of Jesus and his disciples-apostles. Let us turn to our loving Father and say:
(R.) LORD, WE TRUST IN YOU.
1. We pray for Benedict, our Pope, and all bishops and ministers of the Church that they may continue with great devotion the pastoral ministry that they share with Jesus, the Good Shepherd. (R.)
2. We pray for the sick that they may feel the gentle hands of the Good Shepherd who binds up their wounds and heal all their infirmities. (R.)
3. We pray for the hungry people in today’s world that their material and spiritual hungers may be satisfied at the banquet of goodness and plenty prepared for them by the Good Shepherd. (R.)
4. We pray for those whose afflictions are deep, on account of violence, poverty and destitution, that they may find consolation in the loving embrace of the Good Shepherd. (R.)
5. We pray for our beloved dead that they may walk in the peaceful pasture of eternal life and in joyful communion with the victorious Paschal Lamb, Jesus Christ. (R.)
(Other prayers may be added.)
THE LORD’S PRAYER
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Leader: All-powerful Father, God of mercy,
look kindly on us in our weakness and suffering.
Through the compassionate ministry of the Good Shepherd
and those who faithfully shepherd in his name,
ease our burden and make our faith strong
that we may walk in peace and the fullness of joy
in the green pastures of eternal life.
Grant this through Christ our Lord,
in the unity of 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