EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (Vol. 2, n. 40)

21^st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

August 27 - September 2, 2006

“Decide Today!”

(+) 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

(By Adrian Nocent, The Liturgical Year, vol. 4, p. 253)

We too are faced with a choice. When we celebrate the Eucharist, which is the sacrament of the new covenant, we are forced to choose and to say, with the faithful disciples, To whom shall we go? Or, with the Israelites, Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord. Every sharing in the Eucharist implies such a decision, for each time that the Church celebrates the Eucharist, she renews her covenant with the Lord, protests her faith in him, and draws the faithful with her in her act of unconditional fidelity.

SILENT ADORATION

OPENING PRAYER

Leader: Father,

you established your ancient covenant by signs and wonders,

but more wondrously you confirmed the new one

through the sacrifice of your Son.

Guide us to make the right choice and decide today for you.

May we commit ourselves to you in abounding fidelity

and serve you whole-heartedly in our needy brothers and sisters.

Lead us through the pathways of life

that we may come to the land of promise

and celebrate your name with lasting praise.

We ask this in the name of Jesus, the Eucharistic Master,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

now and forever.

Assembly: Amen.

Part I

JESUS MASTER TRUTH

Listening to the Word

FIRST READING: Jos 24: 1-2a, 15-17, 18

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

GOSPEL READING: Jn 6:60-69

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. 40]: 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.    How does the response of the tribes of Israel at Shechem to serve the Lord God and their resolution not to forsake the Lord for the service of other gods inspire us in our own vocation to dedicate ourselves to the Lord our God?

B.     Do we decide today for the Lord? Do we endeavor to intensify our covenant commitment to Yahweh, the faithful One? Do we resolve as God’s people to live within the parameters of a nuptial covenant that keeps us in union with God? Do we give ourselves to “anamnesis”, which enables us to recall God’s marvelous saving works on our behalf?

C.     Do we realize that we are a “Eucharistic people” nourished by Christ’s bread of the Word and his “flesh and blood” given to us in the sacramental form of bread and wine? At the Eucharist do we renew our covenant with the Eucharistic Master, avow our faith in him and make an act of unconditional fidelity in him? As a people of the Eucharist, do we declare with Peter: “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God”?

PRAYING WITH THE WORD

Leader: Jesus, Divine Master, our Eucharistic Lord,

you are the living Bread and the Bread giver.

Your words are Spirit and life.

Like Joshua and the Twelve Tribes of Israel,

we wish to renew our covenantal fidelity with your loving Father

who is our Lord God, Creator and Liberator.

Like Peter and the Twelve Apostles,

the foundation stones of the new Israel, the Church,

we desire to renew our commitment to you

in the Eucharist, the sacrament of the new covenant.

As we gather as a sacred assembly

to share the bread of eternal life and the cup of salvation,

we proclaim your death and resurrection

and commit our whole life to you.

Make this people nourished by you

be decisive in living out the fundamental choice we have made

to be your true disciples.

By the grace of your most holy Eucharist,

Give us the grace to decide for you today and every day of our lives

to love and serve you alone.

You are our Eucharistic Master, now and forever.

Assembly: Amen.

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

Priest: In the Eucharistic banquet, our Risen Lord Jesus is the gracious Host who invites us to make a decisive choice for him. With joy and gratitude, we come to this banquet, and proclaim:

(R.) LORD JESUS! YOU HAVE THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE!

1.      We humbly present to you the Holy Father’s General Intention for the month of August: FOR CHRISTIAN ORPHANS: May they receive proper care as well as education in the faith. We proclaim:  (R.)

2.      We humbly present to you the Holy Father’s Mission Intention for the month of August: FOR ALL CHRISTIANS: May they be ever more aware of their calling to be missionaries in and out of season. We proclaim:  (R.)

3.      We pray for all who are ordained. May their ministry to the people of God bring them abundant blessing. We proclaim:  (R.)

4.      We pray for the leaders of nations. May they work to protect the rights and ensure the welfare of all the people, especially in the developing countries of the world. We proclaim:  (R.)

5.      We pray for our parish. May we continue to nurture the faith of our members through our outreach to the homebound and the grieving. We proclaim:  (R.)

6.      We pray for those who are unable to make a fundamental option for Christ and do not have the strength to decide to serve the Lord God, today and every day of their lives, that they may experience the transforming words of Spirit and life. We proclaim:  (R.)

(Other prayers may be added.)

THE LORD’S PRAYER

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Leader: Lord Jesus Christ,

you gave us the Eucharist as the memorial of your suffering and death.

May our worship of this sacrament of your body and blood

help us to experience the salvation you won for us

and the peace of the kingdom

where you live with the Father and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever 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