EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (Vol. 2, n. 52)
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
November 19-25, 2006
“Your People Shall Escape”
(+) 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 PIERRE TEILHARD DE CHARDIN
One day, the gospel tells us, the tension gradually accumulating between humanity and God will touch the limits prescribed by the possibilities of the world. And then will come the end. Then the presence of Christ, which has been silently accruing in all things, will suddenly be revealed – like a flash of light from pole to pole. Creaking through all the barriers within which the veil of matter has seemingly kept it confined, it will invade the face of the earth. Like lightning, like a conflagration, like a flood, the attraction exerted by the Son of Man will lay hold of all the whirling elements in the universe to reunite them or subject them to his body. As the gospel warns us, it would be vain to speculate as to the hour and the modalities of this formidable event. But we have to expect it … At all costs we must renew in ourselves the desire and the hope for the great Coming. But the expectation cannot remain alive unless it is incarnate … The greater man becomes, the more humanity becomes united, with consciousness of its potentialities, the more creation will be, the more perfect adoration will become, and the more Christ will find a body worthy of resurrection.
SILENT ADORATION
OPENING PRAYER
Leader: God our Father,
gifts without measure flow from your goodness
to bring us your peace.
Our life is your gift.
Guide our life’s journey, for only your love makes us whole.
Keep us strong in your love
as we await the day of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of Man
who will gather his elect from the four winds at the end time.
He lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God forever and ever.
Assembly: Amen.
Part I
JESUS MASTER TRUTH
Listening to the Word
FIRST READING: Dan 12:1-3
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
GOSPEL READING: Mk 13:24-32
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. 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
A. What are the distressing events that we are experiencing personally and as a community of faith in our world today? How do the bitterly aggressive assaults of evil in today’s society impact us? Do we lose hope and despair? Or do we believe in the decisive intervention of God to lead his people into a victorious struggle against the power of sin and evil at work in today’s society? Do we trust that God cares for us especially in times of trial?
B. Do we give time and attention to the consideration of the “last things”? Do we contemplate the paschal character of the hour of our death? Do we think about the parousia or the second coming of Christ? Do we allow ourselves to be strengthened and impacted by Jesus’ assurance that after the days of great tribulation the Son of Man will gather his elect from the four winds - from the end of the earth to the end of the sky? Do we long for the intimate coming of Christ at the hour of our death and do we look forward with joyful expectation to his definitive coming at the end time to recapitulate all creation?
C. Do we believe that the Eucharist is a pledge that Christ is coming again and that the new and lasting world will begin? When we celebrate the Eucharist, do we proclaim effectively that “Christ has come; Christ is risen; Christ will come again”?
PRAYING WITH THE WORD
(Adapted from P. de La Tour Du Pin, Psaumes, Paris: Gallimard, 1970, 315 // Days of the Lord, vol. 5, Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 1993, p. 308)
Leader: How many more centuries of pain before the full daylight, Lord?
You are patiently molding us; we are going toward the end,
but your body of humanity is slow to complete.
Not enough nights to welcome you,
not enough heads to bow before you!
We announce you in the sufferings of the world.
We speak before being born.
In the shadow that covers us and where we are waiting for you,
we already sing your light.
How many more centuries before it may dazzle us?
How many remembrances of Christmas?
The Father of all love has entrusted his hope to us.
We stretch our hopes toward him.
In you, our hopes are all one.
Your hope quivers; it overcomes our pain.
Assembly: At that time your people shall escape …
The Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory
will gather his elect from the four winds,
from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.
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: Trusting in Jesus, the Son of Man who will come to gather his elect from the four winds, let us turn to him in prayer and say:
(R.) LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER!
1. For the Holy Father’s General Intention for the month of November: FOR THE WORLD: May it be freed from the threat of terrorism; let us pray. (R.)
2. For the Holy Father’s Mission Intention for the month of November: FOR BELIEVERS EVERYWHERE: May they work to remove old and new barriers to Africa’s development; let us pray. (R.)
3. For the Christian community that looks to the definitive coming of Christ at the end time: May they endeavor to promote the total liberation of the human person, solidarity and community-communion, and the care of creation; let us pray: (R.)
4. For those persecuted for their faith and those experiencing crisis and troubles of every sort: May their faith in the God who assures them of his protection strengthen them in their difficulties and trials; let us pray: (R.)
5. For our faithful departed: May the saving Lord lead them to the fullness of resurrection and gladden them with the kindly light of his face; let us pray: (R.)
(Other prayers may be added.)
THE LORD’S PRAYER
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Leader: Lord our God,
help us to prepare for the coming of Christ your Son.
May he find us waiting,
eager in joyful prayer.
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