EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (Vol. 2, n. 53)
Christ the King, Year B
November 26- December 2, 2006
“A Sacrificial Kingship”
(+) 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. Alban Boultwood in Meditations on the Sunday Gospel, Year B, New York: New City Press, 1996, p. 140-141)
In the noblest and truest sense of all, Jesus is king of all his Father’s creation, for in him all things find their purpose, salvation, and fulfillment. The incarnate Son is the only Mediator in the plan of divine love, by which all creation attains its true end and comes to the Father … As this same Jesus was dying on the cross, Pilate set above his head the ironic sign, more to mock the Jews than the Crucified: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. What king is this? Christian faith answers more fervently than ever that this is indeed the true King, whose cross wins redemption for sinners, and whose death wins victory over all the powers of death. Christ gained his victory and established his kingdom not through the power of worldly success, but through a love stronger than all the powers of this world. His authority was from above, from his perfect union with the Father’s will.
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
FIRST READING: Dan 7:13-14
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
GOSPEL READING: Jn 18:33b-37
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. 53]: 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 feelings and insights generated in us by the prophet Daniel’s apocalyptic vision of “one like a son of man coming on the clouds of heaven … who received dominion, glory, and kingship; all peoples, nations, and languages serve him …”? Does the figure of the “son of man” who receives everlasting dominion increase in us the conviction that the forces of evil would not prevail and that the reign of God would ultimately triumph?
B. Do we recognize that redemptive suffering is an important aspect of the kingship of Christ? Do we acknowledge that Jesus’ self-surrendering love is what makes for his effective rule? Do we strive to follow the ways of Christ’s sacrificial kingship that entails accepting the conditions of this fragmented world, with all its suffering and mortality? Do we try to be more receptive to the kingship of Jesus by fulfilling the mystery of his blessed passion, death and resurrection in the witness of our own personal life?
C. Personally and as Church, do we resolve to be an image of God’s kingdom where true greatness lies in becoming the servant of all, beginning with the weakest, the most destitute, the lowliest? At the end of the liturgical year and as we begin a new season of grace, do we raise our eyes to him who draws all to himself and leads us into his kingdom of love, justice and peace?
PRAYING WITH THE WORD
(Adapted from J. Frie’s prayer, cf. Days of the Lord, vol. 5, Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1993, p. 317)
Assembly: Jesus, Lord, you are king of kings,
Light of light, you!
Light of light.
Leader: O Word, before fulfilling the Law,
You made heaven and earth, You!
You made heaven and earth.
You are the Alpha, You are the Omega,
The core of the Mystery, You!
The core of the Mystery.
You took flesh, Truth of faith,
Only Son of the Father, You!
Only Son of the Father.
Savior, O Christ, a human dead on the cross,
God himself liberates us, You!
God himself liberates us.
Assembly: Jesus, Lord, you are king of kings,
Light of light, you!
Light of light.
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 Christ the King. He is the firstborn of all creation; all things exist in him.
(R.) MAY YOUR KINGDOM COME, O LORD.
1. Christ, our king and shepherd, gather your sheep from every land. Give them pasture in green and fertile meadows. Let us pray: (R.)
2. Christ, our leader and savior, form all men into your own people, heal the sick, seek out the lost, guard the strong, call back those who have wandered away, strengthen those who waver, gather all sheep into one flock. Let us pray: (R.)
3. Judge of all ages, when you hand over your kingdom to the Father, place us at your right hand, so that we may inherit the kingdom prepared for us from the beginning of the world. Let us pray: (R.)
4. Prince of peace, break the weapons of war, and inspire the nations with your peace. Let us pray: (R.)
5. Christ, heir of all nations, gather humanity and all the good things of your creation into the kingdom of your Church which your Father bestowed on you. Let us pray: (R.)
6. Christ, firstborn of the dead and first fruits of those who have fallen asleep in death, bring all who have died to the glory of the resurrection. Let us pray: (R.)
7. King of kings, we pray 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.)
8. King of our hearts, we pray 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.)
(Other prayers may be added.)
THE LORD’S PRAYER
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Leader: Almighty and merciful God,
you break the power of evil
and make all things new
in your Son Jesus Christ, the king of the universe.
May all in heaven and earth acclaim your glory
and never cease to praise you.
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